Imrem: Hoiberg charming the anger out of critics

The Chicago Police Department's bomb squad should hire Fred Hoiberg.

The new Bulls head coach looks and sounds like he could disarm an explosive of mass destruction by smiling at it.

Hoiberg on Tuesday innocently took on the controversy surrounding last week's dismissal of Tom Thibodeau, the handling of which was characterized as classless.

Fans and the media weren't so much disappointed that the Bulls fired Thibodeau as they were that they fired on him afterward.

Hoiberg thanked Jerry Reinsdorf, so maybe the Bulls' chairman isn't as crass as the wording he used to usher Thibodeau out of town.

Then Hoiberg spoke highly of John Paxson, Gar Forman, the Bulls' roster, their assistant coaches and even Thibodeau.

Hey, if a guy like Hoiberg is OK with all of that and all of them, maybe this franchise isn't as dysfunctional as it frequently appears to be.

All was forgiven, at least for an hour or so, as Hoiberg was introduced at a news conference in the Advocate Center.

The guy is young as NBA head coaches go. Better looking than most, too. Well spoken. Family man. Ten-year NBA player, including four seasons with the Bulls. Five years of college-coaching experience at Iowa State.

Hoiberg was asked questions, responded with detailed answers and often addressed the reporter by his first name.

The man does like to talk.

Never mind that Hoiberg's resume includes playing on horrible Bulls teams, his stint in an NBA front office was with the failed Timberwolves and this is his first coaching job in the association.

More important on this bright new day, Hoiberg seemed like someone you'd want your daughter to marry. You'd trust him to valet park your luxury automobile. And you'd love to have his hair even as it begins to show signs of receding up his forehead.

My goodness, Fred Hoiberg came across as someone who could disarm a nuclear weapon one day and walk the red carpet at the Oscars the next day.

It became obvious during the playoffs that it was time for a new coach. The old one had worn on even some players who always supported him.

Reinsdorf and GarPax are fortunate, perhaps by their own design, that someone like Fred Hoiberg has arrived to charm the anger out of critics of the Bulls.

It remains to be seen whether Hoiberg also is a good enough coach to guide the Bulls from Point B to Point C … as in Championship.

That was the reason given when the Bulls fired Doug Collins in 1989 and the White Sox, another Reinsdorf team, fired Larry Himes in 1990.

In both those cases it was doubtful the firing was for the expressed reason, but it sounded good anyway.

The same explanation could have applied to Thibodeau, but for some reason Reinsdorf chose to take shots at him instead.

Ironically, this is one time the alphabet really might be the point, so to speak. Thibodeau took the Bulls from A to B and now Hoiberg is supposed to take them to C.

Hoiberg did say that he wants to build on "the unbelievable qualities" that Thibodeau instilled in Bulls players.

That's the nicest thing anyone anywhere near the United Center said about Thibodeau since he was evacuated from the premises last Thursday.

So now along comes Hoiberg, who also said, "I'm confident in my abilities to do a great job here."

The regime change just might work if Fred Hoiberg is as good at coaching the Bulls as he was at disarming their critics Tuesday.

mimrem@dailyherald.com