Day #1 Feb. 24th
JSterk: "Tom? Hi...Just wanted to gauge your interest in the Mizzou BB Job. I told Kim today that we were going to move in a different direction for next year. We have a lot of potential here...great facility, hungry fan base, really good talent nearby in StL and KC, a nice Power-5 league that is pretty wide open after Kentucky...what do you think...are you interested?"
TCrean: "I'm listening...are you offering?"
JS: "If I'm offering...are you accepting?"
TC: "If I'm accepting...I need to have a definitive offer and need to know not only the amount and length of my contract, but the amount pool for staff salary, and the recruiting budget as well."
JS: "Fair enough...I'll be in touch."
DITTO for Cunzo Martin and about 10-12 other guys...all conversations about the same.
Day #2
JS: "Tom...just getting back to you. I know we can put together a very nice package for you...what do you say...ready to get serious?"
TC: "You got me interested...am I your number one candidate?"
JS: "Well that depends...are we YOUR number one candidate?"
TC: "Well...I need some assurances..."
JS: "Likewise for me, Tom."
TC: "Well...I hear you interested in about 10-12 other guys...how do I rank on your list?"
JS: "Well I hear you may stay at Indiana and considering some other places over us if you leave...where do WE rank on your list?"
TC: "Don't believe everything you hear, Jim...I am very interested but there are a lot of things to consider."
JS: "Likewise for you Tom...don't believe everything you hear...we are very interested in you...but there are a lot of things I have to consider too. You would make it a whole lot easier if I could just hear you say you'd come FOR SURE if I were to offer. Sorry to be vague...but when Alden went ALL IN on Matt Painter here a few years he really got burned. You know that if we offer and you say NO...your agent leaks that out and that hurts us with trying to hire anybody else."
TC: "And you'd make it easier for me if I knew for sure I was your your #1 Choice and knew exactly what you were offering."
JS: "Fair enough...don't do anything without talking to me first. Sorry to be vague...but when Alden went ALL IN on ONE GUY here he really got burned. I need some assurances...I'll be in touch."
TC: "I need some assurances too...gotta take care of my family and make the right career choice...next stop will be my last."
JS: "Just let me hear you say that FOR SURE you'll come...and I'll make you an offer you'll really like."
TC: "I hear you guys won't pay top dollar and that I'm not your you number one guy?"
JS: "I hear we're not seriously being considered by you and that even if I offer you the moon you won't come?"
TC: "Don't believe everything you hear, Jim"
JS: "Ditto for you Tom...tell me what I want to hear and I'll tell you what YOU want to hear."
TC: "I hear you, Jim...stay in touch and you tell me first what I WANT TO HEAR...OK???"
JS: "Tom, now you know I can't lay all my cards on the table and risk being hung out to dry...but we are VERY interested. I'll be in touch...and don't do anything without talking to me first."
DITTO for Cunzo Martin and about 10-12 other guys...all conversations about the same.
AGENT & SEARCH FIRM DISCUSSIONS
Mizzou Search Firm: "Jim Sterk wants to know if your guy considers Mizzou to be his #1 Choice?"
Tom Crean Agent: "My client wants to know if he is Jim Sterk's #1 guy and how much they can offer?"
Mizzou Firm: "Do you just like us or do you REALLY like us...You say FIRST...we're hearing different stuff."
Crean Agent: "No...YOU say first....we're hearing different stuff about YOU guys."
Together to each other: "OK...let's stay in touch...don't do anything without calling us first."
DITTO calls to Cuonzo and about 10-12 other guys on the list...all conversations about the same.
***GROUND HOG DAY...Cat-and-Mouse at it's finest...somebody make the first move...PLEASE!!!***
JSterk: "Tom? Hi...Just wanted to gauge your interest in the Mizzou BB Job. I told Kim today that we were going to move in a different direction for next year. We have a lot of potential here...great facility, hungry fan base, really good talent nearby in StL and KC, a nice Power-5 league that is pretty wide open after Kentucky...what do you think...are you interested?"
TCrean: "I'm listening...are you offering?"
JS: "If I'm offering...are you accepting?"
TC: "If I'm accepting...I need to have a definitive offer and need to know not only the amount and length of my contract, but the amount pool for staff salary, and the recruiting budget as well."
JS: "Fair enough...I'll be in touch."
DITTO for Cunzo Martin and about 10-12 other guys...all conversations about the same.
Day #2
JS: "Tom...just getting back to you. I know we can put together a very nice package for you...what do you say...ready to get serious?"
TC: "You got me interested...am I your number one candidate?"
JS: "Well that depends...are we YOUR number one candidate?"
TC: "Well...I need some assurances..."
JS: "Likewise for me, Tom."
TC: "Well...I hear you interested in about 10-12 other guys...how do I rank on your list?"
JS: "Well I hear you may stay at Indiana and considering some other places over us if you leave...where do WE rank on your list?"
TC: "Don't believe everything you hear, Jim...I am very interested but there are a lot of things to consider."
JS: "Likewise for you Tom...don't believe everything you hear...we are very interested in you...but there are a lot of things I have to consider too. You would make it a whole lot easier if I could just hear you say you'd come FOR SURE if I were to offer. Sorry to be vague...but when Alden went ALL IN on Matt Painter here a few years he really got burned. You know that if we offer and you say NO...your agent leaks that out and that hurts us with trying to hire anybody else."
TC: "And you'd make it easier for me if I knew for sure I was your your #1 Choice and knew exactly what you were offering."
JS: "Fair enough...don't do anything without talking to me first. Sorry to be vague...but when Alden went ALL IN on ONE GUY here he really got burned. I need some assurances...I'll be in touch."
TC: "I need some assurances too...gotta take care of my family and make the right career choice...next stop will be my last."
JS: "Just let me hear you say that FOR SURE you'll come...and I'll make you an offer you'll really like."
TC: "I hear you guys won't pay top dollar and that I'm not your you number one guy?"
JS: "I hear we're not seriously being considered by you and that even if I offer you the moon you won't come?"
TC: "Don't believe everything you hear, Jim"
JS: "Ditto for you Tom...tell me what I want to hear and I'll tell you what YOU want to hear."
TC: "I hear you, Jim...stay in touch and you tell me first what I WANT TO HEAR...OK???"
JS: "Tom, now you know I can't lay all my cards on the table and risk being hung out to dry...but we are VERY interested. I'll be in touch...and don't do anything without talking to me first."
DITTO for Cunzo Martin and about 10-12 other guys...all conversations about the same.
AGENT & SEARCH FIRM DISCUSSIONS
Mizzou Search Firm: "Jim Sterk wants to know if your guy considers Mizzou to be his #1 Choice?"
Tom Crean Agent: "My client wants to know if he is Jim Sterk's #1 guy and how much they can offer?"
Mizzou Firm: "Do you just like us or do you REALLY like us...You say FIRST...we're hearing different stuff."
Crean Agent: "No...YOU say first....we're hearing different stuff about YOU guys."
Together to each other: "OK...let's stay in touch...don't do anything without calling us first."
DITTO calls to Cuonzo and about 10-12 other guys on the list...all conversations about the same.
***GROUND HOG DAY...Cat-and-Mouse at it's finest...somebody make the first move...PLEASE!!!***
