John Clay's Sidelines

This is what John Calipari tweeted about. Pat Forde from Thursday’s Outside the Lines:

Calipari then said: What’s w/ this Pat Ford guy? Anybody else think this is personal. Probably trying to sell more books or tryin to shift stuff to Lexington…

Actually, didn’t think Pat stirred much up. Forde is not a big Calipari fan. But that’s not an exclusive club. And Pat gave Calipari full credit for the job he has done so far at Kentucky, involving past players, generating excitement, signing big-name recruits.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• High School Hoops reports that Tyreke Evans says John Wall made the right choice. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)
• Cat Scratches has yesterday’s Patrick Patterson live chat.
• Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News names UK the biggest spring-time winner.
• DeCourcy doesn’t have a problem with John Calipari overstocking on recruits.
• Upon Further Review, a Kansas City Star blog, says Kentucky, North Carolina and Kansas will fight it out in 2010. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
• John Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News looks at Kentucky’s rise and Duke’s fall.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tyreke Evans says John Wall made right choice’

SEC links for Friday:

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida guard Nick Calathes faces tough NBA decision.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports that Vanderbilt is a win away from SEC baseball final.
• In the Tennessean, Evan Drexler writes that bases-loaded walk helped Vandy cause.
• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that bad news outweighed good for Ole Miss at tournament.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports on Ole Miss’ 12-2 loss to Florida.
• In The Advocate, Randy Rosetta reports on LSU baseball win that eliminated Alabama from tourney.
• Neil White of The State writes that tough loss puts South Carolina baseball in tough position.
• Darryl Maxie of the AJC reports that Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt is happy with Georgia’s gift.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes on the Georgia-Florida football site buzz.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that fans blindly support Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that UT’s Lane Kiffin has placed strength coach under strict review.
• The News-Sentinel has more on the troubles of ex-Vol basketball player Ramar Smith.

John Wall talks with WKYT-TV's Greg Gorham after Wednesday's press conference.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Caulton Tudor, long-time columnist for the Raleigh News and Observer, writes that John Wall’s defection to Kentucky could hurt the Triangle schools.
• Dana O’Neil of ESPN writes about the John Calipari bandwagon.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that UK is close to a settlement with Billy Gillispie that includes UK buying Billy G.’s house.
• Bluegrass State Basketball says its sources say that Jodie Meeks will return.
• UK’s athletic web site will have a live chat with Patrick Patterson at 1 p.m.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that Wall is not necessarily a one-and-done.
• Tipton also reports that Eric Bledsoe’s high school coach is not happy with the Wall signing.
• My column saying that Wall is another reason for UK fans to smile.
• Tim Stevens of the RNO reports on the press conference.
• Kentucky Sports Network has a 1-on-1 video interview with Wall.

Continue reading ‘BBL: John Wall’s defection could haunt Carolina schools’

If you were watching American Idol last night, you may have noticed Adam Sandler in some familiar clothing.

In the trailer for Judd Aptow’s new movie, Funny People, Sandler is wearing a Kentucky t-shirt.

Here’s the trailer (it’s at the 1:00 mark):

Update: Ramar Smith released from jail; robbery alleged at gunpoint.

SEC links for Thursday:

• The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that ex-UT basketball player Ramar Smith has turned himself into police.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattnooga Times Free Press reports that UT football player Brent Vinson witnessed a shooting near campus late Tuesday.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes on Alabama baseball’s 9-5 loss to South Carolina in the SEC Baseball Tournament.
• Writing for the Tennessean, Evan Drexler reports on Vandy’s upset of LSU in SEC Baseball Tourney.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports on how Mike Minor shut down the LSU bats.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes on Ole Miss baseball’s 6-3 loss to Georgia.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Ex-Vol Ramar Smith in trouble with police’

Here’s what I’ve heard from the local radio call-in shows, and if you are a regular listener of WLXG’s, you’ll be glad to know I will not be on for a third straight day.

• WVLK-590: Larry Glover will have legendary Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan as a guest.

• WLAP-630: Ryan Lemond is pinch-hitting for Dick Gabriel. Kyle Macy is among his guests.

Jodie Meeks tells Rivals’ Jason King that he can’t wait to play for John Calipari next season.

“If,” says Meeks, “I come back.”

The Kentucky guard, who has put his name into the NBA draft, is scheduled to be at the NBA Draft Camp in Chicago next week.

Jodie also told King:

“Some of the stuff that was happening [under Gillispie] wasn’t good for us,” Meeks says. “But that’s over now. We can’t worry about it. I wouldn’t change anything that happened last year. I’ll just move on from it and learn from it.”

Meeks told King that if was he was going to be a “top 20 pick, I’ll probably have to stay (in the draft).”

That doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, not at this point. Of course, strange things can happen. And most of the workouts have not taken place, though Jodie did work out for the Oklahoma City Thunder last weekend. But NBA Draft Express has its updated mock draft out, with Meeks as the No. 15 pick of the second round.

It’s a long way from No. 45 in the draft to No. 20 in the draft. And you would think that Meeks would want to be part of a team that is sure to be a national championship contender next season, especially if Meeks returns for his senior season. The guess here is that Jodie will return.

Trevard Lindley

ESPN.com SEC football blogger Chris Low ranks UK cornerback Trevard Lindley as the eighth best player in the SEC heading into this fall.

An excerpt:

The 6-foot Lindley has bulked up to 180-plus pounds, but it’s his speed, anticipation and technique that make him so good. He’s always in position to make the play and is one of those cornerbacks who can take away one side of the field. A second-team All-American last season by the Walter Camp Foundation, Lindley enters the 2009 season as one of the most polished cornerbacks in the college game.

Low ranked Kentucky linebacker Micah Johnson as the 28th best player in the SEC.

At LostLettermen.com, former UK star Jeff Sheppard weighs in on the John Wall commitment.

Excerpt:

We have some great parts now at Kentucky, but parts don’t win championships…they may win some games, but they don’t win championships. From Coach Cal’s experience at UMASS, New Jersey, and Memphis, he has great experience and success dealing with big time egos and talent…therefore, we should be ok…but one of the major strengths of UK’s talent loaded teams of the 90′s was that the TEAM was bigger than all of the parts…when that happens, the team gets the chance to make a run towards a championship.