UK Athletics Photo
Thank you John Calipari.
I can still remember watching your introductory press conference. You made a promise to bring Kentucky basketball back to the promised land. You had landed your “dream” job and you were going to recruit the best and hang only National Championship banners in Rupp Arena.
You called the fans crazy and the Big Blue Nation opened its arms to welcome you to the home of the greatest tradition in college basketball.
There were doubters. After all, you had been investigated by the NCAA. You were looked over in the previous opening and it took Mike Pratt to convince Mitch Barnhart to take a chance on you. The gamble paid off and you delivered with an immediate impact.
Kentucky basketball was relevant again. No fan will ever forget that first team you assembled. It began with the John Wall dance at Midnight Madness and continued with a phone call from President Obama and ended on a heartbreak loss to West Virginia.
The Cats were back in the college basketball spotlight. You said you would bring the best of the best and you did. It is strange to think that in the end bringing only the best of the best would be part of your demise.
The memories you made during your 15 years are endless. I could not even begin to list them all. You cared about your players and you cared about this state. This was never in doubt.
The look on your face when you gave DeAndre Liggins a head rub on the sidelines was priceless. The ruffling of your hair holding the championship trophy will live in infamy. Who could ever forget your facial expression during games” The head hung, sadness, frustrated photo of you walking off the floor after the loss to Oakland told the whole story. It was over.
Thank you for allowing us to become a part of many remarkable young men’s lives. We watched them mature into adults under your guidance and stole our hearts. They will always be part of the Big Blue Family. After all, once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.
Our state faced devastating disasters during your time here. You made the calls, rallied the troops and provided assistance to those in need. That’s what we do in Kentucky and you did it well.
I always knew this day would come. There was Kentucky basketball before you and the tradition will continue on. You will always be a part of that tradition.
Thank you for recognizing it was time for the next chapter in your journey. Sometimes it is difficult to look in the mirror and actually see what is looking back.
I wish you happiness. I wish you hadn’t picked a school that is red. I hope that doesn’t ever make you say “suey, suey.”
Thanks again.
11 Responses
I am not so sure that Calipari was thinking about Kentucky after having another disaster in the NCAA. If he was truly concerned about the program, he could have done what Roy Williams did at North Carolina…simply admit he was not the man for the job anymore and retire. He has plenty of money, so that wasn’t the issue. Oh…his ego! He had to make it look like he was being courted to leave the mess he made here at Kentucky. He created all of the drama about whether Kentucky was going to fire him or stand by him. Barnhart made the wrong decision and now Calipari has F’ed him and the University by leaving for Pig Suey. Thiero and Bradshaw are already in the portal. Dillingham declared for the NBA to nobody’s surprise. What will the rest of the team do…who knows? It’s apparent now to me, and soon will be to the world, that Calipari is wanting to cause as much chaos and damage to the program that he can. I say good riddance to the FRAUD even if it does sabotage our season for 2025. Barnhart needs to go rent a brain and hire another coach as quickly as can be done in a responsible way and move on from the FRAUD and take the F’ing that Calipari has given him. I know that all of the Calipari asskissers are going to squeal bloody murder at this post, but that’s nothing new, they love Calipari more than the University. They should all load up their UHauls and move to Fayetteville. The media is having a feeding frenzy over this, because that is just what they do. Barnhart does not need to go begging other coaches to come to Kentucky. He should not even enter into discussions with any other coach unless they first have confirmed interest in the job. Everyone in the universe knew that Hurley and Wright had no interest in coming here but the media has spun it into an outright rejection to the idea. I have heard that Drew is option No. 1 and Donovan is No. 2. There really shouldn’t be any discussions with a No. 2 option unless No. 1 has declined an offer. Nobody wants to be a "second choice". I am sure that Barnhart will F this up too. This should have been done after the St. Peters loss, but later is better than not ever.
His ego never allowed him to fit into this Commonwealth
Thank you Tina Cox for your appropriate response! You are true blue.
Some excellent phrases…
• His ego never allowed him to fit into this Commonwealth
• Barney needs to go rent-a-brain…
I’m delighted the fraud is gone.
My request to Larry V, whose articles are always top of the line…
PLEASE refrain from posting any more photos of the fraud. I briefly stopped making comments because I stopped too low venting my frustration at the fraud for damaging UK BB more than Tubby did.
The fraud really went down deep into being a classless person when he said he is king.
In the past 15 years, UK is no longer:
• #1 in wins in history
• #1 in consecutive games with made 3-pointers
• The FF drought places the fraud with TLT ranks
• The # of 10-loss seasons places the fraud in the TLT ranks
Good riddance. If I never see his photo again and never think about him or the nasty way he treated most Kentucky High School BB players who would have like to attend UK, it will be nice.
Most wins, Kentucky 2,398, Kansas 2,393.
3 Home losses. First time in Rupp Arena history.
Straight
Which time ? Not leaving for ucla, usc, or Ohio st.?
Why would Tommy Lloyd not be considered? He trained under Mark Few who has done WAY more with less than Cal. I do not like what the media is doing by painting Cal as the victim when he could not win with the talent that he brought here. He played his favorites to the detriment of our success – the Harrison twins for an example. I liked Ellen very much but he staged his timing to take over the news cycle – typical Cal.
Tommy Lloyd would be a great choice..82% winning rate..
I want to say one last thing about John Caipari.
I lived in Mayfield for 55 years. My Dad still lives there and I visit him often. There are several neighborhoods that have sprung up since the tornado. Coach Cal spearheaded the fundraising and I believe they raised 3 million dollars.
These are houses that people desperately needed. From now on I will think of Coach Cal when I drive by them.
Thank you Coach Cal.