Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo blasts 'unsophisticated' Kentucky fans for booing John Calipari

John Calipari made a triumphant return to Rupp Arena last Saturday to a cacophony of boos and jeers as Calipari’s unranked Arkansas Razorbacks upset his old squad, No. 12 Kentucky, 89-79, on Feb. 1.

For his own part, Calipari understood the situation, and even smiled as he led his team onto the Rupp Arena court to a chorus of boos. Of course, not everyone was as understanding of Big Blue Nation’s reaction to Calipari’s return following a highly-successful 15-year career as the Wildcats’ head coach.

“How about the fans in Lexington, Kentucky over the weekend when Arkansas came in with Calipari and they didn’t give him a standing ovation. Are you kidding me?” ESPN’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo said on Wednesday morning’s First Take. “Calipari got to four Final Fours, won a championship, and they showed jeers to him when Arkansas walked in there on Saturday night. This is ridiculous. This guy did a hell of a job.”

Coach Cal is booed by the Kentucky crowd in his return to Rupp Arena 😳

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Russo’s rant wasn’t over, of course, as he directed his ire at Kentucky fans in attendance, including calling those that booed “unsophisticated” fans.

“Those Kentucky fans, that’s a joke. That tells you that’s sports unsophistication at the highest level,” Russo continued. “Not only that, they wanted him out. Alright? So, they got him out and he’s somewhere else and when he comes back, you can’t reward him with an ovation? That tells you that that is an unsophisticated sports fan sitting in Rupp Arena on Saturday night that the guy that helped you restore the program and won gets booed and jeered. I couldn’t believe it.”

First Take host Stephen A. Smith responded by pointing out Kentucky failed to advance to the Sweet Sixteen over Calipari’s last six seasons in Lexington before turning Russo’s argument on its head.

“I get what you’re saying because he won 77-percent of his game there as head coach at Kentucky over the course of his career, and he should be applauded. But, if you’re the enemy, you’re the enemy,” Smith said. “Sometimes the highest form of respect is the vitriol thrown in your direction because they know who you are and what you can do, and they let you know that they’re going to treat you like the enemy you are now. That is a sign of respect.”

John Calipari after win in return to Kentucky: ‘It was a privilege and an honor to coach here’

Arkansas head coach John Calipari had a happy return to Rupp Arena on Saturday, leading the Razorbacks past Kentucky and earning a critical road win in the SEC.

Calipari was asked after the game about the emotions of coaching at Kentucky on the opposing sideline after spending 15 seasons as the head coach of the Wildcats.

According to John Calipari, he has nothing but respect for the Kentucky basketball program and was simply happy to lead Arkansas to a win because it needed a victory, not because it gives him bragging rights over his former team.

“We needed to win a game, so it didn’t matter who it was against,” John Calipari said.

Arkansas was 1-6 in the SEC before upsetting Kentucky on Saturday, and the Razorbacks still have plenty of work to do to get into the NCAA Tournament conversation. That’s why the win for Arkansas was so big, not because Calipari beat Kentucky.

“I made it clear, it was a privilege and an honor to coach here. We had 15 unbelievable years, a great run. Support. The fans supported us. The families that entrusted us with their sons,” John Calipari said. “I got 190 texts by the time the game ended, and I’m guessing a bunch of them are former players. Not that they’re ever going to root against Kentucky. They went to school here. But they also have a relationship with me.”

Matt Connolly contributed to this report.