Vaught’s note: Vaughtsviews.com Mark Hensley has a far different view of John Calipari’s technical fouls and ejection Saturday night than most UK fans. And Cal is also on record as being a huge Joe B. Hall supporter and has embraced him more than any previous UK coach ever has from all I have seen and heard. But Hensley has a different take I thought was worth sharing just to gauge your reaction.
By MARK HENSLEY
Man, Cal is so narcissistic that it makes me wonder how the true Cat fan really buy into this guy.
What does Cal do, get two technicals back to back and get thrown out of a meaningless game late in the second half just to put the spotlight back on himself. There was nothing else to do that for, BUT himself.
Cal could not handle the real issue tonight and the fact that this program is bigger than he. No, it was a night to honor Joe B. Hall and Cal couldn’t take it. It was about the past and how players from previous UK traditions showed up to pay tribute to their coach, like him or not. Something that Cal will never have at UK.
It was not about Cal and “the greatest night in UK basketball history” as he tried to sell it when he got five players in the first round of the NBA. He does not have a clue.
UK is the program that gives this guy a theater in which to play out “his” dreams and “his” glory regardless of you, the fan or the great UK basketball tradition. Don’t you get it? He could care less about UK and it’s tradition. It’s all about CAL and his own brand of marketing. I did not get any new shoes but I do have something he can wash!
Wake up UK fan!! Go ahead and hate me but you know it’s the truth.
44 Responses to Guest post: Calipari is about himself, not Kentucky
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I don’t hate you, Mark, but I think you’re way off the mark (so to speak). Tell me exactly what Cal did to get the technicals in last night’s game. Time Warner Cable didn’t carry the game, so my mom and I huddled around my laptop to watch it on ESPN3. I know it was a small screen, but I didn’t see anything he did to deserve the first technical, much less the second.
So, in your mind, Cal does the good works that he does in the community because he wants the spotlight on himself. You’re ignoring the fact that even if he just sat in his house on Richmond Road, the spotlight would be on him because he is the coach at Kentucky. If he thinks it’s all about him and he doesn’t honor the past, why does he invite former players and coaches to come hang out at UK? After all, our former (unlamented) coach appeared to make every effort to exclude former players and coaches, according to what’s been reported. Does Cal have a healthy ego? Yes, of course, I think to be successful at this level, you have to have a lot of self-confidence. But does he fit the role you are trying to cast him in? Nope, in my opinion.
Every coach,player,sports writer,politician has admirers and detractors. We know where Mark stands now.
Hey Y’all,
It ain’t all that doom and gloom…We won the game! So what if Cal got 1, no 2 Techs and an ejection. We won the game! It does take a very big ego to head a major Bball program such as UKBB. We have the right man for the job…Why? Because he gets it……….Go Big Blue!
Mark, you certainly are entitled to your opinion, but I feel it is way off the mark. There is not another coach anywhere on the planet presently that fits Kentucky’s requirements like he does. His personalty and energy level are unmatched. To be able to handle the egos of these young kids and to harness them into his winning ways is unique, however this pales in comparison to managing the press and satisfying the desires and often times unrealistic expectations of the The Big Blue Nation. I simply marvel at the way he keeps himself focused and glued to his own self confidence…he obviously trusts in his deeper self and we can all take a lesson from that. A healthy ego isn’t a bad thing to have when it is reasonable. One last thing, keep an eye on ESPN’s basketball tote board and you will see the University of Kentucky is featured almost daily. No university gets the attention that Kentucky gets and it is because of his untiring effort…I’ll take his type of ego all day long.
I was about ten feet from Cal when he got ejected and he did not get thrown out because he wanted to get thrown out, he was totally mad. His face and neck was as red as a tomato. I was very proud of him.
Hey Larry
As you know I went to a lot of school in my life. I was taught to see who the author might be and what motivates the paper or article. Who is Mark Hensley?
People see the world through their own experiences.
As I saw it yesterday, Coach got thrown for piddly calls by a cranky ref. The Ref probably shares Mark’s views of the UK coach.
Mark’s criticism reminds me of heated online debates going on when Coach Smith was fired and Calipari was hired. Coach Smith’s supporters proclaimed how he was such a great guy and Calipari was a self-serving low-life who only thought about himself.
Does Coach Calipari have an ego? Probably. But that was never a problem for Coaches Rupp, Pitino, & Smith.
Did Coach get ejected because his ego demanded it? Probably not.
Mark….you will have problems marshalling even a minority of public opinion that agrees with you. You are way off base on this one…am wondering what your agenda really is??
About forty years ago, I began to notice that people who see undesirable qualities about others usually are only describing themselves. I don’t have time to go farther into this right now, but that is why I always attempt to see the better qualities of others. And Coach Cal displays many wonderful qualities.
Does Coach Cal have an ego the size of all outdoors? Absolutely!
Does he thrive on being in the limelight? You bet!
But to suggest that he got himself tossed from the game to take attention away from Coach Hall’s recognition is absurd.
UK just had a coach who couldn’t handle being center stage, how did that work for you, Mark?
If UK had lost to Gardner Web, this season, I’m sure there would be reason for consternation to be directed towards Coach Cal. Currently, the Cats now have a coach with a history of winning, recruiting top players, and is labeled as one of the coaches most likely to win a championship in the next few years. I haven’t met a UK fan yet, that isn’t happy that he is the coach of UK. Is Coach Cal loved by everyone? Of course he isn’t. And, the more he wins and beats the other teams for the nation’s top recruits, the more hate he will receive. Personally, if all the media and outsiders have no ill will for your coach, he must not be a winner.
Uhhhmmmmmm……….I have to respectfully disagree.
GO CAL!!!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!!!
John Calipari loves Kentucky and its fans. He loves the tradition and history. He loves his players and is proud of them even when they mess up. He realizes that “UK Wildcats” is the biggest name in college basketball. Joe Hall is one of Coach Calipari’s best friends and he would never dream of raining on Coach Hall’s parade. He was as excited to see the legendary Kevin Grevey, Ronnie Lyons, Bob Guyette, Mike Fynn and all of the others as anyone else was. Over the past two years he has done remarkable things for Ky. His greatest accomplishment, so far, is saving UK basketball from near death. Does he have faults? I am sure he does. Maybe someday we will find out what they are.
I’m not sure what motivated Hensley’s rant. I’m having trouble connecting an ejection with lack of respect for Joe Hall and Kentucky basketball tradition. Rather, since he has been in Lexington Cal has enhanced UK basketball tradition by redirecting a lot of fan energy toward charitable works. The man did recognize the vast nature of the disaster in Haiti before almost anyone else. He reached out to a young Kentucky fan in Franklin, Indiana battling brain cancer and continues his reach to this day. This is a man who not only gave away shoes to kids in Detroit, but joined his players with washing their feet first.
The amount of time, energy and effort Coach Cal has given to others in this world puts Kentucky’s basketball tradition out there for others throughout the world to recognize. His faith and good works are something we should all strive to emulate.
Hensley I’m sorry you sat on a little burr last night, but your attempt to belittle the fine works of Coach Cal doesn’t wash with me. I doubt it washes with many rational UK fans.
Hensley, I haven’t read anywhere that you wrote anything else to read about this game other than the little snippet that is posted here. Coach seemingly brought it to Mike Stuart’s attention that he’d missed a couple of plays that were in his view (no-called) fouls. How can you get your guys to exert themselves if you’re not backing them up? Fortunately Lamb and Vargas were not injured on the two incidents. Unfortunately the spotlight is turned onto you with your hideous printed opinion.
Mark is an avid UK fan and recently wrote about why he was excited about UK’s football bowl game. As noted, I like to share diverse opinions. This time I don’t agree with Mark  and didn’t think most UK fans would either. To me, Stuart is the arrogant one for the way he officiated last night. Heck, even Sean Woods blasted him
Mark,
No hate here. Just try to see things from a diff perspective. Does Cal have an ego? Maybe but who doesn’t. You don’t think Coach K doesn’t have an ego or Pitino doesn’t have one? Cal is representing a tradition rich program but this man is not about himself. Did you forget hoops for haiti fundraiser? Name any other coach in America who went out of his way, to do that. That is Cal, ppl can call him narcisstic, cheater, but he does right by the kids and is a true ambassador for the program. And just so you know any coach that comes to KY automatically gets the spotlight thrown. BCG couldnt handle it and we saw what became of that. Even Izzo admitted coaching at UK is a challenge considering our wonderful crazy fanbase.
Well, Larry, I think you can now “gauge” the reaction.
Mr. Hensley’s post was total BS. A hate filled missive illustrating little contact with reality as far as I can tell. He may be entitled to his opinion but he’s NOT entitled to voice it unchallenged. Most Kentucky fan’s view our ‘Cat’s teams, coaches, program and fellow fan’s through blue tinted glasses, and naturally so. Mr. Hensley seems to be viewing our coach and maybe other aspects of the BBN through lenses long colored by anger and venom. There’s no knowing what shaped his initial perception of Calipari, and no public figure is universally loved, as Coach Cal would be the first to attest, but the ejection from last night’s game was clearly not the start of Mr. Hensley’s animosity.
Looking at the ejection objectively, I see absolutely no way to draw any direct connection between it and JoeB, the other participants or the reunion as an event. Everything I’ve read and heard Cal speak about Coach Hall has been positive, admiring and supportive. Cal clearly embraces Kentucky traditions and the players, coaches and other significant figures that helped shape the program’s history – In my opinion, this is true to a greater extent than ANY coach we’ve had since Coach Hall himself. Certainly, if Cal had objected there would have been no reunion at the game last night.
Does Coach Cal have an ego? Is he a self promoter? Yes, absolutely! The NBA promotes its players but in college sports, the regular turnover in players makes the Coaches the face of the program. In College Basketball, it takes much more than X’s and O’s to have a successful program and it is the Head Coach who must put the program on his back and take it into the living rooms of every basketball recruit and place it on every set of lips and the nibs of the sports media. The BBN loves our players, history and lore and we are fond of saying the Kentucky program is bigger than any coach, player, or event and in the long run that is certainly true. But in immediate terms the program only does well if the coach does well. We have recently gone through a period when that didn’t happen and tasted the bitter ashes of basketball irrelevancy. It’s my opinion that Calipari ABSOLUTELY gets it – it is Mr. Hensley who doesn’t get it.
Mark, you presume to know Cal’s motive. Assuming the absence of telepathic power on your part, it seems to me that you have an opinion of Cal that precedes last night’s ejection. I’d like to see a bit more qualification of Cal’s supposed narcissism in your article – something that goes beyond last night and the draft day comment. Alas, I am reminded of one of Nietzsche’s epigrams: “The vanity of others offends our taste only when it offends our vanity.”
It’s vitriol like this that shows how petty some of us in the Big Blue Nation can truly be.
Yes, Cal’s ejection was unnecessary, but who cares? It wasn’t like it was Louisville and there was 10 seconds to go and we’re down 2, we were up 30 against a sorely overmatched opponent.
Getting offeneded and up and arms about how Cal s “selfish” is pointless and bad for the BBN.
Larry Vaught, it’s pathetic that you would even post this self-serving lament.
All I can say is “Skip Bayless”. I don’t know who this guy is but he is obviously just trying to get a reaction. If he would have listened to Coach Cal go on and on about Coach Hall earlier in the week and on his pre game show he would see just how idiotic his article was.
Good grief. Cal also said he was very disappointed he didn’t get the call when Smith took his hiatus. He made sure he brought in former players and Hall to the 1000th win game. Yes he made a mistake saying that greatest night in UK history stuff but I’m sure he was thinking of what it would mean to future recruiting and he was right about that. Cal has been around and I doubt he’s going to leave the BBN for greener (cash green) pastures like one former coach did. He wins a lot, he brings in great players, he had a shot at winning it all last year (his first with HIS players), and he will bring many more teams capable of winning it all to Lexington. Arrogant? Good lord did you ever hear Rupp talk? Arrogance is almost required at the level he’s on. He’s dealing with players who think they’re great. The only way to coach them is to make them think they aren’t as great as the coach. Very few coaches succeed who aren’t arrogant. Rupp was the king of arrogance. Even the Cheater Of Westwood was obviously arrogant despite the way the media portrayed him (it was the 60′s, he was from southern California, he must be laid back right? – wrong).
If you don’t like the man that’s your privilege. But you won’t find many ready to condemn him after the last 2 coaches that walked the sidelines at Rupp. He may be arrogant but he wouldn’t be able to communicate with those kids if he didn’t genuinely care about them. It just doesn’t work that way. You have to show them who’s boss but be on their side too. And Cal does both of those things like a master. You just wait until next year. Heck they might do great things this year. I’ve seen less talented teams win it all.
Mark called last night’s game meaningless. To a true UK fan no game is meaningless.
Mark, you spoke to all of us UK fans as follows: “Go ahead and hate me, but you know it’s the truth.” Well, this fan does not remotely “hate” you (and I “hate” no one, actually), AND I do not “know it’s the truth.” To me, how can anyone “hate” someone he or she doesn’t even know, and how can anyone really “know” exactly what another human being is feeling or thinking! I do understand that your opinion of Coach Calipari SEEMS to be “the truth” to you yourself, but that does not make your psychological evaluation of Coach Calipari literally “the truth” — it’s obviously not “the truth” to me and others here, including Larry.
Again, there’s no hatred here, and, absolutely, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. By the way, Mitch Barnhart recently spoke of Coach Cal’s “heart of gold.” That description starkly contrasts with narcissism. To me, a person can have an elevated ego without being narcissistic. What do I know, though (wink)? GO CATS!!!
Whoa, Mark, did someone steal your spiked popcorn yesterday? Whose kool-aid have you been drinking? You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that, but as noted you are one of a few, if not the only one, who feels this way about what happened yesterday. I don’t remember which player said it yesterday but it was quoted that Cal was trying to take care of his players. He has their back and when something bad happens Cal is going to stand up for them, they are his boys. That’s right, ‘his’ boys. He thinks of each one as a son and as with any parent, he is going to stand up to someone in charge or authority when a wrong has been done. Cal saw the potential for injury and was trying to take care of his boys. I think it is the ref who had the ego problem, not Cal. I’m not saying Cal does not have a ego, he would have to have one to be in his position. Any person in power has an ego. I prefer to think of it as self-confidence and assurance. He’s good, he knows he is good but also know that at anytime that can all be taken away from him as well as knowing around the corner there is someone waiting to take his place. He is proud and assured at this moment, he knows what he is doing and he will stand up for his boys. He did not do one thing yesterday to disrespect Coach Hall, The UK Tradition or any thing else.
Rupp created IT
Hall managed IT
Sutton violated IT
Pitino thrived on IT
Smith didn’t want IT
Gillispie couldn’t deal with IT
& Coach Calipari loves IT
Before you go analyzing someone for their actions, maybe you should analyze what happened to cause those actions. You weren’t on the floor, you weren’t in his head, you only saw what you wanted to see.
GO CATS! VOTE FOR JOE B! FREE ENES, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! NEUTER THAMEL AND STERLING!
One more thing, Mark, Coach Calipari has wanted this job for 20 years. Imagine, wanting a job for 20 years, being passed over once maybe even twice and then finally realizing your dream?
I have to take exception to the idea that Sutton violated anything Linda. We are in agreement on most things but I think the NCAA railroaded UK and Sutton. I know a few things about the program from close up and I know Sutton wasn’t any different than any coach at any major program.
Even Vitale and General Knight both said they felt that Calipari is a perfect fit for Kentucky.
Terrific comments here, the kind I expected. Talked to Joe Hall today. He is a Cal backer 100 percent. He loves Cal.
First…this is THE worst piece I have ever read on here. Second…I don’t hate you either. However, I do not agree with your opinion. Cal has done far more to embrace the history at UK than any other coach I can remember..hands down! I could write a book to reply but don’t feel it worth the time or energy. The facts speak for themselves…and, if you aren’t able to see that for yourself then listen to Joe B. As Larry said, he supports Cal. He has great respect for Cal and all that he is doing for the program, particularly embracing the rich history and tradition that preceeded him. Go Cats and Go Cal!!
@King, I didn’t write that, saw it on the internet last year. There was more to the Sutton era then just the envelope, stolen necklaces, cheating on test.
Like I’ve said sice Cal showed up in Lexington. Its good to be hated again…….but with that said this has to be the biggest piece of garbage wrote on any team. Thats about all I have to say with keeping it clean.
There’s plenty I could say here Linda but I won’t. Put my username into one word and add isp.com and send me an email and we’ll talk.
Actually add @isp.com. Oops!
I was at the game and the refs were letting things get out of hand in the last minutes of the game….rough fouls everywhere, so when Vargas was undercut and no foul called, I don’t blame Cal a bit….both coaches were hollering at Stuart (ref). To say Cal doesn’t love Kentucky is totally wrong…..Mark must see thru different colored lenses than I do….Merry Christmas Cat fans!!!!
Unbelievable view! Pitino never did realize what Kentucky basketball represents, if he had any inkling, he would not have taken the UL job. Calipari saw what it was on his first trip in to Rupp with his UMass team. He understood the history with his lengthy comments when hired at his first press conference….surely Mark was referring to “Slick Rick”?
I think Mark is way off base here. But, I am happy that we live in a place where we have the freedom to express diverse opinions. Thank you Larry for letting Cat fans chime in, no matter what their views on a topic… BUT, if you ever allow a DOOK fan to get on here and….
Seriously though, I have been diagnosed with CONSPIRANOIA, so personally I think maybe Cal did try to get T’d up but not to attract attention, rather as a teaching tool.
Look at TJ and the rest of the team’s slow start (again) against lesser competition. He wants the players to bring the passion from the second the ball is thrown up at mid court until the final horn sounds. With the game securely in hand, what better time to make a point AND aggrevate Stuart (which is not hard to do, just ask any player whose shirt ever got pulled out of their shorts).
Mike Flannery… I think you mean Quick Rick, or haven’t you heard about the 15 second shot clock they have at the new Cholesterol Hall?
Another star is born………..in the idiot wotld.
We all have our own opinions. It’s just that Mark is kind of on his own on this one based on the feelings here
Mark, Cal got ejected protecting his players. Vargas was undercut on the lob pass, which could have resulted in a serious injury. Cal cares more about the players than you will ever know.
Stop being presumptuous. You do not know his motvies.
Larry, that’s pretty brave of you to give a voice to this opinion. This truly is a “free” space here, which is cool. I hope Mark will take a look at all the feedback here and re-consider his point of view.
I always have a difficult time believing a writer when they claim to know another person’s inner motives. In this short and poorly written piece, Mark claims to know the private, unpublished thoughts of John Calipari. Mark’s claims go against everything that coach Cal has worked for publicly.
Mark doesn’t offer any evidence for any of his claims. He takes a couple of situations and then claims that he knows what was motivating Calipari in those situations. He obviously has a preconceived notion of what John Calipari is all about, and he can make any occurrence fit that mold. I pray that Mark is less judgmental around his friends and family, and for his own sake I hope that his friends give him more “benefit of the doubt” than he has given to John Calipari.
Well put Patrick
If Mark was any more on his own he would live on Pluto.
” I may not agree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it”.
Or as my grandmother use to say.
“Opinions are like mouths(she used the other end of the body) everyone has one. Some are used more than others”.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME