Layups: R.I.P. Chuck Daly
Posted by Neil Paine on May 9, 2009
Although we have two playoff games coming up this afternoon, today is a sad day for the basketball world. That's because the great Chuck Daly passed away this morning at the age of 78.
Daly accomplished just about everything a basketball coach can during a career that spanned 4 decades at the college, pro, and international levels. Named one of the 10 greatest coaches in NBA history in 1997, Daly led the "Bad Boy" Pistons to 2 World Championships in the late 1980s, molding a challenging combination of personalities into a great, hard-nosed team. Here's an interesting piece about his influence on the game as well, in terms of causing the league to slow down in the 1990s after the Showtime Lakers' style had dominated the 80s.
Daly also brought that gift for chemistry-building to Team USA at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, coaching the original Dream Team to the gold medal and helping to secure their place as one of the most iconic squads in the history of the sport. For his efforts, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994. Needless to say, Daly will be missed both as a person and as a great contributor to the game we love.
May 9th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
as a laker fan, always hated but respected coach daly. R.I.P. coach.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Even though he coached a team that was almost universally disliked, he is almost universally respected. That says a lot about the man. Plus I hear he dominated Jordan on the golf course.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:59 am
LOL, was that during the Bad Boys era? It seems like a lot of people took Mike to the cleaners on the course back then. He's improved a lot over the years, though, and now he's about a 4 handicap (which, as an 18-handicapper myself, I can say is pretty good).
May 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Wow, Mike made it down to a 4? I'm not sure if they played during the Bad Boys days. I kinda doubt it because I think Zeke and Laimbeer would take that as fraternizing with the enemy. I know they played a lot of golf during the Americas tour and their time in Barcelona in 1992, and apparently Daly got the better of it most of the time. Not sure what Chuck's handicap was back then, but I wouldn't doubt if he made some money on those greens.
May 13th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Chuck Barkley, on the other hand, probably lost more than we could possibly imagine... :-D
May 13th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
First and foremost i would like to thank chuck daly, for all those exciting games he made possible. As a coach for the pistons, and all the other great teams he played for over the years including the college teams, you will be missed.