ends up at UK? I still think UK is leery of him, but it looks like they are talking.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11564471/rss
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11564471/rss
What do you think the chances are that Calipari
- Thread starter saddawg
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he believes they will do everything possible to keep him. The town of Memphis is in love with this guy and I am not sure he will ever feel that kind of love in Kentucky. One thing is for sure he probably ends up with a nice raise no matter what happens which is a great position to be in. My opinion is that Calapari is a competitor and conference USA just isn't going to do it for him long term. If Memphis goes to a better conference and gives him some assurances that is going to happen soon then I think he stays, if not then he might just end up in the Commonwealth. Will be interesting to watch.</p>
Memphis is going to pull out everything they have to keep him.
Radio this morning said he's going to interview with UK.
Radio this morning said he's going to interview with UK.
This is another perk in UM's favor...... basically a way to pay players, completely legal.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/1210/060.html
The team needed money. One of Calipari's first moves was getting a meeting with Frederick W. Smith, the chief executive of FedEx (nyse: FDX - news - people ) in Memphis. He persuaded Smith to become a team benefactor. <span style="font-weight: bold;">He also asked him to help set up a paid summer internship for the Memphis players. Since then 25 basketballers have taken paid summer internships at the delivery giant; one former player took a full-time job at the company.</span> Alan Graf Jr., chief financial officer at FedEx, has pledged $500,000 of personal money to the athletic program. Smith has become one of Calipari's trusted advisers. "He asks me about organization and management," says Smith.
"What I sell now is simple: You have a chance to graduate, <span style="font-weight: bold;">a FedEx internship to prepare you for life after basketball</span> and a chance to maybe play in the NBA," says Calipari, whose record at Memphis is currently 187--63.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/1210/060.html
The team needed money. One of Calipari's first moves was getting a meeting with Frederick W. Smith, the chief executive of FedEx (nyse: FDX - news - people ) in Memphis. He persuaded Smith to become a team benefactor. <span style="font-weight: bold;">He also asked him to help set up a paid summer internship for the Memphis players. Since then 25 basketballers have taken paid summer internships at the delivery giant; one former player took a full-time job at the company.</span> Alan Graf Jr., chief financial officer at FedEx, has pledged $500,000 of personal money to the athletic program. Smith has become one of Calipari's trusted advisers. "He asks me about organization and management," says Smith.
"What I sell now is simple: You have a chance to graduate, <span style="font-weight: bold;">a FedEx internship to prepare you for life after basketball</span> and a chance to maybe play in the NBA," says Calipari, whose record at Memphis is currently 187--63.
The funny thing is, if he starts out his career at UK the same way he started at Memphis, he'll be fired before he ever gets it going.
His first two years at Memphis were NIT appearances. His third and fourth years were NCAA appearances with first weekend exits. His fifth year was an NIT appearance. At UK, if he did that, he probably wouldn't make it to year 5, and he definitely wouldn't make it past year 5. It wasn't until his 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th seasons that he went Elite Eight, Elite Eight, National Runner-up, Sweet Sixteen.
His first two years at Memphis were NIT appearances. His third and fourth years were NCAA appearances with first weekend exits. His fifth year was an NIT appearance. At UK, if he did that, he probably wouldn't make it to year 5, and he definitely wouldn't make it past year 5. It wasn't until his 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th seasons that he went Elite Eight, Elite Eight, National Runner-up, Sweet Sixteen.
the TV deal that the SEC now has just makes it that more attractive. Conference USA is a joke and he knows it
I'm sure he will also persuade a couple of those top recruits he has going to Memphis to go to Kentucky, and he will get it turned around much more quickly....
I'm sure he will also persuade a couple of those top recruits he has going to Memphis to go to Kentucky, and he will get it turned around much more quickly....
That just gets in the way of them whoring out their athletes until they can graduate with nothing more than a general studies degree and no concept of how the real world operates after college. It's pathetic that those basketball players are being given the same opportunities afforded an accounting, engineering, or international business student.
I know my uncle hires UNC basketball players in the offseason. They aren't exactly the hardest workers in the world