2004 might have been different if LB turned him looseAnyone who knows me knows that I find Larry Brown to be despicable. The ego is nauseating, the constant drama he creates to keep himself in the spotlight is brutally tiresome, his constant skulking for a better (or someone else’s) job is detestable. The relentless unabashed praise from the media and basketball community of Brown as the greatest thing since sliced bread is mind-boggling, especially when his manipulation of people and situations seems to be so obvious all the time. He’s the first to accept the praise for a job well done, but the last to step up and accept his own shortcomings. The fact that the basketball world not only lets him get away with his antics, but also rewards him for it and enables him to continue to behave the way he does is, to put it mildly, maddening.
The latest ridiculousness from Larry comes when the New York Daily News’ Mitch Lawrence asked Brown about the biggest differences between 2008’s gold-medal winning version of Team USA and Brown’s disappointing 2004 team in Athens. From Lawrence’s article:
“The thing is they got guys that are willing to make a three-year commitment, which I think is tremendous,” Brown said of this current Team USA. “We had guys that committed (for 2004) and then all of a sudden 9/11 happened, and then there were injuries.”
WHAT!? While you can’t deny that the multiple-year commitment from the players to build cohesiveness is a huge factor, does he really have the audacity to blame his team’s failure on injuries and 9/11?? That’s just insulting. He was the coach. He’s a basketball “genius” right? He picked a roster that had no shooters. As the coach he failed to get the team ready for the Olympics and they started off the tournament by getting smacked by Puerto Rico. He failed to prepare his team to play against international zones and the vicious pick-and-rolls of the Greek National Team. He is the one who alienated his players. He is the one who refused to put his best team on the floor, keeping LeBron and Melo mired on the the pine.
So instead of blaming 9/11 and injuries, for once, Larry should just be honest. Just say that Coach K did a better job all the way around. Sadly though, as usual, it appears that he’s incapable of that. And what’s worse, also as per usual, no one will call him out on it.
Source: NY Daily News
Related posts:
August 26th, 2008 at 11:50 am
dukesman2000 says:
You just did, brother…
August 26th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Prof. TX says:
good call
August 26th, 2008 at 11:53 am
doc says:
yeah put the hater on blast.Thats all that prick does is hate on people.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am
NBA on ABC says:
Well congratulations, you just called him out on it. So now you can leave the guy alone, to be the genius that he is. He’s proven himself to be someone who “changes cultures”, and “thinks outside the box”, and other constantly used sayings! Just because you find him annoying doesn’t give you license to take his reputation through the dirt like this! This man has done nothing but GOOD for the NBA, and for his country, and for the WORLD for that matter! The UNIVERSE even!
August 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am
doc says:
The media dont write bad about him because he gives them the quotes they want.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Mintellect says:
Shout to Patrick on this…
August 26th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Kermit the Washington says:
And once again, someone calls him out on it by saying that no one will call him out on it.
C’mon man…Larry Brown TRIED to tell the ‘04 group to PLAY THE RIGHT WAY, but they didn’t LISTEN!!
August 26th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
When the Bobcats ensure themselves of a top 5 lottery pick after this season with one of the NBA’s worst records, I’m sure he’ll find some way of blaming it on Hurricane Katrina or the War in Iraq. Brown is garbage. I’ve never liked him.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Larry Brown says:
I had AI on the team and he did not want to practice.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
JCarr says:
Great article man! Larry Brown for A$$hole!!!! Hope the Bobcats suck this year!!! Him and marbury are the drama queens of the NBA.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
NBA on ABC is really Rush Limbaugh.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
dumdum says:
Yo Pat…do you really expect someone to answer a question like that with, “well Coach K is just better than me…”
August 26th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
2 mins "Vinnie Johnson" says:
The problem I have is if this was someone that they didn’t like…ie. Isaiah Thomas;
he would have been buried!
Is that not what coaching is about is getting your guys to buy in to your philosophy?
Larry Brown couldn’t do it…
August 26th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Young Lebron 23 says:
The part that was sickening was when he compared the 04 team to 9/11 which we all know what that’s about.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Dime Magazine says:
@ dumdum -
nah, wouldn’t expect him to say that exactly. it’s not too much to expect someone to say that the 2008 squad was better prepared though.
- PC
August 26th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Michorizo says:
If Bush can use 9/11 as a reason to go to war with Iraq then Larry Brown can use it as a reason for his failures in 2004…
August 26th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
We hear coaches all the time say that they were outcoached or the other team was better prepared. Brown could have at the very least gave recognition to the fact that Coach K and his staff did a better job all around. They chose a better suited squad for international play, they inspired the team defensively, and found ways to counter the other teams offensively.
The one thing Brown can take credit for is the redemption factor. Without his squads terrible showing at the 2004 Olympics we wouldn’t have the “Redeem Team” storyline.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Kobeef says:
@Mich/Young
Actually Brown says that the players used 9/11 as an excuse to back out of the games - I don’t balme the players for that. There was a lot of concern around terrorists going into Athens.
I disagree with Brown and think that it is acceptable for players to choose personal safety/survival over basketball.
That said, you can’t ignore that Brown had pretty much the same team as Coach K except that he chose to put Lebron, Wade, Lebron and Melo on the bench. Basically Brown is saying that Kobe is the reason why this team won if you look at the rosters…Kobe is great but Wade and LeBron also has something to do with it.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
T Dubbs says:
I agree with this article to an extent. Larry Brown has made his fair share of mistakes, but he’s still a very good coach in my opinion. Here’s the part that gets me:
“He failed to prepare his team to play against international zones and the vicious pick-and-rolls of the Greek National Team.”
How much preparation is truly necessary to face a zone? Look, if an NBA player doesn’t know how to react to a zone and a pick-and-roll style of offense, maybe they should choose another career.
The blame rests on a lot of people’s shoulders for the 2004 loss, not just Coach Brown. Dwayne Wade said it right - they had little preparation time to gel with each other as teammates. Is that Larry Brown’s fault? I’d say not.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Vernon F. Fresh says:
I often read articles on this site, but never comment. This time, tho, I feel the need…..
I think that you are missing LB’s point. During the 2004 games a lot of NBA players were nervous about playing in the olpympics because of a fear of terrorism and the possble threat to security that psychologically stemmed from 9/11. I remember guys like KG and Ray Allen backing out at that time, because of security concerns, among other reasons.
9/11 is now deeper in the past and pride in redemption was at its strongest after the 2004 games, allowing Coach K to get the “best of the best” of the NBA.
LB is a jerk, and still shoulda won gold anyway, but in this specific case, i understand where he is coming from.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Taj says:
Larry Brown has a great resume but is a great example of the Egos in the NBA. Although he failed to prepare the talent he had on the team and get the most out of the players he did have, he is correct about the guys buggin out because of the political situation in the world. I know TMAc was one and KG might have been another. Nonetheless, poor excuse Larry. Your careers been shit since Detroit so ride off into the sunset with your 25yr old hunny! Beat it!
August 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
@ Patrick…
In DumDum’s defense (haha), I will say that while it’s true that coaches give credit to the other team for being better prepared, or giving credit to the other coach, etc…isn’t that just when they play against each other?? I’ve never heard a coach from a different era say the guy that coached the team before him was better at his job than he was.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
Oh wait, that was actually supposed to be @ Spliff sorry
August 26th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
loganlight says:
Wow… It’s not everyday that we get an open opinion about how the Dime staff feels. Respect for that for sure.
As far as the article? I agree. Mentioning 9/11 is LOW. If anything, 9/11 should have been the rallying event that pushed the team over the top…
The respect that I did have for Larry Brown just took a huge hit.
LL
August 26th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
And dude didn’t say 9/11 was why they LOST, he was saying 9/11 had an effect…and it DID, cause as someone mentioned already, TMac and others expressed concerns about showing up
August 26th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
andy c. says:
the comments to your post, which was spot on, are on par with your complaint in the media and basketball world. everyone’s always making excuses for brown. watching the olympics and team usa, what has hit home more than anything else for me is how bad a job larry brown did in ‘04. coach k’s remarkable and exemplary job is a condemnation on brown’s pathetic job in ‘04. if you’re an nba coach, you coach nba talent day in day out you’re a millionaire professional coach, why can’t you get guys motivated, regardless of the amount of time? that’s your job. you don’t scrub floors or flip burgers, you motivate! you’re getting paid millions per year, that’s your job, to motivate and to organize.
everyone in the world admits, except brown, that it was a mistake to keep lebron and melo on the bench. that team lacked energy, drive, and commitment, which is exactly what bron and melo bring internationally, and would have brought in ‘04.
i wish more people would call larry brown out, like you did.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Why are people defending Larry Brown?
Because 9/11 happened, he was forced to not play Lebron and Melo? Ya, that makes sens…
Because the media asked questions, he had to blame his players, right? How could that go wrong?
Larry Brown is just a punk, but he knows basketball, but not much else. The problem is that he’s not the genius that he wants everyone to believe he is. He’s that loser that no one liked, no one talks to, but he’s just really good at basketball, not a genius, just good. He’s not a complete idiot, he just acts like one. No one can ever deny that he’s a asshole, though.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
T Dubbs says:
@andy c.
“why can’t you get guys motivated, regardless of the amount of time? that’s your job.”
I don’t believe it’s a matter of motivation… afterall, it’s the olympics. Who wouldn’t be excited to play for their country? The problem was preparation, and the amount of time they had to gel with each other as a nucleus.
The 2004 fiasco just goes to show you can’t compile a talented team together in a few weeks, and expect to beat teams that’ve been together for years. It’s just not going to happen…
August 26th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Jack says:
Nice article. I’ve thought Larry Brown was 1 of the most dispicable people in Philadelphia sports history for a couple of reasons.
1. the way he managed the Sixers like a fantasy basketball squad. (and i believe the numerous reports that it was Larry Brown that made all the major moves during his time here not Billy King) every year after 03 Iverson had 2 learn 2 play with another washed up “superstar” from Derrick Coleman to Toni Kukoc to Keith Van Horn.
2. When players give up on their teams and ask to get traded or asks for more money everyone freaks out. Larry Brown did this every time he left somewhere. Every job is his dream job and all he is doing is useing his current team to get more money from his next job.
3. It’s his fault A.I. never won a championship.
Have fun in Charlotte Larry (and watch your back Roy Williams.)
August 26th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Desrat says:
I was thinking about joining the NBA then 9/11 happened and I was scared to make that step. I am now safe checking your bags at safeway.
There is truth that it takes dissappointment to understand victory. LB let us know what it is like to not be the best, let us know what it is like to worry about losing on the world stage. I reckon that if we had won that gold in Athens we would not have put together a program like the one we have now.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
GEE...New position at the job ain't what i thought it would be says:
Firt off way to blaze dude PC.
He should have just come with the truth and been like, I see some things I personally should have done and that perhaps the whole team could have done to be better. Congrats goes out to this team for winning the gold.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Sith Lord 24 says:
Larry Brown is a bum. plain and simple.
i would rather listen to Rosanne Barr and Carl Lewis sing then national anthem in duet fashion, than listen to anything Larry Brown has to say.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
j from la says:
thats a clear sign of bitchassnesses
August 26th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
derrick says:
u know, 9/11 is in no way an excuse for losing, but you can’t deny that it had no effect on the players’ attitudes. there was all that crap about them wanting to live on the boat away from all the other athletes and that definitely had an impact on how the rest of the world saw them. plus, they really didn’t have the same motivation this year’s squad did. i mean if the athens team had won, would kobe have bothered to play this year?
August 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Celts Fan says:
Might as well have said, “If we didn’t get bronze, the terrorists win.”
August 26th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Coop says:
I can never decide who i detest more- Brown or Riley. God if I had only one bullet…
Ah it’s too difficult.
Actually I’ll go with Riley because Brown’s tenure in NY was so hilarious and humiliating that it’s now Riley’s turn.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@Kermit
Good point but Brown could still acknowledge that Coach K’s staff was able to do a better job. That’s all I’m saying. And since you seem to know for a fact that Brown tried to get the 2004 team to play the “right way” but they didn’t listen, I assume you were on coach Brown’s staff that year. Or are you just one of his loyal “puppets”? With a name like Kermit that would make perfect sense.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
daquest?on says:
@ pat what he meant was that after 9/11 most of the original team that was going to go to athens bailed out because they were scared of terrorists. they were afraid that they were going to be targeted by crazy terrorist while they were at athens, thats part of the reason why they stayed at a cruise ship. Im not making this up, look it up.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Juanito says:
I do remember plenty of players like Garnett, etc using the terrorism threat as an excuse to duck out…but LB put Starbury on that team, so he really has step up and take the bullet for their shit performance. They lost to fucking Puerto Rico for chrissakes…
August 26th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Jules says:
Are we sure this wasn’t Rudy Guiliani who was asked this question?
August 26th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
GEE...New position at the job ain't what i thought it would be says:
Juanito I don’t remember exactly but didn’t Starbury ball for him pretty well on that squad? Still I agree no excuse to put that dude on the squad. Everyone knows he is the opposite of the midas touch.
Although it would have been interesting had players not pulled out due to injury and terrorism excuses. Cause honestly I remember thinking, man come on ain’t nothing gone happen fa real, they should go play. Skurred cats. Now after seeing Redeem squad get gold, dudes wanna come out the woodworks.
August 26th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Lady Luck says:
9/11 and the war that followed was a good reason to be afraid. Anyone remember the terrorist color alerts? (orange today red tomorrow) There were millions of Americans who felt threatened. Especially being highly recognized, idolized TEAM USA. I know people who cancelled overseas trips following 9/11 with those same type of fears. These are human beings after all so I think those fears are legitimate.
August 26th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Lady Luck says:
RE: Larry Brown. It may just be time to retire. Larry is from the old school. So he just says what he feels. And obviously, he has some accountability issues, because he has a tendency to blame everyone else when things go bad. I think he has a great basketball mind, but may just be time to start enjoying his retirement. He is a grumpy old man.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
ninja cool says:
It’s a Duke-Carolina thing. Not only did another coach get the job done, but a college coach from Blue Devil nation got the gold. If he can’t give props to anyone else, then imagine how impossible it is for him to congratulate one who wears (and bleeds) a darker shade of blue. Have fun with your coach, MJ.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Simon says:
I nominate post number 16 for comment of the day…. hahaha.
Michorizo says:
If Bush can use 9/11 as a reason to go to war with Iraq then Larry Brown can use it as a reason for his failures in 2004…
August 27th, 2008 at 1:33 am
yoda says:
i agree pat. i really don’t like brown
August 27th, 2008 at 4:38 am
gee the steph fan says:
I have always had a mixed bag of props and blunders I thought LB deserved, He’s a big loser, but his time spent losing, has netted him a few rings, but he’s been at this for 37 years now, he’s got a ring, and a ncaa ring. Big deal. He’s a bum, who shortchanged his teams with old school thinking that doesn’t apply. Any Coach would start Lebron at any age on his instincts alone, so how does the greatest coach since slice bread find so much learning from the bench time for the King. What he meant to say was if he had Kobe, he would’ve won too. That term play the right way, is an empty comment, that you guys have made mean something. THERE IS NO PLAY THE RIGHT WAY. PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. He followed that usa blunder, by adding more grays to my braids by destroy my dudes in NY, this guy didn’t play lebron in 8 games, but had 32 different lineups when he came to the Knicks. How did you find that many combinations to use on a garbage knicks team, but you couldn’t rotate Lebron and Melo on your olympic rotation. Say what you want about Duke Basketball, but I tell everyone everyday, that Coach K, really is the best coach in the United States, as always been. He’s won games with any talent. Fuck Larry Loser Brown.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:44 am
gee the steph fan says:
and are we still in the blame 9 11 window? Geez. btw, how come marbury isn’t so crazy now when you see all these mid level players signing overseas…where’s the props to my dude for seeing the trend before you all have to accept it now, you called him cuckoo, and crazy for saying he’d go play in Italy. Whats up, throw some props my dude way!
August 27th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Coop says:
Steph said he wanted to go there to wind up and retire, that isn’t what everyone else is doing, McFly!