Sunday Newspaper for April 19th, 2009
by Glenn Logan on Apr 19, 2009 9:24 AM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats News
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PrintThe John Calipari Lovefest continues for the 18th straight day as UK fans from near and far heap their adoration one the new Kentucky basketball coach. This piece by Jerry Tipton describes a recent appearance on Joe B. Hall's radio program followed by a lunch which saw Coach Cal make many new friends and continue to make a big impression on the Big Blue Nation.
For some reason, it feels like I have been writing a society column for a newspaper lately reporting on this stuff, but I think the remarkable contrast between Calipari's hiring and that of former coach Billy Gillispie continues to captivate not only my attention, but that of many other people who follow Kentucky sports.
But according to the article, he expects to have critics, and make no mistake, he already does. They have been largely drowned out in the local love affair that has consumed the Bluegrass for three weeks now, but at some point, all the fuss will die down and the naysayers, the "Miserables," as Calipari calls them, will start to find their voice. We may not be treated with mug shots from past indiscretions, as we were with Coach Gillispie, but trust me, critics and rivals will find a way to work themselves under our collective skin.
And now, the news.
Kentucky Basketball News
- Jon Hood and DeMarcus Cousins named to the Orlando Sentinel's All-Southern team. Congratulations to both young men.
- According to former UK commitment Michael Avery, he had to grow up a lot in the last year. In the same article, Vinnie Zollo says he is still committed to Kentucky.
- Calipari jokes that he thinks DeAndre Liggins was the subject of some And-1 tapes, but he is getting better and better.
- Calipari likes what he sees in the 'Cats so far, and Perry Stevenson is having fun learning the new offense, even through struggles with it. [via Aaron's blog]
- Could a home-and-home series with Arizona be in Kentucky's future? I would not mind seeing that at all.
- Dime Magazine says that Calipari is trying to become the new Coach K.
- This editorial from Tom Eblen of the Herald-Leader makes a lot of sense to me. It seems like the UK Athletics Association should provide much more than 1.2 million to the university. I would love to see UK either defend this figure, or consider revising it upward substantially. If the University of Kentucky is paying one red cent to support the athletics program, I think there is a real problem there that should be addressed. And I think a 10% "tithe" to the University is more than reasonable, based only on what little I know.
- Maxpreps thinks that the odds John Wall will pick UK is only 5%. North Carolina leads with 35%.
- Konner Tucker is a pretty smart guy. 4.1 GPA? Back in my day, you couldn't get those.
Kentucky Football News
- Wildcats use the "Wildcat" successfully in scrimmage. As Rich Brooks points out, this is a little different than normal Wildcat formations in that Randall Cobb can throw the football. Usually, you are putting a running back or receiver back there who can make plays, but can rarely throw the football.
- Randall Cobb says getting hit never felt better. I can't wait to see him as a sophomore.
- Rich Brooks, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer reject the entitlement mentality that seems to infect so many players nowadays. Unfortunately, I think that is a problem Rich Brooks wouldn't mind having to address more often.
Other Kentucky Sports News
- Patty Jo Hedges-Ward will be inducted in to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.
- Mississippi State evens the series with UK by way of a walk-off homer in the 10th.
NCAA Sports News
- New Memphis coach Josh Pastner took a shot luring at Illinois' assistant Jerrance Howard, Bruce Weber's best recruiter, to Memphis. Fortunately for the Illini, Howard turned down Pastner's advances.
Other News of Interest
- Tayshaun Prince disappoints in the Piston's loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, 102-84. Motown String Music says that Tayshaun was much the worst player on the floor for the Pistons in that affair. Here's hoping he turns that around next game.
- A Derek Rose-Rajon Rondo showdown. Both were great, but Rose's team got the W. I also note a major complaint about Joakim Noah's screen setting in this post. All I can say is that I can totally relate -- Noah pancaked Rondo on several moving picks back in the day. He's still getting away with it, apparently.
- A must-read blog from The Dream Shake about former Wildcat Chuck Hayes. here is a taste: "Hayes may be all of 6'6" and have the worst offensive game in the NBA, but when it comes to defense, you do not want him guarding you."
But, dear God in Heaven that man has a butt-ugly stroke. I don't remember it being that bad at UK -- talk about your devolution!
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Can't agree with you
on the Eblen article Tru….I dont appreciate his tone nor his ignorance…IMHO…He makes it out that sports does not contribute to UK….I blogged my disagreement…but as I said …just my opinion
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
I don't think that's a fair characterization.
He acknowledges the support, he just thinks that the support is insufficient. And if he has his facts right, I agree with him.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Apr 19, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it was
as much his “secular religion” comments that enflamed me as anything….I just don’t like mixing the two….it may have just hit the wrong button, but I have little tolerance for that kind of stuff
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Well ... I added a number of amplifiyin comments in your fanpost.
I can appreciate your reaction to the “secular religion” comment, and I admit that put me off just a bit as well, but once I got past that, he made a lot more sense.
I don’t agree that any percentage UK gets aught to be based on outlays — that’s not reasonable. I doubt that the UKAD realizes a 10% profit after paying for all the non-revenue sports. I think it should be a percentage based on gross profits. But one would think that the gross profits of a 67 million dollar budget would be rather higher than those of a 13 million dollar budget. That doesn’t have to be the case, but at the very least, it should be looked at.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Apr 19, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
It was only a part of my concerns
the tone of the article was that the university should somehow control the athletic dept funds. If the university only pays 15% of the man’s salary….they dont get to control the funds he works with. If the school starts footing the bill for his pay every year, then they get a seat at the funding table…until then he’s just another staff member thats paid less than this new research physician they just got. I know its not the same as funding medical research, but the last time I checked, medical research wasn’t selling out Rupp arena either.
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
I don't see anywhere ...
… where he suggested that the University should control anyone’s salary in the athletic department, or the funds that employees work with. That is the province of the athletic department.
What he is saying is that the Athletic Department should contribute more to the University’s mission. That’s it.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
If I am reading too much between the lines here
Tru, then I’ll be the first to apologize. But I really think that this guy is trying to take advantage of all of the publicity surrounding the hire to make a case for forcing more money to be diverted from athletics to the university. I think that one thing will settle this……make a full disclosure of all funds from EVERY source to UK AND how the school spends every dime, including athletics. I want to see just how much real money comes into that school in the form of athletics generated dollars. Then we can have a real discussion. Until then this is all speculation.
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
My only real problem with Eblen's piece ...
… is that UK isn’t paying Cal 3 million-plus. Rather he receives $400,000 per year directly from UK.
That seems to be a major point that is either overlooked, or intentionally left out of any piece critical of Cal’s salary.
by Ken Howlett on Apr 19, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think he considered...
everything that basketball and football pays for already. IIRC, there was no mention of the fact that men’s basketball and football support the hundreds of participants in so-called “non-revenue” sports. Without a successful basketball program and emerging football program, the university would have to pony up for golf, tennis, swimming, volleyball, and on and on and on. Title IX has to be a part of this discussion.
These programs are as important to recruit students to a university as academics – a sad but true fact.
Now, if UK becomes an even bigger marketing juggernaut with the hire of Coach Cal, then maybe his argument makes more sense. But until he provides hard figures concerning how much UK athletics brings in versus how much they pay out, his point is lost. If they are literally sitting on a pile of money that is not already going to support sports, I can understand the wish that sports contribute more. But I would have to see proof of that first.
Well ...
… as I say above, any percentage should be on gross profits, not outlays. Eblen is wrong about that part. After paying for all the non-revenue sports, I rather doubt that the UKAD realizes a 10% gross profit. It makes no sense for the UKAD to pay more to the university than it takes in after expenses, that’s for sure.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Apr 19, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Franchisees Pay 6% of Gross Revenue
I’m sure there are differences among companies, and I gathered my data several years ago, but at the time a franchisee typically paid the franchiser 6% off the top. If the athletic association is using the UK brand like a business franchise would, then 6% seems reasonable.
The ink-stained bleeding hearts at the H-L seem to be on a mini-crusade again about distorted societal values involving sports.
When you make as much as Calipari
does there will be critics, especially in economic times like these. Saban went through the same thing before his first year on the field and even more during the first year with a “disappointing” season.
But last year, you didn’t hear much about how high his salary when going 12-0 in the regular season. Not to keep harping on the Saban comparisons, but there isn’t really anyone in bball that you could compare to Calipari especially in the SEC in terms of success, compensation, and love/hatred for.
Chuck
Loved the article on Chuck. One of my all-time favorite players at UK.
I like that Chuck Hayes has his own shoes selling in China...
I noticed this link on one of the comments on the Chuck article.
http://solecollector.com/shoes/nike-shoes/jordan-shoes/forum/li-ning-chuck-hayes-1/
I guess being on Yao’s team has some perks…
Athletics contribution to Education
I can’t provide a citation, but I think there is a factual error in the editorial about UK Athletics only contributing $1.2 million to the University for education.
Specifically, I recall more than 10 years ago UK was having trouble with the financing of its new library. At that time I believe UK Athletics, working with the Lexington city government, put together a financing package that ultimately had the Athletics contributing more than $1 million each year (for maybe 30 years?) toward the construction of the library that now sits on campus.
So if my memory is correct, UK Athletics could easily be doubling the stated contribution in the editorial. That doesn’t mean UK Athletics couldn’t do more, but I think it should get full credit for what it does contribute. I’m surprised the editorial writer forgot about this contribution.
Here is a citation
http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072897aac.html
New Library: The latest addition to the educational landscape at the University of Kentucky is the new William T. Young Library. Built at a cost of $58 million, the Young Library will be completed in the fall and is slated to open in January, 1998. Here are more facts about this magnificent structure:
* Size: the new library will cover 351,350 square feet — more than six football fields.
* Shelf capacity: if the bookshelf space were laid end-to-end, it would stretch 198,828 linear feet — that’s more than 37 miles of shelf space.
* Seating capacity: the new library can seat more than 4,000 patrons at one time, a 355 percent increase over the current UK library. The seating on the fifth floor of the new library equals the capacity of the current UK library.
* Computer connections: every study table and study carrel in the new library will have an electrical outlet and a computer jack connected to the university’s computer system.
* Flexibility: the library has a state-of-the-art electronic infrastructure that will enable UK to take full advantage of current and emerging technology. In addition, the five floors and basement of the structure are designed as open, flexible spaces, enabling the library to adapt its services and facilities to the future changes in the needs of UK students.
* Financing: The athletics department has its own special investment in the new library. UK Athletics is providing $3,200,000 on an annual basis to help pay for the $58 million building.
Confusing.
Does that means UK athletics is paying a total of 3.2 million over a certain number of years, not 3.2 millions each year?
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Apr 19, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
it means that UK Athletics
are paying 3.2 mil every year to help fund the library.
chump change for the AD. good for books
If so ...
… perhaps they should remind the author.
I don’t know if 3.2 million is chump change or not, it depends on what the expenses of the UKAA actually are. I don’t know that number. 3.2 million/year could represent a significant portion of their income after expenses.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
speaking of the author
I dropped him a note with a link to the above. He thanked me for the information, indicating he was unaware of the agreement which predated his return to Lexington,; however, he did not indicate if he was going to do a follow-up of any type.
Of course, that arrangement to provide $3.2 million a year was ages ago and may have been altered since or paid off by Athletics in other ways. I’ll leave it to the paid journalists to do the digging on that one. Then again, UK’s PR department should be on top of it as well.
O'neill And Johnson
While I don’t agree with every facet of O’neill and Johnson’s piece — most especially the part regarding Calipari’s not having the opportunity to become the face of UK basketball or his justification for leaving Memphis — I am in accordance with their interpretation of the commercial enterprise known as college sports:
It might help college sports fans, colleges and universities, coaches and players, administrators and faculty alike to take the collective wool over their eyes, throw it to the ground and cut the charade that is big-time college sports.
my problem with o'neill and johnson
is that it sounded more like a petty rant.
the very nature of the BBN is what gets them hits on their blog – seem hypocritical.
also, why pick on Cal- Williams leaving KU for UNC, huggins leaving KSU for WVU, and on and on -
Rex Chapman situation – that was around 20 years ago – what about dragging adolf rupp through the mud for not recruiting black players (yes, forty, i know he did, just sayin) – move on o’neill and johnson
I agree with you WW that the point about cutting the charade is needed – somewhat – however, the same ones that complain about the “charade” are going to be the first ones to complain when some of the “lesser” sports (read – everything BUT men’s bball and football) are shut down because we remove the collective wool from our eyes, quit paying coaches and allowing rich tv contracts and cannot pay for them..
guess i just had my own petty rant…..:)
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Apr 19, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Josh Pastner
It seems like we are getting alot of information on Pastner these days (here and elsewhere). I understand he was a valuable Cailpari assistant and he got the Memphis job. I understand that he could still be recruiting some of the guys Calipari had committed. But is there some other reason why I should care about this guy? Did anyone really know who he was before the Calipari hire occurred? I am just curious.
Slower Traffic Keep Right!
He...
was pretty much Calipari’s main recruiter and worked under Lute Olson before that. Being an assistant under Calipari tells you that he knows the offense in which so many players want to play in. Couple that with being a solid recruiter and he could do very well in Memphis. I had never heard of him before the Calipari hire, but since then he has been a very hot topic.
The Spork, I'm two things in one.
talk is he may not run the same offense....
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Apr 19, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably...
not exactly the same, but I can’t imagine him entirely scrapping the kind of offense that lures so many recruits.
The Spork, I'm two things in one.
Gillispie tried to lure him to UK two years ago
His father is a legendary AAU coach from Texas, so Pastner has intimate knowledge on how to relate to the elite players.
He also played at Arizona under Olsen.
Third Or Fourth Choice
Don’t forget that Pastner was far from Memphis’ first choice as pointed out by Gary Parrish (posted earlier here).
Not First Choice
Adolph Rupp was UK’s 2nd choice in 1930. Rick Pitino was UK’s 3rd choice in 1989. John Wooden preferred Minnesota to UCLA in 1949.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 19, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions
Billy D
appeared to be UK’s first choice again, just as Billy G was fired.
by blue oregon on Apr 20, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Interesting article that I found...
It seems there is a feeling in Kansas that X isn’t going to KU and will probably commit to UK. I hope this is true.
copy and paste above link...
it didn’t paste right to be able to click on it and be directed to the page.
that's a week-old post
here.
For those who don’t want to read through it, it essentially says that if Henry hasn’t committed by now, he never will, because he’s essentially been recruited by the Jayhawks (like his parents) his whole life. That argument makes sense to me. Hey, he already committed to Cal once in the face of all that. I don’t see why he wouldn’t again.
What do you mean, "blank slate"?
Miss USA
Awesome for Maria Elizabeth Montgomery to be 4th runner up … but I thought she should have been at least second runner up … and to lose to NC of all the bull – I blame Kenan Thompson – he was one of the judges and Trump should say… KENAN – YOURE FIRED !!
As a kid I had a huge crush on Elizabeth Montgomery.
by Ken Howlett on Apr 20, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions
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