I am sure that my summary got a few folks' attention! This is because although the talk of lawsuits only occupies a tiny portion of this episode of "30 For 30", it is THE thing that stuck out for me when I watched "Guru of Go". More about that in a few moments...
This episode of the great ESPN series is about the coaching career of Paul Westhead--with a particular focus on his time at Loyola-Marymount. It begins with him coaching with the LA Lakers--and taking them to a championship. Amazingly, two years later, he was fired--and landed on his feet, somewhat, with the Chicago Bulls. But, this was during the bad years before Michael Jordan and he didn't stay for long. However, after this, he really hit it big in college with Loyola-Marymount, as his wide open style of play resulted in taking this small school to the NCAA tournament. However, when one of his players literally died on the floor during a game, here is when the vultures,...I mean lawyers came out in droves. A young man dies from a heart condition (for which he was apparently NOT taking his medication) and suddenly it's time to sue and soon Westhead is fired! Crazy. Fortunately, he did go on to other things--with some success. But to me it's the story of how a GREAT program with the perfect coach for the program being driven off by lawsuits instead of folks pulling together. I am sure this was not the intent of this excellent episode of "30 For 30"--but that's what I got from it. Well made...and profoundly sad.
This episode of the great ESPN series is about the coaching career of Paul Westhead--with a particular focus on his time at Loyola-Marymount. It begins with him coaching with the LA Lakers--and taking them to a championship. Amazingly, two years later, he was fired--and landed on his feet, somewhat, with the Chicago Bulls. But, this was during the bad years before Michael Jordan and he didn't stay for long. However, after this, he really hit it big in college with Loyola-Marymount, as his wide open style of play resulted in taking this small school to the NCAA tournament. However, when one of his players literally died on the floor during a game, here is when the vultures,...I mean lawyers came out in droves. A young man dies from a heart condition (for which he was apparently NOT taking his medication) and suddenly it's time to sue and soon Westhead is fired! Crazy. Fortunately, he did go on to other things--with some success. But to me it's the story of how a GREAT program with the perfect coach for the program being driven off by lawsuits instead of folks pulling together. I am sure this was not the intent of this excellent episode of "30 For 30"--but that's what I got from it. Well made...and profoundly sad.
