Learning from Calipari

I’m not a fan of Kentucky basketball coach John Calapari. I don’t think he’s terribly ethical, otherwise he wouldn’t have left behind two programs that ended up vacating Final Four appearances due to NCAA violations.

That said, I found myself admiring his response, this week, after former Indiana and Texas Tech coach Bob Knight blasted him in the press.
chicagotribune.com

“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking, and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching,” Knight said. “You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation, and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”

Calipari’s response was amazingly dignified. “I don’t agree with what he says but it doesn’t change how I feel about him,” Calipari told the A.P.

“I get up to go to mass this morning and there’s like 100 text messages and I’m like what in the world happened?” added Calipari. “And I get word and what I can tell you is I’m a big fan, respect him as a basketball coach, always have.”

I’m like the next reporter. It makes great copy when athletes and coaches go back and forth at one another. I’m not evens disagreeing with Knight.

At the same time, Calipari provided an example for anyone who has ever been disrespected by a peer.

He took it and said something nice back.

Say what you may about Calipari’s recruiting practices, you have to give him credit for a stylish response to a verbal attack.

Maybe the great Bob Knight could even learn a thing or two from Calipari.