Holaaaaaaa, Cheers
and welcome to a very special event here at IWS Radio. Our good friend, the
lovely and talented Shirley Terrell has agreed to do a special college
basketball preview. Well, as you would expect, being a Kentucky fan, she just stuck to celebrating the only school that matters when it comes to college basketball...
Let me state up front
and for the record that I am a lifelong, diehard, delusional, card carrying
member of the BBN. For those of you who live under a rock, those three letters
represent the amazing Big Blue Nation.
It is appropriate that I was ask to write a few
words on the upcoming College Basketball season. I live in Lexington Kentucky.
Home of the Kentucky Wildcats and yes, WE ARE COLLEGE BASKETBALL!!! We know it. And so do you.
Before you attempt to
point out the arrogance of that statement, please, don't bother. It is
arrogant. Kentucky fans can be arrogant, rude, entitled and obnoxious. But we
are truly a loyal fan base.
The upcoming
basketball season is all anyone here in Wildcat Country can talk about (we have
a decent football team this year and the growth and excitement surrounding the
team is palpable). We love our football team. We favor our basketball
team. And with Kentucky picked to win
the SEC and possibly play for a national title, expectations are high! I am personally concerned with the SEC
basketball conference strength. Florida will be a strong contender for 2nd in
the SEC. Slick (Donovan) can coach. He's a little smarmy, but hey, his teams
are always ranked. Arkansas Razorbacks are projected to finish 3rd in the SEC.
I don't know why. I didn't read it. But I'm happy for Jay!
Of course there are
other teams that deserve a mention. Duke, Arizona, Wisconsin, Kansas, Florida,
Virginia and Louisville round out the top ten. The North Carolina Tarheels are
in that top ten as well. They are not in mine. ESPN won't tell you about their
18 yearlong academic fraud investigation. The CEO of ESPN is a Tarheel alum.
The independent
investigation outlines 18 years of academic fraud. Athletes attending what are
referred to as "Paper Classes". Meaning of course that they are only
classes "on paper". The NCAA and the University of North Carolina are
also investigating. I am 100% sure that if this were Kentucky, ESPN would have
reporters on every corner in Lexington. It would be the lead story on
SportsCenter every hour. On the hour. There would be no end to their relentless
pursuit of this story. Espn would apply so much pressure that the University
and the NCAA would complete their ongoing investigation post haste. Whatever.
It would be finished NOW!!! Stop trying
to minimize the tremendous levels North Carolina went to decieve us. The
arrogance in which you cloak yourself as being one of THE premiere programs in
college basketball is a joke. Stop it.
You are a fraud. An
imposter.
A few more thoughts.
The preseason polls have Kentucky fans salivating. However, we remember the
40-0 talk at the beginning of last season. Any team can be beaten on any given
night. Not one single Kentucky fan I've spoken to, tweeted, etc will even utter
the ridiculous 40-0 talk this season! Let’s be honest. We are not the only team
that plays college basketball. We just think we are. Wait, is it arrogant if it’s
true?
Lastly, for my friend
Matt who gives me a hard time because my day is ruined when Kentucky loses a
basketball game...I love you Matt but you really need to find a passion. Deep
down inside I know you are a man of many passions. Let them shine my friend.
Just let go and enjoy! The berating I will take will be worth it if inspires
you to find your true passion. Mine are equality and Kentucky Basketball! See
how easy that was!
Here's to another
great year of College (Kentucky) Basketball.
