CONCERNED FANS FOR
BASKETBALL
RESPONSE TO COLUMN BY GARY PARRISH
It isn't an ejection seat; it's a hot seat, where coaches simmer
Nov. 3, 2006
By Gary Parrish
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Gary your opinion!
…
Tubby Smith
Is there a better example for this list than Smith ? He's the coach at Kentucky , and a damn fine coach indeed . But Smith hasn't led his team to the Final Four since 1998, and that's a long drought in Wildcat years.
Making things worse, recruiting has been underwhelming, and while the roster is still talented enough to win games, it's no longer a Final Four-caliber roster, not even close . Consequently, much of the fan base has grown cranky.
But -- as I stated in the criteria for anybody on this list -- Smith is simply too good to fire . And the flipside is that no man in his right mind -- except Dave Chappelle , perhaps, and we could argue whether he was in his right mind -- would walk away from a job paying nearly $3 million per year . So barring a move to the NBA, Smith is probably stuck at UK , and if he doesn't start recruiting like any coach at Kentucky should, then his job will become extremely uncomfortable . And Ashley Judd just might stop coming to games.
…
READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE
Dear Mr. Parrish,
As a Concerned Fans For UK Basketball, I am pleased to see that our message about why Tubby Smithy is not suitable as Head Coach for the once premier basketball program in the land continues to resonate with sports' columnists across the country. However, Concerned Fans must not allow your message that Tubby Smith is "too good to fire" to stand without rebuttal.
Concerned Fans have notified Mr. Mitch Barnhart and Dr. Lee Todd that no one is "too good to fire" when he fails to perform the job for which he is handsomely paid. In Tubby Smith's case, he is the highest paid college basketball coach in the history of the game, and he is paid to keep the UK program at the top of the heap. However, Tubby Smith has proclaimed with great pleasure that he has the UK program exactly where he wants it, off the radar screen, below public view and away from the scrutiny of fans and press.
However, Tubby Smith is paid to do otherwise.
- He is paid to promote and maintain the UK Basktetball program's public aura.
- He is paid to recruit and sign UK 's share of the top talent from the talent pool each year, not when his back is against the wall.
- He is paid to produce a team, on the floor, that is competitive on the national scene every year, is able to reach the Final Four with consistency where it can compete for, and win National Championships.
- He is paid to maintain UK 's rightful place at the top of the SEC, regardless of how strong or weak the SEC may be from positions 2 through 12 in any given year.
There is no valid reason why Tubby Smith, or any coach who fails to perform these clear and proper job duties as the UK Head Basketball coach is "too good to fire." Any reasons that Mr. Barnhart, Dr. Todd, or any member of the press offer in defense of this version requires a response.
Richard Cheeks
Concerned Fans.
Copyright 2006
SugarHill Communications of Kentucky
All Rights Reserved