Coach Cal keeps UK basketball as the best distraction going in our crazy world

John Calipari is the hardest working man in Kentucky. He has the difficult task of sparking undivided attention to his university’s basketball team. He successfully whips up compelling narratives and sub-plots amongst his teams every year. Dropping Easter egg tweets about recruits and conjuring hints of elusive banner number nine. His showmanship cannot be outdone, and his exuberant arrogance is ignored if he is winning.

I am sincere in my declaration that he works extremely hard for the good of Kentuckians. During a monsoon of horrendous events occurring around the world and in our backyard, Calipari manages to divert attention to the shiny distraction of blue blood basketball. While it feels like the ground is crumbling in every direction, he wrangles the masses with a weeknight contest to help ease tensions. As the pandemic continues to swirl and whispers of a third world war linger, fans can still tell you what time and channel the Cats will be on this weekend.

In unprecedented fashion, he grabs the attention of the left and the right, urban and rural, educated and overworked. He concocts teams that serve as a moral fiber for Kentucky. While people squabble over every single aspect of life, they arrive together at the fact that Grady should shoot more threes.

We’re unable to get our government to function, our schools to be cohesive, or our churches to be inclusive, but when it comes to Kentucky basketball everyone gets a seat at the proverbial table. It takes a mastermind to get these things accomplished, or maybe it’s not Calipari at all. Maybe his devotees are just thirst-starved fanatics who have abandoned all hope.

It is not lost on Calipari what he does for a living. He wields his power to help sculpt and develop young men into better people. He is good at his job and has changed family trajectories for generations to come. To perpetuate his antics and cavalier showmanship through the trials of the past several years is a testament to his grit. The moment is never bigger than him, which for Kentucky fans is reassuring in its dismissiveness. Devout followers need a leader and Calipari is perfect for that void.

Kentucky basketball, either due to money or boredom, has become the preeminent dogma preached throughout the Bluegrass state. While horses and bourbon have their religious pursuers, they don’t have the mouthpiece that is John Calipari. They don’t have an $8 million smile testifying before legislators as to why a bill should be brought before the House and Senate. Bourbon and horses also cannot be packaged and sold as a dream to young children the way basketball is.

Calipari works hard to bring people into the tent. He appears to genuinely care about his players. While he keeps his personal thoughts to himself, he understands he is selling a distraction for the masses in Kentucky. Life is extremely heavy, and his elixir might give some reprieve, if only for two hours on a Tuesday night.

Keeping his laser focus cannot be easy. Proving to be more difficult is herding young men in the direction of greatness while still dealing with the constant bombardment of struggle and strife. As people go to Rupp Arena to step out of reality for a moment, Kentucky has a coach who puts on his racing blinders to offer the best product. He works hard to keep up the illusion of normalcy amid the chaos. John Calipari is the anti-hero Kentucky never knew they needed. And because he plays the part so well, fans continue their faithful walk under his wing.

Jim Jackson resides in Franklin County. He can be reached by email at jackson.m.jim@gmail.com.