The Pot Calling The Kettle Black

[Tugg Speedman]

Calipari: Federal probe is 'black eye' for sport
Jeff Borzello
ESPN Staff Writer
October 12, 2017 3:10 PM CT

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21002969/kentucky-wildcats-coach-john-calipari-unhappy-black-eye-college-basketball

Kentucky coach John Calipari called the current college basketball scandal a "black eye" at the Wildcats' media day on Thursday.

"What's out there right now is a black eye," Calipari said. "None of us know where this thing's going. I don't know where all this is going. Obviously what happened to this point isn't good."

Since news of an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball broke on Sept. 26, 10 people have been arrested, including four assistant coaches. Louisville head coach Rick Pitino was placed on unpaid administrative leave.

[tower912]

Irony abounds.

[Hards Alumni]

Irony abounds.

I'm tickled.

[brewcity77]

His defensive response complete with deflecting non-answer was a bit surprising. Thought he'd be more composed and prepared.

https://twitter.com/claystv1/status/918528853081026562

[Ellenson Guerrero]

His defensive response complete with deflecting non-answer was a bit surprising. Thought he'd be more composed and prepared.

https://twitter.com/claystv1/status/918528853081026562

I don't think John has been sleeping very well lately...

[warriorchick]

[GooooMarquette]

But you gotta admit that Cal knows a lot about doing stuff to give the sport a black eye...

[The Lens]

I'd be surprised if Cal is cheating at UK.  He gets to hand select his recruits.  He and K more or less take orders.  And look at his kids at UK.  Most are really good kids.  A hot head like Cousins is the exception.  To quote John Wall:  I've been poor all my life, what's 8 more months.

The guys Cal's (and K) recruiting know that payday is coming and quick.  They don't need to owe anyone anything.

[cheebs09]

I'd be surprised if Cal is cheating at UK.  He gets to hand select his recruits.  He and K more or less take orders.  And look at his kids at UK.  Most are really good kids.  A hot head like Cousins is the exception.  To quote John Wall:  I've been poor all my life, what's 8 more months.

The guys Cal's (and K) recruiting know that payday is coming and quick.  They don't need to owe anyone anything.

It wasn't like Billy Gillespie was getting those recruits at Kentucky. There was an article in a Chicago paper about Anthony Davis getting $250K. He may be clean, but there's too much smoke around him in my opinion.

[The Lens]

It wasn't like Billy Gillespie was getting those recruits at Kentucky. There was an article in a Chicago paper about Anthony Davis getting $250K. He may be clean, but there's too much smoke around him in my opinion.

Billy G is a drunk.  And on his best day he's a really sales manager.  Whereas Cal is a CEO.  It's like Nick Saban vs. the rest of the SEC.   CEO vs. Sales Managers.

[wadesworld]

Cal no doubt cheat$.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Billy G is a drunk.  And on his best day he's a really sales manager.  Whereas Cal is a CEO.  It's like Nick Saban vs. the rest of the SEC.   CEO vs. Sales Managers.

I would say that it is not unthinkable that Cals players are getting money.  My guess though is he has more layers in between him and the dirty work vs a guy like Pitino.  He is not some sort of bball savant or playing 'different game than everyone else'.  That is silly. 

[rocket surgeon]

  i'd love to hear what roy thinks of all this 

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

I'd be surprised if Cal is cheating at UK.  He gets to hand select his recruits.  He and K more or less take orders.  And look at his kids at UK.  Most are really good kids.  A hot head like Cousins is the exception.  To quote John Wall:  I've been poor all my life, what's 8 more months.

The guys Cal's (and K) recruiting know that payday is coming and quick.  They don't need to owe anyone anything.

This is correct for anything Cal did to get to the top, once one gets there and has his track record with one and dones is all he needs to show these kids.   Contend for titles, one n dones and incredible facilities.  No need to cheat.  Its like usain bolt decding to take steroids.

[Lennys Tap]

  i'd love to hear what roy thinks of all this 

Ol' Roy, aka Deputy Dawg, BSed his way through UNC's academic scandal - I'm sure he'd do the same on pay for play unless they have him on tape.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

This is correct for anything Cal did to get to the top, once one gets there and has his track record with one and dones is all he needs to show these kids.   Contend for titles, one n dones and incredible facilities.  No need to cheat.  Its like usain bolt decding to take steroids.

Barry Bonds had no need to cheat; neither did Lance Armstrong; neither did Bernie Madoff.  People at the top often cheat in order to stay at the top; see Pitino, Rick. 

[Lennys Tap]

Barry Bonds had no need to cheat; neither did Lance Armstrong; neither did Bernie Madoff.  People at the top often cheat in order to stay at the top; see Pitino, Rick.

??? In order to be great, Bonds didn't need to cheat. In order to be an all time great (arguably the greatest of all time) he most certainly did. All the top tier cyclists cheat, so in order to be the greatest of all time in his sport instead of a "guy" Armstrong had to cheat. Bernie Madoff ran a Ponzi scheme, he was a cheater from the beginning.

[GooooMarquette]

??? In order to be great, Bonds didn't need to cheat. In order to be an all time great (arguably the greatest of all time) he most certainly did. All the top tier cyclists cheat, so in order to be the greatest of all time in his sport instead of a "guy" Armstrong had to cheat. Bernie Madoff ran a Ponzi scheme, he was a cheater from the beginning.

+3

[wadesworld]

??? In order to be great, Bonds didn't need to cheat. In order to be an all time great (arguably the greatest of all time) he most certainly did. All the top tier cyclists cheat, so in order to be the greatest of all time in his sport instead of a "guy" Armstrong had to cheat. Bernie Madoff ran a Ponzi scheme, he was a cheater from the beginning.

Barry Bonds won 3 MVPs and had another runner up before he started taking steroids...

[rocket surgeon]

Barry Bonds won 3 MVPs and had another runner up before he started taking steroids...

  he wanted more, he wanted to stay on top, he wanted to make the record his and he wanted to make it untouchable...at what price is one willing to pay? 

[Dawson Rental]

It wasn't like Billy Gillespie was getting those recruits at Kentucky. There was an article in a Chicago paper about Anthony Davis getting $250K. He may be clean, but there's too much smoke around him in my opinion.

Fearless prediction: If Nike is involved in buying players, the FBI will probably track it down.  If Kentucky boosters are involved, no one will find a thing.

[Lennys Tap]

Barry Bonds won 3 MVPs and had another runner up before he started taking steroids...

What's your point? I said he was great in his 14 years before he hit the juice.

But between the ages of 35-39 (when most guys are out of the game or at least well past their prime) he was unworldly, the greatest of all time. 4 MVPs and a runner up in those 5 years and BY FAR the best numbers of his career.

[MU82]

Barry Bonds won 3 MVPs and had another runner up before he started taking steroids...

Yep.

From 1990-98, Bonds averaged 36-110 with a 1.038 OPS. He was a 3-time MVP with 4 other top-5 MVP finishes during that span. He averaged 36 SB. He also was one of the best defensive outfielders of his time.

If he retired after the 1998 season, he would have been a first-ballot HoFer. If he had another 3-5 similar years he would have been remembered as one of the greatest all-around players ever.

Instead, he got jealous of the attention Sosa and McGwire received and started using his butt as a pincushion. He got the HR record and a lot of $$$, but he will always be remembered as a whiny, self-important, juicing d-bag.

[wadesworld]

What's your point? I said he was great in his 14 years before he hit the juice.

But between the ages of 35-39 (when most guys are out of the game or at least well past their prime) he was unworldly, the greatest of all time. 4 MVPs and a runner up in those 5 years and BY FAR the best numbers of his career.

...right.  That's the exact argument you tried to argue against.  Barry Bonds didn't need to cheat, but people at the top cheat to ensure they stay at the top.  Barry was already at the top.

[forgetful]

Barry Bonds won 3 MVPs and had another runner up before he started taking steroids...

Do we honestly know when he started juicing?  We know he started taking some crazy designer steroids in the late 90's, but that doesn't mean he wasn't using other stuff before then.