Coaching carousel
Two of the biggest stories from a rather quiet Monday in June involved two of the best coaches in their prospective professions.
Pittsburgh extended Mike Tomlin’s contract through 2027. Tomlin has not had a losing record in his almost two decades with the Steelers. That’s stout, and the Steeler way is pretty impressive, too.
The bigger headline, however, was Dan Hurley deciding to eschew a monster offer to coach the Lakers. Hurley’s loyalty to UConn was admirable, but we are talking about a six-year, $70 million offer to coach arguably the most-recognized team in basketball and no-worst than the second-best non-center in basketball history.
And Hurley said thanks, but no, and he would rather stay in Storrs and try for a three-peat with only one returning starter.
A closing-window LeBron James and a desperate franchise would have put Hurley on a potential path to have a natty and an NBA title. That’s a very small team photo, friends, since best I can recall Larry Brown is the only one to do that.
Which got me thinking — yes, Spy, that’s always a dangerous thing — which job is better — the Lakers or the Huskies? Any top pro gig or an elite college job?
There was a time the money was a major divide between the pros and colleges, and in a lot of ways, the hours were better for the pro coaches since the college guys have a year-round schedule with recruiting and fundraising and non-coaching duties.
But if Hurley is going to turn the Lakers — and goodness knows Kirby Smart would likely turn down every gig from Cowboys to Chiefs — it makes you wonder, no?
College World Series
NC State beat Georgia in college baseball Monday night to finalize the College World Series field of eight.
It includes four ACC teams and four SEC teams. Personally, I don’t read too much into that, just like I do not read too much into the hockey Frozen Four is almost always Minnesota and the Northeastern schools.
It has been a banner 2024 for the Wolfpack, which had teams in the men’s and women’s Final Four and now has one of the final eight in Omaha. That’s a strong run.
Let’s set the schedule for the next several days, as the ACC-SEC clash will determine the final national champion of the 2023-24 school year.
No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 12 Virginia: 1 p.m. Friday (Game 1)
No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 8 Florida State: 6 p.m. Friday (Game 2)
No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 10 NC State: 1 p.m. Saturday (Game 3)
No. 3 Texas A&M vs. Florida: 6 p.m. Saturday (Game 4)
It’s two double-elimination draws with the winners and losers from games 1 and 2 meeting and the same for games 3 and 4.
The championship series is a best of three after the two double-elimination brackets are complete.
College economics
Speaking of NC State, members of the miraculous 1983 Wolfpack team that shocked Phi Slamma Jamma on Lorenzo Charles’ dunk at the buzzer in the game forever remembered as Jimmy V’s mad dash for someone to hug, the modern movements of money are part of that story now, too.
As many as 10 players with that ’83 title team are suing for NIL compensation.
This should not shock many of us, especially of the magical clips of the moments of days gone by like Charles’ dunk or Flutie’s Hail Mary to beat Miami or Laettner’s shot or even the Kick Six.
It’s one the reasons that it’s hard to fathom that the multi-billions the schools and leagues are going to pool together will be able to handle all the folks looking for their back share of the NIL coin.
And speaking of the changing finances, this story in today’s fishwrapper caught my eye, too.
The numbers of increased attendance and strong TV growth for college softball are impressive.
But with the swirling concerns about money, several of the more-renowned college softball coaches are worried about cuts coming to their programs and even some programs cutting softball altogether.
While I think softball will be safer than most — it is a female sport and most programs are still teetering on a dangerous Title IX balance beam — I do think there will be sports cut, especially from mid-level programs.
I am for the athletes getting a share of the revenue, but the whole system needs to be examined. And examined right quickly.
This and that
— Another gameday, another Caitlin Clark hubbub. Last night, Clark — who scored 10 as her Fever crew was waxed by Connecticut — was fouled on an innocent-enough-looking play, and the opponent who was whistled for the foul mocked Clark with a flopping charade. She was promptly booed by the crowd for mocking Clark. Funny thing is, the game was in Connecticut, so they booed a home-team player for mocking Clark.
— Speaking of Clark, this report has her as one of the top alternates should one of the players picked for the U.S. team can’t compete.
— So “Bad Boys 4” looks to be a summer blockbuster huh? Gotta admit, I did not see that coming.
— Here’s this weekend’s Bets and Ballgames podcast with my man Brian Edwards with some betting thoughts, some friendly banter and why I see some regression from LSU after losing all those skill players.
— This latest CBSsports.com mock NBA draft — the draft is in a little more than two weeks — has UK’s Rob Dillingham going 2 and teammate Reed Sheppard going 3. In this version UT star Dalton Knecht goes 6 overall, and yes, the Hawks take the 7-foot Frenchman who managed to average single digits overseas.
Today’s questions
True or false, it’s Tuesday. Morning, Ern.
True or false, you are weary of the Caitlin Clark drama.
True or false, you would rather coach major college football or hoops than in the NFL or NBA.
True or false, an SEC team will win the College World Series.
True or false, you have seen multiple “Bad Boys” movies, and no the early 1980s prison film with Sean Penn and others does not count.
True or false, the Hawks will 100% mess this draft up.
You know the drill, answer some T or Fs. Ask some T or Fs.
As for today, June 11, let’s review.
“Jurassic Park” was released on this day in 1993. Now talking about a summer blockbuster.
“American Idol” debuted on this day in 2002. Sad day all things considered since.
Gene Wilder would have been 91. Peter Dinklage is 55.
Diana Taurasi is 42. Joe Montana — no relation to Tony Montana I am pretty sure is 68.
Vince Lombardi would have been 111 today.
Rushmore of Vince. Go.