Houston, we have a problem…

That’s right Houston, you all are about to be invaded by the BIG BLUE NATION!  Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes, I hope you all have enough room to host the BIG BLUE NATION!  GO BIG BLUE!!!!!  This team isn’t going to take it anymore.  With the play of Josh Harrellson and the other upperclassmen, has the UK Wildcats back in the Final Four.  Congratulations UK Wildcats being the East Region Champions.

So, let’s talk how UK got to be where they are heading.  This journey starts back in November with the Maui Invitational.  Ending with UConn really dismantling UK in the Championship game.  The way UK played really left a bad taste in their mouth.  Then there is the regular season that probably drove a lot of UK fans to drink or something.  How many close road games could this team lose?  I’m not talking good teams either.  I’m talking teams that UK should had blown away but struggle and lose the game by the slimiest of margins.  Not once or twice but six times.  WOW!!!  But towards the end of the regular season, UK started playing more like a team by being a team.  They made this great run in the SEC Tournament run to win the Conference Championship for the second straight year.

But then the stupid NCAA Committee decide to screw UK over again.  The first time with Enes Kanter saying he is permanently ineligible.  Like that was a great call.  But again by deciding UK was a #4 seed.  But with all that, look who is in the Final Four?  That’s right!  UK baby!!!!!

They got here when Harrellson decided to come out and play.  Want to know why Harrellson is playing like he is playing?  Not just his determination to get him in the best shape of his life and etc.  But because he isn’t ready for his college career to be over.  I’m surprised nobody really mention this.  Determination is a powerful tool but also knowing that any game could be your last game of your career.  How would you play?  Another words, he is making sure his last game isn’t a lost.  Way to go Harrellson.  Keep up the great play.  You are one of my favorite UK player.  Play tough against UConn.

The other reason UK is where they are right now?  Upperclassmen…that’s right!!!!  I know Calipari likes the one and done players but you need to surround them with upperclassmen that have the experience.  That’s where Josh Harrellson, DeAndre Liggins, and Darius Miller comes in.  They bring the necessary experience and level headedness that the freshmen need in this type of tournament.  Talent can only go so far in a tournament.  But talent and experience will take you all the way!

Another reason UK is where they are?  They can shoot.  Last years team was all great and etc but had a hard time shooting from outside.  When they got cold last year, they just continue to shoot those jumpers rather than using their strengths.  It was almost like they were stubborn.  But this years team can shoot those jumpers and make them with ease.  A big difference between last year team and this years team.  When you can spread the court by making those jumpers, it makes it a whole lot easier to drive the ball down the lane.

So, again, CONGRATULATIONS UK WILDCATS on making the Final Four.  Let’s bring home #8 baby!!!!  We got next!

TL

UK lost could be UK gain…

Let me say this.  I’m disappointed in the UK lost but couldn’t be any more prouder of the team though.  Apparently it was WVU’s birthday as they seem they couldn’t miss from the 3 point line in the 1st half.  How can a team go 0 for 16 from 2 point range and 8 for 15 from 3 point range and still win the game?  Just pure luck that’s all!  Of course doesn’t help when UK couldn’t hit anything though from 3 point line.  But thank you for the great run this year.  But will say this, I know Calipari said he prefer talent over experience anytime?  I honestly prefer a combination of talent and experience anytime over just talent or experience.  The NCAA tournament is a different beast than the regular season and conference tournaments.  It’s experience that UK needed tonight against WVU that we didn’t get.  It would be experience that would know when to shoot those 3’s or get it into the big fellows.  We never know now!

Now is the hardest part for UK fans.  The wait and see what happens next.  I truly hate the one and done players.  Yes, they have the talent and etc but for basketball it’s not fair to force them to go to college if they want to play for money.  It has changed the game of basketball big times.  But this year could be a different year when a lot of one and done players actually will stay.  Because there is talk that after next year’s NBA season, there will be a lock out of players.  Which they are predicting will take out the whole season of the NBA.  So, why would a player go into the NBA for a year and then there will be a strike after the end of the year?  Why not continue to hone your skills at the college level and enjoy playing till the strike is over at the college level?

Also, this lost by UK in this game could really be a good thing for UK.  It will leave a bad taste in the players mouth knowing that this was their season to win the title but to go out like they did.  So, they might want to come back for another season to prove that and erase that taste from their mouth with a national title?  So, here is my opinion on what will happen over the next few months.  People think that Wall is gone?  I’m not quite sure he is.  I think Wall is really torn between his decision and I think he will come back for one more season.  If Wall comes back for one more season, I think you will see a domino effect happen where Cousins come back for sure.  I honestly think Cousin is definitely coming back.  As for Patterson, he has the hardest decision to make.  He can’t test the waters like the others can because he did that last year.  So, once he declares than he is lost for sure.  I think Patterson should come back for sure and not even worry about the NBA.  The only person I really don’t see coming back is Bledsoe.  I think he is either going to transfer or go to the NBA.  If Wall goes, we will have Brandon Knight in the lineup which it will mean that Bledsoe will be second again.  Therefore, Bledsoe will leave once Knight commits to UK.

Even though this will be the toughest part of the off season in waiting to see what happens to current players and to see who UK’s incoming recruits will be.  It will also be the most exciting.  I think if CJ Leslie commits to UK that we can use him to recruit Wall back to UK.  With the following potential class of Kanter, Poole, Knight, Leslie, & possibly one more recruit, along with the returnees of Cousin, Patterson, Orton, Wall, Miller, Dodson, Liggins, and Miller, UK will be loaded again for another run!

SO, LET’S THE FUN BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TL

A quick update on me…

I’ll be honest, my last few weeks haven’t been all that good for me but to go into details would be a grave mistake for me as it seems when I take about my mistakes people think I’m whining or don’t want to hear about my problems.  But that’s just me.  If you ask “How I’m doing?”, I’m not going to lie and say I’m doing fine when in reality I’m not.  Just because you see me smile, making jokes, and/or laughing doesn’t mean I’m a happy person.  In reality I’m as messed up inside.  These last few weeks my mind hasn’t been shutting off at night when I go to bed.  I just been thinking about stuff way to much.  For example, I’m going to be 36 in May and as I look back on my life, I really don’t have anything to show for it family wise.  I have no kids, no girlfriend or wife, or anything.  Been doing a lot of thinking about adopting but know that is a very long ways off.  Maybe not even feasible with the way my life is right now.  I’m reaching an age where women aren’t looking to start a family.  I want to have a family to give my lovely girlfriend or wife the love they so dutifully deserve.  Every day going to work is a welcome break as it actually occupies my mind but when I’m off work, I cringe and don’t look forward coming home.  I know when I enter my place its where everything starts going downhill for me.  I have nobody to come home to to talk too or no kids running up saying “daddy’s home" and then giving me a hug.  This is a huge thing for me.  I know what you all thinking?  You just need to get out there and talk to the women.  Well, I do and when I’m about to ask for their number or something, something happens.  For example, the other day, I was talking to this girl on the bus and I was about to ask her for her number when some jackass comes up and ask for her number.  Did that piss me off?  But that’s how things for me when it comes to women have been.  I’m just tired of being alone.  Someday I hope I can write about my wife or girlfriend and my kids.  But for the time being, I’m going to be walking alone in single land.

In other news, UK basketball is doing good in the tournament.  With Kansas losing, UK is now the favorite to win it all but UK have a big game Thursday night with Cornell.  All week we have heard about the matchup and the different angles that the media has came up with.  This is going to be a tough game for UK as it will practically be a home game for Cornell.  With Syracuse being just 45 minutes away from Cornell, I’ll be expecting a lot of red and other fans who love to root for the underdog.  If UK gets pass Cornell, they will play the winner of Washington and West Virginia on Saturday for the right into the Final Four.

Also, ended up buying an IPOD Nano finally.  The music has been helping me drown out the thoughts that have been going on and keeping me awake.  As I’m typing now, I’m listening to my Nano.  Plus, I bought an USB wireless adapter for my computer in hopes of being able to piggy back off a neighbor’s signal to get faster internet speed.  Even though I was able too it seems they know somebody has connected to their router as I get kicked off each time I log on.  What’s wrong with people now a days?  Nobody wants to share!  *lol*

I also decided what I’m going to be doing after my VISTA assignment is finished.  My ultimate goal is to get on at the Brighton Center full-time.  It’s a company that I can see myself working for that can best use the skill sets that I have.  If I don’t get on full-time, then I’m going to do VISTA for another year.  This is huge for me to set this kind of goal for myself.

TL

It’s Here…

As I’m about to head to bed for the night, I’m excited about what’s I’m going to be waking up too.  It’s going to be a day of pampering for myself that will end up in Rupp Arena as Chris and I are going to be going to the UK Basketball game Monday night.  I’m looking forward for this game.  It’s going to be my second game that I have seen at Rupp.  So, I’m excited.  But before we get to Rupp Arena, there are a few errands that I’ll have to run Monday.  These errands made me take a day off of work.  But I must say that I definitely needed a day off.  But I must say I love working at Brighton Center so much that even though I have a few errands to run and the game in the evening I had a very hard time deciding if I wanted to just take the morning off and coming in for a few hours to just work and then head to Rupp.  But after asking several people, I decided to take the day off after my supervisor basically made the decision for me.  Even right now, I still think I should go in and work for a few hours.  Go figure?

As for my last week, it was very busy at Brighton Center.  With the recent food donation drive we had, it was busy everyday as people continue bringing in food.  Also, I had to make a few trips with Bear Clifton to a few companies during the week to pick up food donations from the companies employees.

Also, I learned about my HEARTH case.  Looks like United Ministries is willing to give me one month of assistance for me to move into a place.  But then after that month they will re-evaluate to see if I need anymore assistance afterward.  I’m hoping to get between three to six months of assistance.  Not just one.  But as of right now, they need to inspect the apartment that I picked up and then fax a letter over to the apartment people.  Then the apartment people will either approve me or denial me.  So, I’m hoping to get in by December 1st.  We shall see.

TL

No Joe B's for Cats, since NCAA 'disassociated' restaurateur…

The times I ate at Joe B’s I meet a few UK players.  I must say, I love Joe B’s restaurant though.  Hard to believe Joe would do something like this since pretty much how all UK Athletics went there.  So, even though Joe B’s will survive this but he will lose some money for this mistake.  But it just goes and show how tedious that the NCAA is.  Hard to believe the NCAA goes this far.  But will admit though if you haven’t ate at Joe B’s that you should definitely go and eat there.  The food is great!  Enjoy reading this article below:

No Joe B's for Cats, since NCAA 'disassociated' restaurateur - Latest News - Kentucky.com

TL

The King has cometh...

As you all might now rather you are a college basketball fan or not, there has been a lot of talk regarding the Kentucky Wildcats. You all might not know that they are the most winningest college basketball program in the nation and the 2nd most winningest programs for National Championship. Kentucky is synomous with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant or like the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics around the world. That news or earth quake you might have felt is all the Kentucky fans felt running to the press conference or the school itself, or to the nearest tv set or radio to either catch a glimpse of or hear the new King "John Calipari" speak. Now this would had made a very kewl or cruel April Fools Day Joke though. But it wasn't. Let me be one of the many that welcomes John Calipari to UK. Camelot is waiting "Little Ricky". I'm very exciting about this hire. Not only is he a big time coach but he can recruit. Just look at the class he put together at Memphis that is about to fall apart. Not to mention his previous classes at Memphis. This is what UK needs and I believe John Calipari is going to bring UK back to the days of Rick Pitino. Which of course is an interesting comparison in its self!



So, Coach Calipari you want a measuring stick? Just go back to Rick Pitino's era here at UK. That's your foundation that you need to use to guide your progress. Don't worry about keeping track or anything because there will be 24,000 people letting you know how you doing. You just have to go beyond Rick Pitino's era to be pleased by the 24,000 fans here at UK. But I know it won't be a problem for you at all. If you can translate what you did at Memphis here in Kentucky, you are made for life.



So, what am I looking for with Coach Calipari here at UK? The following things:



1) Strength of Schedule (SOS) - One of the things I thought that have gotten away from UK in the past years is their schedule. I remember in the past that UK's SOS being in the top 5 yearly by playing the likes of UNC, Indiana, Duke, and etc. Now a days, we play a lot of cupcake city teams. I would like to see our SOS back up in the Top 5 on a yearly basis. Fans will forgive you every now and then when we lose to UNC and etc but will not forgive you if you lose to teams like Gardner-Webb and San Deigo State. But that won't be a problem because he will basically win everything.



2)UL - if by any chance you can't win a game and want to salvage the season just win this game and you basically be fine for the season. But on a more serious note, I would like to see this game get back to the way it was back in the 80's where the game is really consider to be a dream game. Remember those years when UK/UL would meet in the tournament? Those games were very competitive.

3)Clean Program - keep the program clean. UK can't go through another probation period. But I think Calipari will keep it clean!

4) Recruits - expect an influx of fresh talent coming to UK year in and year out. All the top recruits will put us on their list and Calipari will go and get them.

So, be ready! UK is back people!