Open the Muggy Gate 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2005 Gleason native will still coach, but not for this Nashville team By BILLY BYLER The Tennessean Mar 4 2005 Former Gleason standout Ashley McElhiney indicated that if the ABA Nashville Rhythm returns for a second season it might do so without the first woman to coach a men's pro basketball team. Revealing her frustration with the unpredictable ownership group, McElhiney told The Tennessean: ''I don't know what the future is for the Rhythm. For me, I think it's best that I move on and explore other opportunities.'' McElhiney said she was dumbfounded when the team's owners declined a berth in the ABA playoffs. ''It's frustrating,'' McElhiney said. ''That's what you play and practice for. We put together a record of 21-10 with not necessarily an all-star team. Then we finished our regular season strong. Why do you even play the season? Why can't we just finish?'' The first-year franchise made national news by hiring McElhiney, and again when co-owner Sally Anthony stormed the court during a game and confronted McElhiney about playing former Vandy star Matt Freije, who had signed a one-game contract. Anthony tried to fire McElhiney after the game but was blocked by the team's other owners. Anthony subsequently was removed as the team's chief executive offer. It was just a month ago that McElhiney and her squad traveled to Gleason to play before adoring hometown fans, and things seem to have settled down. But then came a recent non-attributed news release through the ABA office declining the playoff berth. It read: ''We've lost several players and felt we were not ready for the playoffs; we decided to open a spot in the playoffs for a more competitive team.'' McElhiney already has filled her schedule with two AAU coaching jobs and continues to provide personal basketball training to area youngsters. ''I guess I'll never really know the reason why we are not playing,'' McElhiney said. So let me get this straight... you go 21-10 and refuse a playoff spot? YOU STUPID FUCKERS. I thought these idiot owners couldn't any worse, but this is fucking ridiculous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2005 Well, McElhiney comes out of this looking good, so best of luck to her in finding a new coaching job. As for declining the playoffs, does the team have a per game deal on their arena lease or something (meaning that they could lose money by playing)? Because that's about the only reason I can think of to decline the playoffs... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2005 The spirit of the ABA lives! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2005 That's just out and out pathetic.... The bright side is that she proved that a female coach can be taken seriously coaching men, if they honestly listen to her. I think she should take another step and try to break into the NBDL, although I would be shocked if that actually happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2005 we decided to open a spot in the playoffs for a more competitive team.'' I would so want to play for them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2005 The bright side is that she proved that a female coach can be taken seriously coaching men, if they honestly listen to her. I think I speak for everyone here when I say "Eddie" and "Sunset Park" taught us all that years ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
