Thursday, November 30, 2023

From the guy who claimed the Zollner Pistons were “telling” on themselves in their one-point loss to Miami, and intrigued me.

This isn’t the same team that opened the season with a 2-1 record. You can’t tell me it is. -James L. Edwards III, The Athletic.

Well, Edwards, you can’t tell me it isn't because it is.

Following the “Pistons”—because of Edwards—is what led me to discover Sheila Hamp last night. The “Pistons” owner, whose name I don’t even remember 12 hours later, was contrasted with Hamp’s ownership of the “Lions”. I had never heard of Hamp either. But it all led me to revisit a subject that I have thought a lot about, why some sports organizations succeed and why others fail. I cannot solve the riddle of why it is so difficult to hire the right coach, for example. And in Detroit I have come to the tentative conclusion that this has to be the fault of “Pistons” coach Monty Williams—who is just one of the most respected, decorated and highest-paid coaches in the Association and in all of professional sports. How that can be I don’t know but I agree with Edwards that although the “Pistons” are bad, and that they were “telling” Edwards something he did not hear, they should not be this bad. Fifteen straight L's and I don't know what the owner can do but fire Williams. They just should not be this bad.