I was just thinking about it- doesn't the magic generally disappear from something as you get older? You know when you're a kid, and the world is so big and you need someone to look up to, UK ball players are there. Do you think your kids don't see magic, or do you not see the magic?

I can see your point of view though, there was something warm and fuzzy about those mid-nineties Pitino years and recent teams has seemed to lack. I remember crying when Laettner hit The Shot. I don't think I could cry over any UK team anymore. But does that have to do with me being older? Or because UK has lost its luster?

 

 

How could anything at UK over the last 2 years be looked at as magic?

This will be my last post on this subject, ever. I am so tired of this subject and while I am sure I will tied to the whipping post for this, ... I really don't care.

 

I can cheer for almost ANY kid who puts on the UK jersey in any sport. Whether it be in this era, the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, now, etc.

 

Chuck Hayes, Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans, Jodie Meeks are among my favorite players in the more modern era of UK hoops.

 

Jeff Shepherd & Scott Padgett on the 98 championship team

 

Tony Delk and Walter McCarty on the 96 championship team

 

The Unforgettables (Mashburn, Feldhaus, Pelphry, Farmer and company)

 

Kenny Walker, Winston Bennett, Sam Bowie, Ed Davender and others from the 1980's.

 

Jay Schidler, Kyle Macy, Rick Roby, Mike Phillips, James Lee and others from the 1970's.

 

As far as dad's throwing things at TV's, my father has thrown things (and profanities) at the TV and radio during UK games as long as I can remember, 1960's to now. Not as much now as he has grown more patient and mature with age.

 

There is more anger from some of you UK 'fans' now then there was from many when Eddie Sutton almost destroyed the UK program. HE NEARLY BURIED UK HOOPS FOREVER!!!

 

I have more respect for a poster like GT who while supporting Huggins and despising those who ran him off, still supported those kids and coaches. If Huggs and the Bearcats had a bad season, he never stopped supporting them. Or RP who supports a team I love to hate. But he knew this wasn't going to be a great year for Duke but he STILL supported them and never jumped ship on the team or his coach. I have heard alleged UK fans state recently "I hope they lose so we can get rid of Tubby". My response? I will NEVER cheer for a UK team to lose, EVER. That is not what fans do. It flies in the face of what a 'fan' is supposed to be! Fans of a program are fans of a program regardless. Thru good times and bad. And if the past 2 seasons are too much for some of you to stand then jump. Jump high, jump hard and jump fast.

 

The bottom line is that I am a UK fan regardless. If I can remain a fan thru what Sutton's regime did to the program and the national shame it brought with it, and if I can remain a fan after what a few football coaches did to the program and take the verbal abuse I received from many for supporting Brooks, then I can live thru a few seasons below what some UK fans believe is rightfully 'ours', ... being the only team that matters.

 

I will cheer for Tubby and the Cats regardless of those 'fans' who will claim to no longer be a fan. I hope Tubby is back next year and we can weed a few more of you out. I can think of no better man to represent the team and university that I cheer for than Orlando 'Tubby' Smith. Maybe I can even get better seats like I did for football this season! But when they have a better season next year, ... I expect some of you will weasle your way back onto the bandwagon as you always do. But if Tubby were to leave (and I certainly hope he doesn't), I will still cheer for the Cats. Why? Because I have always been and will always be a UK Wildcat Fan!

 

GO CATS!!!

 

:thumb: I have no reason to read any farther then this post.

Don't act like it has always been nothing but Kentucky boys. UK's top 12 scorers all time are as follows: Dan Issel, Kenny Walker, Jack Givins, Keith Bogans, Tony Delk, Jamal Mashburn, Kevin Grevey, Tayshaun Prince, Cotton Nash, Alex Groza, Ed Davender, & Louie Dampier. Other than being great scorers what do most of them have in common? Except for Givins, none of them were raised in the Bluegrass. I was young back then, but I don't remember people not supporting the team as much because Walker, and Davender weren't from Kentucky. I was never an issue until recently.

 

Not saying we do not need other talent mixed in as we always have had, but there has to be a happy medium. Remember less than 1 minute played by anyone from Ky. in the UK/UL game. Yes you are right that aren't from the bluegrass learn the passion; however as many or more come to use Ky as a stepping stone to the NBA. No passion on the court and no heart is the product.

:thumb: good points made here strike. Imo once a player puts on that Kentucky jersey that makes him a 'Kentucky Boy" to all the true fans. I also would love to see in state kids play at U.K if they have the talent and fit the needs of the team at the time. My point is that once they pull that "Kentucky" jersey on they are citizens of the Big Blue Nation no matter where they are from. :thumb:

 

I couldn't disagree more.:confused:

 

Ask them if they are "Kentucky Boys" and see what they tell you.

I was too young to remember my first UK game, but I do remember that taking the 4.5 hour trip from Pike County to Lexington as being a ritual about 3 weekends a year.

 

One of my first memories of UK basketball is after a game staying and seeing my dad and grandfather stand up and singing "My Old Kentucky Home"

 

UK basketball made the biggest impression on me in 1992, I was 13 and had watched John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus and Richie Farmer, boys from Eastern Kentucky, lead UK to within one shot of the Final Four.

 

Then in 1996 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 3 from TN., mixed with Walker, Sheppard, Pope, Turner, and McCarty win a NC.

 

In 1997 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 2 from TN., mixed with Edward, Turner, Mohammed, and Magloire lose in the title game.

 

In 1998 I watched 2 kids from Ky, 1 becoming an All-American, the other working his butt off to become a sharp-shooter, help lead UK to a NC.

 

All those teams was fun to watch, they pressed, shot the 3, and and played with a huge amount of pride. I could relate to guys, I was John Pelphrey and my brother was Richie Farmer on our court. Jamal Mashburn was the answer to every UK fans prayers, Turner was the almost perfect PG, Heshimu Evans is one of my all-time favorites, and in high school I wanted a tattoo like Ron Mercer. Later on I watched as my younger cousins were Padgett and Mills.

 

I wanted to be Jeff Sheppard, cause I would be able to ball and the ladies would love.

 

 

Now-

I don't see kids in Jr. High want to be any UK player

 

I see kids from Paintsville and Mason Co. go to Marshall and Tenn., or get ran off

 

I see my dad want to throw junk at the t.v.

 

I see uninspired play.

 

I see no pride.

 

I go to Rupp and I'm bored.

 

More importantly I can't relate to anyone on the past 5-6 teams.

 

That's a great post...well done!

One more thing, and then I'm done.

 

Perhaps some of the reason our youth isn't as die-hard as we were is because they are exposed to a lot more teams. When I was young UK and whoever they played was all I saw on TV. Now kids have tons of sports channels that broadcast different games from all over the country.

 

But I still agree that the passion for UK basketball comes from the passion of those who play for UK. If it isn't on the court, it isn't going to be in the stands or in people's living rooms either.

JD from another JD nicely put my friend. I have been a UK fan since the late 50's when my grandfather gave me my first transistor radio and said two stations to listen to UK basketball and Reds baseball. I to share your thoughts and comments however, I can not do anything else but bleed Kentucky Blue my friend. JD

UK & Tubby are like a marriage that isnt working. No matter how much counseling & talk, there are major problems. Sometimes a divorce is the best solution. I love Uk & think tubby is a good coach but the 2 just do not go together anymore.

 

I am not happy w/ an 8 Seed or being consider only a top 28-32 team in the country.

 

Facts are facts & the facts say to me that Tubby needs to move on & the rebuilding needs to start SOON

This will be my last post on this subject, ever. I am so tired of this subject and while I am sure I will tied to the whipping post for this, ... I really don't care.

 

I can cheer for almost ANY kid who puts on the UK jersey in any sport. Whether it be in this era, the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, now, etc.

 

Chuck Hayes, Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans, Jodie Meeks are among my favorite players in the more modern era of UK hoops.

 

Jeff Shepherd & Scott Padgett on the 98 championship team

 

Tony Delk and Walter McCarty on the 96 championship team

 

The Unforgettables (Mashburn, Feldhaus, Pelphry, Farmer and company)

 

Kenny Walker, Winston Bennett, Sam Bowie, Ed Davender and others from the 1980's.

 

Jay Schidler, Kyle Macy, Rick Roby, Mike Phillips, James Lee and others from the 1970's.

 

As far as dad's throwing things at TV's, my father has thrown things (and profanities) at the TV and radio during UK games as long as I can remember, 1960's to now. Not as much now as he has grown more patient and mature with age.

 

There is more anger from some of you UK 'fans' now then there was from many when Eddie Sutton almost destroyed the UK program. HE NEARLY BURIED UK HOOPS FOREVER!!!

 

I have more respect for a poster like GT who while supporting Huggins and despising those who ran him off, still supported those kids and coaches. If Huggs and the Bearcats had a bad season, he never stopped supporting them. Or RP who supports a team I love to hate. But he knew this wasn't going to be a great year for Duke but he STILL supported them and never jumped ship on the team or his coach. I have heard alleged UK fans state recently "I hope they lose so we can get rid of Tubby". My response? I will NEVER cheer for a UK team to lose, EVER. That is not what fans do. It flies in the face of what a 'fan' is supposed to be! Fans of a program are fans of a program regardless. Thru good times and bad. And if the past 2 seasons are too much for some of you to stand then jump. Jump high, jump hard and jump fast.

 

The bottom line is that I am a UK fan regardless. If I can remain a fan thru what Sutton's regime did to the program and the national shame it brought with it, and if I can remain a fan after what a few football coaches did to the program and take the verbal abuse I received from many for supporting Brooks, then I can live thru a few seasons below what some UK fans believe is rightfully 'ours', ... being the only team that matters.

 

I will cheer for Tubby and the Cats regardless of those 'fans' who will claim to no longer be a fan. I hope Tubby is back next year and we can weed a few more of you out. I can think of no better man to represent the team and university that I cheer for than Orlando 'Tubby' Smith. Maybe I can even get better seats like I did for football this season! But when they have a better season next year, ... I expect some of you will weasle your way back onto the bandwagon as you always do. But if Tubby were to leave (and I certainly hope he doesn't), I will still cheer for the Cats. Why? Because I have always been and will always be a UK Wildcat Fan!

 

GO CATS!!!

I can't top that, so I will not even try. Great post.:thumb:

The definition of fanatic - marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion

 

 

 

To you guys that call me a "fair weather fan", in the first post -

 

I am not the definition of a fanatic anymore.

 

Did I ever say I root against the Wildcats?

 

Did I ever say I want them to fail?

 

Did I ever say I want Tubby fired?

 

 

NO!

 

I have become critical of them.

 

One of my best memories in the past few years is Sparks knocking down the big three then going to look at Billy Packer.

Then I get on here and see some of you "fans" bash "Casper", a Kentucky boy, because he has a shooting slump.

 

I rooted for Stockton and Carrier, unlike most of you "fans", was I critical and honest about their ability, yes. I still hoped they would succeed though.

 

I am not a fanatic anymore because I do not live and die with every shot, like i did with Pelphrey, Farmer, Delk, Mills, Padgett, and a few more, that Joe Crawford takes, I can't, he wanted to leave but was forced to stay.

 

I do not get upset when Morris fouls out or misses a FT, because like Crawford he was gone, but no one wanted him.

 

I do not rush home to watch the Wildcats anymore.

 

I do not stay up late to watch tape delays.

 

 

I am not a "fanatic", but I don't want them to fail.

I feel your emotion. I will say it for you...it is time for a change.

I've watched UK since 1975. I could name you every person on the Roster of any particular year until the last few teams they have had. Ky Basketball has declined in popularity with fans in the Commonwealth. We always had a walk on that everyone wanted to see play, Gettlefinger, Svboda, Maseillo, Mills to name a few. We're spoiled when it comes to basketball. We're addicted to anything that goes along with the blue and white. We need ballplayers that play just because they love the game. We need blisters and floor burns. We need to do like our surrounding states and give these KY kids a scholarship. Basketball in the Bluegrass is no where near it was when Rex was king of the court.

JD, are you changing your stance now? Are you are saying you still support the program just not with "uncritical devotion"?

 

When your thread title says "I am not a UK fan anymore", then I take it to mean just that, that you don't support them anymore. Maybe you meant to use fanatic in the thread title.

 

Fan and Fanatic do not carry the same meaning in the real world. Nobody I know would meet your definition of fanatic. I doubt you ever did, and neither have I. But that is not what the word fan means to 99.9% of the sporting world.

I was too young to remember my first UK game, but I do remember that taking the 4.5 hour trip from Pike County to Lexington as being a ritual about 3 weekends a year.

 

One of my first memories of UK basketball is after a game staying and seeing my dad and grandfather stand up and singing "My Old Kentucky Home"

 

UK basketball made the biggest impression on me in 1992, I was 13 and had watched John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus and Richie Farmer, boys from Eastern Kentucky, lead UK to within one shot of the Final Four.

 

Then in 1996 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 3 from TN., mixed with Walker, Sheppard, Pope, Turner, and McCarty win a NC.

 

In 1997 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 2 from TN., mixed with Edward, Turner, Mohammed, and Magloire lose in the title game.

 

In 1998 I watched 2 kids from Ky, 1 becoming an All-American, the other working his butt off to become a sharp-shooter, help lead UK to a NC.

 

All those teams was fun to watch, they pressed, shot the 3, and and played with a huge amount of pride. I could relate to guys, I was John Pelphrey and my brother was Richie Farmer on our court. Jamal Mashburn was the answer to every UK fans prayers, Turner was the almost perfect PG, Heshimu Evans is one of my all-time favorites, and in high school I wanted a tattoo like Ron Mercer. Later on I watched as my younger cousins were Padgett and Mills.

 

I wanted to be Jeff Sheppard, cause I would be able to ball and the ladies would love.

 

 

Now-

I don't see kids in Jr. High want to be any UK player

 

I see kids from Paintsville and Mason Co. go to Marshall and Tenn., or get ran off

 

I see my dad want to throw junk at the t.v.

 

I see uninspired play.

 

I see no pride.

 

I go to Rupp and I'm bored.

 

More importantly I can't relate to anyone on the past 5-6 teams.

 

 

 

WOW!!! This post was ripped from my heart. I can't believe someone was actually able to put their heart on the line on a subject many considered to be a "Dead Horse", but JD you've put a spin on this topic like no other. I commend you on a great post, maybe the single greatest post I have read.

 

 

Thank You,:thumb:

 

 

 

1996

I lost my gusto as a UK fan after this years UK/UL basketball game. You have an entire state rivoted on the game. Tradition, rivalry, bragging rights all at stake. During the game less than 1 minute was played by a player on either team who was raised in Ky. Why should an entire state care about a game more than the players who are playing in it? The boys/men on that court had no idea what the UK/UL rivalry meant. Personally, I am sick of both programs overlooking good Ky talent with great heart for great talent elsewhere with 0 heart. This is no more Tubby Smith's doings that it is Ricky P's. I will give Coach Brooks and Cohen credit for bringing in good Ky athletes. I hope they will continue with this as there programs continue to improve.

 

 

I think that the bolded, while not critical of what you are trying to say, represents an incorrect idea in the heads of many Kentuckians. The high school basketball talent in the state has never been amoung the highest in the nation. Now there have been greats here and there, but overall, this would not be a talent hotspot. Some people have been critical of Tubby for not getting KY boys, but then at the same time, critical for getting guys like Josh Carrier, or Brandon Stockton, two Mr. Kentucky Basketball players.

 

Some people are seeing that now, the better ATHLETES, are not choosing basketball as thier passion, but instead choosing football, and Coach Brooks and the football program have benifitted immensly. Football in the state of Kentucky has advanced so far in the past 15 years, that the talent pool is changing away from basketball and towards football.