Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

mb · Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2002 4:26 pm Post subject: mb is back

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The following link pictures Cooper’s coaching style.
The photo speaks volumes. If berating and belittling a player is the only tactic a coach uses, then one must question that coach’s ability.

Here’s the link: http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/wnba/2002/0627/photo/a_cooper_vt.jpg

Let me emphatically try to make a few things clear:

We (those happy about her removal) do not hate Cynthia Cooper. We have a severe dislike of her coaching tactics. As a fan, I enjoyed watching Coop play. She was the best, as a player. With time, and this is a stretch; she may have become a good coach.

Whether Coop herself, Brian Dyke (Coop’s husband), Hannah, or any other believes it, I liked Cynthia. It was lack of coaching experience and tyrant tactics of which I found fault. Recent confrontations withstanding, she was always friendly, even humorous. She obliged me a couple of times by demonstrating her “freestyle” rapping ability. As a Mercury fan, I supported her as a coach, yet made it clear I disapproved of her tactics. Truly, I wish her talent as a player could have transcended into coaching talent. Unfortunately, few players have the talent or drive that she did.

The fact that Coop, as a member of the Houston Comets, lead her team in defeating the Mercury often; had little to do with her opposition. It was her lack of coaching experience that raised fans’ ire. Management mistakenly thought they needed a name to follow Cheryl Miller. My choice at the time was Carrie Graf, and I stand behind that pick. She will be a successful head coach in the WNBA.

Coop’s confidence bordered on cockiness, which did not bode well for her. Accurate or not, her perception was that of arrogance…an “it is about me” attitude. The overcoming a rough background story tended to be overplayed.

My gloating over her dismissal was in poor taste. It was only in that manner that I was disrespectful of her or the team. It is a fan’s right, if not a fan’s responsibility to both praise and criticize their team and coaches. Try this analogy, a Democrat with a Republican in office. The Democrat wants the “nation” to do well and prosper, yet may have differing ideas on how to achieve prosperity. It does not mean they are treasonous. In the same manner, we wished for the best for the Mercury, yet may see differing ways to bring it about. This analogy reminds me of one of my favorite movies, The American President. Michael J. Fox’s character states that it is ones right and responsibility to question their president.

For the record, my trip to Los Angeles to follow the team was at my OWN expense.

For the record, I was a Mercury fan pre-Coop, during Coop, and will be post-Coop.

Besides the gloating, I have done nothing disrespectful of my team. In my opinion it is those who fail to see any faults in a particular player or coach that are being disrespectful. That should be insulting to any player or coach. Let those with the blind loyalty wallow in their own blissful state of ignorance.

In the end, all parties may be better off. Hopefully, Coop is enjoying parenthood. Best wishes to her family. The team will have a tough road stretch, yet contrary to some expectations; we will not turn on Coach Sharp. It was not the team performance in question. It was the coaching methods. Again, the early success was due more to a soft home schedule, than coaching ability. GO MERCURY!!!

zip · Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Posts: 2

I saw that picture and had a similar thought -- this is a look you never want to see on any coach's face. I have to give the players credit for putting up with it for soooooo long. Some people won't put up with being treated that way. Too bad somebody didn't call her on it before it became irreparable.

skew11 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 372

:D welcome back mb :!: was beginning to wonder if you took a wrong turn coming back from LA :?: :wink: :P 8)

added....
p.s. this post was made before learning of what happened in L.A so no jab at mb it was just made since I haven't seen him on board since LA game

Vladimir Taltos · Joined: 15 Jun 2002 Posts: 72

mb:

Remember when you beat me up at length because I wouldn't let something go? Look up. I could take the low road, but I won't Just look up. Don't jump on the dead, its not worth it. Let's look at who next or whatever. This thread looked like piling on coming what, a week after she was let go? Who DO you think gets it next year?

VT

gia · Guest

Sure it's a week old but this is mb's first contribution to the subject. I'm surprised that, for whatever reason, he left out a great deal about the WHOLE story of what transpired in LA.......specifically after the game....even though someone on another message board ranted on with their one-sided version that stopped short of the "rest of the story". It kills me that they don't see the hypocrisy in writing paragraphs about another fan for dogging the coach but at the same time they vigorously defend the coach for belittling the players (see picture above).

During the aforementioned post game scene in LA, the subject of "the message boards" came up during a confrontation by a member of the Merc staff and then again by one of their family members towards mb. Whether mb chooses to tell the entire story is totally up to him. All I'll say of it is that mb was told "why don't you go back to hiding on the message board", among other things.

Now I'm not sure it can be considered hiding when someone you've never met can come up to you in a city you've never been in and confront you.........but I do know that if you're letting your emotions get the better of you, your family, and your family member's JOB based on what you read on message boards, it's probably a good sign that you should stay AWAY from them. This person did/does their family member no service by reading and relaying what is said here or elsewhere.

mb, you're much more diplomatic than I could ever be. I'll admit I gloated over Coop's departure but I will never apologize for it. I'm still gloating. :)

SportsFan48 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1129

Welcome back, Mike. Congratulations, you got Hannah back on board. Now we might have some real spirited conversations.

And I agree, you don't hide very well. Remember I was able to pick you out of the crowd last season with only your comments on the message boards to go by.

mb · Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2002 1:22 pm Post subject:

Sportsfan, good to see you here at gotnext.com. It is nice to have both this and the AZCentral forums.

Gia, thanks for the kind words in my defense. As always, you were much more eloquent than I.

VT, you made numerous posts to which I told you to ease up. Refraining from posting for a week, summing it up in ONE post, and skipping damaging details is definately NOT piling on!

You are not the only one to suggest Kayte start, however mine was in jest. What I was hoping would be picked up by you and others is that she should start not for Gillom, but for Williams. Perhaps Adrain will return to double-double form with proding. Starting Kayte is not as important as simply making sure she gets more minutes.

More important is having Veal play the point and shifting Grubin and Moises to their true SG position.

Vladimir Taltos · Guest Joined: 15 Jun 2002 Posts: 72

mb:

Geez, feeling guilty or something? :). I was pulling your tail a bit, smile. The venom came through a bit strong, so I just wanted to bug ya a bit...things always come to the middle a bit on most things, ya know?

As far as Kayte goes, I have suggested she start in previous posts, and several have disagreed with me. You're welcome to check the previous threads if you don't believe me. I was just smiling at having something i wanted come true, JUST LIKE YOU DO, so don't beat my butt for it.

You're no better nor no worse then I, so relax, maybe laugh at how silly this all is just a little, take a deep breath and hope like crazy that our next game isn't ANOTHER blow out.

And, you still didn't answer my last question...who's got the reigns next year in your opinion?

VT

Carol Fegenbush · Guest Joined: 21 Jun 2002 Posts: 13 Location: California

The harder you work.... Isnt true, they deserve the start.... Why does Adrain get the start...? Kayte would be a spark right off the bat....We dont want to play catch-up :roll: Get out to a big lead and let the other team worry how to convert... Then Play tuff D.... Put in Tuvi for some bumping around.... blocks and put those long arms up... Veal needs to lead the the point.. make some 3s and they will come out off of Jen... thow up some high ones and FOR GODS SAKE JUMP>>>>> Make any Sense?? Now we all should let SHarp do the Coaching and we should do the Cheering .... Those girls have been playing long enough to KNOW what to do..... And know how to run the floor, Not alot of fast breaks.... They need to run more, They have some younger players... they can run with the best of them.... Leslie hates the Running game, They have to wait for her sometimes......up tempo game... Kayte loves that, she gets going when they get on a roll..... Ok, Im done Coaching now..... Ill be watching.... I was going to Take my kids to see Like Mike, but Ill have to wait untill Sunday..

mb · Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2002 9:49 am Post subject:

VT, just jabbin back at ya. Actually this has become somewhat civil and even fun.

Obviously Kayte has emphasized your point, and certainly you are happy. Looks like Sharp wants to keep Grubin confident, reading between the lines. As long as we come out with some intensity (and maintain it), it matters not who starts.

We must get this win. As much as I like Seattle, I was hoping Cleveland would get the win. It would be nice if the Mercury could win some and not realy on help to have a shot at the playoffs.

There will be disagreement, yet I place the majority of the blame for poor effort lately on the team rather than the coaches. Our record to this point is more indicative of our schedule and talent level than coaching.