Kentucky Basketball: Happy To Be Relevant Again

There was a time not long ago when being relevant was not enough for Kentucky fans: What mattered were championships. 

As Kentucky has struggled lately though the spotlight dimmed a bit, maybe being relevant became enough? Maybe it's all that matters right now, or at least all that matters until the 2009-2010 season begins.

For now, you see, being relevant is enough for Kentucky basketball. There was a time most of us remember when Kentucky was hated in the same way that Duke basketball was. And that was a good thing because it meant you were successful.

Duke is hated because they are good. It's that simple. Sure, they have flamed out in the NCAA tournament recently, but nevertheless they have maintained a top spot in the much tougher ACC the whole time.

Perhaps most importantly, they have remained at the forefront of most college basketball discussions throughout the past few years. 

Kentucky thought greener pastures were ahead when they replaced Tubby Smith with Billy Gillispie a couple years ago. They thought they would return to the success they had in the 1990's, when every fan feared the Wildcats, and they took a backseat to no school, not even Duke. 

It didn't happen though, and as quick as Gillispie was brought in, he was ushered out.

What amazes me though is how content Wildcat fans are with the current situation.  They seem to almost rejoice in the fact that have become relevant once more. It no longer seems to matter why they are relevant, or why they are in the news, just that they are there. And that John Calipari will be able to keep them there.

Just look at the past week

John Wall pleads guilty to a misdemeanor. It's not a bad thing for the Wildcats, it just means Wall has passion for breaking and entering.

Besides, it was only a youthful indiscretion. Everyone has some of those, HATERS!

More importantly, people care!  Go Wildcats!

John Calipari's former school, the University of Memphis is under investigation by the NCAA. Although many people believe Calipari is involved, the NCAA has made it very clear that he in no way Coach Calipari linked to the alleged wrongdoing. 

Nevertheless, when you have a reputation like Calipari, a situation like this is never good. 

Most importantly, he's not named in the report, HATERS!

Either way, it's getting clearer, people care about Kentucky again! Go Wildcats!

Billy Gillispie is suing the University of Kentucky for breach of conduct.

Who cares, he never signed a contract! 

We have a better coach now, one that will sign his contract. Plus, we get some more press for this story.

It's so clear now, people really do care about Kentucky again!  Go Wildcats!

It's all good news for Kentucky, because the scariest thing for a Wildcat fan is just how irrelevant they were becoming.

We have seen it before—a once proud institution floundering away in mediocrity, but Kentucky made sure that wouldn't happen to them. No sir! 

In one big move they have a coach that will lead them back to the promised land, and deliver the best recruits in the nation!

Or at least the best recruits that money can buy.

Well, not exactly buy, unless you consider hiring their family, or paying their friends, or giving their friends scholarships "buying" a player. 

Don't forget though, you also get William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley, who seems ready and willing to continue to steer recruits Calipari's way. 

I wonder if he had anything to do with those shady SAT scores? Worldwide Wes would be a nice go-between if you want to avoid NCAA rules violations, no?

Oh well, when the fights outside bars start happening, and players start getting arrested for soliciting prostitutes, and beating up their girlfriends we'll see if the national media ignores the circumstances as they did at Memphis.* 

Hm, by the time this starts happening Kentucky will likely be relevant again, so this might not be so good. 

Who cares for now though—what matters is the moment! Go Wildcats!

*All these incidents can be found in local Memphis newspapers, or the AP. 

Throw in the strange dealings, and dismissed lawsuits with agents and you have a situation that at the very least could be called combustible.

Who cares though, Kentucky is relevant again.

People care! They really do. 

Go Wildcats!!