bLuE wIThoUt A cLUe

Is Wall’s back against a wall?

rolandniemi — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:01:32 +0000

The word on the street, or at least from ESPN and the LHL, is that John Wall could be looking at an NCAA suspension over questions regarding his amateur status. The same fate faces Mississippi State’s top freshman, Renardo Sidney.

Wall’s eligibility quandary stems from his former coach, Brian Clifton, who allegedly was a certified agent while also serving as Wall’s coach. And according to at least one blog, no actually two blogs this is apparently not new news.

NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn told ESPN.com that “The line in the sand is if an agent or whatever they want to call themselves was marketing an individual student-athlete or prospective student-athlete based on their athletic abilities. If so, there are potential issues.”

Penalties can include Wall being required to pay back any “expenses” or being suspended from a certain percentage of games.

Just what would he have to pay back? Someone tell me. I haven’t a clue. But I am curious. Apparently, in 2005 UK’s Randolph Morris’ was suspended from 14 games after he associated with a sports agency during a failed attempt to enter the NBA Draft.

So, what kind of card games get played with these “agents?” Give me some of the gossip, innuendo, anecdotes, rumor –or better yet — true stories of the things that go on. I wanna know!

This is the kind of stuff that reeeeeeally gets me going.

Warp speed . . . engage

rolandniemi — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:22:39 +0000

There’s a great post by Mark Story over at kentuckysports.com on the mega boost of adrenalin John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are expected inject into the Wildcats this year. The lickety-split Wall and Bledsoe are described as “blurs” on the court, with Wall immodestly claiming he’s the fastest and Bledsoe dubbing himself as the Hermes of the hoops. Story observes though that Wall and Bledsoe are not just fast, “they are fuel-injected jets who also bring both basketball skill and know-how.” Story predicts the upcoming season as being “the return of basketball with a rumba beat.” So, shall we dance?

Here’s some video of the dynamic duo’s fast and fancy footwork.

The Price of Infamy

rolandniemi — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:15:50 +0000

UK has announced settlement of the breach of contract case filed by former UK coach Billy Gillispie when he was fired on March 27, 2009, by UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart for not being a “good fit” at the school. The litigation which originally sought $6 million from the University of Kentucky has ended with the university paying Gillispie $2.98 million plus $265,000 for Gillispie’s attorneys’ fees and mediation costs. Gillispie’s attorney said the settlement was “several times” more than UK’s initial offers to the ex-coach . Read the LHL story here.

Well, hell.

rolandniemi — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:05:24 +0000

Well, hell. How did I underestimate the attractiveness of one of the biggest (and free) wildcat basketball events around? Oh, I thought it would be easy to snag a couple of tickets. I’d just get online (no need to camp out) and on Saturday morning run over to ticketmaster.com to snag my two tix. Duh. Double-duh.

Then I thought, well stubhub.com might be able to help me out. I might have to pay $15 or $20 bucks, but that would be fair punishment for my gross negligence. So, I trot over to stubhub.com and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a vast selection of BBM tickets…the cheapest one being about $88 bucks and the most expensive one being around $115! Free tickets!? See for yourself!

Next year I’ll know better. But shame on you stubhub.com!

Gonna sit right down and write myself a letter…

rolandniemi — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:03:32 +0000

I still say my biggest impetus for deciding to become true blue is Coach Cal. What an amazing guy. And he never ceases to impress me. Most recently the Herald-Leader’s Jerry Tipton at Kentuckysports.com posted a story that solidified the idea that this new coach is going to be like no other — except maybe Rupp — but with much more emotion and outward sincerity.

Tipton writes that Cal has been writing letters to his players, something he does before each season, as a way to help them define their goals. And he’s not looking for the loftiest of lofty goals.

Baby steps seems to be Cal’s mantra.: “My job is to keep these guys in the moment, not worrying about November and December. I must keep them in today. Then there’s no anxiety. There’s nothing crazy. There’s nothing overwhelming. There’s no, ‘Oh, my gosh, what if we … ‘” What a way to inspire, it’s indeed counterintuitive to how most people do things these days. How could anyone (win or lose) not have confidence in this guy?

I still can’t wait for the season to begin so I can dig in for real.

The number 8

rolandniemi — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:50:29 +0000

Okay, it’s kind of like Cher and Tina Turner. You thought I was back, then I wasn’t, now I am again. Oh, and I’m soooo behind. I’m getting excited about Big Blue Madness (which as calculated by Walter’s Wildcat World is but 16 days, 9 hours and 46 minutes away) but realize they’re already camped out. I do have a life (not to say the others don’t) but I think I’ll just be satisfied with a not so good seat. I’m not sure what one wears to a BBM (that sounds kind of gross), but I’m going to guess something blue and big and . . uh . . . mad?

Oh, and last night I had this dream that Coach Cal actually selected me to play on some odd scrimmage team that was brought in to play the regular team. At least I think that is what it was. And we scrimmaged in my old high school gym, and he had us playing with a rolled up paper of some sort in one hand (not the kind you’re probably thinking of). I was so excited and shocked that he asked me to be on the team. Three others did not make it. I was one of an elite team of eight.

Which leads me to the headline of this post. According to one website the number 8 features in dreams about the circulatory system (8 is two circles). Yeah, figure that one out. Although, I did recently have “the Gout” (you must use the “the” when referring to gout) which is not necessarily a circulatory thing but, then again, it kinda sorta is. So I guess my dream was more about gout than basketball. The number 8 also has a variety of meanings in the Bible and Oxygen is number 8 on the Periodic Table of Elements.

But I digress. I’m still working on an earlier promise to become a John Wall scholar. Promises, promises. That post will come soon. I promise.

So long for now and happy 8s!

Wall Already Player of the Year

rolandniemi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:10:21 +0000

I’ve been hearing a lot about John Wall (and Eric Bledsoe) being the players who will work magic this season. Regarding Wall, the high hopes have already been confirmed by foxsports.com who has named him Player of the Year before the first tip-off of the season. I’ll probably be doing a lot of studyin’ on Wall and Bledsoe for the next few weeks. I’ll let you know what I learn — so beginneth the lesson.

Read more on Wall’s pre-season accolade over at kentuckysports.com

Calipari Remembers 9/11

rolandniemi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:02:17 +0000

Kentuckysports.com reports that Calipari will be in New York for a book-signing of his latest book, Bounce Back, on Thursday and plans to visit the World Trade Center site afterward. Proceeds from the book will go to the September 11 Memorial and Museum.

“Knowing that I will be signing books in a store adjacent to the World Trade Center site on the eve of 9/11 moved my wife, Ellen, and I to make this donation in hopes of honoring those who lost their lives on that solemn day eight years ago,” said Calipari.

LeBron James High School Teammate now UK Assistant Coach

rolandniemi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:57:02 +0000

Jerry Tipton over at the LHL’s kentuckysports.com blogs on a FoxSports.com report that UK has hired Brandon Weems, who played with James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. The two have remained very close. Jeff Young, who coached Weems at Walsh University says Weems will be more than just a recruiting tool: “He was hired because of who he is,” Young said, “not necessarily who he knows.” Get more details at kentuckysports.com

Rehab Rumor Confirmed by Gillespie

rolandniemi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:42:01 +0000

MyFoxHouston.com has confirmed former UK Coach Billy Gillespie’s plans for alcohol rehab at the John Lucas Athletes After Care Program. Gillespie was quoted:

“I’m not very proud of what happened in Kentucky two weeks ago,” said Gillispie. “That’s inexcusable at this stage of my life. It should have never happened. I think one of the things I’ve always been is honest and truthful. I’ve never been afraid to accept responsibility. I am accepting responsibility by going to spend some time with John Lucas in Houston. He’s got the John Lucas Athletes After Care Program. He’s going to deal with some alcohol issues for me.”

Read the myfoxhouston.com story here.