Further evidence that ESPN has an axe to grind...

[Craig the Blueheart]

No news... No news whatsoever regarding this commitment.

[crazzedcats22]

No news... No news whatsoever regarding this commitment.

they posted something on the Lucas announcement RIGHT after it happened. This is ridiculous

[sethman0102]

I noticed that too. They were all over Lucas' commitment on Monday. For what it's worth, I didn't see anything on CBS Sportsline either.

[TyBrew85]

ESPN is no different than any other news media channel on t.v. they are full of slanted points of view, and propaganda. the same way cnn, cbs are left wing channels. we being uk, are the conservative point of view, meaning we do not get mainstream attention, even though we are mainstream opinion. so i say, to hell with espn, except when we play.

[DenCat]

FOX sports has an article on the signing.

[trublu]

ESPN is calling it a bit of a stunner on their website that Patterson picked Kentucky over Florida and Duke. Yeah, they love us.

[Terry623]

they posted something on the Lucas announcement RIGHT after it happened. This is ridiculous

I noticed in a different thread that ESPN would carry the presser live if Patterson would disclose the choice 30 minutes prior to the announcement. He said no so no ESPN live coverage. Maybe Lucas said yes and thus got the "extra" coverage. Who knows or cares ... we got the catch we needed! :icon_biggrin:

[Dep613]

Sportsline has an article up now. I think it's a little crazy to take ESPN not having an article up within the first half hour of Patterson's signing as proof that they have it out for Kentucky. The Lucas signing affected college basketball on a whole a little more than this. He has a famous dad (celebrity goes a long way in this country) and he's headed to the defending champions. If UK were the defending champs, I'm sure the news would have hit the national media much quicker than it is.

[Craig the Blueheart]

Sportsline has an article up now. I think it's a little crazy to take ESPN not having an article up within the first half hour of Patterson's signing as proof that they have it out for Kentucky. The Lucas signing affected college basketball on a whole a little more than this. He has a famous dad (celebrity goes a long way in this country) and he's headed to the defending champions. If UK were the defending champs, I'm sure the news would have hit the national media much quicker than it is.

I cannot understand where you are coming from on this. There is no way that Lucas had a more of a macro-impact. For him to have an article within five minutes, and for this not to have been posted shows their sense of urgency, or fondness for the program.

[UKSam]

Right now they can choose not to report on us.

Soon...............They won't have a choice!

[Dep613]

I cannot understand where you are coming from on this. There is no way that Lucas had a more of a macro-impact. For him to have an article within five minutes, and for this not to have been posted shows their sense of urgency, or fondness for the program.

I'm not saying that the PLAYER Lucas will have more of an impact on his program than Patterson will. I just think given Lucas' father (and brother) being known and that he's headed to a team some might call a dynasty (back-to-back is impressive), his signing makes a larger splash in the pool of current sports news. In no way do I think that Gator Nation is bigger or more important than Wildcat Nation, just that it's a little more relevant to most of the world right now.

[Craig the Blueheart]

I'm not saying that the PLAYER Lucas will have more of an impact on his program than Patterson will. I just think given Lucas' father (and brother) being known and that he's headed to a team some might call a dynasty (back-to-back is impressive), his signing makes a larger splash in the pool of current sports news. In no way do I think that Gator Nation is bigger or more important than Wildcat Nation, just that it's a little more relevant to most of the world right now.

That is not true. So are you saying that if PP would have commited to UF it would have been longer to mention it on their website? That is not true. This recruit makes a much bigger splash. Either way, this debate is silly... No sense in contemplating this.

[Dep613]

So are you saying that if PP would have commited to UF it would have been longer to mention it on their website?

Just the opposite.

Who cares. We have a new Pat Pat to wear blue this fall!

[Wildcatcrazy11]

To be completely honest. I don't think the masses of college basketball fans number 1) know who PP is and number 2) really care. If a top player goes to the school that just won back to back titles, people care about that. But if he signs with a team that just had too average seasons, its not big news. I guess im upset there is no article but whatever we do have an extremely biased opinion as UK fans.

[crazzedcats22]

ESPN just posted an article about it...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/news/story?id=2872595

[Dep613]

To be completely honest. I don't think the masses of college basketball fans number 1) know who PP is and number 2) really care. If a top player goes to the school that just won back to back titles, people care about that. But if he signs with a team that just had too average seasons, its not big news. I guess im upset there is no article but whatever we do have an extremely biased opinion as UK fans.

Exactly the thought I was trying to convey. Maybe I'm not thinking straight, still light-headed from the good news.

[Kentucker]

Why does ESPN hate UK so much? They do everything possible to denigrate the basketball program. I don't get it.

[lribookend]

Why does ESPN hate UK so much? They do everything possible to denigrate the basketball program. I don't get it.

I thought ESPN's article was positive and accurate. Not sure I understand your comment.

[BamaCat86]

I checked ESPN's website at 3:00 PM CST and they had a link in the news headlines to the CBB recruiting page which had an article by Andy Katz on Patterson to UK. But his spin was that the only reason he chose UK because of it's location.

[ShelbyvilleCathead]

"Expect Kentucky to challenge SEC East favorite Tennessee along with Florida, Vanderbilt and Georgia."

Now that is a bold statement about the SEC east race next year. I wonder how South Carolina feels about that sentence.

Nice prediction Andy.

[DenCat]

I wonder if the CJ will report this as "Patterson Chooses Kentucky" or if it will be "Patterson REJECTS Florida and Duke".

[lribookend]

I checked ESPN's website at 3:00 PM CST and they had a link in the news headlines to the CBB recruiting page which had an article by Andy Katz on Patterson to UK. But his spin was that the only reason he chose UK because of it's location.

Well, that is pretty much what PP said in the press conference....."being close enough to allow his family and friends to come see him play"..... he repeated that several times to various questions.......what else could Katz have said?

[Kentucker]

I thought ESPN's article was positive and accurate. Not sure I understand your comment.

What a short memory you have! It seems like yesterday that UK fans were being called racists by the likes of Pat Forde and Mark Schlabach because we were unhappy with Tubby Smith's style of play. It was ESPN, too, that took up the banner against the "racism" of Adolph Rupp. The outrage!

Can you overlook the blatant ACC propaganda that pervades all of ESPN every basketball season and Big Ten mania every football season? ESPN's lobbying very nearly cost Florida a chance to play the paper Buckeyes in the MNC game this past season. They were all for a Michigan/Ohio State rematch because the Wolverines lost by only a field goal at "mighty" OSU in the season finale.

Good grief, man. ESPN campaigns for those two conferences. For that reason alone I hope there's never another ACC or Big Ten champion in anything.

[Dep613]

Good grief, man. ESPN campaigns for those two conferences. For that reason alone I hope there's never another ACC or Big Ten champion in anything.

ESPN and ABC have contracts with the ACC, CBS carries more SEC games. Why wouldn't they promote their product?

[Kentucker]

ESPN and ABC have contracts with the ACC, CBS carries more SEC games. Why wouldn't they promote their product?

No argument there. On the other hand, why should UK fans patronize ESPN which actively campaigns against us; to the point of attacking a legendary coach's reputation?

[Dep613]

No argument there. On the other hand, why should UK fans patronize ESPN which actively campaigns against us; to the point of attacking a legendary coach's reputation?

Very true. I'm still dispelling the myths spun by the media about Rupp amongst my friends.

[RP_McMurphy]

They had to cover Barry Bond's spraining his ego today.

[Dep613]

They had to cover Barry Bond's spraining his ego today.

LOL

...and Bobby Jr. calling out the real Home Run King.

[BamaCat86]

Well, that is pretty much what PP said in the press conference....."being close enough to allow his family and friends to come see him play"..... he repeated that several times to various questions.......what else could Katz have said?

PP said that location was one of the key reasons he chose UK, not the only reason.

[BigBlueBriz22]

I don't know what ESPN's problem is. They did have Pat Pat ranked #9 in their top 150 yet we get little recognition for signing him? I don't understand why UF gets all kinds of attention for landing Lucas though. So what they have won back to back National titles. I'm pretty sure seven is better than two

[Radiated]

With Patterson, Gillispie has aced his most important test

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070516/SPORTS03/70516047

Patterson a Wildcat

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070516/SPORTS03/70516038

[lribookend]

What a short memory you have! It seems like yesterday that UK fans were being called racists by the likes of Pat Forde and Mark Schlabach because we were unhappy with Tubby Smith's style of play. It was ESPN, too, that took up the banner against the "racism" of Adolph Rupp. The outrage!

Can you overlook the blatant ACC propaganda that pervades all of ESPN every basketball season and Big Ten mania every football season? ESPN's lobbying very nearly cost Florida a chance to play the paper Buckeyes in the MNC game this past season. They were all for a Michigan/Ohio State rematch because the Wolverines lost by only a field goal at "mighty" OSU in the season finale.

Good grief, man. ESPN campaigns for those two conferences. For that reason alone I hope there's never another ACC or Big Ten champion in anything.

Perhaps my memory is not what it once was. But my comment was in response to one, and only one, ESPN article. If you are talking about the last 20 years of ESPN articles, perhaps you should make that clear. There is a paranoia that runs rampant among some UK fans that everyone hates us and wants us to fail. Well, Duke Fans feel the same way with regards to basketball, and Notre Dame fans feel that way regarding football. I don't worry a lot about what sportswriters or announcers have to say about UK, but apparently many others have thinner skins. If you don't like what the national media says about UK, why continue to torment yourself by reading/listening to it? Makes no sense to me.......

[BigBlueBriz22]

I'm not sure I agree that Duke fans feel that way. Or atleast they shouldn't. Every time I hear about Duke on ESPN they're praising them whether they have a good or bad year and I'll admit most of it is from one man, and we all know who that is, yep the great Dick Vitale. He never says a negative thing about them. But I do agree we may be paying the media to much attention, I mean why should we care we have 7 National Titles, and one of the biggest fan bases in all of sports. In my opinion they lose out by bad talking us, because if they talk us down, we as fans are not going to want to watch that, so then they're ratings should slip. Hey the way I see it soon they won't have anything to bad talk us about, because with the G-man in town it's just up from here for The Big Blue Nation. GO CATS.

[Woodgate]

I cannot understand where you are coming from on this. There is no way that Lucas had a more of a macro-impact. For him to have an article within five minutes, and for this not to have been posted shows their sense of urgency, or fondness for the program.

I disagree, it's not UK they don't like. It's just like people like to hear about the winning teams, UK hasn't been winning too much lately, if that changes trust me, so will our espn propaganda. i don't remember florida getting so much attention 5 years ago??? anyone?

[Craig the Blueheart]

I disagree, it's not UK they don't like. It's just like people like to hear about the winning teams, UK hasn't been winning too much lately, if that changes trust me, so will our espn propaganda. i don't remember florida getting so much attention 5 years ago??? anyone?

Just because we have been mediocre, it does not mean that we should be irrelevant in the big scheme of things. A good example would bed the Lakers in the NBA. Because of their nostalgia, they were always discussed at great length the last few years. I simply think that several at ESPN don't like how passionate the fans are, and how much we expect to succeed. Moreoever, they will never understand why we act accordingly because they are not fans; they will never know.

[Kentucker]

If you don't like what the national media says about UK, why continue to torment yourself by reading/listening to it?

Two reasons:

(1) I'm a UK graduate and fan and I don't appreciate being labelled a racist, a toothless hillbilly, or an ignorant bigot; and,

(2) If you think young, impressionable athletes don't pay attention to what the talking heads at ESPN are saying, then you are overlooking a major factor associated with recruiting them.

Though ESPN has contracts with the ACC and the Big Ten, it is unethical for them to "market" Duke and North Carolina by labelling UK fans and Adolph Rupp as racists. Neither Duke or UNC have ever had black coaches, for instance and I challenge anyone to show that the general population of the state of North Carolina is any less conservative than the people of Kentucky.

I feel that ESPN targets the SEC and UK in particular because they have a biased view of southern people in general. Maybe they don't think that we have televisions and radios yet. Who knows? One thing is certain, the marketing effort by ESPN in the states that have SEC schools is much more limited than it is in the North. Maybe they're smart enough to realize that you can't call someone a racist and then expect him to buy their product.

They remind me of those irritating northern "comedians" such as David Spade who constantly make jokes about southerners. David Spade once said that the federal government is trying to raise the education level of Kentucky's children by smuggling textbooks into the commonwealth. Grrrr!

[lribookend]

Two reasons:

(1) I'm a UK graduate and fan and I don't appreciate being labelled a racist, a toothless hillbilly, or an ignorant bigot; and,

(2) If you think young, impressionable athletes don't pay attention to what the talking heads at ESPN are saying, then you are overlooking a major factor associated with recruiting them.

Though ESPN has contracts with the ACC and the Big Ten, it is unethical for them to "market" Duke and North Carolina by labelling UK fans and Adolph Rupp as racists. Neither Duke or UNC have ever had black coaches, for instance and I challenge anyone to show that the general population of the state of North Carolina is any less conservative than the people of Kentucky.

I feel that ESPN targets the SEC and UK in particular because they have a biased view of southern people in general. Maybe they don't think that we have televisions and radios yet. Who knows? One thing is certain, the marketing effort by ESPN in the states that have SEC schools is much more limited than it is in the North. Maybe they're smart enough to realize that you can't call someone a racist and then expect him to buy their product.

They remind me of those irritating northern "comedians" such as David Spade who constantly make jokes about southerners. David Spade once said that the federal government is trying to raise the education level of Kentucky's children by smuggling textbooks into the commonwealth. Grrrr!
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I am also a UK graduate (1978, before some people who post on this board were even born). I don't know your age, but I do know that the stereotype of those who live in Kentucky, and to some extent, of the entire south as uneducated, red-neck racists has existed for a very, long time. In fact, that stereotype was out there long before ESPN even existed. I'm not sure it is correct to refer to "ESPN " as a single entity. Jay Bilas has never, to my memory, described a KY fan as "a racist, toothless hillbilly, or an ignorant bigot"; I readily admit they seem slanted towards the ACC. But they tend to ride the bandwagon....UNC and Duke have had final four teams in the last 10 years, so yes, they are the ones in the spotlight. But Florida is definitely a southern state, and ESPN has been gushing over the Gators the past year or two, also. I never heard BD or gator fans described as racists. Do you think there is a conspiracy against UK only?
As for impressionable young people choosing a school because of what the talking heads on ESPN say, well, I don't see any evidence of it. Patrick Patterson, Jai Lucas, Alex Legion, and hundreds of others choose schools each year for a variety of reasons, but I don't remember even one of them saying that they were going to tune in to ESPN to get advice about where to go to school. It just isn't a factor. They listen to their parents, their girlfriends, their coach, maybe their teammates and other friends. But do they call someone at ESPN for advice? I think not. When I don't like listening to the announcers (especially Billy Packer, who is CBS, not ESPN), because the sound of their voice is so annoying, I just hit the mute button. Easier to do than trying to change stereotypes that have existed for over a century, and that may continue to exist (perhaps in a slowly fading fashion) for another hundred years. But if you think posting on WCN is going to have any more effect than throwing a pebble into the ocean, have at it.

[Terry623]

===================================
I am also a UK graduate (1978, before some people who post on this board were even born). I don't know your age, but I do know that the stereotype of those who live in Kentucky, and to some extent, of the entire south as uneducated, red-neck racists has existed for a very, long time. In fact, that stereotype was out there long before ESPN even existed. I'm not sure it is correct to refer to "ESPN " as a single entity. Jay Bilas has never, to my memory, described a KY fan as "a racist, toothless hillbilly, or an ignorant bigot"; I readily admit they seem slanted towards the ACC. But they tend to ride the bandwagon....UNC and Duke have had final four teams in the last 10 years, so yes, they are the ones in the spotlight. But Florida is definitely a southern state, and ESPN has been gushing over the Gators the past year or two, also. I never heard BD or gator fans described as racists. Do you think there is a conspiracy against UK only?
As for impressionable young people choosing a school because of what the talking heads on ESPN say, well, I don't see any evidence of it. Patrick Patterson, Jai Lucas, Alex Legion, and hundreds of others choose schools each year for a variety of reasons, but I don't remember even one of them saying that they were going to tune in to ESPN to get advice about where to go to school. It just isn't a factor. They listen to their parents, their girlfriends, their coach, maybe their teammates and other friends. But do they call someone at ESPN for advice? I think not. When I don't like listening to the announcers (especially Billy Packer, who is CBS, not ESPN), because the sound of their voice is so annoying, I just hit the mute button. Easier to do than trying to change stereotypes that have existed for over a century, and that may continue to exist (perhaps in a slowly fading fashion) for another hundred years. But if you think posting on WCN is going to have any more effect than throwing a pebble into the ocean, have at it.

Nice post, and I agree. However, I am sympathetic to Kentucker's post regarding the racist comments that seem to keep presenting themselves in the national media (not necessarily just ESPN) towards Kentucky and UK. As UK fans began growing restless over the past 2 years over the product on the floor and the results on the scoreboard, it had nothing to do with our coach being a minority. I am pretty sure he was a minority when he was hired and granted one of the most lucrative contracts in men's college b-ball back in '03. Seems that fact doesn't get mentioned nearly as much!

[Kentucker]

===================================
I am also a UK graduate (1978, before some people who post on this board were even born). I don't know your age, but I do know that the stereotype of those who live in Kentucky, and to some extent, of the entire south as uneducated, red-neck racists has existed for a very, long time. In fact, that stereotype was out there long before ESPN even existed. I'm not sure it is correct to refer to "ESPN " as a single entity. Jay Bilas has never, to my memory, described a KY fan as "a racist, toothless hillbilly, or an ignorant bigot";


It's a a free country in which you can be whatever your capabilities allow, even an ESPN apologist. However, your defense of that organization (which can be referred to as an entertainment and sports programming network, or single entity) can cause your focus to be as narrow as my own. We'll just have to agree to disagree regarding their biases. I'll blast them and you can promote them. Whatever. Let's keep it in the fun arena, however.

I readily admit they seem slanted towards the ACC. But they tend to ride the bandwagon....UNC and Duke have had final four teams in the last 10 years, so yes, they are the ones in the spotlight. But Florida is definitely a southern state, and ESPN has been gushing over the Gators the past year or two, also. I never heard BD or gator fans described as racists.

I'm happy to see your admission that the network has a decided view that's slanted to the ACC, particularly to Duke and North Carolina. I consider it to be over the top. You may not. I rail on ESPN and to ESPN (especially when one of their rants is negative towards UK fans) because they need to know that we object to their slights. You may be happy living in Duke's shadow, but I'm not. I don't recall any gushing at ESPN when UK absolutely dominated college basketball in '96, '97, and '98. While the advertising executives at ESPN have been forcing the talking heads to give UF and BD credit, I wouldn't call it gushing. That's reserved for Duke and UNC.

Do you think there is a conspiracy against UK only?

Let's not restrict this discussion to basketball while talking about the subject of gushing. At the end of the last college football season, ESPN was all atwitter about the prospect of a rematch between Ohio State and Michigan in the MNC game. All season long they had promoted the Big Ten as, far and away, the best conference and were actively campaigning for the rematch and against the SEC and Florida. They almost succeeded. Florida was second in the final BCS standings by something like one hundredth of a point over UM.

Now, why would they do that? After all, they didn't have the contract to show the MNC. It's simple and very clear when you have the understanding of ESPN that I do: For the next ten years they would be showing the 42-39 OSU/UM game and the MNC game in tandem on ESPN Classic and howling about the best college football season in history. Thankfully, the Gators got the opportunity to expose the Buckeyes as the weak sister that they are to UF. That won't stop the talking heads from again promoting the Big Ten next year as the best conference (they're already touting Wisconsin as one half of the MNC match-up), but at least an SEC powerhouse with one loss will still be heavily considered for the game, thanks to the Gators' romp.

It's my studied opinion that ESPN wants and tries to mold the college sports landscape to their advantage. Furthermore, they're big enough and influential enough to do so. I think the difference between your opinion of them and mine centers on ethics. I feel that any promoter, network, advertiser, etc., that actively attempts to denigrate the "opposition" (defined as any school or conference with whom a contract does not exist) is being unethical and cheapens the sport.

[lribookend]

I certainly wasn't trying to defend ESPN. They are out to make a buck like many newspaper sports reporters, sports talk show hosts, infomercial commentators, recruiting services, etc, etc, etc. I just choose to ignore those whom I don't agree with. There are other things in life that are more important to me. I choose my battles carefully. And, I watch very little tv other than UK games, the weather channel, and an occasional movie. Maybe if I was glued to the tube I would get more emotional over what they say on it. I've tried watching Pardon the Interruption and a couple other nightly shows on ESPN, but the constant shouting just gets old to me.