Post by Administrator on Jun 4, 2002 8:49:30 GMT -5
Alan C
This was written over 40 years ago by one of the best sports columnists of all time.
"There is the feeling in a close ball game that they will win. They believe this and they communicate this to the people they're playing. There has never been a ball club with more faith in itself. It is a mood that has been perpetuated. It doesn't matter who the players are."
The writer was Jimmy Cannon. He was talking about the New York Yankees. He could have just as easily been talking about the University of Kentucky....but not last season, or the season before...or the one before that.
What Jimmy Cannon wrote was what the late great Cawood Ledford, the greatest ambassador UK will ever have, said was the strength for Kentucky hoops.
With all the talk that fans have had about the difference between Tubby and Pitino, for today, this is the big difference, although it hasn't been part of the debate.
As Kentucky fans think about what is wrong with UK hoops, it is much more than the 'team terrible' label that was tagged on last year's team. That label shouldn't be around next year.
But, ask yourself this question, has Tubby's program lost that attitude that made UK and the New York Yankees great? If you ask the players coming back, they might tell you it is still there. But, all you have to do is look around the SEC and realize that for today, that feeling is gone. Those UK play against are no longer intimidated.
Look at Georgia. They no longer care that anyone wears Kentucky across their chest. That wasn't true for decades.
When we get close to round ball starting, many in the media will be asking this question, 'will Tubby set another record for finishing the season with at least ten losses again?'
UK needs to get that swagger back. Yes, you can have that kind of confidence without having a team that gets in too much trouble off the court.
"There is the feeling in a close ball game that they will win. They believe this and they communicate this to the people they're playing. There has never been a ball club with more faith in itself. It is a mood that has been perpetuated. It doesn't matter who the players are."
The writer was Jimmy Cannon. He was talking about the New York Yankees. He could have just as easily been talking about the University of Kentucky....but not last season, or the season before...or the one before that.
What Jimmy Cannon wrote was what the late great Cawood Ledford, the greatest ambassador UK will ever have, said was the strength for Kentucky hoops.
With all the talk that fans have had about the difference between Tubby and Pitino, for today, this is the big difference, although it hasn't been part of the debate.
As Kentucky fans think about what is wrong with UK hoops, it is much more than the 'team terrible' label that was tagged on last year's team. That label shouldn't be around next year.
But, ask yourself this question, has Tubby's program lost that attitude that made UK and the New York Yankees great? If you ask the players coming back, they might tell you it is still there. But, all you have to do is look around the SEC and realize that for today, that feeling is gone. Those UK play against are no longer intimidated.
Look at Georgia. They no longer care that anyone wears Kentucky across their chest. That wasn't true for decades.
When we get close to round ball starting, many in the media will be asking this question, 'will Tubby set another record for finishing the season with at least ten losses again?'
UK needs to get that swagger back. Yes, you can have that kind of confidence without having a team that gets in too much trouble off the court.
