The
Tribune picked up a story today on Natalie Nakase, who has gone from UCLA point
guard to assistant video coordinator with the Los Angeles Clippers, with some
overseas coaching in between. Nakase
wants to be an NBA coach, to which I can only say, Good luck.
The
story, of course, was far more positive.
In fact, the bad guy—because he doubted—is Nakase’s father. Maybe the senior Nakase knows something his
daughter doesn’t, like the tenuous nature of her position. A new coach or GM, and she’s gone, which also
holds true for Becky Hammon, the first-ever female NBA assistant coach. Hammon’s just lucky she has Gregg Popovich
for a boss. Popovich, who chalked up NBA
win number 1,000 last night—won’t be fired anytime soon. Then again, he could always retire at the end
of the season.
Regardless
the pro sport, women will only advance as far as ownership allows them to. When people think of Branch Rickey and Jackie
Robinson, they identify Rickey as the general manager who made it happen, but
Rickey was GM and part owner of the
Dodgers. It wasn’t as if someone in the
owners’ suite was going to stop Rickey from signing Robinson.
Until
the next Rickey buys into a team, women can expect to make fitful progress as
coaches and execs, if that. Trust me,
there are no Branch Rickeys in Chicago.
There used to be Oprah Winfrey, and she’s richer than Croesus. Too bad for Natalie Nakase (and Clare
Bukowski, for that matter) Oprah would rather own a network than a team.
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