ESPN college basketball reporter Jeannine Edwards and Kentucky Wildcats basketball coach Billy Gillispie have been seeing quite a bit of each other in public of late.
Edwards has twice interviewed Gillispie during UK games this season and both times the coach responded with rude retorts, implying that Edwards was asking dumb questions while calling her credibility into question. Below are both exchanges.
Gillispie v. Edwards Part One:
Gillispie v. Edwards Part Deux:
Edwards’ queries in both instances didn’t seem all that ill-informed to me at the time, so it was a little curious to see Gillispie snap back at her in that fashion, especially on national television.
That is, until I heard more about Gillispie’s private dealings with Edwards.
A source recently told me that Gillispie made a past, amorous advance at Edwards which was subsequently denied by the ESPN reporter. I have no more details than that. But again, I have confirmed that Gillispie did make clear to Edwards that he was interested in spending some quality time with her away from the court. And she shut him down.
Question #1: Is Gillispie married?
A: No, divorced.
Question #2: Is Gillispie’s smug behavior towards Edwards during the interviews related to being spurned by her?
A: I dunno, go back and watch the interviews and let me know.
Question #3: What do you think of Edwards’ questions now?
A: That’s a really dumb question. *smirk*
Question #4: Who is working the sidelines for the Kentucky-Vanderbilt ESPN broadcast tomorrow night?
A: Postgame jalepeno poppers at Applebees Jeannine? Billy? Anyone?
UPDATE: Turns out Edwards is married to a former jockey. I’m not even going to touch that. No idea if Gillispie knew this before he made known his intentions.
Edwards did talk to the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER about her first confrontation with Gillispie three weeks ago and said that it was a “total non-issue.” Gillispie also apparently called her and apologized.
Funny though, he did the same thing to her a week later! Bizarre.
I’m wondering if Vandy fans will respond to all this at the game tomorrow night. Cheers, signs, etc. Safe to say if this news came out the day before Kentucky played Tennessee, Vols fans would be all over Gillispie.
I’ve also put in a call to ESPN about tomorrow night, in case Edwards is taken off the game. I highly doubt it, nor do I expect the her nor Gillispie to acknowledge the news in any way publicly. But if Vandy fans go wild with the news tomorrow in public displays during the game, you would think the media would have to ask Gillispie and/or Edwards about it afterwards. No?
7:35 pm on February 16th, 2009
he looks like a complete a**hole
7:52 pm on February 16th, 2009
So Gillispie asks out an ESPN reporter, and it's not Erin Andrews? What a buffoon.
7:56 pm on February 16th, 2009
From the 1st video: "That's really a bad question."
No it wasn't. What a tool.
7:58 pm on February 16th, 2009
This reminds me from a few years ago when Lloyd Carr was very curt with an ABC sideline reporter during halftime.
7:59 pm on February 16th, 2009
Jeannine's not that much of a looker.
8:01 pm on February 16th, 2009
I can't wait until we kick his butt tomorrow night.
8:03 pm on February 16th, 2009
Must have been a rough Valentine's Day for lonely ol' Billy.
8:04 pm on February 16th, 2009
Uncle Kracka:
Well, he couldn't have asked Stacey Dales out, because she quit.
8:05 pm on February 16th, 2009
Has Coach Gillispie considered purveying the personals section of the Lexington Craigslist?
8:09 pm on February 16th, 2009
With that kind of attitude, Billy certainly won't have any chance with Jeannine now.
8:12 pm on February 16th, 2009
Now it appears Billy is trying to play hard to get.
8:20 pm on February 16th, 2009
Uncle Kracka:
Erin is Bruce Pearl's property:
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/erin-andrews-talks-about-celebrity-and-bruce-pearl-hugs-16507
8:22 pm on February 16th, 2009
You can't spell "Gillispie" without "p-i-g."
8:33 pm on February 16th, 2009
Has he hit on any CBS or Raycom reporters, too?
8:35 pm on February 16th, 2009
Dude, cmon. You just made up that whole thing. You have no source and you have no further details on it because you have no source. I'd write more, but I am busy posting to my blog where I make up stuff and tell Deadspin about it.
8:37 pm on February 16th, 2009
There must be plenty of desperate Kentucky coeds that would take up a chance to date Gillispie.
8:44 pm on February 16th, 2009
Why should we believe someone named Liar McLiar?
8:45 pm on February 16th, 2009
Why Jeannine? Is it because Digger Phelps & Dick Vitale are out of Billy's league?
8:50 pm on February 16th, 2009
If this is true, Billy can kiss any future employment as an ESPN analyst goodbye.
8:51 pm on February 16th, 2009
I do like her hair, but that's about it.
8:57 pm on February 16th, 2009
Welcome to the party pal. This rumor was started 3 weeks ago by UK fans. You got duped by UK fans….OUCH.
9:30 pm on February 16th, 2009
Billy could do so much better…actually, no, he probably couldn't.
9:32 pm on February 16th, 2009
Hell hath no fury like a Kentucky coach scorned.
9:45 pm on February 16th, 2009
Does this mean that Todd Harris spurned the advances of Lloyd Carr? Because, let's be frank, Harris isn't going to land higher quality ass than that.
9:49 pm on February 16th, 2009
some people leave the dumbest comments… so what if he asked her out hes just tryin to spit some game and its probly not even true bc idiots make things up all the time and we'll see what happens tomorrow night whoever thinks were gonna get whooped
9:58 pm on February 16th, 2009
I didn't think Billy liked the ladies?
10:06 pm on February 16th, 2009
The truth is that Billy and Jeanine have been going out together quite often recently. Their on camera behavior is just a facade.
10:31 pm on February 16th, 2009
Who gives a flip if he asked her out or not. Not one of you idiots on here could throw down the wad of $$$ Billy G is packing in his wallet. As for the Vandy fan that "can't wait to kick" Coach G's ass, good luck on that one. Vandy couldnt beat UK if Meeks and Patterson both sat out the game. UK will win easily at Vandy tomorrow for another victory that will put the Cats one win closer to the SEC championship.
11:46 pm on February 16th, 2009
Billy can't throw down his wad with Jeannine, and that's why he's so pissed off.
11:59 pm on February 16th, 2009
Billy had alcohol issues here in El Paso, and I would guess that it is only a matter of time until he burns out Lexington too.
The best news is that the fans ran Tubby Smith out of town, and rooting against you is pure pleasure.
When you feel like joining the 21st. Century drop America a crayon-gram.
12:34 am on February 17th, 2009
Welcome to the party pal. This rumor was started 3 weeks ago by UK fans. You got duped by UK fans….OUCH.
Why would UK fans make up a rumor that makes their coach look like a d-bag? What am I missing?
1:11 am on February 17th, 2009
What a tool. Sheesh, show some manners.
2:44 am on February 17th, 2009
Seriously Brooks ? You made up this whole crap. This blog gets worse and worse…. no wonder I only check it once a week instead on a daily basis
9:27 am on February 17th, 2009
Does anyone think that halftime interviews add anything to the overall viewing experience?
10:33 am on February 17th, 2009
Thank God he has departed Aggieland. At least Turgeon has the dignity to lose at home while wearing his team's colors and not some former team's belt.
10:49 am on February 17th, 2009
I expect nothing less from a coach who begins his season with a loss to VMI.
11:14 am on February 17th, 2009
Nice story…I typically life biographies but I do enjoy a good fiction tale every now and then. You Clown!
11:34 am on February 17th, 2009
So, it is "confirmed," but Edwards herself denied it? Great reporting!
12:04 pm on February 17th, 2009
"Edwards, who grew up in Tenafly, N.J., where she was a cheerleader in middle school and high school, is married to a former jockey. She got her start in television as an analyst for races at the Pimlico and Laurel tracks."
http://www.kentucky.com/825/story/679101.html
So what you are saying is that Coach is hitting on married women now. The man makes several millions a year and he needs to hit on a married homely bug-eyed looking sports reporter. Right. You are most definitely a clown..go join the circus.
12:14 pm on February 17th, 2009
Because desperate men never hit on married women.
12:21 pm on February 17th, 2009
My point you numbskull was that he is not desperate. The man makes more money then he will ever need. That wouldn't seem to make a desperate situation for anyone. Let alone the coach of one of the most storied basketball programs in history. Think about it McFly!
12:38 pm on February 17th, 2009
So what you're saying is he should just buy a hooker instead. You numbskull.
12:44 pm on February 17th, 2009
No McFly, you said hooker. I said that he makes enough money that he going after a bug-eyed homely looking MARRIED sportscaster just doesn't make sense. I guess it does wherever you come from. Maybe you should try re-read what I wrote.
1:13 pm on February 17th, 2009
I'm a former resident of El Paso and I can say Billy Gillispie is a major douche. I actually think Jeannine is kind of cute but she also has brains as she won't fall for Billy's lines. Go Vandy tonight. Anytime the alma mater of Broncos QB Jay Cutler (I being a Broncos fan) does well in any sport is cause for celebration.
1:22 pm on February 17th, 2009
Brad James, you are an a-hole and I hope that you and Jay Cutler burn in hell!
1:48 pm on February 17th, 2009
And you're an a-hole for stealing my name and saying Jay Cutler should burn in hell. It should be you that be a-hell-burnin'.
2:01 pm on February 17th, 2009
I hear Stacy Dales isnt doing anything later.
4:02 pm on February 17th, 2009
As a UK fan, I'm not particularly proud of BCG's behavior here. Do I buy the story that he's acting this way because she shot him down? Not really.
As for the question as to why BCG would ignore Andrews? Anyone that pays attention to his recruiting knows that he casts a wide net. Pays attention to as many prospects as possible in hopes of getting the "verbal".
12:15 pm on February 18th, 2009
I'd say her rebuttal speaks volumes about her excellent taste in men….
12:35 pm on February 18th, 2009
I hate to say I told you so…Actually, I love to say I told you so! 77-64, baby!