04/25/24
June 15, 2010
Tom Izzo Rejects Cavs Offer: And I'm pleased to say I am here for life at Michigan State. - Tom Izzo
posted by Ying Yang Mafia to basketball at 09:25 PM - 14 comments
As a Gopher fan, I say the same thing. Too many college coaches have gone to the NBA and flamed out. Even if he knew for sure that LeBron was coming back, I'd say he's better off in East Lansing.
posted by TheQatarian at 10:38 PM on June 15, 2010
I think it says a lot about a guy - people that could otherwise benefit from him moving on are glad that he's staying put. Count me in as another Buckeye who thinks his competitors, the Big 10, NCAA and basketball in general are better off with him at Michigan St.
posted by littleLebowski at 11:18 PM on June 15, 2010
Why would Izzo go? He's got it made. Him, Krzyzewski, Knight and Dean Smith (Brad Stevens?) understood. Pitino blew a chance to eclipse Adolph Rupp at Kentucky. He understood a different game.
posted by afl-aba at 11:40 PM on June 15, 2010
Actually, I think Pitino did understand it in retrospect. Izzo sought out his advice, and apparently Pitino told him to stay.
posted by TheQatarian at 11:51 PM on June 15, 2010
As a Dayton Flyer fan, I'm very happy about this, since the coach most mentioned to replace Izzo if he left would be Dayton's Brian Gregory (he was an assistant under Izzo before the Dayton job). Jud Heathcoat, as a matter of fact, had already came out in support of Gregory to replace Izzo, if he left. Thank you, Izzo for staying.
posted by jagsnumberone at 12:52 AM on June 16, 2010
Whoo-hoo!
posted by NoMich at 07:40 AM on June 16, 2010
In terms of the money math, the Kenyan marathon winner economic theory kicks in: 3 million a year in Lansing is equivalent to 6 million a year in a major US city.
Some of the Free Press and State Journal guys were saying that Izzo had to come to grips with how he would feel if he retired from coaching without ever taking a shot at the NBA. So he evidently got to the point where he convinced himself he would be OK if he never gave the pros a shot.
Pitino screwed up his king of the candy store NBA opportunity so royally that he would be about the last college coach pro flameout that anyone should seek advice from.
posted by beaverboard at 08:40 AM on June 16, 2010
I think Lebrone screwed this up for them. Izzo said he wanted to talk to James before he made a decision but James was "unavailable". That has to be a reality check for Izzo. In the college world, If Tom gives you a call, you drop everythig you are doing to take that call. Izzo is up there with God. IN the NBA, he gets blown off. I think it showed him the difference betweeen the NBA and college. InCleveland, James would be in charge. I think Izzo realized that and wanted no part.
posted by Debo270 at 10:03 AM on June 16, 2010
I think Lebrone screwed this up for them.
It's not really fair to pin everything on LeBron. The fact Izzo would only take the job if James was coming back just goes to show the job probably isn't too appealing. I truly think Cleveland has a decent chance at getting LeBron back, but he's going to be attracting ridiculous offers. Izzo isn't his main concern.
Why anyone would leave a college where they're a legend in order to go into the NBA coaching ranks is beyond me. Izzo ultimately made the right decision (in my opinion).
posted by dyams at 05:09 PM on June 16, 2010
Why would Izzo go? He's got it made.
I totally agree. This IU (and now Butler) fan is happy that he stayed. Mariucci will probably always have pro coaching experience over Izzo, but to me that is just fine. Perhaps Izzo was competing with his old friend still but came to his senses and realized that with twice the money came at least twice the bullshit. Good for him, his family, East Lansing, the Big Ten and college basketball.
posted by apthomason at 03:30 AM on June 17, 2010
I think that LeBron not being available to speak with a college basketball icon who is thinking about becoming your coach speaks volumes. A coach can't run a team when a player is already in charge.
posted by irunfromclones at 04:18 AM on June 17, 2010
what if izzo never was serious about cleveland? what if he used cleveland to increase his own leverage to negotiate salary in east lansing? What if his buddy and best man in Cleveland was a part to that plot all along? Did not izzo benefit his own self in terms of recognition, recruiting visibility, etc. I'm glad he stayed at MSU, but I smell some self promotion in all of this for Izzo.
posted by mayerkyl at 12:45 PM on June 17, 2010
Izzo is one of the best known coaches in all of college basketball. Michigan State has been one of the top programs in the nation for years now. There is a lot to this story, but self-promotion isn't.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:16 PM on June 17, 2010
I'm glad to hear it. My team (Ohio State) still has to play him every season, but his place is on the sideline in East Lansing.