Memphians are ungrateful for John Calipari

Memphis Tiger faithful need to stop and think about where this Tiger basketball team was before John Calipari arrived as the head coach of this team in 2000. Tic Price had just been fired amongst scandal of an inappropriate relationship with a co-ed. Tiger basketball had been absent from the tournament for the last 3 seasons and hadn't thought of being in the national spotlight since the Penny Hardaway and Dave Vaughn days back when they reached the Elite 8 in 1992.

John Calipari took this program over in shambles. There wasn't a Finch Center to boost recruiting. National recruiting was an option, but not a feasible one. It was a dark time in the history of Memphis basketball. Cal's first two seasons were rough, but he lead the Tigers to an NIT championship in 2002, and back to the NCAA tournament in 2003 for the first time in 7 years. The Tigers left the Pyramid and began playing their games in the brand new NBA arena: The FedEx Forum, in 2004. This move was spurred largely by John Calipari's great relationship with Michael Heisley (owner of the Grizzlies), a close friend of Cal, who had just moved the Grizzlies to Memphis from Vancouver just a few years before. The Tigers were then set to take off nationally. They had the facilities to recruit all over the country, and the coach with enough balls to get any player he wanted.

Cal led the Tigers to the Elite 8 from 2006-2008 including an appearance in the National Championship game in 2008. In Cal's tenure, he doubled the program's Sweet 16 and Elite 8 appearances and won a plethora of conference titles. He established the Finch Center, making recruiting easier than ever, brought the Nike Elite contract to the athletic department, and nearly won a national title in 2008, something this city hadn't dreamed about since the early 90's.

And now you are telling me that you are going to cheer for Louisville in the Final 4 this weekend? The devil's advocate? Memphians need to remember where this program was before John Calipari arrived, and where it was when he left. Sure there were NCAA sanctions when Cal left, but those have been handled and the program is right back in the national spotlight.

But where would this program be if Cal had never decided to take the job in Memphis? Would they be headed to the Big East in 2013? Definitely Not. This team would be left behind the C-USA/MWC merger that is honestly, going to be terrible. Cal built the brand name that is Memphis basketball and has made Memphis a name that is now well known for its basketball, not just its barbeque.

--GM