College sports lost their innocence some time ago but what Calipari represents is their symbolic loss. No coach has ever had the combination of wins vacated, Final Fours vacated, and recruitment -- almost exclusively -- of a legion of one-and-done players like Calipari.

 

The system is a sham and few coaches have embraced the sham as heartily and throatily as Calipari. It's coaches like Calipari who are turning college basketball into a sort of yearlong tryout for the NBA.

 

In the future, sports historians will look back at Calipari's reign and say he was one of the biggest reasons for the professionalization of college basketball and why it's transforming from Wonderland to New Jack City.

 

Yeah, I said it. Kentucky fans will flame message boards and threaten to burn down my house but in their blue and white hearts they know what I'm saying is true. They're holding their noses and enjoying the ride just like many others are.

 

Put on a surgical mask and take a deep breath, Kentucky fans. It's your turn to root for your for-now hero while looking over the shoulder and waiting for the NCAA to knock at the door.

 

Here we go again.

My thoughts:

 

Yes, he has had wins and Final Fours vacated. Yes, he does have a questionable past involving NCAA allegations against the schools he coached.

 

But the NCAA and NBA put guidelines in place involving one-and-done talent and Calipari has taken advantage of it like no other. He is the best at sweet-talking these future stars into playing for him instead of K, or Donovan, or Williams. Is that such a bad thing? As a coach, are you not expected to get the best of the best? Does the author simply wish that no coach would recruit these one-and-done talents and just let them be. Someone has to, and Calipari is the one. What's wrong with that?

I stopped reading at this:

 

Other coaches at least attempt to have a kid stay a year or two. Roy Williams, no angel, won a national title with a bunch of non-one-and-doners. So did Kansas. The Florida Gators won two national championships with a group that stayed together for years. The Gators' win was one of the best moments in NCAA history.

 

What a bunch of nonsense.

Not like we haven't heard it before. :deadhorse:

The Florida comment made me stop in my tracks also.

Same story, different writer. That's about it. Although he did give Calipari credit for actually caring for his players.

Same story, different writer. That's about it. Although he did give Calipari credit for actually caring for his players.

 

:thumb:

Same story, different writer. That's about it. Although he did give Calipari credit for actually caring for his players.

 

Yea, but I think this different writer was the guy that lied on his resume to get a job at the NY times or someplace - right????

 

He then got found out and canned if I remember hearing the story correctly

Same story, different writer. That's about it. Although he did give Calipari credit for actually caring for his players.

 

:thumb:

 

I'm not sure how Calipari is to blame for the "one & done" approach? He has embraced it & turned it into a positive, but he had nothing to do with the implementation of the rule.

 

What Coach Cal has done with this year's group speaks volumes about his coaching ability & how can relate to these young stars.

This part is true though:

 

 

Kentucky fans will flame message boards and threaten to burn down my house ....

 

Yea, but I think this different writer was the guy that lied on his resume to get a job at the NY times or someplace - right????

 

He then got found out and canned if I remember hearing the story correctly

 

It is the same writer. Ironic that he gives Cal a hard time for being given jobs when he himself pulled something like he did.

The Florida comment made me stop in my tracks also.

 

The Williams part got me more. How many kids left off that UNC title team? Even the bench players were leaving early.

If other teams don't like it, they should land those recruits themselves.

If you didn't take time to read the comments posted on the article, you should. There is one lengthy, but excellent response and many other very good ones! This guy writes an article based on the same truths as his resume contains. He's a joke.

Seriously, who cares as long as he brings home a title.