Tark: Petrie Strong-Armed into Theus Hire

by louismg on Jun 21, 2007 7:18 AM PDT in News

A common theme here on Sactown Royalty throughout the off-season coaching search was a hope that the final selection would be under the direction of GM Geoff Petrie. After the Maloofs forced Eric Musselman on the team in the last off season (and we all know how that turned out...), we had hoped the process would be different this time around.

Now, the world's most notable and passionate towel muncher says that not only did Geoff Petrie prefer to hire Brian Shaw, but that the Maloofs, who liked Theus, were pushed by Jerry Tarkanian to exert a stronger role in the process, over Petrie's dead body.

"Reggie called me Saturday after he had the second interview and thought he was right there," Tarkanian said. "But he was still the dark horse. Joe told me he, his brother and mother were really strong on Reggie, but Geoff still liked Shaw. I told Joe, 'This comes down to you and Gavin (Maloof) if you don't win. How come you aren't making the choice?' "

Apparently, the phrase "The Maloofs" now also includes the brothers' mom. Who knew?

Also, according to the story, the Maloofs and Petrie turned not only to Tarkanian, but to Rick Pitino for outside guidance in the last days of the coaching search.

And if you were worried that Theus might be feeling some undue pressure to succeed on the Kings sidelines due to his background as a college coach, following many notable failures who couldn't make the jump, the story helps out there too, saying Theus can always bail on the NBA and still be moving up the career ladder.

"Truth be told, Theus has nothing to lose. After he gets fired, he can go back to a better college job than he left at New Mexico State."

Great. Let's hope that isn't necessary for quite a while.

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Re: Tark: Petrie Strong-Armed into Theus Hire

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

when will the Kenny Thomas Reign of Terror end?!!??

by diehardkingsfan5 on Jun 21, 2007 9:26 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Tark: Petrie Strong-Armed into Theus Hire

This doesn't concern me honestly. Wojnarowski doesn't understand all the dynamics at play. I think Theus saying the players didn't have fun was a point in why Musselman was fired so quickly in the first place. That it went bad so quickly the team had no other choice. That can be interpreted many ways AND HE DID throw him under the bus. Quite frankly Reggie is probably more brutally honest than Geoff would have liked. That being said you knew that if you were going to hire him. Reggie will say what he wants. i think the Maloof's were strong armed into the hire more or less. They were uncomfortable with all the options and basically let Petrie really sort out what he thought best. I think Petrie felt like if I was going to take a leap I might as well go a guy, like players, that might be great in 3 seasons.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Jun 21, 2007 10:18 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Tark: Petrie Strong-Armed into Theus Hire

Btw Wojnarowski is constantly ripping others off and passing it off as his own. Plus he doesn't always fact checks plus prints half truth's. Very similar to Ailene Voisin if you prefer a Bee analogy.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Jun 21, 2007 10:18 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Tark: Petrie Strong-Armed into Theus Hire

I love Tark, but this is too funny:

Tark never has bought the idea that college coaches aren't capable of making a successful move to the pros, insisting, "Look at the (crap) teams most of us took over."

Tark's Admiral-led Spurs team went 40-22 in '92-93 after he was fired.

Ballhype - the best stories, the biggest fans

by jgurney on Jun 21, 2007 11:12 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Tark: Petrie Strong-Armed into Theus Hire

Nice catch.

by Tom Ziller on Jun 21, 2007 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Tark: Petrie Strong-Armed into Theus Hire

In the end the most successful college to pro jump is probably Cotton Fitzsimmons. And he hasn't coached in quite awhile. Cotton evolved though proving that there isn't 1 template that works in these things. Plus Cotton jumped before the money went outrageous.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Jun 21, 2007 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions