Editor's Notes: Lute Olson belongs on basketball court, not in divorce court

When Lute Olson’s first wife, Bobbi, died after a fight with cancer, the University of Arizona basketball coach took a two-week leave of absence.

The Olsons were married for 47 years, with Bobbi working behind the scenes as an underestimated force in his success. While Olson understood basketball talent, drive, determination and results, Bobbi understood people, especially young people, and brought a soft, sensitive touch to Arizona that disarmed even her husband’s harshest critics.

After Bobbi died Jan. 1, 2001, at 65 from ovarian cancer, letters, e-mails and faxes flooded into the Arizona Daily Star, where I was sports editor. We ran dozens in the newspaper before her memorial service, and the outpouring of love clearly touched Olson’s heart and softened it immensely.

“Thank you for the tribute you paid to Bobbi by running the thoughts and prayers of your readers,” Olson wrote in a letter to me shortly thereafter. “The kindness was overwhelming.”

Olson and Bobbi talked intensely before her death, I learned later. She asked him to find closure with some lingering issues and to savor the rest of his life.

The community’s embrace revealed its true feelings about the coach and his family. I don’t think Olson fully realized what he meant to Southern Arizona until Bobbi passed away. He had no reason to take stock of his life, really, until his beloved life partner wasn’t there.

In the end, Olson discovered that whether the Wildcats won or lost, went to the Final Four of flamed out in the first round of the NCAA tournament, fans respected him. Before Arizona won the NCAA championship in 1997, he might not have come to the same conclusion. But when the floor at McKale Center was renamed “Lute and Bobbi Olson Court,” he knew his accomplishments and sacrifice were not in vain.

Last week, Olson faced another personal crisis. The Hall of Fame coach announced he would not return to the Wildcats this season, citing personal problems that include his decision to file for divorce from his second wife, Christine. They were married in 2003. This time, fan reaction was mixed. If Olson came back after 13 days when his wife died nearly seven years ago, why extend his leave of absence until the start of next season?

Wildcat followers should be thrilled the 73-year-old Olson extended his leave and should be excited to know he will return next season. As shown in Saturday’s overtime win at Illinois, the players have responded well to interim coach Kevin O’Neill. If Olson came back now, he would disrupt the chemistry they’ve found.

But make no mistake about it. Without Olson next season, and without him when he retires, Arizona becomes just another basketball program. It will be UCLA without John Wooden, Indiana without Bobby Knight, in my opinion.

Olson took a leave of absence in early November from his $714,567-a-year job. Clearly, plans to divorce his wife were a factor, but he was vague in explaining his reasoning to his followers.

I am only guessing, but I suspect Olson wanted privacy at such as painful time because he was embarrassed and hurt. He’s not used to failure.

On the basketball court, there’s always another game or next season. In recruiting, he and his assistant coaches always can sign another hot shot after rejection. In finance, he always can find another endorsement or investment.

But with a marriage, there’s no guarantee someone else is out there. That’s scary and unnerving. I imagine divorce is as difficult to accept as death.

I know it sounds callous, but after being married to Bobbi for 47 years, how can anyone else compare? Logic would suggest Christine Olson must be feeling like Gene Bartow after he replaced Wooden at UCLA or Mike Davis after he took over for Knight at Indiana. That’s exactly how O’Neill will feel if he steps into Olson’s shoes permanently when Olson steps aside.

To the contrary, the multi-millionaire businesswoman has indicated she would fight to save her marriage with the coach.

“Our family has been struggling through a difficult and private matter for some months now,” Christine Olson said in a statement. “It was our hope that during my husband’s temporary leave of absence, we would be able to focus on our family and successfully address this matter.

“Unfortunately, it seems that my husband has reached a decision that he is unable to continue our relationship together during this difficult time. While I am personally devastated, I remain committed to my marriage and will continue to support my husband through this difficult time in his life. I have nothing but love and respect for him.”

Olson filed for divorce Thursday, and his wife was served with the papers Thursday night. Christine Olson is still living in their Tucson home, but the coach has moved out.

“His request basically was that people honor his privacy,” said Leonard Karp, Olson’s attorney and spokesperson. “He’s taken a lot of time to make this decision. I think he needs the time to resolve these matters. Our hope is that once Christine retains her attorney that we can sit down and amicably resolve things.”

Olson might want privacy and need it to recover from a failed marriage, but his heart knows Arizona fans support him, care about him and wonder about him. They’re not staring inside his glass house like onlookers at the scene of a car accident. They’re watching and listening for clues to the legendary coach’s future.

Lute Olson did the near impossible. He brought championship, big-time basketball and excitement to McKale Center. He’s the most recognizable figure in the state.

As victorious as Olson’s tenure has been, nothing lasts forever. No one is perfect in their decisions and choices. Step back and give the coach time to breathe. He deserves more than a 30-second timeout.

When the final chapter is written on his career, I imagine Olson going out in a blaze of glory on Lute and Bobbi Olson Court, where his heart and soul reside, not divorce court.

Contact Editor James Bennett at 547-9770 or jbennett@gvnews.com. Respond by e-mailing letters@gvnews.com. Comment online at www.gvnews.com.