Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Look, sports is great and it is probably far too often the center of many of our lives. But when you make sports a serious part of your life like I do, you also recognize the stupidity and absurdity that is has. I have pointed out below many of the things that are just plain ABSURD about sports, both in UK land and throughout the sports world. Agree or disagree, I want to hear some of the ones I missed.
KENTUCKY EDITION
-It’s ABSURD that people want John Wall to have his jersey retired but not Ron Mercer. I guess getting to the Elite Eight is just as good as getting to 2 title games.
-It’s ABSURD that people rail on Tubby Smith, who won a national title, but rarely rail about Eddie Sutton.
-It’s ABSURD that people hate Rick Pitino. The man NEVER says anything bad about the UK fanbase or his time at Kentucky, brought the program backs from the depths of despair, and left to go to the NBA. When that failed, he took the best job available in college. Get over it.
-It’s ABSURD that Rich Brooks’ accomplishments don’t immediately put him in the ring of honor. The greatest run of Kentucky seasons EVER.
-It’s ABSURD that Kentucky football has not found a way to beat Tennessee at least once in 25 years.
-It’s ABSURD that Rupp Arena is the largest college basketball arena, but on a game by game basis is not considered one of the loudest.
-It’s ABSURD Patrick Patterson was drafted behind Ed Davis and Boy George.
-It’s ABSURD that Billy Gillispie was ever hired. He had one Sweet 16 appearance and one player drafted in the NBA. He had no serious recruiting success and was still handed the keys to a Cadillac. Take away all the alcohol problems and he still was a TERRIBLE hire from the get-go.
-It’s ABSURD how the media has treated Demarcus Cousins but it is also ABSURD how UK fans defended him. The actual truth is somewhere in the middle.
-It’s ABSURD that some people want Daniel Orton to fail.
NON-KENTUCKY EDITION
-It’s ABSURD that Joey Votto can not make the All-Star game despite being the leading 1B in all major categories, but a guy like Omar Infante can make it.
-It’s ABSURD that the All-Star game determines something like home field advantage in the playoffs, but goobers like me and LouisvilleFanCraig can pick the players who actually play in the game.
-It’s ABSURD that Bud Selig is still the commishioner of baseball.
-It’s ABSURD that ESPN will show the WNBA and MLS and X-Games but can’t find space for the NHL.
-It’s ABSURD that it takes 7 games to determine a 1st round playoff winner in the NBA.
-It’s ABSURD the Super Bowl is going to be played outdoors in the northern half of the country. Even bringing in the risk of weather affecting a championship game is stupid.
-It’s ABSURD that Mark Mcgwire is not going to be in the Hall of Fame. Because clearly no hand eye coordination exists in Mcgwire. And since there were so many positive steroid tests on Mcgwire out there.
-It’s ABSURD that all American sports leagues call their champions WORLD champs, despite the fact we have never won the World Baseball Classic and lost the Olympic basketball title in 2004.
-It’s ABSURD that Brett Favre is in the conversation of “greatest QB ever”. He holds records simply for playing longer than anybody. Yet he only has one title despite having SUPERIOR talent all around him for his entire career. Joe Montana followed by Tom Brady. There is your list. Peyton Manning gets into the conversation with another title.
-It’s ABSURD that nobody can tell me who the 2nd highest paid NBA player is? Without looking it up, I could give you 25 guesses and you likely would not get it. The answer is Rashard Lewis.
-It’s ABSURD that teams can’t do a shootout in World Cup pool play, but the entire championship can be decided on them.
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July 6th, 2010 at 10:09 am
It’s ABSURD that BTI has yet another Tubby Smith reference in his blog entry.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:10 am
WOW.. I really liked this. I agree with everything you said except for the Daniel Ortan reference.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:12 am
some good in there, but a lot of bullcrap as well…everyone is entitled to their opinion.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:17 am
It’s ABSURD that ESPN carries the boring World Cup
It’s ABSURD that if you want Mercer in the rafters, you should want Antoine Walker first
It’s ABSURD that the Kardashians have a TV show
It’s ABSURD that in this day and age, with the greatest minds of all time, no one can figure out how to stop a busted pipeline
It’s ABSURD that Calipari even consider academically questionable recruits when it is obvious every media outlet in America is dying to find trouble at UK
It’s ABSURD that UK was ever in a position where Michael Porter was the starting point guard
It’s ABSURD that there are those who refuse to realize that Tubby quit at UK about 2 years before he left.
It’s ABSURD for anyone to believe that Tubby didn’t know about Minnesota for six months before he left UK, yet another reason for his shitty recruiting.
It’s ABSURD that there are UK fans who still believe we got set up in the Emery scandal
It’s ABSURD that Jessica Biel can have THAT body
It’s ABSURD that people with graduate degrees can’t afford health insurance but dumbasses who pop kid after kid out can get it free
July 6th, 2010 at 10:22 am
it’s ABSURD how Fu**ing annoying BTI is. And other thing about tubby? And BTI everybody hates slick rick
July 6th, 2010 at 10:26 am
4) All good stuff. Just to clarify about Mercer, I DONT think he should be in the rafters, but I also DONT think John Wall should be there either. I was just pointing out this move to put Wall up there but Mercer was just as good at Kentucky, if not better, yet he is NEVER mentioned for consideration.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:26 am
The one thing you said that I disagree with the most is that you rarely hear people rail on Eddie Sutton. Except for Bob Knight, I haven’t heard anyone take up for him, and rightly they shouldn’t. Other than BCG, Sutton was the biggest mistake in UK basketball history. But the only reason you don’t hear as much about it is because that was over 20 years ago.
The rest of your list is pretty accurate.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:26 am
4- several valid points…
“It’s ABSURD that the Kardashians have a TV show(actually showS…)
“It’s ABSURD that Jessica Biel can have THAT body” (WOW)
July 6th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Most people on this site are probably too young to remember how Sutton screwed us. Thanks for the Demarcus comment while I liked him if he had played for anyone else I’m sure I would have hated him. Have to agree on the health insurance comment.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:28 am
The one that makes me angriest right now is the fact that Omar Infante was chosen for a place on the All Star roster and Joey Votto was not. Votto’s only leading the league in home runs, and is in the top five in every offensive category. The talking heads on ESPN are talking about Votto having an MVP season if the Reds continue on and win the division, yet he can’t even make the All Star team. Charlie Manuel needs to be removed from his managerial duties with that one. Part of me understands choosing his own guy at first, but Howard isn’t having a great year, and when you have a guy like Votto having this kind of year, it’s ridiculous that the guy can’t have some objectivity. Please, everyone, go to Reds.com and vote for Joey Votto and right this injustice.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:29 am
BTI, i agree with most of this except for the comment about how UK fans have defended Boogie. What did he ever do for our fans except make us want to see him more? I already miss that guy, and the season hasn’t started.
Perhaps such thinking is why you still call yourself the intern. As long as you’ve been here, shouldn’t you at least be an apprentice by now?, or is intern a step up from that? J/K, good post overall.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am
4. Right on with Tubby. I defended him for years (even though there were plenty of things to complain about), then realized he quit for the last few. I also, had people who where “in the know” telling me he had feelers out to other schools for a whole year before he left.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Now BTI, the remark about Mercer being just as good as Wall you made at #6 is ABSURD. Team success I give you, but Mercer was never the best player on any of those teams. Wall would smoke Mercer in one on one.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:31 am
11) Bryan the Apprentice just doesn’t pop like Bryan the Intern. Also, BTA is just lame but BTI is what attracts all the ladies. Haha.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:31 am
It’s ABSURD that anyone can defend Pitino. Did he really need the money that bad?
July 6th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Not sure what the superior talent was around Farve. He never really had an elite WR or even a TE. Jackson doesnt count as he was at the end of his career when he played with the Pack. His offensive line was mediocre as well. Reggie White gave them 4 good years but even he was declining when he went to GB.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:33 am
13) How was Mercer not the best player his sophomore year? He was a 1st team All-American that year. My point is if you compare Mercer’s sophomore year and Wall’s freshman year, the only difference is NCAA Tournament success and assist totals.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Mercer and Anderson were a pretty unstoppable duo before Derrick got hurt.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:36 am
14. then the title is well worth keeping, and i don’t blame ya!
July 6th, 2010 at 10:37 am
It’s absurd that Lones Sieber was our kicker for four years.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:40 am
BTI:
You forget a 1B by the name of Albert Pujols. Votto does not lead 1B in all major categories, because Pujols leads the NL in Homeruns, is top three in RBI, and top six or seven in BA.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:41 am
it’s absurd that no matter how big KSR gets, they have never adopted the practice of letting another writer read the piece and correct simple spelling errors before it’s posted on the blog
red and green arrows are absurd! actually the whole friggin’ stoplight system is absurd! how can we put a man on the man and not be able to make this work!
… it’s obvious we never actually had someone make it to the moon, it was just a short movie with above average special effects for that time
July 6th, 2010 at 10:42 am
21) I think it should be Votto and Pujols as the 1B. But Votto has 21 homers, which leads the National League.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:43 am
You are absurd BTI!! I dont think they should let you half of the stuff you do on KSR!
July 6th, 2010 at 10:43 am
BTI:
I guess Votto hit two last night, so he leads in RBI and now BA. But he’s been on a tear over the last 8 games to take the leads in those categories.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Its ABSURD that KSR has never updated the look of this site!
July 6th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Hank, here’s your comparison of NL 1B - http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/1b/league/nl
Votto and Jose Bautista are tied for the MLB lead with 21 HR’s … Pujols has 20
… and Votto leads the NL in OPS! http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/league/nl/sort/OPS/order/true
July 6th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Its absurd that we played a half-court offense with Rajon Rondo and that Brandon Stockton started over him for a significant amount of games.
Its also absurd that Tubby once drew up a last-second, potential game tying play for Sheray Thomas at any point in time.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:47 am
25) Hey, I think Albert Pujols is the best player since Willie Mays, so I don’t say that about Votto to bring down Pujols. I am simply saying that Votto is having a better year and at least deserved to be on the team. Along with Pujols. And not Ryan Howard.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:48 am
The idea that Favre holds all the QB records only because of how long he’s played is really, really dumb. If that was true, he would have been chasing Vinny Testaverde’s numbers, not Dan Marino’s. Longevity does not equal greatness.
As for “Even bringing in the risk of weather affecting a championship game is stupid.” Hello? SB XLI was played in freaking Miami and the game was a rainy mess. Unless you want every Super Bowl from now on to be played in a dome, weather will always be a risk.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:49 am
It’s absurd that you think that WC pool play should be decided by pk’s when you don’t even need them in pool play the way it’s setup.
Yet,
You think it’s stupid for a Super Bowl to have weather affect the game even though weather does affect games ALL YEAR LONG. I hate this point it’s ridiculous. Some teams are built for cold weather, some are built for domes, but let’s just give the advantage to the dome team EVERY YEAR in the most important game. Real bright.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Agree with most of BTI’s list. Adding a couple. It’s absurd Doug Gotlieb has his own ESPN radio show. It’s absurd Billy Reed is still writing books.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:53 am
its absurd baseball is thought of as a more entertaining sport then soccer in in the US. Its absurd how excited people get about Eminems new cd. i dunno im not as good at this. Its absurd Colin Cowherd got his own tv show when he looks like he’s from Whoville
July 6th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Where the hell do you see Rashard Lewis as the second highest paid player? I want proof of that. I don’t see it anywhere. Yeah, he is in the top 10, which is ABSURD, but not number 2.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:57 am
BTI, at least get your facts straight before making a rant like this.
For instance, most people blame Eddie Sutton for putting us on probation even though he was never implicated but that was over 20 years ago. I think most people would just rather forget that part of UK history. Tubby ran UK into the ground and into mediocrity and that’s why he’s railed on. One national title your first year with the former coach’s Seniors doesn’t make it ok to run the program into the ground.
Pitino didn’t take the best job available. He was going to do the right thing and take the Michigan job (far better job than UL) because he knew how UK fans would react but his wife convinced him to take the UL job instead and not to worry what UK fans think once a year. You don’t leave the mecca of college basketball only to come back to coach their arch rival. Not sure why that’s so hard for some people to understand. I don’t see how anyone can defend Pitino these days.
I don’t believe people want Orton to fail but rather point out how ironic it is that he is failing given how he left UK.
I do agree with you on your other absurdities however.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:01 am
I coined BTI
July 6th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Its absurd British Petroleum can dig in our water.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:03 am
With respect to Pitino, I believe in the old axiom “it’s a fine line between love and hate”. Pitino was idolized by most UK fans when he was here. His shortcomings (and he even had those here) were largely overlooked. But he flirted with the NBA about every year, finally left, then failed, then took the job at Kentucky’s #1 rival. It’s not hard for me to see how all the goodwill he built up at Kentucky is virtually gone in the eyes of most UK fans. Plus he’s about as smarmy as they come.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:04 am
35) The only thing I would disagree on is that Michigan is a better job than Louisville. Louisville is a Top 10 job, Michigan is nowhere near that.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Right on BTI. You got the hair up on a lot of backs with this one. You’re so right about Pitino. He should always be a hero to UK fans. And it’s also absurd that after 18 years many fans still hate Christian Laettner and Duke. If there was ever a more warranted ‘get over it’ I sure don’t know what it would be.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:08 am
i think michigan is a better job for the simple fact that their school is not sitting an hour from uk
how about a shout out to the absurdity of the college football postseason ???
July 6th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Eddie Sutton is absurd. His ‘walking around dazed’ type of basketball was just what we didn’t need and ranks right up there with BCG as the worst ever. And it was absurd of Tubby to hand the reins of the UK program to his son. And it was absurd of Tubby to bench Heshimu after he had scored 14 straight points to begin an NCAA tourney game. Heshimu never scored again and we lost the game.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:11 am
35) you’re not very bright if you think Michigan is better job than Louisville. Hate em or not they’re a top ten program and Michigan is nowhere near that
July 6th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Yea Pitino screwed up he admitted it now lets get on with it. I was a huge, huge fan of him, he let me down but I saw some of the best basketball I have ever seen watching him and thats all that matters to me, thats all that I will remember anyway. Its fun to make fun of him about the Karen Sypher scandal but he deserves some form of respect cause he earned it here at one time. and like BTI said he always says the best things about UK.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:14 am
*-It’s ABSURD that Mark Mcgwire is not going to be in the Hall of Fame. Because clearly no hand eye coordination exists in Mcgwire. And since there were so many positive steroid tests on Mcgwire out there.
Are you serious? He admitted to taking steroids. Who needs a positive test when he admits it?
So before you start making rants about stuff you may want to check your facts first.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:14 am
but the question is which program was better BEFORE Pitino went there …
July 6th, 2010 at 11:15 am
It’s ABSURD that the Super Bowl isn’t rotated through every NFL city.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:15 am
40. its not absurd to hate christian laetner and duke. I played BBall the other day against a guy in a Duke shirt and all I could think about all game is how i wanted to kill him lol. slowly
July 6th, 2010 at 11:19 am
46) lol come on really? it’s still easily Louisville. Michigan bball program is a joke
July 6th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Doesn’t the Carrier Dome hold more people than Rupp?
As for Pitino - hate is a strong word. Do I hate the man? No. But I definitely don’t root for him. I root against Louisville and Pitino at all times. I think the man is a joke though and is a shell of his UK self. He did great things for UK and I respect him as a coach for that, but I think the man is personally despisable.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:33 am
HankKingsley - no one is arguing that Votto is a better player than Pujols, just that Votto is having a better year than all other people not named Albert and that he deserves to be on the All Star team. He’s certainly earned that right, and Omar Infante doesn’t deserve to be there over Votto and neither does Howard.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:39 am
1) It’s ABSURD UNC has won only 5 titles with all the talent they have had through the years.
2) It’s ABSURD the cost of tickets to attend any college or pro game (pick a sport).
3) It’s ABSURD that Bob Knight is EVER held up as a guy who did it the “right way”.
4) It’s ABSURD that John Feinstein is EVER allowed on TV for any reason.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:43 am
50) Duh, but its also used for football games. and Pitino never said he was perfect, he just did a perfect job while he was here and we should thank him for that. That doesnt mean you have to root for louisville. But maybe not say horrible things every time Pitinos name is brought up. Its kind of a remember the good times you once shared sorta thing.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:53 am
I had absolutely no problem with Rick until this year. The thug ball he had them play against us changed my mind.
July 6th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
It’s ABSURD that ESPN broadcasts the “super bowl” of eating competitions every 4th of July, when there are starving people in the world and in our own nation.
July 6th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
It’s ABSURD that Kige Ramsey doesn’t already have 3 supermodel girlfriends on rotaion.
July 6th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
1. Its ABSURD that UL fans thought Peyton Siva was better than John Wall
2. Its ABSURD the Nets took Favors
3. Jerry Tipton is ABSURD
4. Downey not getting called for a carry EVERYTIME he drove to the basket in Columbia was ABSURD
5. It ABSURD Amare got that kind of contract for lackluster defense
6. “World Cup Fever” was ABSURD
And lastly (as much as I hate to say it)
7. Having 5 1st round picks and not winning a title when all that stood between us were the wvu wrong turns and the dUKe “white men cant jumps” was ABSURD
July 6th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
53 - Ok, so it’s also used for football, so what? It holds more than Rupp.
It’s hard not to say bad things about Pitino when everytime he’s in the news these days it is something entirely ABSURD!
July 6th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
It’s ABSURD that UK ever lost an NCAA tournament game to Middle Tennessee State University.
It’s ABSURD that UK ever lost an NCAA tournament game to Alabama-Birmingham….wait, that happened twice, so I guess it’s not absurd.
For Reds fans, I agree it’s ABSURD that Joey Votto is not (yet) on the All-Star team, but it’s NOT ABSURD that Charlie Manuel chose Ryan Howard–after all Charlie has to work the rest of the season in Philadelphia!
July 6th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
It’s MOTHER TYPE ABSURD if you DON’T want John Wall in the rafters if he becomes the next Lebron/Kobe “just because” he didn’t stay “long enough” to “add to our” tradition. HIM PLAYING HERE IS GOOD FLIPPING ENOUGH, WE AREN’T THAT SPECIAL. If you believe we are “too good for that”, you are acting like a stuck up Kansas/UNC fan. (yes I do want Mercer and Antoine Walker in the rafters, we have plenty of room up there, stop acting like a stuck up.)
Had to get that off my breast…. I meant chest, my bad. Anyways, feel free to crucify me now.
July 6th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
It’s absurd that some people are still trying to defend tubby smith! He took the best team in the country and turned it into Tulsa.
And no one talks about Sutton because that is another part of our history that we would love to forget. THANK GOD, no one brings him up!
July 6th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
ITs ABSURD that BTI trys to get in nerd fights every friggin post. We get it u hate soccer so we should listen to u fix by using ABSURD ways that dont even make sense like pks in group plays thats just ABSURD.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
I agreed with all but 3 BTI.
Pitino- he went to the biggest rival. That’s my problem. Ditka
would have never gone to Green Bay.
American sports leagues not being world teams- Really? Don’t the best
come from all countries to play in our leagues? Therefore it’s a
World Series… etc…
McGwire- I have hand eye coordination too, should I be in the HOF?
He admitted to using PHD’s that’s all you need to keep him out,
not to mention the lifetime .263 average. C’mon man!!!
July 6th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Wow, holding Favre’s toughness against him. That’s what makes him one of the greatest! Name me one hall of fame back or receiver that played with Favre at Green Bay. Superior talent my butt! He MADE plays, he didn’t run plays like Montana did. Montana and Brady are system QB’s. Favre makes things happen, and he made ther most completions and TDs and WINS ever! I know he has the most ints too so dont go and get all excited. His records were made in SPITE of all those ints.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
BTI’s take on football is ABSURD. Judging a quarterback by super bowl wins alone? By that logic Charles Haley > Reggie White, Franco Harris > Barry Sanders, and Trent Dilfer > Dan Marino. Pitiful…
July 6th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
63) Ditka would have went to Green Bay if they offered him enough money.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
65) I never said judge them by Super Bowl wins alone. But Favre had the BEST team in the NFC 3 times in the 90’s and won 1 Super Bowl. He had an NFC championship on his home turf just a couple years ago against the Giants and cost his team that game. The Vikings were better than the Saints this year, and he cost them that game. I don’t remember Montana ever choking in a big game like that.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
HankKingsley is an IDIOT. Check out the stats man. Votto has the 3rd highest batting average in the NL (leading 1B), leads all NL in home runs (including your boy Pujols), and is tied in 4th with 59 ribbies (tied with Ryan Howard and only 1 shy of Pujols’ 60). So overall, I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that Votto is the better player.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Correction re: “the man (Pitino) NEVER says anything bad about the UK fanbase”. He DID say that those who didn’t want him to take the UL job were “just small-minded”. That is an insult to the fanbase. I live in the Louisville metro area and what is ABSURD is the way UL and Pitino have the local media kissing their a**es. It’s sickening that they only report positive news about UL and they jump on anything remotely negative, whether true or not, about UK. Pitino and UL are scum. Enough said.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
It’s ABSURD that you say Favre had SUPERIOR talent around him. Other mthan the Superbowl win in ‘96, he had slightly above average talent, thus the INTs.
July 7th, 2010 at 12:19 am
It’s ABSURD that BTI actually defends Pitino by stating he has never said anything bad about the UK fanbase. Seems he has forgotten this little jewel…Pitino stated that if UK fans had a problem with him taking the U of L job, they were being small minded. Excuse me??? Never mind there were several other top jobs with several name programs (Michigan, UT, UNLV). If Pitino truly loved and appreciated what the UK Basketball program means to the state and it’s fans, then he should have known the U of L was the ONE job, that if he accepted it, would make him the #1 hated enemy of UK fans.
July 7th, 2010 at 6:10 am
21) “red and green arrows are absurd! actually the whole friggin’ stoplight system is absurd! how can we put a man on the man and not be able to make this work!” So, man on man, eh? LOL!