Big Blue Linkapalooza: Calipari Extension Edition

The big news today was the John Calipari 2-year extension that's worth a bit of cash.  You can check out the post just below for the numbers.  As you might expect, today's Linkapalooza has a ton of reaction, including this one from Seth Davis (Hat tip:  Wildcats Thunder):

Now, for the rest of the links:

• If Calipari ever leaves for NBA, it won’t be for the money :: John Clay’s Sidelines
  If Calipari ever departs for a second crack at the professional ranks, it will having nothing to do with money and everything to do with wanting to prove he can coach there.

• David Climer: NCAA avoids big issues while voiding victories | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

  All told, there are 20 athletics programs around the country that continue to publish incorrect records for their coaches and/or teams. Among others, Alabama credits football Coach Nick Saban with 149 career wins, including five in 2007 that were vacated by the NCAA.

  I wonder if this is truly "all told," but the bottom line is, the schools need to act or the NCAA does.

  Dennis Thomas, please call your office.

• Dybas: NCAA warned Huskies, Kentucky about Kanter :: UW Basketball

  The NCAA called the University of Washington compliance office shortly after star Turkish recruit Enes Kanter verbally committed to play basketball there for the 2010-11 season to warn them about Kanter’s eligibility issues, Sportspress Northwest has learned.

  This should put to bed any conspiracy theories about NCAA president Mark Emmert and Kanter.

• Eric Crawford | Kentucky's coach Calipari, Louisville's Pitino play game of slogan wars :: The Courier-Journal

  Still consider: Pitino produced six first-round draft picks in eight years at UK (plus two more that were drafted after he left). Calipari has topped that number in two seasons.

  That's simply an amazing paragraph, by any measure.  This isn't what the story is about, but that paragraph is striking.  It isn't as if Pitino had a lousy career at Kentucky.

• Joker Phillips signs late 2011 Lineman - KentuckySports.co
  This is definitely good news. Good job, coach Phillips.

• Kanter’s pro career will alter perception of year at UK : The Kentucky Kernel

  Enes Kanter isn’t afraid to be bold with his assertions. He told Utah to "get ready for the Undertaker." He said his sport of choice outside of basketball is ping-pong. He also said UK would have won the championship if he was eligible to play.

  I think he is right about that.  But we will never know.

• Five Questions with Former UK Big Man Enes Kanter

• UK Football Not As Dark As Predicted - Kentucky Sports Network
  Ira Combs provides a little Chris Low bashing.

• T.J. Warren Getting Calls from Kentucky

• SEC's power on display in World Series :: FLORIDA TODAY

• UGA's Fox gets easier escape clause in contract

• BBC News - Lean gene 'linked to heart risk'
  Sort of counterintuitive, or at least it flies in the face of conventional wisdom.

• Josh Harrellson hopes to be terrific garbageman for Knicks :InsideHoops

  Josh Harrellson, the No. 45 overall pick whom the Knicks acquired from the Hornets in a draft-night deal for about $750,000, said he thinks he can have a long NBA career as — his words — a garbage man.

  There are several smart guys who do this. Those that dedicate themselves to the little things, like fellow garbage man Chuck Hayes, can have successful careers in the NBA.

• Kentucky's John Calipari: College's Third-Highest Paid Coach :: LostLettermen.com
  I think Krzyzewski is probably paid more, but Duke does not have to reveal his salary.

• AP Interview: Todd charted UK course toward Top 20 - Beaumont Enterprise
  Congratulations and happy retirement to Dr. Lee Todd.

• Calipari on the SEC teleconference

  Calipari reiterated that he is "happy" and "humble" to be the coach at Kentucky for two more years. A local reporter pointed out that no contract is binding and asked how binding this new contract is to Kentucky. "Obviously, there are buyouts and all that kind of stuff in there, but I'm excited about being there," Caliapri said. "I'm excited about this opportunity. It took me a long time to get to a place like Kentucky. No disrespect for Memphis or UMass, they are both great programs, but to have an opportunity like I have, to be connected to our fan base like we are and to be par to of a situation that is so passionate, I'm excited about it." One thing worth noting is that if Calipari leaves at any point between now and March 30, 2014, he will pay a $1 million buyout. Coupled with the $1 million he'd lose from not fulfilling the $1 million retention bonus. Even by Calipari's standards, $2 million is a lot of money to leave on the table. Will that ever stop the NBA coaching rumors?

  Until 2014, yes, it will. That it 3 years from now.

• Andy Katz and a lot of basketball news
  Good stuff here. Read the whole thing.

• Kentucky Sports Radio :: To Few Kentucky Fans Surprise - Rondo Called A Draft Surprise

• Ben Hansbrough signs overseas contract - CBSSports.com
  Good for him. That's pretty much the right place for him. As a bonus, he'll get paid when the NBA guys are waiting for the CBA to happen.

• Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits - CBSSports.com
  Uh oh. Need to keep an eye on this one ...

• Happy Hour Grumblings: Terrell Owens, Jim Riggleman, John Calipari - Yahoo! Sports

  I'm also sure of this—every time his name comes up in the pub, the word "corrupt" immediately follows it. Don't be surprised in the next few years if one small slip up by Cal or one of his players leads to a Tressel-esque chest of past violations. Call that my futures wager of the week.

  I'll take that bet, Pete.  My email is available above, or below.