More On UK And John Calipari Impending Marriage: Win At Any Cost?
Win at any cost?
Forget the historic and ongoing Frankfort budget crisis, the jeopardy into which statewide school accountability has been thrust, and all the other important issues left unresolved by the 2009 General Assembly. Let's talk about something that really matters to the people of the state -- replacing the University of Kentucky's basketball coach.
That's a joke, but most Kentuckians won't get it. They're busy discussing the possible choice of Memphis coach John Calipari.
Billy Gillispie just didn't win enough games. Had he done that, he wouldn't be packing his bags. In a state where the reputation of the flagship university's basketball program was, for decades, the only thing with respect to which the general citizenry could make happy national comparisons, hoops still matter most -- and wins matter most of all.
But beyond that, Mr. Gillispie also didn't seem to know how to deal with the media. And he didn't seem to understand the care and feeding of UK faithful, from Pikeville to Paducah. Nor did he seem to have the right relationship with his bosses, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and President Lee Todd. Worst of all, at times he appeared willing to blame his players for failures in which he shared.
Mr. Barnhart, who can be admired for picking football coach Rich Brooks and supporting him through bad times, made a hasty choice in Mr. Gillispie. UK turned red-faced after being turned down a couple of times. The AD deserves as much blame for the resulting mess as the coach he selected.
It's important that it not happen again. UK must get this one right, and right isn't just sizzling seasons and tournament titles. The unreasonable expectations of Big Blue Nation (it wasn't even satisfied with success like Joe Hall's or class like Tubby Smith's) must not force another error. The worst mistake of all would be naming someone whose ethics would buckle under Big Blue Nation's demands.
Forget the historic and ongoing Frankfort budget crisis, the jeopardy into which statewide school accountability has been thrust, and all the other important issues left unresolved by the 2009 General Assembly. Let's talk about something that really matters to the people of the state -- replacing the University of Kentucky's basketball coach.
That's a joke, but most Kentuckians won't get it. They're busy discussing the possible choice of Memphis coach John Calipari.
Billy Gillispie just didn't win enough games. Had he done that, he wouldn't be packing his bags. In a state where the reputation of the flagship university's basketball program was, for decades, the only thing with respect to which the general citizenry could make happy national comparisons, hoops still matter most -- and wins matter most of all.
But beyond that, Mr. Gillispie also didn't seem to know how to deal with the media. And he didn't seem to understand the care and feeding of UK faithful, from Pikeville to Paducah. Nor did he seem to have the right relationship with his bosses, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and President Lee Todd. Worst of all, at times he appeared willing to blame his players for failures in which he shared.
Mr. Barnhart, who can be admired for picking football coach Rich Brooks and supporting him through bad times, made a hasty choice in Mr. Gillispie. UK turned red-faced after being turned down a couple of times. The AD deserves as much blame for the resulting mess as the coach he selected.
It's important that it not happen again. UK must get this one right, and right isn't just sizzling seasons and tournament titles. The unreasonable expectations of Big Blue Nation (it wasn't even satisfied with success like Joe Hall's or class like Tubby Smith's) must not force another error. The worst mistake of all would be naming someone whose ethics would buckle under Big Blue Nation's demands.
Labels: College sports
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 11:12 AM
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