Shaka Smart, Relationships and Trouble in Madison

[Hards Alumni]

Is he? I mean, I get that it's all schtick, but I don't think his character's musings are all that different from those of 4ever IRL. Just spelled worse.
If he's playing a character, it's a semi-autobiographical role.

fair

[Newsdreams]

Is he? I mean, I get that it's all schtick, but I don't think his character's musings are all that different from those of 4ever IRL. Just spelled worse.
If he's playing a character, it's a semi-autobiographical role.

This, hiding behind the curtain.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Not hiding at all. He's told us who he is a million times. He just has the unfunniest schtick of all time to go with it.

[MU82]

If you see the transfer portal as some boogey man that just takes your kids, you're not going to be very successful in anything, much less, college basketball.  Al would have thrived today, just as I feel Shaka will.

Yep, yep.

[Newsdreams]

Not hiding at all. He's told us who he is a million times. He just has the unfunniest schtick of all time to go with it.

Well he tries kind of

[Uncle Rico]

Save the civil war stuff for Gerg Grad and the Bagder fans, aina?

[The Lens]

Maybe, but Al would have had to make a ton of adjustments.  So many so, that I think he would have rather not coached than coach the way is currently necessary.

My favorite Al quote is: I may not agree with everything they say or do, but at least I'm smart enough to consider maybe I could be wrong and they could be right.

Guys who think like that, they make adjustments easily. 

[Its DJOver]

My favorite Al quote is: I may not agree with everything they say or do, but at least I'm smart enough to consider maybe I could be wrong and they could be right.

Guys who think like that, they make adjustments easily.

I'm not questioning whether he could, I questioning whether he would.  There's a lot of stuff Al did that wouldn't fly in today's game.  I just doubt that he would be willing to deal with all that.

[MU82]

I'm not questioning whether he could, I questioning whether he would.  There's a lot of stuff Al did that wouldn't fly in today's game.  I just doubt that he would be willing to deal with all that.

It's impossible to know for sure, but assuming he wanted to coach at Marquette, or anywhere in college, or even in the pros for that matter, he'd have to at least try.

This ain't the 70s or 80s or even 90s. You can't scream at your players 24/7, you can't choke them, and you can't get into fistfights with them. So if you want to coach in the 2020s, you need to know how to relate to them. If you can't, there are thousands of other occupations out there.

[Its DJOver]

It's impossible to know for sure, but assuming he wanted to coach at Marquette, or anywhere in college, or even in the pros for that matter, he'd have to at least try.

This ain't the 70s or 80s or even 90s. You can't scream at your players 24/7, you can't choke them, and you can't get into fistfights with them. So if you want to coach in the 2020s, you need to know how to relate to them. If you can't, there are thousands of other occupations out there.

That's the thing, I doubt that he'd want to.  Al was the definition of a "my way or the highway" kind of guy. If he had to deal with all the stuff that he would, I think he'd absolutely walk away with a "I don't need this" kind of mindset. 

[MU82]

That's the thing, I doubt that he'd want to.  Al was the definition of a "my way or the highway" kind of guy. If he had to deal with all the stuff that he would, I think he'd absolutely walk away with a "I don't need this" kind of mindset.

I happen to think he'd have adjusted because he'd have been "of this time." But again, we'll never know.

[Mutaman]

I remember Jimmy Butler telling how after a few weeks in Milwaukee he called his stepmother and begged her to send him the $ to get back to Houston because Buzz wasn't respectful to him, did not like him, and would yell at him. His stepmother told him if he wanted to quit he would have to pay for the flight.

A few summers ago a friend of mine ran into Jimmy in rural France and asked him  if he stayed in touch with Buzz. Jimmy said "We talk and we text all the time".

[Its DJOver]

I happen to think he'd have adjusted because he'd have been "of this time." But again, we'll never know.

On the court stuff (3 point line, shot clock, shortened shot clock, block/charge adjustments, freedom of movement rules, etc.) I think he'd have been fine.  Program running stuff (transfer culture, recruiting culture, AAU connection importance, shoe company connections, etc.), I think he'd take one look at, and decide it's not worth it.

[Newsdreams]

I happen to think he'd have adjusted because he'd have been "of this time." But again, we'll never know.

I think he would have been more comfortable at NBA level now

[avid1010]

Maybe, but Al would have had to make a ton of adjustments.  So many so, that I think he would have rather not coached than coach the way is currently necessary.

But that was my point...he was ahead of his time then...why wouldn't he be now.  To say Bobby Knight wouldn't thrive today is probably legit..."old school", refused to change, not politically correct, etc.   Al was ahead of his time and used an unwillingness by others to change, especially around race and individual identity, to beat the competition.  I also think he also had a good heart and knew he was imperfect...that was sincere and appreciated. 

[avid1010]

I think he would have been more comfortable at NBA level now

He wanted to be with the Bucks and MU wouldn't let him leave?  Is that correct?

[BCHoopster]

He wanted to be with the Bucks and MU wouldn't let him leave?  Is that correct?

Totally disagree, the NBA is work, Al did not really like to work, barely made it to practices.  Was a free spirit.  Secondly,  Al was all about making money.  The money
in college for good or even bad coaches (Wojo) now is tremendous.  Perks all over the place.  Al with his own MU airplane, who knows where we would have gone.

[Newsdreams]

He wanted to be with the Bucks and MU wouldn't let him leave?  Is that correct?

Yes Jesuits didn't allow he got upset

[Lennys Tap]

The inability of so many Scoopers to think contextually never ceases to amaze me. Al McGuire loved his guys and fought for his guys but he was the boss, a disciplinarian. What that meant in the late 1960s and the 1970s is not the exact same thing that it means now. Al was born (I think) in1930 and was between 34 and 47 when he coached at Marquette. So if he was mid career at MU now he would be 41, born in 1980. Does anyone honestly believe that the Al McGuire born in 1930 would have exactly the same style as an Al McGuire born 50 years later? His teams would still be tough and disciplined. He would still be a character who could work a room. His players would still love him. But fistfights in locker rooms? That wouldn’t have been part of his experience as a player or a coach. Why some people don’t get that baffles me.

[MU82]

The inability of so many Scoopers to think contextually never ceases to amaze me. Al McGuire loved his guys and fought for his guys but he was the boss, a disciplinarian. What that meant in the late 1960s and the 1970s is not the exact same thing that it means now. Al was born (I think) in1930 and was between 34 and 47 when he coached at Marquette. So if he was mid career at MU now he would be 41, born in 1980. Does anyone honestly believe that the Al McGuire born in 1930 would have exactly the same style as an Al McGuire born 50 years later? His teams would still be tough and disciplined. He would still be a character who could work a room. His players would still love him. But fistfights in locker rooms? That wouldn’t have been part of his experience as a player or a coach. Why some people don’t get that baffles me.

Agreed.

[Its DJOver]

The inability of so many Scoopers to think contextually never ceases to amaze me. Al McGuire loved his guys and fought for his guys but he was the boss, a disciplinarian. What that meant in the late 1960s and the 1970s is not the exact same thing that it means now. Al was born (I think) in1930 and was between 34 and 47 when he coached at Marquette. So if he was mid career at MU now he would be 41, born in 1980. Does anyone honestly believe that the Al McGuire born in 1930 would have exactly the same style as an Al McGuire born 50 years later? His teams would still be tough and disciplined. He would still be a character who could work a room. His players would still love him. But fistfights in locker rooms? That wouldn’t have been part of his experience as a player or a coach. Why some people don’t get that baffles me.

And it amazes me that scoopers think that they guy that said "F you NCAA, I don't like the seed you gave me so I'm going to go win the NIT instead" would jump through all the hoops of dealing with the AAU circuit, dealing with shoe companies, dealing with boosters, dealing with players parents acting as agents for their 18 year old kids.

Also, a trade mark of Al's teams were that the upperclassmen ran the show. It wasnt just that Freshman couldn't play, it was that he ran with his older guys, always. Convincing kids to not play/marginally play until their Juniors can't be done the way it was in his day.

Further, imagine how how both the fans and boosters would react to finding out that the head coach is not only not running practice, but hes doing a completely unrelated motorcycle ride instead.

Al was truly a legend of his time, but part of the reason he walked away was because he saw the way the game was heading. Theres no shame in saying that and it doesn't diminish his legacy at all.

All IMO of course.

[mileskishnish72]

Is he? I mean, I get that it's all schtick, but I don't think his character's musings are all that different from those of 4ever IRL. Just spelled worse.
If he's playing a character, it's a semi-autobiographical role.

True, Pakuni, and a good observation. If your supposition is true (and I think it is), then both are vacuous and inane. Sticking with that tired schtick for so long indicates neurosis.

[MU82]

And it amazes me that scoopers think that they guy that said "F you NCAA, I don't like the seed you gave me so I'm going to go win the NIT instead" would jump through all the hoops of dealing with the AAU circuit, dealing with shoe companies, dealing with boosters, dealing with players parents acting as agents for their 18 year old kids.

Also, a trade mark of Al's teams were that the upperclassmen ran the show. It wasnt just that Freshman couldn't play, it was that he ran with his older guys, always. Convincing kids to not play/marginally play until their Juniors can't be done the way it was in his day.

Further, imagine how how both the fans and boosters would react to finding out that the head coach is not only not running practice, but hes doing a completely unrelated motorcycle ride instead.

Al was truly a legend of his time, but part of the reason he walked away was because he saw the way the game was heading. Theres no shame in saying that and it doesn't diminish his legacy at all.

All IMO of course.

I actually agree with you, too.

What I said was that I think Al would have adjusted ... but that if he didn't, he'd have had to find another profession.

And it wouldn't have been pro basketball, either, if he couldn't handle dealing with college kids.

But what I think Lenny is saying (and I'm agreeing with) is the "old Al" wouldn't have existed in that exact form today. Every coach is an authoritarian and a control freak. Back then, 30 years earlier, today, whenever. Al still would have been, but maybe he'd have been more Buzz-like than Knight-like, if you understand what I'm saying.

If Al didn't coach today, I actually think it would have been because he didn't want to work the crazy hours they have to now, not because he couldn't have gotten along with today's kids. I think he'd have been great at that part of it.

[Its DJOver]

82.

Sounds like we mostly agree.  For the 2 hours twice a week on the court during the season, Al would continue to be exceptional. The rest of the time I think he would grow tired of the "other" BS real quick.

[The Lens]

On the court stuff (3 point line, shot clock, shortened shot clock, block/charge adjustments, freedom of movement rules, etc.) I think he'd have been fine.  Program running stuff (transfer culture, recruiting culture, AAU connection importance, shoe company connections, etc.), I think he'd take one look at, and decide it's not worth it.

Lol, are you kidding me?  Al was an edge guy.  And he always knew how to find the edge.  The more chaos, the better. 

And honestly, if you didn’t know Al, or you don’t know someone who did, it might be time to sit this one out.