Dino Blogger

I just have to say I am to say the least I am is pissed. Why on earth did Canada Basketball give this guy another chance. He is not a good coach and he has screwed up this program and they needed to fire his ASS. I am totally ticked off as I really want Canada Basketball to have success. They had a good coach in Jay Triano. Good enough to be a coach in the NBA. Would any team even give Leo a sniff? I think not. Thanks Canada Basketball for the awful early Christmas gift. THIS IS THE STUPID things that you do and is why people don't support the program. They really want to but can't because you make these awful choices.

Dr. J. Naismith

Does Jay even want to coach the program? I thought I read somewhere that he didn't.

Choosing Leo is a bad move in my opinion considering how everything went this summer whether it was Dalembert's fault or Leo's. I think one person who should of gotten some serious consideration for the spot was Dave Smart from Carleton U. here in Ottawa. What's he's done with that program over these last number of years is phenomenal. I really hope he gets some serious consideration down the road with the national program.

Dino Blogger

Triano was let go based on his job with the Raptors and Canada Basketball felt he could not fully devote himself to the program. At this point yeah I would think he has zero interest but at the time he was willing to remain to the best of my knowledge. That is why Steve Nash wont play cause they gased Triano

DVS

Yes Nash was upset when Triano got canned but that was not the sole reason why he won't play. Nash left Team Canada because he was getting a little older and wanted to preserve his body solely for the Suns.

Gurk

WTH Rautins. I bet there are better coaches than him god

N64

ya bro...rautin's seems like a dooche IMO ...i've never seen his coaching skill or anything but he just seems like a dooche lol

jj0786

Jay

Basketball Canada Extends Rautins...and simultaneously, their losing ways.

Claudius

The thing I don't like is the contract is a 1 + 1 deal. It's entirely contingent upon him qualifying for the WC's. We need stability to the national program, not the way to do this.

Like the CSA, Canada Basketball needs to be completely overhauled starting with grassroots basketball being taught with fundamentals being focussed on. Then having experienced coaches coming in here regardless of their origin. Kids want to play for a winner, not a hope to win team.

DVS

I agree but I do think Leo got that short deal solely for the fact Canada Basketball has no Money. I personally think Rautins is a decent choice for Canada Basketball. The only other Canadian I could think of is the Coach for Charlton (sorry his name escapes me) who has won multiple CIS championships with that respective University.

I just have to say Leo isn't the problem. We just need SOMEONE to coach this sorry team and hope to hell Canada develops. When Jack Donahue was coach of Canada he was VERY successful and stated that one big problem with CAnada is that they should have their own pro league to at least give their players somewhere to play other than Europe or the NBA. Personally, I would watch some pro Canada ball just because I'm a nut like that but really its a hard prospect IMHO.

Canada Basketball is in trouble and need to focus on raising money and creating a developmental program.

I could simply point to youth Basketball and show you its a mess. You have AAU, OBA and High School ball playing at the same time. WTF is the point of that? You coach an OBA team do some tryouts and you find out half your club is trying out for AAU and HS and play for 2 or 3 different teams. Put OBA in the summer so kids can play all year around and also make the OBA and HS way more meaningful for the player. This would make OBA a training ground for them before HS basketball tryouts instead of paying rediculous amounts of money for summer camp.


I'm just saying just to say FIRE LEO is too easy. Don't tell me he don't care about Ball the guy is all over it and his hot wife.

Dino Blogger

Firing Leo is a step to changing the culture of this program. He has done little to improve it's image and I would say he has damaged it. If you make a change it is showing you are aware and addressing the problems by extending him you send a message that it is acceptable what he has done. I am not suggesting firing Leo fixes everything but by keeping him another year all you are doing is slowing the process of getting this program back on the right track. What his wife looks like is really no of concern in the slightest.

DVS

I guess a joke doesn't go far on a thread but whatever that was the least of my worries.

What I will say you could have Mohammed coaching this team with Jesus Christ Officiating every game and this team will still stink.

What you need is a guy like Leo who has some credibility and is willing to coach this garbage roster.

StresS

i think youre exactly right. i think he will put a great effort into building this team. I think after Triano, Leo is the only coach who can lure canadian players from the NBA to play for team cananda.

matt bonner is trying to join the team.
its just a matter of legal issues.

Kuzzy

ok dino relax
you can coach the team jay can coach the team
regardless,
they will ALWAYS suck.

DVS

I have to agree with Stress. Team Canada right now in order to achieve goals in the future is the following:

1. A Coach with some credibility
2. A Coach who is willing to coach a garbage roster
3. Money

Leo in the next two years achieves these goals. This team right now is no where near top 10 in the world and thats the goal Team Canada achiever for itself by 2010.

Thank you Stress for thinking about the long term goals of Team Canada.

Dino Blogger I hope your Blogs aren't as farsighted as your posts on RF because your blogging career shall begin and end with the score.

Dino Blogger

O.K and you were the guy who is talking about how HOT someones wife is that is so important to this topic. Leo had zero coaching experience and has done nothing but lower the level of the program in the eyes of the average person that is not a huge basketball supporter. The average sports fan. There is a ton wrong with the entire program but having him as it's coach is not going to help anything move forward. But extending them they have thrown away a year.

At least they have brought in Triano and Nash on the board they created that can at least help having some people like them involved in it.

DVS

The referal to Rautins wife's "hotness" was nothing more than making light of a bleak situation. There is a reason why I wrote a post over 150 words and ending it with such a comment. To take a post so seriously shows that you problably take yourself and your own opinion so seriously. I only wish you would comment on Ontario Youth Basketball which is problably something we as posters could make a difference with. Leo played under a Hall of Fame College Basketball coach in Boehiem and another great coach in George Karl in Philly. He may not be the best coach in the world but besides Triano and Rambis I dare you to give me a Canadian coach with more Pro Credibility.

Don't think your opinion is gospel around here because quite frankly no ones is.

Acie

Do you mean Billy Cunningham in Philly and Bill Wennington?

bjjs

I don't like Leo, but they hired him, so they might as well stick with him longer than a year and see what he can do.

Dino Blogger

You are the one who is in attack mode here not me. You started by attacking me and continue to do so. I have my opinion you have yours that is fine. My opinion is what it is. I watched this team in the summer first hand and have formed my own opinions of it and how it is run. Who was saying the coach of Team Canada had to be from Canada? I don't recall saying that. When you can read my mind and tell me what I am thinking I will let you know.