John Calipari: The World Is Not Enough

No, John Calipari is not going to star as the next James Bond. I think that role may be safe. But when it comes to anything else, all bets are off. Anyone paying attention to the players being awarded or considered for awards this year? John Wall and Demarcus Cousins end up 2 and 3 in NBA Rookie of The Year voting, Derrick Rose is the NBA’s MVP. The Wildcats were back in the Final Four. And there is one common thread among all of those things. John Calipari.

When you look into the eyes of a man like Coach Cal, you have to wonder if his brain ever shuts down. He is constantly moving, always where he needs to be, and surrounding himself with the best of the best, and moving those people into positions that allow them to become even better than they are. He uses every resource at his disposal, uses every rule he can use, and always, always puts the people around him first. That is the mark of a man who knows the value of a life. Not the value of a great jump shooter, or a kid who can completely dominate the paint, but the value of a young man who is a contributor to his family, his community, and the world at large.

You see, basketball is a means to an end for John Calipari. And that is what he teaches to the young men in his charge. An NBA contract means that a kid can see that his family is cared for and supported for life. An NCAA Championship means that as a coach he can hold fundraisers and benefits and see that those who are less fortunate can receive a small slice of what others take for granted. And winning means that you command respect from those who can help you achieve your goals in life. Rick Pitino wrote “Success Is A Choice”. And that is true. But for John Calipari, success was “Bounce Back”. You see, he wanted to put something out there for those who had been knocked down and had to get back up. He wanted to show how the world cannot stop you from getting to where you want to be, but that when you get there, you have a responsibility to help others get there too. It is almost an obsession with Calipari. He cannot fail, even when he does not totally succeed because others succeeding is his true goal.

When the world saw JFK elected President in 1960, it witnessed a flawed man with an incredible nature to succeed rise to the highest office in the land and become one of the most beloved figures in history, in spite of all of his flaws. He was not old enough, not seasoned enough, son of a rich man who rose to power through illegal means. He owed his success to others who were considered unworthy. But through all of this, he maintained his place in history because he was more concerned about others than himself. It is the one true trait of all great men. And I measure greatness not in what is accomplished by the man, but what others accomplish around them. Judging by the success that the people around John Calipari seem to be having, he may have accomplished something that others cannot. That is what makes John Calipari a success. The rest is just window dressing. And the world is better off for it. Much better off.

Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans