Calipari receives lukewarm reception at charity fundraiser; Pastner a standing O

[BleedGopher]

This article sums up the world of college sports:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/apr/14/the-thrill-is-gone/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Moonlight]

I'm surprised he got applause at all since his departure has led to the disintegration of their team.
Perhaps this will implement a rule that players can choose not to honor their commitment, but cannot follow the coach to his new venue.

 

[GopherLady]

Honestly - I don't get this. Yes, I can see Memphis fans being upset he left, but he led them to an unbelievable amount of success. Even if Tubby would of left us this year for the UVA job, I would of hated for him to leave, but I wouldn't of held animosity towards him. I would have been thankful for the job he had done in only 2 years. Same thing happened with Bill Self, most Illini fans hate him - he left for a better job, and left them with the fruits of his fantastic recruiting.

Calipari may of had some guys leave, and I wouldn't say Kentucky is a "better" job - simply because of the Kentucky crazies, but he left for a bigger program, and the level most coaches want to get to.

 

[Jim V2]

Honestly - I don't get this. Yes, I can see Memphis fans being upset he left, but he led them to an unbelievable amount of success. Even if Tubby would of left us this year for the UVA job, I would of hated for him to leave, but I wouldn't of held animosity towards him. I would have been thankful for the job he had done in only 2 years. Same thing happened with Bill Self, most Illini fans hate him - he left for a better job, and left them with the fruits of his fantastic recruiting.

Calipari may of had some guys leave, and I wouldn't say Kentucky is a "better" job - simply because of the Kentucky crazies, but he left for a bigger program, and the level most coaches want to get to.

I suspect that it's not about him leaving for KY, but about taking all the recruits with him. If Tubby had left and all our recruits said they're goin to UVA, we might not be in a mood to give thanks.

 

[Moonlight]

Exactly

I suspect that it's not about him leaving for KY, but about taking all the recruits with him. If Tubby had left and all our recruits said they're goin to UVA, we might not be in a mood to give thanks.

Agreed, Jim. This is the sticking point.

 

[GopherLady]

I suspect that it's not about him leaving for KY, but about taking all the recruits with him. If Tubby had left and all our recruits said they're goin to UVA, we might not be in a mood to give thanks.

Personally, I still would. When you talk to every single kid that committed to the Gophers, they said the only reason, or one of the main reasons, was Tubby. He would be a fool not to bring a kid like Royce, or any of our great recruits, with him, if they wanted to go. I actually wish all recruits made their decisions based on the school and the program, because coaches come and go so fast these days, but the truth is, they don't. They are drawn to someone in the program. It's just like when Ted Roof left, I knew there would be some would follow him.

We don't know what goes on behind closed doors - if these coaches are begging these kids to go with them, who knows? But I'm guessing, most voluntarily go, because of the relationship they've developed with the coach.

P.S. Jim - this was actually my biggest fear in Tubby leaving. Knowing Flip was out there, made me think we could replace with him a fantastic coach and person - but I was most worried about our guys leaving. I knew it was a probability...but that doesn't take away from what he's already done here.

 

[Jim V2]

Personally, I still would. When you talk to every single kid that committed to the Gophers, they said the only reason, or one of the main reasons, was Tubby. He would be a fool not to bring a kid like Royce, or any of our great recruits, with him, if they wanted to go. I actually wish all recruits made their decisions based on the school and the program, because coaches come and go so fast these days, but the truth is, they don't. They are drawn to someone in the program. It's just like when Ted Roof left, I knew there would be some would follow him.

We don't know what goes on behind closed doors - if these coaches are begging these kids to go with them, who knows? But I'm guessing, most voluntarily go, because of the relationship they've developed with the coach.

P.S. Jim - this was actually my biggest fear in Tubby leaving. Knowing Flip was out there, made me think we could replace with him a fantastic coach and person - but I was most worried about our guys leaving. I knew it was a probability...but that doesn't take away from what he's already done here.

GL--everything you say is right, of course. But...

We have a bunch a new big ten coaches over the last few years. In total, how many kids from prior schools did they bring? How many kids followed Tubby here? How many did Roy Williams or Bill Self take with them when they changed? (I don't know the answer.)

My sense is that kids rarely end up following the coach. Of course it will happen occasionally. But when you have essentially your entire class say "no thanks", as is happening at Memphis, I think you would feel betrayed. I know that coaches sell themselves. But fans feel a loyalty to the program, and when no kid has any interest in staying with the program, as a fan I would feel that the coach never cared enough about the program to sell it--only cared to sell himself. All coaches at that level have to have a pretty big ego to be successful. But that doesn't preclude them from caring about something besides themself.

Tubby is a class guy. It's easy to respect the guy, even if he didn't stick around. But you only love snakes when they're your snakes.

 

[GoFerit]

Had Tubby left a few weeks ago, I would have resented it and him, though. We are investing in hopes that Tubby may turn us into a legit top 25 program over the long haul. The mission would not have been accomplished, had he left. Of course, I could understand his leaving business-wise, but I may not be big enough to warmly applaud him on exit after two decent seasons.

As per Memphis and Cal, the fans there would have felt a greater disappointment. Relative depravity. Something great was within reach. All of sudden, the possibility is gone with Cal leaving for Kentucky. It could have been more painful for them than us tasting two decent seasons and kissing them bye.

 

[MRJ]

Count me as one who doesn't get into the whole "well, thanks for gracing us with your presence" crowd. The bottom line is that if a coach, player or otherwise leaves or chooses another program, it means you simply weren't good enough, whatever the reason may be. And that being the case, my general feeling is hit the road jack and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Are there some jobs that are just too good to pass up? Absolutely, but those are few and far between. Had he left, only one thing would have stopped me from roasting Tubby: He admitted that he never says never. At least that way he gives us fair warning, regardless of how we may feel.

In the case of Calipari, it shows quite a bit of hubrus to show up to a fund raising even in Memphis almost immediately after taking the Kentucky job. And I don't blame Memphis fans at all if they were outraged by it. I for one wouldn't want Tubby around at a fund raiser if he took another job. But at the same time, it doesn't surprise me that Cal pulled this stunt. There are few in the coaching world that believe in their own importance and are bigger fans of themselves than Calipari

 

[GopherLady]

GL--everything you say is right, of course. But...

We have a bunch a new big ten coaches over the last few years. In total, how many kids from prior schools did they bring? How many kids followed Tubby here? How many did Roy Williams or Bill Self take with them when they changed? (I don't know the answer.)

My sense is that kids rarely end up following the coach. Of course it will happen occasionally. But when you have essentially your entire class say "no thanks", as is happening at Memphis, I think you would feel betrayed. I know that coaches sell themselves. But fans feel a loyalty to the program, and when no kid has any interest in staying with the program, as a fan I would feel that the coach never cared enough about the program to sell it--only cared to sell himself. All coaches at that level have to have a pretty big ego to be successful. But that doesn't preclude them from caring about something besides themself.

Tubby is a class guy. It's easy to respect the guy, even if he didn't stick around. But you only love snakes when they're your snakes.

Those are great points too, Jim...and don't get me wrong, Calipari is a snake...but he's a snake that's taken Memphis the the Final Four and make them a top team, and stayed there for almost 10 years.

MRJ - I think all of us are biased about the Kentucky job, personally, I think it may be one of the worst ones there is. However, when you are unbiased, they are a basketball school. They historically, have been a premier program. To say the UK job is not better than the Memphis job, is not being objective. As far as the fundraiser, it sounds like it was something he committed to a long time ago, and he followed through with his word.

 

[MRJ]

Those are great points too, Jim...and don't get me wrong, Calipari is a snake...but he's a snake that's taken Memphis the the Final Four and make them a top team, and stayed there for almost 10 years.

MRJ - I think all of us are biased about the Kentucky job, personally, I think it may be one of the worst ones there is. However, when you are unbiased, they are a basketball school. They historically, have been a premier program. To say the UK job is not better than the Memphis job, is not being objective. As far as the fundraiser, it sounds like it was something he committed to a long time ago, and he followed through with his word.

GopherLady, I'm with ya. I understand what you mean about Kentucky being one of those "once in a lifetime opportunity" type of jobs, at least from a national perspective. As you know, I happen to think Kentucky is a job that is as undesirable as it gets when you consider all the factors. And from this stand point, I can understand why Calipari took the job at UK. He's definitely got the ego and media relations abilities to succeed there despite the drawbacks. I just wouldn't have been happy with Calipari returning for a fundraiser after taking a job somewhere else, even with it being the "dream job" of Kentucky. it's just a personal bias of mine.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Cal's a little slick for my tastes, but the bottom line is he took Memphis to great heights. I give him a ton of credit for showing up at that fundraiser. The easy way out would have been to back out, avoid any of the backlash/cold shoulders/harsh feelings he was sure to run into. Calipari knew full well going into it that it wasn't going to be a comfortable situation for him. I look at it like GL does; he made a commitment to this thing & he honored the commitment despite the fact there were going to be plenty of people there p*ssed off at him. And you know darn well if he didn't show up, people would be ripping him a new one for backing out on his commitment to the fundraiser. He wasn't going to win either way.

 

[tjgopher]

I give him a ton of credit for showing up at that fundraiser.

It was HIS own fundraiser ("Coach Cal and Friends") for his own charity (The Calipari Family Foundation For Children), so if he wanted to raise the funds, he kind of had to show up.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I obviously paid close attention to the charity's name when I read the story. Yes, it was probably a good idea for him to show up. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[MRJ]

I obviously paid close attention to the charity's name when I read the story. Yes, it was probably a good idea for him to show up. Thanks for the clarification.

Yeah, my mistake as well. If his name is on it, then he kind of has to show up. Oops. Otherwise, I still hold my original opinions...