Here is the opening to my column about Don Nelson which will run in the PD tomorrow:
OAKLAND
At the end — before Joe Lacob fired him — Don Nelson, the winningest coach in NBA history, was edgy, tired, burnt out. He doesn’t remember it that way, but he was.
He was back in Oakland on Tuesday in preparation for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept.7, and he was sunny. He used to have a glow but as things flamed out in Oakland, the glow dimmed. Now he was walking through the Oakland Marriott, wearing jeans and a Warriors jacket. He had lost 30 pounds and, at 72, he looked content.
He sat at the head of a long table in a private room in the fancy restaurant, sat in front of a dozen media people he had not trusted at the end. He was smiling and telling stories. He was being Nellie. At his best, he is the person known as Nellie.
To read the entire column, click here.
russell
Many years back I would go to Rickys in San Leandro and watch the NBA games during the week nights. On Warrior off-nights you could often find Don, Bob Lanier and Donnie there scouting games, drinking a beer or two and typically being pretty friendly to a fool like me that constantly talked to them when they left their private area for whatever reason. I have always appreciated that, and it made the cranky Nelson you referenced more tolerable for me when it went bad at the end (a couple of times).
August 28th, 2012 7:59 pm
CohnZohn
russell, I like Rickys. I also like Ricky.
August 28th, 2012 8:07 pm
russell
Yeah Lowell, I spent many an evening, quite a few Sunday NFL days, and more than a few dollar bills there. Ricky was always good to me, as well as those with me, and I had many good times there. The placed changed up and ran counter to my tastes, but I have a lot of fond memories of the establishment nonetheless.
August 28th, 2012 8:37 pm
lameduck
Willie Nelson? Woody Harrelson? Poker in garage? Is there anything left on the bucket list? It seems surreal to me. I see my neighbors. Some are retired. They bring me tomatos since i csn never get mine to ripen. They drive Nissans and pick up trucks. Many have graduate degrees, others are retired. These guys live in a different world.
August 28th, 2012 9:22 pm
Jonathan
Great article!!! Question: Suppose you are retired, and no longer concerned about conflicting interests–which Bay Area coach that you have covered would you want to go to dinner with?
August 29th, 2012 10:38 am
CohnZohn
Jonathan, the answer is Bill Walsh hands down. In fact, he and I had dinner lots of times and we always had an interesting time and didn’t always talk sports.
August 29th, 2012 10:51 am