Let’s talk, Coach Floyd, you and I.
After making a favorable first impression and getting swept up in gung-ho euphoria, you might not realize it. But you’re still in trouble. Career-threatening trouble.
You know and I know you’ve pulled off perhaps the greatest scam in coaching history. You’ve spent years turning your charm on Jerry Krause as if it were a hypnotic ray. You made him believe he is the NBA master and you will be his loyal pupil.
You went fishing with Krause and reeled him in.
While most Bulls fans saw you as just another Amway salesman of a college coach with two first names and no NBA experience, you, Tim Floyd, manipulated Krause into making you head coach of the Chicago Bulls! You went 12-18 last season in a mediocre conference, and look at you now.
Look hard, Timbo.
You got cold feet for a while, knowing your tombstone could soon read, “Here lies the fool who drove Michael Jordan into premature retirement.” But you and your new bosses cooked up this Clintonesque coach-in-waiting scheme. You gambled it would buy you some time, perhaps even some sympathy.
You decided to prove that you, a big fish in Iowa State’s pond, could rule our stormy seas. But the fact is, Tim, you still might be shark bait.
You have only one hope.
You must pull a Phil Jackson on Krause. Now that you have the job, you must risk alienating Krause by telling one all-important Krause-hater how you really feel about the general manager.
You must win over Michael Jordan, and soon. You must convince Jordan that you are indeed not Krause’s boy. Your future in coaching now hinges on your ability to talk Jordan into playing for you next year.
Jordan would validate you. Jordan would make you a coach-of-the-year candidate. When he retired, Jordan would leave you the long-term opportunity to prove your considerable potential.
But if Jordan quits or signs with another team–even if he says it has nothing to do with you–you’ll wish you were back at Iowa State. In fact, next year’s Cyclones might give your rebuilding Bulls a battle. In Chicago, you would become the sickening symbol of senseless self-destruction.
By hiring “Krause’s boy”–the one coach Jordan specifically said he will not play for–Jerry Reinsdorf sent a message to Jordan that Krause is more valuable than the greatest player ever. This is unparalleled audacity. There ought to be a law.
You landed in a minefield, Tim. One false step and you’ll be blown to . . . where?
As one NBA general manager said: “What has Tim Floyd ever really proved? If he fails with the Bulls, what does he fall back on? At least when Jerry Tarkanian failed in San Antonio, he had won an NCAA championship. Worst case, Floyd winds up coaching Division II.”
Now or never, Tim.
You must take off the designer sheep’s clothing you wore Thursday. You know and I know you’re not exactly the boy next door. Driven to win, you’ve been known to push NCAA recruiting rules to the limits. The Los Angeles Times once reported that you tried to recruit some fallen star in prison. You’ve occasionally intimidated your college-town media into showing only your good-guy side.
You have some silver-tongued politician in you, a little used-car salesman. You know how to play the game the way Jackson so beautifully played it.
Jackson also spent years kissing up to Krause. As a CBA coach and Bulls assistant, Jackson also homed in on how easily flattered the socially inept, credit-starved Krause can be.
Yet Jackson readily admits he distanced himself from Krause soon after being hired as head coach.
Jackson says, “I realized the will of my team was stronger than the will of my management.”
Translation: Jackson shrewdly cast his lot with Jordan. Jackson showed Jordan he was not Krause’s boy. Jackson’s disloyalty infuriated Krause. Jackson has six rings to show for it.
You, Tim, must convince Jordan that what you said Thursday wasn’t something you rehearsed with the two jokers who hired you. You must show Jordan you’re a player’s coach, not a management puppet.
Remember, Krause has six rings too. Krause has nothing more to gain from Jordan’s return. Of course, Krause said Thursday that anyone who thinks he wants Jordan to retire must be crazy. Call me crazy.
Krause has deluded himself into believing he’s the mastermind behind the six titles–and he has somehow deluded Reinsdorf too. Beyond encouraging Reinsdorf to buy the Bulls, what has Krause done to make Reinsdorf go so blind with loyalty? For Jackson, that question became as haunting as, “Where does the universe end?”
Wake up, Tim: Krause wants to show the NBA world he can rebuild a title contender with you and without Jordan. If Krause fails, he’ll shrug and eventually take his six rings into sun-kissed retirement.
His “boy” will take the long fall.
You, Tim. Work through your mutual friend Buzz Peterson. Hook up with Jordan. Smoke a cigar with him. Convince him you’re hip to Krause. Show him you’re cool. Make him believe you know how to handle yourself and how to treat a great player.
Now, your only hope is to become Michael’s boy.
