Last night Duke hammered Kentucky in Atlanta. That wasn't the real story though. The real story was John Calipari saying Duke flops during the halftime interview. "They're flopping all over the place. In the NBA, they'd all be suspended," said Calipari who of course said he was just joking after the game ended.
That's no joke Cal, Duke flops. Hell everyone has known this for 15-20 years now. It's their Modus operandi. Kinda like your modus operandi is paying players recruiting one year players. So don't say Duke flops and then backtrack because you're already stated the obvious.
With all that being said I was actually happy to see Kentucky lose last night. Even if it was to Duke. And I was happy to see Calipari look disoriented on the sideline while his team was being hammered. I've always been under the impression that Calipari is not a good basketball coach. He's an excellent recruiter who just happens to coach. Last year's championship was mainly won because Cal had a once in a generation player surrounded by teammates who played well together. When they won people lost their shit and thought this team would win multiple championships. I'm hear to tell ya I believe Calipari has won his only championship at Kentucky. So last night was good to see him lose to a coach who can actually coach and recruit. Whether your feelings on Coach K are positive or negative, you have to give him credit in this regard in that the man can coach a team during a game. I've never had this feeling with Calipari unless he has a once in a generation player on his team.
Megan Fox looking better than ever!.... There is a missing jet liner, with people on it..... At least violent crimes have decreased in the U.S..... The Eminem/Bruno stunt was staged, of course it was.... The Yankees set a new record.... Hog Flu has invaded the Bay Area.... Octomom is back!.... Of course Michael Moore would be the one person happy to see GM file for Chapter 11
Why the one-and-done rule in the NBA doesn't make sense (Real Clear Sports)
John Calipari could become the first coach in history to have two Final Four appearances taken away if these allegations against Memphis are true. If convicted of "major Violations" Memphis will have to forfeit their entire Final Four year of 2007-2008.
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal the NCAA alleged the prospective player became eligible after an "unknown individual" completed his SAT. The player, said the NCAA, "subsequently competed for the men's basketball team through the 2007-08 season, which included his participation in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship."
For privacy reasons they left the players name off of the story. But everyone knows it's Derrick Rose. The player though has denied the charges.
The real story is that John Calipari conveniently will not be punished at all. Even if Memphis is guilty, Calipari did nothing wrong because wasn't compliant. How convenient!
Rachelle Leah to start the mourning.... Biden makes fun of Obama over his over use of the teleprompter-He will be next to be thrown under Obama's buss-I wonder what Obama himself thinks of Biden's comments?..... What will be the Tonight Show like with Conan O'Brien..... The Washington Nationals and Capitals are linked to a steroid bust
Billy Gillispie files a lawsuit against Kentucky (KC Star)
John Calipari and Memphis charged with major violations (Yahoo Sports)
After two days of speculation, John Calipari has finally accepted the Kentucky job. He will become the highest paid coach in the country with a contract that will give him around $5 million a year for seven years totalling $35 million.
The domino's are already starting to fall. Both Memphis recruits DeMarcus Cousins and Xavier Henry are expected to follow Calipari to Kentucky. Also the nation's top un-signed player John Wall is expected to go to Lexington as well. And with Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson expected to return, Kentucky can already contend for a national championship.
Memphis is looking at Missouri coach Mike Anderson and USC coach Tim Floyd as a replacement. Whoever Memphis replaces Calipari with, they are certain to go from an Sweet Sixteen team to a team that can barely compete in the Conference USA after all these loses.
But the deal is done and let the Calipari and Pitino feud live on.
The rumors have flied today about Memphis coach John Calipari talking to Kentucky about their coaching vacancy. I have one question about this possible move, why?
Calipari is a great coach, who took both small-time schools UMASS and Memphis to the final four's. If the Tigers could hit their free throws last season, they would have been National Champions.
He is also a great recruiter, who has pulled great talent from around the nation and convinced them to go to Memphis.
I think it's a win-win situation for Calipari if he leaves Memphis for Kentucky. He won't have to answer questions about playing in a lesser conference. He won't have to work as hard anymore to recruit players. Kentucky basketball is a brand onto itself, their name brings people to that school. He is also a hard person not to dislike. He will do pretty much any type of interview and he lets you into is mind. He would be perfect for Kentucky. So what's the problem you ask?
Kentucky has a long history of getting into trouble with the NCAA. They were given the NCAA 'Death Penalty' for the 1952-1953 season. They were almost given the 'death penalty' again during the Eddie Sutton era. This school has always had a problem with going over the edge when it comes to the NCAA rule book.
Also there has been lingering questions about how Calipari has been able to pull such great talent to these small schools. His first major recruit to Memphis was DeJuan Wagner. Back in 2001, Wagner decided to attend Memphis. Coincidentally his father was hired as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations. While no sanctions have been brought upon Calipari and Memphis there has always been this lingering question.
Add this to Kentucky's past and you could have a recipe for disaster. It will be interesting to see though if Calipari excepts the Kentucky job. And it would also be interesting to see the battles he would have with Rick Pitino, because neither of these two particularly like each other.
All right maybe this isn't breaking news, but Kentucky is going to call a press conference to announce that Gillispie won't be returning to Lexington.
Gillispie lead the Wildcats to the second-most loses in the programs 106-years as a program. Their 20 wins this year wasn't enough to get a NCAA tournament appearance since 1991, and they weren't eligible that year because of probation.
Gillispie's attitude in general lead to his downfall. He didn't exactly endure himself to the community. He had a high-profile run in with ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards. He was recruiting 8Th grade students.
His tenure in Lexington was a bizarre one to say the least.
The first candidate for the Kentucky job will be Florida coach Billy Donovan. He is the logical choice because of his ties to the program. It will be interesting to see you they will hire.
The rumors have been flying for a while now that Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie will be fired. While Kentucky isn't saying anything, there is speculation that Kentucky will fire Gillispie either today or in the coming days.
Also there has been the rumors of who will replace Gillispie. You hear the usual names like Billy Donovan and John Calipari. And you hear the names of rising coaches like Anthony Grant and Sean Miller. So who replaces Gillispie if he is fired?
-Florida coach Billy Donovan makes the most sense. He was an assistant there under Rick Pitino. After leading Florida to back-to-back National Championships, he was the leading candidate to replace Tubby Smith a couple of years ago. He declined the offer, accepted the Orlando Magic job, and then promptly went back to Florida. Donovan makes the most sense because of his ties to Kentucky. He knows the culture and the people around the school. Also he knows his basketball team will never be bigger than the football team at Florida. Pope Tebow and Cardinal Meyer are just too big there. He knows he would be the king of Lexington. Also he is not coming off a national championship season. He would be the perfect choice.
- Memphis coach John Calipari will always be a hot commodity. He coaches at a lower level school at Memphis and needs to be in a league with tougher competition. I don't see it. Calipari has thrived coaching at mid-major schools like Memphis and UMASS. I don't see him going anywhere.
- Anthony Grant of VCU is the wild card. Kentucky has already gone with the unproven coach in Gillispie. Why would they want Grant? He would bring in youth and energy to a program that has gone stale lately. I wouldn't turn my back on Grant yet. He hasn't joined either Georgia or Alabama yet, and he may be waiting for his shot at Kentucky.
What ever happens at Kentucky it will be interesting. I do expect Kentucky to fire Gillispie. He was a bad fit there, and he seems not get along with the boosters and alums of Kentucky. And that will be the key to whoever coaches at Lexington next.
Not only do you have to be a coach at Kentucky, you have to be part politician. You have to please the alums and boosters of that school. They want to feel loved and appreciated to. Whoever can do these things, will be successful at Kentucky.
Well one thing is for certain. If Kentucky fires Gillispie we won't have the awkward interviews anymore with Jeannine Edwards. And we won't have these tribute videos to them.
Jamie Hammer to start the mourning... Miguel Tejada gets a year probation for lieing to congress... B.J. Mullens is leaving Ohio St. after one year... Villanova kicked Duke's ass last night... The Oakland A's want to move to San Jose.... And Marissa Miller
