Have you ever had one of those days?

Well, I had one Monday.

Looking back, it wasn’t all that bad. I mostly had to deal with a few people who have yet to comprehend the concept of meeting a deadline.

I also had to deal with people who accused me of not publishing articles that actually were published — I guess they just didn’t see them on the front page of the sports section.

Those people amuse me.

Although I thought I had a bad day, it does not compare to one of days Portsmouth boys basketball coach Gene Collins had.

In the midst of making a run for the state championship, Collins was suddenly hit with something he did not see coming — or at least he hoped it would not come.

Last Tuesday, I had just spoken with Collins the morning before his Trojans were to face Wheelersburg in the Division III regional semifinals. He was in a good mood over the phone, and he was telling me his game plan on how to play the Pirates.

However, a couple of hours later, he was informed that his job of 15 years was going away due to state budget cuts.

Collins is an adminstrative assistant at the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Corrections Facility in Franklin Furnace.

Now come Sept. 10, unless something big happens, he will be unemployed — as will about 330 people, including two of my family members.

In this time of economic concern, the last thing a husband and a father wants to be faced with is being without a job.

So in essence, the state basketball tournament has served as an emotional release for Collins, who is in his second year at the Trojan coach.

“The win over Wheelersburg, and now going to the state final four, has been therapeutic for me,” Collins said. “It’s gotten my mind off of work and has put my focus on the players.”

Collins said he has realized the magnitude of reaching the Final Four, and wants to put all of his attention on his 21-4 squad when they face Cleveland Central Catholic at 2 p.m. Friday in Columbus.

“These players love to be in the gym, and that has helped me through this,” Collins said. “Last week was very emotional for me. I go from being on the top, down to the bottom, to back to the top. These kids did that for me.”

So for now, at least this weekend, Collins knows exactly what his job duties are. They are clear cut — to win a state title.

I can deal with the amusing phone calls and comments. They’re entertaining.

Collins, however, may be faced with some really tough situations in a few months. Real life situations.

But what Collins might be able to accomplish this weekend — a state title at Portsmouth High School — will look great on any resume.

Good luck, Gene.