Calipari The Godfather Makes Josh Selby an Offer He Can't Refuse

by Glenn Logan on Jul 20, 2009 8:18 PM EDT in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

Oh, wait -- you mean that the evil La Cosa Nostra John Calipari has NOT made Josh Selby an offer? Really? Well, none that we know about, at least.

The sturm und drang from the decommitment of highly coveted Josh Selby from the Tennessee Volunteers has been incredibly predicatable, and I just want to remind everyone in the Big Blue Nation that we will be hearing this same story over and over and over again. The William Wesley-Nike-Calipari connection will, from now on, pop up every time UK beats out a non-Nike competitor for any recruit. You have been warned.

Not only that, but on the flimsiest of evidence, every Calipari hater out there is absolutely falling all over themselves to hype this as a clear instance of Coach Cal breaking the rules. Unfortunately, the facts that are currently available not only don't bear that out, they make a mockery of it.

First, and most important, Selby has not committed to UK. That's right, folks, despite the hand-wringing and vitriol out there over this situation, UK has not gained anything so far. Second, if a kid like Selby changes his mind over a conversation with a guy like William Wesley (a conversation his mother said was "not a connection" that all the finger-pointers are suggesting it was -- and she had the virtue of actually being present!) was all it took to get Selby to change his mind, it is clear that The Sweaty One had not been taking care of business. His sudden desire to run off and coach in Israel instead of babysitting his apparently wishy-washy star commitment in the middle of one of the hottest recruiting periods of the year is, shall we say, looking rather ill-advised, no matter where Selby winds up. Last time I checked, UT was paying Pearl millions to look after their basketball interests, not to be conspicuously absent and allow others to whisper in Selby's ear.

But hey, with that big, fat juicy contract Brucie just signed, he probably won't get too worked up. And besides, I think this is a payback for the Scotty Hopson situation -- you know, the guy who committed early to Mississippi State and then decided Brucie was prettier in orange? Karma, Bruce, Karma.

If Kentucky gets Selby, it will no doubt turn the current rivalry between Pearl and Calipari into a cold war, and frankly, that's fine with me. Anybody Bruce Pearl hates is a friend of mine, because he is the one coach in all of the SEC that I truly despise. His own words condemn him, and even though I rarely miss a chance to hate on him, at least I have genuine, indisputable evidence of his loathsomeness, unlike the Calipari detractors.

Me, I hope Selby comes just to piss off Bruce Pearl and his assistants. I don't hate the Vols, but I do despise Pearl, and seeing him in a huff over one of his players leaving UT and coming to UK would make me smile, big and wide for days.

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Sorry, but I can’t get that worked up. As far as coming to Kentucky, why not? Didn’t all those commitments to Memphis end up at UK?
I hope Cal gets them all. Whether he does it above board or not, isn’t for us to fret over.
I see in the poll the majority think we’re going to the final four so he will need all these guys to do it.
Why worry about what people think of UK? W’e’re way beyond that. Win and do it with who ever we can get. That’s what its all about.
No more hundred or probably now, thousand dollar hand shakes. Don’t need to. Everyone is seeing him as the ‘door’ to the NBA.
Heck, if we don’t send at least three a year, wouldn’t it be a failure?
We got him, enjoyt the ride and what might stop the train ride, we’ll worry about that llater.

by TheParisGuy on Jul 20, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

Pearl

I would so love to see Selby leave UT for UK. You know Bruce would be making bitter references about it for years in the media.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jul 20, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, Bruce Pearl.

I equate Pearl and pretty much everything having to do with him with those things in life that you know you don’t want to see or you know that you shouldn’t be watching, but, for some strange reason you just can’t tear yourself away from.

I honestly love to hate Bruce Pearl and I find him kind of fascinating in a “crazy, oh-my-gosh this is horrible but I just can’t help but wonder about”, kind of way. It’s totally bizarre, I know, and I should probably seek help. : )

I don’t have a specific opinion about this Selby situation as it seems there is quite a bit to the story that has yet to unfold, but I will say that I would dearly love for there to be an intense and super-heated story line to spur on a UK/UT rivalry. And as silly as it may be, that would surely be great entertainment for this UK fan for this coming season and for seasons to come.

by BigSkyCat on Jul 20, 2009 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

Ahhh!

Very funny, that second paragraph. Loved. It.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Jul 20, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Do we really need another PG

with Bledsoe and Wall? (fat chance)

by BleedinUKBlue on Jul 21, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

We are talking ...

… a 2010 kid here. I doubt Wall is here in 2010.

But your point isn’t a bad one. We are recruiting every 2010 PG in the class.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Jul 21, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

haven't you heard?

the DDMO actually was designed for 5 PG’s……

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Jul 22, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Heh.

Sounds like fun!

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Jul 22, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Calipari Glories In Glare

Don’t expect John Calipari to be taken aback by the Selby situation or any other UK-focused publicity. Mike Pratt explains the perfect marriage.

"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."

--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787

by Wild Weasel on Jul 20, 2009 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

Most of the reaction from UT fans we've seen

has been to lash out at Nike/Wes and Selby first, UK and Calipari second. Recruiting kids who are committed elsewhere is fair game, as you mentioned with Hopson. If any of the Nike stuff is true I’d think it was bad for college basketball whether it was UK that benefited from it or not, so whether you get the kid or not I hope the implications are false.

This rivalry is going to Defcon 1 with or without Selby. We were plenty good at disliking UK and Calipari when they weren’t the same thing, and it seems most return the favor with Pearl. One of us is going to have a lot of fun at the other’s expense this year.

Will - Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Jul 20, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

Actually ....

… recruiting kids who have verbally committed, in my view, is very bad behavior. I would not support Calipari doing that. Yes, it is not an NCAA violation, but it is just plain wrong and I hope that a UK coach never does that.

You are right, if Wesley tried to persuade Selby to leave because of a shoe company, that is a problem if not an NCAA violation. I would not support such a thing no matter what.

And yes, the basketball rivalry will be strong again next year, but make no mistake — Calipari is the reason. I, for one, do not consider UT and Pearl one and the same. I actually have a soft spot for UT since I lived a good part of my life in Bristol. I have no bad feelings whatever about Lane Kiffin other than to marvel at his recklessness, and I admire Pat Summit as much as any coach in any game. But Bruce Pearl made his feelings about my home state known years ago, and I will not be forgiving him that slight anytime soon.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Jul 21, 2009 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Faux Umbrage Alert

I for one am outraged by this!

Uh…how fast can Louisville change to a Nike school? Tracy McGrady ads can only take you so far…

by don'tshootmei'macard on Jul 21, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions

OK ,Calipari has done something??? Well, NO

However, I dont like the look of impropriety either, but it shouldnt be shifted OUR way.

If NIKE did this, then let the NCAA go after THEM. If WWW did it, (and I am only assuming that it doesnt violate any rules here) and he did it on his own, then let them go after HIM.

Unless someone makes an actual connection to Calipari in this situation, then c’est la vie. I know it sounds like skirting, and MAYBE it is, but it’s not a rules violation as far as I know of.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Jul 21, 2009 8:29 AM EDT reply actions

There is no "look of impropriety."

None. This is made up almost out of whole cloth. There is no evidence whatever that I am aware of that Wesley has ever interfered with recruiting as has been alleged by some UT sites and other Calipari haters.

The problem is, some UK fans cannot let go of a past many of them can barely remember. As for the haters, well, they are what they are.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Jul 21, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions