Incase You're Wondering...

The Avenue of Champions is officially back online and now being considered a SOLO effort. After a tumultuous few months...I now have the time needed to dedicate to this side blog, as well as the parent blog, THE PMB.

So, for those of you that have checked back on an occasional basis...thank you for sticking with us! We will be back in full effect as of tomorrow!

Until then....guess what else is back...Kentucky Basketball!



Enjoy, folks. Its going to be a one great season!

Solid Performance from UK ...

With college football finally back in action, I could not have been more pleased with Kentucky's opening performance against Miami (Ohio). Now, granted I do realize it was Miami (OH), but it was still a great start for the 2009-2010 UK football program. In terms of confidence going forward, it was an even greater win. The defensive gave a stellar performance in shutting out Miami in the 42-0 win. As always, speculation seems to swirl around Kentucky's offensive at the beginning of the season, and as a true blue fan I must say I was curious as to how the offensive would perform in terms of putting points on the board and moving the ball down the field. After a sluggish first quarter, I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the offensive performance. I thought the majority of the players showed a great deal of poise for an opening game. Here are a few of my thoughts on the game, keeping in mind it was still Miami (OH):

- I am now a believer of Coach Brook's statement regarding the improvement of Mike Hartline. Through three quarters, Hartline finished with a very solid performance going 18-27 for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Hartline showed great improvement from last year in not only quarterback play, but also leadership. I felt as though he was more comfortable and confident in the pocket and not afraid to throw the ball down field. He finally looked like a quarterback poised to accept a leadership role. Hartlines play earned him a spot on the SEC's "Other Outstanding Performances" category for week 1. A great confidence boost for the junior QB heading into the season.

- The wide receivers, particularly Randall Cobb, all gave outstanding performances. Randall Cobb is simply an amazing athlete. There isn't many positions this man can't play. It is great for UK to have a "do-everything" type of player because he is clearly Hartline's go to receiver. With the emergence of Chris Matthews, hopefully he will be able to shoulder some of the responsibility at the WR position. Both of these players showcased great skills and even better decision making throughout the course of the game.

- All of the UK running backs had solid performances, but it was great to see Derrick Locke back on the field again showing us how explosive he is even after reconstructive knee surgery. The speedy back was still able to rely on his quickness and sped bursts to get him into the end zone for a touchdown. As UK fans, we are all certainly thrilled to see him back because he is a huge asset in the backfield.

- UK's defensive was able to get off to an impressive start in the shutout. The defensive star of the day was the best corner in college football, Trevard Lindley. He was able to make tackles in the open field, disrupt WR's, break-up passes and even returned an interception for a touchdown. Lindley was impressive on all levels of the defensive game. His play earned him the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the opening weekend in college football.

With all this being said, it was a great performance for the UK football team as a whole. With UK having an early bye week this weekend, which I hate, the UK players should look even more confident and more polished when we play U of L. It is great to see college football back in full force and effect.

Impressive, To Say the Least...

Sure, its been a long and news packed off-season in the great state of Kentucky, but very little of that excitement was stemming from Papa Brooks and company's football team. Following a season that many labeled as a disappointment, many were unsure what to expect from a program that continues to strive for a consistent competitiveness in the dreaded SEC East.

Saturday, Papa Brooks' team showed something we haven't seen since Stevie Johnson was running routes for the Cats. Kentucky had an offense that can, actually, MOVE the ball! Mike Hartline's maturation at the quarterback position, and yes, I realize that it was Miami of Ohio, was the most impressive aspect of the game for me on Saturday. Number 5 showed a willingness to trust his wide receivers and moxie in the pocket that led to his most impressive day as the Kentucky quarterback. Mike went 18-27 for 222 yards and two touchdowns in an Andre Woodson like performance.

Of course, Hartline's efforts were helped greatly by a much improved receiving corp, led by the multi-talented Randall Cobb and the rangy Chris Matthews. Cobb stuffed the stat sheet and was a terror for the Redhawk defense all-day long. If Cobb and Matthews both stay healthy and Hartline continues to receive decent-good pass blocking, this offense will allow UK to reach a fourth straight bowl game!

While that bowl berth hinges on an improved offense, UK's defense showed once again they have a chance to be the real deal! Lead by Trevard Lindley, the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, and Micah Johnson, Kentucky pitched its first shutout in over 13 years. An impressive feat for a team that lost more than its fair share of starters off of last years unit!

We'll have even more on the season-opening win later, and some basketball news to come!

The AVE of Champs is glad to be back in full force, and that includes some posting by the ghost known as Gary.

Video of BCG and His Drunkeness...

Enjoy...

Oh, Billy Clyde...

Oh, Billy Clyde.....remember when the entire Kentucky fan base was at your mercy? Remember that wonderful press conference where you made all of us Kentucky basketball fans, including me, believe that you were the savior and the proper choice for our program?

My how things have changed so quickly for you're bourbon guzzling, tail-chasing, obnoxious ass. I mean, literally, how stupid can you possibly be??? You do realize that the entire state of Kentucky hates your crazy ass, right? Yet, you chose to drive drunk at 2:45 in the morning 30 miles outside of Lexington? HAHAH! No, really, you didn't did you?

What's that? You told them you hadn't been drinking, but you and your buddy had been playing golf and that's why you swerved and sat at a red-light for 2 minutes? Golf??? C'mon, really, you didn't say that did you? Oh wait, you must have been taking a swim in the fountain at the golf course and gotten confused like you did at the Campbell House!

I mean, the man in the picture I posted above certainly looks way too smart to tell a police officer that he was golfing after midnight!

Ok, who am I kidding, that picture looks eerily similar to the same dumbass who was cruising on the wrong side of the road in Texas El-Paso, Ron White style. Except, it appears he's missing a tooth. Maybe that was an injury that he received from attempting to play "golf" at night, or maybe some good ol' boy from down in Eastern Kentucky decided it was time Billy Clyde met his pissed off momma, whom loves the Cats more than anybody in Pike County.

Honestly, the stupidity of this whole situation leads me to believe that BCG has a learning disability. We all have heard the stories of his drinking problems and how the UK umbrella saved his sorry ass several times, but to go get hammered ass drunk and drive while you're in town for SETTLEMENT negotiations has raised your idiocy to an all-time high!

UK thanks you Billy Clyde, UK fans thank you, and most of all, anyone that ever had any aspirations of giving your retarded ass another opportunity to coach their team thanks you!

Dear Billy Clyde....

So this morning when I came into work, and sat down at my desk, I had my day made before I even took my biscuit out of it's bag. There it was, "Former UK Men's Basketball Coach arrested for DUI". Immediately, I assumed that it had to be Billy Clyde. This has really brightened my day for the following reasons, but let me make myself clear, it's not cool to drink and drive. It's not much cooler though to run one of the most storied programs in the history of college sports right into the ground like a Japanese Kamikaze pilot. This happens to be Billy Clyde's third drunk driving infraction, and although the previous two have been dropped or dismissed, I hope they force him to spend his community service hours cleaning the trash out of Rupp after two years of nothing but trash on the court. Billy Clyde's explanation, while driving his 2009 Mercedes at around 2:45 in the A.M. through Franklin County, he was on his way from a golf outing with his likewise intoxicated unknown passenger. Where in hell did you go play Billy Clyde? Bethpage Black, St.Andrews, Manifuckingtoba? I really hope that he learns his lesson this time, and just gets out of the Commonwealth. Just maybe, Pitino could use an assistant and they can take their dog and pony show on the road, and call them the "Booze and Bang Brothers".

Back in Business....

Sorry about the delay on getting The PMB/Avenue of Champions back up and running,

I was in the process of moving into a new apartment and getting the internet up and running has been a HASSLE. I finally have the internet now and my evenings will be filled with more PMB.

Thanks for the patience.
Derrick

Patrick Patterson & John Wall Among The Best ...

Last week Andy Katz posted a poll on who should lead the list for college basketball's 2010 national player of the year race. University of Kentucky's own Patrick Patterson and John Wall made Katz's list as the best of the best going into the 2010 college basketball season. After 28,000 people submitted their votes, the leading vote getter was Patrick Patterson followed by John Wall coming in a close second. How great is it to finally see UK back among the leaders in college basketball. This year's season should be an exciting one.

Matt Jones is Killin' it!

It's been pretty slow around here recently, and that's understandable, but football season is right around the corner and I expect things to really start progressing nicely for this lil niche of The PMB in the coming weeks, but while we're slow, Matt Jones over at KSR has been killing it!

If you haven't had a chance to check out Kentucky Sports Radio go read up and check it out. The man has had live blogs with the likes of Gary Parrish and Clay Travis just in the last week!

It's a shameless plug for my favorite site, but those guys deserve it...remember, they do it all for free.

The Greatness of BCG Recruiting...

Remember Terrence Boyd? One of the many fabled Billy Clyde Gillispie recruits? Another one of his high character recruits similar to the mode of Dominique "I ruined my career" Ferguson. Well, Boyd eventually chose to sign with the Hilltopper's of Western Kentucky.

Well, Boyd's career as a Hilltopper was a little shorter than short lived, because he has been dismissed from his scholarship before school even started.

Just another wonderful decision in the long line of the brilliance that is known as Billy Clyde.

Jerry Meyer: Brandon Knight or Bust?

Jerry Meyer, Rivals.com recruiting expert, believes that UK's 2010 point guard hopes may be Brandon Knight or bust. While the Cats sit in great position for the #1 recruit in the country, many felt that there was the possibility of UT de-commit Josh Selby donning the blue and white next season.

However, it seems Selby has become very cu$hy with UCONN following his recent visit and the likelihood of him playing in the same backcourt as Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe are slim to none.

So, start praying that Coach Cal and his point guard recruiting prowess can maintain the status quo and continue to land the #1 point guard in the country.

Really Rick?

I suppose it's time for me to put my two cents in on the Pitino situation. First of all, let me say this, I am extremely dissapointed in Rick. As a kid growing up, Rick Pitino was who I wanted to be when I grew up. I dressed as Rick Pitino for Career Day in Elementary School. I guess if the allegations prove to be true statements, under my clip-on tie I should have worn a shirt that said, "If I knock you up, Don't tell my wife, Also, here's 3 grand." That being said, I think it's a damn shame that anybody with a wife who looked like Coach Pitino's should be drug out in the road and shot, for even considering a dog like the "victim". Once again, we should all consider him innocent until proven guilty, however as someone who has resisted for years to refer to him as "Benedict Pitino", I must say "Here's looking at you Benedict".

Pitino News...

Some Pitino news has been posted over on the main site, The PMB, check it out there to get your fix!

More UK news later!

This Never Gets Old ...

After watching John Wall dunk all over Jerry Stackhouse, I wanted to see more of highlights. It is going to be a good year for UK basketball ...

UK Standing Out to C.J. Leslie..

C.J. Leslie is a highly regarded target for John Calipari and his staff, and, it appears, the Cats staff is making a solid impression on the young man.

Leslie, while maintaining he is still open in his recruitment, has stated that two teams are really standing out, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Leslie, whom is an ideal fit for the DDMO, is one of the primary targets for the Cats and Kentucky should be expecting a visit from C.J. soon!

Jerry Stackhouse Meet John Wall...

Lawd, its going to be a fun year.

Slooowwww

To echo Derrick's post on the PMB, it is the slowest 3 weeks or so for the sports world. And although he despises regular season baseball, I love the game. Sadly, my team is the Reds, and like most of you, I'm sure nobody wants me to blog about a team that is 11 and a half games out. The poor poor Reds....
Speaking of Cincinatti, there seem to be quite a few quality seats left remaining for the season opener at Paul Brown Stadium, when the 'Cats will take on the Redhawks of Miami(Ohio). I'm personally looking at taking the drive up there, so if anybody is interested in going let me know and I'll see what I can manage to locate. Who knows, there might be a whole row of "Avenue of Champions" supporters cheering on the Big Blue.


In other news, I have decided to discontinue my preview of breaking down this year's team, as it seems to be falling upon deaf ears.

IT'S FOOOOOTBALL TIME IN THE BLUEGRASS!!

Break out the bourbon, your old school Tim Couch Jersey (Jared Lorenzen will work for you fat boys) and get ready to play some football, folks! The football team has officially reported for practice and it's time to hear that old saying, "ITS FOOTBALLLLLLLLLL TIME IN THE BLUEGRASS!"

Kentucky is coming off a season that in most years would have been considered a great year for the Cats, but several wins were left on the table and there is still a sting from the subpar offensive play lingering in the air. There are several question marks regarding the football team this season, and it all begins with that beleaguered offensive unit.

-Can Mike Hartline fend off the rush of superstar frosh Morgan Newton and develop into a solid QB?

-Is Randall Cobb on the verge of becoming a multi-talented superstar?

-Can Alphnso Smith and Company carry the load in the backfield?

If, all three of these questions are answered with the word, "Yes," then UK will be well on their way to their fourth straight bowl game, a historical record for the once down-trodden program. What do you think? Is the possibility of all the aforementioned questions a pipe dream? or do you...

Poor Jeremiah Davis...

Jeremiah Davis from Muncie Central in Indiana has been dying to hear from the new coaching staff at the University of Kentucky, but the call has never came. Davis, whom had an offer from the previous regime, has been waiting for the new staff to offer,so he can become a Wildcat, but time is running out.

Davis appears primed to make a decision in the coming weeks and the 76th ranked recruit will be off the table. However, this decision truly shows the talent that it now takes to be a player for the University of Kentucky, and thats what we've all been waiting for....

UK Video of the Day!