Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
They are coming John!
The Calipari situation doesnt bother me at this point. Why? Its simple…we knew what we were getting when Calipari was hired. When UK made the decision to get Calipari, we knew that we would have one of the best coaches in America, the top recruiter and a guy who immediately could get Kentucky back to the top of the basketball mountain. And you know what, he has done all of those things. But we also knew that we were getting a coach that had a reputation nationally of being on the edge of the NCAA rules. Face it, before he came to Kentucky, you thought things were fishy with Calipari. Everyone did. There has never been any proof of anything, but when you mentioned Cal’s name to non-Memphis fans, they all thought something was up. It may not have been fair, but it was reality. The day UK hired him, they inherited that as well, and we all knew it going in.
They key issue then and the key issue now, is that Calipari had never personally been found to be guilty of wrongdoing. The Camby incident was not put on him and the counter to any question of his character has always been that he has never been found guilty of anything. The news last night led some (including Pat Forde, Rick Bozich and other non-Pitino story reporters) to question what UK knew, when it knew it, etc. But it actually changed virtually nothing for me and anyone who really thinks about it. As of now, it seems that UK knew of the allegations, checked up with the NCAA, they gave him a clean bill and then the hire was made. Calipari is not personally implicated in the Memphis violations and once again, the answer is the same….he has not personally been found guilty of anything.
Now none of that changes the fact that this does of course look bad. Just as in the Camby situation, Calipari potentially could have his championship game season wiped away. Whether guilty or not, the allegations and potential findings cast suspicion around Cal. But that suspicion was THERE THE DAY HE WAS HIRED. We all knew what people would think when he came to UK and the administration surely knew the general view of Cal around the media tables in college basketball. However they made the rational decision to hire him anyway, believing that without any conviction that hangs on him personally, the University was willing to live with the public whispers. Wednesday’s Memphis report changes nothing in that regard and still leaves the “whispers versus convictions” deal out there on another issue.
None of this is to say that it is great to have our coach part of this investigation. If you went to work today and encountered a Louisville fan, you know what I am talking about. But nothing that happened yesterday changed anything about Calipari and what his status as a coach will be. UK knew when they hired him what the whispers were like, what World Wide Wes was like and even what was coming down the pike at Memphis. They hired him anyway and it still was a great decision. The reason the rumors didnt bother UK was he still had no conviction or violation that was centered around him. Now certain journalists are ready to say, “SEE WE TOLD YOU!” about a story that has existed since January, but was only broken in May. However from what we know now, the story adds nothing to the Calipari narrative.
Before he came, there were whispers….today there still are. Before he came there were no violations…today there are still none. Calipari is the same coach he was last week and his NCAA record hasnt changed one bit. As Dennis Green would say, Cal is who we thought he was, and most UK fans (this one included) are at this point, perfectly fine with that.
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May 28th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Forde should be given no press credentials to UK sporting events. He has crossed a line in my opinion.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I think Cal will make sure “Pat Ford” gets the proper treatment.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:37 am
3. thats damn funny
May 28th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I agree that Cal is a great coach and the perfect hire for us. And even though he doesnt have anything on his back ground doesnt mean the schools he coached didnt. Im not saying its him but maybe the type of players he recruits have been the reason. No matter what, im am still concerned and scared for us in the future. Coach Cal is a great guy and I wouldnt want anybody else in the country to be our coach but what if we end up with violations and he leaves town to a new school with a “clean” record. i think then we will be singing a different song.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I agree that this changes nothing, but I disagree with your reason why the rumors didn’t bother UK being that he was never convicted. UK is clearly bothered by his shadiness as evidenced by their hesitancy to consider him after Tubby left. The thing that changed is that Billy G came to town and completed the downfall of the program. Desperate times call for desperate measures and now UK isn’t too hesitant about him because the ship is sinking and they are willing to take a risk on the hire because the rewards (which UK is clearly already reaping) now outweigh the originally perceived risk.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Well… things have changed a little… the whispers will be louder now, and harder to defend. The allegations against Cal are no longer 15 years old; they are current, and they span his college coaching career. Hopefully nothing will come of it, but there is no way to spin this as anything other than bad news.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:43 am
You can’t drive a tension pin in the a$$of of our compliance sept. It’s that damn tight.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:45 am
May 28th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Why would he not be concerned with them?
May 28th, 2009 at 11:47 am
ok i love coach but Eddie Sutton never was implicated and even played in the ncaa tourney in lexington when we were on probation and we crucified him for this. I agreed there has to be some oversight by the coach whether responsilble or not. I hope him the best but we cant have it both ways. Oh but we did get John Wall!!!!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am
The more the “hate” rolls in the more I believe UK made the correct decision to hire coach Cal..its interesting how easily things arer placed out of context and conjecture replaces fact…all to further a collective agenda to discredit my beloved Cats..nice try..
May 28th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Kentucky is a “banner” school. If we won an eighth national title and had to take down the banner three years later, I’m not sure if I could handle it.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Memphis needs to fire their Compliance Officer and hire UofL’s Public Relations Officer..
May 28th, 2009 at 11:51 am
What about Roy Williams. Dont her tarheels complaining about what he left for Kansas on probation.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:51 am
If in fact one of Rose’s handlers set up the test then how is ANY coach supposed to control that? It’s all shady folks including Coach K and Prety Boy Roy.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:52 am
exactly 15 i agree
May 28th, 2009 at 11:53 am
“BlueOrion Says:
May 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am
The more the “hate” rolls in the more I believe UK made the correct decision to hire coach Cal..its interesting how easily things arer placed out of context and conjecture replaces fact…all to further a collective agenda to discredit my beloved Cats..nice try..”
Tou certainly nailed it!!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Sorry, “You certainly nailed it!!!!”
May 28th, 2009 at 11:54 am
just FYI … from the UofSmell board
“It wasn’t Wes who took the flight and stayed in the hotel. It was Rose’s brother Reggie. If you look at the document, which has the names blacked out, there isn’t enough room for “William Wesley” or “Wesley” in the space blacked out. There is enough room for “Reggie Rose” and “Rose”.
See page 12.
http://media.commercialappeal.com/mca/content/static/20090527184759.pd f”
probably nothing will come of this, but an interesting quote nonetheless:
Luther Topps, who coached Rose’s club basketball team with Derrick’s brother Reggie, has been aware of the NCAA investigation for three weeks.
‘‘[Simeon head coach Smith and I] didn’t know anything about his test,’’ Topps said. ‘‘Reggie moved me and him out of the way long before that, as soon as the money got involved.’
http://yourseason.suntimes.com/1595888,052709-derrick-rose-ncaa-invest igation.article
May 28th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Using masterful techniques of investigation garnered from some of the leading sleuths of the world - Sherlock Holmes, Phillip Marlowe, Agathe Christie and Barney Fife - I have scooped both ESPN and the Drudge Report in finding out the true facts surrounding the NCAA probe at the University of Memphis under the coaching term of John Calipari.
As evidence of the facts I simply present the following link which will clear up the entire issue - without debate.
http://www.memphis.edu/compliance/
No wonder they had - no compliance.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:59 am
With all of the haters out there, Cal is certainly going to be able to use the “us against the world” mentality with this year’s team and the BBN
May 28th, 2009 at 11:59 am
15 & 16 - LOL…denial is a great gift!
I am a huge UK fan, but quit acting like Cal did not know. He is 100% innocent to people the only people that matter, THE NCAA, but any logical person can tell you that there is no way a coach could not tell something else went down.
Its not like Cal is the only coach to look the other way…they all do it
May 28th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
How long will this take?
I hope that it does not drag out all summer, like the Eddie Sutton problem did.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
This story should cause us some concern. It’s not just about whether the allegations stick to Calipari. By all accounts he is the teflon man. But if Memphis gets nailed, then that could be us if Calipari doesn’t keep a tighter control on the program. It is quite disconcerting that both of Cal’s final fours could be vacated.
If something similar where to happen at UK and we had to vacate final fours or wins (at a school that closely watches its all-time win count) that would be catastrophic.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Roy Williams also left a mess at KU to be cleaned up by somebody else, lest we forget. The parallels with Williams in 2003 are remarkable, except these against Memphis under Calipari are yet to be proven.
Roy Williams’ troubles:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=kansasncaaviolations &prov=st&type=lgns
And Duke has had its own troubles:
http://www.truthaboutduke.com/encyc.php?encycid=17
May 28th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
It’s strange. I don’t remember hearing anything like this after Roy landed Kansas on probation?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
25 26 agreed thats what i said earlier
May 28th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I have a feeling that we will have as many “Moles” on this board as we have U.K. Fans. Well after all, this story will undoubtedly be the highlight of their sports life for the next several years. Listen, I said it last night, and I’ll say it again, SANDY BELL had already milked every teet of this cow before the hire was ever made. There is noway on God’s green earth, that our compliance office will allow anything, anything, I repeat anything, that even hints of shadiness get by here. With the schools history, they can’t afford to, and will not at any cost. End of Story.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
The NCAA report said other boosters gave graduation gifts to outgoing players, a fact that individuals within the athletic department were aware of, including former basketball coach Roy Williams.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
This pretty much sums this whole mess up for me…http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/24781 /college_basketball_is_filthy,_john_calipari_is_charmed,_and_other_ob vious_statements
May 28th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
#27, yes, I only thought it would be helpful for people to have the link. You and I agree completely.
On your Eddie Sutton comment earlier, however, (post #10), the difference is huge between having an assistant send cash in an Avery package versus having a kid’s handler arrange a surrogate test-taker (if, in fact, that’s what occurred here).
May 28th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
What roy w did was worse than both bottom line
May 28th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
24… I take your point, but “catastrophic” is a bit dramatic.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
#32, Yep, but ESPN loves Roy-boy, and all things UNC-Duke related.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Say what you want… but this takes UK fans from an all-time high to having to worry about their coach being tied to NCAA violations from both of his final four runs.
On top of that, we have our former coach/chief idiot filing a lawsuit and our #1 recruit pleading guilty to a crime (however minor). All of this in the span of a day.
There’s not a positive way to spin this. This sucks. Royally.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Maybe 5 years ago, someone asked Sutton about the Fedx package. He said he would not talk about it at the time, but maybe someday he would tell the whole story. Since he retired maybe some enterprising bogger or journalist would ask the whole story. It might be interesting.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
28) agree totally.
Doing some work this morning at u of l and sporting my Big Blue gear.
These idiots love to talk but got nothing to back it up. The crazy thing is I know more about their program than they do.
The funniest comment so far was ” we got Sosa”. My belly still hurts from that one.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Surely to take a act or sat test you have to prove who you are. If not, then the system is so stupid, it deserves to be cheated on. Someone has never taken someone else’s college exam?, get real, kids figure this out in high schoo.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I know he isn’t named, but how is my question? Did he not see the person on the plane? The test score is different, its possible he had no way of knowing about that, or anyone else at Memphis for that matter. I don’t even know how they could allege that against Memphis.
Listen, I’m as big of a UK homer as anyone, but this concerns me. Everywhere he goes a trail of stink follows. Anyone who doesn’t see that is just delusional. I always thought he was shady and just because he is UK’s coach doesn’t really change that for me. I worry that in 8-10 years we will be in the same situation Memphis is today.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Everyone saying that Cal knew is absurd. If I was 17 or 18 and cheating on the SAT, I wouldn’t
be calling the coach to say, “Hey Coach, I know you were worried about my SAT score, but don’t
worry, I’ve got it covered. I have a buddy who is going to use my id and take the test FOR ME.
What? You’re concerned. Don’t get upset, he looks just like me and he’s smart too. We’re all
over it.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Calipari did nothing wrong in this situation, period! The people who
are saying so are trying to look for a reason to bring UK and Calipari down.
The NCAA has no issue with Calipari in this situation and for good reason bc
Calipari did nothing wrong.
It isn’t against NCAA rules for a recruit to fly on a team plane nor stay
in a hotel with the team. Those are not against NCAA rules. So therefore Calipari
did nothing wrong.
What is against the NCAA rules is the recruit not paying the Univeristy back
for those services. It is the responsibilty of the University to make sure
the recruit reinburses them for those services. It is not the Head Coaches job
to make sure a recruit pays the University back. Universities have compliance offices
and a AD dept that handles all the financial stuff like that.
That is why the NCAA finds Calipari at no fault and puts the blame on the Memphis
athletic dept.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
The UK haters have managed to convince themselves once again that Cal is a dirt-bag and that UK fans are prima donnas..duh..for example, #22 seems to have access to facts not yet in evidence…please share with us your crystal ball intellect that makes you so sure that coach Cal knew anything at all about this..if you can’t support your allegations, please crawl back under your Tiger/Card rock..
May 28th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Number 39, the person on the plane had been on numerous trips. He had always been billed for expenses and had paid expenses. For some reason he was not billed, be did not pay, and who ever keeps the books did not care. I don’t think it’s the coach’s responsiblity to audit the books?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Matt Jones> My thoughts exactly. Good writing.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
43- How do you know this and who was the person on the plane?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
41…how many times do people have to say he did nothing wrong (not accusing him but let’s be honest with outselves, both of his final fours are going to be taken away)?
43…wasn’t aware of those details. Where did that info come from?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
We’ve been busy praising Cal for doing what he does best - recruiting top talent. That’s exactly what we wanted him to do. We aren’t asking him to recruit choir boys who can shoot the 3. Cal brings in guys who go to college for their NBA degree. And provided UK stays out of trouble (not just Cal), I’m OK with that.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Supposedly high school teammate Kevin Johnson took Rose’s SAT test. Per the Chicago SunTimes:
http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basketball/1595888,052709-derrick- rose-ncaa-investigation.article
Luther Topps, who coached Rose’s club basketball team with Derrick’s brother Reggie, has been aware of the NCAA investigation for three weeks. According to Topps, the NCAA threatened to revoke former Simeon player Tim Flowers college eligibility if Flowers didn’t agree to an interview.
‘‘Tim told me the NCAA kept bothering him,’’ Topps said. ‘‘That if he didn’t talk they were going to take away his eligibility. [The NCAA] thinks that [former Simeon player Kevin Johnson] took [the SAT test] for him.’’
My only question is - what is the timeline?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
saveuk - the allegations say an associate of a current player not some recruit
May 28th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
was on the plane
May 28th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
#41..you are wasting your breath..these clowns do not want to listen to a logical arguement…they are convinced only by their personal bias..the truth is inconsequential..
May 28th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Here is what it comes down too.
When Calipari has a recruit (and he will like every other program) on
the UK team plane traveling with the UK team and staying in the UK hotel,
Sandy Bell will damn sure make sure that player pays the University back.
Memphis failed to do this. Again, this is why the NCAA is targeting Memphis
and not Calipari. It isn’t Calipari’s job to handle on the paper work dealing
with reinbursments. That is why you have a compliance office.
To bad for Memphis they don’t do there job very well. Is it any coincedence
that the women’s golf team is also is some SERIOUS trouble.
There is a lack of institutional control at Memphis and that is what the
NCAA is targeting.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I don’t know who was on the plane, but this was Memphis explanation of the problem, that this particular trip was not paid, for either of the reasons previously stated. That they had been paid in the past. It wan’t that Calipari didn’t know someone was on the plane, it was supposed to be taken of.
Seondly, Memphis is being investigated it appears, because they apparetnly had no compliance. They are in deep dodo over the golf coach indiscretions, which took up most of the NCAA letter, regarding violations.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
#49 Okay, it doesn’t matter. Associates of a recruit can ride on a plane
and stay with the team. There is nothing against the rules about doing that.
What is against the rules is the failure for the Univeristy to get payment
from that associate for services used.
That is not the responsibility of the head coach but of the compliance office.
How do I know this because the compliance office at Memphis had taken full responsibility
with the same person in question by making sure the person did pay. They just failed
to do so this one time.
Someone in UM’s compliance office either got lazy and/or careless and now they
will pay for it
May 28th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
So will this affect the Memphis basketball results for that season?
Will they be stripped of their runner up?
I can’t see how they would for these issues.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I genuinely think that Cal hasn’t done anything wrong in this case.
Rose’s brother flew with Rose lots of times and paid the university the required fare. He didn’t one time, hence the violation.
Forensic testing has revealed that Rose’s hand writing was on the SAT test in question. How/if he cheated seems to still be in question right now. Regardless, there’s no logistical way to tie a HS recruit cheating on a test across the country to Calipari.
The problem with all this is none of the facts really matter to 90% of the people who watch and/or write about sports. To them UK knowingly hired a cheater and they now have evidence to back it up. Perception is reality.
Part of the enjoyment of your team’s success is the admiration/envy you feel from other fanbases. We want everyone to be jealous of us the same way we’ve been jealous of UNC over the past decade. If everyone believes that all of your accomplishments have been obtained via cheating it changes everything.
No one is jealous of a cheater.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
52> Well said..my earlier input was a recommendation for Memphis to fire their compliance team and to hire U of L Public Relations team..
May 28th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Were there snakes on a plane?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
[...] At Kentucky Sports Radio, Matt Jones continues to be unconcerned about the Calipari story. [...]
May 28th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
#57 They better get the Louisville media to go with them.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
[...] At Kentucky Sports Radio, Matt Jones continues to be unconcerned about the Calipari story. [...]
May 28th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Excellent post Matt.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
If Cal had done something wrong, don’t you think the NCAA would have mentioned him? I think he’s just fine. It appears that Rose screwed up and cheated on the SAT. How on Earth was Cal supposed to know this? If you cheated, would you really tell someone???
May 28th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
You dumb idiots, this coach is not tied to anything shady in his final four runs, other than being the head coach. He did not know that Marcus Camby accepted a large sum of money during his senior season… He did not know that allegedly, Derek Rose had someone to take the SAT Test for him. So once again, how is this tied to our head coach?
May 28th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I hate Pat Forde with a passion. I agree that he should not be allowed to cover anything Kentucky related, although the country seems to always hate on UK so I can see why he was given the story…a month from now no one will even be talking about this; instead everyone will be talking about our number one pre-season ranking thanks in part to Jodie’s return
May 28th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Two years ago I wanted Calipari…I knew about the past just like everyone else did but it didn’t matter to me because I believed firmly that at UK he wouldn’t have to cheat. As a matter of fact, it was the shadiness that endeared me to him. This is a guy that will do whatever it takes to get top talent and win games. WHich is what I want to see happen. There will be so much over the shouldering at UK we don’t have to worry about this stuff folks. Just be glad you’ve got him and glad that BCG is on his way out of town for good. There could not be two totally opposite ways to run a program and I think what we are all seeing and about to experience will be worth all of the rumors in the long run.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
It has been alleged that the guy on the plane was Reggie Rose, Derek Rose’s brother. He has traveled with the team on several away games and each time, he has paid the University back. It goes to the compliance office of the University, not the HEAD COACH….
May 28th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
By the time Madness arrives this will be water under the bridge
May 28th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I really hope that Ford has the Balls to come to Rupp Arena or Midnight Madness this year, if so, then UK needs to put his Pitino kissing ass on the big screen and let the 80,000 plus fans at Midnight madness just tear him up or the 24,000 plus at a regular season game tear him up as well.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Hello all! This is the first time I have posted anything on here but I spend most of my time online all day reading on this site and I gotta say I do love this site. Now that being said, this whole situation with Cal makes me a bit sick. I hate reading articles and comments from UK haters which I think is about 99% of the college basketball world. I just find it sick that all the haters out there think that their coaches and schools don’t all do the same stuff. I know Cal’s name is not mentioned in the report. The NCAA rules are ridiculous especially when lined up with the retarded NBA rule of kids being forced to go to college for a year. I don’t care if college athletes cheat to get into school. I graduated high school with a moron who had help on his ACT. He was no athlete. He was an agriculture major. I know he had help because he said he did. He went to UK and graduated. But who gives a crap? He cheated big deal. Honestly I try not to judge people but I am sure we all have seen and heard a number of interviews with high school and college athletes and wondered how in the world that got into school. So it’s only under Cal’s watch that these things happen? I don’t think so.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I just noticed that Calipari is no longer following Derrick Rose on Twitter… Just thought it was interesting because yesterday he was….
May 28th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
How does everyone know that Coach Cal knew about this? Has anyone ever thought that maybe the people involved didn`t want Coach Cal to know and hid it from him? Because they knew that if Coach Cal found out he would step in and report the incident to the NCAA, he was the head coach and that would have been his responsibility. Just because there was violations at UMass years ago when Coach Cal was there doesn`t automatically mean that Coach Cal is a cheater, he was never implicated in the UMass mess. So he has to be considered innocent because he was never proven guilty of anything there. And I for one think he was innocent then and is also innocent now. Coach Cal is a great recruiter and I don`t think that he would have taken a stupid risk like that just to land one player when he was already one of the top recruiters in the nation if not the best, he didn`t have to cheat then and he don`t have to cheat now to get the top talent in the country. Every time there is a violation at a university the head coach is always suspected but that doesn`t mean that the head coach knows everything that goes on all of the time and I`m sure that there has been a lot of head coached blamed for violations which they knew nothing about but are simply guilty by association and are punished unjustly. This matter needs to be cleared up as soon as possible so Coach Cal`s name can be cleared.
If this goes bad for Coach Cal it will be the end of Kentucky Basketball, I feel like this was UK`s last chance to get the program back on top and we landed the best man that could get us there. And Coach Cal will run a clean program at UK, he is a perfect fit and it feels right having him as our head coach. I hope all the haters are having fun now because they will not be having much fun after the season starts and we are kicking everyone`s a$$! Coach Cal was a dream come true for UK fans and I just hope this is over with soon
May 28th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Oh yeah, and I now officially hate Skip Bayless for trashing Coach Cal and UK on espn this morning!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
How dare someone say something derogatory about our beloved UK program? Some of you all need to get a grip and stop getting so chaffed about what people say about our program. I love UK sports dearly, but there are always going to people with bad things to say, and if you are harnessing anger and hate towards people just because they something you don’t agree with, then you have issues. Relax everyone, and let the bullsh*t roll off your backs.