He’s arrogant, obnoxious and only looking out for himself.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari is solely responsible for letting Indiana versus Kentucky, one of the best annual college games, go away.
He says Kentucky is above the fray, and in their own category. He’s says they’re in unprecedented territory and at UK, they will do things how they want. Play by their rules.
All I hear is “me, me, me.”
IU coach Tom Crean did all he could to continue the series. Crean offered to play the first two years at Lucas Oil Stadium (as Calipari preferred), if Kentucky would follow that up with a home-and-home series. Calipari declined.
He offered to move dates around and pay half the buyout to get Kentucky out of a previously signed contract. Calipari declined.
“The greatest thing right now – it isn’t about compromising. Again, Indiana, we offered a two-year schedule in their state. ‘Well, you didn’t do what they wanted to do.’ OK, then we won’t play.”
“So what we’re doing is what’s right for our program, and like I told Tommy, ‘Tommy, move on. It’s done. We’re good. I’m good, you’re good. You have your schedule, we have our schedule.’”
I would say at least he’s being honest, admitting that it’s his way or no way. But ‘honest’ and ‘Calipari’ are two words that don’t go together.
Indiana insists on keeping the game on campus, stressing that it’s an integral part of the student experience. At the least, Crean and athletic director Fred Glass wanted every four-year student to see the game at Assembly Hall once in their time in Bloomington. Calipari knocked that idea and then insulted IU students.
“They’re only two hours away. Are they that poor?”
Seriously, coach? Stooping that low?
It’s not about what Kentucky wants, or what Indiana wants. It’s about doing whatever is necessary to ensure the series continues.
“We’ll play two years in your state, but we’re not having anything more than two-year contracts because of the flux of our program,” Calipari insisted. “When we schedule, we do it for us. I’m not scheduling for anyone else. (Critics say), ‘Well schedule for America!’ I’m not scheduling for America. I’m scheduling for us.”
No, nobody is saying ‘do it for America.’ What I am saying is do it for your program. Do it because it has been a long-standing tradition between the two schools and it should stay that way.
Instead of letting the annual meeting continue, Calipari is standing in the way for his own selfish reasons.
“The one thing that’s changed: we’re one of the few – if not the only program – that can go to football stadiums regular season. ‘Well, why would you do it?’ Because we can. ‘Cause we can, and no one else can. ‘Well, you shouldn’t do that, ’cause it’s different. It makes the purists mad.’ I’m not scheduling for the purists. I’m scheduling for my basketball team.”
Coach Calipari, with that ornery smirk, is so caught up in doing what he wants, how he wants, that he puts everything else in jeopardy. Neither UK or IU needs this game. Both are top-five programs so scheduling isn’t a issue. Unless, you’re dealing with Calipari, of course.
“Why don’t you play each other? ‘Because.’ What do you mean, because? Because, because, because. What are you talking about? We play. We’re scheduling for us. I’m not scheduling for anybody else. And it’s not mean. It’s real.”
Cal, stop. You sound like an whiny child.
All of these golden quotes, plus more, come after just one question about the series against IU. He actually began the whole rant citing former IU coach Bob Knight, who publicly despises Calipari and what he’s doing to college basketball.
“I wanted to do what Bobby Knight did. Bobby Knight decided that he thought the series should be neutral. And when it was neutral, the series was huge. Battle of the flags and all those other things. He was the one that made it the first neutral, and I liked the idea because we had to move someone neutral. Someone was going to have to go neutral and it was logical it was them.”
It’s a real shame that it’s come to this. Calipari and Crean are close friends and should be able keep a good thing going. Instead, Calipari’s ego got stuck in the door before they could even meet.
On April 1st, 2009, Calipari took over a storied Kentucky program that was full of history and tradition.
Three years later, he’s killing one of the many traditions that made UK so attractive.
——–
The following quotes were too good not to include.
Calipari’s big picture thinking
“I want to play a triple-header so bad; you have no idea how I want to do a tripleheader now. Men and women on a Friday and the football team on a Saturday and just overrun a city. I don’t know what city it would be, but you will be overrun by people.”
The power of social media
“The greatest thing on the social media is that I can keep everybody informed on how I’m thinking, not what you think I’m thinking. They know what I’m thinking and what I’m doing, because I tell them, ‘Here’s why I’m doing this.’”
“Now you can write that those fans are mad. Those seven fans are mad. But the fans as a whole are great. They’re fine with what we’re doing.”
So Calipari complains about the media making conclusions, then talks about what the fans “think”?
[Special thanks to Kyle Tucker of the Louisville Courier-Journal for the full transcript]
What a tool! Selfish man with visions of grandeur! Dillusional!
He is a unbelievable. Some of the things he said are pitiful and embarrassing for their program. He may have one title, for now, but nobody can be successful with such a narrow-sighted attitude.
Playing a double header in Cowboy stadium with Baylor is narrow sighted? Yeah , ok , whatever. Elite 8, 2 FF 1 NC you’re right Cal can’t be successful.
He thinks he’s being innovative, but instead destroying what both us UK and IU fans have come to love. The annual rivalry. ESPN’s Dan Shulman, who called last year’s game, admitted that it was probably the best regular season game of the year. it also made for an interesting re-matchup in the sweet sixteen. Don’t take this away from us.
It is hard for me to be mad at Glass and Crean but I am. It is not easy for me to say bow down to such an arrogant situation when you have compromised so much. If I am angry with the Indiana Administration for letting this happen you can pretty well guess how I feel about UK and Cal.I don’t know what the answer is but I do know this serious must continue for all of collage basketball. Figure it out!!
NEVER DAUNTED WE WILL NOT FALTER
Cal didn’t kill this. The game would be played if IU would agree to play 2 in Indy. If IU really wants to play Kentucky, it could. But, wow, IU is being as stubborn as UK is being arrogant.
We are both to blame! one more than the other I am sure. Negotiations are for compromise. There is more compromise to give when you haven’t given any at all!!
IU compromised all they could. The only thing left is to give into UK’s demands. Then you wouldn’t call it a compromise because Calipari ran all over IU.
Good for Crean and Glass willing to work this out, but unwilling to compromise their own integrity.
Like I said I have no Idea what the answer is! I do know there is a option on the table that leads to IU beating the ishnitt out of UK the next 2 years and I personally would like to see it!!!!
You obviously didn’t read the article very well. UK is ducking IU plain and simple. Cal wants an undefeated season and scheduling IU doesn’t go with that. Plus he wants to keep the head-to-head matchup series lead. IU will bust KY when they meet in the tourney. Book it. Cal is a thug.
Cal most certainly did kill this, IU tried to compromise and offered suggestions about scheduling but they were met with a cold shoulder. UK never once offered anything more than playing both games in Indy, which would only give him the chance to showcase UK to Indiana recruits. I understand the desire to schedule how you want, but there are ways to do that and still keep with traditions. At this rate, the only tradition Cal will keep is getting his wins vacated once the NCAA finds out the shady stuff he does.
You sir, are an idiot.
Just wondering why Indiana and Kentucky would want to give up home field advantage, oh because Calipari knows that we have a better chance of beating them her. I don’t understand playing at a neutral site, its the students are the ones missing out. His comment about are they that poor is absurd.
Calipari is acting like he’s the first coach in history to win a National Championship.
Act like you’ve been there before, John. Even though you haven’t.
UK does not need to play IU. IU fans need to get over it. UK plays where they want, when they want.
If UK is ducking IU, this years game was scheduled for Rupp Arena. Why would Cal give up a home game? Because he is scared?
Let it go, IU fans. Cal & UK don’t like you. We even like Louisville better than you.
Go build another shrine to your Sweet 16 season. That’s sweet. We will keep hanging banners while you complain about regular season games.
If you hate us so much why dont you WANT TO PLAY US? According to your rationale, given you also dont like Louisville, you dont want to play them either right?
You UK fans have to get over the “we do what we want, when we want” angle. EVERY PROGRAM DOES WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WANT. IT’S CALLED PUTTING A SCHEDULE TOGETHER. IU fans are hardly THAT upset with this really. We are just more about tradition than UK up here right now. From this fan base’s perspective it’s funny how this has blown up on Cal, but still kind of sad he ruined it. But whatever. We will sub you out for ‘Ville and you can go play Baylor. HAHAHAHAh
Did you not read the article? “Neither UK or IU needs this game”
Of course he is scared. He doesn’t want his Rupp winning streak to end. He would lose this year and probably next year. That would be three in a row to IU. How could he get his NBA players to come if they cant beat IU in the regular season. Some of these kids are bound to be smart enough to know UK’s money cant buy winning, especially against the Hoosiers.
Your coach, and the UK program are the most corrupt in the history of college basketball. NOBODY in college basketball likes you, and your state sucks.
Huh isn’t IU recovering from scandal?
Yeah, some scandal. For breaking a rule that was so stupid that the NCAA just eliminated the limit on the number of phone calls a coach can make to a recruit.
It’s funny he likes to talk this scheduling thing is about exposure, blah blah blah. You really think you are going to get more exposure by playing freaking BAYLOR in Texas? BAYLOR? No one outside of Texas cares about Baylor basketball and even in Texas they are about 10th on the heirarchy. UK/IU last year was the best game of the year. And you think you are going to get more from going to play Baylor? You are ducking us plain and simple. You dont want anything to do with Assembly Hall. Champs should act like Champs.
Don’t worry fans. Calipari will get caught cheating soon and will leave Kentucky. The new coach will then be happy to continue the tradition. Be patient.
You say Cal sounds like a whiny child? what the hell is this article then? I imagine you threw your arms around violently and your eyes swelled with tears? Also, he’s destroying a program? HAHA…An elite 8, a final four and a national championship? Really running that program in to the ground.
Never said he is destroying the program. Just interesting, that he came to UK for the tradition-rich history and all that was done before to make UK great. And one by one, he’s doing what he wants, rather than continuing an annual tradition that was there long before he was born.
Jordan, not to put words in Scott’s mouth but I believe he meant more than just winning games. It only takes one experience at Assembly Hall to experience the atmosphere, loyalty, and character that exists even when the team has a losing record…but, then again, maybe we are just too poor to understand?
IU was down for three years and he didn’t have any trouble playing. Now, when IU has surged ahead, he wants to call it quits.
i think you misspelled “twenty years”
IU fans seem to be the only one this upset by it. The rivalry has lacked relevance for years, and only became exciting this year. IU has a great program that will be one of the favorites to win the championship next year. You can drop about Cal “lying” as if you know him personally, and you can point to two vacated seasons, but you probably need to research your facts first. After all it was IU that was last put on probation for slimy recruiting. If you all dont cheat and dont have that major setback then maybe the series continues to be relevent and we wouldnt be in the current position.
Perhaps you need to do your research, Jordan. That is why the coach and AD was promptly replaced with two people that upheld compliance to the highest standard. Also, I agree the rivalry did become exciting this year…too exciting for Calipari’s liking as it would seem.
Ok ill look at facts, Cal coached at 2 schools where he was head of the program, both of those schools Vacated Final Fours, D Rose cheated on SAT as many other players who played for CAL his scores jumped up way beyond previoius scores look at Memphis Dorsey, While at Memphis BB Players apartment was broken into and claims of fur coats gold ect way above what they could afford, Reggie Rose riding on team plane, Eric Bledsoe once again flunked Algebra 2 and aced Algebra 3 to get qualified. nope No smoke around Cal
Wait did you just call someone else out for Cheating and your Kentucky Wildcheater fan? Dude you wrote the book on cheating and now you have one of the biggest cheaters on the planet as your coach. Calipari year after year has the best team money can buy, he will be brought down one day and your program will be in shambles like it has put itself in with your boy Eddie Sutton. Kentucky looks like a chump in this situation and you know it buddy. Iu is strong again and Kentucky is scaaaaaared to play them, its that simple!!!
Slimy recruiting? He placed 10 phone calls that weren’t reported to the NCAA, 10 phone calls that any other coach in the country could make but him due to his being on probation for his deeds at Oklahoma.
If you want to compare the transgression of 10 phone calls vs UK’s storied history of circumventing rules if not down right cheating, feel froggy and jump.
a UK perspective if you will allow it….
to those stating UK/Calipari are ending the series to protect a home win streak, stop…. understand perspective, he is trying to move more games to neutral sites. UK felt that IU was the natural selection (due to their history of actually doing it). moving it to Lucas Oil allows both schools to play in a large venue that, gasp, is the site of a Final Four spot. Note: UK will play this coming season in the Georgia Dome, the site of the 2013 Final Four. Since UK/IU didn’t agree, UK now has its sights on renewing UNC (which will offset the UL home/away schedule so UK isn’t playing both on the road or home in the same season). Also, UK is in discussions to pick up Duke on a neutral rotating site contract.
And yes, they picked up Baylor at home this year, and in the Jerry Dome in 2013. Why would he want the Jerry Dome in 2013. First the national exposure but more importantly Texas is home to 3 of the top ten recruits the Harrison twins as well as Julius Randle.
i just find it rather humorous that Duke is allowed to schedule 7-9 neutral site games annually and it’s not a problem. UK tries to move to 4-5 annually and everyone is up in arms. NCAA games are played on neutral site games in large venues (football stadiums, domes, arenas). why wouldn’t you want to provide your team with the best opportunity to replicate those conditions?
Duke plays in a 9,000 seat barn,
We offered 2 games in Lucas Oil, which we opened for basketball it’s first year.
we also play some netural site games this year in NYC and Bankers life fieldhouse.
and as you mentioned about Texas you want to play there because 3 top recruits play there, explains why you want a game in LOS so bad, unline Kentucky we can actually produce great players in Indiana
I never understood why IU fans think that Indiana is such a desired state for UK recruiting. UK goes after five stars and while they are 1/2 for IN 5* in the last three years, most of the players produced in IN wouldn’t meet this criteria. it is a fertile ground for the 4 and 3* but UK has their pick of the litter so to speak. I’d rather have better connections in Chicago than Indiana. But that’s a UK fans perspective.
Rexx in effect,
dude your on crack, IU has produced more pro prosepects then any state in the last 7-8 yrs. Why do you think Kentucky, OHio State, Illinios, Michigan, MSU come to the state to try and take the states best talent. IU highschool basketball is far superior to any other state in the midwest. I know your a UK fan and probably dont have a 5th grade education but please before you type utter B*llsh$t please fact check. Pretty funny how your Coach is scared to play IU.
nice fifth grade comment. but you should note: UK has only recruited two players from Indiana in the last 4 years. and yes, Indiana is one of the best in the Midwest, but UK recruits NATIONALLY. UK recruits the player, not the state. Players like Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Knight, Jones, Lamb, Davis, MKG, and Wiltjer came from outside the state of Indiana. players that were recruited were Teague (which was a race between Louisville and UK) and Gary Harris (and MSU was the obvious choice from the get go). i didn’t mean to offend your nice little state of basketball, but there are other states that provide quality recruits. i know, shocker, huh?
Rexx, please save it.
UK goes after top talent that want to play the mercenary one and done game. Chicago would be a better place for that than Indiana.
The sad thing is that you folks have bought into this renegade non-student format.
Recruiting the best of the best…..who knew that would be a winning strategy? I guess UK should start recruiting less talented players so UK wouldn’t offend the sensibilities of certain programs.
Coach Cal = weasel
Deep down everyone who follows and loves UK ball knows that their coach is a bit slimy (squirrely). However, until they stop winning it will be tolerated. I can see the future now and it is not going to be bright for UK post-Calipari.
To Calipari’s comment on Indiana kids being poor…Statistically we could buy your ass!
Indiana University 2011 endowment = $1.57 Billion
University of Kentucky 2011 endowment = $831 Million
Indiana GDP = ranked 16th in the United States
Kentucky GDP = ranked 28th in the United States
IU graduates own Businesses
UK graduates own Trailers
I live in KY, about one mile from Indiana.
I would like to continue playing IU.
If you hate UK & Cal you will continue to find things to yell about.
Technically, Cal was never the guilty one at Memphis or UMass; it was the players who were wrong. Look it up. THOSE ARE FACTS.
IU has not been relevant in ten years. Did you forget who beat IU and ended their season last year?
Can someone explain the Sweet Sixteen display in Assembly Hall?
UK hadn’t been relevant for 14 years…
Calipari is guilty by association. Any good leader would have had a better judge of character for those who he surrounds himself with…unless of course his priorities are strictly for self-betterment. Which in this case is really just a rhetorical statement.
You know Bob Knight in the 70’s was 7-3 against UK then over the next 9 games he was 3-6….suddenly he didn’t want to play in Rupp anymore. He won the next 3 out of 4….2 of them in IN. So he didn’t want to go back to playing home and home. Yet over the next 15 years IU won only 3 games before wanting to go back to home and home because they just didn’t have the fans following them to see them lose. Now that Cal wants to go back to what Bobby Knight demanded IU fans thinks it horrible. Listen to those that say UK is scared, it was to be our turn at home and we offered to go to IN the next 2 seasons. IF that game is SOOO important to YOUR administration they would agree to the next 2 seasons in a heartbeat and begin working on the home and home stuff later. Listen neither team is scared but just because UK wants to play in an arena that will make more money for BOTH schools doesn’t mean it’s a horrible thing to do. IU would without question bring in a ton of fans this coming year and like Barnhart said last week there are still 2 open Saturdays in Dec if IU wants to schedule something….both dates are open at Lucas too. So what if you think it’s about me with Cal, last time I checked it is his team and he does what is best for them and the program. Playing more games in a neutral site prepares everyone for game in the tourney. I am the first to say that I want to see them continue on and I am also the first to say that Cal could and probably should make this happen but let’s not kid ourselves here IU has the same responsibility and ability to get this done and they too haven’t given in….despite what they say.
In KY, we honestly can’t understand why this is still an issue. At no point have we said we’ll never play IU again. We likely will. The two schools have different objectives this year, they couldn’t agree, and that’s OKAY!
Glass sounds like he’s trying to get the most possessions in a nasty divorce! “I tried harder to save the marriage than he did so I deserve more!”. Times change. You can talk until you’re blue in the face (no pun intended) about keeping traditions and the amateure experience, but the reality is these kids are used to make billions every year for their schools, conferences, and the NCAA! Cal is willing to do whatever he can to get the exposure his players need to get some $ of their own after playing here. That’s why the best players come to UK!
Speaking of a Sweet 16 Shrine, didn’t UK retire Farmer and those guys jerseys even though they never made a Final Four?
This is a perfect example of biased reporting. If you want to blame Cal for not playing the games on campus, you should. However, the blame for not playing the games at all fall squarely at Crean and Glass’s feet. There was nothing unfair with Cal’s proposal…if anything it was more than fair since both games would have been played in Central Indiana. How an IU athletic director and coach can sleep at night knowing they’re responsible for killing a rivalry that’s been played continuously for 43 years (15 on a neutral court) is beyond me.
Regarding the sweet 16 shrine.
1. This display is created every year to reflect on the previous season’s accomplishments.
2. IU was in the cellar for 3 years. A blueblood team in the cellar for 3 years, i’m sure you can imagine how frustrating that is. Then this season they had a 29-7 season, defeated the #1, #2, #5, #13 teams in the nation, and made it to the Sweet 16 and only got beat by the future national champions. Can you not understand how they would want to recognize coming back from the cellar to national relevance again?
3. I believe back in the early 90’s UK retired the jersey’s of 5 players on a team that only made it to the elite 8. The reason? b/c the program had been down for a few years after a scandal. Sound familiar?
Please don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house.