http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/24/bernstein-pat-summitt-shouldnt-continue-coaching/Obviously we're going to see a lot more of this as we go forward. It's just that most columnists have the decency to wait a few days. Not Dan Bernstein. He had his column written and posted within six hours of the story breaking yesterday. (Edit: I was wrong about how quickly he posted it; I forgot that the news broke Tuesday. Oh, well, what can I say? It's been a long week. The main point remains, however.)
If Pat Summitt isn't a.) putting her players in harm's way, b.) hurting the game of NCAA basketball, or c.) violating rules or ethics by coaching, then why would anyone without a vested interest in the University of Tennessee or its sports programs give a rip whether Pat Summitt continues to coach?
Will other coaches use her illness against her on the recruiting trail? Unfortunately, without a doubt. Will UT's play on the court suffer because of her illness? To a certain degree, probably. Will the overall state of the program decline? It's a real possibility.
But as long as she isn't jeopardizing her players or the integrity of the game, why would a columnist in Chicago, Illinois, care whether a coach continues to coach in Knoxville, Tennessee?
Answer: He really doesn't. Like most columnists, his main interest is stirring folks up and generating page views. And providing yet another example of why most sports columnists are buffoons.