Spinning Kurt Rambis
by Ziller on Jun 10, 2009 8:27 AM PDT
in Commentary
31 comments
As linked below by Exhibit G, The Bee's Sam Amick reported on why Paul Westphal ended up beating out Kurt Rambis for the job.
[A]fter [Geoff] Petrie had to convince Westphal to stay in the race late last week, he had pressured Rambis' agent, Warren LeGarie, for an answer regarding what it would take to entice Rambis to take the job. That answer came this afternoon in the form of an e-mail from LeGarie, which was essentially a non-answer insisting that they needed more time and simply couldn't commit to anything. [...] There had been rumblings all along that Rambis had serious doubts about the job on a number of fronts and may not have taken it unless the expected salary ($1.5 million per in two guaranteed seasons) increased significantly.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com has a different story.
League coaching sources told ESPN.com that the Kings made a formal offer to Rambis hours before the Lakers' 108-104 loss to the Orlando Magic in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
When Rambis passed -- having said repeatedly that he was determined to delay any decision about his future after the Finals and with the Kings intent on paying their new hire less than $2 million annually -- Sacramento moved on and agreed with Westphal on a two-year deal with a team option for a third season.
Ah yes, there is some spinning going on. The Kings either just wanted to know if they'd even be able to get Rambis, or they gave him an ultimatum hours before a Finals game in which Rambis was a lead assistant. We're talking about Geoff Petrie here, possibly the most methodical, least confrontational man in the business. We're also talking about the difference between a reporter in Sacramento, one who has reported this story from Day 1, versus a national reporter currently in Orlando. Amick's sources are obviously Kings/Westphal sources. I would surmise that Stein's sources potentially come from the Lakers.
None of this actually matters: Westphal is the coach, and it's unlikely folks around here will believe (or remember) Stein's story. But the spin being offered to Stein is obviously a degree less flattering for the franchise and Petrie, and it'd be unfortunate if that spin is what became conventional wisdom out there.
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ESPN
is becoming crap anyway.
Booyah!
by what_the_crap on Jun 10, 2009 8:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well put TZ
When I saw what Stein was reporting, I had the same first thought, “Since when has Marc Stein been covering this story?”
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
by Exhibit G on Jun 10, 2009 8:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah G, and not only that, Stein even said this too
The Kings’ odds of luring Rambis away from L.A. with only two years guaranteed and at the salary level Westphal accepted were always long, according to Lakers sources, even if Sacramento had waited.
What no Kings sources in there? Ha!
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
by pookeyguru on Jun 10, 2009 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Doesn't Matter
Ther’s no rule saying a coach-less team has to be patient. Maybe they weren’t getting a good or consistent vibe from Rambis, or maybe they didn’t want to risk losing Westphal as a candidate, thus driving up Rambis’ value enven more. If the Kings were ready to make a choice, and Rambis wasn’t, it doesn’t look bad on anyone. Just bad timing.
by PurplePurple on Jun 10, 2009 9:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sounds to me like Rambis wasn't going to make a decision . . .
until he knew whether Jackson was staying or leaving. That makes sense for him, but the last thing we need is to wait for Rambis, lose our other options, and have the [redacted] hire him out from under us. I’m glad we took PW. He’s been my choice for a while—primarily because he has plenty of experience and he WANTS to come coach here. Never got the feeling that EJ wanted to come to Sac. Sounded like he would have come only if the Sixers desl didn’t pan out.
Byron Scott, on the other hand made my mouth water, but it doesn’t look like we could have afforded him anyway.
"Shut up and Coach!"
Vfettke
by SavageBeast on Jun 10, 2009 9:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ailene "vetting" Voisin will be disappointed
Byron was sooooo sexy.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
by pookeyguru on Jun 10, 2009 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It sounds to me like
the Kings were actually torn between the two and went with the one who obviously wanted the job
www.mancancook.net
by vfettke on Jun 10, 2009 9:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Did your powers of perception tell you that?
Or did God just whisper in your ear?
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
by pookeyguru on Jun 10, 2009 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't make me hit you
www.mancancook.net
by vfettke on Jun 10, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Violence turns me on
Beware.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
by pookeyguru on Jun 10, 2009 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And yet a 3rd spin
… from Rickyflip’s fanpost here .
Could StR have been used as an unwitting player?
The process was marred with an immense amount of acrimony. Sources say the Kings were turned off by one rival representative’s relentless and nasty attacks on Westphal’s candidacy. As for Westphal, he was livid over what he considered unfair and unfounded attacks and nearly pulled out of the process over the weekend.
Yet several league executives and coaches who knew Westphal well rallied on his behalf and helped him land the job. Westphal was 267-159 with an NBA Finals appearance and four trips to the playoffs with the Phoenix Suns and Seattle Sonics.
by Mystic on Jun 10, 2009 9:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Anyone Else Think...
‘Spinning Kurt Rambis’ is a good name for a band?
by PurplePurple on Jun 10, 2009 10:43 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
two things
I am disappointed in Mark Stein – the report is both lazy and unfair to the Kings
Kurt Rambis has a representative that is “doing his job”, spinning his client to seem as he didn’t want the job, not that it wasn’t offered, but the fact that Rambis has not addressed this personally is unacceptable and speaks poorly for him. To further put on the ultimatum spin is doubly difficult as Rambis should be concentrating on his current post but now is stuck about speaking out saying he is too busy. Looks like a well deserved round of boo’s when he gets whatever head coaching job is in his future. Eff’em
Confirms Paul Westphal as the better suited candidate.
by betweentheeyes on Jun 10, 2009 12:09 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
OMGOMGOMG
WE LOST OUT ON KURT RAMBIS!!!! ALL HOPE IS LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!
by otis29 on Jun 10, 2009 2:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Do we get to be on the TV show now?
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
by pookeyguru on Jun 10, 2009 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds to me
that Rambis did not want the job. Amick also confirmed what I posted last week regarding Westphals patience being tested. At that time I would not have been surprised if Westphal withdrew his name. Its looks like that was the case according to Ammick. I also would give kudos to Ammick regarding other teams out there. I did hear rumblings that the timberwolves were extending feelers to Westphal.
All this to say that Ammick has great sources and between him or ESPN their is no doubt in my mind that Ammick’s reporting is heads and shoulders above ESPN. Besides its just not credible at all that Petrie would offer the job to Rambis hours before an important playoff gae. That makes no sense at all.
by PWfan on Jun 10, 2009 3:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The next beginning of a renewed pacific division rivalry.
Rambis is going to inheret the lakers from Phil Jackson and this is going to be an added drama piece in a couple of seasons when the Pdubb-coached Kings become the up and coming underdogs dethroning his lakers.
Most fans probably wanted Rambis instead but I’m glad we got someone who meets all of Petrie’s preset qualifications and genuinely wants to be here instead of using us as a backstop and wanting more money in the process. Do yo thang Pdubb!
by creep on Jun 10, 2009 4:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Anyone read Rambis take on the topic?
Mike Lamb read it on Sportsline today. Rambis pretty much ripped our team and implied he wouldn’t want to work in a project like Sacramento. He said his philosophies don’t match that of te Kings organization. Why do we even try hiring a freaking Laker??
My statement about being happy with Westphal because he’s “excited about this job” keeps getting better.
by eduardo_m7 on Jun 10, 2009 8:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If Rambis has not been promised the Laker job,
he is a moron for posturing like this.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on Jun 10, 2009 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It came off pretty bad (not sure if you listened to it as well)
He pretty much came off as too good for the job. I guess he’s waiting for the perfect situation taking over an already established team that knows how to win. Very impressive coach, I mean… assistant coach. Glad he’s not leading my team
by eduardo_m7 on Jun 10, 2009 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It sounds like damage control to me ed
Quite honestly, that’s all it is. The spin control thing is coming from the Lakers end. I’m okay with that.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
by pookeyguru on Jun 10, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess I agree
It seems to me like the Lakers are always taking some kind of shot at the Kings. No matter what it is. I remember Phil Jackson calling us “inbred hicks” and complaining about the cowbells. We’ve had Shaq, Kobe, Rick Fox, and plenty of other “no-name” players in Lakerland take shots at us as well. Always something to do with the Lakers. Then there’s this…
At what point will the National Media give us a break and ACTUALLY investigate a story? When did one source suddenly make something FACT? I think the Malloofs DO need to step in on this one. If they let Kurt Rambis just say this ish and have it reported as fact on ESPN, it only means the rest of the country will have this kind of opinion about Sacramento and the Kings.
Just think about his words/comments for a minute and what it meant… That is a direct insult to the Maloofs, GP, and the Kings organization.
WE know he’s full of it. But I had a LOADED email box this morning from people who believed every word. So it got me thinking about how perception is pretty much everything and how it affects signing free agents and all that.
Am I reading too far into this???
by tlfairgo on Jun 11, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you reading too far into this?
Yes. Do you want me to say something else? Sorry, it’s all I got. Tell them to come here and read all the stuff that’s come out.
Being informed is more than just hearing a soundbite on ESPN or FoxSports tlf.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
by pookeyguru on Jun 12, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't even get where you're going with this...
How am I reading too far into anything? Am I really asking that much to have a reporter pick up a phone and verify information before printing it?
Also, when I watch First Take, Around the Horn, Jim Rome is Burning, PTI, and whatever else….They all talked about it as if Kurt Rambis didn’t want the gig or was above it or something.
I’m happy you understand that
Being informed is more than just hearing a soundbite on ESPN or FoxSports tlf.
Good on you… Unfortunately, the rest of the country watches ESPN and whatever they say is what people think.
So go ahead and tell me what else I’m doing wrong by finally being sick of all the BS and just wanting my team treated like they play in the same league with the others.
Have you ever wondered if there was more to life other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking???
by tlfairgo on Jun 15, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
However the 'spin' plays
It’s a small sidebar to the real issue – can the man coach this team?
‘Conventional wisdom’ will follow results…
by batso on Jun 10, 2009 10:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ugh
All this spinning of Kurt Rambis – It’s making me dizzy.
Kings rule! (They are royalty - right?)
by dalt99 on Jun 11, 2009 8:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I am tired of playing Spin the Coke Bottle Glassed Assistant Coach
Can we play Truth or Dare?
by SactownheartOChouse on Jun 11, 2009 9:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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