The Hiking Writer

It is a tumultuous time in the Bluegrass State.

The University of Kentuky baskeball team, with its great history, has no head basketball coach.

Tubby Smith left  Kentucky to become the University of Minnesota head coach after 10 seasons at UK. During his tenure, he won the following:

• A national championship
• 5 SEC regular season titles
  
• 5 SEC tourney titles
• An overall record of 263 wins and 83 losses ( a 26-8 average)

And it wasn't enough. After 2 mediocre years (after an Elite 8 appearance and a loss in OT in 2005 that would have gotten them to a Final 4), Tubby felt enough pressure to say to heck with the greatest job in college basketball. The fans were calling for his firing, the Athletic Director was mandating changes in his coaching staff (primarily for recruiting) and Tubby looked for greener pastures.

Minnesota?

Hardly "greener" pastures, but the head coaching job at Minnesota has reasonable expecations. And if Tubby delivers the same or even a little less quality for the Golden Gophers, he'll be enshrined as a God in the state.

So, what causes a pro like Smith to leave the "best job" in all of college hoops for the rule breaking backwaters of Minnesota?

Kentucky expectations.

There is no other job in college basketball, including the historical powerhouses of North Carolina, Duke and Kansas, that demand, no REQUIRE, absolute excellence year in and year out.

Wait a moment. Take a breath. Count to three.

Who is missing from this list? Well only the program with the highest number of National Championships in the history of the NCAA. Namely, the UCLA Bruins. A program that holds the records for consecutive wins, consecutive national championships and home of Coach Wooden, the strait laced flip side to Kentucky's Coach Rupp. UCLA has also experienced, since Coach Wooden's retirement, periods of mediocrity and excellence, much like Kentucky, but without the turmoil, the scrutiny, the gnashing of teeth.

Why?

Is it the laid back surfer attitude of California?

Hard to say really, but one can differentiate the expectations of both programs by their fans fairly simply.

Kentucky fans, aside from their great love of the program, are unreasonable, and some of them are borderline insane.

The facts are these:

The new millenium has delivered an era of parity unlike recent decades. And coaches with "elite" programs have become as ubiquitous in delivering talent and teams across the board. Look at Thad Matta at Ohio State or Rich Barnhard at Texas to find the best recruits this year. Georgetown has found a resurgeance behind John Thompson III, and if the entire Florida team doesn't take the money and run after last year's championship, would they be in the Final 4 again?

NO.

So to the "elite" teams, and Kentucky, I submit the following:

GET USED TO IT YOU LOONS.

You might get Billy Donovan, you might Get Tom Izzo, you might get John Calipari, but NONE OF THESE GUYS are going to deliver Final 4 after Final 4. To expect anything remotely resembling this in today's college hoops market is just nuts. 2 great seasons in a row is a miracle, so enjoy them if you can, but each Final 4 is miracle unto itself, and no program has a guarantee.

UK fans, if you get Billy Donovan, I hope you give him the patience he deserves. But regardless of who takes the job, you'll never see a run like UCLA under Wooden, so be happy with greatness when it arrives, rather than grumble when it is absent. UCLA fans seem to be able get over it, can you?

This is something going around on MySpace, so I thought I'd add it here.

1. ARE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My Dad and my Grandfather, I'm a "3rd"

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

I haven't had a big cry since my Dad died, but I get choked up at movies. Field of Dreams was on a few days ago and it does it to me every time.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Lord no.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Good roast beef

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

None that I'm aware of. (I kid I kid! Well actually, I don't kid. You get the idea.)

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD THEY BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Depends if that other person was an asshole.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

Probably too much

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Not even on a tequila bet

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

For nostalgia: Quisp

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

I'm an ox. Many of my friends thought I should go into pro wrestling, using the name "Man Mountain".

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Ok, this is a tough one, but Kroger makes a Cashew Crunch Cinnamon Swirl that is just awesome. 

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

Eyes

15. RED OR PINK?

Red

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF?

I cut people out of my life too quickly sometimes.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

I miss some of my old friends because of  the answer to 16.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO RE-POST THIS?

Doesn't really matter, but feel free.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Green and white athletic shorts and no shoes (I am from Kentucky after all)

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Tuna salad sandwhich

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

ESPN right now.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Burnt Umber

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Bread baking and salty air.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

My fishing buddy Chris

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO YOU GOT THIS FROM?

I've never met Eileen in person, but she seems like good people.

26. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?

College hoops, Specifically, my Louisvile Cardinals

27. HAIR COLOR?

Lightbrown with grey at the temples.

28. EYE COLOR?

Green

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

Nope

30. FAVORITE FOOD?

Seafood rules, more specifically, sushi

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

A healthy mix of both. Slasher/gore movies don't appeal.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Little Miss Sunshine (And I dug it)

3. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Navy blue hoodie with NYPD logo

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES?

I 've been told I'm good at both.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?

Charlotte Rousse (my Mom's, though I can make it flawlesly)

37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Aphrodite: Russell Andrews

38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

The Sneeze: Half Zine, Half Blog, Half not good with fractions (www.thesneeze.com)

39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?

Derby Classic McDonalds All American game

40. FAVORITE SOUND?

Waves breaking on a beach, water rushing through a stream, wind in the trees

41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

Beatles

42. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM HOME?

Sao Paulo, Brazil

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

I have a gift for memorization and I have excellent hand-eye cordination. I also break things.

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

New Albany, Indiana (I'm not proud of this)

45. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CELEB...MALE AND FEMALE?

Male: a tie between John Stewart and Peter O'Toole

Female: Tori Amos?

46. FAVORITE ENERGY DRINK?

I don't like them. Not even with vodka.

47. NAME ONE THING ABOUT YOUR PAST NOT EVERYONE WOULD KNOW.

I was in 4-H and went to 4-H camp for years up until I was 14. I'm a foodie too.

48. WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER BE, OTHER THAN WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW?

Near a beach with golf and fishing handy

49. ANY EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE?

I'm still unemployed and working on my first novel

50. WHO'S ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING???

Anyone's really. Especially if she has a nice.....oh nevermind. 

I know there are plenty of good bands out there, but you've probably followed at least one local group despite the fact that they never made it on the national scale. List the bands you love but the rest of us have probably never heard of.

For Louisville, I'd have to say 4 bands hold my allegiance.

Days of the New was a good one, but I never followed them. The greatest Louisville bands ever were:

#1 Domani: Toured the region for a couple of years, got a Columbia Records contract, cut an album and split before it was released (I have the bootleg). 7 guys that could all play about 6-7 instruments and just made great music.

#2 Love Jones: Cut 2 albums on the Zoo label thanks to being discovered by Tool. I've had them play in a house party twice, tripped with them, and seen them over 50 times easily. They have a cut on the Swingers Soundtrack and were the house band for a one season on the MTV date show.

#3 Government Cheese: Technically a Bowling Green band, they toured Louisville a lot, and a fraternity brother knew them well. Some of the best rock I've ever witnessed live. Tommy Womack was the lead guitarist and creative center. You can still get some cuts from that link on MP3.

#4 Danny Flanigan: Just a great guy. I went to his wedding. He was an acoustic solo artist and also led a few good bands like Rain Chorus. Possibly my favorite, I have 5 of his CDs.

So, who do you have locally?

I love this disturbing video. Stinkfist.

Holy cow!

Just amazing. I keep asking myself "How the hell did they film that?"

Seriously, if you thought the Blue Planet series was impressive, this is some of the most amazing stuff I've ever seen on film, and this is just the first show of the series.

And they're showing the first 3 episodes back to back to back!

The third episode is almost entirely about the deep sea, and is incredible.

Anyone want to get this for my birthday? 

Florida

UCLA

Ohio State

Georgetown

This is the second year in a row that the league wth the largest number of bids for the field of 65 got shut out of the Final Four.

Last year, it was the Big East, this year it was the ACC. 

Hibbert vs Oden is going to be fun to watch. 

For the NCAA games, but the first two games tonight have been outstanding. Both nip and tuck from the get go.

UPDATE: The refs are getting way too involved in games late this year. All the calls are going against Butler in a game that was even with 3 minutes to go. Florida is going to win. Vandy is still frustrating Georgetown, and Hibbert has fouled out with about 4 minutes to go.

UPDATE: Vandy got screwed by the refs and loses by 1.

Editorial Warning: This is the year of the referee. The talent on the floor isn't winning the game outright anymore, it's how the whistles blow. I don't mind bad officiating. I don't mind under-officiating. I DO mind it when referees determine the outcome of a game and not the play on the court. Tonight, the refs swallowed their whistles late in the GU/Vandy game. Other times in this tourney, they've whistled far too much throughout the game (See Louisville/Texas A&M)

I want games decided on buzzer beaters, not on the foul line. 

The first two games are incredible so far. SIU and Kansas are tied with about 6 minutes to go and Texas A&M is ahead by 2 with about 14 minutes to go.

This is the greatest sports show on Earth

UPDATE: 2:20 to go, SIU down 2. A&M down 1 with 9:37

UPDATE 2: 17.8 seconds and SIU is down 3 with the ball, 6:20 to go and A&M is up 1.

UPDATE 3: SIU loses on a choked pass. Darn shame.

UPDATE 4: Memphis and A&M tied with 2:09 left. Acie Law IV is Cool Hand Luke.

UPDATE 5: 57 seconds to go, A&M up 1 with the ball. Acie Law saves a loose ball like a, well, like a hungry college player.

UPDATE 6: Law chokes on a layup. Memphis with the ball and 25 seconds to go

UPDATE 7: Foul on A&M, Memphis makes the first with 3.1 seconds to go, tie game.

UPDATE 8: They make the second, A&M darn near blows the game on the inbound pass. They get another inbound and the buzzer beater misses from 30 feet.

UPDATE 9: Late games getting started

UPDATE 10: I fell asleep

Hi folks, breaking news from the Bluegrass state.

Imagine if you will that you are a college coach in the always intense Division 1 of the NCAA and you keep your job for 10 seasons.

During that period, you can list as your accomplishments:

• One National Championship
  
• 5 League championships
• A clean program, with no violations
• Your average record per season is 26-8
• Your players graduate

In most Universities, you would be lauded as a premier coach, a class act, an all around swell guy.

In Kentucky, where the expectations are at times outrageous, it only gets you scrutinized and you eventually decide it isn't worth it.

Orlando "Tubby" Smith resigned as the University of Kentucky head coach today and will take over the job at the University of Minnesota. I wish him well and hope he can duplicate his record for the Golden Gophers. If he does, they'll build a statue of him and put it in the capitol dome in St. Paul.