6C ❚ TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019 ❚ USA TODAY SPORTS Pressure to win at UCLA NBA teams sensitive to little concern to Cronin ‘owner’ use Scott Gleeson New AJ Neuharth-Keusch USA TODAY UCLA USA TODAY men’s LOS ANGELES – knows basket- NBA commissioner Adam Silver about all of the skepticism. ball says teams across the league are mov- News reports that he wasn’t UCLA’s coach ing away from classifying their high- first choice as a new head Mick est-ranking executive as an “owner.” coach. Message boards that balk at his Cronin “I don’t want to overreact to the lack of NCAA tournament success at previous- term, because as I’ve said earlier, peo- . Pundits who believe his grit- ly held ple end up twisting themselves into over-flair style won’t win over a hard-to- the top knots avoiding the use of the word,” satisfy fan base. job at Silver said in a recent interview with “You know what? It doesn’t matter. I Murray TMZ. “We moved away from that term don’t give a (expletive) about that (ex- State and years ago at the league. We call our pletive),” Cronin told USA TODAY. then team owners ‘governor’ of the team The 47-year-old isn’t the censoring Cincin- and ‘alternate governor.’ type, and he has no plans to sugarcoat nati. “I think it makes sense. ... You’ll find anything — to the media, unrelenting KIRBY LEE/ the word throughout memos over the boosters or his players — in this new USA TODAY past decade in the NBA. But I’m sensi- high-pressure job, which he acknowl- SPORTS tive to it and I think teams are moving edges has national title-or-bust expec- away from the term (and) will stick tations. with using ‘governor.’ ” “The noise is louder here,” Cronin While many teams use terms such says, “just like it’s louder at Kentucky, as “governor,” “chairman” and “CEO,” a louder at North Carolina and louder at handful — including the Warriors and Duke. It’s a (blueblood). I deflect criti- one whose statue is outside Pauley Pa- like I did everything I was hired to do Rockets — still use the term “owner” in cism and focus on the job. I stay oblivi- vilion as a symbol of the greatness from (at Cincinnati) except take them to a the staff directory of their official team ous to it on purpose, and it’s liberating. 10 national championships. Final Four or win a title. In my busi- media guides. The 76ers, meanwhile, If you want your players to block it out, “ sure as hell wouldn’t ness, you can’t live by that. For years, list their executives as “managing you have to live it yourself.” be looking at message boards or blogs to (Virginia) caught no breaks and then partner” and “co-managing partner.” Cronin is two months into a dream see how people felt about him or his pro- bang, they win it all. You put yourself Silver said he’s seen mixed reac- job on a coaching trajectory that began gram,” Cronin says with a smirk. “And I in a position to win a title, and that’s tions from players regarding the use of as a junior varsity high school coach at won’t either.” what you can control. the term, which has been criticized by Woodward (Ohio) High School — when Wooden’s towering legacy has made “At Cincinnati, I felt like I raised the many over the years for having racial a then 21-year-old Cronin would drive decent coaching tenures — Titanic. It was dead in every aspect. connotations. single-parent kids home and scrape up led UCLA to three Sweet 16 appearances Not only was it buried, it was buried “A few players have actually spoken car change for the 5-for-$5 deal at Ar- in five-plus seasons before a December beneath the greatest conference — the out in saying the greatest thing that by’s along the way. firing — seem unworthy. Cronin re- 16-team Big East. In six years we went ever happened was when Michael Jor- “As much as I want to win it all here, placed Alford as the 10th full-time coach from last to playing for the title (in dan was able to call himself an owner and I’m in Beverly Hills and all that, it’s in Westwood since Wooden was on the 2012). When you’re coaching in a (of the Hornets),” he said. not going to change who I am as a man sidelines from 1948 to 1975. league that’s like the NBA every night, Silver also said “I completely re- and what I’m about,” Cronin says. There’s been plenty of winning in the it’s like the world is caving in on you. ... spect” when players are against the “That’s what my players will see in me — years since Wooden retired: The Hall of Coaching in that league, when you’ve term, including Warriors forward not the coach who’s on TV yelling at his Famer’s nine predecessors won 70% of got Syracuse, Connecticut, Louisville, , who has spoken out players, the one who cares about them their games while reaching six Final Georgetown, Pitt ... that prepared me about it on multiple occasions. individually and collectively. The one Fours and winning one national title. for this chapter I’m in now.” In 2017, Green had a back and forth who will be honest with them and have But the last five UCLA coaches have all Except this next chapter will see with Mark Cuban, who’s listed as their back.” been fired for not meeting expectations, UCLA play in a Pac-12 Conference that “owner” on the Mavericks’ media Cronin sits in an empty office with including the program’s second-win- last season ranked last among power guide, after Green wrote on Instagram bare walls and a previous coach’s furni- ningest coach, , who led conferences in the NCAA’s new metric, that “to be owned by someone just sets ture. In one breath he informs assistant the Bruins to three consecutive Final the NET. UCLA lost to mid-major Lib- a bad precedent.” coach Michael Lewis (who followed him Fours from 2006 to 2008. erty, an outcome that ultimately Cuban responded, telling ESPN that from Cincinnati along with associate Cronin sees Wooden’s shadow as prompted Alford’s firing before a 17-16 Green “owes the NBA an apology” for head coach Darren Savino) that’s he’s more of a gift than a curse, however. finish. his comments. “To try to create some nearing a close on a new home to live in “I caught an interview where Coach Cronin inherits a team with an in- connotation that owning equity in a as a single parent with his 12-year-old Wooden was asked about the pressures teresting mix of returning and incom- company that you busted your ass for daughter, Samantha. In another breath, of those who were following in his foot- ing talent. Among the players who are is the equivalent of ownership in terms he’s spitballing an idea to his office as- steps,” Cronin says. “He said only the looking to turn a new chapter are red- of people, that’s just wrong. That’s just sistant about a barbecue for the athletic guy who immediately proceeded him shirt sophomores Jalen Hill and Cody wrong in every which way. staff to grow camaraderie. He pinballs () would have to deal with Riley, two of the players involved in a “People who read that message and from topic to topic about the future, as if that. For anybody else, it’s something shoplifting incident in China that drew misinterpret it — make it seem like we he didn’t just sign a six-year contract for they have to reconcile within them- national attention and led to former don’t do everything possible to help one of the hardest jobs in America. selves. If they can’t do that, it’s their guard LiAngelo Ball leaving the team. our players succeed and don’t care “Obviously, my goal is to turn this own mistake. I think I’ve come to this One area Alford excelled in was about their families and don’t care into a winning program, always compet- program knowing who I am, what I can recruiting — with three consecutive about their lives, like hopefully we do ing for (Pac-12) conference champion- do and really everything else I’ve done top-five recruiting classes (2016, ’17 for all of our employees — that’s just ships and then winning national cham- leading up to this has got me here.” and ’18), according to Rivals. Cronin wrong.” pionships,” Cronin says. “But how it Cronin knows his 13-season resume says he expects to coach a mix of chip- Green, while speaking at Harvard looks on the outside — that this is an im- at Cincinnati — which included a .670 on-their-shoulder players who devel- University, responded to Cuban, say- possible job to please the fans — trust winning percentage and top-three fin- op into All-Americans as he did at Cin- ing that his intention was to “start a me when I say I’ll go 10 times harder on ishes in all six of the Bearcats’ seasons cinnati along with the five-star talent. conversation that may need to be had. myself if I can’t win. This idea that I’ll in the American Athletic Conference — “We tried to recruit five-star guys at “When you look at Mark Cuban, for feel like we have to win because every- was missing a deep NCAA tournament Cincinnati. We just never got them,” instance, with the whole equity thing. body else wants us to win is a fallacy. run (his Bearcats advanced past the first Cronin says. “Obviously, I came here We all can own equity and that’s fine. We’re the ones who are doing this every weekend once, in 2012, despite nine for a lot of reasons. The recruiting is But Mark Cuban will never know or damn day, who are moving our families consecutive appearances and being easier. The real reason is there’s a bet- understand how it feels for me, a across the country. As much as fans seeded sixth or higher five times). But ter chance to cut the nets down that young, black, African American, to want certain things, they don’t want it he says he often tells former players and you don’t have at other places. turn on the TV and see what happened more than we do as coaches and play- aspiring coaches to “never let someone “I’ve always been about keeping in Charlottesville. ers.” else define your success.” your eye on the ball or you’re not a good “It’s not to take a shot at the owners Although his tunnel vision is on the “I’m not a sentimental guy,” Cronin hitter. That’s a little harder to do here, of these entities. It’s more so trying to 2019-20 season, Cronin admits to goo- says of his tenure leading the Bearcats. but I’m going to do everything in my help spark change to help others that gling “UCLA coach” quite often — for the “I’m a life’s a journey kind of guy. I feel power to get the job done.” may be similar to me.”

To view more Classified listings, visit: www.classifieds.usatoday.com

NOTICES BUSINESS BUSINESS MARKETPLACE WANTED PUBLIC NOTICE BUSINESS MART OPPORTUNITIES HEALTH / FITNESS Wanted: Patent Attorney Must have many verifiable references Notice to Bidders LOOKING FOR A NEW Addiction & Recovery Services for airplane tires, different FREE Healthcare for Biz Owners! electric motors etc, etc! Region 14 ESC (the “Lead Agency”), on behalf of National Includes 24/7/365 no-charge doctor care, unlimited no-fee OPPORTUNITY? TAKE THE FIRST STEP Call Tom: 810-882-8591 Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA) and public agencies We need former biz owners, former mental health counseling, huge discounts on dental, vision, executives or professionals adding TO RECOVERY! in all 50 states, that elect to access the Master Agreement is Call Addiction Hope & Help Line & HEALTH / FITNESS soliciting proposals to enter into Master Agreements for: chiropractic, diabetes supplies, up to 85% off prescriptions! on to their practices. Since 1991 we have been putting high end Speak with Someone Who Cares. Cover your employees for $25 per month! 800-845-7720. IVC FILTER WARNING • Advanced Technology Solutions Aggregator #18-19 individuals into lucrative FREE Counseling & insurance assessment THE FDA HAS ISSUED A WARNING TO ALL IVC FILTER PATIENTS. • Athletic Supplies and Equipment #19-19 [email protected] consulting practices. Get started with gentle treatment today THESE IVC FILTERS MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. www.CapstoneHealthNetwork.com Start up capital required! Call: IF YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONE HAD AN IVC FILTER IMPLANTED • Decorative Metal Casting and Tree Grates #20-19 Call 800-528-1159 YOU MAY BE ENTILTED TO FINANCIAL COMPENSTATION • Elevator Inspection Services #17-19 877-826-2998 or email us THERE ARE NO FEES UNLESS YOU GET A SETTLEMENT • Equipment Rental #21-19 BANK SERVICES at [email protected] ATTN: MEDICARE RECIPIENTS CALL NOW FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION Call now: 800-340-1530 ( 24/7 ) • Golf Cars, Utility Vehicles and Maintenance Vehicles #16-19 FINANCIAL • Housekeeping/Janitorial/Custodial Services #22-19 Do you have chronic Knee or Back Pain? 15 Year Old Subprime Auto Lender You may qualify for a FREE Knee or Back Brace. REAL ESTATE • Job Order Contracting (JOC) Services #23-19 DROWNING IN Looking to Replace Senior Bank Lenders Call NOW! For a safe, drug free remedy. • Owner Advocate/Representative for Capital CREDIT CARD DEBT? Get a pain-relieving back or knee brace at little or no cost to you. OVERSEAS PROPERTY Improvement Program Management (Supplement) #12-19 National Knee & Back Brace Center! Struggling to make minimum payments • Parking Meters #15-19 $25 Million Line of Credit Owe $10,000 or more? 800-745-1594 BUY/SELL • Telecommunication Services #14-19 Call for our debt reset program! Rain forest • Underground Water, Sewer and Storm Utility Product #13-19 2019’s HOTTEST Investment! Call and/or Text 706-414-6194 CALL TODAY: 800-478-7009 To advertise, call: 1-800-397-0070 Due Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 2:00 pm CST 614-596-0557 Sealed responses are due and will be publicly FORECLOSURE opened in the Region 14 ESC offices located at TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS DEFENSE HELPLINE REAL ESTATE 1850 Highway 351, Abilene, TX 79601. OPPORTUNITIES To request a copy of specifications, SAVE THOUSANDS on ARE YOU BEHIND ON YOUR RANCHES/FARM MORTGAGE PAYMENTS? please visit NCPA’s website www.ncpa.us. current cell phone bills! Looking for New Drivers COULD YOUR HOUSE GO INTO Offer for first 500 customers! for upcoming launch of a new ride FORECLOSURE? DOES IT SEEM Bring your existing number or share company June 15th. Keep 100% LIKE THE BANK HAS NO INTEREST be provided with a new one! fares, tips and cancellation fees. IN HELPING YOU SAVE YOUR To start your savings today, Must be 21, have your own HOME AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU car/insurance. Sign up is free. HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN? call or text: THE FORECLOSURE DEFENSE 334-220-8114 www.cheaprideshares.com HELPLINE CAN HELP SAVE YOUR 877-475-6141 GET NOTICED! HOME. IT’S CRITICAL THAT Advertise in USA TODAY’s Marketplace Today Classifieds! YOU CALL US RIGHT NOW AT: www.TheDiamondB.com Call:1-800-397-0070 Place Your Ad Here! ( 800 ) 397-0070 [email protected] 800-509-1635