Bigtime University Athletics and their Role-Model Coaches
'Here’s the thing about coaches — they seldom, if ever, tell the truth.
They’re not honest in talking about their players. Often, they’re not honest in talking with their players. They’re not honest in talking about their team — or, oftentimes, in talking to their team. They’re not honest about injuries. They’re not honest about contract negotiations, especially their own. And they’re never, ever honest with the media, because those pesky guys with pens have an uncanny knack for telling the truth, which coaches, players, and, in many cases, fans, don’t really want to hear.
... [The University of Florida's Billy Donovan] has been a red-hot coaching commodity since leading the Gators to a second-straight NCAA championship.
Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky tried to lure him away, but couldn’t. Donovan also was approached by the Memphis Grizzlies, who had the worst record in the NBA last year. That deal never came to fruition, either. But now the Magic has come along, with a deal Donovan obviously felt he couldn’t refuse.
At least he doesn’t come across looking as bad as Nick Saban, who, after months of protesting vociferously that he had no interest in leaving the Miami Dolphins to return to college coaching at the University of Alabama, suddenly quit the Dolphins to take over the Crimson Tide.
...And Billy D., on Wednesday, knew “nothing” about any possible deal with the Magic, with whom he signed a 5-year contract Thursday worth $5.5 million a season.
Never believe what a coach says about anything. Because they seldom, if ever, are telling the truth.'
These guys often get faculty appointments. I mean, like, they're professors in a way. So faculty as well as students derive an ethical dividend from association with them.
---jim donaldson, providence journal---
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