10 Votes of Confidence in Sports That Were The Kiss of Death

Tony Sparano (Miami Dolphins)

Vote of Confidence: October 3, 2011

Bald-Faced Lie: “I am very disappointed…but I think that we have to stay together and really get behind our coach. I believe that Tony is the right coach.” — Owner Stephen Ross

Firing Date: December 12, 2011

Post-Mortem: The Fins were 0-4 when Ross gave his thumbs up and 4-9 when they finally sent Sparano to sleep with the fishes, a move that inspired countless lame Sopranos inspired jokes about the coach getting whacked. (Yes, we’re guilty of it, too.) But at least he outlasted Todd Haley by a few hours…

Todd Haley (Kansas City Chiefs)

Vote of Confidence: October 28, 2011

Bald-Faced Lie: “Making a head coaching change is not something we’re contemplating.” — Chairman Clark Hunt

Firing Date: December 12, 2011

Post-Mortem: One year after bringing an NFC West title to KC, the fiery Haley was shown the door. Guess that’s what happens when you drop five of your last six games. But Haley did have some fun in his final 37-10 loss to the Jets, drawing his very own 15-yard penalty (one of the team’s 11 flags) for unsportsmanlike conduct. Let’s see Rex Ryan do that.

Marc Iavaroni (Memphis Grizzlies)

Vote of Confidence: December 13, 2008

Bald-Faced Lie: “He’s my coach and I’m behind him 100 percent. I’m not going to evaluate him now. Marc is not under the gun.” — Owner Michael Heisley

Firing Date: January 23, 2009

Post-Mortem: Thanks to a bevy of trades (including the Lakers/Pau Gasol fleecing), Iavaroni was forced to start three rookies in 25 of 41 games in ’08–’09, but ownership didn’t see that as an excuse and his own players didn’t seem to care. “We don’t have an identity,” said Marc Gasol, a man who, ironically, is only known by most sports fans as "Pau’s little brother."

Trey Hillman (Kansas City Royals)

Vote of Confidence: May 11, 2010

Bald-Faced Lie: “Trey is a tremendous leader…He’s exactly what our organization needs at this point in time.” — General manager Dayton Moore

Firing Date: May 13, 2010

Post-Mortem: Two days after being exactly what the Royals needed, Hillman became the first manager to be fired in 2010. He ended the shortened season 12-23, with one of those dozen victories coming after his firing, as Royals brass allowed to manage one final game. Hope he stole a few Kila Ka’aihue game used bats when he had the chance!

Jack Del Rio (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Vote of Confidence: October 14, 2011

Bald-Faced Lie: “I believe Jack is the right man to take us to the elite level. Fans will just have to trust my judgment when it comes to this decision.” — Owner Wayne Weaver

Firing Date: November 29, 2011

Post-Mortem: Being 3-8 is one thing; losing a game to the Matt Leinart led Houston Texans is another. How much did Del Rio’s failure weigh on Weaver? Mere hours after canning his coach, the shoe magnate (seriously) sold the Jags to Shahid Khan for $760 million. But, really, who can put a price on no longer having to live in Jacksonville?

Tony Adams (Portsmouth Football Club)

Vote of Confidence: February 2, 2009

Bald-Faced Lie: “There has been no board meeting to discuss the manager’s position and there is not one planned…It is important that we all pull together and get behind Tony and the team.” — Executive chairman Peter Storrie

Firing Date: February 9, 2009

Post-Mortem: Not even those classy Brits can avoid being two-faced from time to time. Opening the year 2-14—the worst start in Blue Army history—was bad, but the real backbreaker came when two heckling fans nearly reduced Adams to tears during a road game at Craven Cottage. (Apparently, that’s an actual soccer stadium and not something from a Harry Potter book.)

Jim Caldwell (Indianapolis Colts)

Vote of Confidence: October 26, 2011

Bald-Faced Lie: “You can’t hold him responsible for injuries…The things that he can control, I think he’s done a terrific job given where we are from a standpoint of personnel.” — President Bill Polian

Firing Date: January 17, 2012

Post-Mortem: Caldwell found himself on the unemployment line despite his successful “Suck for Luck” campaign, as an ugly 2-14 record forced him to take his talents (read: blank stare) to Baltimore to become a QB coach. Though there was a silver lining: Caldwell somehow held onto his job longer than Polian.

Flip Saunders (Washington Wizards)

Vote of Confidence: January 9, 2012

Bald-Faced Lie: “There is a lot of noise right now. I have found the best thing to do in times of stress and turmoil is to do research; be analytical; NOT emotional; and try to find ways to improve.” —Owner Ted Leonsis (in a written statement)

Firing Date: January 24, 2012

Post-Mortem: Saunders’ squad blew a 21-point lead in the season opener and it only got worse from there, as the Wizards would go on to shatter the team record for consecutive losses (16). Still, we doubt even the ghost of John Wooden would have had any luck teaching low post moves to Andray Blatche and Javale McGee.