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06 May 2010
OK - it's been a bad week. Nearly everything that has happened this week has pissed me off, and as a result, I'm in a foul mood. When I'm in a foul mood, I tend to dwell on the reasons why I'm in a foul mood, which only serves to make me angrier. It's a vicious cycle that, one day, very well could result in me in a clock tower, picking off people one by one with a sniper rifle. So I'm going to get a few things off my chest here - try to let go of some my anger and frustration. I doubt it works, but it's worth a shot to save some lives.
To start with, we can all agree that Erin Andrews is pretty easy on the eyes. And, unlike some other female sports reporters, she actually appears to understand and enjoy sports. So when the whole peephole/stalking incident happened, I actually felt sympathy for her. I reasoned that maybe, just maybe, she was actually just a serious journalist who happened to be really attractive, and that she shouldn't be subject to the whims of a pervert just because her job places her in the public eye. Of course, now I see how faulty that line of thinking was, seeing as how she joined the cast of Dancing With The Stars, and began parading around on national TV every week wearing next to nothing. Call me cynical, but I'm not sure that's the best course of action for someone who wants to be respected for her professionalism. Now, with the whole Elizabeth Hasselbeck incident, in which Hasselbeck made a similar point and then apologized after Andrews started whining, I've had it. If you want to be a professional, then put on some clothes and stop doing crap TV shows that allow you to wear clothing a Playboy model would be too shy to wear. Otherwise, don't get mad when people judge you by your appearance. Either way, some critical comments from someone on The View (easily one of the worst shows ever made) hardly entitles you to cry about being persecuted. Get over yourself.
Next, college basketball. Even as a UK alum, I have been against John Calipari from Day One. I don't like the image his programs have, and my gut feeling is that UK will regret hiring him. These opinions have not made me popular amongst my friends, but they are just that - my opinions. I will admit he did a great job of reviving the energy around the program this year, and following the BIlly Gillispie debacle, the fans desperately wanted someone who connected with them, which Cal did in a multitude of ways. And the on-court results were successful as well, although falling short of the Final Four with a loaded roster in a down year was disappointing. But it's the events of the last couple of weeks that have gotten me riled up again. First, we learn that Cal may have continued to recruit a kid just minutes after he announced his decision to go to another school. There are literally hundreds of conflicting reports on what actually happened here, and it may well turn out that all Cal did was answer a phone call and wish a kid well. But his reputation means he isn't likely to get the benefit of the doubt with public perception and if Terrence Jones does wind up at UK, expect to hear a lot of venom from opposing fans. As this situation was unfolding, the Herald-Leader reported that the team GPA this year was...well...not great. Now look - I don't expect DeMarcus Cousins to pull marathon study sessions in the library to maintain a 4.0, especially when he knows he's headed to the NBA after one year. But we're talking about some of the easiest classes at UK, not Harvard Law School. With all of the resources available to the players, the low GPAs are just a flat-out embarrassment...especially when you consider that the national champion this year boasted a team GPA nearly a full point higher than Kentucky, proving that the idea of a student-athlete isn't dead everywhere. So how does Cal respond to all of this negative news? By allegedly expressing an interest in the Chicago Bulls job in an effort to renegotiate his contract. Apparently the seven years left on his current one didn't offer enough job security. Yes, I know Calipari has since said he's happy at Kentucky. In fact, in a direct quote, he said
"When we win, and everybody loves to win, players go to the pros, and there are people that will come at me. That's just how it is. I'm happy with the program. This is where I want to be, and this is where I want to coach. I love Memphis"
Oops - my bad. That is a direct quote taken on March 27, 2009...just four days before he bolted Memphis for Kentucky. So forgive me if I'm not hanging on every word uttered by Cal as the gospel. And when you add all of this up, the UK program has been in the news for some less than glowing reasons lately. There's a growing disdain across the country for how the program is being run, and despite what some fans will claim, it's not rooted in jealousy or fear. Only time will tell what eventually happens with the Cal/UK marriage, but my initial doubts about Calipari are still very much alive. And yes, I am prepared for some angry arguments from my friends who read this.
Hmm...where to next? How about the idiots who were outraged by the Taser incident in Philadelphia earlier this week? Listen, if you don't want to get Tasered, stay off the field. Plain and simple. If you run onto the field, I have no problems with any amount of force being used to subdue you. In fact, if the chase goes on longer than 15 seconds, I wouldn't have a problem with security shooting at them. Some might call this a bit harsh. Well, tough. Don't run on the field, and it won't be an issue. Got it? Good.
Let's see - what else? Ah yes - JaMarcus Russell. Way to take full advantage of your physical gifts and a great opportunity. Moron. You were given millions of dollars to do something you love, and you couldn't even put a little effort into it. You didn't learn the playbook, didn't get in shape, didn't make an effort to lead your teammates. Congratulations on being told "Get out" by one of the worst teams in the league. You should be real proud of yourself.
And to the Bengals, who just signed Pac-Man Jones. What in the hell are you thinking? You couldn't just be happy having a good off-season, with a couple solid free-agent signings and a good draft, could you? You had to do something stupid, something Bengal-esque. Listen, I don't care if he's reformed, and is now the greatest guy on Earth (highly unlikely). How does he help you on the field? He was hardly a shut-down corner, and I'm guessing his kick-return abilities are a bit rusty at this point.So why do this? All I know is that when he starts making it rain at bars in Northern Kentucky, I don't weant to be a part of it.
Lastly, Big Ben. You are a piece of trash. For goodness sake, you're a starting quarterback in the NFL. You have tens of millions of dollars, and two Super Bowl rings. Why on earth are you getting 20-year-olds in Milledgeville drunk? It's one thing for someone like me to have to resort to desperate measures to get laid. But you're a professional athlete!! How bad is your game? Tony Romo dated Jessica Simpson and Carrie Underwood. Tom Brady rolled with Gisele Bundchen and Bridget Moynahan. Even Jeff Garcia married a Playmate. And you have to settle for a Kappa Kappa Gamma in the bathroom stall of a college bar? Give me a break. You're pitiful.
That's all I have for now, although I'm sure I'll still be angry about plenty of things tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, etc. etc. If you don't like it, or have problems with any of this, go to hell.
