His name is Legion

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 4, 2007 6:28 PM EST in Basketball Comment 20 comments

Well, the whole Legion affair seems to be settling down from a roiling boil to a low simmer for the nonce, but there is rampant speculation that more players will be joining Alex Legion as ex-Wildcats in the next few weeks. I myself am fairly skeptical about these predictions, but there is at least one player, Jared Carter, who doesn't seem likely to hang around too much longer unless something changes pretty fast.

I have also heard several people complain that the Big Blue Nation has gone off the deep end with recriminations and calls for Gillispie's head. While I have seen the odd one or two such reaction, I can honestly say that even in the hottest hotbeds of fan frustration (the locations are as well known to you as they are me), reaction has been fairly muted and mostly just a bit of hand-wringing. Of course, you do have people like this guy who are trying to create Mt. Everest out of an anthill, but that's what sports writers are for -- to make sure there is plenty of hyperbole out there for us to enjoy.

And if that weren't enough, we get to be treated to some smack talk from elitist North Carolina fans. How cute these guys are, and how quick with advice. Don't you just love 'em? I know I do. Then, of course, we have the humorists.

I have it on good authority that at least one player's parent is not displeased with Gillispie's coaching style, and pretty much takes the "If you can't stand the heat, the door is thataway" approach. I think most UK fans have this attitude as well, and welcome it from player's parents as well as from the coach. This is major college basketball, not romper room.

Update [2007-12-4 19:35:20 by Truzenzuzex]: Deadspin picks up the Legion story, with predictable irreverence.

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Tru

Heck yeah Tru, keep the inside info coming.

by GregJ on Dec 4, 2007 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The ship is not sinking....

Truz, ASOB should hand out 'chill pills' for those who think the sky has already fallen. After reading a little about Legion in high school and hearing his Dad's comments today, no one should be surprised by this development. He obviously has 'Carruth'-type issues.

As you stated, Billy G. is the coach. He will succeed by doing things his way, not by listening to parents or other critics. I do subscribe to the 'if you can't stand the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen' theory. Some of our players should consult with Acie Law before making life-changing decisions.

I firmly believe our coach is the man who will take us where we want to go. There will be bumps along the way, of course, but we do have hope now. We had very little of it prior to April 6.

by xgrunt on Dec 4, 2007 7:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

There is little ...

we can do to soothe the breast of those who desire to live in fear and doubt.

We have a few of those in the BBN.

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 4, 2007 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Shock the so called "experts"....

Now is the perfect time for BBN to really show the rest of the basketball world what we are made of. Everyone show a united front in full support of our players, coaches and the entire program.

Obviously we have the most passionate/loyal fanbase in the country! Now is the time to shove that down the throats of every talking head jackass and follower of other programs that is waiting for and fully expecting a meltdown amongst UK loyalists. I'm sick to death of everyone always expecting the worst of UK fans.

Screw all the perceptions others have of us. Lets flip them the proverbial finger by really getting behind this team and showing how to truely bleed blue.

by wldcatsfreak on Dec 4, 2007 7:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If getting behind this team involves

watching the televised games, rooting for Cats to win, and critiquing their play for good or ill, then I'm all over it...

by senowen on Dec 4, 2007 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Legion/Carter

They need to toughen up. Billy Clyde reminds me a lot of Adolph Rupp back in the mid 60,s and early 70,s. If they don't, they set on the bench. Cat Daddy

by CAT DADDY on Dec 4, 2007 8:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

take a look at this

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/ncaa/12/04/legion.kentucky/index.html

Legion might come back after all.

by khlim2 on Dec 4, 2007 8:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Seth Davis

usually doesn't know his head from a certain other part of his body but it's true he is saying the infamous "source close to" is saying is considering returning.

Wow this reeks of familiarity!!!

by wldcatsfreak on Dec 4, 2007 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

insert

Legion between saying and is.

by wldcatsfreak on Dec 4, 2007 8:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts I posted o a Michigan website

As a UK fan I'd like to give my opinion on the Legion situation.

First, he is without a doubt a VERY talented individual and from what I've read is a very good kid. You all know better than I do his history of leaping from school to school. The leaving one school for another may be more trying to protect those around him than just simple immaturity.

While he is making the final decisions, I have to feel that "parental guidence" is going to be his downfall. "Rumors" are (I cannot emphasise RUMORS enough) that his mother was constantly preaching to players at the Wildcat Lodge about their lifestyles. They're college students already.

I have no problem with religion, but I do when someone starts hounding other people because they don't share a devout devotion to it while they are doing absolutely nothing wrong other than lilving life as most everyone else in the world.

Maybe Legion is transfering to spare those around him. IF this is the case he has two choices:

1- Take a a stand against his mother. Which would likely cause a severe in their relationship OR show her that he is becoming a man who can make decisions about his future on his own.

2- Transfer to a school far enough away that mother cannot cause so much of a distraction that he feels uncomfortable.

My perception of the situation may completely wrong and I am not saying in the least that I know what is going on. This is only my opinion based on what I have read.

The one thing I do hope is that this kid finds a place where he can show his talent and grow as an individual. While I really wish it could have been at UK ,it is all irrelevalent when it comes down to Legion as a person and his future.

by anton37 on Dec 4, 2007 8:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

if you have to choose...

between your family or your career, which one would it be??

by khlim2 on Dec 4, 2007 11:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"family"

A family member should never ruin your career. They should have "your" best interests in mind, not their own.

by anton37 on Dec 5, 2007 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Unrelated

Flipping through the channels on DirecTV and the Big10 Network is showing UK vs IU Dec 1990. That is Mashburn's freshman year with Pelphrey, Feldhaus, and Richy Farmer as Juniors. Big Deron just hit a half court shot to go into half time. Man, Pitino looks really young. U of L has really aged that guy.

by cthom on Dec 4, 2007 9:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Aging

Personally, I think it was the Celtics that aged him more than Louisville. Those were a hard couple of years.

by chirop1 on Dec 5, 2007 8:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

God I love deadspin....

I was actually talking to God. Not you guys. I was saying "God, I love deadspin."

This is a wild ride we are all on!

by wilson452 on Dec 4, 2007 9:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Prodigal

If he decides to return, some type of agreement needs tobe readhed between Gillispie and the mother.

Boundaries must be layed out, and agreed upon. If the problem isn't fixed now, I feel she will be a thorn in the side of Clyde for the duration.

by Ken Howlett on Dec 4, 2007 9:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It should read...

...some type of agreement needs to be reached between Gillispie and the mother.

I gradgiated, I promise.

by Ken Howlett on Dec 4, 2007 10:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think..

..the saddest part was that I could understand it before you corrected it.

| ride | the | lightning |

by paralyzer on Dec 4, 2007 11:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Legion

I am of the opinion now that all this could be good for the team and the BBN. All the unsettling rumors surely are now dispelled. The emergence of the dreaded parent displeasure surely would have been more front and center if any other "evidence" of the dreaded coach existed. The presence in the world of cell phone photos surely would have brought forth an outpouring of BCG and his poor behaviors and they have not emerged. So what we are left with is the likelihood of just ordinary dissatsifaction on an ordinary level. Parents too involved and too anxious to be impacting. A coach needing and perhaps determined to be in charge. Legion may have offered BCG an opportunity he did not expect...to show what he had going for him as a coach and what he wants from and for this team.

by CAWebb on Dec 5, 2007 12:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs