Memphis Commercial Appeal just posted Geoff Calkin’s latest column in which he reports that Memphis is working overtime to keep John Calipari.
An excerpt:
Somewhere in the late afternoon or early evening Monday, Memphis vs. Kentucky turned into one for the ages.
Could mighty Kentucky overpower Memphis? Or would plucky Memphis pull an upset for all time?
As of press time, it still wasn’t over. Syracuse vs. Connecticut, eat your heart out.
Those two teams played for 226 minutes a few weeks ago, and everyone thought it was a big deal. Memphis and Kentucky officials must be chortling at that now.
They were going at it all day Sunday and Monday.
At first, everyone thought Calipari was leaving. It was a blowout. Not even close.
Kentucky was reportedly offering $40 million over six years. Memphis couldn’t possibly withstand that.
Sure enough, Memphis boosters started to assemble a list of candidates to pursue when Calipari left.
Here, too, is Gary Parrish’s update for CBS Sportsline. Gary lives in Memphis, by the way.
I’ve got that sick feeling that he will stay in Memphis.
I’m worried Ky is about to make a huge mistake. JC may be a bit lacking in integrity.
Do we really want DuJuan Wagners in our uniform? I don’t want UK to simply be a feeder for the pros.
There’s a better way. UK should know better, that it has to be careful, given our history of cheating.
Let’s wait for Izzo.
I don’t like the way this going. Did we get played for a bigger contract? Someone get Mike Anderson on the phone!
Kentucky Sports Radio is reporting that a source has told them the reason for the “delay” isn’t because things are going south but because UK will not say or do anything until Calipari has signed his contract.
That same source tells them that there is a “98% chance that Calipari will be in Lexington tomorrow” (direct quote) although it will not be for a press conference or a pep rally, just some good old fashioned negotiating.
Let us hope the source is correct.
Mark Liptak
Izzo wouldn’t take the job. Quit basing this on who you want.
Let’s face it – no one has the positives Calipari brings. He has some “risk” too however. As for being a “feeder” to the pros, that was almost UK under Pitino. Mashburn gave us 3 years. Walker and Mercer – 2 years. Even Tubby had some of this: Morris 1 year, then 2/3 of a year after not getting drafted. Rondo 2 years. Pitino wasn’t facing the high school to the NBA trend when he was at UK. Calipari has had some of these one/two and done players, but only because he is getting the best players. UK can’t have the best recruits and expect them all to stay 4 years. Pick you poison – talent that needs 4 years to develop but hopefully can leaad championship teams (not a lot of those left in this day and age) or great talent right away that leaves you early.