Winning Football Games v. Jesus
by No It All on Dec 15, 2009 4:33 PM CST
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PrintThe notion that the Bears make decisions for reasons other than winning football games has been a recurring theme of mine... well this little nugget from Melissa Isaacson's "How a Bears Coach gets fired" has the hamster in my head spinning the wheel in overdrive:
"In contrast, Wannstedt's firing was said to be extremely hard for the McCaskeys -- particularly for family matriarch, Virginia -- in part because Wannstedt shared similar religious and moral beliefs, and it could very well be similarly difficult with Smith."
Clearly if we all just prayed a little bit harder the Bears might magically turn back into a respectable franchise.
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HOF'er Dan Hampton
once affectionately described Mike Ditka as a ‘prick’ (and the very best motivational head coach he had ever been around).
Steve McMichael once dismissed Dick Jauron as a ‘nice guy’ just like the guy that Mike Ditka replaced (Neill Armstrong). McMichael said that players usually take advantage of nice guy head coaches like Armstrong and Jauron.
Mike Ditka is (rightfully so) an iconic figure in Chicago. He will forever be remembered as the head coach of the most dominating team in NFL history, the 1985 Bears.
Beyond their talent, the ‘85 Bears took on the personality of ’Iron Mike’ and of former Korean War Master Sergeant Buddy Ryan.
Guys like Dave Wannstedt, Dick Jauron and Lovie Smith will long be remembered by Bear fans as nice guys who were average head coaches.
Moral of the story? When it comes to hiring a head coach to run your team, one would be better off with one prick, rather than three nice guys.
Successful coaching in the NFL is definitely not a popularity contest
Basically nice guys finish last, unless the Lions are in their division
Side note: I think it is this mentality that has our scouts hounding Abilene Christian, instead of other schools with traditionally deeper pools of talent, ie a preference for good Christian boys over nasty hardcore football players. Knox and Manning aren’t the worst players they have drafted, but seriously there a backups on Div. 1 teams that could start for Abilene Christian. Tank Johnson has a gun problem, but he can play. Thomas Jones was great for us, but Lovie and Benson had a bond based on, well I dunno, but it wasn’t football case TJ was the better back for us.
have to agree with you there axt
A nice guy coach who can motivate a winner is damn rare – John Wooden of UCLA fame comes to mind as one. Far more common for a prick coach to generate a winner, for whatever psychological reason.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
granted my example was a college basketball coach
but the concept is what I was after.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
Tony Dungy, Joe Gibbs
Nice guys and successful as NFL HC’s…
I think we just like to see a LITTLE emotion from Lovie. No standing there like a cigar store indian.
by BigAppleBearsFan on Dec 16, 2009 6:47 AM CST up reply actions
The difference is. . .
While they are nice guys they (from what I hear) were not afraid to let some f-bombs fly and get in someones ass when they needed it. While Lovie seems to be looking like Bernie from Weekend at Bernies.
Not comments, no firing up the team, no coaching, just standing there on the sideline, it might be a cardboard cut-out yet I swear I saw a blink and gum chew once.
And I will not even start on Lovie’s “soft” training camps and practices.
Don't stop there!!
“soft” training camps and practices = lackadaisical play and penalties. I remember Giants players (Strahan) screaming at the top of their lungs when Tom Coughlin was brought in in 2004 after a 4-12 season… you mean veterans have to practice and run laps for absent minded play!!… they went 11-5 the next season and won the Super Bowl in 2008…. just sayin.
This ethics discussion
Lovie is still going to get payed so aren’t puuting him on the street or anything, he will probably make more since he will have another job that also pays
that is a good point
but for the sake of discussion i think you are being far too rational. If the sentiment reported is true then it becomes more complicated then recognizing all the people we are talking about are multi-millionaires. I think concepts like redemption and faith in a fellow believer trump giving said fellow believer a pink slip because he is unsuccessful and going to get paid anyway. My worry is that the team’s current struggles have made Virginia even more confident that her Lovie, with his religious and moral character, is the best man for the increasingly more adverse job.
I said it before and i'll say it again.
I’m tired of “the whisperer” coach it is time for a “screamer” again.
i hope chifan13 doesn’t see this and get all mad at me again.
buddy offspring
i like the look of the jets. why? because he has got this team all fired up. rex ryan is buddy ryans son and has brought this attitude with him. his other brother is defense co odinator at the browns and is a head coach in the making and i hope he puts himself foreward if this position comes available at the bears.
I'll bet
Cutler would love that too…
by BigAppleBearsFan on Dec 16, 2009 9:02 AM CST up reply actions
All the more reason why the McCaskey's are ruining our franchise.
I already don’t believe they are handling this team the way they need to be and if they keep personnel based on religious similarity or friendship then they aren’t thinking of what is best for the team. We’ve already had to deal with players being on the field when our HC has had a pig-headed loyalty to them, now I guess we can count on that from those who are the highest of authority. Lame.
by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Dec 16, 2009 1:53 PM CST reply actions
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