John Clay's Sidelines

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks talks after Friday’s practice, joking about the basketball schedule, then talking a little about what he’s looking for Saturday.

Even more John Calipari and Memphis links:

• Seth Davis of SI.com writes that the growing list of scandals has ruined college basketball’s off-season.
• Jay Marriotti, writing for AOL, says that John Calipari and Derrick Rose go down in permanent shame.
• Lynn Zinser of the New York Times writes that Calipari counts his millions, as Burress loses his.
• Tom Ziller of FanHouse asks, without NBA age rule, is Derrick Rose a cheater?
• Ken Tysiac of the Charlotte Observer writes that John Calipari is North Carolina State’s best non-hire.
• At Rivals.com, Eamonn Brennan asks if Kentucky fans are too supportive of Calipari?
• Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio goes after Pat Forde.
• Jason King of Yahoo Sports calls it “powder-puff punishment.”
• Mike Lopresti of Gannett writes of Calipari’s Final Four teams, now you see them, now you don’t.
• Straitpinkie gives its thoughts on the Calipari situation.
• The humor site Sports Pickle says Calipari promises UK a vacated Final Four within five years.

C.M. Newton

If you saw USA Today, you may have noticed that ex-UK athletics director C.M. Newton weighed in on the John Calipari controversy by taking up for the Kentucky coach.

Full disclosure: C.M.’s son, Martin, is Calipari’s Director of Basketball Operations.

Here’s the C.M. quote:

“I think Calipari is one of these guys who’s not unlike many, many others,” Newton said. “He’s very bright, and operates in the area of ‘I’m going to go to the edge of the rule but I’m not stepping over it.’ … Guys who are successful in intercollegiate athletics are in that grey area sometimes. … You’d like to think everybody operates within the spirit and intent of the rules, and you can shoot for that. But in the real world we’re now, where the dollars are driving it, you’re in a big business. That’s where we’ve evolved to.”

Thanks to Inside the Hall, which pointed us toward this Zagsblog video of top 2010 guard prospect Kyrie Irving on video listing his final six choices for a college.

When naming off his finalists, in no particular order, Irving listed Kentucky third.

His six are, “Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Seton Hall and UConn.”

Irving said Duke and Indiana are definite visits for him, but he hasn’t made any other plans.

UK assistant coach Rod Strickland is a close family friend of Irving.

Mike DeCourcy

On the local call-in shows:

WLAP-630: Dick Gabriel reports that Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News, a Calipari defender in the current NCAA case, will be on at 6:05 p.m.

Mike Cameron

The fourth day of our Media Approval Ratings brings us to Mike Cameron, the horse trainer from Clintonville — that’s Bourbon County — who is Chris Cross’ co-host on WLXG-1300′s Sports Huddle in Lexington, afternoons 4 p.m. to 7.

What say you on Mike, thumbs-up or thumbs-down?

Previously: Chris Cross — Dick Gabriel — Larry Glover.

There are 15 days until Kentucky tackles Miami of Ohio at Paul Brown Stadium on Sept. 5.

Today’s chart is UK’s 2009 football roster, which you download as a sortable Excel file by clicking here.

Or you can read it after the jump.

Just click the image and its should appear full-size. Then click it again to make it readable.

Continue reading ‘Countdown: UK 2009 sortable football roster’

Update: Not all of the blog readers love me, as it turns out. See comments.

John Calipari loves Twitter. But given some of the “tweets” posted since the NCAA smashed Memphis’ 2007-08 NCAA Final Four run under the now Kentucky coach, not all of Twitter loves John Calipari back.

Some samples:

• DrFridie: @I_AM_MRJONES Totally agree dude. While he ain’t on the level of Jerry Tarkanian, Calipari is a shady fellow. This will def backfire on UK

• martycollinsesq: College sports is a racket. Derrick Rose is a soft spoken cheater &Coach John Calipari was his father figure enabler http://f8nvu.tk #bulls

• LeslieLassiter: Its amazing how people with money can cheat and get caught, but go unpunished. John Calipari has cheated and been caught twice, GO KENTUCKY!

• seanrance: @JoeandEvan I wonder if John calipari’s name was Kelvin Sampson would he still have a job… Hmmm

• I_AM_MRJONES: I don’t feel sorry for any University that gets burned by the NCAA with Calipari at the helm. He wins, but he’s bad news waiting to happen.

• andrewwaldner: Man, Calipari seems like such a nice guy, but having TWO Final Fours vacated at TWO different schools in your career? Not good. At all.

• gatormikenews: More sanctions against John Calipari-coached team. How long before UK is on probation?

Continue reading ‘Not all of Twitter loves John Calipari’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes that the reputations of both UK and John Calipari have taken a hit.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader talks to Randall Cobb, who says despite back problems he’ll be ready for opener.
• But Cosby reports that freshman linebacker Qua Huzzie is out for the season.
• Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal writes that Calipari’s image has been tarnished.
• Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal believes that Calipari knew about Derrick Rose’s test.
• Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News wonders that when the NCAA let Rose play, why does Memphis pay?
• Tom Leach writes that there’s been no slack for Calipari.
• At SI.com, Seth Davis writes that Memphis situation illuminates a college hoops problem.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger says don’t throw stones at Calipari without proof.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Calipari has slipped through the cracks again.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari/Memphis fallout links’

SEC links for Friday:

• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that furlough dates have been set for Georgia coaches.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel has the latest on the Bryce Brown controversy.
• John Adams of the News-Sentinel writes that UT’s offense is a dream for tailbacks.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss worries about its retooled offensive line.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that football’s ride fails to lift others.
• Gary Laney of The Advocate writes that LSU’s defense is putting speed first.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Georgia coaches must take furlough’