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Tony, why do you believe Calipari used a 96-year-old woman at a retirement home in Winchester (15 minutes outside Lexington) to lie about how people in Kentucky follow basketball? Or do you think he lied about making the visit as well? Do you imagine he went alone, without media coverage of any kind or other witnesses who could easily repudiate the story? Did he calculate that no one would try to find this 96-year-old or do a follow-up with her? Explain why you think it's a lie.
Here's the part that caught my attention:
"Five families reach their dreams. Five new millionaires created. If you told me we'd win a national title and no one gets drafted, I'm probably disappointed. I'd be happy we won. I'd be happy for the school. We get to put up another banner. How did it benefit the players?"
This reinforces my belief that he's all about the fast money. He sees little if any benefit in staying in school, in getting an education, in savoring the campus experience, in making friends who will be your friends for life. Jesus, he sees no benefit for his players to win a national championship? The ultimate accomplishment in their sport and a source of pride for life? His values, or the values he imposes on his kids in loco parentis, are messed up. And that really cheeses me off.
"He sees little if any benefit in staying in school, in getting an education, in savoring the campus experience, in making friends who will be your friends for life."
Well said. For anyone who has every stayed in college, the memories, experiences (good and bad) and relationships are priceless.
I will give him credit though because he has always been out front with his primary intentions (getting kids to the NBA).
What he's doing is bringing that NBA attitude/mentality to an amateur arena whereby getting paid is all that matters. To hell with the rest of us and our beliefs, traditions, etc.........All about the Benjamins.
Ok Kentucky fans finally are getting it. The college basketball atmosphere in Memphis is at an all time high...why, because Pastner is all about the kids AND the university. Really really glad Cal is gone. He got us back on track yes and that is a good thing. BUT his exit has only improved the fan base by leaps and ounds. Memphis Mike
MM, I assume if Cal had stayed at Memphis you would be up in arms and would have been leading the mob to have him removed after the NCAA arbitrarily washed the 38 wins away????
Memphis fans knew nothing of the D. Rose case when they were outside of his home cheering for him to stay, just as UK fans knew nothing of it at the time when they were cheering for him to come.
For you to get it Marc, Cal would have to leave abruptly after this season, take next years #1 class with him, and try to coerce Knight, Jones or whoever stays to come with him and have the NCAA come in on his way out. Tell me if all that happened at UK would praise or loathe him?
I didn't ask you or MM why you two dislike Cal, I simply asked if Cal had stayed at Memphis during and after the "Rose" deal and continued to be the Memphis head coach would MM call for his firing or would he have been quite content to keep supporting Cal and his #1 recruiting classes.
I know what kind of response I will get but will throw it out there nonetheless.
Would you like to answer for MM again, if so please focus on the exact question this time.
Wheatgerm, I find it hard to be upset with Cal alone here. His intention is getting kids to the NBA A.S.A.P. Honestly, I can't cant find fault with that when everything that has to do with college basketball is supporting that goal. The NCAA has made it perfectly clear they don't care if these kids get a degree, they are just trying to boost their ratings by bringing in the top talent for a year IMO. If they did really care about the STUDENT athlete, they would make it a 2 year rule (associates degree) or not force them to go to college at all.
Sometimes these kids don't have the option to spend 4 years in college too. I recently graduated college and would have to say the experiences were amazing, I really cherish my years at school. But I didn't grow up poor and in a bad part of town. A lot of times these kids have to get to the next level to give themselves and their families a better life.
The fans are to blame too. Because of the desire to win at all costs, Grades are second to winning in college athletics. Take Kragthorpe at Louisville for example. While he was coach, the Football team had one of the best GPA's the team ever had. But when he didn't win on the field, the school and fans couldn't see the season end fast enough so they could fire him. When people would rather see a 35-21 instead of a 3.5-2.1 it's quite hypocritical for us to blast Cal for not valuing education.
Maybe I'm the only one who believes this but I think this all starts at the top with the NCAA and the fans. Until the NCAA decides to change their ridiculous 1 year rule which helps nobody but themselves, we are going to see players all over the country go to school for a meaningless year and head to the NBA A.S.A.P. The fans also have to be willing to take a down year every now and again as well or we are going to continue to see coaches cheat to win and keep their jobs. Unfortunately, I don't see either of these things changing any time soon.
"If they did really care about the STUDENT athlete, they would make it a 2 year rule (associates degree) or not force them to go to college at all."
That's an NBA rule not the NCAA. If the NBA would change their rule to require players under a certain age to either go to college 2 years or NBDL one year it may start some of these players to re-think their decision.
Well whether it is a NBA or NCAA rule I find it rather irrelevant to the point. There is no way you can convince me the NCAA had nothing to do with that rule. Why would the NBA want the top talent to basically sit out a year? I know they claim it helps the kids become more mature before entering the league but honestly kids these days are the same at 19 as they are at 18.
And yea maybe more kids go overseas instead of college, I think that's why it remains only a one year rule. Kids are already doing this though. I just question who is really making the money off this rule. IMO the answer isn't the NCAA coaches it's the NCAA and the NBA.
Why would the NBA want the top talent to basically sit out a year?
Simply put it's a free farm system for the NBA. It helps some of their stupid GMs evaluate players to keep the Quamay (sp) Browns of the world out of the lottery. I say some GMs because you still have the Grizzlies drafting Thabeet #2 so it's not fool-proof.
15 comments:
"A woman says to me, 'Do you work on free-throw shooting?' ''
"Yes, ma'am.''
"Do you understand that free throws are the difference between winning and losing?''
"How old are you?'' Calipari asks the lady.
"I'm 96,'' she says.
If any of you are gullible enough to believe that actually happened then I feel sorry for you. Play on Cal......Pop your collar and play on!!!!
Awww.....Tony, where you been brother.... I almost missed you?
smmaaacKKK
Tony, why do you believe Calipari used a 96-year-old woman at a retirement home in Winchester (15 minutes outside Lexington) to lie about how people in Kentucky follow basketball? Or do you think he lied about making the visit as well? Do you imagine he went alone, without media coverage of any kind or other witnesses who could easily repudiate the story? Did he calculate that no one would try to find this 96-year-old or do a follow-up with her? Explain why you think it's a lie.
Here's the part that caught my attention:
"Five families reach their dreams. Five new millionaires created. If you told me we'd win a national title and no one gets drafted, I'm probably disappointed. I'd be happy we won. I'd be happy for the school. We get to put up another banner. How did it benefit the players?"
This reinforces my belief that he's all about the fast money. He sees little if any benefit in staying in school, in getting an education, in savoring the campus experience, in making friends who will be your friends for life. Jesus, he sees no benefit for his players to win a national championship? The ultimate accomplishment in their sport and a source of pride for life? His values, or the values he imposes on his kids in loco parentis, are messed up. And that really cheeses me off.
Good point WG, I noticed that in the article as well and honestly I'm not with Cal on that point.
His disenfranchisement of the fans from having any importance is disconcerting to me.
"He sees little if any benefit in staying in school, in getting an education, in savoring the campus experience, in making friends who will be your friends for life."
Well said. For anyone who has every stayed in college, the memories, experiences (good and bad) and relationships are priceless.
I will give him credit though because he has always been out front with his primary intentions (getting kids to the NBA).
What he's doing is bringing that NBA attitude/mentality to an amateur arena whereby getting paid is all that matters. To hell with the rest of us and our beliefs, traditions, etc.........All about the Benjamins.
Ok Kentucky fans finally are getting it. The college basketball atmosphere in Memphis is at an all time high...why, because Pastner is all about the kids AND the university. Really really glad Cal is gone. He got us back on track yes and that is a good thing. BUT his exit has only improved the fan base by leaps and ounds.
Memphis Mike
"back on track"...... ?
MM, I assume if Cal had stayed at Memphis you would be up in arms and would have been leading the mob to have him removed after the NCAA arbitrarily washed the 38 wins away????
Let me try this one for you Memphis Mike.
Memphis fans knew nothing of the D. Rose case when they were outside of his home cheering for him to stay, just as UK fans knew nothing of it at the time when they were cheering for him to come.
For you to get it Marc, Cal would have to leave abruptly after this season, take next years #1 class with him, and try to coerce Knight, Jones or whoever stays to come with him and have the NCAA come in on his way out. Tell me if all that happened at UK would praise or loathe him?
Thanks Tony but once again you miss the mark.
I didn't ask you or MM why you two dislike Cal, I simply asked if Cal had stayed at Memphis during and after the "Rose" deal and continued to be the Memphis head coach would MM call for his firing or would he have been quite content to keep supporting Cal and his #1 recruiting classes.
I know what kind of response I will get but will throw it out there nonetheless.
Would you like to answer for MM again, if so please focus on the exact question this time.
Since you asked, but I'm guessing Memphis fans would respect him more and still support him for sticking it out rather than running.
Just like you and other UK fans would still be calling him a d-bag, cheater and slimeball if he stayed at Memphis recruiting #1 classes.
Wheatgerm,
I find it hard to be upset with Cal alone here. His intention is getting kids to the NBA A.S.A.P. Honestly, I can't cant find fault with that when everything that has to do with college basketball is supporting that goal. The NCAA has made it perfectly clear they don't care if these kids get a degree, they are just trying to boost their ratings by bringing in the top talent for a year IMO. If they did really care about the STUDENT athlete, they would make it a 2 year rule (associates degree) or not force them to go to college at all.
Sometimes these kids don't have the option to spend 4 years in college too. I recently graduated college and would have to say the experiences were amazing, I really cherish my years at school. But I didn't grow up poor and in a bad part of town. A lot of times these kids have to get to the next level to give themselves and their families a better life.
The fans are to blame too. Because of the desire to win at all costs, Grades are second to winning in college athletics. Take Kragthorpe at Louisville for example. While he was coach, the Football team had one of the best GPA's the team ever had. But when he didn't win on the field, the school and fans couldn't see the season end fast enough so they could fire him. When people would rather see a 35-21 instead of a 3.5-2.1 it's quite hypocritical for us to blast Cal for not valuing education.
Maybe I'm the only one who believes this but I think this all starts at the top with the NCAA and the fans. Until the NCAA decides to change their ridiculous 1 year rule which helps nobody but themselves, we are going to see players all over the country go to school for a meaningless year and head to the NBA A.S.A.P. The fans also have to be willing to take a down year every now and again as well or we are going to continue to see coaches cheat to win and keep their jobs. Unfortunately, I don't see either of these things changing any time soon.
"If they did really care about the STUDENT athlete, they would make it a 2 year rule (associates degree) or not force them to go to college at all."
That's an NBA rule not the NCAA. If the NBA would change their rule to require players under a certain age to either go to college 2 years or NBDL one year it may start some of these players to re-think their decision.
Well whether it is a NBA or NCAA rule I find it rather irrelevant to the point. There is no way you can convince me the NCAA had nothing to do with that rule. Why would the NBA want the top talent to basically sit out a year? I know they claim it helps the kids become more mature before entering the league but honestly kids these days are the same at 19 as they are at 18.
And yea maybe more kids go overseas instead of college, I think that's why it remains only a one year rule. Kids are already doing this though. I just question who is really making the money off this rule. IMO the answer isn't the NCAA coaches it's the NCAA and the NBA.
Why would the NBA want the top talent to basically sit out a year?
Simply put it's a free farm system for the NBA. It helps some of their stupid GMs evaluate players to keep the Quamay (sp) Browns of the world out of the lottery. I say some GMs because you still have the Grizzlies drafting Thabeet #2 so it's not fool-proof.
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