A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way. — John Tudor
A businessman from southern Kentucky pulled the observer aside recently and, with a straight face, asked, “I’m hearing rumors that the University of Louisville is trying to hire John Calipari away from Kentucky,” he said. “Anything to it?”
The observer couldn’t believe he had heard him right. Completely out of left field. What? Are you serious? “I’m serious, hearing it from different people,” he said.
The answer, of course, was no. Hell no.
The scenario defies logic, as does the idea that anyone would consider such a rumor to have any merit. But since the topic has come up, it is difficult to ignore. One never knows what to expect next in life or sports but anyone giving any credence to the idea that U of L would pursue this particular UK coach either doesn’t know much about Louisville or is out of touch with reality, or both.
True, U of L did hire a former UK coach once upon a time, and there’s ongoing debate as to how well that’s working out, depending on how well Louisville is doing on the court lately.
Far too much baggage with Calipari, always looking over one’s shoulder. Of course that’s the same thing their fans said about him before UK hired him. Fans will be fans, and they tend to worship coaches who win games despite other shortcomings.
We would hope U of L fans would never embrace a coach who has often gone out of his way to disparage not only a rival coach but the university and athletic program as well. Something Rick Pitino never did in his years at UK.
If there is, indeed, such a rumor floating around in remote parts of the commonwealth, we can chalk it up to the anxiety (paranoia?) that afflicts some supporters of the UK program.
Even during the best of times.