McGraw explains Food Gate a little further

To recap, Vinny Del Negro added a team rule this season about not eating in the locker room pregame. He's trying to preach accountability and professionalism, and that rule is probably meant to emphasize that players should be getting ready for the game when they're at the arena and eat dinner before getting on the bus.

Maybe more players were eating in New Jersey because the quality of hotels available in East Rutherford aren't quite what they're used to in other cities. So while Vinny sees this rule one way, the players wonder why they're not being treated like adults.

Of course, a sidebar to this story is that this stuff is usually kept private, but someone chose to leak the news. I would imagine the Bulls have a suspect in mind and have already been trying to trade him.

5 months ago NormVanBeer Comment 56 comments 0 recs |

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Who is deepthroat?

Welcome to Mr. Hughes’ neighborhood.

12/31: Fire Vinny Del Negro.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2009 9:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

wow, this is awesome all around

McGraw, you’ve done it again.

Too bad even after the leak is plugged, Vinny will remain.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2009 9:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I just wish

Food Gate and Headband Gate’s would disappear and instead the Bulls would be getting press for Too Many Win’s Gate.

Seriously….headband gate was a somewhat funny slogan, but let’s be a little more creative with this same team.

Also it’s sad that BS crap like this gets more press time than our play on the court or our ridiculously awesome burgeoning star rookie D. Rose.

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 9:59 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Look at it this way

Both rules are stupid, but both could be eliminated to improve the team.

The club should have food supplied before a game. It can actually help the team perform better if supplied with a nutrient rich diet.

The headband is actually something that serves a purpose besides a fashion statement. Keeping sweat out of your eyes is helpful addition to a sport where sweat can be an impediment to vision.

12/31: Fire Vinny Del Negro.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2009 10:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention that certain upcoming free agents like to wear headbands

Jerry Reinsdorf: “Well, Lebron, we’d love to have you sign with us, but the thing is . . . we’ve got this headband rule here.”

Lebron James: “What time is my flight to New York?”

Why resort to name calling?
-Dionysus2.0

because I wish to insult you personally
-your friendly BullsBlogger

by Big D on Jan 9, 2009 10:19 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

"also, instead of D'Antoni, how about D'Antoni: Mininum Wage edition?"

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Aye

that’s another thing that has me truly pissed off about VDN. What stars would want to play for this guy? Our own players don’t even want to play for him.

The funny thing is that there’s so much lack of preparation with this team in terms of conditioning, not knowing plays, or freelancing. VDN focused on this small thing because he can’t handle the larger issues of unprofessionalism we’ve seen all season – the ones on the court.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Jan 9, 2009 4:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

his contract is up for 2010

I think it could be a selling point for a big free agent.

“You get to pick the coach too!”

by CJ Bulls on Jan 9, 2009 6:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree they are both

insipid, but they are rules. I’m just saying Vinny didn’t make ’em up per Stacey King, the former Bull.

We won 6 championships with similar rules…..and aren’t winning now.

I’m just sick of hearing these kinds of things (headband gate and food gate) get any press attention. It shows how immature our Bulls players are and that is the reason why this highly talented if mish mashed bunch is playing so poorly of late.

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 10:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Vinny DID "make em up"

McGraw plainly states that VInny added the no eating in the locker room rule this season.

And we won 6 championships with a couple of guys named Jordan and Pippen…or do you not remember them? And although I could never prove it (Sam probably could), I’m sure there would be nothing ever said if those guys wanted a snack or two prior to the game.

Vinny’s micro-managing and his “I’m the boss or else” type of stuff, I can see how that may wear on someone.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Funny thing is, foodgate surprised me b/c he didn't seem the micromanaging type in everything he's said

and even the way the players have talked about him this season. I see it more as an inconsistency in behavior stemming from Vinny having absolutely no idea what he’s doing.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jan 9, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well yeah, that too

that was obvious, so no need to state it on my part. A micro-managing coach who hasn’t a clue what he’s doing…that’s a bad combo.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Our coach being more concerned with what the players eat

before a game, rather than caring whether they play any defense or employ a single offensive set is… well, kind of telling…

we need a new one!

by BAB-Bass on Jan 9, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

it's definitely inconsistency

and that’s how you can lose a team.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Who do you believe?

McGraw who works in the media, or Stacey King who works in the media but was also a former Bull player…..?

Stacey gets nothing out of lying…..

McGraw gets a lot out of bending the press.

Sure maybe Boylan didn’t enforce it, I’m sure Skiles did given the headband stuff, but given how childish this team’s players have been, I applaud Vinny for standing up, especially when he constantly challenges their professionalism.

Vinny’s made mistakes sure, he’s been a rookie and if he was still a player he’d be a rookie getting only garbage time minutes for his rotation plans as a rookie coach….but this is a good thing he’s done.

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"team" rules change with coaches

So it’s probable that during Stacey’s years, that team rule was instituted, but obviously since then, it had been done away with…as evidenced by the coverage of Ben enjoying his PB&J. So obviously, that rule wasn’t there during the Skiles regime. Vinny must’ve brought it back.

And from the way it sounds, he must’ve JUST brought it back, because there were no complaints about this at the beginning of the season. Only after the 32nd game or so is when we finally heard about it.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 10:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Even if it was just brought back

It’s not like the players weren’t made aware of it.

I wonder if Pax and Jerry thought instituting an exisitng but unenforced rule would be a good thing because of all the lapses in professionalism this team has had.

I am sure Vinny didn’t just say “oh by the way since you were never told, we have a policy of no eating int he locker room, here is your fine, thank you”.

Seriously this team needs to focus on playing….

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure Vinny didn't say it like that either

…but maybe one day he was like “guys, from this point forward we’re not going to have any eating in the locker room prior to the game.”

Point is, it doesn’t matter HOW he said it, they probably just didn’t understand WHY. And neither do I for that matter.

Unless someone just went crazy and started throwing sandwiches around the room one day or one of Ruffin’s exotic animals accidentally ate some popcorn, choked, and died…then I guess I don’t understand what’s the point of banning food.

And again, how do you know they weren’t made aware of it? Maybe they weren’t. The way they reacted, it’s sounding more and more like it was just sprung upon them.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We'll see

If it was just sprung on them, I doubt they could get a fine…

I still think these kinds of stories are more anti Paxson getting high character guys than anti Del Negro. I think Vinny did hte right thing here….again because there is no way they’d get a fine if they didn’t know the rule at all, one iota…

Either way, it’s so freaking dumb that these things get talked about in the press when the team isn’t performing to the way it’s capable of performing. They need to be professionals and focus on the game, not the little stupid perks.

I’m sure if they start winning again, exceptions might be more feasible, not the othe rway around.

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, rules are rules.

VDN at the beginning of the season created these because he thought they would be beneficial to the team. Everyone then agreed to them at the beginning of the year. Then, the players to decide to openly break the rule. If they needed to eat something or had an issue with NJ restaurants, they should have approached VDN about it. I bet he would have been more willing to discuss it with them and come to a resolution.

VDN does not seem like the type of coach to be over-demanding of his players. For them to pretend like he doesn’t treat them like adults when player-friendliness seems to be his best quality shows why they are team cancers (obviously that section points mainly at Hughes). Rather than picking on VDN for fining them, people should be on the players for blatantly breaking rules they knew would force VDN to reprimand them.

VDN is then put in a difficult position, because it’s a slippery slope. If you let players start breaking small rules, then they start finding other ways to bend other policies. Next thing you know, they start complaining about playing time. Oh wait…..

by CJ Bulls on Jan 9, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Anything else from Vinny's life that you want to tell us about?

Since you’re so sure he made these rules at the beginning of the season, you should have a lot more inside information for us.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 12:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you joking?

You think he randomly made the rule the night before? These are all reasonable inferences based on the professional world/past team sports. They hire a new coach, he makes a set of rules. Players read rules and if they have issue, say something. What do you think happened?

by CJ Bulls on Jan 9, 2009 12:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rules

I’m not saying he made the rule up 10 minutes before it happened. But my question is why all of a sudden this was leaked out? Why did we not hear about this closer to the beginning of the season? I’m not saying he just walked into the locker room before that game and made it up, but to me, it does sound like it came into effect much later, rather than sooner.

I’m also not saying that they should just go around breaking his rules…but to install something as petty as a “no food” rule seems like that LAST thing that should be on his mind. Why be a stickler about someone eating in the locker room when your team is losing to the T’Wolves?

He’s fighting the wrong battles. I would feel better with a head coach that had a rule like “play better help defense or run laps” instead of “you better not get crumbs on your jersey”.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why would they report

Vinny’s first day, he addresses the media

The most important thing I have to report is that
Our rule is No eating in the locker room.

Thank you media, no further questions.

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 4:05 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

not the media, the players

and where did I say his “first day”? You’re putting words into my mouth.

It just seems like in the course of the first part of the season, during training camp, during preseason that we would’ve heard one of the players say something about this. KC is always fishing for little tidbits and nuggets of info. He’s constantly posting worthless stuff in his blog. It just seems like one of these times we would’ve heard something about this.

And why would the players react like they did if they knew about it all along?

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 4:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Relax

The point is what players are going to say

There’s no eating in the locker room and oh by the way we have Lebron James and Cleveland coming up so I’m preparing for that…..

by majoyenrac on Jan 12, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously man

the players are grown men who are acting like spoiled little brats. It’s a rule, they knew it and they decided to break the rule. Blaming Vinny for everything is just stupid.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2009 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oh be quiet

Because if Kirk had been the one getting fined for eating, you would be ok with it.

I’m not blaming Vinny for EVERYTHING. But I DO blame him for bad coaching and for fighting the wrong battles.

Yeah it may be a rule, but it’s a dumb rule.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not as dumb

as your comment.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2009 4:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nice

if/when you ever say something interesting, let me know…please continue skipping over my comments, as you said that you do

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 4:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ditto dude

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I blame him

for picking on minutia when he should be addressing the unprofessionalism that takes place on the court. It’s a fairly transparent attempt to commandeer authority by a coach who hasn’t earned it – on any level.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Jan 9, 2009 4:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess we disagree then.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

nothing wrong with that.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Jan 9, 2009 10:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

New coach calls out players for effort he can't prove,

that is coaching suicide. It’s much easier to make your point with a written rule. I think VDN made his point on effort earlier this year by limiting certain players minutes.

by CJ Bulls on Jan 9, 2009 6:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How soon we forget

http://www.blogabull.com/2009/1/5/710001/vinny-grades-the-players-e#comments

I guess Vinny just committed suicide…

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 6:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hadn't seen that. Pretty funny actually.

I meant calling them out publicly. It sounds like this is being done behind the scenes. Although there are way too many leaks in the org it sounds like.

by CJ Bulls on Jan 9, 2009 6:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"I was full of shit when I said I wanted to develop young players"

point taken, Vinny.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2009 6:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Stacey King

Was on Mac, Jurko and Harry and said that when he was on the Bulls there was no eating in th elocker room policy….

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 10:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing he violated that policy many, many times

Why resort to name calling?
-Dionysus2.0

because I wish to insult you personally
-your friendly BullsBlogger

by Big D on Jan 9, 2009 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

I didn't remember him being

Huge back in the day (Though he’s really Huge today)…..

Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems since he took the comcast spot he’s gain 50lbs….in what 3 years?

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

King

was the Oliver Miller, Eddy Curry, and Mike Sweetney of his heyday. It was always the knock on him.

12/31: Fire Vinny Del Negro.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2009 11:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I knew he was

Bad like them…I didn’t know he had the weight.

I still remember I was in like 6th grade when we got him and my brothers and Dad were like wow the MJ-Pipp Bulls are really going to be great with this guy….then he stunk.

by majoyenrac on Jan 9, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

he didn't have the weight

NBAO, Stacey King wasn’t THAT fat in his hey day – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywx_KFd-9mY

Sure he may have been a little out of shape and pudgy, but he was nowhere near the Oliver Millers or Mike Sweetneys…too much hyperbole.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jan 9, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No Eating is not some kind of team rule that's been carried throughout the years

It depends on the coaches. D’Antoni let his players eat before the game because he was smart enough to realize that most players, while athletic freaks of nature, are stupid about taking care of their body and eating right. Plus, most teams provide ample buffet-type lineups for their players (and coaches) before and after games.

If Vinny instituted the rule, whatever. It’s a dumb rule because he said in the summer that he was going to be a coach and mentor, not some autocratic guy. I think we can all safely assume it was Larry Hughes that leaked this info, and that Pax is going to do whatever it takes to trade him.

Vinny Del Negro interviewed for the job today. I mean come on! Nobody else thinks this is nuts?
by Juiceboxjerry on Jun 6, 2008 4:21 PM CDT actions actions 0 recs

by Ozzie Montana on Jan 9, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ohhh Vinny

Eating in the locker room before a game? Are you serious? You talking about food? We don’t have anyhting else to concern ourselves with? Food?

C’mon now

Vinny...you look confused

by Knowledge32 on Jan 9, 2009 3:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

As this tale unfolds everyone seems to be forgetting one key piece of the puzzle.

The players were not fined for eating in the locker room. They were fined for their reactions when reminded of the rule.

" I've looked at these numbers and decided the #1 problem

is that Ben Gordon is selfish..." -your friendly bulls blogger

by Dionysus2.0 on Jan 9, 2009 4:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think it was more

the fine was enforced because of the reaction.

vinny: “and another thing, no eating!”

players (full of pb&j): “huh?” ::bread spits on vinny’s face::

vinny: “I’m serious! Fines!”

hughes: “I can’t wait to tell KC about this”

(scene)

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2009 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Eating is unprofessional

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Jan 9, 2009 4:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That's what Mary Lou Retton said

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jan 9, 2009 5:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm wondering...

…how many of you that think the no eating in the locker room rule is “dumb”, actually manage others for a living? In the workplace, if you have a bunch of malcontents working for you, you can’t be successful. It’s like a virus – some are immune to it, but left unattended to, can spread. If you make a rule that says no eating in the locker room before a game, you would expect it to be followed. The ones asking why they cannot be treated “like adults” are the ones who are the most “non-adult”. In real life, these malcontents are the ones who think highly of themselves and their abilities, yet will drift from job to job, for some reason unable to catch on anywhere. I would venture to say that the percentage of our players that are (or are becoming) malcontents is very high… sad. If this turns out to be the case, the only real solution would be a player house cleaning… or a coaching change – along with a player house cleaning… either way, a player house cleaning appears to be in order. Think of it as laying them off with a nice severance package… I think you know which players I’m thinking of.

by leeac on Jan 9, 2009 6:42 PM CST reply actions 2 recs