A death at the Derby

I can’t believe no one’s made the connection yet. It’s no coincidence that Billy Gillispie and John Calipari crossed paths at the Kentucky Derby, and then just a few hundred yards away, a body was discovered.

Everyone in the state of Kentucky wants to know what was said between the two coaches in this brief encounter on Saturday, and more than a few must have wondered if it was Calipari who suffered at the hands of a jealous Billy G. Thankfully the savior of Kentucky basketball escaped with his life, while Billy Gillispie has, up to this point, yet to be apprehended as the Derby Killer. One has to wonder, though, how much a stretch it would be to see Billy’s rage taken out on an innocent bystander.

That’s not to say there’s no blood on his hands. He left Kentucky basketball with but a single last breath, ready to be put down. Then Calipari arrived and saved the day. There’s little doubt that Gillispie must look longingly at what Calipari has managed to achieve in just three short years, but I’m sure he managed to remain civil with his superior at Churchill Downs.

All joking aside (and there’s been a lot of joking), it’s quite a shame to see such tragedy so close to such a beloved sporting event. And it’s surprisingly welcome to see Kentucky’s past and present cross paths without any bodies being left behind.