Scott Baio

There lies the root of the problem. Just a big load of crap from McWhorter in my opinion. He said they may have checked out already...he didn't know. Sounds like he didn't want to play.

You can't cancel a tournament and then uncancel it. It's a KHSAA rule. So all you corbinites that were complaning, talk to the Middlesboro AD and quit blaming it on NL.

Final from the first round of the 13th region tournament.

While I understand your point about talent, consider that for the 2009-2010 season, UK possessed more talent than any other team in the nation, and yet they didn't even advance to the Final Four. I don't know much about basketball, but when I watched the UK-WV game it was clear that the UK players completely panicked when they got down by double-digits in the second half. They had tons of time to make up the point differential by playing to their strength (i.e., the inside game), and yet what did they do? They resorted to throwing up an insane number of 3-pointers, which was crazy given that long-range shooting was their offensive weakness. The big reason UK lost that game was their inexperience, in my opinion. A team with better leadership would not have reacted the way UK did in the second half of that game.

 

While I would prefer to have talented guys on the team (as opposed to less talented guys), I do offer this: if every year UK basically has a "brand-new" team chock full of guys who are 5-star talent but freshmen, with little upperclassman leadership (i.e., UK in 2009/2010 and apparently UK again in 2010/2011), they will not make it to many Final Fours and will not win ANY NCAA titles.

I agree inexpierience played a role in the loss, but in my opinion the biggest reason for the loss was Bob Huggins game plan. He wanted to take away cousins and patterson touches in the paint as well as second chance points, and he did. I am a huge Cal fan but on that night Huggins and his players excuted their game plan and we didn't.

Coach Keith is the reason Clay isn't getting a ton of interest for this job. Coach Keith was a great coach but his time as Clay's head basketball coach is over, his health won't allow him to do it. But a lot of the community there still won't him to be the coach, and Coach Keith himself still try's to be the coach in a round about way and it makes it very hard for whom ever the actual coach is, to do their job.

Rumor has it that Robert Marcum(former player and 1992 graduate) has been offered the job. Not sure if he has accepted the job or not.

I don't think that is true, since that haven't conducted interviews yet.

It's not going to be a big name, the word out of clay county is that whom ever is hired as coach will have to be a classroom teacher and will not recieve extended days. The new coach will recieve teaching pay and an $8000 stipend. So Wright, Hicks and maybe Booher (not for sure what he does at SV) are not going to take a pay cut or want to go back to the classroom just to coach at CC.

I'ver heard South Laurel assistant Brad Sizemore has interviewed a couple of times.

UK:dancingpa

Kanter, Jones, and Leslie are all in the 6'7-6'9 range, I believe.

 

Poole is either 6'5 or 6'6.

 

All are forwards that would join Liggins, Miller, and POSSIBLY Dodson if him going to the draft is just a Cousins' April Fools Joke.

 

Then you have Jon Hood who is also a 3/4 player. Obviously he isn't going to see much time, but just pointing out that there'd be a log jam at that position.

 

Then you have 6'3 Lamb who is a 1/2 type player. If Bledsoe stay, he would then be competing with Bledsoe, Selby, AND Knight for playing time.

 

If they go anywhere else, both could be stars their freshmen year.

 

But like I said before...I could be completely off. I guess we'll find out in the next 6 weeks.

Terrence Jones is a wing/3 and will have no problem playing over Poole, Darius Miller would be who he has to beat out.

Hood had never played the 4.

Kanter is a 5 that plays with his back to the basket.

Leslie is a 6'9 freak athlete that would fit perfect in the 4 spot in the DDM offense, he really fits the 4 spot in the DDM better than PPat.

Bledsoe isn't coming back he is projected to be a lottery pick he would be crazy to turn down that money, especially with all the PG talent in the 2010 class. Selby and Knight can play the point. I honestly like Selby better at the point.

Without knowing about all the teams in the region that well I would say:

 

Clay Co.

Bell Co.

Corbin

South Laurel

Knox Central

 

Of course with all the transfer rumors that could change really quick!

What rumors?

Per KSR.

Duke, Kentucky, and Texas all were mentioned in the Rivers statement.

What about Travis Ford replacing Pitino (if he leaves)?

I thought he and Boeheim were friends? Boeheim donated to the Hoops for Hati and discussed playing the cats next season.

Unfortunetly I don't think I will be making it to any games this year, but those ice cream cones are amazing. I could eat 40 of them.

I look for these kids to have big years next year in the 13th.

J.V Hooker - Clay County

Ben Maden - Bell County

Travis Smith - Corbin

Mathew Mitchell - Clay County

Also I think these guys could have a break out year;

Cody Likins - North Laurel

Jordan Fox - Jackson County

Blake Sanders - South Laurel

UNLV v. Northern Iowa - I went with Northern Iowa

UTEP v. Butler - I went with UTEP

1- Warren Central

1- Ballard

1- Christian County

1- Scott County

1- West Jessamine

1- Shelby Valley

1- Mason County

1- Knott County Central

2- Ballard

2- Scott County

2- Shelby Valley

2- Mason County

3- Ballard

3- Shelby Valley

5- Ballard

TB - 131

Spurlock will be back. He is a very good coach and Clay brings back more than most in the 13th for the 2010-2011 season. The region has been Corbin's for the past few years, .... it has been their cycle. They are the most talented team in the 13th and Coach P is a good coach. But next year, the region should be VERY wide open with all that Corbin & South are losing this season.

I don't know it clay will bring Spurlock back next year or not. He and Bobby Keith aren't on the same page, and he (Keith) still calls the shots when it comes to Clay County b-ball.

I don't know how its been Corbins region the past few years, they made to the show last year but before that SL owned the 13th.

Rondo didn't have the supporting cast or a system that fit his game while at UK.

Rondo was hands down better defensively, and a better rebounder and maybe a better passer, but Wall is just a natural scorer. Neither were/are great shooters. But as much as I loved Rondo I have to give it to Wall.

Over 4,000 tickets sold tonight. Both games were good games and the atmosphere of the Corbin v. Bell Co. game was amazing. I was down on the floor and it got very loud during the overtimes. The rest of this tournament should be great. Saturday and Monday night could potentially sell out.

Oringinally posted by Les 13th Region Tournament goes to The Arena

 

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After getting voted down today, 11-6, then seeing another proposal get voted down 13-4, the 17 schools finally decided to vote 13-4 in favor of having the Arena host the boys and girls 13th Region Tourney for the next four years. But of course, they (the 13th Region Policy Board) can have a vote after the first year and change to another proposal, but you would have to have to get the 66 percent vote approval.

 

From what I understand there will be risers (I guess stands) put down on the floor for floor seating and cost of single night tickets are 9 dollars. 1,500 hundred bucks is guaranteed to each school in the 13th Region, while the other proposal would have guaranteed something like 400 bucks.

Their are 500 floor seats on risers. These are designated for the sponsors of the tournament. The seats that didn't sell are being sold for $15 a session. The reserved seats on the side court are $9.

First of all, Baio, the members of the media "paid" for a nice hospitality room. Do you know how much the media has to PAY to cover the boys and girls tournament? Have you heard of someone PAYING to provide a public service to the community and school?

 

Well, I'll have you know $500.00 should be enough from each radio station to cover the grapes, apples, bananas, and popcorn they had Monday Night. Guess you didn't know that did you? No, no, didn't think so. So, actually, the media paid and paid very well for a "decent" hospitality room that they couldn't provide.

 

Secondly, we'll see if the Regional Tournament is back at THE ARENA next year, yet alone when it gets to Harlan Co. in a few years.

 

By the way, if you think the printing company made the mistake, then you obviously think Scott Baio is still a hit tv show.

 

Also, if you think US 25E and the Corbin Bypass are state of the art roads, then you should think US 119 coming to Harlan is an interstate.

 

Finally, I thought your work on Charles in Charge and Happy Days was about as good as the City of Corbin's work on the "Working" Hospitality Room!

Yes I did know that, I think its fair. All radio stations sell ads to their listening area and the organizers thought they should cover the lost revenue from the folks that stay home and listen instead of attending. Sell more ads. IMO its fair. A radio station can't just show up at Rupp Arena and say they are here to cover the game, they have to pay a fee to be there. Thats part of it.

25E is a good road. as for 119 there is nothing wrong with it expcept its very curvey (like most other roads in the mountains) but Harlan County is a long trip for most of the 13th region schools.

I know the printing company made the mistake :thumb:.

First of all, if you think there were one thousand people there Monday Night, you must have been watching Big Monday on ESPN instead of the Pineville vs. North Laurel or Harlan Co. vs. Whitley Co. games at The Arena. So, yes all of those kids got the "experience" of a lifetime playing in front of 8,000 empty seats. I'm sure the kids from Pineville and Whitley Co. will NEVER forget it. It was life changing I'm sure. I got the same feeling I did in 1996 when i walked into the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ for Kentucky and UMASS in the Final Four. Chill bumps came up all over me and I could feel the screaming fans from all corners. I'm sure the kids from Pineville and Whitley Co. felt it too, just ask them. Also, for your information, there's nothing wrong with my eyes, maybe my binoculars that I was looking through trying to find my family in Row Z.

 

Secondly, as far as ticket prices, there HAVE NEVER been split sessions for first round girls games at the high school venues. I have been covering Regional Tournaments probably since you (Scott Baio) wa a big hit on "Charles in Charge" so I think I'd trust my judgment over yours. Therefore, Monday through Thursday, people would be paying four or five dollars at the high schools compared to nine, ten, or a hundred (if you bought concessions) at the Arena. Not to mention, if your wife and kids were with you (if you have any), you were out a minimum of $32.00 like I said in the previous post (and that's in the corners of the Arena where you probably have to bring a portable telescope to see the score let alone the game.

 

Third, about the hospitality, the only thing I was "reaching" for is something to carry all the grapes, bananas, and apples I could possibly carry out of there from the City of Corbin. I wanted to make sure if I was going to have to eat Corbin's "freshly grown fruit", I was going to wipe them out so maybe they could afford some peanuts and possbily pretzels for the next night (even though I know that's stretching it a bit, Rold Gold pretzels are getting pricy these days). I think people who leave work and then drive to cover a double header should at least be given finger sandwiches and not just "the finger" by making them eat grapes, apples, and oh yeah let's not forget "wrapped grapefruit". Come on, people working for "their kids and their communities" should be treated a little better than that Baio. I think we should put "Charles in Charge" of the media hospitality room next year. On a side note, since you said I was really "reaching hear", maybe you should learn that it's "here" and not "hear" because obviously, there's something wrong with your grammar, or maybe even your "HEAR-ing"? Who knows?

 

Fourth, kids are going to remember the success or failure they had at the Regional Tournament, not where it was held. I mean, what kid from Pineville is going to go to a "Carrie Underwood" concert at the Arena in a couple of months and talk to their friends about what an exhilerating experience it was to play on that floor and get beat 73-46 by North Laurel in front of a packed house that was going nuts Monday Night at the Arena?

 

Finally, you're telling me that the Printing Company thought it was the Harlan Co. Green Dragons. OK, well maybe when the Tournament is back at the high schools in a few years, that the same printing company will think Scott baio is still popular and put him on the cover as a marketing strategy. Do you think that will work? Come on, you know the printing company printed the info they were given, it was NL's fault. They turned in the wrong info, probably because they wanted to Word Filter ViolationWord Filter ViolationWord Filter ViolationWord Filter Violation Harlan Co. off for wanting to have it in their "State of the Art" facility that's recently been committed. I guess that's a crime too isn't it?

 

So Baio, I leave you with the parting words of the 1980's, since that's probably the era you remember best like these kids will remember playing in The Arena, "THANK GOD Charles is NOT in Charge of ME!!!!!"

God Bless

You obviously you think you know everything, but in all reallity the arena officals were the ones who said there were 1,000 tickets sold. I believe they would know more about it than you.

Get over the hospitality room, if you are hungry go and buy yourself something to eat. You obviously have a job, spend a little money everything in life isn't free. Just because you are part of the media doesn't mean you should get a free meal the only people who should be guaranteed a free meal is the players that are particpating.

It was absolutely the printing company that made the mistake but the folks in Harlan County doesn't want to believe that. As for the "state of art facility" I haven't go to see yet, but I have heard it is very nice. When Harlan County gets a state of the art road to get there I think it would be a great place to host it. But no matter if you like or not, for the next four years the

13th region tournament is going to be held at the arena.

By the way if you liked my work on "Charles in Charge" you should go back and check out my on "Happy Days" me and the Fonz had some good times.

Chachi

So....if you wanted to watch a good basketball game tomorrow night, would you recommend driving two hours to watch the game in this new arena??[/quote

 

Both games tomorrow night should be very good games.

After watching the entire first round of the Girls 13th Region Tournament at the all new Arena in Corbin, below are a few of my reflections about the whole Arena experience:

 

1. Atmosphere. With the Girls 1st Round of the 13th Region Tournament in the books, I sat there on press row both nights thinking about how far the fans actually are from the floor. There were times where I couldn't really tell what school everyone was from because they were so spread out throughout the entire Arena. To me, this takes away from the whole atmosphere of the Regional Tournament and how electric the gymanasiums around the 13th Region can be with the student sections close to the floor, right on top of the action creating a very neat environment for all of the participants. At The Arena, the fans are so far from the floor that you can even pick out individual people from different schools from press row. To me, this completely diminishes the whole atmosphere of the Regional Tournament. Also, it takes away from the sense of community. Reason being, everyone from one school/one community can't sit together because there's reserved seats already bought/taken and people are just so spread out that you really can't point to a particular section and designate that as North Laurel fans or Corbin fans, etc.

 

2. Expense. The biggest complaint I have about the Arena is the expense. Let's say perhaps you have two teams (boys and girls) in the Regional Tournament like Clay Co., both of which have a chance to win the whole thing. If you have a family of four, to go watch your beloved Tigers in both the Boys and Girls Tournament, it's going to cost you A) a minimum of $32.00 a night for admission, and that's to sit in places that you can't see a thing in, B) cost of gas to get there each night up to 5 nights and C) not to mention the OUTRAGEOUS cost of concessions. You'd have to consider taking a mortgage out on your home to attend the Regional Tournament ALL nights and buy concessions. That takes away from what a Regional Tournament is all about and it's about celebrating the accomplishments of the KIDS!!! Grandmothers and Grandfathers around Eastern KY can't afford to watch their grandchildren play because of cost with a down economy!!!! Are you kidding me??? The expense of simply going to support your child/grandchild/niece/nephew is just a crime because the Regional Tournament should be a celebration of making it that far, not raping people of their hard earned dollars.

 

3. Hospitality. As a media member, I couldn't help but take a stroll into the Media, or should I say "WORKING" hospitality room at The Arena. Let me say, unless you're a Richard Simmons fan and consistently diet on grapes, bananas, and apples (or please do not let me leave out individually wrapped grapefruit), I wouldn't advise wasting your time. I walk into the Hospitality room to see a bowl of popcorn, potato chips, and fruit along with a fountain for drinks. My first thought was "Whoa, let's pig out". I mean, come on guys!!! I'll never forget the last time the All 'A' Regional Tournament was at Williamsburg. That was the best hospitality room I've EVER been to. The ladies working were so sweet and had prepared such a delicious meal for the folks of media, etc. that I can't help but give them props. They had homemade everything and I almost felt guilty for the expense they endured plus the hard work to put together such a good set up. At The Arena, however, get out your Dexatrim because nobody from the media will dare gain a pound the week of the Regional Tournament, that is unless they choose to splurge out their earnings and buy the $4.00 hot dog ONLY if it's plain, mustard will cost you an extra $.50. I almost feel like I'm single handedly decreasing the Kentucky State budget deficit by just entering into The Arena.

 

4. Setting. Sure, I'll give them credit. The Arena does make you feel like you're walking into Rupp or somewhere of the equivalent. Only problem is there's NO John Wall, there's NO Coach Cal, and most importantly, there's NOT 24,000 others screaming for the SAME TEAM!!!! I'd much rather see the Regional Tournament in a high school gym to celebrate that particular community. What does The Arena celebrate??? Hard earned tax dollars for concerts, tractor pulls, Disney on Ice, and most of all, monster trucks which by the way are significantly overpriced themselves. In my years of covering Regional Tournaments, I can tell you individual people I've met working in places like the hospitality room, the pass gate, the Regional tournament draw, etc. and could identify them with that particular school and community. Now, it just feels like I'm going to Lexington to watch a Knox County middle school tournament. It just doesn't make any sense and it just takes away from the feel of a Regional Tournament.

 

5. Programs. Time and time again at Regional tournaments, the one thing I always collect is the Tournament Programs. They always have sections and sponsors in there for individual towns that have teams in the Regional Tournament. Always, the programs are something I look forward to. However, as I was scanning through my program in Game 2 Monday Night, I noticed one thing was wrong. Harlan Co. was called the Green Dragons, the nickname of their cross town RIVALS!!!!! That's like going to an SEC Tournament in Nashville and finding the Tournament program lists Kentucky as the Cardinals of red and black coached by "that other Italian northeasterner". How humiliating was that??? That alone shows me that the program obviously had ZERO thought put into it and it was just thrown together like the ill-tasting hot dogs as just another thing to make another $20.00 off of. The program is supposed to highlight the players, the coaches, the cheerleaders, and most of all, THE SCHOOL!!!! No matter if it was a mistake or not, that was completely inexcusable and should have infuriated the Harlan Co. faithful. However, God forbid we list North Laurel as the Cardinals or Bell Co. as the Yellow Jackets. There would have been a REVOLT!!!

 

Look, I'm not saying I hate The Arena, want to boycott The Arena, or never want to set foot in there again, but folks let's celebrate our kids of Eastern KY and our communities. A lot of our towns are dying as they are and they, too, need our help. We should not put a price tag on EVERYTHING and get back to the days where small gyms were packed and you couldn't hear yourself think for a Regional Tournament Semi-Final or Final game. That's what people enjoy is fun, the environment, the atmosphere, not selling their car just to watch their kid compete. Perhaps we have all gotten "a little above our raising".

I am going to respond to each of your points by the way you numbered them.

1.) Monday night the arena sold over 1,000 seats for the 1st round girls tournament. Last year at Bell County they sold a little over 500, so there were more people at the arena and in reallity neither of those crowds will make an "atmosphere" there isn't enough people. I was sitting in the reseved seats and had no problem seeing any of the action. Maybe you should get an your eyes checked if you had that much trouble watching the game or the fans in the stands from press row.

2.)It is the same price at the arena as it would be if one of the high schools were hosting it. Its $8 per person to attend 2 games. If it were at a high school and they had split sessions the admission price would be $5 per game. Also the concessions are a little higher than at most high school gyms but not as drastic as you make it out to be. The arena changed its prices for the region tournament from its normal concert concession prices.

3.) Hospitallity...seriously you are really reaching hear. The schools don't have to provide a media hospitality, so take what you get and move on.

4.) The arena provides these kids an opportunity to play in a big arena that most kids will never get. Lets face it most kids athletic careers are over after high school and playing at the arena gives them an opportunity to play in front of a huge crowd and a large venue. This opportunity to play at a large arena is something these kids will always remember.

5.) The program situtation has been taken care of. It was a mistake by the printing company and NL has taken care of that.