Pollard's response is accurate...
Maybe I'm showing my age, but we (society) are experiencing an age of entitlement, and "I want it my way... or I'm going to take my ball and go home." Maybe I'm living in la la land, but I believe a) in the value of a "commitment" and b) when things get tough, or don’t go exactly how you want it... you work your butt off to fix things.
Too often I hear people on this board say... "I don’t blame them for leaving" or "I have no idea why that player sticks around" or "I hope they leave, because they deserve better." All that implies they are here as a visitor...or the recipient of something. Booo...when they put on an ISU jersey, they are part of a "program." They are saying, I AM part of the program (good or bad), and if things go bad... it's partly my responsibility to be the solution.
Oh, sure there are justifiable reasons to leave... but "the coach was hard on me" or "I suddenly don’t like the style of play," or “I want more playing time," or “me, me, me, meâ€... do not cut it for me.
It's called sacrifice. Sometimes sacrifice, actually means sacrifice for the good of the whole. Brackins had that mentality…so does DG.
I manage a team of professionals. If something does not go right... I expect my staff to step up to the plate and roll their sleeves up (with me) to figure things out. I work like heck to not hire people that expect a company to give, and give and give... or people that are happy during the good times, and run when things don’t go well. I see it as a "partnership" where we all have a stake in the good... and the bad….and the solutions to our problems. Oh, and yes… we all get to revel in the success too.
I worry for these kids that simply run from problems… I worry well beyond basketball. How can they be prepared for the pot holes of life with this mentality?
Now, does McD hold responsibility? You bet! There are coaching deficiencies and he's obviously not doing a good job at bringing in people with the characteristics that breeds commitment and the values I describe above...and yes... at some point; the "leader" must be held responsible. So, please don’t reply back saying I'm letting him off the hook. I just get frustrated when people on this board so easily give the leaving players a free pass. I'm not giving McD a free pass, but I'm sure as heck not giving the players free passes.