Coach Who??
March 31st, 2009After last year’s almost victory in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament it is understandable that the average Memphian is upset. Not only did the Tigers get eliminated in 2009’s march madness way too early (Thanks Mizzou), it’s a big blow that Coach Cal (Calipari) announces leaving the team only days after the upset to go work for…. of all places, Kentucky. The state where “the Colonel” supposedly invented fried chicken (or at least a secret recipe for it). John Calipari is leaving Memphis behind for what is rumored to be a five million dollar a year contract.
Excuse me?? Five million dollars a year? For a college basketball coach? Home of the Tigers, the University of Memphis, even tried persuading him to stay with an even bigger offer! What is wrong with this image?
I enjoy college sports (unlike Don Imus who called the NCAA women’s champs “nappy headed hoes”) but I don’t enjoy it five million a years worth! From personal experience I know (although that could be considered personal opinion) that the UoM internship program is badly mismanaged. I offered several internships to this city’s brightest students only to find out (on 3 separate occasions) that the student in question wasn’t even qualified to apply. Who checks this stuff? Not the Basketball coach! He is too busy managing his assets!
Coach Cal accepted a transfer to a five million dollar a year contract, making him the best paid college basketball coach in history. Good for him, I wish I made that kind of money! But let’s face it… There are 65 teams entering the NCAA tournament each year. Let’s assume that the other coaches get only one fifth of Cal’s money, that is 65 million dollars a year that universities pay that is NOT going towards education. I wonder how many bright students I could give a full scholarship to one of this nation’s Ivy League school with that kinda budget!
And I am wondering why I can’t get qualified people to work for me? Stop crying about losing your coach Memphis. Maybe a book and some proper health care is a little bit better investment in your future then an orange ball we try to throw into a netted hoop!
