This article, "The Shame of College Sports", in The Atlantic is a real eye-opener. It details the creation of the NCAA and how it controls member institutions. It also reveals how UK unknowingly gave the NCAA its biggest stick for punishments early on. It goes through the creation of the BCS and describes the various major lawsuits that the NCAA has fought to keep the players and colleges in check. I may actually like the idea of megaconferences now.

This still touches me every time I read it.

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In a story out this morning, ex-coach Gillespie changed his plea from "not guilty" to "guilty" to driving while under the influence.  He received a fine of (according the the article) $1,000.00 and a revocation of his driving privileges in Kentucky for thirty days.  I guess there was no extra consideration given for settling his civil case.  For the complete article go to www.sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4615954

    I was out of town when the article cited above was posted and had no opportunity to respond.  All that I could do was read and think.  I also believed that, while I was away, someone else would challenge the writer as to his assumptions and the tenor of his article.  However, since no one jumped up to do so in a comprehensive manner, I shall attempt to do so.

    First, I have (after reading the article a few times) yet to determine if the author had a point to make other than to say that Kentucky fans are spoiled and are now "reaping what we have sown" and that everyone should "refocus, regroup and learn to appreciate what we have".  You can defend the article as being great prose if you want, but those are the only things that you can get out of this article, no matter how many times you read it.  Disagree?  Perhaps you read a different article than I did.  The one I read said that Kentucky fans had not been "attending to her (the basketball team's) needs", had "shirked our duties to nation and friend alike" and alot of other drivel that sounded as if the author had a problem with the direction of this country.

    Frankly, I take issue with almost everything that this author had to say about Kentucky fans.  This author, along with many others that I have had the misfortune to read over the years, seems to fall into the trap of equating Kentucky fans with zealots who will only championships from their team as if we are God's own holy annointed ones.  By doing so, the author fails to recognize that what Kentucky fans appreciate is watching their team play smart, hard-nosed, never give up basketball.  We love it when our team wins, cry when we lose, but we do not hold it against the players (or the coach for that matter) when the team plays as I just described.  If, however, the team does not exhibit those qualities described above, then the fans, rightly so, become agitated.

    Don't agree with me?  Alright then, lets look at our Kentucky history.  Which Kentucky teams are considered our altime favorites?  Depending on your generation, it would probably be "Rupp's Runts" or the "Unforgetables", neither of which won a championship.  Do we, the fans, consider them failures because of that?  Considering that most of the starters from those two teams have already had their jerseys retired, then I would definately say no.  Those teams though played with heart, passion and with their minds as well.  That is what Kentucky fans have failed to see in the most recent editions of their teams.  Some nights effort would be missing, other nights would see a team playing with the basketball I.Q. of an eggplant while other nights would see a team that gave up at the first sign of a battle.

    Do we, the fans, have a right to expect better?  Definately we do.  I would argue that we, the fans, have been attending to our teams needs.  We sellout the mammoth stadium the team plays in every game.  We purchase any and every type of merchandise that the school can slap a logo on.  We schedule our lives around away games and make sure that we can always find a television, radio or internet feed whenever a game is to be played.  In fact, the individual players and the coach are treated as minor deities.  We name our kids after them, we put their pictures in our houses and we donate money to the school so that it can maintain any and every competitive advantage it has.  All that we ask in return is consistent effort, smart play and continual hustle for we know the wins will work themselves out if these are achieved.

    Finally, I take umbridge with the author's statement that the fans should "refocus, regroup and learn to appreciate what we have almost come to hate".  Frankly, I am not yet certain what this statement means, but I am guessing that the author wants everyone to stop talking about what each feels is "wrong" with the program and "venting" their feelings.  This view (if such was the intent of the author) is quite degrading to all of the Kentucky fans.  To think that the Kentucky basketball program will implode if the fans are not all of one accord is to sell the entire system quite short.  Debate of an issue on the merits makes all parties stronger.  It brings up the strengths and weaknesses of each side and allows all sides to see things that had been overlooked or discounted before.  The Kentucky fan base can handle a little discord, it has before and will do so again.

    No, I do not agree with the author and his article at all.  I support Kentucky and I expect my team to do its best.  When it doesn't, I feel as if I have been let down.  That does not mean that I will not continue to support the team.  It means that I expect that the team will do all within its power to change so that it may achieve its best effort.  I give my "fandom" to the team, as it wants me to do (otherwise, it would not have had built a mammoth stadium to play in nor ask me for regular donations of money).  Since I do my part, I expect the team to do the same.