Posted December 28, 200618 yr The following is from ESPN.com MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello became the first NBA coach to lose his job this season on Thursday, as he was fired following a 6-24 start. Grizzlies president of basketball operations Jerry West announced Thursday that Fratello has been "relieved of his coaching duties." A search for an interim head coach will begin immediately, West said. Fratello, the seventh and winningest coach in franchise history, went 95-83 since being hired Dec. 2, 2004. A 16-year coaching veteran, he became the 19th coach to win 600 games on March 4, 2005. His teams have qualified for the NBA playoffs in 11 of his 16 seasons as a head coach. The Grizzlies were hamstrung from the beginning of the season as they were without their best player, Pau Gasol, who was injured during the FIBA World Championship. Gasol returned to action earlier this month. The team has also had to deal with the distraction of the franchise being put on the market by majority owner Michael Heisley. After winning 45 and 49 games respectively the past two seasons, the Grizzlies lost eight of their first 10 games to start the season before enduring losing streaks of seven and five games, the latter of which is current. Fratello's last game at the helm was a 112-96 loss Wednesday night to the Milwaukee Bucks. "Unfortunately, this season has been one of disarray starting this past summer," Fratello said in a statement released by the team. "I am sorry I have not been able to find a way up to this point to turn things around, and I understand why a change needs to be made." West said he planned to hold a news conference Friday morning at FedEx Forum in Memphis. "I'd like to thank Mike for the contributions he made to the Grizzlies organization," West said in the team statement. "He is a great coach and friend, and he did an outstanding job guiding this team to two playoff appearances in Memphis. We just felt it was time to make a change and move in a different direction based on our record and future goals." Does this mean he will be back broadcasting Heat games and TNT?
December 28, 200618 yr The Czar of the Telestrator will definately be broadcasting games in the near future. I just dont know if it will be with the Heat. I think he will be doing TNT or ESPN games very soon though.
December 28, 200618 yr Either way, it'll be good to have him back if he decides to join a broadcast team. Jon Barry, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller are terrible.
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