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06/11/2010 -
Tom Izzo is still torn, trying to figure out if he should stay at Michigan State or leave to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Izzo wrote in a text message Friday morning - about 12 hours after he returned home from Cleveland - he has not made a decision.
He flew to Cleveland on Thursday and visited with the Cavs for several hours. Among the questions facing Izzo is whether he'd be able to coach LeBron James, who can't sign until July. Izzo, however, can't wait that long to decide.
``It won't go on forever, I can tell you that,'' Izzo said Thursday night at the Lansing, Mich., airport before getting in a car and heading home with his wife, daughter and son. ``I feel bad that I can't talk. I feel good that I did what I had to do.''
Messages were left Friday with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Chris Grant, both of whom have declined to elaborate about their pursuit of Izzo.
If Izzo spurns Cleveland, the team could turn to former New Orleans and New Jersey coach Byron Scott, whose resume would make him attractive to Cleveland. Scott won three NBA titles as a player and has coached such stars as Jason Kidd and Chris Paul.
A message was left Friday with Scott's agent, Brian McInerney.
Michigan State has been bracing for Izzo's possible exit for a decade, dating to an offer from the Atlanta Hawks after he led the school to its second national championship. Each offseason his name emerges as a candidate for openings in the NBA and NCAA. This time, though, it looks as if he might take the leap.
Izzo could make about $6 million a year - doubling his pay - and take on a challenge of making the transition to coaching in the league. A vast majority of college coaches hired by NBA teams have failed. If Izzo thinks James will re-sign, he may not get a better opportunity.
The Cavs fired Mike Brown last month after they lost in the second round of the playoffs to Boston despite having the league's best regular-season record for the second straight year.
AOL Fanhouse.com reported that Scott had an hour-long interview with Chris Grant and assistant GM Lance Blanks. Grant said the Cavs have spoken to a ``number'' of candidates, but did not divulge any names.
The team has also inquired about Milwaukee assistant Kelvin Sampson. Grant, who recently took over when Danny Ferry resigned, confirmed this week the team has had contact. He would not comment on whether an offer has been made to the 55-year-old Izzo.
Gilbert is a Michigan State graduate and has known, liked and respected Izzo for years.
While the Cavs work on Plan B - talking to coaches other than Izzo - Michigan State athletic director said earlier in the week he has a long list of candidates he would consider if the Spartans need a new coach.
Dayton's Brian Gregory, Tulsa's Doug Wojcik, Utah's Jim Boylen - all assistants under Izzo - would likely be on the list along with associate head coach Mark Montgomery and Dwayne Stephens. Both played for the Spartans when Izzo was a relatively unknown assistant for Jud Heathcote.
Izzo met with the Spartans on Tuesday, informing them he was in discussions with the Cavs. About 500 people, including center Derrick Nix, tried to sway his decision on Thursday night.
``Coach is the best thing that ever happened to me,'' said Nix, a freshman last season.
A rally at the Magic Johnson statue outside Michigan State's arena was created by fans on message boards and social networking websites. Hundreds wrote personal messages on a huge banner that was taped up to the windows of Izzo's office. An ``Oh no, please don't go Izzo,'' banner was taped at the base of Johnson's statue.
Izzo has been at the school since 1983 and has been the Spartans' coach since 1995, leading them to six Final Fours in the past 12 years. The late John Wooden at UCLA and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski are the only other coaches who have accomplished that feat.
``I'm happy for him either way,'' said Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown, who played for Izzo. ``He deserves everything he gets. He works hard. He knows his stuff. He rarely sleeps. He's always thinking about different ways to get better and different ways to stay on top of his game.''
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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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“You play to win the game!”
Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.
The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.
The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.
Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?
Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.
Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.
Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.
Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.
The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.
Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.
This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.
First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”
The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason.
Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.
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