Raleigh, N.C. ? He wouldn’t listen to me. After nearly a week of “living” in Raleigh and commuting daily to Chapel Hill, 20 miles or so to the west, Journal-World assistant sports editor Gary Bedore and I discussed every possible scenario in the seemingly never-ending Roy Williams saga.
We were like Williams himself, changing theories every 30 minutes as we scrounged for any thing related to the Williams-Carolina connection in the Triangle, as the cities of Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham are affectionately known.
I dont know Williams as well as many of the beat writers, but I have covered the KU basketball beat as a photographer for six seasons, and Ive had enough contact with Roy Williams to know that he isnt a liar, or even a very good actor. This man definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. If he appeared to be struggling with this decision, then I believed he was actually struggling.
In Gary’s defense, he is one of the most knowledgeable people in the country when it comes to Kansas basketball he’s been on the beat since the Larry Brown era. Gary has incredibly reliable sources and plenty of them.
He works a story like a madman. AT&T stock as well as the number of minutes on my cell phone skyrocketed this week as he chased down every source he had in search of the scoop. I call him “The Ocean,” because he just wears you down; he erodes you. Thank God he doesn’t “cover” me.
But in all the coverage, especially media reports from North Carolina, I’ve been stunned that all the “experts,” both print and television, could never conceive that someone might tell them no. For two days, the Durham Herald-Sun reported Thursday with a banner headline on the front page that it was a done deal. Williams was history. Gone. A slam dunk.
A sports anchor from a Raleigh TV station as much as accused Williams of following a script when he arrived under great duress Wednesday evening at Kansas City International Airport. He even mentioned that all parties involved should receive an Academy Award. In what I could only describe as a chronic case of Tar Heel hubris, the media were looking at this story through decidedly Carolina Blue-colored glasses.
I don’t know Williams as well as many of the beat writers, but I have covered the KU basketball beat as a photographer for six seasons, and I’ve had enough contact with Roy Williams to know that he isn’t a liar, or even a very good actor. This man definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. If he appeared to be struggling with this decision, then I believed he was actually struggling.
This was the picture of a man that was very clearly torn about a decision that would strongly impact a number people he cares about deeply in Kansas and North Carolina.
Could he walk away from a program that he resurrected at Kansas, perhaps risking its collapse with a mass defection of players that he cared so much about? If that happened, what would be his legacy, his place in Kansas basketball history?
In my mind the decision came down to a couple of things:
Loyalty He just couldn’t bring himself to leave a group of young men that he cares so much about. The bond between players and a coach is a strong one. I’ve only ever coached my daughter and her friends in summer basketball, and I know I’m always saddened when a season ends and we’re not together as a team. Now multiply that by a 100.
Legacy Williams wants desperately to win a national title. He’s come close at KU. He’ll probably accomplish that feat someday, perhaps soon. But even if he never wins one for the Jayhawks, he’ll be a near-deity in the hearts of KU fans. Keeping Williams is tantamount to winning a national title. His legacy is secure, especially since he taken the road less traveled by resisting the siren song of North Carolina.
Williams loves North Carolina. It’s a great place. It’s a great state. Heck, I’ve been here the past two summers for vacation, so I can certainly understand the appeal of Williams returning here to finish out his career.
But what’s lost in all of this is an appreciation of KU’s rich tradition. There is no place like Allen Fieldhouse for college basketball, especially since the Jayhawks just beat the Tar Heels with a shot at the buzzer.
Gary, I told you so.
Earl Richardson’s phone message number is 832-7141. His e-mail address is erichardson@ljworld.com
