Say Anything Blog

Yesterday, the University of Arkansas fired its men’s basketball coach.  There are many reasons for his dismissal, and I do not agree with them.  This firing is somewhat unremarkable as news outside the state, but I bring it up because of something one of the players said.

During interviews yesterday, most of the players struck the right note discussing how the team was a family and how they respected the coach and hated to see him go.  One player, however, showed no class at all.  He said that he was happy that the tem was getting a new coach.  Needless to say, that interview was almost as big as the firing.

This young man was disgruntled.  Early in the year, he got lots of playing time but did not produce.  As the season wore on, he got less and less.  Needless to say, that did not sit well with him.  I can understand his frustration, but he made a big mistake in blaming the coach.  He has now branded himself as a disloyal malcontent to the new coach.  That is not a good way to start.

I suppose this is just a symptom of the “me” society we now live in.  We have started to teach our children that the individual is the single most important thing and that each person’s self-esteem is more important than what is best for society.  This is a symptom of the moral relativism that we have been teaching our kids for years now.  Kids are taught that only he or she can decide what is best for himself/herself.  Others have no say in the matter.

This player is not the first person to say or do something stupid.  I am sure that his teammates are letting him know how he messed up.  I am sure that the new coach will treat him fairly and give him a chance to make up for his mistake.