John Calipari on Friday responded to Bob Knight’s comments.
Sweating after a strenuous practice, Calipari told reporters in Kentucky:
“What I can tell you is, I’m a big fan, respect him as a basketball coach, always have,” Calipari said. “Matter of fact, I took my [Memphis] staff down to Texas Tech, spent a day, watched him practice. [He] helped me with the dribble-drive — made it even better. [I] don’t agree with what he said, but it doesn’t change how I feel about him.”
Knight became the highest-profile person in the college basketball world to call out Calipari when he made these comments Thursday at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching,” Knight said. “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.”
Calipari is the only coach in history to have two Final Fours vacated, yet he himself has escaped punishment. His 1996 Final Four appearance with UMass was vacated because center Marcus Camby was found to have taken money from an agent. His 2008 Final Four with Memphis was taken away after it was learned that someone else took the SAT for point guard Derrick Rose.
Of course, Knight’s comments beg the question: Is he really the right person to deliver this message?
Isn’t this the same guy who threw a folding chair across the court and was accused of slapping one of his players in the face?
Knight’s comments have triggered numerous responses, including this thoughtful piece from our friends at Rush the Court.
FREE THROWS
Great column on Lance Stephenson by Rick Bozich worth reading here.…Long Island announced the signing of 5-10 guard Jason Brickman out of San Antonio, Texas…Harold Spears scored his 1,000th career point for Pennington (NJ) Dec. 14.
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
bigpapijugg / December 18, 2009
ya he doesnt mention the fact that he punched a player or threw a chair at a ref. he doesnt mention tim floyd. he also doesnt mention roy williams or even kelvin sampson. he just had to knock a university who he has never liked and a coach who doesnt like him
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a.garza / December 18, 2009
Here’s the issue in my eyes…..TOO MANY of you media types, AZ, are seemingly trying to sweep this Calipari mess under the rug. When somebody like Bob Knight calls Calipari out, you come with these comments, like “is Bob Knight one to talk?”
Doesn’t matter. Let’s not forget, Knight WAS fired at Indiana for his misdeeds. I fully support Bob Knight in his statements last night. I think he was right on. I’ve thought for many years that there was something going on under Calipari that was on the shady side. Laurenburg Prep, AZ? Is it just coincidence that a number of his players (Shawne Williams, Joey Dorsey, Roburt Sallie, Antonio Anderson for example) who came from different areas of the country were magically able to become “eligible” to play for Memphis at this ONE school in North Carolina that is now closed down because of an apparent inability to maintain academic records? Care to address that for me? Or is it just a coincidence?
Listen, I don’t really care if Calipari is a buddy of yours or whatever, but the guy is a crook, and does not deserve to be coaching college basketball. He should take his shady doings to the NBA, where these things are accepted.
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TJCPenny / December 18, 2009
Johnny Manchowder is a disaster and a disgrace, Bob Knight is 100% right.
I am SHOCKED that parents would allow their kids to play for Coach Cal.
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JessieWildcat / December 18, 2009
The statement from BK was rather amusing.
Indiana must do that to BK. Fire him up.
But, BK does have some valid points:
1) Cali does come with a great deal of dirt and SHADDINESS.
He is one of a few coaches which has been BUSTED but, still continues.
Is he different from the OTHERs which were less obvious?
This year should be interesting in Ohio.
Is this shady? “I am responsible for everything. But, I am NOT accountable for everything.” yeah…a pretext to a Cali defense. LMAO
2) No one is naive. Right Memphis.
How can one man do those things at Memphis?
With some HELP. …Right Johnson.
The NCAA knows this and gave them a slap on the hand.
Memphis got stripped…but, nothing else happened.
Imagine simliiar things happening presently w/o JP knowing.
Remember: JP was offered the position and J did not inform him of the nacc-memphis investigation-charges. Shady remains in Memphis?FedUp.
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Avaricious / December 18, 2009
Don’t worry I’m sure Antigua will still feed you info, Zagoria.
A) Yeah, I’d say a man who never had anyone remotely insinuate that he was involved in cheating (The issue at hand- not red herrings like chair tossing, etc.) and won more games than anyone in the history of his sport is The man to call out the biggest disgrace to college basketball.
B) The irony of the “Rush The Court” people using a FedEx commercial, when that was known to be the company funneling money for no show internships at Memphis.
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JessieWildcat / December 18, 2009
It is time to TALK ..DEATH PENALITY.
FedUp is FedEx…right.
Memphis is moving up the LIST of NCAA violation cases.
With new info..will they move up some more?
The four horsemen at UK ..are they moving up the list as well?
One thing is for sure, we have a NEW NUMBER 1 school on the list.
So, if SMU got the Death Penality…does Arizona State get it also?
The talk of DEATH PENALITY is real, folks.
THE LIST….
Schools with infractions
9 cases:
Arizona State?????
8 cases:
Arizona State, Southern Methodist (SMU- death penality!!)
7 cases:
Auburn, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Wichita State, Florida State, **Memphis (big problems for Johnson***)
6 cases:
Kansas State, California, UCLA, Georgia, Illinois, **Kansas, **Kentucky
5 cases:
Baylor, Michigan State, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, Cincinnati, Colorado, Miami, Southern California, UTEP, Texas-Pan American, Washington, West Virginia
So, what if…………….
With Memphis MOVING UP to 8 cases. It puts itself with the company of SMU- Death Penality.
With Kentucky MOVING UP to 7 cases. Will NCAA get tougher?
With Kansas MOVING UP to 7 cases. How will LES handle this?
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pastaboy / December 18, 2009
If this nutjob is criticizing you …..you must be doing something right . Knight will commit murder before he dies ……he’s been in a meltdown state for several years now. The hunting incident was a tell ….he pointed a loaded shotgun at a man . I imagine ESPN loves one of their color guys insulting a top SEC coach with the contract they just signed ……what a frigging clown .
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Avaricious / December 18, 2009
I doubt ESPN wants him to say anything bad about anyone involved in college basketball. They love to package it as a clean product. When was the last time they did anything groundbreaking or hard hitting? Hell, they employ Stuart Scott, who begins his interviews with hand pounds. It’s not exactly 60 minutes.
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severage / December 18, 2009
That’s like the pot calling the kettle black.
The definition of integrity is “steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
” Not many college coaches could be bulletproof in this area. However, Knight of all people should stay away from this word. While you may have never gotten in trouble at IU with the NCAA, I would consider multiple temper tantrums (including chair throwing) and choking your own players as a moral and ethical issue.
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severage / December 18, 2009
Hey, Knight (sound familiar?), I heard your remarks from that little fundraiser in Indianapolis last night. Just as a reminder, here are your own words: “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.” Now, since you decided to recklessly spew venom towards the school that claims a winning record over you (18-15) during your entire coaching career, humor me while I respond.
Initially, let me just state for the record that I don’t take issue with your ability to coach basketball, or your knowledge of the X’s and O’s of the game. Only a fool would do such a thing. And yes, I’m aware that you were never caught cheating during your career, and — wait for it — your players graduated (something IU fans always go back to as far as something to hang their hats on in an effort to excuse your behavior as a human being). But my praise ends there. Time to take your medicine, Knight.
First, let’s examine your remarks. Again, you stated that the current coach at Kentucky put two schools on probation. Interesting, considering neither UMass nor Memphis were put on probation. Neither program lost scholarships, and neither program was banned from post-season play (I’m sure you are aware that both of those punishments were handed down to Indiana University’s men’s basketball program very recently). Both programs had to forfeit games for a season in which they made a Final Four run with a player later-determined to be ineligible. Those are pure facts, not my own version of the story. It’s amusing that someone preaching integrity could recklessly misstate the factual circumstances surrounding UMass and Memphis and their respective punishments by the NCAA. Based on what you said, I’m not even certain you realize that Memphis has appealed the NCAA’s ruling and the fact that they are supported by the likes of your friends Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale. I wouldn’t expect you to know that, because you only care about your hypocritical, self-righteous existence.
Next, let’s look at the coach you chose to attack in your crusade against integrity. I have in my hand a letter from the NCAA which clears John Calipari from any wrongdoing or personal violations while at Memphis. Do you have a copy of that letter? I’ll assume not, since you claim Calipari “put [Memphis] on probation.” Actually, Derrick Rose put Memphis on probation. Had Rose gone to Illinois, or — wait for it — Indiana, which was one of his finalists, guess what? Illinois (or even Indiana) would have had to forfeit their entire season in which Rose played. Oh, but wait, I think Indiana may have already been punished for its own lack of integrity during that same period of time. John Calipari has 0 (zero) — as in none — violations on his resume. He has never been sanctioned by the NCAA, and he has never so much as committed a secondary violation. Not many coaches can say that … certainly not the likes of, say, Roy Williams.
As a side note, I dare you to tell me you wouldn’t have played Derrick Rose after the NCAA cleared him to play for you. I dare you. And if you had, you would have forfeited every game in which he played, just as Memphis/Calipari had to do. If you want to blame anyone there, blame the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Speaking of Roy Williams, and since you wanted to discuss the lack of integrity in the NCAA, why didn’t you choose to point out the far more relevant and wider reaching point that the last two national champions in college basketball were (a) a school on probation at the time, and (b) a school coached by the guy who put that other school on probation … for his lack of integrity? If you wanted to make a broader point, you should have considered a more relevant argument, as opposed to attacking your hated rival Kentucky, the school that you couldn’t seem to figure out, given your losing record against them.
Next, let’s talk about this “integrity” that you preach. Webster’s defines integrity as the adherence to moral and ethical principles. I find your choice here fascinating. Though you likely don’t need me to remind you of the following, I think I’ll do so anyways. And again, I’m going to cite facts (something you can’t seem to do, even in isolated pockets):
1979 – You threw a student newspaper photographer into some bushes because the student took your picture while he was having an argument with a bicyclist about the right-of-way. Surely a man of integrity would not do such a thing to a student.
1983 – In Philadelphia, you shoved an LSU fan into a garbage can during a scuffle at the NCAA finals. Surely a man of integrity would not do such a thing, but I find this one humorous, so I’ll cut you a break.
1985 – You threw a chair across the court during a game with Purdue and were suspended for one game. Surely a coach with any integrity wouldn’t do such a thing, setting an example for his student-athletes, would he?
1988 – You told Connie Chung, “If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.” You later claimed this comment was out of context. One has to ask, what type of context could you possibly have used that would have justified such a comment?
1993 – You kicked your own son, Patrick, during a game with Notre Dame and received a one game suspension. Surely a man of integrity wouldn’t do such a thing to his own kin, especially in front of thousands of other people, would he?
1997 – Player Jason Collier left your Indiana team citing your constant verbal abuse. Surely a man of integrity wouldn’t verbally abuse a student-athlete to the point where he would have no choice but to leave your program.
1999 – You attacked another diner in a restaurant parking lot after the diner accused you of making a racial comment (inside the restaurant) about blacks. You put a choke hold on the other man, leaving marks on his throat. Surely a man of integrity wouldn’t resort to physical violence in such a situation, would he?
2000 – On March 14, 2000, just before Indiana was to begin play in the NCAA tournament, the CNN/SI network ran a piece on you in which former player Neil Reed claimed he was choked by you in a 1997 practice. You denied the claims. However, on April 11, 2000, CNN Sports Illustrated aired a tape of an IU practice from 1997 that showed you with your hand around the neck of Neil Reed. Surely a man of integrity would not (a) put his hands around the neck of a student-athlete, one there to learn under his guidance with the blessing of that child’s parents, and (b) would not lie about the incident until video proof surfaced, right?
Career – cussing at press conferences, throwing profanity-laced tempter tantrums in locker rooms (do I need to link the video, because we have proof), and basically believing that “f*ck” is the most common word in the English language. Surely a man of integrity, one responsible for the lives of young men for so many years, wouldn’t use profanity so often.
There are others; those are merely my favorites, coming from a man who now challenges others’ integrity just because he is no longer coaching. Speaking of coaching and integrity, though, I’m curious what you have to say about your dear friends having seasons entirely vacated, similar to UMass and Memphis … if you need me to remind you, here are just a few: Jim Valvano (rest in peace) – 3 tournament appearances vacated by the NCAA; Jim Calhoun, Lute Olsen, and Gene Keady – all had seasons vacated by the NCAA … they just didn’t happen to make the Final Four during those years, so they don’t get put in the same grouping as Calipari.
I realize you’re bitter towards Kentucky. I realize you don’t like that he is succeeding at such a rapid rate these days. I realize you can’t stand to see Kentucky being the story of college basketball this year. But as an employee of ESPN, a company that recently entered into a contractual agreement with the SEC for coverage of its basketball games, you might want to (a) check facts, and (b) check your emotions before you go lashing out at one of ESPN’s biggest cash cows.
Finally, I want to reiterate that I don’t take anything away from your ability to coach basketball, purely in an X’s and O’s sense … but you’re a despicable human being who defines “hypocrisy” in the sport you seem to claim your own position of entitlement over.
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a.garza / December 18, 2009
Wow, guy, calm down. Seems Bobby’s comments have struck a nerve with you. I wonder why………….
Calipari is a lying, cheating sleazeball, and should be banned from college basketball. Period.
Thanks for playing.
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severage / December 18, 2009
I am sorry, I should have mentioned that the previous post is not directly from me but everything mentioned was truthful and proven. Personally, I have a hard time accepting peoples opinions when they lack overall character. It would be different if those comments came from someone like Tom Izzo because his program is always clean and he has high character. Knight is the last person who should be calling people out.
1. UMASS only got investigated when JOHN CALIPARI turned his own program in.
2. The Memphis situation will be overturned through the appeal process. This was a clearing house issue.
3. Calipari wasn’t named in either the UMASS or Memphis punishments handed down by the NCAA>
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RockChalkWoody / December 18, 2009
1. Did he turn the program in for the Lou Rowe grade scandal and/or the Camby situation?
2. What makes you so sure that Memphis will win on appeal? I haven’t read anything that would make me believe this.
3. He doesn’t really need to be named in order to be guilty in the court of public opinion (i.e., O.J. Simpson).
You may not like Knight (I really don’t care for him), but he has always been above board when it comes to not breaking the rules and his kids graduate.
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a.garza / December 18, 2009
I get it. You’re a rabid UK fan, standing in defense mode like the rest of your comrades everytime someone questions the character of your all-of-a-sudden beloved head basketball coach. All for just a small little taste of the success that your program USED to enjoy, and that your school’s administration became desperate enough to reclaim that they resorted to hiring a known cheat who MOST UK FANS were calling a cheat THEMSELVES not so long ago.
Sour grapes to me, friend. You must know that you are making a bed that will not be so comfortable to sleep in in the future. This is what happens when you make a deal with the devil. Ask Memphis fans if you don’t believe me.
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JessieWildcat / December 18, 2009
BK tells it how he sees it.
Is kentucky being looked at?
UK was at FIVE violations in Sept.
And NO WAY….Memphis will win the appeal.
Do you hear? maybe ncaa begins to review memphis again…
Johnson and FedUp did something again?
Note:
On the Death Penality….
A school is going to GET IT… Arizona State SunDevils.
“Because this subject of institutional control was addressed with ASU four years ago, the topic still is raw. If the NCAA finds that a major violation occurred, it would be the school’s ninth such case since 1953, more than any other program in the country. It already is tied with Southern Methodist, a university whose name remains synonymous with “death penalty.”
ASU of at least NINE rules violations connected to its … program is troubling, but others have survived worse. That the accusations are occurring within its probationary period from a 2005 case involving impermissible financial aid and improper benefits for former football player Loren Wade are particularly disturbing because both cases have the NCAA questioning the university’s “institutional control.” azrepublic
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JessieWildcat / December 19, 2009
AZ,
Can not believe Cali’s response ….next question…
The Cali comment: “I am responsible for everything. But, I am not accountable for everything.”
Well, Jerry T. asked Cali and……….
When asked by sportswriter Jerry T….” how accountable is the head coach when it comes to NCAA violations”,
Calipari turned his head and said, “Next question.”
(Reference: ESPx has the footage of the Cali comment, prior to the UConn game.)
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blasphemy / December 21, 2009
a.garza
You know “most” UK fans and their opinions on Calipari before he came? You get around dude. The Census Beruea has your name written all over it! 😉 Oh, wait… just realized you don’t actually know what you’re talking about and that you’re just spewing bs. That’s my bad. Have a great day!
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blasphemy / December 21, 2009
I love how you use one specific example instead of an arbitrary one. I laughed for a minute or two when you used the O.J. Simpson trial. Let me provide some counter examples! Let us begin with the Salem Witch trials. The court of public opinion was correct there too? Therefore, by your seeming support of public opinion, you would want those women crucified. Great call! How about the court of public opinion on forward time travel? I’m taking a shot in the dark on this one, but I would say most people think that forward time travel is impossible (once again this is a guess, I have no evidence either way, but I know at one time, it was indeed the “court of public opinion.”) But wait, it IS possible. (It has been confirmed for a while now, they proved it using atomic clocks, one in a plane and one staying stationary on the ground.) Back to my argument. Therefore, the “court of public opinion” cannot be used as a predictor of “fact.” If you were trying to use it as a fact of guilt, then by my preceding argument, it is invalid, otherwise it is useless to use in that context because the “court of public opinion” statement you issued is irrelvant in your argument of “fact” by reasoning of my preceding argument.
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a.garza / December 21, 2009
Nice blasphemy, just continue to repeat the rhetoric that each and every UK fan seems to be reciting these days…..”you don’t know what you’re talking about,” “Calipari was never named in any of the reports,” “you don’t know what you’re talking about…..”
Blah blah blah. I don’t even have to TELL you how bad this is going to get for you, in the back of your mind, you’re already wary. You don’t need to admit it though.
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JessieWildcat / December 21, 2009
Has BK LOUD message been received?
After being embarrassed, The NCAA appears ready to do something….
Will Johnson be reviewed?
The horsemen have been reached out to?
Is Newton reading the writing on the wall?
But, I have to agree with Jerry T… NEXT QUESTION is not going to fly.
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catsfanforever1 / January 17, 2010
I live on UK’ campus Wall drives a Escalade I wonder where he got that from? I have met Cal he is arrogant. I miss Tubby!!
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