The Yin and Yang of Memphis Basketball

With Memphis tearing up the NCAA on the way to an undefeated 13-0 ranking and probable number one seed come March, this seems a good time to take a closer look at the good and bad of John Calipari's Tiger program.

We'll start with the bad. Or, at least, the shady. Anyone with an interest in the stories behind the stories in pro and college hoops absolutely must read this GQ profile of William Wesley, called by some the "most powerful man in sports." It is truly stunning to see how many places Wesley's name pops up in the world of big-time hoops, from LeBron James' change in agents to Isiah Thomas' selections in the NBA Draft to the Pistons/Pacers brawl.

The collegiate destination most closely associated with Wesley is Memphis. Wesley is generally credited with helping to put together the deal that brought DaJuan Wagner (and his dad, and his best friend) to Memphis. The same GQ article suggests that Wesley's guiding hand may have given Derrick Rose a friendly shove in Calipari's direction.

Now, has anyone accused Wesley, Calipari or anyone else of any wrongdoing? No. But these sorts of associations never look good. Here's something that does. With a tip of the hat to Henry Abbott over at True Hoop, we bring you the story of Willie Kemp's kindergarten teacher, Deborah Kirkland McCrory. Mrs. McCrory suffered a heart attack and subsequent brain damage. Kemp heard about his kindergarten teacher's plight when he was a senior in high school and started paying her visits. Actual, substantive, hours-long visits.

Long story short, thanks to the intercession of Calipari and the Memphis administration, Mrs. McCrory now gets to sit behind the bench as an honored guest at Tiger games.