Thursday, December 4, 2008

Black Wednesday- Busy Day For Pink Slips


You already know about Tuberville...
Let's slide to the NBA where Sam Mitchell ((pictured, thanks Tom Mihalik/AP)) got the boot after one of the worst losses in Toronto Raptors history the night before.

"It is safe to say that after the debacle that we all witnessed last night against Denver, a 39-point loss, not to mention several other incidents this early season where we gave up double-digit leads or had mental breakdowns, with respect to the effort on the court, you come to a point where you realize some of the things you want to see out on the court are not taking place," Raptors GM Brian Colangelo said.

Mitchell elected not to lash out at the players following Tuesday's setback, preferring to let them discuss it among themselves.

"For me, now, it is not a time to be screaming and yelling," Mitchell told reporters outside the locker-room. "It is a time to be trying to teach and reassure people."

Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and newcomer Jermaine O'Neal reportedly chaired the players' meeting.

"It is embarrassing not only for us, but for those who support the Toronto Raptors, the organization, the city and the country," O'Neal said. "That should never happen.

"This is a business, we get paid a heck of a lot of money to play a certain way. If we think we can turn it on and off like that, then we're fooling ourselves."


Jay Triano takes over as the bench boss in the T-Dot...

In the NHL, meet the new boss- same as the old boss...

Peter Laviolette is out as the Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach.
Paul Maurice ((pictured, thanks Gerry Broome/AP)) is back in as the Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach.

"We have a team that right now that, in my opinion, is not playing with the kind of confidence it needs," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "We've lost that confidence."
In another move, one-time Hurricanes centre Ron Francis was named associate coach while the remainder of the club's coaching staff will remain in place.

"This is a real strong addition with Paul and Ronnie leading our coaching staff," Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "As we go into a very tough group of games in December, my hope is that the coaches make minor adjustments to the system and the players regain their confidence."
Laviolette went 167-130-30 with Carolina and leaves with 2 1/2 years left on the five-year contract he signed in June 2006 shortly after winning the Stanley Cup.

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