http://http://www.kentucky.com/285/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com John Clay 60 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:01:48 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench interactive-ops@herald-leader.com http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/1005751.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/1005751.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:36 EST
Brandon Jennings' early NBA start averaging 22 points and 5.3 rebounds through Milwaukee's first three games will prompt more prep superstars to spend a year overseas, rather than in college, before becoming eligible for the NBA.

If you think Kentucky's Thoroughbred racing won't be affected by Ohio's approval of casinos on Tuesday, you're wearing blinkers.

If Ohio can put gaming on the ballot, why can't Kentucky put it on the ballot?

His players are battling the flu, but I think Rich Brooks is still sick over last Saturday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/1004236.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/1004236.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:57 EST
"So in two months we'll be better? WHAT DOES THAT mean about UNC and UConn?

(His caps, not mine.)

That came after a weekend of listening to Kentucky football fans complain that Rich Brooks is too old and Joker Phillips too inept for the grid Cats to ever "take it to the next level," whatever that means.

Today's sports fan doesn't need a better seat, a cheaper beverage or more games in high-def.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/1001025.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/1001025.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:55 EST
Cornerback Trevard Lidley missed another game with his high ankle sprain. Middle linebacker Micah Johnson was limited by his strained knee.

Running back Derrick Locke played through a painful bruised knee. Center Jorge Gonzalez played through a bum shoulder.

And the Kentucky defense couldn't tackle Mississippi State's Anthony Dixon.

Even with all that going against it, you still had to wonder why UK didn't go to the one thing going for it?]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/996811.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/996811.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:57 EDT
And then, all of a sudden Patrick Patterson, Kentucky's 6-foot-9 center, the junior who never strayed far from the basket his first two seasons, stepped back and popped in a three-pointer.

Rupp Arena went nuts.

In fact, it was the first of Patterson's two three-pointers.

So while who knows what exactly is going on with John Wall's eligibility, after viewing UK's Blue-White scrimmage Wednesday night, there is one thing I do know.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/994787.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/994787.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:18 EDT
If you are uncomfortable about Wildcat Coal Lodge replacing Joe B. Hall Wildcat Lodge and you should be then wait until Rupp Arena is replaced by the Yum's Pizza Hut, or the Lexmark Center, or the Fazoli's Forum.

Deep-pocket donors have the University of Kentucky, and most institutions, over a money-green barrel, and they know it. The school needs cold, hard cash to feed its facilities addiction, and it'll agree to just about any transaction condition to support its habit.

It's not about sports, or fossil fuels or future energy. It's certainly not about honoring the past. It's business.

A history lesson: Back in the 1980s, UK claimed an indoor football practice facility was the final piece of the puzzle it needed to be competitive in the Southeastern Conference.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/992166.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/992166.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:55 EDT
So they stole one from the Steelers in Cincinnati. So they beat the Ravens in Baltimore. So they lost to the still-unbeaten Broncos on a fluke play at game's end.

So even with Cincinnati at 4-2 after last week's stubbed toe, admit it, you still were not quite convinced the Bengals were no longer Bungles.

After all, through six weeks, had the "Cardiac Cats," the team that couldn't win a game until it was the very last minute of the game, really ever dominated anyone?

"We always thought it," said Carson Palmer, the quarterback, when asked if he believed the Bengals could put together a dominating performance. "We just hadn't proved it."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/991174.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/991174.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:46 EST
But they didn't really finish.

The start was excellent.

The ending was just OK.

So for all intents and purposes, Kentucky took care of business on Saturday night, beating UL-Monroe from the Sun Belt Conference 36-13 in what could have been a danger game.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/985035.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/985035.html Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:47 EDT
First thing Rich Brooks did after Kentucky beat Auburn on Saturday night was voluntarily explain to the media why he had been slightly less than forthcoming about UK's quarterback "competition" the week before.

His admission showed the measure of the man. Most coaches think it's in their job description to deceive the media. You could tell that Brooks was bothered that he had been a little less than forthright. You don't find that too often.

Kansas guard Sherron Collins isn't too crazy about all the national love thrown John Wall's way. Collins told CBS Sportsline's Gary Parrish, "I think I've established myself, and he's coming out of high school with a lot of hype. But I'm the old guy, and I ain't gonna let no young boy get the best of me."

Great story by FanHouse (ncaafootball.fanhouse.com) columnist Clay Travis, who missed an entire Saturday of college football to be an usher in a wedding that featured a groom who was a Kentucky graduate and a bride who was an Auburn graduate. No televisions were allowed, but Travis does report that by the end of the reception, there was loud chanting of "C-A-T-S, CATS, CATS, CATS."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/982581.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/982581.html Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:19 EDT
Christian Johnson, senior left guard.

Jorge Gonzalez, senior center.

Stuart Hines, sophomore right guard.

Justin Jeffries, senior right tackle.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/981872.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/981872.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:46 EST
He sure got that right.

To describe Kentucky's 21-14 upset of host Auburn on Saturday night at Jordan-Hare, let us praise now-famous men.

Praise the Kentucky quarterbacks, no doubt, starting with true freshman quarterback Morgan Newton, who showed promise in not just his first collegiate start, but his first collegiate game.

Praise Will Fidler, the junior backup who was told early in the week that Newton would start. Fidler took the news "like a man," said assistant Joker Phillips, plus he had not been able to throw much all week because of a sore shoulder.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/977607.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/977607.html Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:40 EDT
Scuttlebutt insists Morgan Newton will get the start when Kentucky travels to Auburn Saturday night.

But let's just operate under the parameters that, at the very least, the UK coaching staff is strongly considering giving the true freshman the first snap on Saturday.

All those life coaches advise that whenever faced with a difficult decision, it helps to pull out a sheet of a paper, draw a line down the middle and list the pros and cons.

So let's do it:]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/975913.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/975913.html Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:22 EDT
Defense: This is the most important and maybe the most overlooked difference between these Bengals and past Bungles.

Past Bungles defenses couldn't find the off switch. This Bengals defense can. It ranks ninth in the NFL in points allowed, 12th in run defense 17th in total defense.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has earned praise and empathy for the way he coached his unit in Sunday's 17-14 win at Baltimore, three days after unexpectedly losing his wife, Vikki. (The funeral for Vikki Zimmer, who reportedly died of natural causes, was Tuesday morning.)

But Zimmer deserves accolades for reshaping a defense that by the end of last year was making noticeable strides. The addition of aggressive rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga, and the return to health of Antwan Odom have advanced the unit to formidable status.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/973661.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/973661.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:43 EDT
In this case, the initial urge is the incorrect urge.

Situation: Now that Mike Hartline's injured left knee will force the Kentucky quarterback to miss at least two to four weeks, if not the remainder of the season, the Cats must reconsider the game's most important decision.

Option A: Go with backup quarterback Will Fidler, the lightly used junior, while also taking a serious look at highly recruited true freshman Morgan Newton.

Option B: Return to 2008's "Option B," when UK benched the struggling Hartline in favor of the athletic Cobb during a four-game stretch that concluded the regular season.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/972264.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/972264.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:46 EST
"I know some of our fans are happy, which they shouldn't be," said the senior. "Just keep the guy in our prayers and hope everything's OK, and we'll move forward."

The fans happy that quarterback Mike Hartline was injured?

"Sad to say, but I think so," said Peters. "You never should be happy when a guy's hurt. I still feel like he was the best option at quarterback. I felt that he had a great game up until the point that he got hurt."

And Hartline did, to the point where those same Hartline haters are the ones now saying, "If we only had Hartline in the second half, we would have beaten South Carolina." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/968001.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/968001.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:33 EST
Here's the real surprise: That anybody thinks that kind of stuff works.

Harrellson verified to our own Jerry Tipton the rumor that during halftime of last year's game at Vanderbilt, the sophomore forward was banished to a bathroom stall, apart from the team, apparently as punishment for poor play.

Then after the Cats' 77-64 loss to the Commodores, Gillispie ordered Harrellson off the team bus and into the team equipment truck for the long ride back to Lexington.

Anyone around the UK program has heard the stories, so outlandish and embarrassing you needed confirmation from the parties involved to put them into print.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/966622.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/966622.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:56 EDT
The sole reason sites like ESPN.com manufacture off-season posts such as this week's "THE GREATEST COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROGRAM OF ALL TIME RANKINGS" is to entice the type of reaction that causes multiple page views.

Kentucky came out on top in MIT whiz Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings, published by ESPN.com, which prompted hosannas from Kentucky basketball followers, and then outrage from those same followers that any media member might dare disagree with the findings.

But then, isn't that the whole point of the exercise, to spark a meaningless but fun debate over a truly unanswerable question?

For my money, Kentucky is the top program of all time. Yes, UCLA has more titles. Yes, North Carolina has great tradition and nearly as many wins. Yes, it could be argued that Kansas was the birthplace of modern college basketball.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/964126.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/964126.html Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:04 EDT
Never mind that two weeks ago Kentucky extended to 23 the number of consecutive years it has lost to the Florida Gators.

Never mind even that now another season has passed and Kentucky has beaten the Alabama Crimson Tide just twice in the history of collegiate football.

As a Kentucky football fan, here's what should totally blow your mind: The Cats have lost nine straight to South Carolina.

For all the talk of breaking that glass ceiling and joining the upper echelon of the SEC, of finally snapping those Florida and Tennessee losing streaks, of upsetting highly ranked teams like the Gators and the Tide, those are giant steps.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/962836.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/962836.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:46 EST
"Mike Hartline didn't play as well as I'd like, but he's our best option and we will go forward with that," said Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks after UK's 38-20 loss to third-ranked Alabama at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.

"He gives us our best chance," echoed Joker Phillips, UK's head coach for offense, when asked about Hartline.

But as for the quarterback himself: "I didn't think I played very well," said Hartline. "I've got to stop throwing interceptions. I've got to complete more passes. Plain and simple."

The junior from Canton, Ohio did not play well Saturday, not where it counted most. Plain and simple. He completed 17 of 31 passes for 168 yards and a score, but with three interceptions.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/958291.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/958291.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:58 EDT
So far, anyway, this football fan is not.

Let it be said that no television network does a better job presenting college football than the worldwide leader.

From College GameDay , to its top-notch analysts such as Todd Blackledge, to studio give-and-take between Lou Holtz and Mark May, ESPN excels at serving a growing and passionate fan base.

But that is what has been so disappointing thus far about the ESPN-SEC alliance. The network is providing the conference more exposure, but to the point where you wonder if ESPN isn't spreading itself too thin.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/956554.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/956554.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:58 EDT
After Kentucky beat Louisville 31-27 two weeks back, fans regarded Rich Brooks as the coach with three straight bowl wins and three straight triumphs over the school's archrival.

But after Kentucky was crushed 41-7 by Florida last Saturday, in fans' eyes, Brooks was suddenly the coach 1-24 against SEC East foes not named Vanderbilt, a coach in need of a rocking chair back in Oregon.

Message to fans: Just chill.

If we've learned anything less than a month into this college football season, it's that no one game, no one performance, should be judged in and of itself.]]>