http://http://www.kentucky.com/285/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com John Clay 60 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:19:00 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench interactive-ops@herald-leader.com http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/845172.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/845172.html Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:17 EDT
Seemed liked the perfect opportunity for a Top 10 list. But if the Bear is the certain No. 1, who's No. 2? And, for a program that has struggled so over the years, who deserves the bottom of the list?

One man's opinion:

1. Paul Bryant (1946-53; 60-23-5)

Pros: Now considered the greatest college football coach of all time, a then-young Bryant guided the Cats to consecutive New Year's bowl games in the 1949, '50 and '51 seasons. His 1950 team beat Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, ending OU's 31-game winning streak.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/841620.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/841620.html Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:54 EDT
If so, here's a primer on what to expect:

Q: How good is this year's draft?

A: Most so-called experts peg this as a middling crop of tepid talent. Even expected No. 1 pick Blake Griffin, the Oklahoma muscle-man, is far from a rock-solid star, especially because he will have the misfortune of playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. The lack of star power might bring a flurry of last-minute pre-draft activity with teams in the top slots trying desperately to trade down.

Q: Besides Meeks, what about the other Southeastern Conference players?]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/840677.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/840677.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:39 EDT
But in the current slugfest over approving slots at the state's racetracks, the tote board shows only losers.

David Williams lost.

The Senate president flexed his muscle on Monday and squashed the slots bill in Senate committee, a bill he opposes, by the way.

But Williams looked the lesser for keeping the bill from a full throat-clearing on the Senate floor. Given the Republican advantage there, the bill passed by the House on Friday probably would have perished anyway. What's the harm in allowing a free flow of ideas?]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/837446.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/837446.html Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:31 EDT
Bear's Boys.

"We're getting up there," said Ed Hamilton, who played during the 1949-51 seasons and scored a touchdown in the 1952 Cotton Bowl. "Not many of us left."

But with this being Father's Day, thought it might be a good time to inquire just what sort of father figure Paul Bryant was back when he was leading Kentucky to 60 wins and three New Year's Day bowl games from 1946 through 1953.

"He was a lot stricter than your dad," said Neil Lowry. "I can tell you that."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/835580.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/835580.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:54 EDT
Five singles.

No runs.

That's it.

In many ways, it's a wonder the Cincinnati Reds are where they are, above .500 at 33-32, still in the thick of the National League Central race, a young team finally headed in the right direction.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/834256.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/834256.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:07 EDT
Tennessean columnist David Climer this week sang the praises of ex-UK running back Rafael Little, who spent the 2008 season rehabbing his knee for the Tennessee Titans.

Wrote Climer, "... based on the way he performed in non-contact workouts last month, he's making a case for a roster spot. And it doesn't hurt that he doubled as a return man in college at Kentucky."

When one door closes, another opens. With Jodie Meeks headed to the pros, looks like that's more opportunity for Darius Miller, Eric Bledsoe and Jon Hood on the UK basketball roster.

The guess here is that John Calipari will not use the open 13th scholarship, unless there's something too good to pass up.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/831817.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/831817.html Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:09 EDT
He followed his heart.

Oh, sure, Meeks could have pleased Kentucky fans and those of us who would have enjoyed his deep threes for another basketball season. He could have joined John Calipari's star-studded roster and helped in the hunt for banner No. 8.

But his heart wouldn't have been in it. Not completely. It's obvious that by participating in all those workouts and waiting until decision day before announcing his intention to remain in the NBA Draft, remaining in the draft was his intention all along.

After all, there's no time like the present.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/826428.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/826428.html Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:53 EDT
But when the word came late Tuesday afternoon that Overbrook Farm would disperse its yearlings, breeding stock and most of its horses in training at the Keeneland September sale, it was as if the Thoroughbred industry felt Young's passing all over again.

Young did a lot of things in a varied and amazing life. He manufactured the Big Top peanut butter brand that would eventually become Jif for Procter Gamble. He built successful trucking and warehousing companies. He was chairman of the board at Transylvania University, and a trustee at the University of Kentucky, the school from which he graduated.

In this age, when entities seek and protect their fund-raising dollars, there is a William T. Young Campus Center at Transylvania and a William T. Young Library at UK.

There are countless civic causes that Young funded and supported.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/821897.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/821897.html Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:03 EDT
In all, that's eight players with key roles on the two teams in the NBA Finals.

Only four of the combined 10 starters for the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers played American college basketball.

So some are asking: Why did Derrick Rose have to go to college?

And this: So if a stand-in took the SAT for John Calipari's former star, wasn't Rose in a no-win situation?]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/818225.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/818225.html Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:49 EDT
OK, so they are worried about those things.

But they are really worried about this thing: The open date.

Or the lack of an open date.

Fretting football fanatics are bothered by the fact that somehow, after an open date Sept. 12, Rich Brooks' Cats will play 11 consecutive games, with eight of those coming in the brutal Southeastern Conference.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/816765.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/816765.html Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:37 EDT
A caller to Larry Glover's radio show on WVLK last Sunday offered an interesting trivia question.

What do Lute Olson, Jim Calhoun, Norm Stewart and Gene Keady have in common?

Answer: They are all coaches who had NCAA appearances listed as vacated.

Olson's 1999 Arizona appearance is now listed as vacated. Calhoun's 1996 appearance with Connecticut is vacated. Stewart's 1994 appearance with Missouri is vacated. And Keady's 1996 trip with Purdue is listed as vacated by the NCAA.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/813512.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/813512.html Sun, 31 May 2009 06:26 EDT
But this isn't that day.

Here's why: The NCAA allegations against the Memphis basketball program aren't a John Calipari issue.

They're a Derrick Rose issue.

Page 8 of the 13-page letter outlining the allegations sent by the NCAA to the University of Memphis states:]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/810316.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/810316.html Sat, 30 May 2009 07:51 EDT
Then there was Michael Jordan's shot, and Lorenzo Charles' miracle follow, and Keith Smart and Indiana, and, yes, dare we say it, Christian Laettner's shot for posterity, in 1992, the one now reduced to a bad television commercial.

Used to be, the NCAA men's basketball tournament was the place for post-season magic.

Not this year.

This year, the NBA playoffs are what the NCAA Tournament used to be.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/808832.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/808832.html Wed, 27 May 2009 06:00 EDT
"It was humbling," Rod Strickland said.

Only here's the thing: It was expected.

"I knew the first year, I was going to have to fight through it," Strickland said.

This was 2006, when one of the NBA's better and enduring point guards re-entered the ranks of college basketball in an entry-level position by entry-level we mean, pick up the mail, run to the airport, talk to a professor, do what has to be done on John Calipari's staff at the University of Memphis.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/805947.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/805947.html Sun, 24 May 2009 08:04 EDT
Jeremy Jarmon messed up. Let's be clear here. The University of Kentucky football player didn't do what he was supposed to do, and even if his mistake was minor, his punishment is still major.

You can blame the NCAA if you want, and that's fine. Jeremy Jarmon says he wasn't cheating, not intentionally, but you can blame the cheaters.

That's the way it works.

But, in the end, maybe Jarmon can help the good kids, too.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/802501.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/802501.html Thu, 21 May 2009 09:40 EDT
The best part of the John Wall news conference Wednesday was the point guard's smile when asked about the "stellar" recruiting class joining him at Kentucky.

OK, that "two or three years" comment from Wall about how long he might stay at Kentucky might be looked upon by opposing coaches as someone yelling fire in a crowded theater.

Just when you thought it was only the young people who knew how to use Twitter, Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin is in hot water after sending out a tweet publicizing a football commitment. As 50-year-old John Calipari would tell the 34-year-old Kiffin, you can't do that. If you do, better use code.

The best fun now is listening to new Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen rib new Auburn coach Gene Chizik over limos, and ex-Florida coach Steve Spurrier rib current Florida coach Urban Meyer over Notre Dame rumors, and ex-Florida quarterback Shane Matthews getting under Meyer's skin with some criticisms of the current Gators.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/801282.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/801282.html Wed, 20 May 2009 08:36 EDT
The coveted point guard from Raleigh, N.C., is going to play basketball at the University of Kentucky, joining a Big Blue galaxy of four-stars and five-stars in what might be the best collection of first-year talent college basketball has ever seen.

So let the high expectations begin.

Seriously.

This is normally the point where the voice-of-reason columnist jumps in and preaches patience and realism, and points out that great recruits don't always equate to great teams.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/799203.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/799203.html Mon, 18 May 2009 06:33 EDT
"She looks good, doesn't she," said Baffert, with son Bode at his feet. "Too good."

A few minutes later, the fantastic filly would prove to be exactly that, becoming the first female to win the middle leg of the Triple Crown since 1924.

But is she good enough to be a game-changer?

We're not talking about a save-the-sport type game-changer. Thoroughbred racing has been pining for an equine savior for far too long. We're tired of that tired talk. The industry's problems are too deep and too complex to be solved by a single animal, especially when the sport refuses to unite under anything resembling a single governing body.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/798426.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/798426.html Sun, 17 May 2009 06:08 EDT
This was Vindication Day.

Rachel Alexandra's historic win in the 134th Preakness Stakes before 77,850 at Pimlico on Saturday, making her the first filly to win the second leg of the Triple Crown since 1924, was a heaping helping of justification.

It was vindication for Calvin Borel, who had the backbone to become the first jockey to abdicate his throne on a Kentucky Derby winner even after his spectacular ride two weeks back had so much to do with Mine That Bird becoming that Kentucky Derby winner and stick to his promise to ride the filly, even in a race a girl had not won in nearly nine decades.

It was vindication for Mine That Bird, the 50-1 Derby Day surprise, who under a different rider on a different surface under different circumstances, flattened his fluke status by finishing a fast-closing second, just a length in rear of Rachel at the wire.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/797467.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/797467.html Sat, 16 May 2009 07:36 EDT
It was 9:45 Friday morning, and we media members were in Pimlico vice president Mike Gathagan's office waiting to hear Borel via speakerphone. His fiancee said she would go get him. Calvin was mowing the yard.

Joke: Was he only mowing right along the fence?

But then that's Calvin. Tuesday he's in Hollywood doing the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Thursday, he's riding eight races at Churchill. Friday, he's mowing his own yard.

Saturday, he's atop the filly Rachel Alexandra, becoming the first jockey in Triple Crown history to jump off the Kentucky Derby winner onto another horse for the Preakness.]]>