Joe Posnanski
Here’s a good column from Kansas City Star columnist and SI contributor Joe Posnanski on John Calipari, written just last week.
Joe says John just rubs some people the wrong way.
An excerpt:
Why? Well, that part’s hard to explain. Yes, there are a few public incidents you can point to … there was the time he called a reporter a “bleeping Mexican idiot,” because the reporter dared give him a D in a midseason report card. There was the time the NCAA made Massachusetts vacate its 1996 Final Four appearance – Calipari coached that team – because star Marcus Camby had been paid by an agent. There were the many, many times that people felt like he went way over the edge in the way he went after officials. And so on.
But the public incidents do not add up to the general disdain that so many seem to feel about Calipari. There’s something about the way he looks. He can’t help himself. Cal is America’s college basketball bad guy. I suspect many people across the nation knock Memphis out of their March Madness brackets early simply because they want John Calipari out.
And I’m not the only one who suspects that.
“Each round we go, more and more people pick us to lose,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t know if it’s their opinion or their hope.”
He knows. It’s their hope. John Calipari just sets people off.
Jeepers, John!
You be one negative nelly!
Does anyone pass your immaculate conception test?
That’s Joe’s piece, not mine. And Joe is really good, by the way. I’m willing to keep an open mind about Mr. Calipari. He brings a lot of excitement. Let’s just hope he doesn’t bring the NCAA, too, if you know what I mean.
John, I am with you on that thinking…….
And already the UK beat writer is digging up negative press? Clearly this guy is a Kansas fan and is angry that Coach Cal landed Xavier Henry whose parents starred at KU.
If what Joe writes is true John Calipari is EXACTLY the guy I want coaching Kentucky.
Rick Pitino “rubbed” (and still does rub) people the wrong way….and that turned out rather well didn’t it? All he does is win…and so does Calipari although he’s not going to win at the same ungodly percentage in the SEC as he does in C-USA.
But his ability to be welcomed into the home of any recruit in America is what makes the difference in my book between him and say a good young coach like Travis Ford.
Mark Liptak
Ben, that’s not true about Joe. He is very even-handed, and if anything has been accused of giving too many people a break. You talk to anyone in basketball and they will tell you that a lot of people feel that way about Calipari. He’s a love-him or hate-him guy. There aren’t too many opinions in between. Like I said, I’m keeping an open mind.
And besides, I’m going to give you info pro and con on this blog. It’s not going to be all one way.
John,
Didn’t you know your job is to trumpet the greatness that is Kentucky Basketball in all its aspects?
John,
I agree with pros and cons, just that your timing of posting this was uncanny in regards to deflating some high hopes
At least Cal seems a good fit, where Billy seemed “round peg, square hole” from day one (and proved to be just that).
I commend you on your work today, great updates! Twitter may be my favorite thing since sliced bread. So it sounds this is all but done? Any quotes from John Wall or Cousins, Henry?
“Jerk” is the word that comes to mind with Cal-State Memphis…Ask anyone who’s had to work with him for any period of time…If you can help him, he’ll have no use for you.
I was in Mexico celebrating my birthday March 27th when I got the news UK had let Mr. G. As a native of Kentucky and graduate of UK the past 2 seasons have been very painful.
I mentioned to my wife Cal would be a good choice.
Of those that might consider UK, he is the best choice.
Go Cats
Actually I am in total agreement with that statement about Calipari. Meet him once about 13 years ago. He tried to make a joke then about which shirt I had on. I was wearing a UK shirt. Needless to say I was not too impressed with him or his strange idea of a joke. Actually he seem almost have snobby if you asked me.
I wonder if UK is forgetting lessons from last time and not properly vetting again. I know everyone wants a new coach, including me. I just prefer someone who could rub UK fans “the wrong way” and has already done so to one.
I remember lots of fans and friends saying the same thing about Pitino. He was a snob, still is, about UK fans. He just relized he was never as loved as he was here. Perhpas it is the northeast thing, or the Italian thing, I don’t know. But if Cal has the PR savvy of Pitino, and I’ve read a lot of people think he is in that class though perhaps not quite THAT good, he will be fine.
I’ve never been a huge Calipari fan, but he is more than capable of giving UK fans what we want…wins. The question for me is can he run a clean program and graduate student-athletes? I’m hoping he can.
I normally like Posnanski, but I don’t think this is a great column. So the point is…people don’t like Calipari? Give me something else. We all know he isn’t liked. We all know that there’s a ton of rumors about all of his teams but give me something firm.
I love Twitter too. Thanks for all of the updates today and throughout the Gillispie saga.
I’m not exactly sure what the purpose of this article is…all you did was quote someone else, while adding nothing of your own. Where exactly does this fit in in your conception of “journalism”? If I wanted that guy’s opinion I would go read the Kansas City Star. Can’t we at least wait a couple of weeks before we start hammering our new coach? This is crazy.
“****ing Mexican”
Nice, not only is he a cheater but a bigot as well. If this guy isn’t perfect for UK then I don’t know who is. It’s a match made in big blue heaven.
BTW, do you UK fans over the age of 20 remember all the things you used to say about Cal when he was at UMASS? I do. Enjoy Pitino-lite.
I LOVE Posnanski. He is a great sportwriter; no, wait, he’s a great *writer*. Check out some of his blog entries that have nothing to do with sports; do a search for the Snuggie. And review the comments; he has some of the most thoughtful, well-written readers anywhere. I connect with his blog on a daily basis. Thanks, John, for the link to his KC Star column.
The love/hate relationship with Calipari and “other folks” is not, apparently, unknown to others. My sister, the Louisville graduate, said that having Calipari and Pitino in the same state is going to be nothing but trouble, that the two coaches hate each other, and that future UK/U of L games will be slugfests.
Let the games begin.