Now is this good or bad? I suspect his new agent intervened and I DO support Boogie's switch of agents as he needs expert and powerful advice and he needs protection just as the team needs protection from him. This does not solve the problem in the long run. I don't know how much he has been a disruption. My suspicion is that the team has been reacting much like me which, unfortunately is the best barometer I have. I'm inside no one's head but my own. I have always been on edge with Boogie. I always start a game out by checking out his mood. He is a distraction in that way BIG TIME. Also, though, and this seems to be a source of aggravation to some, Boogie seems likeable. Every time I have seen him in an interview and every time he is disciplined, he comes back in a rational, mature, and sincere manner. How do I judge sincerity? I just do and I'm sure some will say it's all an act.
Boogie has long term problems of undiagnosed kind. He is more than just a s***head. There is more to him than that and I have always been an optimist when it comes to people. It may have been a great attitude in my profession and also may have been a reason I have been successful helping people. I have treated professional athletes on the Vikings. They are all human beings and seldom are their problems team related. In fact, in the Bud Grant era, they were supported and either made it with psychiatric help and the support of the team or didn't. Boogie at this point has the support of very few people. It's going to be difficult for him.
Now as to Keith Smart, he may be part of the problem in that from day one, it has been clear that Cousins has a lot of basketball related questions. He did it in college and the coach found him to be understanding and that it paid off to answer Boogie. Westphal didn't have time for those questions. Smart's answers tend to go around in circles. BUT .... Keith Smart handled this well. What happened really should stay in the locker room or it turns into a freak show and the last thing any human needs to be known as is a freak. Boogie is reaching that status. Smart treated him with respect. Smart got a lot of respect from me on that one. I think Smart learned that he was in over his head at trying to be Boogie's friend and that this might solve everything. I hope Smart learned something. He's a coach first and foremost. He shouldn't blur the boundries between friend and coach.
So now what? Perhaps we all go back to holding our breath but more has to be happening. We can survive in breath holding mode but we ALL will be much better off if there is substantial change in Boogie. He has to have made an appointment with a psychiatrist. Not a counselor, not an anger management specialist (never did know what that was but I suspect it was part of my job description for the 30 years I lasted), and one that he likes and trusts. It cannot be someone on the Kings payroll who will report details back to the Kings. My arrangement was merely to say something to the Vikings if there was something to be concerned about. The details are no one's business except Boogie and his psychiatrist. He has to trust that as does any patient. Then we see what happens. Expect no miracles except I think we will see his on the court behavior change gradually far before he senses any meaningful change in himself.
How do people think he views himself? I have always seen the side of him that is embarrassed and remorseful. It doesn't prevent a future problem but we are dealing with his underlying character which I think is good. I doubt if he enjoys losing control.
The self control is the problem on the court. Several people here mentioned they thought he was depressed before I brought it up. Read about major depression and you may find a lot of information you didn't know and that Boogie's problems MIGHT fall into that category. He has deteriorated over the three years not in his temper outbursts but in his sulkiness on the court. What does that mean? I can guess but those are my observations.
Yes, I like Boogie. I will give an alternative view to the observations of people who want to view him as negative as possible. He needs someone on his side. Not saying anything we say makes a difference but I will always present an alternative view. I will not excuse his behavior though. Let's not get those two things confused.
No one needs to agree with what I have written. It is not a requirement of mine or this forum's. I just hope there is not the customary knee jerk reaction to Boogie and mental illness. I hope it adds something to people's knowledge and then it can be rejected or accepted. I don't care. I have long ago quit caring about what some people are saying because I see no supporting evidence. They are blowing smoke just for the sake of blowing smoke.
Edit: I took a few minutes to review info on major depression. Here is what one web site said;
"What Are the Signs of Major Depression in Men?
Depression in men is significantly underreported. Men who suffer from clinical depression are less likely to seek help or even talk about their experience.
Signs of depression in men may include irritability, anger, or drug and alcohol abuse (substance abuse can also be a cause of depression rather than the result of it). Repressing their feelings can result in violent behavior directed both inwardly and outwardly. It can also result in an increase in illness, suicide, and homicide.
There are a whole bunch of other symptoms but these are those specific to men. Very honestly, I was surprised to find what it said about men's symptoms. It isn't that I didn't know irritability was a symptom, it's just that this sounds like Boogie. Punishing him will not cure this IF it is the problem. That's what psychiatrists are for - to tell what is causing what.