Thankfully the banner has been removed at Patrick O’Shea’s.
Some people need to step back from the brink. There’s much more at stake than just this year’s post-season play.
Specifically the segment of University of Louisville fans signing a petition calling for UofL to rescind the self-imposed probation, others seeking a court injunction to block the ban, and the ones requesting that the NCAA not accept the punishment.
The worst possible scenario for everybody, including Jim Ramsey, Tom Jurich, Rick Pitino and the fans would be for the NCAA to vacate the 2013 national title won by the University of Louisville and to vacate all the wins that occurred over four seasons involving the offending players. On top of that, the NCAA could impose a one- or two-year suspension on post-season action, extending the punishment two more years into the future.
One can understand the hurt the petitioners feel for Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, the fifth-year players who transferred to UofL so they could enjoy the NCAA tournament. They’re good players, great individuals. But if any of these groups got their way, the punishment could be far worse than disappointing a couple of single-season players.
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No one in a position of authority pays much attention to petitions these days unless they’re required to by law. If one judge were to issue an injunction, another judge would simply overturn it. And since when has the NCAA ever done anything but pile on to self-imposed penalties of offending schools?
They want to be a part of a solution, but they lash out at the people most committed to protecting the integrity of the University and the basketball program. Some of them want to fire Jim Ramsey who has taken decisive action to limit the damage.
Patrick O’Shea’s, a local restaurant, hangs a large banner outside the entrance proclaiming, “Jim Ramsey is a coward!” The sign is a cheap shot and the proprietor shows he has no clue about the definition of a coward. A coward is someone who runs and hides when things get tough. Ramsey has done the exact opposite, penalizing the most popular program in the community knowing there could be an enormous backlash.
Others want to be rid of Rick Pitino, as if the coach should have known a loser on his staff would bring hookers into Billy Minardi Hall. A coach who wanted to give another player a head start on a good career, only to have that individual bring ridicule and shame on his co-workers and players. More than two dozen of Pitino’s proteges have gone on to very successful careers of their own, none of them tainted by kind of stench wrought by Andre McGee.
As the drama continues to intensify, can Tom Jurich be far behind in their quest for some relief or vengeance? Pitino says Jurich was the one who actually made the decision to self-impose the penalties and that Ramsey merely went along with the recommendation. Based on Chuck Smrt’s findings, the University had little choice but to take immediate action, whether it was Ramsey or Jurich who made the decision.
Never mind that the violations largely occurred as the result of one individual or a select few, the NCAA has always held the institution responsible for the actions of people attached to the program. The penalties are never fair to the current group of players and fans.
Does the group of fans calling for fairness want UofL to be the first program to ever vacate a national championship? The answer should be obvious. Lifting the ban on post-season play this season might enable Damion Lee and Trey Lewis to realize their dreams. Maybe so, maybe not. There were never any guarantees. We’ll never know because the post-season ban is here to stay.
When things like this happens it brings out all the nut cases and the haters. I can not stand them!
Pay close attention to how UK fans are acting because what goes around comes around. They have made cheat an art at Kentucky. It will eventually catch up to them and it’s going to be sweet when they are finally exposed for what they are.
Inevitable. They are nowhere near as smooth as they think they are.
I have to sympathize with some of them, because it really is a sad situation. UofL basketball is a very positive asset for our community and it isn’t fair to have the school’s name dragged through the mud because of the actions of a small group of misguided individuals without any morals. I don’t sympathize with all the knee jerking reactions, however, pointing fingers at some very strong leaders who had to make a difficult decision. This is too far above some heads in a society where anything goes. They can’t wrap their brains around someone doing what’s best for them because of their short-term pain. Fortunately they have people smarter than they are acting on their behalf.