Dorrell Has Been Working Hard Golfing

by Nestor on Jul 12, 2007 4:18 AM PDT in Football

I'd really don't want to bring heat on Dorrell every day on BN. I really don't. But man this guy just makes it so easy.

So you have proven yourself to be nothing short of a below average or mediocre head coach at your program. You have not delivered any of the expectations you set for yourself when you took over your program. Your media skills are horrible. The alums and students at your school don't really care for you much. Your project the image of a coach who is disinterested, detached, and frankly not really on top what has been taking place in your program. So what do you do?

Well apparently if you are Karl Dorrell you give an interview to Daily News and talk about (along with your wife) about how much you love playing golf:

This is a good golf month for the Dorrells, who get to spend plenty of time together on the course because there are no football camps, scrimmages, games or recruiting trips. Karl, who is a 14-handicap, plays a lot with wife, Kim (19-handicap), and children, Chandler and Lauren, this month before UCLA football camp opens in August. Kim plays year-round at the TPC at Valencia with a regular group. Kim is usually the best-dressed. Chandler, who's 12 and has a 12 or 13 handicap, keeps score for everyone - whether they want him to or not - and Lauren, who's a gymnast, can be found cleaning golf balls, eating snacks or doing cartwheels on the course.

Yes he did. Here is the whole interview. Couple of choice samples. On Karl "coaching" in the golk course:

DN: Who's the best at helping you on the golf course?

Kim: He's a good coach. He can tell me exactly what I'm doing. Then he'll ask me, 'What am I doing wrong?' and I'll have no clue. Karl: I can watch people and know and know what they're doing, but no one can usually help me. It is (frustrating). You want to get it fixed.

And then there is the whole "thinking" part when we talk about Coach Karl:

DN: How much of a mental game do you think golf is?

Karl: You have to constantly think and plan. You have to gauge a lot of factors, weather, lie.

Yes, ladies and gentleman the head coach of our alma mater's football program:

Whatever Karl is "thinking" and "planning" on the golf course this summer, if he doesn't end up delivering a Pac-10 championship this year, DG should make sure he has unlimited time for his "thinking" and "planning" starting this December.

GO BRUINS.

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Karl's Philosphy: Golf Good; Recruiting Bad

Being overpaid for a job you are not qualified for is hard work. Karl deserves a MONTH long vacation. I am sure all of the work for the upcoming season, his most important in Westwood, is all done and in the can. Yup. Nothing left to do here-time to play golf! Just like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. I am surprised Karl is not a 3 handicap with all of the golf he plays.

And all of those recruits who have not yet signed letters of intent? They won't mind not hearing from Karl all summer. They have plenty of other head coaches from other universities to talk to. Sure, the summer period after camps is supposed to be a quiet period, but is that really the case? And we wonder why we lose guys who have given us verbal commitments.

Once again, this is just Karl being Karl. I say we promote him. He is the perfect candidate for an NFL job. Pros love to play golf during the off season, and there is no recruiting in the NFL. BAM-Problem solved!

by Koach Karl I on Jul 12, 2007 7:32 AM PDT 0 recs

I think he's lobbying

for the head coach position on the men's Golf team! How perfect would that be? He's got the absolute PERFECT temperament for golf! Steady, even-keeled, won't get riled up, won't take crazy risks. It's a match made in heaven! That way, we can even keep him in the Bruin family!

We should start pushing for this! How much damage could he do to the golf team?

by tasser10 on Jul 12, 2007 7:37 AM PDT 0 recs

I guess his offense is so streamlined...

...that he doesn't need to waste any of his time on film study when he's not recruiting or camping.

Sounds like Dorrell is really taking advantage of that whole California state employee thing.

by Ajax on Jul 12, 2007 7:55 AM PDT 0 recs

What Are You Saying?

That Dorrell should not play golf? He should not spend time with his family? He should not answer questions posed by some writer who wants to do a fluff piece? Get a grip, people!

by vanaaron on Jul 12, 2007 9:04 AM PDT 0 recs

Uh no

Read N closely. No one is saying Dorrell should be having a little fun. But given there is so much question about his competence and what he actually does as the UCLA HC, this is not the interview he should have given.

This makes him look a total clown.

Like it or now a college HCing position is now a high profile gig. He is under the microscope.

And when there is so much question about his ability as a HC, this is the last kind of article he would want to see in the press.

He opened himself up for this ridicule.

And for a coach who is in his 5th year in a program that shows he still hasn't "grown" and "learn" the PR game when it comes being a major head coach?

Y'd think Howland would agree to this kind of interviews if his team was underperforming? Then again that's never a problem with a coach like Howland.

Dorrell's on field image is of someone who is a lazy tool. This kind of confirms that image.

Not to smart on Karl's part.

by bluestreet on Jul 12, 2007 9:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's called human interest...

I don't see at all how this article "makes him look a total clown." To me, I enjoy seeing different sides of our coaches as much as I enjoy reading about the non-athletic aspects of our players.

Posting the Daily News article just seems like a non-issue and makes it appear like BN will stretch and twist anything to make KD look bad. Take the last picture of KD in a sombrero. Did that have anything to do with the rest of the post, other than to put on a further negative slant and provide more fodder to poke fun at? It seems obvious from his expression that KD wasn't enjoying himself, and I'm guessing that it was one of those community events that the coaches are asked to appear at for the university.

by CrouchingBruin on Jul 12, 2007 11:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

I enjoy

reading 'different sides" of coaches too.

Make that coaches who have done their jobs successfully at UCLA.

If that story was about Howland, Savage or any other good to great UCLA coaches then I would have enjoyed it.

I don't really enjoy reading that my school's football coach who is sort of a national laughing stock is out golfing while getting ready for the biggest season of his career.

by bluestreet on Jul 12, 2007 11:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

Funny...

...we don't read stories about all the time coach Howland dedicates to the game of golf or any other recreation. Everytime we see a story about Howland, it seems to be about him traveling across the country to evaluate a recruit or spending ridiculous hours in the film room.

Just sayin'...

by Ajax on Jul 12, 2007 3:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

you might be right about the hat

picture. But dont for a moment think that this piece wasn't orchestrated. Morgan Center PLANS these things and makes the Dorrell's available for them, just like that ridiculous Thinker piece the LA Times pushed last year in the middle of a 4 game losing streak.

So, if its orchestrated, you have to question the wisdom of the coach for allowing it to happen .. when he is under fire and about to embark on the most important season for UCLA football in nearly a decade, and in his career certainly. That is the issue. If you can't see that then you don't get what being a head coach entails.

by DumpDorrell on Jul 12, 2007 11:47 AM PDT up 0 recs

If the Morgan Center Plans These Events...

then maybe you should be saying it's the Athletic Department's fault, if not Dan Guerrero's, for not intervening in or denying extraneous media requests. They should have better experience and judgement to determine what media events and/or exposure is appropriate given the overall climate, more so than any coach.

by CrouchingBruin on Jul 13, 2007 1:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

Human Interest stories

I enjoy these human interest stories, too. They are a refreshing change from stories written about a coach's philosophy, strategies, success, edge, etc.

The problem with human interest stories regarding KD is that there has never once been a positive article regarding KD's coaching abilities. Therefore, human interest stories about KD are not a refreshing change, but rather, an indictment that there is nothing else positive to write about him.

by bornagainbruin on Jul 12, 2007 11:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

that's because

a coach has to have philosophies, strategies, success, and an edge in order to write about them.

by Koach Karl I on Jul 12, 2007 5:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

That was my original reaction

No one is saying he shouldn't be playing golf and spending time with his family. But it is not the kind of image you want to portray when your crosstown rival is schooling you and your best finish is 3rd in the Pac-10. He shouldn't have done this interview.

It may seem like we nitpick sometimes and reach to find things about KD that we can criticize. But he just makes it too easy! Wouldn't you rather read an article about how dedicated he is to the program? That he often sleeps in the office at night? That he's a workhorse? These are the things you read about Saban and the like. KD comes off as someone who is satisfied with his accomplishments and is putting his feet up and reveling in it. It may not be the case but an article like this certainly makes it seem that way.

by tasser10 on Jul 12, 2007 9:39 AM PDT up 0 recs

yeap

if he stumbles this is the picture that will haunt Dorrell. This guy should be 100% focussed on the upcoming season. He should be aware of the image he is projecting. He obviously isnt.

by DumpDorrell on Jul 12, 2007 10:39 AM PDT up 0 recs

The problem is not what we are saying

The problem is what Mr. Dorrell is saying. He never has said anything that makes him look like a professional D-1 football coach.

There are many jobs that require more than 40 hours per week. I billed around 2400 hours a year for 30 plus years. (Ask your lawyer friends how many hours are have to be worked to bill 200 hours a month.) But when Mr. Dorrell talks, he talks about golf, not about what he's doing to address the list of 18 or 19 objective factors demonstrating his failure as a coach.

How many puff pieces can you think of that have come from, e.g., Coach Knight? What's next - an article in Martha Stewart's magazine about how he has decorated his office? Talk about getting a grip!

So to directly answer your questions: (1) Sure, Mr. Dorrell should play golf in whatever time he believes he has available AFTER doing his job for which he is being paid an ENORMOUS amount of money; (2) sure, he should spend time with his family (and I would say probably the same amount that Coach Howland spends with his family); and (3) no, he should not do puff pieces. He should just say no. He could offer to talk about football. He could explain how he intends to reach his goals. But he should NOT talk about golf.

Remember when Channel 7 had the hot scoop, and was going to get an interview with OJ2? heritage hall quickly put the kibosh to that potential disaster. Morgan Center could take a lesson from that. Nothing good has ever come from having Mr. Dorrell speak to anyone in the media. And they think his image will be improved by talking about golf?

by Fox 71 on Jul 12, 2007 12:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

Actually ...

I believe I read an article in the LA Times about how Dorrell has been "decorating his office."

Bill Plaschke wrote about how Dorrell keeps a jar of M&Ms in his office so players can feel welcome to come to his office and talk things out. I guess kind of like shrink's office?

by bluestreet on Jul 12, 2007 12:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

I am a lawyer, Fox

I know how many hours I have to work to bill 200 in a month. I would ask some of the others in my office, but I can never get them to stop talking about golf.

by vanaaron on Jul 12, 2007 12:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

I always hate to admit this

but you made me actually laugh out loud.

I'll bet there are guys in your office that are like Mr. Dorrell. Very nice, very laid back, a little weak on preparation, and who rarely deliver. We called these guys "NFL people." NFL in this context meant "not for long." And they usually departed. Some I tried to save because they were nice guys, but then my partners reminded me of the facts of life, and they were gone.

by Fox 71 on Jul 12, 2007 1:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

Golf

Some of those guys probably confuse billing 200 a month with working 200 a month, or at least some of the golf-happy partners I've known did as much....

I personally don't care if KD plays a few rounds to unwind, but I think he showed some poor judgment giving this interview. It projects an image, rightly or wrongly, of sloth (though I'm sure this was put out there in an attempt to humanize him), and forgive me if I find it somewhat off-putting that the guy talks about how much he'd really like to play golf every day.

I'd rather he talk about how much he wants to win a national championship. And that he'd use his spare time coming up with plays that actually work in the red zone.

All in all, it's not an earth changing biggie. It just shows us what we already know: that KD (and/or the Morgan Center) isn't terribly sophisticated when it comes to dealing with the media, and the KD has trouble inspiring confidence.

by Menelaus on Jul 12, 2007 1:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

But...I don't get it...

You try to humanize someone who is portrayed as a workaholic, or a mean person. Why try to humanize someone who comes off as indifferent and uninspired? I just don't get the point of the article. What is it? Oh, don't be mean to Karl, he's a nice guy. See? He plays golf with his family.

It's like trying to portray that someone isn't a spoiled snob by showing him spending time with his family...in a yacht off the coast of an exclusive resort...

by tasser10 on Jul 12, 2007 1:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I don't understand it either. But I wouldn't underestimate the power of the "nice guy" image, which I think this little piece of fluff was likely meant to enhance.

My very own wife, who accompanied me to games last year while I donned a Dump Dorrell shirt, still occasionally will defend the guy because he dresses neatly and "seems like a nice guy."

by Menelaus on Jul 12, 2007 1:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sure

But no one ever doubted that he was a nice guy, that's been his image all along. Guess the Morgan Center is just trying to keep from looking like they made a mistake...or trying to create a contrast to Cheatie Petey's thug program.

by tasser10 on Jul 12, 2007 2:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

By the Way

When Knight was at Indiana, he co-hosted a show called "Golf Your Way."

by vanaaron on Jul 12, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

I guess Dorrell's show would be called...

Lowering your handicap on the Taxpayers Dime: "I'm Rich Biatch!"

by norcalbruin95 on Jul 12, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

By the way

Knight won some national championships.

If KD wins one he can be in all the golf article he wants.

by bluestreet on Jul 12, 2007 12:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

When Dorrell wins a NC...

...he can host all of the golf shows that he wants and nobody will complain.

Until then, I expect him to be working his ass off to get this program to where it should be. Going into his 5th year, I don't think anyone can argue that its anywhere close.

by Ajax on Jul 12, 2007 3:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wow...

Just read the article again (I wish I hadn't). That has got to be the most un-inspiring, un-imaginative, sleep-inducing interview I've read in a while. Has Karl Dorrell ever said anything funny/interesting/insightful in his entire life? Doesn't help that his wife seems to have the same listless, non-descript personality.

by norcalbruin95 on Jul 12, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

Night and Day...

What's Ben Howland doing this summer? Running intense b-ball camps for children, recruiting trips to the Midwest, locking up elite recruits (Jrue Holiday), most likely game-planning for next year, and probably watching hours of film on K-Love and Stanback.

What's Dorrell doing all summer. Scooting around a golf course in a cart, trying to lower his handicap, and probably watching the Buick Open, the British Open, the PGA Championships...

You gotta wonder what goes through Howland's head when he crosses paths with Dorrell in the Morgan Center??

by norcalbruin95 on Jul 12, 2007 1:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

He probably thinks about basketball

All indications are that Howland practically lives the game at all times.

However, when KD passes Howland in the hall, I'm sure he invites BH to kick back and have a handful of M&M's in his office.

by Tydides on Jul 12, 2007 6:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Just wondering

I wonder if Dorrell sends Howland a birthday card every year?

by bornagainbruin on Jul 13, 2007 6:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

KD and golf

Let him golf. We all have our eyes on the ball for what needs to happen next year. I hope that he does. As stated before, with the history of the past 4 years, we all have high expectations now for next year. If KD performs, then we should give him his due. Once again:

10-11 wins regular season.
PAC-10 championship.
Beat SC.
Win a BCS bowl game.

There are those who say this is too much to expect, but we have settled for far less for 4 years. Do it now and no excuses!!!
Bill

BillSouthBay

by BillSouthBay on Jul 12, 2007 10:10 AM PDT 0 recs

I have no problem with KD playing golf...

... besides, after the up-and-down path of his coaching so far, I think he looks at "golf" as a four-letter word that's preferable to all the other four-letter words thrown at his coaching so far.

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Jul 12, 2007 10:14 AM PDT 0 recs

Sombrero

That photo is just priceless. I desperately want to believe that was Photo Shopped.

The posting of this photo is also quite timely: I leave for a 2 day vacation in Baja (Mexico) tomorrow.

Ok, Bruins, at the risk of being called "pathetic," and because I really don't care what others think, offer up your best caption for the Karl in the sombrero pic. Here's my entry:

UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell Seen Here Enjoying the Festivities Prior to the Inaugural Tijuana Bowl.

by Barnes2JJ on Jul 12, 2007 10:31 AM PDT 0 recs

I think

that picture was taken right before the Sun Bowl. I think thats where it came from.

by bluestreet on Jul 12, 2007 11:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's his Thinker's Cap

The Thinker is putting on his Thinker's Cap while he multi-tasks on the dance floor. I for one am super happy that our head coach is always Thinking, even when he is dancing and playing golf, about the upcoming season and how we are going to do something special.

by DumpDorrell on Jul 12, 2007 10:37 AM PDT 0 recs

Sombrero Pic

It is likely from a Sun Bowl promo event. I remember a very similar sombrero pic of TD before a Fiesta Bowl, looking like he was just downing Margaritas and having a great ole time. IIRC the team ended up tying a heavily favored Arkansas team in the game.
Just saying...

by Calchas on Jul 12, 2007 11:49 AM PDT 0 recs

This story

should be unshelved in 5 months if our season ends up in the toilet.

by godblesstyus95 on Jul 12, 2007 12:26 PM PDT 0 recs

Just wondering

Look, I don't want to make too much fuss about a stupid hat (even though he looks totally ridiculous and clownish in it) or his devotion to golf. But just one question:

If Dorrell had said, I'll go to your party, I'll dance, smile, whatever, but I'm not wearing the hat, would he have been fired?

I think not.

Memo to KD: Get your game face on, pal. At all times. Your job is on the line. You can't afford to act like a goof. You are getting paid nearly a million bucks. Prove that you deserve it.

by Barnes2JJ on Jul 12, 2007 1:44 PM PDT 0 recs

Someone, help me out

Has KD ever given an in-depth interview on football strategy, like Howland has regarding basketball?

by bluegold on Jul 12, 2007 1:58 PM PDT 0 recs

Of course he has

The interviewer then promptly was committed to a mental institution and the article was never published. You can still go visit him though. He sits naked in the corner of his room, swaying back and forth and muttering "turning the corner...turning the corner" over and over again.

by tasser10 on Jul 12, 2007 2:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yes

He actually wrote a very short book on it. It's called:

"Surprise Your Opponents By Running On First and Second Down."

by Barnes2JJ on Jul 12, 2007 2:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

No Golf?

Dorrell not allowed to play golf? Check.

Can you believe that he sleeps every night? What a lazy ass-clown.

by Quickhands on Jul 12, 2007 2:08 PM PDT 0 recs

Quick hands

but slow mind...

by tasser10 on Jul 12, 2007 2:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

Excuse me...

What did I miss? Did the post not imply, if ever so slightly, that Dorrell is not using the summer as valuably as he could? Did it not suggest that he has so much work to do as a coach (a point I agree with) that to frolic and play golf was directly impacting our upcoming season?

This should be the greatest news Nestor has ever heard. He wants Dorrell out, and fast. If Dorrell playing golf will really impact our upcoming season in a negative way, then I would expect Nestor to start paying the green fees.

by Quickhands on Jul 12, 2007 2:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

SUC Dad?

Is that you?

by godblesstyus95 on Jul 12, 2007 2:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

That ain't it

We all know that Dorrell is here to stay, at least through this season, unless he stumbles horribly the first few games.

I'm not N, but will now repeat this for the 52nd time: We want to win the National Championship. This year. With KD as head coach.

Success for the team is our goal, not the firing of Dorrell.

Yes, we want to keep the heat on KD. Intense heat.

No one wants Dorrell out playing golf and becoming a narcoleptic such that he sleeps all day long and that all of his golfing and sleeping negatively impacts the team.

On the contrary, we want him working 18 hour days in an effort to "grow" and "learn" and perform like he should be performing.

by Barnes2JJ on Jul 12, 2007 2:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Pretty much

Did the post not imply, if ever so slightly, that Dorrell is not using the summer as valuably as he could?

Yes, that is exactly what it implies. Watched UCLA football lately?

by Ajax on Jul 12, 2007 3:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't disagree with the basic point

My point is this, there are plenty of valid criticisms to be laid upon Dorrell's head. From play calling to recruiting to whatever you want. Endless grounds for criticism.

To focus on the cosmetic stuff is pointless. And weakens the strong basis for arguments against Dorrell.

Since Nestor likes to talk about the President, I offer the following analogy. There are tons of criticisms that can be made of him. Obviously. And every once in a while I see someone still stand up and say "He got C's in college!" Okay, right, but is that really the point anymore?

The arguments are valid. This article doesn't help you. Dorrell is a human being. He cannot spend literally every second preparing for the season. This was a stupid fluff piece about Dorrell, the man. It really doesn't affect the upcoming football season. At all. So let it go. You sound hysterical when something like this gets you all worked up.

by Quickhands on Jul 12, 2007 3:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well

As soon as Dorell can consistently have his teams prepared to play, maybe this won't be an issue. Take the article and substitute in Pete Carroll. Nobody would complain.

However, it just doesn't sit well when one of the highest paid employees of the state is spending so much time working on his handicap. I could give a shit about Karl Dorrell the golfer. I want to read about how he is at the Bill Walshe WCO seminar trying to improve the program.

by Ajax on Jul 12, 2007 4:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well, actually...

I would say that this article perfectly characterizes most of the overlying issues that a lot of us have with Dorrell.

Lack of competitive spirit/dedication: The summer before the most critical year in his career, his #1 concern seems to be his handicap.

Can't accept blame: He basically deflects blame to his son Chandler for not holding on and getting himself thrown out of the cart. Sound familiar?

He's a poor communicator:

"But I can get out of trouble. I've been in enough trouble on the golf course. I try to imagine shots"
"I can watch people and know and know what they're doing, but no one can usually help me. It is (frustrating). You want to get it fixed."
"I don't want to get any bad swing thoughts in my head."

WTF????

Yes, it's a fluff piece, but the underlying problems still come across loud and clear.

by norcalbruin95 on Jul 12, 2007 4:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Norcal...

I'm not sure it says anywhere in the article that his handicap is his "#1 concern." That seems to be an inference that you are making, without a whole lot of support. Or any support. Not that I'm particularly surprised by that.

My point is this...

Let's say we lose a game we should win, sometime in October, because Dorrell does a typical draw on 3rd down or punt on the other team's 35 or something. Do you really think this round of golf caused that?

What if you knew that after that round of golf he spent the next 12 hours watching film? Would that change your opinion? If he won a game with a great call, would you say he won despite his round of golf? I'm just not sure what the point is...

by Quickhands on Jul 12, 2007 4:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hey, we're both inferring here...

Who the hell knows. You don't know the guy any better than I do. Perhaps the guy IS truly obsessed with golf, in which case it would have an impact on his performance. This golfing habit of his keeps coming up, so in this case, this article hits a nerve.

Listen, I'm not talking about a single round of golf in the summer of '07. To me, this whole article is more of an analogy as to his general mindset and approach to his job and his life. There's no doubt in my mind that the guy is basically on "summer vacation", whereas someone like Ben Howland goes above and beyond his job responsibilities to exceed expectations, and it shows in the results he's produced. You can literally see the passion in his eyes. With Dorrell, all you get is that un-inspired, blank stare.

by norcalbruin95 on Jul 12, 2007 5:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

Actually this article helps ...

If Dorrell finds himself struggling in a 4-5 loss this will not look like a "stupid fluff piece" when we use it to call him out.

And who says we are worked up?

We are just having a little chuckle at our head coach who makes himself look like a total doofus w/o us even trying.

The only person sounding hysterical is you helping to blow up this thread. If it didn't bother you so much you didn't have to comment on it.

by Nestor on Jul 12, 2007 4:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

You're not taking into account 1 important fact

that articles like these are SET UP in advance by Morgan Center and the Dorrells. The Dorrells didnt just go to play golf one day and camera's and a reporter just happen to be there. These pieces are pre-planned. That shows the Dorrell agreed to it .. . that tells us something about him as a coach, how he is thinking about his image before the start of a huge season for him and for UCLA football. And, for a guy who hasn't gotten it done is definitely undercuts him, which makes the piece hilarious.

by DumpDorrell on Jul 12, 2007 4:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

As a concerned UCLA football fan

We are a month an a half from kickoff. We do not want to know his family members' various golf handicaps. We want to hear about his offensive schemes, his plan of attack, Olson's targets; we want some insight into the defensive philosophy for this year. You know, football issues.

That is why I asked the question: Has KD ever given an in-depth interview talking about football strategy, X's and O's and all the technical stuff? Howland does it all the time.

by bluegold on Jul 12, 2007 3:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

diverstiy

thats awesome that he's at a event like that,i like the diverstiy in him, by having a mariachi

by deluxe207 on Jul 12, 2007 3:45 PM PDT 0 recs

No correlation

KD being a joke of a coach has nothing to do with golf. There's no reason why he can't be a great coach and a golf lover in the off-season.

by chaphill1 on Jul 12, 2007 9:48 PM PDT 0 recs

I have personally seen him around

Lives in the same area as I (Valencia), and actually saw him at the Tournament Players Club golf course while I was there for lunch on a business meeting. Also saw him shopping at Wal Mart around last fall. Pretty much the poster boy for all the rich snobs that live in the area- enjoying his riches at the expense of others while doing a mediocre job performance.

by bruin06 on Jul 12, 2007 10:18 PM PDT 0 recs

Is that a joke?

He shouldn't go to Wal-Mart until he wins a national championship?

by vanaaron on Jul 13, 2007 9:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

I was just heading to Wal-Mart.

Fortunately, I have as many National Championships, PAC-10 Championships, PAC-10 second place finishes and BCS Bowl wins as Mr. Dorrell. And I'm only one Nobel Peace Prize for Humanitarianism behind the guy from Figueroa.

by Fox 71 on Jul 13, 2007 10:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

Reading Comprehension skills

How did you do on your SAT verbal? For the life of me I can't figure out how you inferred that from the post. Hoo ar yoo and vat iz yor name? You ar veeeery soospishus...

by tasser10 on Jul 13, 2007 11:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

Spare me your snide little insults.

The guy's post consists of three sentences: (i) he's seen KD golfing at a fancy club; (ii) he's seen KD shopping at Wal-Mart; (iii) KD enjoys his riches instead of doing his job.

We've already beaten to death the tenuous connection some people see between (i) and (iii). Either statement (ii) is totally irrelevant, or it is meant as further support for statement (iii). This is so bizarre I honestly thought he might be kidding.

by vanaaron on Jul 13, 2007 12:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sorry Van

I've been a pest lately, just ask Fox!

Well, I thought it was obvious that all he meant was that he saw him at the Wal Mart and inferred from his demeanor that he was a poster boy for snobs, etc. But I suppose I assumed too much.

Regardless, I don't think the issue is what he does on his spare time, it's the timing of this article and his willingness to do it. If you had an underachieving employee and all you heard about was how his great vacations, you would not be pleased. Right now none of us want to hear about his friggin' golf outings. We want to hear about schemes, tactics, hard work. We are trying to find a way to have some hope for this season but I swear, KD is just not helping!

by tasser10 on Jul 13, 2007 1:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

OK - Pardon me for being touchy

I guess this criticism would make sense to me if the interviewer were asking substantive questions and KD was responding by talking about golf. But I can't the harm in agreeing to do a fluff piece on something KD enjoys doing with his family.

It seems to me it only makes him look foolish in the eyes of people who have already decided he is foolish . . . which explains why the same people admittedly would have no problem with a comparable fluff piece about Ben Howland.

by vanaaron on Jul 13, 2007 1:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

This isn't new

It's not as if the perception of KD being foolish is being pulled out of thin air. Nothing any of us could do or say could make him look more foolish than he does when he has that deer in the headlights look as he lets yet another game get yanked out from right under his feet.

The comparison to any fluff piece on Ben Howland is off base because Howland has already had many articles written documenting how he is unrelenting when it comes to his job. Based on these articles and the results on the court, it is safe to say that Howland is not only good at what he does, but he puts in the work. On the other hand, we have Karl "The Thinker" Dorrell, whose press mostly consists of fluff pieces like this. Based on these articles and his results on the field, we can say that KD has not done a good job, and his seemingly cavalier attitude towards his job makes him look like a fool.

I can't see the harm in doing a fluff piece in the offseason either, especially if it's about Howland. I do, however, see the harm when a coach ONLY has fluff pieces to his credit.

by Tydides on Jul 13, 2007 2:48 PM PDT up 0 recs