Archive for Calipari
The Mass Exodus of the UK basketball Team
Posted by: | CommentsHello again to my loyal gathering of readers. As much as I expected it to happen, I was not happy about the mass exodus of the UK basketball team. I can’t remember when any team lost as much from one year to the next as this team is going to lose. While they do have capable replacements coming in, two things stand out. At present they have no capable backups at guard. Do we really want to rely on Polson as a backup? A bigger issue is leadership. This year’s team has Lamb and Miller to provide examples at practice and take charge in close games. Who will provide that next year? I foresee many early season losses and a much more difficult time cultivating team play without upper class experienced leaders. I guess time will tell.
I think the Reds may have shot themselves in the foot with the moves they have made. They have literally gutted their triple A team here in Louisville to the point there is no help except maybe Hoover in the bullpen. They also have no bench because they have no money left for a bench. Same with 2 or 3 pitchers in the bullpen that were signed on the cheap. Will the big salaries lead to dissention or complacency? What will they do about 3rd base and LF, CF which is giving very little production? Why do they stick with good guys who are over the hill and physically talented players who can’t learn? Beyond the Reds there are many other surprises in baseball this year. The Washington Senators have sprung strong from the gate with outstanding pitching. On the flip side, the Los Angeles Angels have flopped after spending big money on Albert Pujols hitting .232 with zero home runs and currently reside in last place.
How many people are buying Obama’s class warfare on millionaires as a way to improve the economy? The extra taxes he proposes are just a blip on the radar compared to the egregious spending taking place. On the state level, blame should go where it is due for the extra legislative session. Gov. Breshear attempted through vetoes at the last minute to control a large part of the budget for his preferences. This is not a function of the executive branch to decide how the budget is spent!
I read where more car companies including Ford are now or plan to produce cheaper cars to sell exclusively in China. Why should we be ripped off for higher prices by our own companies while foreigners get the benefit of cheaper products? This is unconscionable. We have been allowing drug companies to do this for years. This has to stop. We should be able to buy the same products at the same prices as anyone else. Stop the socialistic capitalism!
Lastly, in another show that history seems to no longer matter, the latest movie of the 3 stooges now shows a false origin of the act. People are not entitled to their own history despite what the schools now teach.
Until next time, Doc.
We’re Finally Moving In!
Posted by: | CommentsWell the day has finally arrived and we are moving into the new office. Not that it isn’t still putting up its share of computer glitches, equipment troubles, needed changes and modifications. I think my staff was either planning mutiny or murder on Monday, but they were troopers and we managed our way through it all. Bless my staff for all they put up with and their steadfast dedication. I couldn’t do it without them. My only regret is that my Mother didn’t live long enough to see this day. She would have been proud.
I was pleasantly surprised today when an old friend I haven’t seen in close to 30 years walked into my office. He has recently moved into the Louisville area and took the time to look me up. As another good friend recently commented on her blog about how the world is working its best to tear down relationships by always promising something better is just over the fence, it is good to be reminded of where you come from in order to see where you are going. It is good to reconnect with these who cared about you in the past as well as those who care about you in the present. Contentment starts with yourself and those who love you. If you think the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, remember God’s love and try watering a little more.
Until next week, DOC
A Final Look at the Basketball Season
Posted by: | CommentsHello to my legion of loyal readers. In the immortal words of U.S. gymnast Coach Bela Karolyi, “UConn do it!” Yes, I know it’s weak. I was hoping to say, “The Butler did it,” but it didn’t work out that way. This definitely was the most ragged final four I have ever witnessed. This year was definitely different. Most years at least 1-2 teams coast into the last weekend on talent. This year it seems all four got there strictly on determination with some luck thrown in. It also seems to me that the selected venue played in UConn’s hands by being a hard place in which to shoot well. For a strictly interior defensive team, this was a perfect setup for UConn. This appears to be a formula that works for UConn by always having a big, defensive center. I fervently hope that the NBA labor negotiations include making players stay in school 2-3 years. One and done needs to be done.
UK may have all the talent in the world coming in next year, but who is going to set screens, guard opposing offensive hulking centers, and throw their weight around? UK will severely miss JHORTS. I haven’t seen a team win a championship yet without inside muscle, although Calipari never recruits any. In place of UK, I thought I was watching Memphis play against UConn—too many three attempts, no inside play, and poor free throw shooting. I hope it’s not a harbinger of things to come.
My only comment about the women’s tourney is that, sadly, they seem to be moving the same direction as the men’s game—a reliance on muscle and quickness at the expense of good passing and solid shooting.
Until next week, Doc.
A few sports rants for the week
Posted by: | CommentsThis week I wanted to take a look at a couple examples of the lack of integrity in sports. First is U of L recruitment of cornerback Demar Dorsey. This student (and I use the term very loosely) has already been arrested for two burglaries (one with a gun) and has been rejected by the University of Michigan. Yet U of L is trying to recruit him with open arms. What kind of message does that send to both the community and to young athletes, most of whom already believe they are above the law. I think America’s 10 Most Wanted would be recruited if they could play football or basketball.
Is John Calipari working for U of K or the NBA. Sometimes it’s hard to tell. He keeps getting all these recruits because he’s had a track record of success at making several of them NBA millionaires. I thought, however, that he was employed by U of K to win championships in college. I don’t believe he will ever win a title by loosing half of his team every year. If you can’t get to the final four with two top five draft picks and three more first round draft picks, then when would you ever win it all? U of K isn’t paying him to be in NBA player development.
Along with the dog days of June? is the early Reds swoon. Many of the players who were playing over their heads are now falling back to earth. Radio jockeys keep talking about acquiring this or that starting pitcher. I think they need bullpen help and a hitter or two, especially leadoff.
Despite the heat and track record, the Messiah Holy Hitters won a game!! We even won by five inning run rule. Whatever Coach Frank put in the team water, I hope he has a big supply.
Well, I would write more but the heat is causing the ink to run, so I’ll sign off for this week.
