Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
We all have spent the last week listening to the talking heads, trying to fill up air time before the Final Four, giving their opinions on whether Billy Donovan would want the Kentucky job. People who are paid to have strong opinions on the issue have come out on both sides. On one side are the Jay Mariottis, Michael Wilbons and Mark Bradleys, who believe that the UK job is not a great job and the pressure makes it something to scoff at. On the other are the Bob Ryans, Jay Bilas and Gregg Doyels who make the argument that the UK job is the best in the country and all coaches should and will consider it. These debates have grown a little stale for me as both sides seem to leave out the subtleties of the job for a black-white argument. Fact is that the Kentucky job has its positives and it has its negatives…..but in the end, I say the positives far outweigh those negatives.
But one guy, the ubiquitous Dick Vitale, seems dead set on making sure that all know that Billy Donovan shouldnt and wont, take the job. Now I have to admit that I am often a Vitale mark…..I think he has been great for the rise of college basketball, is truly passionate about the sport and should be in the Hall of Fame. And on a personal level, both at my time at Duke and around UK, I have seen Vitale the person act as gracious as a semi-celebrity can. He is great with kids, and takes a special interest in helping the mentally handicapped, a position I truly respect. But having said all of that, the Vitale of the last week has been infuriating.
The Vitale position was summed up today on College Gameday, when Vitale said, “the pressure of that job is overwhelming. The best day on the job is the day of the press conference and then it goes downhill.” He went on to say that Tubby had to deal with “For Sale” signs in his yard (I have never heard confirmation of this) and that the “fans” wanted to buy an ad asking him to be fired. However in making these comments, Dick is doing what he used to never do……he is taking the actions of the few and attributing them to the many. How many people tried to help with that ad…..a few dozen at the most? The vast majority of UK fans are passionate, without being overbearing, and that passion is what makes UK the best job in the country.
Vitale used to recognize that. How many times have we heard him at Rupp Arena yell about the best fans in the country? What he must understand is that with that passion comes pressure…..and every coach in America knows that. But as Jay Bilas said today, that is why the job is so amazing……it is the number one place in America for college basketball….and who wouldnt want to lead that. Billy D may or may not come….there are reasons to stay at Florida, reasons to come to Kentucky. But Vitale and Katz and Wilbon, etc who act as if it is a no-brainer to remain in Gainesville are simply fooling themselves….and Vitale in particular, should know better.
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March 31st, 2007 at 1:55 pm
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/notebookplus/wb/wb/xp-110026
March 31st, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I think Vitale was just such a big Tubby supporter that he lets it get in the way of good sense. Not that Dick Vitale has a whole ton of good sense left, as he seems to get more and more senile. Kentucky is tough when you’re losing ten games a year, losing to lower seeds, and failing to bring in top tier recruits. But when you’re winning big, there’s no better place to be. Every coach should have the expectations of winning titles when they go to a big school. Kentucky’s expectations really aren’t unreasonable for the resources we have. Just the fact that we have no coach but are still in the running for big time recruits shows that. It’s Kentucky basketball. The “Camelot” as Pitino likes to say. If a coach expects to win and compete for national championships, then I see no reason they should worry about the pressure of Kentucky.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Matt, you need to be more furious with Vitale. He’s trying to kill something we love. He’s not just bad mouthing UK, he’s trying to make sure UK fails. His agenda is known by some but it should be known by many. He lives in Sarasota FL, and one of his kids went to UF. He has a personal reason for UF to succeed and he couldnt bare for Florida to take a step backwards.
Matt you would be a Legend in Kentucky if you organized an anti Vitale rally and support of Hubert Davis and Jay Bilas at the same time next year at Game Day….. and you are one guy who could get it done
March 31st, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I used to really like Dick Vitale.
Now I just pray that senility doesn’t set in and turn him into a Billy Packer, or even worse, another Beano Cook.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:13 pm
It is funy i was just talking to my wife about this very same post by Matt. Everyone thinks UK people are terrible for forcing Smith out, I think if you look at his record the team clearly was in decline and a chnage needed to be made. I agree with Ricky P if we don’t get Billy D, go with Travis or John. That I think is one of the only way to unite the fan base. I think Billy is just going to use UK to get a better deal at Florida which is his right it happens all the time. A young Kentuckian like Travis or John will be able to get as back to the top just thru hard work that it seems Tubby was not doing anymore.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:13 pm
i agree. i used to like vitale but he needs to get off of his high horse andquit telling coaches how bad it is. if he could have coached maybe he would have stayed in the business longer instead of commentating about it. maybe the vbdi doesnt want to see uk succeed and he can go s..k tubby off.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Vitale has his favorites,and for whatever reason,UK is not one of them.He seems to delight in trashing the fans without really knowing or trying to understand our passion for the game.To be honest,if I never heard him utter another word whether broadcasting an opinion or announcing a game,I would be happy.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Dick V reminds me of the ESPN commercial when he talks about UK where the guy is talking sports out of his…lack of information.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:19 pm
#6 He did coach University of Detroit and the Detroit Pistons
March 31st, 2007 at 2:19 pm
What I witnessed on College Gameday watching him was truly unbelievable. UK fans should never forget this no matter who the next coach is. He publically bashed our fans, our program and our administration. I think he should have thought about what it is going to be like next time he comes to Rupp Arena and not worry about what it will be like for Donovan returning to Gainesville if he takes the UK job. Even Digger sat back and just offered his opinion against without going into the public campaign that Dick did. I think the whole gameday staff was flabbergasted to say the least.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:23 pm
anybody else think this guy looks like a bow-tied penis?
March 31st, 2007 at 2:23 pm
matt, email your post to vitale
March 31st, 2007 at 2:26 pm
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/notebookplus/wb/wb/xp-110026—the “for sale” signs really
embarrasses me as a fan. sneaking in at night! (may as well have been a burning cross). i wish tubby would have been ready with a shotgun… Dick Vitale is disgusted at these actions–why is that so
shocking? I’m disgusted and have followed UK my entire life. I can see why something like this
would turn Vitale against Kentucky… this really puts a label on some of the cowards and idiots
in our fanbase.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:27 pm
FU Dickie V….why don’t you go pleasure Coack K and the rest of the ACC!!
March 31st, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Vitale just got snubbed by BB Hall of Fame for 3rd consecutive year and HE’S TAKING OUT HIS FRUSTRATIONS ON US!!!!
PAYBACK IS HELL, BITCH!
March 31st, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Dick Vitale has heard his last cheer in Rupp.
Next year when Gameday is in town for the UK-UF game (regardless of who is coaching on which side) UK faithful need to make DAMN SURE that Vitale knows he is no longer welcome in Lexington after he blatantly belittles our university, our fans and our entire state.
Anyone who cheers Vitale next year in Rupp is not a UK fan and deserves as much scorn as he does.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Yes the cowards and idiots in our fan base. They have those in every fanbase across the country. Believe me I know I live in Louisville, but for Vitale to label our entrie fanbase of the actions of a few is just stupid.
Tell me what you think would happen in this instance. Let say that UNC Lost 6 in a row to Duke, 4 in a row to Maryland, and had not been consistently in the top 25 in almost 4 years, with no final four appearances in 9 years.
What do you think the fan base, alumni, and boosters of the program would want to see happen? So when they started calling for roy williams head would they be unreasonable? If a couple of for sale signs popped up in his yard would the entire fanbase be to blame?? If he then left for another job do you think Dukie V would have anything close to what he is saying about the UK program to say about UNC??? I think not
March 31st, 2007 at 2:35 pm
yea i was furious when i watched that this morning, vitale is probably just trying to make it up to BD and the gator fans when he unknowingly bashed Flordias favorite dickhead Noah on a radio show. go to hell vitale
March 31st, 2007 at 2:36 pm
#12 - the reason, all kentucky fans are mad at Dick Vitale is because he lumped all the UK fans into one group and said - “they are whackos”. He continues to think we are crazy, when not nearly all of the fans are like this at all, when in fact the very large majority aren’t. As a UK fan you should probably feel upset about DV if you care, because honestly he seems to be on a personal mission to make you look crazy.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I for one will boo the crap out of him next year, and i will make sure i let everyone know what he’s said and make sure they boo as well.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:49 pm
#13 no link but a brick was thrown through his (OTS) window back in 2000 or 2001.
March 31st, 2007 at 2:50 pm
we have more than a handful of classless fans in KY (you have to admit that)–the fact that
they actually did put signs up and attempted to buy an “ad” shows that they can do it again.
i can honestly see why great coaches wouldn’t want to come here…
If any of you idiots are out there–how does this image really help our state?
March 31st, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Does anyone have a link to the “gameday” piece that was on today?
March 31st, 2007 at 2:56 pm
22 yes it is more than a handful but how many people strong would you say BBN is??? a million?? 2 million?? 10 million??? All im saying is that it isnt fair for him to lump us all together on the actions of a few
March 31st, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Dick is no longer welcome in Rupp Arena
March 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Vitale, Feinstein, Bradley, Wilbon, Katz, Greenburg, Martelli, and ESPN can shove it.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Where can we Email DV? We need to be heard and stand up for our CATS
March 31st, 2007 at 3:01 pm
He’s your guy. Lives and sleeps BB. No pesky things like a family to hurt, insult or run out of town. If it doesn’t work out he’ll put his own for sale sign on his house pretty quickly and his questions will be about how big is the buyout. Probably won’t notice the for sale signs anyway because he’ll be sleeping in the complex.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:02 pm
I just went to http://www.gatorsports.com (Gainesville Sun), where I found that if you click on:
1) “mens college basketball” -or- “tournament coverage”
then
2) statistics -or- rankings
…and you will see College Football stats and rankings
nufsed
but, I can’t stop without pointing out the obvious:
This is the hometown newspaper of the U of Florida! The gatorsports page is linked off the paper’s home page as the “home of NCAA Tournament Coverage.” And when you go there, some of the links are displaying FOOTBALL information! What does that tell you?
March 31st, 2007 at 3:07 pm
A lot of really classless posts on here today, well, everyday actually. Can’t we cease w/the Tubby bashing I mean for Pete’s sake he is gone like the majority of you wanted and you still downgrade the guy. What will all of you so called Big-Blue faithful do when Billy D. turns the job down and stays in the Sunshine State???
March 31st, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Someone needs to get the
students to stage an ugly
protest demonstration against
Vitale the next time he is Rupp.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Agreed - if I were a sports journalist trying to check of the UK fan base, I’d probably come here… and I’d probably end up AGREEING with Vitale. Read our own posts and you tell me, do we sound like a classy, passionate fanbase!?
Somebody up there called Vitale a “bow-tied penis”!
March 31st, 2007 at 3:22 pm
The key to being heard is speaking up. The dissenters of tubby are popular because they are so far from what UK fans are/were seen to be. I rarely have heard negative comments about UK fans until now. Then again, I have rarely heard such vocal complaint about our coach either. It sort of reminds me of freedom fries…The country got publicity when the French did not support Pres. Bush move into Iraq and we bashed them. Now, the media makes it out like everyone thinks Bush was wrong, thus “camping” them to the French who did not support him initially.
The media made and has destroyed the campaign in Iraq, and the media made and is now trying to destroy UK basketball. The common thread to each campaign is that there was Vocal support from the “anthill”. whatever…
screw vitale
San Demis High School FOOTBALL Rulzzzz
March 31st, 2007 at 3:26 pm
I’m tires of hearing the Vitales of the world talking about this job or any other being “high pressure.”These people are coaching a sport, if you want pressure,DV,look at the guys and gals in Iraq and Afghanistan. Go visit the lifeless, limbless,brain damaged at that garden spot, Walter Reed. If you want pressure, talk to a single parent or families dealing with alcoholism and addiction or those families Matt mentioned of the mentally challenged.Yes, I’m a UK fan, have been for over 50 years, and I get pissed when the lose or a high-priced coaching staff mails it in. I’m praying BD is hired but whoever the next coach is, if he feels pressure it will be self-imposed.So Dick, climb back under your rock and stay there and understand there’s a reason you haven’t been elected to the Hall.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Dick is a dick
March 31st, 2007 at 3:36 pm
32- you haven’t seen the internet much have you?
March 31st, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Vitale was obviously such a good friend of Tubby that he still feels personally hurt by what happened, and he’s letting that cloud the objectivity that punditry requires.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:54 pm
11, Dang you! I’ll never be able to look at Vitale with a straight face again!
March 31st, 2007 at 3:57 pm
The real terrible news is that the majority of people involved in college basketball agree with Vitale on this issue.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:58 pm
37.
Punditry and objectivity are antithetical to one another.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I think Dick Vitale is as damaging to our program as the dynasty defender crowd. For one, if it wasn’t for that DD crowd and those alike, Dicky V wouldn’t have his ammo, but where Vitale is more damaging is that he has a national spotlight and is completely unwilling to listen to the other side.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:05 pm
http://www.petitiononline.com/novitale/petition-sign.html?
March 31st, 2007 at 4:08 pm
What the UK adminstration should do about Vitale is to say that he no longer is welcome at Rupp Arena in any capacity and that the Kentucky basketball program coaches and player’s are off limit to him. Release such a statement and add that he can no longer be objective as he covers college basketball, are something to this effect.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:12 pm
So much for you “holier-than-thou” people who want to tolerate the likes of DICK vitale–with “class”! Now, I hope you feel better.
DICK vitale has been lashing, bashing, and plainly making a concerted effort to influence and dictate, from afar, the outcomes of the UK basketball program. WHO IN THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS? Does he live in Kentucky? Does he know anything at all of what this program has endured for the last 10 years? He has judged us and he has pronounced the jury as himself, and now he want’s to preside over the execution of the UK fans.
Did he do that to the Alabama football fans? or the Notre Dame fans when Willingham was dismissed? or the Arkansas program when Stan Heath got the Backs into the NCAA tourney and STILL GETS FIRED? No. HE chooses to launch on the Kentucky fans and their basketball program. Believe it. He has a personal AGENDA and only he knows why. But, some damn coach who could NEVER get his team into the NCAA doesn’t have a clue how to coach. The champion of the University of DETROIT. OH. MY GOD. The mecca of college coaching and he wants to tell us what to do 25 years LATER. He is a total tool, moron, jackass idiot.
Now would anyone like to know how I REALLY feel about this “bow-tied” fool.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Dick The Delivery Man Vitale is on fire baby!!
March 31st, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Dick works for ESPN. E_mail ESPN with your thoughts on Dickie V!
This will sure get somebody’s attention. But please if you do e-mail be sensible
or he will just be proving his point. We can show ESPN that we are passionate not crazy.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Unfortunately, the actions of a few idiots with the for sale signs contributed to this situation. There is absolutely no justification for that kind of behavior. Now I find it particularly remarkable that Tubby and Donna did not express any justifiable outrage of this publicly. No, I did not like the last two seasons, but for any of our fans to respond is such a way is horrible. Vitale is always given to hyperbole–every response is in the extreme. A note of caution, though, that if we start blasting him with vicious e-mails, does that not tend to support his point and give him more ammo for further comment? Remind him that people called in on Tubby’s last shows with earnest genuine support. Overall, Tubby was treated with respect by the Rupp Arena fans. Even at the end, he was adored by many. The situation degraded, however, such that the idiot-factor became potentiated. Now that includes Vitale.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:32 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?page=contact/espntv
ESPN TV contact page
March 31st, 2007 at 4:33 pm
47.
Its always good to have a reminder that there are still some very classy members of our fanbase.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:41 pm
#44-i don’t think vitale does too much commenting on Football
and i don’t think the arkansas fans did any “fire heath” ads or
put for sale signs in the coaches yard. even those hilljacks in arkansas
show more class than many UK fans… I think we deserve it… a handful of
people brought this on the state, but it still shows that those idiots are out there
and are being supported by fools on the internet that feel they have “endured”
and “suffered” because we only had a 73%+ win percentage the last ten years
March 31st, 2007 at 4:43 pm
definitely contact ESPN.
Vitale has an axe to grind on Kentucky for Tubby leaving.
He is intentionally doing all he can to disrupt our coaching search. Has he ever done this before?
In the past he’s done his thing about how bad it was that a coach was fired, and then let it go. This time he has decided that he has to carry the torch for Tubby Smith.
No way should we let this man come into Rupp and be welcomed however I’m afraid there will be several people that see him as a celebrity and will kiss up to him if and when he does his next game here.
Don’t forget what he is saying now. Don’t let him forget when he comes to do a game at Rupp.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Just something else to ponder…given that Billy D. and Tubby are by all accounts good friends, do you think Billy might call Tubby about the situation here? Under what scenario would Billy want to bring his wife, children, and other family members into this situation with these kinds of negatives?
Also worthy of note is the Steve Smith mentioned in that article just happens to coach possibly the premiere basketball prep school in the country. Think UK fans won any points with him?
We need to respond to the half-wits who put out the “for sale” signs every bit as much as those who negatively describe our fan base.
This appears to be the first verified, public documentation of such negative fan activity. Count on news of this spreading and more commentary similar to Vitale’s.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Vitale just flat out fears UK will regain dominance. Poor bald bastid.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Did every forget this or am I just crazy. Everyone talks about how much pressure there is to coach at UK and how their fans are almost rabid with passion, well remember a few years ago North Carolina had a coach named Matt Doherty. At the time he left Notre Dame to become the UNC coach, he was considered a very hot commodity. After about 2 or 3 years I think it was they had records about the same as UK’s the past 2 years, he was canned!!! Everyone talks about the pressures at Kentucky, they fired him for having what some most would call a good year. Did we hear Dickie V or anybody talk about how bad the fans were for getting on him?? No we sure didn’t. Personally, I liked Tubby, but he knew what he was getting into, and so did everyone else. The reason that UK has such a tradition is because we don’t settle for mediocrity. We don’t settle for 22-12. But my point is that UK, especially the fans are being prejudiced against while other schools i.e. UNC did the same thing a few years back, and nobody got on their fans for it.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:00 pm
#52 What is UK going to do?
Just as there are people who are racist, I’m willing to bet there are just as extreme people that associate Donovan with Pitino and will hate him for Pitino’s actions, or hate him just like Lexslamman is going to do just because he has a mancrush on Tubby.
You can’t stop a 19 year old who after a few Little Kings decides it would be funny as hell to put a for sale in the yard of a coach. You can prosecute him, you can condemn him, but there will always be that select few that has a different line to cross than the rest of us.
Vitale is doing what he wants here - generalizing with a broad brush attacking the fan base.
One caller called in to Tubby Smith during the 98 year and said he hadn’t given up on the 22-4 team …yet and thats been used as a representation of the entire fan base for years now when obviously the huge majority of the fan base was perfectly happy with only 4 losses at that point in the season.
It serves their purpose. I believe it’s just a reality we have to live with.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Clearly, all of this damage to the UK program is the fault of the folks at the Dynasty Defenders website and other like-minded imbeciles who thought that selfishly bashing Tubby and forcing him out of town with a form of coercion that bears great resemblence to the racist past of America’s south was a good idea.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Vitale’s pregame show is just starting on ABC right now.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Who cares what VD I mean DV has to say?
March 31st, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Billy was going to the Knicks before Tubby left and Isaiah did the improbable and Pukey was in on it! I take my lumps for reporting that Billy was headed to the knicks, he was OR why would Pukey V be so angry with the talk of him going to Kentucky???? Pukey V gets no money or credit for pulling off the plan now! Watch soon just at the end of the NBA season and you will SEE why Pukey is so angry now!!! That part is still going on!!!
March 31st, 2007 at 5:14 pm
#56 Clearly you’re a moron
March 31st, 2007 at 5:17 pm
60.
Clearly you haven’t been able to think up an adequate response to my accusations.
DD and their allies split this fanbase in half, chased away an elite coach, and may be the reason that UK must settle for utter mediocrity in the near future.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:18 pm
#52-Doherty was 27-36(10-22 ACC) from 2001-2003—they had very good reason
to get rid of him
March 31st, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I sent in my comments from the above link. I feel a little better and if enough people complain somebody may actually pay attention.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Mediocrity is what we have had for a few years now,so perhaps we get BD,or maybe we dont,but as far as I can tell the only direction our program can go is up.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:28 pm
#61 so you are saying the fan base would be united under Tubby if DD didn’t exist?
If you want to give credit for DD “chasing” off an Elite Coach and the general euphoria the fanbase is now feeling with the idea that Billy Donovan is going to become our new coach, I think DD will be more than happy to take it.
the reason I haven’t been able to think up an adequate response is because you don’t deserve an adequate response. That “form of coercion” is the exact thing they would have done regardless of who was coach here with Tubby’s record and actions. Quit trying to make it out like these are people from Jackson circa 1963. They signed petitions, they went to the public, the brought their message to the masses - and it was received - not by everyone but it was received by some. Tell me whats racist about that?
resemblence to the racist past of America’s south? More like resemblence of the activism of the west coast in the late 60’s.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:34 pm
65.
Euphoria? More like dementia. UK offers nothing to Billy Donovan - it is foolish to get your hopes up.
Things like yard signs and newspaper ads - the ideological coercion against coaches is despicable and should not happen. The same kinds of tactics were used after the lynching epidemic in the early 20th century, but instead of yard signs they used burning crosses, and instead of newspaper ads they used the pulpit and the lectern.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:35 pm
# 62 I am not disputing that they shouldn’t have gotten rid of him, but many people believed he would do better a next season and I am just surprised the UNC fans didn’t get as much flack as we are for firing their coach. Ours resigned and theirs got fired.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:37 pm
How about those people that put pink flamingos in people’s yards. That’s pretty annoying too.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:42 pm
The college basketball game would be in the same position it is today without Vitale. He is just a character and that’s it. He’s just a talking head that could easily be replaced with another Jay Bilas or Clark Kellogg. We’ve become the best fans to the worst fans faster than a ferrari can go 0-60 mph in Vitale’s eyes. He changed his opinion about UK fans about as fast as Lee Corso changed his opinion about the BCS being a horrible system. They completely trashed it and then the next day they sort of changed their tone (as if they were told to change their stance for ESPN’s sake). Vitale is a talking head that originates from Coach K’s rear end. If Donovan comes and turns this program around, Vitale will be singing his praises saying it was the best decision he could have made. He’s a flip-flopper.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:42 pm
#66 first - DD members didn’t put a for sale in Tubby’s yard, secondly, I hope I’m not the only one who has that staring at a train wreck look on his face after reading “same kinds of tactics were used after the lynching epidemic in the early 20th century, but instead of yard signs they used burning crosses,”
I’m not condoning putting a for sale in any coaches yard, but I am 100% certain that for sale signs as a symbolic gesture that you aren’t doing a good job as coach is not limited to African American coaches.
Matter of fact, Bobby Bowden - a southern good ole boy had for sale signs put in his yard for his coaching performance in 1974
http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?section=4931
he was also hung in effigy that year.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:49 pm
#70-obviously the burning cross is a little more ballsy… they both convey the same message though
“you aren’t welcome here”
#67–totally different situation… that is a terrible record at an elite program… tubby’s and doherty records
can not be compared.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Is there a way we can e-mail Espn or the NCAA about Dickiehead Vitale. I mean he is not
only putting down the fans but also the university. And also when he said if PP would go to Duke they would have the #1 class in the nation. I don’t think he should be allowed to say these things.
If someone has an email let me know.
March 31st, 2007 at 6:11 pm
No need to worry, it is official now:
http://www.gofish.com:80/player.gfp?gfid=30-1093605
March 31st, 2007 at 6:13 pm
#71 - they might convey the same message but for totally different reasons.
Anyone who thinks a coach at UK getting a for sale sign in his yard during or after a 13 loss season is a sign of racism just isn’t seeing whats in front of them.
its not even up for debate in my view.
March 31st, 2007 at 6:18 pm
#73
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?page=contact/espntv
Quick form here you can fill out and send in to complain about their coverage. Selected “Complaint”, then “Studio Shows”, then “College Gameday”, then “Host/Analyst”
March 31st, 2007 at 6:27 pm
U have no coach. BD’s not gonna save you. Sell the ‘tradition’ and admit it’s a new age. 20 losses next season. Get used to it.
March 31st, 2007 at 6:32 pm
71, 74
No - for exactly the same reasons. Intimidation.
March 31st, 2007 at 6:33 pm
76.
The ‘tradition’ was over the day Rupp was forced into retirement.
March 31st, 2007 at 7:19 pm
I sent ESPN a e-mail at the above addy. All UK fans should do the same. We don’t have to get nasty and re-enforce Vitale’s stereotyping of us, but some well though out words by thousands of us would get our message across. 76- Why don’t you get the hell out of here and stay out. This is a UK BB site not the UF reject board. 78- How many people attacking you will it take for you to realize how dislikable your posts are?
March 31st, 2007 at 7:21 pm
79.
Not everyone likes the truth. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be spoken.
March 31st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
80 Has nothing to do with the truth. Just because it’s your opinion doesn’t make it the truth. It’s the way you put it. Such as “the tradition was over the day Rupp was forced into retirement. That’s not the truth. That’s a ignorant opinion. If you take out everything Rupp did we would still have a great tradition. Thankfully we don’t have to do that. Our tradition is based on our BB history in it’s entirety. You’re just a donkey.
March 31st, 2007 at 7:55 pm
“#67–totally different situation… that is a terrible record at an elite program… tubby’s and doherty records
can not be compared.”
I don’t agree - Doherty inherited a program that had no recruiting. The loss of Joe Forte to the NBA killed Doherty - he had two football players starting on UNC at one time to fill in the holes. He simply didn’t have enough time.
Doherty upset alot of people at UNC with his brash behavior but the guy was COY and a player on their championship team - That alone should have bought him more than 3 years, not to mention he recruited a national championship team in the making.
In Doherty’s last season his w/l record was the same as Roy Williams first season, the difference being that those sophs were only good enough to make a solid NIT run and as Juniors they took Roy to the NCAA tourney.
The bottom line is UNC fired him and went after the one of their own in the coach of Kansas. UNC has had 3 different coaches during Tubby Smith’s tenure at UK.
March 31st, 2007 at 8:00 pm
dick needs to shut his pie hole and retire. His repetitive drivel is tiresome and all he does is shill for the ACC especially puke. He is classless, imo.
What happened to profesionalism? He does nothing but promote the ACC and Big east. He should be in their hall of fames, not the national one. I hope he never makes it.
When he comes to UK next time, I hope everyone gives him hell. I don’t want a fake apology from the bafoon. I want him to simply shut his trap.
March 31st, 2007 at 8:06 pm
It’s very possible that it was a black guy who put the “for sale” sign in Tubby’s yard. Who knows?
March 31st, 2007 at 8:10 pm
85.
Racism isn’t the issue - its the intent and tactics. They’re very similar in essence to those used by racially motivated groups in the recent past.
March 31st, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Dick Vitale is now as low as Billy Packer on my list of analysts I dislike with a passion
March 31st, 2007 at 8:27 pm
88.
Not sure if that was SFW…
March 31st, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Dick Vitale……………….OBNOXIOUS (and understatement)………….
March 31st, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I am still waiting for credible documentation for the “for sale signs” incident. All I’ve seen so far is an article from a columnist in a Roanoke newspaper who said that someone told him it happened. It might have happened, but that is not credible proof it happened. Credible proof for me would be a police report, a Lexington reporter who went out and saw the signs, or a picture of the signs that surely someone would have taken.
I’ve never heard of the brick being thrown through Tubby’s window in 2000 or 2001, as reported by #21 (”anonymous”, surprise, surprise). Any documentation for that one?
March 31st, 2007 at 9:19 pm
91- So you don’t consider this credible. http://www.roanoke.com/sports/notebookplus/wb/wb/xp-110026. What would there be gained by Steve Smith to say this then?
March 31st, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Vitale is using his position in an attempt to damage the Kentucky basketball program. There’s really no other way to look at it. A BBN boycott of any product that Vitale endorses is called for and indeed is in the works.
March 31st, 2007 at 9:48 pm
93.
Doubt it will be successful.
March 31st, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Florida is stupidly sick
March 31st, 2007 at 10:48 pm
#88 is a wannabe.
March 31st, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Get outta here 97.
96, I would claim that statement from 88 if I were you lol
March 31st, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Vitale is a “has-been”, his act has grown so tiresome over the years in that my kids now make fun of him. Jay Bilas is the new face of college basketball as far as announcers/commentators goes.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:03 am
plc.. you haven’t been around the country have you. I have… military, and have witnessed stuff like this in many places. YOU DON’T PUNISH ALL for the actions of a few!!!! I have always respected Vitale until now. He is just showing is own prejudice… he is condeming all of the Blue Nation for the actions of a few ASSHOLES!!!
April 1st, 2007 at 1:06 am
Vitale loves NC so freaking much… there is a hell of a lot more “history” of racism out of that state than there is in this commonwealth. Even that idiot had comments on ESPN about the lack of talent the last 4 years.. and now “KY ran Tubby out!” What a f…. joke.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:08 am
Matt… if nobody can find anything documented about the signs (and I do remember “hearing” about it but not ever seeing it in writing), e-mail Vitale and ask him for the proof and how can he punish the KY program as a whole for a few A-holes.
April 1st, 2007 at 5:48 am
Vitale is doing exactly what he is blaming our fans for; being passionate, being idiots and being too vocal.
April 1st, 2007 at 8:39 am
I don’t know if anyone said it or not, but Dookie V was very supportive of Roy Boy leaving Kansas to become the head coach at UNC (which plays in the ACC). Why he is going on a personal voyage to make sure Billy D doen not leave UF for UK? What is the difference?
April 1st, 2007 at 8:45 am
No more Digiorno pizza or Hooters wings for me baby!
April 1st, 2007 at 8:46 am
Tubby coached UK for 10 years. How many other Division I or BCS schools coaches in their current position have been there 10 years or more? The national media talks like UK is such a bad place. If that were so I doubt Tubby would’ve stayed so long. I bet 10 years is longer than the average.
April 1st, 2007 at 8:51 am
It burns me up that UNC could fire Matt D, one of their own, after 3 years as head coach, and then bring in Roy W - and the national media acts like it’s such a wonderful thing. Tubby resigns after 10 years and we fans are to blame?? I’m not even watching ESPN this time of year because I don’t want to hear how stupid they are. WHAS and WLAP radio is the way to go for real UK news and comments. Our local people “get it”. They don’t “go off” like the national media does.
April 1st, 2007 at 9:35 am
#99 see the first reply. Or here (below).
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/notebookplus/wb/wb/xp-110026
In any case, I already had planned to talk to Oak Hill Academy coach Steve Smith, who is on the verge of a sixth USA Today national championship, and that was before the Tubby Smith story broke. Steve Smith grew up 15 minutes from Rupp Arena and I couldn’t wait to hear his take on the situation.
“I think he wanted some peace of mind,” Smith said. “He had the for-sale signs in his yard Saturday morning?”
Smith knew Saturday that he was going to take another job?
No, Smith said. People had placed for-sale signs in his yard overnight.
“It was common knowledge in Lexington,” Smith said, “but my brother drove by and saw it. I asked him, ‘For verification, drive by there.’
“He was in Lexington. He drove by. He said, ‘Oh, yeah, they’re in his yard.’ I guess Tubby didn’t want to walk out and personally, himself, take them out.
“I said, ‘How many?’ And my brother goes, ‘A lot.’
“I said, ‘You talking about 10?’ He said, ‘No, a lot more than 10.’ People put ‘em there. Fans. Adoring fans.”
April 1st, 2007 at 12:28 pm
The yard signs definitely happened last season as they awoke on a Sunday morning to about a dozen signs. It upset Donna so much she went to a close friend’s house crying. This came from that close friend who’s name you would know but I cannot divulge.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Dick Vitale’s daughter went to Florida. Don’t you remember him saying that in the past? What other proof do we need? The NCAA needs to be notified due to him trying to sway recruiting. It’s way beyond ESPN at this point, the NCAA needs to explain to someone why this is allowed.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:30 pm
#105 Listen. I’m not saying that the signs didn’t happen. If it happened, it happened - and it is regretable.
I keep getting referred to that Roanoke article - which I have read and which you have quoted extensively. If I went into ANY court with that article as my proof that the event happened, the case would be tossed out in five minutes. That is not any PROOF of anything. A police report or a photo, which SURELY MUST EXIST would be PROOF.
April 1st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
So Matt doesn’t like the one-eyed Dick?
How dare you discriminate against a person with a glass eye.
April 1st, 2007 at 8:14 pm
#108 no police report was filed. Why would there be one? This (placing 4 Sale signs) was a regular happenstance since 2000.
April 1st, 2007 at 9:28 pm
The signs are such a non-issue. Joe B. Hall said he used to get maps of Kentucky mailed to him with a circle around Lexington and arrows pointing North, South, East, and West advising him to get out of town.
Just more Tubby blubber.
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:34 am
F.U. #109
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:42 am
If you want to tell ESPN what you think of Dukie V’s comments…here’s the link.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:43 am
dick vitale is an idoit, always has been, always will be. he is just another big mouth that could not coach and thinks he is an
expert. he don’t know crap about anything, just wants billy d to stay at flordia, because he knows if billy d comes to UK, then
he will have to watch as UK becomes the king of college basketball again and that thought just kills him and billy packer.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:46 am
everyone hates UK because it is the winnest college basketball program in the country. everyone hates a winner.
if billy boy comes to UK, we will be king again, just give him some time and dickie V and billy packer will have to watch us beat the crap out of everyone else.
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