Coaching Search Drama: Calipari's "Standard" & A Note On Appreciating Howland
by Nestor on Mar 31, 2009 5:00 PM PDT
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PrintI am sure everyone by knows about the drama going around Calipari re. his possible move to Kentucky (latest reports indicate that he is taking the gig). I thought the following update from Memphis Commercial Appeal, a site covering the Tigers, posted earlier today was pretty hilarious (emphasis added):
Calipari dropped by to see a collection of buddies at Gibson's Donuts at Mt. Moriah at 9:35 this morning.
Unbeknownst to him, The Commercial Appeal had a source -- we'll call him Deep Crueller -- at a nearby table.
Calipari stayed for exactly eight minutes. In that span, he said:
** In addition to Kentucky, Arizona came after him over the weekend offering not a salary but a blank check. Calipari said, "No thanks."
** He was in the Memphis Athletic Office Building yesterday but slipped out a side door.
** He loves Memphis but is drawn to the history and prestige of Kentucky. Calipari said it's one of five programs -- along with North Carolina, Duke, UCLA and Kansas -- any coach would have to consider.
Nobody actually came out and asked Calipari if he was leaving, but he said he hadn't made up his mind. He was going to drive around Memphis today and decide this afternoon.
Getting updates from Calipari from a Donut shot? rofl.
Anyway, funnier was the comment re. Arizona. Guess he doesn't think much of the "standard" of the Pac-10.
One would think all high profile coaches around the country will take note of his take on Arizona. I was hearing how Zona fans were dreaming about getting someone like Calipari or Pitino. Who knows. They might end up getting someone like Pitino but I can't imagine Pitino leaving what he already has built in Louisville (which BTW doesn't match Howland'a 3 straight Final-4s) to come over to Tucson and somewhat start all over again.
Meanwhile, while we are on topic of the coaching searches, let me reiterate what I wrote in response gbruin's observation on how lucky we all are to have UCLA basketball to root for under Ben Howland. Remember CBH was approached two years (astute college basketball observers can connect the dots) ago about an opening. From a Simers column highlighted here last March:
He was offered big bucks by a big-time basketball school to leave UCLA after last season, but it was his dream to coach the Bruins, he says, and he still has things he wants to accomplish here.
He didn’t bother entertaining it. He turned it down and gee anyone want to take a guess which "big-time basketball school" was looking for a head coach in 2007? I don't think it's that hard connecting the dots. Is it?
Meanwhile reading by the letters from idiots in the LAT, it’s clear there is a small segment of UCLA fanbase (the Johnny Come Lately bandwagoners who hopped on board after Zaga 06) has no idea how good we have it with Howland. Just this year we saw from KU and Memphis. How tough it is to make to back to back final-4s and yet there was Howland taking us to three straight.
I am not naive. If some of the whiners who write to LAT get a little louder with the support from the often ignorant LA media, I wouldn’t blame Howland if he even thinks about entertaining offers of more money from other programs (or perhaps an NBA team) but at least meanwhile we will do what we can to make sure to reinforce how much we appreciate him at this little corner of the internets.
GO BRUINS.
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i honestly can't tell if that was serious
but I’m assuming it is, because Gregg Doyel (the writer) is the walking definition of a moron
by bucknellbruin on Mar 31, 2009 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, we can still have fun
There will still be 64 teams who will vie for the honor of losing to Kentucky in the finals. It will be 2012 I guess before St. John the Devine and his band of totally dominant allstars will break the 88 game streak. We all must concede that they will go undefeated every year, but the interesting question is whether they will even give up any points.
I hereby predict that things don’t work that way. I hereby predict that Calipari will win zero national championships with Kentucky. And I hereby predict that the moron who wrote that piece will eventually find a real job, but only after he finishes his course of treatments and keeps taking his meds.
It's a done deal
Now it’ll be interesting to see if there are any recruits to poach. IIRC, Henry and Dennis were also on our radar.
If it weren’t Memphis, I would’ve felt bad for a program losing 3 top 10 and overall 4 top 50 recruits – but this is Calimari we’re talking about
as a slight bonus
We might see Timmeh audition for the Memphis gig – it’ll be nice to never have to see his face on our court again, but then again, he was doing a fine job driving that program into the ground
Right now on the WWL news
They said Timmeh + Memphis = AWESOME, if sidney goes with him.
Never crossed my mind about this match made in the 7th circle of hell.
by bruinhopeful on Mar 31, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
makes perfect sense, actually
Memphis may be the one place that Timmeh could go, but retain his slush fund.
I like Timmeh right were he is now.
Nothing like watching your rival saddled with mediocrity. I’m sure they felt the same way when we had CTS. They can’t say that about Lavin though. As bad as he was, he had a winning record against JC.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
A marriage made in heaven
If Timmeh leaves, who better to follow him than CHP? Garrett is certainly no brain surgeon, and he might just be stupid enough to believe that pin-head’s press releases.
What are the NCAA rules ...
regarding signed recruits and players following their coach to a new program? Anything goes?
No, but in this case it's close.
Each of Calipari’s recruits reportedly signed and attached an additional agreement to their LOI stating that they could get their unconditional release if he was no longer the coach in Memphis. As a result, some WWL pundits have already mentioned that they felt the $35million deal was easier for UK to swallow because it may have also purchased them the top recruiting class in the nation.
Let's see now
I think it’s always great for college basketball when Kentucky has a good team. More order being restored in the universe.
I just didn’t think they would sell their soul to get Sleazypari. That is really a shame that they had to fork all that dough to get him, I would think that the UK job would sell itself. I am sure they could have gotten a good coach for much less.
You see, I am just not that sold on Sleazypari. Both of the teams he has coached in the NCAA were in weak conferences, so I am very curious to see how he will do in a better conference.
I wish UK the best and I hope he doesn’t sully their program. Things might work out greatly for them, but as for me, I just don’t like what he represents.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Not to be obtuse..
CBH was approached two years (astute college basketball observers can connect the dots) ago about an opening. He didn’t bother entertaining it. He turned it down.
..Nestor, could you connect the dots for benighted souls like me?
God, it's great to be a Bruin!
1 > 3 ?!?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but hasn’t Calipari gone to the Final 4 a whole ONCE in his 9 years @ Memphis — while CBH went three CONSECUTIVE times in his first five years in Westwood — yet Calipari is hailed across the nation as the Second Coming while CBH doesn’t even get the credit he deserves by most “fans” in LA, let alone by most fans nationally…
It's part of his sleaze factor
he somehow manages to charm the sportswriters. He did go to another Final Four with UMass. But he is pretty good at self-promoting and putting himself on the front page.
CBH is humble and not charming with the press, and you know those guys…they’re in it to get their ass kissed so they can feel important…and CBH does not cater to that.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
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