Will Calipari Stay In Lexington

Those who are betting on horses know you have to have a good trainer and jockey to get to the promised land, but as a coach in the college hoops world, you must have aspects of both trainer and jockey under control to be successful.  Kentucky’s John Calipari is one of the best in the business, but will he be tempted by the pro route again?

A lot of people forget that Calipari has already coached in the NBA, posting a 72-112 record in just under 2 ½ seasons in New Jersey from 1996-1999.  It’s ironic that the Nets are sniffing around Calipari again, and they’re trying to see if persuading Calipari to come to town would help in the pursuit of LeBron James, the two-time defending NBA MVP who happens to be the biggest free agent on the market this year.  Calipari and James are friends who have been seen at each other’s games this year, and Nets owner Makhail Prokhorov has money to burn.

But would this even be successful?  As Calipari can attest, coaching in the pros requires a completely different style than in college as most of these players are veterans who have been around for a while and don’t respond to the “rah-rah” stuff that permeates the NCAA.  Also, Calipari is a god in Lexington right now and didn’t even win the title.  His contract is being reworked as we speak as Kentucky officials are trying to tie him up for the rest of his career.  I wouldn’t lay an online sports bet on seeing Coach Cal in the NBA any time soon.