Archive for March, 2009
Jenna Fischer…UH YUMP!!!
By: Carl H | March 31st, 2009 | Category: UH YUMP!!!Most of you probably know today’s Yump as Pam Beesly on NBC’s The Office. She has also starred in Employee of the Month as a prostitute named Whisper, Blades of Glory and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. You can see her Thursday nights at 9pm, as well as this fine Wednesday morning here on the Pinkie. Jenna Fischer, UH YUMP!!
[CLICK HERE FOR ENTIRE GALLERY OF JENNA FISCHER]
The John Calipari Era Begins: Recruits, coaches, and parents talk UK
By: Guy | March 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsTwo quick notes before we get to the really fun stuff. UK Athletics has scheduled a press conference for 9:30 am tomorrow to announce John Calipari as coach of the University of Kentucky. Also, Konner Tucker, the JUCO PG who committed to UK couple weeks ago, has opened up his recruitment according to Larry Vaught of KentuckySportsReport.com…one more scholarship!
This is from Zagsblog.com…Kentucky fans, do your best to keep from getting goosebumps:
Xavier Henry
Carl Henry said Calipari would like both of his sons — Xavier and C.J. — to follow him to Kentucky.
“He wants both of my kids to come,” Carl Henry said. “I can’t speak for them. They gotta tell me if they want to go to Kentucky, or where they want to go to school.”
John Wall
Wall, who is uncommitted and is ranked the top recruit in the nation by Rivals.com, said he would consider following Calipari to Kentucky. Memphis had been his leader.
“Probably so, yeah,” he said Tuesday by phone. “I probably would [follow Calipari]. I really have to sit down and talk to my family and all that.”
Memphis appears to be out now that Calipari is gone.
“I wasn’t committed to nobody, they were just my leader and everything like that,” he said of Memphis.
The 6-4 point guard out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God said he’s still considering Duke, Kansas, Miami, Baylor and N.C. State. He has visited Kansas, Duke and Baylor and will trip to Miami April 22.
He said he plans to cut his list down by the Jordan Brand Classic April 18 at Madison Square Garden.
“I think I’m going to narrow my list down at the Jordan Game,” he said. “I’m going to have to rethink it all over and cut my list.”
And what about possibly playing with Henry and (DeMarcus) Cousins at Kentucky?
“It would be good,” he said. “It could still happen or maybe not, you never know.”
DeMarcus Cousins
As for the 6-10 Cousins of Mobile (Ala.) LeFlore, he made an oral commitment to Memphis in March but hasn’t signed. Cousins is the No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals.
“I’m just waiting like everybody else,” Cousins told Jerry Meyer of Rivals. “If he leaves, I guess I’ll have to start all the way over.”
One source close to Cousins said he thinks he’s gone.
“I think he’s going to follow Coach Cal,” the source said. “He wasn’t going because of Memphis, it was because of Coach Calipari.”
It’s Official: John Calipari to Kentucky
By: nickev | March 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsAfter a couple of crazy days, it is finally official, the next head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats will be John Calipari.
This is the home run hire that Kentucky needed.
The madness surrounding Calipari and Kentucky has been huge for this site and we appreciate everyone for checking in with the Pinkie consistently over the past couple of days.
It is our goal to provide the most in-depth Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals coverage, and I think that Guy Smiley has done a more-than-stellar job over the last couple days.
The proposition of Calipari at Kentucky is very exciting. Personally, I do not feel that Xavier Henry or Nolan Dennis should be allowed to follow Calipari to Kentucky since they have already signed LOI’s, but it will be interesting to see what happens with DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall.
We now turn the page from a highly publicized coaching search to roster changes that appear to be on the horizon. We will do our best to keep all of the Big Blue Nation informed on these moves. And there could be a lot of them.
Guy Smiley will be here soon to break down the roller coaster ride that was the Kentucky head coaching search. It was fun while it lasted but I need to get some real work done at my real job.
Now maybe I can do that.
Memphis Commercial Appeal: John Calipari is Kentucky Bound
By: nickev | March 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsMemphis Commercial Appeal beat writer Dan Wolken just appeared on ESPN and expressed to the nation that John Calipari will take the Kentucky job. He called it, “a done deal”.
They are also reporting that a news conference introducing Calipari will happen on Wednesday.
Dick Vitale is also reporting that is official right now on SportsCenter. He said he tried to get through to ESPN for ten minutes but could not.
We have still yet to hear from the University of Kentucky athletic department but it looks like this thing is going to happen.
Memphis, TN – After nearly a full day of reflection and struggle, John Calipari decided today to accept the head coaching job at Kentucky and leave the University of Memphis after nine seasons, according to a source close to Calipari.
A news conference to introduce Calipari as the new Kentucky coach will take place Wednesday in Lexington, Ky.
To read the entire article, click here.
2009 Chicago Cubbies Season Outlook : The Ricketts Family
By: Guy | March 31st, 2009 | Category: UncategorizedThe Ricketts Family, headed up by Tom Ricketts, were selected as the winning bidder for the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, and a 25% share in Comcast SportsNet Chicago in January. Tom Ricketts father, J. Joe Ricketts, founded Ameritrade, but Tom Ricketts is independently successful and did not simply piggy back off of his father (no Hank/Hal Steinbrenner for the Cubs!). Final negotiations for the sale are still ongoing, but the bid in total is estimated to be approximately $900 million.
That’s about enough talking about financial stuff: let’s talk about this family that’s going to become a prominent part of the life of Cubs fans everywhere. The good news is that this is a family of Cubs fans. They aren’t some holding company that’s looking to turn a profit. They obviously would not have gotten involved if the price wasn’t right, but they understand what it means to be a part of Kingdom Cub.
Tom Ricketts
Tom Ricketts grew up just like I did and likely many of you too: watching the Cubs on WGN. He was also a student at the University of Chicago and lived in an apartment above a bar across from Wrigley. Most importantly, he met his wife in the bleachers at a Cubs game. I don’t think I need any more proof that this guy means it when he says:
“My family and I are Cubs fans. We share the goal of Cubs fans everywhere to win a World Series and build the consistent championship tradition that the fans deserve.”
I know a lot of people were clamoring for Mark Cuban, but I have to say that I am content with the direction in which I believe the Ricketts family will take the Cubbies. I like the fact that a family is taking over the team, because Kingdom Cub is a family, so it’s appropriate.
This is a guy who has phenomenal business experience, and when it comes down to it, his buying of the Cubs is an investment. He knows what it takes to make the Cubs as profitable as possible, but he also recognizes what it’s like from a fan’s perspective, and I don’t think he will ever forget that.
The Ricketts Family is not set to take over the club until mid-May, when the sale is antipated to have been completed, and will maintain a relativaly low profile until that point. However, no significant moves will be made without consulting the Ricketts, and it looks like the deal will be done by the time the trade deadline nears and the determination needs to be made whether the Cubs will make a run at any available players.
It comes down to a plane: UK sends charter to Memphis
By: Guy | March 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsWe’ve heard about doughnut shops, we’ve watched live feeds of a closed door, now we wait to see if a guy decides to get on a plane. If I know UK fans, and I think I do, I think it’s a pretty good bet that there could be a bit of a crowd at the Lexington airport to see if John Calipari de-planes.
MYFOX MEMPHIS-LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – UPDATE: The University of Kentucky is sending a charter plane to Memphis for John Calipari. The plane is scheduled to land at 5:15pm CDT. If Cal boards the plane, it will be as the new head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats.
If you’re into flight tracking, here’s the homepage for the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington so you can keep up with what’s going on.
LEX18: Joe B. Hall says Calipari “still deciding”
By: Guy | March 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsThe Rick Bozich article that had Joe B. anointing Calipari as UK’s next coach apparently made Hall a little bit uneasy, because he has come out explicitly saying that no decision has been made. Hopefully he’s just trying to help UK keep as much under wraps until they want to make it official, but seriously, this needs to get done.
LEX18-Former Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall says John Calipari is having “difficulty” making up his mind about accepting the Wildcats offer and is trying to get as much information as he can before deciding.
Hall says he and Calipari talked for about 15-20 minutes on Tuesday.
“He talked about the difficulty in making the decision and wanted to establish a relationship in case he came to Kentucky, somebody he could bounce things off of,” Hall said. “He had not made up his mind. He was trying to get all the info he could.”
Hall said the informal chat centered on what it takes to survive one of the college basketball’s most prestigious – and more scrutinized – jobs. Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie last Friday.
Hall’s comments come amid conflicting reports that say Calipari has already decided to make the jump to Kentucky, which was reported by both a Memphis television station and the Louisville Courier-Journal’s website Tuesday afternoon.
Calipari is considering an 8-year, $35 million deal, ESPN reported. It would make him the highest paid college basketball coach.
Courier-Journal: Calipari Coming to UK
By: nickev | March 31st, 2009 | Category: CatsLouisville, KY – (3:59 PM) Former Memphis basketball coach John Calipari called former UK coach Joe B. Hall this afternoon to tell him he was coming to Kentucky and that he intended to start the job by connecting with former UK coaches out of respect for the school’s basketball tradition.
To read the rest of the article, click here.
Earlier today, MyFoxMemphis, reported that Calipari would take the Kentucky job.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - (3:07 PM) Memphis Tigers basketball head coach John Calipari has officially agreed to the coaching position at Kentucky.
Multiple sources have reported that Calipari has started reaching out to former UK Coach Joe B. Hall about the tradition of Wildcats basketball.
Calipari is expected to make an official statement soon. There have been conflicting reports on the terms of his contract with UK, although Cal is expected to become the highest paid coach in college basketball.
To read the rest of the article, click here.
Not sure how many times this is going to be official before it officially becomes official. But, I do think we are getting closer to an official statement from John Calipari himself.
SPLAIN IT!! Timmy Tackler
By: Dirk | March 31st, 2009 | Category: Splain It
Musical prodigy Timmy Tackler learned to play the guitar at the tender age of 4. Six months later he had learned Mozart on piano, and had begun to compose and write his own music.
Because of his unusual talents and incredible IQ, Timmy began to illustrate narcissistic behavior toward his parents and his peers. He would spend hours alone in his room staring at himself in the mirror and judging everyone around him as ‘addicts of stupidity’. He was even expelled from school for telling his Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Roundhouse, that she smelled like demon flatulence, and was almost as intelligent.
In the summer of ‘06 his unbridled passion for Ding-Dongs and RC Cola began to take control of his waist line. Timmy turned from his narcissistic behavior, and fell into a putrid stinkhole of self loathing. This 180-degree turn from self adoration was in complete opposition to the soothing, blissful sounds his music once possessed.
Young Timmy started putting lyrics to his music, letting his hatred pour out of his soul and into his tiny quivering vocal chords. This became increasingly alarming as he began recording his first songs titled , ‘Tackled with Vomit’, ‘The Mirror Touched Me There’ and ‘Filth Bath’. He even wrote a song about his mother, entitled ‘Biological Whorefare’.
Timmy, whose parents were known in their small suburban community for their uninhibited parties, paid little to no attention to their only child. By the age of 7, he had learned to take care of himself and make his own questionable life choices. He fed himself, he bathed himself, and he played by himself.
His addiction to hate sprouted and flourished in his loneliness. After dominating the local talent show circuit with his Claptonesque guitar numbers, he started to despise the lesser skilled contestants. Because of the yucky feelings in his soul, Timmy Tackler had begun to steal random medication from the medicine cabinet to ease the pain. Soon thereafter he began to have panic attacks and hallucinations even when not abusing his father’s vasodilating tablets and insulin injectors.
It was Timmy’s 8th birthday, and his parents 12th annual “Barter for Booty” party that he had decided he’d had enough. This is the last known picture of little Timmy Tackler…
He busted into the party singing an original tune called ‘Death, and the hatred that pulses through my veins lights up like the sky on the 4th of July’. He left shirtless and chubby, and has not been seen since that fateful day.
Maker’s Mark honors Rich Brooks
By: Carl H | March 31st, 2009 | Category: Cats
With Spring practice set to start tomorrow at the University of Kentucky, yesterday Maker’s Mark unveiled its 2009 limited-edition bottle of the world-famous bourbon.
This year’s bottle will bear the likeness of UK head football coach Rich Brooks. Earlier this year, Brooks became the first UK coach to win three consecutive bowl games.
A bottle has been released annually since 1997, with proceeds benefiting various UK projects. This year’s bottle will support efforts by the UK Symphony Orchestra and School of Music students to visit third- and fourth-graders across the state to spread the “joy of music and the performing arts,” UK officials said.
The bottles will be available for sale statewide beginning Friday, the opening day of Keeneland’s spring meet. They’re expected to retail for $45 to $49.
Collectors can have their bottles signed by Brooks, Maker’s Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. and Keeneland President Nick Nicholson beginning at 6:30 a.m. April 10.
For the complete article and a list of prior year’s bottles go HERE
