12/22/24
December 25, 2007
Chicago Bulls fire coach.: Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like sudden unemployment.
posted by Drood to basketball at 09:49 AM - 15 comments
I loathe basketball, but when I came across the story it seemed pretty big, so I thought, since today would be dead quiet on here anyway, someone should post something:) And getting fired on Christmas Eve is a really horrible act. I mean would it have killed them to leave it until, say, the 27th? As you say, heartless. Owners name isn't Ebenezer is it?
posted by Drood at 11:50 AM on December 25, 2007
your also talking about the same guy who gave up like three more championships for the love of money!!! hhmmmmmm lets give up jordan, pippen and rodman along with phil jackson because they want too much of my billions!! they had the most dominant line up in basketball and he flushed it for a couple of million saved. I'd say that 1/2 the owners in the NBA dont care about legacy they care only for the money.
posted by butterfingers at 12:00 PM on December 25, 2007
Well they have big gorgouse barn that they can't fill. It looks like there hockey team might be picking up the slack. Thank God they turned the Black Hawks around. I had BasketBall.
posted by rstack2 at 02:45 PM on December 25, 2007
I don't follow basketball (pro) and don't know much about what makes a good coach or bad, but getting fired on Christmas eve is kinda Bah! Humbug!
posted by Nakeman at 02:52 PM on December 25, 2007
There was absolutely no reason to do this on Christmas Eve, save having another coach lined up and ready to go and making the announcement on Christmas Day as a gift to Bulls fans. That didn't happen, so yes, that makes everyone in on the decision a pretty big dong. Well they have big gorgouse barn that they can't fill. It looks like there hockey team might be picking up the slack. Thank God they turned the Black Hawks around. I had BasketBall. So ... they're making the egg nog pretty strong at your place this year, huh?
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:05 PM on December 25, 2007
I learnt a valuable lesson today involving egg nog. When making a cup of tea, don't accidentally grab the wrong carton and pour egg nog in it. Doesn't taste very good. *sigh*
posted by Drood at 08:29 PM on December 25, 2007
That was definately heartless. What was the owner's logic I wonder? Was he trying to prove what kind of person he is? Well, he accomplished that.
posted by still44 at 08:48 PM on December 25, 2007
Why is this so shocking? The EC has been a coaching carousel for a while now and as coach you should entertain the possibility that you're going to get fired if you're team is playing horribly. Yeah, it's sort of assholish timing but it's not like Skiles is on the breadline now. He'll get another job, perhaps with a team that has an owner that will set him up for success. I bet Skiles is dancing a jig.
posted by somedude at 03:22 AM on December 26, 2007
I don't think this is that big of a deal since the writing was already on the wall. It was inevitable that Scott Skiles was on his way out of Chicago with a 9-16 record to start off the season and just because he was fired on Christmas Eve, that isn't such a bad thing, bad timing maybe but not a bad thing. At least now, Skiles was able to spend Christmas with his family and not worry about a game.
posted by BornIcon at 07:26 AM on December 26, 2007
Wait - there's a good day to get fired? Agreed with BI - I think Skiles is the least surprised person in this story. Plus, there are likely other contributing factors - the schedule and whatnot. Still. It doesn't sound good. The Christmas Eve Canning.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:33 AM on December 26, 2007
I'm pretty sure media inquiries into his firing kept him just as busy as game planning, and probably more annoyed. But again, given the money the man made (and could very well continue to make depending on the language of his contract), he's probably got enough wealth stashed to weather something like this. And even if he doesn't, there will be plenty of jobs awaiting him. Seems like a poor decision in the eyes of PR, but people will get over it pretty soon, especially if the new coach strings a couple of victories together.
posted by PublicUrinal at 09:39 AM on December 26, 2007
He will get paid until the end of his contract. So, the good thing for him is that he can spend the holidays with his family, instead of maybe being on the road, and receives his salary as if he was fully working. Not too bad...
posted by gloglu at 11:30 AM on December 26, 2007
Whether he is paid or not (and he is being paid with reportedly a clause that says he does not have to give money back if he takes another job before the normal end of his contract), it was a tactless move to do on Christmas Eve. But then again, this is the city where the late hockey owner fired a coach by slipping a note under his door on Christmas Day. Chicago, the home of tactless owners.
posted by sportsdeacon at 04:47 PM on December 26, 2007
Just curious, is it assumed that both these men are christians? I have no idea, just thought I'd remind everyone that not everyone celebrates christmas. I understand that firing someone during the "holiday" season sucks, but if one does not celebrate christmas than there is no significance to being fired on christmas eve, it's just another business day.
posted by BoKnows at 08:25 PM on December 26, 2007
the bulls owner is notorious for being an idiot and an asshole. Im not saying that they made the wrong decision. He was doing a bad job and probably deserved it, but talk about bad timing. If anything says im heartless, its firing a coach on christmas eve.