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Archive for March, 2008

So long, Mr. Wildcat

March 31st, 2008 by Travis

On the University of Kentucky basketball’s version of Mount Rushmore, there would be at least three faces, only one of which would be a coach or player. Legendary coach Adolph Rupp would be the George Washington of UK’s Mount Ruppmore – the no-brainer – but the next two choices would be radio legend Cawood Ledford and equipment manager Bill Keightley.

The fourth or fifth faces may be up for debate — the players are innumerable – but those first three are undeniable. Rupp made UK basketball what it was, is, and always will be. Ledford was the voice, eyes and ears of the UK fan base for nearly four decades. He and Keightley are the only non-players and non-coaches to have their names or jerseys raised to the rafters.

Sadly, Mr. Wildcat, Bill Keightley, died on Monday. The 81-year-old was attending the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day game when he fell and sustained internal injuries that led internal bleeding that could not be stopped. According to BRett Dawson of the Courier-Journal, Keightley’s internal bleeding also resulted form an undiagnosed tumor on his spine.

Keightley was UK’s equipment manager for 48 years, serving Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith and, this year Billy Gillispie. His impact on the program may have been far less than all thsoe coaches and the players he assisted, but he was a fixture in the program, a team mascot, the face of the fan base for almost five decades.

We’ll miss the guy the same as UK fans miss Rupp or Basil Hayden or Ralph Beard. We didn’t cheer for Mr. Wildcat as a player or coach, we cherished what he represented. He was what all in Cat Nation viewed themselves as — UK’s No. 1 fan.

I was in college when Cawood died and remember writing a breaking news story the day he passed. It was one of the saddest but most proud days of my career. As interegal as Rupp was to UK’s legacy, Cawood and Mr. Keightley are easily the most popular people with any association to the program. Keightley is the only Wildcat who may be mourned and missed as much as Cawood.

And that’s why two guys who never took a shot, made a pass or drew up a play are among the most hallowed of UK basketball personalities.

Posted in Blue Goggles, College Basketball, UK | No Comments »

Rounding out the roster

March 27th, 2008 by Travis

March Madness often leads to April Sadness or May Heydays. They are two of the most important recruiting months of the basketball season. They probably lack behind the summer months and November in sheer activity, but for the elite prospects who hold out or can’t make up their minds until the final moments these next several weeks are very intriguing.

Kentucky fans can look no further than last April and May when they held their breath as Patrick Patterson remained in limbo. Ron Mercer was another major May recruiting coup.

Again, the Cats still have a scholarship available late in the recruiting game and several players on their radar. Their top target may be (or may not, depending on how you want to interpret coach Billy Gillispie’s intentions) McDonald’s All-American Scotty Hopson, the scoring guard from Hopkinsville, Ky. Hopson originally committed to Mississippi State but never signed his National Letter of Intent. The final signing day is May 21. (more…)

Posted in Blue Goggles, College Basketball, Recruiting, UK | No Comments »

Back from the dead

March 24th, 2008 by Travis

OK, I apologize for the winter of inactivity. Of course, plenty of transactions, trades, and prospect happenings that I live for occurred over the five months since Moxie’s previous post, but I found myself more capitivated by a certain basketball team than a relatively quiet offseason for my favorite baseball team.

But I promise nearly as frequent Moxie posts the next six months, from the resurrections of Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez to the decline of Miguel Tejada and Jason Giambi. Super prospects Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto, Jacoby Ellsbury, Phil Hughes, Evan Longoria and Colby Rasmus will be discussed. Hopefully, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will not.

A new baseball season begins Tuesday in Tokyo at 6 p.m. local time – at the break of dawn in the eastern United States and closing time on the west coast — with the defending champion Boston Red Sox taking on the Oakland A’s. So, I’ll have a bowl of Cap’n Crunch instead of a bottle of Bud to accompany the first pitch.

Opening Day is a Holy Day for Moxie Legion. Most years it’s a day-long event. Grill some burgers, drink some beer. Watch the Cincinnati Reds on one TV, the Red Sox on another, maybe a third game afterward. Then, the NCAA national championship follows in the evening.

But the NCAA Tournament is running a week behind this season and the Sox are starting the season overseas. So, I’ll watch with interest alone on Tuesday and Wednesday. But before Dustin Pedroia takes the first pitch of the season from Joe Blanton, check out some predictions after the jump. (more…)

Posted in Fantasy Sports, MLB, Moxie Legion Baseball | No Comments »

Sadly, hibernation arrives

March 24th, 2008 by Travis

In a season with so many dreadful lows — home losses to Garder-Webb, UAB and San Diego and blowout losses to North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville and Vanderbilt — the assessment of basketball coach Billy Gillispie’s first season at Kentucky through Blue Goggles may come as a surprise:

I enjoyed this season more than any season since Keith Bogans sprained his ankle. And for that reason alone it was an utter success through these Blue Goggles.

Sure, Tubby’s leftovers were preseason Top 25 picks, so maybe they didn’t achieve any more than initially expected, or maybe they even failed to advance as far as some expected. And, Billy G’s critics will point directly in his face in attributing blame for the rash of injuries that plagued the Cats.

Yes, his practices at the Joe Craft Center were more like gladiator matches at The Colosseum. Yes, he practiced ON gamedays. Yes, he played players 35-plus minutes per game.

But I looked forward to every game, especially after the scrappy Cats bounced back from the loss to Louisville to upset Vandy. (more…)

Posted in Blue Goggles, College Basketball, UK | 1 Comment »

Andre’ is in a free-fall

March 18th, 2008 by jeb

Looks like Andre’ Woodson’s draft stock is falling fast. From MMQB (Link)

Fourth through sixth rounds: Eric Ainge, Tennessee; Andre Woodson, Kentucky; Matt Flynn, LSU; Dennis Dixon, Oregon and Joshua Johnson, San Diego.

Of all the players here, Dixon’s the most intriguing. He’s rehabbing the surgically repaired ACL in his left knee, hoping to work out for scouts in early April and do most of what the pros need to see. Woodson needs to have a good predraft experience with some teams to come out of his free-fall; scouts think he’s a guy who will need max protection because of mediocre mobility. Flynn? Not on many radar screens, but he’ll make someone a good third-string guy while he works 25-hour days adapting to the pro game.

Back in November, King projected that Woodson would be the first QB selected. (Link)

Posted in College Football, UK | No Comments »

Ha Ha

March 17th, 2008 by jeb

Jay Bilas - I don’t think there’s any way that Kentucky can get in unless they win their conference tournament. They’re ten and nine.

Posted in College Basketball, UK | No Comments »

Start sweating

March 16th, 2008 by Travis

The NCAA Tournament bubble felt a lot more comfortable on Thursday — even Friday as late as 9 p.m. And even though all the Bracketologists seem to have already made UK a lock before Saturday afternoon’s shamockery against Georgia, I’m still on pins and needles.

The way I figure, prior to Sunday’s championship games there are already at least 17 automatic bids taken up by bubble teams or lower: George Mason, Oral Roberts, San Diego, Cornell, Siena, Belmont, Cal State-Fullerton, Austin Peay, Boise State, Maryland-Baltimore County, Portland State, American, Winthrop, Texas-Arlington, Mount Saint Mary’s, Coppin State and Mississippi Valley State.

That means the top 48 teams should make the 65-team tournament.

So, I tried to objectively rank all the teams that might gain ANY consideration, and you can see the rankings after the jump.

(more…)

Posted in Blue Goggles, College Basketball, UK | 2 Comments »

UK fans don’t speed through Tennessee.

March 13th, 2008 by jeb

UK fans if you are driving through Tennessee on your way to Atlanta be sure to obey all the traffic laws because if a UT coach sees you, they will turn you in. Just look at their history:

Phil Fulmer

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer secretly provided damaging information about Alabama to the NCAA, according to a lawyer for two former Crimson Tide football coaches suing the organization.
Court documents show Fulmer twice called NCAA staffer Rich Johanningmeier, who was probing alleged wrongdoing at Alabama in 2000, and gave him information implicating the Tide in rules violations, according to attorney Tommy Gallion.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3980616/

Bruce Pearl

Fifteen years ago, Pearl cooperated with an NCAA investigation centering around the recruitment of Deon Thomas, who both Iowa, where Pearl worked as an assistant, and Illinois were courting.
Pearl tape-recorded a telephone conversation with Thomas, who had told Pearl that Illinois had offered him a Chevrolet Blazer and thousands of dollars for his commitment.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3980616/

And most recently Pat Summitt

The University of Connecticut committed a secondary rules violation during the recruitment of star freshman Maya Moore, two sources familiar with the NCAA violation told ESPN.
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.
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The two sources said the NCAA launched its investigation after receiving a complaint from the Southeastern Conference. The SEC asked the NCAA to investigate the allegation that UConn had arranged the ESPN tour after the conference received a complaint from the University of Tennessee. At the time, Tennessee was also recruiting Moore, who starred at Collins Hill High School in Suwannee, Ga.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=3289808

Posted in Around the Web, College Basketball, College Football | No Comments »

“Never gonna keep ‘em down”

March 9th, 2008 by Travis

Sunday’s roundhouse knockout of the Florida Gators would make ultimate underdog Daniel LaRussa proud.

The win may very well clinch an NCAA Tournament berth for the PersistiCats, who were written off each week since December as injuries and losses mounted. One more win in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Friday would make it a lock. But if Sunday’s loss put the Gators in their body bag, then the win will be all the more sweeter.

So and ode to the Cats, especially our underdog comeback Cats (seniors Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford) who never gave up:

Try to be best
‘Cause you’re only a man
And a man’s gotta learn to take it

Try to believe
Though the going gets rough
That you gotta hang tough to make it

History repeats itself
Try and you’ll succeed

Never doubt that you’re the one
And you can have your dreams!

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you dow-ow-ow-ow-own

Fight ‘til the end
Cause your life will depend
On the strength that you have inside you

Ah you gotta be proud
starin’ out in the cloud
When the odds in the game defy you

Try your best to win them all
and one day time will tell
when you’re the one that’s standing there
you’ll reach the final bell!

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you dow-ow-ow-ho-how-ho-own

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you dow-ow-ow-ow-own

Fight ‘til you drop
never stop
can’t give up
Til you reach the top (FIGHT!)
you’re the best in town (FIGHT!)
Listen to that sound
A little bit of all you got
Can never bring you down

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the Best!
Around!

Posted in Blue Goggles, College Basketball, UK | 2 Comments »

Jay Bilas Brings the Pain Part II

March 7th, 2008 by jeb

If you have Insider you might check out his post on ESPN.com today. It can basically be summed up as Kentucky hasn’t beaten anyone so they shouldn’t be in the tourney. His logic is a bit fuzzy at times.

He starts the whole thing with

I will say this again … the only objective standard in sports is winning.

But later he looks at UK’s margin of victory which totally contradicts the whole “only standard is winning” argument.

In addition, Kentucky’s margin of victory this season has been only +3.4 overall, and in the SEC it is +0.3.

He also writes

Alabama is the only team in the RPI top 250 that Kentucky has beaten by double digits in the SEC.

Agin this contradicts the “only standard is winning” argument.

He then ends his part about UK with this

Consider this: If you accept that the NCAA Tournament is filled with really good teams, shouldn’t a team have to prove it can beat a really good team? The only teams in the NCAA Tournament that get to play lesser teams are the high seeds that are playing against automatic qualifiers. The last few teams in will have to play RPI top 50 teams in the first round. Therefore, isn’t it important to have proven that you can beat that caliber of team?

It would have been nice if he had noted that UK has proven it can beat teams in the RPI top 50 with wins over #1 Tennesse, #7 Vandy, #42 Arkansas, and #43 Mississippi

Judgment Day

March 6th, 2008 by Travis

Sunday is Judgment Day. If the University of Kentucky loses on Senior Day at Rupp Arena, being swept by the Florida Gators, the Wildcats can kiss an NCAA at-large berth good-bye.

Maybe, if they somehow slipped to the third seed and ended up with three wins in the Southeastern Conference Tournament before losing the title game, they might undo a loss on Sunday. But that road would go through Alabama/Auburn, Arkansas and likely Tennessee (but maybe LSU/Ole Miss or South Carolina). They’ve played Tennessee well, but I like their odds of advancing that far better if they rest on Thursday, play Ole Miss/LSU or Georgia on Friday and either Mississippi State, Florida or Auburn/Alabama on Saturday.

But that scenario hinges on a win Sunday. Still, unlike others, I don’t think a win Sunday guarantees a bid. It would vault the Cats ahead of Florida and into the NCAA Tournament for the time-being. But they still need at least one more win in the SEC Tournament to lock down that bid, which would make a run to the SEC title game unnecessary. (more…)

Posted in Blue Goggles, College Basketball, UK | No Comments »

Target Toss Pro

March 4th, 2008 by jeb

I can’t believe this exists.

Target Toss Pro: Bags is a new videogame based on beanbag toss - the nation’s hottest tailgate and bar game sensation.

“Bags”, or “Cornhole” as they call it in some parts of the country, originated in the Midwest in the 1980’s and has since become a staple at outdoor social events from coast-to-coast. Bags is a deceptively simple, yet extremely competitive game where players try to toss beanbags into a hole in a slightly raised platform or “box” for points, similar to horseshoes. Whether at a tailgate party or a summer barbeque, the game has become a social focal point and the unmistakable “thud” of bags hitting the box is now a universal party soundtrack.

http://www.targettosspro.com/ttp/TTP/Bags/WhatIsTTP/

Posted in Around the Web | No Comments »