USBL Coach Pulls Team off Floor - Page 2

blacktiger · #16 (**permalink**) Wed May 12, 2004, 07:38pm

Coach Irons is the head coach at Vashon HS in St. Louis. They are a state power and are also on the national radar from time to time. His team recently won their ninth state championship with a 33-0 record.
This is not the first time he has done this. About 13 years ago he pulled his team off of the floor in the state semis with two seconds remaining. They were losing and Coach Irons ended up walking away with little punishment.
He is a very controversial person in St Louis. He is often accused of recruiting players from all over the city and often draws complaints from area coaches. He was turned in a few years when one of his players was shot dead in front of the players home. The problem was the player did not live in the Vashon district.
People in St. Louis either love him or hate him There is very little middle ground.

tomegun · #17 (**permalink**) Wed May 12, 2004, 09:27pm

Isn't it crazy when, although they make more money, the pro coach is third in power behind the college and high school coach? Sure, that statement is subjective but there are high school coaches that do not want to go to college because of the power they have and some college coaches that feel the same way about the pro game. The pro coach is often-time the lame duck because he is constantly invaded with beepers, cell phones, trials, the almighty agent and the posse! The saving grace is one season as a pro coach can set them up for life financially. Sometimes it doesn't make sense.

Adam · #18 (**permalink**) Thu May 13, 2004, 11:47am

The money has got to be there, or they'd never be able to recruit decent college coaches. The list of failed (but newly rich) NBA coaches who came from college is growing. Tim Floyd is the most recent examplt. He was making good money at Iowa State, but the NBA gold was too much to walk away from.

w_sohl · #19 (**permalink**) Mon May 17, 2004, 01:18pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Padgett
In the early days of the NBA, Mendy Rudolph was working a game in Syracuse. The visiting coach (I don't remember his name, but the team was Ft. Wayne) threatened to pull his team from the court. Mendy told him that if he did, he'd have to personally pay for all the refunds to the fans. According to Mendy, the guy just sat down and shut up after that.

I heard him tell this on an old interview during halftime of an NBA game in about 1964.

If it was a NBA team it was the Ft. Wayne Pistons, before they moved to Detroit.

Adam · #20 (**permalink**) Mon May 17, 2004, 01:27pm

Were they really the Pistons before moving to Detroit?

w_sohl · #21 (**permalink**) Mon May 17, 2004, 01:28pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Snaqwells
Were they really the Pistons before moving to Detroit?

Yes they were...

TravelinMan · #22 (**permalink**) Mon May 17, 2004, 08:52pm

Fort Wayne holds the NBA record (dubious) for scoring the fewest points, both teams, in a half. Syracuse scored 27 points. Of course, back then (1955) they played defense and you could say they held Syracuse to only 27 points for the half. Plus didn't they jump it up for each quarter and on held balls.

__________________________________________________ ________
"Hell, there are no rules here--we're trying to accomplish something."--Thomas A. Edison

TravelinMan · #23 (**permalink**) Mon May 17, 2004, 09:20pm

Wait a second. Hold the press. This record must be for "modern day" NBA. Ft. Wayne beat Minneapolis (in 1950 or 1951) 19-18. Ft. Wayne took the air out of the ball. 24 second clock where are you!