kentucky kernel article

[SkyeBlue22]

Cats' true leader emerges too late

By: Chris Johnson (http://www.kykernel.com/user/index.cfm?event=displayAuthorProfile&authorid=1434 497)
Issue date: 3/20/06 Section: Sport


PHILADELPHIA - It's been this way all season; it's been a cause-and-effect his teammates have tried to emulate.

It's always a big shot when Patrick Sparks lets fly.

"We put the ball in Patrick's hands, I think that helped some," Tubby Smith said. "When he gets hot, you can see the team's spirit lift."

He's this season's version of Chuck Hayes. He's the emotional touchstone for every blue-clad baller; as Sparks flies, so do the Cats.

Yesterday, he flew higher than ever before, and the team played its best game of the season.

link (http://www.kykernel.com/media/paper305/news/2006/03/20/Sports/Cats-True.Leader.Emerges.Too.Late-1690104.shtml?norewrite200603201344&sourcedomain=h ttp://www.kykernel.com)

just thought some of you all might want to read the article in theuk paper.

truncated and linked to avoid copywrite infringement

[poodoo]

Great read about Patrick, SkyeBlue22. Thanks for the link.

Too, the Kentucky Kernel writerwrote the following: "Rajon Rondo, his roommate and closest confidant since arriving from Western Kentucky two years ago, put Sparks' head under his arm as the 6-foot guard walked off the court." He also shares thatRajon commented about Patrick as follows: "He played great. That's how you want to go out, swinging."

The writer's observation caught my attention. Somehow I tend to think that supposed rift between Patrick and Rajon Rondo wasnothing but somethingdreamed up by a few fans. I had thought that the few times I had read something of that nature here, and I think that more so now.While I had read that Patrick tendedto be a "loner" (and there is nothing wrong with that), it seemshere that Patrick and Rajon, also a very quiet, private person,got along just fine. Ionly wish they could get along well still another year! :(

[trublue4life]

poodoo wrote: Great read about Patrick, SkyeBlue22. Thanks for the link.

Too, the Kentucky Kernel writerwrote the following: "Rajon Rondo, his roommate and closest confidant since arriving from Western Kentucky two years ago, put Sparks' head under his arm as the 6-foot guard walked off the court." He also shares thatRajon commented about Patrick as follows: "He played great. That's how you want to go out, swinging."

The writer's observation caught my attention. Somehow I tend to think that supposed rift between Patrick and Rajon Rondo wasnothing but somethingdreamed up by a few fans. I had thought that the few times I had read something of that nature here, and I think that more so now.While I had read that Patrick tendedto be a "loner" (and there is nothing wrong with that), it seemshere that Patrick and Rajon, also a very quiet, private person,got along just fine. Ionly wish they could get along well still another year! :(
poodoo, I think you are right about the rift being dreamed up by fans. In fact, I think most of the rumors that fly around about "this one did this" and "this one did that" and "did you see the body language..." and "so & so turned his back when Tubby said something", etc. are mostly creations by fans with too much time on their hands and those who recklessly like to sitr the trouble pot. Everytime these kids spoke this year about their coach or about each other there never seemed to be all the conflict we were led to believe on the internet and call-in shows. Having a difficult time developing chemistry or finding the guy who's going to be the leader does not necessitate that bad blood flows between teammates. Unfortunately, people love filling in the blanks with gossip, rumor and innuendo.:cry:

[poodoo]

trublue4life wrote: poodoo wrote: Great read about Patrick, SkyeBlue22. Thanks for the link.

Too, the Kentucky Kernel writerwrote the following: "Rajon Rondo, his roommate and closest confidant since arriving from Western Kentucky two years ago, put Sparks' head under his arm as the 6-foot guard walked off the court." He also shares thatRajon commented about Patrick as follows: "He played great. That's how you want to go out, swinging."

The writer's observation caught my attention. Somehow I tend to think that supposed rift between Patrick and Rajon Rondo wasnothing but somethingdreamed up by a few fans. I had thought that the few times I had read something of that nature here, and I think that more so now.While I had read that Patrick tendedto be a "loner" (and there is nothing wrong with that), it seemshere that Patrick and Rajon, also a very quiet, private person,got along just fine. Ionly wish they could get along well still another year! :(
poodoo, I think you are right about the rift being dreamed up by fans. In fact, I think most of the rumors that fly around about "this one did this" and "this one did that" and "did you see the body language..." and "so & so turned his back when Tubby said something", etc. are mostly creations by fans with too much time on their hands and those who recklessly like to sitr the trouble pot. Everytime these kids spoke this year about their coach or about each other there never seemed to be all the conflict we were led to believe on the internet and call-in shows. Having a difficult time developing chemistry or finding the guy who's going to be the leader does not necessitate that bad blood flows between teammates. Unfortunately, people love filling in the blanks with gossip, rumor and innuendo.:cry:


Good points, trublue4life. Too, as I have posted, the media often enjoys stirring controversy, sometimes trying to make something of something with no significance.I would read Tubby's and the players' comments about how the three sophomores were handling not starting (especially Rondo), and then what the media tried to make of it was something entirely different. Go figure. :(

Personally, I thought team chemistry was somewhat lacking with this group BEFORE the sports psychologist met with the group. Even Tubby mentioned how the guys needed to be pulling for each other. Well, as the season progressed, our bench looked like a bunch of guys who liked each and were pulling for each other. I LOVED some of the photos taken of our bench, showing just that.

This team sorely missed Chuck Hayes' leadership. Too, no senior was a natural leader (other than Ravi, who was a walk-on and not a starter). Rajon Rondo is both too quiet and too non-emotional to be a really effective leader, as I see it. I watched a few press conferences, and none of our players (Rondo, Sparks, Randolph, Perry) showed ANY enthusiasm or even smiles. No, Ramel Bradleywas not a part of any of the conferences. :ggrin:At the SEC press conferences, I believe I read that Tubby took Patrick, Ravi, and one other player, and the players were asked if they were scared or something, as they had never smiled at all (and the players answered they were just focused on the upcoming game!) Anyway, we surely agree that both fans and media justcarelessly filled in a lot of blanks as they tried to figure out this team, and that's a shame, in my opinion. :(