The question involving basketball coaches these days is not "what have you done for me lately" it is more like "what have you done for me today". When head basketball coach Ben Braun was fired yesterday from the California Bears basketball program it showed me that it in not about productivity but about expectations. Does California Athletic Director Sandy Barbour truly understand how to measure success?
"Ultimately, the bottom line is that we just didn't win enough basketball games" Barbour said.
Really...Braun is 10th all time in wins. She needed to change that statement to "NOT ENOUGH BASKETBALL GAMES THIS YEAR" because I guess 219 games (over 18 a season)in what many would call one of the toughest conferences is not enough. Here are some other basketball achievements that Mrs. Barbour thought was not enough:
535 victories (10th all-time)....but that is not enough!
2nd among current Pac 10 coaches in overall wins...but that is not enough!
Has been to the post season more than any coach in Cal basketball history...but that is not enough!
Holds the best winning percentage at Cal since the Hall of Famer Pete Newell...but that is not enough!
Has had 20 wins or more in 4 of his last 7 years...but that is not enough!
Expectations sunk Ben Braun and his career at California. It is a shame when we forget to look at history and what coaches have done. How soon we forget that Braun and his California team were 10-2 early in the season. How soon we forget that Braun and California lost 4 of its last 5 games to teams in the top 30 RPI or that 5 of its losses came either in overtime or to UCLA. How soon we forget...it is a shame. Ben Braun should still be coaching California Golden Bear basketball team and Athletic Directors should do some research before they fire a Cal legend.
What do you think? Answer the poll question.
"Ultimately, the bottom line is that we just didn't win enough basketball games" Barbour said.
Really...Braun is 10th all time in wins. She needed to change that statement to "NOT ENOUGH BASKETBALL GAMES THIS YEAR" because I guess 219 games (over 18 a season)in what many would call one of the toughest conferences is not enough. Here are some other basketball achievements that Mrs. Barbour thought was not enough:
535 victories (10th all-time)....but that is not enough!
2nd among current Pac 10 coaches in overall wins...but that is not enough!
Has been to the post season more than any coach in Cal basketball history...but that is not enough!
Holds the best winning percentage at Cal since the Hall of Famer Pete Newell...but that is not enough!
Has had 20 wins or more in 4 of his last 7 years...but that is not enough!
Expectations sunk Ben Braun and his career at California. It is a shame when we forget to look at history and what coaches have done. How soon we forget that Braun and his California team were 10-2 early in the season. How soon we forget that Braun and California lost 4 of its last 5 games to teams in the top 30 RPI or that 5 of its losses came either in overtime or to UCLA. How soon we forget...it is a shame. Ben Braun should still be coaching California Golden Bear basketball team and Athletic Directors should do some research before they fire a Cal legend.
What do you think? Answer the poll question.
2 comments:
TYPICAL! Being a coach yourself, it is apparent why you are so quick to back up a man who failed to do his job. And when jobs do not get done, heads should roll. Although this is a rather "Steinbrenneristic" attitude, this is one issue that I agree with that evil man on. PRODUCE OR GET OUT. This is not sno-king, this is not CYO--there shall be no juice boxes for everybody at the end of each game. This decision was well-advised and the CAL program will reap the rewards in years to come.
Assistant Coach, how can you defend a man who coached a team with 3 NBA players to a record of 1 game above .500, including a .333 % in the conference.
He had a career record at Berkeley of 219-154. Assistant coach, are you ok with mediocrity? Reduce that overall record down and you are about 18-13. That's just good enough to be on the bubble and maybe get into the dance because of the conference. Maybe Barbour wants to build a dynasty. Maybe Barbour is frustrated at being the worst Californian team in the Pac-10 and in the shadow of Stanford, UCLA, and USC. And just maybe, she is not satisfied with being the worst team in the Pac-10 besides Oregon State, who would probably lose to the St. Monica's School for the Blind.
When a coach's job is being questioned, I am the first to defend him/her if he/she deserves it(ex: Karen Blair). However, when a coach like Braun is fired, I applaud the AD for having the guts to fire a "legend." And if mediocrity is all it takes to be a legend, count me in for AP US History's Hall of Fame.
-oneill
Bluehole you need to read my blog more closely because Braun did not fail at his job! If you call failing to beat UCLA I am with you he should have been fired or if you say that having the most wins out of any coach in the Pac 10 is failing then by all means fire him. But don't give a man an extention thru 2011 if you think he can't get the job done. By your definition of failure then Romar should also be gone (what has he done lately). How is winning 219 games at Cal a mediocrity? (Williams has only 278 wins at NC). Your comment that Barbour is tired of being the worst team in California is laughable. How can you compete with a guy that recruits Lil' Romeo in order to get one of the best players in the nation? The bottom line is that Braun and Cal were 3 ots and 3 UCLA's from being a 20 win club and this firing being another extention for one of the best coaches in Cal basketball history.
Coach
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