The curious case of John Calipari's missing lucky watch
Does Bigfoot exist? Are we alone in the universe? What happened to John Calipari’s watch? Thankfully, the latter question is finally answered.
On Sunday, the veteran UK coach attended the SEC Tournament championship in Nashville to watch Kentucky Women’s Basketball bring home their first conference title since 1982. Not only did Calipari make an appearance, he enthusiastically cheered on his fellow ‘Cats.
Losing the prized possession
Sitting behind Kentucky’s bench, Calipari erupted as each historic shot dropped through the net, including Dre’Una Edwards’ game-winner. Perhaps Calipari celebrated too hard. When Calipari joyfully threw his hands into the air, he launched his white gold Rolex into the crowd.
Realizing what had happened, the 63-year-old head coach turned to his wife and said, “My watch!” Luckily for us, The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker caught the moment on video.
Let the hunt begin
It didn’t take long for Calipari to get the word out. Just an hour and a half after the final buzzer, Kentucky’s commander-in-chief alerted the Big Blue Nation of his emergency via Twitter.
“Absolutely amazing accomplishment and so much fun watching them today FIGHT and play as one! Also, I threw my arms in the air celebrating and my white gold Rolex popped off my wrist. If you find it, I have a reward!” Calipari wrote. “It’s my lucky watch!“
Less than a week until Kentucky Men’s Basketball’s SEC Tournament run begins, Calipari’s closing words sent UK fans into a frenzy. Thus, the search began.
Basketball fans became detectives, blueblood junkies transformed into private investigators as Big Blue Nation mutated into a mobilized army. Countless theories surfaced to Twitter in hopes of helping Calipari… And perhaps claiming the reward.
Kyra Elzy saves the day for John Calipari
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t Kentucky’s Twitter sleuths that discovered Calipari’s Rolex. The story’s hero was the same star of Sunday’s legendary victory: head coach Kyra Elzy.
Evidently, Calipari’s watch didn’t fly far. One of Kentucky’s player’s parents found Calipari’s fancy accessory only a few rows behind the head coach. Elzy promptly returned the watch to Calipari with a compelling message.
“It’s his lucky watch and he needs it so they can win the SEC Tournament as well,” Elzy told KSR on Monday morning.
Calipari was thrilled to have his lucky watch back at his side.
“[Kyra Elzy] wins an SEC championship in one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever seen…AND THEN SHE FINDS MY WATCH!! You’re the best, Coach Elzy!” Calipari tweeted.
We agree, Coach.
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