http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/70485.html
In Minnesota, Musselman has memories of dad
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:39 am PST Thursday, November 2, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- There is a picture in the halls of Target Center, with Bill Musselman circa 1989 looking as happy as a coach with unending intensity possibly can.
The late father of Kings coach Eric Musselman always will be legendary in Minnesota, his body of work including four seasons at the University of Minnesota and his charge as the first coach of the then-expansion Timberwolves in 1989.
But six years after his father's passing, Eric Musselman spent much of Wednesday with images of his own running through his mind.
This is where Eric had his first NBA job, spending one memorable season (1990-91) as his dad's assistant. The T-wolves went 29-53 in what was the elder Musselman's second and final season before he was fired.
"It was just a special year," Eric said. "Not very many people get to work every day with their fathers. I actually lived with him, with one of his former players. ... To be able to spend a year traveling with him, learning from him, it's special now that he's gone.
"Whenever the national anthem plays, I always think about him. He loved it here."
In 1991, Eric became head coach of the Florida Beach Dogs in the Continental Basketball Association. When he became head coach of the Golden State Warriors in 2002, the Musselmans became the first father-son duo to hold head coaching jobs.
While under Bill's thumb as an assistant, though, he said pops was the one running the show.
"I was like a glorified ballboy," he said. "Anybody who's seen my dad coach at practice, the assistants don't do anything. He did everything. I was shagging balls and smiling."
The trips to Minnesota still come with no shortage of family and friends for Eric. At Kings shootaround Wednesday, Eric visited with Bill Musselman's widow, Julie. She was with Eric's half-brother, Max, an 8-year-old who was born two years before his father died and is younger than Eric's oldest son, 10-year-old Michael.
"We root for the Timberwolves, but we'll be rooting for the Kings, too, tonight," Julie said.
Rhymes and reason -- Kevin Garnett can't endorse Ron Artest's music quite yet.
Though the Minnesota forward already has purchased the Kings forward's rap album that was released Tuesday -- he bought two copies from Best Buy, in fact -- he hadn't listened to them before game time Wednesday. Garnett did say, though, that he supports any player's attempt to add to his repertoire.
"I think players should support other players in their other projects," said Garnett, whose teammate, Troy Hudson, also raps. "To get up and perform in front of people, an audience, to do something against the norm. That's brave, that's self-confidence, so I can applaud him for that."
As for Garnett, not being an artist hasn't stopped him from diversifying his music.
"I love R&B, I'm a rap phenomenon, but I also enjoy some alternative, some rock, symphonies ... some classical," he said. "I'm a huge Tony Bennett fan, huge Elton John fan. I love old school -- '80s, '70s."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
In Minnesota, Musselman has memories of dad
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:39 am PST Thursday, November 2, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- There is a picture in the halls of Target Center, with Bill Musselman circa 1989 looking as happy as a coach with unending intensity possibly can.
The late father of Kings coach Eric Musselman always will be legendary in Minnesota, his body of work including four seasons at the University of Minnesota and his charge as the first coach of the then-expansion Timberwolves in 1989.
But six years after his father's passing, Eric Musselman spent much of Wednesday with images of his own running through his mind.
This is where Eric had his first NBA job, spending one memorable season (1990-91) as his dad's assistant. The T-wolves went 29-53 in what was the elder Musselman's second and final season before he was fired.
"It was just a special year," Eric said. "Not very many people get to work every day with their fathers. I actually lived with him, with one of his former players. ... To be able to spend a year traveling with him, learning from him, it's special now that he's gone.
"Whenever the national anthem plays, I always think about him. He loved it here."
In 1991, Eric became head coach of the Florida Beach Dogs in the Continental Basketball Association. When he became head coach of the Golden State Warriors in 2002, the Musselmans became the first father-son duo to hold head coaching jobs.
While under Bill's thumb as an assistant, though, he said pops was the one running the show.
"I was like a glorified ballboy," he said. "Anybody who's seen my dad coach at practice, the assistants don't do anything. He did everything. I was shagging balls and smiling."
The trips to Minnesota still come with no shortage of family and friends for Eric. At Kings shootaround Wednesday, Eric visited with Bill Musselman's widow, Julie. She was with Eric's half-brother, Max, an 8-year-old who was born two years before his father died and is younger than Eric's oldest son, 10-year-old Michael.
"We root for the Timberwolves, but we'll be rooting for the Kings, too, tonight," Julie said.
Rhymes and reason -- Kevin Garnett can't endorse Ron Artest's music quite yet.
Though the Minnesota forward already has purchased the Kings forward's rap album that was released Tuesday -- he bought two copies from Best Buy, in fact -- he hadn't listened to them before game time Wednesday. Garnett did say, though, that he supports any player's attempt to add to his repertoire.
"I think players should support other players in their other projects," said Garnett, whose teammate, Troy Hudson, also raps. "To get up and perform in front of people, an audience, to do something against the norm. That's brave, that's self-confidence, so I can applaud him for that."
As for Garnett, not being an artist hasn't stopped him from diversifying his music.
"I love R&B, I'm a rap phenomenon, but I also enjoy some alternative, some rock, symphonies ... some classical," he said. "I'm a huge Tony Bennett fan, huge Elton John fan. I love old school -- '80s, '70s."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
