Report: Calipari rips NCAA in new book, compares organization to Soviet Union

While John Calipari may at times treat the one-and-done system of college-to-pros ballers lightly, he isn't one to simply accept the way the NCAA runs. In fact, in a new book he has coming out, the Kentucky coach reportedly shreds the NCAA for the way they operate.

The Wall Street Journal has an excerpt, in which the coach compares the NCAA to the Soviet Union. Yikes:

The situation reminds me a little of the Soviet Union in its last years. It was still powerful. It could still hurt you. But you could see it crumbling, and it was just a matter of time before it either changed or ceased to exist.

The book is called Players First: Coaching From the Inside Out and will be published on April 15. 

It reportedly outlines a 13-point plan for improving the college athletic experience for athletes while also suggesting college sports may eventually be run by "super-conferences" instead of the NCAA. Most of his recommendations are said to focus on improving athlete rights, including covering insurance premiums and allowing athletes to borrow against future earnings up to $50,000.

"I think we could have gotten somewhere with me as the point man, but the NCAA was not interested in my help," Calipari wrote. "The message I got, between the lines, was, 'No, not you. Not Calipari. We don't want him involved.'"

NCAA officials decline comment, but president Mark Emmert was open on Sunday that the organization realizes it needs to change, though not radically.