How Long Will These Next Two Months Take?

The countdown is on for Kentucky fans to complain that John Wall carries the ball too much.

August 11th: On this date...

... in 1948, Alex Groza's 19 points and Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones' 10 points lead the Americans to a 71-40 beatdown of the Mexico Jalapenos. Many saw this as the only roadblock on the way to the gold medal. You know what the game plan was? Listening to the assistant coach (A. Rupp) and starting all five Kentucky players. Wah Wah Jones broke the game open by creating baskets in transition. Fellow Wildcats Ralph Beard and Cliff Barker added six points each.

UK calendar

Coincidence?

Daniel Orton Hurts Elbow

Is this Daniel Orton's elbow, or an imposter?

Apparently Daniel Orton hurt his elbow while training out west via Hilton Armstrong. Hopefully this turns out to be nothing.

And Pat Patterson is kickin it on the beach:

Layn on beach. Getting my tan on. Goin from milk chocolate to dark chocolate. Holla

Rest up big man. Basketball time in the Bluegrass will be upon us before you know it.

August 10th: On this date...

... in 1995, we learned Kentucky sophomore Scott Padgett would be declared academically ineligible for the 1995-96 season (what a season to miss). He would not be attending the University for the fall semester and possibly the spring. The extra scholarship, though, would allow Rick Pitino to give transfer Derek Anderson a spot on the soon-to-be legendary roster. Anderson was in line to pay his way as a walk-on for the 1995-96 season. Padgett took the year off and re-enrolled in the fall of 1996. While he missed out on a chance to be a part of a great team in '96, Padgett was a key cog in getting the Cats to back-to-back NCAA title games in 1997 and 1998. Padgett turned that frown upside down as he was named to the All-SEC academic team in both 1998 and 1999.

UK calendar

Keenan Burton has his Opportunity

Tough news for the Rams as top wide receiver Donnie Avery goes down for 4-6 weeks with a foot injury. This news presents an opportunity for former Cat Keenan Burton. He will have every chance at getting an opening day start at wide receiver.

Burton has been running with the first team recently and wants everyone to know he's coming for that number one spot. I've never thought of Burton as a number one receiver in the NFL, but here's a chance to prove me wrong. Something we all know he's dying to do.

In other NFL news, Steve Johnson did not play due to injury and Rafael Little only got mop-up duty in the Titans-Bills preseason game last night.

We Missed You NFL

The Path to World Domination

The recent full moon was off to Mr. Whitehead's left.

It's alive and well here in Lexington again as the fella above (Roshard Whitehead) was arrested last night minutes after being seen on the latest America's Most Wanted. This little rascal had been on the run for a few years and decided to post up in Lex Vegas roughly around the time John Calipari was named head coach. This is either a coincidence or this guy loves him some college basketball.

August 7th: On this date...

... in 1990, the SEC was in the early stages of adding an 11th team to its conference. The Arkansas Razorbacks left the Southwest Conference after 76 years when they realized their conference was heading down the toilet. The 12th team would be added that September. The SEC chose South Carolina over Miami, FL. The new SEC would be split into two divisions, East and West, and would begin play as an expanded league in 1992. The basketball season would be cut to 16 games in conference, down from 18. Just a few years after joining the SEC, the 1994 Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team would win the NCAA Championship. It was the league's first NCAA Title since Goose Givens led your Wildcats to the top in 1978.

UK calendar

It's Football Time In The Bluegrass

Hey look! It's section 134!!

I was planning on doing a "Five Key Questions for 2009 UK football," but since every site in Big Blue land has some variation of this kind of football preview, BBB won't. Instead, I will hand it over to anyone who reads this blog.

If anyone has a preview/opinion they'd like to post, feel free to send it in to mmayes211@gmail.com.

What are you most looking forward to for the 2009 season?

• beating Louisville again
• the emergence of a quarterback
• something to interest you until basketball season
• how we're going to stop the run/get to the quarterback
• will any of our running backs stay healthy
• the possibilities of Newton/Cobb in a Wildcat package
• the new cheerleading uniforms

Just testing you. Rumor has it we will be hanging up the classic, timeless, cheerleading uni's you see in the picture above. For what? For something a bit more fresh. Fresh meaning dropping the "K" logo for the newer "UK" logo. I haven't heard whether or not the style will change, but the logo is outty.

No one likes change, especially Big Blue Nation. Add to that the taking away of a staple of every Kentucky football or basketball game and backlash will follow. So take another look at the photo above....for your own sake. It might be the last time you see it in Commonwealth Stadium.

Keys to the season:

Chip Cosby

Tom Leach

Ira Combs

August 6th: On this date...

... in 1948, the U.S. team continued their demolition of anyone in their path to advance to the medal round. The most recent victory, a 61-33 victory over the Peru Cocaines, moved them to 5-0 in the tournament. Head coach Omar Browning switched things up and played the Kentucky five in the first half and his team in the second half. Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones (above) led the team with 12 points. Jones was an All-American forward at Kentucky and an All-SEC end for the Wildcat football team. His #27 jersey hangs in Rupp's rafters as he was a part of the very first Kentucky NCAA Championship team.

UK calendar

When In Doubt.......Battle!

August 5th: On this date...

... in 1948, the U.S. Olympic basketball team barrelled through their round robin play with a 66-28 beatdown of the Egypt Pyramids. The victory helped clinch a berth in the elimination side of the tournament. The Kentucky players didn't enter the game until the second half of the Egyptian thrashing because the head coach preferred to play the Cats as a unit. The win cemented the Americans as the favorite for the gold medal, as well as dominators of the world in general.

UK calendar

Always Listen to Dick

Mr. Calipari, Mr. Calipari, Mr. Calipari!!!

Thank goodness. Everyone can take a deep breath. Dickie V has officially come out with his fourth preseason college basketball ranking of the summer. To be fair, this is a preseason Top 40, and he hadn't done one of those yet.

You'll be glad to know that your University of Kentucky Wildcats come in at #2. Most of you will go on with your lives as if all is well. Think of the position our program was in just over four months ago. Who else is ready for basketball season?

August 4th: On this date...

... in 1948, the man above, Mike Pratt, was born in Dayton, OH. The eyes you are gazing into may possibly be the reason John Calipari is the current coach of your University of Kentucky Wildcats. Pratt assisted with the most recent UK coaching search. As we all should know, Mike is currently the color analyst for each Kentucky basketball broadcast, alongside play-by-play partner Tom Leach. But before he became ear candy for Big Blue Nation, he had a very successful basketball career under Adolph Rupp. Mr. Pratt was named first team All-SEC both in his junior and senior seasons. His career high was 42 points against Notre Dame in 1969, and his career ended with 1,359 points. This coming fall, Mike will start his ninth season on the radio. A season we can hopefully look back on and give a hat-tip Mr. Pratt's way. So a big thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Pratt of Dayton, OH, and a Happy Birthday to their son. He shares a birthday with Barack Obama, Roger Clemens, and Jeff Gordon.

UK calendar

Falcons Pluck Your Dicky

In what sounds like a painful event, Alan Cutler has confirmed that a former Kentucky wideout has landed in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons have snatched Dicky Lyons (Jr.) from the free agent pool, as he will report to Falcons camp tomorrow.

This adds yet another Kentucky football alum to an NFL roster. Hopefully DL3 can make the roster in the form of Tim Dwight, or a poor man's Wes Welker. Quite impressive after what we witnessed last season with his knee.

August 3rd: On this date...

... in 1948, the Wildcat-laden men's Olympic basketball team squeaked out a win over Argentina, 59-57. Alex Groza's key bucket gave the Patriots the lead for good late in the game. He finished with 11 points, Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones had 4, and Ken Rollins 3. Two other Kentucky players, Cliff Barker and Ralph Beard, did not play. No other team would get this close to the Uncle Sam's.

UK calendar

The Path to World Domination....

... takes us to Hollywood this week as the power of the Kentucky shirt has led Adam Sandler and Funny People to the top of the box office. The most hyped movie in the history of Kentucky has officially been released and it has destroyed everything in its path.

This can only mean we will win the National Championship in both football and basketball in the coming year. That is all.

Go Cats.

August 2nd: On this date...

... in 1948, the U.S. Olympic basketball team was on their way to a gold medal routing the European champions, Czechoslovakia, 53-28. Wildcat Ralph Beard led the Kentucky players with 7 points. Kenny Rollins had 6, while Cliff Barker scored 5. Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones and Alex Groza went scoreless.

Go Cats.

UK calendar

August 1st: On this date...

Nickname? The Tickler.

... in 1963, Kentucky great John "Frenchy" DeMoisey passed away a week after suffering a heart attack. DeMoisey played three season under Adolph Rupp, 1931-32, '32-'33, and '33-'34. He shares the same number (00) as another Kentucky great, Tony Delk. An All-SEC player in 1933-34 and named an All-American in 1934, DeMoisey served as the Kentucky team captain. He later served as an administrative assistant to A.B. "Happy" Chandler. A native of Georgetown, Kentucky's record during his time was 50-6.

UK calendar

Big Blue History