Morning Newspaper for January 9th

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 9, 2009 8:27 AM EST in News Comment 37 comments

I thought the BCS championship game was excellent last night, well played on both sides of the ball by Florida and Oklahoma when they weren't committing personal fouls or the officials weren't stopping the game for some unexplained reason. It has to be a disappointment for Bob Stoops to be a bridesmaid so many times, but his record at Oklahoma just keeps getting better. Sam Bradford throws a pretty, pretty ball.

Now, for the news:

Kentucky Basketball News

More about K.C. Ross-Miller's trip to Lexington.
We face a different Vandy team this Saturday than last year. As long as Shan Foster isn't there, I'll take it. That guy was ridiculous. But make no mistake, Vandy has a solid team fully capable of beating UK.
This guy thinks the Gators will win the East. I just don't agree. Too young.
SEC teleconference quotes between Gillispie and Stallings.
Kentucky a tough test for Vanderbilt. We need a loud crowd to urge UK into a drubbing of the 'Dores.

Kentucky Football/Other Sports News

Hartline won't be easy to oust as QB next year, according to Mark Story. I have no opinion on how easy or hard it will be, but I do know he will have a lot of competition from Randall Cobb and others.
A bunch of complaints by Lisa H. about college football. I agree with some, disagree with most, but the reason it's linked here is because the points to UK as an example of a school that should not have gotten a bowl bid. Who would you replace them with, Lisa? The rules are the rules. True, I think UK needs to schedule tougher, and I think they will soon, but this complaint is just ridiculous. No bowls for teams with FCS schools on the schedule? Do you want me to list all the bowl-eligible teams who played an FCS school? That logic means that both Oklahoma and Utah should be ineligible, then. Didn't think about that, didja? Even Florida had an FCS game (Citadel).
Kentucky receives a few votes in the final polls.
Some football recruiting news from Straitpinkie.
UK women fall to Tennessee in a very close game.
Matt Jones says Micah Johnson will announce his intention to stay at UK today at 2:30.

NCAA Basketball News

March to Madness says that the Tar Heels will definitely not be winning the NCAA tournament, among other things.
California continues its winning ways.
Shawn Siegel of CHN has twenty random thoughts, all worth reading.
Morgan State beats Maryland. Ouch.
Minnesota wins. I thought Iowa really looked bad when I saw them in Las Vegas.

NCAA Football News

Bowls were well attended this year despite the bad economy.
More carping about Utah, this time directed at the AP.
BCS game a "...choppy, sloppy affair?" There were a number of penalties which made it less than smooth, but I thought both teams played very well, overall. Both teams moved the ball well, but the defenses were very stout. Sam Bradford throws perhaps the most beautiful football I have seen in years.
A playoff would have been better? Well, duh. I just think these media types wanted a 55-45 game or some such, and they think because the defenses played well that there is something illegitimate about the game. What a bunch of trolls.
I thought Bradford was great. The Florida defense made him look a little more ordinary. Both interceptions were just great plays, no way Bradford was to blame for either of them.
Gregg Doyel, a Florida grad, fails to give the Gator defense any credit. A pity, that.
Texas fans enjoy a little schadenfreude.
Alligator Army's post BCS game comments.

Other News Items of Interest

Holy crap! 112-35? Seriously?

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Comments

BCS title game

Game was a little lower scoring than I expected, but the result was what I anticipated.

The one thing that really bugged me was the announce team. Seriously Fox, if you’re not going to be regularly carrying big football throughout the regular season… don’t bid on the BCS Championship!!! I felt like this was the sort of announcing crew I would get for the marquee Big XII/SEC match-up of Baylor vs. Vanderbilt… not Oklahoma vs Florida! Musberger is a blowhard, but at least I felt like I was watching a football game when I saw ESPN’s highlights this morning with his call from ESPN Radio over-layed.

Its a real shame too because Fox does a great job with the NFL, Joe Buck is a decent baseball announcer for the network, and I understand they aren’t bad with NASCAR. When they dedicate themselves to a sport, they do well… but when the only game they have is the biggest game of the year there’s just no way to do it justice.

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

by chirop1 on Jan 9, 2009 9:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I Enjoyed The Entire Bowl Season

I’m not a huge college football fan but from mid-December thru early January, I watch most every game on TV.

Don’t fix what isn’t broken. I like the bowl games just as they are.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 9, 2009 9:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What isn't broken?

Tell me what isn’t broken about a season that is played one game per week for roughly 12 weeks straight followed by six weeks of inactivity and then a “Championship” game?

Nevermind all the questions concerning the selection of teams for the “championship.”

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

by chirop1 on Jan 9, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Meh, bowl season is a lot of fun

I love everything about it, warts and all. No system is perfect, but this is the one we have, so rather than bitch and moan all the time, I find it more effective to enjoy the “precious present.”

C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Jan 9, 2009 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see a few changes ...

… but they aren’t forthcoming.

So I have learned to stop worrying and love the BCS. Yeeeeehhaaaa! :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 9, 2009 10:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Final 4 Instead Of 2

But that’s about all I might tweak.

Final 4 play in Rose, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar (alternate every other year) then 2 winners play for title.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 9, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't agree more about the announcers

That was painful to listen to last night. At one point, I just muted the sound, but it was pretty weird sitting there in silence, so I forced myself to listen to it.

Three of my “lowlights”:

1) Thom, you get 4 downs to make a touchdown/first down. So when Oklahoma lined up and ran the ball from the 1 on third and goal, it really wasn’t that daring.

2) I hated how they kept trying to explain the college clock rules (stopping after first down, etc.). I think it was more for themselves than the audience, since this was clearly the first college game they had seen this year.

3) The analyst (forgot his name) sure likes to hear himself talk. Let the game breathe, for crying out loud!

Hell, I’d have taken Pam Ward and Lou Holtz over those clowns they had in the booth.

C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Jan 9, 2009 10:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tebow

One of the announcers actually said

“If you are fortunate enough to spend five minutes in the presence of Tim Tebow your life is better off for it.” That’s an exact qoute.

I wanted to throw up.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jan 9, 2009 10:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

I like Tebow, but I threw up a little in my mouth after that comment. Ugh.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 9, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't Blame Tebow For That

A friend of mine in St Augustine taught him at Nease HS – he’s a good kid. Not his fault that TV announcers say dumb things sometimes.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 9, 2009 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't blame Tebow at all.

I blame the announcers.

He is a good kid.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 9, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tru

Im with Tru.

Tebow is a good kid but this god complex that the nation has for this kid is out of control

I mean really, what self respecting person would say that someone’s life would be better than spending five minutes in the company of another human being. He’s a college football player he isnt Billy Graham, or Ghandi, or mother theresa or something.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jan 9, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My husband and I….

….were basically having this same conversation about Tebow last night during the game.

Yes, I would agree that it’s quite unfortunate that the media is so over-the-top in their praise for him. I think they are actually doing the kid a disservice (at least at my house), in that I get so utterly fed up with the media shoving him and his beliefs down my throat that it actually makes me like the kid less. I’m quite sure that he is an incredibly fabulous person and I probably wouldn’t mind all that much it one of my daughters brought him home : ), but enough is enough already, and I really wish the media would give the Tebow worship a rest.

I do wonder though if he will be gracing us with his presence at Florida for another year or if he will be jumping ship? Is the NFL draft deadline like the 15th or something? Hmmm….

by BigSkyCat on Jan 9, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Tebow was homeschooled?

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

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Jan 9, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Both

He was homeschooled but I dont think that he was exclusivley homeschooled. I think he attended school on and off. Not sure though.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jan 9, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He Took A Computer Class At Nease HS

My friend taught him in class.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 9, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thom Brennamen

He is great to listen to for the Reds, his dad is the best.

But I think he should clean his pants after exploding in them last night talking about Tebow.

by btcoop71 on Jan 9, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

CHN

Thanks for posting that. I’ve mentioned it before, but I graduated law school with Shawn Siegel, and he’s a very nice guy and runs a great site, that unfortunately I forget about too often. Even more impressive is that he ran that site all through our 3 years at Wash U, and managed graduate pretty highly, I think. I have no idea if he ended up practicing, though. Maybe CHN is a full time gig now?

by blbskue on Jan 9, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No idea.

But he does do a good job, as you say.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 9, 2009 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

OT: Jon Hood had a huge game last night :-)

Madisonville won, 72-71.

Hood had 39 points, 14 rebounds, 8 block shots and 5 assists. There is some info at the Kentucky Preps message board.

by OGETARTS on Jan 9, 2009 12:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought that the BCS announcers were fine....

there is always alot of chest thumping in this blog about announcers especially those that dont bow at the alter of UK. I never here anyone complain about Hammond and Conley.

Congrats to the Gators. BTW did you know that Tim Tebow counted to Infinity twice?

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Jan 9, 2009 1:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Counted to Infinity

I heard that when Jesus fixes grilled cheese… he frequently sees Tim Tebow’s face in it.

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

by chirop1 on Jan 9, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Tim Tebow is a covert officer for The Hall of Justice.

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Jan 9, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Announcing

It seems to me that Bad announcing is glaringly obvious to spot becuase it distracts from the game. Good announcing would be harder to spot due to your focus on the action. Just my opinion. Also negative reactions evoke a more powerful response so you get more complaining about bad things than you do praise for good things. You wont here me complain about Hammond and Conley. You will hear me complain about Macy and Bromley. How I miss Bromley’s inside the huddle reports. Macy isnt bad but listening to him is like listening to a piece of dry toast.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jan 9, 2009 1:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

And I was stunned to learn that some people like Jesse Palmer as an announcer.

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

by chirop1 on Jan 9, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha!

Ok, I have a confession…….

Visually, I really do enjoy Jesse Palmer as an announcer, but then he opens his mouth and speaks and boy-oh-boy, what a disappointment! And I’m not even going to go into his stint on "The Bachelor"……..Wow, not exactly something to be super-proud of there. : )

by BigSkyCat on Jan 9, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Outside of Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro and Neal Price

The rest of the UK announcing staff is awful. They have very little insight which is damning enough, but when you are inaccurate, that is inexcusable.

Dave Baker, Macy, Bromley, Oscar Combs, and Mike Pratt really do not belong on the Big Blue Sports Network.

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

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Jan 9, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oscar

Dont hate on Oscar man. I love me some Oscar combs. I find him to be pretty knowledgable about the game and most of his predictions are fairly accurate. I think his accent distracts from what he says and he definitley has a face for radio.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jan 9, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oscar Combs

Ahead of his time. He started The Cats Pause when there was nothing else like it.

I don’t like the current TCP folks as much but Oscar got it started. The paper TCP back in the late 70’s kept us all in the loop.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jan 9, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's fairly knowledegable about Kentucky Basketball

and basketball in the SEC. Get him outside of that and I think his knowledge base falls off considerably. I’d most definitely keep Oscar if I could rid of the others.

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

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Jan 9, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hear

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jan 9, 2009 1:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

BCS En Espanol

I had the good (perhaps mis-) fortune to watch the game in a Latino bar where the broadcast was in Spanish. Even to a speaker of the language the announcers were unbelievably bad. Imagine American FB with futbol announcers. Ah, but the margueritas were cold and nachos hot.

by Wild Weasel on Jan 9, 2009 3:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs