President's Day: What college basketball coach (past or present) would make the best President?

by SevenRings on Feb 20, 2012 2:04 PM EST

I was out running errands today and was listening to Jeff Goodman and Bruce Pearl's show called Inside College Basketball on satellite radio. They had an interesting topic that asked the question, "what college coach would make the best President.?"

Pearl went first and chose Rick Pitino. He compared him to JFK in a few ways (that escape me right now) and Goodman said hands down it would be Coach Cal. Goodman said that no one can sell an idea like Calipari and blow smoke. He also mentioned that Cal had escaped any trouble at his previous coaching stops. I found it interesting that the 2 choices were coaching the 2 most prominent universities in the state of Kentucky.

They opened the phone lines up and got the opinions of the callers. The usual suspects were mentioned like Coach K, Bill Self, Bobby Knight etc. I really have no opinion on this but thought it was a fun conversation and wondered what coaches the readers of ASOB would choose. I suspect the responses (if any) will be blue tinted but I pose the question to you nonetheless.

So in honor of President's Day, who ya got and why?

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I should be picking a present or past UK coach

But my heart and mind tell me that as of this moment it would be Anthony Grant. A man of great integrity…!

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Feb 20, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions

I have to agree.

That guy is something else. Did any one else think he looked good in a blue tie the other night :-)

by JohnPike on Feb 23, 2012 6:02 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

as a hetero female

I’d like to point out the EXTREME HANDSOME-NESS of Anthony Grant ;)

by blue kentucky girl on Feb 23, 2012 8:15 PM EST up reply actions

Is that heavy political breathing I hear in the background????

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Feb 23, 2012 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

Hmmm

Cal certainly has the charisma for the job, but is likely too polarizing to be able to accomplish much.

I think Tom Izzo would be a good choice. Good coach, knows how to make the people around him better and he’s always had a good reputation.

Statistics is the part of mathematics that God didn't invent. - Ethan Smith

by JLeverenz on Feb 20, 2012 8:26 PM EST reply actions

Honestly I don't like my politics mixed with my sports.....never good to mix stupidity with pleasure.....lol

but if I have to pick one I am picking Jerry Tarkanian…….something about the inmates running the asylum comes to mind…..

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Feb 20, 2012 8:48 PM EST reply actions

I concur Glenn....

I’ve been a part of too many subject boards which devolved into rancor during the crazy season of elections. It’s poison driving wedges between people who otherwise enjoyed good fellowship over a common interest.

Also we are talking different skill sets with the different positions, what any coach brings to the table are different from what the President has to do. I would say that Cal is a reader (including history) and good probably grow into the job, but I certainly wouldn’t wish it on him. You guys eat candidates and spit out the bones. and the vitriol of sports “fan-boys” have nothing on those of political maniacs.

Generally speaking a coach has to worry about the NCAA rules, which are sometimes weird and foolish, but at least they are a standard that can be known. Politics.. who knows what will come up? Once there was a line between one’s personal life and the public one, not today. I wouldn’t wish it on my best friend.

Back to basketball…:-)

by blenheim bard on Feb 21, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with Glenn and JL

but since it’s seven asking.

Joe B Hall.

by sweasyf on Feb 21, 2012 7:55 PM EST reply actions

I don't see this as a political question at all, but more about image and public personality

Bill Self has a polished but folksy charm, and is handsome in a very nonoffensive, middle-of-the-road way—I can see him shaking hands and kissing babies. Certain types of voters would eat up Roy Williams golly-gee cornpone shtick. Calipari is too controversial and grandiose—he’d be an absolutely beloved candidate among one niche and hated by everyone else. Then of course there’s Coach K. His platitudes and the aura of success and untouchablility are big plusses. His unpronouncable, unspellable name would seem to be a major detriment, but with our current president, maybe that matters less than it used to.

There! I hope I didn’t offend anyone’s delicate-flower sensibilities by “talking politics” :)

by blue kentucky girl on Feb 21, 2012 8:44 PM EST reply actions