The current issue of Esquire magazine includes a profile on Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl that reprises a feud with Orlando coach Doc Rivers and includes the following comment.
“Doc’s been anointed,” Karl says in the magazine. “And that’s OK. I understand that that happens, but it’s not necessarily right. Doc does a great job–and now there’s gonna be four or five more anointments of the young Afro-American coach.”
Karl has drawn fire for adding a racial element to an issue he has railed against before, and he tried to clarify his point in comments to Milwaukee reporters before Tuesday’s game.
“Philosophically, what I was complaining about, was coaches getting jobs skipping the process of serving their time,” Karl said. “There are four guys who come to mind: Danny Ainge, Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird and Doc Rivers. They never really coached before they got a head-coaching job. That bothers me and will always bother me.
“It was an interview that happened six or seven months ago. I don’t even remember the details of it, but I’m sure I was talking about [Bucks longtime assistant] Terry [Stotts] and not about race.”
Bulls coach Bill Cartwright is one of 14 African-American coaches in the league and he spent six seasons as an assistant before getting a three-year deal Monday. Cartwright played for Karl for one season in Seattle.
“I think he has done a hell of a job with what he has,” Karl said. “He has had some curveballs thrown his way. I like how his team is playing now. I think he has great energy and will have a great year next year.”
As usual, Charles Oakley had an interesting take on the subject.
“I like George, but I haven’t really figured out what he was talking about,” Oakley said. “I know it’s about the system. We’ve always been in the system. George had gravy on his potatoes. We had to eat them raw.”
Remember me? The Bucks signed Greg Anthony on March 5, four days after the Bulls waived him.
“It worked out well because they wanted to start getting Jamal [Crawford] some time and continue to develop A.J. [Guyton],” Anthony said. “With Travis [Best] coming in, it was just a practical thing to do.”
Power play: Oakley’s two-game stint as the starting power forward ended when Cartwright inserted Tyson Chandler back in the lineup. Oakley played 21 minutes.
Marcus Fizer missed his third straight game with a sprained right ankle but said he would practice Wednesday.
As for Chandler, he guarded Anthony Mason after back-to-back assignments on Tim Duncan and Chris Webber.
“I learned a lot from both,” Chandler said. “Duncan, I love his face-up game and the way he can put it on the floor. Webber is just a beast down low. We have totally different games, but I know I need to be stronger.”
Chandler began the season at 215 pounds and currently weighs 230. His goal is to get between 240-245.
