KY Back to Blue

Commonwealth Back to Blue

On Tuesday, voters of the Commonwealth of Kentucky overwhelmingly decided to give Governor Fletcher the boot from Frankfort. The outcome of the election may have been more about getting rid of Ernie Fletcher than electing Bert Beshear. Either way, Kentucky is about to experience some severe repercussions for its voting ways. Here are some things to expect over the next four years as Steve Beshear and Dr. Dan Mongiardo put the knife to the commonwealth.

1. Taxes - Beshear and Mongiardo have promised to tax the living hell out of Kentuckians. After filling the coffers, Governor Beshear plans to challenge the governors of the surrounding states to a big game of Texas Hold'em. Paul Patton is in charge of roundin' up some women for the event.
2. 10 Commandments - The 10 Commandments will be removed from all public and private buildings. They are not allowed to be hung in private homes or churches unless they are accompanied by other historical documents.
3. Creationism Museum - The Creationism Museum in northern Kentucky will be immediately closed. Beshear claims there is too much science involved with the museum. Plus, everyone knows Kentuckians don't do well with science.
4. Homeland Security - Don't be surprised when you hear the boom. With the Republicans out of office, Kentucky will be attacked by an Al Qaeda cell from Indiana within moments of Beshear being sworn in to office.
5. Victory or Defeat - Don't be surprised when Beshear pulls our troops out of West Virginia. He doesn't support democracy or victory.
6. Embolden the Enemy - Absolutely every action committed by Beshear will embolden the enemy. Just by reading this, you have emboldened them that much more.
7. Terrorist Alert Level - Beshear plans to revamp the terrorist alert level by making the threat level correspond with a specific poker chip.
8. Abortion - Abortion clinics will be allowed to do business in Kentucky, but only on bodies of water and at racetracks.
9. Homosexuality - Gay and lesbian couples will receive all benefits that a husband and wife receive. However, they will be segregated from the mainstream population. The will have their own businesses, neighborhoods, public transportation, and websites. For instance, straight couples can buy and sell on Craig's List, but will gay couples will buy and sell on Senator Craig's List.
10. Guns - Governor Beshear supports the right to bear arms. However, citizens can only wear their bear arms to Halloween parties or between the hours 6-8 p.m.

Lexington's Finest

The UK Football Wildcats received some good news this week on the recruiting front. One of Lexington's top high school seniors, Winston Guy of Lexington Catholic, has decommitted from Arkansas. Guy, who has been noticeably present at several UK Football games this year, has decided the trouble currently brewing in Fayetteville is a little too much. Guy is rated as a 3 star defensive back and would be a great addition to the Wildcats recruiting class. He has not named a new school as a favorite for his services, but Winston did dress up as Stevie Johnson of the Wildcats for Halloween. That has to be a good sign.

One of the other top prospects out of Lexington, Henry Clay's Aaron Boyd, is rated as a 4 star wide receiver. Boyd is currently looking at the Wildcats, along with Florida, LSU, Tennessee, and Louisville. Boyd would be the Wildcats highest rated recruit if he committed to Kentucky. He also happens to be the brother of former Wildcat quarterback Shane Boyd.

First Impressions

Billy's boys took to the court for the first time last night. I was fortunate enough to have some lower level seats for the game. Overall, I was impressed with the performance. First of all, the post-Tubby offense was pleasant. There was a definite improvement in ball movement. The well publicized Bradley and Crawford dribbling expositions were not on display, which was a relief. Before the season started, concerned Wildcat fans kept asking if the team would be more up-tempo than the teams of the past ten years. Billy Clyde always seemed to dance around that question. Well, Gillispie showed that a potent offense doesn't have to run and gun. The Cats took good shots, moved the ball, put up 99 points, and won by 35. Granted, we were supposed to win by a similar margin, but it is a hell of a lot better than beating Athletes in Action on a last second 3 point shot.

Best performances:
1st - Jodie Meeks (obviously). This kid may be the real deal. NBA - let's hope not for a few more years.
2nd - Patrick Patterson - Didn't start and had over 20 point and 9 rebounds. As a freshman, this kid is far better than Randolph Morris. I only wish I could see him play with Randolph this year.
3rd - Joe Crawford - He didn't sulk about not starting and had a solid game.

Biggest disappointment - Alex Legion - I really expect this kid to score a bunch of points as a Wildcat, but it didn't happen last night.

Biggest not too surprised - Ramon Harris and Mark Coury - Maybe Billy Clyde was trying to make a statement with these two starting. When the regular season rolls around, I don't see it.

Overall - I give the team and the coach an A.

Coury's Cats

We knew the starting lineup for tonight's game might be a little wacky, but I definitely wasn't expecting this (Bradley, Meeks, Harris, Coury, and Stevenson). Patrick Patterson's upper respiratory issues have apparently kept him out of the lineup. However, the biggest issue might be how Joe Crawford reacts to not starting. One would hope Joe takes the benching as a challenge to up his intensity. Given Joe's previous reactions to adversity, I wouldn't be surprised if things get worse before they get better.

On a football note, UK has lost Marcus McClinton for the remainder of the regular season. He might be able to play in the bowl game, if the Cats make it to one.

In recruiting, Chris Singleton has set a date in early November to announce his college decision. The finalist for his services are Florida State and Kentucky. Singleton is supposedly visiting this Saturday to see the Cats play against Seattle. Singleton would be a huge get for Billy Clyde, making the 2009 class of DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller, and Singleton a top ten class. This definitely would be a good start in recruiting for Gillispie. If Kentucky misses on Singleton, expect to hear of a commitment from Garret Stutz shortly after. Stutz is the 7'0 center from Kansas City, but he definitely is not the impact player that Singleton would be.

Starting Five?

The season starts in about 24 hours. Unlike Wildcat squads of the past, there is no clear starting lineup for this team. Billy Clyde's young team is guard heavy, with only Patrick Patterson as a clear starter on the interior. Rumors are that Joe Crawford has not yet met Gillispie's expectations, as well as being hampered by off-season knee surgery. Ramel Bradley is reportedly Billy's appointed team leader. Jodie Meeks is on the verge of exploding into a prime time player. If Bradley, Meeks, and Patterson are definite starters, what other two players will join them?

Vote to your right.

It Begins

With the loss to Mississippi State this past weekend, UK football finally lets the focus of the Big Blue Nation shift to its natural object of affection - basketball. Billy Clyde is probably thankful for the success of the football Cats, as Rich Brooks and company have allowed Gillispie's ascension to the throne be less obsessed over than a normal Kentucky basketball regime change.

On Wednesday, the University of Kentucky begins a basketball season with a refreshed outlook on life. Billy Clyde Gillispie begins his tenure as the coach of the Wildcats. In many ways, Gillispie has already found success at Kentucky. The Wildcats start the season in the top 25. Considering the talent Tubby Smith left behind, being ranked in the preseason is quite an accomplishment. Could you imagine this years team without Patrick Patterson and Alex Legion?

The Wildcats won't have long to get prepared. After the first two games, the young cats will (hopefully) find themselves in Madison Square Garden facing a two game combination of Connecticut, Memphis, and Oklahoma. The rest of the Wildcats non conference schedule will be a mix of cupcakes and top ten teams.

The conference schedule will be a typical one, with the exception of the Florida Gators. The cats should take a couple games from the defending champions, while Tennessee is likely to dominate the conference.

OFFICIAL BLUE DONKEY REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 23 Wins, 8 Losses

Halloween Scare

Halloween is almost here, and the Kentucky football and basketball teams have a right to be scared. Injuries are piling up for both squads at an alarming rate. The football team takes on Mississippi State this weekend - a game that UK should win. However, this weekend is not going to be an easy victory. With a healthy roster, the Cats would send the Bulldogs back to Starkvegas with their hide red from a good Wildcat spanking. Take away Keenan Burton, Rafael Little, Tony Dixon, Micah Jones, Paul Warford, and things might be a little to close for comfort. Keep in mind, this is a Mississippi State team that beat Auburn on the road.

On the basketball front, things look even worse. Derrick Jasper is currently moving backwards in his recovery from knee surgery, and he may end up having to take a medical redshirt this season. Michael Porter has a concussion. Patrick Patterson is currently not practicing due to an upper respiratory infection. Crawford is still less than 100% from his knee surgery. Jared Carter is recovering from his double shoulder surgery. Ramon Harris and Perry Stevenson have broken noses. Keep in mind, we only have thirteen scholarship players and less than a week before the season starts. -- Tubby Smith would have never let this happen.