John Calipari has had an interesting coaching career. With the leadership of Marcus Camby, Calipari’s UMASS team made the school’s only Final Four appearance (although it was vacated because Camby admitted to accepting impermissible benefits).
He made enemies along the way. He had a bitter Atlantic 10 rivalry with former Temple Owls coach John Chaney that culminated with Chaney yelling “I’ll kill you!” while trying to lunge at Calipari during a press conference.
But Calipari has made at least one incredibly powerful ally.
Calipari is friends with Bill Clinton. They have a genuine relationship that spans the decades.
From ESPN:
Former President Bill Clinton might be a longtime fan of his home state Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team, but he has been friends with Kentucky head coach John Calipari for 25 years.
The 42nd President of the United States, @billclinton, who I’ve known for 25 years, passed through Lexington today. pic.twitter.com/ZfgAjVFV0g
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 3, 2016
[…]
Clinton, who became the first sitting president to attend the Final Four, supporting the Razorbacks during the 1994 run to the national championship, thanked Calipari for the visit on Twitter afterward. Hopefully, Arkansas fans won’t be offended that the former president tweeted out “Go Big Blue” toward Calipari.
.@billclinton signed the iconic pic he took w/JFK when he was 16 at the White House as a Boys Nation senator. pic.twitter.com/zIvfHPAvgM
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 3, 2016
Great to see you, Coach! Go Big Blue! #BBN https://t.co/G7HrVqAZVe
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) May 3, 2016
For an SEC fan to show love to an opposing team, Clinton and Calipari’s bond must be strong.
SEC Country expanded on their friendship:
On Wednesday, Calipari spoke with SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum to discuss his relationship with former President Bill Clinton, a person he tries to have lunch with once a year.
“We’ve had great conversations. He is still so sharp,” Calipari said. “I ask him, ‘How would you deal with what I’m dealing with? How would you deal with kids leaving early? What would be your suggestion?’”
Calipari, whose reached three NCAA Tournament championship games and made six Final Four appearances in his coaching career, still expresses shock when thinking about being able to exchange words with the two-term president.
“I’ve been blessed,” Calipari said. “Grandparents came through Ellis Island, you know, and my parents are high school educated. My dad was a great worker and laborer, and I’m having a chance to sit down with the former president of the United States and have an hour-and-a-half lunch? What? What a great country we live in.”
Finebaum mentioned his surprise when Clinton, who’s been known to attend Razorbacks games, was recalling individual Hogs games from the 1990s in his own recent talk with the 42nd U.S. president. Calipari affirmed that Clinton’s passion is broader than that.
“He is a big basketball fan,” Calipari said. “He’s a huge Arkansas (fan) obviously, but he loves basketball, loves it.”
Calipari mentioned that sometimes he asks Clinton’s opinion on an issue. Perhaps Clinton could reciprocate and ask whether his wife should run for office.
If Calipari’s honest, he’ll tell Bill that Hillary running for President in 2020 would be disastrous.
well any body that is friends with bill, hillary, or chelsie clinton needs to be fired on the spot …you know he is a dishonest coach just by the friends he keeps …fire him