he Loud Speaker: Hogs’ coach blows up at news media
Blowing a gasket. Flying off the deep end. Just plain whacked out.
Usually when you think of these phrases for a basketball coach, you usually think about that chair-throwing, neck-grabbing sweetheart known as Bobby Knight.
But we now have to include one of the Southeastern Conference’s own into the exclusive fraternity that I’ll just call “The Extremely Bitter and Sore Club.”
Sure, LSU head coach John Brady has shown his bitterness during practices, games and postgame press conferences, but Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson was just elected vice president of public relations in the newly founded “EBSC.”
Richardson blew up at the media during a Monday press conference by throwing out numerous accusations varying from slavery to who the real football coach actually is in Fayetteville.
“My great-great grandfather came over on the ship, not Nolan Richardson,” he said to reporters Monday. “I didn’t come over on that ship, so I expect to be treated a little different … the No. 1 thing that’s talked about in our deal is that the greatest thing going for the University of Arkansas is Nolan Richardson. Secondly, all the key football players talk to Nolan Richardson. Why?”
The disgruntled coach went on to say he knows for a fact that he does not play on the same level as other coaches around Arkansas.
“I know that. You know it. And people of my color know that. And that angers me,” Richardson said.
The Arkansas head coach said he is closing all practices and limiting access to the media. He also doesn’t want to be contacted ever again at home.
Maybe he has faced racial discrimination from the local media and fans, but a tirade even more hysterical than Jim Mora’s infamous “Playoffs” fiasco certainly wasn’t the best route to take to address the racial issue.
The Razorbacks are going through one of their more disappointing seasons in recent history with a 13-13 record and a 5-9 SEC mark including two losses against LSU.
He told reporters he is eager for athletic director Frank Broyles and other officials to know where he stands on his situation.
Following Saturday’s loss to then-No. 12 Kentucky, Richardson told the media that if Arkansas would buy out his contract, “they can take the job tomorrow.”
His wish may just come true.Do you have a sports item?
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Larry Holder