Archive for May, 2009

Here is the audio from 1569 the Game….

I need to clarify some things from my post late last night.  First off I do not think UK has done any wrong doing in any of these situations, but I do think they need to take care of them best and fastest way possible.  Most of the people that I know do not think about these issues on a national level so their view is very skewed.  They say bad things about Gillispie and that Cal is fine and that it was nothing with John Wall.  My main point of my post last night is not whether UK has done right or wrong, but only that the national media is going to have a fun time bashing on UK.  The Memphis Commercial Appeal is first in line.

To make this short and sweet…..

1. Coach Cal should be fine and it looks like a Memphis thing not a Cal thing, and I will leave it at that.
2. Gillispie wants the money just like any other person would…UK fans will fault him for that, but others will surely understand where he is coming from.
3. The John Wall incident really is nothing at all if you do your research.

Here is what the world of sports is saying…..

Commercial Appeal

Commercial Appeal 2

Commercial Appeal 3

Sports Blog

Mr. SEC

John Clay

SI.com

Philly

NBC Sports

ESPN Video….

Here is the official statement from UK concerning Calipari and the Memphis allegations…..

First and foremost, there are no NCAA allegations against UK Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Calipari. Coach Calipari was forthcoming with the University of Kentucky during the hiring process about any issues under investigation at the University of Memphis at that time.

It is normal procedure for the NCAA to ask a former coach to participate in a hearing. Therefore, Coach Calipari will participate as requested.

Coach John Calipari has received a letter from the NCAA stating that he is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case.

This is a University of Memphis issue and the University of Kentucky will not comment any further.

Today has ended up being a day that is definitely the low point for the University of Kentucky basketball program since Coach Cal has been our new coach. The news of major violations at Memphis from the 2007-2008 season. John Wall pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for his actions last month while visiting an unoccupied home.  Billy Gillispie is going after what some think is rightfully his and some think is not rightfully his.  Here are some articles from other sites to shed more light on these situations.

1. The Memphis men’s basketball program has been charged by the NCAA with major violations during the 2007-08 season under former coach John Calipari, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on Wednesday.  The allegations include “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.   The wording of the report indicates the player in question only competed during the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. The player’s name was redacted in the report due to privacy laws, The Commercial Appeal reported.  If the NCAA allegations are proven true, Memphis might have to forfeit their NCAA-record 38 victories and Final Four appearance.  Memphis received the notice of allegations Jan. 16 and is scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 6.  A source within the Memphis program told ESPN’s Dana O’Neil, “the current team will 100 percent not be penalized.” The source does not expect a reduction in scholarships.  Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky on March 31. The NCAA has requested his presence at the hearing, although he is not named in the report.  It is also alleged that Memphis provided $2,260 in free travel to road games for an associate of a player, The Commercial Appeal reported. The NCAA is charging Memphis with a failure to monitor. “We take it very seriously. We don’t condone it,” athletic director R.C. Johnson told the Commercial Appeal, who declined to comment in detail about the allegations. “We’re doing a thorough investigation.”  Kentucky spokesperson DeWayne Peevy said Wednesday night Calipari was up front with Kentucky prior to his hiring. He said Kentucky was made aware of the allegation.  “It’s important to note that there are no allegations against John Calipari in the report,” Peevy said. Peevy said a statement from Kentucky would be forthcoming Wednesday night.  Kentucky assured its boosters when it hired Calipari it had done its due diligence in checking his background.  “Sandy Bell and the compliance folks talked with the NCAA and checked records and facts,” Barnhart said April 1 when Calipari was introduced at Kentucky. “David Price, other people at the high level with the NCAA, assured us how much they enjoyed working with John in that process.”We have all had our critics about how we manage and lead our programs. For seven years I’ve had my share and I’ve been through it. Our commitment at the University of Kentucky to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change. John’s commitment to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change.  “Interestingly, Price, the NCAA vice president of enforcement, issued the NCAA document detailing the infractions which was sent to Memphis.  Calipari has been involved with NCAA violations in the past. After his 1995-96 Final Four season at UMass, it was discovered center Marcus Camby had accepted money and gifts from two sports agents. The NCAA made UMass forfeit all 35 wins and vacate its Final Four appearance and banner. Information from ESPN.com reporter Dana O’Neil was used in this report.
2. Kentucky Wildcats recruit John Wall has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and entered a program for first offenders which could lead to having his record cleared.
   Wall, 18, pleaded guilty Wednesday to breaking and entering.
   Wake County Assistant District Attorney Phillip Cowan said that under the terms of the plea, Wall must complete 75 hours of community service, pay court costs and program fees and stay out of trouble for the next six months.
   The 6-foot-4 point guard at Raleigh Word of God signed a national letter of intent to play at Kentucky last week. He was charged after police found him walking out of a vacant house in Raleigh. Wall and two other teenagers were cited.
   Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
3. Former Kentucky men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie sued the school Wednesday, seeking at least $6 million he says he is owed on his deal for being fired without cause.
   Gillispie’s attorney, Houston-based Demetrios Anaipakos said that the Kentucky coach’s reason for filing thel lawsuit was pretty simple.
   “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too, to put it quite simply,” Anaipakos said. “There’s a public misconception that Coach Gillispie did not sign a contract with the University of Kentucky athletic association. He absolutely did. They drafted it. He signed it. They signed it and their board approved it. Whether you’re in Kentucky or Texas, a deal is a deal.”
   In the lawsuit, Gillispie claims that breach of contract and fraud and that he and the university operated under a signed memorandum of understanding because he hadn’t signed a formal contract in his two years.
   He contends that under that memorandum, he should be paid $1.5 million a year for four of the five years left on the deal. The suit also asks for an undisclosed amount of punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, court costs and interest.
   The lawsuit filed in federal court in Dallas contends the school’s athletics association is in breach of contract and has committed fraud because the university never intended to honor the agreement.
   “Rather than honor its written, signed deal with coach Gillispie, defendant prefers instead to pretend as though no deal was ever reached,” the lawsuit says. “Unfortunately for defendant, its make-believe world is just that.”
   University attorneys expressed surprise over the lawsuit.
   “The university was continuing to negotiate a separation in good faith and his counsel had asked for more time,” they said in a statement.
   Responding to the statement, Anaipakos said. “I find it difficult to believe they were surprised as they had from March 27 until today to honor a contract they had made with this man.”
   The lawsuit offers offer several examples where a memorandum of understanding was cited as a contractual agreement between the two parties including a July 2007 letter where the university told Gillispie he could not enter into an endorsement agreement with a Houston-based company because of the language in the memorandum of understanding.
   “Both parties operated under it.” Anaipakos said. “He received the benefits he was supposed to be getting under that contract and when he tried to sign a personal services agreement they said, ‘No, no, no.’ They enforced the deal and lived under the deal and then when they ended the relationship said there was no deal.”
   Anaipakos said the next step is the court scheduling a hearing. He expects that to happen quickly, perhaps within 10 days.
   Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart, reached Wednesday at the Southeastern Conference meetings in Destin, Fla., said he had no comment.
   “I just got off the phone with our attorneys and I can’t say anything,” Barnhart said.
   Jimmy Stanton, a spokesman for University of Kentucky president Lee Todd, said there wouldn’t be further comment because it now involves pending litigation.
   Much of the 24-page lawsuit highlights the 49-year-old Gillispie’s biography, describing him as an up-and-coming coach who resurrected a Texas A&M program before leaving to lead Kentucky, the nation’s all-time winningest college basketball program.
   “He resigned a promising, successful position as head coach with a rapidly ascending program at Texas A&M,” it says. “He did so because he believed [the university's] false representations to him during his negotiations.”
   In three seasons with the Aggies, Gillispie was 70-26, making the NCAA tournament twice including the Sweet 16 in 2007. The previous three seasons before Gillispie came on board, A&M was 20-22.
   Gillispie went 40-27 in two seasons with the Wildcats, including a 22-14 mark last season that tied for the second-most losses in the program’s 106-year history. A stumble down the stretch left the Wildcats out of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991.
   Gillispie still has a home near Lexington. He is not coaching right now.
   Dana O’Neil is a reporter for ESPN. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

All in all today is a day that we all want to put in our past as we have definitely turned all of our positive publicity in Lexington into negative publicity. Allegations of major violations at Memphis under Coach Cal’s watch is definitely not a positive thing for UK.  There are going to be many questions raised and UK is going to be under the microscope more than ever now. Second we have an ugly lawsuit with our former coach which could very easily be taken care of.  The big money boosters were so dead set on running Gillispie out of town and all I could hear the whole time was that the boosters were not happy.  So, put your money where your mouth is and everything is taken care of.

Lastly, which really is least of all of our worries and is not a  huge deal, but Wall obviously pleaded guilty for a very minor incident, but it is still fuel for the fire that has started.

Be ready Cats fans as there is sure to be some hell to follow all that has transpired.    I believe that all of this can be cleaned up very quickly, but it is going to take the right people doing it the right way.

UK’s roster seems to be the drama of the day. While everyone knows that it is definite that certain players are not returning others still play with the names and roster. Williams has been reported to be gone, but then UK said it was not officially saying that. Michael Porter is definitely gone as he has already stated a long time ago. Stewart seems to be the one that everyone is talking about and that he is gone and is heading to Northern Kentucky? That is the most shocking part to me…I mean seriously, Nothing Kentucky. I think it is pretty funny the lists that Tipton is putting out and then changing and updating. He is a good journalist and has some good insight to what is going on, but he shows us that there is no real answer to the question as far as the media and public goes. Here is Jerry’s blog.

As I have reported previously….Harrelson was going to be off the team, but then I received a text message that he is going to be on the team.  I have also heard that Liggons is a possibility due to grades.  I have heard that some seniors who are considered safe may be looking elsewhere.  Ther are as many scenarios out there that you can imagine.
The best part of this is that we know we have a solid roster as far as the top 9 or 10 players go.  The one question that everyone seems to think is most important is in regards to Meeks and whether he will return.  With all that has been said, written and even with his interviews it is looking more and more like Jodie’s heart is set on the NBA.  Instead of hoping for the highest possible draft position he is willing to settle for a draft position that is late first round.
We debate all the time on whether he will return or not.  I seem to be the only one in my group that thinks Meeks is leaning more towards the NBA.  My questions are….

1. Does he think that Cal’s system will not benefit him as much as others think?
2. Does he just really want to be done?
   Is there too much talent and will he be overshadowed by the incoming talent?
3. His great performances last year shocked the country and is it likely that he will not be able to do that again?
4. Will he be okay with a low draft position?
5. Is he just on a mission to prove the NBA wrong?

I think those are all things that he is probably considering.  I love Jodie and would like to see him back, but again, I think the smart money is on him entering the draft.  What does he think the pro’s and con’s are?  That is the biggest question.

CJ Leslie is a great ball player who shows some glimpses of greatness. Whoever is able to land this kid will be extremely happy. Here is a video titled “CJ Leslie the Next Kevin Garnett”….

Fabrico de Melo is a 2010 Center that shows some good skills around and away from the basket. I really like what I have seen and heard about this kid. Here is a video of Melo….

Remembering our members of the greatest military in the world.  This is a day to remember what our family members have done in serving in the military.  I am thankful for my Dad, both Grandfathers, brother and many members of my extended family for their service in the military.  I also remember the guys who I served with as well.  Today is a day to remember our fallen brothers and sisters.  Let us all take some time today to remember what all of the people close and far from you have done to make our country so great.

Here is one of my favorite videos that always is awesome to watch….

Being a father is so great and that is why there were no posts on Saturday…the kids trump the blog every time. There was a lot going on yesterday, from the Jarmon Presser to the Twitter posts from Coach Cal’s account that were not meant for everyone to see.

• I am sure everyone is full aware of the news of Jarmon and it does seem extremely harsh especially for a kid that is a great kid and good student. I really hated to hear the news and think the NCAA made a mistake this time around.
• The twitter messages from Coach Cal’s account have really got people wondering who it is and what its all about.  I am sure we will find out on this one pretty soon.  I have heard a lot about who is going to be leaving the team and there could be some shocking news people or it could just be the same few that everyone has been discussing all along.
• Not sure if anyone else has heard this, but I have been out of touch with the news for the most part, but I did receive a text saying Josh Harrelson received a phone call telling him that he is on the team.  Not sure how accurate that is, but thats what I have as far as he goes.  Everything else I have I am not a liberty to share at this point.

One thing that I wanted to mention today is how poorly some blogs and fans are acting regarding the Billy G. era and the fact that he is still in town.  I will agree with everyone that he was not the best fit for UK but at the same time it was realized and fixed.  If he chooses to stick around till all of his business is taken care of, then that is his decision.  I find all of the bashing and complaining to be very poor sportsmanship.  While people are talking about how teams and fans are jealous of UK right now and they are sore losers, many of these people are still complaining like 2 year olds that Gillispie is still around town.  Its pretty sad that is so news worthy.  I work with plenty of people of live for the opportunity to bash Gillispie so I deal with it everyday practically, but all in all it just shows bad sportsmanship and that there are too many people who think they know everything.  Let me finish by saying I really don’t want to make anyone mad with this post.

My main question is, why cant we focus on all of the positive with UK basketball instead of the past?

There is a lot of questions floating around about the UK press conference tomorrow. Not sure what exactly is going to go down but we do not want at this point. We are expecting some news about who will be off the roster, maybe something else. Definitely do not want to miss this one…I am sure many people shocked from this presser.