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Philadelphia Magazine

Sports: Larry in Winter

By Anthony L. Gargano

Page 5 of 5

BUT THERE ARE stories like this, too:

Rego, the Sixers equipment manager, argues that a man should be judged by how he treats those beneath him on the food chain, and Rego certainly was, since he did Brown’s laundry. “When my mother passed away the morning of Game 2 of the Finals and we were in L.A., he looked out for me the whole time. He said, ‘Don’t think you’re not with family. You’re with your second family.’ Before the game, he had the players do a moment of silence for her.

“Coach taught me how to be a man,” Rego says.

And Billy King, for one, thinks Brown’s career of wanderlust makes perfect sense. “Larry was smarter than everybody else,” says King. “Get out before they get you. If he stays too long, and begins to lose, then what happens? They begin to say, ‘Larry can’t coach anymore. Larry’s lost it. Larry can’t relate to today’s players.’ He can survive the way he does it.”

“For as much as people say I move all the time,” Brown, ever defensive, says, “this is my family’s 10th year here. My kids go to school here. The people are great here. I feel at home here.”

As Brown prepares for his next job — and King fully believes there will be another one, saying, “Larry’s still one of the best coaches in the NBA. It’s foolish that he’s not coaching” — he reflects back to what might have been, had he stayed here, or there, or anywhere, for that matter. He is growing wistful again. He can’t just disappear, fade away and tell lies on a golf course.

“I was thinking about it the other day,” he says. “I was happiest as an assistant at North Carolina, back in ’65, ’67. I was still young. If I had it to do all over again, I’d stay in one place. I would’ve been a college coach forever. But my career has been a pretty incredible experience. That’s why I don’t want to stop.”

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Originally published in Philadelphia magazine, February 2008

 
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User comments

Ohh Larry
Jan. 23, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Posted by Anonymous
So let me get this straight, he wants us to feel sorry for him, is that it? It's funny the word carpetbagger was used because that is exactly the word I have used to describe him for years now. Yes, he is a good coach but he is certainly a cancer to everything else.
Coach Brown
Jan. 23, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Posted by Richard Hively
It is very easy to criticize anyone who some believe has fallen. I grew up in Kansas. I went to school at Kansas. I can tell you that KU basketball was flat on it's face when Coach Brown arrived. He brought it back to national prominence. He did it with integrity and dignity. I have the utmost respect for Coach Brown an am happy to say i had a chance to meet him once and he was a gentleman. Much has been written and said, but I applaud his achievements and wish him well. Besides who could ever stomach that imposter of a team called the Knicks?
Larry Brown
Jan. 24, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Posted by Danny Tyrrell
As a native Philadelphian(Father Judge HS 1985) I has the opportunity to work Larry Brown's Kansas Basketball Camp in August 1985 with my High School Coach. After a brief midweek meeting in Larry Brown's office I was offered the opportunity to work as a Student Manager for Brown's Kansas Team. People have no idea how many people Larry Brown has helped out along lifes precious journey. Players,Coaches and yes even an 18 year old Student Manager. Thanks Coach can't wait to see you at the 20 year reunion in February!
Great coach, sad story
Jan. 30, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Posted by Anonymous
I hope he ends up with Golden State next. I think the article also shows how money doesn't equal happiness.

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