Interesting snippet from an Oakley article

[teej]

Derek page of Hoopsworld has a good piece up today on Oakley, read it here: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=18946

In the article, he mentioned this, which I though may shed a little light on what happened Thursday

While it endears him to most, Oakley's brash style and straight-forward attitude hasn't always been what Bobcats' players have necessarily wanted to hear. Earlier this season after a 101-92 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Oakley and former Bobcat Gerald Wallace had to be separated after getting into a heated exchange.

[Dcarnys]

Woah!!
That explains alot.

[Proudiddy]

lol wouldn't it just be the cherry on top to find out we traded Gerald for crap because he didn't get along with MJ's buddies?

[teej]

lol wouldn't it just be the cherry on top to find out we traded Gerald for crap because he didn't get along with MJ's buddies?

Gerald hasn't gotten along with multiple people. He called out DJ, Tyson, Sam, Larry, and a few others. Maybe he wasn't so perfect after all?

And Oakley has done more actual coaching than anyone outside Larry with Crash. His work with Kwame is COTY worthy, except he's an assistant.

[Proudiddy]

I'll admit, if he's the driving force behind Kwame's improved play, he deserves all the credit in the world. And I don't think Crash was perfect, a lot of guys don't get along at some point during the season, but in my experiences, it's most often team leaders that are the ones involved in more arguments with teammates because of their position, they're kind of diplomats.

But, I am happy to have Oak here, he demands toughness.

[spectre]

Gerald hasn't gotten along with multiple people. He called out DJ, Tyson, Sam, Larry, and a few others. Maybe he wasn't so perfect after all?

Seriously? Now we're on to Crash being a locker room problem?

Including that previous idiot doesn't really reinforce the concept either.

Oakley having to be separated from anyone shouldn't be front page newsworthy. I imagine there's a long list that share the honor.

Refresh my memory...when did he call out Larry Brown?

[teej]

I'll admit, if he's the driving force behind Kwame's improved play, he deserves all the credit in the world.

He is. I've gone early to a couple games and watched the shootaround at 5:30, and Oak and Kwame (and sometimes Naz would join them) come out and work one-on-one for about 15-20 minutes after everyone else has gone into the locker room. And Oak could still play if he wanted to, because he beasted Kwame at least 2 out of every 3 plays.

And I don't think Crash was perfect, a lot of guys don't get along at some point during the season, but in my experiences, it's most often team leaders that are the ones involved in more arguments with teammates because of their position, they're kind of diplomats.

But, I am happy to have Oak here, he demands toughness.

I think Oak is more of a leader than Crash. Crash may have been co-captain, but he wasn't a leader. Jack is a leader, Ray was a leader, hell even TC could have been a leader when healthy. Crash defers, that's not what a leader does.

Don't get me wrong, I love and respect everything Crash has done, but he's not a leader, so he shouldn't be getting into fights with assistant coaches.

[teej]

Seriously? Now we're on to Crash being a locker room problem?

Including that previous idiot doesn't really reinforce the concept either.

Oakley having to be separated from anyone shouldn't be front page newsworthy. I imagine there's a long list that share the honor.

Refresh my memory...when did he call out Larry Brown?

I never said he was a locker room problem, just not the angel we wanted him to be.

Idiot or not, he was still the coach. Crash was a player. It wasn't to the Rip Hamilton level, but it's still not good leadership.

Sure, there probably is. But we're talking about a team's "star" player and face of the franchise, I think that's newsworthy, especially since Oak doesn't even work with the wings.

Right after LB was fired, Crash (and Jack, and DJ) pretty much threw him under the bus. Deservedly, yes, but still not classy.

[spectre]

I never said he was a locker room problem, just not the angel we wanted him to be.

Idiot or not, he was still the coach. Crash was a player. It wasn't to the Rip Hamilton level, but it's still not good leadership.

Sure, there probably is. But we're talking about a team's "star" player and face of the franchise, I think that's newsworthy, especially since Oak doesn't even work with the wings.

Right after LB was fired, Crash (and Jack, and DJ) pretty much threw him under the bus. Deservedly, yes, but still not classy.

Just because he was "coach" (or assistant coach for that matter) doesn't make him god. You were around during that season right? The janitor could have done a better job than him. EVERYONE quit on the idiot.

How do you know Oakley wasn't getting into Crash's face and forcing the issue? From the article we don't...so maybe we shouldn't rush to an opinion?

If Oakley was the aggressor do we expect Crash or any other player to just lay down in a fetal position and cry for Mom? Of course not. No self respecting man would.

I don't think Crash threw LB under the bus. I remember him saying things that were true...like Silas' style of coaching was more liked by players. Who wouldn't realize that anyway; Silas is what's called a "player's coach"!.

I don't even remember DJ throwing him under the bus. There were pointed questions and I remember him smiling during those times...but I don't remember him actually dissing LB at all.

Jack I think went a little far in one comment, but even that wasn't "bad".

Guess it depends on what your definition of "thrown under the bus" is.

I haven't seen anyone call Crash perfect or an angel. Just because some of us aren't happy with the (crap) return the lollipop got for him doesn't mean we think he was the "bestest player to ever live" nor are we "crying" about it.

Yeah...I'm getting a little tired of these exaggerations.

[teej]

I've had multiple shitty coaches in high school and middle school, who clearly didn't know what they were doing. But I, and my teammates, shut our mouths and played. And we weren't getting paid, either. You ALWAYS support your team, and that includes the coaching staff. Keep it among the team, don't let anyone else know.

I know Sam sucked. A lot. But that doesn't mean you have the right to lock him out or anything else. He's the coach, you're the player. Keep your thoughts to yourself, and to management. Don't let it get out. Ever. Even after he's gone, in LB's case too, just ignore the past and focus on the future. Let those of us on the message boards and at the water cooler decide who was better. If MJ says that Charlie Sheen is the coach, you damn well play your heart out for Charlie Sheen, even if he thinks that you can have 12 men on the court and that touching the ball with your hands is a penalty. You're getting paid to play basketball. If you want to ignore the plays and do it yourself, fine, but don't talk about it.

As far as what may or may not have happened, I'm pretty sure Oak's not going to get in your face without reason. He may go a bit overboard when he does, but you have to do (or not do) SOMEthing to earn the wrath he has. And the only thing he would be able to criticize a non-big for would be effort, listening to the coaches, or attitude. Which, by the way, have at one point or another been attached to Crash.

And this (to me, at least) has nothing to do with what we got in return for Crash or whatever else happened, just that it made trading him easier.