When I suffered that career ending injury to my knee, I thought I could never do anything else. Basketball has always been my only success. Then I decided to coach, and I won two consecutive Canadian University Titles. And I was 18 when it all started…
Today, when my mom woke me up (yes, I’m still living with my mom at 20), she told me I received an important call. Without even getting up from my bed, I took the phone.
“Hello…
-Is this John Yougi?
-Indeed…
-This is Billy Knight, from the Atlanta Hawks. We have a job for you.
-Yeah… and I’m Wilt Chamberlain…
-No I’m serious!
-Yeah really…”
Then I woke up and went to my computer, logging on to NBA.com. On the news section, I saw something quite weird… “Hawks chasing Canadian John Yougi for Head Coach and GM job”
I was feeling like… geez, I ain’t quite sure what I was feeling like, but I took the phone and called right back at Mister Knight (my phone did keep the number in memory).
“Hello!
-Mister Knight? This is John Yougi.... I’m sorry sir… I just…. Took it as a joke…
-Well it ain’t one! Are you interested in taking over as head coach and GM?
-Heck yeah!
-Then we’re waiting for you in Atlanta. See ya in my office tomorrow at 5 p.m.”
Two days later, I had the job, and my uncle told me I could live with him in Atlanta (as living in Montreal when working in Atlanta is kind of tough…) until I found a house.
There are two things that I kept in mind from what Sir Knight told me… First is he wants wins. He wants a .500 mark for next season, at the very least. Second is my single year contract is bringing me 5 millions US bucks. FIVE MILLIONS MAN! I’M FRICKIN RICH!
Being GM and Coach at the same time is the heck of a job. In the NBA, it’s even tougher. And coaching and managing the Hawks to a .500 mark is gonna be… impossible? Anyways, even if I’m fired after a single year, I’m gonna have enough money to live my whole life.
Tomorrow I’m meeting the players and assistant coaches. I’ll talk to you about it straight after.