[MJS Blog] Buzz Williams on the rigors of coaching

[keefe]

Agreed.  I couldn't be happier.  Buzz doing a great job.  Crean rebuilds my other alma mater into a national powerhouse again.  Win win for me. 

Ok, I'll take that bet. My Michigan under Beihlein wins one before Your IU under Crean. Bottle of Wine. Winner's choice.

[keefe]

You need a good pair of Red Wings. American made.  Just down the road...

Damn. I looked up Red Wing boots and found this wing tip style. Man I would be the envy of Jomsom strutting the trails in those...

[real chili 83]

Damn. I looked up Red Wing boots and found this wing tip style. Man I would be the envy of Jomsom strutting the trails in those...

You are resourceful.

If you wanted to go Wisconsin, a pair of Allen Edmonds would do you well.

Seriously, red wings are well made.  We bought them for safety shoes.  Guys would get 2-3 years out of them.

[keefe]

You are resourceful.

If you wanted to go Wisconsin, a pair of Allen Edmonds would do you well.

Seriously, red wings are well made.  We bought them for safety shoes.  Guys would get 2-3 years out of them.

Funny you should mention Allen Edmonds. Those were my shoes of choice back in the days of PepsiCo and GE. My wife thought them clunky and tried to steer me more towards the Euro styles but I always wore A-E's. The fact they were from Wisconsin was a bonus. Great shoes, held a shine, and lasted forever. And they were a man's shoe, unlike those tinker bell shoes worn by Europeans. Brits and Aussies are like Americans in that they wear real shoes. French and Italians wear ballet slippers and Germans wear shoes that extend out forever. Asians wear slip ons since they take their shoes off at the door and in many restaurants. You can also see a lot of big heels on some of the Asian shoes. Turns a 5'3" Midget into a 5'6" Giant.

I am familiar with steel toed boots from my flying days. Came in two colors - black and tan. Got them at the uniform shop for under $100. The black ones were leather and were indestructible. The tan were suede and with the heat over in Iraq they lasted a 6 month deployment.

[real chili 83]

My room mate in Schroeder was from port Washington.  His parents both worked at AE.  We used to get factory seconds at the EE discount.  Their definition of a factory second was smeared ink on the inside of the shoe where they would print the shoe's size.

Only shoe I buy.

[keefe]

My room mate in Schroeder was from port Washington.  His parents both worked at AE.  We used to get factory seconds at the EE discount.  Their definition of a factory second was smeared ink on the inside of the shoe where they would print the shoe's size.

Only shoe I buy.

An excellent choice. I know how to slap on a thick shine using an old t-shirt and lots of spit. The maid would try but it was like she used a chocolate bar. Europeans never shine their shoes. Dude will have a $2,000 suit on and his shoes will be all scuffed up. I always found AE's leather to be thick and very good quality so it really took a shine. My secretary in HK, Anna Wong, asked me one Monday at morning tea why my index and middle fingers were black. When I explained it was from shining my shoes she had a horrified look on her face. She asked why the amah didn't do it and explained I was better. It made no sense to her whatsoever.

[real chili 83]

I use AE polish and creme exclusively.  Know exactly what you mean about the fingers.

Kinda worried about how our last few posts could be taken out of context.  

[4everwarriors]

Stollenwerk probably loved you dudes.

[keefe]

I use AE polish and creme exclusively.  Know exactly what you mean about the fingers.

Kinda worried about how our last few posts could be taken out of context.  

Yea, just read through and it could be misconstrued...but it would show where one's mind is at, wouldn't it?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Ok, I'll take that bet. My Michigan under Beihlein wins one before Your IU under Crean. Bottle of Wine. Winner's choice.

I didn't realize I made any predictions of a championship or anything of the nature to instigate a "I'll take that bet."  I merely said he would return them to national prominence, and he has done that.  Though a few years ago I did say here TC would take IU to the Final Four before Buzz does at MU...for which I got a large amount of heat on that one, too.  I certainly have no opinion on Michigan.  The NCAAs are a crapshoot, no one knows what the match-ups will be, where the games are played, etc.  If it was a best of 3, best of 5, much easier to pick, but one off night and you are out.  One night where you play like we did at Green Bay, you're done.  One night where IU plays like they did against Illinois, they're out.  It happens.

One quick question before I agree to any bet....Is Uncle Ed Martin still alive to grease the palms of players at UM?  If he is, no dice.  I know the culture has changed there, but that was one dirty arse program for a long time and now that they are tasting success again I wonder how long before it creeps back in.

[keefe]

Stollenwerk probably loved you dudes.

Guy took a small niche brand and built it into the epitome of American business footwear. We did work with Essilor and my French colleague was there when my weekly FedEx arrived from CT. Included were two pair of A-E's. He commented that they looked more like Horse shoes since they were so heavy. The French. Merde.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Only shoe I buy.

+1

Though with the further erosion of dress code at the corporate level to accommodate millennials and such, I may have get into something more casual soon.  God forbid corporate America demands nice shoes, slacks and a button down shirt...now its nice jeans, casual wear at way too many places and those companies like where I'm at that doesn't do that are feeling the pressure to do it to retain employees (among other perks). 

[4everwarriors]

Isn't free Direct TV enough of a perk?

[keefe]

I didn't realize I made any predictions of a championship or anything of the nature to instigate a "I'll take that bet."  I merely said he would return them to national prominence, and he has done that.  I certainly have to opinion on Michigan, though a few years ago I did say here TC would take IU to the Final Four before Buzz does at MU...for which I got a large amount of heat on that one, too.  The NCAAs are a crapshoot, no one knows what the matchups will be, where the games are played, etc.  If it was a best of 3, best of 5, much easier to pick, but one off night and you are out.  One night where you play like we did at Green Bay, you're done.  One night where IU plays like they did against Illinois, they're out.  It happens.

One quick question before I agree to any bet....Is Uncle Ed Martin still alive to grease the palms of players at UM?  If he is, no dice.  I know the culture has changed there, but that was one dirty arse program for a long time and now that they are tasting success again I wonder how long before it creeps back in.

So no bet?? C'mon and grow a pair! I'll put a bottle of wine on Maize and Blue getting one before IU. Neither may win one during our life times but it may happen. What it says is that we each have faith in our alma maters to be competitive for winning it all.

As for Ed Martin, that sonuvabitch wasn't even an alum. And his gig wasn't even to lure or reward players for signing with Michigan. He gave illicit money from his gambling ring to Webber, Traylor, Taylor and Bullock in order to launder it. All four of those guys knew Martin from the Detroit streets. Martin gave high school ballers shoes (from Sonny Vacarro, no less,) money, groceries, etc... throughout their high school careers. In the case of these 4 he gave them "loans" which were to be repaid after they went to the show. Martin had no connection or association with the University. And he died about 10 years ago during Webber's trial for lying to a grand jury.

The case of Martin is very different from what is going on at IU today. The current coaching staff has a cozy relationship with certain AAU figures...Go figure  

[BCHoopster]

No one says that coaching is not a rigorous tough job, but I believe that everybody on this board does not have a bank account close to Buzz Williams.  If I make a $100K a year, I have to work 25
years to match Buzz's salary.  So in saying that, Buzz can quit anytime he wants now and have a great stress free life.  We should all have that problem.  But Buzz is driven to do a great job, and
that is an issue he is going to have to change as life is to short. 

The MU job is difficult, so he has to bust his ass to recruit players.  February in Wisconsin sucks, I would never bring a future recruit from out of state to Wisconsin then.  To get a Top 10 recruiting
class is amazing, we may never see it again as he only needs a player or 2 the next few years after the 2013 class.  Luckily, 3 of the kids are from Wisconsin and wanted to stay here.  Much like
Key, MacIlvaine and Logterman for KO his first year.  I still say that MU takes care of there players after school is over, the business community has done a good job helping those kids get ahead.
Basketball is not forever, ask Earl Tatum or George Thompson, even Jim MacIlvane.

[Aughnanure]

That's one way to look at it.  Others might say it's easier to get to the top of the mountain elsewhere, with less stress, especially on the recruiting front at one of the big major programs.  I know Texas fans are really upset with Barnes and want him out.  Another drubbing yesterday.  They are now 3-9 in the Big 12 and 11-14 overall.  Dodds rewards loyalty and I don't think he will kick Barnes to the curb after this season, but Barnes will need to get it in gear soon.

Agreed. But there just aren't many schools that make it THAT much easier from where Marquette stands. Texas still scares me though. Hopefully they would go after Shaka first.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Isn't free Direct TV enough of a perk?

The porn ain't free...keeping the man down.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So no bet?? C'mon and grow a pair! I'll put a bottle of wine on Maize and Blue getting one before IU. Neither may win one during our life times but it may happen. What it says is that we each have faith in our alma maters to be competitive for winning it all.

As for Ed Martin, that sonuvabitch wasn't even an alum. And his gig wasn't even to lure or reward players for signing with Michigan. He gave illicit money from his gambling ring to Webber, Traylor, Taylor and Bullock in order to launder it. All four of those guys knew Martin from the Detroit streets. Martin gave high school ballers shoes (from Sonny Vacarro, no less,) money, groceries, etc... throughout their high school careers. In the case of these 4 he gave them "loans" which were to be repaid after they went to the show. Martin had no connection or association with the University. And he died about 10 years ago during Webber's trial for lying to a grand jury.

The case of Martin is very different from what is going on at IU today. The current coaching staff has a cozy relationship with certain AAU figures...Go figure  

Lots of coaches have cozy relationships with AAU teams, including Bo Ryan.  That doesn't mean money is changing hands at the tune of $280K like Webber got.

OK, so your bet is Coach B at Michigan will win the national title before Crean at IU?  Or do the schools matter..I just want to be clear.  If Coach B is at Texas or something and wins it, does that count?  If Crean is at Michigan State, does that count?   I'll take the bet, though I wouldn't be surprised if both of us never win this bet because neither wins the title anywhere.  The smart bet here is clearly the field.   Let me know the answer to the team question just for clarity.

Thanks.  Peace.  Out.

[ChicosBailBonds]

No one says that coaching is not a rigorous tough job, but I believe that everybody on this board does not have a bank account close to Buzz Williams.  If I make a $100K a year, I have to work 25
years to match Buzz's salary.  So in saying that, Buzz can quit anytime he wants now and have a great stress free life.  We should all have that problem.  But Buzz is driven to do a great job, and
that is an issue he is going to have to change as life is to short. 

The MU job is difficult, so he has to bust his ass to recruit players.  February in Wisconsin sucks, I would never bring a future recruit from out of state to Wisconsin then.  To get a Top 10 recruiting
class is amazing, we may never see it again as he only needs a player or 2 the next few years after the 2013 class.  Luckily, 3 of the kids are from Wisconsin and wanted to stay here.  Much like
Key, MacIlvaine and Logterman for KO his first year.  I still say that MU takes care of there players after school is over, the business community has done a good job helping those kids get ahead.
Basketball is not forever, ask Earl Tatum or George Thompson, even Jim MacIlvane.

Well said

[keefe]

Lots of coaches have cozy relationships with AAU teams, including Bo Ryan.  That doesn't mean money is changing hands at the tune of $280K like Webber got.

OK, so your bet is Coach B at Michigan will win the national title before Crean at IU?  Or do the schools matter..I just want to be clear.  If Coach B is at Texas or something and wins it, does that count?  If Crean is at Michigan State, does that count?   I'll take the bet, though I wouldn't be surprised if both of us never win this bet because neither wins the title anywhere.  The smart bet here is clearly the field.   Let me know the answer to the team question just for clarity.

Thanks.  Peace.  Out.

B wins at Michigan vs Crean wins at IU.  I have no interest in Coach B winning elsewhere unless he is at Marquette or Harvard. I agree that this will likely be a wash as neither wins the Ship at their current gig.

[Goose]

IMO it really does come down to where Buzz will be happy. He makes a ton of money and will at MU or somewhere else. If you likes Milwaukee,MU, his bosses and boosters he stays, if not he moves on. Lab Warrior can yawn and mock all that he wants to about Buzz staying or leaving all he wants. It is a business and people and organizations make business decisions everyday.

In the long run every job has it's perks and it's pressure. MU job probably has more pressure to keep players on the right path in life than it does on winning. At MU most fans want competitive team with good kids on and off the court. To me the pressure of having kids doing their homework and behaving at night is more pressure than winning. Coaches control on court stuff because that is their job. The offcourt stuff is crap shoot, time consuming and probably very annoying. All schools want good kids but I think at MU is requirement not a hope.

[BCHoopster]

Well said

Thanks

[MU82]

Back to the opening post ...

I don't feel even a little sorry for Buzz or any other high-level coach in a revenue sport at a major university. If they want less stress, they can work in Division III in a small media market. Or they can choose another profession entirely. Life is full of choices.

I respect how hard coaches have to work, and believe me I'm glad we have an outstanding coach, but lots of people in the world work hard without getting millions of dollars and without Dick Vitale screaming about how wonderful they are, bay-bee!

You want stress? Try feeding your family and keeping a roof over your kids' heads on a minimum-wage salary. When the sheriff knocks on your door and says you'll be evicted next week if you can't pay the rent, THAT is pressure. Thankfully, I've never felt that pressure, but I know good people who have.

[ChicosBailBonds]

B wins at Michigan vs Crean wins at IU.  I have no interest in Coach B winning elsewhere unless he is at Marquette or Harvard. I agree that this will likely be a wash as neither wins the Ship at their current gig.

OK, bet on.  As a Michigan alum (you), I wish you well.  As an IU alum (me), I hope my guy wins.  We both have a little extra to gain as our alma maters benefit if our guy wins the bet.  Best of luck.