(Credit to NY Daily News for using the picture)
Sometimes it’s good to step back and look at the perspective of things and realize basketball is not the most important thing in the world. Today the news broke that John Calipari’s mother who was battling with cancer, lost that battle Sunday. Calipari tweeted this out earlier:
"As most of you know, my mom, Donna, has been battling cancer for several months. On Sunday, she lost her brave fight. On behalf of my dad, my two sisters, Ellen & all of our family….we want to thank the Big Blue Nation for all their prayers, cards, letters & support shared w/my mom during these days. Your warmth uplifted her and all of us. We hope you will all respect our privacy during this period & know that we are grateful for being part of the Big Blue family. God Bless & thank you – Coach Cal & Family."
Calipari’s mother was 74 and Coach Cal left the team after Sunday’s practice to meet family in Charlotte, N.C., where she lived and then returned back to the bluegrass Monday afternoon. All news out of UK says Coach Calipari will be on the sidelines tomorrow night against Boston. A movement was started online as soon as the news broke to wear black to the game in Lexington tomorrow night in remembrance of Calipari’s mother. The death has brought the UK basketball team closer together and they have rallied around their coach in these tough times.
I know it has been said over and over again but Coach Calipari “gets it” and the loss of his mother would be a very good reason to get out of the fish bowl that a Kentucky coach lives in. Every moment is monitored, every word hung onto and every action taken and broken down and discussed over and over. Calipari has answered the challenge of the Kentucky coaching job more brilliantly than anyone could have expected and you just know that he loves his job. Despite his mother passing away Sunday, Calipari will be on the sidelines tomorrow night and that shows the passion and love Calipari has for the UK program and its fans.
So Big Blue Nation, keep Calipari and his family in your thoughts or in your prayers because Calipari is a part of our extended family that is Big Blue Nation and be thankful for such a coach who is so resilient and charismatic.
You can read the full article here.
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