Bulls (Again) Seeking Coach. Calipari?

Del Negro was a .500 coach in two seasons
for the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls recently announced the firing of head coach Vinny Del Negro after two seasons in the Windy City.

There's nothing wrong with desiring the return of the Bulls to the former glory the city experienced during the Phil Jackson-Michael Jordan era. It's just not going to happen. There's not a single roster move, series of roster moves or any one coach that can revive the days of MJ, Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr and John Paxson even though Paxson is viewed as the man in charge now. (I include Kerr and Paxson only because they hit two of the biggest shots in Bulls history.)

Despite the apparent rift between Paxson and Del Negro (for which Paxson has apologized), this move leaves me scratching my head. Del Negro's record wasn't overly successful (82-82 over two seasons), but he still guided Chicago to the playoffs in both seasons. Same can be said for Scott Skiles, now with the Milwaukee Bucks. Skiles coached for parts of two seasons and three full seasons. His record was 165-172 (.490) and three straight playoff spots. Both were escorted out of Chicago because they were deemed as failing to live up to over hyped expectations. But whoever said coaching is a fair occupation. No one.

Whoever Paxson decides as the next coach will have a nice core of young talent. Derrick Rose is a superstar in the making. Joakim Noah has evolved into a double-double machine and is also a budding star. Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich, James Johnson, Hakim Warrick. Oh, the talent is there. Talent that can be developed. Can't think of a coach that wouldn't want to have the chance to work with all that young talent. And there's the fact that Chicago has the cap room to add a max contract.

More money for Coach Cal?

Yesterday, Yahoo! Sports reveled that Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari was interested in the Bulls post. Calipari, in turn, told Andy Katz of ESPN that he had no interest in the job. Calipari also stated he had not been contacted nor was he even pursuing it. Quickly, the UK masses pulled together and are ow set to offer Calipari a raise and contract extension. A lot of good that would do. Calipari is already the highest paid college coach. What will throwing more money and offering an extension really do? Remember what Calipari said before leaving Memphis before bolting to Lexington?

Calipari's NBA record is less than stellar. In his 2+ years with the New Jersey Nets, Coach Cal compiled a 72-122 record (.390 winning percentage). Yes, he's been through the rigors of a couple of NBA seasons, but the only link to the Bulls is Derrick Rose.

And even that won't be good enough for Chicago. The record speaks for itself. No question Calipari has enough charisma to get the players attention, but even at times during this past season at Kentucky, star freshman John Wall appeared to completely ignore him. That doesn't speak too highly of Coach Cal either.

For the next head coach of the Chicago Bulls, we must keep this mind. He won't be given a long time to improve the team. Ask Del Negro. Results will be expected, especially when it comes to the playoffs.

You get two years to make it past the second round. If not, look for another opening.

Exodus in Lexington?

The list of players declaring for entry for the NBA Draft is starting to build. Kansas center Cole Aldrich and Michigan guard Manny Harris are only two of the recent declarations. There's a couple yet to declare that wouldn't surprise anyone and they both come from the same school, Kentucky's frosh duo of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.

Did we all witness the final collegiate game of Wall's and Cousin's career? Most likely. Wall has already been tapped as the #1 overall and Cousins is a top 5 selection according to various projections.

So exactly what are the prospects that Wall and Cousins will return another season in Lexington?

Um, none. Wall did make a reference during the presser following UK's Saturday's loss about finishing the school year, but that is merely a smoke screen to fend off speculation of the inevitable. Kentucky was primed to win it all this year and this year alone. Wall, Cousins and Patrick Patterson developed the nucleus for the Wildcats and all will be gone to the NBA. Patterson returned for that reason. Imagine if Jodie Meeks had stayed.

For yet another season, UK head coach John Calipari finds himself in a position to reload because of the "one and done" rule. Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and now, Wall and Cousins.

Creates a bit of an issue for the Wildcat faithful. Calipari has put his worth into these freshman and they have performed well at the NCAA level. Rose and Evans have proven themselves at the NBA level and there's nothing to suggest that Wall and Cousins won't do the same. But I have a difficult time viewing these moves as building a program. It's more or less supplementing it and it has the feel of plugging gaps instead of fixing them.

Don't worry or feel sorry about the Wildcats future. It's fine. Others freshman will come forward as sophomores next season (Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, Darius Miller) and keep UK in the mix. There's also that potential of wearing that jersey with "Kentucky" on it which appeals to recruits.

That and there's always a feeling that Calipari has yet another phenom squarely in his sights with Lexington as the destination.

Coach Cal sure has this bit down by now.

If I were Santa...

I'm sure you've caught yourself doing it. You were thinking, "If I were Santa, I would give this to that person." Well, I have a list of things I want to give to people. And believe me, some people need the gift this Santa's giving to them.

Tiger Woods - a good public relations firm

We've all seen that Tiger's "handlers" really botched everything that has happened to the world's most recognizable athlete. Whoever is giving Tiger advice, needs to be booted and Tiger needs to address the public just to let everyone know he's a human and not a machine.

Tim Finchem - someone that can bring people to events like Tiger

Despite saying that the PGA Tour can survive without it's biggest draw is insane. Especially in the economy. Sure, it got by during Tiger's last hiatus, but the current situation is different. It's a matter of how long before Woods is back...and how long can the others hold down the fort.

Sergio Garcia - a win in a major

He's so come close, but Sergio now has that label no golfer wants: "Best Player to not Win a Major". He's got a win at Sawgrass. He's somewhat validated as a good player, right? All that promise and talent and no major just doesn't seem right. I'll even let Sergio pick which major he wants!


Brad Childress and Brett Favre - couples counseling

Apparently there was a profnaity laced tirade by Childress aimed at Favre after Sunday's loss to Carolina. Brad wanted Brett out of the game but Brett wanted to stay in. Also, I guess Brad's wanted to yank Brett on two other occassions. That doesn't sit well with Brett either. Brad wants the offense one way and Brett wants it his way. Dare we call an audible? We see who wears the pants.

Cliff Lee - an offense like the one he had to leave in Philly

Look at the Mariners potential starting lineup and compare it to the Phillies. According to mlb.com, the Mariners have 1B - Mike Carp, 2B - Jose Lopez, SS - Jack Wilson, 3B - Chone Figgins, LF - Milton Bradley, CF - Franklin Gutierrez, RF - Ichiro, DH - Ken Griffey, Jr. The Phillies: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, and Jayson Werth. Which lineup to you want backing up your pitching?

John Calipari - a reputation makeover

He was recently pointed out by the man, Bobby Knight, as the "poster child" for college sports lacking integrity. With all that goes wrong in college sports anymore, who can blame coach Knight? Plus, Calipari's resume' on that issue isn't the greatest: two Final Fours, two Final Fours vacated. The term "poster child", is my quote, not Knight's.

Joe McKnight - a decent ride

So, McKnight might not be playing in Saturday's Emerald Bowl due to "paperwork" stemming from an incident involving an SUV and the use of said vehicle. Supposedly, the vehicle is for his girlfriend. The vehicle is registered in the name of a local businessman. But McKnight has been seen using that vehicle. Now, McKnight is saying that the media has ruined his life. Um, Joe, we didn't get in the SUV and use it. You did.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - a decent season on 2010

Hard to believe that Junior struggled so much in 2009, especially since Hendrick Motorsports was behind him. Rick Hendrick has said that the company will focus more on Earnhardt's 88 team this upcoming season. One thing, Junior's JR Motorsports got a gift a lot of us guys would like, Danica Patrick.

Before we get too far into this holiday season, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and I thank you for reading.

sports

Oklahoma State WR Bryant ruled ineligible

Update: On November5, the NCAA upheld their suspension of Bryant despite Oklahoma State's appeal. Bryant is currently being projected as a first round pick in the next NFL draft.

This has to go into the file of "Huh?". The NCAA has ruled that Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant (below) is ineligible until October, 2010. The investigation was initiated due to interaction that Bryant had with Deion Sanders.


The university is appealing the decision in the hopes that Bryant could rejoin the Cowboys later this season. The outlook, however, is grim.

Head coach Mike Gundy provided this statement on the appeals process:

"There is nothing new. We've had no response. I think everybody has given up."

Unfortunately, we may have seen the last of Bryant in a Cowboys uniform. And that is sad. It is rumored that Bryant will now go pro due to this decision. All because the NCAA has totally fumbled this situation. It's a turnover that should have never been committed.

In a story from Fanhouse, the investigation into possible NCAA infractions arose when it was thought that Bryant went to a Dallas residence owned by Sanders. It is then suggested that Sanders submitted Bryant to a workout, bought Bryant a meal, and then attempted to build a working relationship between Bryant and agent Eugene Parker (the same agant representing Michael Crabtree).

Amid questioning from the NCAA, Bryant denied all claims, but it was later established that Bryant did visit Sanders (left) in May. The workout and Parker's "involvement" were claims that were unfounded. Bryant was still given his suspension based on NCAA bylaw 10.1 in that Bryant was "...knowingly furnishing the NCAA or the individual's institution false or misleading information."

I underatand that lying to the NCAA is a bad thing, but outside of tha 10.1 bylaw, no rules were violated by Bryant. Did you get that, NCAA? There are reports that Bryant gave the false info to NCAA investigators because he feared that he did, in fact, break a rule. So you take away a kid's year of eligibility because he lied? The only thing Bryant should be accused of is being a kid.

What happens to coaches and programs when they knowingly and repeatedly break NCAA bylaws and rules? If they are found guilty of improprieties, do they receive a suspension? We don't have to wander to far back in the past to see the answer. John Calipari (right) and the Memphis basketball program (and now, the whole John Wall eligiblity issue) and the Alabama textbook scandal are the two of the more prominant issues recently in the news regarding violations. What happened to these institutions?

Both Memphis and Alabama were stripped of wins. There are no reports of any "student-athletes" being given any type of suspension for their participation in the breaking of NCAA rules. Memphis also had to forfeit monies they received from their last Final Four appearance. One of Calipari's players at Memphis, Derrick Rose, is now making a bit of change in the NBA. Did that stigma of the Memphis (and don't forget UMass) program prohibit Calipari from putting a bit of coin in his own pocket?

You might think I'm comparing apples to oranges here. While Calipari's name never surfaced in the Memphis findings, he was still the man in charge. Same for all the Bama coaches. Nothing happened to any of them either. Were these institutions totally forthcoming in their allegations? Doubt it. I once head the expression "if you ain't cheatin', you're not tryin'."

Yet Bryant didn't cheat and is handed a year suspension for giving false information. It's a simple case of the "little guy" get stomped while "the big boys" can rule. Almost like getting bullied. The NCAA is the bully and OK State is the little guy.

Talk about a hypocrisy.