New Kentucky head coach John Calipari reminds me of an upper echelon salesman. He is the kind of talker that can ring your doorbell, show you a new vacuum cleaner and then sell you a new car before you even know what happened. If I am being totally honest, I could listen to him talk Kentucky basketball all day.
This morning, I had to make a business trip from Danville to Corbin, a 70-mile journey that takes you south on US-150 through Central Kentucky. As I was driving through the little town of Crab Orchard, I flipped my Sirius radio to the Mike & Mike Show on ESPN Radio. Coach Calipari was scheduled to call into the show at 9:25 a.m.
I listened to the end of a decent interview with Matthew Stafford, the former Georgia quarterback that could potentially be the top pick in next week's NFL Draft. Finally, Greeny explained, "He has the second best winning percentage among all active coaches in college basketball. He's one of five all-time to take two different teams to the Final Four and he is now the head coach at most storied program in the college basketball world..."
My first thought was that it was exciting to hear someone at ESPN call Kentucky the most storied program in college basketball. Then, I entered a focused trance as Greenberg asked Calipari if it had sunk in yet that he was the coach at Kentucky. Calipari responded, "You know, last night about 11:30...I'm in my office and it overlooks the practice facility court. And I have John Robic, my assistant in there and I look out the window and I go 'Robes, we're at Kentucky.' And we bust out laughing. He's like 'wow.'"
Calipari then explained to the national audience that Kentucky has always been his dream job.
"My dream was to coach at Kentucky. That's my dream."
Calipari said exactly what I wanted to hear with every question from Greenberg and Golic. He called Kentucky "the Commonwealth's team." He laid out a plan for getting better players in a Wildcat uniform. He mentioned that high school juniors were calling frequently to inquire about becoming Kentucky Wildcats. He explained how kids want to play in the dribble-drive motion offense. He talked about how great the practice facilities are.
"I wanna have fun," explained Calipari. "It's about having fun and chasing dreams."
He ended by telling the nation that within two years he wants his team to look like this season's North Carolina team - the team that just won the national championship. He wants the best players.
As the interview ended, I snapped back to reality. I quickly realized that I had driven roughly 10 miles and that I had no recollection of that portion of the trip. I had fallen victim to John Calipari's charm and zoned the outside world out during the entire seven-minute interview. I have no memory of travelling through Brodhead, I do not remember meeting any vehicles and I have no idea how fast I was driving.
From approximately 9:25 a.m. to 9:32 a.m. this morning, there was a crazed Kentucky fan unconsciously driving down a country road in Central Kentucky. He was dreaming of John Wall playing the point, Meeks and Henry filling it up from all over the court, Cousins and Patterson dominating the paint and a deep bench of talented reserves aching to get on the court. A bench that might include the likes of Hood, Miller, Orton, Stevenson, Harris, Liggins, Galloway, Pilgrim and the other Henry. He was dreaming of a new offense that is sure to light up scoreboards all around the SEC. He was dreaming of an eighth banner hanging from the Rupp Arena rafters.
I sure hope he was driving safely.
This morning, I had to make a business trip from Danville to Corbin, a 70-mile journey that takes you south on US-150 through Central Kentucky. As I was driving through the little town of Crab Orchard, I flipped my Sirius radio to the Mike & Mike Show on ESPN Radio. Coach Calipari was scheduled to call into the show at 9:25 a.m.
I listened to the end of a decent interview with Matthew Stafford, the former Georgia quarterback that could potentially be the top pick in next week's NFL Draft. Finally, Greeny explained, "He has the second best winning percentage among all active coaches in college basketball. He's one of five all-time to take two different teams to the Final Four and he is now the head coach at most storied program in the college basketball world..."
My first thought was that it was exciting to hear someone at ESPN call Kentucky the most storied program in college basketball. Then, I entered a focused trance as Greenberg asked Calipari if it had sunk in yet that he was the coach at Kentucky. Calipari responded, "You know, last night about 11:30...I'm in my office and it overlooks the practice facility court. And I have John Robic, my assistant in there and I look out the window and I go 'Robes, we're at Kentucky.' And we bust out laughing. He's like 'wow.'"
Calipari then explained to the national audience that Kentucky has always been his dream job.
"My dream was to coach at Kentucky. That's my dream."
Calipari said exactly what I wanted to hear with every question from Greenberg and Golic. He called Kentucky "the Commonwealth's team." He laid out a plan for getting better players in a Wildcat uniform. He mentioned that high school juniors were calling frequently to inquire about becoming Kentucky Wildcats. He explained how kids want to play in the dribble-drive motion offense. He talked about how great the practice facilities are.
"I wanna have fun," explained Calipari. "It's about having fun and chasing dreams."
He ended by telling the nation that within two years he wants his team to look like this season's North Carolina team - the team that just won the national championship. He wants the best players.
As the interview ended, I snapped back to reality. I quickly realized that I had driven roughly 10 miles and that I had no recollection of that portion of the trip. I had fallen victim to John Calipari's charm and zoned the outside world out during the entire seven-minute interview. I have no memory of travelling through Brodhead, I do not remember meeting any vehicles and I have no idea how fast I was driving.
From approximately 9:25 a.m. to 9:32 a.m. this morning, there was a crazed Kentucky fan unconsciously driving down a country road in Central Kentucky. He was dreaming of John Wall playing the point, Meeks and Henry filling it up from all over the court, Cousins and Patterson dominating the paint and a deep bench of talented reserves aching to get on the court. A bench that might include the likes of Hood, Miller, Orton, Stevenson, Harris, Liggins, Galloway, Pilgrim and the other Henry. He was dreaming of a new offense that is sure to light up scoreboards all around the SEC. He was dreaming of an eighth banner hanging from the Rupp Arena rafters.
I sure hope he was driving safely.
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2 comments:
I felt the same way when I heard the interview. WOW! Doesn't it feel good to have someone represent our Commonwealth and University with that much passion, charisma and desire? He sounded like every Kentucky boy that has dreamed of wearing the blue jersey. HE ABSOLUTELY GETS IT!! Thankfully I wasn't driving. I did park my car and was 7 minutes late for work. Great blog. Nice to know others UK fans feel the same way!
Absolutely. He says EXACTLY what I want to hear about every aspect of the team. It is a complete 180 from what we have seen lately. I can't wait to see him land Wall, Bledsoe or the Henry's...
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