When UK head coach John Calipari was in the nosebleed seats at Rupp Arena for the 1985 Final Four as a graduate assistant for Kansas, he might never have dreamed the Jayhawks would play such a pivotal role in his future more than 20 years later.
Calipari waxed poetic about his coaching journey and the role fate played in coming to UK while speaking to the Fayette County UK Alumni Club at a breakfast Saturday morning at the Student Center. He later signed copies of his book, “Bounce Back,” co-written with David Scott.
Asked if he thought he would be at UK if he had won the 2007 title game against Kansas, Calipari paused and thought for a moment.
“You know what? Maybe not,” he said. “Maybe I’m in the NBA, maybe I’m somewhere else. There were two jobs that I turned down over that period of time; one that I almost accepted. My wife didn’t speak to me for two weeks because I didn’t accept it. The other one was probably financially better than this was and I said ‘No.’”
The Memphis Tigers were up by nine points with just over two minutes remaining but lost the game. The appearance was later vacated due to NCAA violations surrounding the use of an ineligible player, star point guard Derrick Rose. Calipari said he flirted with the NBA, but the jobs he turned down were at colleges.
About 200 UK fans lined the bookstore for a brief moment with Calipari as he signed books and took pictures.
“It’s not a book about me,” Calipari said. “It’s not really a sports book. The publisher will be mad, but I’m saying if you want to read about sports, it’s not this book. It’s more of a self-help, a business, a leadership (book).”
Calipari also addressed his team this year, saying the Cats have “no experience.” He’s excited to be able to start practicing again and is working on conditioning his players. Besides conditioning, Calipari said chemistry issues could create problems on this year’s team as players vie for time on the court.
“You know why I love that we’re bringing this book out now?” Calipari said to the crowd. “This season is going to be based on ‘Can we overcome setbacks and adversity?’ Some we’re going to create ourselves because we’re going to have 12 guys fighting and trying to figure out ‘Who’s who, peeing on trees. Who’s what, that’s my tree.’ We’re going to have some of that.”
Calipari said the proceeds from the book will go to various charities, some in Lexington and some in Memphis. It may not be what most people are expecting, but Calipari is excited to have another way to reach out and connect with fans and recruits.
“Part of this, what we’re doing with books, is that it gives me the chance to reach hundreds of thousands instead of hundreds of players,” Calipari said.
I see you like to read and I wanted to tell you that my new fantasy novel, Gateway to DreamWorld was released on Wednesday August 12, 2009.
Synopsis: On their way home from baseball tryouts, Brad Colby and his two sons are involved in a terrible car accident that leaves six-year-old Pete in a coma. When Pete awakens, the family is crushed to learn that he is paralyzed.
Meanwhile, Pete’s eight-year-old brother, Jason, has been having powerful dreams that lead him to a mysterious realm known as DreamWorld. Jason discovers that all of his desires can come true in DreamWorld, but the time is fast approaching when he will have to choose between his two worlds.
And when more devastating news strikes at the heart of the Colby family, Jason and Pete set out on a desperate attempt to find the Gateway to DreamWorld and save their family. With time running out on their dangerous path, will Jason and Pete’s fear of the Unknown keep them from reaching the paradise of their dreams?
I invite you to order your copy now from Amazon.com or Barnes&Nobles.com at a discounted price.
Please help by spreading the word to your friends who enjoy reading a good book and be one of the firsts to pick up your copy of Gateway to DreamWorld.
Thanks for your time and I hope you enjoy the fantasy.
Brenda Estacio
“You know why I love that we’re bringing this book out now?†Calipari said to the crowd. “This season is going to be based on ‘Can we overcome setbacks and adversity?’ Some we’re going to create ourselves because we’re going to have 12 guys fighting and trying to figure out ‘Who’s who, peeing on trees. Who’s what, that’s my tree.’ We’re going to have some of that.â€
TOP TEN REASONS CALIPARI KNEW DERRICK ROSE DID NOT TAKE HIS OWN SAT
(10) Hey Coach where the hell is Detroit ?
(9) Hey Coach how come they don’t have the alphabet over the chalk boards in the class rooms ?
(8) Hey Coach I gotta pee !
(7) Hey Coach did you know Forrest Gump is my hero ?
(6) Hey Coach while you’re out at Wal-Mart can you pick me up some more crayons ?
(5) Hey Coach I am flunking Ebonics !
(4) Hey Coach momma says Basketball is the work of the Devil !
(3) Hey Coach I hired Wes as my agent !
(2) Hey Coach if we put the ball through the hoop more than the other team does that mean we win ?
(1) Hey Coach how do you spell Derik Roze ?