Calipari rumor quickly debunked ... by CALIPARI

[ninjabiscuit]

Everyone seems to be missing this. If Karl gets fired it will be justified because he tried to circumvent his superiors. Doesnt have to have anything to do with Cousin's feelings.

Totally agree.

 

[Sac.1989]

Id rather not JC come in with full control of this team, i dont feel any of those roles work well.

We need Vlade at the top and a coach who coaches. Obviously has input into the team and style of play but doesnt overstep the mark.

 

[bajaden]

Does anyone here still take Woj seriously at this point? He's declared war on Sacramento for whatever reason and the reports are only getting more ridiculous. There's no way Coach Cal is leaving Kentucky. He can stay there for 30 years and they'll pay him whatever he wants because he recruits well enough to compete every single year. Did anyone else catch the dig at Vlade that got thrown in there at the end?

(link)

This right here is the actual content of the article. I'll summarize for you: PDA is a saint who did nothing wrong, Vivek is an out of control meddling ego-maniac owner, and Vlade Divac is borderline incompetent and in way over his head. All the garbage about Coach Cal talking to Vivek about a job was just made up to get people to read the article. This is exactly what Woj does... he uses his sources to gain inside information about who is negotiating with who and then he stashes editorials in there which flatter his sources as a kind of kick back. Most people are going to completely ignore this part of the article but six months from now (or heck, maybe even tomorrow at this rate) some other "leak" is going to come out and it will refer back to this little nugget of fiction and suddenly people start to see a trend and it's got Wojnarowski's name on it so it seems credible...

You sir, have nailed it... This is a well thought out step by step effort to destroy the franchise's credibility. I have no idea why or how Woj got on board, because I have always given credence to his articles, but my opinion of him has taken a serious hit. I have no idea who is at the center of this, Fegan, PDA? And, frankly, I don't give a damm. My hope is that Cousins is innocent, and has nothing to do with this. But that seems unlikely. If Fegan is at the center, then I don't see how Cousins couldn't know.

Regardless, I hope Vlade holds his ground. Cuz is still under contract and so is Karl. So Vlade should expect both to live up to their contracts. If PDA is at the center of this, then a rat trap might be appropriate.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I remember once upon a time Woj was a reliable source for all NBA news....I wonder who bought him.

Yup, I'm wondering who slipped him a nice wad of cash under the table

 

[Entity]

Why does Woj insinuate that the organization is just one guy (Vlade) sitting in office making all the phone calls, fielding all the phone calls, and figuring out the CBA?

 

[Entity]

We really need somebody (if all this is BS) to go after Woj and this on slaughter of stories. I wish Sam would come to the rescue but he doesn't like Cuz I gather after the slander piece last season

 

[Bricklayer]

Guys guys...ok, here, a primer:

1) This is Woj. This has ALWAYS BEEN Woj.

The way the Woj phenom works is that he is in thick with all the agents. They give him first access/news to all the breaking trades/signings etc., in return for which he helps them do work for their clients, by writing various columns, op eds, hit pieces, whatever citing "sources" and making vague allegations. The two types of writing/reporting he does are not entirely related. He's gold on signings and trades because he hears first directly from the horse's mouth. When he strays from that, he's working for somebody else almost as a paid mouthpiece.

2) you can very closely track the "sources", the beginnings of all of these allegations. Just watch what our front office people say, and then watch the story pop out a couple of days later blowing it up, exaggerating, and mutating it. hence:

-- Vivek had a moment/thought about getting Cal to replace Karl (reported per Ham)...all of a sudden its a giant Woj story of this intricate plan to do just that.
-- Vlade admits telling somebody about a confrontation with Karl (in his presser draft day), and all of a sudden a huge story about it breaks with all kinds of maybe not quite right details
-- Vlade makes an offhand remark/joke on radio I think it was about how they have somebody who runs around checking all the CBA numbers etc. for them, and a day later all of a sudden Woj is smearing him with stories about how people are frustrated he doesn't know the CBA rules.

Everything Woj alleges, in its basic/most minor form, is "sourced" directly from minor incidents our own people admit to. If Vlade today admits to picking his nose, tomorrow Woj will break a story about how Vlade picked his nose and ate it in front of Cuz's mom, how its a sign of early onset alzheimer's, and how Vivek is a neat freak who was so grossed out by the whole thing that he's thinking of firing Vlade and replacing him with David Kahn.

 

[Gliesian]

I think Woj is full of crap, Cousins will give it another shot, and Fegan is the snake in the grass.
I am still very optimistic about Cousins and Karl because we know one thing is certain: They both are VERY good at what they do and will try their hardest to win. Vlade isn't going to move either one. They will get along because they know that's what has to be done to win. I'm not scared at all

PS. The silver lining: "There's no such thing as bad publicity"!

 

[MizzouKing]

Regardless, I hope Vlade holds his ground. Cuz is still under contract and so is Karl. So Vlade should expect both to live up to their contracts. If PDA is at the center of this, then a rat trap might be appropriate.

EXACTLY! If I'm Vlade, I'm not making any moves until we're a couple of good wins into the season. No one's going anywhere without his ok anyway!

 

[VF21]

Busted!

Christine Gillespie ‏@vladefan21 1h1 hour ago
The heat must be driving people crazy. Not all leaks are real, some are put out to gauge possible reaction, others just to stir [expletive deleted].

I take exception to that quote. I never say "expletive deleted"... I know for a fact I said crap.

 

[VF21]

PS. The silver lining: "There's no such thing as bad publicity"!

Unfortunately, that old saw is no longer true. With the advent of Twitter and other social media, there is a potential for incredibly destructive publicity, primarily because bullcrap rumors can go around the globe in a matter of seconds and the truth may take a LOT longer to catch up.

 

[Bricklayer]

Unfortunately, that old saw is no longer true. With the advent of Twitter and other social media, there is a potential for incredibly destructive publicity, primarily because bullpoopoo rumors can go around the globe in a matter of seconds and the truth may take a LOT longer to catch up.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Unfortunately, that old saw is no longer true. With the advent of Twitter and other social media, there is a potential for incredibly destructive publicity, primarily because bullpoopoo rumors can go around the globe in a matter of seconds and the truth may take a LOT longer to catch up.

Not only that VF, but the expression "the early bird gets the worm" applies heavily in this scenario. People tend to believe what they hear first and it generally sticks in their minds the best. When someone reads a book, the introduction gets them hooked and they read through the middle of the book like mad in order to get to the end, in order to find out what happens. Right now, our introduction is being written and it's not quite clear who the author is, but the introduction is what people are going to remember. People could care less about the middle. They want to know how it begins and how it ends, simple as that. Our beginning has been blown to bits so many times the only people actually still left "reading the book" so-to-speak, are hardcore fans. The other kind are the people like Fegan and Woj (whose jobs are to do these things), interjecting their poison and ruining the storyline.

We as a franchise need to take back the reins and write our own ending, a fitting ending, and one not influenced by those that have no ties to the team and city.

 

[origkds]

You must have seen your share of divorce cases over the years.

 

[Prince_XY]

So if what he wanted is to re-hire Malone, and that can't happen- why go nuclear? if you are right the sole purpose of all this from the Cousins front is to hurt the franchise.

Exactly. It does not make any sense. It is tantamount to saying Cousins is immature and stupid, when we very well know he is not.

I haven't finished reading the whole thread, but does anyone ever thought of how attractive the Lakers is, especially the alpha-guy (Kobe) is very near his retirement?

Successful major franchise, glit and glamour, endorsements, and the chance to be the next alpha-guy in a traditionally-winning franchise.

Could it be that Fegan (or Cousins) are tempted?

I know I will be - for fame and monetary reasons, since I am not that old.

 

[Prince_XY]

And I'll never forget when PDA asked if he was worried about Cousins' reaction to the firing of Malone he dismissed the question as if it had no credence whatsoever.

Time to forget my friend, or at least forgive.

Jackson and Thibs. Both winning coaches.

Former MVP Rose did not rebel against the decision, nor did the now current MVP Curry strongly went out to protest in replacing his beloved coach with a rookie coach. Oh well, Cousins seems like quiet too, except that we heard a lot of biased reporting from these reporters and fans who love maligning their own team.

 

[VF21]

Exactly. It does not make any sense. It is tantamount to saying Cousins is immature and stupid, when we very well know he is not.

I haven't finished reading the whole thread, but does anyone ever thought of how attractive the Lakers is, especially the alpha-guy (Kobe) is very near his retirement?

Successful major franchise, glit and glamour, endorsements, and the chance to be the next alpha-guy in a traditionally-winning franchise.

Could it be that Fegan (or Cousins) are tempted?

I know I will be - for fame and monetary reasons, since I am not that old.

Of course Fegan is tempted. He wants ALL his clients in big markets. But, bottom line, is there is an existing contract between Sacramento and DeMarcus Cousins. If we don't want to move him, he doesn't move.

And, remember, DeMarcus Cousins has said repeatedly (REPEATEDLY) that he loves Sacramento. It isn't about the glitz and glitter for him. It might be hard for someone in Southern California to believe, but not everyone thinks your part of California is the best part.

 

[Kingster]

Or something in between, where Karl is operating int he relative power vacuum of PDA's dying tenure, the sudden appearance of this Vlade guy in what capacity again? And he starts preparing the ground and sending out feelers. Karl has been around the game for decades, he knows lots of people. And yes Vlade takes over, becomes aware of this etc. etc. there was apparently a trade request by Cousins back about a month before the draft. Be pretty good timing just as Vlade assumed full control for the stink bomb to be going off in Kings offices. Fegan take umbrage for his client's sake, runs with it.

I can buy that possible scenario. There did seem to a power vacuum when Vlade came on board initially. There was a period in which it sure did seem that positions and relative duties were not clearly defined in the Kings hierarchy. At first Vlade was the observer/coordinator; later he assumed some of the GM duties and PDA lost them. Also, it sure seemed to me from news conferences and Napier discussions that Karl was being relied upon heavily for personnel input, not just coaching. To me this seems like an environment in which the lines of authority were easily blurred. Maybe Karl thought his trading Cousins' initiatives were acceptable in the ambiguous environment.

 

[Kingster]

Its actually the opposite -- he's never been "reliable" in that way.

The whole key to the Woj magic is that long ago he sold out to the agents, and so now its a symbiotic relationship. When he scoops a trade or deal, you can bet its true because he has directly from the mouth of the agents involved. But the return for that access is that he has always carried their water for them on stories like this. Little half truths and innuendos, hit pieces, pumping up a guy's value, whatever. W have "sources say". "negotiations are underway" "so and so has considered" etc. All stuff that can never be conclusively disproven, so Woj's reputation can never be directly assaulted.

In this case you will notice Ham mentioning that Vivek briefly toyed with replacing Karl with Cal. That's all it takes. Fegan knows this, passes it on, Woj is covered for all the rest no matter how big the story is spun. Vlade mentioned having learned his lesson about opening his mouth about Karl the same way. These aren't intentional leaks, these are our major decisionmakers not being careful enough about that they say/ponder, and Fegan pouncing and inflating every bit of it.

I could see Fegan creating the story, then leaking the story. He approaches Vivek (the weakest link in the chain) and says his client is receptive to Calipari being his head coach and thinks Karl should be fired. Vivek discusses it. Fegan then leaks to Woj that the Kings are contemplating firing Karl for cause and bring on Calipari. Woj runs the story.

 

[Prince_XY]

Of course Fegan is tempted. He wants ALL his clients in big markets. But, bottom line, is there is an existing contract between Sacramento and DeMarcus Cousins. If we don't want to move him, he doesn't move.

And, remember, DeMarcus Cousins has said repeatedly (REPEATEDLY) that he loves Sacramento. It isn't about the glitz and glitter for him. It might be hard for someone in Southern California to believe, but not everyone thinks your part of California is the best part.

Thanks for reminding me that.

That gives me hope Cousins and Fegan might not succeed afterall.

Vladeeeeee! Keep Cousins in Sacramento please!

 

[Bricklayer]

I could see Fegan creating the story, then leaking the story. He approaches Vivek (the weakest link in the chain) and says his client is receptive to Calipari being his head coach and thinks Karl should be fired. Vivek discusses it. Fegan then leaks to Woj that the Kings are contemplating firing Karl for cause and bring on Calipari. Woj runs the story.

Certainly not impossible, although at a certain point doing that right under Vivek's nose like that is a bit dubious. If you really wanted Cal, better to let it fester quietly. If you really are just still working on Karl being fired, having Vivek know first hand where this latest story came from would seem more likely to harden him up than the opposite. But who knows. I think, we all think, we know what he's trying to accomplish, but this huge barrage all at once is pretty eyebrow raising. Either he knows something we don't, or he has absolutely no respect for or desire to work with us again on anything.

 

[whozit]

.....
And, remember, DeMarcus Cousins has said repeatedly (REPEATEDLY) that he loves Sacramento. It isn't about the glitz and glitter for him. It might be hard for someone in Southern California to believe, but not everyone thinks your part of California is the best part.

I will second this and add: On my side of the building at work there are under fifteen people that work here, three (including me) were born in California and for whatever reason did not stay. California isn't golden to everyone.

 

[Kingster]

Certainly not impossible, although at a certain point doing that right under Vivek's nose like that is a bit dubious. If you really wanted Cal, better to let it fester quietly. If you really are just still working on Karl being fired, having Vivek know first hand where this latest story came from would seem more likely to harden him up than the opposite. But who knows. I think, we all think, we know what he's trying to accomplish, but this huge barrage all at once is pretty eyebrow raising. Either he knows something we don't, or he has absolutely no respect for or desire to work with us again on anything.

It is a "barrage." It's an all-out attack on the Kings organization. I agree that such attacks wouldn't be advisable for getting Calipari and maybe even getting Karl fired; it's more likely that this blitzkrieg is to get Cousins traded. If they want Cousins traded they have no concern whatsoever of what their barrage will do to the Kings chances of getting FAs or of the long term health of the franchise. They just don't seem to give a damn.