Saturday, January 29, 2011
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Kentucky Tradition and Rupp Arena
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Kentucky Tradition and Rupp Arena: "Tradition means the handing down of beliefs, customs, and information from generation to generation. That pretty much defines Kentucky..."
Friday, January 28, 2011
Kentucky Tradition and Rupp Arena
Tradition means the handing down of beliefs, customs, and information from generation to generation. That pretty much defines Kentucky basketball. Generations of fans, including myself, were schooled on the lore of Kentucky basketball, and I, like the generation before me, have passed it on to the next. Rupp Arena is a huge part of that tradition, just as Alumni Gym, and Memorial Coliseum were before it, for those generations.
A controversy is starting over the fact that we need a new basketball palace to replace Rupp, that Rupp is outdated, dingy, and just outlived its time. It seems much of this is due to the fact that Louisville has built a brand spanking new venue that does make Rupp pale in comparison. The Yum Center, don't you just love the name, has suites, many different kinds of bars, restaurants, game rooms, and so on and so forth. The one thing it doesn't have yet is personality, the kind of atmosphere that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck, when you walk in. Freedom Hall had history, personality, yes, tradition. This is not to say that the Yum Center, might one day, have tons of tradition, just as you might say if we built a new arena for Kentucky basketball, might not have the same goose bump atmosphere as Rupp, but one thing is for sure, at this moment, Rupp has it right now!
This generation seems ready and willing to cast off anything that's not shinny and pretty, just to satisfy the microwave mentality that is prevalent in society. What would be wrong with remodeling the old arena, making some changes, that allows it to move into the esthetics's, that it takes to impress the next keepers of the flame that is Kentucky basketball. Tradition is not always served by change for the sake of change, or just because your neighbor has something that you don't have. Tradition is having something that very few have, if any.
A controversy is starting over the fact that we need a new basketball palace to replace Rupp, that Rupp is outdated, dingy, and just outlived its time. It seems much of this is due to the fact that Louisville has built a brand spanking new venue that does make Rupp pale in comparison. The Yum Center, don't you just love the name, has suites, many different kinds of bars, restaurants, game rooms, and so on and so forth. The one thing it doesn't have yet is personality, the kind of atmosphere that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck, when you walk in. Freedom Hall had history, personality, yes, tradition. This is not to say that the Yum Center, might one day, have tons of tradition, just as you might say if we built a new arena for Kentucky basketball, might not have the same goose bump atmosphere as Rupp, but one thing is for sure, at this moment, Rupp has it right now!
This generation seems ready and willing to cast off anything that's not shinny and pretty, just to satisfy the microwave mentality that is prevalent in society. What would be wrong with remodeling the old arena, making some changes, that allows it to move into the esthetics's, that it takes to impress the next keepers of the flame that is Kentucky basketball. Tradition is not always served by change for the sake of change, or just because your neighbor has something that you don't have. Tradition is having something that very few have, if any.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: One and Done
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: One and Done: "I just received the latest mock draft from the NBA, and as usual, several Kentucky players are mentioned in the first round. Enes Kant..."
One and Done
I just received the latest mock draft from the NBA, and as usual, several Kentucky players are mentioned in the first round. Enes Kanter is number five, but we will leave that for another time. Terrance Jones is number six and Brandon Knight is number nineteen. Deron Lamb is not projected at this time to go in the first round, but he could only need a big run in the tounament, to gain entry.
Coach Cal proclaimed last years coup in the first round of the draft, as the greatest night in the history of Kentucky Basketball. I don't know about that, but it did leave us fans with a hollow feeling about the future. Now it looks like something like that could happen again. Don't get me wrong, I'am just as excited as any one when we year that Cal has the number one recruiting class lined up again for next year, but it seems we never get to know these players. One year with Kentucky and ten years with an NBA team, feels to much like a flirt, rather then a good relationship.
Well, thats the way its going to be, and I will just have to learn to stop and enjoy the flirtation with greatness, because you see. I still remember the last years of Tubby and the Billy Gillispie tenure, when all it seemed we ever did was take the average girls to the prom.
Mikey Cameron
Coach Cal proclaimed last years coup in the first round of the draft, as the greatest night in the history of Kentucky Basketball. I don't know about that, but it did leave us fans with a hollow feeling about the future. Now it looks like something like that could happen again. Don't get me wrong, I'am just as excited as any one when we year that Cal has the number one recruiting class lined up again for next year, but it seems we never get to know these players. One year with Kentucky and ten years with an NBA team, feels to much like a flirt, rather then a good relationship.
Well, thats the way its going to be, and I will just have to learn to stop and enjoy the flirtation with greatness, because you see. I still remember the last years of Tubby and the Billy Gillispie tenure, when all it seemed we ever did was take the average girls to the prom.
Mikey Cameron
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Road Win and the NBA
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Road Win and the NBA: "The young Kentucky basketball team won its first SEC road game yesterday and a veteran seemed to find himself. Darius Milller played li..."
Road Win and the NBA
The young Kentucky basketball team won its first SEC road game yesterday and a veteran seemed to find himself. Darius Milller played like many of us had expected him to play ever since he first put on the uniform. Of course he has been a pretender before, but none the less he showed what had made him Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and that was very good to see.
I had a question on my radio show on Friday, The Sports Huddle on ESPN Sports Radio 1300, about which of the current Cats, at this moment in time could make an NBA roster. Is Terrance Jones ready with his thundering dunks or is he still immature? Perhaps Brandon Knight, or could it be Darius Miller or DeAndre Liggins? I sat beside a scout for the Golden State Warriors and his assessment was that although several players from this current squad could one day be ready for the league at this moment only one could transition at this moment in time, and that player is DeAndre Liggins!
He said he played the kind of defense right now, and if he could make some drives to the basket, he could play for years in the NBA. This all remains to be seen, there is a lot of games to played in this season, but it is some food for thought.
Mikey Cameron
I had a question on my radio show on Friday, The Sports Huddle on ESPN Sports Radio 1300, about which of the current Cats, at this moment in time could make an NBA roster. Is Terrance Jones ready with his thundering dunks or is he still immature? Perhaps Brandon Knight, or could it be Darius Miller or DeAndre Liggins? I sat beside a scout for the Golden State Warriors and his assessment was that although several players from this current squad could one day be ready for the league at this moment only one could transition at this moment in time, and that player is DeAndre Liggins!
He said he played the kind of defense right now, and if he could make some drives to the basket, he could play for years in the NBA. This all remains to be seen, there is a lot of games to played in this season, but it is some food for thought.
Mikey Cameron
Friday, January 21, 2011
Kentucky bounce back at South Carolina
Relax Wildcat fans, the season isn't over, just a bump in the SEC road. Iam not pretending there aren't more of them ahead, but for now this young team is having trouble shedding their training wheels on the road. It was embarrasing for Cal when he was caught on national tv using foul language and particularly embarrasing for Terrance Jones, but this is all in the growing pains that will eventually temper and harden these young Cats.
I think the Cats go into Columbia with resolve and hand the Gamecocks a loss. Remember the number 1 ranking went away there last year. Should a repeat of the last two road trips repeat, well just relax, there's a long way to go and they are getting more mature as time passes. One thing is for sure, no one has had more experiance with training wheels then Coach Cal.
I think the Cats go into Columbia with resolve and hand the Gamecocks a loss. Remember the number 1 ranking went away there last year. Should a repeat of the last two road trips repeat, well just relax, there's a long way to go and they are getting more mature as time passes. One thing is for sure, no one has had more experiance with training wheels then Coach Cal.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Horse of the Year
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Horse of the Year: "To some measure justice was served last night at the 40th annual Eclipse Awards. Zenyatta denied horse of the year last year was named..."
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Horse of the Year...
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Horse of the Year...: "Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Horse of the Year: "To some measure justice was served last night at the 40th annual Eclipse Awards. ..."
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Horse of the Year
Bluegrass Horses and Basketball: Horse of the Year: "To some measure justice was served last night at the 40th annual Eclipse Awards. Zenyatta denied horse of the year last year was named..."
Horse of the Year
To some measure justice was served last night at the 40th annual Eclipse Awards. Zenyatta denied horse of the year last year was named this year. A great case could be made that Blame may have been more deserving, but none can deny the conribution that the great race mare achieved, more than compensated. Sometimes history is a powerful anecdote to the present.
Had Zenyatta not won we would always look back and say, 2010 was the year of Zenyatta. Other great horses will follow, but we can all say I was there for the year of Zenyatta.
Go out and multiply!
Mikey Cameron
Had Zenyatta not won we would always look back and say, 2010 was the year of Zenyatta. Other great horses will follow, but we can all say I was there for the year of Zenyatta.
Go out and multiply!
Mikey Cameron
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tommorow night is the Eclipse Awards, horseracing's highest honors. I have thought long and hard about who I would vote for if I had a voter for Horse of the Year, and although either Blame and Zenyatta would be great choices, it makes the choice that much harder.
The award is for Horse of the Year, not a life time achievment award. That said, I don't think I have seen the excitement I saw for the great filly, Zenyatta. Blame is a great champion and would be a deserving HOY, but horseracing needs something extra right now, and that is Zenyatta.
I spoke to my friend, Hall of Fame Jockey, Chris McCarron this morning and he thinks that even though Zenyatta got beat in the Classic she still deserves to be horse of the year.
I live but a few miles from the great Claiborne farm and know they would love to have Blame win, but this is one time we have to vote with our heart and not our heads
Mikey Cameron
The award is for Horse of the Year, not a life time achievment award. That said, I don't think I have seen the excitement I saw for the great filly, Zenyatta. Blame is a great champion and would be a deserving HOY, but horseracing needs something extra right now, and that is Zenyatta.
I spoke to my friend, Hall of Fame Jockey, Chris McCarron this morning and he thinks that even though Zenyatta got beat in the Classic she still deserves to be horse of the year.
I live but a few miles from the great Claiborne farm and know they would love to have Blame win, but this is one time we have to vote with our heart and not our heads
Mikey Cameron
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