Why would former coach want to return to Arkansas?
Posted: Tuesday December 24, 2002 12:51 PM
In late October, Nolan Richardson was approached by his alma mater, the University of Texas at El Paso, about filling the school's coaching vacancy. Richardson passed, saying the timing wasn't right, but it was refreshing to hear him indicate that he wanted to get back into the game. It was also nice to know that a school had come calling so soon after Richardson's unseemly fall from grace at Arkansas last March.
Last week, however, Richardson did himself a major disservice when he filed a civil claim in federal court alleging that the University of Arkansas had violated his rights of free speech and -– surprise, surprise –- discriminated against him because of his race. Richardson has played the race card so often that it's a wonder he has anything left in that deck. Even if he's able to
wrangle some more cash out of the school, his actions are bound to hurt him in the court of public opinion –- a "public" that includes potential employers as well as recruits and their parents.
I was quite critical of Arkansas' decision to fire Richardson because I believed they let him go not because of his bad behavior, but because he wasn't winning. Still, many of the allegations Richardson made in his lawsuit simply do not pass the smell test. To wit:
Richardson says his free-speech rights were violated because Arkansas fired him following his infamous press-conference meltdown. But as a high-profile figure at a state university, shouldn't Richardson be held accountable for what he says in such a public setting? His explanation that he was overcome by the "pressure and tension" of coaching a mediocre team is even more laughable. I wonder if he would accept that excuse from a player.
Richardson's statement that the school treated him unfairly might be a little more believable had Arkansas not given him a $6 million buyout, one of the largest ever for a college basketball coach. (Most press reports have that figure at $3 million, but that does not include the $3 million in deferred payments Richardson will start receiving in January.) The payments will be reduced if Richardson takes another job, but that type of non-compete clause is standard in many employment and termination contracts. Even if Richardson did get a bad deal, he still signed it and should be willing to live with it.
Richardson says the school's treatment of him limited his ability to land another job. If that's true, why was UTEP ready to hire him just two months ago? His assertion regarding race discrimination might be worth considering but for the fact that the man Arkansas hired to replace him, Stan Heath, is also an African-American. In Richardson's claim, he demands that the university return him to his old job as basketball coach. Never mind where that would leave Heath and his staff; Richardson knows full well that as a practical matter, it would be impossible for him to go back to being the coach at Arkansas. And why would he even want that job if the school is run by a bunch of inept, unfair bigots?
The bottom line is, this lawsuit isn't about civil rights. It's simply a last-ditch money grab from a man who wants to hit Arkansas where it hurts one last time. Richardson certainly has the right to have his day in court, but if he really wants to be a college basketball coach again, he would have been better off taking his $6 million and putting the whole mess behind him. Because if he's not willing to move on from what happened at Arkansas, why should anybody else be?
OTHER HOOP THOUGHTS
Yes, Mike Davis could not have been more wrong when he lost his cool during the final seconds of Indiana's loss to Kentucky, but those looking to compare Davis' behavior with that of Bob Knight's should consider the remorse Davis expressed at his postgame press conference. Knight, on the other hand, has never apologized for anything in his life and still hasn't taken any responsibility for getting fired. I'll bet he never apologized to the friend he accidentally shot during a hunting trip.
Speaking of Knight, he does have one talented player at Texas Tech in 6-foot-5 junior forward Andre Emmett. But Knight goes way overboard when he says Emmett could end up being the best player he has ever coached.
Two broadcasters who are always worth listening to: Clark Kellogg and Bill Raftery.
Sorry, but I'm not just not a big Julius Hodge guy.
Most overrated stat in basketball: the double-double.
I don't care how many times I see Jim Valvano's ESPY's speech; it never gets old.
I always do this once a year, so here goes: It's Gon-ZAG-guh, not Gon-ZAH-guh. Also, thanks to my colleague Kelli Anderson for telling me that it's ORR-egon, not ARR-egon. Still trying to shed my East Coast bias.
Cincinnati guard Tony Bobbitt's 29-point performance in one game against ORR-egon after scoring 28 all season goes right into the time capsule, my friends.
Considering how much depth and athleticism Pittsburgh has, I'm surprised the Panthers don't push the tempo more often. They never press, never force the issue in transition and never run after made baskets. They're good, don't get me wrong, but while their walk-it-up game might make them tough to come back on, it also makes it difficult for them to come back against other teams.
You know who's having a much better season than anticipated? Tulsa guard Jason Parker, a 6'2" junior.
It doesn't bother me so much that Jason Gardner can go cold from the perimeter for long stretches, but it would be nice if he got a few more assists during those stretches instead of continuing to launch three-pointers.
Alabama and Texas have the same problem: No perimeter shooting to complement great point guards. You ain't got that thing if you cain't score from the wing.
If Stanford was able to beat Xavier and Florida on the way to the preseason NIT finals without Chris Hernandez, I don't see why losing him now should be such a death knell.
What in the world is going on with Brett Nelson?
Most overrated cheer: "Over-rated!" If the team you just beat is so bad, then what's the big deal about beating them?
Haven't we all had enough of Rasheed Wallace?
I was at the Missouri-Illinois game, and I can tell you that if Ricky Paulding wants to be thought of as a star, he had better start acting like one. You can't be a star and a nice guy, Ricky.
The main problem with UCLA is that Cedric Bozeman is simply not a point guard. Not now, not ever. Even worse, when he's at the point, he's not able to slash from the wing and finish on the break, which makes him -– and the Bruins –- even more ineffective.
I give credit to Cliff Hawkins, the Kentucky point guard who was academically ineligible first semester, for being candid enough to admit that he just doesn't like school and the only reason he studies is so he can play basketball. But considering Hawkins is nowhere near an NBA prospect right now, I'd advise him to take school more seriously. Otherwise, I'd just as soon see someone who appreciates a free college education take his place on the Wildcats' roster.
Keep an eye on Robert Jackson, Marquette's senior center. If he keeps improving, he will make the Golden Eagles very very dangerous.
Got a sleeper for ya: Ryan Gomes, a 6'7" sophomore forward at Providence. He's headed for an All-Big East kind of year.
Yeah, I know Temple is 1-6, but its schedule has been murderous and the Owls are adjusting to life without Lynn Greer. Still, you don't think anyone will want to play them come March, do you?
Sports Illustrated staff writer Seth Davis covers college basketball for the magazine. His Hoop Thoughts column appears every Tuesday on CNNSI.com.
