Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
When Tim Floyd committed
ritual seppuku a couple weeks ago, the hot name to replace him was Pitt's Jamie Dixon. There were only two minor problems with this hot
name: Dixon has already taken Pitt to higher levels than USC has ever reached, and in doing so he hasn't, you know, put his program on the brink of crippling NCAA sanctions.Pittsburgh basketball coach Jamie Dixon remains USC's top choice to replace Tim Floyd and has not declined overtures from the university, according to sources close to Dixon.
Despite some media reports Dixon is not interested in the job, the Southern California native and USC were in contact during the past 10 days and discussions could continue, according to sources.
Well, then. Word fail. It's time to resort to cat:
The article goes on with this mindboggling quote from a source "close to" Dixon:
"Why wouldn't they want Jamie? And why wouldn't he want to listen?"
That is indeed a puzzler, Anonymous Source. Maybe it's the threat of walking into Chernobyl weeks before it melts down. Maybe it's that the recruiting class is scattering to the winds and three guys entered the draft early whether or not they have an NBA future. Maybe it's the prospect of going from a one-seed in the NCAA tournament to Indiana last year. Actually, Anonymous Source, I'm beginning to believe you're something of a twit.
Anonymous Source #2 certainly thinks so. Gary Parrish at CBS Sports:
"He is not going there. Not happening."
Period. Andy Katz confirms this, and a paradoxical universe in which someone can be an outstanding basketball coach and simultaneously an idiot is narrowly averted. Pitt Blather suggests Dixon and the athletic department put something official out there, which might slightly reduce or redirect the tide of goofy stories coming from the Los Angeles area. But probably not.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Leave it to some IDIOT’s at L.A. Daily News to call a coach insane for not taking the job in SoCal (SO WHAT??) because he probably doesn’t wanna deal with the mess left behind by Floyd. That just goes to show ya how arrogant & biased LA-LA Land sports reporters really are!! Had he taken the job they would have loved him. Since it seems he’s not interested he’s insane? How idiotic is that?
by buckeyenut on Jun 20, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions
Hmmmm…strong program, strong class, stability and oh yea…No NCAA hammer coming to Pitt in the near future (near future meaning any second now)…yea I’d waht to move to LA too…dumb ass LA papers
by mrlundy1083 on Jun 20, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions
Since USC signed Kevin O’Neill, this obviously wasn’t much of a story — unless anyone would rather have O’Neill than Dixon.
If I were Dixon, no chance I would sign with USC now. But I might talk anyway, just to get a first-hand feel for West Coast basketball in case I someday needed to move west for family reasons (Dixon is from CA, and his parents still live there).
Another consideration: Few of Dixon’s players have ben from Pittsburgh; he recruits heavily from NYC (6 hrs away). USC’s primary recruits could live within 15 minutes of campus. Some coaches might prefer the proximity. Others might prefer keeping the posses and hangers-on 6 hrs away.
by bveo12 on Jun 20, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions
I am not sure Tim Floyd committed Harry Caray. He hasn’t drinken himself retarded.
Now on a serious note, it was joke that Dixon was even linked to the opening. Coming of a successful year also the program has been on an amazing run since he took over from Howland. Lets face it, LA has the sun, the In-N-Out Burger, and Hollywood, but it is not the end all be all. It does not make up for the mess that is waiting for Dixon.
by faustus1500 on Jun 22, 2009 12:11 AM EDT reply actions
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