Last night, Cincinnati's local ESPN call in show was full of Cincinnati vitriol against honoring UK's Basketball Championship team. Callers callin' in and heaping some hate on Kentucky. Blog sites are full of love, too.

An Intro:

http://johnclay.bloginky.com/2012/04/24/honoring-uk-tonight-has-turned-into-a-reds-controversy/#

Now, I live up here and have seen it. It's somewhat underground, because UK hasn't played UC in years. I'll bring UK Basketball up in a friendly way or somebody will see my UK stuff and just go off on the team and sometimes, the state of Kentucky. Some, I didn't even know -- just making casual conversation. Of course the vast majority are friendly. But, enjoy the hate of the Cincinnati nuts, we got eight and our state is great!

Continue reading this post »

2011-2012 UK Basketball Schedule

A few Notables:

Five games on CBS

16 games on ESPN family of channels

     at least three on ESPNU

     and one, Penn St,. on ESPN3 -- internet, only!

     Six 9 PM (Eastern time) games

One game on CSS (?)

If you've got FoxSports South I can assume you're in pretty good shape on the others.  Otherwise it's the UK Network (IMG) with five tape delays (inc. one exhibition game). 

We've seen "Save the Whales"  and then "Save the Humans".  Sometimes I'm not sure about the survival of either species but let's move on.

With more confidence,  I want to introduce "Save the Rupp"

Yes, Save the Rupp.

On Sunday I'm sure many of you read this article from the LHL: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/08/21/1851913/uk-basketball-notebook-rupp-arena.html

I was intrigued because we have always been told a new arena will increase revenue with the use of luxury boxes.  Apparently that may NOT be the case or the best approach.

I always had a problem with the luxury box argument anyway.

How can you have luxury boxes and keep the 23,500 + capacity that we've have been proud of since 1976.  Yeah, in a new arena, the nose bleeds could pull a Sarah Palinesque, "We can see Versailles from here." 

And I don't want to lose capacity so a bunch of fat cats can feel rich and contribute nothing towards the loud hell that a home arena should be.  Power to the fans!!!!

So let's renovate Rupp and do it in a way that will not mean a season or two at Freedom Hall.  That can be done. It's not rocket science.

And let's save a boat load of money.  Yum cost a quarter of a billion dollars!  We don't have that kind of bling anymore.

And let's keep an arena that has history... that has tradition... that is approaching venerable... that, when the fans go wild the word eRupption means something... that the name Rupp honors the father of UK basketball.  This stuff is the core of College sports.  You aren't going to get that at Yummm for decades, if ever.

If we build a new arena it ain't gonna be Rupp 2.  No, we'll succumb to corporate sponsorship.  If that happens, how about we get Purnell Old Folks Sausage on board.  They've been a sponsor for years.  In keeping with the food motif begun by the UofL stadium and arena, we could call it the "It's Gooooood!" Arena.  Kidding aside, I don't want a name on an arena that has nothing to do with UK Basketball.

Comments welcome and encouraged. 

This is all just beginning. But imho, Save the Rupp.

Jim Tressel has reportedly resigned as the Buckeye coach today.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6606999

What does this mean to UK fans -- why waste your time here at ASOB?

Well, for one.  Bobbie, I'm king in my own mind, Knight has publicly supported Tressel on numerous occasions.  This loser supports the folks he likes -- facts don't matter.  Slam Kentucky.  But St Jim, that guy is a class act.  Despite the fact Tressel's program was falling down around him.  Tattoo-gate.  Cheap Car-gate. Rings for sale-gate.  SI reportedly is coming out with yet another report tomorrow.  Knight, go joust somewhere else,  NOW.

Second, and perhaps more philosophically, look at the support Tressel has gotten from the Buckeye faithful. You win, you get blind eyed support -- despite the facts that have now brought him down.  The OSU SBNation blog called his resignation  "Armegeddon".

Note to Tressel: You cheat  and still cannot beat the SEC when it matters.

I'm  pretty sure many of you are like me -- I've got special foods I cook before UK football and, especially, basketball games.

During basketball season I like to slow cook a pot of chili.  I've got  a white chili recipe that will burn your socks off.

There's been some disasters.  I once decided to use garlic cloves instead of of garlic powder.  You know?, there's a difference.  That whole pot went down the drain.  Lord, have mercy.  As I went for my walk that night, these people in goth clothes kept coming up to me, saying, "Vampire Slayer". Last year, I made a pot of Texas Chili for the UofL basketball game. Mistake.  The combination of the jalapenos and the alleged Swopshire elbow (it was a push with a forearm, you morons) -- Well, I was uncomfortable.

But I have my food traditions.

For tomorrow's kick-off, I'm attempting a pot of Burgoo -- my first.  It's based on Keeneland's recipe and the Owensboro barbecue festivals of my youth and visits.  So far, so good.  The stoneware seems to be holding, :), and the house smells good. I'll let it age until tomorrow, and will have a big bowl ready (with cornbread) at 3:30.

So, what's your UK food traditions?

Barbecue as you tailgate outside of Commonwealth Stadium?  A monster Brat and Mett barbecue as you prepare for the game on TV? 

This post may fail, but I figured I'd give it a try.

Let's share.  Traditions?  Recipes?

National Championship Winner? A Poll

I added a fifth option.  There is a similar poll on another blog site.  It did not have the "I no longer care" option but had many comments, as such. 

Personally my interest has waned a great, great deal since last Saturday, but I'll watch the games.  Though, I must sadly confess, to root against teams.  There are many perspectives out there so...

Comments are not only welcomed, but encouraged.

Go Cats and have a good week.

Perhaps he has a point.
Seeding began in 1979 (31 instances)
National Champions:
18#1 Seeds
5 #2 Seeds
4 #3 Seeds
1 #4 Seed (1997 — Arizona, umm… Derek Anderson injury?)
2 #6 Seeds (Kansas in 88 playing in Kansas City, and UNC State – can we say, Valvano?)
1 #8 Seed (Villanova – which had an outer body experience to beat Georgetown in Rupp.)

Since ’79, 124 teams made the final four.
80 teams were seeded 1 or 2.
15 more were #3 Seeds.

Of course the best teams will get higher seeds. But the best seeds have the best chance to cruise to the Sweet Sixteen, playing the Popcorn States in 64 and perhaps 32.

(data source: fanbay.net)

Take a look at this

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4887774

<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

First off, I am trying to do the “Que Sera, Sera” thing (Doris Day was hot, by the way...... )

but not quite making it.

So my real first thought:  

MONEY TALKS... I think ESPN will get in on the tournament. And may eventually take over the whole darn thing with their multiple channels. That may not be a bad thing, unless you don't have cable.

Of course, that could sour if the media capitalists figure out a way to charge beyond cable fees.

Second coherent thought: Number 1 playing number number 24?

Where is the “madness” in that? BORING.

Please work in some "bye" games.

And there is a badge of honor to making the field of 64/65. I think that may fade, if 96 teams are invited.

And let's look at UK 08-09. They'd have made the dance. There wouldn not have been an

“Are you (insert inappropriate word here) me?... The NIT?”  from fans. BCG was probably gone, regardless. But the bar lowers for other coaches.

Stick with 64. And even drop the 64/65 game. Dayton will survive.

But whatever will be, will be....

Thoughts?  This should be fun