I dredged up this old email about Sam. I'm still looking for the
particular pro-rant I remember writing. As I read this, I recalled
the environment of "fire Sam" mentality in which I wrote it. Like
you all, I was disrespectful to coach...sorry!!!

--- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <lumberkingmike@...> wrote:
>
> I can see Sam's "man in the locker-room" (and on the bench),
Martin,
> looking and sounding like a budding head coach.
>
> D Martin already handles press questions like a pro with PR
skills!
> When he smiles to the interviewer, you know he is friendly, and
> comfortable in his own skin. Mitchell smiles like a kid caught
with
> his hand in the cookie jar in interviews.
>
> Sam Mitchell is answering obvious questions with smiling anger,
very
> dry (and insulting) humour, and a nasty attitude that I'd rather
see
> in the players than the head coach.
>
> Sam will not get respect from others until he gives them respect.
> Toronto may be hockey country, but the basketball reporters are not
> complete idiots. Nor are fans who doubt Sam's skills dumb morons.
>
> I believe Sam is NO dummy either, but it is hard to respect a guy
> who has such a self-centered "bunker" mentality when challenged to
> answer a question. Good coaches can be more generous. Smart
> coachs know they NEED those questioning scribes and patrons.
>
> I'd love to know what the lone Canadian coach is thinking. Jay
> Triano has worked with three Toronto Raptors head coaches, three
> general managers, and a revolving door of players every year (this
> year being the topper with only a few returning veterans).
>
> Kevin O'Neil tried to instill defence, which has been sadly lacking
> under Sam Mitchell, but the revolving door is stopping at floor "D"
> this year!!!
>
> "In the past we tried to influence guys one way or the other
> [to help], but we're saying, 'Hey, you have to guard the
> guy," Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell said yesterday. "We're
> giving guys two jobs: You have to keep your guy in front
> of you and also contest [his] shots."
>
> "So now the onus is on that guy!" Is it Sam's new coaching style?
> Is it an influx of defence-minded newbies who need no encouragement
> to focus on defence???
>
> it seems obvious that Mitchell has not performed this miracle on
> Defence. It is the individual "lock-down" players toiling without
> good teamwork (more the fault of little time to gel than Sam's own
> shortcomings).
>
> This looks good for Sam to stay as coach. The new guys need
> somebody to look to! Maybe this team will be good some day soon!!
>
> Still, you have to give our team time to gel. That may not take
> long, but if it takes years I'd want some stability to allow
> teamwork to develop. Sam Mitchell would help stablize the club.
>
> Now, when the crowd chants "Defence -- Defence -- Defernce!!!"
> there's enough basketball IQ on the floor to respond to the call!
>