Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
I have to admit that for some time I have been of a bit of an afficianado of Jim Cantore and his hurricane coverage. When hurricane season arrives, I keep my television tuned to the Weather Channel for really only one reason….to see pictures of reporters standing in the middle of the hurricane in blue jackets with stuff blowing all around them and rain pouring in their face. No matter how big the storm or how often I see it, I am addicted to this coverage. And no one seems more manly in this coverage than Jim Cantore. With his shaved head and ability to literally weather any storm, Cantore is a man among men and he could conceivably be called the Clint Eastwood of our generation. I have often thought that if I ever had the ability to be in a hurricane, I would be like Cantore….setting up our podcast equipment, going out in the storm and letting folks know what was going on from the scene. You may dream of being a basketball player or an astronaut….I want to be Cantore staring a hurricane in the eye.
Or at least that is what I thought I wanted to be until Tuesday night. With Bryan the Intern and I engaged in a discussion about Louisville basketball on my radio show and a debate raging as to how successful Rick Pitino’s tenure has been, a 65+ MPH wind hit the studio and produced one of the scarier moments of my life. I looked out the window, saw light poles shaking violently, large bits of debri flying through the air and noticed the power going out….and proceeded to (along with my co-host and producer I might add) make my way out of the studio (which is surrounded by windows) while on-air and in the middle of my sentence. Now some might argue that a seasoned radio veteran would have taken the bad weather and used it as an opportunity to inform the public about a serious weather incident. But I didnt do that….instead I ran for my life and hoped that I wouldnt push our producer Eric to the ground to hard in moving him out of my way in running to the door. After a minute or so, the wind went by, we went back in the studio….called Mr. Mohawk Gregg Doyel and did 15 more minutes before the power went out on the studio’s signal. It was by all accounts a huge storm. Parts of the roof and siding of our building blew off, as did some of the various fixtures on the building…..a number of trees on the property fell, as did two light poles and the outside was littered with debri. Of course our faithful station manager Dugan Ryan called me ten seconds after we left the air and said, “hey you left the mics on when you ran out of the studio”….showcasing his concern for the safety of his fine staff. Now some online and elsewhere have said that I didnt show the manliest of traits in rushing out at the sign of inclement weather. And maybe they are correct that my dreams of being Jim Cantore are simply folly and I dont have the cajones to do a Weather Channel gig. But even after all the power was out in the studio and Bryan the Intern and I were standing in the pitch dark, we still did 15 minutes with Doyel live from the Super Bowl. That may not be heroic, but its also not Rob Bromley refusing to go on camera without sufficient hairspray. We may not be Jim Cantore, but we arent Dave Baker either….and that should count for something.
To the news….
(1) RAMEL DRAFTED?: If you said before the season that Ramel Bradley was likely to be drafted this year, many would have assumed that he would be headed to Afghanistan or Iraq. However his recent play may have changed his fortunes somewhat. I spoke today with a friend who does NBA scouting who told me that Ramel is playing his way into draft consideration. While there are problems for Ramel in terms of adjusting to the NBA (most significantly size for a guy who needs to play the 2 guard at that level), his ability to score has gotten some NBA eyes. “I think he can be a second round pick. A lot of people are very impressed with his ability to take the ball to the basket. He is as good at getting to the rim as anyone of that size. Plus, he is playing much better defense and is used to guarding taller players, which he must do on the next level. It isnt assured he will be drafted or even make a team if he is, but he is now in the conversation, which is a change.” Good news for Ramel and something to watch going forward.
(2) SCOTTY HOPSON: Likely the question I get asked the most on a day-to-day basis is what is the deal with Scotty Hopson? As more folks around the Bluegrass get to see Hopson play or hear of his talents, questions come as to what chance he might have of wearing the Blue and White. I spoke with my source on Scotty this weekend, who had this to say. “I am not saying that Kentucky couldnt be part of the decision if they entered late, but for now Tennessee is the team to beat. He loves the place and he loves Coach Pearl. I think that is where he ends up….although with Scotty, you never know till its over….and maybe not even then.” Scotty is a true talent and an engaging kid. Kentucky could certainly use a scorer like him on the team. Reports have come recently that UK is interested in Hopson and may step up its recruitment of him….if true, they have work left to do.
(3) Tenn DE MICHAEL MCADOO: I dont claim to be an expert on football recruiting….in fact, I dont claim to even know much about it at all. But I do know that if one is watching two stories as we approach Signing Day 2008, the two should be Aaron Boyd (who we will talk more about tomorrow) and Michael McAdoo. McAdoo is a stud DE out of Tennessee who has recently (according to Jeff Drummond) narrowed his choices to Kentucky and North Carolina. The kid has more talent than one would think with those two schools as his final choices, but with Kentucky already having commitments from most members of their class, McAdoo is one of the last real stories to follow in the next few days. We hope to have McAdoo for a rare football recruit interview on the show on Thursday night…so stay tuned.
(4) SIGNING DAY 2008: Now some good news to end the post. As many of you know, this blog has sorely missed the contributions of Rob Gidel since he left to do work for the Lexington Legends. But we are glad to announce that he is coming back for us during what is his prime time….Football Signing Day. For the next week, Rob will be posting here getting you ready for Signing Day and letting you know who is coming and just how good they are. This will all lead to Signing Day when Rob will give reports on the players as they send in their papers and let you know about the Class of 2008. For those of you who saw this last year, you will remember what a great thing it is. Rob will be on the show tomorrow night (REUNION!) to talk football recruiting and will have his first blog post late in the afternoon. So welcome Rob back around and look forward to the best football recruiting info on the internet.
More throughout the day, including Tomlin’s NTKW and the return of Rob…..
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January 30th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Good News for Smoov! With his overall improvement in his game, I hope his NBA comes true.
As for Hopson, I doubt if UK entered the recruiting wars now that we could land Hopson. Don’t know why BCG waited so long to get involved with Scotty, but he shouldn’t be too surprised if he signs elsewhere.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:13 am
if you wouldve told me four years ago that ramel would be drafted and crawford would graduate from Kentucky, I wouldve called you nuts
January 30th, 2008 at 2:17 am
This is depressing news about Hopson. I want to see this kid in blue/white SOOOOO bad! I think he wants to be a wildcat as well, but Coach G hasnt showed him much interest. I cant blame him for leaning towards Tennessee though. I’m sure Bruce Pearl has told him everything he wants to hear. If Coach G wants him, he better make a move NOW!
January 30th, 2008 at 2:51 am
How to tell if your in over your head as a basketball analyst?
When you find yourself exposing a converstation you had with someone about Ramel being drafted, let alone playing in the NBA. ROTFL!
Any pro team that gives your scouting friend a cent for a Tubby league assessment like that deserves what they get.
Ramel is responding well to the panic disorder medication hes been on for the last couple of weeks, but you don’t erase 3 1/2 years of 1 good game every 3 with 2 good games in a row. When you average 5 turnovers a game and force/hog as many shots as he has consistently proven is his style you don’t play for pay. For a smaller guard he constantly is blown by while playing defense. Thats why the only guy you will ever see him get credit for guarding is Chris Lofton, who is a slower guard.
Ramel has a chance to leave here in a much better light than things once appeared however if this team doesn’t sqeak out the SEC tourny bid, his legacy at UK will not be that rosie Matt.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:07 am
Some of you guys are a tough crowd. No room for dreams here…
January 30th, 2008 at 6:51 am
IF UK truly wanted Hopson, they have a funny way of showing it. Gillispie sure hasn’t gone out of his way to recruit the kid at all. I think UT will get another KY boy that will put the hurt on us from time to time.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:55 am
#4 you couldnt me more wrong. Bradley’s legacy is secure as any 4 year player in the 1000 point club should be. He will be considered one of the hardest working players we have ever had.
Bradley has always been the type of scorer that would do well in the NBA, he just needs to work on his decision making, most NBA teams would be happy to work on that.
On the Matt Jones hurricane story, the only question I have is who made out the door first? Jones or George Costanza
January 30th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Ramel Bradey. Rewiring him has taken longer than it should have and there are reasons for that which have been corrected. The last 5 years as a KY basketball fan have been more painful than they should have. That part is history and is the smoking gun behind the tough crowd.
If Ramel continues to believes in his ability to take the game from the opponent, then we have a chance. That has more of a chance in helping him than unwarranted NBA jibberjab.
I’m dreaming KY makes the NCAA tourny by demanding the SEC tourny. Not looking at it like they have to win it, but like they deserve to win it. Just taking it away from the opponent. I think thats Billy’s style that is leaving its signature across our schedule now. If you can distract these kids minds long enough to get through with empowering strategery (thank you George W
) then they have a chance.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:22 am
take a look at Rondo, he is doing very well in the NBA and Bradley is a MUCH better scorer, shooter than Rondo. Rondo is definitely quicker and makes better decisions but if Rondo can play than so can Bradley
January 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Bradley = a poor man’s chancey billups
January 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Cherokee I think something you have missed out on with the Ramel talk is that a point guard is made by his teammates. Ramel was overshadowed (rightly so) by Rajon Rondo for two seasons, but would his life have been easier passing to guys like Kelenna, Chuck Hayes, and Randolph Morris as opposed to Mark Coury, Ramon Harris, and etc? Simple answer, yes. It is hard for a guy standing 6′1 to be a consistent offensive force in the college game, trust me. I am 6′3 and if a team keyed in on me they could pretty much just plain keep me from scoring, and if none of my teammates picked up the slack and made their shots, game over. But I never had the struggle of being the key guy in a scouting report, and Ramel is the no.1 or 2 guy in the scouting report EVERY TIME since LAST season. Now none of this is to say Ramel is an NBA point guard. He WILL play the 1 not the 2, because he is not athletic enough at his height to play th 2. The question in every GMs mind will be is he steady. I don’t think he will be drafted, simply because drafts are more about locking down potentially good or great players. Ramel is already steady, but not a blow away guy. But he will certainly be given a lot of tryouts. I envision Ramel as a Rafer Alston type in the NBA, and trust me, there is ALWAYS room for a guy who can handle the ball and shoot from 25 feet. But he is not better as a point guard then Rondo, not even a close call at the moment. Rondo is faster, quicker, more athletic, a better passer, and a better defender. THAT is what most of it is really about at that spot, not shooting.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:12 am
And lets give a mulligan to a lot of his “decision making”. I would take a Ramel Bradley falling away hands in his face 20 foot
shot with some of the lineups he has been put in with.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:22 am
9, you might be right, but Rondo is a better ball-handler, rebounder, decision-maker, defender, play-maker. He’s better at getting to the basket. He is more athletic. I’m pretty sure he’s bigger (or at least he plays like it). He (believe it or not) is smarter. Also, he’s much better looking.
No one in their right mind should ever compare Bradley to Rondo. Rondo’s game is made for the NBA (a jump shot wouldnt hurt though). Bradley’s game is made for Europe, where their basketball IQ is low enough to confuse being loud and throwing up the Roc as being a good player.
But…no knock on the way Ramel has played the last couple of games. It disagree that it’s NBA quality, but he has definitely looked like a different (and much better) player lately. If it keeps up…Europe will be knocking.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Ramel gets swatted at least once a game going to the rim (even against lower talented teams like San Diego). I could count on one hand the times Rondo ever got swatted at UK or Boston combined.
You don’t have to take up for him, he seems to be fairly resilient and Billy is opening him up. Let’s just keep things in perspective.
Rondo is a better passer and play developer who makes the people around him better. He also can play NBA glove defense that Ramel simply doesn’t have freak of nature physical advantages to even compare with or the level of anticipational awareness Rondo has more succesfully tapped into at this point in their games respectively. They are the same age yet there is a reason one went pro early and one has struggled to earn pro talk.
Rondo works in the NBA with a team of scorers.
Bradley is no Rondo. Bradley is no Wayne Turner either. Bradley is no Anthony Epps if you want to talk about scrappy UK guards who earned their lofty places in UK history. UK doesn’t hang banners before they are won. Why would fans who covet respect think it makes sense to run with something so premature and unearned yet?
Do yourself a favor and let Bradley learn to be good in college and earn that before you start talking about professional anything. My god I can’t believe how cold you people must be up there to be thinking that far out into left field. LOL!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:40 am
#14 do you even watch the NBA? Rondo got swatted 4 times in one half the other night! granted it was against Dwight Howard but he definitely got swatted. I agree with everything said about Rondo but Bradley can shoot with the best of them and he can finish around the basket. I promise there is aa place for him in the NBA.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I don’t think it’s coincidence that a new coach comes to UK and Ramel starts to improve and shine. The unfortunate thing for Bradley and Crawford is that they got a coach that could develop players their senior year. This says a lot about Gillispie, alot. And people should not get on Gillispie for what they don’t see in the recruitment of Hospon. If Hopson wants to wear the ugliest orange in the land next year and play for a coach that is as big a whiny bit$@ as Coach K, then oh well.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:03 am
And in that game the other night #15 Rondo had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals. The dude runs the best team in the NBA. He’s good. Oh and at the end of that game he faked the hell out of Dwight Howard to pull the Celtics to within 2 points. Then made the steal at the other end the next trip down the court that led to Ray Allen’s game tying 3 point shot with 7 seconds left.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Matt = George Costanza running over little kids and old women after hearing a fire alarm
January 30th, 2008 at 9:14 am
“When I left, the majority of the fans were so mad at Coach Gillispie, they were kind of like, ‘We wish you would stay, and he would go,’ ” Legion said. “But you know how fans are. I’m sure now that they’re playing better, it’s like, ‘Alex, we didn’t need you anyway.’ ”
Quote from A.Legion in today’s Courier Journal
What a donkey…
I don’t remember knowing anyone this stupid and cocky my freshman year
January 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Not being Dave Baker counts you as human, not much more.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:23 am
#17 I know Rondo played a great game and I love to watch him with the Celtics but that guy said Rondo never gets swatted.
Also it is unfair to say Bradley is not as good as Turner or Epps. I worshipped those guys as point guards but they had Delk, Mccarty, walker, Mercer, anderson, sheppard, padgett, etc… Very unfair to say they were better when they had those guys around them to work with.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:32 am
A good point guard, particularly an NBA caliber one, puts his teammates in position to get good shots and makes them better. This is not Bradley’s strength, which is why I dont think he will ever be an NBA point guard. I think his improved play is because of Derrick Jasper’s return as much as it is anything Bradley has done. Having Jasper take away the ball-handling and the bulk of setting up the offense has allowed Bradley to be the off-ball scorer that he naturally is. That’s not going to cut it in the League.
Bradley better learn Italian. Or Greek.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I agree #16, if Hopson or any recruit for that matter doesn’t want to play for UK, then they don’t want to play for UK. We wish them good luck and move on. If Billy hasn’t been hard and heavy on this kid then there has to be a reason. Either he KNOWS he is UT bound, he doesn’t like his work ethic, or something else. I feel confident the Coach G will get it done on the recruiting trail..
GO CATS!!!
January 30th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Keep hope alive brothers. No need to kill anyones hopes and dreams. Only a pinko communisto would do so. Lighten up and let these kids have their dreams. You never know what can happen when hope is alive.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Scotty Hopson is a real talent - but he’s the 2nd coming of Alex Legion
Way to many folks hanging around that kid - I like the way UK has stayed away.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:44 am
As a basic rule of thumb, if you live along the coast and see Jim Cantore and a camera crew setting up near the beach, you should double-check your disaster and evacuation plans.
It seems like (and this was especially true in 2005) Cantore is always the one TWC puts in the middle of the ‘cone of uncertainty’, and thus most often ends up getting the brunt of the storm.
CNN used to do the same thing with Anderson Cooper before they put him behind a desk (not where Cooper needs to be. Bring back Aaron Brown and send AC back to the wolves).
January 30th, 2008 at 10:49 am
24.
Pinko = socialist. Pinko was a derogatory term towards socialists to identify them with the ‘red’ threat. The term was then coopted by American ‘conservatives’ who labeled liberals ‘pinkos’ to identify them also with the ‘Red’ threat.
Red = communist. As in the flag of the USSR. The Red Army. The Red Shirts. The flag of China. The red star. Reds (the movie, not the team).
Just so you know. When you call commies ‘pinko commies’ you are making a generalization that makes you seem ignorant or uneducated. Wouldn’t want that to happen to you again.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:49 am
15 you are crazy pal. Rondo is a much better SCORER. he doesn’t shoot it as well but around the rim there is not contest. Bradley will never stick in the league, never.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I would rather see Coach G go over to the football team and see who might be available. I’d bet money there is a beast on that team that would love to suit out for the basketball team. When I was at UK Art Still and Derick Ramsey use to tear the boards off the wall at Seaton Center and surely there are some candidates on Brooks’ team.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:54 am
#15 You are taking a little to far saying Bradley can shoot with the best of them??? Not for sur what you mean by the best of them, but there alot better shooters than him.. But don’t get me wrong Bradley is playing great and hope he keeps carrying the big blue. Everyone keeps saying Tenn is the team to beat for Hopson.. I have a very close sources and they keep telling me that Miss State is not out of the picture and he very well may end up there because he can go there and start for them and be the super star that he wants to be. Kid has so much talent it is crazy..
January 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
By the way, Cantore is a midget with a big man complex. Also a class A smart a$$ off camera. I’ve lived on the Gulf Coast for the past twenty three years and have seen him in and around our town a few times. A real jerk. I would much rather see Stephanie Abrams come to town.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Its hilarious how much some of you guys think you know about basketball. You guys take yourselves way to seriously. Bradley probably won’t get drafted, but he definitely has the resiliency to make an NBA roster some day. Rondo fits the NBA much better than Rondo does the college game because the floor is spread and it’s more of a drive-kick game. There have been some very small guys make NBA rosters who weren’t any better than Bradley. Anyway, I think Bradley’s play over the last 5 games has warranted talk of him being drafted. The kid is clutch, he can shoot it, he can handle it. From my perspective passing is not as important in the NBA its more of a one on one game. For that reason I also think Joe will make an NBA roster.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Rondo fits the NBA much better than Bradley.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:49 am
All of the experts said that Chuck Hayes would never make it in the NBA. And under Tubby, you were correct. Once the TubYoke was removed and Hayes got to show what he could do, the sky was the limit. That sky was a starting spot on an NBA team.
Now how about y’all STFU and let somebody have a dream. F*ckin’ losers! You’re all the same losers who wanted Gillispie fired about 9 days ago.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Chuck Hayes being in the NBA has a lot to do with his development at Kentucky under Tubby. Same for Bogans. They are both hard-nosed players who play tough D.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
34, You are crazy if you think Tubby Smith was holding back Chuck Hayes. If anyone was trying to make a case for Tubby Smith being great at developing players, Chuck Hayes would be the most prominent evidence.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Both hard nosed players who could play D who were overlooked in the draft and had to play their way into contracts. Both players held back by the TubYoke. Perfect examples of players who had to re-tool post Tubby to stay alive or even gain entry into the NBA. Azibuike was another. Rondo ran from the TubYoke because he knew it was hurting his draft status. Only under Tubby do players regularly go from highly regarded to questionable year after year after year. Hence, the recruiting challenges of the Tub. Hence the ten loss seasons. Hence, his scampering off to Minnesota.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
32 what position will JOE play in the NBA? haha that is even crazier than bradley playing.
JOE = SLOW and undersized. no chance
January 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
not only undersized WAY undersized
he is undersized in college
January 30th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Ok, Tubby Smith did not HOLD BACK Chuck Hayes that is silly. Chuck Hayes is not the kind of player that is held back, because he is not a flashy, showy, explosive player. He is consistent, strong, athletic, and smart. The recruiting challenges faced by Tubby Smith were more related to his REFUSAL to chase blue chippers. The only ones he seriously pursued were Tyler Hansbrough, Brandan Wright, and Kevin Durant. And UK was a top 3 finisher for each, and top two for Wright an Psycho T. Rondo left because anyone who was close to him knows he needed some income…..big time. Some things happened that I’m not gonna discuss on here. And what do you mean highly regarded to questionable? Give me one example besides Keith Bogans soph to jun drop off! Cliff Hawkins, Gerald Fitch, Chuck Hayes and Eric Daniels were all not so coveted players. But they cranked out 26 friggin straight wins. Its not as simple as you think.