This is unbelievably good.
You knew Rick Pitino wouldn't wait forever. Turns out he couldn't even wait a couple of days.
In response to Kentucky head coach John Calipari stating earlier this week that Kentucky basketball was unique because it was the only real program in the state, Rick Pitino delivered the following statement to CBS:
"Four things I've learned in my 59 years about people," Pitino said. "I ignore the jealous, I ignore the malicious, I ignore the ignorant and I ignore the paranoid."
"If the shoe fits anyone," he added. "Wear it."
I mean...holy sh-t.
This comes on top of a fresh column penned by Rick Bozich that centers around the idea that Calipari has a monster case of Pitino-envy. Side question: How much would you pay to see Dr. Bo's inbox today? I'm not even lying when I say I'd go at least two hundred.
The Kentucky/Louisville rivalry was already the most contentious in college basketball, but this is getting unreal. I mean, I can't think of another collegiate (or pro, really) series where the distaste between the two heads of the programs is this blatant.
My guess is that things settle down at some point over the next couple of months and that both coaches offer up some sort of "it's all in good fun" statement, but any doubt that there is some intense dislike between the two has already been removed.
When Tubby Smith stepped down, I said my vote for the next UK head coach was Calipari because of how great it would be for the rivalry. It took another regime of waiting, but what has happened from an animosity standpoint since Cal succeeded Billy Gillispie has exceeded even my wildest thoughts.
Dec. 31 is going to be insane.
It's not too early. Beat Kentucky.