Kentucky Item to Appear on PTI

[BrassowFan]

Originally Posted by ukbob

Wilbon is a ranting racist who has no "analyst" knowledge of college basketball.

He is loud and likes to make the "point-counterpoint" aspect of that show controversial.

He hopes we lose every game...I hope his show flops and he loses his job. Never mind. They would definitely not fire him no matter how bad he is. OOOPS....That would be discrimination according to him. If Wilbon quits(see Tubby), would he tell everyone he got fired. I bet he would.

Just another by-product of the ongoing soap opera that is UK basketball. Get used to it. UK has been in a constant state of flux for the last 4 years. Time for Barnhart to put a stop to it once and for all. Not only is is tiring, it is embarrassing.

I honestly don't care what MB does with Gillispie, just do something, stick to it, defend it with passion and tell these clowns like Wilbon to tamp sand.

Excellent post!

[Wildcat Larry]

Listening to ESPN is like listening to your local call in show, only worse. I hate to insult the local call in shows by lumping them together with ESPN.

Worrying about what Wilborn says is like worrying about what Don Imus says .... it's an excercise in self-destruction.

[dtjunkie]

Why do you think Wilbon is a racist?

[wildcatbill]

good question why is wilbon a racist? he never said anything racist?

[Will Lavender]

Originally Posted by dtjunkie

Why do you think Wilbon is a racist?

I don't want to speak for Bob, but I think Wilbon is certainly playing the race card. Not difficult to see what he's really talking about: the white lynch mob running the poor black coach out of town not because of basketball, but because they're awful racists who hated him from the beginning.

Saw Bill Plaschke say the same thing on Around the Horn once. Said that Tubby would look up and see "all the white faces" in Rupp Arena and would leave town because of that.

To me it's all such simplistic crap. Obviously there are racist fans. There are racist fans everywhere, and we have our fair share of them. But Wilbon knows NOTHING about Kentucky basketball. Nothing. And so he's making a grossly unfair analysis based on race about something he knows very little about.

That may not be racist, but it's woefully unprofessional.

[UKcat]

If you really have to ask that question.....you obviously haven't been watching him or paying close attention to what he says......READ BETWEEN THE LINES........he IS a racist.

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

Dear PTI.
First of all I love the show. I watch it everyday but I am disappointed in Wilbon's comment "I hope Kentucky loses another game." I thought it was classless and stupid. He may not like Kentucky but he didn't have to say that. First of all. I loved Tubby Smith but he was not FIRED nor was he RAN OUT!!! He just couldn't lead us back to the Final Four after his first year. He didn't make UK standards. In his last two years he was lost 25 games. If UNC and Kansas and UCLA have those same expectations, why can't Kentucky? You tell me. Sure the fanbase is crazy but that's what makes us special we love our Cats and want to win. As for Billy Gillispie I don't know how long he's UK coach but as long as he's UK's coach I will still support him. Like I said I still love the show.

Signed David(Go CATS)

[Hanover Cat]

Cumberlandredskin nailed it. That's how PTI operates. You don't watch the show to be informed. You're not going to get well thought out discussion when you spend one minute on a topic. They're going to take extreme positions and shout them out for the sake of ratings, not information. Same goes for Around the Horn.

That being said, I have no doubt that the DC sports media (and the East Coast sports media in general) hates us. Who knows if it's because of ACC or Big East bias or who they're listening to--John Feinstein, Digger, Bobby Knight, or someone else. I don't care and I'm not losing sleep over it. When we start winning again, they're still not going to like us.

[wildcatbill]

Originally Posted by Will Lavender

I don't want to speak for Bob, but I think Wilbon is certainly playing the race card. Not difficult to see what he's really talking about: the white lynch mob running the poor black coach out of town not because of basketball, but because they're awful racists who hated him from the beginning.

Saw Bill Plaschke say the same thing on Around the Horn once. Said that Tubby would look up and see "all the white faces" in Rupp Arena and would leave town because of that.

To me it's all such simplistic crap. Obviously there are racist fans. There are racist fans everywhere, and we have our fair share of them. But Wilbon knows NOTHING about Kentucky basketball. Nothing. And so he's making a grossly unfair analysis based on race about something he knows very little about.

That may not be racist, but it's woefully unprofessional.

I agree again lavender. The problem with people and race is everytime a black person refers to something being racist he is told he is using the race card which in turn brings racism back to the forefront. People that don't have to deal with it will never understand it. Wilbon was imo just looking at his body of work which to him and everyone was impressive.

A perfect example i would estimate this is not the real % but 90% of high level college bball and fball and in the nba and nfl are black. Why is there 1 black coach to every 50 white coaches? If someone brings it up most people stick there noses up to it and say he brought the race card into.

Lastly racism exists everywhere for all colors. It is a very sensitive subject and it really bothers me that people take this so lightly. That is why it is so evident in these times.

[wildcatbill]

Originally Posted by UKcat

If you really have to ask that question.....you obviously haven't been watching him or paying close attention to what he says......READ BETWEEN THE LINES........he IS a racist.

Read between what lines? what did he say that was racist????

[ukbob]

Originally Posted by wildcatbill

good question why is wilbon a racist? he never said anything racist?

If you watch him enough, heard him when Tubby QUIT(not fired), then perhaps you would know. Is he racist in the true sense? I don't know his heart. But I am of the opinion that racism works both ways and not just from the white end. And I do not take it lightly. I truly believe this man has an agenda and it is to make UK fans look racist. So what does that make him????

So let's just say he is a race card player and give him the benefit of the doubt on the racist term. But that is the last benefit I would ever give this idiot.

And I have watched my last PTI today. Not that they care.

[dtjunkie]

Originally Posted by Will Lavender

I don't want to speak for Bob, but I think Wilbon is certainly playing the race card. Not difficult to see what he's really talking about: the white lynch mob running the poor black coach out of town not because of basketball, but because they're awful racists who hated him from the beginning.

Saw Bill Plaschke say the same thing on Around the Horn once. Said that Tubby would look up and see "all the white faces" in Rupp Arena and would leave town because of that.

To me it's all such simplistic crap. Obviously there are racist fans. There are racist fans everywhere, and we have our fair share of them. But Wilbon knows NOTHING about Kentucky basketball. Nothing. And so he's making a grossly unfair analysis based on race about something he knows very little about.

That may not be racist, but it's woefully unprofessional.

I pretty much agree with everything you just said. I've hoped that the fan base's reaction to BCG would finally show everyone that all we care about is winning, and we're on BCG's *** just as much as we were on Tubby's and I wish PTI would have pointed this out today.

But I don't think Wilbon's racist. In fact, I think he's done a wonderful job taking people and organizations to task when there is a need for racial equality (such as Division I football head coaches). I also enjoyed his book with Charles Barkley about race. I agree he is uninformed about UK basketball, and I disagree with his comments today, but I can understand why he has those opinions based on my interaction with numerous racist UK fans during the Tubby era.

[LAcat]

Originally Posted by winston

I didn't see the clip, so I will just keep my comments to what was quoted and what I know about Wilbon from watching in the past. I definitely think there is a racial element to this. I normally wouldn't bring this into the discussion, but because of things Wilbon has said in the past about other situations, I know he tends to personalize things and set agendas. I am not sure how stereotypes and Rupp play into this, but I have a good feeling this is the case. The Tubby factor is obvious. Wilbon's comments were obviously false, but he is not concerned with facts, only trumpeting his agenda. Certain fans treated Tubby poorly, but it is not generally true.

Aside from this, Kornheiser and Wilbon are two of the most narrowminded people on the network. A lot of this presents itself in "over the top" manners in order to make the show more interesting. I don't take 80 percent of what they say seriously. A lot of its an act, and the rest is them saying (especially Tony) "look at how narrowminded I am...I don't know anything about the world outside of Long Island and I think that's great".....its schtick......little more

I am not surprised at all about what was said and by whom. This is beyond conspiracies of involving ESPN...There are just certain people in the media that despise Kentucky basketball. Whether its the fans, the Rupp racism issues, Tubby, whatever.....even Pitino got his fair share from Feinstein and SI. Being in the relative south does not help matters. That may sound far fetched to some, but I believe it to be true.

This came to a head when Tubby left. Everyone knew he was feeling pressure and that many fans were wanting a change. Tubby is a well respected guy. Many people in the media that already didn't like us pounced on the opportunity to use it against UK and the fans. Once again we were unpleasable and racist.

Short of hate speech and the threatening of someone's life, I don't feel bad for anything that has been said and done to a coach at Kentucky ( I am sure there are some instances though). This is a big program with big expectations. Some people can't handle the pressure, others can only deal with it for so long. That is not an indictment of the program. While some of our fans might be unreasonable, the majority are not. And our administration is certainly respectable, and not at all beyond what is reasonable in their actions.

Good post. I watched the program today while on the treadmill at the gym. I thought Wilbon's rant was uncalled for, but he made a point. Tubby was run out and now we're worse off than before. BCG has not improved the program after two years.

[Will Lavender]

Originally Posted by LAcat

Good post. I watched the program today while on the treadmill at the gym. I thought Wilbon's rant was uncalled for, but he made a point. Tubby was run out and now we're worse off than before. BCG has not improved the program after two years.

Gillispie has obviously not improved the program. How much of that is the fault of the last guy is debatable, but Tubby took us through no years as bad as this one.

But we're getting now into a false debate.

The debate should not be, "We're worse off because Tubby left." The debate should be, "Gillispie is doing a poor job, but that has nothing to do with Tubby Smith."

And in my mind that's where it stands. Move Gillispie's problems to the side for a moment; they have nothing to do with Tubby. It was time for Tubby Smith to move on. He knew it and we did too. Nothing racist about that.

[wildcatbill]

Originally Posted by ukbob

If you watch him enough, heard him when Tubby QUIT(not fired), then perhaps you would know. Is he racist in the true sense? I don't know his heart. But I am of the opinion that racism works both ways and not just from the white end. And I do not take it lightly. I truly believe this man has an agenda and it is to make UK fans look racist. So what does that make him????

So let's just say he is a race card player and give him the benefit of the doubt on the racist term. But that is the last benefit I would ever give this idiot.

And I have watched my last PTI today. Not that they care.

yes i did say racism exists both ways. but ask yourself when has race EVER come into play or even into question for a white coach? If you can answer that question your a genius

[wildcatbill]

Originally Posted by Will Lavender

Gillispie has obviously not improved the program. How much of that is the fault of the last guy is debatable, but Tubby took us through no years as bad as this one.

But we're getting now into a false debate.

The debate should not be, "We're worse off because Tubby left." The debate should be, "Gillispie is doing a poor job, but that has nothing to do with Tubby Smith."

And in my mind that's where it stands. Move Gillispie's problems to the side for a moment; they have nothing to do with Tubby. It was time for Tubby Smith to move on. He knew it and we did too. Nothing racist about that.

i like you mr. lavender i agree with 99% of your posts

[ukbob]

Originally Posted by wildcatbill

yes i did say racism exists both ways. but ask yourself when has race EVER come into play or even into question for a white coach? If you can answer that question your a genius

Don't know and don't care really. Racism in any form is bad, IMO. Making one worse than the other is just not a good argument to me. I seems to make a reverse racism argument often makes you a racist in the eyes of many. (If that makes any sense)

Like I said...I will retract the racism accusation or at least ratchet it down a bit on Wilbon. But not too far down. I have an extremely low opinion of his views on many things from Farakhann(sp?) to Tubby Smith. Today just got to me.

We'll just agree to disagree on the issue.

[wildcatbill]

Originally Posted by ukbob

Don't know and don't care really. Racism in any form is bad, IMO. Making one worse than the other is just not a good argument to me. I seems to make a reverse racism argument often makes you a racist in the eyes of many. (If that makes any sense)

Like I said...I will retract the racism accusation or at least ratchet it down a bit on Wilbon. But not too far down. I have an extremely low opinion of his views on many things from Farakhann(sp?) to Tubby Smith. Today just got to me.

We'll just agree to disagree on the issue.

oh definitely that's what this is all about-to agree and disagree. To listen to people's opinions and maybe change your mind on a topic or to give you more information on a topic.

[WildcatFever]

Michael Wilbon is a moron! He'll be eating crow next season when we're tearing it up on ESPN every game!

[LAcat]

Originally Posted by WildcatFever

Michael Wilbon is a moron! He'll be eating crow next season when we're tearing it up on ESPN every game!

Wilbon is usually right on with his analysis on most topics. The fact that UK missed the NCAA after a 18 year run is big news. Blaming the rabid UK fans is wrong. We'll just have to wait and see. Personally, I don't think Billie is ever going to get it done. He is in way over his head at Kentucky