The General Calls out Calipari

[xu2006]

I'll be honest, I like Bob Knight. I also agree with him wholeheartedly on this one.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20091218/SPT0104/312180065/

[XUglow]

Integrity means getting yourself in trouble... not your school, Coach Cal. Listen up!

[Mark 3 Pointer]

At least someone has the balls to call UK and Coack Cal out... Not a huge Knight fan but at least he said what is on everyones mind.

UK fans and Administration are pictured below.

http://www.stockphotopro.com/photo-thumbs-2/AXRKK2.jpg

[GuyFawkes38]

I'm not a fan of Calipari. But I do think that it pissed of Knight at the end of his career that he wasn't able to recruit well.

[Pete Delkus]

I have heard this rumor for a while...I still think there is about a 3% chance of it happening.

Gary Parrish:

Dear Gary (on Calipari/NBA rumors)

Here's Thursday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: I am a concerned Kentucky fan! About an hour ago I was watching a show called "All Bets Are Off" in Ohio, and it was reported that Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown might be released at the end of the season in an attempt to keep LeBron James with the Cavs. Bruce Drennan, the host, said it was rumored by Cavalier insiders that the Cavs would make a legitimate attempt to get John Calipari to coach Cleveland. Drennan said LeBron is really good friends with Calipari, and that the hire would likely keep James in Cleveland. Have you heard any rumors regarding this story?

-- Clyde

It has been rumored for a while that Calipari might one day coach LeBron James.

I first heard it maybe three years ago.

The first version had the Knicks hiring Calipari in an attempt to get James. That obviously didn't happen. But if you're asking whether some basketball people believe this is a realistic scenario, the answer is yes. It's mostly rooted in the fact that Calipari is tight with James and nearly everybody around James -- including James' agent (Leon Rose) and confidant (William Wesley). Hell, one of James' best friends (Brandon Weems) is on staff at Kentucky right now.

Still, it's all speculation and little more.

I would compare it to the speculation that Michigan will fire Rich Rodriguez after next season, then go pluck Jim Harbaugh from Stanford. Could it happen? Sure. But what if Rodriguez turns it around? What if Harbaugh has a terrible season at Stanford next year? What if Harbaugh decides he just really loves living in California?

In other words, there are a lot of moving parts.

Brown could win an NBA title and become unfirable.

James could decide he wants to play in New York, regardless.

The Cavs could decide they don't want a player naming his coach.

James could decide he wouldn't name Calipari even if he could name Calipari.

Calipari could decide he doesn't want to move his family for the second time in two years.

Like I said, there are lots of ways for this to play out, and a lot of things would have to break a certain way for John Calipari to end up coaching the Cavs next season. So I wouldn't be concerned at this point, Clyde. You have an undefeated team, the most exciting player in college basketball, and a realistic shot at a national title. Enjoy that and don't worry yourself about this until Brown is fired and Calipari is mentioned as a replacement. If that happens, absolutely, feel free to worry. But until then, I'd relax.

[muskienick]

At least someone has the balls to call UK and Coack Cal out... Not a huge Knight fan but at least he said what is on everyones mind.

UK fans and Administration are pictured below.

http://www.stockphotopro.com/photo-thumbs-2/AXRKK2.jpg

I think you've got a picture of the right animal but you've taken it of the wrong end.

[xubball93]

Apparently, the General will be marching into Rupp in February for an ESPN GameDay program. I wonder what kind of reception he can expect from the blue faithful? :rolleyes:

[strsail]

big kudos to Bob ... this issue is the biggest problem with the ncaa right now and hopefully this will add more attention to the issue. I am not a big Knight fan but the truth is the truth.

[Fireball]

Yup. Knight is an ass and a bully but at least he ran a clean program.

[waggy]

Knight is an egomanical ass. He started to get on my nerves at the end of the X game, but the Cal/Kansas game last night put it over the top.

[waggy]

Knight's been drawing critism from various college bball followers for his overall suckage. The article linked below by Whitlock does a good job as an overview. One thing I like about Whitlock is that he gets and rails against ESPN's conflicts of interest.

I hate Bob Knight.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/02/17/1754638/bye-bye-brent-and-bob-count-me.html

[Juice]

Knight's been drawing critism from various college bball followers for his overall suckage. The article linked below by Whitlock does a good job as an overview. One thing I like about Whitlock is that he gets and rails against ESPN's conflicts of interest.

I hate Bob Knight.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/02/17/1754638/bye-bye-brent-and-bob-count-me.html

My impression of Bob Knight's announcing is that he obviously very knowledgeable about the Xs and Os of basketball but I don't think he knows anything about the teams and players. He just seems like he doesn't do his homework.

[waggy]

On College Gameday last evening prior to the UCLA/Washington game there was a segment about comments Knight made about the make-up of the selection committee not having any retired coaches. I googled for any stories about it and can't find anything, but it was something to the effect that the committee is made of administrators - alluding that they don't know enough - and that having retired coaches on the committee would be a gooderer thing. I'm quite confident no one at the NCAA level wants to put up with Knights bullshit, so there is zero chance he would be put on the committee, thankfully.

[xu_fan]

Bob Knight is a joke. I signed the petition.

[jdm2000]

I dislike Jason Whitlock far more than Bob Knight...

[Masterofreality]

I dislike Jason Whitlock far more than Bob Knight...

Why?

Whitlock keeps it real. The guy takes clear stands and doesn't mince words.

You may not agree with him all the time, but I respect that he's not shilling for any particular source. We need more writers as transparent as Whitlock.

[chico]

Looks like I'm in the minority here but I'm going to stick up for my man Bob Knight. He may be an ass but he was one of the greatest coaches ever. He graduated his players and if you didn't go to class you didn't play. Some of his antics were specifically designed to take the heat off his players and put it on him.

The game may have passed him by for the most part but he still fielded a competitive team - at Texas Tech of all places. He's the best commentator ESPN has - he puts every other so-called "analyst" they have there to shame.

Knight's an easy target because he refuses to play any games with the media and he always says what's on his mind. Sure he's made some mistakes but who hasn't? The good far outweighs the bad in my book.

[Cheesehead]

I don't think Bob Knight has been very good at all. He offers some insight but he's horrible as an announcer. He and Bret seem like their doing Mystery Science Theater 3000 when they watch the games.

[THRILLHOUSE]

I dislike Jason Whitlock far more than Bob Knight...

Agreed. Sorry MOR, whitlock is a hack. Only reason he attacks espn is because he is still bitter that espn fired him.

[Titanxman04]

Personally, I like Bob Knight as a commentator. Never really was a fan of him as a coach though.

Compared to some of the knob-slobbers that ESPN has on there, he actually knows hoops. Did you listen to the guys during the Dayton/Duquesne game? They're awful. John Schiambi or however you spell that ginger's name... He's terrible as well. Knight at least knows hoops, and while he doesn't quite study up on his teams, he at least can point out things better than most.

As far as calling our Calipari... Damn right of him to do so. Cal is punishing programs and leaving before the you know what hits the fan and lands on him. There is no way he should be getting away with this kind of crap, and if no one sees a pattern, then you have UK goggles on.

I don't think it's a terrible idea to have some former coaches on the committee, but certainly Knight should not be one. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and I think that's a quality that shouldn't be allowed in when trying to pick out which team is in and which team is out.

Then again, does it really matter who's on the selection committee when we expand to 96 teams? God, I hate the idea of expansion.

[Cheesehead]

Leave it to the NCAA to screw up what is I think, the best sporting event in all of sorts and that's current NCAA tournament as it stands today. I'm sure they will f'it up.

[chico]

Knight's strength is in the studio breaking down tape and giving analysis - not doing games. Watch his segments on Sports Center and College Gameday - the one on MSU's help side defense, or the one on Curry being an underrated passer. When he's next to Digger it becomes obvious just how much of a fool Digger really is. I don't think there is anybody on TV right now who can analyze a team or player better than Knight.

And I'll give him the benefit of the doubt during games. His comment about knowing he'd hit his free throws just by looking at him during the Butler game was priceless. The thing about Knight that irritates people is that he just doesn't care what you think. Other commentators will try to tell you what they think you want to hear. I'm sure the younger guys watching don't care much for the references he and Brent make to the "good old days."