LEXINGTON – John Calipari’s missing Rolex has been found. Apparently, Kentucky women’s basketball coach Kyra Elzy gets credit for her second win of the day in the process.
Shortly after watching the UK women’s basketball team’s upset of No. 1 South Carolina in the SEC Tournament final in Nashville, John Calipari tweeted he had lost his white gold Rolex in the celebration. He told fans he was offering a reward for its return, but a few hours later Calipari tweeted Elzy had tracked down his missing watch.
“Can you believe it?!? (Elzy) wins an SEC championship in one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever seen … AND THEN SHE FINDS MY WATCH!!” Calipari tweeted. “You’re the best, Coach Elzy!!!”
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One day after his own team’s win at Florida to finish the regular season, the UK men’s basketball coach traveled to Nashville with his wife, Ellen, to watch the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament final between Kentucky and South Carolina. In the excitement of UK’s comeback from a 15-point deficit, Calipari managed to lose his white gold Rolex.
In a video of Calipari celebrating Dre’Una Edwards’ game-winning 3 posted to Twitter by Kyle Tucker of the Athletic, Calipari can be seen throwing his arms in the arm and then quickly looking on the ground for something. He turns to Ellen and says, “My watch.”
“Congratulations to (UK coach) Kyra Elzy and the entire team,” Calipari tweeted just before 6 p.m. Sunday. “Absolutely amazing accomplishment and so much fun watching them today FIGHT and play as one! Also, I threw my arms in the air celebrating and my white gold Rolex popped off my wrist. If you find it, I have a reward!”
Calipari followed that tweet with another saying the missing Rolex is his “lucky watch.” The Caliparis were sitting in the Kentucky fan section behind UK’s bench.
It is unclear how exactly the watch found its way to Elzy, but many of the fans usually sitting behind the bench are family and friends of the women’s basketball team’s players and coaches.
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Email Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com; Follow him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ.
