ESPN.COM disses the Big Blue Nation

by sleepytimetea on Sep 23, 2008 9:46 AM EDT

They have listed the Top 100 sporting venues in the United States and neither Rupp Arena nor Memorial Coliseum were mentioned.... but here are some that were.

Sports Illustrated HQ (a distinguished sporting arena)

ESPN HQ (Another distinguished sporting arena. Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick food fights are the stuff of legend.)

Mall of America (Because shopping is a sport)????

Cameron Indoor (Understandable, although, ugghhh.)

Thompson-Bowling Arena !!!!!! (over Rupp Arena, please. I've been there, it's a dump).

Assembly Hall (Understandable).

The top ten were pretty predictable and Churchill Downs gets a nice nod, but seriously no UK basketball venue. BLASPHEMY!

Check the article out here

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Top 100 list

Sounds like the writers from David Letterman did this list..what a joke!

" I believe in pipedreams"

by Magnoliacat on Sep 23, 2008 10:07 AM EDT reply actions

Garbage!

That’s all it is.

by racercat98 on Sep 23, 2008 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO

by kentuckygirl0724 on Sep 23, 2008 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

These lists always seem to tend to prefer the professional team’s arenas at the expense of great collegiate venues. Combine that with the tremendous East Coast/New England bias and it’s small wonder Kentucky got any mention at all.

For what it is worth, my Top Ten sporting sites in Kentucky (past or present)

1. Churchill Downs
2a. Rupp Arena
2b. Memorial Coliseum
4.. Freedom Hall
5. Valhalla Golf Course
6. Eclipse Park
7. Commonwealth Stadium
8. Ali’s Columbia Gym
9. Slugger Field Louisville
10. Owensboro Sportscenter

Honorable mention: E.A. Diddle Arena, Old Cardinal Stadium, Kentucky Speedway, Keeneland Racetrack,

I’m sure I left off quite a few.

Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Sep 23, 2008 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

Again... not too terribly surprising

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Sep 23, 2008 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

I'd Put Memorial Coliseum Ahead Of Rupp Arena

Adolph coached there. Cawood debuted there. Many of UK’s greatest stars played there. UK went undefeated there.

by FortyYearCatFan on Sep 23, 2008 8:58 PM EDT reply actions

Commonwealth Stadium

out ranks Freedom Hall on my list.

by kentuckygirl0724 on Sep 24, 2008 8:36 AM EDT reply actions

Freedom hall

Blows big time.

Saw UK/UAB there last season and its a trash heap. Even in it’s prime it was a state fair ground turned into a basketball venue. Not the greatest place to catch a game.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Sep 24, 2008 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure the Pitino Palace will be much nicer

Or whatever Louisville has decided to call the new downtown arena.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Sep 24, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Commonweatlh<Freedom Hall

I’ll agree that you Memorial should probably be ahead of Rupp but can’t go for Commonwealth being ahead of Freedom Hall.

Freedom Hall hosted 6 (six!) final fours and was homecourt for the Kentucky Colonels. Hopefully once the new downtown arena opens, the NCAA tournament will again return to Louisville.

Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Sep 24, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

New arena

will be too small to host a final four. I’ve sat through multiple meetings where this question has been asked of arena authority folks, and Lousville Commission on Sports (or whatever they’re called), and others. Too small.

The best we (by, I live in Louisville) could get is a regional game, or the women’s final 4. Not the men’s.

by blbskue on Sep 25, 2008 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions