Caliparty?

Ever since Gillispie's removal as UK's head coach 3 days ago, rumors have been rampant about who our next coach would be.  Many speculated Travis Ford, since AD Mitch Barnhart was stressing the importance of having someone who truly understood and appreciated what UK basketball is all about.  Ford played point guard for the Wildcats during the early 90's under Pitino and was one of the key figures in building the program to what it became in the late 90's (2 National Championships and a Runner-up in 3 years).  Others were screaming for Donovan because he too would be returning to somewhere he knew and respected as having been a former assistant coach here in Lexington.  Both of those seemed poor choices to me.  Ford is too young and inexperienced.  Maybe another decade from now I will consider him a forerunner for this position, but he needs to get some more games under his belt.  I also heard he has some off-court issues that sound a lot like BCG.  Not good.  Donovan has the celebrity factor.  He's a big name, having won 2 recent National Championships at UF, and he has the "it" factor - clean cut, handsome, and witty.  And we've all seen how good of a recruiter he is.  But I still didn't want him.  His stock has significantly declined in the last two years, having only made the NIT.  Why bring in someone who isn't even getting their team to the Big Dance?  Still others were throwing around the names of Jay Wright, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino (gasp!), or Thad Matta.  My responses to those (in order): nope, no more up-and-comings; boring basketball; yeah right/sick; not proven enough.  

John Calipari's name was also in the mix, but people kept insisting that he has it perfect at UM.  Winning season after winning season.  The gem of Memphis sports - not competing with football.  He's the "King of Memphis" - the most popular guy in town.  Recently signed a contract making him one of the highest paid coaches of all time.  It just didn't make sense for him to go.  Well that was the media talking.  

We Kentuckians see the big picture.  We know that UK is the winningest program of all time.  That we have 7 National Championships, 43 SEC championships, the greatest fan base out there, and an unbelievably storied tradition (The Fabulous Five, Rupp's Runts, the Miracle in Mardi Gras, The Untouchables, the Comeback Cats).  We all know and appreciate this.  We've produced the likes of Pat Riley, Kyle Macy, John Pelphrey, Richie Farmer, Jamal Mashburn, Antoine Walker, Tayshaun Prince, and Rajon Rondo).  The rest of the country apparently sees us as "has-beens".  Let me tell you, we are still there, we have just had some bad luck recently. 

Today news came out that Coach Cal also sees UK like the Big Blue Nation does, which is a breath of fresh air since Billy Clyde seemed to never grasp the grandiose "culture" of Kentucky Basketball.  Calipari was quoted as telling his UM players that "Kentucky is the Notre Dame of college basketball" and that he couldn't let this offer from Lexington go without giving it some serious thought.  Some reports said that players left the meeting this morning convinced that he was leaving them, while others said that they were confident he'd return.  All day today people were celebrating that we had landed Calipari.  While it seems likely that he will be coming, with both parties confirming that they have expressed a mutual interest and are talking numbers for the contract, nothing is set in stone yet.  Rumors are that Calipari could be getting upwards of $6 million per year.  (Economic recession my butt.)

Apparently Memphis boosters are proposing counter offer after counter offer to Calipari, trying to entice him to stay.  But I've seen reports that he has turned those down, saying it's not about the money.  People are freaking out here in Lexington that he was meeting with the UM administration this afternoon, worried that he may change his mind.  But apparently he was only sitting down with them to give suggestions as to who they should hire to replace him.  Who knows if that's true, but if it is, that's awfully nice of him!  :)

I'm not ready to throw all my eggs in one basket and celebrate.  I think it's pre-mature.  And after having been burned a few years back during the UK/LSU football game, I'm not gonna fall for it again.  Cats, it ain't over til the fat lady sings.  Not until I see Calipari in a UK tie shaking the hand of Mitch Barnhart in front of thousands of crazy fans here in Lexington will I finally celebrate.  And the possibility that he may bring his top recruits (Henry who has a clause to get out of his LOI, Cousins who hasn't signed yet, and Wall who is still undecided) with him makes it even more exciting.  If that were the case, I truly believe UK would be in contention for a National Championship next year.  Look at this possible line-up (very unlikely to happen, but I can dream):

Starting 5:

     John Wall

     Xavier Henry

     Jodie Meeks

     DeMarcus Cousins

     Patrick Patterson

Bench:

(players that would probably start anywhere else in the country):

     Daniel Orton

     Darius Miller

     Jon Hood

(players that started or played significant time this year):

     Perry Stevenson

     Michael Porter

     Kevin Galloway

     Ramon Harris

     DeAndre Liggins

    

Hello Kentucky, there's a team.  If this happens (or anything close to it), the Commonwealth of Kentucky will definitely be throwing a CALIPARTY until the season starts!  And I think it's merited.  

Now we just have to make it official.  Please Barnhart, rope him in!

Movie Reviews of 2009 (so far)

Here's a listing of the movies I've seen this year, from worst to best. Consider this a favor, so that you know which movies to spend your time and money on. Warning: I may be biased considering any chance I get to see a movie, I am generally in a fantastic mood because it means I'm not studying, so I may be nicer in these reviews than others are. I will do my best to put my circumstantial slant to the side and give honest and fair assessments.  Drum roll please......

7. Bride Wars - Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway join up together in this chick flick that leaves a little to be desired.  Despite a few funny scenes speckled throughout the film, especially when both brides are trying to sabotage each other's weddings, the chemistry between the two ladies was lacking and the ending was a wee bit predictable.  I was too bothered by Hudson's haircut to pay any attention to her lines, and I still can't take Hathaway seriously as an actress (she will forever be the unfortunate high school girl in The Princess Diaries to me).  Would I want to see the movie again?  No.  But I didn't leave frustrated for spending my time or money, so it couldn't have been that bad.  Rating: C

6. Confessions of Shopaholic - Isla Fisher, most known for her role in Wedding Crashers, gets the nod for the lead character in this film that would leave most men contemplating suicide, but most women with a smile.  I guess that's why they call it a chick flick.  Having never read the book I can't compare it to that, but the movie provided for 2 or 3 quality laughs and multiple snickers.  The camera loves Fisher and she does as good as any actress could do in this disenchanting role of Rebecca Bloomwood- a young  journalist who just can't stop spending money she doesn't have on the latest fashions.  What makes this movie from being a complete bust is Rebecca's boss and love interest: Hugh Dancy.  He's scrumptious.  Rating: C+

5. Mall Cop - Paul Blart (played by Kevin James from The King of Queens) is your stereotypical security officer who takes his job very seriously, but you wouldn't want it any other way in this light-hearted comedy.  Mostly slap-stick humor, this good-hearted guy ends up saving the day with the help of a lot of luck.  The romance side of this movie is not tantalizing enough to draw you in, but the ease of laughter throughout is enough to satisfy.  And you have to appreciate the clean-cut jokes and vocabulary that don't leave you feeling guilty for enjoying the movie.  Rating: B-

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -  Easily Brad Pitt's best performance of his career thus far.  He plays the role of a peculiar man who is born with a rare disease that makes him get younger as he ages.  This is a film that makes you contemplate life and death, love and heartbreak, and the joys and hardships of life.  My only beef with this film was the length: 2 hours and 45 minutes, making it very slow at points, but it also enabled the viewers to really get to know the heart and soul of Benjamin Button.  At the end, I found tears streaming down my cheeks.  A great movie to rent and watch on a quiet evening in with a quality glass of wine.  Rating: B+

3. I Love You, Man - Looking for a good laugh? It's easily found here. If you are able to put the crude language behind you (excessive use of the F word), you will be laughing uncontrollably from start to finish. I was unable to say what my favorite part of the movie was afterwards, since it's not really the story line that is great (a newly engaged man trying to find a best man for his wedding), but the actors' reactions during awkward scenarios that makes this movie worth seeing. The directors could not have picked a better man than Paul Rudd to play the lead. I imagine that a lot of it was ad-libbed because it was just too natural at points to come from simply memorizing a script. Predictable ending, but hilarious (I was convulsively laughing at points, hitting poor Ed because I couldn't find another manner to get my emotions out). Rating: B+

2. Duplicity - A spy movie that isn't loaded with crazy gadgets or unfathomable stunts - read: it's actually plausible, which makes it that much more appealing. Julia Robers' and Clive Owen's chemistry is convincing enough to keep the females interested, and the cunning script is more than enough to keep the males hooked. The many twists throughout the story may seem confusing at first, but all come to fruition beautifully at the end. There are no holes in the story line, which is a feat because of its complexity. No one is left saying, "but what about this part?". Very enjoyable movie going experience. Dramatic and witty. Rating: A

1. Slumdog Millionaire - I saw it in an old, classic theater that shows the more independent type movies or foreign films before they make it "big" or just die before hitting mainstream theaters. I proudly claim that I saw this movie before anyone had even heard of it. It's unique storyline approach, uplifting message, and surprisingly great acting (no big names) left me on the edge of my seat during its entirety, waiting for the next clue into how this story unfolds. It's not just your regular movie with the good guy winning.  Beautifully written and directed. And you have to love the dancing at the end!  A must see.  Rating: A+

The most wonderful time of the year?

March is typically the pinnacle of fun for me throughout my year.  The culmination of spring break, warm weather lurking around the corner, daffodils blooming, birds chirping, and most of all, March Madness brings joy to my soul.  But this year it's just different.  Spring break was in February.  The warm weather actually puts a damper on my day because on days like yesterday, where it was 68 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, I was inside the library studying instead of playing tennis or disc golf.  And March Madness just isn't very exciting when your team didn't even make the cut.  (It's harder to get amped for the NIT than the NCAA's).  

In fact, I have a confession.  I didn't even look at a bracket this year.  I have filled out a bracket every year since I was 10.  I've never entered it into a pool, but I've done it for my own pleasure and satisfaction.  And I was actually very realistic in my picks.  I never chose UK to go farther than I thought they deserved.  (I want to make note though that up until the last few years, that still meant they were going to at least the Elite 8...oh how times have changed.)  But this year, I have absolutely no idea who made the tournament and who is playing who except for what I read in Facebook statuses.  I now know A&M is playing BYU (and apparently B.O. chose the mormons over the Ags...typical).  And I know that UofL got the overall #1 seed, which pains my soul in itself, but what's even worse is seeing all these Cats fans switching to their side now.  

But you know what, I'm (wo)man enough to let go of my personal disgust with UK's disappointing season and still enjoy this tournament.  It really is a magical time of year - all the upsets, the cinderella teams, the school spirit, the birthing of heroes.  I love it.  It's a beautiful thing in the sports world.  Yet, this year, I will be unable to enjoy it.  I am knee deep in a tough Neuroscience block, and I can't even take an hour out of my day to eat, much less watch basketball from noon - midnight every day this weekend and next.  

For those of you who get to watch it, soak it in extra for me!  I am there next to you in spirit, cheering for the underdog.  

Gig 'em Ags.  BTHO byu!