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

**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.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 03-28-2009, 10:12 AM

I doubt he goes, but I see nothing in his statement thsat would preclude Donovan from leaving UF. His statement is just as carefully worded as the others.

And for all the talk about Grant not taking Bama , for now the UF job isn't open. Not everyone wants to return "home" (see Bill Self).

eazyb81 · 03-28-2009, 10:23 AM

Eh, they're both doing the smart thing.

By not flatly denying interest they are setting themselves up for a nice raise.

**jAZ** · 03-28-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

I doubt he goes, but I see nothing in his statement thsat would preclude Donovan from leaving UF. His statement is just as carefully worded as the others.

And for all the talk about Grant not taking Bama , for now the UF job isn't open. Not everyone wants to return "home" (see Bill Self).

BD is the only one who made a commitment to their current school. And did so in a formal, statement. And Grant waited until after this statement to accept the Alabama job. In the world of anything could change, BD could end up at UK still, but his response was a different sort all together from both Pitino and Cal.

**jAZ** · 03-28-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Eh, they're both doing the smart thing.

By not flatly denying interest they are setting themselves up for a nice raise.

That's always part of the story, no doubt.

nychief · 03-28-2009, 10:57 AM

travis ford is getting the uk job.

Ultra Peanut · 03-28-2009, 11:00 AM

The Wildcat Delusion, by Richard Dawkins

BREAKING: John Wooden has refused to deny that he is leaving. I saw him on TV and he said something about how great his teams in the 70s were, and you could see in his eyes that he was strongly considering the Arizona job!

Also, someone on an internet forum took a quote out of context, so you can pretty much bank it.

Quote:

John Calipari insists Memphis 'is where I want to coach'
By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Friday, March 27, 2009

Now that the last game of the University of Memphis basketball season has been played, attention immediately shifts to the annual speculation about the future of coach John Calipari.

Calipari, who just completed his ninth season with the Tigers, told a group of reporters at Wilson Air Center today that Memphis is “where I want to coach.”

Meanwhile, multiple sources close to the Memphis program told The Commercial Appeal that athletic director R.C. Johnson has been working in recent weeks to secure funding for additional years and dollars to redo a contract that pays Calipari $2.35 million annually. Calipari also has an annuity that averages $1 million per year over the course of his current deal, which runs through 2013.

Yet that won’t stop Calipari’s name from being linked to openings around the country, most prominently at the University of Kentucky, which fired Billy Gillispie today. Another major program looking for a coach is the University of Arizona, where Calipari could also pop up on a speculative list of candidates.

“When we win, and everybody loves to win, players go to the pros, and there are people that will come at me,” Calipari said Thursday night after his team’s 102-91 loss to Missouri in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. “That’s just how it is. I’m happy, happy with the program, happy with the people. I love Memphis. And like I said, I just need to kick back and hide from everybody for a couple days.”
. . .
The comfort level of Calipari’s family is also important. His second daughter, Megan, is a freshman at the U of M.

“I want to be here,” Calipari said today. “This is where I want to coach, and my name will be tied to every job that’s open, and our fans I think have gotten used to it.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dan Wolken

- Arizona will almost certainly try to gauge the interest of Calipari, Pitino and Izzo (they probably already have). But as I wrote in today’s paper, the group of schools who can put a better deal in front of Calipari than what he has at Memphis is extremely small. To this point, the contract numbers Arizona has thrown around don’t come close.

wild1 · 03-28-2009, 11:05 AM

eh, they listen to an offer and then take the offer to their AD, get it matched. It's like an automatic raise.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 03-28-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

BD is the only one who made a commitment to their current school. And did so in a formal, statement. And Grant waited until after this statement to accept the Alabama job. In the world of anything could change, BD could end up at UK still, but his response was a different sort all together from both Pitino and Cal.

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."

....

Cal: "no, I want to be here (Memphis), this is where I want to coach

Ultra Peanut · 03-28-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

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."

But they could both be lying!

**jAZ** · 03-28-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

But they could both be lying!

That's the point, they aren't lying. They are speaking in the present.

Ultra Peanut · 03-28-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

That's the point, they aren't lying. They are speaking in the present.

Do they mist the Tucson air with drugs, or something?

"I will continue to [give everything I have to Louisville]."

That's the present tense? He's going to continue giving everything he has... for another week?

"[Memphis] is where I want to coach."

Not much chance to do that if he's not here next season, is there?

**jAZ** · 03-28-2009, 11:18 AM

This is exactly right...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

- Arizona will almost certainly try to gauge the interest of Calipari, Pitino and Izzo (they probably already have). But as I wrote in today’s paper, the group of schools who can put a better deal in front of Calipari than what he has at Memphis is extremely small. To this point, the contract numbers Arizona has thrown around don’t come close.

The biggest hurdle anyone faces is that Memphis has created a contract structure that any athletic department with more than one sport as a priority (ie, every major BCS school) can't match.

Cal's has to (and was earlier in the year) willing to take less money.

Memphis has to over pay, no one else does.

Arizona will pay market rate, but not Memphis rate.

The UK opening changes the landscape for Cal->Arizona. No doubt.

But it's not a given that Cal is staying at Memphis. He's ready to leave, it comes down to the money involved and the program.

Ultra Peanut · 03-28-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Cal's has to (and was earlier in the year) willing to take less money.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

**jAZ** · 03-28-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

Do they mist the Tucson air with drugs, or something?

"I will continue to [give everything I have to Louisville]."

That's the present tense? He's going to continue giving everything he has... for another week?

Yes, exactly. Maybe beyond, but definately for the next game +.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

"[Memphis] is where I want to coach."

Not much chance to do that if he's not here next season, is there?

I want and I will are not the same thing. That's the point.

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.
Posts: 24,799

03-28-2009, 10:12 AM	#2
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	I doubt he goes, but I see nothing in his statement thsat would preclude Donovan from leaving UF. His statement is just as carefully worded as the others. And for all the talk about Grant not taking Bama , for now the UF job isn't open. Not everyone wants to return "home" (see Bill Self).
Posts: 12,526

03-28-2009, 10:23 AM	#3
eazyb81 The Illuminati Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: the road less traveled Casino cash: $10004900	Eh, they're both doing the smart thing. By not flatly denying interest they are setting themselves up for a nice raise.
Posts: 12,033

03-28-2009, 10:57 AM	#6
nychief MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NYC Casino cash: $7179466	travis ford is getting the uk job. __________________ Good Time Charlie, Uncle Doobie and the Great Frisco Freakout.
Posts: 7,853

03-28-2009, 11:05 AM	#8
wild1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: 31040 Casino cash: $10004900	eh, they listen to an offer and then take the offer to their AD, get it matched. It's like an automatic raise.
Posts: 6,935