Truth & Rumors > NBA

Reinsdorf rips 'rude' D'Antoni

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Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said he left last Friday's meeting with the impression from Mark D'Antoni the Bulls had time to make an offer, particularly because D'Antoni "said he didn't want to coach the Knicks." The next morning, D'Antoni's agent told general manager John Paxson his client had accepted the Knicks' four-year deal. Not only didn't D'Antoni fire back at Reinsdorf for branding him as "rude" and misleading, the new Knicks' coach didn't dispute the account of events Reinsdorf presented in interviews with the Tribune and the Sporting News.

Chicago Tribune

Mark D'Antoni, AP Mark D'Antoni, AP
May 14, 2008  06:18 AM ET

AND THAKNS 2 GOD.. EVERYTHING IS GOOA AT LAKERS TOWN!!

May 14, 2008  06:18 AM ET

GOOD AT LAKER TOWN!! LOL

May 14, 2008  06:19 AM ET

What is with all of this "Mark" crap?

May 14, 2008  06:25 AM ET

There is a chance that "Mark" was trying to sell himself to the Bulls, but the Bulls didn't bite, so he took another job. Was it a quick turnaround? Sure. But who knows what the circumstance were? Maybe the Knicks told "Mark" that if he didn't take the offer, they'd pull it from the table and go after Mark Jackson. Or maybe, just as I said, "Mark" was hoping that the Bulls had heard the rumors that the Knicks were going to offer him the money, and was hoping to get an offer from Chicago, only to leave town without one and he then decided to take the job that WAS offered to him. Maybe he felt Chicago was going to go in another direction. Who knows and who cares? If Reinsdorf wanted "Mark" that badly, he would have never let him leave town just to avoid something like this happening.

May 14, 2008  06:44 AM ET

Mark is the evil twin of Mike....lol...that's why there's so much confusion...

Mark D'Antony:rude,stubborn,crybaby,impatient

Mike D'Antony:genius,innovator,smart,understanding

just depends which D'Antony you are dealing with....lol

May 14, 2008  06:47 AM ET

Guess he did not want to coach the Bulls either.

May 14, 2008  06:53 AM ET

Everyone shares the blame in this fiasco, and all sides must deal with the negative effects of it. The Knicks are the only ones laughing.
D'Antoni was under pressure to make a quick decision because he didn't want to go back to Kerr and Phoenix empty-handed. The Knicks were clever in marketing their position and then putting their offer on the table, no questions asked, before anyone else. Paxson and Reinsdorf played it a little too cool, so to speak. Yes, they were genuinely interested, but they did not do enough to put D'Antoni at ease. If they had made it clear that the ink was flowing, and that an offer was definitely on the way, and also taken the extra step to make D'Antoni feel wanted, then they could have gotten him.
D'Antoni would have been happier in Chicago as well.
Now we have a less-than-optimal situation. Of course, D'Antoni got something he can live with - a head-coaching position - but it's not the best fit for him.
Chicago will move on and hire the best coach that's still available - perhaps Avery Johnson - and will have some success, but they will always regret not getting D'Antoni.
If things don't go well for D'Antoni in New York, then he will truly look back with bitterness at acting so hastily.
- JL

May 14, 2008  07:00 AM ET

Continuing the post -
Also wanted to add - Phoenix is suffering as well. They lost a good coach, whom they could have built a long-term relationship with. Maybe he didn't emphasize defense enough, but that could have been overcome simply by hiring an assistant to focus on defense, or by trading for players known to play good defense. Now they must build a new relationship with a coach from scratch, and there's no guarantee that the new coach will be as good as D'Antoni - on offense OR defense.
The whole exodus of D'Antoni is leaving everyone - except the Knicks - disillusioned and bitter.
- JL

May 14, 2008  07:10 AM ET

What a mess. we all know what a mess the Knicks have and are in but Chicago sure has come a long way from the Jordan glory days. It is amazing what a coach that can lead can do..

May 14, 2008  07:22 AM ET

Since the Knicks hired "Mark" D'Antoni does that mean that MIKE is still on the market? Maybe MIKE will take the Bulls job.

May 14, 2008  07:43 AM ET

Are we missing something here?
I'm directing this inquiry at SI truth and rumors.
Mark D'Antoni is the real spelling of Mike D'Antoni or there's a really bad speller on this site?

Comment has been removed
May 14, 2008  08:01 AM ET

THIS SITE IS PATHETIC...They keep reprinting the same story over and over again, what a bunch of LOSERS!! and HIS NAME IS MIKE!!! NOT MARK HOLY ****...who writes this stuff a 5th grader ?

May 14, 2008  08:12 AM ET

"Benny" Reinsdorf should get off of "Mark's" back " Bobby" Walsh got him first so I guess his next option would be to contact " Mike" and make him an offer according to sources...the "Illinois Bulls" are in desperate need of a decent coach after letting "Roger" Skiles go.

May 14, 2008  08:14 AM ET

"Ebony" Johnson former Dallas coach should be a good choice also...

May 14, 2008  08:19 AM ET

Jerry if you wanted him to be the coach of the Bulls make a **** offer otherwise risk your competition hiring him instead.

May 14, 2008  08:34 AM ET

PAXON SCRWED THIS ONE UP....TRYING TO TWEAK D'ANTONI'S COACHING STYLE.....PAXON IS A JOKE.....DIDNT GET GARNETT, KOBE, GASOL.......HE;S ALLWAYS TRYNA OUT SMART SOMEONE......CHEAP FOOLISH BULLS BRASS GETS WHAT THEY DESERVED........A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDECINE!

May 14, 2008  08:41 AM ET

WHAT!?

May 14, 2008  08:45 AM ET

Did Reinsdorf ever consider that maybe D'Antoni preferred the Knicks over the Bulls?

I think Mike had 24 million reasons to go to NYC.

 
May 14, 2008  08:50 AM ET

Jerry Reinsdorf has been a real butt to many people from what little I know about him and the Bulls. Maybe Mark & Mike D'Antoni played the Bulls against the Knicks. And I am certain that Jerry has NEVER done that in business. If you wanted the guy, put the contract on the table, at least a give him a written offer before he leaves town; you know he was one of the most desired coaches out there. As the old saying goes; if you snooze, you loose.

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