He might even paint the big house on Galloway blue.
This is why I want the Memphis Tigers to go after Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl. I want him to agree, and then I want him to buy the big house on Galloway, and then I want him to paint that sucker blue. He would, wouldn’t he?
Instead of that lovely peach. Or pink. Or whatever it is now.
The big blue house would signal a new start for everyone. But only a start.
Pearl could drop by Gibson’s Donuts in the mornings, just like John Calipari did.
The regulars would love the guy.
He could take over Cal’s Championship Steaks. Call it the Pearl Oyster House.
What a way to make this community gloom disappear.
No need to waste any time chasing Rick Pitino. He’s flat not going to come.
Just go get the man at the other end of the state. Altogether now: “Bruuuuuuuuuce.” How does that sound, Memphis fans? Talk about bouncing back.
Pearl might not come to Memphis, in the end. But I know for a fact he’d listen to the pitch.
He knows the area. He recruits here all the time. He likes big piles of cash as much as the next guy.
Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said Wednesday that money won’t be the reason anyone turns down the Tiger job.
Great. Because Pearl has a whopping $2.5 million buyout. Better back up the truck.
And, yes, it’s possible I want this to happen in part because it would drive Calipari nuts.
Calipari genuinely hates Pearl. As much as he is genuine about anything, at least.
Speaking of which, did you catch that Calipari press conference in Kentucky? Did you hear the part where he said he wouldn’t recruit a player who was disrespectful to his mother?
I wish someone had known to ask the natural follow: “Then why did you recruit a player who burned a gang sign into a girl with a lit cigarette?”
The guy is too much. He’s even taking his secretary with him to Kentucky. Maybe he’ll leave some old furniture or Pierre Henderson-Niles.
Now it turns out that while all those fans were lined up in front of Calipari’s house the other day, begging the coach to stay, he was inside trying to persuade the Memphis recruits to join him at his new gig.
He can’t talk to them once he’s the Kentucky coach, see. That’s against the rules. So why not be agonized until he’s got it figured out?
And then he comes back from Lexington on Wednesday and gets all weepy. At least he had the good sense not to show at Johnson’s time-to-crank-up-the-coaching-search press conference.
“It’s time to turn the page,” Johnson said.
The new page says: PEARL!
It’s not like Pearl is some wacky sideshow, either. He can flat coach. Let me tell you about two highly-acclaimed college basketball coaches. We’ll call them — what else would we call them? — Coach A and Coach B.
Coach A went to a program in serious disrepair. In his first four years at the place, he went to two NCAA Tournaments and two NITs. He won one NCAA Tournament game.
Coach B went to a program in serious disrepair. In his first four years at the place, he went to the NCAA Tournament four straight times. He won five NCAA Tournament games. He went to two Sweet 16’s.
Which coach would you rather hire to guide your program? Coach B, right?
That’s Pearl. Coach A is Calipari. And Pearl doesn’t — at least, he couldn’t possibly — lie as much.
It’s a slam dunk, I’m telling you. It’s the obvious, only choice.
Pearl to Memphis. Pearl to Galloway, too.
It’s a big house with some highly mixed memories, yes. But nothing that a coat of paint wouldn’t fix.
To reach Geoff Calkins, call 529-2364 or e-mail calkins@commercialappeal.com.
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Comments » 49
knoxvegas75 writes:
lol go for it and the answer will be "NO" bruce is too good a of a team player and loves tennessee and no offer from memphis could get him interested.
Colliervol writes:
The idea does make some sense Geoff. But you've been in Memphis how long now? Memphis (the town or the school) rarely does anything that makes sense. Think about it. You know I'm right.
murrayvol writes:
Ah, the dark side of Calipari. Thanks Geoff. Just what the Memphis fans need as they work their way through the anger and denial phase of estrangement.
wagee12 writes:
Calkins, Memphis could fall off into the Mississippi River and no one would miss it for a week and a half. All the Memphis recruits are headed elsewhere, the point guard says he's going to the NBA and you call for Bruce Pearl to move to the decaying River City. It's Pearl's call, but I for one don't see it happening. Oh, but by the way Jeffie, you make it sound soooo good writing for the Mempiss paper and all.
memphis_vol_fan writes:
Go to the CA website and read the comments from Tiger fans about this article. They think that Pearl should be their last option. I even saw Coach K's name mentioned on their.
dvhill100 writes:
and still haven't...... ;)
FWBVol writes:
Let me get this straight, would you rather "Own" Memphis or the entire state of Tennessee? There's no comparison on the national prestige scale...the University of Tennessee Knoxville is the major power school in Tennessee.
I'll never say never about Pearl, but it doesn't make much sense. Forget the money because UT can match Memphis dollar for dollar and then some. Recruiting the city of Memphis just became a little easier too. Yes, Calipari will still get some players out of Memphis, but he won't have it locked down like he did when it was his own backyard.
Another thing nobody is mentioning is that Pearl's son still has a year or two of eligibility left at Tennessee, and I don't see Bruce leaving before Steven graduates.
As far as I'm concerned Pearl is nothing more than a wish for Memphis.
volball7222 writes:
OK, see what happens when you use LSD?
VAvolfanRON writes:
You can go to:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/...
1/2 of the fans would be upset if Pearl became their coach; the other 1/2 would love it.
One poster evens claims that a 'source' close to Pearl's family says that Pearl is meeting w/Memphis on Friday and says Bruce would accept if offered!!!!!!
Like you said, funny stuff!
volball7222 writes:
I'm sure Pearl would just love to leave the SEC. He could coach U of M a couple of years and then move up to a really big high school there in Memphis.
LiveToRide writes:
A wet dream, but nothing more. Bruce is here to stay...Knoxville that is. Memphis State can keep looking.
yeavols#228407 writes:
You know it's good when other programs want your coach...I wonder how long it will be before Florida wants Pearl..or better yet..KIFFIN...
givehim6 writes:
One thing I noticed is this Calkins guy sounds very pushy. He is telling Pearl what he should do,and what house to buy wow and CBP has not said anything about MU. Something tells me CBP is laughing at this.
Rick4UT writes:
Pearl would be a waste in Memphis...the players there are not coachable...they are athletes that want to showcase their skills...The type that throws up a 3 pointer with time running out and leading by 2. GO VOLS !!!!!
born2ride writes:
That sounds more like Pearl's team last year.
TurnUpTheVOLtage writes:
Memphis is wasting their time with Pearl. I can't think of any "wow" coaches that would go to memphis, Anderson would have been a good idea, but Mizzou re-signed him so that's out. I think Memphis will have to try and hit a home run with a younger, less well known coach.
wildberry14 writes:
i want pearl to stay, but i liked this article. it is fun to bash calipari
rockytopjeff writes:
Pearl will be here until 1) North Carolina has a coaching vacancy 2) We fire him for some stupid reason and 3) HELL freezes over!!! And I will quote the late Bernie Mac from Oceans 13.. NUFF SAID!!!
allvol9 writes:
Pearl is all vol....no way he bolts for Memphis. I don't think there is enough money. Pearl and calipari rivarly....twice in one year is great for the SEC. Go Vols...and Go Coach Pearl!
tntoak writes:
This IS April Fools' Day - might want to keep that in mind before getting too worked up over the article.
Rick4UT writes:
Oops...I never gave it much thought but you may be right.
Pearl may be their guy. dang I'll miss him. :) You do have to admit though that Pearl has done good with average players, in years past.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I'm not so aure Pearl doesn't play this one like a violin.
$$$$ talks and BS walks.
Hold on tight!!
mattlock writes:
Maybe the "insider" is just his ex-wife who's looking to expand her business. Would anyone in Memphis know what alimony is?
Colliervol writes:
It's really a pretty easy concept really fellas. If Memphis really wanted him and Bruce was only in it for the money, he might take the job. Because that would be the ONLY reason to move to the pit known as Memphis. Money makes people do strange things you know.
But I don't believe Bruce is just in it for the money. He loves the competition and he's going to be amped up even more with Cal in the same division.
bluetick writes:
Great post!
jerseydevilvol writes:
why would this type of article be on a ut site this is garbage. I wasted my time reading this junk
Colliervol writes:
Why? Because he wrote the truth? What Marc wrote there was dead on correct. No need to supply any links to anything.
VAvolfanRON writes:
why are you asking for links? Links for what? Go to my link and you will see the responses of tiger fans that they are hurt angry etc.
Why in the world would you call someone a fraud and loser for posting opinions anyhow?
Can I ask if you are coherent?
CoverOrange writes:
Alabama has a 90 something thousand seat football stadium and 100k rabid fans and pay Saban $4M and barely a basketball program. Tennessee has a 100k+ seat football stadium and pays Kiffin and company ~$5M, a 20k seat BB arena and pays Pearl ~$2M. Kentucky has a 20k+ BB arena and wants to pay Calipari $5M with a football program that probably breaks even? All are in the SEC and share Bowl money. How in the heck can Memphis afford to pay anyone significant dough for BB with a smaller arena, and not football program to speak of, in a conference that is waiting for stimilus checks?
Voluvr writes:
Everyone in Memphis was begging and pleading, now Calimari is a liar and a cheat. Pearl is not dumb. He's knows the money is coming whether at Tennessee or elsewhere. One thing for sure, he knows you can do big things at Memphis but it's never really a great thing.
Memphis is a country unto it's own. There's a reason the rest of the state would rather not go there. The conference stinks with lousy or no rivals and it's spread out all over the country.
Calimari had a bigger offer and a wealthy retirement to stay and he wanted out. So, why would a better coach want into that situation? Like Calimari for Pearl it's not all about the money.
CoverOrange writes:
Not that I'm standing in anyone's corner but I believe Marc Ash was the name given by Itsme as the reason he comes here to trash the Vols. According to Itsme, Mr. Ash spent some time on Memphis boards exercising free speech rights. I could be wrong though, memory is selective.
VAvolfanRON writes:
Ok, I do understand praising the school of your choice and not bashing another. (I have to admit, I've been guilty of it myself.) But, he was saying that the posters are making claims w/o posting links. He is not asking for links, just stating that they are not backing up their statements.
For instance, if I said that Coach Pearl is leaving for UM; then, I better have source to prove it or it is just rumor. Wouldn't you agree? Go the link that I provided earlier and IMO the tigers are hurt, betrayed, etc. I could be wro...er wr..umh wro.....not correct!
I do find it strange that you give someone phooey for bashing another school but, your first post here is bashing a fellow Vol. Which is worse?
SuperVolfan writes:
ME: My advice to Calkins:
STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VAvolfanRON writes:
Please reread the posts!!...Nowhere, I'll say it again..Nowhere did either of us said Pearl is going to Memphis...I believe he will stay at UT...I don't think would want to follow in Coach Cals shadow (hand me down). Please try to read what is posted and not what you want to read.
VAvolfanRON writes:
unbelievable....is this guy for real? gatorzz, bobthevol and now this guy....all from the same mold
vol_chaz writes:
Really? you really think marc ash is gatorzz? You do know he has a blog here on GVX, right? This is a friggin' message board , do you really need a link to give your opinion? I think stoner is half baked...need a link for that?
golfballs03 writes:
I am a realist here. If a fantastic offer comes around, Bruce won't turn it down. Memphis isn't a fantastic offer unless they make him the highest paid coach in basketball. The way recruiting goes, Bruce has some serious opportunities in the near future to become a top 10 coach in college basketball. He won't turn that opportunity down to start over at some mid-major like Memphis
dma38256#264746 writes:
Can you say "Fed Ex?"
tennezz writes:
You are either having a nightmare or need an enema, kentucky will not win the sec next year!
Slystone writes:
Remember it was April Fools Day when this article came out.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Serves Memphis tigers right!
Now Memphis recruiting belongs to guess who?
Bruce's greatest revenge is to get their recruits , not their coaching job! who wants it! Certainly not any of us! Memphis over Knoxville? Give us a break. Better area here, closer to the beach and to a whole lot of great cities, including Cinci. And also east coast, and also the beautiful mountains here, Dolly Parton, and the Smokies!! Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Volunteers football team with coach California and crew. Nay, you just go there, you Mr. sportswriters!!! You guys can go , we will stay and play here thank you!!
NashvillePreds writes:
I heard the State of Tennessee was going to sell Memphis to Mississippi. The plan is to have a budget surplus for the forseeable future. We can make money, although it will be minimal, from the sale. From there, we won't be pouring money into the social welfare programs that keep the city afloat.
Volunatic writes:
Not much point asking a guy named "stonercomedy" if he is coherent...
VAvolfanRON writes:
lol...good point....I should've figured out myself!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I surely hope you're right, buddy, but there are a few things that you may have overlooked. For one thing, Cal never relied on Memphis talent at UM. UT's difficulties recruiting there were more related to distance and, in some cases, the low academics of some Memphis high-schools. For another, if CBP goes there, Steve could go with him without losing eligibility; the NCAA has a rule that says a coach's son can move to another school with him and be eligible right away. I agree that in many ways a move to Memphis would be a step down for CBP, but then I didn't think Calapari would ever leave there.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well, maybe it's on here so UT fans won't be totally blindsided if CBP DOES go there. I have seen a lot of "whistling through the graveyard" on here today. I hope with all my heart that CBP stays, but you just can't EVER say "never" when it comes to coaches and their employment decisions when the call is totally theirs to make.
Longtimevolfan writes:
I think it is FUNNY that all of the sudden Coach Pearl, a UT guy is better than Calipari. The Tiger High folks really don't know what they are doing. If your program is SO GREAT, as all of the Memphis posters have been saying, losing Calipari shouldn't be a big deal....but it is. Hey, maybe Tic Price is available to come back to the Tiger High program. Why would Pearl want to go to a program that is "shambles"? You Tiger High folks...I hope you like the crow you are now going to have to eat.
Colliervol writes:
Exactly. The words "stoner" and "comedy" don't mix unless you are the one that's stoned. Everything is funny then. What was the Horatio Sanz character on SNL? Gobi? That's what I envision when this guy is posting.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Memphis hates Tennessee....Tennessee hates Memphis. Tiger High is setting itself up for more disappointment before Bruce slams the door on them again! yet because Memphis wants him...Bruce will get more $ from UT and lock him in for longer. Get used to Big Brother dominating you for years.
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