Sportsfrog.com

No question John Calipari is heading to Kentucky. That’s reported everywhere, and all the local news and usual outlets have been sourcing it for hours. Gotta say, in addition to the challenge and the high-profile gig, an alleged six years and forty million dollars is pretty damn persuasive. Well played, Kentucky. Well played.

Best of luck to him, and Kentucky is getting a great coach (as I said earlier today). If he brings all his recruits with him, as is presumed, that’s gonna be a hellaciously good team. The talent drain from Memphis is going to be legendary, as an all-time recruiting class said to rival the Fab 5 is about to re-locate to Lexington. And maybe a few bonuses, like transfers from current players on the team.

But here’s the thing. Apparently Calipari is also trying to also control his replacement in Memphis. And that is less than cool. It is also being reported that the meeting with a big-time money Memphis booster this afternoon (right now) is NOT a last ditch attempt to keep him, rather, it is Calipari trying to talk Memphis into hiring his former assistant and current UTEP coach Tony Barbee. Best of luck to Cal in Kentucky, but Memphis would be rock fuckin’ stupid to give any kind of shit about what Calipari recommends or wants for his replacement. If Calipari has enough pull with the big money donors that he makes this happen, then the big money donors can reap the crap whirlwind if they run to a thirtieth tier candidate like Barbee instead of going hard after someone like Mike Anderson. Insane.