Riley's Regrets? Not Many

During a coaching career that spanned two-and-a-half decades, Pat Riley had far more ups than downs.

Five NBA titles. Nine Finals Appearances. Three NBA Coach of the Year Awards. Professional offspring that includes dozens of Hall of Fame players, All-Stars and future coaches.

But during a weekend in which Riley was celebrated for induction into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame, he took a moment or two to discuss the few regrets or mistakes he's made along the way.

Actually, he doesn't consider them regrets. Just professional lessons he tried to learn from along the way. Not surprisingly, most of those mulligans he would have taken came during his four-year stint with the New York Knicks in the early 1990s.

Riley said if he had instilled a little more finesse (some of the Showtime Lakers mojo) in those rough-and-tough Knicks teams, Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and company would have won an NBA title. Instead, they settled for a runner-up finish in a 1994 Finals loss to the Rockets.

Another thing Riley would have done differently would have been actually living in New York instead of maintaining a home in Connecticut. That may have contributed to some of the burnout.

"It was like 82 road games for me with all of the commuting," Riley said. "I drove in and stayed at the hotel when we played home games."

Perhaps the biggest regret of all, Riley said, was the way his tenure ended. Pat caught plenty of Heat on his way to Miami for faxing the Knicks his resignation. Ewing, also inducted in the Hall this weekend, said that was the only time he ever questioned Riley's methods. At the time, Ewing felt betrayed.

"I was disappointed when he left like that," Ewing said. "But you understand this is a business."

But if Riley could do it all over again, he still would have gotten out of Gotham. He just would have handled it differently.

"I had a great run. You take the good with the bad - and I don't have any regrets," Riley said. "I'm sorry the end was so bad (in New York). If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have faxed it."

Comments

[Shawn]

Congratulations Riles! Thanks for taking the Heat to the mountain top...

9/11 was an inside job

checkout wtc7.net & watch the collapse videos

learn the truth

[james paul]

Hey Pat congraulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame it is an honor so well deserved.I grew up in Connecticutt a Sixer fan at the time when the Sixers Celtics rivalry was hot and heavy but really the world belonged to the Lakers.When your young you take a lot for granted and im certain none of the credit for Showtime and the Lakers success really came to you but it was an unbelievable spectacle.Kareem , Magic and Worthy and evryone else got there share of the credit and memories of Showtime will live through time,but i am thankful you take your rightful place amongst them now.An orchestra with out a conductor is nothing,a body with out a heart is nothing.you were the motivator and the passion and the drive fueling that talent to take off.26 years ago i moved to Miami and my allegiance to the Sixers moved too,i was now a Miami resident and the greatest day in the Heats franchise history was the day you came to Miami and in the next breath secured another person of steely determination and desire and spirit to come for the ride.Even though there were years of searing pain for evry True Heat i am thankfull i was witness to it and it will live within Miami residents forever.This franchise and city were so lucky to have you Pat, thanks for the memories ...the good and the bad...because at the end of the day its the style and passion and class and dedecation that you led this franchise on the front line with evry day 25 hours a day 366 days a year.So now put your GM hat on and put us back on the map and then you and Chris ride out........to a beach you havnt visited.......is there one?.CONGRAULATIONS AGAIN PAT AND THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES...........James Paul Edite/LETS GO HEAT........................

[mindrangr]

We're lucky to have you Pat! Get those 3 other fingers covered here with the Heat!

[Art]

Nothing new since September 06. Come on it's two of you. Give us something new.

[Art]

Nothing new since September 06. Come on it's two of you. Give us something new.

[Art]

Nothing new since September 06. Come on it's two of you. Give us something new.

[Art]

Nothing new since September 06. Come on it's two of you. Give us something new.

[???????????]

Did any one get fired?
Nothing new in 10 days!!!!!!!!!!!

[billy]

Riley really saved his best for last too...... Spoelstra will end up being his greatest offspring/mentoree ever.

Great job and a wonderful contribution to this wonderful game Pat, in all aspects.

Congratulations. Go heat!