VanGundy done as coach of Knicks!
- Thread starter Sportsaholic
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He walked out of practice yesterday heres the article.PEEVED VG RIPS TEAM,
NIXES PRACTICE
By MARC BERMAN
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JEFF VAN GUNDY
Storms off.
December 8, 2001 -- So much for the feel-good vibes flowing around the 10-9 Knicks. Jeff Van Gundy went ballistic during yesterday's mistake-ridden practice at Purchase College. The Knicks coach abruptly cut off the session then ordered his players to get out of the gym. He then stormed out the door himself in a huff, wearing a mask of gloom, as he marched to his office.
About 25 minutes were left in the practice before Van Gundy tried throwing the players out. But most of the players remained, stunned, except Kurt Thomas and Latrell Sprewell, who followed Van Gundy's directive. They bolted to the locker room. The rest of players stayed on the court another half-hour, breaking up into friendly games of 2-on-2 while Van Gundy stewed in his office.
One Knick player told The Post Van Gundy became enraged after players repeatedly botched routine offensive sets, being out of position and making the same gaffes over and over. "It was an overall good practice, we were playing hard," the player said. "Everybody was playing hard. But Jeff didn't like how we were executing, plain and simple."
Mark Jackson said Van Gundy's eruption wasn't a motivational ploy, that he was genuinely outraged, though the Knicks have turned around their season winning five of their last six entering tonight's Garden clash vs. Indiana.
"He said, ?Get out,' " that was it," Jackson said. "If I was a head coach, I would've thrown us out too."
The Knicks are on a three-day break since their glorious win in Milwaukee and Van Gundy appears concerned the club is full of itself for finally vaulting over the .500 mark. After the initial shock, some players were joking about the incident amongst themselves. When Thomas returned upstairs to the court in his street clothes, a couple of teammates ragged on him. "So you think I'm the one who messed up practice," Thomas shot back.
Van Gundy was extremely vague on the reasons for his blowup. "It was just a disappointing practice," Van Gundy said. "Just a disappointing day.
"I'd rather not have to get anyone's attention," Van Gundy added. "I'd rather they have their attention. I don't like to be angry, contrary to popular belief."
Said Sprewell, "It was a bad practice, no other way of putting it. If I was a coach I'd probably be upset."
Sprewell said he left for the locker room also to get ready for a photo shoot he had planned.
Allan Houston said the club's "concentration level" was low. "We obviously don't want to lose our edge," Houston said.
"At practice, you have to get to a certain level," Jackson said. "When you're a veteran ballclub, you get to that level and then get out of here. We were nowhere near that level. It's disappointing because we know better. Hopefully we'll come in to [today] and have a crisp shootaround and play great [tonight] and put this in the past."
NIXES PRACTICE
By MARC BERMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JEFF VAN GUNDY
Storms off.
December 8, 2001 -- So much for the feel-good vibes flowing around the 10-9 Knicks. Jeff Van Gundy went ballistic during yesterday's mistake-ridden practice at Purchase College. The Knicks coach abruptly cut off the session then ordered his players to get out of the gym. He then stormed out the door himself in a huff, wearing a mask of gloom, as he marched to his office.
About 25 minutes were left in the practice before Van Gundy tried throwing the players out. But most of the players remained, stunned, except Kurt Thomas and Latrell Sprewell, who followed Van Gundy's directive. They bolted to the locker room. The rest of players stayed on the court another half-hour, breaking up into friendly games of 2-on-2 while Van Gundy stewed in his office.
One Knick player told The Post Van Gundy became enraged after players repeatedly botched routine offensive sets, being out of position and making the same gaffes over and over. "It was an overall good practice, we were playing hard," the player said. "Everybody was playing hard. But Jeff didn't like how we were executing, plain and simple."
Mark Jackson said Van Gundy's eruption wasn't a motivational ploy, that he was genuinely outraged, though the Knicks have turned around their season winning five of their last six entering tonight's Garden clash vs. Indiana.
"He said, ?Get out,' " that was it," Jackson said. "If I was a head coach, I would've thrown us out too."
The Knicks are on a three-day break since their glorious win in Milwaukee and Van Gundy appears concerned the club is full of itself for finally vaulting over the .500 mark. After the initial shock, some players were joking about the incident amongst themselves. When Thomas returned upstairs to the court in his street clothes, a couple of teammates ragged on him. "So you think I'm the one who messed up practice," Thomas shot back.
Van Gundy was extremely vague on the reasons for his blowup. "It was just a disappointing practice," Van Gundy said. "Just a disappointing day.
"I'd rather not have to get anyone's attention," Van Gundy added. "I'd rather they have their attention. I don't like to be angry, contrary to popular belief."
Said Sprewell, "It was a bad practice, no other way of putting it. If I was a coach I'd probably be upset."
Sprewell said he left for the locker room also to get ready for a photo shoot he had planned.
Allan Houston said the club's "concentration level" was low. "We obviously don't want to lose our edge," Houston said.
"At practice, you have to get to a certain level," Jackson said. "When you're a veteran ballclub, you get to that level and then get out of here. We were nowhere near that level. It's disappointing because we know better. Hopefully we'll come in to [today] and have a crisp shootaround and play great [tonight] and put this in the past."
Thanks Shawn, looks like he was stressed out from his club. Must be hard coaching these over paid guys, cant say as I blame him.
i stand corrected read that last nite just saw this.Van Gundy resigns as Knicks coach
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Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Jeff Van Gundy resigned unexpectedly as head coach of the New York Knicks on Saturday.
"He went to (team president) Scott (Layden) and quit," team spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said. "Don Chaney is coaching tonight, but we haven't named a head coach or an interim coach."
Van Gundy abruptly ended practice Friday, upset with the level of intensity his players were showing.
"It's just a disappointing practice," Van Gundy said Friday. "I don't like to be angry, contrary to popular belief."
The Knicks, who play Indiana at home on Saturday night, started slowly this season but won four of their last five games to move above .500.
The 39-year-old Van Gundy was in his seventh season as head coach. He had been a member of the Knicks' staff, serving as an assistant under Pat Riley, Don Nelson and Stu Jackson, since 1989.
Van Gundy was the third-winningest coach in team history with a record of 248-172, including 10-9 this season. He led the team to the 1999 NBA Finals, where New York lost to San Antonio and the 2000 Eastern Conference finals.
Van Gundy planned to make a statement at the team's practice facily in Purchase, N.Y., on Saturday afternoon.
Including this season, Van Gundy had two years remaining on his contract.
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Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Jeff Van Gundy resigned unexpectedly as head coach of the New York Knicks on Saturday.
"He went to (team president) Scott (Layden) and quit," team spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said. "Don Chaney is coaching tonight, but we haven't named a head coach or an interim coach."
Van Gundy abruptly ended practice Friday, upset with the level of intensity his players were showing.
"It's just a disappointing practice," Van Gundy said Friday. "I don't like to be angry, contrary to popular belief."
The Knicks, who play Indiana at home on Saturday night, started slowly this season but won four of their last five games to move above .500.
The 39-year-old Van Gundy was in his seventh season as head coach. He had been a member of the Knicks' staff, serving as an assistant under Pat Riley, Don Nelson and Stu Jackson, since 1989.
Van Gundy was the third-winningest coach in team history with a record of 248-172, including 10-9 this season. He led the team to the 1999 NBA Finals, where New York lost to San Antonio and the 2000 Eastern Conference finals.
Van Gundy planned to make a statement at the team's practice facily in Purchase, N.Y., on Saturday afternoon.
Including this season, Van Gundy had two years remaining on his contract.
That is a shame. I dont know too many guys in professional sports that put in as much heart and effort into their job as Van Gundy did. If the players put in half of the effort as he did the NBA would be a lot more fun to watch.
lol....i called this one earlier, but i said he woudl be gone by all star break, not necessarily Christmas.....
glad he went.....obviously the job was taking its toll on his life and he needed to let it go....other things to life than that kind of stress which he wasn't seemingly enjoying.....
glad he went.....obviously the job was taking its toll on his life and he needed to let it go....other things to life than that kind of stress which he wasn't seemingly enjoying.....
