J.D. writes:
Dear Mr. Clay( Herald Leader Sports Columnist),
I find it very disturbing to get online today at the Lexington Herald Leader in hopes to see some positive talk on our #1 ranking……but no its a ridiculous posting of “When will loss No. 1 come for No. 1?” Seriously, it’s columnist like you who wear out UK sports junkies out like me. We are Kentucky, the land’s top program, 19-0 with the best 6 players in America, the NBA’s biggest Phenom, the nations top coach, with the country’s biggest fan base and your more concerned about who our first loss will be?!!!!!!!!!! I’m speaking on behalf of 40 emails i received this morning regarding you’re post from other irritated fans. I have waited since 2003 for this……and I certainly hope the herald leader has better and more significant stories then this one you created. Who cares???!?!!!!!!
Lay off the negative journalism, and be a true blue cat fan.
I am blind copying this to all my address inbox…whom are Kentucky fans.
My response: Thanks for the e-mail, but I get the question all the time, “Who left on our schedule do you think has the best chance to beat us?” That was the thinking behind the column. And it’s not my job to be a true blue fan.
JD, if you want unabashed homerisms, Chris Cross is thataway ——–>
If I got 40 emails from friends about John’s column, I’d make some new friends…and learn the difference between “your” and “you’re” so I don’t look uneducated when John posts my rant.
In order to appease the “die hard” UK fans, John Clay writes his next article: “Whooooooo hooooooo!!!! GO CATS!!!! Can you believe it?? The Cats are Number OOOOOONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!!! John Wall so rocks and has ice in his veins-like Mr. Freeze with a blood clot. Big Cuz is so huggable looking in his Russian fighter hat. Patrick Patterson can father my daughter’s children (if I have a daughter and she is old enough that this is not an inappropriate comment). Bledsoe will kick your a$$. Don’t believe me? Ask his coach. And that coach. Coach Cal is super neat-o, like donuts with sprinkles. That’s right – numero uno. Bring it on, the rest of you SEC suckers. HERE I COME INDIANAPOLIS!!! GO CATS!!!!”
Repeat until column space is filled.
Congrats, John. I’ve never had 40 people email me about any single topic in a day. Sounds like your article had emails whizzing through those internet tubes at record pace! Did you realize that your keyboard had such an ability to alter the positioning of the Big Blue Nation’s collective undergarments with every stroke? What most would give to be so relevant!
I can only hope that you choose to use your powers for only good.
John is usually fair, and he’s right, it’s not his job to be a homer in his articles. This Kentucky team doesn’t seem to be fazed by talk of losing anyway – if anything it emboldens them to play even harder.
So with that I say talk about losing all you want; it just makes the team stronger and more determined to prove you wrong. As Jay Bilas said earlier, to see how far this UK team (or any team) will go all you have to do is count the “Pros.”
Glad to hear that it’s not your job to be a fan… I guess it’s not my job to read the LHL… I totally get that you’re not supposed to be a homer, but to write a column like that on the very day that UK is #1 for the first time in seven years? Wow, just wow.
John,
I have always felt that you do a great job in covering our beloved CATS, much more than your other co-workers, i.e. he who shall not be named (JT). Having said that, I understand that maybe some readers misinterpreted your article today. Not everyone can read between the lines on things. I understand it is your job to report the news in an unbiased manner, but when you kinda lashed out at this guy by saying it’s not your job to be a true blue fan it was tough to swallow. My only wish is for the LHL to write more positive articles about the team. Believe me, negative articles don’t sell newspapers. I’ll admit that I love reading your blog on a daily basis and I enjoy the videos you post as well. But because of all the negative things written in the LHL I refuse to read it. I just don’t comprehend how the hometown newspaper fails at times to support the team. It amazes me how sometimes the Courier Journal seems to shed more positive light than the LHL. Should we as fans begin to believe that LHL stands for the Louisville Herald Leader? Just some food for thought. But again, I appreciate everything that you do.
Good for you, John Clay. You’ll be in a better position to write about the fall. Clay has been acting too much like a homer all season. Maybe you’re seeing the light.
John – I check you site everyday and enjoy your writing. I can see J.D.’s point and do not necessarily disagree with him. I also agree with you points. However, “when will the cats loss their first game” has been a poll question on your site for sometime now. I think it’s time to move on.
It is worth the speculation. After all, UK’s most dominant teams of my lifetime, ’78 and ’96, lost twice. I for one think we will lose at Vandy. We struggle there even when we are the better team. I hope I’m wrong, but Vandy has a chance for a very special season. I think they are underrated, and they have a great coach.
Great article John and keep good work as always!
It’s really not your job to be a forecaster, predictor, physic or prophet either. Just say your guess is as good or bad as anyone’s. Gosh, John, don’t be so defensive–be humble, for goodness sake.
Everyone at the LHL does a great job of not being a fan. Now if they can work on not being hostile…
I enjoyed the article, John. Keep up the good work. I certainly hope that Cal’s ‘Cats don’t lose. But Ken Pomeroy is listing the chances of an unbeaten season at around 1.21% on his site. And the hardest road tests of the season are still to come… so it’s obviously worth some speculation.