Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Anyone who has ever moved away from the Commonwealth can attest to the fact that loving the Cats from a distance takes effort. All the things we take for granted (e.g. unlimited TV broadcasts, the soothing sound of Tom Leach in the morning) become little diamonds to treasure and savor when you live far from the mother ship. Apparently, there are people (I use the term loosely) in this world that actually want to see other teams play. Or worse yet, want to see sports besides football and basketball played. I happen to live in Big 11 country. At its best (football season) it’s a reasonable substitute for the SEC, except with Tressel instead of Tebow, and painfully boring defensive juggernaut contests instead of actual national relevancy. At its worst its basketball season.
Even if you haven’t ventured out from under the bosom of our Old Kentucky Home, chances are you’ve had a long distance romance or two in your life. You know the kind-all talk, no action. Well, I think the two situations have a lot in common. Here is Katie’s guide to a long distance relationship with UK:
1. Trust! Unlike the Kentuckians back at home, out-of towners can’t be with the team every game. We must learn to trust that they aren’t doing us dirty while we’re apart. With our great new ESPN deal, keeping tabs on them got easier, but it can still be a difficult transition from always see the Cats play to praying that you can somehow stumble across some grainy Internet feed by which to feed your addiction. Or that Comcast will decide to add FoxSportsSouth to your highly overpriced sports package featuring FoxSportsMidwest,Atlantic,Pacific, and North but alas, no South.
It’s easy to focus on and get frustrated by the games you can’t see live and imagine that the worst is going on behind your back, but if the relationship is going to have a chance at survival you’ll have to trust PPat and company to get the job done even when you can’t be there to monitor it.
You will be tempted to cheat, especially those who move away for college purposes. Though it may seem easy to just root for another team for just one night, we all know that it just takes one indiscretion to ruin you for life (with IU fans especially). There will be plenty of opportunities to get a little side action from other schools, but the temporary pleasure that you will get from wearing another team’s colors and cheering for them at games is nothing in comparison to the shame you will feel when your friends from UK call because they saw you on ESPN with your face painted gold and black.
2. Treasure! Treasure the moments you can see them play. Espn360 has terrible feed, even worse commercials, and still worse announcers. But at least I won’t miss even on of J-Wall’s assists or any of Boogie’s three point attempts (the highlight of every game for me.) Of course, if you actually get to see them play during the course of the season, consider yourself extremely lucky. If the Internet feeds are like talking on your telephone to your long distance love (slow, static-y, and unsatisfying) and the TV feeds are like installing that web cam, seeing the team live and in person is like the elusive conjugal visit-the mecca of every prisoner’s (the criminal kind and the basement kind) love life.
3. Confidence! Depending upon your destination of choice, you may be the only Cat fan in town. Learn to embrace your independence and hone your defensive skills. Don’t be afraid to go to events alone. If you get student seats and they’re playing UK, proudly wear that blue and white (you’ll also have to hone those beer shower dodging skills). You’ll encounter annoying couples who just can’t seem to stop bragging about their significant others and non-significant wins (Do wins actually count if you’ve never been to a final four?). You’ll encounter large packs of similar minded fans and they’ll use every opportunity they can to insult and ridicule you. Stand strong and know that your long distance romance, however unconventional and inconvienent it may be, will always be better than being a fan of some other team.
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December 1st, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I HATE this post, but I support your right to post it.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Not your best Katie, but still better than BTI.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
A perfect post Katie. Its like you are inside my head. I keep getting transferred further and further away from the Motherland of Lexington but throught the power of the internets, this website, phone calls from my Dad and Cousin I am able to keep up with the beloved Cats. I am currently stuck in the crap city of Philadelphia where they think they are loyal sports fans but they have no idea.
The Big Blue Nation spreads far and wide.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Excellent Post!! I know you know how it is being brought up in IU country (stupid Hoosiers…wtf is a Hoosier anyway? They don’t even know…idiots). ANYWAYS, it can be tough having to defend yourself against the countless waves of biased morons (trust me, I know…I live in Indiana, but really close to Loserville).
I, however, never felt the urge to root for another team. I almost failed two classes so I could watch my Cats play. Was it worth it…sure…even though they lost (ghey). Good write up…Lexington people will think it’s dumb, but people in other states will know exactly what you are talking about. Good Stuff.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I thought you lived in Russellville, KY?
December 1st, 2009 at 9:14 pm
After college some think I stayed in the lovely Bluegrass for my husband, when really it was to be close to my true love UK basketball
December 1st, 2009 at 9:14 pm
5) Yeah, rumor is she is married to Kige.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Oooooooooooooo… K-A-T-E KATE KATE KATE!
December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Kate, you had me at “Anyone who has ever moved away…” Having lived in California since BTI (sorry Bryan, it stands for “Before the Internet”), your words rang true. Great post.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I live in southern Alabama (not by choice the army sent me here). There are no basketball fans here. I was talking of doing a bracket pool in march and they had no idea what I was talking about. Also I have to hear roll tide everyday. F*&K this place. GO CATS
December 1st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Nicely done. I feel smarter after I read your work, Kate, for the same reason I feel dumber after a BTI post, geekier after a Fake Gimel entry, cleverer after a Wilkersly Insight, Millenier after a Lenz ditty, footballier after a Gidel gem, Season Never Endier after a Jones late night submission and happier after a Beezner bit. Good stuff.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Oh, how this post rings true.
For us expats, it’s even tougher to maintain our fandom…3am tipoffs, 5am kickoffs, 11am “night games” in which we desperately try to follow the game via ESPN’s crappy “game tracker” while simultaneously trying to keep up the appearance that we are actually working. But, you can’t just simply quit on The Big Blue…like pedophilia for that old man who lives across the street from your child’s elementary school, it’s an addiction that you just have to learn to live with.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Always something thought provoking Katie, that’s what I love about you. I live in Big Blue Country but my girlfriend lives in Indiana. Nothing like squinting at her tiny computer monitor trying my best to watch the Cats down in Cancun. (Could the lighting in that ball room been any worse? Did nothing for internet viewing.) Thankfully, she has already agreed to move to Kentucky so I am good. No way was I moving to Hoosier land. lol
December 1st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
You lucky locals may not relate to this, but the rest of us do! I’m in NC in the devil’s den and the tarheels nest…no FSN, no 360, so bought an espn package just for a few extra games…even FSN atlantic blacks out UK for a Charlotte game…aaargghh! If it weren’t for gametracker and funchester…outta luck! I’m just sayin…….
December 1st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
This post is scary…so true…just TRY and pick-up a BigBlue Game/Report in Dallas, TX (NONONONONO-we never heard of Billy Clyde) in the newspaper, etc. Except for poor ESPN360/ESPNU feeds and scarce network viewings …thank the Gods for KSR live blogs and UK Athletics’s computer feed…I’d be lost. I remember a time (yes, a long time ago) when I rigged-up an antenna that was connected to my amplifier and run out the window, up the roof, across the chimney and to an old oak tree too far up for me to confess climbing - just to get WHAS and Cawood on the radio to listen to my Cats! Damn, my wife (ex) totally felt I was a nut case! (No comments, please.)
December 1st, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Kate, does Kige keep you locked up in a dungeon in his basement? The same one he shot that free throw shooting video in? I heard every now and again he lowers you a lap top down there to write a post and then screams……….put the f’in lotion in the basket!”
December 1st, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Good post Katie. I live in Houston, TX and I have 15 different Fox Sports channels not to metion at least 3 that show nothing but soccer. If not for http://www.justin.tv/funchester I may have gone nuts this season. I am ready for the Cats to get into the bulk of their nationaly televised schedule.
PS. Just booked my rooms at the Marriot in Nashville!!!
December 1st, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Does anyone know what sections of MSG are the UK/UGa sections and which are STJ/UConn?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
this is great n all but i have just one ?? Is anybody else ready to kick NC’s ass? so pumped about this game.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:01 pm
UNC is kicking the hell out of Michigan State at half time. Damn, Digger Phelps looks like they just pulled him out of a casket.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Moving away from the mothership is turrible.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Kate, compliments again. Will you do a post that tells our fellow girls questions they shouldn’t ask? Like, “Why isn’t there any alcohol here?” (That betrays one as a Louisville fan, FYI.)
December 1st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Maps with hearts all over them are turrible.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:11 pm
17.) I’m at the Marriott too. I expect everyone to keep the noise down. Lights out at 9:00
December 1st, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I live around Kansas fans, who believe their program is so wonderful with their five national championships (they love adding the NITs) and ours are tainted because they watched Glory Road and are an expert on Adolph Rupp’s racism. Phog Allen Fieldhouse is a nice venue for a game…that’s only two-thirds the size of Rupp. They talk about how clean their program is…forgetting that ol’ Roy left them with questions about Darrell Arthur’s eligibility (which should cause that 2008 title to be vacated) and Bill Self talking to John Wall in a no-contact period. They think “Kentucky’s OK because they’re not good every year” and I am so eager to shove it in their ignorant faces. They have no idea what it’s like to miss a game because you’re 800 miles from your alma mater and some crappy DII school is playing your local mid-major.
Thank God for the internet, otherwise I might have killed someone by now.
Not too bad, Kate.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
OUCH, UNC looks good
December 1st, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I live in Fl. Nobody likes bball here, they didn’t realize they had a good team until AFTER they won there first NC. Then there was mild interest, sports pg. 4 recap, half a column type of thing. After the second, well just like the rest of the country, they forgot all about it. Before the Internet, IMPOSSIBLE to keep up with the Cats.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:22 pm
25) I love how people assume Rupp is a racist because of a movie, but neglect the fact that he was the 1st SEC coach to recruit African-American players. He was the last to sign one because he was honest to recruit’s parents about the safety of their kids when traveling to the deep south. But hey, let’s just assume the movie is 100% correct and every writer who barely knew who Rupp was should be believed when he/she writes a story about how he was a racist.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Kate, I just don’t know any other way to say it…I love you. There I said it.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I can’t believe I used to complain about living in Dayton, Ohio listening to Cawood on a tiny little radio or maybe if you had an Antenna you could get channel 64 out of Cincinnati that broadcasted a few games a year. Living in Philly all I get are the National games and thankfully some KSR liveblogs.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:24 pm
28–Next thing you’re going to tell me is that Disney’s other movies like Pocahontas aren’t factual.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:27 pm
My wife doesn’t understand me because I refuse to watch that movie. SHe says that I would like it because its a sports movie and I love all sports movies. No chance No way. A true UK fan will not watch that movie.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:27 pm
UNC will drill Kentucky.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Katie your like a long neck bottle.. full of good sh1t
December 1st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I still firmly believe that we beat UNC by 15+. what do you guys think?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Now I hope everyone knows what I’ve been going through on a weekly basis-I had to but a $20 cable at Radio Shack in order to broadcast the UK -Tenn. game on my tv from my laptop..yes all that just for a game.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:30 pm
#26 Michigan State is overrated.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
37. agreed
December 1st, 2009 at 10:37 pm
#35 — You’re blinded by John Wall’s speed. UNC can score inside, score in transition, and is defensively talented enough to challenge shots. UK wins by 15 only if Kentucky breaks out a 20-point burst in the second half and Ol’ Roy sits on his hands for the rest of the game (as he’s apt to do).
Let’s veer back to Kate, who deserves all of us to send her roses, chocolates and donations for the ESPN Full Court package.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Does anyone think we may be overrated? How can you tell? I mean ratings at this stage are stupid anyway. The only time they matter are when the seeding is done for the tourney. I could care less we are ranked as long as by the second week of March we are at least in the top 8 so we get a 1 or 2 seed.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
26, 35, 37, 38–I’m interested to see how UNC feels when they step on the floor in a hostile environment.
Anybody else hear Dukie V. imply Michael Gilchrist is going to be a Blue Devil?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:40 pm
39. you are forgetting about one thing that will push Wall this game though. the little word called revenge. u think he has been good so far. just wait and see him on Saturday. and we can also do all of those things that u mentioned.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:47 pm
40–I tell everyone I talk basketball with inexperience is the one thing that will bite us in the backside. I honestly think these next few games lead to wins down the road. The more tough away/neutral games we can play, the better come mid-March.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:52 pm
UK is the shakiest team in the top 20, but doesn’t mean they won’t be very tough by March. But when you about get beat by Stanford, you can’t tell me UNC won’t beat us by any less than 10.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:52 pm
43)All that matters to me is that we keep improving. I am very happy with this team and I love being 2 deep at every position where there is about no drop off when we substitute but we are far from perfect. Obviously we would be disappointed with any loss but it is going to happen. As long as the team keeps improving and learns from their mistakes we will be a very tough team to beat in March.(and the first weekend in April!)
December 1st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
UNC is playing right now? But the Victoria’s Secret girls are in HD!
December 1st, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I think we would have been majorly screwed if UNC had lost to Michigan State. They would have taken out their second early loss on us. I am still really nervous about our inexperience, but super pumped that Wall wants revenge since UNC didn’t show much interest in him!
December 1st, 2009 at 11:17 pm
great post. i attend penn state u and have lived in pa all my life. college bball is HUGE in pa, more than people think, but happy valley not exactly a hotbed of hoops. KSR has been huge for us fans not in ky
December 1st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
And then AJ replied with “I don’t know why we called him Taffy, he isn’t even Welsh”
December 1st, 2009 at 11:56 pm
33)If UNC plays Sat. like they are playing tonight I agree with you. Cal even said the team wasn’t playing at the same level as UNC and CT. UNC’s defense and all-around offensive performance in 1st half was particlarly impressive. They looked to be in post-season form and UK will have to go to another level entirely to stay in the game…..but I have faith and think it’s going to be a tremendous game, not a blowout for the Tarheels.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:22 am
50/33 I agree. Watched them tonight. Michigan St.played their heart out but couldn’t hang. UNC looked like the real deal. They are much better than they were earlier in the season. I’m afraid we haven’t made the same jump. That being said- Zeller forces a lot of ugly shots- I can’t wait for our bigs to kick sand in his face and steal his lunch money. I still have a feeling in my gut Wall has a seventh gear, something he has been holding out for just this occasion. This is the type of game when we could really use the senior leadership of Harris. I don’t expect him to do much offensively- but just having him out there on defense, seems to calm the team down. I can’t wait. But I have to be honest, I’m a little worried we could be in for a rude awakening on Saturday. So far I’m not sure I’ve seen what it will take to compete with UNC.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 am
If you don’t have kids and a husband, work on THAT. Get a life. Job, dishes, ironing, kid’s homework, and whatever else you women do should take over anything that your poor ass can get out of trying to keep up with men. Wear a skirt and try to look nice for your man…oh yeah, lay off of the bon bons.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 am
i love this post! And yes it is hard to keep up with the Cats, especially in Texas and the West coast. That’s why I moved to Chicago, I just can’t be that far away from my boys!
If the Cats can defend in transition I think we will win. Their backcourt is weak. For a UNC team, WEAK. If Cousins stays outta foul trouble and we play good transition defense, we win this one going away late. But of course, we can just as easily throw up shots and try to play hot dog all night and get our a$$ kicked too. Gotta love freshman!
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:07 am
Matt we DEMAND MORE Kate (less BTI would be nice also)
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 am
lol @ 52
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:33 am
#44, What game where you watching?!?! UK beat
Stanford 73-65 in OT. Katie, love your posts. You are a true, blue CAT fan. Go Cats!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
The post was great. I just recently moved to NC from the homeland of the Commonwealth. It is easy to know why we are a Commonwealth and they are a state. The good thing is that I am lodged in Greensboro so majority of the folks here hate Duke and UNC so my UK flag, mailbox, car stickers, hats, shirts, and everything else hasn’t been a problem. We did purchase the extra sports package for those ESPN games. We do have FSS but every time there is a game they show the Bobcats or the Hurricanes (NHL-come on). So, your post was on time with me. I also appreciated the pink on the site this morning when I opened up the page. That was a nice change as well.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 am
Thank you Kate!
I made the mistake of going to Illinois for graduate school. I also understand what it’s like to try to get by on ESPN360 (or before that, Yahoo! used to show SEC sports). I listened to the Stanford game via the UK athletics website. This Saturday I’ll schedule my work plans around the game, because I’m hungry for some Kentucky Wildcats and basketball action.
If you are living in Kentucky and are tired of catching most UK games, surround yourself with half-hearted fans who show up to a less-than-capacity basketball dome 10 minutes into the first half, and hear things like “from 2001-2005 we won more games than anybody else” (which turned out to be false), “Bruce Weber is a classy coach” and “this is the year the Bulls/Bears/Cubs/Illini win it all”, come up to the fake land of Lincoln - there are plenty of seats on this bandwagon.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 am
Kate, I know first hand of living the Hoosier Hoedown. Lived here (Indy) better than 35 years and during those years I’ve probably missed 3 games of either listening to Cawood or watching them. I’ve never strayed…UK has been a part of my apparel ever since I can remember. Nothing Red in my closet and the time I was ever given an (GASP) IU sweatshirt by a close friend I made sure he was there when I lit it to start a fire in my fireplace….In the early 70’s I was stationed in Wichita Ks. and had to drive almost 30 miles NE to get Cawood on the radio. Rather a small price to pay to be a UK fan and listen to our CATS. UK by 3 Saturday….It will be a great game!!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:39 pm
[...] response to a recent article on KSR (see it here: KentuckySportsRadio.com), I was inspired to share my experiences as a fanatic female UK fan that lives exactly 383 miles [...]