Clarifying why SEC fans Should Be Aware of LSU, Wade Situation
Sometimes you really do catch lightning in a bottle, even if you had no intention of trying, to do so.
This is the conclusion to my- like most of you who are living in these unprecedented and unknown times as well- strange week where I have witnessed the hoarding of toilet paper to now aggravating most of an entire state, one very large, proud and vocal fan base and getting a link to one of my articles tweeted about by Dick Vitale.
Strange indeed!
Ok, the article, one which I started writing on Thursday and finished on Friday in which I spoke about the pay-fo-play scandal involving LSU head coach Will Wade and Arizona head coach Sean Miller where both will be featured along with Christian Wilkins in an upcoming HBO documentary set to air March 31.
In my article, I mentioned the University of Kentucky basketball program and their 1988 issues after it was learned that then-recruit Chris Mills had received a cash payment in violation of NCAA rules.
I also made reference to the longstanding rumor of fans and coaches from other conferences across the country where they allege that current Kentucky coach John Calipari might have also been skirting the rules in the recruitment of players.
Before I go further, let me say to the Big Blue Nation, this in no way was intended to be a shot at your beloved program or Coach Calipari, who I actually like for his candor and honesty when dealing with the media and his players.
To show this above is a clip of a question I asked him in Nashville following his team's win over Vanderbilt. Yes, that is my voice in the question and yes, I actually saved it in my video files not knowing that this moment would come and I would be able to share it with UK fans.
That said, what I was trying to convey to the readers, and I thought the headline would do that when I wrote it saying "Brace yourselves, SEC Basketball About to get hit as LSU, Wade Story Grows" was to encompass all fans of every team where the conference as a whole will be labeled as cheaters because of one school.
It happened in 1988, it happens in football every time a league school gets caught doing something outside the rules and it is coming again to basketball in the wake of this LSU mess.
I also here the Cal/Kentucky cheating allegations regularly, though Wildcat fans have informed me that those are old and don't happen anymore.
Wrong! I've read it just this week in comments on social media where fans of a Big-10 school used that very line in talking of SEC cheating in basketball.
Big Blue Nation, you might not be seeing it, but don't think it isn't happening.
Ok, so I mentioned my intent was not to take a shot at Kentucky or Calipari. It was also not to write clickbait, or sensationalism just for views.
In my defense and to prove that was not my intention, I offer this.
Headlines and the dek are designed to let the reader know what is inside the article and to draw them in to read the work. I never mentioned UK or Calipari in either the headline or the dek of the article in question. That wasn't even mentioned until you read three-quarters of the way through the article to know it was there.
How is that clickbait?
To wrap this up, I appreciate people and those who want to comment on my work. I'm one who interacts, which is why my email address is included on my Twitter bio. I have responded to almost all of the emails from Big Blue fans-I skipped the ones who were disgusting and spoke of my ancestors and mother for obvious reasons, and there were only two to be precise- and attempted to share what was in my head when I wrote the article in question.
You are free to believe whatever you want of me and my intentions here, but this is my last comment on the situation.
Please keep yourselves and your families safe and I hope you are blessed during this uncertain time in our lives and remember to wash your hands.
P.S. Thanks Dickie V!
