John Clay's Sidelines

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My Sunday column on Rupp Arena fans failing to give Kentucky a boost in its 77-71 win over Alabama on Sunday, produced some e-mails to the in-box.

S.A. writes:

I really like your column in today’s paper. The fans were not at all helpful to the team yesterday. I was at home screaming at the screen – come on, fans, HELP!! I would have been yelling and loudly yesterday. Rupp Arena will never become an IU or such if we don’t do better.

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Debating the fan support at Rupp Arena’

Some reactions to Monday’s column on UK football and Mitch Barnhart:

Kevin writes:

Do you think Joker is on the hot seat? I know he’s feeling the pressure, but wow. He’s only like 15 games into his tenure here at UK.

I really hope we don’t push him out the door. He got rid of some great position coaches and tried to upgrade with coaches who were better recruiters. I thought that those moves on the staff might have a drop off. We’ve lost tons of play makers off of some solid UK football teams over the past few years.

I’m not just being a homer in support of Joker. I do see some huge problems. Newton holds the ball forever. If you’d let him he’d still be holding the ball. The O-line is getting pushed around. Its horrible. The receivers are God awful.

Anyhow, I enjoy reading your columns, but I just hope people learn from how we gave Brooks time. Hopefully Joker gets a couple of years. he may not have it, but we’ll see.

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: More reaction to Mitch Barnhart column’

Looking through the in-box after Sunday’s column.

From B.C.:

Can’t say that I totally agree with you about the non-conference nuetral site games. I was in Paul Brown Statium a couple years ago when UK opened with Miami of Ohio, and I thought that the atmosphere that day was pretty good. I would say it is more a matter of doing a better job picking the time, location, and maybe the opponent.

I do totally agree with you in that the offensive line was the most troublesome aspect of the game against Western. Surely the receivers won’t drop every pass, and Newton will get some better. But, you’re right, if those guys can’t block Western, I’m not sure how they will do anything against the SEC big boys.

Lastly, don’t put too much stock in one game. Now, if they lay a similar egg next Saturday, let’s get worried.

From C.M.:

Dear John, I don’t subscribe to the Lex Hearld, but on occasion when I do get to see a copy and read it always reminds me of why I don’t subscribe. It is full of UK misinformation.

Having read your article it appears likely that you intentionally overlooked some other important facts such as:

- If they wanted a sell out then why not really step up and play a game at home but play a team of the caliber as Notre Dame did vs S. Fla, and Georgia vs. Boise State and some other college powers did this past week. Or why not play on Western’s field where surely 40K would have been in attendance (not enough money for UK or????? they might lose). No they had to play Western ( a lower caliber team in your words) on a home and away 4 game series but to be safe, make it a Nashville game. Another one of the Sunbelt teams, Middle Tenn., barely lost to Purdue after leading most of the game (and at Purdue).

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Some reactions to Sunday column’

Lots of e-mail about my Saturday column concerning Kentucky basketball and the possibility of a new arena:

Jeff writes:

Good morning. Your story this morning is dead on, Brother. Please don’t let up on the pressure to kill this ludicrous idea. We need to spend the money on A LOT of other stuff before we have to worry about a new arena. Everything you mentioned about the other teams; Duke, Butler, Kansas…exactly what I’ve been saying and trying to prove to anyone that would listen to me!

The kids are signing here because of what Kentucky means to college basketball…Rupp arena will sell any kid on any given night. Just because a few, a very few, folks want suites, which half aren’t even UK alums, I’m sure…it’s crazy.

. . . I get why it’s important to THINK why we need a new arena. I work in Louisville so I’ve been all thru the new arena and we even built their new football stadium expansion (see my signature line) I knew UL’s recent “upgrades” weren’t going to sit well with the powers that be here at home. If, UK really wants to increase revenue and compete in the SEC where the REAL money is, then drop about $100 million in the football facilities, yes..Commonwealth too. Our weight room is waaaaaay behind the rest of the teams, we don’t have the proper academic learning center for the athletes like the rest of the schools do.

Richard writes:

Concerning your newspaper article entitled “Rupp Arena is good enough for Kentucky”, what you need to understand is that a new or greatly upgraded arena is not needed for our team’s success, the coach or even the players but rather is much needed for the fans. The well-to-do folks, of which I’m sure includes you, have great seats to sit in and watch the games. But for the less effluent of us who must sit in the upper arena, the bleachers are just a horrible place to sit for 2 plus hours. My guess is that no college arenas being built now have bleachers for seating. These bleachers must be replaced, either by renovation or a new arena. Having said that, I would agree that prior funding must be found outside of involving any tax-payer money. Usually I agree with your articles, but not this time.

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Reaction to my new arena column’

As promised, a few samples from what’s landed in my inbox lately.

James writes:

I am sick of Caliparis’ attitude and negative body language. How can you be in the players face and then expect them to listen to what he has to say. I believe Calipari and the players need to have a closed door meeting of which the players have a opportunity to ventilate. There is a growing communication gap between Calipari and the players. I just wish Calipari would know when to shut up.

P.H. writes:

I watched UK blow a big lead against South Carolina by “running the clock”. The same thing happened with Georgia. I knew it was going to get then eventually and last night it did. With 50 seconds to go and UK had a 1 point lead and the ball they should have gotten a better shot than they did. Miller had an open lane to the basket but chose to pass off to someone who had no shot.

I have no confidence in this team. There is no one who has stepped up to be the leader. Miller and Liggins should. Harrellson is a good rebounder but cannot finish a shot. I had thought, early on, that this team would be better than last year’s team because of their outside shooting ability but there is no leadership on this team. It is sad.

Ray writes:

Oooops! Again. Pretty soon NBA Cal is going to hear from the foaming masses and I doubt his goal of ‘seed’ will amuse them much. However, there is an upside to the problems of 2010-11. It may mean that 2011-12 may have some experienced bench strength with more than an average of 1.5 minutes per game, assuming that these absolutely outstanding and wonderful performes do not all go as Cal wishes them in the first round. Should the draft happening accur, we can then look forward to another freshman dominated team which will fall short of what many silly geese think should be the goal, NCAA championship, or at least a good run at it.

Eric writes:

Dont’ think losing deserve’s criticizing? It applies to everyone. Calipari knew his ship was sunk when Kanter became ineligible, that’s why he was so vocal about it. Now his team is playing like it. Which player will he beat down this week?

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Is Calipari too critical of his players?’

A couple of e-mails concerning my Sunday column on Louisville’s new arena.

Kevin writes:

Typically, I wouldn’t comment on an article written in the paper, but after reading your article on the “new” Louisville arena, something really struck a chord. Specifically, I was shocked that you would think that an arena would have such an impact on player recruitment. That should have never been printed and I was appalled after reading it.

Why do I say that? Look no further than Cameron Indoor Stadium. Built in 1940-ish with a capacity of approximately 12,000. Probably one of the oldest, active college basketball arenas in the country….and Duke is always number 1. If not at the end of the season, they are number 1 for some or most of the season. A top-rate school, with a top-rate basketball program and coach. I’ve been there and it’s a crappy, cramp, out-dated place not only to play in, but to watch a game. But it’s also one of the best places to see one. It’s small and it’s loud and has a college basketball atmosphere like no other. Do you actually think the players are saying “no” to Coach K because of their facility? Come on, John!

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: The KFC Yum Center column’

Let’s open up the old e-mailbag.

From Todd:

Watching the video of Hartline running from the jail, I was shocked that he didn’t slide 2 yards short of the taxi!

From Mike:

Enjoyed your column this morning. I feel like you touched on what I’ve been telling my buddies all year. In general, this team does not respect their head coach. Drives me crazy when I see a 20 year old refer to his coach as Joker in an interview. Can you imagine Dampier saying “Adolph really chewed our butts at the half”? Jokers role under Brooks seemed to be as a bridge between Brooks and the players, in a generation sense. Its tough to be their buddy one day and the boss the next, no matter what business you’re in.

I wish the best of luck to Joker but I feel he’s been placed (and accepted) a no win situation here.

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Mike Hartline’

From the e-mailbag, Scott from Tennessee writes:

John,

You and your cohort – Mr. Story – are really two pieces of work. It’s almost become way too comical the obsession you two guys have with Kentucky football beating Tennessee. Is beating a bad UT team really more important than a bowl game? Give me a break!

I would love to have a nickel for every time one of you two guys have written about this subject. I’d be a millionare by now. I know you two guys are UK alums, but come on. I thought you were supposed to be unbiased as newspaper reporters. Your bias for UK is unbelieveable. You should be embarrassed.

I really don’t get this obsession from either one of you, or from the UK fan base. For some strange reason, you guys actually expect to beat UT. Face it: UT is just the better program – always has been, always will be. We’re going to beat you guys 9 times out of 10. Lately, it’s been 25 out of 25! So just live with it! (If you can’t beat us this year, you’re never going to. We’re on the rise; UK and their Joke(r) of a coach is on the downhill slide, as usual.)

I think the real answer is that all of you UK fans are jealous of the University of Tennessee and it’s fans. We have the better football program, we have the best women’s basketball program in history and we’re an emerging power in men’s basketball. UK fans can’t stand that! Otherwise, ya’ll wouldn’t make such a big deal out of the rivarly. Case in point: Are you still selling that DVD of the women’s basketball victory over UT from a couple of years ago in your campus bookstore? What a joke!

Stop being envious and start building better programs. If you put half as much effort into that as you do in beating UT, then you might start winning something substantial. See you in a couple of weeks for No. 26! GO BIG ORANGE!

Received this e-mail from Elvin, a 1971 UK grad:

Hello John:

I have attached a file which contains a quote from a former great president. I think it may apply and maybe some of our fans may wish to read it. It talks about downgrading the athletes who strive so hard for our entertainment. I think it applies in particular to this Kentucky football team.

I used to run out on old Stoll Field after the games when I lived on Columbia Avenue. The other neighborhood kids and I would pretend we were making touchdowns for U.K. One time I even met Steve Milenger (spelling?) when he was in the neighborhood.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank Randall Cobb for pointing out that it is the players who are getting their heads knocked in, bones broke, muscles torn, etc. My God do I wish Randall, Mike, Derrick, Danny, Chris, Winston, and all the other players who came to Kentucky will get something out of all this, Thanks what you have done for us. Your contributions to the University and our other athletic programs do not go unnoticed.

I am like a lot of fans who are really wishing this team well. We have waited a long long time. We have cheered a long long time.

Hey Kentucky fans! Do you believe that people are actually talking about winning the East? Wow!

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

“Citizenship in a Republic,”
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

As T.J. Simers says, they are out there among us:

Robb from Georgia writes:

I’ve been reading your articles for a couple of decades now. I grew up in Kentucky, got my degrees and now teach mathematics in a small Georgia college. And I really can’t believe what I’m hearing you say in this article. If I follow your argument, I am supposed to “take solace in the fact” that UK’s not that much worse than anyone else. UF is the metric, where 30 felonies < 2 national championships?

Seriously?

Maybe you should find a new career, not because you aren’t good at your current job. You are a very good analyst and writer. Instead, I worry about you because of how jaded and cynical this job has made you. Do you hear yourself? Really hear? Reporting on UK athletics – which I’ve spent thousand of dollars and tens of thousands of hours supporting and following over the past 35 years – has contaminated you so thoroughly you’re defending corruption, conniving and cheating – and you don’t really seem all that fussed about it.
As a small college professor, I suggest you visit the athletics department at Berea College, chat with a couple coaches and maybe a couple dozen athletes. I’m guessing there are places in Kentucky where sport is still pure, still about love of the game. I bet there are places in the Bluegrass where kids and fans aren’t taught that winning “is the only thing,” where kids still learn about teamwork, fair play, hard work and character while competing.

And maybe that’s a good thing.

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Readers send takes on UK, Pearl, Rose’