Muskeagle

I know there is another thread about Chaney, but it was getting so long and talking more about replacements than Chaney himself, that I felt I wanted to start a new one. I read this board often, and have yet to post, but Chaney's retirement has called me out of my shell. I'm an avid Xavier fan. Graduated there in '91 and have followed them religiously since (when overseas, I used to set my alarm for 3:00 am and would get up to listen to every game that was on internet radio, for example).

That said, BY FAR, my favorite all-time basketball coach is John Chaney. Any guy who takes on the world they way Chaney did usually has my respect. When he does it for all the right reasons, I'm sold. I didn't always approve or agree with his actions, but I almost always agreed with his reasons for doing it. One thing that gets lost in the Calipari incident is that the reason he was so incensed, is that Calipari had called out several Temple players, by name. Chaney was "protecting" his own. Did he handle it well,....no, but his heart was in the right place. Even goongate, happened for understandable reasons. His intent was not "hurt" anyone, but to make the "illegal" and physical aspect of the Hawks' game, noticeable. Again, well handled? No, but understandable.

But none of that is what I like so much about him. He did things his way for all the right reasons. I understand all of the arguments for scheduling like the Syracuse has done, but I've always thought Syracuse was wrong for doing it, so "joining" them so we can get more teams in the NCAAs is no good reason to do it. How do you teach boys to be men by telling them to duck challenges and play patsies? Scheduling in this fashion was a direct contradiction to what John Chaney stood for--and I believe what he stood for is what every coach should stand for: teaching young men to be better men.

His team's style was a perfect representation of the teamwork that he demanded. All the players had to give their all and it demanded they support each other perfectly. The style was demanding, as he was, but when successful, a thing of beauty.

John Chaney, with faults, represents for me everything that college basketball should be about: teamwork, responsibility, dedication, and the belief that by raising the bar of expectations we raise the level of those around it (him).

And if my ramblings are not enough to convince someone of his obvious merit, just look at the young men who have been coached by Mr. Chaney. Year after year, the way his players talk about him, one can only imagine the positive influence he has had on their lives.

I know I'm gushing a bit, but I'm actually truly saddened by the retirement, of my favorite basketball coach ever!!

Good luck, John Chaney. I hope your wife is healthy soon. Good luck to your Owls (as long as Huggins is not their coach)

BM-GW

Very nice post.

People I feel very honored to have seen repeatedly at the Smith Center:

1. Red Auerbach
2. John Chaney

The GOON