John Calipari: Winner, Wildcat, Liar

Ed Berliner by Correspondent Written on May 29, 2009
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Nine years at Memphis followed, where Calipari-coached teams won 253 games, achieved nine straight 20-win seasons, and made nine consecutive postseason appearances. Calipari himself netted three more Conference Coach of the Year awards, and another National Coach of the Year kudos.

Unfortunately for Memphis, Calipari would leave more than just wins and titles in his wake.

Hot on the heels of Calipari's ascension to the rarefied air of Kentucky, boom goes the NCAA dynamite again. Former Tigers star Derrick Rose allegedly had someone take an SAT test for him, among other things.

Wait for it.

Memphis athletic department officials and mouthpieces (sound familiar?) knew nothing of any cheating going on, Calipari was blameless, and the NCAA even showed their agreement this time by sending the coach a letter saying he was off the hook.

The time for bemused laughter is over. The time is right to take this all in and return to our opinion based on the evidence.

John Calipari is a liar. Of course he knew what was going on at both UMass and Memphis. Any statement to the contrary could only be accepted as fact by someone with an IQ of seven, or a basketball star who needs to have someone else take an SAT test. They are, as you might guess, interchangeable.

Officials at both schools are liars. Knowing full well and accepting the riches Calipari brought with him to both campuses meant that even if they were caught, that lucre would be in the bank, in the new arena, and spread around selected paychecks.

Do all these people really think we’re that stupid to gather all this evidence and not arrive at the same opinion?

Of course they do. And until someone holds all the liars and cheaters accountable, they will always believe exactly that.

Veteran network sportscaster Ed Berliner joins the largest collection of sportswriters, commentators, reporters and analysts delivering exclusive unedited audio/video interviews at "Stone Cold Sports".  Ed's National column can also be read at "Examiner.com".

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written on May 29, 2009 Opinion

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