What I think I think about Tom Izzo and the Cavaliers (at this particular moment)
by KJ@theonlycolors on Jun 9, 2010 9:17 PM CDT
in Michigan State Spartans Basketball
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My approach to blogging has always been to blog about whatever interests me about MSU athletics at the moment. Well, guess what interests me right now? Hence, the fifth Tom Izzo/Cleveland Cavaliers post in four days.
What I think I think as of 10:00 p.m., Wednesday night:
- Tom Izzo has absolutely earned the right to consider and pursue whatever opportunities are presented to him. If he leaves MSU, I will be hugely disappointed but I will also be enormously grateful for what he's done for the university and its fans over the last 15 years. We've experienced a decade-plus run matched by only a few teams in the history of the sport.
- Izzo has never hid the fact that competing at the NBA level holds a certain appeal for him. This opportunity with the Cavs is quite likely the best NBA opportunity he'll ever get. An owner with whom he already has a working relationship. A bucket load of money. The possibility of coaching one of the most talented basketball players in the history of the sport in the prime of his career. He owes it to himself to do his due diligence, which is exactly what he is doing.
- Izzo has apparently been direct and honest with his players about what the situation is. I'd expect no less. When 19- and 20-year old kids hear their head coach talking about seriously considering another job, that's going to sound an awful lot like he's on the verge of leaving.
- Valid internet reports that someone is definitely going to do something do not begin with "sources close to [internet site]." They begin with "sources close to [the someone]." "Sources close to [internet site]" sounds an awful lot like "a guy I know who goes to MSU who has a friend that has a class with an MSU basketball player."
- That report was "ridiculous." I have not seen the multiple "ridiculous" reports that Mark Hollis referred to today. But I do live in the TOC bubble as far as MSU fan chatter goes. I sympathize with the position Hollis is in right now, but it's reality. There's no sense blaming the situation on the media and/or fan base.
- The modern minute-by-minute news cycle is exacerbating the sense that Izzo is definitely taking the Cavs job. It's been maybe a week since the Cavaliers contacted Izzo. It's been four days since the first public hint it was a real possibility. It's been three days since the thing really started to blow up as a story. That's not an inordinate amount of time to contemplate a major job opportunity.
- Ultimately, the pull of what Izzo has built at MSU, both in terms of the people around him and the potential for joining the ranks of the greatest college coaches of all time, is going to exert an awful lot of gravity on him. This is a man who sleeps on the floor of his basketball arena with his team.
- There's still no reason to think the timing in terms of Izzo's and LeBron James' decisions is going to come together. James does not show any sign of re-signing with the Cavs before July 1. And it's going to be pretty tough for both Izzo and the Cavaliers to wait 3+ weeks before moving in other directions. Unless Dan Gilbert is 100% sure Izzo is the guy James wants (and can convince Izzo of that), Izzo would have to take a leap of faith. If he wants NBA success bad enough, maybe that's a reasonable gamble. But it's a pretty big one.
- I still think the odds he goes are well below 50%.
(Admittedly, that last bullet veers off somewhat from "things I think" to "things I hope." Speaking of hopes, here's hoping Izzo gives Rick Pitino a call some time soon.)
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I concur
I’d really hate to see him go, but honestly, if he feels it’s really a better job, who can blame him?
I really don’t see him taking the job, and even with Lebron, I don’t see the Cav’s job as better than Izzo’s lifetime job at MSU, but who can say.
I’m hoping for the best.
Agreed on all counts
If he goes, I wish him the best (though I cannot say the same of Gilbert; as a Minnesotan I never forgave Norm Green for taking the Stars south and I don’t think I can forgive an MSU alum who drags one of the top two college coaches in the game away when we’re set up to make a title run). But I’d obviously prefer that the best happen here instead.
I'd be curious to hear Izzo's honest answer to this question -
What would you rather do next year? Win a NT with MSU, or an NBA title with Cleveland?
It’s not that simple and I confess it’s a really complicated issue but I think it says a lot. If Izzo thinks anything like me, you come back to the former over and over again. It’s something you’ve built from the ground up and worked towards with your staff, players, and university. I can’t imagine harnessing the Cavs and helping put LeBron over the top would give the same satisfaction. But who knows.
Just posted:
ESPNEWS Sources: Byron Scott emerges as strong candidate for the Cavs head coaching job. Scott is now on equal footing with Michigan State’s Izzo.
2 minutes ago
Hmmm.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Jun 9, 2010 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Coach
There are a lot of things that don’t add up to me about coach leaving.
The first involves NBA players. Coach has shown that he takes tremendous pride in what kind of people the players are. When they aren’t up to his admittedly high standards, there is friction. He seems like he takes just as much pride in causing the 18-22 year olds to grow as he does in actually winning. That is something that can’t carry over with the prima donnas that he would end up coaching. You think he wants to deal with, i don’t know, how about what Delonte West brought to the team this year.
Secondly, he is a lot more ingrained here than last time he took a serious look at the NBA. He led the search for a football coach, and people honestly suggested he just take over both teams. With the last two final four runs, he has become an honest face of this university whose impact has gone much past the basketball team.
He’s already said its not about the money, which is obviously rather cliche, but his methods that impact young players aren’t the kinds of things you can pull with veterans (and certainly not lebron, who has shown that he runs the show) in the league.
I don’t know that there is an answer here, but I’d like to think that what he appears to the university is what it appears to be, and we won’t all be deprived of who he is, something I think that would truly be lost in Cleveland, or any other NBA team.
MSU withOUT Izzo
MSU withOUT Izzo, is like Penn State withOUT Joe Paterno. It doesn’t happen!!!!
Penn State had coaches before Joe Paterno.
Jud Heathcote won a title at MSU.
I don’t think Izzo will leave, but I do know that he has built an exceptional program and the next coach will have a solid footing.
"I'm day-to-day with hurt feelings." - Chris Pronger
by ReadingRambler on Jun 9, 2010 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions
PDcavsinsider MSU source: Tom Izzo planning visit to Cleveland on Thursday: http://bit.ly/bcubvT
Gulp.
Quote:
According to a Michigan State source, Izzo has scheduled a trip to Cleveland on Thursday to meet with team officials and possibly tour the Cavs’ facilities. Whether or Izzo will go through with the trip is unknown.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Jun 9, 2010 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions
That's just a reminder
of how big a thing word choice is in journalism. He’s planning a visit to Cleveland, not necessarily going.
If the visit is going through, I bet we have an answer by Friday. Bonus – all weekend to get drunk and forget about what may or may not happen. My choice – top shelf whiskey. Goes down smooth, hangover makes you forget that anything ever happened.
by Pete Rossman on Jun 9, 2010 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Just so Tommy knows-
Being the family man he is, for cities under a half million, Cleveland is ranked as the 10th most dangerous city in the country.
I’m sure he’d look for a nice place in the suburbs, but it doesn’t look like a great place for the kids to grow up.
Meh.
Let’s not call the kettle black here. There are plenty of places in Michigan that don’t look too good in those rankings, either. (Including Lansing, I’d imagine.) I hope like hell he’ll stay at MSU, but his kids would be fine in Shaker Heights or wherever.
PP-TPW.
The Only Colors
And just like Tom Izzo doesn't live in Lansing,
he wouldn’t live in Cleveland.
PP-TPW.
The Only Colors
Still strongly believe
there is no way he can take this job without LBJ on board. Even if there is some indication Lebron maybe coming back, I just can’t see TI leaving without LBJ guaranteed to be part of package.
I'm with you there
He won’t leave a potential title-winning situation here for a crappy situation in Cleveland. And any situation without LeBron in Cleveland is going to be beyond crappy.
This is madness
10 years ago those of us who didn’t live in Lansing just waited for Sportscenter to tell us who the Hawks hired. Now we get to spend every waking moment refreshing blog sites for minute by minute developments. It’s turned my life upside down. I’m sad as if a relative was on life support and not showing any signs of life. I want to shut it out but it’s everywhere and I’m addicted to information just like everybody else. I want to believe he’s staying but if he does, this is just going to become an annual ritual until he finally leaves. I don’t want to spend future offseasons like this, wondering if this is the day TI follows the Paper Trail. I think he has to go so we can get on with the grieving. Now I know what Stringer Bell felt like when he knew he had to give Avon up to the police. Either way, this is gonna hurt.
Go Hard or get some popcorn
Well said
although in my view if he doesn’t take this NBA job, he’s not taking one in the future. This is almost the perfect situation. Midwest team, owner he’s familiar with, potentially coaching a once in a generation talent. If he passes now I’ll rest a lot easier any time these rumors swirl in the future.
by trivialstuff16 on Jun 10, 2010 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
It seems...
…to me that a situation where he KNEW whether the team’s superstar player would be on his roster might be better.
by witless chum on Jun 10, 2010 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd rather
have a decent chance at coaching Lebron on a team that has been a force the last few years than coach a team like this. I’m trying to think of head coaching vacancies offered to college coaches of this caliber in the past. This seems like a top choice with Lebron and a solid one even without.
Well written
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Most of the posts and comments here are keeping me from total freak-out mode.
Izzo Looking for New Challenge?
Why doesn’t he try winning the Big Ten Tournament?
(rimshot)
by RickTheBloggerMartel on Jun 10, 2010 6:59 AM CDT reply actions
Hello Spartans,
Just wanted to lend a little support your way and say I hope you get to keep your coach, although I have to confess, it is nice seeing someone’s name besides John Calipari linked to every head coaching job in the NBA for a change. But we know what you guys are going through. Good luck. You do have a really great coach. Tom Izzo is a class act in all definitions of the phrase.
I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!
I have written a 1,200 word article comparing Tom Izzo to Gandalf and the NBA to a Balrog
If you are nerdy enough, you may read it.
I really do think he wants to go to the NBA at some point—and if he can coach LeBron James in his prime, he’s never going to get a better opportunity than right now. I’m more worried about this than I’ve been about any of the other rumors . . . but if I were Tom, I’d need absolute certainty that I WOULD be coaching LeBron James in his prime, and not just Zydrunas Ilgauskas in a wheelchair.
Peace
Ty
http://www.thelionsinwinter.com
by ty@thelionsinwinter on Jun 10, 2010 7:48 AM CDT reply actions
Bryon Scott
Cures cancer, delivers babies, walks on water and is guaranteed to bring an NBA title to Cleveland. He’d be a much better hire. We’ll just take Izzo back, I guess.
I would equate Izzo leaving ...
with my son graduating and leaving home. You can’t hold on forever and wish him well.
To pile on with TahoeSparty – Byron Scott is faster than a speeding bullet, bends steel with his bare hands, jumps over buildings in a single bound – Truth, Justice and the Cleveland way!
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