Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
There’s an old Kentucky saying that goes, “I’d rather re-enact the pig scene from Deliverance than cheer for a basketball team in the state of North Carolina.” And thanks to yet another failure by the Charlotte Bobcats, Kentucky fans won’t have to channel their inner Ned Beatty. Michael Jordan’s impulse franchise purchase had the best odds in the draft lottery to win the No. 1 pick, but the team that lost 89-percent of its games during the 2012 season couldn’t break the habit of losing, even off the court with the chips stacked in its favor. It’s just another disappointment for Bobcats fans, assuming the endangered ‘Bobcat fan’ species is still somewhere out there in the basketball wild.
But instead of poking fun at the few loyal, mindless people who spent the 2012 NBA season wearing Bismack Biyombo and Jamario Moon jerseys, we’ll pay tribute to the city of Charlotte and all its magnificence. For instance, did you know there are over 300 International Organizations currently active in the Charlotte region, hosting over 90 International Festivals annually??? J’aime des promenades en bateau nus!!! And if chorizo sandwiches from street vendors and Guatemalan tap-dancers aren’t your thing, Charlotte is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame!!! Vroom! Vroom!
Tucked away in the gorgeous countryside that is Mecklenburg County, Charlotte is the second largest banking center in the United States, and the city’s airport offers 700 daily flights with nonstop service to 150 destinations, 31 of which are international. Combine those two statistics and you assume everyone in Charlotte is saving up their money to get the hell out. But that’s not true!!! Charlotteans love their city, its humid subtropical climate, the sweet smell of fresh tobacco in the mornings, K-Ci & JoJo, and that big disco wheel statue downtown.
You see, the original “Queen City” isn’t as bad as its professional basketball team makes it out to be. It’s not even as bad as its professional football team makes it out to be. Charlotte is just a misunderstood, 297.7 square-mile paradise, tucked away in the state that was first in flight, invented miniature golf and tasted the first Krispy Kreme donut.
And I’m so relieved Anthony Davis isn’t going there.
**********
Thanks to the Bobcats’ lottery incompetence, the New Orleans Hornets are the winners of the Anthony Davis Sweepstakes. Nawlins went into Wednesday night’s draft lottery with only the fourth-best odds to win at 14.8%, but they swooped in and stole the future of Charlotte professional basketball, just as they did back in 2002 when the franchise packed up and moved to Louisiana. Now, Anthony Davis is returning to the city where he won Kentucky its eighth National Championship, the same city that featured a billboard of Davis downtown during the SEC Tournament. Life comes full circle sometimes, and in Anthony Davis’ case, that circle has a lot of saxophones and drunk people. They’re going to love him.
If anyone should be excited about Anthony Davis playing for New Orleans, it is his mother, Eranier. I’m sure she never thought she’d get to wear her unibrow masquerade mask again:
If someone were smart and had the finances to do it, putting these masks in New Orleans shops would be a great idea. Go become a millionaire. I only ask for 10%.
It’s very easy to get caught up in the Anthony Davis/Hornets excitement, but let’s not forget what it means for the one we love most, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. MKG is projected to go 2nd overall in the NBA Draft by many services, which would put him with Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats. Our only hope is that Charlotte takes Bradley Beal or Thomas Robinson with the second pick, leaving Washington to take Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 3. It’s selfish of me, but I’d like to see him drop all the way to fifth to the Kings so he can play with DeMarcus and Chuck. Washington will be just dandy, though.
I won’t dwell on the draft tonight because we have plenty of time to discuss it between now and June 28. Let’s move on to a more pressing issue: that ex-girlfriend out on our lawn, Indiana. According to a letter obtained on Wednesday afternoon by the AP, Hoosier athletic director Fred Glass reached out to Mitch Barnhart to save the UK-IU series, one week after Glass announced publicly that it had officially ended. Two weeks later, the letter said, Barnhart and Kentucky rejected Indiana’s offer to play at a neutral site in 2012 and 2013, so long as the series would return to campus for 2014 and 2015. Glass made himself out to be the good guy who was trying to save the rivalry, while Kentucky was being stubborn and refusing to continue the series. That is Indiana’s side of the story.
Not long after Glass’ letter went public, Mitch Barnhart responded with Kentucky’s side of the story. According to Barnhart, Kentucky moved on immediately after Glass announced the end of the series on May 3. The Cats scheduled the two games with Baylor, renewed the home-home series with North Carolina, and reached out to Duke about creating an annual “event” that will be the highlight of college basketball’s non-conference schedule. That doesn’t leave room for Indiana, which explains why Kentucky wasn’t interested in listening to the Hoosiers’ “compromise” on May 10. But despite having the Indiana series in the rearview, Mitch and UK still offered to play the Hoosiers at a neutral site this coming season on one of the two open Saturday dates in December.
That says, “You’re the one who wants to play us. We don’t need you. You play when and where we tell you, or we play someone else.”
It’s that simple.
I wonder what Tom Crean thinks about all this?
I love listening to Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Doris Burke. Awesome team. I wish Jeff would right a book.
— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) May 31, 2012
Oh, OK. I don’t know what is worse, “right” a book or actually wanting Jeff Van Gundy to write a book.
Speaking of dying rivalries, should we worry about the future of the Governor’s Cup? At the SEC meetings in Florida, Joker Phillips said the Louisville series is “something we’d really have to think about” if the SEC goes to a nine-game conference schedule. UK would have to consider protecting itself if an extra SEC game is added, meaning Louisville would likely get the boot for a non-BCS team. Losing the game with Louisville would be a tragedy for the fans of both programs, but when you’re Kentucky, you can’t afford to play 10 quality opponents every season and expect to post solid records.
Before you’re quick to jump on the Cats for the thought of dumping Louisville from the schedule, I would expect to see many other big time college football rivalries come to an end for the same reason. Florida/Florida State, South Carolina/Clemson, and Georgia/Georgia Tech come to mind.
Hey, ESPN. That’s not John Jenkins.
Jenkins’ postseason trophy is much smaller than the one Doron Lamb has. And Doron is better at basketball. The mixup is inexcusable.
In Tony Trocha news, there is no Tony Trocha news. We’re still waiting on the mysterious big man to return from Colombia.
That’ll do it for now. I’ll leave you with the greatest photo ever taken…
No one does Memorial Day like Doug Harrellson. Yes, that’s an ‘American Summer’ t-shirt.
[powered by WordPress.]
Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
9 queries. 0.330 seconds
May 30th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
I like big tits…that’s right!
May 30th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
He looks slightly like Terry Gilliam in that picture. Google it.
May 30th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
I’m smarter than Tom Crean. And I have a IQ of 79. Those Hoosiers have him smokin’ meth now. I knew it.. I knew it I knew it
May 30th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Right a book? Right a book?
I hope he sells the writes to his life story and has someone else right his book.
May 30th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
You bastard! Dunkin’ Donuts started in Quincy, MA!
May 30th, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Screw New Orleans!
May 30th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Tony Delk, one of my all time favorite Cats, played for the CHARLOTTE Hornets during his pro career (as well as other Cats)…. Just saying…
May 30th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
44 mother f’n points!!!! My man Rondo getting it done!
May 31st, 2012 at 12:00 am
If we are not good enough to play louisville every year in football than we just need to stop playing football. I would rather play them and lose as too play eastern, western, and some other awful team each year. How could you ever compare florida state v florida to kentucky v louisville. Just havinb our coach saying this makes him live up to his name he is an absolute joke.
May 31st, 2012 at 12:11 am
we’ll see if uf-fsu ends b/c of a 9 game sched. not sure bout that, homes
May 31st, 2012 at 12:24 am
Drew,
you are such a tool. that is all
Charlotte is awesome. maybe you should stop drinking your zimas and open your eyes
May 31st, 2012 at 12:25 am
I’d love to sea what Crean and Van Gundy can right in they’re book.
May 31st, 2012 at 12:28 am
Can’t ever see those other football rivalries mentioned coming to an end. Definitely not Clemson/SCar. Unlike the cats those three SEC schools mentioned are easily capable of winning 6+ games year in year out.
May 31st, 2012 at 12:29 am
11. — I gave up Zimas, thank you very much.
May 31st, 2012 at 12:36 am
even lil wayne tweeted about anthony davis
May 31st, 2012 at 1:04 am
11/14. You guys should try Zima AM
May 31st, 2012 at 2:24 am
#5 Lol
May 31st, 2012 at 2:49 am
Drew, did you see 101 disrespectful basketball moments today? I can’t believe they forgot about Stromile Swift’s dunk on Nowitzki and the ensuing rubbing of his nuts on Dirks head. Pao Gasol was horrified, check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgny3lyPf3U
May 31st, 2012 at 5:53 am
Drew – Charlotte has more to offer on just a few of its city blocks than then entire state of Kentucky (and I’m talking about the beautiful women there, not the pill heads in Ky).
May 31st, 2012 at 7:08 am
“the state that invented airplanes”? i heard two guys from dayton oh invented them
May 31st, 2012 at 7:09 am
This is the best site for anybody who desires to find out about this topic. You notice so much its nearly onerous to argue with you (not that I truly would want…HaHa). You undoubtedly put a brand new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply nice!
May 31st, 2012 at 7:19 am
Lol joker n uk football what a joke
Of course they’ll drop uk because we need guaranteed wins n uk isn’t one, win against teams that make our program ‘rise’ such as
The tenn school for the blind
Or
Sullivan
Or
Indiana wesleyyian
Or
Midway – although they’d probably take us to over time
May 31st, 2012 at 7:27 am
Drew- Try not to come to North Carolina. Even the Kentucky fans here don’t like you anymore.
11. good one
May 31st, 2012 at 7:38 am
How come no mention of the game Rondo had last night? Dude had 44 points and 10 assists. Without him, game wouldn’t have even been close.
May 31st, 2012 at 7:42 am
Doug Gottlieb is the biggest hack on ESPN. I know no one was talking about him but i just had to get that in. Hey Doug go steal some credit cards ya tool.
May 31st, 2012 at 7:44 am
If UK ends the series with UL, I will be forced to withdraw my UK football fandom. It is not worth replacing that game with a cupcake in order to make the overall record look better.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:19 am
The only thing to not like about the state of NC are the college basketball teams. Its a great state with a lot of similarities to Ky and Charlotte is a great city.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:22 am
Man UK is a bunch of wimps. You only play teams when you are a clear favorite and then you drop teams when you know you’re going to get that #$% beat for the next 10 years. hahahaha
May 31st, 2012 at 8:28 am
If UK drops U of L in football, I drop my season tickets. Period. UL is by far the most interesting game we have- Rival, almost always good weather, etc. Playing some d-2 team does not interest me. beating a team like wku 10-3 is not something I want to spend a Saturday doing.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:30 am
Krispy Kreme started in Winston-Salem, not Charlotte.
http://www.krispykreme.com/about-us/history
May 31st, 2012 at 8:30 am
Texas and Texas A&M stopped playing in football and basketball because Texas A&M moved to the SEC. Just saying
May 31st, 2012 at 8:31 am
28- I think you just unintentionally made fun of your own team there:
“You only play teams when you are a clear favorite”
….I guess that’s why we play the Cards every year. You can’t even get an over used insult correct. Please try again.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:34 am
Yep,,,,we are a bunch of wimps. We wimped your ass right back to Louisville on our way to number 8. How does it feel to get beat by a bunch of wimps ? What team are you talking about beating us for the next ten years ?? Has not happened the last 50 years,,,help us out and inform us.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:45 am
UK football is a “joke”. Boycott it until there is a commitment to get better.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:47 am
To correct the comments section: Dunkin Donuts was not mentioned in article…it said the state, not the city that started Krispy Kreme. Airplane was invented at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Joe Walsh doesn’t really like big tits. Sexn is not smarter than Tom Crean, but is much funnier.
May 31st, 2012 at 9:01 am
I can’t see the SEC seriously doing anything that will take away most of it’s best nonconf. matchups. After all, those games are important to rank the conferences in order to lend relative weight to the wins that are in-conference. Without those games, what tells us whether it’s more impressive to go 6-2 in the SEC or the ACC/Big 10/etc?
May 31st, 2012 at 9:06 am
LOL at you lame’s moderating my comments. What’s a message board without some smack talk? Get a life.
May 31st, 2012 at 9:07 am
I still don’t get why KSR is obsessed with the state of North Carolina? I mean, I understand Kentucky has no professional sports and spends the entire year obsessing over college basketball, but why bash Charlotte? You do understand that there’s a 99% chance of MKG playing for the Bobcats, right?
May 31st, 2012 at 9:08 am
Also, the Panthers are playoff bound this season.
See: Newton, Cam.
May 31st, 2012 at 9:45 am
Found it bleacher report has both davis and jones going to new orleans. they know how to attract an instant fan base. maybe gordon comes back and stays as well.
May 31st, 2012 at 10:05 am
someone on KSR reprimanding someone else for grammar/spelling mistakes is the height of irony.
May 31st, 2012 at 10:19 am
Just FYI there are about as many SEC fans as ACC fans in Charlotte. USC is closer than UNC or Duke or State. And UGA is only 3hours away. Lots of USC & UGA fans. Actually lots of UK fans to. Including me
May 31st, 2012 at 11:15 am
42- agreed. I live in Raleigh and there are plenty of UK fans here, as well. I don’t understand the Charlotte hate this morning….