There was a time in the past where I thought Tommy would be our next HC. He might be best suited to being the Assistant HC. He's a excellent talent evaluator, crack recruiter, great teacher, and all around nice guy. He's got excellent wisdom gained from working for JC which he can impart to the HC. He also is really good at keeping a fiery Dan Hurley in check.
He might be our George Blaney.
JC was unable to distinguish the difference between being diplomatic and being phony at least with respect to basketball. I’m sure he was quite diplomatic with his wife.Tom learned so much basketball stuff from JC. One of the ways they are different though is JC use to jokingly call Tom “The Politician”. Tom can be smooth but genuine and just respectful to everyone around him. The peacemaker and the art of compromise. Jim admired that a little but in part because he could not be that way himself for long stretches. LOL
JC was unable to distinguish the difference between being diplomatic and being phony at least with respect to basketball. I’m sure he was quite diplomatic with his wife.
Wish I could agree. I never faulted him for taking his approach. As an individual who was diplomatic I felt his behavior was refreshingly honest. However it wasn't without consequence. Although I cannot say with absolute certainty, it would not be a stretch to state that there was a snowball affect on the program because he rubbed Hathaway, Emmert and the press the wrong way.Oh, he could distinguish it, he just didn't ascribe to it with both the officials and the media.
JC was purposeful in his actions.
Is Tom Afraid of the dark?Yah eh!?
Wish I could agree. I never faulted him for taking his approach. As an individual who was diplomatic I felt his behavior was refreshingly honest. However it wasn't without consequence. Although I cannot say with absolute certainty, it would not be a stretch to state that there was a snowball affect on the program because he rubbed Hathaway, Emmert and the press the wrong way.
JC was well, quite frankly.JC was unable to distinguish the difference between being diplomatic and being phony at least with respect to basketball. I’m sure he was quite diplomatic with his wife.
Chief said politics. I said diplomacy. JC felt both were bs. He absolutely gave a f. Anything other than raw bluntness was phony in his opinion. I’m stating one can be true to oneself and not necessarily be confrontational. There are better and worse ways of being honest. I admired his brutal honesty but it had negative consequences.I think we are arguing different things. You initially said:
JC was unable to distinguish the difference between being diplomatic and being phony
I replied:
Oh, he could distinguish it, he just didn't ascribe to it with both the officials and the media. JC was purposeful in his actions.
So you were saying, he could not distiguish between the two. I argued that he certainly could, he just didn't give a damn, consequences be damned. It hurt us at times, but I do think it helped on the floor, and by being genuine with the kids, thereby building trust. It definitely hurt us with the media, perception of the program, opposing fan bases, and of course, the NCAA.
His ability to determine the difference was evidence by his comments on Calipari and Pitino. He said something along the lines of, "they are both BSers. One believes his own BS. The other is a phony."
JC was sharp as hell; he just dgaf.
Lew Perkins and Harry Hartley were two administrators who got along splendidly with Jim Calhoun. But, agree about Hathaway and Emmett. Personally, Chief saw Emmett as a dishonesty phony too and considered Hathaway a bureaucrat.Wish I could agree. I never faulted him for taking his approach. As an individual who was diplomatic I felt his behavior was refreshingly honest. However it wasn't without consequence. Although I cannot say with absolute certainty, it would not be a stretch to state that there was a snowball affect on the program because he rubbed Hathaway, Emmert and the press the wrong way.
Lew Perkins and Harry Hartley were two administrators who got along splendidly with Jim Calhoun. But, agree about Hathaway and Emmett. Personally, Chief saw Emmett as a dishonesty phony too and considered Hathaway a bureaucrat.
I really do think Calhoun admires the diplomacy traits Tom has - not that he would want to adopt them for himself LOL. Because that’s not who he is. He did jokingly call him the “politician” which to him meant the same thing as diplomatic.
Many saw George Blaney as a calming influence too, perhaps because Calhoun respected him, could relate to his Irish Jersey City type background and he kept his cool. That created a good bench balance. I think Calhoun saw George as brilliantly analytical and contrary to the belief of some posters - if it was a NCAA tournament game - George NOT Glen Miller would do the scouting report.