Ex-Hawk aide English seeks head coach job By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/19/06 From NBA scoring champion to starring in the movie "Amazing Grace and Chuck," Alex English knows what it's like to be a leading man. Now, the former Hawks assistant wants to have that role on an NBA bench. With that goal in mind, the former Denver Nuggets star has been paying his dues throughout this decade. He's ridden buses as a head coach in the NBDL and served as an NBA assistant. English believes the time has come for him to move up. When NBA top jobs become open after this season, English wants to be considered. "My goal is to become a head coach," English told the Rocky Mountain News. "Hopefully, if there is something [this summer], I will be considered. But I'm a patient man." But English, 51, believes he's ready now. "I'm a people person," English said. "I think I know how to get the best out of players. I think I'm a good teacher. I know what players need to succeed in this league. I think I would manage them well." In his only head-coaching gig, English steered the North Charleston Lowgators to a 36-20 mark during the 2001-02 season and a berth in the NBDL finals. He moved to be an NBA assistant with the Hawks for a season, Philadelphia for a season and he is in his second year with Toronto. He already has the glowing endorsement of one fellow Hall of Famer. "He's more than ready [to be an NBA head coach]," Clyde Drexler told reporters. "With his knowledge, people should be knocking on his door. He has a lot to offer. He's a good teacher. He's got patience. He really has something to give to the younger generation. I would say, out of all the guys out there, nobody has a better resume or pedigree than Alex English. It's a no-brainer. How could he not get an opportunity?" Nash funds ward for sick kids Reigning league MVP Steve Nash starred in commercials for MDG, a Canadian computer company, and used the pay to cover half of a new intensive care post-operative pediatric cardiology ward in Paraguay. He paid for the other half too. His wife, Alejandra, is from Asuncion, where the hospital is located. "This is paramount for the children," Nash told the Arizona Republic. "The kids either have to fly to Brazil or, unfortunately, a lot of them die." In other Nash news, about 1,200 children and relatives came from British Columbia to see Nash's game Tuesday at Seattle. The kids were from the Steve Nash Youth Basketball League, a league that would have folded after the Vancouver Grizzlies left for Memphis if Nash had not stepped forward with the funding to keep it alive. One of the kids asked, "How do you know how to pass without looking?" Nash said, "Oh, I'm looking. It's hard to explain. Some things are natural and some come from experience." Illini great immune to March Madness A year ago, Jazz rookie Deron Williams was anything but a rookie. Back then he was filling the all-important role of "experienced guard" the experts talk about when handicapping the NCAA tournament. And to that end, Williams was nothing short of spectacular as he led a dominant Illinois team all the way to the national championship game. During the Fighting Illini run, Williams averaged 14.7 points and 8.3 assists per game and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Chicago Regional after scoring 22 points in an amazing comeback victory over Arizona in the regional final. But that was last March. This time, Williams admits his focus is far from the tournament. "I don't have time," he told reporters in Utah. True, the demands of the NBA are almost totally time consuming. But, surely he keeps at least one eye on the Illini, especially during this time of year? "[I'm] just trying to make the playoffs, that's all I'm concerned about right now," Williams said. "That was last year, I'm off the college thing. That was great while it lasted, I had a great three years there. But it's behind me, it's a business now." T-wolves can't win the close ones And you thought your team had it rough. Check out these numbers from the Minnesota Timberwolves six-game losing streak through Thursday. In each of the six losses in this skid, Minnesota has opened leads of nine or more points. For the season, Kevin Garnett and company have a 1-9 record in one-possession games (decided by three points or fewer). They are 0-4 in overtime games, 9-19 in games decided by six points or less and 20-10 when leading after three quarters, that's the second-most blown leads in the fourth quarter. They've led by 10 points or more in 11 of their past 17 games, but have only a 4-13 mark to show for it. And eleven times, they have blown leads of at least 10 points. Is there any wonder Garnett is rumored to be itching to bolt the Twin Cities this summer? 资料来源 http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0319nbanotes.html --

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