Hey ya'll,

I haven't posted here in quite a while.  I have been in the middle of a big move from Nashville, TN back to Lexington, KY!!! (I know, just in time right!)  Anyway, during my contemplation of my return to the Bluegrass it dawned on me that one of our songs from the band I was in Nashville was perfectly themed for this year's football and basketball teams.  I don't really deem this shameless promotion since I am no longer in the band nor does the band exist, I am just an alum of UK and would like to contribute something to the excitement this year!.  The song was actually featured on an episode of "Gossip Girl" (do not hold that against me!!!) and they were kind enough to post it on YouTube.  If you would like to hear it, please click here.  It's called, "The Future Is Where we Belong".  I hope you all like it!

I can't wait to start reading it.  "Gillispie this, Gillispie that".  "I as a fan have the right to criticize" (which you certainly do, by the way, just remember to criticize yourself a little as well).  I grew up under the understanding that Rupp Arena was the most feared place to play in college hoops and this was simply not debatable.  All you have to do is look at Pitino's home winning percentage and to a certain extent, Tubby's.  But as the Tubby era progressed, Rupp seemed to die down a bit, becoming at times more like a Wimbledon match with people only cheering after a basket or a good play.  ( I am sure Forty can and will supply statistics that would show the winning percentages between the coaches weren't that different). So, I am by no means blaming this on Tubby, I am, however, blaming this directly on the fans themselves. 

Fast forward to now and Rupp still is a very frightening place to play, only now it applies to our own team.  6 of our 11 losses were at home this year in very closely contested games (definition: game determined by 10 pts or less), games that had a a DUKE like crowd been present, maybe we could have motivated them into the W column.  Jodie Meeks stats were simply  much better on the road (See for yourself here).  His only "major" scoring games at home this year were against VMI, ApState and TSU.  Several announcers spoke of the pressures on the Cats to perform at home in front of such "demanding" fans.  We all remember the boos at a certain half-time.  We all also know the relatively low hum that seemed to float through the venue whenever the boys were down and probably needed help the most. I would argue that there has been a wholesale sea change of attitude in UK basketball fandom over the last decade and it effects our team as much as any other factor you want to attribute to the demise of this season.

It only takes one viewing of a Duke game to understand why the torch has been passed to Cameron Indoor as most frightning arena in College Hoops.  Young, enthusiastic students cheering like crazy for their team are right on top of the court.  It overflows with positive vibes.  Conversely, it only takes one viewing of a UK game to notice that the students are hard to find (I know,I was one of them, sadly a decade ago now!) most of us were up in the second level while the dominant color around the court is a grey (and getting greyer) and a sort of fleshy scalp color. 

Where am I going with this? First, it should be understood that this team belongs to the current students of the University of Kentucky more than it belongs to any of the rest of us.  They ALL need to be seated up front (not just in certain sections).   It doesn't look like a healthy fan base when the avg. age of court side fans are in their 50's (no stats, just guestimating).  Second, I firmly believe the sense of entitlement (of an older UK fan who has lived through the good times) when piled on with age leads to a negativity  when things head south.  This in turn leads to a very negative experience for the students, who are already sitting behind and above said angry fan.  An 18 year old freshman at UK was between eight and nine years old the last time UK won a national championship.  He or she has no direct sense of entitlement, at most only an inherited one.  They just want to cheer for their school with all of their hearts.  They are the ones that make College Hoops fun, not you, grumpy, aging UK fan who may or may not have any direct affiliation with the University other than your season ticket purchase. 

Basically what I am saying is that you in the front row, complaining about your team and coach, pining for the past, booing at halftimes, remember there is a student somewhere above you who is watching.  They would not only would love to be in your seat cheering for THEIR school and the players THEY have classes with, but they are also watching YOU and your reactions. They have no prior knowledge of UK basketball tradition other than their current experiences. YOU are the torchbearer.  What kind of tradition are you passing on?

  There is plenty of blame to be passed around this year, but let's not forget to blame ourselves a little as well.

Seriously. Has anyone heard this yet?  This was not through the rumor mill of blogs, but on the radio in NKY by people who get paid to talk about sports.  While we are at it, a writer at the Courier-Journal said that Patterson and Meeks are definitely coming back.  It's all from an "inside" source.  He also said that there will be mass defections and several getting the boot after this year.  I don't know about you all, but I am tired of the BS.  I will not believe anything anyone says anymore until I hear it from the horse's mouth.  I honestly feel horrible for this team.  Have they underachieved, absolutely... and they know that better than anyone.   We, the fans, are not making this any easier on them at all.  All of a sudden, we are better coaches than an SEC co-coach of the  year.  We understand the team chemistry better than someone who spends pracitcally every waking hour with them.  We are qualified to write and spew nasty sentences in the direction of the people we alledgedly love.  Do we love the players, or do we love the uniform? I would think the rational answer would be both, but by hearing and reading what some say about players on this team... we might as well be talking about Gladiators in a Roman arena... thumbs up or thumbs down.  I will say this, and I say this as a graduate of the University of Kentucky, if we (the fans) run Gillispie out of Lexington after this year, I will have a hard time putting on anything that resembles Kentucky blue.  It is absolutely, positively embarrassing to hear the calls we all hear on the radio and to read the posts we have all read on the internet.  What is your affiliation with the University?  What is your qualification that makes you an expert in basketball?  Speak up.  If you have the guts to say it, qualify yourself (I'm Bob and I coach High School Basketball, etc).   Court cases require expert witnesses and this should be no different.  It's time for some accountability.  Tell us why we should listen to you.  I mean no disrespect to those who run this blog as it is obvious that more than a fair amount of your time is spent researching UK basketball.  I also mean no disrespect to those who post here, unless, well, you are feeling a touch guilty, and then and only then, maybe.

Last weekend I briefly visited my grandmother in Northern Kentucky (Cold Springs).  She is an avid UK fan and a college basketball fan in general and it is always on in her living room.  We were sitting on her couch watching the VIllanova/Georgetown game when I noticed her blood pressure machine on the coffee table in front of me.  It had been a while since I'd checked my pressure so I decided to give it a go.  I am a thirty year old male who weighs about what he should and goes to the gym four to five times a week usually.  Anyway, as the sleeve was tightning, Seth Davis appeared on the screen and began spewing typical Seth Davis stuff.... which is usually enough to get my blood boiling, even if it has nothing to do with Kentucky.  About the time, "Bull#*$t Seth Davis" came out of my mouth, the machine was finished.  151/94 is what it read.  My grandmother immediately was making plans to call the doctor and I was a bit unnerved as well.  About five minutes later, a much calmer me decided to re-check my pressure.  This time it was 131/80.  I have a checked a few times since and it's been about the same. I now know that Seth Davis appearances on TV are as dangerous to my cardiac health as cigarettes and Fen-Phen!!!

They have listed the Top 100 sporting venues in the United States and neither Rupp Arena nor Memorial Coliseum were mentioned.... but here are some that were.

Sports Illustrated HQ (a distinguished sporting arena)

ESPN HQ (Another distinguished sporting arena.  Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick food fights are the stuff of legend.)

Mall of America (Because shopping is a sport)????

Cameron Indoor (Understandable, although, ugghhh.)

Thompson-Bowling Arena !!!!!! (over Rupp Arena, please.  I've been there, it's a dump).

Assembly Hall (Understandable).

The top ten were pretty predictable and Churchill Downs gets a nice nod, but seriously no UK basketball venue.  BLASPHEMY!

Check the article out here