|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Nightmare weekend Karl says Bucks kept him from pursuing UNC dream
Posted: Tuesday July 11, 2000 09:06 PM
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (AP) -- George Karl expressed frustration Tuesday that the Milwaukee Bucks didn't give him a chance to pursue the coaching vacancy at North Carolina, his alma mater. Karl, who called the position his "dream job," said he withdrew his name from consideration at UNC when the Bucks denied him permission to talk to the Tar Heels. North Carolina hired Matt Doherty as coach Tuesday. "I can't deny that my heart is very much in Carolina," Milwaukee's coach said Tuesday at the Bucks' suburban practice center. "It was a weekend of a lot of feelings and a lot of dreams." Later Tuesday, Karl wore a North Carolina cap as he played golf at a charity event for the Greater Milwaukee Open. Karl spent a weekend trying to convince the Bucks' owner, Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., to let him have more serious talks than an informal chat with former coach Dean Smith, Karl's mentor. Kohl, who signed Karl to a four-year, $20 million deal in 1998, turned Karl down, the coach said. "I'm not going to sit here and deny that I wish I had more freedom," Karl said. "Analyzing it, I probably would have done the same thing the senator did, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with the decision." It's the first sign of conflict between Karl and Kohl, who have had a harmonious relationship in their two years together. Karl's contract has no buyout clause, meaning he needed permission to speak to another organization about a job. A message The Associated Press left Tuesday at Kohl's Washington office was not immediately returned. "I'm sure he's not totally happy with me," Karl said. "I'm not sure he understands the lure that place has for [alumni]." Bucks general manager Ernie Grunfeld mediated the discussions between Karl and Kohl. Grunfeld characterized the decision as "mutual." "This is the nature of the business," Grunfeld said. "We're happy we have a coach that's so well-regarded." A 1973 graduate of North Carolina, Karl was not allowed to fly to Chapel Hill. Though his instincts told him to chase the job at North Carolina, he also had reservations about leaving a quality pro coaching post. Karl described the 72 hours during which he considered the UNC job as "Ping-Pong," with his mind alternating between thoughts of his school and his promising future with the Bucks - "good against good," he said. Karl, a 13-year NBA coaching veteran with no previous college experience, also admitted he was a bit intimidated by the prospect of coaching college basketball, an entirely different animal from the pro game. "There's a lot of stuff about college basketball that I don't know a thing about," said Karl. "What do I know about recruiting? What do I know about NCAA violations?" Another factor in the decision was the status of Bucks free agent Tim Thomas, who emerged as a key contributor during Milwaukee's spring playoff run. Thomas is being courted by Orlando and Chicago, but he has developed a strong bond with Karl. "Timmy is very close to me, and probably as much as any player, I want to coach Timmy Thomas," Karl said. Thomas has told teammates that he is leaning strongly toward re-signing with Milwaukee in August. That decision might have changed without Karl, whose hair Thomas ritually ruffled after every big victory last season. Karl didn't say why he didn't attend the Monday news conference announcing his decision. When asked if he had a gut feeling he could have won the North Carolina job, Karl smiled wistfully.
"You know my gut," he said.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
