Divorce (Noon Update)

E-mailed 3/29/11

These are the things I've learned about divorces:
(1) They are emotional and messy and get really personal at the end
(2) They generally aren't based on current events/behaviors or future events/behaviors, they are almost always based on events/behaviors that have occurred in the past.

Generally, one party spurns the other, the offended party doesn't communicate the hurt and it festers.  By the time they ask for a divorce, the offending party falls all over itself taking blame, showing new behaviors, and promising change in the future.  Divorces are called off when the offended party trusts and loves their partner enough to forget the past and agrees to start writing a new, brighter future together.  Often times though, the offended party can't forget the past and can't fall back in love.  They just can't see themselves happy with their old partner in the future.  They've already moved on in their heads and hearts.  The divorce is just the legal document sealing the deal.

What we have on our hands is an old fashion case of public divorce between Painter and Purdue.  It's unfolding on the national sports scene, right before our eyes.

The take on the divorce from Purdue <http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=5da7dfb61b584f4a83ea05a31ed1e57c&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=5da7dfb61b584f4a83ea05a31ed1e57c&plckPostId=Blog:5da7dfb61b584f4a83ea05a31ed1e57cPost:6cba1972-c02c-4bb5-8b0c-df3780e7a4de&plckBlogItemsPerPage=5>
The take on the divorce from Mizzou <http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/tiger-tracker/article_ce350864-5a1c-11e0-88d8-00127992bc8b.html>

I can't see Painter leaving Purdue, his alma mater, over a few thousand dollars, some cars for his assistant coaches (really?), and the disrespect embedded in those and other minor subs throughout the years.

Then again, coaches have egos and I'm not holding any ego against Painter.  You almost have to have an ego to fight through the long hours as a coach and the tough road that is March Madness.  As Anderson said frequently, you have to win in a fight against a bear (?!?)....or something like that.

The question isn't whether Painter is willing to come to Mizzou or not...he is.  The question is whether he can see himself at Purdue, happy and content, in the future.