Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
As we move into another Wednesday without a basketball game (there are fewer and fewer of these remaining), we pause a second to recognize the great historian/writer Taylor Branch. In between my viewings of “Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins” and the World Series of Poker, I am a bit of an avid reader. And there is likely no historian of modern events whose books I have enjoyed more than Branch. He has written three books on the Civil Rights Movement during the Martin Luther King years, Parting the Waters, Pillar of Fire and At Canaan’s Edge, that are likely produce the best and most thorough understanding of that time in our nation’s history. Those books led to a Pulitzer Prize for History for Branch and have become the preeminent modern sources on the Movement. He has just published a new book entitled “The Clinton Tapes”, which are a summary of 39 conversations he had with Bill Clinton throughout the course of his Presidency, in which he reflected on his time in the White House. The book is long (even exceeding my average nightly post), but is packed with 650 pages of reflection by Clinton on the events of his day, as they happened. I find it absolutely fascinating and consider it a must-read for amateur political/history junkies.
To the news….
UPDATE: Zagsblog is reporting that sources say Kyrie Irving has committed to Duke. The announcement will supposedly happen later in the week according to the site.
UPDATE #2 : Late Tuesday night, most likely in response to the Zag’s Blog Report, Kyrie Irving tweeted: “I don’t know what’s going on with all these supposed sources but I have not committed to Duke.” However, Zag’s Blog continues to cite multiple sources close to those involved in Irving’s recruitment that say he has committed to Duke and the announcement is coming soon. (Dustin)
(1): Not a lot going on in the UK sports world today, but what news there is came from football. Derrick Locke could potentially pay Saturday, as his healing went quicker than expected and he is on the “doubtful” list at this point. Locke himself commented on his Facebook page that there was nothing to worry about on the injury, but Brooks has not yet committed to playing him Saturday. Today was also the official “lets talk to Fidler and Newton about playing QB” moment for the salivating media. The sum of their stories is that Fidler is glad to get his opportunity and that he was extremely considerate to Newton when Newton was named starter, calling him to give congratulations. For his part, Newton says Fidler has helped him a great deal and all seems wonderful in UK land.
(2): The one tidbit of basketball recruiting news today is that Terrence Jones has eliminated two schools that were once considered favorites for his services, Arizona and Kansas. Jones has become a big target for UK in recent weeks, in part because his stock continues to rise on the national level. He comes from the West side (which you and I know is the best side) and his athleticism has made Calipari covet him for the Dribble-Drive. He is visiting next week and according to his mom, will be at the Blue-White game on Wednesday night. He is a recruit to watch and one that Calipari would love to see end up in Blue and White sooner rather than later.
(3): Speaking of the Blue-White game, it is one of two big events coming in the next week that fans will love. The Blue-White game in Rupp will feature the best matchup of talent that the Arena will see until UNC comes to town. Unlike in the Madness scrimmage, the game will be contested competitively on a high level and I find it to be one of the more entertaining nights of the year for UK. There are still tickets available and fans need to grab them….you wont see better basketball for ten bucks in your life. This Friday is of course the student-only practice. The last chance for students to get the wristbands to go to the game is tomorrow night at the UK-UT volleyball game…that game will be on ESPNU and a crowd is needed to make the showing look great on tv. The first 2,000 students there get a wristband and can go on Friday.
(4): I dont often do links of non-UK things, but with little in the way of news, here are four articles that you ought to read…all sports related, some new and some old, but also fascinating in their own way:
— Chuck Klosterman’s new book excerpt about football. One of the best pop culture writers getting it done.
— Malcom Gladwell’s piece from the New Yorker on how football and dog fighting are similar.
— Tom Wolfe’s piece on former NASCAR star Junior Johnson, which for my money is the best piece of sportswriting ever.
— Alexander Wolff’s brilliant piece from the Sports Illustrated Year in Review issue in 1992 on the UK-Duke game. Nobody summed it up better.
That should give you something to go through this morning. As for the rest of the day, we will have more on the SEC Media Day coming on Thursday and a good story on Cal leaving out Rick…stay tuned
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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October 20th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
primero?
October 20th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I am excited about the blue/white game. And that is a great piece from Alexander Wolff
October 20th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Yeah i got second row tickets and am very, very excited as well. Ive got a group of eight guys goin and it should be fun
October 20th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
according to Zags blog Kyrie Irving to Duke
October 20th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
4 - Why in the hell would a premiere black athlete ever want to play at Duke?
October 20th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
4 - matt said that in his above….did you think you were breaking news or something?
October 20th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
#5 I don’t know, ask Grant Hill
October 20th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I just don’t get it. Duke has been cruising off a past reputation for the last seven years. They’re now an Ohio State level lock to choke when the big post season game comes around, and they’re about as hot, fresh, and original as the sticky butterscotch candy at the bottom of your grandma’s purse. Well, people like what they like I guess. Have fun playing with a bunch of big man frauds and players gunning 40 3’s a game Kyrie! We’ll wave as we pass by in the NCAAs.
October 20th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
#6 that wasn’t there when I first read this…
October 21st, 2009 at 12:01 am
9 - my bad. jones and crew do that all the time….you’re prob right though. my bad again.
oh well, i hope we can all agree on something…bye bye kyrie…hello knight.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:02 am
i wish him well though, can’t fault a kid for choosing a school he thinks is right for him.
truth be told, i’d rather have knight or selby anyway.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:04 am
All Duke trashing aside, of course all the best to the kid. At least he made the decision for himself, instead of his momma.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:05 am
Glad to know that Locke has a chance to “pay”
October 21st, 2009 at 12:06 am
13 nice. also, kyrie’s FB page is already blowing up w/ jackass UK fans making comments…..
October 21st, 2009 at 12:12 am
14. Idk why UK fans still do this. This isn’t the Gillispie era and this kid has long been a Dukie lean. At least he gave us a chance by visiting whereas he didn’t even take his final 2 visits. Either Knight goes to Uconn and we get Selby or Selby goes to Kansas and we get Knight. Simple as that. Ridiculous UK fans need to slow their roll.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:14 am
15 - totally agree. well said.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:15 am
14- that’s annoying as hell. i think it’s time for Coach Cal to make a public address announcement to all the fans to quit acting stupid like that. he is the only person people will listen to.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:16 am
i might be in the minority here but these days, i don’t believe anything until i hear it from the kid himself…i’ll wait until
kyrie actually announces before i believe he’s going to duke. i know, i know…he’s a duke lean, feels at home there, blah blah blah.
but i think it’s best to wait until the kid announces himself, don’t you think????
October 21st, 2009 at 12:18 am
17 - sounds good on the surface but cal won’t address fans about something as personal as commenting on other people’s facebook pages.
he can scold his own daughers for leaking news but telling fans not to do it isn’t a road he wants to go down.
some good news, kyrie is apparantly deleting most of them already…..
October 21st, 2009 at 12:27 am
I can only hope that they don’t get a commit from Harrison Barnes as well.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:31 am
7–BLACK athletes. Grant Hill dances like Carlton. True story.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:44 am
Irving on twitter says hold the phone, no one has committed to anywhere!
October 21st, 2009 at 1:16 am
Zagsblog quotes a source who says it’s a “done deal.” If only that source were Maggard, then we’d know he’s coming to UK.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:23 am
Kyrie Irving: “I have not commited to Duke!!!!”
Not so fast Dukies!
http://www.allkyhoops.com
October 21st, 2009 at 1:31 am
Klosterman is awesome..finishing up Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs right now actually…great book.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:33 am
see #18….
October 21st, 2009 at 1:38 am
Someone needs to send Kyrie the Duke Titanic video. Duke “madness” vs. Big Blue Madness is just a hint.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:49 am
LOL. You’ve got to love the instantaneous responses get from Twitter.
I’m guessing the kid doesn’t want to look like a liar for saying that his Twitter followers would be the “first to know”. You never know, though…
October 21st, 2009 at 1:50 am
Lose the “get” in that sentence and it will make sense… maybe.
We need an edit feature on here, Mr. Jones.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:23 am
Speaking of our madness, wtf was so special, honestly?
For weeks leading up to BBM there was speculation of all the special stuff that was going to happen.
No Lebron + no Rhondo + no performing artist + no slam dunk contest + no 3 pt. shooting contest = huge letdown for me.
Look at the poll on the right. The best part of the night was warm-up dunks and Cal’s speech.
I’m sorry, but this was the 1st madness I’ve attended and if it was the greatest ever, then I’m glad I was at home for the others.
With that being said, #8 is still on the way. Go Big Blue.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:42 am
(30) you lost me at “Rhondo”
October 21st, 2009 at 7:56 am
Please don’t look to Mao Tse-Tung for inspiration.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:18 am
Irving has long been a practical lock for Duke. Not sure why so many are sweating that fact. It’s not like we aren’t going to get Selby or Knight anyways. Oh and Locke is questionable, not doubtful. Big difference.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:35 am
Irving on Kentucky: “Man, I just wasn’t feeling those guys”.
Too soon?
October 21st, 2009 at 8:37 am
34 who did he say that too?
October 21st, 2009 at 9:06 am
30) I’ve been to 5-6 of them, and I could feel the excitement through my TV screen… this one was the best by far (i.e. yes, they had been lame for the most part).
October 21st, 2009 at 9:19 am
I’m surprised Duke still recruits as well as they do when I consider the huge stigma against them in most parts of the country. They still recruit well in the New York/New Jersey area. For some reason people don’t associate them with effeminate popped-collar douchenozzles in that area like the rest of the world does. “Duke Sucks” is like a mantra for our time.
If Kyrie Irving is committing to Duke, he’s got some stones. I wish all the luck to him… but not in competition, of course.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:32 am
35. he’s playing off Patterson’s quote when Pat talked about being recruited by Duke
October 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Only a douche would want to ruin Kyrie Irving’s moment. Guess where douches like to coach?
http://elitistjerksports.com/?p=2097
October 21st, 2009 at 9:40 am
Zagoria knows his stuff, so I don’t think he would write an article based on speculation to have it backfire in his face. I think Kyrie is denying it because he wanted to break it himself. To me, this sucks. Irving is the best point guard in the class in my opinion and he does it against NY and NJ competition (better than FL) It’s a shame some of our stupid fans continue to harass kids based on their decision’s but I think it’s dumb for these athletes to accept people as friends that they don’t know either.
October 21st, 2009 at 10:01 am
Anyone heard on the status of Brandon Knight if he is still liening toward UK?
October 21st, 2009 at 10:02 am
It’s not hard to see why Fidler is so well liked by his teammates. He is the consummate team player. Hartline has shown through his words and reaction to being benched last year that he just doesn’t get it.
I hope Locke is able to start and set the tone for the game. Hopefully he can get 100 yards in the 1st half, and then turn it over to Alphonso and Turtle in the second half.
Is it revealed in “The Clinton Tapes” whether or not Monica swallows? Oh wait, I remember the stain on the blue dress. I guess she doesn’t.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Here’s the updated link to the Chris Collins article from #39.
http://elitistjerksports.com/?p=2160
We had some “technical difficulties” that resulted in the original post being deleted.
Sorry for the double post.