There was a major schmoozerama Sunday night at Papa John’s headquarters. It was a luminary-filled meet and greet featuring new UK b-ball coach, John Calipari.

Four open bars. Lots of nosh, and not just Schnatter’s pizza. Crab cakes. Beef tenderloin. Serious stuff. Hundreds of Jefferson County UK alums, Cat fans, big biz folks and movers & shakers made the scene.

Fitting none of the above descriptors, I was not in attendance myself.

However I am advised by a big Big Blue fan who was there that Calipari not once, not twice, but three separate times during Q & A urged the UK fans in Louisville to support the Cards. He stated thrice how important it is for the state that U of L have a strong and vibrant program, supported by the locals even if they’re UK fans. I’m told Calipari’s statements weren’t gratuitous or deprecative, but seemed legitimately heartfelt.

He’s right you know. And the vice versa is true too for Cards fans. Yet it was still a rather magnanimous gesture on the new coach’s part. Good for him.

I’m told he also advised that UK wouldn’t be playing more than two games a year in Louisville. Apparently they want to see the Cats in Northern Kentucky. And Nashville. And Atlanta. And he iterated that a signiificant non-conference home schedule is also important.

– Seedy K