Readers judge me as too soft and too critical. I will continue to seek perfection

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14-04-2025

One literary contributor wrote that I'm too soft in my critiques. Another wrote I am too critical.
As always, I will continue my quest to please everyone.
David writes: Enjoyed your piece on (Jeremy) Pruitt and his lawsuit. However, think you were too easy on both Pruitt as well as (Phillip) Fulmer. They deserve each other.
My response: Thanks for the constructive criticism. As always, I value input from my literary contributors.
After reading your critique, I reread the column in which I wrote that Pruitt was the worst coach in Tennessee history and that Fulmer was 'masquerading as an athletic director.' You're right. I probably was too soft in addressing their bungling antics.
I will try to toughen up my prose.
Another David writes: I just finished reading your column in which you express your opinion that the Lady Vols will reach their first final 4 before Rick Barnes' Vols.
I appreciate you as one of the nation's finest sports writers, but I've read your columns over the basketball season. And I've seen you over and over expressing negativity towards Barnes.
I can only conclude that you don't care for Rick as a coach or as a person. I don't know which. As you acknowledge, Barnes is a great recruiter, he understands the transfer portal better than most, and he has a great understanding of the NIL world.
Any criticism of Barnes is unfounded. He's a Naismith Hall of Fame coach who's been sought out by players because they want a year under Barnes before going to the NBA.
My response: If you read my column regularly, how could you possibly think that I don't care for Rick as a person? I once wrote a column about a friend who rededicated his life to Jesus Christ after hearing Barnes speak at a luncheon.
I can't imagine anyone criticizing Barnes on a personal level. As for as his coaching, I've written many times – as you pointed out in your email – about his attributes.
He's a future hall of fame coach whose teams haven't achieved greatness in the tournament. How could any columnist ignore that?
And no coach is above criticism. Neither is any columnist – nor literary contributor.
James writes: I've been telling you both the Vols and Lady Vols teams need a big, strong, mobile, offensive center who can muscle and score in the paint. You told me they are hard to find.
However, watching the tournaments a lot if not most of the Sweet 16s have one. The men just added Jaylen Carey from Vandy which is fine, but at 6-foot-8 he is 4 to 5 inches too short. He won't be able to stop the bigger centers.
So now the men's team has 4 "big" men but none of them is a true scoring center. Can't we do better?
My response: I resent your personal condemnation of Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. But since you are a hall of fame literary contributor, I will publish your attack.
But don't let it happen again.
Glenn writes: After watching Duke, Houston, Florida and Auburn in the Final Four it's easy to see why Barnes-coached teams have never made it. Too much reliance on perimeter shooting.
The Vols lost to Houston in the first half as their low-percentage perimeter shots weren't going in. They attacked the rim more in the second half and played the Cougars even.
My response: Attacking the rim is OK. But personally attacking Barnes the way you did is out of line.
Mike writes: I am delighted to hear that the Vols have added Georgia Tech as a future nonconference opponent. When I was a student at UT, the Vols played Georgia Tech every year, and it was a series fans from both schools enjoyed.
I would like having this rivalry come back as an annual game for a long, long time, not just for two years. This is the type game schools should be scheduling rather than the two or three nonconference junior high opponents SEC teams load on their schedules.
My response: Those junior high opponents helped Tennessee reach the College Football Playoff. And I would prefer to see the Vols renew rivalries with SEC teams – not SEC quitters like Georgia Tech.
Colorado Mark writes: Glad to see another Vol (Chase Dollander) make it to the Rockies. They need all the help they can get. Actually, can they just make Tennessee one of their farm teams?
ADAMS: Former Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt lawsuit vs NCAA is likely fool's gold
Tony Vitello should be getting a check from the Rockies just for slowly building their roster. I hope Dollander can handle this thin Colorado air. It has not been kind to pitchers.
By the way, how many more teams will the Vols 10 run-rule this season? I am gonna say three maybe four.
Omaha, here we come.
My response: If Tennessee doesn't already have a strong alumni chapter in Colorado, it should build one. Same for Omaha, where the home of the College World Series has become the second home of the Vols.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or [e-mail]. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Literary contributors judge me as too soft and too criticial