Coach Watch

It was great visiting family in Florida this past week. It was also good to be back in Kentucky and see that Spring has sprung. I don't recall seeing a single flowering tree before we left, but as we made our way closer to Lexington, we began to see the beautiful blossoms of the Bradford Pear trees. I had already been enjoying all the daffodils lining many country roads, and the colorful parade of spring blooms is just beginning.

The basketball drama has hit many lows this season for Kentucky. We faithful followers of the Big Blue have been mightily tested as each new low unfolded before us. I believe the majority of fans would have hung in there with Billy G., hoping for the best and supporting him and the Cats through it all.

Now that Billy G. is gone, we're hearing more than we care to hear about him and what's been going on and maybe it's best that he's headed elsewhere. I was especially troubled when a local reporter chased him through the halls of the UK basketball offices. I am so glad that reporter made a public apology to the fans, after apologizing to UK for his deplorable behavior. I believe he's making attempts to apologize to Billy Gillispie as well. There was no excuse to chase a man around when he's trying to sort out in his mind, such sudden, life altering news. I hope the news media tries to act more civil in UK's future.

Which brings me to the current topic, UK's future. I thought we'd be better off with a Kentucky boy at the helm of our Big Blue ship. I figured Travis Ford or John Pelphrey could handle the job. Travis could probably win more games, but John could probably positively effect more lives. John would be my choice. But, it seems, we may be going a different direction.

If the Memphis boosters can't change his mind, it looks like John Calipari, of Memphis, formerly of UMass, will be heading to Lexington. I've always enjoyed this coach, that reminds us all of Rick Pitino. We can never forget the excitement when UK played UMass years back at the Final Four ( or sweet sixteen, whatever) Anyway, it will be fun to see what he can do with our program. After our patient years with Tubby, who we loved, it will be nice to start emerging from mediocrity.

I hope I can get Riff and Roy groomed this week. They're spending too much time outdoors in their thick winter coats and they need to shed that fur. I hope the warm weather is just around the corner so we can all shed our winter coats and start enjoying another Kentucky springtime. Have a great day, luv, Susan