Nobody seems to like Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez
In response to two blistering pieces about him that appeared in Sunday's New York Times, Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez told reporters, "I've never cared about being liked. I don't care what people think of me." That's probably a good tact to take when nobody, in fact, seems to like you.
Both pieces (which you should go read now) paint Gonzalez as one of the "most divisive and volatile characters" in the Big East. The main story is more of a news item, the sidebar basically consists of people talking smack. Here's a small sampling of some of the vitriol being lobbed at the former coach of Manhattan College:
"He has a tremendous skill for being able to alienate himself from everyone." -- Arizona assistant coach Emanuel Richardson
"[He's] the craziest person I've ever met in my life, by far. If I were to ever become a coach, I learned a lot of things I wouldn't do. Even though we won, it was hard to enjoy basketball." -- Former Manhattan player Kenny Minor
"Seton Hall made a bad decision [to extend Gonzalez's contract to 2015]." -- Jhony Garcia, father of Pirates player, John
"The guy who runs the bus company called me and said something to the effect of: 'I have 131 drivers that drive for us. But we're down to one guy that will drive for Bobby Gonzalez.' " -- Manhattan athletic director Bob Byrnes
"Some people hated him, and there were days I hated him, absolutely. I just think he's kind of obsessed and has O.C.D. when it comes to basketball." -- Former secretary Theresa Carmody
Seton Hall will try to play its way off the bubble Tuesday night in New York when it faces Providence in the opening round of the Big East tournament. Judging from those two Times articles, I imagine a lot of people around the country will become Providence fans, if only for a night.
