Kentucky Basketball: The Calm Before The Storm, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Hate
by Glenn Logan on Jul 30, 2009 11:34 AM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
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PrintThere is a storm coming, and its coming straight at your face, dear Kentucky fan. You have about two more months before it strikes, and strike you it will -- right in the heart. Pain? Oh, yes, there will be pain. It will test your fortitude and your fanhood right down to the Blueness of your Wildcat-loving soul.
What am I talking about? Hatred. Yes, that's right. You have seen this already on the boards, the blogs, the newspapers and the major sports outlets. The hatred of Kentucky basketball, as well as a resurgence of love from its fans, is about to commence. I am here to tell you that is a harbinger of good, and not evil. How can hate be a positive force? Read on, grasshopper, that you might understand.
Nobody hates a loser in the sports world. Nobody. The term "lovable loser" was coined for a reason. Losers are easy to love. It's easy to appreciate the epic struggle of losing teams for respectability in the face of long, even desperate odds. America, above all else, loves underdogs, the little guy, the unknowns who labor in obscurity for years and even decades for that one shot at glory. It is Hoosiers, Major League, and The Natural all wrapped up into one lovable package.
"But what," you ask, "about the old saying, 'Everybody loves a winner?'" We all know that saying is false. The only people that love winners are the fans of the winner. Everybody else is jealous, and jealousy is the mother's milk of hatred, not only in sports, but also in life. Oh, non-fans and even some rivals may respect and even admire some aspects of the winner, but most just hate. It doesn't matter how classy, or how above-board a winner is. If there is nothing bad to say, somebody will make something up. We have seen this thousands of times. Nobody loves a juggernaut like the Yankees, or Florida football, or a resurgent Kentucky basketball.
Take Kentucky football, for example. Nobody hates Kentucky football, except perhaps Louisville, that that is only a very recent development if it exists at all. For years, Kentucky football was just that -- a football, to be kicked around by everybody but the lowliest teams either in the throes of down years or simply too small to win. Even now that Kentucky's football team has clawed it's way to a modicum of respectability in the nation, it is still not respected in the SEC, nor should it be. But it is not hated anywhere.
Fans of teams like Alabama, Florida, Georgia and even Tennessee have little bad to say about Kentucky football, because they have no reason to fear or be jealous of UK. In order to do that, UK would have to actually defeat these guys enough times for the matchups to be competitive, and currently, that is simply not the case. No fear, no jealousy -- ergo, no hatred.
On the other hand, we have Kentucky basketball. Over the years, UK has pummeled virtually everyone in the SEC as though it was their birthright (which, of course, it is). UK has won more SEC and national championships by accident than the whole SEC combined has won on purpose. When Kentucky's recent run of success was at its zenith in the late 1990's, loathing of the program among the fans of virtually every other school in the top 100 or so, plus all of the SEC, was at an all-time high. But that is nothing compared to the coming fusillade of animosity.
In the last four years, Kentucky basketball has been irrelevant nationally, and largely irrelevant in the SEC. Hatred of UK basketball has waned to an unprecedented level, with rivals sometimes making complimentary noises in the direction of UK fans, and most of the national vitriol has been directed at Billy Gillispie's strange behavior. Not much hate there, though. Nobody hates a loser.
Duke University has, up until recently, experienced a very strong run of success not just in basketball, but in avowals of undying love from divisive and loudmouthed sports announcers (I hope you can puzzle out who I mean), commercials from credit card companies, U.S. Olympic exposure and endless streams of "leadership" missives and messages directed to and about their coach. The resulting overexposure has lead to a backlash that has drawn article after article wondering why so many people dislike Duke. The reason is simple -- success and exposure breed fear and jealousy, ergo hatred. Add to that the perception of a rich, white-bred school and the unfortunate lacrosse business, and viola!
Duke is about to get a break, because it is very likely that Kentucky basketball will replace them atop the pantheon of most loathed college basketball teams in short order. Consider this -- Not only does UK have a gaudy history replete with all sorts of success, they just hired a coach who is quite possibly the most shameless self-promoter in all of college sports, a man who loves the camera (and the camera loves him back), a man who is quotable, approachable and never misses an opportunity for exposure to promote himself and UK.
John Calipari will be the new and better Coach K, in your face every minute of every day that goes by, and his name and face will be on the lips and video screens of every ESPN SportsCenter during basketball season and beyond. Commercials, appearances, and endless interviews will keep Kentucky front and center, and Calipari will not allow them to fade into the background.
All this will lead to jealousy, not just from rival fans but also from rival coaches. Calipari famously has an astonishing number of coaching rivalries, and that will only grow more intense as the beatings commence. Every coach in the country is suspicious of his prodigious recruiting success, and if you think you have heard every possible allegation of impropriety about that, I must warn you to fasten your virtual seatbelts because the ride just gets bumpier from here. The combination of John Calipari and UK is unquestionably the most volatile and powerful cocktail of a sports brand and coach in modern college history, far exceeding the Urban Meyer-Florida combination or even the North Carolina-Roy Williams amalgam.
Add to all this the unfair but seemingly deathless accusations of racial bias during the Rupp years, and you have recipe for unprecedented and far-reaching jealousy, fear, and general loathing. No aspect of the Kentucky program will be spared, including reminders of past NCAA indiscretions amplified by the context of suspicions, however unjustified and lacking evidentiary support, of Calipari's success and close association with past NCAA incidents. All this taken together represent the perfect storm of hate, with UK fans right in its path.
What is this, "good," I mentioned from the negative emotion of hate? It's simple. To me, hate smells like victory. Nobody hates a loser, and Kentucky's days as a loser are about to come to an abrupt, conscience-shocking end, and I love the smell of fear, jealousy, and loathing in the morning.
So if you think it's bad now, you are in for a shock -- in the immoral immortal song lyric of Bachman Turner Overdrive, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."
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So, was this a rebuttal to mine,
or is mine a rebuttal you yours Tru???…..lol
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Neither
It was just an observation, and opinion. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 30, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Been watching a little,
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, have you, davw? Very nice. : )
About the piece. Wow. Just wow. I enjoyed reading every word and really didn’t want it to end. I adore pieces that give you a sense of foreboding (only in this case it’s actually good for us, bad for all other college basketball fans : )), and I especially like pieces that are relevant now, but will also be relevant and mean something in the future as I have a feeling we will be referencing this one months, and maybe even years down the road. Lovely, and obviously, it got a recommendation from me, too. : )
And they'll say, "what happened to your last coach?"
And they’ll say, “he got R.U.N.N.O.F.T.”
So True "Tru"
Ever ahead of the curve is ASOB. This link is to a writer in Chattanooga…a read shows the blatant and subtle comments regarding KY when the story is about Pearl and Shelby.
http://tinyurl.com/mvo4hj
last comments in article…."Nevertheless, if Calipari really was behind Selby’s de-commit, and if he’s able to similarly discourage other top players from honoring their word to other league schools, Pearl may soon lose more than recruits to Coach Cal.
He may lose his self-professed goal to become the most hated coach in the SEC".
I just ordered my new shirts thanks to the efforts of ALLBLUCAT. I will order more from the school…this is going to be my “Blue year” advertised on the street, at the markets, at work and at home. Heck I may even revert to old college days and create a “homage” by the television of blue items. I am so ready.
Well, that article was at least even handed
but still….I dont like the guy’s tone…in any event, he pointed out what may be Pearl’s downfall in the end….no one is getting into the NBA…..and that wont fly anymore…..
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Thanks. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 30, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
FANTASTIC POST
I, for one, am more than ready for this ride!! GO CATS!!
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Jul 30, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions
THERE IS NOTHING...
IMMORAL ABOUT BTO AND I DEMAND YOU RETRACT THAT STATEMENT!!!!!
The quickest way to a man's heart is Chuck Norris' fist.
LOL!
And, in case anyone is bored, have a listen once again……….BTO, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
Good stuff. : )
Retracted.
Jeez. Just one of those things that a spell checker is helpless to alert you to. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
My First Thought
YES, can’t wait’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Calipari famously has an astonishing number of coaching rivalries, and that will only grow more intense as the beatings commence."
John Chaney wholeheartedly agrees. Especially about the beatings.
If Northwestern can do it, why can't we?
great post, I am so ready to...
…embrace the hate. Sure beats the dinner plates overloaded with crow we have had to eat in the recent past.
Winning Kentucky Blue, personally this is my best mental health therapy.
Interesting perspective. For the most part I agree, but let me offer the following:
1. If the ‘hate’ for a program is all about success, why has there been a large segment of America still hating on Notre Dame even though they have performed poorly over the past years? If hate is directly related to success, there would be a lot of love around ND right now and it ain’t happening.
2. Can you blame people for ‘hating’ UK for ‘recent success’ now when they haven’t won one game yet with Calipari? Regardless, it wouldn’t be on success. What would it be then? Recruiting success??? I doubt it.
3. I maintain that there is a sizeable population that dislikes Duke, but most of them are in Kentucky. I think as a UK fan your perspective is understandably skewed. There is a reason why Duke gets game after game on ESPN and it isn’t the hate-factor. Regardless, for those who ‘hate’ Duke I think the hatred is based on jealousy. And that jealous is based on them winning and winning big by doing it the right way. UNC has most recently sat on this throne.
4. Which brings me back to #2. Fair or not, I think the noise that you hear around UK from others (media, other programs, me) is all about Calipari. You may have success like UNC has and that Duke recently had, but whatever success may come will be srutinized and maybe even shunned because of Cal. UK will therefore, never sit in the aforementioned throne. Just sayin’.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Response
1. People hate Notre Dame more for the undeserved media attention they get. That, and they have their own TV contract. Also, they tend to get into higher bowls than they deserve.
2. People are hating on Cal and UK because they know that the 4 years of misery for UK is about to end.
3. I hate Duke, and I’ll continue to hate them even if they won 5 games a year.
4. See 2
If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.
I just don't think people or fans 'hate' on potential or possiblility or future success.
I do think that people hate ND on jealous that is rooted on them getting better bowl games than they should, though.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Aren't they something like
0 for their last 10 bowls?
If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.
just curious
1. I have never been able to root for ND because of the attitudes of coaches and fans and the media presentation of the school being “America’s team”.
2. “Hating UK” is not new….just likely to increase in scope and heat.
3. I never rooted for Duke…because I have been a Ky fan too many years…natural rivalry and “DOOKIES”. Can I remind you of the “Latiner shot?”
.
4. Are jealous of any basketball teams other than Kentucky? Just asking.
OOPS
4. Are you jealous of any basketball games other than Kentucky? Just asking.
Yea, Memphis when Calipari was there.
…and UNLV when Tark was there. See a trend here?
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Well, here's my best stab:
1. Residual hate. Notre Dame gets an inordinate amount of media attention, even when they are in the crapper.
2. I don’t think I said anything about recent success. I don’t get this point at all. To the contrary, I talked about recent futility.
3. I can’t speak to that. It may be so, it may not be — either position is pure speculation without a shred of evidentiary support. Many UK fans dislike Duke for reasons beyond simple jealousy (“The stomp”, Wojo). Duke has much less justifiable motivation to hate UK, but I’m sure they are able to think of some reasons.
4. I consider that one of the more absurd comments you have ever made, completely unfair, unbalanced, and utterly bereft of any redeeming value. I feel dumber for having read it.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Okay.
#3. That’s why I referred to the hate UK has for Duke as ‘understandably’. I do think UK has more reason than anyone else.
#4. Sorry you dismissed my opinion in such a high and almighty manner, without giving a thoughtful and clear arguement. It is an opinion after all. Hint…hint…there really isn’t a throne out there either. If you don’t think the recent issues brought forth are focused on Calipari then you can’t read. I guess you are dumb. (Sorry just keeping up to your standard to being rude).
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Heh.
Well, I probably wouldn’t feel so inclined to dismiss it if you had actually supplied the very thing you deride me for not offering — a clear and thoughtful argument.
Essentially, it is a rehash of the same baseless claims you have been making over and over again, ad nauseum.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Okay, I am consistent.
Just like you are in your persistent defense of Cal because he has never been directly punished by the NCAA. Ad nauseum.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
by HozeKing on Jul 31, 2009 8:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
although i appreciate your "devil's advocate" thoughts more than most
on this site, i believe your response here to Tru fails….
being persistent in defense of someone who has not be punished by the NCAA seems to be more logical (and fair) than the alternative…
that being said, i do believe sandy bell needs to be on her A game, but that is as far as i will go…..
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Aug 1, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair, but here's the risk...
As I see it. Cal may be as pure as the driven snow. However he has surrounded himself with people that he has no authority over.
If UK gets in trouble it is most likely through this route. Nobody respects SB more than I do, but even her power to control is limited.
See it’s not ‘all about Cal’ in this regard. So in total regards for the school Tru’s defense is narrow and limited.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
by HozeKing on Aug 2, 2009 7:46 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i agree
and it is why i appreciate your position.
it may be whistling by the graveyard, but hopefully those that Cal has no authority over are on the same page. the hope is that they will not kill the goose that is laying the golden egg….
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Aug 4, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh.
I think that’s kind of important, don’t you? :-) It also has the benefit of being an undisputed fact.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
So what?
’There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.’
Maya Angelou
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
by HozeKing on Aug 2, 2009 8:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hatred for Notre Dame
is because of a host of reason. As a former South Bend resident (former Maysville resident too,) I saw firsthand the politics behind Notre Dame. There is a size-able population of Notre Dame anti-fans in the part of the country. While nothing beats seeing UK win, seeing Notre Dame lose is a close second. Of course being local, Notre Dame coverage (never, ever negative) is daily and year-round up there in the media. So is seeing the students in action around town. Notre Dame does have a few decent students… very few, and I’m sure they worked their butts off to get there. Then there are the rest of the students, most of whom got in for other reasons. These people think they are “all that” and have reign to do whatever they want. Unfortunately, they do. Go out to the clubs/ bars on any given night, and somewhere a student is destroying something, fighting someone, etc. The media never reports it, and the university has it “resolved” within hours. Notre Dame must be on the top of the list for covering their students escapades. Anyway, I never had any opinion on Notre Dame until I lived there and saw firsthand. Just my take on ND for you.
Heh.
Sounds a lot like what I have heard about Duke. Interesting. Thanks for that, and welcome to A Sea of Blue.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Tru
Me thinks that our resident phobiahoze is in the process of helping to establish exactly what your talking about. That there is one type of hatred where sports are concerned that transcends all other hatreds: the hatred for eternity. This is where the dirt of hatred won’t wash off – ever. It stains the outer garment almost like sin itself! It becomes a part of the very being. Example: the last four+ years that UK has struggled, for UK, and his hatred grows. There is no love for the losses, no pity for the loser, no sympathy for the down and out. Me thinks a “deliverence” is needed. Of which I know a few things about. No, I said nothing about “exorcism”, or demon possession, though the thought has crossed my mind on occassion. There is something called demonic oppression, which is the next-to-the last stage before possession. (there are actually 7 stages) Jesus often cast the devil out of someone that wasn’t “possessed”. (deaf ears, blind eyes?!) We may be dealing with the maniac of Gadarhozeria"!
Food for thought: The virgin birth has much more to do with the absense of a natural earthly father then the use of a virgin mother. Now, chew.....Because, it's called a "corrupt seed", not a "corrupt egg"!
by blubloodcatfan on Jul 31, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Cute
HEH HEH! I liked that one. Sorry I’m so late with any response. I don’t check as often as I should.
Food for thought: The virgin birth has much more to do with the absense of a natural earthly father then the use of a virgin mother. Now, chew.....Because, it's called a "corrupt seed", not a "corrupt egg"!
by blubloodcatfan on Aug 3, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions
#3
Duke Hate is by no means limited to Kentucky. I live in Maryland now and duke hate is quite widespread here. Even though UNC has been owning everyone in the ACC, much more so than Duke has, no one seems to hate UNC.
People have written whole treatises
To me, 1998 closed the wounds of 1992. I just hate flopping. And I hate it when teams/players get a disproportionate amount of calls their way, consistently.
did you ever meet people who...
you would like to turn a ‘hoze’ on?
by StillCatwoman on Jul 30, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
well enough is enough
isn’t it?
Go Blue or Go Home.
by StillCatwoman on Jul 30, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Go Blue or Go Home
now THAT is a tshirt, or should be, if there is a God.
by blue kentucky girl on Jul 30, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
There you go.....I shall put my best thoughts into that one!!!
Kentucky Basketball
Go Blue or Go Home
We could also throw in
I’d Rather Be Dead Than Red!
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
football committment?
Probably not the proper venue, but I read on KSR that the Michigan State Scout website reported that Isiah Washington has committed to the Spartans but I haven’t seen that verified elsewhere. Anyone else notice this.
Looks like it's true
but according to Rob Gidel all bets are off until February. UK will continue to recruit him until he signs.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
Hatred
Hoze,
In response to your second paragraph, the answer is simple. The UK haters are taking the Wall Street approach and speculating. It’s sort of like buying futures, only this is on a sure thing!!!
...and we know how that's worked out for everyone recently.
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
Yea....you and Bernie
'..when they bring a knife, you bring a gun...that's the Chicago way..'
by HozeKing on Jul 31, 2009 12:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
hat in hand
I violated one of my own rules earlier. I try not to comment on negative comments. I have done that once before only because I allowed the overwhelming nature of the negative comments to get to me. Today that happened again.
I simply do not understand the reasons any fan of another school/team would be on this post so regularly….and to make negative comments in such a consistent manner. I unfairly guess at the motive at times…especially when comments get to me. Two of many that come to mind are that the comments are both an in-their-face action and a way of directing the content of this post. Other than the primary writers on ASOB no other reader gets such personal responses in such numbers. Maybe that is it…on a post for his own school he would be one of many and here he stands out. Negative opinions are part of life. Differing opinions are the life of this page. Predictable, rote, constant refuting comments on every post are not legitimate challenges to anything or any point of view. Narcissism is real, annoying and dangerous for all involved.
Anyway…I am sorry I violated my own rules. Will practice more self control in the future.
I came back because after lunch I read another article in SI.. Seth Davis…with this headline….
Davis > HOOP THOUGHTS
New coaches Thomas, Calipari hurting players in scholarship game
Again, congrats Tru for a well-written entry calling this for what it is.
I myself am going to try and follow your example CA
and in the case of the above individual, it will be both positive AND negative comments…cause I aint gettin no younger and I have two kids I can fight with if I want an intelligent argument…..lol
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Maybe Best to Wait
You wrote: The combination of John Calipari and UK is unquestionably the most volatile and powerful cocktail of a sports brand and coach in modern college history
Perhaps you should limit yourself to “may turn out to be” rather than “is”?
and perhaps YOU should
go (kentucky) blue or go home ; ) See, stillcatwoman, it works in so many circumstances! Although you do have to add the caveat for UNC fans.
I see your point, but I’m pretty sure Tru meant not anything about wins or success, but just about buzz and getting people talking—which I believe HAS already happened.
by blue kentucky girl on Jul 30, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Well ...
… I feel comfortable taking that leap. If it turns out I’m wrong, I suppose some “mea culpas” will have to be issued.
Better to ask for forgiveness … :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
My Take on The Analogy
A strong cocktail has known strong ingredients like….
151 rum – UK basketball
mixed with other strong ingredients
Jose- John
The results is what happens when the cocktail is consumed! One may not be drunk yet but you know it it very likely to happen.
UK to basketball = cocktail to a Long Island Ice Tea! Drink UP!
Spectacular
Great piece of writing here, Tru. Didn’t want to come to see it end. Agree to the fullest extent with nearly everything you have said.
"I'm gonna go home, drink a Coors Light. Because Bud Light ain't payin' me nothin'." - The Brock. Quote of the Year
I would love to see Notre Dame get thrown out of the Big East unless they agree to play football as a Big East team. Why should their basketball program get the benefits of a BE association without their football team sharing the wealth?
Also, Kentucky has beaten UofL in football two straight years and this domination will most likely continue, but I can’t muster an ounce of hatred toward UK football. I’ve tried…can’t do it. But I think it has more to do with my lack of passion for college football compared to college basketball, not UK football’s relative dearth of national success.
Finally, my first instinct when ANY fanbase starts moaning “It’s us against the world” is to say “Get off the cross, we need the wood for the fire.”
Hey, that would make a great t-shirt!
by don'tshootmei'macard on Jul 30, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions
I could not agree more.
What the heck is that all about? Notre Dame can pick and choose what to play where? No wonder there is some pent-up loathing.
Well, I didn’t mean to imply an “us against the world” mentality at all. Realistically, every major successful team gets exactly the same treatment. How much is UCLA loathed? North Carolina gets a pass — their coach is just so uncontroversial that it’s hard to hate them unless you are a college basketball fan that really objects to being condescended to (and I am, so hating them is pretty easy after all). Duke is the current hate champion, they just haven’t embraced it.
I love hate. Love it. It smells like success, and that’s something we have been bereft of for the last few years.
So I’m in total agreement with you. Those that want to whine and moan, you’re on your own. We need that wood for the fire. Yeah, baby, yeah! :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Good chest thumping,
adrenaline pumping piece……i dig it! It’s just a shame we can’t lace’em up and get the season started now.
Yeah.
I figured we could use a little rah rah around here. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
You scared me bigtime
My computer was loading up slow and all i could read was the first paragraph. It seemed like eternity. My first thought was ‘OMG, they have found a picture of coach taking Wall’s test for him" It went downhill from there. I need to talk to my server because with their speed sometimes, mayby we could bring back punchcards.
"SPORTS"--Not interested----"CATS"--Pull up a chair,I've got all night.
Great Analogy
Love the title. How about this as a cast?
Dr. Lee Todd = President Merkin Muffley
Mitch Barnhart = Dr. Strangelove
John Calipari = Gen. Buck Turgidson
Rick Pitino = Brig, Gen. Jack Ripper
Billy Donovan = Col. Bat Guano
Bruce Pearl = Russian Ambassador Alexi de Sadesky
and..of course…Billy Gillispie = Maj. King Kong
Oh…and I consider Karen Sypher for Miss Scott but that would mean Pitino was Buck and that would turn Coach Cal into Jack Ripper. I don’t think that would work as well, so, as Rick (as Jack Ripper) would say to her, “You’re not getting my precious bodily fluids…anymore.”
Heh.
Very funny! I like that cast. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 30, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Same Point From Different Perspectives
Good and timely piece, Tru. Probably should reserve space for a reprint now and again.
You couldn’t find two more divergent sources for thoughts on hate and how to deal with it:
Lord Chesterfield:
You must embrace the man you hate, if you cannot be justified in knocking him down
I don’t see many knocking the Cats down so hate will have to do.
And from the Dead Yuppies album:
Well I know somebody somewhere is gonna
Love me!
Well I know somebody somewhere out there is gonna
Hate me!
Well I’m loved and I’m hated
And loved and hated
And loved and hated
And love love love to be hated!
Well I know somebody somewhere is gonna
Make me feel alright!
Well I know somebody somewhere is gonna
Piss me off tonight!
And remember this:
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."
I’m finished with suffering.
"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."
--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787
Lord Chesterfield forgot to add...
“You must embrace the man you hate, if you cannot be justified in knocking him down…especially if he gets back up”
Amen.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 30, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Excellent Post
Yeah the hate is coming (see Selby de-commit) and will keep on coming. Some people just like to knock other people down to feel better about themselves.
Can’t wait for basketball to start. It is going to be a crazy season.
Thanks very much.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 31, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
really?
somehow I doubt this? there is a lot of Duke hate. Kentucky is trying not to be forgotten.
http://fourthdownand5.blogspot.com/ – a “playoff” blog
I Don't Care What Writers, Other Fans (Etc) Think
Calipari has a chance to win 300 games the next 10 years at UK along with several NC and multiple FF.
UK was hated under Rupp in 40’s and 50’s.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jul 31, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions
Great read TRU
Amazingly insightful. I would add that the hate for us (UK) never stopped though even over the last few down years. I guess it goes to prove our magnitude of success runs deeper than we realize. Great article brother, I feel smarter for having read it!
Thanks.
Very much.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 31, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks
Great article. You should write for the LH. I also love the posts by most people especially catwoman. GO BLUE OR GO HOME. EXPECT THAT SHIRT AT MADNESS I WILLHAVE IT ON. THANKS
Thank you for reading.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 31, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm at the 110 mile market on I-75 north
Great article Tru! Wow, I can get my SoB fix from my I-phone.
by Blueobsessed on Jul 31, 2009 11:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I'm at the 110 mile market on I-75 north
Great article Tru! Wow, I can get my SoB fix from my I-phone.
by Blueobsessed on Jul 31, 2009 11:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I'm at the 110 mile market on I-75 north
Great article Tru! Wow, I can get my SoB fix from my I-phone.
by Blueobsessed on Jul 31, 2009 11:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Is there an echo in here? :-)
Thanks, all three times. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on Jul 31, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Tru, I am not sure that it is "fear"....
… just quite yet.
What is this, “good,” I mentioned from the negative emotion of hate? It’s simple. To me, hate smells like victory. Nobody hates a loser, and Kentucky’s days as a loser are about to come to an abrupt, conscience-shocking end, and I love the smell of fear, jealousy, and loathing in the morning.
I agree with everything that you wrote. Or at least I anticipate agreeing with you about 4-5 years from now after Coal Cal and his yearly procession of top recruits have hopefully recreated 1995-98 type success—- or even surpassed it!
I couldn’t agree more that “hate” smells like “fear” and “jealousy”—- but by that definition I am not really sure how much the rest of the country TRULY “hates” us. There has been very little reason to either fear or be jealous of us over the last decade. Now, I am QUITE SURE that the rest of the country is probably more than just a little bit NERVOUS about what MAY be about to occur here at UK— but until we starting showing up in all of the “One Shining Moment” videos every year with the nets in our hands, I think that the word “loathing” that you used in your last line is probably a more accurate description of what the rest of the country may be feeling about us right now. They know that we are going to be EVERYWHERE on ESPN this season. As will our coach. They will call it overexposure squared. And all the while, they will think that we are cheating to be where we are. But they will probably still be more NERVOUS about us than actually FEARFUL, I think.
Like you, I want it to be FEAR. Like you, I want it to be JEALOUSY. Like you, I want it to be HATE.
But I think we are going to have to earn all of that—- all over again.
by Sonic on Jul 31, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah ...
… I think we’ll have to earn some. But the #1 recruiting class, Calipari’s success at Memphis and the fear (and yes, there is fear) of what the combination of UK and Calipari will do is already here. When the balls begin to bounce, it will grow exponentially.
That’s just my opinion, for what it’s worth.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
The "worth of your opinion"....
… is quite a bit, actually. You put in a TREMENDOUS amount of work on this blog, and are a really good writer, as well. UK fans are lucky to have ASoB, that’s for sure!
But I guess I just want to wait until we get it done on the court and put some more nets in our hands before I can start REALLY “loving the hate”… because THAT “hate” is going to be the kind that really raises people’s blood pressure and you can see the blood rushing through their temples and spit flies out of their mouths because not only will we be collecting some more banners, but people will be totally CONVINCED that we are CHEATING (but not getting caught!!!) in order to do it…. talk about people blowing some gaskets and having their heads explode!
But that’s only going to happen after we add No. 8, and No. 9, etc…
Until then, hopefully our guys are ready to not read press clippings and internet posts from excited fans such as ourselves, and just… GET DOWN TO WORK. This is not going to be easy. We are going to run in to some experienced, talented, and TOUGH teams— we need to be just as hard working and tough as they are.
by Sonic on Jul 31, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Hard to argue ...
… with caution. Probably a wise course, no doubt. :-)
Thanks for the kind words.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Kentucky will never past Duke as hated team...
Coming from a Duke fan, no way Kentucky passes Duke as the most hated team. Coach cal will be hated, but for some reason coach k will be hated more.
by hardknoxsports.com on Jul 31, 2009 8:56 PM EDT reply actions
Well ...
… you may be right, who knows?
But my theory is otherwise.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Dude, it's WWW....
Only in NCAA basketball can a ‘private’ citizen not be considered to be a major player as long as he is a shill for a shoe company……people like World Wide Wes need to be removed from the sport…..if this happened in football, it would be a death sentence.
You have to answer this question, then.
On what basis would you “remove” him? Wesley has never committed an NCAA infraction as far as anyone knows (including, apparently, the NCAA who watches him like a hawk), and to tell him he can’t associate with high school kids absent any credible allegations of rule breaking would land the NCAA in hot water with Congress.
So even if I accept the premise of your argument as a good idea, what vehicle would you propose? Wesley is a citizen of the United States, and that means something. Further, you have produced no evidence of your claim that similar associations in football would cause some kind of NCAA sanction. In fact, my guess is that it does happen in football, although I don’t follow the sport closely enough to be able to defend that argument with facts.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Heh.
Thanks, but I’m spoken for - have been for 22 years. :)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Good job Tru,
Interesting article. Hatred. How do we analyze hatred in sports? Easy. Follow the yellow brick trail. It leads directly through the sleepy little town called “Media”. There it is shaped and formed and thrown in the kiln to be fired. Duke is in the hunt for CURRENT #1, but the all-time #1 is UK, and I don’t think it’s even close. But the tide is turning and we aren’t even in Alabama. There is a twist though. The very thing that has made us #1 because of their hate for us (the media) is well on thier way to launching us light years ahead of the rest – because of their love for us. Or at least their love for coach C. (K! That was good!) The media can’t get enough of him, and we are seeing UK all over the place on ESPN! This is going to be like the guy licking the Meth up off of the floor of the jail, while being restrained and hand-cuffed by police! The haters are gonna be on hate-meth!!! (anybody else see that clip?) They will lose all dignity and self-respect. Hey Hozerroser, what does that feel like? Just curious.
Food for thought: The virgin birth has much more to do with the absense of a natural earthly father then the use of a virgin mother. Now, chew.....Because, it's called a "corrupt seed", not a "corrupt egg"!
by blubloodcatfan on Jul 31, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions
I can't say for sure ...
… who is the “all time #1” except for anecdotal evidence it might be the New York Yankees, or possibly Notre Dame football. But UK surely is in there somewhere in the top 10, I would estimate.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
In College basketball
I see no one competeing with UK, universally speaking. Overall sports, now that’s another arguement for another day. But, yes, I’d say we’d be in the top 10, no problem. I see no one that the national media dis-dains more then us, of those amoung the all-time top 20 programs. I don’t know why? We are really nice guys here in big blue territory! I think it all started in Louisville! There’s a certain “hoze” that is flooding the streets with propaganda against us! Someone needs to turn that thing off.
Food for thought: The virgin birth has much more to do with the absense of a natural earthly father then the use of a virgin mother. Now, chew.....Because, it's called a "corrupt seed", not a "corrupt egg"!
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