Walk-On Explanation

The dribble-drive's patented "Makin' it Rain" play.

For anyone needing an explanation for the dismissal of the walk-on's today, Coach Cal has his explanation ready for you. From the sound of everything, he just doesn't want to waste anyone's time. And from the sound of his explanation, he would've been had these players returned.

Coach did everything by the book also. "They" always say to fire people on Friday's. The joke might end up being on Cal as those were our best grades. Someone might not be getting his academic bonus this year.

July 31st: On this date...

... in 1980, President Jimmy Carter invited all 505 athletes from the imaginary U.S. Olympic team to Capital Hill for a ceremonial Gold Medal. Each would-be Olympian received the award for their solidarity in not competing in the Moscow games. The man in the center of the back row, Wildcat Sam Bowie, was a member of this team. He became the 8th Wildcat to be awarded the Olympic Gold Medal. The 1980 team was the youngest U.S. Olympic basketball team ever. They competed in the Gold Medal Series, exhibition games against NBA All-Star teams, and went 5-1. Sam Bowie was second on the team in scoring during these games with 11.5 PPG. He also added 7.0 RPG - 2 APG - 2.2 BPG against his NBA counterparts, leading the team in blocks and rebounding.

USA Basketball

UK calendar

Coach Cal Releases 3 Walk-Ons

He didn't get the shot off. You're fired.

So says WKYT. Adam Delph, Dwight Perry, and Matt Scherbenske were all set free from their commitment to Kentucky basketball. All this does is cement the fact that no one is going to be getting a free ride around here any more. If you cannot help this team, you will not be on it.

This news lets us know that Mark Krebs will be the only returning walk-on for the 2009-10 season. The roster will be 12. While there will be some kickback from this, you gotta realize you can't have it both ways. Sacrifices have to be made if we want to rid ourselves of the train wreck that's been going on for the past five years.

Don't judge. It's Cal's program now.

Book Signings Coming Next Week

The highly anticipated book on Rich Brooks by Tom Leach is set to be released next Tuesday August 4th. Most expect Big Blue Nation to gobble The Rich Tradition up in no time.

If you're going to out to buy a copy here in Lexington, Coach Brooks and Tom will be signing copies on both August 4th and August 5th. The two will be at Central Bank in Hamburg at 4:00pm (Tuesday - August 4) and Joseph Beth in Lexington Green at 7:00pm (Wednesday - August 5).

Step away from the fast food for a few days and do the right thing. Buy the book.

July 30th: On this date...

... in 2006, Kentucky great and Rupp Runt Pat Riley was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. An All-American at Kentucky, Riley was a member of the 1966 Runner-Up team that lost to the ineligible Texas Western. Riley went on to be selected by the San Diego Rickets in the first round of the 1967 NBA Draft. He later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and helped them win the 1972 NBA Championship. And if that wasn't enough, he won another Championship as an assistant coach, then five more as a head coach. Few basketball minds think Pat Riley isn't one of the greatest NBA coaches to ever live. Respected as a player, coach, and executive, Riley is second only to Lenny Wilkins on the all-time NBA wins list.

Don't Ask No Questions

July 29th: On this date...

... in 1948, the men pictured above started their journey to the Olympic Gold Medal. The team consisted of 14 amateur players from two different teams. The teams, in this case, were the Phillips Oilers and your University of Kentucky Wildcats. The two teams had played an Olympic tryout, an epic 53-49 win by the Oilers. At the time, it considered one of the greatest basketball games ever played. The Oilers win meant Bud Browning would be the head coach of the Olympic team, with Mr. Rupp as his assistant. Kentucky's five players were: Alex Groza, Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones, Cliff Barker, Kenny Rollins, and Ralph Beard. The Uncle Sam's blasted the Frenchies back to...........well...............France in the Gold Medal game, 65-21.

UK calendar

July 28th: On this date...

Real deal or tuxedo shirt? You be the judge.

... in 1993, future Kentucky Wildcat Derek Anderson led his North team to a gold medal in the U.S. Olympic Festival. The North team beat the West team 106-96. Anderson, an Ohio State Buckeye at the time, had 20 points in the gold medal-deciding game. The game was played in San Antonio, Texas, before a crowd of 7,458. UK legend Jared Prickett also played in the festival.

UK calendar

Skins Sign Jarmon

Former Wildcat Jeremy Jarmon signed a four-year deal with the Washington Redskins today. It took less than two weeks for the Skins and Jarmon to reach a deal, signifying a mutual interest that both parties are ready to get it going.

The deal is four years with a signing bonus of $755,000. Not bad for a student who a few months ago was in the middle of a public relations nightmare.

Good luck to Jeremy. Hopefully he'll be a part of the action very soon.

Washington Times

Setback for Stevie

In what could be very bad news for former Cat Steve Johnson, we learned this morning he is out indefinitely with an injury to his rib cartilage. Buffalo was already overflowing with WRs. Now it gives opportunity to someone to snatch his spot.

The NFL is a very unforgiving sport, especially to those who are injured. Johnson had the inside track on making the team again in 2009. We can only hope they remember what a great rookie campaign he had.

Either that, or maybe start his own reality show.

Kentucky Sports

UK, WKU to Sign Four-Year Deal?

Larry Vaught is reporting Kentucky and Western Kentucky have agreed on a four-year football series. An official announcement will come later this week.

This agreement will have the 'Toppers coming to Lexington in 2010 and 2012, with the game moving to LP Field in Nashville in 2011 and 2013. Big Blue Nation has come strong each time the Cats have ventured down to the country capital.

A great move by the UK coaching staff to set up an in-state rivalry, not to mention give the fans an easy road trip to watch a beatdown. Western, a newly promoted Division I team, should be bad enough for the next few years to provide a nice stepping stone for the Cats.

The game could either be on Thursday night or Saturday night, depending on the Titans preseason schedule. Great exposure for the Cats and 'Toppers both as the game would be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

July 27th: On this date...

... in 1992, while promoting "Achy Breaky Heart" with a concert in Rupp Arena, country star Billy Ray Cyrus had one question for his loyal followers:

Who wants to see me come back and sing the National Anthem for a Kentucky Wildcat basketball game?

The crowd erupted and started a riot by going bananas for their mullet-wearing hero. The University would oblige and give Mr. Cyrus a platform during a home game in the 1992-93 season.

UK calendar

July 26th: On this date...

... in 2007, your University of Kentucky Wildcats first extended a scholarship offer to John Wall. And as any fan can tell you, that's all it took. Just like that, he committed to Kentucky. Here is an excerpt from their 2007 Vegas recap:

In action from the Reebok Summer Championships, 2009 point guard prospect John Wall once again got to the basket at will and either finished or handed off some outstanding interior passes. In fact, he sent the game to overtime with a series of driving lay ups against the Mokan Players and then won the game for D-One Sports with a wrap around pass in the lane for a game winning assist at the buzzer. With great length for his position and unbelievable speed, Wall has a unique ability to finish difficult lay ups. In a game where he scored 23 points and had five assists, Wall missed only one shot inside the arc. If Wall develops anything close to a consistent jumper, it is hard to imagine how he could possibly be defended.

Jerry Meyer also had high praise for UK target Jon Hood and 2010 prospect Joe Jackson (foreshadowing?).

At a glance, some will dismiss Jackson because of his size. But if there was ever a 5-foot-10 player who played more like 6-foot-3, it is Jackson. For example, on one possession he posted his man up in the elbow area, squared up with a strong pivot and then exploded to the basket with one dribble and ended the play with a dunk off two feet over his man. His six steals also attest to his explosive quickness and uncanny anticipation of plays. He takes contact well and can stroke the ball from behind the arc as well as knock down high degree of difficulty shots on the move. One of his most outstanding traits is the way he can zigzag directions on the move.

Standing out as one of the better prospects in the game was 2009 6-foot-5 shooting guard Jon Hood of the Nashville Celtics. Hood led the Celtics with 15 points and spent a lot of the game handling the ball. A likely four-star prospect, Hood has above average athleticism and looked quite comfortable shooting the ball off the dribble.

Then again, Scout.com had a recap of how Dakotah Euton was hitting everything he threw up during his Vegas run.

Lorenzen Hurts Knee

WKYT showed video of Jared Lorenzen possibly shredding his knee up in the Kentucky Horsemen loss tonight. A very bad break for both. Hopefully it turns out to be minor, but it didn't look very good.

And if you missed the Leif Olson hole-in-one at today's Canadian Open, check it out. Gotta be top 5 luckiest golf shot ever. Oh....and he won a $50,000+ BMW Z4 Roadster with the shot.

Joe Jackson Coming to Big Blue Madness?

So says every sports outlet in the Bluegrass. I've yet to find a reason, though. It seems his life will be a circus while trying to get his hands on Jacko's estate. He's definitely not shy of the spotlight. And if we know one thing.....we know the spotlight will be on Kentucky basketball this year. BBB will keep their eyes and ears open if we find out anymore regarding this development.

Scout.com

July 25th: On this date...

... in 2006, WKYT's Steve Moss had an entry on his blog which he recalls a meeting between he, Drew Deener, and Brooks Downing (UK Sports Information Director from 1995-2003). Downing told the two a behind-the-scenes story about the UK-Duke 1998 NCAA Regional Final in St. Pete. There was a meeting that took place between officials from the NCAA, San Antonio, UK, and Duke to discuss logistics and the Final Four. Downing said while they asked question after question, the Duke people never asked the first question. Their party had already been to San Antonio to tie up all the loose ends for their upcoming Final Four trip. And by upcoming Final Four trip, we mean the one they never made; after Tubby's Comeback Cats overcame a 17-point second half deficit. Downing later added, "To know that we derailed their entire flight plans, hotels, meal plans, everything, made it that much more special." Indeed Mr. Downing. Indeed.

Cats Picked Last? Not So Fast

So now that it's officially come out that we've been picked last in the SEC East, my Big Blue spirit is getting the best of me as I'm already wanting to change my predictions. As strong willed as I am, I'm gonna have to go against something I've already said. In the Vegas preview, I took the under on 6 wins.

While I still think we have much work to do to get to 6, I've officially moved the bar to push. The Cats will get the Vegas number, if, for no other reason than to piss off everyone in the SEC. We've come too far to regress to be picked as the 11th team overall in the SEC.

I will admit, I'm the first to be the glass half empty kinda guy on the 2009 season, but LAST in the East? PaPaw Brooks & Co. have marked their words for three straight years, and even when a great senior class graduated, the Cats overcame. Andre Woodson went from a no name QB to a semi-superstar. Having PaPaw behind the reigns has to give the Big Blue confidence that he's got a little bit more up his sleeve.

What PaPaw gives us is what Billy Clyde never gave us, confidence. The players in this system have never had a losing season. That has to account for something, right? Every year, Rich Brooks has pressed the right buttons, and set a challenge down to the new breed. It has worked so far, why not now?

White People: You Gotta Love 'Em

July 24th: On this date...

... in 1996, Kentucky legend Tony Delk signed a three-year deal with the Charlotte Hornets, who selected him with the 16th overall pick in 1996. The shooting guard was named Most Outstanding Player in the 1996 Final Four, and finished his career fourth in all-time scoring for the storied program...........FOURTH. Just in case you forgot how awesome Delk was, there's no way a 6'1" shooting guard goes 16th anytime soon. Delk most memorable game in the NBA was while he was in Phoenix. He dropped 53 on the Kings in 2000. He is currently on the new staff at your University and is long overdue to have a jersey retired.

UK calendar

also:

... in 2008, Kelenna Azubuike became a rich man when the Warriors matched the Clippers' offer of $9 million over three years, keeping 'Buike in Oakland.

Comic Con