Posted on 01/31/2005 3:08:38 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
Bush welcomes Pistons to the White House; coach Brown says he's staying put
1/31/2005, 5:27 p.m. ET
By NEDRA PICKLER
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Basketball Association champion Detroit Pistons visited the White House on Monday, and coach Larry Brown made it clear he has no plans to leave the team.
"I'm not going to coach anywhere but Detroit," Brown said after he and his team met President Bush in an East Room reception. "It's my last pro coaching job."
Asked if he would take a college coaching job, Brown said, "Oh, I don't look at that."
Speculation that the much-traveled, Brooklyn-born Brown was thinking about leaving the Pistons and taking over the New York Knicks began Friday, when he was quoted in a New York newspaper as saying the Knicks' job was one he had "dreamed about many times."
Bush made no mention of Brown's job status. He congratulated the Pistons for winning a championship "the right way" — with teamwork.
He joked that he had something in common with the team, which defeated the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers four games to one last June. "Nobody expected you to win," he said. "I know how you feel."
The reception was attended by the players' families, several members of the Michigan congressional delegation, owners Bill Davidson and Oscar Feldman, and former star players Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer.
Richard Hamilton, the Pistons leading scorer, said visiting the White House was something he never could have imagined as a kid.
"I had dreams of playing in the NBA, but if someone told me you'd come to the White House, sit with the president, shake his hand and have him call you by name, I'd tell him, `You would be lying,'" Hamilton said.
Better check 'em for pilfered items on the way out!
Why does it take so long for the White House to host these teams after they've won their championship?
I think they wait until the season schedule allows it but I could be way off. Anyone know if the Lightning got their visit? They may be waiting until the next administration at this rate with the NHL standoff.
Betcha Secret Service was eyeing the chairs nervously.
?
I don't remember them making a visit and I got nothing on a Google search about it.
I'm glad Larry Brown is hanging around. I heard last night they might get Phil Jackson if Larry left. I'm afraid I would no longer be a Pistons fan if that happened.
How apropos, considering Bush is firing on all eight! Pistons that is.
It's treason - not to mention that Jackson's a bigtime lefty.
Agreed. I'd much rather have Laimbeer as coach than him.
I think Dumars is smart enough to realize that Jackson would never work out here.
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