http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/43649.html
Ailene Voisin: Coach's humiliation is punishment enough
By Ailene Voisin -
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, October 22, 2006
Eric Musselman blew his Kings home court head-coaching debut, and he blew it badly.
That was his car that was stopped, his breath that reportedly reeked, his prints that were taken, his mug that was photographed. That was his name on the police report and his reputation being debated afterward on talk shows, in chat rooms, on the television. And this is his young and promising life, suddenly in emotional and professional tatters.
Self-inflicted wounds are always the most excruciating. The difference here is that, unlike the rest of us, NBA coaches and players conduct their penance in public. Commit a mistake such as the one the Kings coach is accused of -- driving while under the influence of alcohol -- and the penalty includes a very visible flogging. And that should be sufficient. There is no need to fire or fine him. Excluding the legal disposition of the case, there is no need for anything other than an apology to his community, his players, his organization and, most importantly, to his two young sons.
What do you say to the kids?
What could be more wrenching than that?
No, Musselman's remorse is splattered right there on his personal stat sheet, the one with all the devastating details for the entire universe to scrutinize. Arrested at 2:15 a.m. Booked at 3:14. Released at 5:51. Required to call Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie at 6 and the Maloofs around noon.
"Eric was crying so hard on the phone," Gavin Maloof said on his cell phone, "that he could hardly put two sentences together. Obviously he feels terrible about this. We don't condone his behavior, but it's like I told him. He can go one way or the other. Something like this can either break you down, and you pack it in and fold up the tent, or you admit your mistakes and get on with your life. He's a tough guy. I think he's going to be fine."
Earlier in the day, however, Musselman, an intense, tightly-wound individual who demands even more of himself than he does of his players, was so distraught that team officials delayed a late-afternoon press conference until today. The Maloofs, who were preparing to fly to the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York, hastily changed plans, and chartered a flight from Las Vegas to Sacramento to accompany Petrie and Musselman to today's session at Arco Arena.
In many respects, the timing could hardly have been worse. The incident occurred just hours after Musselman's first appearance on the sideline at Arco. The regular season starts in 11 days. The Maloofs, city/county officials and the developer have yet to finalize an agreement for the funding of a downtown arena - despite the fact voters are still being asked to vote on the pertinent ballot measures in the upcoming election.
And at least until an agreement is reached - the very existence of a legal document bolstering the family's commitment to keeping the franchise in Sacramento - uncertainty about the future of the city's only major professional sports team will continue gaining momentum, furthering an increasingly negative sentiment toward the Kings.
While Musselman's early-morning incident isn't crippling, and perhaps, even humanizes one of the city's most high-profile figures, negative news is negative news. A drunken-driving incident is dominating coverage and insinuating itself into discussions that would have been devoted to potential roster moves, Ron Artest's gritty presence, Kevin Martin's impressive performance in the exhibition home opener, or even whether Musselman's energy and intensity will be an effective contrast to Rick Adelman's more casual approach to training camp.
"I met with Eric for a while this morning," Petrie said, "and he understood right away. He understands the short-term ramifications. But what is important now is his response, his willingness to correct his behavior."
Musselman's second chance begins today.
Everybody deserves one.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com
Ailene Voisin: Coach's humiliation is punishment enough
By Ailene Voisin -
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, October 22, 2006
Eric Musselman blew his Kings home court head-coaching debut, and he blew it badly.
That was his car that was stopped, his breath that reportedly reeked, his prints that were taken, his mug that was photographed. That was his name on the police report and his reputation being debated afterward on talk shows, in chat rooms, on the television. And this is his young and promising life, suddenly in emotional and professional tatters.
Self-inflicted wounds are always the most excruciating. The difference here is that, unlike the rest of us, NBA coaches and players conduct their penance in public. Commit a mistake such as the one the Kings coach is accused of -- driving while under the influence of alcohol -- and the penalty includes a very visible flogging. And that should be sufficient. There is no need to fire or fine him. Excluding the legal disposition of the case, there is no need for anything other than an apology to his community, his players, his organization and, most importantly, to his two young sons.
What do you say to the kids?
What could be more wrenching than that?
No, Musselman's remorse is splattered right there on his personal stat sheet, the one with all the devastating details for the entire universe to scrutinize. Arrested at 2:15 a.m. Booked at 3:14. Released at 5:51. Required to call Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie at 6 and the Maloofs around noon.
"Eric was crying so hard on the phone," Gavin Maloof said on his cell phone, "that he could hardly put two sentences together. Obviously he feels terrible about this. We don't condone his behavior, but it's like I told him. He can go one way or the other. Something like this can either break you down, and you pack it in and fold up the tent, or you admit your mistakes and get on with your life. He's a tough guy. I think he's going to be fine."
Earlier in the day, however, Musselman, an intense, tightly-wound individual who demands even more of himself than he does of his players, was so distraught that team officials delayed a late-afternoon press conference until today. The Maloofs, who were preparing to fly to the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York, hastily changed plans, and chartered a flight from Las Vegas to Sacramento to accompany Petrie and Musselman to today's session at Arco Arena.
In many respects, the timing could hardly have been worse. The incident occurred just hours after Musselman's first appearance on the sideline at Arco. The regular season starts in 11 days. The Maloofs, city/county officials and the developer have yet to finalize an agreement for the funding of a downtown arena - despite the fact voters are still being asked to vote on the pertinent ballot measures in the upcoming election.
And at least until an agreement is reached - the very existence of a legal document bolstering the family's commitment to keeping the franchise in Sacramento - uncertainty about the future of the city's only major professional sports team will continue gaining momentum, furthering an increasingly negative sentiment toward the Kings.
While Musselman's early-morning incident isn't crippling, and perhaps, even humanizes one of the city's most high-profile figures, negative news is negative news. A drunken-driving incident is dominating coverage and insinuating itself into discussions that would have been devoted to potential roster moves, Ron Artest's gritty presence, Kevin Martin's impressive performance in the exhibition home opener, or even whether Musselman's energy and intensity will be an effective contrast to Rick Adelman's more casual approach to training camp.
"I met with Eric for a while this morning," Petrie said, "and he understood right away. He understands the short-term ramifications. But what is important now is his response, his willingness to correct his behavior."
Musselman's second chance begins today.
Everybody deserves one.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com
