To the growing (and vocal) legion of Bulls fans who are calling for Vinny Del Negro’s head, I’ve got some bad news for you: Better get used to him as your team’s head coach. That’s the word on the street in the Chi.
After team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf appropriately termed this season a “disaster” on Friday morning and called for a meeting with the rookie coach, some thought it was a sign of looming change. Not so, according to Reinsdorf.
The problem, it seems, is with Vinny’s staff. From the Daily Herald:
“How many coaches do we have?” Reinsdorf asked. When the reporter answered one, Reinsdorf countered by saying, “No, we don’t. You know what I’m saying?”
Of course, the Bulls have several assistant coaches and brought two former NBA coach of the year winners, Del Harris and Bernie Bickerstaff, to help with Del Negro’s introduction to coaching. Reinsdorf didn’t offer any details about what problems he might have with the assistants. The feeling around the team is management wanted Harris and Bickerstaff to do more to help Del Negro evolve into a head coach.
Though the same can’t be said for his assistants, Vinny’s job appears to be safe.
He has a lot to learn – like, for instance, not forcing his players to attend a Super Bowl part that he’s hosting – and upper management seems willing to let him do just that. You’ll just have to do the same, Bulls fans. Them’s the breaks.
