John Calipari - SEC Summer teleconference

[Darrell KSR]

Next year's team could be "crazy" again, Cal says.

Says don't automatically assume a 3-guard lineup. "I love my bigs." (I don't believe you, Cal).

Murray is a 1 or 2 and can really score; great pick-and-roll player.

Alex Poythress rehab is going well. Still needs a couple more months before he's fully back ready.

[Darrell KSR]

Sidebar about Conferederate flags--Cal says he's not running for political office, but they offend many people, so he'd be for taking them down.

On Poythress--said he has worked so hard on his injured knee, his healthy knee now has to catch up. Sounds like Alex has been doing what he is supposed to do. But Cal does say that he needs at least two months, makes some comment about Alex, "if he's healthy," makes it clear that Alex isn't all the way back yet.

[Darrell KSR]

Cal said "we're finally moving in a direction" that favors kids about the new rule that allows early NBA Draft entrants that can come back. Cal is in favor of a NBA combine where players could return to school afterward if the feedback they did not receive was favorable.

Says UK's backcourt will be one of the strongest backcourts in the country next year.

[Darrell KSR]

Jon Hale of 247 Sports is the first one to get the transcript up and running, so here's the full Monty--

http://kentucky.247sports.com/Bolt/C...again-37981624

[UKHistory]

It is something to ask Cal about the Confederate flag. What is next, the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Constitutionality of homosexuals marrying one another?

A few months ago Coach K spoke very critically of US foreign policy. The difference is that K made the decision to raise the issues.

I am fascinated that Jerry would ask. And considering the possible recruiting ramifications should Cal not hit the right tone, it was a baiting question.

[Darrell KSR]

How did you ever guess it was Jerry Tipton that asked the question? I didn't even mention him by name, and you knew (you're right).

[dan_bgblue]

"I love my bigs." (I don't believe you, Cal).

I think he loves them as rim protectors when the guards can not keep people out of the lane on the drive and if they can run the floor for the easy oop or sneak in behind the D on the baseline for an easy oop. Other than that not so much

[Rock Hard Ten]

Tipton's hatred of Cal is equal to that of Forde and Billy Reed…..he has to keep it somewhat camouflages in order to not be kicked off the beat

[Darrell KSR]

I think he loves them as rim protectors when the guards can not keep people out of the lane on the drive and if they can run the floor for the easy oop or sneak in behind the D on the baseline for an easy oop. Other than that not so much

It's the first part of the comment I don't believe, not the second (clear as mud, but UK will play a 3-guard lineup, and assuming so is safe). I don't believe it's not.

[Darrell KSR]

Ouch. Calipari is getting butchered on his Facebook page concerning his comments about the Confederate flag. Thanks, Jerry--you managed to create another story.

[KSRBEvans]

Somewhere Tipton is rubbing his hands together and chuckling his Grinchly chuckle.

[DanISSELisdaman]

Cal should know better than to fall for that. That potato is to hot to handle without getting burned.

[CitizenBBN]

silly to be upset at Cal. Be upset we are so myopic and petty as a nation that 9 people are murdered and we focus not on the almost desperate state of mental health in this country, or the amazing and shining example of healing and togetherness that congregation showed for us to follow, or how to actually understand our differences and find ways to solve them and celebrate them, but at a symbol that seems to have in no way incited the incident and whose elimination will do nothing to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.

In essence, do nothing useful but find something we can pat ourselves on the backs about so we can feel better.

Don't want to politicize the thread, but cal was just getting trolled and that's all. In a way the whole country is getting trolled all the time, not just on this, and way too many people feed them.

[CitizenBBN]

Cal should know better than to fall for that. That potato is to hot to handle without getting burned.

The problem is if he doesn't say take them down he has some serious recruiting issues, if he says take them down he has to still soft peddle it b/c this is a part of the country where southern pride is pretty strong, and many if not most don't associate that flag with something like the KKK.

Not sure he had a good answer. Duck it completely they use it against him on the trail, don't and you're bound to hack one group or another of fans.

But hey, even NASCAR is jumping on the wagon. Cal is the last of the Confederate flag's problems right now.

[ajp40505]

...........In essence, do nothing useful but find something we can pat ourselves on the backs about so we can feel better.

Don't want to politicize the thread, but cal was just getting trolled and that's all. In a way the whole country is getting trolled all the time, not just on this, and way too many people feed them.

This country is falling apart

[bigsky]

Cal should know better than to fall for that. That potato is to hot to handle without getting burned.

It's an easy answer. The Klan is rallying to support the flag on the State Capitol grounds. Point proved.

[dan_bgblue]

bigsky, the flag means things to people that have no association with the Klan. It is really a shame that the fruit cakes in the Klan chose to use it as their own and in doing so they have tainted the battle flag in the minds of the majority who are clueless.

[KSRBEvans]

Think it ends there?

http://time.com/3938696/u-s-army-ins...rate-officers/

I don't say that in response to the question at hand--just that it's stupid (or, in Tipton's case, evil) to ask a basketball coach about it. There's always going to be the next Big Social Issue About Which The Coach Must State His Opinion.

[suncat05]

To me, the Confederate battle flag is just a symbol of a no longer existing entity. The Confederacy died in 1865. It no longer exists, except as a part of our national history.
That symbol did not shoot all of those people in that church in South Carolina. A living, breathing human being committed that heinous crime, and he, not the Confederate battle flag is responsible.
All of this talk about that flag is a diversionary tactic that liberal socialists like to use to sway public opinion over to their side in this discussion. So stop talking about a damn piece of cloth and talk about the actual crime and the criminal. Judas H. Priest, people! Let's talk about real problems, not problems that were solved in 1865.

[TRUCKERCATFAN]

The Confederate flag is a symbol of my youth. I'm not as old as Darrel and Darryl who were actually alive in during the Civil War. LOL Just Kidding. Anyways, I grew up in the 80's and my favorite show was The Dukes Of Hazzard. Loved the General Lee car and thought the image painted on the top was really cool. Hell, I didn't even know it was a flag until I started having history classes in junior high. Since then I've always associated it with the South and not racism. Hell, I've even got one incorporates into a tattoo on my right arm. It will not be removed. That's for sure.

[Edward100]

We have a segment of our society that makes it their personal agenda to stir up controversy. It doesn’t matter what the issue, if it gets them on the front page or headline news, they feel they have accomplished their goal.

[Krank]

Meanwhile there is no African-American in the history of America who is not offended by this image.

Story over for me.

[dan_bgblue]

Krank, what about the Black folks that fought for the Confederacy? They were not forced into service so I would think they might have a different view of the flag than you think.

The battle flag began to take on a purely racial quality when the Klan began to be noticed by the national media in the late 50's and early 60's, and the general public, who were poorly educated on the true history of the flag and the secession of the southern states, associated the flag, with the help of the media spin on the issue, with oppression, slavery, and racism.

[CitizenBBN]

It's an easy answer. The Klan is rallying to support the flag on the State Capitol grounds. Point proved.

So if some bunch of lunatics happen to support this or that cause or symbol then anyone who supports it must agree with them? Oh please.

Personally I think it's a mistake to fly it as a government flag b/c the government should try to be more sensitive to those issues and stay beige, but this stuff pulling Dukes of Hazard cars from shelves is just silly. Like that will help bring us together or prevent some lunatic from doing something insane.

It's only intention is the Orwellian attempt to manipulate thought by manipulating the availability of images and speech.

I'm not alone in being offended by a number of flags and symbols still being sold by Walmart and Amazon, but I don't have much media support.

[Krank]

Krank, what about the Black folks that fought for the Confederacy? They were not forced into service so I would think they might have a different view of the flag than you think.

The battle flag began to take on a purely racial quality when the Klan began to be noticed by the national media in the late 50's and early 60's, and the general public, who were poorly educated on the true history of the flag and the secession of the southern states, associated the flag, with the help of the media spin on the issue, with oppression, slavery, and racism.

I actually know and understand all that is in your post.

I know this is not a popular opinion, but I have never gotten ANYTHING prideful out of that flag. We have ONE flag. That is the one I care about.

Continuing to wave that one, while we KNOW that African-Americans of TODAY absolutely DETEST seeing it, is just not a good idea and the reasons for flying it, at this time are not good enough for me, personally, to warrant pissing off an entire race in this country, particularly with regard to their history in the South.

I know some folks have a very emotional tie to this thing, but there is too much that divides us, unnecessarily in my view. I have always felt this is one of them.

I don't care if anyone thinks I am not representing my Southern heritage well. I have always been about finding some decent peace between folks in this country when I ponder problems, etc. I just don't think it's a big deal, even if it's illogical, just to be "nice" and let it go.

Folks are so caught up in being angry about "political correctness" (which I DO get, depending on the issue), but a lot of it can be solved by just erring on the side of being nice, a quality that humans REALLY have a strong capacity for. So I like to promote the divisive "PC" label as being redefined as "polite company", something Southerners, including myself, love to wax poetic about as a REAL quality that CAN separate the South in a POSITIVE way from some parts of this nation.

That's what bothers me the most. To me, it's just polite to let it go. I hope we all eventually do. JMO.

[Krank]

So if some bunch of lunatics happen to support this or that cause or symbol then anyone who supports it must agree with them? Oh please.

Personally I think it's a mistake to fly it as a government flag b/c the government should try to be more sensitive to those issues and stay beige, but this stuff pulling Dukes of Hazard cars from shelves is just silly. Like that will help bring us together or prevent some lunatic from doing something insane.

It's only intention is the Orwellian attempt to manipulate thought by manipulating the availability of images and speech.

I complained about Wal-Mart ONLY selling censored media (INCLUDING refusing to special order ANYTHING without a "parental advisory" label on it EVEN to an adult with a driver's license, etc.) and had the riot act read to me back on the political boards at Scout one time. "it's their free right in the capitalist system to sell whatever they want". I was not even suggesting "law" forcing them to do so, just that it was anti-American, in spirit, and nobody seemed to care.

If mother scratching Wal-Mart, my LEAST favorite retail business in the history of Planet Earth, doesn't want to sell the danged General Lee hot wheels or whatever, lol, then THAT is their business RIGHT to do so.

Has anyone suggested a LAW that would prohibit businesses from CHOOSING to own, fly, or otherwise promote the flag?

[CitizenBBN]

I complained about Wal-Mart ONLY selling censored media (INCLUDING refusing to special order ANYTHING without a "parental advisory" label on it EVEN to an adult with a driver's license, etc.) and had the riot act read to me back on the political boards at Scout one time. "it's their free right in the capitalist system to sell whatever they want". I was not even suggesting "law" forcing them to do so, just that it was anti-American, in spirit, and nobody seemed to care.

If mother scratching Wal-Mart, my LEAST favorite retail business in the history of Planet Earth, doesn't want to sell the danged General Lee hot wheels or whatever, lol, then THAT is their business RIGHT to do so.

Has anyone suggested a LAW that would prohibit businesses from CHOOSING to own, fly, or otherwise promote the flag?

it's absolutely their right, but you have to look beyond capitalism here to the entire PC movement and what it is doing, or maybe what it is not doing.

B/c what it is NOT doing is changing the nation to be more understanding or inclusive or tolerant. What it IS doing is trying to change who sets the standards and what the standards are, not to open the standards or allow us all to be more understanding.

I have little use for that, I dislike the hypocrisy, and it's not advancing us at all, just turning the wheel in place.

It's not about Walmart selling or not selling something, it's about the use of the modern day witch trial technique to get social conformity to a belief system. Shame and accusations of evil to force everyone in line.

What they are doing now is no different than when the tables ran the other way and blacks and others were viciously repressed by social standards of non-association and shunning. The only people in this showing us the true path of evolving and coming together is the congregation of that church, and no one is listening to them b/c we're worried about toy cars.

[dan_bgblue]

The pnly people in this showing us the true path of evolving and coming together is the congregation of that church, and no one is listening to them b/c we're worried about toy cars.

Spot on.

[Krank]

it's absolutely their right, but you have to look beyond capitalism here to the entire PC movement and what it is doing, or maybe what it is not doing.

B/c what it is NOT doing is changing the nation to be more understanding or inclusive or tolerant. What it IS doing is trying to change who sets the standards and what the standards are, not to open the standards or allow us all to be more understanding.

I have little use for that, I dislike the hypocrisy, and it's not advancing us at all, just turning the wheel in place.

It's not about Walmart selling or not selling something, it's about the use of the modern day witch trial technique to get social conformity to a belief system. Shame and accusations of evil to force everyone in line.

What they are doing now is no different than when the tables ran the other way and blacks and others were viciously repressed by social standards of non-association and shunning. The pnly people in this showing us the true path of evolving and coming together is the congregation of that church, and no one is listening to them b/c we're worried about toy cars.

I hear ya... and just so ya know... I wasn't saying I LIKED the overall precedent. Just pointing out some, admittedly vague in retrospect, irony. I likes me some irony sometimes I do.

I agree that we, generally, are arguing too much about too little BTW, but the WAY we are arguing about it has been troubling for some time. It's the main reason I rarely venture to these forums and why I regretted ever getting involved back at the Scout site for any period of time.

BTW, I am sorta slanty towards "PC", but I fail to see it as a "movement". In fact, your usage of the phrase is my first encounter, but then I actively avoid a LOT of political palaver out there. Just my preference these days. It only makes me feel helpless and I have better things to do with my time, generally speaking. Not that you needed to know all that (he said, realizing he was RAMBLING, lol).

[CitizenBBN]

Spot on.

Thanks.

They opened the door, showed us the path to take. That we can come together and hold hands and be one and still be different. That we can accept differences without needing conformity but still demand mutual respect and equality.

They showed us how to really take a step forward as a nation, but we'd rather debate nonsense and sit with our backs to the mouth of the cave thinking the light on the wall is really the sun (for all you Platonic folks).

As they say on Tralfamador, so it goes.