The Ugly, the Bad and the Good...

...because I like to leave things on a positive note.

First of all, some background.  I was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, home of the University of Kentucky.  From the time I knew any better, it was drilled into my head that I was a fan of the Wildcats.  Basketball?  Football?  It didn't matter.  You wear the blue and white with pride and you hate the University of Louisville.  That's it.  I was born and bred a member of the Big Blue Nation.  I graduated from UK.  I personally attended three SEC Tournaments and two Final Fours and have enjoyed all the bliss and frustration that comes with being a member of the Big Blue Nation.

So it stands to reason that when my team was assigned to the city in which I live for the first two games of the NCAA tournament, come hell or high water I was going to be there.  Clad in blue and white from head to toe, Kevin and I headed downtown last night to watch our Wildcats take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the second round.  Below are three observations from my experience.

THE UGLY

For those of you that watch the games on TV, you have the joy of watching each play closely.  You also enjoy the benefit of replays, both for the good plays and the bad plays.  For a good steal or an awe-inspiring dunk, you get the joy of watching it back two or three times.  And when there is a "questionable" call, those geniuses on the TV are going to let you see it again to get a closer look.  Make up your own mind and scream and yell at the TV when the call goes against your favorite team.

What you may not realize, however, is when you are at the same game in person, you are not afforded that opportunity.  If there is a questionable call, the TV screens at the top "black out" the replay so that those in attendance can't see it, and thus can't boo the refs and make a spectacle.  I guess this is their attempt at promoting good sportsmanship.  I'm all about good sportsmanship, but I'm also all for holding the refs accountable.  In a game environment, if a call goes against you, the general crowd reaction can sometimes result in a "make up" call at the other end of the floor.  Kevin says that if I were the one running the tournament, I would do the same thing.  Maybe.  But I'm not running the tournament.  And I want to see the replays!

THE BAD

The next topic I must approach gingerly.  You see, I was a cheerleader from third grade through high school.
And I was on the dance team in college.  I have the utmost respect for cheerleaders....especially the UK Cheerleaders.  They've won like a gazillion national championships and they really are AMAZING to watch.  Every year they get better and better and just when you think they've reached the plateau of what is possible, they burst through the ceiling and do something I didn't even know was possible. 

That being said, I also know that being a competition cheerleader is very different than being a game cheerleader.  At a game, it is the job of the cheerleaders to lead the crowd.  Get them excited.  Get some chants going and use it as a means to boost the team.  If you've ever been in an arena where the whole crowd is chanting in unison, it really is an amazing thing to be a part of, and it does affect the players.

Last night, this is what was missing.  Granted, the game was pretty much a runaway from the very beginning.  Poor, stretched Western Kentucky didn't stand a chance.  But for a UK game, it was fairly quiet in the arena.  Never once did the crowd break out into a "Blue!  White!" cheer or even a "Go Big Blue!"  Frankly, I was disappointed.  The cheerleaders had the opportunity to get it going.  They even have signs to do it.  But each time they were out on the floor, they spent the time stunting to music.  Now, like I said, they are crazy talented.  And it's nice to "show what you got" every now and then.  But there's a time and place for everything.  I just wish they had chosen instead to start some cheers in the crowd and try to put some energy into the place.  It was desperately needed.

I'm not knocking them.  My best friend cheered for UK for four years.  I have lots of friends associated with the program.  And frankly, they're crazy talented.  I'm just sayin'.

THE GOOD

Although I've had the opportunity to visit the new KFC Yum! Center a few times since it first opened last year, this was the first basketball game I'd watched there.  It pains me to say it, because as I said before, I have a genuinely hard time with anything associated with University of Louisville athletics, but that arena has some serious swagger.   I am insanely jealous that the Cats aren't playing in something even close to that level of modern magic (I'm talking to you, Jim Gray, mayor of Lexington).  Say what will about the tradition of Rupp Arena.  So many great games played there and so many great memories.

But this team deserves more.  We deserve the best arena in college basketball.  And right now, the University of Louisville has the best arena in college basketball.

Every seat in the KFC Yum! Center is a padded, backed seat.  There is plenty of leg room and they are extremely comfortable for arena seating.  There are also great sight lines.  We were 5 rows from the top, and I still thought we had a great view of the game.  The video screen at the top of the arena is huge and easy to see.  Underground garage parking close to the interstate makes it easy to get in and out.  There are a multitude of food vendors and the ushers were friendly and hospitable.  Everywhere you went, you heard "Welcome to the Yum Center!"  I like that.  There is a balcony off the lower level that allows you go outside and look out over the river.  And well, the whole place is just very cool.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up to Jim Host and crew for getting it done.  Now, can ya just get it done in Lexington?  Go Big Blue!


And I must add, as I was writing this blog post, Duke lost to Lehigh in their first game of the tourney.  As a proud UK fan, I can't put into words how happy this makes me.  Let's keep clearing the path and bring home #8!