The concept of the coach as a scary, authoritative figure can be very overrated. Sure, there was a time where the Vince Lombardi's and Don Shula's could undress their team without any fear of retaliation. But that was before athletes started making millions of dollars. Now coaches like Nick Saban can get MF'd by Zach Thomas for trying to rip into him on a Dolphin practice field like he's an Alabama freshman. Even Pat Riley and Shaquille O'Neal had to be separated from practice.
That said, this little anecdote about Mike Bibby and Mike Woodson seems to confirm what we all thought.....you aren't getting very far with a stand-in of Perry Clark running the sidelines.
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
MIKE BIBBY’S BEST SHOT of the entire first round of the playoffs came before halftime of Sunday in Game 7 and it had nothing to do with his 3-point stroke.
Hawks coach Mike Woodson roasted him for passing the ball to Smith in the corner on in the final seconds. As Smith’s 24-footer bounced off the rim with 10.9 seconds left, Woodson jumped Bibby’s case for making the pass.
The surprise was Bibby’s response. He jumped Woodson right back, much to the delight of those of us sitting close enough to hear the entire exchange.
“If you don’t want me to throw to him put him somewhere else,” Bibby shouted. “He’s wide [@*&$%] open. Wide open. What do you want me to do? If you don’t want him shooting that then put him somewhere else. You tell him.”
After getting it back as good as he gave it, Woodson crossed his arms, did a pirouette and smiled at everyone watching as he strolled back toward the Hawks’ bench.
Woodson said later it was the first time Bibby’s “really lit into” him. And that’s why he was smiling about it. He loved seeing that kind of fire and emotion from his veteran point guard.
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