Let me say something to several of you fans. Most of you seem like nice and reasonable people.
Yes I am from Lexington as I mentioned. I have nothing against the fans of Minn. and nothing against
Tubby. I was very much in favor of him being hired at UK and I certainly wanted him above Billy Donavan,
whose name was also tossed about when Pitino left UK. I do enjoy college b-ball and have for a long time
My earliest memories are of Dan Issel playing for Rupp. After that it just grew on me as it does most people
growing up in Kentucky.
I would like to point a few thing out because I think that the general population of Kentucky has gotten somewhat
of a bad rap. FOT would have the good people of MINN believe that all people in KY. are racist and they hated Tubby Smith.
A TOTAL MYTH !! Tubby Smith was the ONLY coach even considered when Pitino left UK. It wasn't people disliked Smith,
they hated it that Pitino was gone and with the success Pitino had at UK I'm sure you can understand why.
What FOT doesn't say and since he isn't from here like I am he may not be aware of. Twice, Tubby Smith was voted as the
MOST POPLAR PERSON in the State of KY. He had an approval rating of over 90%. To say that people from KY hated Smith
is simply not true. Smith popularity began to wane as UK began to constantly lose over 10 games a year, fall from the Top 20,
lost the ability to defeat Top 20 teams and started seeing the big time recruits always pick other schools. Does UK go overboard
in its desire to win? Sometimes it does, but we all want to win. I think Minn fans would be happier with more wins right now.
There is NOTHING wrong with wanting to win. Minn hired Tubby Smith to get more wins. Does that mean they are awful and only
care about winning ? Not a bit. Winners should want to win.
Finally let me add that the race card thing is getting old. It shows a weakness in argument.
I have listened to Tubby Smith pre-game, post game, and weekly shows the whole time he was as UK.
As a family, we have met Tubby Smith and I can tell you there is not a finer person that
anyone could hope to meet. He is a man of character and compassion.
As I posted back to FOT above, after listening to Tubby for almost a decade I can assure you that
Tubby Smith would be appalled thinking someone would be using the race card in his defense.
Anyone can debate his coaching and just like everything he has pros and cons but the race card
is NOT an issue that should be used nor would Tubby Smith want it to be.