Today, as you might expect on the first day back from a vacation, I was, as the saying goes amongst a restaurant waitstaff, "in the weeds." It is always tough coming back from vacation after having essentially ignored your real work for a week, but it was well worth it -- I enjoyed every minute of my time on the beach.
Today, there is surprisingly little to talk about other than the fact that the whole, "John Calipari 24/7/365," is finally beginning to settle down into something vaguely resembling a regular news day. That doesn't mean that there isn't any news -- Dicky Lyons Jr. made some news today when he told us about his plans, and we are beginning to gradually move toward NCAA football season, which should begin to ramp up here in the very near future.
Speaking of football, there is a much talked-about article on Sports Illustrated's website entitled, "How Rich Brooks made football relevant for Kentucky Wildcats fans." It has been linked early and often around the UK and even SEC blogosphere, but if you haven't had the chance to check it out yet, you should -- it is very informative and interesting.
And now, for the rest of the news:
UK Basketball News
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Jodie Meeks working out for the Chicago Bulls.
Ater Majok is also, as well as many others. -
Following the best not always best way to start a career
"What Cal did the past four years is not reality," Pastner said. "It's the winningest stretch in the history of college basketball. It's not realistic." Heh. Maybe he can do it again at Kentucky. I could listen to "Cheater, cheater" 10,000 times (as long as it isn't really true) if that happens. And like it. A lot. -
Hot Corner: John Calipari weak on defense
All I can say is that the player in question did not cheat at Memphis. He cheated in high school before he came to Memphis. So now we should hold head coaches responsible for the entire lives of their recruits? Just askin'. -
Coach Calipari’s trip to China: What does it mean for UK Basketball?
I'll just bet the Chinese will know Kentucky basketball sooner rather than later. These guys are nuts for the game. -
Kyrie Irving is still open, according to True Blue Kentucky.
Many have considered him a lock for Indiana. -
Rex Chapman's son is on the rise for 2011.
UK is recruiting him, as you might expect, but so are many others. -
This is news?
Here at A Sea of Blue, we have been talking about Doneal Mack for days. Suddenly, it looks as if some blogs out there haven't been getting their daily dose of the Big Blue Daily Mail. -
Who got the best and worst of the coaching carousel?
Rivals talks about it. John Calipari is understandably prominent. -
Thoughts by John Calipari
Via Kentucky Sports Radio. Interesting comments from John Calipari on how he wants teams to play.
UK Football News
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SEC 2009 // The Lexington Ledger - Team Speed Kills
Cocknfire at Team Speed Kills continues to crank out the great football stories day after day. You think that guy doesn't have a day job or something. Or maybe, he just writes really fast. Anyway, another great read.
Other UK Sports News
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Scott Named Southeast Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Great for Rashaud Scott, and great for UK.
NCAA Sports News
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Matt Snyder of Fanhouse says the NCAA is penny wise and pound foolish.
He makes a pretty good case, too. -
The Loathsome Troll Jeff Goodman on Memphis' recruting success
"But the blow that carried through the recruiting landscape came this past weekend when Pastner — with the help of veteran assistant Glynn Cyprien — scored a verbal pledge from Will Barton, one of the hottest names in the Class of 2010. " Glynn Cyprien. Hmm. That name seems familiar to me ... -
Heh.
Some people you just can't please. Package deals bad? Where have we heard this before? I know Antonio isn't a 5-star stud, but he is a solid three and most programs would surely take him even without his brother. -
NCAA approves 3 rules changes for men's basketball
Hmm. I think all of them make sense, but the "block/charge" clarification looks like more of a non-clarification to me. -
Raiders call Kiffin a liar as he piles up secondary NCAA violations.
Hilarious! -
Kyle King says Lane Kiffin is not up to the task of Tennessee's head coach.
He says nothing in Kiffin's thin record suggests that he will win at Tennessee. -
By The Numbers, Part 4
More interesting work on the upcoming college football season done by OverThePylon. -
Academic standards are for losers.
OK, The Shark Tank doesn't say that. He does, however, represent the view of a number of college sports fans who have been jaded by the reality that neither schools nor the NCAA really care about academic standards when it comes to athletes, either. Otherwise, they would have tighter standards for monitoring the entrance exams so that players couldn't find easy ways to cheat, like letting a whole different person take their exam for them. They pretend to care, because they don't want to look like the businesspeople they really are.
College sports has become big business, and like all businesses, the bottom line is what they really care about. The academic "standards" are just to mollify those who think that college sports should be something more than just the minor league for the pros. -
Trouble on the horizon for NCAA basketball
Unlike this blogger, I think high school players skipping to Europe is a good thing, and the more the merrier. We could actually wind up with something resembling college basketball again, where players actually went to college, stayed for three or four years and graduated. -
Paul Hewitt demands apology from congressman, gets it - The Dagger - NCAA Hoops - Rivals.com
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ESPN's Latest Obsession: The SEC
"You want Coach Cal on that wall, you need Coach Cal on that wall. Just not as much as ESPN does." I had written Clay Travis off as a perpetual laughingstock, but for once, he created an article that is actually interesting reading and even ... dare I say it ... incisive? Does this mean I have finally seen everything?
Other News of Interest
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New Rules for Sports Broadcasting
I think he gets this one spot on. -
What's new in iPhone 3.0
Ah, more coolness for the Apple IPhone. I love that stupid thing.
The Daily Schadenfreude
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Ah, the Dookies.
They never grow tired of logically flawed arguments. And double standards. I love them so.