Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
We love John Clay on KSR. Whether it was his early embrace of the internet, his mutual love of live blogs or the fact that he occasionally speaks to us at Kentucky basketball games, John Clay is a KSR favorite. But there is more to it than just personal as well. John is a great writer and is a good counter-balance at our favorite Lexington newspaper institution to the forces of Tipton. Clay can be critical, as anyone who saw the Clyde era certainly knows, but he is also fair and realizes what the role of a columnist in a college sports town should be. He will throw stones when necessary, but he doesnt go searching for boulders simply to search….or well, something like that….my metaphors are confusing me.
Anyway, tonight he has written this piece on the Calipari situation that I think addresses the real situation at the core of the “scandal.” While most of the media jumped to judgment the moment the news broke, confirming their already held suspicions about Calipari and his programs, the facts seem to suggest something else. Clay notes that the entire scandal actually has more to do with Derrick Rose than Calipari and that the NCAA has been explicit in saying that the UK coach is not at risk. Thus many who wanted to use this as a chance to bring the fire against Calipari may have acted a bit prematurely and without full understanding of the situation.
Clay’s article is a good read for a Sunday morning. We will have more on our picture contest on Sunday, and Sunday night, I will do my best breakdown of the Billy Clyde legal case….stay tuned and enjoy the nice weather if you have it.
[powered by WordPress.]
Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
28 queries. 0.890 seconds
May 31st, 2009 at 1:22 am
GO MAGIC!
May 31st, 2009 at 1:43 am
GO OSCAR ROBERTSON
May 31st, 2009 at 1:50 am
Looks like Tipton and Clay are playing good journalist/bad journalist. Of course the damage has already been done with the Story and Tipton articles. But, better late than never.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:53 am
“There’s been alot of monuments made for people who have alot of critics…but there’s never been a monument made for a critic.” Sorry Tipton, Story, Forde. etc.
May 31st, 2009 at 2:24 am
John Clay is the man and a friend of the program lol
May 31st, 2009 at 2:33 am
I still can’t fathem the thought of our team next with meeks… Heck even without meeks! GO CATS!!!!
May 31st, 2009 at 4:10 am
John Clay is one of my favorite sports writers around, he is a class act and a great journalist. The LHL is lucky to have him.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:21 am
You have to admit, there does seem to be an element of good cop/bad cop going on at the LHL.
As far as Mark Story is concerned…I’m finished with that panzy. That article won’t be forgotten.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:34 am
A year ago John wrote a seering article on UK. I sent him an emaail asklng are you UK fan or just a jerk. He responded within seconds that he was journalist not a fan. I agree with mattcat68’s post this is just good journalist/bad journalist.
These writers get 50% of there material off talk shows. Larry Glover and Criss Cross are the main 2 culprits. Remember Lee Todd’s comment that we would kick some cardinal tail in football. Well after Todd made this statement nothing is written. Glover 2 weeks before the game brings this up and boom the next 3 days articles are everywhere on this subject. Wonder why you can’t get a job with Lexington station Matt. Your devotion and integrity hold you back. Matt try the Frankfort radio station.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:03 am
I wonder if Clay , Tipton & Story like each other. I kind of doubt it. Clay is definitely the more patient of the three always cleaning up their screw ups. I doubt they ever compare notes or tips because of the level of competition between them. Herald Leader needs to censure Tipton & Story for putting their circulation numbers in jeopardy.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:14 am
It’s about time that someone sees this for what it is……..a Memphis problem. Rose was never a UK player. Sounds like they need a Sandy Bell to get their sh!t right. The blame for Roses SAT scores being approved falls on the shoulders of the NCAA clearinghouse. Cal played an eligible player folks, I don’t see how Memphis or Cal can be blamed for that, it all happened in Chicago before he even went to Memphis. . Regarding the reggie rose airfare….if there is an empty seat on a plane and they can “sell” that seat to offset costs then why wouldn’t they? Sounds like Rose let Memphis down by not reimbursing them, therefore causing the entire unpaid airfare problem. I think Memphis fans should be mad at him, not Cal. Open your eyes guys, Rose is/was the problem! So point your fingers in the right direction.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:15 am
I think 3 and 8 are right. More than likely the LHL took a lot of heat from the manure put out by Tipton/Story and his editor told him to right something flattering. Trust none of them, their word is just so much sludge.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:23 am
The only legitimate gripe that people can have about this Memphis scandal when it comes to Calipari is this - when you recruit the Derrick Roses of the world (and the OJ Mayos), there is always a danger of this kind of thing happening. The institution doesn’t have to do anything wrong for a player to violate his amateur status and get a season forfeited. I have no concerns about Calipari - I think he’s an honest guy. I am a bit nervous about some of the players he recruits…if they stay out of trouble, we’re going to win big. But it will surely reflect poorly on Cal if both of his career final fours are vacated.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:26 am
He still had to put his negative spin on it and say he thinks Calipari will eventually get caught for something. How does that make up for anything?
Yes he did concentrate on the facts much more than the other two, who choose to concentrate on innuendo and cast their judgement but he could have left his negative BS out of it at the end.
I definitely think they play off of each other in a good cop, bad cop sort of way to get more exposure.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:52 am
I’ve been calling for proof of any sin Calipari has committed, of course none has been forthcoming. And I’ve been calling for identification of these ne’er do wells supposedly hanging around his program and just what they’ve done. Again, nothing. So here’s the situation as it stands now: There’s NO proof of any violation committed by Calipari….so he must be guilty. Right.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:04 am
I always thought someone was innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent…
May 31st, 2009 at 9:07 am
ESPN Radio getting ready now to interview Pat Forte so he can attacck Erin Cal about her Facebook comments about his hair and attach Coach Cal. 9:30am
May 31st, 2009 at 9:10 am
16- Well you’re thinking of in America, not in the press or the NCAA.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:17 am
ESPN Radio interview with Pat Forte about Erin Cal’s Facebook comments and Cal’s “dirty laundry” starting in about 5-10 minutes at 9 45 am or so. Shameful!
May 31st, 2009 at 9:17 am
Clay still got in a jab in the beginning of the article and at the end of the article. But I guess the important part was what was in the middle.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:20 am
#13 I agree. I seriously doubt Cal would be stupid enough to risk his career by helping a 17 year old cheat on the SAT. However, I do think when you recruit top notch high school players that already have entourages you will always have to worry about stuff such as this happening. And unfortunately the media is not nuanced enough to look at what role Cal actually played in these situations.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’m disgusted by how many jumped the gun on this to blame Calipari or say “told ya so, Kentucky.” It could not be more OBVIOUS that he is not involved. The NCAA even thinks so.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:34 am
14- I think he was being sarcastic. Dont believe he meant he thought
May 31st, 2009 at 9:34 am
sorry coach would be caught doing anything
May 31st, 2009 at 9:41 am
19- What he say?
May 31st, 2009 at 9:56 am
25- its already on youtube. Cat fans don’t mess around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0&feature=PlayList&p=73126AB3 B0829A14&index=0&playnext=1
May 31st, 2009 at 10:03 am
26) Nice on Soup! Is that Paul’s ode to Rick Pitino.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:12 am
can’t wait to the UL stuff starts coming out
May 31st, 2009 at 10:14 am
Neither can I so you will finally stop talking about it!
May 31st, 2009 at 10:27 am
The only people that buy into the crap that jerks like Tipton and Forde write are people that already hate(envey)us anyway. Jealousy is a aweful thing, and we might as well get used to this type of reaction. It is my theory however that after about 4 or 5 years when we’ve hung banners 8-10, they won’t even have the energy or motivation to fart.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:52 am
20, thats what she said.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:07 am
Rick Roll gag = hack
Soup = douche
May 31st, 2009 at 11:14 am
31 - I think that applies to 28 as well. Well, not really…
May 31st, 2009 at 11:40 am
Great to see that Clay for one has his head screwed on right up there.
I do notice that ESPN is still running that “Nothing to see here” story castigating Cal, but I did some research into Simeon Academy and it’s apparent the problem lies there, not with Cal and Memphis.
And based on how the NCAA dealth with Maggette and Duke, Memphis should not have their final 4 vacated earlier.
If you want to se what I found, click on my name.
Thanks
May 31st, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Blonde32746 - That was a very good post. I hope for Calipari and Memphis’s sake that the NCAA uses the same logic they have in the past. I would hate it for Calipari if they kept talking about him being the only coach to lose two final four appearances.
I really believe that he is a vicitim of recruiting high profile players as many have said.
He is getting such a bad wrap. Definitely good that you looked into the high school.
Thanks for the info!
May 31st, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I’ve never understood the sports writers within Lexington and their “news articles” about UK basketball…just a mystery to me really and I’m not sure I’ll ever understand it?
Why is all of this even being laid on Memphis? Rose did this before coming there, the NCAA cleared him to play! That’s the NCAA and those involved before enrolling at Memphis’ problem and they should be the ones held accountable!
Now the $2K or so in travel funds…Rose will write a check and that will be done with.
The NCAA, in my opinion, was quick to level charges against Memphis before realizing they have thrown themselves under the bus!
May 31st, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Thanks gmwilson!
The possibility of another vacated Final Four really bothers me as well. None of the hack writers even mention that Calipari turned in Camby to the NCAA and now this all seems a product of this Simeon Academy. If someone there would change grades, it seems likely they would take the next step and arrange to fix the SAT (if it happened).
The more and more you actually look at this the more ridiculous it becomes.
The only solver lining is we can be assured that UK’s compliance office will be working overtime to make even every action is OK. Like we saw in the Memphis report, a $10 Starbuck’s gift card can mean a violation.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:04 pm
#21- Right on point! This is new territory for UK, as for as recruiting. When you are in the mix for high-profile recruits such as Rose, things like this are gonna happen. These are basically pro players forced to play a year of amateur basketball with the pressures of meeting requirements to gain admission. As far as Cal was concerned the kid was eligible. Period. This is an NCAA problem.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
34. Excellent blog! Well done sir. I’ve added it to my UK bookmarks section.
I would call your Forde article “The Character Assassination of John Calipari by the *Coward* Pat Forde”.
Outstanding points you bring up about the Les Memphis Miserables’.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Amazing to see Geoff Calkins of the Memphis media do a complete 180 degree turnaround in their evaluation of John Calipari. To see the glowing praise heaped on Calipari while at Memphis, all the way to the end, contrasted with the mud slung at Calipari now is utter and complete hypocrisy. Suddenly Calkins feels that Cal is surrounded by “scoundrels”…makes you wonder if Calkins is taking money under the table himself.
My new nickname for the Memphis media: The Turncoat Mafia.
May 31st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
good stuff 37. been checking you out for awhile now, and you do a good job, nice to have even more info
May 31st, 2009 at 3:17 pm
hanks for the comments..
For Calkins part, he had been critical of Calipari at times… and said that Cal always referred to him as “that one”. and in an email to me said the good of having Cal far outweighed the bad…
But all in all found it a tad hypocritical as well… especially after his ridiculous performance on OTL… It’s just amazoing how ESPN has villified UL though… esp since the big contract.
by the way, ‘the assassination of jesse james…” was a great movie
May 31st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
ugh villified UK.
I WISH they would villify UL
May 31st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-redeemingrose&prov=ap&type=lg ns
June 1st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Yes some of the stuff written by Tipton and Forde and others are rush to judgment stuff to sell papers. They smell blood when the coaching staff breaks a rule or fails to catch a rule breaker. This weekend was a pure effort to paint Cal as a dirty coach when it was two of his top end players that were actually dirty. The real issue on Cal is whether he/the school should have caught them at their game. It is tough to spot a SAT cheat if the SAT and the clearing house fail to spot them. It should not be as hard to spot a kid in a Mercedes, hanging with a known agent, traveling in an entourage of prostitutes and other camp followers.
The real point is that UK and the other competitive colleges need to win without having major rules broken. Everyone knows Camby should not have had an agent while attending school. The coaches should be aware of unusual displays of money by poor scholly players and be proactive. Cal’s staff should have caught the matter and nipped it in the bud.
Cal’s staff should not be seeking reimbursement from Rose’s brother. How many airlines give you a ticket with the promise to pay you Friday for a ticket today. None!!!!! Pay for the ticket when you apply for the flight and room. That one is the school’s fault for letting it happen ever.
There are any number of schools where the stars have had Mercedes, lots of cash, gold chains, camp followers that resemble known agents or behave like agents, and other displays of wealth that should be inquired into immediately when it is observed. Seeing no evil is not the answer under today’s rules.
I think that if a kid shows up with an adult that appears to be attempting to negotiate terms for the kid, it should be reported to NCAA compliance immediately and the kid’s eligibility re-examined. Remove the kid from the recruiting world if he is playing the extortion game.