TV cameras caught Kentucky coach John Calipari cursing out freshman forward Terrence Jones last week, prompting everyone in college hoops (and PTI and ATH) to debate whether Calipari went overboard. (My take: Not a chance.)
Meanwhile, former Kentucky players just laughed at all of it. Whether they played for Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino or Tubby Smith, many a Wildcat has heard many a four-letter word in their time.
From a story by Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald-Leader:Did players anger Adolph Rupp to the point of intemperate language?
“Constantly,” said Larry Conley, of the beloved Rupp’s Runts. “Oh my gosh, yes.”
Did Joe B. Hall cuss and fuss?
“Oh yeah,” said Tom Heitz, who declined to elaborate, saying, “It’s kind of like what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
But by far the best take of the story came from Cameron Mills, who played for Pitino and Smith in the mid-90 and is now a minister living in Lexington.
“I’ve heard it as a noun, adverb, adjective, pronoun,” Mills told the paper. “That one is good for all occasions.”
Coaches do what they do and express it how they choose. Mills and every other player will admit it’s not personal. It’s merely part of the game.
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