Azubuike24;377806 wrote:He is watched closely. Closer than probably any coach in the country. As I said, it's completely fine to ask questions about the educational system. We all know it's far from perfect and has many flaws. It's also legit to check into about Bledsoe's eligibility, which was done. Here is an interested article that was posted on TCP, which touches on a similar situation with a Louisville football recruit. In this case, there were questions before his eligibility.

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/crawford/2009/07/u-of-l-football-prospect-facing-grade.html



The bottom line STILL remains...Cal or UK should not have been implicated in any way. Not in this situation. That's my issue. That's the point you are missing with the above quote. Investigate all you want, make all the calls you want, contact all parties involved, fine...but don't write the article. Write the article when there is actually something to report, don't just use the Calipari/Kentucky name to generate hits on something that as we both agree, is ROUTINE in college athletics.

Lets see, UK basketball or UL football? What is news worthy? LOL Sorry pal, I don't feel for you. OSU has been through this multiple times in both sports over the past 10yrs. When you have the success, the criticism comes with it. YOu don't have to like it, I didn't. But it comes with the territory. Again, its NOT like UK has been or is the only school being questioned.
And as i have stated, Cal with this VERY shadey past, deserves to be looked at closely. I don't feel sorry for him or UK. They chose to hire the guy and he is the ONLY coach to EVER have 2 final fours taken down. Whether he as directly implicated or not...they were still "ironcially" his programs. So he is going to be under a microscope whether you like it, or agree with it. It is what it is and will continue to be that way as long as he is at UK. He is a "package deal". So you and other UK fans knew exactly what was coming your way. Like it or not, the NYTimes has quite a few interesting points IMO. Of course to you, a fan of UK, it doesn't bode well. But UK and Cal chose to take the kid...so again, a package deal comes with that. It is what it is and IMO, wont' be the last time.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/06/02/calipari.bledsoe/index.html

Going to be interesting to see if this NCAA thing is legit or what. As mentioned, anyone who would have taken Bledsoe would be in this boat. Not just Cal and UK!

There is no "NCAA thing." Of course, when dealing with the NCAA, as the writer said, there aren't really any laws. They rule, and everyone accepts it. I accept that, we all have to. That's not the issue. The issue, is debating the merits of the actual case. In this case, there really isn't anything there. If there was, all of the holes that have been punched in the story wouldn't exist. As you said, Calipari has the reputation of being very shady, and everyone and their grandmother would love to hammer the final nail in the coffin that buried him. After all, it shouldn't be very tough since according to reputation, he's halfway into the grave already.

Lets be truthful, if Calipari screws UK over and leaves them in a mess, I'll eat my words. It will suck, but I'll eat my words. I'll admit everyone else was right and UK fans weren't. I'll admit it was a mistake to hire the guy, just as it was to hire Gillispie after we saw how he approached the job at a major program. But until then, it's ridiculous that the media can attach his name to almost anything and it becomes a conspiracy or a scandal. Maybe that's just what we get with him, constant drama, even if most of it turns out to be nothing. I guess we'll see how it plays out, but I'm pretty confident that this story really isn't going anywhere.

It's just quite amazing how perception can change with the influence by the media. On the weekend we lost John Wooden, he's being celebrated, and ironically, you can make a strong argument that his entire list of accomplishments is based on dirty money, cheating and making John Calipari's behavior look almost Saint-like. The sad thing is, there won't be one word of slander toward John Wooden for his shady past.

I don't think many people of this generation have ever heard of Sam Gilbert, or know that Wooden went 16 years without a title before winning 10 of 12 after Gilbert's appearance. It is some interesting reading.

Those who follow the sport know about it. The media, in large part, knows about it. They just don't report it. Maybe it was because so much time went by, that slandering a 99-year old that has been so far removed from coaching the sport was pointless. Who knows.

Are you kidding me? We are now dragging Wooden into this conversation? lol THis is becoming comical. Gilbert or not, Wooden still won 10 national titles. Cal has zero with Wes by his side. Please don't mention Wooden and Cal in the same sentence. Cal isn't even top 5 coach currently let alone to even being mentioned in the same breath as Cal.
Azu, grow thicker skin pal. Never thought u would be so bias or have goggles like this on. But you certainly are and certainly do now. I guess its easy to look unbias when your program was so mediocre. Now that they are "back", and the limelight is on...your fitting right in with most of us who have been dealing with this for years. Enjoy.

It's unfortunate you think I'm so biased. I'm not sure why. I guess until I admit to you that Calipari is cheating and that he's an awful coach, I'll be biased. I'm supportive of my school first and foremost, and that comes before any coach, player or other matter. If Cal is wrong or I am against how he is doing something, I'll say so. Believe it or not, everything he touches isn't gold, even to a "biased" fan like me.

I just think it's pretty evident there are people out there fishing for things to catch Calipari with. The fact that the NY Times is even writing a college basketball story in May is proof enough, let alone one that has more holes than swiss cheese. That isn't happening with other coaches. Isn't it proof enough that we've heard more about Calipari this week than Jim Calhoun? You know, the coach who recently had sanctions against himself and his program?

In this specific case, there is nothing there that is newsworthy, unless we are going to debate the merits of the NCAA clearinghouse, and admittedly, a problem that is rampant in the NCAA, with student athletes qualifying and how academics are viewed. If we are going to debate that and use Cal as an example to talk about a much bigger issue, that's fine. It's a debate I'd love to have.

swamisez;380146 wrote:I don't think many people of this generation have ever heard of Sam Gilbert, or know that Wooden went 16 years without a title before winning 10 of 12 after Gilbert's appearance. It is some interesting reading.

To be fair, Gilbert didn't come around until AFTER Wooden had won two titles. Gilbert first came on the scene when Alcindor was recruited to UCLA in '66. Wooden won two titles before that in '64 and '65. So your wording in your post is inaccurate, even though later on Gilbert undoubtedly cheated on behalf of UCLA.

I was on a HS Girls hiring commitee for Catholic school, one of the applicants had Calipari as a reference (legitimate reference). I asked (tongue in cheek) the others on the commitee, "Does this help him or hurt him?"

Azubuike24;380613 wrote:It's unfortunate you think I'm so biased. I'm not sure why. I guess until I admit to you that Calipari is cheating and that he's an awful coach, I'll be biased. I'm supportive of my school first and foremost, and that comes before any coach, player or other matter. If Cal is wrong or I am against how he is doing something, I'll say so. Believe it or not, everything he touches isn't gold, even to a "biased" fan like me.

I just think it's pretty evident there are people out there fishing for things to catch Calipari with. The fact that the NY Times is even writing a college basketball story in May is proof enough, let alone one that has more holes than swiss cheese. That isn't happening with other coaches. Isn't it proof enough that we've heard more about Calipari this week than Jim Calhoun? You know, the coach who recently had sanctions against himself and his program?

In this specific case, there is nothing there that is newsworthy, unless we are going to debate the merits of the NCAA clearinghouse, and admittedly, a problem that is rampant in the NCAA, with student athletes qualifying and how academics are viewed. If we are going to debate that and use Cal as an example to talk about a much bigger issue, that's fine. It's a debate I'd love to have.

Again, if you can directly point to the fact that no other newspaper has written anything about others schools, other then UK, then yes, your looking at this thru your UK goggles. It happens, and it happesn frequently, almost monthly I would say. It has happened all over the country.
Again, when you choose to recruit a player, with the OBVIOUS and FACTUAL questions surround a player like Bledsoe, then prepare to deal with.
When you have success, your put under a microsope.
Fishing? Did you actually read everything with Bledsoe? Is it UK fault? No. But they still recruited, and made the CHOICE to take him. Thus, opening that door for critcism. If he had gone else, I have NO doubt that school would be dealing with the same questions.
People want to point the finger at the clearinghouse for everything. Thats the "easy out". The clearinghouse deals with THOUSANDS of athletes yearly. An individual college, and the individual program, especially in baskeball, deal with FEW. Is it that tough for them to check over academics and do so thoroughly?
This is comical to me, because you make it sound like UK is the ONLY school that an article has been written about with some accusations. When in fact, it couldn't be further from the truth. Get over it.

Here's something interesting I came across. APR scores from 2005 through 2009:

John Calipari at Memphis: 974
Tubby Smith (2 yrs) + Billy Gillispie (2 yrs) at Kentucky: 954
Rick Pitino at Louisville: 951

Interesting how Cal's squads performed better in these areas, despite having more one and done players (2) than any of the other coaches, who had 0. Must be doctored numbers...they couldn't be true could they?

^^^ LOL never seen u like this. Your skin is getting thin. Sure are defensive.....guess that happens when your a bit insecure about the situation and coach you have knowing things could crumble at any moment. Enjoy it.

BTW, APR's are a joke. You know it as well as I do. Who cares.

Azubuike24;373010 wrote:Exactly.

And everyone can say what they want, I'm not defending the situation. My issue is with the NCAA though. Their clearinghouse needs to get things straight and not leave schools in a constant state of fear if there are issues in the past that could burn them after the fact.

Bottom line, Eric Bledsoe should have been ruled ineligible by the NCAA, and once he was cleared, any wrongdoing PRIOR to that ruling should not stand up. The school certainly shouldn't be expected to take the fall for this unless there is proof the NCAA warned them of a possible ineligible ruling before they decided to play him. In this case, we know this WAS NOT done, therefore Kentucky and Cal will have their names dragged through the mud for an issue that happened while he was in high school.

Exactly. It's tough to blame a school for this situation when the fault lies with the NCAA.

CBF refuses to question on the NCAA, even though they did give the go-ahead.

The APR is definitely a joke.

However, if the UK APR was negative, I bet it would be reported as so. I bet we'd even see a post on this board from someone who doesn't really follow college basketball. Hmm?

Azubuike24;386056 wrote:The APR is definitely a joke.

However, if the UK APR was negative, I bet it would be reported as so. I bet we'd even see a post on this board from someone who doesn't really follow college basketball. Hmm?

Ya, uh huh...its the world against UK now. lol

thedynasty1998;385600 wrote:CBF refuses to question on the NCAA, even though they did give the go-ahead.

Actually, no I don't. I actually know and have an understanding on how the clearinghouse works. Also have a clue on how thorough many colleges are in their recruitment process as the comb over the details of a prospective student athletes transcripts.
I am far from a fan of the NCAA, believe me. But I am also a believer in ACCOUNTABILITY and tire of the finger pointing and blaming of others. Pointing the finger at the clearinghouse and NCAA is the easy out. Take care of your own business and you should have nothing to worry about. Its really NOT that difficult to oversee the recruiting of a FEW players a year.

centralbucksfan;386140 wrote:Ya, uh huh...its the world against UK now. lol

Nope. It's just quite funny how things change in the span of 5 years. Before Tubby abandoned ship to Minnesota, Kentucky had fallen so far off the map they were on the back page of the headlines even DURING basketball. Now, there's some new issue/drama/mention of them almost daily. This isn't even just because I follow it closely. I heard three different national and/or local radio shows mention Kentucky/Calipari/cheating today alone. They talk about the guy like he's serving a life sentence for committing NCAA violations. It's comical.

fan_from_texas;385582 wrote:Exactly. It's tough to blame a school for this situation when the fault lies with the NCAA.

Don't recruit kids with a 1.9 GPA and a 14 on their ACT going into their senior year.

Azubuike24;386173 wrote:Nope. It's just quite funny how things change in the span of 5 years. Before Tubby abandoned ship to Minnesota, Kentucky had fallen so far off the map they were on the back page of the headlines even DURING basketball. Now, there's some new issue/drama/mention of them almost daily. This isn't even just because I follow it closely. I heard three different national and/or local radio shows mention Kentucky/Calipari/cheating today alone. They talk about the guy like he's serving a life sentence for committing NCAA violations. It's comical.

Comical? When you are the ONLY coach in NCAA history to have 2 final fours vacated because of major violations....I call that factual. If you think it was just "ironic" and Cal was in the wrong place at the wrong time...thats called comical.