I rarely venture outside of our site here and aseaofblue.com as far as opinion-sources go for UK sports, mostly because of my particular taste in blending style and professionalism, but I make about a bi-weekly roundup of the ones I’m aware of just to check the goings-on. Today I caught a whiff of this:
Kentuckysportsradio.com cat fight
And while this is probably old news to most of you, I was appalled, no, amused, no, let’s go with confused when I stumbled upon the content of that link. I had to take a step back and look at the grand scheme of it all. Hopefully that’s what you’re doing right now. So, hopefully, you’ve got a feel for where I’m going with this.
How hilarious is it that the author of the little thing says that his (Maggard’s) ”cronies” would probably be there to defend themselves and - presto! Look who shows up to turn a man to a prophet. It’s pitiful, nearly painful to watch. But then I think, it’s not just him. Why was such a “bracket,” or whatever, needed to begin with? What end-purpose does it serve? Sounds to me like the “authors” have a bit of insecurity themselves. But beyond that there are hundreds (or millions depending on whom you poll) of joe’s there just piling up the page with attention-poop they’ve been storing up for days, weeks, and months. It’s like, you know how when you’ve gotta deuce it up real bad but you’re in a spot where it just wouldn’t be proper and you hold it in to the point where it goes right back up inside? Then it recycles through the system it once emerged from and re-festers itself? And when it finally has a chance to break loose it smells exponentially worse than your normal stench? Yeah. Well by the end of the day, you’ve got a pretty stinky soup of attention poop. Message boards are a lot similar, it’s just that it’s more a group of unorganized militia poopshooters as opposed to a segregated battlefield of, say, Generals, Majors, and Captain poopshooters to go along with the numerous infantry poopers and long-range crap-tossers. Every man wants to make a name for themselves in a world where masculinity runs supreme. The good thing about the sportstalk world is that no one is expected to be physically imposing, just intellectually.
There are simply too many people trying to be a source, or a leader, or what it really boils down to: a somebody. Attention-whores. I’ll admit it: I’d love for everyone to know my name and where to find my “voice.” But I’d prefer it be because I’m just a good writer, have an agreeable opinion, or a likable disposition rather than because I’m skilled at baiting people, lucky-guessing with rumors, designing my image, or using my position to start a self-serving agenda. I don’t like to point fingers, but there is a lot of that going on in this little battle of … stuff. Look, I’m here to write ABOUT UK sports and anything related to that theme. I’m not USING UK and its ridiculously massive fan following and history as a catapult to fame and glory. I’m not going to USE the school I love and respect to serve myself. And I WILL NOT support anyone who does. I write out of passion for the game (football and basketball), the league (NCAA), and most of all the school that represents most that is enjoyable in this state. That is where it ends. If you (Marc Maggard, Matt Jones, whoever else that has emerged to fit the profile, and all who are riding their coattails) fail to see what you are doing differently, then I pity you with force.
Don’t forget that if you lie, cheat, and steal to gain support; that support will lie, cheat, and steal to take your place when the time is right. If you use people enough, you will get exposed. If you throw enough people to the curb, you’ll form a mob too infuriated to control. Please, stop taking yourselves SO seriously, jump off your high horses, and respect the university that’s allowed you a brief stint of popularity. Players themselves are told so very often that “it’s not about you” and “it’s the name on the front of the jersey that matters.” Players! And here I am talking about YOU! Who are you? I digress. Now that I am drained of applicable cliches on the matter, I’m losing my will to be further offended. I believe you guys have something, maybe a lot, of substance to contribute to this business of reporting and following sports teams. But you’re letting your head get in the way or your ability. And in the process you’re degrading the school that you are attempting to represent.
The prevailing trend is that legitimate news sources are dying out, and are being replaced by a new breed of bloggers, web site hosts, and message board and youtube superstars. As this trend continues to intensify, such things as accuracy, cohesion, and professionalism is going by the wayside. These things are great for spreading opinion and excitement (I’m obviously into it myself), but it’s usefulness in the world of journalism remains raw. ANYONE can do the things we are doing. It takes real ability to write a daily column, run a beat, or dish out a grounbreaking feature story. I don’t think I’m ready to throw away my sports page and turn off my radio just yet.
Now, I am yet a youngin’, but I do remember a time when all that mattered was if the Cats won or lost. It was a time when Cawood Ledford’s was the only voice that proved important and the opposing team represented our only enemy. We were the pinnacle, envied and admired. We tried to be like no one, and had no need to fluff our image because we were just better and that was to be understood. We called it the Glory Road and we governed its passage.
Today, wins and losses just seem like another lump of stats to be prodded and picked over. The voice of Tom Leach is clouded by a dense fog of opinion and babble. Our enemies have grown far beyond the basketball court or the football field. We are struggling to stay atop the very mountain we’ve built and have lost that air of respect we once breathed. We try so hard to fit in and therefore we do. The glory days are gone folks; flushed furiously down a nasty, wretched attention-toilet.
Kenny, Seth, and whomever chooses to read my words: if I ever take a turn toward this type of senseless, sightless, inferiority driven me-machine, please rise up and crack me upside the dome with no reserve whatsoever. Because that is precisely what I would deserve from Brooks, Barnhart, Gillispie, and every member of the UKAA fraternity and alumni. It’s about time that we, the SUPPORTING cast, do our part: support. How about we all take a moment to remove ourselves and begin the process of rebuilding that pinnacle?
Now I’ll shut up and listen.