Izzo thinks it would be different if Kentucky’s players were white

John Calipari doesn’t have too many fans in the college basketball world. Bob Knight is the most famous Calipari critic, citing his recruitment of one and done players that many say are ruining the sport of college basketball.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has a different take on the national championship winning program. In an article with William C. Rhoden of the New York Times, Izzo doesn’t hold back when he was asked if the Kentucky players were white and athletic, would they be thought of differently.

 “I want to answer that as honestly as I can,” Izzo said. “I think it would be different. I hate to say that.”


The perception is that these five black players are not serious students and don’t belong at the university. If they were white, there would be more acceptance that they belong at the university.


“It’s sad for me to say, but it’s probably the truth,” Izzo said. Perception or not, the reality is that the sports industry has done its part preparing young men and women for their careers as professional athletes. Only a small percentage will succeed, but only a fraction succeed at the highest level in any profession.


It’s the age old question. The double edged sword. No one says anything when a bonus baby is drafted out of high school into Major League Baseball. Or when golf, tennis, or hockey players go pro. But when underclassmen declare for the NBA draft, most of them young and black it’s a big deal. It’s like when the Fab Five were at Michigan, when they lost they were undisciplined and thuggish. But when they won they were “playing the right way”.

Can someone please define that one for me. If you can play and are good enough to go pro right away, then go.

MSU’s Derrick Nix suspended indefinitely following arrest

After Michigan State’s season ending loss to Louisville in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament, center Derrick Nix talked as if he was ready to take on a leadership role for the team next season. It would take some big shoes to fill Draymond Green’s leadership void and Nix was willing to take the role. Nix had a lot of work to be done to be regarded as a leader and it’s going to even harder for him after the recent turn of events.

Nix was arrested for possession of marijuana and operating a vehicle with the presence of drugs. He’s now suspended indefinitely and even though he does have a small window to regain his spot on the team he has no margin for error.

East Lansing police pulled Nix over at Lake Lansing and Abbot roads. He was driving a red, 2011 Dodge. Nix must reappear at 54B court in 4-10 days for arraignment . Both charges are misdemeanors.

“Based on the information we have received, Derrick Nix has been suspended indefinitely from our basketball team, and his future with our program is uncertain,” Tom Izzo said in a released statement. “He made an irresponsible decision that has put his future with our program in serious jeopardy.”


Another question that could draw a red flag is where did he get the car from? I’m not saying there’s any dirty dealings but that question always comes up.

Nix needs to get his house in order because the Spartans were counting on him to have a bigger role on the team.

Izzo blasts Illinois for firing Weber

Bruce Weber was fired from the head coaching job at Illinois earlier today. That really was no surprise since the Illini struggled mightily down the stretch and Weber ultimately paid the price.

Michigan State coach, Tom Izzo didn’t like the way things went down in Champaign and let everyone know about it at his press conference. Izzo blasted the Illinois administration for firing Weber and said that he’ll help Weber get a new job if he needs it.

“I’m sick about it. I’m sick about it. And I’m sick about it — and make sure you understand the reason why.


“They beat us early in January, and I beat Ohio State, and so I have three problems. Bruce is a friend of mine. He’s been here since the Gene Keady days. He’s done it the right way. He doesn’t cheat. He mans up to his own responsibilities. Incredible, incredible person. I’ve recruited against him and lost, and I’ve recruited against him and won, and (it) hasn’t changed things.


“Number two, we have to understand that we blame kids for a lot of things. Kids have changed. Now we have administrators that are pulling the rug under ourselves in the middle of January, when you’re 16 and 6 or 7 or whatever it was, and we publicly talk about — we’ll make decisions at the end of the year.


“I don’t know what you guys think of kids, because they haven’t changed much, but if there’s one place they’ve changed, they’re a little more fragile. Not as many two-parent homes. Not as good of school systems that are holding kids accountable and demanding. And so now we put that on those poor kids? And then we’re surprised that they lose nine out of 10?


“I don’t know who’s beaten me the worst, probably Bo (Ryan), but second on that list — and I’m canonized as something some of the time … .


“I think it was ridiculous the way that thing was handled. And if I take abuse for that, I really don’t care, because I’m also the president of our association. This isn’t about a friendship. This is about a profession.


“And whenever you’re in an organization, whether it be yours, whether it be mine, or whether it be a business one, the only way you can be successful is if, top to bottom, from the president to the trainer, we’re all on the same page, and that in five, six months, you can determine something.


“I feel bad for the Illini nation, because somebody’s — somebody pulled the rug out from under them. I feel bad for those players that have been there that, in my estimation, weren’t given a fair chance back about the middle of January, whenever that famous statement was made.


“But if you look at that team from that statement, it went directly down. And I feel worse for Bruce, because we lost a good soldier. And yeah, friendship is some of it, but it’s not all of it. We lost a good coach. We got a coach that beat me and my team more often than not, and I just — I can’t figure that out.


“I can’t figure out how you guys allow it. You guys are always figuring out the negatives of things. I can’t figure out how you guys allow it.


“And my wife and I shed a tear this morning over it, and it was half for Bruce and half for my profession.


“But unless there’s things — and I will publicly state this — that I don’t know, but when I heard those comments back in January, it made me sick, and I said there’s a problem.


“And so I hope the administrators that made those statements have a good game plan, but you guys lost a good guy, we lost a good guy, and I think — I just hope he gets another job. And I’m going to do everything in my power to help him.


“And I guess that’s all I’ll say, because I’ll probably put my foot in my mouth, because if it was HBO, we could get at it right now, and I’d really be fired up about it, because I just think — I can’t believe — I can’t believe nobody’s looked at when those comments were made and where that team went.


“I mean, this guy has won more games than anybody — percentage than anybody that’s been at the school. And he’s done it the right way, and that’s not easy to do. And it’s not an easy job there. And when a big-time recruit’s father, I think — watch what I say here — comes out and makes statements, I mean, you better have a good idea the guy you’re dealing with.


“And I know this. I’ve known Bruce Weber since the day I was a grad assistant. There’s not a classier, better guy — and I don’t want to just hear he’s a nice guy — better coach. He’s had some things thrown at him, too, with injuries and guys leaving early and stuff like that.


“So I’m sad, more sad for my profession than I am for Bruce, because he’s a man. I’ve seen him in his press conference. He’ll man up, and he’ll get it done.


“So sorry I had to get on a soapbox, but I’ll leave it at that.”


Izzo is safe at Michigan State but it’s good to see him take up for his fellow man. By the way, the “mystery’ administrator Izzo spoke of would be Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas.