Before I write another word, let me address my obvious bias. I am a fan of the University of Maryland, and Coach Gary Williams in particular.
My own bias aside, I am comfortable with acknowledging that there are plenty of valid criticisms you could levy at Coach Williams and the Maryland program.
The comments that Gregg Doyel (CBS Sports, http://www.cbssports.com/columns/writers/doyel) made yesterday though cross a journalistic line of professionalism. As relayed by the Washington Post Doyel stated the following comments on a North Carolina radio station:
“Let’s find one person in the world that says I’ve had a good relationship with Gary Williams. Well, he has influence, and not because people think Gary Williams is so brilliant and trustworthy that if he tells me something, dadgummit, it must be true. I don’t think he has that much influence. I don’t want to give that little tiny little petty human being that much credit. And by the way, I e-mailed Gary’s PR director yesterday back and forth three times, saying I want to talk to Gary very specifically about his influence on the N.C. State coaching search. They’ve not gotten back to me after I made it clear exactly what I want, so it’s very possible he’s gonna duck me, that coward.
“But in the meantime, the reason he’s had an impact is this: if you’re a good coach at a good school…it’s hard to pull the trigger and say I’m winning here at Arizona or Texas, or I’m winning here at VCU, wherever it is that I’m winning at, and I want to go to N.C. State, where they haven’t won the last couple years. It requires a whole lot of confidence. And if you get one person — and that person’s Gary Williams — to say the AD’s not easy to work for, that will allow someone to justify their own [feelings]….Basically, Gary Williams is giving coaches an excuse to do the easy thing, which is stay where they are.
Are we done talking about Gary Williams? I want to make this very clear, that if Gary Williams does not return my call, he’s scared of me. And so he can act all big and bad, and he can stand there on his coaching bench and turn around and yell at his assistant coaches, who’ve done nothing wrong. And when a guy on the court travels, he can turn around and yell at the 12th man on his bench, because he’s a little bitty tiny coward runt of a man. He can do all that. But here I am on your radio show, and in an e-mail to his PR guy three times, begging him to talk to me about what he’s been saying behind Debbie Yow’s back and hurting the N.C. State head coaching search. And if he doesn’t call me back, then all that means to me is he’s a little bitty tiny coward of a man. Gary Williams, you call me back, or you’re a spineless little fraction of a man,”Doyel concluded.
CBS Sports should be absolutely embarrassed by Doyel. The man gets a forum on a National site, as a featured National Columnist and speaks like that as a representative of their organization? Why exactly should Coach Williams grant an interview to someone that unprofessional?
Somewhat curiously Dan Steinberg / Washington Post stated this afternoon that Doyel has now turned down at-least 3 interviews with D.C. media outlets.
So on one side we have a guy that Jay Bilas (ESPN), Mike DeCourcy (Sporting News), and Mike Huguenin (Yahoo Sports) each labeled a Hall of Fame Coach:
https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=2102
Huguenin: “Gary Williams is a Hall of Fame Coach. He’s not the easiest guy to get along with and he’s not afraid to make his opinions known about the state of recruiting these days – but his record is extremely impressive, he has coached some fabulous players and his team comes to play every time out.”
Bilas: “As I noted earlier, he should be there already. Gary has accomplished more than many current members of the Hall of Fame. They say it is just a matter of time, but I am personally tired of waiting. He deserves to be in now. Gary Williams is one of the best coaches in the history of this game. Period. His accomplishments and longevity put him on the ACC’s Mount Rushmore with Dean Smith and Coach K.”
DeCourcy: “I don’t know if he will. That’s hard to judge. I know that he should. That’s not debatable.”
On the other-side we have a guy afforded a National forum who handles himself unprofessionally, complains that he can not get a response from Coach Williams, and then ducks fellow Press from following-up with him.
Sure, I’m biased. I just do not see how anyone can read the comments from Doyel and ever again respect him as a valid source of information.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.