Although Kentucky and John Calipari are taking an amicable approach to their surprising breakup, it seems like there is all kinds of underlying tension behind the scenes. The latter claims that the former never gave them an opportunity to try and keep him in Lexington.
That goes against a recent report about a supposed counter offer.
According to longtime Wildcats sports reporter Dick Gabriel, Calipari went back to his now-former employer with a request for counter that went unanswered. They apparently told him to kick rocks.
Or did they…?
Tom Mars, one of the most notable attorneys in the sports world (for better or for worse), represents Arkansas’ new head basketball coach. He received a text message from somebody within Kentucky Athletics that would contradict the report from Gabriel and leaked it to the world!
If the undisclosed person who texted Mars is to be believed, the Wildcats never got a chance to counter.
The aforementioned administrator referenced athletic director Mitch Barnhart, so we know it is not him that sent the message. We don’t know exactly who the sender is, but the university’s staff directory offers a large number of potential names. It could really be any one of them— or none of them!
Regardless of who sent the text to Mars, there are now conflicting viewpoints on how things played out over the last few days.
John Calipari may have gone back to Kentucky with a number that he needed to stay. He may not have.
Either way, an already mess breakup between one of the winningest coaches in school history and the school itself is even messier than it was when the day began. The whole thing has been bizarre and confusing since Sunday night. Will the truth come out with time? We will have to wait and see!