Coach Cal's Life is Better Than Yours

So Coach Cal is chillin' with Lebron today, what are you doing? This pic is from Twitter and shows Big Blue Nation just how much better this guy is than Billy Clyde. Look at the that picture and tell me it doesn't have an impact on young kids when they're choosing a college destination.

To be honest, I'm not even for sure Cal can coach effectively, but throwing photos like this around just tells me he doesn't even really need to. Marketing yourself and your University is 90% of the battle and can set yourself up to make the 10% much easier.

He is currently meeting with Nike and is getting a first look at what the new jerseys might look like, with potential photos to follow. Evidenced by his last few tweets:

Meeting with Michael Smith and Eric Lautenbach of Nike. They want to show me the new uniform designs. Photos may follow...

The Nike machine is alive and kicking. Wait to you see the creative plan they have for us. Classy and creative.

Like I've said before, this guy could sell a chocolate popsicle to a lady dressed in white.

Go Cats.

July 8th: On this date...

... in 1999, fans were getting anxious to see a matchup of recent NCAA Champions as most of the players of the '96 and '98 team held a charity exhibition in Rupp Arena. The proceeds from the event would be benefiting the Derek Anderson Foundation and the UK basketball museum. Tubby Smith would coach the '98 Champs and Delray Brooks would be given the luxury of "coaching" the '96 Champs. 18,000 tickets were sold for the charity exhibition as Cat fans got a chance to see the mini-dynasty in action. The Derek Anderson Foundation provides assistance to disadvantaged youth in a variety of ways.

UK calendar

Darius Down Under VI

Darius Miller had one of his more complete games today in Team USA's 76-69 squeaker over the Lithuania Eastern Europeans. The Patriots got outrebounded by 14, but Lithuania turned the ball over 23 times to help clinch a quarterfinal berth for the US Americans.

Darius' line: 5-7 FG, 10 pts - 3 rebs - 1 asst - 3 stls - 2 blks - 1 TO

Shelvin Mack: 5 pts - 2 rebs - 1 stl

Next up for the Americans is the Canada Moose in a knockout quarterfinal Thursday at 8:30 pm local NZ time, 4:30 am EST. Win or go home.

The New Jersey Numbers Are Out!

The University released the 2009-10 Kentucky basketball roster this afternoon, allowing us to see who takes over what jersey number. This is really the only thing to look at once the roster is released. I always like to look to see who takes over a number and has a chance to become the best player for their individual number, then forget about it five minutes later.

The newcomers (along with notable Cats who wore the same number):

#3 - Darnell Dodson (Rex Chapman, Chris Harrison, Allen Edwards, Ramel Bradley) -
Good luck Darnell, we'll be rootin' for ya!

#4 - Jon Hood (Kyle Macy, Derrick Miller, Gerald Fitch, Rajon Rondo) -
Being from Kentucky gives Hood some bonus points. Breaking into the top 5 at this means Hood had a great career.

#11 - John Wall (Dicky Beal, Sean Woods, Saul Smith) -
I think it's safe to assume, we'll be watching the best to have ever worn #11.

#15 - DeMarcus Cousins (Alex Groza, Ed Davender, Jeff Sheppard) -
He definitely won't be the best to ever wear #15, but he's definitely the most touted to have not even put the jersey on yet.

#24 - Eric Bledsoe (Jamal Mashburn, Antoine Walker, Kelenna Azubuike)
One word: FREAKS. If Bledsoe is as good as he practices during the summer, he could crack the top four at #24.

#33 - Daniel Orton (Ron Mercer, Antwain Barber, Randolph Morris) -
Mercer was great, but if Orton stays at least three years, he could easily be in the discussion.

July 7th: On this date...

... in 1993, the University expected the NCAA to declare Kentucky recruit Anthony Epps ineligible. Epps, a point guard from Marion County, Kentucky, played in a three-on-three tournament in which he dominated and won first place. Nothing wrong with that, right? That is until he accepted a cash prize for winning. By accepting this prize, he jeopardized his amateur status............until the shady Rick Pitino forced the NCAAs hand and made them make Epps eligible. Boy, that Rick Pitino.....he sure lives in the gray area with the NCAA.

UK calendar

Darius Down Under V

Jamie Dixon must have felt the wrath of Big Blue Nation because Darius more than doubled his time in today's game against Puerto Rico. Miller-time went from 7 minutes to 17 minutes in the 82-61 thrashing of the tiny resort nation.

The Patriots have clinched top billing heading into the quarterfinals. No matter if they lose to Lithuania, they will be the top seed.

Darius' line: 2-3 FG, 4 pts - 3 rebs - 1 stl - 1 bs

Shelvin Mack: 7 pts - 4 rebs - 1 asst - 2 stls

Next up is Lithuania Wednesday 7:30 pm Local NZ time. Wednesday 3:30 am EST.

July 6th: On this date...

... in 1991, hotshot recruits Rodrick Rhodes and Jason Kidd were roommates at the Nike Basketball Camp, and according to Bob Gibbons, both had Kentucky on their wish lists. Jason Kidd was the more celebrated of the two, fielding offers from Kentucky, Duke, and North Carolina. He would eventually get a truck load of cash from Todd Bozeman choose California as his destination. Rhodes chose Kentucky and had a wonderful freshman campaign. Many will remember Dickie V calling Rhodes the prince of Kentucky basketball (to Jamal Mashburn's king) during an ESPN telecast. Rodrick would later transfer to USC after his junior season after he and Pitino had a falling out.

UK calendar

Darius Down Under IV

Darius played the least of all the members of Team USA today in their 85-69 win over the Greece Philosophers. It was the least amount of playing time for Miller so far in the Tournament. Head coach Jamie Dixon is being briefed on the crapstorm that will be coming via Big Blue Nation.

Darius' line: 1-2 FG, 2 pts - 2 rebs - 2 blks - 3 fouls

Shelvin Mack: 8 pts - 5 rebs - 3 assts - 3 TOs

Game 2 of Round 2 will be against the Puerto Rico Fightin 51s at 7:30 pm Tuesday local NZ time, 3:30 am EST Tuesday morning.

Nothing More American than Gluttony

Joey Chestnut three-peated at today's Nathan's World Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest beating Takeru Kobayashi. Chestnut set a world record by wolfing down 68 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

The record was shattered again this year, leaving me with an all-important question:

Are these American heroes also on steroids?

Let the discussion begin.

These Colors Don't Run

Happy Birthday to America. Enough said.

Regards,

US Americans

Darius Down Under III

Darius Miller and Shelvin Mack helped lead the charge as Team USA destroyed the Egypt Pyramids, 112-55. This was Darius' present to America for her birthday. What was yours?

Darius' line: 3-6 FG, 3-3 FT - 9 pts - 9 rebs - 1 asst - 1 blk - 4 TOs

Shelvin added 14 pts - 4 assts - 2 rebs

I'm not gonna lie. It's been a bit troubling to see Darius lead the team in TOs multiple games, but I'm a Kentucky fan - that's what I do - that's how we roll.

The US Americans have now moved on to round two against Greece early Monday 1:30 pm EST - 7:30 pm local NZ time.

Le Tour de Lance Preview

It's that time of year again. The time for quirky, unpopular, mostly European sports to come around while everyone waits for football, Midnight Madness, and the MLB playoffs. We've already had soccer and the French Open. We've made it to the finals of Wimbledon. And the British Open is right around the corner.

The event I've been caught up in and always enjoy, though, is Le Tour de France. It's a strangely hypnotic event high on drama, comedy, and boredom.

Time trials, sprint finishes, and mountain breaks provide plenty of drama if you're an objective sports fan. Annual videos of French authorities busting in posh hotels and dragging out doping cyclists by the collar for the world to see is almost guaranteed. Not to mention 200 cyclists going 35-45 mph on century old cobblestone streets, sometimes wet. The crash factor is very high and very unforgiving. A guy fell off the side of a mountain last year, one hit a dog in '07.

The fans (above) and analysts (Phil, Paul, & Bob) provide tons of humor. A very unique sport for fans because they are literally right beside you the whole day throwing anything from urine to water to liquor on the cyclists. The commentators are also so blunt when they talk about the cyclists that it is very refreshing to hear. If something doesn't look right, they'll call you out and make you explain yourself. Partly because they've all been around the sport a while and are well respected.

Then there is the boredom. Each stage has it, and many are heavy on it, but for some reason I keep coming back. Can't get enough. I'm quirky though. See how I tied that in? Very elementary, huh?

The Rookies Blog has a really good Drug-Free Tour de France Preview if you're interested. Le Tour starts in Monaco Saturday morning and can be seen on the Versus channel. Oh yeah.......and Lance Armstrong is back too.

July 3rd: On this date...

... in 1986, your University of Kentucky Wildcats were on their way home from a seven game exhibition world tour to the far east. Six of the seven games were played in Japan, while the other was played in South China. In the last game versus South China, the attendance was said to have been 100 people. Shortly after this game, Kentucky boarded a plane for a 27-hour ride back to the Commonwealth. The Cats finished the road trip 6-1, the only loss coming against Czechoslovakia. The third ranked Cats, from 1986, beat South China, Finland, and Japan for their wins. So whenever someone brings up how David Stern or the Dream Team globalized basketball, you give them this little nugget and watch them squirm.

UK calendar

Darius Down Under II

Team USA starter Darius Miller didn't set the Frenchies on fire today tomorrow, but Freedom Fries beat French Fries, 71-55.

Darius played just under 14 minutes and got his second start in two games for Jamie Dixon's squad. The Patriots were up by 15 at half and 22 going into the fourth quarter and seemed to have everything under control from the get-go.

Darius' line: 1-3 FGs - 2 pts - 2 rebs - 2 assts - 2 blks - 3 TOs, in 13:55 playing time.

USA 71 - France 55

Game 3 vs. Egypt

11:00am local NZ time Saturday = 7:00pm EST Friday

High Octane Rivalries are Back

Enough said.

So says Pat Forde of ESPN. And we all know how well he is respected. He lists the top rivalries for the upcoming 2009-10 college basketball season. The Cats are featured twice on the list and John Calipari is the lone reason for both.

Forde ranks the Cats-Cards game later this year as the top must-see game in college basketball. It's finally nice to see someone say UNC-Duke has cooled off a bit, of course it took a Kentuckian to do so. The animosity between the two coaches is second to none. Well.........maybe this.

The Cats-Vols rivalry comes in at #3 on Forde's list. The fact Calipari and Pearl face each other at least twice each year will bring the game to a boiling point. The game should also be an up-and-down shootout. Fun for the whole family!

Can basketball time in the Bluegrass just get here already.

Pat Forde

July 2nd: On this date...

... in 2008, the Kentucky basketball museum closed its doors after it was no longer able to support itself financially. The museum opened its doors February 13, 1999, before a game with South Carolina. Fans were able to walk among the hallowed timeline of Kentucky basketball history, giving many youngsters a sense of what their fathers got to experience a generation earlier. Among the highlights were an interactive area where fans could make a radio call of great Kentucky basketball moments, as well as play "virtual one-on-one" against a favorite Wildcat. Van Florence was hired on late to try and help save the museum, but it had been too far in debt to recover. Contractors had estimated the museum would bring 130,000 fans annually, and average 110,000 visitors yearly thereafter. The opening year brought 27,000 people, averaging only 19,000 visitors each year. The University assumed the debt and pieces from the museum are featured in the Craft Center as a sort of Walk of Fame.

Darius Steals the Show Down Under

Darius Miller led Team USA in three different categories, including 6 steals, in Game 1 of the FIBA U-19 World Championship. They beat Iran 116-55. How ya like them apples Ahmadinejad?

Miller's line read: 2-2 FG - 4pts - 5 rebs - 4 assts* - 6 stls* - 2 blks* - 3 TOs, 15:43 minutes.

Great start for Darius and his patriotic friends down under.

They play the Frenchies tomorrow at 6:00 EST, or July 3rd at 10:00am local New Zealand time.

USA 116 - Iran 55

Obama 1 - Ahmadinejad 0

* - led Team USA

Darius Miller & the Fightin' Uncle Sam's

Team USA is in action currently playing the Fightin' Ahmadinejad's. They started play tonight at 6:00pm EST, or Thursday morning 10:00am local New Zealand time. I'll hopefully have some info from the game once it is completed.

In the meantime, visit the USA team page below and send them your best. Darius and Shelvin Mack (USA team captain) are repping the Lexington/Central Kentucky area.

FIBA USA page

July 1st: On this date...

... in 1999, the Kentucky legend above was selected 28th overall in the NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Coming from academic troubles forcing him to sit out the Championship 1995-96 season, Scott Padgett returned in December '96 to become one of UK's most clutch performers in recent memory. He was a member of both the 1997 Runner-Up and 1998 National Championship team. Kentucky fans from across the world will remember him for one game in particular, The Revenge Game. A 1998 regional final vs. Duke in which Padgett drained a go-ahead "3" putting the Cats up 84-81 with under a minute left. He celebrated the shot like every Cat fan in his/her living room, giving him instant legend status. Padgett also led UK to an Elite Eight berth in 1999, despite losing four seniors the previous spring.

Enjoy.

Xavier Henry Staying at Kansas

So says 610sports.com.

They had the interview with his father Carl to get the ball rolling toward a possible changing of the mind.

Highly touted basketball recruit Xavier Henry told 610 Sports Radio exclusively late Tuesday night "I'm going to Kansas and that's final." There was some doubt as to his commitment after his father, Carl Henry told 610 Sports Radio's Chris and Cowboy that Kentucky may still be an option. Henry says a recent article in the KC Star painted the family in a bad light and that Xavier had expressed a few weeks ago a desire to play with some recruits committed to Kentucky.