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Gillespie, Truman may have something in common
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By LAURNIE CAPRONI
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It was 1948.
Harry Truman had been president for nearly four years.
He had dropped the bomb to end World War II. He had stared down coal mine boss John L. Lewis, integrated the military, and infuriated the Democratic controlled unions. He also sought to expand civil rights, control inflation, increase minimum wages, pump up Social Security, and support housing programs.
Most Republicans hated him, especially those on the far right. The wealthy despised him. The press, in general, thought he was a country bumpkin, a rube, a fourth-rate political hack — and worse.
His poll numbers, leading up to the election in 1948, were abysmal. Of 100 commentators and editors polled, every single one — all 100 — said Thomas E. Dewey would be the next President of the United States.
So much for the polls.
Harry won handily.
The chief editorial writer in the arch-conservative New York Sun wrote this: “You just have to take off your hat to a beaten man who refuses to stay licked! Mr. Truman won because this is still a land which loves a scrapper, in which intestinal fortitude is still respected.”
What does Harry Truman have to do with a sports column?
When the 12th edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary is published, this will appear after Harry Truman's name: See University of Kentucky basketball, 2007-08.
Joe Reedy of The Enquirer recently wrote a story, saying Billy Gillispie has perfected the fine art of “winning ugly.”
Reedy will get little argument from this part of the country.
In fact, if basketball were horse racing, Gillispie would have won the daily double. That’s because his team lost ugly, too.
Remember Gardner-Webb?
Houston?
San Diego Something?
After that game, one of UK’s most staunch fans said watching San Diego wax Kentucky was more than just painful.
“It actually made me physically ill,” she said.
Most of us were either disillusioned, dumbfounded or both.
The rest -- looking to March -- kissed Wildcats tournament chances goodbye.
It couldn’t possibly get worse — and then did.
It was ugly country music in Nashville when a Vanderbilt buzzsaw wiped out inept Kentucky by 41 points.
That’s when we kissed the season goodbye.
Billy Gillispie’s honeymoon was over. In fact, the redneck fringe of Kentucky’s fan base was talking divorce.
Elsewhere, thoughtful fans seemed to be split down the middle.
Knowing Gillispie was working without a contract, some, fervently saying the rosary, hoped he wouldn’t sign it.
Others differed.
Said Fred Toncray, with considerable emphasis: “I want to see what he (Gillispie) can do with his players.”
On a chilly and blustery day outside of Wal-Mart, Deron Feldhaus, whose jersey flies from the Rupp Arena rafters, said much the same.
It was hard to agree.
When Patrick Patterson was lost, so was everything else, or so it seemed.
This team doesn’t have a “true” center, even with Patterson. It doesn’t have a “power” forward. It is sorely limited at “the point.” Its depth is non-existent. It hits the offensive board with the fury of a cream puff. Getting the ball in bounds, let alone across the 10-second line, can be a major achievement.
Still, all that said, a curious thing happened on the way to the sidelines.
UK muscled up, stuck out its chin, and dared anyone to hit it. It stuck its nose in the fight, got it smashed, got it bloodied, got it broken, then sucked it up and stuck it back in again.
And again.
And it keeps sticking it back. You punch my nose, I’ll punch yours.
Nothing fancy here. No finesse. The word is not in Kentucky’s vocabulary.
Hard-headed is.
So is guts.
Joining the madness of March was unexpected, a pipe dream, winning the lottery.
But it’s always nice to roll the dice.
Try to win a game.
Or two.
Give ’em hell, Harry. |
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Reader Comments
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.
Tony wrote on Mar 27, 2008 4:06 PM: " You folks need to wake up and realize that the only true blue is CAROLINA BLUE!!!! Adolph Rupp was God and everybody is playing for second place. GO TARHEELS!!! "
Ted wrote on Mar 17, 2008 3:37 PM: " You know, I was embarassed by the losses but really didn't expect much this season. I'm stuck here in Tarheel and Blue Devil country and don't even get to see my Cats as much as I would like. BUT, they have taken me on this wonderful crazy ride and I have loved every minute of it. I see heart and grit that I haven't seen in a LONG TIME. These boys and this coach make me excited and sick to my stomach all at the same time! Good luck in the NCAA you have made this fan proud!!! "
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