Lexington Herald Leader sports writer Jerry Tipton did not allow University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari to wriggle out of media questions about the FBI shoe company pay-for-play scandal. When Calipari sidestepped KSR’s Matt Jones inquiring about the loss of Cal’s rivalry with Rick Pitino, Tipton pressed Calipari to reassure Big Blue Nation that UK has nothing to worry about now that NIKE is being investigated.
Instead of denying any involvement, Calipari gave no such assurance to BBN. Coach Cal said that he wouldn’t comment beyond saying that neither the FBI or the NCAA has contacted UK.
It was a golden moment for Coach Cal to “swear on the lives of my children” that he knows nothing of shoe company pay-for-play deals. But he didn’t. Some of his players said there is nothing to worry about but the coach didn’t dispel worries for the fan base. So the question hangs.
Jerry Tipton just checked John Calipari.
"This is a media day, not coach day." pic.twitter.com/R6Pf718dbn
— Clayton Abernathy (@ClaySTV1) October 12, 2017
No denial. Just like Louisville. Except Louisville is already drowning in scandal and the FBi has connected the school to, at the very least, observing a transfer of money from Adidas to parents of at least one recruit.
On the September 29 edition of Outside the Lines on ESPN, I was asked about Rick Pitino‘s phone calls to an indicted Adidas executive and another question about the general mood in Louisville. OTL host Bob Ley was completely taken aback by my revelation that Tom Jurich refused to fire Rick Pitino when asked multiple times by University of Louisville interim President Greg Postel.
Now Pitino’s attorney says they will appear on October 16 to state his case. It could be via video link but whatever the stage, Pitino is out and now just wrestling for severance. Coach P told me two weeks ago that his $44 million buyout was solid but that’s not the case. The school has a strong case to fire him for just cause and give him nothing beyond this final plea.
Tom Jurich will not return to UofL. He is telling friends that there is no way he can go back to work for an administration that has debased him. Jurich will have his pick of some of the best athletics director jobs in America.
The Courier-Journal has informed me that they are preparing a thorough profile piece on Dr. Postel and noted my insights in previous blogs on this site. I have no idea if they will be included but I can say that I do not know Dr. Postel and truly wish him the best if he indeed becomes president.
Governor Matt Bevin told me again yesterday that he does not push board of trustees chairman David Grissom or any other board member to vote yea or nay on any issue. Bevin says it is up to the board to decide the fates of Jurich, Postel, and anyone else considered for top administrative posts at the university.
AUDIO
