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Subtle, Memphis Commercial Appeal. Very subtle. From that publication:

—A fairly comprehensive timeline of the good and bad, on and off court, from Calipari’s extremely successful nine years in Memphis

—Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins with some relevant words, including these:

“It’s those people who are the angriest and most disappointed today. It’s those people who were the most desperate for Calipari to stay. Because they believed the fictions. They’re reacting with the fury of the betrayed. But the Calipari they now revile – and they do revile him, with almost frightening intensity — is no different than the Calipari they adored for so many years. He’s a basketball coach. A highly gifted basketball coach who will do wonders for you as long as your interests align with his. For nine years, Calipari’s interests and Memphis’s interests were identical. In the last few days, that changed. So Calipari relentlessly watched out for his interests, of course. If that means Memphis will be a Conference USA bottom-feeder next year, well, that’s the kind of price the guy has always been willing to pay.

And, in fairness, that’s the price/chance Memphis was willing to pay. Rational people in Memphis know that, and are making their peace with the shell of a program (maybe four players will remain, and no recruits at this point in time – finishing out of last in the shitty C-USA may be a challenge) that is left upon Calipari’s departure. The less rational were holding a vigil outside Calipari’s house yesterday. Seriously. Some were crying. Dudes. It was, um, embarrassing. If they thought that was sad, wait til they see what Memphis puts on the court next year. The Grizzlies will actually have the most talented team in the city again next fall. First time in awhile. Actually, several Y pick-up games in and around the city will feature more talent than the Tigers as well.

Meanwhile, down in Lexington, joy in the fanbase (at least a large portion of them). In the Lexington Herald, two views:

—John Clay on the hopes and dreams of UK nation with this hire made.

—Mark Story takes the cynical hard-edged view of Calipari’s hire, chronicling exhaustively all of the smoke (and some fire) that has surrounded Calipari since UMass. Story ends his piece with this question:

Back then, Dr. Todd, you talked often about being the president who was going to end UK’s cycle of one major sports scandal a decade. Is the hire you are about to make consistent with that goal? Kentucky’s choice isn’t hire John Calipari or never win big again. There are several coaches who I believe are available right now — Sean Miller; Travis Ford; maybe Thad Matta or even the best coach in the country, Tom Izzo — who are capable of winning at Kentucky at the level UK wants to win. No, Dr. Todd, the question here is whether Kentucky is back to trying to win at all costs or whether it is going to try to win with honor. If it’s the latter, Dr. Todd, can you really hire John Calipari?

Well there is that. I can only say, as a follower/fan of the Memphis program, and as we have discussed extensively in this thread in the Swamp, you have to be comfortable with some “shade” when it comes to having Calipari as your coach. He is tight with the shadowy part of the AAU world. He has no reservations about hiring the dad of a desired recruit. He is somewhat morally flexible when it comes to discipline of his players. None of that is against NCAA rules (or different than what a whole bunch of coaches/programs do). But it does make people justifiably uncomfortable, and there will be discomfort in general as long as he is with the program. But, damn, he wins. A lot. And as long as he does that at Kentucky, and the “shade” doesn’t drift over to outright paying of players etc., I am guessing UK’s administration will go to bed happy at night.

As for me, I may be 38, well out of shape and short, but, hey, I have not used any collegiate eligibility. Time to go work on my jumpshot and enroll part-time at the University of Memphis. I think I can get some run next fall.