Where is Pat Croce?

[Jamil]

I haven't heard anything about what he's doing since leaving the 76ers. He's a guy with great enthusiasm for the game and has no tolerance for losing. This is the type of person who the Hawks are desperately in need of.

Stan Kasten is the anti-Croce. He's a man who has great tolerance for losing. Case in point is that Pete Babcock still has a job. Kasten is more concerned about not hurting someone's feelings than winning a championship.

Babcock is a master at weaseling his way out of trouble after each of his moves fails miserably, and Kasten continues to fall for Babcock's act.

Every time that Babcock f*cks up - and this has been often over the last few years - he proclaims that "I take 100% responsibility", "It's all my fault", "Nobody deserves blame like I do".

For a while, it was refreshing to know that Babcock was aware of his own wrongdoings and took full responsibility for them. It also was nice that he took the time to come here at Sturt's asking and lately to answer email questions and of course take the blame for his fuckups.

However, the act has just gotten old. Now he just comes across as a big baby who thinks he can get out of trouble by taking the blame. Pete now knows that all he has to do is admit his failures and Stan gives him the free pass.

It appeared all but done that Babcock was on his way out a few weeks ago. Finally, Hawks fans had hope that the architect of this colossal mess that is the Atlanta Hawks was going to be sent packing. Well sure enough, Pete comes forward with "I take full blame for this, but I'd like to be around to try again"..... oh boy....

And it appears that once again, Stan Kasten has fallen for it.

I would imagine that if Pat Croce or someone similar were running things, Babcock wouldn't be allowed to try again nor would he be allowed anywhere near Philips Arena. He'd probably have Babcock escorted to the GA State Line by the cops and told never to come back again.

[hawkszone]

I hear you 100% when it comes to Pete Babcocks familiar refrain of "I take full accountability for all of this".

Talk is cheap and Babcock ought to be held up to a higher standard. The bizarre part of all of this is that Babcock has been rumored to be willing to take on another role with the team and let someone else make the personell decisions.

However, even after giving Kasten the perfect opportunity to take him up on the offer this summer and a few months ago, Kasten does nothing.

I have come to realize that Kasten just doesn't get it. He has a failing GM, who while not campaigning to be fired, is giving him the perfect out.

Despite Kasten current inaction, I still think that this summer there will be some major changes that most out here in Hawksqauwk don't expect.

http://www.hawkszone.net

[KB21]

Kasten usually doesn't make a move unless it is the absolute last thing he can do to right things, but he's been doing this for a long time now. The guy has been the head hauncho for the Hawks and Braves since 1979. That's 25 years of leading this team, and the Hawks have had only 8 losing seasons in that span with half of them coming since the 199-2000 season.

The thing is, Stan doesn't seem to be sold on the assumption that there is a better GM than Pete available right now. I don't think Pete is one of the better GM's in the league, but I don't think he's one of the worst like some people do. He's about middle of the pack, IMO. He's not Jerry West, but he certainly isn't Gary St. Jean either.

Pete's biggest problem has been his drafting. His trades for veteran players usually turn out for the better. Rumeal Robinson for Mookie Blaylock was a great trade for Atlanta. Kevin Willis and Duane Ferrell for Steve Smith and Grant Long was a great trade for Atlanta. Andrew Lang and Spud Webb for Christian Laettner was a great trade for Atlanta. Steve Smith for JR Rider and Jim Jackson was a terrible trade, and it appears the Toni Kukoc for Glenn Robinson trade is terrible only because the team isn't as good as they thought they would be.