There are a multitude of cardiovascular tests that could replace this particular test that have less impact on a player’s knees. This isn’t freaking high school or a fraternity pledge. If a player’s request is reasonable and a reasonable accommodation can be found, then the parties should work together to find a solution. I will only have a problem with this if an alternative of a similar cardiovascular nature is not found or is refused by Spencer. After reading the article, I do not believe for one second that Spencer is being a prima donna or trying to weasel his way out of a tough drill. He sounds genuinely concerned – and given the monetary and career stakes, he ought to be.

Regarding TZ’s point about showing up two weeks early, I don’t know enough about Spencer’s schedule to respond. Was he still in school? If not, that is a tougher objection to overcome than the former.

The Bee’s stories from two years back are dead links now, but when Musselman tested the guys, I think big men had to finish the sprints in something like 58 seconds. It’s a freaking minute of sprints.

While I can see your point – and as a former coach for several years understand how difficult it is to single people out for unique treatment – I just can’t see how this particular drill is similar to game-type basketball situations. Players don’t run for 10 minutes straight and bend down and touch lines in a basketball game.

Players are unique; situations are unique. There has to be some reasonable flexibility. I simply will never embrace the Bear Bryant circa 1955 view of coaching and the coach/player relationship. These are grown men and professionals. As a coach, you have to trust them until they prove themselves untrustworthy. If Spencer begins a streak of whining about his knees and a stream of similar incidents ensue, then I think the coach and management can reasonably suspend their trust. Until then, they have to give him the benefit of the doubt and find a reasonable alternative.

I suspect that this is exactly what they will do.

Nice one, Jason. I had never considered the possibility of an ideological opposition to wind sprints.

Is how someone can’t understand how ANY story makes the news these days. The days of the media keeping quiet on the character flaws of our sports heroes are long over.

It sums up Bibby nicely. (Totally off-topic, but it sums up much of what I always so heavily disliked about the Bibbster.)

But that’s a very interesting point.

But it’s almost beside the point. It’s a team rule, and one that can be alternatively addressed by coming in two weeks early. You don’t like the law? Change the law. But until then, abide by the law. Hawes could have avoided all of this by simply coming in early…or by coming to an agreement with the coaching staff prior to this becoming an issue.

The test is NOT suicides. It consists of sets of 10 full court sprints. Each set must be done in less than 62 seconds and the four sets are done in about 10 minutes. It ends up being about 7 tenths of a mile with 40 starts and stops. I don’t see how this is different from changing ends of the court multiple times in a fast-paced game.

He’s rarely one to stir up fake drama. And this isn’t fake drama. This is Spencer being the politician he thinks he can be.

Once people understand that most of us have issue with how Spencer handled the whole issue, as opposed to not wanting to run those types of things to help protect his knees, something many of us can understand, then I think this will go away.

I’m annoyed that he didn’t address it knowing it would happen. I’m also annoyed that he didn’t mention about attempting a resolution with Reggie Theus or anybody on the staff first. Not one single mention, and while I’m at it, it’s a bit foreshadowing for a piece I’ve been working on with regards to Reggie, of this by Reggie today in the news. I’m happy to see that Theus is taking more of the high road here.