COACH, PLAYER AND PARENT

It’s been happening for years.

I’ve written about it often; Players and parents upset about the coach.

Today I bring you a story of a girls high school basketball coach that was fired. Seems to be one of those cases where the parents were “too” involved. They’re actually calling it, “parent negativity surrounding the program.”

If you have coached, I’m sure you have had a situation with a disgruntled parent.

The one thing I have always come to realize was that the parent’s complaint was usually about playing time.

This past winter Alma put together one of the best seasons in program history as it went 19-6 overall and won a Division 2 district title before being bounced in the regional round. The 19 wins ties the single-season program record, a record that was established way back in 1978 when Alma went 19-1. Additionally, the district title was the first for the program since 2016.

In short the Panthers had a banner winter season, yet despite it all Sunken was fired because of ‘parent negativity.’

Alma’s administrators told Sunken, “The administrative team met and due to parent negativity surrounding the program we have to terminate you.”

Alma girls basketball coach Alaina Sunken fired after school-record season

NBA PLAYOFFS: DAY 2

Celtics 114 Heat 94: Jayson Tatum with a triple-double to lead Boston to a 1-0 series lead. Tatum scored 23 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Towards the end of the game Tatum went for a rebound and was knocked down by the Heat’s Caleb Martin. No big deal. It wasn’t a dirty play. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 24 points. The Heat played without Jimmy Butler.

Clippers 109 Mavericks 97: James Harden led the Clippers with 28 points. Paul George added 22. Ivica Zubac scored 20 points and pulled down 15 boards. Clippers shot 18-36 from downtown. Mavs were led by Luka Doncic with 33 points. Doncic shot 11-26 from the field. He also pulled down 13 rebounds. Clippers, who played without Kawhi Leonard lead the series 1-0.

Bucks 109 Pacers 94: Damian Lillard scored 35 points to lead the Bucks to the Game 1 victory. Khris Middleton added 25. Bobby Portis scored 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Milwaukee made 14 3’s on the night. The Pacers were led by Pascal Siakam with 36 points.

Thunder 94 Pelicans 92: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for OKC with 28 points giving the Thunder a 1-0 series lead. Jalen Williams chipped in with 19. Trey Murphy led the Pelicans with 21 points. The Pels were playing without Zion Williamson.

Home Cooking: The home team won all 8 first round games.

NBA PLAYOFFS

First round action from Saturday.

Cavaliers over the Magic: Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points to lead the Cavs to the 97-83 win. Cleveland takes a 1-0 series lead. Jarrett Allen grabbed 18 rebounds. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 24 points.

T-Wolves over the Suns: Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 120-95 victory. Anthony Edwards scored 33 points to lead the T-Wolves. Rudy Gobert had 16 rebounds for Minnesota. Kevin Durant led PHX with 31 points.

Knicks 111-76ers 104: Josh Hart scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Knicks to a 1-0 series lead. Jalen Brunson added 22 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Deuce McBride shot 5-7 from 3 off the bench for New York. Tyrese Maxey led Philly with 33 points. Joel Embiid had 29 points and was a +14 on the night.

Nuggets 114-Lakers 103: Nikola Jokic scored 32 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists leading Denver to the game 1 win. Denver has now beaten LA nine straight times. Jamal Murray added 22 points and dished out 10 assists. Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 32 points and 14 rebounds. LeBron James scored 27 points and 8 assists but he also turned the ball over 7 times. Denver had 27 assists with just 4 turnovers.

QUICK HITTERS

The transfer portal is wild. I just heard of two D-2 guys leaving their school. My only question with it is, what if no one picks them up? Now they’re out of a scholarship.

The job of an assistant coach at the college level has to be tougher than ever. But then again, if you look at some of the salaries these guys are pulling in, it’s not a bad gig.

Jason Whitlock’s latest take on WNBA salaries was deep. He went all in. “In more than 30 years of history, the WNBA has never once turned a profit, what business overpays? They’re already overpaid at $75,000 a year,” Whitlock said during the “Truth Bomb” segment of his “Fearless” podcast. 

Gregg Doyel of the Indy Star taking a lot of heat for his exchange with Caitlin Clark. https://nypost.com/2024/04/18/sports/columnist-gregg-doyel-crossed-the-line-with-caitlin-clark/

Reggie Miller’s comments about Anthony Davis wanting to miss a free-throw down the stretch was…dumb. Up two, 2.7 remaining, one shot. Miller said, “Here’s things that you talk about on the bus as players,” Miller said with the Lakers leading, 108-106, during the play-in tournament. “If he makes the first one, you’re up three. Do you try to purposely miss the second one, knowing that they have no timeouts…”

HUH?

All the talk about MVP, Rookie-of-the-Year, Coach-of-the-year, etc. is weak. Just win baby!

Saw a sign this morning; “Be nice or leave.”

Always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING

Why is it so hard for some people to do the right thing?

What makes someone “act out?”

Why do people not want to put in the work?

In athletics it’s puzzling to me.

Show up, put in the work, be coachable, be a great teammate.

Is that hard?

Go to school. Do the work. Don’t be a distraction

It’s a simple formula.

Be nice. Work hard. Stay positive.

Here’s an article on a high school baseball player who I have had the pleasure to be around the past three years. This guy is amazing. Outstanding baseball player; better person. Goes about his business every day.

By the way, he’ll be a first round draft pick in the upcoming MLB draft.

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2024/04/14/get-know-okemos-senior-mlb-draft-prospect-caleb-bonemer/73279725007

Always play the right way…

E-mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

THE HATE THEY GIVE

Tonight is the W.N.B.A. draft live from Brooklyn, New York.

7:30 PM on ESPN.

For the first time in my life I will tune in.

I’m only watching for one reason; Caitlin Clark.

With the first pick of the 2024 WNBA draft, the Indiana Fever select, Caitlin Clark of the University of Iowa.

Christine Brennan of the USA Today wrote a piece about Clark and the haters she has attracted. In the article she quotes a couple of WNBA players.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/brennan/2024/04/15/wnba-caitlin-clark-veteran-players-cold-taurasi-stewart/73323868007

Where does all this negative talk come from?

Jealousy. Envy. Animosity.

Why can’t these pro players be happy for Clark’s success?

In sports when someone does well society wants to knock them down. I don’t understand that mindset.

Clark, the greatest women’s college basketball of all-time has lifted the women’s game to tremendous heights. People are watching because of her.

Always play the right way…

E-mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

AN OUTSTANDING PODCAST

JJ Redick and LeBron James have a podcast called, “Mind the Game.” It’s a basketball junkie’s fix.

I highly recommend it.

In the episode below LBJ and JJ discuss “what makes a great basketball player?”

Love LeBron’s answer:

1-Knowing the history of the game.

2-Discipline

3-A love for the game.

PARENTS

Oftentimes in youth sports, the parents get in the way. I am sure you have heard the horror stories. It’s been going on for many years.

Interview below with Danny Hurley’s approach to recruiting – must listen, especially for the parents. Here’s a few quotes:

“There’s measurable talents you have to have — the height, the speed, the skill set. But we spend a lot of time really focusing on the parents.”

(I once had a college coach tell me he wouldn’t recruit a kid because of the father.)

“Are they going to be fans of their son or are they going to be parents? Are they going to hold them accountable, have an expectation that when something goes wrong that it’s not the coach’s fault? That their son’s got to work harder, he’s got to do more, he’s got to earn his role.”

“We’ve got a real old-school culture here of accountability. I’m an old-school coach in terms of the tone that I take with my players in practice. The expectations I take with effort, the focus on winning and ‘we’ over ‘me.‘”

“Have they played on seven different travel teams? Have they transferred to four or five different high schools? When you talk to the parents in the recruiting process, are they constantly complaining about the coaches after a bad game or are you having a conversation where their son has got to do more, got to play harder, he’s got to work on his skills.”

“They tell on themselves. They drop hints. [If] you’ve got the wrong type of people around the inner circle of your players, they’ll sink your program.”

THE HURLEY’S

Bob, Danny and Bobby Hurley are amazing.

Outstanding coaches who have made a huge impact at the high school and college levels.

I watched Bobby and Danny play high school ball at St. Anthony’s of Jersey City. Running the point for their dad. Bobby went on to play at Duke. He’s the NCAA all-time leader in assists. Danny played at Seton Hall. After their playing days both followed in their dad’s footsteps and got into coaching.

Danny started at St. Benedict’s High School in Newark. He would then become the head coach at Wagner College bringing Bobby on as an assistant coach.

Danny would soon get the head job at Rhode Island, Bobby got the head job at the University of Buffalo.

After much success Danny left URI for UConn, Bobby went out west to Arizona State.

I have had the opportunity to get to know Bob. We have spent some time together talking hoops. Danny, while coaching at St. Benedict’s once told us about one of his players; he wanted us to have a look at him while I was an assistant coach at St. Peter’s College. We took him.

We need our young players to allow a coach to bring out the best in them. Take the coaching. Don’t be a baby. Get tough. Work hard. Give it all you have.

The Hurley’s “coach the right way.”

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

FIRST TIME

With John Calipari headed to Arkansas opening up the Kentucky job, some big names in coaching being mentioned. I hope Danny Hurley stays at UConn – he’s got a good thing going. Is it me or did the Calipari news overshadow UConn winning it all? Last team to win 3 straight titles was UCLA (1971-73).

Bucks and Celtics Tuesday night had two total free-throws attempted the entire game…by both clubs. That’s incredible. Bucks shot 1-2, Celtics didn’t shoot any. Which has never happened before. There were 88 3’s taken. Bucks won 104-91.

Travel basketball at the youth level is about to get underway.

I’m not big into TV ratings but…the women’s NCAA championship game had more viewers than the men’s NCAA championship game. I watched them both.

What is up with the hate towards Caitlin Clark? What did she do wrong? All she does is play the right way, win and break records. We live in a mean, cruel world. Lot of people out there are phony.

Always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com