Staff Blog
Maurice Cheeks Leaves with Style and Grace
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I know everyone writing about this topic is saying the same
thing, but Maurice Cheeks‘ farewell press conference was heartfelt and appropriate.
I was pushing for his firing probably as
hard as anyone out there and yet watching it was still a sad moment.
Cheeks, standing in front of pictures of fellow Sixer
legends, took questions for roughly 30 minutes without once issuing an angry or
aggressive word towards the organization who just showed him the door. He thanked the team, his friends, his fans,
the press, and the city. He said he expects to stay in the organization
but will sit down with Stefanski after the holidays to determine what
capacity.
You could tell he was genuinely sad about the whole turn of
events. A fair argument can be made that
Cheeks was given an unfair task – turn this Sixers team into a running team -
and that he was never going to be Stefanski’s guy, but he refused to point
fingers at the personnel or the situation. Time and time again he was asked if it was fair that he got axed after just 23 games, or if this team could be the running team he imagined, and time and time again he deflected the questions away.
It wasn’t all political though. When Cheeks was asked if the firing was getting to him he mused, “sometimes you just have to laugh instead of
cry,” and starting laughing.
For the 76ers to get back on the right track I think the
organization made the right move, but as a longtime 76ers fan it was hard to see that
move made.
If the 76ers turn things around, then the firing of Maurice Cheeks will be bittersweet, but if things remain the same, then I will feel snake bitten.