Post by wgt on Aug 26, 2007 13:12:40 GMT -5
In today’s NY Times you may have seen a nice article by Vecesy on Butch van Breda Kolff. George knew him as a student publicist at Hofstra. Vescey calls Butch the best college coach he ever saw & talks of his pro coaching, keeping Wilt benched in a finals against the Lakers & his influence on Bradley when with the Knicks. Butch is described as a tough ex marine who was loud and vulgar during practices but principled. He pulled his entire team out of a hotel in1960 when his black players were refused a room. Of course, Eddie Donovan acted in the same way when traveling in the South with his Bonnies. Throughout Vecesy’s tribute to Butch there is no mention of his son Jan, his stellar career at Vanderbilt, in the pros & college coaching career. Througout the coaching fraternity and with sports writers it is widely held that Jan was not even a shadow of his dad. If he shared his dad’s principles he would have never conspired with Wick & Wick junior to bring disgrace to Bona. I’m confident that Bona has the right people in place to address, in the long term, the travesty Bona was dealt.
In spite of the harm that JvBK caused I joined previous posters in their prayers for him and his family in their loss.
In spite of the harm that JvBK caused I joined previous posters in their prayers for him and his family in their loss.