This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans

Bob Knight spoke at a fundraiser Thursday night.

Predictably, he managed to make national headlines.

"We've gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that's why I'm glad I'm not coaching," Knight said. "You see we've got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he's still coaching. I really don't understand that."

This is the place where Kentucky fans would like me to tell you that John Calipari has never been directly implicated in anything, and the place where fans of every other school, particularly Memphis fans, would like me to tell you that Knight speaks the truth, and God bless him. But I'm not interested in sparking that debate because the Calipari debate has been going on for months, if not years, and it never reaches a conclusion.

If he coaches your school, you love him.

If not, you think he's a lying cheater.

There's almost no in-between.

And this is how it's going to be forever, UK fans, and why it was clear -- even before Knight said what he said -- that any success Calipari has going forward will be tainted regardless of whether it's really tainted. Until the day he retires, the majority of observers will believe, fair or not, that every recruit Calipari gets is a product of his relationship with William Wesley even if Worldwide Wes has never met the recruit. All SATs will be assumed fake even if they're legit, all future pros will supposedly have agents even if they do not.

There's no sense in fighting that perception.

There's certainly no way of changing that perception.

On Thursday night, it was Bob Knight taking a shot at Calipari.

In March during the NCAA tournament, it'll be every columnist in America.

That's what the $30 million Kentucky spent on Calipari has brought the school -- a coach who will lure lots of great recruits, win countless big games, and hang banners while people ask whether Kentucky really expects those banners to remain after an inevitable NCAA investigation. Then Kentucky fans will yell about how Calipari wasn't tied to anything. Then everybody will roll their eyes and laugh. And around and around we go.

sandybrook Since: Aug 3, 2008	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:57 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans I love UK but eventually Cal will make the boosters miss Eddie Sutton. He and Rick Pitino are adept at looking straight at the camera and lying through their teeth. The guy keeps getting jobs because 1) he brings attention to the place he works, not that UK needs it, but UMass, the Nets and Memphis sure did. Do you ever see UMass on TV anymore? They were on 20 times a season when he was there. I haven't seen Memphis yet this season. UK has been on an awful lot already. 2) He wins everywhere he goes, he even got the Nets some success his first year there. He really doesn't need to cheat to coach, but it is an advantage he uses as well as anyone around. He probably knows every street agent on the east coast and knows what it takes to get that guys best players. [ Reply to Comment ]
ilovemizzou Since: Oct 4, 2006	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:51 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans When I first heard about Knight's comments I figured we would see something from Parrish shortly after. I would have bet anything that he would be on here definding his man crush, although I give him props because he was trying to be a little more sly about it this time. [ Reply to Comment ]
The Ville 3 Since: Sep 14, 2009	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:38 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans Paying someone to take John Wall's SAT.... $500 Buying a new car for John Wall's mom.... $25,000 Hiring John Calipari for 8 Violations and Sanction years and 2 vacated Final Fours.... $31,650,000 Beating UNC, UCONN and Indiana.... Priceless [ Reply to Comment ]
Seregil Since: May 24, 2007	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:37 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans Bobby Knight had his standard of integrity. He did graduate a lot of his players and he was never introuble with the NCAA. However, his behavior warranted it. He choked a player, threw chairs, and created a scene if it didn't go his way. And as long as he was winning, he was allowed to get away with it. No coach is a saint. I don't know if Calipari is guilty of anything or not. The NCAA is an organization with no integrity when it comes to enforcement. Think Pete Carroll did not know what was going on with Reggie Bush? Do you really think Lane Kiffin is innocent in the hostess investigation? Every university and college in the country have one thing in common to varying degrees--alumni that wield influence over said institutions. As long as the NCAA has no oversight to make sure they are in compliance, college sports will always have enforcement problems. Bobby Knight has a right to his opinion, but if he has no proof of wrong doing--he should keep it to himself. [ Reply to Comment ]
ncheels4ever Since: May 25, 2009	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:36 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans There's just one thing about it all, when the heat comes at Cal (the NCAA) he just leaves, doesn't really care what kind of shape he leaves the institution in, UMass really alot better off? Memphis? Memphis just hired a great young coach that did his own recruiting, Cal is not responsible for his class coming in, if violate the rules and the heat comes, man up to it. [ Reply to Comment ]
northjersey1178 Since: Mar 23, 2008	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:22 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans Great. More publicity for Cal and UK. They are the subject of almost every story on this site...and this kind of media face-time is only increasing their popularity. Criticism coming from Bobby Knight...you have to laugh. He was unquestionably one of the greatest coaches of all-time (at any level), but the college basketball recruiting game passed him by about 12 years ago (right about the time he choked Neil Reed) and he is still sour about it. Guys like Cal (2 vacated seasons), Lute Olson (1 vacated season), Jim Calhoun (1 vacated season, current ongoing investigation re: improper payments from an agent who was a former UConn mgr), Jim Boeheim (players punch girls), Roy Williams (violations at Kansas), and even the great Coach K (Corey Maggette taking money from an agent) have all had run-ins with the rules or had their integrity questioned (or should have it questioned) b/c they adjusted to the modern era of recruiting...but they've also been able to remain successful as a result. Bobby Knight didn't want to change, as a result, he couldn't get players anymore. And you're not going to win anything without getting players. Some might say that means he has integrity...and I would agree that he did when it came to following the rules of the NCAA...However, this is a guy who threw chairs across the floor, berated officials, players, and school presidents, grabbed students, punched his Sports Information Director, and actually shot one of his friends (ha ha). It's hard to listen to a lecture from him on integrity. Maybe it's time for him to take a step back and take a vacation...maybe go to Puerto Rico? Oh wait...he can't...there's still a warrant out for his arrest on that island for assaulting a police officer. As far as Cal goes, as a fan, I would ask...did he leave my program in better shape than it was in when he got there? Despite the "probation" cited by Knight, I would say Cal has done that in both cases (let's be honest, both UMass and Memphis received a slap on the wrist for the Camby/Rose incidents- no loss of scholarships, no post-season ban). [ Reply to Comment ]
hawkins3403 Since: Nov 24, 2008	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:11 am UK fans, you have to know Gary is right Question: Are Cal's UMASS and Memphis teams the only 2 to have Final 4 trips vacated, in the past 20 years? ever? Its hard to believe a coach can lead a school to a Final 4 and then have the season vacated, just to go to another school and it happen all over again...and the coach be innocent both times. Cal has a bad reputation that will follow him anywhere he goes. UK knew this, and that's probably why they hired BCG a few years ago. UK was desperate and wanted a winner and they chose to go with Cal this time to ensure a higher win total and higher caliber of player to come to UK, the best players will only stay for a year or two, but i'm sure Cal will constantly reload his arsenal of a roster. But those of us who haven't drank the blue kool-aid will always wonder if Cal's team is legit. [ Reply to Comment ]
CRAIGAA71 Since: Oct 24, 2007	Posted on: December 18, 2009 9:01 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans Everybody knows it, but will not say it. This will not end well for Kentucky or Calipari. Both are addicted to winning, and like all users they can not get enough. They will not be satisfied by champioships. This will only feed there greed for more. This will not end well; however, I am positive fans will enjoy the ride. Kentucky fans (this includes, god love her, Ashley) will get several years of being at the top of the game, and Kentucky/Calapari haters will get to see their fall. [ Reply to Comment ]
ncheels4ever Since: May 25, 2009	Posted on: December 18, 2009 8:58 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans Dear Mr. Parrish, Cal is slick, I hate UK, but I thought Cal was a slick dude and a slimey one when he was at Memphis, I have no feelings for Memphis, I don't hate them or love them. I think Sutton was a slick one too for that matter, I loved Tubby, clean program, teams play good defense, unfortunately he had a bad couple of recruiting years, but he did get Patterson. I hate the shifty Cal, hating UK has nothing to do with that believe it or not, I do find it alarming and predictable that they are in bed together, I also think something unethical will rear it's ugly head at some point. [ Reply to Comment ]
td123456 Since: Nov 3, 2008	Posted on: December 18, 2009 8:42 am This is how it's forever going to be, UK fans I think eventually someone will slip up somewhere and we'll see strong evidence (i.e., like the USC/Reggie Bush story) that Worldwide Wes has been paying elite players' families and things will come crashing down. I wonder if Calipari got his new mortgage from Wes? ;) [ Reply to Comment ]

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