No, not the lovable brother of Vincent Chase. John Wall, the recruit who actually made ESPN start follow recruiting, unfortunately.
Now that Duke fans have moved on for what captivated us for two months, and ran the risk of keeping us guessing for a few more, you have to wonder what some of these kids think.
Who knows what was really going on in Wall’s head, or his “advisor” Brian Clifton for that matter. However, it ends where all the controversy started. New Kentucky coach John Calipari, got the commitment he wanted more than anything and now has every media outlet in awe of his great recruiting prowess. Calipari, who by the way hasn’t won anything yet, and only has one Final Four (Final Fours that are taken away don’t count).
I can understand Wall wanting to get away from Carolina, since most of his troubles are here, but the locked down confines of the Duke basketball program seemed like a great place for him to hide from any controversy, and polish for the NBA for one year. To him it wasn’t. In my opinion he went for the “questionable” NBA connections that Calipari hangs over a recruits head. And I guess if the NCAA doesn’t care, then all power to you. My problem with the NCAA is for another time though.
As of now a few journalist are starting to question the ethics that Calipari is showing by inviting more players that he has scholarships, basically giving lesser talented players a pink slip in waiting. You can bet that none of these journalist are anywhere near Lexington, and I am sure any Kentucky fan will justify it. This great basketball institution just loves to have coaches the not only touch the gray area, but jump right in. Will it eventually blow up in their face, my guess is probably. But with the NCAA not really looking in to something so borderline wrong, who knows how long Calipari will be able to rule/ruin college basketball.
I read this article with interest as an admittedly biased UK fan. As a parent of a recent UK graduate and lifelong fan, I was a bit put-off by the statement that “this great institution just loves to have coaches [that] not only touch the gray area, but jump right in.” The coaches in the past who have touched or jumped into the gray area are GONE. Good riddance. I am planning to keep my eyes open about Calipari, waiting to pass judgment after a few years to see how he fits. The UK fans I know want an honorable tradition, not one blighted by gray areas. But for Duke fans to be so high and mighty about ethics is pretty funny, too, considering Coach K’s indifference regarding player ethics ON the court. Laettner’s antics (stomping on Timberlake) and Henderson’s hard foul on Hansbrough. So if you want to discuss ethics….jump right on it.
Cal has 0 violations. Williams has 8. Pitino 7. Don’t know bout coach K, don’t care. You guys can sip the haterade all day. You can’t deny our future is bright. I wish we had a game every year like we do with your buds down the street, but I’m sure your snooty bs will preclude you from jumpin in bed with us. Wish you the best of luck. But I do hate you with every bone in my body.
I hope you didn’t go to school at Duke. I thought Duke students were smarter than your writing indicates.
The plural of journalist is journalists. Also,”blow up in there face”.
I think you meant “their face”.
Anyway, have a good day. Watch out for that glass house.
“Borderline wrong” – give me a break! Yes, Duke is the King of Ethics, huh? If you are going to put KY down, at least use proper grammar. It will blow up in “there” face? (um, try “their”) I agree with Cindy above – wait to pass judgment until after a few years… or heck, at least wait until the season starts! Coach Cal has not been accused of breaking any NCAA rule at KY. And don’t say Duke wouldn’t have offered a scholarship to Wall if all their scholarships were already filled. You wouldn’t be saying all this if Wall had chosen Duke as his school. Don’t be bitter…
Please, stop shadow boxing and trying to make this something it is not. Say what you mean to say: You wish you had landed Wall. Duke has enough accomplishments to talk postively about not to have to stoop to demeaning another program. Like the 1998 playoff game, Duke lost this one. That is all. Move on.
Cindy,
Thanks for posting. However, arguing basketball with UK fans is like talking to my Dad about politics….it just ain’t worth it.
Boo-Hoo. John Wall didn’t commit to Duke because Coach K is a dinosaur. Anything that Calipari has been accused Coach K has done also, whether it be shady connections with agents (Maggette) or recruiting players with questionable character (Shelden Williams).
After reading this article, it is obvious that the author may have majored in philosophy. He’s philosophical about losing Wall. Yeah and those grapes were sour anyway. It is equally obvious that he didn’t major in English (it’s “in THEIR face,” Einstein).
Nothing I love more than a jealous Duke fan. Any KY fan will justify it? I think any Duke fan will rationalize the loss of Wall, which seems to be what’s going on here. So rationalize away and remember, you can’t spell dUKe with UK. We love the hate, so hate on.
Would you like a big hunk of Kentucky Blue Cheese to go with your wine.
Would this article be a “wine” or just your normal sour grapes?
Ding! – Hater tots are done!
I’m disappointed to read a Duke fan misspell or misuse a few words in a blog. I could understand in a reply. “There?” That is improper usage of this word. The proper word is their. Also I believe you also used “coaches the not only” when you actually meant “coaches that not only”. In closing I’d like to say I hope you went to UNC-Wilmington with such grammer and not such a fine university as Duke.
GO CATS!
lol “grammar”
UK fans taking over a Puke blog, I love it!
NIT.
It is my understanding that Mitch and the rest of athletic department were very thorough in their assessment of Calipari’s background, which included his recruiting techniques, as well as his relationships with those fundamental to his recruiting success. We are in the infancy of this Calipari love affair and no one, I stress no one knows how it is going to play out. We in the commonwealth hope that it brings success on the court similar to that of Pitino’s era while staying within the confines of the NCAA’s regulations. We have gone through times where grey turned to black, only to have the responsible coach pack up and leave us to the mercy of the NCAA. No amount of success on the court is worth the ridicule and shame that comes with an SI cover that most of us in the state have ingrained in our minds. I doubt many, if any, of those resonsible for hiring Calipari were associated with UK back in the late 80′s and early 90′s but I am sure that they are well versed in the troubles that riddled our school. Our AD and his staff did their homework and came to the conclusion that Coach C was the right man for the job. I believe that with their knowledge of the past and their absolute determination not to let UK’s past transgressions repeat themselves, Coach C and UK wll find happiness together. But then again no one knows exactly how this plays out.
I think someone might be a little jealous.To bad Coach k won’t play us any.
I apologize to all the UK fans for misspelling, or misusing a few words. I completely forgot that the great state of Kentucky is full of the best and brightest.
I should have mentioned that yes, I would have loved for Wall to come to Duke. I was just stating my opinions of why he would have chose one school over another.
Am I to understand the only reason Mr. Wall would choose UK over Duke is because Calipari is crooked and unethical?
It certainly couldn’t be that year after year UK is #1 in attendance or that Calipari runs the DDMO that has sent his last two PGs to the Association. Could it?
“… of why he would have chose one school over another”
Dude, when you post a message apologizing for incorrect word usage in a prior post, it’s better form not to carry your error forward. Try “chosen” next time, moron.
The most hilarious thing about all of this is that we had to suffer through the same comments from uk fans when billy clyde rode into town with a stellar recruiting class (patterson, legion, etc.) to save the program. A few NIT’s later and even ashley judd was left with nothing to say. Same situation here. Cal brings in 3 non-qualifiers, we have to endure a few “Yee Haw, the cats are back!” comments and fans of real programs that don’t have to coach shop every 2-3 years get to sit back and watch the whole thing explode. It’s 50/50 at this point, either the NCAA drops the hammer or Cal decides to take on the challenge of coaching in the NBA. I just can’t decide which scenario will play out first.
I love how people always talk trash about UK’s violations. Let’s see–one occurred in or around 1950 and the other during the Sutton era in the 80′s. So during the more than half century of winning more games than any other program (yes, UNC, we’re still ahead), and second only to the Wooden proletariate of the NCAA championships, there have been two violations. That’s shady?
As I stated moron, in my previous post I could understand grammar mistakes in a hastily written reply.
I was a Duke grad. I think the article is an embarrassment. I apologize to all the UK fans. I’ll be the first to admit that Duke hoops has been down and disappointing, and that the temptation to shun principle was considerable. That’s not a high and mighty statement – Duke definitely pursued Wall. They didn’t let ethics get in the way. To compare recruiting violations to Laettner in the UK game or Henderson is a joke. Laettner was penalize appropriately, and that wasn’t premeditated. I understand that there’s some residual emotion from that game.
Cal cheated at UMass, that’s a matter of record. He was near the line at Memphis, took some questionable kids. You know what? Somebody has too. Seriously. The kids do dubious things and don’t deserve to have their entire future taken away. Those kids usually don’t end up at UK, UNC, IU, or Duke. But – they deserve to play. Cal is now in a different zip code, it’ll be interesting to see how he responds.
One other disclaimer. I’m the one Duke fan who didn’t want Wall. I don’t want him near the program. Not because he’s a bad kid who will cause problems. But because there are enough red flags that he might be that kid, and if he is, you’d look back and say “I should have known.” He’s OJ Mayo. His recruitment had tones of an auction. He’s still not close to academically eligible, by all reports. Bledsoe was iffy academically, but he’s the one I would have wanted, if you’re going to cross that line. Not the kid with academic issues, judgment issues, legal issues, AAU issues, and (who knows) maybe money issues that will pop up at some point.
Congrats to UK. That’s not tongue in cheek. It’s the most impressive off season I can remember. Whatever your view of how he does it, Cal wins. That’s why they hired him. UK will win, and win big, fast. We’re all jealous. Maybe if I’m lucky Bledsoe will beg out of his commitment and come to Duke. That would be great.
SlimTim – As long as you are open to being taught by us Cat fans – Kentucky is a “Commonwealth”, not a state
To cindy.
Everyone including hansborough as he has stated himself knows it was unintentional and they even said they are friends now. so you try backing off a bit. Second why give hi a few years? he cheated in a few years at umass, he cheated in a few years at memphis, how many years is good enough for you? The author is right, its supposedly against NCAA rules to offer scholarships without having any, so he just took away a few college players right to a college oppertunity for a bunch of one and done players! how is that for ethics mind you?
To clay Brown
! Rupp was as racist as they come referring blacks to monkeys. but thats beyond what were talking about.
i hate uk with every bone in my body! i mean what kind of African American would love to attend UK? sure GREAT basketball tradition…that was also followed with great tradition in racism
sure he was never convicted in recruiting charges, in which he probably paid off the NCAA to let him go. But it tends to happen
that whenever he leaves a school violation appear. bull that he didn’t know about rose cheating on his SATs, same to dozier. Right our buddies down the street own Kentucky, by what twenty points last outing?
Duke relishes the laettner shot!!!