Cal defends All-Access as benefit for player

Kentucky Coach John Calipari defended the ESPN All-Access Kentucky show as a aid to UK players.
And as a defense against anyone who might have a negative perception of UK players.
“You can see them for what they are,” Calipari said.
The UK coach noted how players have aspirations, but also how they achieve in the classroom (3.2 grade-point average last semester).
“You want your players perceived by who they are and what they’re about,” he said.
Earlier at SEC Media Day Thursday, Florida Coach Billy Donovan questioned the All-Access format. He said it was wrong to use the All-Access presence as a recruiting tool, presumably meaning the current players might be short-changed in some way.
“Practice should be for practice,” Donovan said.
Calipari said that the ESPN cameras are not a distraction. He said he was not embarrassed to have his coaching methods shown on television.
“If somebody else may be concerned with that, I’d say don’t do it,” he said.
Calipari noted that he initially and repeatedly turned down ESPN’s requests to do an All-Access show.
When asked his concern, he said, “That it would be all a bout the NBA. Nothing else.”
Donovan also wondered aloud about the presence of cameras helping to prevent players from being normal college students.
Calipari noted that ESPN does not have 24-hour access to the players.
“I just have a question?” Calipari said. “Is this the first All-Access show? It must be the first one they did.”
ESPN had done All-Access show previously.