John Calipari does not like media members who have agendas or make everything about them. (Vicky Graff Photo)
How does John Calipari maintain his composure under the glare of media interrogation, especially with the scrutiny on basketball at the University of Kentucky? Not every coach can do obviously as we’ve seen numerous coaches have press conference meltdowns. We also see coaches lose their cool during games and then have to face the media where it would be easy to lose composure again.
John Huang, Nolan Media columnist and JustTheCats.com editor, recently asked Calipari how he maintained his poise dealing with the media as often as he does.
“When people like you ask me really dumb questions, let me say this [is] what happens,”Calipari said. “I am a sinner and I go to Mass every morning so that I can clean everything off and get out there and start sinning again.
“If you take this like life or death, you die a lot. You all (in the media) are trying to do your job. The only person that bothers me in the media is the guy that has the agenda that he’s going to prove himself right. Then I get bothered by that person. Like ‘I’m going to prove that Cal’s this and this.’
“Or that guy that thinks he’s bigger than everything, and it’s about him. That guy would bother me. In most cases, if I’m really upset with somebody, I’ll just be short. I’ll give them ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ I’m not here to embarrass anybody.”
Calipari sometimes does not exactly answer the question he’s asked in a press conference — but a lot of coaches are that way. They have points they want to make and make them no matter what the question might have been.
Calipari obviously does not like every question he’s asked. He can give short answers. Or he can explain why you are wrong. But he’s not disrespectful.
He’s even made a change with his mentality this season.
“My new line to my staff—and they think I’m crazy—is I am like a submarine commander,” Calipari said. “I’m in a submarine in a tube. I don’t need BS thrown against the wall.
“Give me the facts. What’s the radar say? What’s the film say? With all the stuff I’ve got to do for these kids, I really don’t have any time for that.”
Calipari then asked himself if he liked all of the media. He joked he would be at Mass the next day so he could say yes he liked everyone. We all know that’s not true just like he knows every media has his or her own opinion.
He did note that media members need “eyeballs” now. That’s another way of saying social media has writers/broadcasters want hits on their social media accounts — something that was not a big concern until the last 10 years or so.
“The most outrageous things I say or bring up, I get eyeballs,” Calipari said. “Whose eyeballs are they trying to get? BBN. My suggestion to BBN is if they are attacking me or the players, just back away. Don’t give them eyeballs. If you don’t, they will write about somebody else.”
One Response
The kind of media that bothers Calipari is media that ask him the tough questions, the uncomfortable questions. The same kind of fan bothers this coach too.
Fans usually don’t have a chance to ask questions, much less the tough ones, but the media gets that opportunity several times a week during a season. The problem is the media does not ask the uncomfortable questions enough and Calipari finds it easy to ignore those members of the media that try.
Is Sharpe on scholarship this semester?
What possible harm could this kid suffer from playing this season that he would not risk by playing next season?
The list of questions that Calipari regards as out of bounds has been endless over the years.
Mr. Calipari, what basis is there to support your continuing assertion that Sharpe will play for UK next season. His word? His parents’ word? A written agreement?
This assertion based on the kids’ promise is hardly a basis for the promises Calipari continues to make to the BBN.
This Sharpe situation is a fraud and has been from Day 1. Calipari is responsible for the program and what happens to it. Calipari is responsible for this situation.
In my opinion, this kid should be told to pack his bags and find another chump school to fund his NBA escape, if there is one out there other than this one that would participate in this shameful fraud. Finally, if this kid does not return for next season, as Calipari continues to promise, then he must resign.
It is also clear that Barnhart does not care, so where is the special prosecutor to investigate this situation?
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