A Giant Glass of Haterade

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On the eve of what looks like the signing of John Calipari as head coach of Kentucky-last report from John Clay has Cal on the way to the airport to meet a UK charted to plane and Memphis beat writer Dan Wolken reporting it's done- some in the national media continue to paint the program as an elitist "club."

Point in case: Michael Wilbon of PTI.

For years Wilbon has accused the program of pushing out coaches and their fan base of unrealistic expectations.

I addressed his comments about the fans two years ago, and then on Saturday's post.

I'll address the comments of pushing out coaches, which Wilbon spoke of now.

A recent history lesson of top-tier programs pushing coaches out:

UCLA-Steve Lavin (could argue Jim Harrick)

UNC-Matt Doherty

Louisville-Denny Crum

just to name a few, could go farther back and name lesser programs but why?

I'll be honest, Wilbon is a Chicago guy-which I obviously love- and usually agreeable but he has this disdain for UK that is unmeasurable. He makes Billy Packer look like Cameron Mills. Kornheiser couldn't believe it. I can't either.

One more thing on Gillispie:

As God as my witness I hope this does not become reality. There are things about Billy Gillispie that we don't know and I hope we never do. However this is a divorce; and we all know divorces get messy. I hope we don't have a tabloid-type media circus that assassinates the character of Billy Clyde. I find it morally wrong and unnecessary. The only purpose to even bring it up is the slim hope that this serves as a warning. People around this program are going to feel the worse Gillispie looks or is perceived, the better UK looks by getting rid of him.

Stay tuned

What Went Wrong; What's Next

It started with this.

The dismissal of Billy Gillisipe at Kentucky had nothing to do with wins and losses. His coaching was a question, but not the answer. Was the Big Blue Nation incensed with the fact that for the first time in a long time their Wildcats wouldn't dance in the NCAA? Absolutely. It was a very frustrated fan base. A friend commented to me "Tubby had us in a steady decline, Billy just drove us over the cliff."

All things considered, objective fans of the most prestigious program in college basketball believed for the most part, the overall record was not enough to fire him...yet. I think Atheltic Director Mitch Barnhart, and the Emperor on his left, would agree with that.

Look at him...maybe he'll get Lexington a Sith Lord.

The problem was very simple. Billy was fired because he is an asshole.

Sorry to be so blunt but that is the beginning and end of this story. He was constantly condescending to everyone around him, in particular the media and is what caused his early departure.

Two years is not enough to accurately access how a coach is succeeding or failing with his basketball team in the college ranks. However this isn't just any basketball job. This is the University of Kentucky and as Mitch said, it is bigger than any coach, player or administrator. They are just the caregivers. The coach at Kentucky is more recognizable than the Governor, and when he says that being an ambassador or public relations director for the program isn't in his job description, he might as well had written his obituary.

If he had not acted they way he acted to Jeanine Edwards, Tom Leach, Dana O'Neil, or anyone who dared ask him questions about his coaching or his team, none of this would've happened.

WHAT'S NEXT

Some in the area are comparing the Big Blue to the Golden Domers in football. Not quite yet, although we are looking more and more like the hot chick in high school who threw on 30 her freshman year at community college. She could still lose the weight, Notre Dame just sucks.

As of know, John Calipari has said he isn't interested. Two years ago 'Nova's Jay Wright (my fav)Tom Barnes of Texas, Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan, following back-to-back National Championships at Florida, all declined. No word as of today if Rick, Annakin Skywalker, Jesus, Bobby Knight or Lou Piniella have refused the almighty program as well. (Can you imagine The General in a blue sweater? Oooh I just got chills)

The specualtion for the replacement yesterday was again Billy D, the former assistant at UK under Rick Pitino. FOX SPORTS Orlando reported Donovan was leaving Florida to take the Kentucky job. Donovan quickly stated that he is committed to Florida and had no interest in taking the Kentucky job.

Thanks to my good friend Frank Cupolo, who responded with this via email on Billy's statement:

'Nuff said.

Pat Forde was quoted as saying he would bet his salary the next coach is going to be Oklahoma State's Travis Ford, former UK point guard. The other name's being circulated are again Barnes, Wright and Calipari as well. However don't trust a word you hear from anyone until someone is standing at a podium at Memorial Coliseum. It is so crazy out there with fans on this topic that any and every rumor are almost considered journalistic, which they are definitely not.

I would take that bet with Pat. He is a Kentucky guy, Louisville to be exact, and is incredibly credible on this subject and others. The reason why I disagree is that Travis Ford has a reputation in Lexington of being exactly what I said Billy G was fired for being. And I don't think Mitch and Darth Sidious want to trade one jerk for another. But...I could be wrong.

My money remains on Calipari, despite his remarks yesterday. Could he win a title in Memphis, absolutely. But then what? He just won 31 games, lost just 3 prior to the NCAA and still got a

2-seed. How much better can he really do with a team in Conference USA? How many Tiger games were on national television? These guys have big ego's and although he has little pressure in Tennessee and is King at the moment, his pride of being the best at a higher profile program could bring him to the bluegrass.

KENTUCKY'S NATIONAL PERCEPTION

Is bad.

And understandable. On the outside they're looked at as crazy and ridiculous. This time two years ago I went on The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio a couple hours following Michael Wilbon of The Washington Post and ESPN's Pardon The Interruption.

His comments were harsh on UK and their fans, and his opinion was of the majority. My rebuttal stays the same and always will as someone who has lived in the area all his life, gone to school at UK and has served as a member of the media in Cincinnati and central Kentucky for more than ten years:

The expectations in Lexington are no bigger than they are in Durham, Chapel Hill, East Lansing, Lawrence or Los Angeles. The Big Blue Nation does not expect to win a championship every year as these national media analysts would have you believe. The expect to compete and play well in the NCAA Tournament and make a Final Four atleast once every ten years, as they have been accustomed to for over fifty years. That is not too much to expect and whoever is next will be expected to do that.

If he does not, he will be gone, Mitch will be gone, and maybe so will the prestige of this fine program.

Don Corleone

Is anyone with me on this?

While watching Obama on t.v. the other night, again, I couldn't help but notice Rahm in the back in this pose. He looked like Michael Corleone in III, peering onto the landscape as if one of the press corps was gonna take out Cardinal Lamberto.

Easy there bulldog, David Axelrod is no Tom Higgins, but atleast he'll make sure you'll keep your bonus.

I literally thought Major Garrett was gonna get up and accuse him of taking over Immobiliare.