Another reason I am happy Bruce Pearl left Milw.

[MUEng92]

I am not sure who I think is the bigger idiot, Pearl for getting kicked out of 2 H.S. gyms in two years or the author of the article who thinks he describes it as "...so much fire and passion...".  Sounds like something they probably wrote about Bobby Knight when they liked him in Indiana.

"1. It's becoming clear Bruce Pearl's courtside theatrics that make him a favorite of fans isn't just an act, considering the Tennessee coach seems to have a difficult time controlling his emotions away from his games, too. The latest example came Friday when Pearl reportedly had a run-in with a referee at a high-school contest in Chattanooga where he was scouting one of the top juniors in the state.

Though Pearl wasn't technically ejected, the game was halted after Pearl voiced his displeasure with a call, and the referee, according to The Tennessean, requested to an administrator that Pearl be escorted from the gym. Pearl reportedly left on his own, and later returned to a rousing ovation from the crowd, which is better than last season when he was ejected from his son's high school game in Knoxville and thus prevented from watching the end.

So if you're keeping score, Pearl has, in the past year, had run-ins with referees at two high schools games, told UT students at a pep rally that he was going to "kick Florida's ass" and snapped at a reporter who, best he could tell, asked a "horse%*$# question."

While some might view these things as negatives, I contend it's exactly what Tennessee needs in a coach, somebody with so much fire and passion he forces people to care at a school where men's basketball has long ranked behind football, spring football and women's basketball in terms of importance. Like or hate Pearl, it's hard to ignore the guy, and that he's winning makes everything tolerable. "

http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9864420/2

[MikeyT42]

what a knob

[Mayor McCheese]

thought he was a good coach because he wears that god-awful orange blazer, he is nuts, gotta like the fire he has, but its over the top when you are getting kicked out of a game where the only reason you are there is because you are scouting a kid.... wonder if that kid will sign with Tennessee, my guess, no.

[WashDCWarrior]

If he does, this incident will be spun to make him look like a genious. God bless the media.

[4everwarriors]

good coach and his teams always play hard and compete.

[Nukem2]

Maybe so, but it does not mean he is still not a horse's arse.  Knight fits the same scenario.  I've personally had the misfortune of being near Knight a couple of times.  What a piece of whatever.  Pearl strikes me as the same cut of cloth.  I realize these guys can do some good things; but, they really do make a mess of themselves otherwise. Comes down to the almighty $$ over civility in the end.  Just because you win some games does not make one a god of some kind.

[shaquilvaine]

Pearl is a firstclass a-hole.  Remember him calling out MU in the media for not playing UWM?... "we'll play you anywhere any time even though I'm too much of a douchebag to offer any thing other than a home and home with MU"... well he did the same thing with Memphis calling Caliapari out in the media.