Calipari calls into show as 'John in Kentucky'

John Calipari not a classic Xs and Os coach? That's what Mike Francesa thinks – only, Francesa decided to voice his opinion shortly after having the University of Kentucky coach on his New York-based radio show Wednesday.

Calipari was still listening, and he called back into Francesa as "John in Kentucky."

Then this happened:

John in Kentucky: "Well, I think the guy's a great coach. Xs and Os – this is John Calipari."

Francesa: "I know it is."

Calipari: "I'm a bad coach? Are you saying I'm a bad coach?"

Francesa: "How sensitive – you call me up…How about you calling me? You're like a caller who doesn't listen, or a listener…Can I talk now? What I said to the guy was, I said, 'You are a master recruiter,' which you are – a master motivator. And I said, 'You're not a great Xs and Os coach,' which you're not."

Calipari: "that's basically saying I can't coach….You know what they call me? The magician. Cal the magician."

Francesa: "Are there better Xs and Os coaches than you?"

Calipari: "Do you think I believe that? I'll pass the lie detector test and say no."

The two bickered a bit more, Calipari perhaps more playfully than the outspoken Francesa. Then the conversation ended with Francesa hanging up on "John in Kentucky" as he would anyone else.

In eliciting some emotion from Francesa, Calipari proved another point: He does know how to motivate.

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.