One literary contributor wrote that I'm too soft in my critiques. Another wrote I am too critical.
As always, I will continue my quest to please everyone.
David writes: Enjoyed your piece on (Jeremy) Pruitt and his lawsuit. However, think you were too easy on both Pruitt as well as (Phillip) Fulmer. They deserve each other.
My response: Thanks for the constructive criticism. As always, I value input from my literary contributors.
After reading your critique, I reread the column in which I wrote that Pruitt was the worst coach in Tennessee history and that Fulmer was “masquerading as an athletic director.” You’re right. I probably was too soft in addressing their bungling antics.
I will try to toughen up my prose.
AnotherDavid writes: I just finished reading your column in which you express your opinion that the Lady Vols will reach their first final 4 before Rick Barnes’ Vols.
I appreciate you as one of the nation’s finest sports writers, but I’ve read your columns over the basketball season. And I’ve seen you over and over expressing negativity towards Barnes.
I can only conclude that you don’t care for Rick as a coach or as a person. I don’t know which. As you acknowledge, Barnes is a great recruiter, he understands the transfer portal better than most, and he has a great understanding of the NIL world.
Any criticism of Barnes is unfounded. He’s a Naismith Hall of Fame coach who’s been sought out by players because they want a year under Barnes before going to the NBA.
My response: If you read my column regularly, how could you possibly think that I don’t care for Rick as a person? I once wrote a column about a friend who rededicated his life to Jesus Christ after hearing Barnes speak at a luncheon.
I can’t imagine anyone criticizing Barnes on a personal level. As for as his coaching, I’ve written many times – as you pointed out in your email – about his attributes.
He’s a future hall of fame coach whose teams haven’t achieved greatness in the tournament. How could any columnist ignore that?
And no coach is above criticism. Neither is any columnist – nor literary contributor.
James writes: I've been telling you both the Vols and Lady Vols teams need a big, strong, mobile, offensive center who can muscle and score in the paint. You told me they are hard to find.
However, watching the tournaments a lot if not most of the Sweet 16s have one. The men just added Jaylen Carey from Vandy which is fine, but at 6-foot-8 he is 4 to 5 inches too short. He won't be able to stop the bigger centers.
So now the men's team has 4 "big" men but none of them is a true scoring center. Can't we do better?
My response: I resent your personal condemnation of Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. But since you are a hall of fame literary contributor, I will publish your attack.
But don’t let it happen again.
Glenn writes: After watching Duke, Houston, Florida and Auburn in the Final Four it’s easy to see why Barnes-coached teams have never made it. Too ...
