Thanks for making that post, Brian. That's the BrianPoe I'm used to seeing more of here on the Rafters, friend.
I'm gonna take some time to make a thorough reply here, so bear with me.
Perception is a curious thing, in my experience. I have to put everything into a proper frame of perspective before I make any real determinations about questions like the ones you're inquiring about, and the things we are ALL thinking about this morning.
If you know me, This is right around my 40th year following UK basketball as a true member of BBN. My earliest memories are of listening to UK play when we couldn't watch them on TV back in the early 70's (I was born on March 27, 1969, and my dad'd favorite UK team - he was a UK fan BEFORE Rupp was coach until his passing on Oct. 16, 1996. His favorite team was the runts, hence, you now know where my moniker comes from ...
RUNT69. (as in 1969)
I've seen a lot, experienced many seasons.
To give that more emphasis, my mom THANK GOD SHE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL !!!! Is 85, born and raised in Corbin, and been there for all 8 UK titles......
So, I give UK fans such as myself, and yes, the blue hairs too .... a little bit of credit and leeway for being long, loyal and ABOVE ALL KNOWLEDGEABLE about the game of basketball and the Kentucky Wildcats.
**** end disclaimer !*****
I've been on this board for many years, in fact I started lurking during the earliest years of RR. I was truly younger then, and I was actually hesitant to make a account to even join in on the INSANE discussions going on - especially back then, times like the superheroes vs legion of doom was going on, and it was brutal, you had to have a thick skin to come here and post.
Seriously.
But I realized I had a lot to say, I just stayed mum for a VERY loooong time before the heady, much more positive days of "The Door" had us on here hitting F5 so much to refresh the page it broke the keyboard.
Strapping my big boy pants on, thickened my skin with years of self-abuse in watching the cut throat, "we eat our own on the rafters, because they don't call us RAFTARDS FOR NOTHING!!!" mentality, I began this account swearing I was not going to lose it and be a POSITIVE VOICE with years of experience demonstrated ONLY AFTER I had acquired SEVERAL THOUSAND POSTS here (and I only post only SO MUCH each year since 2008 - 2009 or so).
sorry for so many caps for emphasis, it's not meant as being talking down to anyone, please don't take it this way, my readers.
I hope that by sharing positive personal stories and good experiences will enrich this board. I only hope I am viewed this way in the community. I write alot to sportswriters all over the country, have a great (and even personal relationship I have fostered which makes me doubly proud with writers as people, as human beings.)
I try to come with that acerbic wit, muzzling my sarcasm and spiritual/political cynicism and thinking twice (TWICE!) before posting - always.
So, having said all that, here is my genuine, honest take, as I have not posted for much of the pre-season and early first-half of this season until right before and during and after last night's big game. I've just simply, purely, and with a great deal of satisfaction, after having the memories I'd just as soon forget of where we were before Cal got here.
I am back here now, in the midst of this Third (what I call) "Third Golden Era" of Kentucky basketball and share my opinions, respectfully treating all - and I do mean ALL - yes, I'm talking to the posers and baiters and trolls here on our board, don't think for a second I don't know who you are !!! *wink* you too, BBBlazing / ACCCARD FAN.....
- with respectful discourse.
This team is not not as bad nor as capable as some think, or of the kind of dominating teams we have recently had with Coach Cal. That much should be apparent to any level-headed college basketball fan.
Last year was the most dominating year of ball I saw since that UNLV team that went off before losing in the FF that year. As losing to one of the only two teams I considered even CAPABLE of beating Uk last year, much like Duke beating UNLV - and then look at that Duke team, the next year, in the 92 uk-duke game .... they won back to back and that was a GREAT Duke team. The best I'd ever seen.
And in that lost moment in 92' with The Unforgettables (they developed their talent, but it wasn't on the level of Duke's talent when they played that game ... They won on heart and soul and guts and hustle and effort. That's what made them great.
I knew that moment in 92 and said so loudly that UK was now back and that we would win at least 1 title within the next 5 years of that loss. Think about it the greatest Duke team in that moment of joy beating UK, when just before beating UK had turned into suddenly, a not-so-big-deal - or don't you not see a parallel between the beginning of that era and this one. They were giddy, and frankly, we weren't THAT talented, but we played with ehart and fire, and that's something Kentucky has ALWAYS had playing the game of basketball.
Draw the lines, make the connection, people.
And that, IN ESSENCE is what we all share as UK fans. It's why we have more wins than anyone. I give equal respect to a Kansas team and their fans, although the internet allows for all fans of all teams to be overly bellicose and belligerent, my personal relationship with them has been as great and knowledgeable fans I respect as much as anyone. Doubly for their long time fans.
We had a great game. We lost in their house. OK, that means we're 11-7 now in Allen Fieldhouse. NOBODY else can say that. And last night we weren't even EXPECTED to win. the real question was - "have we turned the corner on being another youngest team in the ncaa's under coach cal and get to where noone wants to see UK come tournament time - because excepting 13', the WORST we have done is an elite eight appearance (my GOD we are so spoiled under coach cal...)
The clear answer to that is a loud YES.
Where we go forward, I say, we should be, have to be, NEED to be POSITIVE about the direction, realize that everyone on this team needs to get better - and have a simple unshakable faith they WILL - because of the way they have played with effort and hustle, and guts and poise and a will to win since that Auburn game.
I suppose that's the most sincere and profound thing I have ever said about myself in a single, long rambling post, but I couldn't say it any other way here so as to be perfectly clear to anyone reading this, as I know MANY of you will - and do so with a mutual admiration for your input and discussion
So there. Maybe I should cut and paste this as another long rarely posted - started THREAD on the boards this year
I love you guys and women out here! I got love even for the Card fans - because I got family in Louisville I love, too, and they're Card fans, just as my many other family people are in Indiana, and I love them too.
Even my cousin Jerry, bless his little Hoosier heart. In fact, my dad (born in little glidas indiana, near Mauckport) was considered a heretic back in the twenties being a Kentucky basketball fan BACK THEN ! And then my brother going to UK and graduating (late 50's early 60's)
So we three little black sheep to the predominantly IU fans in my own family are considered traitors - hehehe. Look how golden we look now, carrying on BBN flags after almost 100 collective years)
But I digress.
This is about THIS YEAR'S Cats.
And hey, everyone, I'm chill, still battling cancer, but finally on disability and have some stability now that I got health care coverage, and I'm doing as well I have been in a long time with my brain cancer out of remission.
I seek no wish no sympathy. I love the well wishes from everyone, yes, that includes a personal email kent Sterling occasionally send me, as well as all my other *gulp, dare I say it * loved Indiana fans.
Ok I'll stop now. It's getting a little weird and I think I just kinda threw up in my mouth a little after those IU comments.
Maybe I'm getting soft at the end of my peak years ?
50 can't get here quick enough.
But I'm staying positive, beleiving Coach Cal is going to eventually bring another Title here, and damned set and etermined t be as poised, gritty with verve and determination and hustle, as a Kentucky team plas basketball to :
Enjoy the Ride !
Peace and love, brothers and sisters of Big Blue Nation !
(Don't expect me to throw up an"L" after that rah rah sis boom bah post)
Because I know it could be much much worse as a Kentucky fan, or could be a IU or Louisville fan.
Thank you, God.
- runt
Go Big Blue !