We're Just Going To Go Ahead and Dislike Both These Guys

By now you've likely heard that Bob Knight made some negative remarks in the direction of Coach Cal over at Kentucky. To quote Knight:

“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching. You see, we’ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”

Wow. Please don't make us sound like we're defending slimy Coach Calipari please, Bob.

Yes, the last two places Calipari coached both wound up on NCAA probation right after he left and had to vacate wins and Final Four appearances. But Calipari was not found guilty of any wrongdoing. No, the good old days were not so much more virtuous, Sir Knight, as RTC points out.

However, we tend to believe in the principle that often times, where there's smoke there's fire. Calipari leaves smoke wherever he goes, so whether or not he was directly responsible or not is probably splitting hairs. Slick guys know how to avoid getting pinched. Non-slick guys give hoochies their personal cell number and then wind up with their wives attacking them with a golf club.

So, yes, Bob Knight might have a point about Coach Cal being slippery. However, when you've choked players, accosted students, attacked an assistant coach, choked a sports information director, wiped your ass and shown it to your players, thrown chairs at officials and players, and told the world to kiss your ass, well...you don't get to act like you're a pillar of class.

Pro Basketball News

I think the regular readers here know how much of a fan I am of John Calipari and the University of Kentucky for hiring this pillar of the NCAA coaching community. So, of course, I'm as shocked as you are when I hear that Calipari's crown jewel of the incoming Wildcat class might not be eligible this season.

We have all come to recognize AAU basketball as a place where snakes lie in the grass and use talented young players as the chips that get them rich and powerful...so none of this is surprising in the slightest. But, if Kentucky fans don't like the SEC and the NCAA sniffing around for answers, they had better decide now not to root for UK now- it's not going to get any better.

Be at peace though, friends in royal blue, the NCAA will probably continue its long history of doing little-to-nothing to the cash cow programs of the Title IX machine.

Hey UK Fans-

I talked about it with you...warned you...and now it's getting closer.

Let's all countdown until the NCAA comes a-callin'!

At this point, isn't it a question of when, not if?? Enjoy your deal with the devil.

Hey UK Fans...

I warned you guys about this guy...hell, you knew about him already. But, like IU a few years ago, you decided to go this route. Enjoy the ride, Wildcats...it's going to be bumpy.

Calipari cheated at Memphis? Thats unpossible.

Elsewhere in College Basketball

We'll get back to our continuing coverage of Kelvin Sampson dousing his career is gasoline and then merrily smoking a victory cigar in a moment, but for now I wanted to point out two other college basketball stories involving coaches.

This first one amuses me so much. Roy Williams and Coach K are beginning to get a little testy with one another. Williams even used "dadgum" in one of his comments so you know it's heated.

Apparently, Coach K thinks the Heels are being a bit excessive in the way they publicize how injured their stars are and how the team is so depleted by injuries. Well, excuse the hell out of me, Coach, but I have to say that if my team was a top 5 squad despite having lots of guys hurt, I might make comments about that, too. Roy is probably just proud of his men.

Well, either way, Coach Will didn't like it and fired back at the 60-something-yet-curiously-black-haired Coach K:

"Regardless of what somebody else says about they have injuries too, which is a bunch of bunk, so I don't give a crap what somebody else says, but coach their own damn team, I'll coach my team -- in case anybody has heard some statements about that."

Ummmm.... what?

Anyway, the point is these two are pissed and, according to the story, they have a history from back when Williams was at Kansas. They've met multiple times in the NCAA Tourney and back in 2000, apparently the two "had to be separated." From what, hugging? These two almost got in a fight? I will pay anyone $5 who can provide me with footage of this near-fight in the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

Regardless, these two chaps have to settle down a little bit and return to their neutral corners. Before you know it, somebody's $250 silk tie could get wrinkled or designer glasses could get broken.

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The next story is one showing how coaches CAN just get along. Seems Sweaty Bruce Pearl of the Fighting Sweaters of Tennessee called up Coach Calipari to ask him for tickets.... to the game Pearl is coaching against Coach Cal. Yes, Memphis and Tennessee are #1 and #2. I know, I know, I was as surprised as anyone. I was sure ESPN told me Duke and UNC are 1 and 2.

It is kind of cool, though, #1 and #2, both from the same state and playing one another. The story is amusing as well, with the following:

As of Tuesday, tickets were going for as much as $10,000 on Stubhub. The game's timing has a lot to do with the soaring demand.

Oh, no shit? You mean, tickets to Memphis basketball don't normally command a $10,000 per seat price tag? Thanks for clearing that up....

Calipari has come a long way from his days in the A-10, when he incited other coaches to "kill" him and "kick his ass."