June 3

It came as no surprise that Larry Brown was hired as Rick Carlisle's replacement as head coach of the Detroit Pistons.

	Brown

It's a coup for Bill Davidson and Joe Dumars and a raw deal for Carlisle. All the man did was win 100 games in two seasons!

If you have to make a change like that, it helps to go to a Hall of Famer. Brown has great teaching ability and winning ability.

Now the question is whether Brown will be the first coach to win both an NCAA championship and NBA title. Only a handful have coached in both a Final Four and an NBA championship series (Fred Schaus, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Butch Van Breda Kolff and Brown).

It could happen in Detroit, especially if the team adds Darko Millicic up front to provide size and scoring ability. If the Pistons have a healthy cast and this team knows how to win, watch out.

Having Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups in the backcourt is solid, and Ben Wallace on the glass and the defensive end, the talent is there. Then add Brown's teaching skills and motivational ability and fans in Detroit will expect big things.

I remember in Detroit several years ago, when the Tigers let go of a solid tactician named Les Moss back in 1979. Later that year, Detroit hired a pretty good manager named Sparky Anderson.

This could be the same type of thing.

Here's wishing Brown the best of luck in Detroit. It should be an interesting situation to watch.

Speaking of a watch, it is on Jeff Van Gundy. I believe he will end up as head coach of Houston or Washington. Don't believe the reports coming out that he won't be back on the sidelines this season.

Van Gundy understands the game inside and out. He will have an impact in the near future.