SanduskyCav
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:gtfo: Mike Brown
I'll tell you this ...Mike Brown was being scrutinized before all this went down, and the front office and owner aren't at all happy with the recent decisions and communications problems that have been coming from our head coach.
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Initially the communcation from Mike Brown to Z was basically I'm the coach, you play when I call you into the game. Nothing is guaranteed.
Then his tune changed once he started getting heat from Lebron, the owner, and GM.
Then he wanted to reach out to Z and smooth things over. Admit it was a mistake, and that he was sorry.
Z didn't want to hear any of that because he felt he already got the honest answer from Mike Brown after the Dallas game. Anything that he said after that was due to pressure applied by players, gm, and owner ..and would have been seen as bullshit, basically ..to try and save his ass.
I think that best describes the mindsets ...
I'll tell you this ...Mike Brown was being scrutinized before all this went down, and the front office and owner aren't at all happy with the recent decisions and communications problems that have been coming from our head coach.
I agree that he needs to let it go, and think he will, because he always has the organization's well being in his mind.
However, it has to be tough for the big fella, especially all he's been through, never having complained, just taking everything in stride.
On what he feels was his biggest accomplishment, basically the one thing that has made his career so unique, he was treated as badly as he was, his emotions got the best of him. It (sort of) all came out with the one interview. And I'm sure even Z would admit he probably shouldn't have said anything. But I can vouch for the guy (I'm just like him. Take everything in stride, don't complain, just do what I'm asked) that it's tough sometimes and there are times when you say or do something you shouldn't when you feel like you're being taken advantage of or being slighted. This was Z's career achievement & although he still broke the record, he had it taken away by him.
There's almost no doubt in my mind that Z only said he didn't want it to be acknowledged because it just wouldn't have been the same to him.
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/12/03/sports/nh1779646.txtZydrunas Ilgauskas finally had his record-setting moment Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena.
Early in the first quarter of what eventually became a one-sided victory for the Cavaliers over the Phoenix Suns, the 14-year veteran center subbed in for Shaquille O'Neal.
Ilgauskas thus had played in 724 games in a Cleveland uniform, surpassing the previous record of 723 credited to Danny Ferry, now the Cavs' general manager.
The vast majority of fans in the sellout crowd of 20,562 feet rose to their feet and gave the 34-year-old native of Lithuania an extended standing ovation.
When his night's work was done, Ilgauskas had scored a team-high 14 points. He now has 10,269 points, third on the team's all-time scoring list behind LeBron James and Brad Daugherty.
Wednesday's celebration of Ilgauskas' longevity took on an emotionally charged tone because of what happened, or didn't happen, in Saturday's home victory over Dallas.
Cavs coach Mike Brown surprised a lot of people by not playing Ilgauskas in that game. The first did-not-play/coach's decision of his long career certainly surprised Ilgauskas, who had many friends and family members in the stands for the game.
The usually media-friendly Ilgauskas steered clear of reporters on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and most of Wednesday.
After Wednesday's game, as he finished dressing at his locker, Ilgauskas turned toward the many reporters gathered there and said softly, "Excuse me for making you wait."
When he was finally ready to speak, Ilgauskas carefully measured every word. It didn't take an expert in body language or voice inflection to detect a deep well of emotion in Ilgauskas' utterances. If the assembled media types and fans thought Ilgauskas would use the forum to rip Cavs coach Mike Brown for Saturday's DNP-CD, they were wrong.
Here is a verbatim transcript of Ilgauskas' postgame remarks:
"Let me say my peace, and off I go.
"First of all, I would like to thank the fans for their reception tonight. That was one of the coolest things I've experienced in my life. And also the closest I've come to tears on the basketball floor. I very much appreciate it and thank them.
"Obviously, I was very disappointed that I didn't play in the last game. I know I'm a good player. I think by me playing in that game, I would not have affected the outcome of the game. What made me more disappointed and upset was the acts that followed and this whole mess that has been created.
"I'm not going to go into any details. Once again, I'm going to be a bigger man and walk away from this. I know when I go to bed at night, my conscience is clear.
"What I'm going to do is I am going to continue doing my job. I love this team. I love my teammates. They are like a family to me. I'm going to come every day to work and try my hardest, win some games and hopefully bring a championship to this city because they deserve it — the fans.
"And I want to apologize to you guys for not being available the last two days. It's been not an easy ordeal. Thank you."
With that, Ilgauskas walked away from his locker and strode toward the door.
In his postgame remarks, Brown offered only this brief assessment of his veteran center's big night: "It's terrific for him and his family that he accomplished that feat with everything that he's gone through."
LeBron James makes no secret of the strong feelings he has for Ilgauskas. The day after Ilgauskas didn't play against Dallas, he publicly second-guessed Brown's controversial decision. Wednesday, his remarks were all about Ilgauskas and the record-setting appearance.
"Z is playing great basketball. He's consistent and works hard every day,'' James said. "I'm happy to be a teammate of his."
• Zydrunas Ilgauskas asked the organization not to celebrate him breaking the games played record, though the fans gave him plenty of applause anyway. Then after the game he just made a statement and didn't take any questions for a third consecutive day. It was, essentially, accepting the honor under a protest.
He deserves a lot of praise for what he has accomplished, it was a personal achievement to get through those injuries to get to this point. During that time he has been given an incredible amount of money, more than $130 million. He took losing his starting job to Shaq like a pro and never complained outwardly. And he had a right to be upset by not playing last Saturday and even a right to be upset about a few things that happened behind the scenes over the last couple of days.
But he needs to get past it. He is making it linger and it is not good for the team. He's not over it and it is clear to everyone on the team. His feelings have been expressed, he has the general public on his side and his coach said he's sorry both privately and publicly. The only damage being done now is by him.
I am sure he will be fine I mean He has everyone behind him and he Is A mature man. I just wonder how this Will affect Mike Browns status with the team. From what I read here He has to be told how to run rotations and then makes a stand and does this? Not a good sign and even worse If the team Is bigger than the coach. At least not good for MB.
So is Mike Malone ready to be a head coach?
I think Z is pissed off by Mike Brown's initial response to him which was basically I'm the coach and I play who I play when I decide to play them. Then, once Mike Brown realized the extent to which this upset Lebron, the owner, and GM, he began backtracking and saying he was sorry, and it was a mistake.
Then I think the capper was, he feels MB was behind a false rumor that was floated to try and take the heat off the coach, that Z asked out of the game in the 2nd half. That was an outright lie, and that really upset Z.
Here's what really got me(I know everyone is infatuated and now thinks Mike Brown is on his way to the unemployment line after your last quote, but here's what caught my attention).
Z felt that MB was behind this rumor and that was what set an already pissed off Z? That's how I take this quote.
Well, I'm going to assume that isn't true(considering the first time MB was asked about that particular notion he denied it instantly and said that Z never said/did that).
It brings up a couple key questions(rhetorical for my purposes mainly)
Was MB's desire to reconcile the situation after getting heat from LeBron/Ferry/Gilbert because he was trying to appease them, or was it because they helped him realize how much that game meant to Z, and once he realized that he felt terrible and wanted to fix things?
Is this "rumor" the reason things spiraled out of control? Because if it is, that's silly...especially if it's because Z thinks MB was the one who started it when I assume it wasn't(although if it was, that's pretty bad on MB's part...but I doubt it).
That particular thing just caught my eye. If some stupid rumor is the reason that the situation got the the point it is at now where it is struggling to see closure and still involves some very angry people, that's just unfortunate.