NCAABB, Memphis Tigers, John Calipari
When John Calipari attended what is likely to be his last public appearance in Memphis for a long time, the fans weren't terribly thrilled to see him. In fact, he even brought a security detail with him, just in case. There wasn't any violence, but fan reaction made it clear that the people who had loved him so much over the past 9 years were no longer in awe of his greatness, but instead felt bitter and jaded after his departure.Should Memphis fans really be bitter at Calipari? While it's certainly understandable in a way, it really doesn't make a ton of sense. Every fan feels upset when a local favorite leaves town, especially when it seems like they're on top of their game, and poised for greatness, as Calipari was as he left Memphis.
On the other hand, he took a program that was 45-43 over 3 years under the previous 2 coaches, and was in jeopardy of fading into obscurity. He took them from being an average team to being a consistent championship contender. In 9 years, he won more games than any other coach in team history, and also had the highest winning percentage of any coach in school history.
Sure, he's leaving for more money and a glamour job at Kentucky. Yeah, he's taking some of the prized recruits that Memphis fans were excited to see next season. Sure, the program will likely be a shell of its former self for a couple years.But in the end, John Calipari did something that almost anyone else in the world would have done, if they were in his position. Kentucky is the Holy Grail of college backetball coaching jobs. The list of NCAA basketball coaches who would pass up the chance to coach at Kentucky is a very short one, especially for the money that UK was offering. Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun and probably Bill Self wouldn't leave their teams for anything. But every other coach in the country, no matter what they say, would at the very least, think long and hard about coaching at the University of Kentucky.
John Calipari did a lot for Memphis. And while it hurts that he's gone, they should never forget what he did for the program, and how much he meant to the school for the better part of a decade. Go ahead and be upset that he's leaving. Mourn his departure like the loss of a good friend. But don't hate him for it.
Calipari receives lukewarm reception at charity fundraiser [Commercial Appeal]
Coach Cal Returns To Memphis - With Bodyguards [SportsByBrooks]
4/29/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect
SInce when does 4 other playes mean those were Duke players? I didn't see that in your post, just that there are 4 random players mentioned. If they were Duke players, I'm sure you would have named them in your post. But hey, you've got Cal at UK now so enjoy it while it lasts. I don't need to do any research to know that Cal is a billion times bigger scum bag than Coach K will ever be.
But just so you can have fun with reading about it, Cal has been involved in recruiting issues pretty recently, so it is more recent than 13 years ago. How about this issue with the FedEx president and Memphis Booster Dave Bronczek placing calls to Oseye Gaddy? I won't bore other Q members with it, I'm sure they could care less. But if you want some info on it, check it out here:
www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/9666183
I'm sure you'll say that Cal didn't know anything about it, had nothing to do with it, etc. But it always seems like whenever Cal is around there is always some shenannigans going on. I'm just saying...
4/29/09 | Drakesrake_77 | 82 respect
Seriously though, Memphis peeps should not be mad at Cal. At least he didn't leave them with a recruiting scandal too.
You must not have read all my post. Probably saw Corey Magette and knew I had you dead to rights! And I'm glad you explained your no mathematician because last time I checked, 4 players accepting money from 1996-1998 is more than *several* questionable thing AND it is also over *several* years. At least I quoted my source, instead of vaguely referencing something that happened with Calipari at UMASS in 1996. Further proving I caught you talking out your a--, that's 13 ago years too. You are running your own argument into the ground. I'm not calling out Coach K or Duke, I'm calling you out. Do your research, quit making vague references, AND MAKE ME PROUD SON!!!!
4/29/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect
Basically it goes like this:
Dan Wetzel says this in a CBS Sportsline article:
Wow, as bad or *worse* than Cal? First of all, Coach K had no idea that this had happened. Secondly, it was investigated by the NCAA and they didn't do anything because there was nothing to do. It happened outside of Coach K's perogative. If anything, Maggette is a liar and that's on him, not on Coach K.
Secondly, this was in 1996? I'm not mathemetician, but isn't that like 13 years ago? So the best thing you can do to try and call out Duke or Coach K is come up with one borderline thing from 13 years ago? Come on dude, in what world does that make Coach K even close to Cal much less "just as bad or worse" as you put it. That's ludicrious.
If you have a track record to point out of Coach K doing *several* questionable things over *several* years, then come back with that. If you've only got ONE thing and that ONE thing was 13 years ago, that's weak sauce bro.
4/29/09 | Drakesrake_77 | 82 respect
Seriously though, Memphis peeps should not be mad at Cal. At least he didn't leave them with a recruiting scandal too.
Myron Piggie - A former AAU coach who illegally paid Duke player Corey Maggette.
Basically it goes like this:
Dan Wetzel says this in a CBS Sportsline article:
4/14/09 | WhoDey | 6 respect
Pat couldn't have said it better.
4/14/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
According to you. But if he retired today, he wouldn't be known as one of the greatest of all time. Win a couple championships with Kentucky, and he would be. And it's a a lot easier than it would be at Memphis, and would be more prestigious at Kentucky.
4/14/09 | ferrariracing13
Yes but John Calapari has already made his name, he doesnt need to make his name again
4/14/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
See? That's why I left him off the list and stuck with retired coaches.
4/14/09 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
Self? Nooooooooooooooooooooo. Self and his hairpiece have no place on that list.
4/14/09 | WhoDey | 6 respect
Cold? Considering Kentucky has the most all-time wins in history, I think not. It's about the prestige. The money was part of it, but this is a guy that wanted to go to a historically rich program.
4/14/09 | ntimid8
Great write up Pat!
I personally have no animosity for the guy. He (and his wife) did great things not just for the U of M but also for the city as a whole.
Who could blame a guy for "living out his dream" and doing it making mad money?
I could go on and bash the people of the city I spent the first 28 years of my life, but will refrain. They don't know any better. They should be thankful Cal was here in the first place, wish him the best and move forward with Pastner at the reins.
4/14/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
Seriously though, Memphis peeps should not be mad at Cal. At least he didn't leave them with a recruiting scandal too.
Honestly, I had him on the list to begin with, along with Rick Pitino, Roy Williams and Tom Izzo, and I was considering Self and Calhoun. But then I decided to leave out all of the active coaches, because I wasn't sure where I would want to draw the line. But yes, as much as I hate Duke, Coach K is another great example of a guy who could do well somewhere else, but he has reached unimaginable heights because he's at a top-tier organization like Duke.
4/14/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect
How does Coach K not make that list?
Seriously though, Memphis peeps should not be mad at Cal. At least he didn't leave them with a recruiting scandal too.
4/14/09 | WhoDey | 6 respect
I don't think you can be bitter after all he's done. I still love Pitino.
4/14/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
But once you think about what he did to a no name school you realize that he built rep there like nothing he could ever do in Kentucky. If I were a top recruit I would go to Memphis to become a better player for the NBA
If you think of the top 5-10 college coaches of all time, whose names come up? Not the guys who coach at Conference USA and other mid-major conferences. It's the guys like John Wooden, Adolf Rupp, Dean Smith, Lute Olsen, Bobby Knight and other guys who made their names at big-time schools.
4/14/09 | ferrariracing13
And it's not JUST about the money. Once he rebuilds the program at Kentucky, he has a chance to do more there than he could do with any other school in the country. They could already end up being an excellent team this year. Once he starts getting his recruits in place, things could really blow up there, and they will be a better team than he EVER could put together at Memphis... simply because it's Kentucky.
But once you think about what he did to a no name school you realize that he built rep there like nothing he could ever do in Kentucky. If I were a top recruit I would go to Memphis to become a better player for the NBA
4/14/09 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
he won more coaches than any other coach in team history
That's some impressive work.
4/14/09 |
Pat
|
4515 respect
Is it? Because I'd do it in a heartbeat.
And it's not JUST about the money. Once he rebuilds the program at Kentucky, he has a chance to do more there than he could do with any other school in the country. They could already end up being an excellent team this year. Once he starts getting his recruits in place, things could really blow up there, and they will be a better team than he EVER could put together at Memphis... simply because it's Kentucky.
4/14/09 | ferrariracing13
Leaving 2 straight years of near March Madness champoinships for more money! Thats cold.
4/14/09 | yanksawboy | 6 respect
They should be upset of that green stuff you buy with took John over!