The first part of my interview with Michael Cooper, the head coach of the Atlanta Dream, is here:
http://www.swishappeal.com/wnba/2013/12/9/5189960/wnba-atlanta-dream-michael-cooper-interview
Some observations:
1) Since I've followed only women's basketball, and have stayed away from men's basketball strictly for time purposes, I really wasn't aware of Coach Cooper's fame and success with the Showtime Lakers. I don't know if having non-starry eyes is an advantage or a disadvantage.
2) I watched some footage of him playing on YouTube. I don't know how good he really was - given that in what I watched they choose the clips at his best - but the man could play some basketball.
3) He is as skinny as they say he is.
4) He talks fast. Not too fast, but he could give Pokey Chatman a run for her money.
5) He was a very nice guy. At least I thought so. This could just be me falling in love with an Atlanta Dream head coach, the same way I fell in love with Marynell Meadors and Fred Williams.
6) I learned a lot. He was willing to answer all of my questions and had to give a "no comment" on only one of them.
My worry is about the inevitable Michael Cooper/Angel McCoughtry clash of personalities. Frankly, if McCoughtry can't get along with Cooper, it's time to conclude that there is no coach she can get along with. (The man has won just about everywhere.) McCoughtry might be able to get along with Fred Williams, but Williams is no longer with the DFO.
