Maurice Cheek the point guard and catalyst for one NBA’s all time greatest team, the 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers (AKA the Fo, Fo, Fo Boys) was fired by the Portland Trailblazers.  Cheeks, who played in the NBA for 15 seasons, was hired by Portland in 2001 to replace Mike Dunleavy, who was also fired. Cheeks career record with the Blazers was a paltry 162 – 139.  Besides being a class act as a player.  Coach Cheeks especially endeared himself with the people of Portland and America when in April 2003 before a big home playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks he came to the rescue of a 13-year-old girl, by the name of Natalie Gilbert, who forgot the words to the national anthem Coach Cheeks went to her side and helped her with the words. Despite the fact that he was off-key and couldn't carry the tune, Cheeks stuck with it -- and Natalie muddled through the song despite her shakiness.

According to the Associate press article on ESPN.com…..

“The Blazers hardly made Cheeks' tenure easy -- on and off the court.

There were several players cited for marijuana possession, and forward Qyntel Woods was investigated in a dog fighting scandal.

While generally popular among his players, Cheeks had a couple of high-profile verbal run-ins with former guard Bonzi Wells and current forward Darius Miles. Both players served suspensions for their actions.”

In retrospect Coach Cheeks was denied the opportunity by the Blazers to talk to the Sixers last summer when Philly wanted to give him the job. The Philly fans, Allen Iverson, Stephen A. Smith and my blogger buddy Avery Tooley would probably embrace the moved by the Sixers to hire Maurice Cheeks.  Ole Sarge on the other hand would see him as “The Enemy” “Go Wizards”  

Coach Cheeks will be coaching again soon!