Letters to the Editor: We still have a lot to say about Coach Cal and NCAA loss.
Bigger concerns
Witnessing historical defeat, I turned to twitter citizens of BBN to share in the angst of loss, ‘decline’ of a basketball empire and a call for retribution from Coach Calipari. I was not disappointed. As I reflected on how this could happen, who’s to blame and how to bring on a new era, I was overtaken by more pressing questions regarding the tragedy and horror through the invasion of Ukraine and the death of innocents whose concern is not who failed the BBN. A not more important query asked is if we as a species can survive the current trajectory of human history. The reflections on this ruthless invasion, the potential expansion to World Conflict threatening nuclear annihilation, a mutating virus whose “sport” is death, and our democracy under attack by the extremes of politics soothed my angst. It should be a reminder to us there are more pressing issues that warrant concern. We have the best coach; we’ve enjoyed the best athletes and shared their dreams with anticipations of National Championships. We are fortunate. BBN should be thankful that concerns, unsolicited advice, and projected solutions are invoked merely by loss of sporting events, not a life. We’ll survive, UK basketball will survive, players will survive, and we’ll await next year when we’ll win it all!
So, when we call Coach Cal’s radio show to ‘mansplain’ how we’d have done a better job, give thanks. Most in our country and the world don’t have that diversion.
Bill Brooks, Lexington
Off Day
I rarely get angry enough to write a letter but the response from the BBN after Thursday night’s loss to St. Peter’s did the trick. I am disgusted with the selfish, fair weather “fans” who ranted in print and on air. That great coach of ours and those excellent young men had an off night. St. Peter’s had a great one. Unless you have never had a day when you were less than your very best, I think you should keep your mouth shut.
Katie Barret, Paris
Keep Cal
John Calipari’s coaching ability is not worthy of consideration or discussion considering the problems facing the world today. As a UK old timer, Class of ‘68, I experienced the elation and disappointment of Rupp’s Runts, the thrill of Jack Givens and the Twin Towers, Rick and the Unforgettables. I was at the Alamodome in ‘98 when Jeff Shepard and Tubby rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit, and at Jerry World when UConn ended the Cats late season run in 2014. Coach Cal’s record is truly impressive, given the parity that now exists, the transfer portal, and the draw of NBA money. Who wouldn’t leave college for a multimillion-dollar paycheck? He continues to recruit quality players. The program is clean and winning is still a tradition. Read Dale Brown’s letter and he is spot on. Living in the Austin area, with a UT grad in the family, I am now also a Longhorns fan. Rick Barnes and Mack Brown had great records and solid programs, but the relationships soured and Texas went into the wilderness in both sports. While things are finally looking up in Austin, the Big Blue Nation would make a bigger mistake in forcing out Coach Cal.
Dar Moneyhon, Lakeway, Texas
Fire Calipari
Fire Calipari. Oh no, he’s great, he won a national championship. Mr. Smith did as well. The calls at this point would be for Tubby to be lynched, racial symbolism intended and meant. Cal is the golfer that goes to Dick’s every spring and buys the biggest, newest clubs for the upcoming season. And hits the first drive right in the wood (Duke ND). Then by the time of the club championship, he can keep it in the fairway. But he gets beat every year by 18 strokes. UK has become an NBA farm team, but not a NCAA Championship team. Sad. Hire the St. Peters coach. He was energetic and even in the OT, seemed positive that his team would triumph. They did. Oh, but Cal has the best team EVER coming next year… I wish we had someone to coach them.
Adrian Conley, Catlettsburg
Gold Standard
Well, the gold standard of college basketball really took it on the chin against St. Peter’s, didn’t it? If Calipari would build a real team instead of a bunch of “one and done” prima donnas, he may beat this problem. He has single-handedly killed what made UK the elite program in the NCAA. No more real senior days — let’s just make UK a way station for the NBA. Reed Sheppard, if you have half a brain in your head son, reopen your recruitment. There’s a school and a coach 100 miles south of London in Knoxville that will make you better than you ever thought you could be!!! This is not the great UK your parents played for. Think about it...
Phil Holloway, Versailles
Player first
I would like to point out the one thing sports writers and commentators fail to ever talk about when it comes to coach Cal. The one thing that aggravates fans of UK Basketball is that Cal has this player first crap. If he wants to be a player’s agent then he should set up shop and do that. However, he is being paid by the University of Kentucky to win games and represent the University of Kentucky. I think he is more interested in playing a guy whom he thinks should be drafted than winning basketball games. I understand having loyalty to players, but not when it hurts the team. When you guys write about how we fans expect too much from Cal, please stop and research what we really want — a coach who wants his players to win for the University of Kentucky. I would love to see a team full of guys that want to win for UK instead of using UK as a stopover to the NBA. Draft picks don’t hang banners, so who cares about how many NBA players Cal recruited? It’s just one title.
Mike Logsdon, Lexington
Concentrate on UK
I’ve been reading a lot about Coach John Calipari, whom I like. Unlike some of your writers, I think he’s an excellent coach. I just don’t think he understands Kentucky. Our program grew up in the 1920s through the 1960s. Kentuckians didn’t have much else, but by golly, they had the Cats. Do you see an NBA team in Lexington? No. The reason is that we don’t need or want one. UK basketball is our NBA. Coach Cal doesn’t understand that. I don’t care about (or follow) UK players after they leave. I wish them well, but I just don’t care about the “league,” which I see as more or less a fraud. Coach Cal would do a lot better if he concentrated on building the best college basketball team he can and quits catering to the NBA or the kids who would rather be there. Let’s remember that their scholarship gives them a chance to play at the best basketball school in the nation in front of the best and most loyal fan base. There’s plenty of young men who would give anything to play at UK for 4 years. Maybe we should give them the chance. Go Cats!
Steve Bolton, Frankfort
Agricultural land
I have been listening to a discussion on the lack of available food products/grain, etc. in the United States partly due to the Russia’s war on Ukraine. One remedy that would help is to stop the use of very productive farm land (specifically in Kentucky) for building more shopping centers, businesses, and housing. An example is the recent purchase and destruction of the large brick mansion and productive farm property for developing everything except growing food products. We have land that is not suitable for farming, why not use that land for the developers to use for building projects. People do need homes.This is not a new thought of mine. My Mom always said Lexington was the jewel of Kentucky before the 1970s, but the developers were the cancer that was gobbling up all the beautiful land and I agree. Leave the wonderful productive farmland alone and allow farmers to farm and grow, and ENCOURAGE it by lowering farm taxes. Farmers should never have to sell because taxes are TOO high and based on what a developer can build. With all our wonderful land, the US should never have to depend on another country for grain/food.
Polly Abney, Mt. Vernon
Lexington soccer
Our new soccer team’s name was chosen to be one that would best represent everyone in Lexington, everyone, that is, in Lexington, South Carolina. Not knowing that the “S C” stands for Sporting Club will surely make most to believe that “S C” on the team’s shield stands for South Carolina! I think the owners could have made some better choices, just saying...
Paul Pezel, Lexington
Honor healthcare workers
I am in awe. Have you ever met superheroes? I have. Despite the incredible burdens and challenges to our frontline healthcare workers over these past two years, they just get better and stronger. Two recent inpatient experiences with my 96-year-old mom at St. Joseph and Cardinal Hill Hospitals had convinced me of this. Then my husband experienced his own health scare and we again turned to St. Joseph Hospital for help. In all three situations, the amazing staff at these hospitals were kind, empathetic, enormously caring, competent and helpful. Having spent 40 years in healthcare administration myself, I am very in-tune with patient quality and safety. This is what we experienced at both institutions in all three instances. I must also acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the paramedics of the Lexington Fire Department for their contributions during a frightening time.In all of the trauma and drama of today’s world, I think Lexingtonians need to take a moment to celebrate the amazing healthcare heroes who surround us. God bless you all and thank you.
Linda Cranfill, Lexington
Metal posts
I am concerned about the safety of the metal posts that have been installed at intersections on the new Town Branch Trail downtown. These stainless-steel bollard posts look pretty, but the beveled top of the post has a sharp point that will cause serious injury to a cyclist or someone riding a high-speed battery powered scooter. Bollard posts were removed from Ohio’s famous Little Miami bike trail after causing countless accidents.
Safety, not appearance, must be the primary design criteria for successful public bike trails. Experienced cyclists, not landscape architects, should design bike trails. These sharp metal posts are just foolish.
If a metal bollard post is necessary, it should have a gentle rounded top like the ones on UK’s campus. Better would be a high visibility, spring-loaded or flexible post made from plastic that cannot injure someone who accidentally crashes into it.
David Cooper, Lexington