John Calipari did two things when he first arrived in Lexington in 2009. He found out where all the old men in Lexington have coffee and talk about Kentucky basketball. Then he made it a point to connect with Joe B. Hall.
Both of these ventures were to help Cal get accepted by the fan base and to help him to learn the ways of Kentucky basketball culture. But nearly a decade later, it seems his decision to befriend Coach Hall has had a more lasting impact than he could ever imagine.
“Cal treats him like he should be treated,” said Terry McBrayer, a close friend of Hall.