Perhaps I will inspire only myself with this post...and that would be fine, 'cause I find myself needing a little inspiration for the remainder of this season. All I really have to say right now is that it's time for this Kentucky team to man up.
SEC-West leading LSU is coming to Lexington tomorrow, and they aren't going to feel a bit sorry for the Cats. However, what I really hope is that the players, coaches, the UK nucleus "inside the locker room" doesn't feel sorry for themselves. There's just no time for it.
Get this: I'm not a rah-rah guy. Never have been. I think most people that know me would describe me as more cerebral than emotional. Dungy-like, if you will. But with 3 regular season games remaining, I find myself wishing that I could grab this Kentucky team by its collective scruff of the neck, slap them around a little bit, and give them the full Lombardi treatment.
Because if they have even an ounce of pride, even the slightest hint of self-regard as individuals, they will absolutely lay it on the line in Rupp Arena. I'm talking 100% effort, the full 40 minutes, give absolutely no quarter. As a team, their season still hangs in the balance, and they must meet the challenge. Bloggers, alumni, fans cannot do it for them. Again, LSU will bring a very good team to Rupp, and if Kentucky does not respond any better than they did the other night, the result will be embarrassing.
I can't be the only one wishing that the current "nucleus" could magically channel the rich, acclaimed, legendary Kentucky basketball tradition for the stretch run. Suffice it to say that many illustrious Big Blue luminaries have gone down many a difficult path over the years, and their triumphs should serve as a summons to the 2009 Wildcats....
Get up.
Fight, young men. Fight.
These players owe it to themselves, and to their teammates to answer the challenge that they face. Three games and the conference tourney remain for Kentucky to prove its worthiness for the Big Dance.
I understand these words cannot reach those whom I truly wish to inspire. They must find their own motivation, after all. But I certainly needed some stirring myself.
Every Wildcat star will shine...
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I agree that there isn't much fight in these cats. They don't seem to play with the emotional intensity that they need to play with. They don't compete for rebounds like it's the most important thing in the world to them. They don't drive the ball to the basket looking to make a poster of someone. Honestly, they play like a bunch of panzies, and I'm not sure how important winning really is to them. BCG said before the season that this was a very competitive team, but I've yet to see it. I'm not sure who to blame for that either...
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading.
ReplyDeleteI do feel like they demonstrated some more "competitive spirit" as Coach G calls it, vs. LSU, but they need to put it all together now...play HARD and play SMART also.