Accept these 13 things about Kentucky hoops or get the hell out
Every popular thing has its critics and criticisms. Kentucky basketball is no different.
That's cool. Lots of things in life are negotiable.
Except these.
1. KU is not UK, and UK is not KU. Don't ever forget this.
There's the University of Kansas and University of Kentucky, but only the Wildcats claim UK. Mixing them up is not OK.
2. Adolph Rupp was controversial, but he wasn't exactly what everyone claims.
Rupp was called a cheater because Kentucky was caught up in a point-shaving scandal in 1951 (which he denied and wasn't connected to) and was forced to cancel the '52-53 season after an NCAA investigation found UK gave some spending money to players and may have used ineligible players. Critics will point and say this was a Kentucky problem. Others will say these charges ran rampant through the SEC and across the country.
Here's reality: Rupp indeed bears responsibility for the stains on his program, but point-shaving and stealth cash were byproducts of an era with little to no supervision in college sports. Rupp and UK weren't the worst things to happen to college basketball; they fit in.
3. Damn right UK's first three titles count just as much as the last three.
Kentucky won NCAA titles in 1948, 1949 and 1951, when the NIT was just as prestigious as the NCAA tournament, meaning the tournament as we know it now -- where the best possible teams clash -- was not quite the same then. Some discredited those three titles as not being true "national" championships. Not Kentucky's problem.
4. Christian Laettner still isn't forgiven for stomping Aminu Timberlake.
The former Duke Blue Devil, whom lots of people love to hate, pulled this crap in the 1992 East regional final. Big Blue Nation isn't over it (that he then hit "The Shot" only makes it worse).
5. And no, this apology is not accepted. Thanks for asking.
I am only going to say this once... But I mean it. #IHateChristianLaettner pic.twitter.com/2AovaiJo42
— Christian Laettner (@laettnerbball) March 16, 2015
(For real: Cool of Laettner to do that and even cooler of Timberlake to respond with this.)
6. The "Fab Five" was a Kentucky thing before a Michigan thing.
The Wildcats have a thing for assigning nicknames to their teams, and the 1948 'Cats -- Kentucky's first title team -- were called the "Fabulous Five" in reference to Ralph Beard, Alex Groza, Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones, Cliff Baker and Kenny Rollins. They were also part of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the '48 Summer Olympics, coached by Rupp. Sorry, Jalen Rose, C-Webb and you Michigan guys, what do you want us to say? Facts are facts.
7. Ralph Sampson isn't hated in Lexington (but he should have picked UK)
The great Sampson was so close to going to Kentucky in 1979 and joining Sam Bowie in a frontcourt that would have crushed people. Sampson chose Virginia at his news conference, only to get Kentucky's hopes up when he seemed to waver in the face of questions and said he wasn't ruling out flipping to UK. Sampson stuck with Virginia, crushing UK fans, but years later he reportedly received a standing ovation in Rupp Arena after many thought Kentucky fans would be bitter. Still, the thought of what could have been remains.
8. Ashley Judd is an angel among us.
9. Fine, fine. She's not perfect.
TMI.
10. But let's get the most important thing straight about Kentucky hoops: Just because the 'Cats are crushing people doesn't mean they're cheating.
How many recent scandals have been attached to UK? Right. Go bother Syracuse instead.
11. Yes, everyone knows John Calipari's history and the two vacated Final Fours. That doesn't mean he's bending rules in Lexington. You have no proof.
The more logical explanation for why Cal gets players? He's the only one who treats big-time college basketball exactly like it is -- business. He's fine running his program like a yearlong NBA combine. That, you know, might appeal to some talented players who are just waiting for the NBA before saying, "Peace out."
12. And while we're here, Illinois didn't get "cheated" out of a Final Four trip in '84.
Dicky Beal kept his pivot foot. Is this really still a debate?
13. So what is Kentucky ACTUALLY guilty of? Being really good.
Any final words, Cal?
Teddy Mitrosilis works in content production at FOX Sports Digital. Follow him on Twitter @TMitrosilis and email him at tmitrosilis@gmail.com.
