Other Sports Pitino and Calipari both refuse to deny they are leaving - Page 5

**jAZ** · 03-28-2009, 10:06 AM

On Thursday, Rick Pitino was asked about the rumors of him going to Arizona. He responded by refusing to say he wouldn't leave:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/co...na_rumors.html

"I wouldn't answer any other job because it would be disrespectful to the University of Louisville," Pitino said when asked about his interest in a job that he has been linked to since Lute Olson retired last October. "Any time a coach says he's not interested in a job, he's dead interested in a job. So you know, I don't mislead you. All I can say to you is for eight years I've given every ounce I've had to the University of Louisville. I will continue to do that."

...

"The only job I've thought about for a 24-hour period since I've been at the University of Louisville was Providence College last year," said the 56-year-old Pitino. "Because of the personal things I went through at Providence, I wanted to sit down and talk with them about the job to see if I did want to come back because of personal reasons that were very deep to me. I sat down with them and realized Louisville was the place for me. Outside of that, for eight years, I haven't thought about any job except the University of Louisville, and that's answering you the honest way."

Then on Friday, Calipari used nearly the same sort of carefully chosen non-answer when he was asked about Kentucky:

My transcription from video below:

Reporter: "kentucky, the rumors are already starting to fly, can you comment on that?".

Cal: "no, I want to be here, this is where I want to coach, my name will be tied to every job that's open, our fans have gotten used to it, but I'm so tired... (avoids followup questions by moving quickly away from the topic)"

Compare both of those to Billy Donovan's response, which was a bit more direct and certain:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...-florida_N.htm

"In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible, " Donovan's statement said. "I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here."

UK moved on after that, and Grant accepted the Alabama job, which was the final evidence that there will be no BD at UK.

Pitino and Calipari are trying not talk about their interest in leaving UM and UL, but they don't want to lie either. Both are doing a good job of hiding it, while leaving the door open. Something Les Miles couldn't find a way to do right before the national championship game.

KevB · 03-29-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

How many championships has Memphis won? I don't know off hand whether it's more or less than the 7 won by Kentucky, but if I had to take a guess...

Arizona is a much better job than Memphis, but the money just isn't there.

Honestly, what do those 7 championships mean today? Ask Tubby and Gillespie what that tradition is worth. It raises expectations to unrealistic levels, that's certainly true. But could Cal recruit better players at Kentucky? Get higher seeds and have more tourney success? Be more beloved to the fanbase? Make more money? I don't know that the answer is yes to any of those questions, so why leave?

And what makes the Arizona job better than Memphis? And don't say better conference, because that hasn't hindered Cal at Memphis even a little bit.

**Skip Towne** · 03-29-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevB

And what makes the Arizona job better than Memphis?

Not having to live in Memphs?

WilliamTheIrish · 03-29-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veist

Realistically assuming Cal just wants to get paid, Kentucky can outbid just about anyone so it is certainly possible. I'm not sure their interest in Cal is strong enough that they'd necessarily be willing to outbid Memphis for him though.

Let's think this through for just a moment. Two of the reports I've seen say Kentucky might have to pay BCG 6 million in severance. To get Calipari they will have to pay what? 3.5? 4? Over say a standard 5 year deal. That's 26 mil you better have lying around. Does Kentucky have a T. Boone Pickens or are they holding up Ft. Knox?

Looks to me like it's Travis Ford for Kentucky and Reggie Theus for Az.

**jAZ** · 03-29-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Calipari to Kentucky makes perfect sense. Nobody wants to live in Memphis, let alone coach there.

Pitino to Arizona makes no sense. That job would be a step down in prestige, money, conference, and tradition.

Pitino makes more sense than people realize.

1) His close friend CM Newton is heading up the UA's search
2) Pitino likes building programs
3) Pitino's trainer (Todd Pletcher) is a UA alumn and booster. So is Bob Baffert. No one knows, but UA has the countries only horse racing degree.
4) With the mess of the last 2 years, no coach will be walking into the Lute Olson shadow. Fan expectations for next year are low.
5) I think Cal going to UK makes being at Louisville less appealing. That state *wants* to love UK, and they will race back to them with a winning head coach.

**Skip Towne** · 03-29-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

Let's think this through for just a moment. Two of the reports I've seen say Kentucky might have to pay BCG 6 million in severance. To get Calipari they will have to pay what? 3.5? 4? Over say a standard 5 year deal. That's 26 mil you better have lying around. Does Kentucky have a T. Boone Pickens or are they holding up Ft. Knox?

Looks to me like it's Travis Ford for Kentucky and Reggie Theus for Az.

BCG never did sign a contract with Kentucky. Therefore he won't get the $6 million. That's what I've read.

WilliamTheIrish · 03-29-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

BCG never did sign a contract with Kentucky. Therefore he won't get the $6 million. That's what I've read.

He worked under a standard agreement. It'll take some legal wrangling, but Kentucky already looks like shit from the beginning in this deal. And the AD is looking worse by saying too much. The more they drag their feet, the worse it'll look for them.

He may not get the entire 6 mil but he'll get a sizable chunk. I just don't see where they can generate that kind of $ and still pay a Calipari or Pitino.

**jAZ** · 03-29-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

And certainly, a school which has been to Final Fours in three separate decades with three different coaches is totally tradition-deficient compared to Arizona's history consisting of Lute Olson and

No doubt that Lute is the only Hall of Fame coach we've ever had. But let's not pretend that diminishes the program.

25 straight years in the NCAA, 15 Pac-10 Championships, 14 Sweet 16's, 8 Elite 8s, 5 final 4s, 2 championship games, 1 championship

Depending upon the year, our basketball program has the higest revenues of any school in the country. Pretty much always top 5.

And Tucson's weather, and lifestyle makes it a great place to recruit to. Plus either coach would all but own the entire the west coast.

I've really not tried to trash Memphis, but let's not pretend like it's just conincidence that Memphis has to pay well above market rate to get an elite coach. It's not the best job, without overpaying for the best coach.

And the reason Memphis can over pay for a coach is that they don't compete in a full array of sports. Arizona (for good or bad) spreads their profit over the full array of sports.

**Skip Towne** · 03-29-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

He worked under a standard agreement. It'll take some legal wrangling, but Kentucky already looks like shit from the beginning in this deal. And the AD is looking worse by saying too much. The more they drag their feet, the worse it'll look for them.

He may not get the entire 6 mil but he'll get a sizable chunk. I just don't see where they can generate that kind of $ and still pay a Calipari or Pitino.

We'll see.

Ultra Peanut · 03-29-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

No doubt that Lute is the only Hall of Fame coach we've ever had. But let's not pretend that diminishes the program.

25 straight years in the NCAA, 15 Pac-10 Championships, 14 Sweet 16's, 8 Elite 8s, 5 final 4s, 2 championship games, 1 championship

Depending upon the year, our basketball program has the higest revenues of any school in the country. Pretty much always top 5.

And Tucson's weather, and lifestyle makes it a great place to recruit to. Plus either coach would all but own the entire the west coast.

I've really not tried to trash Memphis, but let's not pretend like it's just conincidence that Memphis has to pay well above market rate to get an elite coach. It's not the best job, without overpaying for the best coach.

And the reason Memphis can over pay for a coach is that they don't compete in a full array of sports. Arizona (for good or bad) spreads their profit over the full array of sports.

**jAZ** · 03-29-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

Let's think this through for just a moment. Two of the reports I've seen say Kentucky might have to pay BCG 6 million in severance. To get Calipari they will have to pay what? 3.5? 4? Over say a standard 5 year deal. That's 26 mil you better have lying around. Does Kentucky have a T. Boone Pickens or are they holding up Ft. Knox?

Looks to me like it's Travis Ford for Kentucky and Reggie Theus for Az.

Like I said before, Bob Baffert is a UA booster. So is Artie Moreno (billionaire owner of the LA Angels of the OCC, and Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns). We have the boosters, but it's a tough economy.

**jAZ** · 03-29-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

Don't forget 38 current or former NBA players.

WilliamTheIrish · 03-29-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

We'll see.

Link me to what you read.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4023318

Quote:

The coach worked under a memorandum of understanding signed following his whirlwind courtship by the school. Barnhart said the university would try to negotiate a fair separation agreement but believes it will be well below $6 million.

Gillispie believes he's due the full amount.

"That's what it says in the contract, that's what it looks like to me," he said. "I don't know all the details and all those kind of things. I just know we signed a contract. It was a shorter version than maybe some."

WilliamTheIrish · 03-29-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

Like I said before, Bob Baffert is a UA booster. So is Artie Moreno (billionaire owner of the LA Angels of the OCC, and Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns). We have the boosters, but it's a tough economy.

I was talking strictly in the Cal to Kentucky scenario. In addition, if mmaddogg is correct, they'll be whacking the AD soon also, since he hired BCG all on his own. There's more severance and another search and another salary.

KevB · 03-29-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

Pitino makes more sense than people realize.

1) His close friend CM Newton is heading up the UA's search
2) Pitino likes building programs
3) Pitino's trainer (Todd Pletcher) is a UA alumn and booster. So is Bob Baffert. No one knows, but UA has the countries only horse racing degree.
4) With the mess of the last 2 years, no coach will be walking into the Lute Olson shadow. Fan expectations for next year are low.
5) I think Cal going to UK makes being at Louisville less appealing. That state *wants* to love UK, and they will race back to them with a winning head coach.

That's it? That's the rationale for pulling Pitino away from L'ville? Connecting those dots will take quite a bit of ink.

KevB · 03-29-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

I've really not tried to trash Memphis, but let's not pretend like it's just conincidence that Memphis has to pay well above market rate to get an elite coach. It's not the best job, without overpaying for the best coach.

And the reason Memphis can over pay for a coach is that they don't compete in a full array of sports. Arizona (for good or bad) spreads their profit over the full array of sports.

On the first point, Memphis pays elite money because, wait for it.....he's an elite coach. It's market value for a top 5 coach. On your second point, how does that make Arizona more attactive again? I must have missed it.

03-28-2009, 10:06 AM
jAZ Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ Casino cash: $9847493	Pitino and Calipari both refuse to deny they are leaving On Thursday, Rick Pitino was asked about the rumors of him going to Arizona. He responded by refusing to say he wouldn't leave: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/co...na_rumors.html "I wouldn't answer any other job because it would be disrespectful to the University of Louisville," Pitino said when asked about his interest in a job that he has been linked to since Lute Olson retired last October. "Any time a coach says he's not interested in a job, he's dead interested in a job. So you know, I don't mislead you. All I can say to you is for eight years I've given every ounce I've had to the University of Louisville. I will continue to do that." ... "The only job I've thought about for a 24-hour period since I've been at the University of Louisville was Providence College last year," said the 56-year-old Pitino. "Because of the personal things I went through at Providence, I wanted to sit down and talk with them about the job to see if I did want to come back because of personal reasons that were very deep to me. I sat down with them and realized Louisville was the place for me. Outside of that, for eight years, I haven't thought about any job except the University of Louisville, and that's answering you the honest way." Then on Friday, Calipari used nearly the same sort of carefully chosen non-answer when he was asked about Kentucky: My transcription from video below: Reporter: "kentucky, the rumors are already starting to fly, can you comment on that?". Cal: "no, I want to be here, this is where I want to coach, my name will be tied to every job that's open, our fans have gotten used to it, but I'm so tired... (avoids followup questions by moving quickly away from the topic)" Compare both of those to Billy Donovan's response, which was a bit more direct and certain: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...-florida_N.htm "In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible, " Donovan's statement said. "I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here." UK moved on after that, and Grant accepted the Alabama job, which was the final evidence that there will be no BD at UK. Pitino and Calipari are trying not talk about their interest in leaving UM and UL, but they don't want to lie either. Both are doing a good job of hiding it, while leaving the door open. Something Les Miles couldn't find a way to do right before the national championship game.
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