Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
I often criticize the local reporters when they write absolute nonsense, so in order to be fair, we should highlight when they write interesting and relevant stuff as well. Jerry Tipton, who has received a great deal of our collective shorn has an interesting talk with Dick Vitale, who confirms his love for UK and gives his side of the Tubby Smith story. I am biased as I love Vitale and think he is one of the best ambassadors the game of college basketball has ever had, but I also think this story highlights some of what makes Dick great. He loves college basketball, the people involved and the programs. I look forward to seeing him on Saturday.
Also, kudos to our man Rick Bozich who has a great tribute to Ralph Beard today. Bozich highlights the personal warmth that led so many who met Beard to be impressed with him and to hold him in high esteem. He also mentions what was my favorite part of Beard, his continued attendance at the King of the Bluegrass and his love for local sports. Great article to check out on a Friday.
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November 30th, 2007 at 11:06 am
If a lot of people boo him Saturday it will be embarassing.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Please. He practically begged Billy D not to come to Kentucky. He deserves whatever he gets. Boo away people. Boo for me.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Now, I want to boo something. Scotland, can you meet me in the Hyatt lobby at 1pm?
November 30th, 2007 at 11:14 am
We need to start showing some damn class. Dick Vitale is one of very few annoncers who appreciates our program. If there is anybody who needs to be booed it would be Billy Packer. Please don’t boo Dick at RUpp like #1 said it will be embarrasing. Lets show the class that we showed when we were winning ball games. IF your going to rupp arena make a sign that says “We love you Dicky V” please guys show some class.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:16 am
#2 that is absolute bullshit. Why the hell would he care if Billy D came to kentucky or not. You’re a classless idiot. With Tubby as a former coach Vitale was just taking up for a fellow coach.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I don’t think Vitale is being completely honest about what he said about UK. He makes it sound like all he did was complain about how some fans treated Tubby Smith, but if you go back and look at Vitale’s actual comments, he went way beyond that. And he did NOT simply say that he thought BD wouldn’t take the Kentucky job, he pleaded with BD not to take the Kentucky job, because he said it was the worst job in America, which is a slam on UK. The job might be tough, but it’s also one of honor, and if Vitale really had respect for the program he would recognize and acknowledge that.
I’m not saying he should be boo’ed, but until he makes amends, instead of using insincere arguments to defend himself, I don’t think you can fault the fans for grumbling.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:18 am
when they right absolute nonsense?
Way to make our Transy education look like junk….
November 30th, 2007 at 11:18 am
5) Wrong. It’s on tape. He urged Billy D not to take the job. As for why he would care, you’d have to ask Dick Vitale.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Check the spelling a little better especially when you talk about criticizing reporters (and even in this case praise the person). Not a dig just a friendly suggestion. It helps make your case seem more legitimate.
I probably mispelled something in this post.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:26 am
We all know why Matt loves Dickie V. Because matt feels the same way Dick feels. That Tubby deserved a free pass. For what reason? I have no clue. But there are a segment of UK fans who felt that Tubby deserved a free pass no matter what. Matt seems to fall in that category.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Who the hell wants Billy D. now neway. BILLy G. is the man with the plan. All you haters out there better get ready to jump back on the band wagon at the end of the season when we win the sec title.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:31 am
You people wonder why everyone hates us UK fans, and you get online and prove them right every day. Tubby was a good coach, let’s be honest, I am not going to get into that argument. But cmon, too boo a man who is one of the most prominent face’s in college basketball who OPENLY admits he loves our programs and fans is CLASSLESS.. Anyone who boos Vitale Saturday should be kicked out of Rupp for shaming our fanbase yet again and causing us embarrassment.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:32 am
My problem with Dick V is this. UK WAS NOT winning 26 games per year in 05-06 and 06-07. He was winning 22 and losing in double figures. His teams were consistently confused on offense and outmatched in overall depth and talent.
If people are too ignorant to understand this, they are not what they say they are. FANS of UK basketball. VITALE isn’t fooling anyone with his CYOA mentality in that lame ass Tipton article.
Tubby Smith is a great man. He was very successful at UK. He was also heading into a season with a team with the least amount of talent on a UK team in years and HE left. Not because of the fans, but because of the ever amounting pressure he put on himself by failing to recruit consistently every year(03 and 05).
November 30th, 2007 at 11:33 am
My problem with Dick V is this. UK WAS NOT winning 26 games per year in 05-06 and 06-07. He was winning 22 and losing in double figures. His teams were consistently confused on offense and outmatched in overall depth and talent.
If people are too ignorant to understand this, they are not what they say they are. FANS of UK basketball. VITALE isn’t fooling anyone with his CYOA mentality in that lame ass Tipton article.
Tubby Smith is a great man. He was very successful at UK. He was also heading into a season with a team with the least amount of talent on a UK team in years and HE left. Not because of the fans, but because of the ever amounting pressure he put on himself by failing to recruit consistently every year(03 and 05 basically).
November 30th, 2007 at 11:34 am
If he did plead with Billy D. not to take the job who gives a shit. And why the hell would we boo him he wouldn’t give a shit. SO it just makes us look stupid. As for Tubby deserving a free pass. Not even close we needed a fresh coach and we got one who will turn this mess around. PLEASE EVERYBODY SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT TUBBY!!!!. Even you DICKY V.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:40 am
#15 amen. do not boo dickie. It would be POINTLESS!!! Some UK fans can’t get over their conspiracy theory with ESPN and Vitale… It’s silly really. I couldn’t stand tubby, but I don’t blame ESPN for it like some do.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Fans who want to boo him should forgive him and forget about it instead.
Fans who don’t like the idea of boo’ing should stop pretending that he didn’t say anything offensive in the first place.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Where do I sign up to boo ESPN and Andy Katz?
Matt, could you set up a way to send “Virtual Boos” to these peoples email accounts. Thanks
When will UK schedule Minnesota so I can boo Tubby some more?
November 30th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Also, anybody else get annoyed with Matt’s “holier than thou” attitude trying to dictate what people should be able to criticize and what they can’t. All the way down to whether or not UK fans can criticize our struggles with dealing with zone defenses. It’s kind of funny. I feel sorry for his girlfriend/boyfriend if he ever gets one. What a control freak.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:50 am
19) Nah, he’s just expressing his opinions like the rest of us. Plus, you get a certain right to press your viewpoint when it’s your blog.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:52 am
#20 I agree. He can say it, but is he right? We have a right to decide if he’s being holier than thou. I for one think he is…
November 30th, 2007 at 11:58 am
21) I don’t… I think he’s just opinionated, and like most intelligent people he’s confident in his opinions. My opinion is that his opinions are often wrong, but that’s just my opinion.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
#22 I think we are on the same page. Telling people what they can criticize and what they can’t is a bit silly. But as you said, it’s just an opinion.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
How about some Beard comments here? Never saw him play, but he was evidently great, called the Michael Jordan of his time by some. Yet ESPN and all other media outlets can only speak of the point-shaving scandal he was dragged into, and denied. Yet all of the outlets failed to mention he denied shaving points but did take the money because he was poor. Even in death he was shamed over this. If he shaved points, he deserved it. BUt if he didn’t, he deserved to be forgiven and have a decent legacy. But none of us know if he did or not. It’s a shame, really. He was a tortured soul. God rest his soul.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
“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.” I think that sums up my views on Dookie V right there.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
#24- While I agree, it is a sad story, it is what Beard is most known for and the national media outlets are correct in bringing it up when reporting the story of his death. His actions along with others cost UK as full season. I forgive him like most do. But look at it this way. Shoeless Joe Jackson, considered by many to be one of the best baseball players in history is remembered for one thing, and one thing only. Fixing a world series. That’s ALL that is reported about him. It’s obvious that beard was poor and took the money. He may have never shaved points. (I’d like to see how often UK didn’t beat the spread) but he took the money, and that’s wrong.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
#25 GregJ… can put my name back on the list to boo Vitale now?
November 30th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Ah, I say some of his accomplishments should also be noted. IMHO.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
How about this…. If you are going to do something to Dicky V, make it a “boo”. I’d much rather our fans “boo” than use foul or derogatory language towards him. That is definitely classless.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Tubby Smith without question is one of the true gentlemen in the college basketball ranks. I can think of numerous examples (some personal) that prove what a great person he is. I hope when he retires that he moves back to the Commonwealth.
Kentucky is one of the few top college basketball traditions in the country. Under Tubby’s leadership, Kentucky simply underperformed. We paid for and continue to pay the price for the Tubby era.
For a recognized college basketball “expert” to get the two different issues intertwined shows a complete lack of understanding and perspective of college basketball tradition and smells of being agenda driven, which an objective basketball analyst should avoid.
You reap what you sow. I’m sure Dick V is a nice guy, but he deserves what he gets.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
They can’t realy say our fans are racist cause some are spewing the same shit about BCG as they did Tubby. Stupid,arrogant and maybe idiotic is the best way to label some of our fans.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I can’t spell either!
November 30th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
5 So who’s the classless idiot? What a post. In my book, Vitale’s comments during that period are unforgivable. Sorry if you disagree.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
The Beard article was great, emailed it to my sons. Vitale promotes Vitale first and foremost, dukies and coach k second, the acc third and if forced he will promote college Basket Ball in general and take a shot at the CATS every chance he can!
November 30th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
He’s just doing his job. He loves UK basketball. I will not boo.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
When you have the most winningest program in college basketball history, the fans will tend to expect results. On top of that, we don’t have professional teams like many other states, UK basketball is all we have to proud of. Dicky V and the other analysts (minus Jay Bilas) are just showing their jealousy of the program. Yes, jealousy. What Rupp did for UK is no different than what Wooden did at UCLA. They built a dynasty, and when you have a dynasty, you have to not only win, but also win championships. Nobody said it was easy. Tubby didn’t produce results. Pitino leaving right when he revamped could have been a new dynasty.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
As I have said before, Tubby was. and is a class act. He was a good coach and at this point in the year he is missed. It remains to be seen if BCG can turn this program around. The only sure thing that has been shown,going into the 1st real game of the year, is his ability to recruit. This was never a question if you look at BCG’s record and past performance. He has yet to show me that he is a coach worthy of the BIG BLUE. My prayer is that he doesn’t turn into another Sutton.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
If BCG had taken over a program loaded with NBA talent we would be talking NC, but a change had to be made. There was no NC in the future with TUBBY unless someone dropped him another loaded team!
November 30th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Matt is wrong about “DV IS one of the best ambassadors…”. It should say “DV WAS one of the best ambassadors”. He lost his ambassador status when he went from being a enthusiastic commentator to taking himself too seriously and using an ESPN monopoly as a tool to force his agenda for college basketball. He once was fun and a great promoter for the enjoyment and passion for college basketball, but his act went from being about fun to having ulterior motives. He is terrible for college basketball in that he cheapens it under the guise of being a passionate fan - he is no longer genuine. We better tell the casual college basketball fan this by booing his A$$ out of Rupp.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Man you guys are crazy. It’s thing like “ESPN is a monopoly and I wish they had some competition” and “Dicky Vitale only promotes himself and is not genuine” and “We should boo him out of Rupp” that forces me to swear obscenities in my posts. Most of the posts on here are absolute garbage. There are also some very inciteful posts. We need to rally around the CATS and be positive to turn Tubby’s mess around. Believe it or not we have a huge role as fans to turn this around. GO CATS beat beat the tar heels!!!!!!
November 30th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
#39 - agree 100%.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Guys, Dicky V is a great guy and does not deserved to be booed. Look what the man does for charity. Sure, Dicky is not as big on UK as he was a few years ago when Pitino was here, but we all have out favorites. Dicky also does like Duke better than any other school, but everyone allowed to have a favorite. All i’m sying is, Don’t be classless to a man who deserves a little class. If UK gives Dick a bunch of boos, I believe Dicky is right, UK is the worst job (as far as coaching) in the country.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
When a leading figure, probably the most recognizable announcer ever, like Vitale takes the greatest sport we have and cheapens it - whether using it to drive ratings through controversy or campaigning for coaches to hold their position at the expense of slandering fans - booing is the right thing to do. If you sit there and take it - from a paid commentator, to be clear, I am not talking about booing a player - because you are afraid of backlash you have checked your balls at the gate. Booing a player is classless, but booing a pro broadcaster who is making a mockery out of the greatest tradition and fans in the greatest sport is our duty.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
If the fans boo Vitale it will
be the first time this season
they’ve made any noise.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Digger Phelps has to be the happiest ESPN personality right now. Dicky V is getting what he usually gets.
People haven’t forgotten what Digger said when he was coaching against UK and had signs the last time he was here with Gameday.
So why are folks going to be surprised if Vitale gets some boos?
Personally I took offense at first when he made those comments, that was a knee jerk reaction. But if you think about it, just like most of what Packer says….who cares what Vitale thinks anyway?
Besides it isn’t like they are going to announce him and give the crowd a chance to boo anyway.
Let it go folks, focus on the game….Lord knows the Cats are going to need all the help they can get.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
David Shelton, I know we do not agree on much but I will have to agree with you on that one.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
If somehow we had an equal platform to Vitale’s for presenting our side, then booing is wrong. Nobody from a sports network has asked me yet.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
#43 he didn’t make a mockery of the tradition…he made a mockery of segment of the fanbase. Some fans need to get over THEMSELVES. He said NOTHING about the players NOTHING about the program and said NOTHING that wasn’t the truth.
We do have a high standard of expectations, I don’t think it is a bad thing…he does. SO Freaking what!
Had he said something about the players and the school it would be different.
Yet all that doesn’t matter some fans will boo him yet those same ones wouldn’t have the testicular fortitude to say it to his face.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
#13 UK won 22 games in 1981 and 1982 then 23 games in 1983. Those teams were 2-3 in NCAA games.
It’s happened before. UK AVERAGED only 23 W per season throughout the 1980’s (no probation years). Only 22 W per season in the 1970’s and only 20 W per season in the 1960’s.
That’s AN AVERAGE of 22 W per season OVER 3 DECADES (30 YEARS).
December 1st, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Scotland said:::
” UK won 22 games in 1981 and 1982 then 23 games in 1983. Those teams were 2-3 in NCAA games.
It’s happened before. UK AVERAGED only 23 W per season throughout the 1980’s (no probation years). Only 22 W per season in the 1970’s and only 20 W per season in the 1960’s.
That’s AN AVERAGE of 22 W per season OVER 3 DECADES (30 YEARS). ”
Not sure what point your trying to make but the 22 wins during those years was pretty good when you finished 22-6 like in 1981. Tubby was 22-12 6 more losses.
So the 22 wins is more like being 25-7 now. In other words being 22-6 is a 78% winning percentage and 22-12 is 64%.
So going into this year our over all record was 1926 - 596 a winning percentage of 76.4%. So 22 wins in those years was well ABOVE average.
Have to look at the larger picture not just the number of wins.