Countdown messes: Calipari, ‘Toine and Facepaint Guy
The Count doesn't spend much time in front of the mirror.
The Count marvels at the college coach who excels at making a mess but is gone by the time the hammer drops. Like he was never there. The Count can stand in front of a mirror and not see his reflection. He always wondered if anybody ever saw Lou Holtz stand in front of a mirror. Holtz captains the College Sports Soul-less Hall of Fame. He got Minnesota on probation. But by then he already was at Notre Dame. He got Notre Dame on probation. But by then he already was at South Carolina. He got South Carolina on probation. But by then he already was at ESPN. When Holtz retires from ESPN, I’m certain the FCC will find some reason to shut down the network. And speaking of bankrupt souls, there’s another shadowy figure up ahead. It looks like, it could be . . . yes, it’s John Calipari. Wow. Knock me over with an apparition. We count down . . .
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10. Now do you know why he would think of an NBA job?
John Calipari: "NCAA? Hah! Nothing up sleeve. Presto!"
When the Calipari-to-the-Chicago Bulls’ rumors started last month, people were convinced he was just trying to leverage that job opening to get a raise at Kentucky. Not really sure why Calipari deserves a raise. Does losing to West Virginia in the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed get a coach a raise these days? Anyway, Calipari may want to start looking around again. Now comes word that — ta-da! — the NCAA is looking into the curious academic history of former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe (already gone after one year/season). The New York Times has a detailed story of academic shenanigans during Bledsoe’s high school career in Alabama, including his grade point average in core classes jumping from 1.9 to 2.5 his senior year, which suddenly made him NCAA eligible. Of course, there is no direct evidence yet that Bledsoe’s GPA leap was orchestrated by Kentucky or Calipari. But isn’t it an amazing coincidence that almost the exact same thing happened at Memphis with Derrick Rose? Wait. Who was Memphis’s coach again? Don’t tell me . . .
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9. NCAA’s trail: UMass to Memphis to Kentucky
Derrick Rose was in the NBA when the mess hit at Memphis.
Somebody took an SAT test for Rose. (Fraud.) That allowed him to get into Memphis. The coach there: Calipari. Massachusetts had a player, Marcus Camby, who was caught accepting money and gifts from an agent. The coach there: Calipari. He therefore accomplished an unprecedented college basketball double: Having the NCAA vacate victories from Final Four teams at two different schools. But Kentucky fans say, “Hah!” — joke’s on the NCAA. All they can take away from last year is East Regional victories! OK. It’s true Calipari was not directly implicated at Memphis or UMass. He may not be directly implicated here. But isn’t that the way it always works? Al Capone: tax evasion. John Clay, the long-time columnist at the Lexington Herald Leader, wrote: “The upside to having John Calipari as your basketball coach came November through late March, when his Kentucky Wildcats won 35 games, captured the SEC regular season and tournament championships, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The downside to having John Calipari as your basketball coach is you never know what’s going to pop up next. Or maybe you do.” Also this: “How many times can Calipari say, ‘I didn’t know?’” Anybody have a mirror?
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8. Antoine Walker loses $110 million, now wants to make comeback
Antoine Walker needs to play to support his $1,000 a month clothing expenses and millions in gambling debts.
Might as well stay in Kentucky: Former NBA star (briefly a Hawk) Antoine Walker made $110 million in 13 seasons, but somehow he is bankrupt. He is listing $4.2 million in assets and $12.7 million in liabilities. His biggest downfall (besides stupidity): gambling. Put it this way: I found a link to his bankruptcy on OnlinePoker.net. Walker owes $1.2 million to casinos in Las Vegas and Indiana. He was charged with writing $1 million in bad checks in 2009. Before you come to me with, “Gambling is a disease and the man deserves our pity,” here’s where he loses me. Walker says his monthly expenses include $1,000 on clothes, $1,000 on recreation, $1,000 on transportation (excluding car payments), $1,200 in housekeeping and $1,000 in training. So where is all this going? Just think: What would a heavyweight boxer do? Yes, Walker is mounting a comeback. He was in Louisville the other day, practicing with Rick Pitino. Walker’s comment to the Louisville Courier Journal: “I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring. I know I want to play basketball, so I know I’m going to apply myself. I know I’ve got one shot.” Might want try cutting the overhead a little. And stop hitting on 19.
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7. Video evidence of the looney side of Stephen Rollins
Stephen Rollins would stand out at NHL owners meetings.
The other day we told you about Stephen Rollins, who says he wants to purchase the Thrashers and is “friends” on Facebook with Clint Eastwood, Julie Andrews, Brooke Burke, Anne Hathaway and possibly Queen Elizabeth II. We had heard that he was a rabid Thrashers’ fan. Really rapid. Somebody had even whispered to us that he was borderline kooky and a face-painter. But we thought, come on: a rich Hollywood guy may over-inflate his worth a little. But kooky and a face painter? But alas! The Count’s vast network of secret sources have come through! To the left is a screen grab of Rollins. It comes from a Thrashers’ 2005-06 fan appreciation video tape. Rollins will emerge on screen at the 51-second mark. Watch it, and then ask yourself: Do I want this man sitting at the long table during the NHL’s Board of Governors’ meetings?
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6. So when do Canton and Toledo weigh in?
The entire state of Ohio has officially gone wacko. It started with the “Please Stay, LeBron” video (sung to “We Are The World,” a couple of weeks ago (which I’m posting again for those who missed it). Now Akron, which exists largely to make Cleveland look livable, is going to hold a “LeBron James Appreciation Day” on June 19. Unlike a Bar Mitzvah, we can’t be certain if James will attend, or if he will be too busy looking for a real estate in Manhattan, Chicago or South Beach. Yes, Ohio is taking groveling to a new level. Do these people not have lives? I’m just waiting for 100 fathers to climb the hill to LeBron’s house, knock on the front door and proclaim, “We would be honored, sir, if you would take our daughters for your harem.” And perhaps we could mow your lawn. There’s also a website, SendLeBronToChicago.com, that is seeking donations so it can put up billboards aimed at persuading James to sign with the Bulls. But wait, there’s more . . . !!!
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5. Clippers fans deluded, Indians’ fans sucker-punched
Ozzie Guillen had some fun at the expense of Cleveland fans when he signed autographs and wrote these messages on the baseballs.
The Count’s pal and long-lost twin, Sekou Smith, whose Hangtime blog at NBA.com is a must-read for any hoops fan, referenced this humorous possibility the other day: LeBron The Clipper King. To which anybody with a cranium would respond: Hah! Yes, a small but spunky group of Los Angeles Clippers fans marched in downtown L.A., chanting, “We want the King!” and “Clipper Nation!” Folks, it will never happen. Hawks fans, take comfort that at least one franchise has less of a chance at signing James than your team does. And finally on LeBron (for this week), we salute Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who when asked to sign autographs by Indians fans wrote the above pictured messages on the baseballs: “Bye Bye Lebron. LOL” and “When are you going to win anything in sports? Please.”
Clipper Nation’s March on Staples!
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4. Note to Natalie: Look good, swing a club, don’t talk
Natalie Gulbis: Hot golfer but not a great judge of character.
The Count just needed a reason to run a picture of Natalie Gulbis (you’re welcome), and she provided one. Gulbis claims her ex-boyfriend, Ben Roethlisberger, is really a “great guy.” Wow. That should come as a great relief to the two women who have accused him of sexual assault. I guess it also pretty much dismisses everything in a two-part AJC series on “Ben-A-Palooza,” as well Sports Illustrated’s similarly indicting cover story on Roethlisberger. I’m sure Gulbis is very nice. I cheered when she posed for FHM. I wept when she was fired on “Celebrity Apprentice.” But just because Roethlisberger was nice to her doesn’t mean he didn’t devolve into the Missing Link. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger is expected to attend Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs, starting Tuesday. That should go well, considering he has been suspended for the first six games of the season and half the city of Pittsburgh wants to drop him into the Monongahela (Gulbis’ endorsement notwithstanding).
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3. Welcome to Seminole Two-Face Nation
Tell me if this sounds a little two-faced: Florida State, which pushed Bobby Bowden out the door — actually, the Board of Trustees first pushed him into the wall and then out the door — now wants to profit off of his carcass. The Seminoles are hawking a commemorative DVD from Bowden’s final game, the Gator Bowl victory over West Virginia. The cost is $19.95. Also, possibly a limb and a pint of blood. The DVD is titled, “Farewell To A Legend.” Sounded better than, “The Public Stoning.”
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2. Do you want upper deck or field level for game you can’t see?
OK, FSU profiting off of Bowden’s final game is not the strangest sports memorabilia item in the country this week. It’s not even the strangest in Florida. The Marlins have decided to sell unsold tickets at face value for last Saturday’s game against Philadelphia, when Roy Halladay threw a perfect game. Maybe they’re just trying to raise money to add a bench player. This sets one of the strangest precedents I’ve ever heard of. Perhaps we can go back in time and sell the unsold tickets to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, the 56th game in Joe Dimaggio’s hitting streak game and Cy
Reggie Bush is long gone from USC.
Young’s 511th win. Better yet, maybe we can reproduce unsold tickets to all 20 perfect games in baseball history. Whoever buys the complete set can claim they were there for every game! By the way, I’ve got two unused tickets from Noah’s Ark if you’re interested.
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1. Here comes the judge — a little too late
The NCAA reportedly will release the results of its investigation into USC’s football and basketball programs Friday. Pete Carroll, Reggie Bush, Tim Floyd and O.J. Mayo will not be in attendance. But I’m sure they’ll be having a viewing party somewhere.
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Recent posts
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♦Hawks’ Sund lacks string of great coaching hires in past
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80 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
June 1st, 2010
5:23 am
While the NCAA is vacating titles, maybe they should also figure out how much increased revenue they received thanks to these should-have-been-ineligible athletes and give it back to the TV networks, ticket buyers, advertisers, etc. The day they do that, they can get on their high horse. Until then, they are just as much at fault as the Lou Holtzses and John Caliparis of the world.
Nice trick you’re pulling here, to embed as many pictures and videos as possible to make your article look longer.
yo
June 1st, 2010
5:29 am
the idiots partying in my building all night long have finally shut up and gone to bed, think I will turn on “AC DC’s HIGHWAY TO HELL” while they try to sleep
Beast from the East
June 1st, 2010
5:50 am
FSU should be proud of themselves. Are they also going to sell tickets to his funeral when Bowden passes? Way to treat a legend!
USC will come away with a slap on the wrist. Is the NCAA really going to risk hurting the only real team they have out west? I think not. If this was say Auburn, they’d be looking at the death penalty. Well, at least they have Kiffin…..he’s almost as bad as the death penalty.
Tweets that mention Countdown messes: Calipari, ‘Toin and Facepaint Guy | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
June 1st, 2010
6:16 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rick Eriksen, SECEastWire, TimD, The Rose, Jeff Schultz and others. Jeff Schultz said: Countdown messes: Calipari, ‘Toin and Facepaint Guy http://bit.ly/cE8HWO [...]
JSS
June 1st, 2010
6:19 am
@ Jeff Schultz…
You’re getting too nice in your senior years whipper-snapper!
What’s a “View Party?” Will Sherri Sheppard, the blonde Sarah Palin. and Whoopi be there? Or will “no bona fides” be lurking about? Oh when are we going to get a Hossa story? I won’t mention the Dream, oops I did
JSS
June 1st, 2010
6:44 am
@ Jeff Schultz (part deux)
Why you taking shots at my boy “Clipper Darrell?” He’s the thing that make Clipper World exciting!
http://www.examiner.com/x-28730-Los-Angeles-Clippers-Examiner~y2010m5d17-Bring-LeBron-to-the-LA-Clippers-rally-set-for-May-27th
Why no mention of Ashley Judd running barefoot down pit lane at Indy on Sunday? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!
The Realist
June 1st, 2010
7:01 am
Najeh,
When you watch Mike Vick videos, are you examining his throwing motion or the ripples around his crotch?
Morrus
June 1st, 2010
7:06 am
Curiously, in a supposed anti-incumbent year, most of the departing are not retiring but seeking higher office. We may recycle more than we replace. The bad news is that a frustrating 114 seats still have but one contestant. Two of them aren’t even incumbents, meaning they will affect state policy without being vetted by voters. And I have to think that we’d be better off if many had run instead for the Legislature — and cut down on the number running unopposed. Georgia’s problems are numerous. They aren’t going away. There’s too much stale thinking at the Capitol, on both sides of the aisle. New voices would be welcome.
Pepe Frias played here.
June 1st, 2010
7:53 am
Morrus has posted this on every blog at the ajc whether it has to do with the subject or not.
A padded room awaits
June 1st, 2010
8:00 am
And, what morrus is posting is a portion of a Kyle Wingfield blog. So, he’s sort of plagiarizing the AJC on the AJC.
FDR
June 1st, 2010
8:00 am
Marky Mark is da man! He has the fake figured out. Pfft.
tiger7_88
June 1st, 2010
8:01 am
Ain’t it amazing how the New York Times always has stories about academic shenanigans from all SEC schools… except for bammer? (*cough* Josh Chapman *cough* *cough*) I wonder if that could be because the same company that owns the NYT own the Tuscaloosa news?
Bob Didier caught here
June 1st, 2010
8:26 am
Count,
I am noticing a sour and bitter tone on some of these postings this morning~! But I will digress…..
One of the highlights of ESPN’s College Games coverage is Lou’s hilarious observations! He makes watching ESPN on saturday nights worthwhile. Lou only knows one thing……”He’s a football coach and he knows how to win games”….by any means necessary!
» BBL: Is Orton overhyped? More Bledsoe reaction John Clay’s Sidelines
June 1st, 2010
8:29 am
[...] Jeff Schultz of the AJC is not surprised by the Calipari criticism: And speaking of bankrupt souls, there’s another shadowy figure up ahead. It looks like, it could be . . . yes, it’s John Calipari. Wow. Knock me over with an apparition. [...]
Clay
June 1st, 2010
8:40 am
Right, Jeff, even Caveman Ben knew better than to drag a LPGA star by her hair.
“Sherri Sheppard, the blonde Sarah Palin…”?? If she looks as good as the brunette one, you should linked us to a pic, JSS!
TONE
June 1st, 2010
8:44 am
Great countdown Jeff !!!
to answer a earlier question , the portions at the waffle house are sometimes a little bigger than the huddle house, but if you eat it all you may just be staying at the waffle house inspecting the facilities until lunch (thats how they hook you).
as for the sources the waffle house waitresses seem to be a better source for Football . if you need to know about basketball or baseball its the huddle house. I have not found the right establishment for hockey or golf yet.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
June 1st, 2010
8:46 am
Good Stuff JS- I have a feelin that the NCAA is just scratching the surface with this whole Calipari thing. Put him, Holtz, Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin in a room together w/ a case of scotch and oh my the stories!! I would take anyone to run the Thrashers, anyone but our current owners. Thanks for Pic!!!
PMC
June 1st, 2010
8:54 am
The problem with Calipari is that he’s a little too much like Kenneth Lay. We all know how it went down at Enron. Sure he’s never been convicted of cheating…. and neither has Barry Bonds.
Worm
June 1st, 2010
9:12 am
Count, seems you found out what i’d told you earlier about Gulbis and Big Ben previously being an item..Calipari is a slime ball and did Lou leave Arkansas and NC State on probation..We know how he left the Jets.
Mike A.
June 1st, 2010
9:19 am
If I were NCAA Cappo de Cappo, I would take guys like Calipari and Carroll to the cleaners. They would pay the price!
BBL: Is Orton overhyped? More Bledsoe reaction « MrSEC.com
June 1st, 2010
9:20 am
[...] Jeff Schultz of the AJC is not surprised by the Calipari criticism: And speaking of bankrupt souls, there’s another shadowy figure up ahead. It looks like, it could be . . . yes, it’s John Calipari. Wow. Knock me over with an apparition. [...]
DawginLex
June 1st, 2010
9:33 am
UK asked the NCAA before they signed bledsoe about his grades.
They ruled him eligible.
This happened last fall.
Now all of a sudden Pat Forde, who is Pitino’s butt buddy, goes after Calipari through his buddy at the NY Times. Forde was removed from covering UK by his bosses at ESPN. Forde hates Calipari.
Gregg Doyel at cbs sportsline says on his twitter “prove Bledsoe cheated or shaddup”.
Most credible news folks don’t consider this much of a story since the NCAA cleared Bledsoe before he was signed.
Ted Striker
June 1st, 2010
9:43 am
I think it’s a great commentary. Made me laugh (I’m easy) and think a little bit too.
Striker likes the imbedded video. Striker considers it “research.” Striker Striker Striker Striker.
Skeezix
June 1st, 2010
9:52 am
Calipari is a NCAA crook, U Ky sold out to this con man and will get what it deserves.
Delbert D.
June 1st, 2010
9:53 am
This is outrageous! Somebody’s got to be sued for fraud! I say it’s Bush and his co-conspirators. The question is, who does the money go to? The school, who profited from Bush’s on-field exploits? But they won’t profit from NCAA sanctions. Does the NCAA sue? Do they even have the right to sue? How about all of the schools that USC played during Bush’s “service” at USC? Can’t they sue on the grounds of lost opportunity for championships, better bowls, etc? Heck, viewers should be able to sue over lost time from watching vacated USC wins (assuming that happens). Sponsors, producers and networks (and viewers) of competing games should sue for having viewers sucked away from their games (say, Maryland vs. E. Carolina) due to the presentation of an illegitimate USC game.
Somebody do something. This is America; there’s got to be lawsuits over this. Plus, I could really use the money.
Calipari Taking More Licks From SportsWriters « MrSEC.com
June 1st, 2010
10:12 am
[...] once again come crashing down.”Schultz’ piece isn’t much more flattering. “And speaking of bankrupt souls, there’s another shadowy figure up ahead. It looks like, it could be… yes, it’s [...]
JC
June 1st, 2010
10:51 am
Everyone wants LeBron, right? What if we started an anti-signing LeBron campaign for the Hawks? He is definitely not someone who is used to hearing no, so using reverse psychology on a guy who has to have the biggest ego in the NBA right now would give us a better shot than Gearon Jr. paying $25,000 to let him know we’re “interested.”
Our tagline could be “Le-who?” or “We just signed Delonte West.” Of course, this could backfire and he could pound the Hawks for the next decade. But it’s worth a shot.
Art Vandelay
June 1st, 2010
10:56 am
tiger7_88, that’s a fascinating piece of paranoia you’ve posted there. You think the New York Times determines its investigative reporting agenda based on what the freakin’ Tuscaloosa News thinks? Don’t turn this into an Alabama problem — they’ve had their fair share of scandals over the years, but this one’s about Calipari, Bledsoe, World Wide Wes and the University of Kentucky.
Brad
June 1st, 2010
11:32 am
I actually don’t think Calipari is that crooked. The problem is that he recruits only the best players regardless of their circumstances or character. The fact is that these are precisely the sorts of players that are going to attract trouble (after all, only players like Camby are going to attract agents; agents don’t give money to players that don’t have a chance to hit the jackpot).
The Rose situation is particularly a disgrace: what Schultz conveniently failed to mention is that the NCAA initially validated Rose’s SAT scores before they later invalidated them *after the season was over.* There’s no real evidence to link Calipari to that, and there’s plenty of reason to think that Rose found a way to cheat on his own (i.e., because lots of other people besides Calipari had an interest in Rose succeeding).
Let me know when somebody actually catches Calipari doing something…
ew
June 1st, 2010
11:35 am
I will say your Al Capone/Calipari parallel was dead on…always surrounded by trouble but hands stay clean..hope Cal pays his taxes…
JC
June 1st, 2010
11:52 am
Wow, looks like I’m the only NBA fan here. I’ll start worrying about Calipari’s infractions when UK actually wins something under his tutelage. I don’t care how many #1 picks he can produce, they would have been #1 out of high school if it were still allowed. All Calipari provides is a stage and a 1 year holding cell.
Also, he stole his no-screen offensive scheme from a junior college coach. Maybe that’s why it’s not working, Cal.
JC
June 1st, 2010
12:04 pm
Brad, where there’s flies, there’s usually poop.
Where are the recruiting violation rumors swirling around Villanova, Texas, Georgia Tech, UNC, Kansas, Duke, UCLA, UConn, Oklahoma, Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Louisville, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Florida, Clemson, Baylor, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Washington, Oregon State, Minnesota or Pittsburgh (the other top 24 recruiting class schools of 2009)?
Tri-curious
June 1st, 2010
12:12 pm
Anybody think the Hawks will actually hire a coach, or will Gearon Sr. do it to save bucks?
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:29 pm
Clay — I guess the “Caveman” gene didn’t develop until after they split.
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:31 pm
Tone — Thanks. … Waffle House=South. South=Football. For hockey talk, you’re going to have to go to a hockey bar, like T.J.’s in Alpharetta, up the street from my house. Place is owned by my pal and former NHLer Tim Ecclestone.
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:31 pm
Dr. Kenneth — Can we have Jerry Tarkanian moderate that conversation?
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:32 pm
Worm — Yeah, found out about it right after your note. Then I thought to myself, “Wait, I think I knew that before, and forgot.” Too many worn brain cells.
JC
June 1st, 2010
12:32 pm
ok, 23 out of the other 24 top recruiting class schools: http://nyti.ms/cBCdMz
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:33 pm
Worm — By the way, I don’t think Lou got NC State or Arkansas in trouble.
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:35 pm
DawginLex — I’m aware of NCAA clearance. Doesn’t mean Cal didn’t know or didn’t orchestrate it. Same thing happened with Derrick Rose. … Also, I know Pat Forde personally and the guy’s as solid as they come. Nobody “plants” stories in the New York Times. If Pat found out something, he’d just write it himself.
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:35 pm
Ted Striker — Thanks as always. Over and out.
Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
12:36 pm
Brad: You wrote: “I actually don’t think Calipari is that crooked. The problem is that he recruits only the best players regardless of their circumstances or character.” Question: Even in the best case scenario where that is true, is there not culpability there?
Hillbilly Deluxe
June 1st, 2010
12:40 pm
I’ve got two unused tickets from Noah’s Ark if you’re interested.
How much?
Tell me if this sounds a little two-faced: Florida State, which pushed Bobby Bowden out the door — actually, the Board of Trustees first pushed him into the wall and then out the door — now wants to profit off of his carcass
You’re surprised by this?
gdawginkalamazoo
June 1st, 2010
12:56 pm
Somebody please hire Antoine Walker. Poor soul.
I hope Rollins is successful in buying the Thrashers. What the hell maybe that is what the team needs. Ted Turner was crazy he just didnt wear the face paint.
Guillen, Hilarious. Just freaking hilarious.
Calipari will become the next Teflon _________?
Jon Koncak
June 1st, 2010
1:08 pm
Why does everyone feel sorry for Bobby Bowden? He was paid millions to coach football until he was in his 70’s. I’m sure he broke every NCAA rule that he could and then when he was questioned about it he would throw around bible verses like any good southern politician and play the victim card. Not that the I’m defending the FSU administration.
DawginLex
June 1st, 2010
1:28 pm
Jeff, Pat forde can’t write about UK. His bosses at ESPN removed him from covering UK.
He hates Calipari. He is totally devoted to Pitino. He attended almost all the UK games when Pitino was coach. This year, he attended 1-the UL/UK game.
When the NCAA is asked whether or not a kid is eligible and the answer is a resounding “yes” what more is a school supposed to do?
DawginLex
June 1st, 2010
1:30 pm
Another thing, the guy who wrote the article is friends with forde. Coincidence? Think not.
2 minutes after the story broke, Dana O’Neill started blasting away with forde right by the side.
Don’t be snowed by forde. He has a clear agenda regarding Calipari and that is why he can’t cover UK anymore.
DawginLex
June 1st, 2010
1:32 pm
Jeff
check out Matt jones on kentuckysportsradio for a little different perspective.
what????
June 1st, 2010
1:41 pm
Schultz, what are you talking about?? Holtz never put ND on probation nor do he put South Carolina on probation. Shame on you for spreadig rummors. Get your facts straight. Trying to put Holtz in the same convo as Calipari. CMON MAN……Harrick, Spurrier, Billy Donavan and Urban Meyer belong in this convo, not Holtz. Get it right.
Count von Count
June 1st, 2010
1:45 pm
Natalie Gulbis has tremendous assets
DawginLex
June 1st, 2010
1:50 pm
Jeff,
one more fact check for you. I went to school at UGA so I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but, all the articles i have read with specific details clearly indicate that all of the alleged stuff with bledsoe went on before Calipari became coach at UK.
So how did he orchestrate the kid coming to UK when he was the coach at Memphis?
Blackberry Cobbler
June 1st, 2010
1:59 pm
Schultz– You’re an idiot. During the time all this was happening with Bledsoe (his junior year transferring high schools for his senior year and grades his senior year) while Billy Gillespie was coach at UK. So, let me get this straight, Calipari was able to orchestrate all this while still coach at Memphis and before UK even fired Gillespie? One thing you forgot to mention, the NCAA had already cleared Bledose to play, twice. So, how does this have anything to do with Calipari?
DawginLex
June 1st, 2010
2:02 pm
nail on the head blackberry
worst case for UK is they determine this case to be similar to Darrell Arthur at Kansas. Kansas claimed they had no knowledge and the NCAA agreed. a little egg on the face but nothing more.
Blackberry Cobbler
June 1st, 2010
2:03 pm
Typical AJC sports journalism.
You guys just sit around all day with your finger up your nose looking for something to write about.
The first story line (work actually done by someone else, by the way) that comes along, you’re all over it without once checking accuracy and doing your own work.
Just a fraternity of hacks.
JC
June 1st, 2010
2:11 pm
DawginLex, say what you want about the AJC, Shultz and Forde, but I don’t think Kentucky Sports Radio is the unbiased answer that will set us all straight.
Also, for someone complaining about the lack of proof that Calipari did anything wrong, you certainly have a lot of speculation that Pat Forde did.
TONE
June 1st, 2010
2:35 pm
I will have to make the trip to T.J.’S and check it out !
after an extended business lunch at one of the finer Huddle houses in the state , I have some very important breaking news on the state of the Hawks, but it might be tomorrow before I am allowed to share it because my source might have to pull a double shift .
DawginLex
June 1st, 2010
2:54 pm
It is not speculation.
1.) Forde and Pitino are close friends and business partners
2.) Forde jumps at any chance to bash Calipari
3.) Forde no longer can cover UK for ESPN
4.) Forde and the NYT guy are friends
What is speculation in anything I have written. Check it out.
Billy G was the coach at UK when Bledsoe’s grades were being scrutinized.
But let’s don’t let a little thing like the facts get in the way of the bashing.
NFL’s Kirwan says three Falcons poised for breakout season | Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
2:57 pm
[...] ♦ Countdown messes: Calipari, ‘Toine and Facepaint Guy [...]
Pi$$onaDawg
June 1st, 2010
4:16 pm
Thanks again for the Gulbis photo. To bad Rothlessburger has already BEN there done that.
JC
June 1st, 2010
4:30 pm
I won’t DawginLex, since you haven’t.
These may be factual statements indeed, but you are confusing correlation with causation.
If I’m correct, the argument you’re making is this:
If Pat Forde is biased against John Calipari (as indicated by Facts #1-3) and Pete Thamel is friends with Pat Forde (Fact #4), then Pete Thamel is biased against John Calipari.
What you are speculating is that Forde’s relationship with Thamel caused him to write a biased article against John Calipari. Which is the same as asserting that Calipari’s recruitment of Bledsoe caused him to become eligible for an NCAA scholarship.
Also, Bledsoe’s recruitment by Calipari has nothing to do with him being the head coach at UK – coaches recruit players, not universities. If Calipari had stayed at Memphis, Bledsoe would’ve been a Tiger.
If you’d like me to point out any other holes in your arguments, just let me know!
Louis
June 1st, 2010
5:12 pm
Why shouldn’t FSU try to make a little money on Bowden’s last game. Bobby did more for FSU than anyone else ever associated with the school. It was time for Bobby to retire 10 years ago and he would not listen to anyone..He was paid over $20,000,000 during those ten years and the program almost collasped. It’s sad when a great such as Bowden reaches a point in his career that he can’t let go. As a old alum, I appreciate what he did for FSU football but I am disappointed that he would not accept reality.
Greg
June 1st, 2010
5:41 pm
what??? … You need to get your facts right big boy. Spurrier, Donovan, and Meyers, have not got any of their programs on probation, so don’t mix Harrick and Calipari with them. Also, your spelling sucks!!!
Einsteindawg
June 1st, 2010
6:04 pm
It’s all about the money! And, if it’s really all about the money, why don’t these illiterate athletes invest in a CPA on the payroll (or posse’) that can teach them you never spend/gamble/throw away more than you make. Also, Lou Holtz has always been an oportunist…and a poor ESPN common tater.
JT
June 1st, 2010
7:22 pm
I agree with DawginLex. Forde is totally against UK. If you read the Courier Journal when he was there, you would definitely see the bias. He was all for it when Pitino was there & now that he is at UofL he covers that school. People need to let this go as this story broke last week & was put to rest last week, so why is the AJC just now reporting it?
mike
June 1st, 2010
9:46 pm
Hey you players. Get to the NBA any way you can. Most of the morons worrying about it are haters who can not played the game. Make the money while you can and the rest of you get a life.
Greg
June 1st, 2010
9:49 pm
what??? here is your boy Lou Holtz;
South Carolina gets three years probation for violations
Aug 24, 6:30 pm EDT
Email Print COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) – NCAA rules violations committed by the University of South Carolina football program under Lou Holtz will cost new coach Steve Spurrier.
The Gamecocks have accepted NCAA sanctions that include a three-year probation, the school announced Wednesday.
South Carolina already had self-imposed a two-year probation, a limit of 50 paid campus visits – six fewer than the maximum – for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 academic years and two fewer scholarships.
The violations included impermissible tutoring, participation by ineligible players and illegal summer workouts.
On August 16, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions sent a letter to the school saying it was adopting the self-imposed sanctions but was adding an extra year of probation.
Further, the committee said the school should forward a copy of the infractions report to its accrediting agency, and that it was implementing a four-year “show cause” provision on Tom Perry, the former Gamecocks senior associate athletics director for academic support services who had arranged for impermissible tutoring assistance.
“I am gratified both by the committee’s determination that the university’s investigation was ‘thorough and complete’ and by its adoption of the sanctions the university self-imposed,” South Carolina president Andrew A. Sorensen said in a statement. “The university further accepts the additional penalties suggested by the committee and waives its right to request a hearing on this matter.”
“We are satisfied with the results,” Spurrier said in a statement. “We appreciate the NCAA basically agreeing with our proposal. For the next couple of years, we will have only 83 players on scholarship.”
The Gamecocks went 33-37 in six seasons under Holtz, who retired following a 6-5 campaign last year. The season ended with players brawling with counterparts from rival Clemson, an incident that cost the team a bowl berth.
So get your facts right!
Greg
June 1st, 2010
9:53 pm
South Carolina gets three years probation for violations
Aug 24, 6:30 pm EDT
Email Print COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) – NCAA rules violations committed by the University of South Carolina football program under Lou Holtz will cost new coach Steve Spurrier.
The Gamecocks have accepted NCAA sanctions that include a three-year probation, the school announced Wednesday.
South Carolina already had self-imposed a two-year probation, a limit of 50 paid campus visits – six fewer than the maximum – for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 academic years and two fewer scholarships.
The violations included impermissible tutoring, participation by ineligible players and illegal summer workouts.
On August 16, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions sent a letter to the school saying it was adopting the self-imposed sanctions but was adding an extra year of probation.
Further, the committee said the school should forward a copy of the infractions report to its accrediting agency, and that it was implementing a four-year “show cause” provision on Tom Perry, the former Gamecocks senior associate athletics director for academic support services who had arranged for impermissible tutoring assistance.
“I am gratified both by the committee’s determination that the university’s investigation was ‘thorough and complete’ and by its adoption of the sanctions the university self-imposed,” South Carolina president Andrew A. Sorensen said in a statement. “The university further accepts the additional penalties suggested by the committee and waives its right to request a hearing on this matter.”
“We are satisfied with the results,” Spurrier said in a statement. “We appreciate the NCAA basically agreeing with our proposal. For the next couple of years, we will have only 83 players on scholarship.”
The Gamecocks went 33-37 in six seasons under Holtz, who retired following a 6-5 campaign last year. The season ended with players brawling with counterparts from rival Clemson, an incident that cost the team a bowl berth.
what???? Get your facts right.
scott
June 1st, 2010
10:13 pm
You know, it would be nice to see a REAL fan as an owner for once. And not just some silver spoon rich guy.
Bring it Steve, you are a local guy with a little cash. I welcome it. I am not a big fan of Mark Cuban, but I also don’t like the Mavs..I think a good guy could be a real fan and own the team.
Joe_Smith
June 1st, 2010
10:25 pm
Jeff Schultz is an idiot. He has lied so many times that even Jesus couldn’t convince me that anything he says is true. He must be one of those lefties who spits out lie after lie but like the Great Bolsheviks before him, he knows that some idiots in the masses will eventually believe the Big Lie.
Brad
June 1st, 2010
10:33 pm
@Schultz: There’s culpability when you actually do something wrong. Why would Calipari be culpable if he hasn’t broken any rules? In Camby’s case, Camby took money from an agent. How does that benefit Calipari? In Rose’s case, the NCAA cleared Rose before they rescinded his eligibility *after the season was over.* And now the same thing is happening in Bledsoe’s case. Here’s a question: why aren’t you writing about the NCAA clearing players, and then rescinding their eligibility, and then punishing the school?
@JC: You don’t follow college basketball much do you: UConn was just charged with several major recruiting violations and Kansas is on probation. Villanova just came off probation a few years ago and perhaps you should google Indiana and Kelvin Sampson. And Oklahoma, I believe, is currently being investigated for major violations (as in an assistant coach was paying players on their team of last season). That’s all I can remember off the top of my head, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there were at least a couple more that’ve had trouble.
Basically, you’re making my point for me: the system itself is rife with corruption and the coaches can hardly avoid it if they want to compete at a high level. Although Oklahoma’s case is pretty blatant if it’s true…
We're LIVE as Braves go for two straight over Philly | Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
10:47 pm
[...] ♦ Countdown messes: Calipari, ‘Toine and Facepaint Guy [...]
Augustus
June 1st, 2010
11:38 pm
Jeff this is the 1stx I have read your Tuesday Countdown and I LOVE IT!
scottbravesfan
June 2nd, 2010
12:00 am
Maybe that guy will buy the Thrashers I would rather have a fan owning the team than some douche bag guys who could care less.
Also the Marlins are the joke of major league baseball but I don’t blame their owners for doing this at all. Their team is usually pretty good and they never draw flies. Miami is an awful sports town. The Heat don’t draw unless they got Shaq and Wade, the Panthers don’t draw, and the Dolphins play in front of a ton of empty seats. And the University of Miami has no fans either.
Braves dump Phillies again, Chipper may be coming around | Jeff Schultz
June 2nd, 2010
12:19 am
[...] ♦ Countdown messes: Calipari, ‘Toine and Facepaint Guy [...]
AD
June 2nd, 2010
12:38 am
My grandfather had two hound dogs that he used to let crap in the yard. He used to say to my brother and me “if you walk around in a yard that has dog sh*t, you are going to step in some”. Well, Kentucky, if he smelled like sh*t when before he walked on campus, he had already stepped in some.
Do people hate John Calipari? – ESPN (blog) | New york times
June 2nd, 2010
9:58 am
[...] Times' big piece on Bledsoe to tie Kentucky or Calipari to any wrongdoing, the reaction …Countdown messes: Calipari, 'Toine and Facepaint GuyAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Report: NCAA investigating BledsoeESPNA Review of Bledsoe in [...]
Rick
June 2nd, 2010
11:49 am
While i hate the lying piece of feces now coaching at UK, let’s try to be honest in our reporting. If you were to read the final NCAA report on Memphis, you will see that the OFFICIAL position of the NCAA is that ROSE DID TAKE HIS OWN TEST. To date there has not been enough evidence presented for the NCAA to declare that someone else took the test. The invalidating of his test by the ETS was due to him not responding to two letters they sent to his former house in Chicago, not the claim that someone else took his test. Unless you can provide evidence to support the claim that Rose did not take the test, something the NCAA was unable to prove even though they threatened everyone involved in the rumor with penalties.. Then you should not keep printing the allegation as fact.
Rick
June 2nd, 2010
12:00 pm
Brad, where there’s flies, there’s usually poop.
Where are the recruiting violation rumors swirling around Villanova, Texas, Georgia Tech, UNC, Kansas, Duke, UCLA, UConn, Oklahoma, Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Louisville, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Florida, Clemson, Baylor, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Washington, Oregon State, Minnesota or Pittsburgh (the other top 24 recruiting class schools of 2009)?
Well JC the rumors are out there if you choose to open your eyes and look for them.
KevinM
June 3rd, 2010
4:22 am
Let’s please defend the NCAA here and how they handle matters related to anything. Similar to the IRS, they don’t have to prove anything other than having the heavy hand and can punish without proof. If they want to punish Cal, they will. Seems strange that they still let him coach though if he was such a bad egg? Hmmm. Wouldn’t you like to cash in like Cal has, huh JC and Jeff? Still waiting for real facts that the NCAA doesn’t hand you.
JC- running point for any Cal backlash…sounds like the columnist Clay who doesn’t have much to say unless he can slap at UK. Had the guts to call Tubby out too. Negative journalism obviously gets you better checks in the mail.
Shultzy- What, no UConn or Kansas comments? Only interested in the really big fish?
The best of the the Monday am quarterbacks. Where are you when all this is going down? You obviously get paid to repeat what you have read elsewhere. Still waiting for you to break a story about anything local related that might implicate someone other the regular guys you beat up on annually.
Substance obviously doesn’t count in journalism and ‘facts’ can be twisted in many ways.
Brendan
June 8th, 2010
12:49 pm
Jeff, when are we going to get a ‘roast’ of Don Waddell for his 10 years at the GM helm? I know, he didn’t get fired. But he’s not still the GM. Shouldn’t there be an article summarizing his ‘contributions’ to the club, when he was the GM?
I’m in favor of the removal of this ownership group from the NHL’s ranks. Rollins isn’t a gigantic leap forward, but I’m open to all sorts of possibilities.