SB Nation User Blog: ukcris

My First Trip to Rupp Arena

ukcris — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:43:05 -0000

[Editor's note: I promoted this from the FanPosts because it is just a great story. I hope you all enjoy (those who didn't read it in the author's earlier comment.]

Just wanted to say thanks to LyricSmith for helping me to recall this story - hope your first trip is a great one. This Fanpost is spot for everyone to relate their favorite experience with going to Rupp (or any UK game)... be it your first one, last one or any memorable one in between. This is my most memorable one. I'm not sure if the Smiths read ASOB, but if they do - I just wanted to say thank you one more time for an awesome experience.

My first trip to Rupp

My first trip actually started in Columbia S.C. My wife (at the time) and I had went to Columbia for the UK vs USC game. UK won handily and after the game we sat around and listened to the post-game radio show in the Coliseum. Then as we went to the parking lot the team bus was arriving so I hung around to get a few autographs. I collected Tayshauns and few more meanwhile my wife had taken up a conversation with a lady smoking a cigarette who turned out to be Donna Smith wife of Tubby Smith. I was thrilled to meet her.

After we were on the road home, my wife was telling me about her conversation with Donna and how she told her we were planning to go to Lexington (even without a ticket )since I had never been to Rupp and had always wanted to go. She tells me that Donna had offered to get us tickets to a game if we ever came to Lexington. I said “yeah right” … she said “no, she gave me her cell phone number” another “yeah right … ok”. So, the next week we headed to Lexington … Donna Smith ticket or not we were on our way.

On the drive up, my wife says “should I call her?” and I was thinking what have we got to lose might as well give it shot. So she dials the number and low and behold Donna Smith answers the phone …. hair stood right up on the back of my neck – I swear. She asked how long would it be before we got to Lexington and where were planning to stay since it was Friday. We really didn’t know where we would stay until she gave us the tip (see above) – stay at the Hyatt. She said she would get some tickets to us and to call her when we got to Lexington. From that point on, the trip was somewhat surreal. It gets better.

We called her when we got to the Hotel and she said she would have some tickets to the game sent over in the morning. (Hair standing up on my neck thing again). The next morning the phone rings in the hotel room and the lady says you have a guest in the lobby. We were expecting the tickets but we were not expecting Donna Smith to deliver them. She offered to buy us breakfast (which is where the other tip came from) . We had some good conversation and she presented us with two tickets for the game. It was a great trip already … then game time.

We walked through the lobby and into the arena. I located an usher to see where our seats were. He pointed down toward the floor. We followed down, down, down until we were about three rows from the floor and who was sitting there but Donna Smith. We were her guest for the game and our seats were right behind the bench. At half time we got to go back into the locker room. It was an awesome game (and win) against a tough Mississippi squad. After the game, there was a “bash” for the Tubby Smith Foundation … we got autographs from all of the players, Tubby and even some of the cheeerleaders ... it was an awesome time. Must of thanked Donna a hundred times. I have to say the Smith’s really embraced UK Basketball.

Hope you enjoy your first trip just as much ….. GO CATS!!

Coach K to the Lakers?? Come On...

ukcris — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:26:07 -0000

ESPN reporting once again that Coach K will not leave Duke for the Lakers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4298038

"Five years ago, Krzyzewski was courted by the storied franchise before he ultimately turned down a reported $40 million offer and stayed at Duke." ... " 'I will never leave Duke until I leave coaching.' "

40 million clams ... come on. Coach K got the kind offer Pitino couldn't say "no" to and said N-O. That's capital N and capital O. I'm sure they'll keep on fishing for someone to assume the reigns out in wacky LA. Who else might be on that list? Anyone think coach Cal may jump to the NBA once again if the stars line up right for him? Oh, I don't think he's going anywhere soon - but someday?

Who will run the Lakers on the road while Jackson stays in LA? Rick got the keys to the Celtics and the proceeded to crash and burn - and then to the 'Ville ... eech!! The basketball gods can be so cruel.

So maybe the Lakers will go after Roy Williams ... after all, he said goodbye to Kansas with a good thing going on. Players kind of coach ... they offered 40 million 5 years ago what's the going rate today? The NBA is tough place to play ... a good guy from my High School was cut after only one year on the job .. and he made the playoffs. (Michael Curry @ Detroit). The NBA will chew you up and spit you out. It is a no mistakes business - you're off - you're out. Is there a college coach willing to take that challenge? Maybe not with a small market NBA team, but with the Lakers?

For now it looks like Kurt Rambis with Phil on Speed Dial ... hope he's got the Verizon Network! hee hee LOL :)

O'Neill to USC

ukcris — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:21:35 -0000

KSR reporting Kevin O'neill to Southern Cal

USC Hires Worst Coach Possible

They passed on Gillispie ..... (as Homer Simpson would say) DOH!

O'Neill's last college outing was at Arizona where he was interim coach during Lute Olsen's leave of absence. This past year he has been with the Memphis Grizzlies. OJ Mayo also was with the Grizzlies this year ... is there a connection there??

O'Neill: "I'm very excited about this opportunity to coach at such a great institution as USC, with its tremendous athletic and academic tradition," he said in the statement.

He may want to choose his words a litlle more carefully in the future with that reference to "academic tradition".

USC/UK

ukcris — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:14:41 -0000

I was at the game in Columbia ... I had lower level seats. Trust me, PPat got fouled a plenty and the "no calls" fueled the Colonial crowd. You're kidding yourself if you think USC got 16 "clean" blocks - this was a mugging - Jarvis Varnadoe does not play for USC. I've been to many UK/USC games in Columbia and this one was no different - you have to commend the USC fans they are a force - just like 24,000 screaming in Rupp. Our kids weren't ready and that responsibility has to fall squarely with the coaching staff. We had the same game plan and got nearly the same result (as far as turnovers and made threes) as the USC/UK game in Rupp. We had to defend the three better - everyone knew that - but there was no effort and no adjustment. We still don't have one play (even just an catch and shoot - note to BCG: see Tubby Smith's design play for Joe Crawford) to help Jodie get an open look. Watch Jodie move without the ball - he's the James Brown of college Bball - "the hardest working man" - he should be SEC and National POY. Nobody works as hard as Jodie Meeks - thank you Jodie on behalf of all the fans. An equally big Thank You to Patrick Patterson - Kentucky fans are mostly hitting BCG over this game and alot of that is warranted but, please, UK fans, don't forget the effort of PPat - Devan Downey didn't - he recognized a great player doing everything in his power to help his team win, he recognized a player who refused to quit, refused to give up. Patrick Patterson, thank you for your effort - there will be better days in your future. So on to the future. A lot has been opined about the return of PPat and JM, my thinking is why should they? Come back to what? AJ Stewart gone ... who else will go .. Perry Stevenson?, Josh Harrelson? Liggins? Will they go the way of Legion and Jasper? Porter should go... he's not a D-1 point.... there it's said again. He's 2-Guard - try another experiment at point. In the USC/UK game we came out of a time out, had a play called by our coach(?), and Liggins dribbles right, looks in to PPat, ignores an open JoshH, passed to no one and launches a three that missed badly - you can't tell me that was the play we called - BCG does not have the respect or the confidence of his players ... he berates them publicly and individually... that's not a team concept and I have never seen anything like that in UK basketball. Go ahead BCG tick off the Journalists and the Referees - who suffers - you or your team? If you follow recruiting you may see the impact BCG has had with UK, look at the top uncommmited recruits, Lance Stephenson will choose this week, is UK in the mix? How about John Wall? DCousins includes Kstate, NCState and Rutgers - not UK....Think we can land Harrison Barnes? If you have D-1 talent ... UK is on national television for almost every game, UK leads the NCAA in attendance year after year, look at our facilities ... it's the fans and support that make this program great ... a coach(?) ... (BCG are you listening?) should be able to capitalize on that. I'm not ready to say "hey, cut your losses and move on" but I've had about all of the BS I can stand and I know I'm not alone in that thought ... I want that eighth banner in Rupp like any other true fan and I'm not one to accept mediocrity ... Here's a scenario sure to inflame alot of Cat fans .... what coach (currently on the sidelines) could both recruit and capably coach a UK team to a National Title? A couple of weeks ago The General, Bobby Knight, was quoted as saying he would be interested in the coaching vacancy at Georgia. Hey if you're going to can BCG, go with a proven winner. You may not like his ways, but you couldn't argue with his success and I'm not sure if anyone is happy with BCG's ways except maybe MitchB. Just some food for thought. Cat Fans ask yourself "how bad do you want that eighth banner?"

GO CATS