A day after Bob Knight lobbed a very personal grenade at Kentucky coach John Calipari, the first-year Wildcats coach refused to add any fuel to the fire."I don't agree with what he says but it doesn't change how I feel about him," Calipari said.
Calipari also said he was surprised by comments Knight made Thursday night during a speech at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
"We've gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that's why I'm glad I'm not coaching," he said. "You see we've got a coach at Kentucky [John Calipari], who put two schools on probation and he's still coaching. I really don't understand that.
Anyone hoping for things to get testy, however, will be disappointed to know that Calipari still remains "a big fan" of Knight. Playing-nice enthusiasts, on the other hand, will love the taking-the-high-road approach.
"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?" Calipari said. "And I get word and what I can tell you is I'm a big fan, respect him as a basketball coach, always have."
Calipari was interview on an Indianapolis radio station this afternoon and I thought handled it quite nicely. Credit to him for accepting the interview, and credit to the radio guys for giving him the opportunity to defend himself, in the same city where Knight's comments were made.
http://www.1070thefan.com/kravitzandeddie/podcast.aspx
Coach Bob Knight.....What more can i say!!!!!!The guy was a great coach, but allways had a problem relating to people.Knight is going to judge someone else after all that he has done...and was still coaching. Wow what a Big Mouth Jerk coach Knight Still is.....I hope he can move on in life since his coaching day's are over....Thank GOD for that..... Hope never to see coach Knight ever again in college backetball........Sorry for Coach Calipari having tp deal with that Idiot.
I find it amusing that Bobby Knight, who was once an avid critic of the media, has now become part of it and is now calling out coaches. I also think it is hilarious that Bobby Knight is speaking out about ethics....... REALLY BOBBY??? Wait I'm sorry, Coach Knight. I should remember that he attacked a student for calling him Bobby.
I find it amusing that Bobby Knight, who was once an avid critic of the media, has now become part of it and is now calling out coaches. I also think it is hilarious that Bobby Knight is speaking out about ethics....... REALLY BOBBY??? Wait I'm sorry, Coach Knight. I should remember that he attacked a student for calling him Bobby.
What gall. The poster child for coaches who should have been removed from the game is now calling out other coaches on ethics. Bobby Knight physically assaulted his players. Calipari would have been within his right to shred Knight, who didn't deserve such a gracious response.
Thank you Bobby Knight. You are speaking the truth. Memphis paid Calipari millions to recruit the class he took to Kentucky. But wait, Josh Pastner was the recruiter of those kids, so Calipari got paid millions to do nothing.
Bobby Knight is the new spokesperson for "Oops, I crapped my pants!"