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There Is Too Such a Thing as Bad Publicity

Stan Van Gundy is by all accounts a competent NBA coach. There's not much any coach could do about what's happening to the Orlando Magic against the Celtics, so this rather embarrassing loss should not alter that reputation.

Van Gundy's reputation as a good coach is primarily held within the NBA community. Outside among us NBA consumers, his reputation is somewhat different. Put simply, I think of SVG as a cartoon character: Angry Coach.

The cameras and microphones of the NBA's broadcast outlets looove Van Gundy. We are constantly treated to his time-out strategy/morale sessions, in which Van Gundy always yells very loud. When the cameras cut to a sideline shot of Van Gundy, he is invariably doing a slow burn in which he appears to be a cross between the late Edgar Kennedy and a serial killer, a comically incompetent serial killer.

Van Gundy CAN'T be the cartoon figure he is in my imagination, and I suspect in millions of other basketball fan imaginations. He wouldn't be allowed to coach Biddy Basketball if anger was all he brought to the table. But it's all we see of him. The coach would be well-advised to let a smile be his umbrella when the game's on national TV.

That's for next season of course. When Game Four comes on TV, and the shitstorm hits the Magic once again, Van Gundy will need a more substantial umbrella than good nature can provide.

posted by Michael Gee @ 10:38 AM