I was stunned by reports Tuesday that Chicago Bulls executive vice president John Paxson had grabbed coach Vinny Del Negro by the tie, shoved him and challenged him to a fight after a March 30 loss to the Suns.
It was reported the next day that Del Negro actually initiated the physical altercation and that he’d done it before with the team’s general manager, Gar Forman.
Whatever happened, it was childish, disrespectful and unnecessary. We are talking about grown men — professionals working toward the same goal of an NBA title.
No organization that resorts to arguing, shoving or fighting is going to win a title. Moreover, no organization that essentially turns its back on a first-year coach who nearly toppled the defending champion Boston Celtics in the 2009 playoffs will win one, either.
The Bulls organization has shafted Del Negro and treated him with great disrespect. But maybe Del Negro has disrespected the organization as well.
I’m a Del Negro supporter and would love to see him back next season, but I don’t see it happening. After this incident, it might be best for team owner Jerry Reinsdorf to clean house.
A team with such a bright future needs better management in order to restore some of the storied franchise’s Jordan era success.
