B-ballers,
In any sport, former players normally make the best
coaches. NBA Hall of Fame coaches such
as: Billy Cunningham, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan and Rudy Tomjonavich were good
players, but they were great on the sidelines.
The legendary Bill Russell was the exception. He experienced the thrill of playing and
coaching simultaneously. A feat that’s
unheard of in today’s NBA, but in our league the exception is the norm. Na mean?
Slick Rick is back on the court. As a player, he’s won championships with team
Dynasty in 2006 and The Undertakerz in 2007.
As a coach, he’s led teams Dark Cloud in 2008 and Locked & Loaded in
2009, to championship glory as well. His
team Gatlins lost in the championship game to the unstoppable team Mayhem in
2010, an impressive resume, fo-sho. On
this two year anniversary of the death of the late, great Michael Jackson,
let’s find out why this player/coach/player “Never Can Say Goodbye.”
MannofStat: What’s good, Slick Rick?
Slick Rick: What’s up fella?
MannofStat: You’ve gone from player, to coach and back to
player. How has the transition been for
you?
Slick Rick: (Laughs) Man, I’ll tell you something. This transition has been painful to the body,
because the speed of the game is much faster than our daily recreational
ball. Its non-stop, until the buzzer
sounds.
MannofStat: I feel you, “Old School.” (Laughs)
Slick Rick: It’s also painful because as an ex-coach, I
know my squad (SilverBacks) has the talent to really make some noise in the
playoffs. We just have to come together
and play team ball.
MannofStat: You played on some great championship
squads. Your SilverBacks are currently
2-8. As a former coach, can you come up
with a remedy to stop the bleeding?
Slick Rick: Yes!
The only remedy is to focus on what’s ahead. Let’s keep fighting as a team (Plants his
fist into his palm). The bleeding will
stop when we learn from the mistakes that caused the bleeding. This season isn’t a lost cause. Did the NY Giants think it was a lost cause
when they had to face the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, in
2008? They weren’t concerned with wins
and losses. They did what they had to do
as a team, and shut that trash down!
MannofStat: Okay, coach.
So, tell me. Why did you leave
the sidelines?
Slick Rick: I just wanted to enjoy a year off and play
with some of the guys I coached. I
missed the glory that comes from playing with and against some of the big
ballers on the row.
MannofStat: That’s what’s up! Spoken like a true player/coach/player. A legend knows no limits. Ya heard?
Be Easy,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann
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