Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
I generally write the “News and Views” posts around 11 pm, as it is usually the case that like my grandfather used to say, “nothing good happens after 11 o clock.” Last night was the exception. A bit after 11:30 pm, Zagsblog reported that Kyrie Irving had committed to Duke. In his report, he cited two unnamed sources, one of whom had claimed to talk to a Duke assistant coach (initially the report said “Chris Collins”…that was then changed). That led the Internet to set ablaze and ended up with Irving responding via his Twitter that he had not committed to anyone.
The fallout then played out this morning. Irving continued to deny a commitment, but then announced that he would be giving his college decision tomorrow on ESPNU. (If I have to do another live blog of that show, it might hurt me deeply). Unfortunately in the interim, a group of UK fans went to his FB and Twitter page and made some negative comments toward Irving, showcasing again why fans can be the program’s own worst enemy. Irving says his decision is still between Duke, UK and Texas A&M, but it hasnt been made yet. We shall see.
So where are we on all of this? Well, the overwhelming smart money is still on Duke. In order to have your announcement covered by the “U”, you cant have made it public prior…thus the denials. Zagsblog’s quoting of their source speaking to a “Duke assistant” may have been a bad decision for the blog and the assistant, but it does lead one to think that Duke is likely the choice. I was told last week that if Kyrie Irving got back from the UK visit and decided within the week, it was Duke. If it took longer, then UK was in play. Well he is deciding this week, so that makes me think a future of bad movie skits is likely.
Either way, Irving is a great kid and a very good player. We will all know for certain his future tomorrow….but I cant promise I will watch that awful ESPNU show to find out.
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October 21st, 2009 at 11:03 am
Some UK fans are complete Morons. I suppose it is that way with any college fanbase, but some of our “fans” take things personally when a kid decides on another school and these “fans” become a liability to the program. May these Morons rot in a lagoon of sewage. Thank God the majority, however, represent.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:04 am
Quit being stupid UK fans!!
October 21st, 2009 at 11:04 am
Very disappointing to here that once again our own fans go overboard. Why do they have to embarrass us?
October 21st, 2009 at 11:05 am
“hear”
October 21st, 2009 at 11:09 am
I agree.. Alot of our “fans” seem to have a complete lack of self-awareness. They don’t realize how ignorant it is to berate an 18 year old kid over his college decision, especially when said decision isn’t even confirmed. It’s this lack of perspective and self-awareness that make us a lightning rod for media attacks and national mocking.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:09 am
Unfortunately, the “lunatic fringe/vocal minority” are what represent us out there on the internets… do any reasonable UK fans ever post “Best of luck” on a players page after they go elsewhere?
October 21st, 2009 at 11:10 am
Unfortunately, a percentage of our fans can’t split reality from UK basketball. Every fan base has the idiots that think every single kid will come to their school, and make them look bad when they don’t.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:14 am
6. no, most reasonable fans don’t post “best of luck” because they are too reasonable
to be caught up in the lives of stangers making the first adult decsion of their young lives.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:18 am
8 exactly.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:20 am
Same thing happened when Irving cut IU. So at least we’re not alone on the lunatic fringe. Honestly I don’t know why someone would go through the trouble to talk dow to a kid for making a college choice. Especially when recruiting should be the last of our worries now with Cal.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:21 am
Irving didnt want to wait to years to be a starter, bc we are getting either Knight of Selby and coaches are straight up with him about that.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:23 am
The actions of those “fans” are similar to a blog guy going on the radio and over the internet several days in advance of a recent football game to announce (based on private conversations with players) who our starting QB will be, and even though the coaching staff is obviously trying to maintain an element of surprise for a road game with a first time starter.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:27 am
11- That’s a good point. If we get Knight and/or Selby, why would he come here? At Puke, er, Duke, he will probably start game 1 and be on TV every game as well. Me thinks a Knight committment would make us say “Kyrie who”?
October 21st, 2009 at 11:27 am
Is there any way that the good fans can police the bad ones? I mean, can’t the Kentucky fans with a brain that are on Kyrie’s Facebook page (you know, the ones that are actually HIS AGE) report posts, or send their own posts to the douchebags that post crap like that about a kid?
I know in the end, the wackos always have the louder voices, and those are the ones the media will report on, but c’mon, isn’t there ANYTHING we can do?
BTW- Good luck to Kyrie on his decision. Duke is a great school that will allow him to pursue his dream of being a journalist and possibly be on TV after his playing career. Also, I hate their basketball team. The End.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:36 am
Texas A&M? Really? Why would someone go to a school that was dumb enough to hire Gillispie. Doh!
October 21st, 2009 at 11:39 am
A couple of things strikes me about this. First, yea we do have idiots that root for us, call em overzealous or whatever, and yes they fit into the “Cut your nose off to spite your face” category. But secondly, how does anyone know that they are really U.K. Fans and not moles from Puke or somewhere else? Espionage is still alive and well my friends.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:40 am
Why does everyone think we are going to get Knight or Selby still ? Knight likes UConn and apparently Selby liked Kansas…
One or the other isn’t a guarantee ????
October 21st, 2009 at 11:43 am
Just my opinion here, but I don’t think we should expect to see an elite PG commitment until the spring. I think the elite PGs will want to watch how Cal uses Wall and Bledsoe together before committing. Bledsoe will most likely be here next year and I think these guys will want to see how two PGs co-exist in Cal’s offense before committing.
So…if there is a point guard committment in the fall, I would say (IMO) its not good news for the Cats.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:47 am
18-I totally agree. I think most of the big timers will hold out to see what this team looks like on the court. If things go as expected, I look for the commits to start rolling in. Everyone knows that even though we are jacked with crazy talent, there are lots of things that are unknown, everything will be new to everyone. I wouldn’t sweat the commits just yet.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:48 am
Part of this crazy back and forth with the commit, did not commit thing is that he promised his twitter followers that they would be the first to know his decision. Then along comes ESPNU wanting to air it. He’s just trying to take back control of the situation so he can announce it the way he wants to. I’m sure zagsblog’s source is correct, though.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:49 am
15 haha fail
October 21st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
What are the odds that it was NOT UK fans but pretenders hoping to ensure a negative reaction?
October 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pm
16 yes it is a guarentee, Knight isnt for sure but Selby is ours if we want him, he just knows we are waiting for knight (and everyone else) to see our the team plays this season and a lot of recruits will swing our way even more. one or the other is basically a guarantee, id put 100 on it
October 21st, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I’ve heard Selby was a lock before, but who knows after his visit to Kansas.
I would have rather had Kyrie than Knight or Selby. I think he is the best PG in the class, regardless of what others say.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:25 pm
While I cannot ever root for Duke to do well, should Irving go there, I hope he personally does well on bad teams. However, I hope they make him star in a remake of Brokeback Mountain or Hairspray for his freshman year. Our players can work on their highlights for “One Shining Moment.”
October 21st, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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