Kentucky Wildcats Monday Quickies: Memorial Day Edition

Today is Memorial Day 2015. Whether you're spending the day out on the water, grilling marbled fat, day-drinking, doing yard work, unfortunately working, or a combination, I hope it's a good one with those near and dear. I apologize in advance for getting preachy, but at some point today let's take a moment to remember what today actually signifies and avoid going through the motions.

One may say, "Happy Memorial Day", but keep in mind the ones saying it are probably not the one's grieving. Many will be making trips, laying fresh flowers on a slab of stone in quiet cemeteries, and reminiscing. Today is the day for those who died in the service of our country. Let's dwell on that thought, and rightfully absorb it regardless of political leanings.

Tweets of the Morning

1. This is Ross McGinnis. You should know him. Ross was from Pennsylvania; joined Army in 04. He branched infantry. pic.twitter.com/vgfp4jWfVI

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

2. Ross mastered the tough craft of soldiering at Ft. Banning and performed well. He was stationed in Germany with 1st Battalion, 26th Inf.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

3. When he was deployed to Iraq in 2006, one of the toughest years there, he took up the dangerous job of .50 cal gunning on his platoon M2.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

4. On patrol to fight the insurgency north of Baghdad, Ross and his platoon found themselves in a tough firefight.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

5. An insurgent managed to get in close, and tossed a fragmentation grenade through the gunner hatch of his vehicle. 4 men were inside.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

6. Ross called the grenade and gave his friends time to react. Then he had a choice. With a frag grenade sizzling at his feet...

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

7. ..he could have jumped from the hatch and escape the blast. Instead, and this is hard to type, he smothered the grenade with his own body

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

8. Ross covered the grenade, pinning it between his torso and the armored bulkhead of the vehicle. He absorbed most of the blast.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

9. Ross saved all four men. And somewhere they're walking this earth thanks to an act of gallantry that's difficult to put into words.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

10. Ross died from his wounds.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

11. His gallantry earned him the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Ross is why we have a Memorial Day.

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

12. Sometimes its just not enough to etch a name on the wall. Ross gave the 'full measure of devotion,' and for that we remember him. 12/12

— John Noonan (@noonanjo) May 24, 2015

Ross is just one of many. Now, for an impossible segway...

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Per KSR, UK is a 1 point favorite over UofL, according to "a former oddsmaker". The inclusion of "former oddsmaker" doesn't make me want to put a lot of stock in this prediction besides the fact it's still May.
• A thread on which true freshmen will start next season. If it's more than CJ Conrad it'll suggest issues with the development of players in previous signing classes. If Conrad is the only freshmen in all of the two-deep, that will be a positive sign in a lot of ways.
• Scout's Patrick Loney has been tweeting that most of the 2015 signing class will enroll at UK on June 7th which will be the first day for the eight week summer session. They'll probably start "voluntary" workouts at the same time.

Kentucky basketball

• Julius Randle is ready for summer basketball.
• 2016 recruit Miles Bridges likes UK.
• Presumably you've heard by now, but Tony Barbee replaces Slice. Barbee previously worked with Cal at UMass and Memphis.

Other Kentucky sports

• The softball team's season ended yesterday in the Super Regionals to the number one overall seed, and the defending champion, Florida Gators.

• The baseball team's season is more than likely finished as well covered by our own JLev. The official announcements come out today.

• UK women's golf team has a freshman with the first appearance at the national finals since 1998.

• A great Mark Story column on a UK gymnast with cancer at a young age.

College football

• Patt Tillman. That is all.

• ESPN's SEC blog has already "previewed" every SEC team. I have some nitpicks about the Kentucky preview, which makes me call into question the other previews.

• SEC spring meetings focusing on Big 10 schools hosting satellite camps in the South. Building rapport in Atlanta is one thing. Getting players to leave warmer temperatures, and their home state schools, for a Pennsylvania February is something else. One or two players may end up in the B1G this way, but the topic feels like much ado about nothing.
• Coaches on the hot seat.

College basketball

• 50 Shades of Brey
• Billy Donovan and family being classy.
• Have we covered that Thon Maker is reportedly heading to IU or ASU mid-season?

Other sports news

• The Cavs and Warriors seem to be on a collision course. TNT's graphics people did a funny thing on Lebron's performance.
• Lightning!
• Records fall in The Premier League yesterday.

Other news

• Anne Meara is dead. She is the mother of Ben Stiller and spouse to Jerry Stiller. I found this great audio bit from a comments section. It's still funny decades later. Here is the couple on "What's My Line?"

• John Nash, he of "A Beautiful Mind" fame also died this weekend. He led a remarkable life all while battling mental illness.