John Clay's Sidelines

Antonie Walker (AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• My Wednesday column is about Jonathan McIntyre, the 36-year-old UK geologist who died last week in a tragic accident. To his on-line friends, McIntyre was known as @mac4uk, a rabid Kentucky fan.
• Antoine Walker pleads guilty to casino debts, reports the AP. The Las Vegas Sun reported the former all-star who now plays for the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede will be put on probation and work toward paying off $750,000.
• Commonwealth columnist Ira Combs thinks Kentucky should drop Louisville from its football schedule. His reasoning: “Playing this series has done nothing for high school football nor has it enhanced UK football in the least but it jump started Louisville football squarely into solid Div. 1 – A status and for that what has Louisville done over the years.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Antoine, Lupica, UK-U of L football and more’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• South Carolina goes undefeated in College World Series and wins back-to-back titles, reports Neil White of The State. South Carolina has won 16 straight CWS games, breaking the record held by Texas in 1983-84.
• With 5-2 win over Florida, South Carolina willed itself to the title, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier says Gamecocks still perfect after second College World Series title.
• Winning pitcher Michael Roth will do his celebrating in Spain, writes Diamond Leung of espn.com.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Another perfect ending for South Carolina in Omaha’

Devonta Pollard

Devonta Pollard, the 6-foot-8 forward out of Mississippi, tells Zagsblog that he likes Kentucky and he’s glad Kentucky likes him.

An excerpt:

Devonta Pollard lives in Mississippi, but he’s feeling some love for Kentucky.

“Really everyone in Kentucky lives and dies basketball, so I like that,” Pollard, the No. 2 small forward in the Class of 2012 out of Porterville (Miss). Kemper County, said by phone from the Kevin Durant Skills Academy. “And I like the program that they have.

“And they always build a strong relationship with all their players.”

When he first heard he had been offered by Kentucky, he said, “I was a little surprised, and I was thankful.”

Pollard is ranked No. 6 overall for the Class of 2012 by Rivals.

Earlier this month, Jerry Tipton had a story about the adversity Pollard has gone through to become a top prospect.

Writing for the New York Post’s Knicks blog, Marc Berman doesn’t believe that the contract extension Kentucky gave basketball coach John Calipari on Monday will squelch rumors about Cal and the NBA.

An excerpt:

Though he has told confidants he would only go to the NBA in a dual role as president/coach, it would be unlikely Knicks owner James Dolan would consider him for both positions. However, it is not inconceivable to him to be considered as head coach once Mike D’Antoni’s contract is up after next season, especially with CAA’s Mark Warkentien helping call the shots and CAA’s Chris Paul on the Knicks 2012 point guard radar. Warkentien was instrumental in the Knicks picking Kentucky center Josh Harrellson in the second round of last week’s draft.

Most of the Calipari/Knicks speculation has centered around Calipari’s relationship with Creative Artists Agency, which employs (among others) William Wesley. In fact, in the original contract released Monday, a copy was to be sent to CAA Sports LLC in New Jersey to the attention of Calipari’s agent, Leon Rose. CAA also represents LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and current Knick, Carmelo Anthony. Deron Williams is also reported to be switching to Rose.

Tuesday notes and Big Blue Links:

THE CALIPARI CONTRACT EXTENSION – More money, more pressure. Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes: “Money will buy you headlines, such as the ones that the University of Kentucky stirred Monday by agreeing on an eight-year, $36.5 million contract with John Calipari. You’ll fly on more private planes, sign more recruits with five stars attached to their resumes and play in a Ritz-Carlton practice facility. You’ll have advantage after advantage after advantage. Then March will arrive – and Morehead State will outplay the University of Louisville and its $3 million-plus coach, VCU will thump Kansas and its $3 million-plus coach and Butler will outlast Florida and its $3 million-plus coach. It happens – and it’s going to keep happening.”

- If Calipari ever leaves for NBA, it won’t be about the money.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S MOST OVERPAID COACHES – Jason King of Yahoo Sports gives his list of the sport’s luckiest coaches in terms of dollar signs. Ex-UK guard and current Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford makes the list. Jason writes: “The former Kentucky guard is making $1.8 million per year in Stillwater, where he recently concluded his third season with a second-round loss in the NIT. Oklahoma State made the NCAA tournament the previous two seasons under Ford but failed to advance past the first weekend. From 2005-08 Ford was the coach at UMass, where he failed to lead one of his teams to the Big Dance. So tell me: Does two NCAA tournament trips in six seasons justify $1.8 million? I don’t think so either.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: As Calipari gets raise, Ford among most overpaid’

(AP photo)

Some quick thoughts on the John Calipari contract extension, which (so far) tops today’s news:

It doesn’t mean anything. It really doesn’t.

Whether the new deal extends the agreement to eight years or 88 years, John Calipari can still go to the NBA if he so chooses. Whether the compensation is a promised $35 million or $355 million, Calipari can still go the NBA if he chooses.

If Calipari ever departs for a second crack at the professional ranks, it will having nothing to do with money and everything to do with wanting to prove he can coach there.

Continue reading ‘If Calipari ever leaves for NBA, it won’t be for the money’

The New York Post talked to former UK center Josh Harrellson at a New York Liberty game on Sunday, and Jorts was talking tough about his role with the Knicks.

An excerpt:

Josh Harrellson joining Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony isn’t going to give the Knicks a Big 3 like the team in Miami that recently choked.

But the rookie big man might give them a presence every team needs to advance, especially in the playoffs.

“I’m going to protect my stars,” Harrellson said yesterday at halftime of the Liberty’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks at the Prudential Center. “Amar’e, Carmelo, if someone’s getting rough with them, I’m going to protect them. I’m going to make my presence felt. They’ll know I’m there.”

That fits with what Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said last week after New York acquired Harrellson’s draft rights from New Orleans. D’Antoni said the Knicks needed a big, physical low-post player.

Highlights from today’s SEC basketball coaches summer teleconference:

- UK’s John Calipari said he was excited about his contract extension, that “took him a long time to get to Kentucky.”

- Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy was asked about th league chasing John Calipari, said the epitome of college basketball is Kentucky — “no offense to Cal but that started before he got there.”

- Kennedy did say he thought Calipari had done a great job, and that when Kentucky is good it is good for the league.

- Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said he has suggested going to a 22-game conference schedule, with each team playing every other team home-and-home, but “I don’t anticipate that is where we will end up.”

- Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said the only “fair way” to determine a conference champion is play the 22-game schedule, but said he’s not sure that is “feasible.”

- Calipari voiced his skepticism about a 22-game schedule and said that the most important factor in a team making the NCAA Tournament is its non-conference schedule.

- Kennedy pointed out that the SEC and ACC are the only two BCS leagues that play a 16-game schedule in basketball.

- Mississippi State’s Rick Stansbury was the one coach who argued against eliminating divisions. He said he thought it took away from fans and players. He said it gives players opportunity to compete for one more championship. He said divisions keep fans interested.

- Georgia coach Mark Fox said he sees Vanderbilt as a team that can legitimately contend for the Final Four. (Tweeting this information brought about several jokes about how Vandy can’t seem to get out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament.)

Continue reading ‘Highlights from today’s SEC basketball teleconference’