The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Walking Away From Memphis Edition

I must confess, I am rather tired of talking about the Memphis violations, and having to explain the same point over and over and over again to people who insist on ignoring what I wrote the first time.  I guess one of these days I'll learn just to write something and not bother to defend it, or perhaps I just need to become a better writer so nobody will ask. 

Either way, I am moving on, at least for the nonce.  But Calipari has a defense coming from me to the voluminous complaints against him.  I just don't have time to do that today, because Mrs. Tru and I are heading off to the Kentucky State Fair to see Keith Urban in concert.  Oh, yeah, babe -- Fair food and fair tunes -- gotta love it.

Here are some news articles for your perusal.  Yes, there are some Memphis items in there, but mostly offered for their unintended humor.

Top Stories

• A chat with Darius Miller and Ramon Harris.

• Eloy Vargas To Leave Gainesville
  And the hits just keep on coming for Billy D.

• " Video: Rich Brooks talks about UK’s Saturday scrimmage John Clay’s Sidelines
  Great stuff. Brooks gives lots of candid info.

UK Basketball News

• Geoff Calkins: In Calipari's defense — oh wait, there is none
  I'm not going to go on and on about this. Calkins plows no new ground here, he just concocts a conspiracy theory that, like all conspiracy theories, sounds plausible but is likely to be false. There is no evidence whatever to support any of these allegations -- none. It's just what we have come to expect from this writer.
  
  But it's instructive to compare his strident failure to reason with others actual sportswriters like Mike DeCourcy, and with this post which is just as plausible (but just as much a conspiracy theory) as Calkins. Do yourself a favor. Read this for its unintended hilarity. (Via Bluegrass State Basketball)

• Bluegrass State Basketball: ESPN's Pat Forde Continues to Stir the Pot
  BSB takes on Pat Forde.

• The Herald-Leader Editorial Board quotes The Loathsome Troll Geoff Calkins
  As Memphis Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins put it: "Look at the bright side, Memphis basketball fans. At least your head coach hasn't had two Final Four appearances stripped from the record books. John Calipari is Kentucky's problem now."
  
  Heh. Embrace. The. Hate.

• Kentucky, Louisville fans stay true blue | CapeCodOnline.com
  "I don't know that we're too loyal," said UK fan Jeff Brannon. "I just think we see the energy and the players he's brought to the program and he deserves the benefit of the doubt."
  
  Read the whole thing. This is a pretty good piece of fair and balanced journalism, something that The Loathsome Troll Geoff Calkins could learn from. But I don't think he will.

• C.M. Newton stands up for Coach Cal.
  "I think Calipari is one of these guys who's not unlike many, many others," said Newton, whose son Martin is Calipari's director of basketball operations. "He's very bright, and operates in the area of 'I'm going to go to the edge of the rule but I'm not stepping over it.' … Guys who are successful in intercollegiate athletics are in that grey area sometimes. … You'd like to think everybody operates within the spirit and intent of the rules, and you can shoot for that. But in the real world we're now, where the dollars are driving it, you're in a big business. That's where we've evolved to."

• Parrish's and Calkin's "conspiracy theories" regarding Calipari grow tired
  Another take on The Loathsome Troll Geoff Calkins' most recent piece.

• Calipari's reputation forever blemished with NCAA ruling - Gary Parrish
  And forget about the Hall of Fame. That's over.
  
  Once again, offered for its unintended hilarity. These guys, they kill me.

• Memphis Speaks: Open Letter to Coach Cal
  More unintentional hilarity. This is great. I just love having all this stuff to put a smile on my face. It started out to be a bad morning before I got going with these.

• Danny Jett's Inner Circle: The Immortals: UK's 25 'Legends' #10

• What Will the Kentucky Homers Say About John Calipari Now?
  I think we've said plenty, and we know bovine excrement when we smell it.

• Are Kentucky fans too supportive of John Calipari?
  Eamonn Brennan is concerned that UK fans are just not concerned enough.
  
  Well, all I can say is that if Eamonn were a Kentucky fan and had to live through the Tubby Smith Wars, the Billy Gillispie Insurrection, along with four years of wandering in the desert of irrelevance, he might be able to understand. So don't judge him harshly, I'm sure his heart is in the right place.

UK Football News

• Notes from UK's second scrimmage
  -"It was a much better scrimmage than last week," Brooks said. "A lot more energy, a lot more hitting. Really good plays on both sides of the ball."
  
  Great to hear.

• Video: Rich Brooks talks about UK’s Saturday scrimmage John Clay’s Sidelines
  Great stuff. Brooks gives lots of candid info.

• Jarmon's loss left hole at UK
  Yeah, no kidding. I sure hope Evans can get that sore hamstring worked out soon.

Other UK Sports News

• None today
  

NCAA Sports News

• No forced-shaved frosh eyebrows on Urban's watch
  Urban takes a shot at Ron Zook.

Other News of Interest

• Bob Kravitz: Bob Knight to be inducted into IU's Hall of Fame
  Good for Coach Knight.

• Jarmon turning heads in his new home
  Awesome. Very glad to see this. It was a tough situation that happened to Jarmon.

• Pysch exam sought for Karen Cunagin Sypher - BostonHerald.com
  Ick.

The Daily Schadenfreude

• Opinion: Looking for Week 1 upset? Here's five to try
  Heh. Duke picked to FAIL against Richmond.