Say it With Me: Vinny…Del…Negro

Signs your favorite team has made an awful decision:

1) When my first memory upon hearing Vinny Del Negro is him running off the court with Mr. Mickey Mouse voice Avery Johnson in the 1996 movie, Eddie, starring Whoopi Goldberg.
2) When the coach you just hired has yet to hold the title of: Head coach, assistant coach, advanced scout or even video dude.
3) When your new coach spent just one year as the Phoenix Suns director of player personnel in 2006 and one more glorious year as the assistant general manager the next season.
4) When you would rather think about who The Mole is than your new coach.
5) When your organization announces the hiring of your new coach and its Vinny Del Negro.

Is this for real? Did the Chicago Bulls really just hire Vinny Del Negro???

I can hear it now, the Bulls P.A. announcer on opening night saying, “And the Bulls are coached by…who? This guy? Vinny Del Negro? Bring back Skiles!”

The Bulls gave Del Negro a 2-year deal worth $2 million annually. If that doesn’t scream confidence, I don’t know what does.

Remember the scene in “The Office” when Dwight is trying describe a marijuana user? He lists the qualities of a user and mentions “slow moving” and “shows a lack of motivation?” Well, he might as well been describing this organization.

They were too lazy and too slow to sign Mike D’Antoni, even though they wanted him to take the team to the next level, but then they don’t make an offer, assuming he’ll just wait it out and not be wowed by a lucrative offer from say, oh, the New York Knicks. Then reports leaked that General Manager John Paxson was very interested in hiring former Bulls coach and current TNT analyst Doug Collins. That led to this: “His feeling was, ‘I could never fire you. I care about you too much,’ Collins said about Bulls Owner Jerry Reinsdorf. And I said, ‘Well, Jerry, then we can't get into a job where that is even a thought.’”

So let me get this straight — Reinsdorf didn’t want to have to fire Collins in the future because the two enjoy long walks on the beach, but it was A-OK to can Skiles last Christmas Eve?

Pardon my tears.

The Bulls could have waited one more week and tried to hire respected Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau who is in his 19th year of coaching in the NBA. Now Chicago must surround Del Negro with good assistant coaches, and word is former Orlando Magic coach Brian Hill will be in the running. With or without experienced assistant coaches, the fact remains that Del Negro has never drawn up a play, called a timeout or even worn a suit to a game.

Despite the recent success of first-year head coaches with no coaching experience (Larry Bird and Doc Rivers), if someone told me a week ago that Vinny Del Negro would be coaching an NBA team this year I would have laughed in that person’s face. Funny how things work.

If I can take any piece of positive energy from this debacle it’s this: Steve Kerr, Del Negro’s former boss said, “"The only reason I didn't consider him is he didn't have coaching experience and I felt that was important for a veteran team. We don't have a young team like the Bulls. He was really impressive in the interview process.” Unfortunately, when the only positive thing I can come up with is that he was a good interviewer, this can’t be good.

Prior to this summer I trusted Paxson. His great mind for the game and dedication to winning were obvious from the get-go. But this is getting ridiculous. Why don’t we just tell Jerry Krause to come back and tear apart another team? Or, just bring back Dalibor Bagaric, for old times sake. That’s pretty much what Paxson is doing — sending this team in the wrong direction.

If the drawn-out and laughable coaching search is any sign of what is to come on draft night, don’t get too attached to Rose or Beasley.

-Pros