John Calipari Stays Grounded Despite Success

over on Kentucky Ink had an interesting response to this article >>Click Here<<.

“Really good read, but my colleagues in the UK press corps probably aren’t going to be too thrilled with yet another in-depth interview with Katz. I don’t know why he’s taking this path.”

“99% of the UK media is [high quality]. There’s no reason for a cold shoulder [by Calipari].”

[Are you saying a lot of the local media are starting to resent Cal for taking a more national approach with these type of stories?]

“I think that’s a possibility. I don’t think it’s there yet. But if you keep cutting out the local/regional guys, that resentment will grow. He may eventually regret that. Let’s say that 3-4 years from now, UK is still winning “recruiting national championships” but not getting to Final Fours or winning the big one. And maybe there’s more of these Rose/Bledsoe/GPA stories. The fan base will become increasingly impatient, and often your local/regional media plays a big part in either adding fuel to the fire or helping douse the flames. If you’re consistently fair with the media (like Rich Brooks or Joker Phillips, for example) you bank some additional goodwill. I just think it would be wise of him to do that. And I say that not just as someone who would selfishly like more access, but as someone who’d like to see him succeed here and escape the national persona he’s got."

My perspective on this article is that it is payback to Katz for his first ESPN.com article >>>Click Here<<<, taking the earliest reasonable and unbiased look at the Bledsoe controversy as defined by the NYTimes article, and justly deserved. At best, with a few exceptions like Matt Jones at Kentucky Sports Radio, the local press stood mute, MIA while the program and Calipari needed friends, and most took the NYTimes piece at face value without critical analysis, piling on with handwringing and I-told-you so editorializing. Katz seems to be replacing Pat Forde as the Kentucky source reporter for ESPN. A change I heartily applaud!

It could also be construed as a shot across the proverbial bow of the local and regional press by Calipari. In my opinion, the local press was way too willing to believe and assume the worst about the program and its coach despite the flimsy nature of the NYTimes allegations. Calipari may well have been signaling he and the program could and would significantly reduce the role of the local media in covering the team if they persist in being adversarial or even just passive aggressive.

Jeff Drummond’s concern about Calipari’s needing to maintain a working relationship with local reporters and media is probably justified. The program needs ‘HOMERS’, you know, members of the media who routinely generate favorable coverage and come to the defense of a team or player in the midst of controversy. And before someone castigates me for wanting biased press coverage, we’re not talking about abdicating the core tenants of the 4th estate. In addition to writing positive features about the program, a HOMER PRESS fills the role of providing a certain amount of ‘pushback’ when petty insults, allegations, conspiracy theories, or affirmations of wrong-doing are bandied about in the media? They’re the elements of the media who instill discipline by demanding anyone publishing negative information or editorials about the program, players or coach have their facts straight and are not imbuing those facts with unwarranted significance.

Members of the national media can function in this role but it’s more difficult for them as it calls into question their objectivity with regards to other programs looking to them for national exposure – exactly the controversy breasted by ESPN and Dick Vitale’s coverage of Duke. Local media can fill this roll much better. There’s a reason such unfailingly favorable coverage is called HOMER. It’s the kind of behavior EXPECTED from local or ‘home region’ media. Being called a HOMER lacks the same pejorative sting to a local member of the press that it would have to someone in Andy Katz’s position at ESPN.

Which gives rise to the question Calipari could have been asking himself as this Bledsoe controversy broke over his head, “Where are Kentucky’s media homers?!?” Because, for the most part, the local press certainly didn’t have his back.

While Jeff Drummond may be concerned about Calipari currying goodwill with the local media it’s my opinion that such a pursuit should run both ways and it hasn’t in a very long time. In an era where traditional news media have been financially destabilized by the proliferation of online news sites who themselves have yet to develop a profitable business model, the local media need to reassess their relationship with the program. The current Kentucky sports environment, where few recruits are coming from the state of Kentucky, games are played literally all over the country and the BBN is a truly global phenomenon, has a demonstrated need to be able to communicate and promote effectively in the broadest sense possible. There’s an argument that local media can fill this role best but it’s getting thinner all the time. And when you add the fact so many members of the local media fail to actively support a coach and other elements of the program or even turn adversarial just when they are most needed during a controversy, well, it’s hard to fault a coach for finding a different outlet that might pencil out better, all things considered.

Finally, there’s Jeff’s dire warning that Calipari might need the local press 3 or 4 years down the road. I seriously doubt he has any reason to fear that eventuality. First of all, in 3 or 4 years these local media individuals may not even be around; it’s an evolving media landscape and there are a lot of careers being shed. Second, Calipari is in a financial position where he literally gives away hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and in a few years that figure may well inflate to millions. Third, the potential for such program impotence where Calipari might be faulted for a lack of success in the NCAA tournament seems remote in the extreme. Granted there is little certainty in this life, still, having gotten to the final four with UMass and Memphis, how much easier must it be riding a Kentucky thoroughbred? Fourth, if such a scenario as depicted by Drummond of unfulfilled potential should come to pass, how hugely marketable would that still leave Calipari with big time competitive college programs looking to trade up coaches, to say nothing of NBA opportunities. Calipari fairly glows with self confidence and a lack of fear as to what the future could hold in store.

John Calipari values loyalty above everything else in his life. When asked in this article about his relationship with Lebron James he responds, “He’s my friend,” Calipari said of James. “I’ve gotten to know him over the years. He’s one of the neatest guys because he’s loyal to his friends and if anybody knows me, being Italian, it’s about family and friends and being loyal to each other. He’s as loyal as I’ve ever seen. But he holds people accountable around him.” So if the local media wants more access I think it’s obvious what coin Calipari redeems above all else – loyalty, I don’t know how he could be any more clear.