Harrick’s Message Gets Lost in the Translation

In delivering one blockbuster chunk of news Monday, the embattled UCLA basketball program actually sent three messages.

1) One of the best coaches in school history will still be coaching this season.

2) One of the best point guard recruits in school history will be allowed to enroll next year.

3) Nothing else matters.

Bruin fans should cheer the first two, but wonder about the third.

Yes, Jim Harrick was cleared of wrongdoing by Pacific 10 Conference investigators in the Chevy Crisis.

Yes, the investigation found guard Baron Davis’ sister Lisa bought the car from Harrick’s son Glenn under totally innocent circumstances, and for market value.

But no, Harrick is not going to be allowed to explain, in anything resembling much detail, exactly how it all happened.

And no, fans who need to trust that the Bruins would never risk probation over a documented auto transaction will never know precisely how they didn’t.

Because they will never know it from Harrick.

This is important, Harrick being the only person in the room Monday who was the father of the guy who sold the car, and the potential coach of the kid whose family bought it.

At the news conference, Harrick made a statement and answered questions for roughly five minutes, answered a couple of questions in general terms, and just when the conversation was being steered to specifics. . . .

He was whisked to the gym.

Practice, said officials.

And he won’t be answering questions afterward, they said.

And one can only imagine how Harrick hated that.

When it comes to organizing a layup drill or reaffirming one’s character, one can guess which speech the feisty coach would rather be giving.

Message to UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis, who answered all of those questions for his coach:

This controversy is over. The coach has been vindicated. He wants to talk. Let him talk.

Dalis said the only reason he was muzzling Harrick during the last two weeks is because the investigation was not yet complete.

Well, the investigation is complete.

Isn’t it?

Before his hasty exit, Harrick acknowledged that, “I wish I had used better judgment.”

He added this about his son Glenn and Davis’ sister: “I’m not sure he understood the magnitude of the relationship.”

He addressed the issue of not reporting the sale to his bosses with, “I was 100% sure it wasn’t a violation, and I still am.”

Then he was gone.

Just think of what was left out.

If Harrick had been given a looser rein, he could have started with nah-nah-nah-nah-nah.

Well said.

He could have continued with a rip of everyone who was skeptical about his version.

Fair enough.

He could have ripped this newspaper for what he perceived as hasty judgment against him when the news broke.

There was no judgment. A column read, “If” he violated the rules, then he should be punished.

But best of all, Harrick could have ended this personal nightmare once and for good by clearing up the issue, step by step.

From the time he gave his son the car, to the time his son sold it to Davis’ sister.

Dalis did that, kind of. It wasn’t the same.

Those who sacrifice time and money to follow this program--from the casual fan to the big booster--deserve to know such things.

There are those who don’t care.

There are those who need no explanation, who need to know only that the Bruins put five guys on the floor and compete for a national championship.

Those are usually the ones who, when their team is on probation, simply find another team.

Great programs are not sustained with that sort of support.

Great programs are built with the attention of fans who care enough to ask questions about its past, and worry about its future.

UCLA has a great basketball program currently emitting a huge sigh after avoiding a head-on collision.

If Jim Harrick would give some answers, its fans could sigh with them.

Then again, maybe that will be part of in-house sanctions against the UCLA coach, which Dalis did not rule out.

Maybe UCLA will forget all about this incident in which Harrick did no wrong, as long as Harrick never talks about this thing that he never did.

Regardless, bully for UCLA and Jim Harrick for their clean bill of health.

So why the tourniquet?