HIRING COLLINS BAD MOVE FOR BULLS

(May 31): It's a foregone conclusion that Doug Collins will be leaving his post as a television analyst for TNT to become the coach of the Chicago Bulls.

I may end up being terribly wrong on this matter, but I don't foresee a happy ending to this saga -- either for Collins or for the Bulls.

It puzzles me that the Bulls, who were so upset about being stood up by their original preferred choice, Mike D'Antoni, would then hire someone who is a polar opposite in temperament and preferred playing style.

You can make a strong case that Collins is Scott Skiles 2.0.

I'm not saying that Collins can't coach. He's an exceptional teacher, who has produced improvements of 10, 18 and 18 victories in his first season at each of his previous three coaching stops.

But he's also a relentless nagger, who – in time – turns off his players and is tuned out by them. It happened in Chicago, Detroit and Washington, and I strongly suspect it will happen again during his second stint in the Windy City.

Maybe Doug Collins has changed in the interim. Maybe he will ease the pedal on his relentless harping. Maybe he will give more playing time to younger players. Maybe he will allow his teams to play at a higher tempo.

Maybe, but I doubt it. Heck, Doug Collins gets on my nerves just listening to him on TV. Can you imagine being a player and having to listen to him on the court and the locker room?

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