The man behind Del Negro's success
One of the most basic, genuine pastimes in a father-son relationship is going out to the back yard and playing a sport. The dad teaches what he knows, shares his experiences and often warns of pitfalls to avoid.
When it comes to a father sharing the story of a mistake from his past, Vincent Del Negro Sr. has a doozy.
The father of the Bulls head coach played college basketball at Kentucky. Midway through the 1960-61 season, he got upset at a practice, let his emotions get the better of him and told coach Adolph Rupp - the legendary Baron of the Bluegrass who ruled Kentucky basketball for 42 years and won four national titles - to - well, uh - let's just say he used one of those common words that can't be repeated here.
The incident makes for remarkable history, but it isn't really noteworthy in itself. Not surprisingly, Del Negro's basketball career never recovered.
He went back home to Springfield, Mass., started a business and taught his own son how to do things the right way.
The son, Vinny Del Negro, earned a scholarship to North Carolina State and spent 12 years in the NBA. Now with his dad in town for an extended visit, the Bulls are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot in Del Negro's first season as a coach.
"I explained everything to him," the senior Del Negro said this week. "He understood the program. You never can quit on anything, no matter what you're doing in life. I did. I was a North End boy from Springfield; that was the tough section. I had no guidance like me and the Mrs. always helped Vinny."
Del Negro Sr. didn't shy away from sharing details of his basketball career. Coming out of high school, he heard from schools such as Duke and North Carolina but applied too late to get a scholarship.
Memphis State still was interested, though, and steered him to nearby Northeast Mississippi Junior College. After a couple of All-America seasons and a huge performance at an all-star game, Kentucky came calling.
Del Negro ended up playing 14 games for the Wildcats during his junior season. His best performance was 13 points and 10 rebounds against Notre Dame in Louisville.
But trouble began during a televised home game against Georgia Tech on Jan. 7, 1961. Upset by a foul call, Del Negro cursed at a referee and barely played. A short time later at practice, he still was running with the "white shirts," the starters, against the "blue shirts."
He decided to throw a behind-the-back pass during a scrimmage. So what? Del Negro was from New England and Celtics legend Bob Cousy did that all the time.
"It went through my All-American's hands, Billy Ray Lickert," Del Negro recalled. "So Rupp blew the whistle and said, 'Del Negro, get a blue shirt.' Me, I was never second string, so as a kid, I got really (mad). I just walked to the locker room and I was quitting.
"My roommate, Dick Parsons, came in and said, 'No, Vince you can't.' So I stayed, but after that, it was downhill. I lost a lot of interest. I got on the plane at the end of the semester and came home without telling anybody."
Del Negro wanted to attend Springfield College, finish his degree and become a basketball coach. But when he walked into the admissions office, they assumed he was there to play the sport and he didn't go back.
He ended up running a couple of bars - one became a Springfield College hangout - along with a package liquor store and began raising a family.
"I never touched a basketball when I came home," he said. "It was probably five or six years. Then when Vinny was growing up, I was a coach in the back yard with him."
Maybe his basketball career didn't last as long as it should have, but the elder Del Negro knew how to play. He obviously taught his son very well, and Vinny has fond memories of the experience.
"In the back yard and in Nathan Bill (Park) and Forest Park and Dunbar Community Center and Mt. Carmel and Holy Cross and Holy Name and all the schools we used to go play at," Vinny said. "I played on a travel team on the AAU circuit.
"My dad coached and drove us around and was great with his time and his passion for the game. He's been with me every step of the way throughout my career."
The mistake at Kentucky quickly disappeared, but the redemption is still going strong.
Bulls vs. Charlotte Bobcats at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Channel 9
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: When the Bobcats beat the Lakers on March 31, they pulled even with the Bulls in the loss column. The first playoff berth in franchise history seemed promising. But then Charlotte lost three close games in a row to Boston, Miami and Detroit to fall off the pace. SG Raja Bell has missed the last three games with a calf injury. The Bulls are 0-2 against the Bobcats this season, losing twice on the road.
Next: Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Monday, 6:30 p.m.