'Happy' or not, broken-record Cal would have to take this call
Two different college coaches.
Two different comments about the Nets opening.
One did nothing to squash rumors, the other just about everything.
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| 'Why would I choose to leave?' John Calipari will shout that until he's blue in the face. (AP) |
To recap, Krzyzewski referred to a billionaire with a huge ego as "the guy" after Duke's win over Maryland on Saturday, and Krzyzewski stated that if he's contacted he'll say no, and that he'll say no in Russian, just so everything's clear. That's a denial, my friends. Meantime, Kentucky's John Calipari basically recycled a quote he's used for years.
"I'm happy," Calipari told the assembled media in Kentucky on Friday. "This school is committed. As long as they're committed to me and this basketball program, where would I want to go?"
That sounds like a good quote on the surface. But in 2006, Calipari was similarly asked about reports linking him to jobs, and he said he would stay at Memphis as long as Memphis was "fair" and committed to having a "top 10 basketball program."
"Why would I leave?" Calipari said. "We have a top 10 program. Why would I choose to leave?"
Needless to say, Memphis never stopped being "fair" with Calipari, and it certainly never dropped its commitment to being a "top 10 basketball program," proof being how the school tried to make Calipari the richest coach in the sport even after an NCAA investigation was launched. Still, he left for Kentucky last year, just days after delivering the following quote to the assembled media in Memphis: "I'm happy, happy with the program, happy with the people. I love Memphis. ... I want to be here."
Just so we're clear, I have no idea if the Nets will make an offer to Calipari, or if the franchise could lure Calipari's good friend LeBron James to join him. It's all speculative at this point. But the message I've received from some Kentucky fans is this: Calipari's words are true now, even though the same words weren't true before, because he had to leave Memphis for Kentucky because the Kentucky job is better, but that he wouldn't leave for the Nets because his current job is better than the Nets job, too.
I agree with the first part.
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No. 3 Kentucky 73, No. 12 Tennessee 62 Krzyzewski: Wins on birthday | 'Nyet' to Nets Berger: If someone asks, Colangelo will listen Parrish: This is how these things work Berger: Who wouldn't want to coach Nets? |
Nobody would deny that the Kentucky job is better than the Memphis job, but I'm not sure the UK job is better than the Nets job, particularly if the Nets get the No. 1 pick and have a chance to lure James. What Calipari would be comparing is having to recruit 17-year-olds while opposing fans call him a cheater and columnists raise doubts about the legitimacy of any accomplishments, to perhaps coaching John Wall (possible No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft) and LeBron James (possible Net via free agency) in the New York market for an owner who has deep pockets and is determined to win.
Advantage: Nets.
In fact, I'd argue that coaching James over the next seven years will be the best job in all of coaching because you're practically guaranteed championships, and please don't ask me how many titles James has won to date. That's silly. He's just now 25, just now entering his prime, and Michael Jordan didn't win his first of six championships until he was 28. If you don't think James is winning titles over the next seven years, you're crazy or stupid, or just crazy stupid. It's not even worth debating.
Again, I have no idea if the Nets want Calipari.
No idea if they'll win the lottery and get Wall.
No idea if they can lure James.
But if they can lure James, Calipari would be foolish not to listen if they called.
Which is why he'd listen.
And how "happy" he is at Kentucky wouldn't matter one bit.
