I just read a fantastic article that absolutely debunks the garbage notion that this match-up is about academics or the smart kids vs. the dumb kids. Patrick Patterson is graduating in 3 years. Ramon Harris is graduating in three and a half years. John Wall has a 3.4 GPA. Mark Coury explains that he had to study just as hard at UK than he does at Cornell. You will find all of this and more in the above linked article.
When it comes down to it this game is about one thing: basketball. In my opinion Kentucky is the much better basketball team. So let's quit talking about Cornell and their Ivy League status and how it's terrible that UK's players are one and done. Demarcus Cousins said it best, "This isn't a spelling bee."
So lets also call it what is is: In this state that worships at the feet of big blue mania it is all about spending every last cent we can find on uk athletics to make others outside the Commonwealth think Kentuckians are something other than a bunch of hicks.
ReplyDeleteSpending money on athletic teams has anything to with the impression people get about a teams fans. No amount of money West Virginia spends on their team is going to make me think they are any less hicks - I would only assume the same thing.
ReplyDeleteLet me put it this way. I was referring to the impression that uk fans have themselves when the cats are winning. As long as uk is winning ballgames, going deep in the NCAA with chance at another National Championship (and don't kid yourself it takes big bucks to do it every year...thus out with Billy G. and in with Coach "cal" and the millions he is making), then all the rednecks and high school drop outs can feel good about themelves for another year and have bragging rights with their WVA and Tennessee neighbors. But you are right about the impression you may have of WVA as well as the impression others have of KY and their fans. Just take a look at some of idiots they show on TV wearing their big blue gear and what they say and how they act, no one would ever see them as anything but a KY hick!
ReplyDeleteYoure right anonymous. Especially since we all sound like redneck hicks on this website. Plus, you arent doing much to curb the perception that UofL fans are a whining bunch of haters that secretly love Kentucky and desire to have the tradition that UK has.
ReplyDeleteSounds like sour grapes from a Louisville fan. Maybe next year little buddy!
Hah! I am a college graduate, but am neither a UL grad nor a UL fan. Typical, uk fans can't ever see themselves as others do. Just for the record, I am not male either and at one time, I was a uk fan. Just got sick of hearing about them 24-7 and seeing people walking around in uk gear 365 days a year and at sporting events at other universities (do they have any other clothing?), not to mention the bias coverage in the Lex. Herald and the ignorant and self absorbed comments by uk fans. No sour grapes here, but I realize it is tough for die hard blue fans to grasp there are folks in KY that ARE NOT uk fans.
ReplyDeleteI think every hometown paper is going to be biased toward that town's team. LHL leans Kentucky as much as the CJ leans louisville (i.e. see ex CJ writer Pat Forde and current writer Rick Bozich)and the Bloomington Post Gazzette or whatever their paper is leans IU.
ReplyDeleteKentucky supports their team, they wear it with pride when winning or losing. Other teams can't say the same thing. Louisville, NC, IU... At Kentucky, fan means what it stands for, a Fanataic for the team.