The Kentucky Wildcats Are "A Glorified AAU Team"

Here are some strong, opinionated thoughts delievered by Tony Basilio (a man from the land of escorts and college recruiting - aka Knoxville, TN):

I was watching Jon Wall last night after UK's win over UConn in NYCNY. He was standing next to Coach Ca St. Kentucky. Do you think Wall cares at all about that Uniform he's wearing? I mean at all? He's at UK because World Wide Wes selected the school for him. This is immoral. He's like a little pawn. And then Cal came on and said, 'we drank the poison. We are letting everybody tell us how good we are individually. We didn't pass the ball in the first half at all like a team. We're a 4-5 team right now' Really coach Cal? Like a team. A team of what? UK is like a glorified AAU program now. That's what the fans and that fan base have been reduced to. It's paradoxical to think that you could be reduced while your team produces. But that's the deal there. Even if they win a National Title this year, it's not legit. Is that a program? A bunch of hired guns, the best of whom are there for 18 months, tops. What is that? Oh, don't worry. You're being told this is better now than it ever has been. And UK fan, you're payin' more for it than ever before. Hey ESPN says it's better. Don't they? People are getting richer, aren't they.

Put it this way, do you think Derrick Rose sits around and cheers for Memphis when they play games these days? Do you think Memphis fans sit around and cheer for Derrick Rose? Is he one of them? Are they anything to him? No and NO. Who is he? Who are they? It's like a facade. Hoops at the high level has cheapened itself with the one and dones.

And UK is now the tackiest and cheapest of them all. Kentucky is now like Elin being married to Tiger Woods. Those fans have been duped. What they think is a great thing will ultimately not satisfy. Because it's meaningless. It's AAU.

Sure they're good. But at what price. Is is worth losing your soul and tradition in the process or building a program? But that's just it. UK isn't building. They turned the lights on. And a bunch of guys who don't care about that place, the fans, the tradition and couldn't find it on a map, have showed up. If I had an opportunity to gain what UK has but forfeit my tradition, identity and what makes me special, I wouldn't do it.

Tony Basilio's Site