Kenny SKY Walker, and my baseball cards

Today I was approached by my 8 year old nephew, who wanted my baseball cards. Now I don't have as many as some people, but I have quite a bit, some complete sets and some packed in boxes. I decided that this was a good way to pass this tradition on, so I let him have the loose cards packed in the boxes. I had been buying him some cards, just whenever I was in a checkout line and thought about it. But as the wide-eyed boy, and his nephew, looked through the cards, there was a framed autograph on notebook paper with a basketball card.

I am sure you can tell by the title it was Kenny Walker's Knicks card the year after he won the slam dunk contest. While Mashburn and Pitino might have brought Kentucky back to relevance in the 90's, Walker and the twin towers battle in Seattle were my earliest experiences. My dad took me to the UKIT's, which I hate that they decided to end, when I got to watch two games in person. Granted we were in the upper section, but it was Rupp and UK.

One summer, my older sister took me by Wildcat Lodge. Of course with it being summer in the late 80's, there was hardly anybody there. Someone went to go see if they could find anyone for the 8 year old to get an autograph, exit Wildcat Lodge, Kenny "Sky" Walker.

While it probably was only 15 minutes, it seemed like he talked to me for hours about basketball, baseball, and the upcoming 3rd grade. While there were times this year I did not agree with him on the radio after games, I have still never forgotten how he spent his free time talking to a little cat fan after signing an autograph. He is still my favorite player to this day because of it. While there is plenty of other news such as the walkons being dismissed or Patrick Patterson's Q&A with CoachCal.com, a trip with some baseball cards down Memory Lane seems to dominate today's mail route. A trip I enjoyed and hopefully gives you a chance to remember you own trip with a Cat. I am your mailman, and that's some mail I enjoyed delivering. And if Kenny Walker ever reads this blog, Thanks Sky for you time all those years ago.

Seriously?

Are you serious? “I think as coaches, we want to ethically make sure that if a guy’s got a commitment, leave him alone." Tell Mississippi State that. Leave Scotty Hopson alone, did you? Remember the rumors last year of the phone calls to John Hood, after he committed to UK?

As on ZAGSBLOG, the big orange pearl is hinting about something as ugly as the blazer. Something that sounds as bad as Rocky Top. I HATE THAT SONG!

Just because someone decided that he did not want to a.) look like the mascot for Syracuse, b.) not play at a football school c.) have sweat drip on him for the pearly one and d.) want to play for a team that wins, of course that means someone else had something to do with someone using their head for something other than the perfect background for dart board material.

Where was the outrage last year when Hopson decommitted to MSU and ended up at the orange blob? But it just looks better this year on paper, isn't that right Kenny? Yeah, I didn't want to leave you out Mr Boynton. You know what I am talking about, where the yet to be freshman said UK just looks good on paper. And Ashley Judd is just pretty in pictures. The reason they look good on paper is because of something Florida does not recognize lately....talent. But who am I to judge or ridicule. That's what the message boards are doing now. I am just the mailman, and my route got extended to Knoxville and Gainesville.

The most electrifying..........

Finally, the Rock has returned... to the blog. Well, maybe not the Rock, but your mailman has returned to layeth the smackdown on the most electrifying blog on the World Wide Wes...er, Web.

Sorry to have been away for a while, but Mrs. Postmaster has had a honey-do list longer than last year's basketball team's shorts (yeah, I know that is the latest debate on Cat's Pause.) Not to mention our Junior Mailman that is about to turn 5 months. And this whole job thing can get in the way of the blogging, but anyway.

Wow how things are rolling in the bluegrass now. There is so much that has transpired since the last post. A Pilgrim left, but wants of piece of us. Jodie left, but signed a contract (congrats Jodie). Oh Henry, thank goodness you are staying in Kansas, and your little dog too, I mean brother. We had enough of over involved parent with Legion. Next year's roster has been published. Coach Cal had a faux buzz cut, pics with LeBron, at least the ones Nike didn't confiscate, and had to cool is daughter's guns for the Hair (aka Pat Forde). Did I mention, that after Facebookgate, I now want her to have her own twitter, devoted to nothing but one liners of the Hair.

But I want to concentrate on something that has become increasingly present on the mail route lately. Can you feel it? There is excitement in the Bluegrass again. The most electrifying basketball in the NCAA is again, the People's Champ. Does everybody make their own T-shirts now? I have never seen so many different shirts ( My personal favorite is the Cal Zone shirts.) Fans are not just hoping for a good season, they are excited about next season. All of which means I probably won't be able to get tickets, but at least they will be fun to watch again, and I'll be fun to be around after the game. I'll admit losing Jodie to the NBA will hurt, but what about the experience Darius Miller is getting. Patterson and Orton training together in California and news of the new guys getting along so well has the state buzzing. Not to mention that further ahead, seems like the top high school player that Coach wants, has UK atop their wish lists. Don't you think that last year at this time, Pitino's ordeal would be the only thing we would be talking about in the papers. But Coach Cal has more followers on Twitter than dollars the chick was wanting from FEBUK.

But you knew all of this, you're not just a fan, you are fanatic. And why not? We are finally relevant again. And I am the mailman laying the smack down, delivering the mail.

Great Wall of Kentucky?

SLAM is reporting that John Wall has committed to Kentucky. Matt Jones blogged that we will find out something today.

As much as I am happy to hear this and hope its true, I am equally ready to hear the recruiting over for the year so we can find out who stays and who goes. Could he be the final missing piece? Will Jodie stay in the draft? Is everybody's grades OK? There is still a summer of speculation before , well we speculate if Big Blue Madness is at Commonwealth? Are we a final four contender? Will Wall and Cousins be one and done?

There are still plenty of questions, but I am just delivering the mail. And this mail is worth reading to tell the neighbors before they read their mail.

Happy Mother's Day, Tywanna Patterson

It has been hard to keep up with all that is happening these days surrounding the University of Kentucky Wildcat Basketball team. Blink and Coach Cal has signed another five star recruit.

But the biggest recruit he signed so far has to be convincing Patrick Patterson to return to school even though he never had a work out for a NBA team. He was a projected first round pick by almost everyone. Happy Mother's Day Big Blue.

And Happy Mother's Day Tywanna Patterson. Your son seems to be completely a class act. Everyone who interacts with him just gushes about such character traits as good manners, being nice, work ethic, etc. Better yet, you have to be proud that he is on track to graduate in 3 years. So by coming back, he will get the diploma before the NBA contract. That speaks volumes of the young man you have raised.

Additionally, congratulations on your son's legend growing in UK lore. If Kentucky does something special next year, everyone will remember how Patrick came back for his junior year to help the Big Blue win. Wildcat fans have special places in their hearts and in their stories for the young men who hustle, put off the rewards of years of hard work to come back for one more year, and most importantly, for the one's that win. And your son fits all of the above. You should be very proud as I am sure you are. I am your mailman, and it has been my pleasure to deliver your mother's day card.

Maybe I should enter the draft, too

I have to go off topic. Worse than that, it is about Ohio State ( and I refuse to put THE in front.) But this is one of those stories that shows on yahoo when you log on. Being about basketball, I had to read.

Now, you never know the validity of blogs, so you must take it at face value. I am not a big fan of the Big Ten, other than it is technically college basketball, so I don't know for sure that he is even on the team. But if the post is true, pompous and arrogant would not begin to describe the NBA.

To summarize, somebody on the end of the bench has a blog to chronicle his splinters. Mr. stand up and clap when the players with talent do something enters his name in the draft. No kidding. NBA says you can't do that. Yes I can. No you can't..or else. From Jerry Seinfeld lore, "No Soup for you." BTW, did you know that the soup nazi has his own website. (picture from www.jimfravel.com) Seriously, like this scrub was getting drafted. People question how high Meeks would/will be this year. The NBA thinks he is making a mockery of the draft? Are they watching the playoffs? Didn't Detroit already do that with the Iverson for Billups trade? What about the "dress code" fiasco that they tried to enforce. It makes you want to support the NCAA about challenging the big bad NBA's withdrawl date. They thought when he entered his name in the draft he was making a mockery, then what do they think it is when they ask him to withdraw? And now when it makes headlines? Better yet, he is not offended. Or mad. He gets a kick out of it. And true to point, he may be the only person this year that was asked to leave, in that way the bouncer asks you to leave when you have had way too many.

Why not just let it pass? Is this a sign of the times? Maybe it wasn't so much he put his name in the draft, but he has his own blog. What could he have posted that they are so scared to be made public. Much like the tootsie roll pop, it will probably be left a mystery.

But it makes you wonder what would have happened if John Wall had tried the loophole to enter the draft this year. Is there a conspiracy? A cover-up? I don't know, but I thought about entering the draft, but alas they called me too. I have a blog. But that's not the problem. Karl Malone threatened to kick their collective butts if they let me. He wants ownership of the mailman. But this is my message, and I am just delivering the mail (Sorry Karl...or I mean Mr. Malone. Don't you remember the size of his arms?)

Kentucky's future days are numbered

That's right, our future days are numbered... thank goodness. I am really looking forward to seeing a number beside Kentucky. A place at the big table. A national rank. And not for just one week before we lose to a team that plays out of their mind and still should lose to the walkons.

It is something we have not seen very much the last four years since Chuck Hayes took that winners mentality to Houston. It assures television coverage. Future recruits see you that want to be seen. Better seeding in the tournament, NCAA not NIT, that is.

Several national pundits are ranking the Cats high. Even as high as fourth.

There is talk of both Patterson and Meeks returning next year after testing the NBA interests. Tom Leach feels it, and you have to value his opinion.

Demarcus Cousins has signed on.

Daniel Orton is still in the picture, his dad thinks its a good chance of happening. Better yet, now he is saying it himself.

The Henrys are visiting according to Jerry Tipton.

Liggins is staying.

And all of this with Calipari in charge. There are more numbers involved than the number next to Kentucky's name to show a national rank finally. There is a question of finding spots for freshmen, who will stay, who will leave. Porter is already gone, who else. On a side note, I want to wish Michael Porter all the best, no one has ever taken as much abuse from fans in such a classy manner since Saul Smith. With all the numbers involved, you need a Statistic professor just to figure it all, but wait a minute, Basketball U. is also an university. They probably have a few that would love some tickets to a few home games. So would I, but I am no professor. Or coach. Or statistician. I am just the mailman, delivering the message. And for once in a loooong time, no one is trying to shoot the messenger.

Who's Next?

Who's the next coach at UK now that Gillispie has been fired?

Billy Donovan has said he is committed to Florida. “In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible," Donovan said in a statement. "I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here."

Memphis coach, John Calipari is not interested.

Tom Izzo is staying at Michigan State.

So where does that leave us?

The popular rumor is Pitino. Seriously. Seriously? Not impossible, but if he is back in blue, call up that supermodel and tell her to pack a coat for your date, because the devil just felt a chill. I've heard the talk about how he said he should have never left for Boston, or his ego would love to take UK back to the promised land. No, his ego would love to tell everybody that he turned UK down for the coach position, again. Yes his run in Lexington was impressive in eight years, but he has not accomplished the same at Louisville in eight years yet. Will this Cards' team do it? It has the talent, but what about the brains? He has said that he is not interested and that Kentucky should pursue Ford or Pelphrey.

Billy Donovan gets a phone call, again. And while above is the quote and link of where he says he is committed to Florida, but you still make that call. Of course he has to say that until he knows for sure. He has recruits as well. But there is that clause in his contract that has the one month in it where there would not be a buyout, that is why you will know for sure about Donovan by Wednesday. I am not sold on him as a coach personally. One set of players won two championships. Other than that, Tubby OWNED him. Since then, two trips to the NIT, zero to the NCAAs.

Then there is the wish lists with Barnes and Izzo, but its not going to happen. Some are calling for Calipari, which I think is very interesting.

Will Barnhart turn to his West Coast ties and try for Mark Few from Gonzaga. While you admire his work and there is no doubt of his coaching abilities, he would fall in the same category as Gillispie, good coach but questions about his living in the fishbowl of Kentucky basketball. Sorry, coaching at Gonzaga in Washington does not compare to the pressure of Lexington and the SEC.
I think the same argument goes for Sean Miller from Xavier, great ability on bench, questionable ability of the pressure.

Jay Wright has come up in conversation around the water cooler as well. This one is intriguing. He always handles himself with class. He has coached in the Big East, which has proven itself this year in the tournament, so he knows how to coach and handle the pressure of the big games. His style would be welcomed at Rupp, as it is entertaining, his teams play hard and he gets the most out of his teams. Would he make the trip south? Supposedly, there were feelers sent out two years ago if you believe the rumors, but he said no thanks.

Travis Ford, John Pelphrey, and Darrin Horn were all mentioned as young coaches with ties to either UK or the state of Kentucky. Pelphrey did not have a good year this year at Arkansas, which may have doomed his chances for the job opportunity this year. Horn doesn't have strong enough ties and yet to proven himself enough for the job despite having a very good year this year in turning around the South Carolina team.

That's why when the dust clears, the job may be Travis Ford's to refuse. He has the ties to UK. His style of play in entertaining. Oklahoma State made a big turnaround to make the tournament. Also, don't downplay the fact that Daniel Orton highly considered Oklahoma State with Kentucky and John Hood is from the same hometown as Ford. Hood and Orton are UK's top two recruits next year. He is not necessarily an easy choice as he did not get any of his teams at UMass to the tournament and can have some attitude himself. Plus, the money at Oklahoma State can compete with UK's. So if he comes, it is loyalty to Big Blue.

Just to throw another name that had some rumors with it two years ago, how about Mike D'Antoni. Something just screams he is not happy with the Knicks. And if the Lexington and Kentucky press thinks it is rough, it would seem like your high school paper compared to that of New York. And you would think coaching college kids having fun would be more enjoyable that men playing for endorsements and money. Just a thought.

Who knows where Todd and Barnhart look for the next coach, but after making such a mess with Gillispie and Tubby, they had better get it right. Because the natives are getting restless. There are a lot of people to sort for the job. My money is on Ford if he wants it. But I am not in charge, I am just the mailman, and Barnhart and Todd have mail, with a lot of mailboxes to deliver.

Not so fast my friend

As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my Friend!"

WHAS jumped in and actually reported BCG was fired! Then had to come back and retract, say he had not been fired yet, but expect he would still be fired. Danielle Santoro was the reporter who reported for WHAS that it was already done. She has now changed her title from reporter to second most nervous about her job in Kentucky.

Thing is, he is still the coach at Kentucky. As of early Friday morning, there is still no press conference called. Some people claim to have sources, but still no press conference. There may be later, but not yet. Did you listen to the coach's call in show. A lot of support, he talked about Orton like he was ready to coach him next year. But that is open to interpretation.

Dick Gabriel on his show last night stated he never said BCG was gone.

WLKY talks about Liggins and how coach didn't play him the way he had hoped to help the team, but stops his quote before Liggins says it wasn't coach's fault, it was his own due to his own actions.

Whether he is gone or not, whether it has already been decided or not, we do not know yet. There is not enough certainty to have a breaking news report. But that is just the latest step in the "coverage" (I use loosely) in the Kentucky basketball situation. A lot of journalists have stated their opinion that Coach was gone, some with more confidence than others, but it was always with the premise of opinion. Even ESPN had a piece. Some of them seem more on a witch hunt. Some just have a hunch. But in today's time, it is all in who can break the news first. Well, WHAS and Danielle, you are definitely in the news first. If you are wrong though, its not the news they had hoped. The proverbial limb is not as steady as they had hoped. As for this mailman, I wouldn't want to bet the stamp collection on it. WHAS and Danielle, y'all just had a little premature journalism. I don't think there is any medication, but they say it is not that uncommon. Don't be too depressed or mad at the message. I am just the mailman delivering the mail. Next time, read the mail before going on TV.

Neither rain...

It's another rainy morning, but I am not talking about the weather. Last night our Cats' season ended, but was it their Coach's last game as a Wildcat? We shall find out soon enough. Looking on the internet this morning, many pundits talk like its a forgone conclusion that BCG is already gone. He may very well be, but let's wait till an official announcement. Seems like everyone knows already, but not everyone has been brainwashed. I found this post which I found extremely entertaining. I personally believe he deserves another year with his own players and the recruits he has coming in, but I don't have a judgment.

Speaking of judging, I have to admit to be taken back, but impressed with how Coach answered the question of being judged at the years end. "There's only one judgment that I ever will be concerned about, and I hope I pass that judgment," he said. "That's the only one I ever will be concerned about, and I'm really proud that that's the only judgment that will ever have a real effect on me, and I hope I pass that with flying colors." How's that for an answer!

So that's it for now. I am not a judge, nor should any of us judge. I am just the mailman, delivering the mail.

Let it Begin

First thing's first. Let me congratulate the Cats on a valiant effort tonight against Notre Dame. The team fought hard, but just didn't have the guns, and maybe the trip from Omaha to South Bend after a hard fought victory took its toll on the team. Without a doubt, you have to feel proud of this team.

Now that the season is over, the gossip is going to be unbearable. Everyone's sources will be quoted, withholding the names to protect the media in case they're wrong, or should I say to protect someone's job. We will find out soon enough. Whatever the decison, I just hope there is a reasonable explanation afterwards no matter the decision. Journalists are already trying to break news. Just remember, no one will know for sure, until Barnhart makes the official announcement, but that is for reporter and rumor mongers. As for me, I am just the mailman, and I will continue to deliver the mail.

My turn

Seems like everyone is giving their opinion. Everyone has a source, or knows someone. Or knows someone who was a roommate of the girl that went to prom with a guy whose sister had a class with a guy on the practice team. You get the point. It is all rumor, or best guess, or hunch. No one really knows. My guess, the coach and AD don't really know for sure. That's why they are going to meet after the season. But that's just a guess also.

The media is jumping into the guessing game. Some claim to have an inside source. Let's start with one of them. Seth Davis claims someone close to the program said Gillispie is gone. Well as the Church Lady said, "Well isn't that special?" This is the same Seth Davis that last year told us that Billy Clyde was going to Oklahoma State. The same Seth Davis that told us that Patrick Patterson was going pro after his freshman year. I rest my case.

Other media gurus are telling us it is just their hunch. I have a hunch on the winning lottery numbers for Saturday. My hunch has the same chance at being right as their hunch.

Let's just look at a couple of things that are not hunches, not from and inside source, and have nothing to do with your father's college roommate's girlfriend's uncle twice removed:

1. He just accepted a verbal commit from a JUCO for next year. If you're gone, do you continue to recruit? Do you verbal to a school without being reassured from the coaching staff AND the university of the status of the coach?

2. It would cost $6 million to buy him out. Sorry, not going to happen. We have heard how bad Dr. Todd hated to pay Mumme, and he cheated. We have all felt the rough economic times. How does a major university pay that kind of coin for someone to NOT WORK?

3. If Gillispie leaves, UK is in big trouble next year. Do you think Orton will still come? Hood's dad said they would reconsider. Patterson would probably bolt, why would he want to start over with a new coach? And he clearly supports the current coach.

4. Who would take the job? Whether we deserve it or not as a fanbase, the media would paint us as running off two coaches in the last two years. Our recruiting for next year would take a shot (see above #3) as well as serving as ammo for recruiting rivals.

You may not like coach, and that is your right. I personally think he will pull it off. I don't always agree with everything he does, but he has been coach of the year 5 years. He didn't just forget how to coach. He had no seniors (please save the "but what about Jared?") And we know the talent was lacking (Honestly, do the Tubby would have left if he had national champion caliber talent?) You may not want to hear this, whether you don't like Gillispie or you are one of the media powers trying to cash in on the negativity to sell papers, but that's just how it is. It's nothing I have found that you don't already know. It's just the message that had to be delivered, and I'm just the mailman. You have mail.

The Meeting

By now we have heard of the meeting that supposedly took place Friday to discuss the magic bullet from JFK in Dallas. Oops, the meeting to determine the amount of AIG bonus money. Or was it the meeting to balance to budget? The lawsuit against Coke Zero vs. Coke?

Or maybe there was really a meeting to determine the future of Gillispie, but we do NOT know for sure right now. Once again, this will be determined after the season ends, and we still have more ball to play. Seems like everyone is speculating so much about next year, we forget the our beloved Cats still are playing basketball. And its a tough game on the road. So lets enjoy the season, cheer for the Cats, and maybe the season will continue a little longer.

As for the mail route, we need to catch up on some changes of address. Perry Stevenson needs a change from T-shirt maker (via Facebook) to Poster boy. The dunk in the UNLV is the best dunk by any UK player since Azibuike punished the goal, and players' manhood back in 05. If I were Perry, I would get that picture made into a life size poster... not to mention on T-shirts, business cards, screen savers, etc.

Fandom also has a new address: Memorial Coliseum. The Rupp crowd (no longer able to be called fans after Tuesday) certainly should learn something from the fans that gathered and crammed in to Memorial. That was fun to see and experience. And it clearly did something to the team. The Cats looked like they were having fun again. Remember when basketball was fun. If your a season ticket holder, don't get mad, be a fan again. Stand and cheer your team. Will them to a victory... and never, NEVER boo them. You forgot what your responsibility of a ticket holder and a true blue fan is, and I am just the mailman delvering the mail.

Pardon the Assumption

One of my favorite programs on ESPN is Pardon the Interuption. It is clever and informative. Tony Kornhiser and Mike Wilbon compliment each other very well and the topics the cover are up-to-date and often what is on the general sports fan mind. They are usually fair. However, on Monday, Mr. Wilbon decided to become target number 1 of the Blue Mailbag. Don't worry Seth Davis, your comments today will get you some airtime as well on a later post.

The topic was Kentucky Basketball and the job status (or temperature of his pants) of Coach Billy Gillispie. Mr Wilbon state that Gillispie had a 70% chance of being fired. He then stated the we fired Tubby Smith and he hoped that we didn't win another game. Game on indeed.

Well first, UK did not fire Tubby, he ran off in the middle of the night sort of speak. He was asked by Barnhart to make some changes the year before, and refused. Tell me if your boss told you that you had a bad year and you need to do some things different, you could say no and get away with it. He was going to have to make some changes, so he disappeared. You can blame the fans, be he left. He was not fired. He gave up. Fled. But that wouldn't make Kentucky fans look as bad or even racist.

Second, if Mr. Wilbon is hoping Kentucky doesn't win another game, (too late, we beat UNLV), because of the fan reaction, then I guess we should hope for the same for the Cubs (his clear favorite MLB team). The fans are never happy, believe they are cursed when they lose, fire managers after losing seasons. All very similar to reasons he believes are wrong with Kentucky fans. And since he his so vocal, I guess I should root against his team.

I am not here to say I know all the answers, but I don't yell it on national TV and claim to know so much about something as an outsider. If you are not a Kentucky fan, you just don't understand. You also notice, they never say this when Gillispie is a guest on the show. He won't change, or feel bad, or probably even care. But that's not my job. I am just a mailman, and Mr. Wilbon, you have mail.

A little background

I'll be the first to admit that the University of Kentucky men's basketball team has fallen on some hard times. No fan can be truly happy with our current status. However, the "mainstream" media has seized the opportunity to attack our fanbase. Writers, reporters, journalists, bloggers, grandmothers, etc have piled on while we are down. Well, you know what you have to do when you are down and they are kicking you. You stand up.

Thus the creation of this blog. I am not calling for boycotting of papers, television networks, or anything that drastic. What I am saying it is time we stand up as a fanbase. Stop the negativity. As one of my favorite blogs, aseaofblue.com, stated earlier this year, "Embrace the Hate." Realize that they are striking at us because of jealousy or to sell papers. But...

I'd be remiss if I didn't come out and get some things off my chest. So in future posts, I will be expressing some things that may or may not be same point of view as you. I work at a post office and hear a lot of local chatter, but it is just that: gossip and chatter. But it seems some in the media take that and run with it. Some of you know who I am talking about Mr Wilbon and Mr. Davis. So my next post, I will address some of these comments. I am not a journalist, TV personality, lawyer, or have a fancy website. In fact, my wife had to help me set up this blog. All I am is a loyal and humble fan of the greatest basketball power in the history of college basketball (OK, admittedly that may be over the top). But there is a message that needs to be delivered, and since I work at the post office, its time to deliver the mail.








Picture courtesy of Google images