Kentucky Derby Festival: John Calipari Pegasus Parade Grand Marshal

When John Calipari won the NCAA National Championship last month, he joined names like Adolph Rupp, Joe B Hall, Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith in his success with the program.

Last week it was announced that John Calipari would join names like Muhammad Ali, John Wayne,  Buzz Aldren (and my favorite William Shatner) in becoming an honorary Grand Marshall of the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade tomorrow, the major event on the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby that includes floats, balloons, cars, and typically Al Roker or Willard Scott emcees.

Upon announcement of the parade (to kick off at 5:00PM Thursday 5/3) marshal, Louisville fans were in an uproar over a Kentucky head coach leading a “Louisville” event, something their own head coach hadn’t accomplished since 1975 when Denny Crum (who had lead the Cardinals to a Final Four loss to UCLA) and Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall (who finished as National Runners-Up to UCLA) were Grand Marshals.