UK’s Calipari taking steps to be ‘part of the answer’ in bringing leaders together
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Coffee with Cal
University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari is hosting a weekly show on Facebook Live called “Coffee with Cal” in which he interviews influential individuals from the worlds of sports, media, politics and beyond. The shows are designed to benefit COVID-19 relief and draw attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Click below to read the Herald-Leader’s stories recapping previous shows.
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University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari is temporarily postponing his weekly “Coffee with Cal” show on Facebook in light of recent developments involving protests in America.
“What happened earlier this week in Minnesota and what’s happened too often in our country has made me sick and has made a lot of Americans sick,” Calipari said in a Twitter video late Sunday night, referencing the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police. “It’s wrong, it’s unacceptable, and we have to do better. We have to demand better.”
Calipari went on to say he wants to be “part of the answer in any way I can. It might be a small part, but I can’t stand on the sidelines while my players, my staff, their sons and daughters our fans and so many others live with fear and injustices.”
Calipari launched his weekly show last month to raise funds for COVID-19 relief and has hosted guests such as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, former president Bill Clinton and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. His scheduled guest this Monday was former University of Oregon basketball All-American Sabrina Ionescu, who is now with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.
Calipari said Sunday night his Monday show with Ionescu would be put on hold.
Calipari said he wants to explore a format in which dialog can be exchanged concerning America’s problems involving race.
“I want to talk through thoughts with leaders who can come together and help this situation. I hope to do it soon. Probably next week, on a platform where we can generate some real discussion.”
Calipari said he was putting this week’s “Coffee with Cal” on hold to practice a moment of silence for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery — all three of whom were referenced in protests during the past week — “and so many others who have died without reason.”
The UK coach said the original focus of his show, to provide relief amid the coronavirus pandemic, will at some point be revived “but, for now, I want us to shift to some other issues and plan to address them in the coming weeks.
“This has been a tough week for all of us, but I can’t pretend to know some of the real pain others have been feeling.”
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 11:04 PM.
