John Clay's Sidelines

I will be liveblogging from three Kentucky games in the upcoming 36 hours.

• Will liveblog the Kentucky-Morehead State women’s basketball opener, which starts at 11 a.m.
• Will liveblog the Kentucky-East Tennessee State men’s basketball opener, which starts tonight at 7.
• Will liveblog the Kentucky-Vanderbilt football game on Saturday, which kicks off at 12:21 p.m.

And remember, if you sign in using Facebook, Twitter or MySpace, you can have your comments appear quicker, without moderation.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

We’re a day late, but yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of this blog.

John Clay’s Sidelines started on Nov. 9, 2005, with a post previewing the Kentucky-Georgetown exhibition basketball game.

In the past five years, we’ve seen three UK head basketball coaches, two UK head football coaches, two different platforms (Typepad to WordPress) and the birth of numerous other UK sports-related blogs.

Earlier this year, we were fortunate enough to make the EPpy final four for the nation’s best sports blog, as awarded by Editor and Publisher.

Thanks to everyone who has read, commented and participated over the past five years.

After a two-day weekend, I’m on furlough all of next week.

I won’t return to the blog with new posts until Monday, June 28.

See you then.

Congratulations to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s “Packers Blog” which won the EPpy Award for the nation’s best sports blog, as announced Thursday at the Interactive Media Conference in Las Vegas.

This blog was fortunate enough to be one of four finalists in that category, along with the Journal Sentinel’s Brewers Blog and the Christopher L. Gasper’s blog on Boston.com.

We were happy and honored to be a finalist.

This morning brings the happy news that this humble blog is among the finalists for a national award.

John Clay’s Sidelines is up for an EPpy Award, given by Editor and Publisher annually to the best in digital media.

(Apparently, E & P likes spreadsheets.)

Or let’s just let E & P explain it:

Web sites and blogs affiliated with newspapers, magazines, broadcasters, online-only enterprises, universities and cable TV will contend for an EPpy Award in the 15th annual competition for the best of the best among digital media offerings. Finalists in the competition were announced Monday. The EPpy Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the 21st annual Editor & Publisher Interactive Media Conference & Trade Show June 16-17 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

This blog is one of four finalists for Best Sports Blog:

Best Sports Blog
• Brewers Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Christopher L. Gasper Blog, Boston Globe
• John Clay’s Sidelines, Kentucky.com/Lexington Herald-Leader
• Packers Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

You can read the story and a list of all finalists in all categories here.

Thanks to everyone who made this possible, including first of all this blog’s loyal readers, those who post comments, those who send me e-mails, those who have made suggestions, those who have passed along links, and those who have promoted this blog by sending out links. This blog wouldn’t be possible without its readers.

Thanks again.

As some of you may know, my father, Jack Clay, passed away Sunday night at the age of 82.

His was the family medical issue I posted about some three weeks back. It has been a tough time for my family, but as I’ve found myself saying many times the past few days, my two sisters and I could not have asked for a better dad.

I am very grateful for the loyal readers of this blog, of which my father was certainly one. I just wanted to let you know there probably won’t be many posts on here the next couple of days, but I hope to resume blogging this weekend.

One last thing, my family would like to publicly thank the dedicated doctors and nurses who took care of my father, those in his hometown of Paris, and those over the past three weeks at the University of Kentucky Hospital. The people who work in UK’s CCU Intensive Care Unit will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and sympathies over the past few weeks. They are greatly appreciated.

Just wanted to let the readers of this blog know that I’m currently dealing with a family member’s medical issue, so my posts here will probably be few and far between over the next few days. Thanks for your patience. I hope to be able to return to regular posting soon. Thanks again. John.

GQ has come out with its list of the 25, well, douchiest colleges.

Sportsinferno defines douchey as “Occasionally you’ll see these types walking around Target wearing a Harvard shirt, as if to lord their intelligence over the other shoppers. Other types include guys over the age of 30 with bangs longer than the rest of their hair, topped off with a perfectly frayed South Carolina “Cocks” hat. The point is, douchebaggery comes in all forms.”

Brown is No. 1.

Duke is No. 2.

No Kentucky schools made the list.

Unfortunately, the slowdown in blog posts will continue for a short time.

I’m at the start of a three-day break, then will begin my mandated five-day furlough next Monday, July 13.

I’ll be back Monday morning July 20 with links, posts, etc., as we start the countdown to UK football season.

See you then.

After the rousing success of last Thursday’s delightful crowd, all more than willing to vent following the pounding Kentucky received the night before at South Carolina, we’re bringing the non-game live-chat back for another week.

Just as last week, it will be from 8 to 9 p.m. Thursday, right before I fire up the tube for The Office and 30/Rock.

I won’t post the Cover it Live window until Thursday morning, but just wanted to give everyone a head’s up.

Thanks – J.C.