Odd maybe, but definitely refreshing

Tom Thibodeau might be the most different head coach the Bulls have ever had, which is saying something considering they once had a Zenmaster in the position.It#146;s OK if you interpret different as odd because Thibodeau does have a refreshing oddness about him.We don#146;t really know the private side of any sports figure. Still, publicly the Bulls#146; coach sure isn#146;t making any fashion or hairstyle statements.Thibodeau comes across more as a retired city worker who in his spare time teaches basketball to kids in the inner city #133; and on Sunday just happened to be named Coach of the Year in the NBA.Tom Thibodeau came to the announcement/news conference dressed as Tom Thibodeau #8212; black warm-up pants, a gray T-shirt and a Bulls pullover. Hey, what else would a guy wear while being holed up to review scouting reports on the Atlanta Hawks, the Bulls#146; next playoff opponent starting Monday night?The Legend of Thibodeau is that all he does is conduct practices, coach games and watch tapes of the next team on the schedule. For diversion maybe he sweeps out the gym.#147;It#146;s been said that I never sleep, never eat, never go home,#148; Thibodeau said before striking down the notion.A good guess is that Thibodeau does go home. Whether he sleeps or eats when he gets there is anybody#146;s guess, but Gar Forman assures that there is a person inside the coach.#147;He has a great sense of humor,#148; the Bulls#146; general manager said. #147;On the road, we go out to dinner and he#146;s a lot of fun.#148;I began wondering lately what Thibodeau#146;s favorite film might be. No, not game film but an actual movie. It has been hard to sneak the subject into a daily briefing so I just went ahead and assumed it#146;s likely #147;Blue Chips#148; with Shaquille O#146;Neal.An even better question would be when Thibodeau most recently saw a movie in a theater. I#146;m thinking probably back in 1978, maybe #147;Foul Play#148; because he thought it was about the NBA.#147;No, he does that,#148; Forman said of going to the movies.Yet Thibodeau is such a gym rat that even Forman was surprised late one afternoon when his coach wasn#146;t in the Berto Center and it turned out that the coach went to see a flick.So maybe deep down there is a side to Tom Thibodeau outside the 24/7/365, mad scientist basketball coach. But I#146;m still thinking that on the surface he#146;s a basketball blend of the title genius in #147;Good Will Hunting#148; and the disheveled Professor Irwin Corey as #147;The World#146;s Foremost Authority.#148;One thing is for sure: Thibodeau is a devout basketball junkie. Ask him a question about defense and he#146;ll break it down in such detail that you walk away wishing he devoted his mind to solving America#146;s gasoline problem.For now, though, we#146;ll have to settle for Thibodeau being the NBA#146;s best coach this season. Not bad for a rookie in the job after decades as an assistant.Perhaps Thibodeau#146;s long wait was due to being so, well, different. Some owners are afraid of somebody so driven toward perfection.Thibodeau said with a smile when asked how he would celebrate being chosen Coach of the Year, #147;Hopefully have a great practice tomorrow.#148;Come to think of it, Tom Thibodeau doesn#146;t seem all that odd anymore when he says stuff like that.mimrem@dailyherald.com