The Best-Looking Man for the Job

Let's cut to the chase on the Pat Riley Situation: Is Riley a better coach than Stan Van Gundy?

Yes, yes, 1,000 times yes.

What am I missing here?

Riley has four rings. Van Gundy, none. Riley has taken two different teams to the NBA Finals. Van Gundy hasn't gotten there. Oh, if you assume that anyone who coaches long enough, like Riley has, automatically gets to the finals, think again. Don Nelson, the so-called "brilliant" Nellie, who stands second on the all-time NBA coaching victory list, has never been to the finals.

Stop reading melodrama into this. Van Gundy has issues, and he walked. Now he's off somewhere playing house, like he's in "Cheaper by the Dozen."

Look, Van Gundy has a good record. He'll get another head coaching job in the NBA, just like brother Jeff did after he quit on his first team. He'll come back saying he didn't realize how much he'd miss coaching -- and somehow his family will soldier on.

Granted, Riley hasn't won a title in nearly 20 years, and he's only won a measly three playoff series since quitting on New York (oh, yeah, he's the master; who do you think the Van Gundys learned this from?) to go to Miami 10 years ago. But don't be an idiot, who do you think is a better coach, and a better fit for Shaq, who you know signed so Riley could coach him?

Riles is better for the Heat and better for the NBA. This is where he belongs, with Phil Jackson and Larry Brown, the other active coaches who've taken two franchises to the finals. You think Riles won't boost ratings on that Christmas game? He's one of the very few you'd pay money to see sit on the bench just because of how cool he is. Even at 60, it's still Showtime for Riles. He's still the best-looking, most stylish coach in the NBA. He's got the hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby. If this is the season of the dress code, then it has to be the season of Pat Riley.