Media needs to show proof of NCAA violations
Larry Vaught is tired of the media taking shots at Calipari and providing no evidence of violations to support their oft-repeated claim that UK and Calipari are headed for a date with the NCAA Committee on Infractions.
I think Larry is right about this. I was skeptical, at first, of Calipari coming here because of his alleged "shady" past, but after reading some fairly unpersuasive drivel written by numerous people regarding Calipari's alleged sins (which seem to be based on no real evidence), I think the allegations of suspicious behavior is less about reality and more about a green-eyed monster we all know well. I am beginning to suspect that Calipari has been the subject of a whispering campaign that has followed him for a decade with no apparent justification, driven instead by resentment of his amazing success. What it boils down to is that he wins too much, and he is not a media darling like Roy Williams (who has been caught with his hand in the NCAA cookie jar, albeit in a very minor way, but nobody seems worried that he will run Carolina off the rails).
I'm jumping off the skeptic's bandwagon and on Larry Vaught's Missouri Express -- show me the violations, sportswriters, or shut the hell up about Calipari being shady. And by the way, you want investigate us, and earn yourself a Pulitzer? Sandy Bell would probably tell you to pack your lunch and jump on in, the water is nice and cold.
almost 3 years ago
Glenn Logan
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rumors
I hope we don’t do to this coach what we did to our last…in the rumor department..some people are not satisfied when others are doing well…. they just have to start something….after all there is no story if a program is bouncing along clean and very very good…I fell for those who must make up things…I agree ..show the evidence or don’t mention it again……
But G Was Never Doing All That Well
Surely you’re not thinking Mitch and Dr Tood “made things up” to fire him?
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats...
what the letter of discharge, or whatever you want to call it, said. Forty, Gillispie was subject to a lot of rumors that had no proof, such as being a drunk. He may not be speaking about what got him fired.
I think that's what fanforlife is referring to
All the rumors in his first year, especially early in the season.
Oh, I Agree About Those
If there was a SHRED of reality to them, there would have been cellphone photos.
There were none.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice...
show me the violations, sportswriters, or shut the hell up about Calipari being shady. And by the way, you want investigate us, and earn yourself a Pulitzer? Sandy Bell would probably tell you to pack your lunch and jump on in, the water is nice and cold.
That was awesome. That’s all I have to say.
I love analogies, so let me try this one.
But first, I admire your admission that you yourself questioned Calapari as a good hire during the ‘recruitment’ process. Don’t find it too surprising that you have flipped so fast…but still a little disappointed.
You are correct that Calipari has not been caught and persecuted by the NCAA. But to me, one wonders why you would want a friend walking around your house with a lighted match in one hand and gasoline in the other. Granted he may not catch the house on fire, but it would make me nervous as hell. It could be highly likely he’d never make a mistake and never drop the match or spill the fuel. But, I prefer to invite friends in my house who walk around inside empty handed and maybe with a fire extingisher by their side. I do trust UK will have Sandy with a huge extingisher over her shoulder at the ready. I just hope she is up to it.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Scared?
I am scared to look at my stock portfolio. I get scared sometime when I have to hit a 4 iron over water with good money on the line. Sometimes I am scared at night when I have to go to the southside here in Chicago. Even my wifes scares me with here looks sometimes. But I don’t think any coaches scare me. Good grief.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
I get kinda scared at the four iron over water part.
My portfolio concerns me not at all. It will get better, or it won’t. The day will come when they lay the sod o’er me, and it will be somebody else’s problem to worry about.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
My 4 irons scares me so much...
….that I usually go with a 5 wood.
Envy our past......Fear our future
Huh?
If you have a friend walking through your house, do you assume that they are carrying a lit match and gasoline? Without seeing it?
You have completely missed the point of the post - people are rushing to judgement while offering no evidence.
Give me some evidence. I can make up silly analogies all day long.
Think of WWW as being the match and fathers like Wagner being the fuel.
They are both there to see. I readily admitted that Calipari hasn’t found to break any NCAA rules. I get that. I find it a lttle surprising that UK went this way. I admired UK for cleaning up the program after Sutton and have been consistent in that view. I am surprised and a little disappointed that they went this route. Maybe I held UK to a higher standard….I think that is a good thing and very complimentary.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Well ...
… all I can tell you is that hiring of fathers (and coaches) is commonly done and not the least bit illegal. I would like to see that change, but quite honestly, I think it would get the NCAA in antitrust territory if they tried to regulate that. I’m sure you forgot that Rick Pitino hired Simeon Mars, Jamal Magliore’s “coach” and guardian when Magliore committed to UK.
Didn’t know that? Hmm. There was nothing wrong with that, and nothing wrong with what Calipari did.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Yea, I knew it but I still don't like it.
Walking around someone’s house with the match and gasoline isn’t illegal either. Didn’t Magliore go to UK? Don’t get your point. Hey, I didn’t like it when Larry Brown hired what’s-his-names father either. Again, not against the rules and Kansas did win a championship.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Yes, that's my point.
Pitino did nothing illegal, neither did Brown and neither did Calipari. Did I like any of those things? No. Was I wanting Pitino to run off for doing them? No.
My disagreement with those affairs do not make them wrong, and do not eclipse the totality of the value of these men as coaches.
And walking around my house with gasoline is trespassing, and that is illegal. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
That's a load of crap.
Why would you be disappointed that I changed my position? People can get sucked in by media memes, you know, and I am no exception to that.
Vaught is right — there is virtually no evidence in the record, anywhere, that Calipari has done the first thing wrong. Yes, I was a little concerned with his relationship with Worldwide Wes, but upon further review, if the NCAA has no problem with it (and it’s pretty clear that they don’t), why should I?
I also have a lot of confidence in Kentucky’s compliance department. That plus the fact that Calipari has never been implicated in even a minor rules violation like that one that Got Ol’ Roy in trouble makes me wonder if this is nothing more than jealousy. Jealousy in which you seem very willing to participate, unfortunately.
You are correct that Calipari has not been caught and persecuted by the NCAA.
Did you read what Vaught wrote? Not only has he not been “persecuted” by the NCAA, he hasn’t even been investigated by them except in connection with the Camby scandal, where he was found to have no involvement. So to use your flawed analogy, why would I be concerned with a man I invited into my house who has never been found to possess either matches or a gas can, even if I happen to have both lying around? I wouldn’t — and neither should you.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
My disappointment in you changing your position so fast is a credit to you on my thoughts regarding your well thought out positons.
Is that a bad thing? Again, to stick with my analogy, I consider WWW and issues around Milt’s hiring to be possessing of the match and fuel. I could go on. So excuse me for holding both you and UK to a pretty high standard. I guess that is my fault.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
You say it is a credit ...
… but you fail to give me credit for this well thought-out position and my willingness to admit error when it is discovered.
Seems that you have a rather situational view of my positions — when we agree, they are well thought-out. When they don’t I get matches and gas cans.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Good point.
I’ll admit that shortcoming, if you admit there was just a little self-interest in your own personal re-evalutation. And you know, it may be entirely possible that UK will tell Cal to leave the matches and gasoline on the front porch. That would be a great thing and I believe consistent to how UK has operated in recent years.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Well, that's easy enough ...
… I am a UK partisan, not some faux “neutral” reporter with a bias I refuse to admit. Sure, there is self-interest there, but I have never shied away from taking on UK coaches or the administration for ethical shortcomings.
But if you are asking me to admit I am biased for seeing the good in Kentucky coaches, that’s one I’ll fess up to without any reservations or apology.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Fair enough for me....even the most 'critical me'. :-)
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
It's cute that you seem to think World Wide Wes is one of a kind.
He’s not. He’s just better at it than everyone else.
Frankly, I’m glad to have him on our side.
Pitino Had NCAA Violations (At Hawaii) And Whispers (At Syracuse) As Assistant
But he doesn’t / didn’t cheat, either.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Nope.
Never did at UK, and hasn’t at Louisville.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Again, guys I readily admit that there is zero evidence that Calipari has cheated. That was never my point.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Right ...
… but we were talking about Pitino in this little sub-thread. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I know this wasn't Pitino's fault ...
… but I seem to remember Wayne Turner taking the kid that transferred from UNC to U of L (I forget his name) to Louisville (I believe to Churchill Downs) which broke the NCAA rule that says you can’t take a recruit more than 30 miles from campus.
UK stopped pursuing the kid which was good, because he wasn’t any good — I can still hear Jock Sutherland slamming the kid during games for being lazy on defense and inept on offense. It was hilarious
I remember that.
Was it Morton? I can’t recall, really.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Cliff Rozier
Woulda / coulda / shoulda been a Cat.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Epps Maybe?
I think Epps took him to the Louisville party.
Rozier transferred in 1993.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Too early for Epps (if '93)
I remember Epps killing my high school (Dunbar) in the sweet sixteen that year.
The King is dead! Long live the King!
Yep
We (Dunbar) had about 1000 fans in the stands that day – basically, just our student body, since we were a new school and had basically no alumni (excluding those from the old (segregated) Dunbar of the ‘50s). Marion County filled the rest of Rupp Arena. Damnedest thing I ever saw – I didn’t even realize they HAD that many people in Marion County. My friends and I discussed leaving at half time and just looting the county, since surely noone was left at home.
The King is dead! Long live the King!
HaHa
Loved that reference to Marion County HS and Epps. The county has several small towns around the bigger Lebanon where the HS is, and it has actually grown faster in the past 15 years than Taylor Co., a neighbor, with more small industries. I love my hometown of Lebanon. If I could sell this huge house I would be gone lickety-split. Anyone out there want a 5000 sq ft home with approx 2 acres for less than 200K????
Yes, they were. But we weren't too shabby
Darnell Burton (went to Cincinnati), and some skinny white kid named Cameron Mills.
The King is dead! Long live the King!
Oh no, I didn't mean to imly Dunbar wasn't very, very good
I saw that team play in the KOB — Burton was spectacular and Mills was nearly as good.
I wasn’t the least bit surprised when they made it to the finals.
I feel so relieved
to see a pro mess up. Please get a spell checker!
Happy Days are here again
The sky is all ways BLUE again
Happy days are here again
Saw many games those two tournament runs
Was in the band at Dunbar. Saw all the games from the two Runners-Up Sweet Sixteen teams. Will never forget the 1993 title game. I don’t think there was a person left in Marion County, they were all in Rupp.
the REAL fake Mr. Bob Dobalina
Formerly known as "senowen"
Oops
Just saw that you already mentioned this. It’s funny. I remember also discussing looting an empty Marion County with a friend. Hmmm.
the REAL fake Mr. Bob Dobalina
Formerly known as "senowen"
Heh
The crime rate among Dunbar students was set to go up.*
*Ignoring, of course, the huge drug bust that went down the day before graduation (’93). Remember that?
The King is dead! Long live the King!
Yeah.
The story was always that Burton was involved but that his involvement was covered up by Akers. In hindsight that seems unlikely, but you never know.
the REAL fake Mr. Bob Dobalina
Formerly known as "senowen"
Epps didn't get to UK until '94 (Turner in '96)
Whoever it was, I am grateful. Rozier was a dog … and I mean that in the kindest sense:)
Weak? No, False.
For a person who professes to love analogies you certainly chose to entrust your affection to the weakest one I’ve read in a while. Nay, it is worse than weak, it is indeed a false analogy. As a person who loves analogies you probably know but considering your selection you may not: Two similar entities similar in nature (Calipari and another person both inside your relationship), a valid analogy would be that since the other person is careless with flammables Calipari — perhaps due to past history — would be as well. Since no evidence exists — or has been presented — that verifies such contention, you have presented a false analogy. Put more succinctly: it’s apples versus oranges.
Really?
Let me know where I can get that degree or certification that allows me to access & rank others analogies.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
I Don't Know Where You CAN Get It
But i know where you CAN’T – the University of Luisville.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I figured it was a spelling error as a result of being Boilermaker graduate :)
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Yeah, We Don't Get 3 Credit Hours For Spelling
Perhaps you did?
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I could have used those 3 easy hours to raise my grade point...that is for sure.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Very funny, Forty. :-)
I got a giggle out of that.
Louisville is a fine school though, I have a lot of friends who went there and all of them seem to have gotten a good education. They just root for the wrong basketball team, that’s all. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
LOL -- Very good NYCCats!
I also have many friends who attended U of L (Speed School) and are doing very well.
Yeah, I'm just playin'
The world needs ditch diggers, too.
Okay, done now. . .
The King is dead! Long live the King!
did you really get dig and ditch digger in the same comment?
you are a pro!!!
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Apr 10, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, Just Messin'
The SCHOOL is fine. Some of its fans, not so fine.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
hoze
honestly, what kind of loser joins another blog just to hate on that team. hoze has actually written more on aseaofblue than on the cards blog
I thought he was alright at first.
Even took up for him quite a bit. Kept getting more and more negative and annoying, however.
I was wrong.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 9, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree
That’s what I thought too.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 9, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to stick up for Hoze
just a little bit here…if I get his point correctly, he seems to be saying that Cal has a REPUTATION for being a little shady or whatever—warrented or not (actually the facts seem to show that it’s NOT warrented, but like the “UK ran Tubby off!!” idea, it’s taken root regardless of the facts). With UK’s history, it is undoubtedly a bit of a risky move to hire him. If he’d been risk-free, we’d have hired him 2 years ago, right? Personally, I’m THRILLED we went for it, because I think the rewards outweigh any possible risk—I’m trusting the UK admin to do their jobs and make sure the situation stays kosher. But there is that risk in someone like Calipari as compared to someone seemingly above reproach, like Tubby Smith, say. That’s what I took from what Hoze was saying-it’s a risky move and he doesn’t think it was worth it. I disagree, and yeah, Hoze ALWAYS has to try to push our buttons : ) but I don’t think he meant anything really horrible by it.
by blue kentucky girl on Apr 9, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I've come to realize you are one of the brightest on this blog, BKG.
You are correct. I think Calipari is a risk…but I can’t say it’s not worth it, only time will tell. I do find it somewhat odd that a program with both the reputation that UK has and the recent history of working so hard to get to a clean program would want to assume that risk. I would think that an institution that needs a coach like Cal to raise it’s competitive position (see Memphis) would be willing to take that risk.
Kentucky didn’t need to do it. Makes one wonder why they did it, given the legitimate slate of available candidates. Could it be that either or both Barnhart and Todd put their own future in front of what was best for the program?
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
I'm still waiting for why he's more of a risk than any of the other candidates.
Preferably reasons other than that he gives you and The Media the heebie-jeebies. Facts would be nice. I’m still waiting for some.
by BBallSophist on Apr 9, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
You need to read more....there's links and comments all over this site.
It really doesn’t take too much effort. Come back when more informed and I’ll be glad to engage in debate.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
I'm looking for facts, not innuendo and baseless accusations.
Sorry, but I’ve found no facts to suggest that Calipari is any more risky than whomever you felt should have been tops on the list. That’s the whole point of Vaught’s article and Tru’s response to the article. The so-called risk is a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. You can throw out World Wide Wes’ name over and over and repeat what everyone already knows about the Milt Wagner situation over and over, but none of that ever resulted in a single NCAA violation. That’s probably because none of those activities consisted of NCAA violations. So where’s the risk? What, is he going to commit more non-violations to get top players to come to UK? Gee, I sure hope so.
He was cleared of any wrong-doing with the one violation with which he is associated (the Camby situation). Sorry, but I don’t see any risk there either.
My bet is that everyone on your list is just as “shady” as Calipari, and the ones who aren’t aspire to be. Success seems to be the shadiest trait of Calipari, in which case I’m glad that UK has decided to sit in the shade.
by BBallSophist on Apr 9, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
What kind of crap is this?
Look, Hoze, he is asking you to defend your position with something more than innuendo and rumor. I think that’s a reasonable request, and your snark to him was most rude and unwelcome. I know you can do better, and it wasn’t as if Sophist was being sarcastic or asinine.
If you can’t defend your position with more than a “I heard it on the radio,” then you lose — it’s that simple. You have asserted that Calipari is a risk, and there is at least some anecdotal support for that, if you require only vague assertions that any association with Worldwide Wes is somehow dangerous. But what he is asking for are factual instances where Calipari has or could have demonstrated either a reckless or malicious disregard for NCAA rules, which you admit above are absent in his record.
So if you can’t factually show a reason why UK should be concerned, you need to at least do so argumentatively, or you lose. If you just have a gut feeling, fine — that’s an opinion you are entitled to. But all you have done here is made yourself look like you have no support for your argument at all — which, by the way, you may well not. If that’s the case, just say so.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
You're really liking the word 'crap' lately.
You’d think a proud wordsmith could do better. And you call my response snarky? I didn’t think we were allowed to use words that we wouldn’t use at a party. That’s the motherly advice you gave me…but I digress. In fact, I just noticed you penned a treatise below….let me take a few minutes and get through that and I will respond….and I bet I can do it without using foul or abusive words, too.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Sometimes ...
… even the most profound wordsmith resorts to mundane vernacular :-)
As to your question:
Come back when more informed and I’ll be glad to engage in debate.
My conclusion that your remark was “crap” was based on 1) the fact that you had presented no factual evidence of NCAA issues to support concern, and 2) that you had essentially admitted that. Was that conclusion mistaken? Was his request for supporting factual evidence unreasonable enough to require such a dismissive comment?
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
My well mannered reply.
Let me start off by copy/pasting two quotes from this blog that were made on March 29th:
He has the stature.
But he also lives in gray areas of NCAA compliance.
I can point you to several areas of concern.
Not the least of which is the controversial situation with DeJuan Wagner. There have been numerous minor violations that he has been a part of, and numerous highly suspicious incidents which did not draw an investigation but could have.
Tru, as you likely already know, those are your exact words. I happened to agree with them then and I happen to agree with them now.
And no, I won’t go back a rehash all the information out there about Calipari that is readily available to all. You didn’t and I won’t either. It’s just too obvious.
I find it more than ironic that I find myself crediting the University of Kentucky more than almost anyone on this blog. Unlike Wild Weasel I don’t think that UK had to go out and ‘get a recruiter’. I think UK is at the top of the list in having the reputation, fans, gravitas, etc. that allows them not to reach down to get a recruiter. I don’t think ND football needs to get a recruiter either….at least they acknowledged that with Weis.
Furthermore, I give extremely high credit for UK getting their house in order after the Sutton years. They ought to erect a statue to Sandy Bell. Again, I believe they compromised all their hard work and well earned reputation for compliance by bending with Calipari. Some would say that is a reason to bend. I just have a different standard, I guess.
As far as trying to put me in Calipari’s shoes….I do happen to have a great reputation at work. It’s not only because I haven’t broken the rules or haven’t been investigated. It’s because I don’t dance around the lines….or to use your words, don’t play in the gray area. Now that doesn’t make me all that special. Just like coaches, there were plenty of coaches that stay in the white I find it unfortunate that UK didn’t go after one.
And lastly, I just don’t get this ‘well-qualified’ position, but that can be argued I guess. I just don’t see where he has speparated himself from the pack. It’s not like he has won a championship. It’s not like he has won consistently in a top conference. I don’t believe he has held any leadership positions in the coaching fraternities.
So, in closing, unlike you I won’t personnally attack your flipping on Calipari just because he is ‘our coach’ or that you didn’t detail all the facts around the ‘gray areas of NCAA compliance’. I’ll just defend my consistent position and hold UK to a higher standard.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Response.
Tru, as you likely already know, those are your exact words. I happened to agree with them then and I happen to agree with them now.
And I regret them now. It is clear (as it was not before UK discussed the matter with NCAA compliance) that my judgment of Calipari’s actions was much too harsh. I was unaware at the time that Wagner had stayed 5 years beyond the departure of his son, which makes the hiring look very much less like a quid pro quo than the mere fact of his hire in isolation. On further examination, I see very little sinister now that I saw then. So if you want to gig me for being inaccurate and judgmental in my earlier comments, I’ll accept that. But I am confident now that my first impression was not accurate.
And no, I won’t go back a rehash all the information out there about Calipari that is readily available to all. You didn’t and I won’t either. It’s just too obvious.
I’m not sure what this means. I think we have rehashed it all right here. There is nothing further to add. Plus, my experience is that when somebody refuses to support himself by saying something is “too obvious,” it is usually because it is neither obvious nor supportable.
As far as trying to put me in Calipari’s shoes….I do happen to have a great reputation at work.
Unfortunately, you are dodging the question. I did not suggest anything about your actual reputation. I placed before you a hypothetical that puts you in Calipari’s shoes, but only as a hypothetical. I cast no aspersions on your reputation, nor did I ask for you to explain it to me. All I wanted was an examination by you of how you would like it if your good reputation were besmirched, knowing full well you had done nothing wrong. That’s how I see Calipari’s now, upon reflection and careful examination of the facts. The “gray area” part is irrelevant — I don’t see any gray in Calipari’s record now. If you do, you should explain, and I’m not talking about Wagner or the UMass situation. Neither of those is in any way gray in my opinion. You may disagree about that, but if that’s all you have, it is insufficient in my view.
And lastly, I just don’t get this ‘well-qualified’ position, but that can be argued I guess. I just don’t see where he has speparated himself from the pack. It’s not like he has won a championship. It’s not like he has won consistently in a top conference. I don’t believe he has held any leadership positions in the coaching fraternities.
Calipari has won more games in the last four years than any coach in America at the highest level, at a .79 wining percentage, two elite eights, one sweet sixteen and one national final which he lost on a last-second shot. He has one additional final four, one elite eight and one sweet sixteen while at UMass. If that isn’t separating yourself from the pack, I don’t know what is. Who would you suggest UK have hired that is demonstrably better?
So, in closing, unlike you I won’t personnally attack your flipping on Calipari just because he is ‘our coach’ or that you didn’t detail all the facts around the ‘gray areas of NCAA compliance’. I’ll just defend my consistent position and hold UK to a higher standard.
Unlike you, I am able to recognize when I am in error instead of spending my time finding ways to be a condescending, obsessively negative scold and couching it as consistency. Being consistently wrong is no virtue.
Finally, you may think of yourself as holding UK to a higher standard if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, but what I see is someone who will never fail to look at any given situation the least favorable and most critical light to Kentucky, and will resort to using suspicion in place of an honest examination of the facts. While it is arguably just as bad to take the other side of the coin, at least I find myself firmly grounded in those facts, where you have little more than suspicious innuendo to support your position.
I’m thinking I like my spot a lot better.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
How does one gain a good reputation?
It’s more than just not getting caught breaking rules or even being investigated. One gains a good, solid, positive reputation by not toeing the line or dancing in gray areas.
Obsessively negative??? You just plain don’t get it.
I am the one on here that consistently compliments the program, specifically the administration, for building a great reputation after a really dark period. I am the one that says that UK is at the top of the list on history, fanbase, etc. How is that negative? How is that obsessively negative? How is that putting UK in a negative light?
You definition of negative seems to come down when others have the outright nerve to disagree with you.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Surely your method of gaining a good reputation isn't the only possible method.
In a perfect world, everyone with a good reputation deserves that good reputation with the same being true for those with a bad reputation. In the perfect world, good people get good reputations by being good repeatedly and bad people get bad reputations by being bad repeatedly.
But this isn’t a perfect world. I can think of many, many examples of people in my personal life and in public view who appeared to be wonderful people due to their sterling reputations only to later find out that those reputations were NOT deserved. I have also had the same experiences with people who have had bad reputations, later finding that those bad reputations were not deserved.
One can gain a good reputation or be given a bad reputation through subterfuge. It happens a lot, and sadly it probably happens more often than many of us realize. I am a skeptic, and until I am presented with facts to support the claims that John Calipari is more of a NCAA violation risk than any other NCAA basketball coach, I will not be concerned nor will I criticize UK for hiring him.
by BBallSophist on Apr 10, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Where was that skepticism two years ago when UK didn't consider him?
To be clear, in reference to your prior coach, I’d be foolish to say Cal doesn’t have a good coaching record. I just don’t think the on court record and his ‘reputation’ is worth the risk for UK. It may have been worth the risk for a program like Memphis. They needed someone like him…UK doesn’t.
As far as as me being a UofL fan and it skewing my view on Calipari, it would have ‘benefited’ me to argue to keep Billy. Toward the end of the season, I changed my mind thinking a change would have been better for UK.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
UK didn't consider him in 2007...
but I certainly did. He was my second choice behind Donovan in 2007. He was my first choice this time around.
You keep using the phrase “worth the risk”. This means nothing to me, because I see no risk. They saw risk two years ago, and they were seeing the same thing you are: smoke being pumped out by smoke machines operated by talking heads. They made a mistake.
You also keep saying that UK doesn’t need Calipari. The assumption here, it seems, is that you could put anyone in the drivers seat at UK and they would be successful.
That’s flattering and interesting, because you seem to be taking the position that many accuse UK fans of taking: that SEC Championships, Top 1-4 seeds, 30 win seasons, Final Fours and Championships are a birth-right at UK. Unfortunately, this has not been the case over the last 4 years, and has not consistently been the case over the last 10.
Elite level success (which is what UK should and MUST be shooting for) won’t just happen regardless of the coach. Saying otherwise is somewhat insulting to the successful coaches we have had in the past and successful coaches at other elite programs. Not anyone can come in and immediately recruit and have a good shot at landing multiple top 10 players at UK. Elite programs need elite coaches to stay elite. I wish it weren’t the case: our boosters could save a whole hell of a lot of money if it wasn’t.
John Calipari was the only viable option who I was overwhelmingly confident would return UK to elite status, and do it quickly. Other than Izzo, there is no other coach in the country (who was a legitimate option) I could say that about. Also, I think it would have taken Izzo longer than Calipari. There were some younger guys who may be able to do the same, but it would probably take them longer and the risk with them is that they end up unsuited for the job.
I asked you for who your legitimate top choice would have been, and you still haven’t given an answer.
by BBallSophist on Apr 10, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
(My) legitimate top choice?
To me it’s more than just about wins and losses. There are many a good coach that can win, that understands the BBN and the demands, and can win with integrity. That’s my point…there isn’t just one and thanks to UK’s status, it didn’t need to be a ‘top choice’…a good young coach could have grown into the job and flourished like Pitino did…and he came into UK under much more a challenging situation.
Instead, UK went with a somewhat risky coach over 50. I simply think that was too bad and unnecessary. If it was someone that needed to elevate their low life program and really required a coach to lean on, it would be someone like a Depaul, or Arizona State, or even a Georgia.
UK chose a coach who has won a hell of a lot and used that as justification. I would have leveraged all that UK is about and gone the more conservative route with a younger coach, an up-and-comer, that was a little ‘cleaner’. Sorry we disagree.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
I think this is a perfectly valid
position, Hoze, and I can see where you’re coming from. But come on—after Gillispie, you well know there’s no chance in hell UK was going to go with another up-and-comer. Surely you can appreciate the need that everyone felt to go with a proven and experienced winner right now. There’s just as much “risk” in the up-and-comer—as we’ve seen play out right in front of us over these past two years.
by blue kentucky girl on Apr 10, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair enough.
I am assuming you are referencing Gillispie most recently. However, it wasn’t too long ago that UK to a ‘risk’ with Pitino and the incredible fan-base allowed him time to lift the program over time. I think the current 2009 fan base had it in them again to repeat that phenomenal support and repeat that result…but I guess we will never know.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
too long ago?
try 20 years ago. Thats generations of time in basketball time. Totally different game now.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
Well for me that's about 2.5 generations ago..right, Forty?
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Haha.
And lastly, I just don’t get this ‘well-qualified’ position, but that can be argued I guess. I just don’t see where he has speparated himself from the pack. It’s not like he has won a championship. It’s not like he has won consistently in a top conference. I don’t believe he has held any leadership positions in the coaching fraternities.
This is ridiculous. Even those most critical of the hire weren’t foolish enough to propose that Calipari isn’t well-qualified for the position of head coach at Kentucky.
How many championships did Rick Pitino win before coming to Kentucky? Did he win consistently in a top conference as a head coach? “None” and “no he didn’t” are the answers to those questions (2 years at Providence going 16-14 one year and 25-9 the next hardly qualifies as consistent winning). And then there was this:
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/24/sports/pitino-unfazed-by-past-infractions.html
How’d he work out for Kentucky? I think pretty well.
In 2000, were you holding Louisville up to the same standards as UK? A has been pointed out, Pitino has a shady past which can actually be verified by more than just speculation. Please, I beg of you, compile Pitino’s resume’ as a head coach before arriving at UK and compare it to Calipari’s today and then tell me who looks better qualified.
What about Tubby Smith? He hadn’t even been to an Elite 8, much less won a championship before he came to Kentucky. That changed pretty fast once he got to Lexington, though. Again, compare his resume’ in 1998 to Calipari’s today and tell me who appears to be more qualified.
I can see why Hoze holds UK to such high standards: if it was up to him, the standards would be such that we would have never hired Rick Pitino or Tubby Smith, and we very well might be with 2 fewer national titles and 4 fewer Final Fours for it. Well, he is a Louisville fan afterall.
Here’s what John Calipari has done:
An overall head coaching record of 446-139 (.762)
An overall NCAA tournament record of 25-11 (.694)
2 Final Fours at 2 different schools (neither of which had much, if any, tradition to speak of before he arrived)
3 Elite Eights
1 Sweet Sixteen
A-10 Tournament Champion – ‘92-’96
A-10 Regular Season Champion – ‘92-’96
C-USA Tournament Champion – ‘06-’09
C-USA Regular Season Champion – ‘04, ’06-’09
NIT Champion – ’02
Naismith College Coach of the Year (1996, 2008)
NABC Coach of the Year (1996, 2009)
Basketball Times Coach of the Year (1996)
Sports Illustrated Coach of the Year (2009)
A-10 Coach of the Year (1993, 1994, 1996)
C-USA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009)
Move along folks, nothing to see here…
Also, he came within one missed free throw and one last second three pointer of winning a national title last year. I don’t think it’s stretching it much to say that he could have, and probably should have, won that game.
Just who is well-qualified in your mind?
Billy Donovan turned us down. Perhaps Tom Izzo, Thad Matta (no championship and only 1 Final Four and 1 Elite Eight, though!) and maybe Jay Wright (but he has a paltry 11-7 NCAA tournament record and only one Final Four and no championship…no doubt far below your lofty standards)?
It couldn’t have been a Sean Miller or a Travis Ford (not a single Final Four amongst either nor consistent winning in a top conference).
Maybe we should get crazy and pretend like they could have nabbed Roy Williams or Pitino, but we have already established that they have too much baggage for your imaginary UK standards (actual NCAA violations, not just rumored).
Jamie Dixon hasn’t been to a single final four. Rick Barnes has an NCAA tournament record barely over .500 and has been to only one Final Four (if 2 isn’t impressive enough for you, I doubt 1 is).
Who else is there who was a legitimate option? Bill Self? Ben Howland? Jim Calhoun (lol at this one)? Mike Kzrsidfsfhsfki?
Not a legitimate option amongst them.
So tell me, what legitimate (legitimate meaning someone who might actually leave their current school) candidate do you think would have been better qualified than Calipari and lived up to all of your expectations? I see only one: Tom Izzo…and whether or not he was legitimately interested is something that is highly questionable.
Nevermind that we would have had to wait until after the tournament was finished to begin serious talks with Izzo. Furthermore, had Izzo declined the job (which was likely) the chances of Calipari taking the job would have probably been slim to none after being told to wait for another more desired candidate to turn the job down.
by BBallSophist on Apr 10, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
If you want to justify the risk based on his record...
…that’s a legitimate position. I just don’t think that the risk/benefit is worth it for all that UK has going for it.
Call me negative, if you’d like.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Scary thought
Here’s a scary thought I hadnt contemplated until now.
If Kansas doesnt make that shot and lose is Cal coach at UK right now?
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
No Doubt He's Still UK Coach
He said it was his dream to coach The Commonwealth’s Team.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 10, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
i honestly believe
calipari would still be at UK even with a NC at Memphis…it’s not about the NC so much as it is an NC at a PREMIERE PROGRAM a true dynasty! Not some start-up company but General EFFING Electric!!!!
this is what i think anyway.
Ironically...I work for the meatball.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Actually It Did
Kentucky didn’t need to do it
In reality UK did need to hire Calipari because no one else had the recruiting juice to overcome the decade of mediocre or worse — vis a vis elite programs — recruiting results. In 2007 Barnhart and Todd recognized the need to revive UK’s floundering performance and its having reached the vanishing point in the minds of top recruits. We know now that Calipari was on the radar but evidently passed over for just the suspicions to which you allude. Big mistake as it turns out. With little or no improvement on the talent front the administration was forced to reconsider and, one would believe, reexamine the man and the facts. Having done so and being content with their findings made the decision.
Lately, I Agree (Especially 2008 Class)
But UK recruiting earlier in decade (say 2000 through 2006) was comparable to Top 5 programs. Check RSCI “Winners” for consensus recruiting analysis.
UK classes in 2000 and 01 were Top 10 rated. UK class in 2004 was #1 rated. UK classes in 2002 and 2006 were Top 15 rated.
Gillispie never belonged at UK. Calipari is a better choice BY FAR.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 10, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Heh.
I’ve come to realize you are one of the brightest on this blog, BKG.
You’re right, but why do I suspect your praise is entirely situational? :-) Ok, kidding.
Seriously, just because UK has a reputation for past indiscretions, what argument suggests that we should allow the past to hamstring our future, especially considering those past indiscretions are now rather disant? From a practical standpoint, is it not a case of unilateral disarmament to pass over a great coach because of apparently unfounded rumors and speculation that he may not be as clean as the wind-driven snow?
I have no doubt that both Dr. Todd and Barnhart felt pressure in this case, but Calipari was always going to be on the short list. When they discovered the depth of his interest, it makes perfect sense that they would pursue it — there is simply no more qualified candidate available in the market that UK had a real possibility to get. The school asked the NCAA in depth about Calipari, and the report from the NCAA enforcement guys came back totally clean.
So I ask you — is it more fair that UK accept rumor and innuendo about a coach, or the facts? How would you like it if some jealous coworkers of yours whispered that you had some moral roadblock to advancement at work when you know that is false, and further know that there is no evidence in your record of such a problem? Would you want your bosses, or potential other employers to take the “Where there is smoke, there must be fire,” line and reject you as a potential higher level manager or executive? Is it fair to the school for the administration to include in its analysis moral turpitude by the school itself that is more than twenty years removed from the present day and under a completely different administration? Is that the process you would have UK substitute for fair, factual analysis?
Finally, let’s look at the risk analysis. There are media whispers of guilt by association out there. Now, guilt by association is a favorite American pastime, and is not always without merit. Calipari was associated with UMass when NCAA violations took place, but he was vindicated. Pitino was in a roughly similar situation at Hawaii before we hired him in the immediate aftermath of one of the worst NCAA scandals in history. Calipari has an association with a guy that many in the media are skeptical of, but Calipari isn’t, and the NCAA itself has said that William Wesley has done nothing that they are aware of which should give UK any concern. Calipari once hired the father of a big-time recruit to work as Director of Basketball Operations, a post he was certainly qualified for, but for which a reasonable person could conclude that there might be a quid pro quo. Pitino did the same thing with Simeon Mars. Mars left UK at the same time as Magliore. Milt Wagner stayed six years at Memphis, five years after his son DeJuan left for the NBA and the elder Wagner got his degree from the University of Memphis, something he didn’t have when he was hired.
Given two closely analogous situations, it seems to me that Calipari is no more of a risk than Rick Pitino and arguably less so, given almost identical levels of involvement in what could be described in the most negative possible light as marginal NCAA issues. Pitino was hired in the immediate aftermath of an NCAA scandal now twenty years removed.
Any reasonable risk manager would conclude that the risk of hiring Calipari is at worst equal to and likely lower than the risk of hiring Rick Pitino, owing to the proximity of said NCAA scandal.
Those are the facts, and that is a risk analysis, albeit not an exhaustive one. I’m sure UK’s was much more thorough. As my final conclusion, the hiring of Calipari was not only reasonable from a risk standpoint, but accepting the “guilt by association” innuendo as a strike against him is both unfair to Calipari and to the university itself by depriving it of fair consideration of arguably the most qualified candidate available. That is especially true when you consider that the NCAA has explicitly given Calipari a clean bill of health when inquired upon by UK. This is a straight-line logical conclusion based on the real facts in evidence in the public record.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Sticking up for Hoze
Give it time. It will pass.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 10, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Hozed
Should we remind Hoze again that Pitino has EIGHT NCAA infractions and Calipari has ZERO?
EXACTLY -
there is the story about a pot and a kettle..
furthermore, roy williams has more infractions than Cal.
However, i must admit that i am in the same school as Tru – living in memphis, i have seen Cal up close and am reminded of the scene in stripes when bill murray is in the army recruiter’s office and answers the question “have you ever been convicted of a felony?” with “Convicted? No”
Now, though, i agree with Tru – put up or shut up sportswriters – Cal may be one that bends the rules, but he his OUR rule bender now, so back off!! :)
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Apr 10, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Tootin'
I don’t usually “toot my own horn,” but, I’ve been saying and writing since 2006 when Cal was my numero uno choice to replace Tubby, and people were lamenting his record of infractions as a reason to NOT hire him that I didn’t know what all the fuss was about.
I think the Camby “thing,” the Milt Wagner hiring, along with his winning, is the reason many fans and media alike have cast dispersions upon his “basketball integrity.”
It’s good to see Larry Vaught, a highly respected writer, finally shout down the doomsayers.
Tru will appreciate this: What happened with Camby at UMass (accepting $ from an agent) is the exact same thing that happened to WKU in 1971 when Jim McDaniels signed with, and accepted $ from an agent. The result being that WKU was forced to vacate their FF appearance and the money earned from their NCAA run. The NCAA people actually came to BG and took the FF trophy out of Western’s trophy case, all the while UCLA had been inventing new and colorful ways to entice people to LA since the early ’60’s. Hypocrisy!
Major kudos to Vaught!!
Nice rebuttals.
Interesting you all resorted to personal attacks rather than give an alternative view about the new coach. I guess that says something.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Why...
do we need to offer an alternative? You said Calipari was walking around with a lit match and gasoline. Is that against NCAA rules? I know it was supposed to be an analogy, but for what? Like this post is for, what proof do you have of any infractions? On what grounds is this analogy based?
Hoze, here is your alternative
Whether we like it or not, the NCAA is the sanctioning body for College Basketball and all other College sports. They have rules that are SOMETIMES clearly defined. However, as in the change last year to texting rules, and to BCG’s use of the early practice rule to set Midnight Madness up early ( which I REALLY loved to see, since the NCAA prides itself on knowing what the rules changes will do to the game), I would only offer this, OUR program has received in the past the closest thing to the DEATH penalty that they hand out, over a violation that the Coach at that time claimed he knew nothing about. Calipari also claims he knew nothing about the Camby situation. Eddie Sutton went on to have a career devoid of any other brushes with the NCAA, and as far as I know, Calipari has also. This is not an attack, but rather a statement, the perspectives on this are wide ranging, but to use one of your “analogies” , until someone walks in and has the smoking gun in their hand, the legal system says innocent until proven guilty…..Ill take that.
Remember, were having fun now!!!
heh. rebuttals.
The alternative view about the new coach (in this context) is listed in his resume. Look under ‘ncaa infractions’.
It’s right next to ‘my mythical sketchiness’ and ‘reasons i’m a harbinger of doom’.
tissue
icftg.com
Amen Tru...
I have asserted all along that although there are whispers about Calipari he really hasnt been in any trouble and to continue to cast Calipari as a cheater or a shady person is hollow when in fact he never has been in violation (to my knowledge).
One thing I know for sure, when there are thousands of media outlets, journalists, talk jocks, analysts and bloggers there will never be one single issue that everyone will see exactly the same. Some like to take the unpopular viewpoint to get attention while others will take the lazy viewpoint and regurgitate what they have heard others say without doing their due diligence.
I am not taking up for Calipari because he is now the UK coach. I have been very consisitent with this point of view since I was pushing for his hire in 2007.
Slower Traffic Keep Right!
I'm just wondering ...
… if it isn’t the kind of thing that happens when people are too successful. I know many in here at various times have accused Ol’ Roy of cheating because he gets the best recruits in the land. But maybe he’s just that good, and perhaps Calipari is, too.
The question is, why does Ol’ Roy get a pass and Calipari get whispered about? I think it’s the hair. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Hoze, If I didnt know better
I would say you’re nervous yourself. Seems to me that you appear to be more of a “bird on a wire” than a fireman. I tell you what, we will have a fire truck on standby, and an ample supply of extinguishers handy. You just keep that windex handy that one needs to keep bird droppings off the windshield
Remember, were having fun now!!!
As I replied above, on second thought my analogy may be flawed...
..in that it assumes UK will allow him to bring the match and gasoline into the house. They may not. In fact, they probably won’t if you look how the administration has controlled the program over the past years…to their credit.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
I think ...
… at some point, we have to trust our compliance people. I had concerns about Gillispie staying another year under the kind of pressure he would have been under. That concern was much more real, but probably misplaced (though we will never know).
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
" ... the kind of pressure he would have been under."
Along with his heavy drinking (which compromised his decision-making) is what I theorize caused Sutton to cheat in the mid-’80’s.
Sutton had been at Creighton and Arkansas without so much as a sniff of NCAA violations, yet he comes to UK and within two-three years was breaking rules like there was no tommorrow.
Pressure+drinking= Bad combo (at least for Eddie).
my wife would tell you Ken
that everything happens for a reason….I was never a Sutton fan, but sometimes a man just has to know when to walk away. I wish he had been able to without what happened, but it did bring us Pitino and a return to greatness….maybe this time we caught the problem BEFORE it brought us down and not the other way around
Remember, were having fun now!!!
Don't be too hard on Eddie
Refrain from psychoanalyzing and moralizing.
History Repeats?
Rupp great.
Hall very good but not Rupp.
Sutton leaves abruptly.
Pitino great.
Tubby very good but not Pitino.
Gillispie leaves abruptly.
Calipari is DUE to be great.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
not bad for an old guy 40
I dont suppose you could come up with an amalgram could you?or is that analgram….never can remember the difference in those two
Remember, were having fun now!!!
I Can Always Come Up With An Anal-Gram
Ha!
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Drunk
Those are the types of comments that I can not stand. Gillispie was not a good fit. Fine. Do we really need to insult the man in such a way? Gillispie had no “drinking” troubles while here and as far as the past, I seem to remember a thread where people were commenting on how they had been behind the wheel in questionable condition as well.
There is no need to call the man a drunk. That is just rude and uncalled for.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Apr 9, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
you're right, kygirl
that it isn’t fair to call Gillispie a drunk since as far as I know it was never an issue at all….but at the same time… I’m sorry, I have to admit that the great/good/drunk sequence thing strikes me as fairly hysterical.
by blue kentucky girl on Apr 9, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I Didn't Say Drunk
I said Left Abruptly that’s all.
by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
That's rude and uncalled for
But boy did it make me giggle. . .
The King is dead! Long live the King!
In...
that comparison I would guess that Roy has gotten his big recruits at big schools like KU and UNC, but Cal has gotten his big recruits at smaller, mid-major schools like UMASS and Memphis. People see him getting these recruits at those schools and automatically assume the worst.
Yeah ...
… I think there is some of that. It makes a lot of sense, certainly.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
The problem is
people are assuming that the kids &/or their families are also corrupt with no evidence to support that conclusion. Is every skilled basketball player and his family corrupt? Calipari has had very good success in recruiting outstanding African-American players while Duke’s Coach K has had very good success in recruiting outstanding white players. Why isn’t it reasonable to suspect that Duke’s recruits are on the take?
Verboten
Careful, Fortunatus, perhaps you missed the memo but you are treading on taboo territory when you broach the subject of racial disparities in college basketball.
I'm not sure ...
… how this makes sense. Veiled allusions to racism are just not necessary and I don’t think this analysis was justifiable.
Let’s leave race out of it. Nobody has ever accused K of racism, and I think any suggestion that race is a factor in recruiting decisions. This is no good.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
... on top of the fact that the assertion is incomplete/wrong
Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, Jason Williams, Shane Battier, Gerald Henderson, Luol Deng, Grant Hill, Antonio Lang, Thomas Hill, Elton Brand, Cory Maggette — That’s just a few of the African-American athletes that have played for K over the years.
You may be more correct than you intend (or maybe you did intend it)
The aw-shucks grandfatherly country boy routine certainly attracts less scrutiny (in the popular imagination) than the high-flying, slicked-back hair persona. Especially if your name ends in a vowel.
The King is dead! Long live the King!
There's an easy way to fix all of this
let these kids hire agents if they want to….let them get cars….houses…..bling….anything they want….from ANY source EXCEPT the University…..set the rules so that they have to attend classes….PASS them….and follow the rules concerning their play on the court. Then its out of the school’s hands……keep the coaches out of it……OTHERWISE….we are always going to have these nonsensical discussions about what might happen if the guy who might be doing somehting that might not be according to the rules that arent really clear but kind of spell our what should be done…..
Remember, were having fun now!!!
Lets discuss something important....
like where do we hang that next banner….should we start another row
Remember, were having fun now!!!
NEW video posted over at KSR
http://www.cstv.com/allaccess/player/06-oas-mediaplayer.html?content=mms://a1981.v8108e.c8108.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1981/8108/v0001/cstvcbs.download.akamai.com/8108/open/kty/08-09/video/m-baskbl/04apr/2009_0409_calipari.wmv&school=kty&
there’s the link…..gives me goosebumps….
Remember, were having fun now!!!
Saw...
it earlier, definitely a good montage. Wonder they will show it pregame in Rupp on the big screen?
That is a great idea!
I definitely think they should do that. What a way to get the crowd wound up even more (as if that would be possible at Cal’s first home game)
No credible evidence
There is no credible public evidence to support the slander that Gillispie had a public alcohol problem in Lexington. The main stream media — to their credit — never amplified the internet chatter.
There is no credible evidence — actually there is no evidence whatsoever — not even a scintilla — that Calipari has ever violated or had knowledge of any violation of any NCAA violation at either Memphis or Massachusetts. Yet the MSM — notably the Lexington Herald-Leader and the Louisville Courier Urinal — have done smear jobs on him. Is it because he is Italian? Is it because he is friendly with everybody?
I knew Herald Leader editor John Carroll and reporter Mark York, two of the three key people who did the number on Joe Hall’s players (Verderber, Cowan, et al) and won big journalistic awards. They were not seeking justice; they were seeking facts that could be presented in a way that could embarrass important people and win them awards.
While they were going after Joe’s players, a paper in LA was revealing that an Eddie Sutton recruit’s father was getting a package with $1,000 in it. The Lexington paper also never reported Sutton’s drinking problem while he was in Lexington.
The sports reporters at the Herald-Leader and the Courier-Journal do a reasonably good job of covering UK basketball. The editorial boards of both papers use the UK basketball program to condemn the priorities of the university and Kentucky citizens. The editors who direct non-sports reporters are constantly trying to turn up a UK basketball scandal because “exposing” something scandalous about a local “sacred cow” is a proven way to winning a national award.
I don’t think we have much to worry about in terms of Calipari violating anything. We do need to be cognizant of the disappointment that the editorial boards at the Herald-Leader and Courier-Journal will express over his tenure at UK that he hasn’t met their expectations. That is, they will be disappointed if he doesn’t violate something and fulfill their predictions.
Such is media politics.
I think most of this ...
… I can agree with. I’m not sure about ascribing motives to Caroll and York — it is certainly possible to reach that conclusion, but I am unwilling to go there.
I am also not sure of what “smear jobs” you are referring to at the C-J and the H-L on Calipari. Both have repeated the standard media memes, but I don’t think that really qualifies. Pat Forde’s column is much closer to slander than either of the local papers were.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
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