By LINDA SINCLAIR
For the past three years I have had a hard time when basketball season is over. Last year was so terrible I thought life was over as I knew it. I was at my wits end. As I stated last year, I felt so empty and bored, no sparkle, no reason to or to be. I knew something was missing but could not put my finger on it. It was difficult to put into words how I was feeling. Empty just wasn’t the right word. I just seemed to be going through the motions. I was like a flowerpot without flowers‚ a clown without a laugh.
I finally figured out was bothering me, there was no basketball, no hoops, no blue and white running up and down the court. Life was hard after that realization. How can an old woman rely so much on a little round ball for happiness?
This year I thought it would be better, we are on top, we are the champs. We have #8! We witnessed some of the best basketball in recent history with blocks, motors, smiles, dunks, 3 goggles and just superfantabulousglorious displays of what it means to be a team and what it takes to bring THE Trophy back home to Lexington. The Band of Brothers made all our hearts warm and proud.
After the championship game I thought I would be good the rest of the year until it all began again in October, wrong kemosabe. Little did I know how it would affect me with no Uniblocker, no 3 Goggles, no Miller Time, no TJ smile, no MKG motor, no record breaking blocks, no transition from a crying boy to a mature young man who kept his promise.
I have discovered a way to get over these feelings. Here is my solution to life after March until October when Big Blue Madness begins.
Twelve 12 Step Program for withdrawal from B-ball
12. Hide all blue and white t-shirts
11. Don’t buy anything blue until Oct.
10. Don’t associate with anyone over 5’4″ tall
9. Cancel all sports channels
8. Take down shrine on bookcase shelves
7. Remove all blue and white memorabilia from desk at work.
6. Remove magnet bumper stickers from car
5. Take down flag on porch
4. Take down Championship Memorial from front door, my feather boa in the shape of a number 8 with the Mardi Gras mask from New Orleans SEC Tourney.
3. Quit posting and contributing articles on Vaught’s Views
2. Don’t say the “B” word
1. Get a life!!!
One more … make it a 13 Step Program, remove all pics concerning that word from my FB page and albums …. NOT! Does anyone have any more suggestions, this is still going to be hard. How do you get a life when you Bleed Blue?
13 Responses to Guest post: 12-Step Program to alleviate the pain from no basketball from April to October Big Blue Madness
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Good job, Linda, but you will eventually drive by a ball goal, so you better find you a comfortable cave or igloo during that time frame!
Commonwealth Stadium will be open. How about supporting the football team.
Good idea Freddie. football team could use the support too. Nine week until the game at Louisville
Linda don’t try to get over it just embrace it 24/7, let your mouth water just thinking about what is coming next season, let your imagination run wild thinking about #9, Blue and White are good colors for you so wear them! Leave your UK items on your desk if for no other reason than to remind others what fun it is to be a UK fan.
Let’s just be thankful we are UK fans and have all these great memories to think about and not some of the other schools that REALLY do not want to remember the past few seasons. ( we have been there and done that )
Good article Linda and it does seem like an awful long time from April until October!!
Mom and I watched the commemorative DVD from this year’s championship team yesterday. All I could think was “man, I’m going to miss these guys.” What I’ve found is that it hurts a little less if I’ve got some of the season’s highlights to marvel over. Anthony’s blocks, Kyle’s and Doron’s clutch shooting, Michael’s defense and will to win, Marquis’s floor leadership and Darius’ everything-to-the-team are just as fun to watch the second, and third and two hundredth time around. In the meantime, I’ll continue to scour the web for any stories about our guys now in the NBA and soon to be in the NBA and our soon-to-be Cats.
I’ve always said that there are only two seasons in Kentucky–basketball season and waiting for basketball season. With Cal as our coach, though, the waiting for basketball season is nearly as much fun as basketball season. Well, in truth, maybe 50% as much fun, but still….
It always irks me when I see those “basketball only” fans. Yes, Cal is great. Yes, the basketball team is on a great run after the debacle that was the Billy Clyde era! But, I am about to go nuts, if I hear one more person, newspaper article, or radio spot, that wants to discuss who will start on next years basketball team. Right now, I don’t care. Football season is looming. I want football news. I wan to hear about Kentucky football in particular.
I had a way tougher time in the latter part of tubbys’ tenure and of course bcg’s debacle .. I have no worries now , its actually easier now because i am not stressing about incoming players. with those 2 coaches i worried all the time. i would watch and look at all the 5 star players and who they list as they’re favorites and uk was almost non existent. now those days are gone and its easier for me now because the captain steering this ship is in total control.
anyone have any idea who will start on next years basketball team?
great question Grant. but think Cal is making it clear it will be Harrow, Goodwin, Poythress, Wiltjer and Noel
Great job Linda.
People can talk all they want to about UK football filling the void, but basketball IS, WAS and always WILL BE king. This football season is going to be as brutal as any in recent memory. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of hope for big cheers and big fun. I pray that it isn’t so, but fear that it is.
I can’t wait for October. Basketball RULES!!
College football is a much better sport, imho. Too bad the people in charge of UK back in the 50s were short sighted. I would love to see UK be competitive in both sports.
Seems like the majority knows how I feel! I don’t like football, never have. I don’t like baseball either. To me I need constant action, running up and down the court with an occasional stop for a foul but then it is still action.
My view of football, and it was confirmed by a former UK football player is, a bunch of guys standing around in a huddle telling jokes, patting each other on the backside for 10 minutes and then playing for 7 seconds if you are lucky. Most plays last 3 seconds. There are plenty of people who like football better then the large brown leather round ball sport to make up for me. I like Karen’s view, in Kentucky we are always talking about it too. It never seems to stop.
I don’t pay attention to recruiting, who is starting the first game, who is going to be the leading scorer or rebounder. I wait until the season starts and see how it plays out. But once it starts I do have my opinions, I will pick a favorite player or two and I will be in awe. I will overlook the times the two seasons over lap. I don’t begrudge anyone who follows and loves football, my bairn just happens to work differently.
As Jim Boyers so eloquently stated, “********** IS, WAS and always WILL BE king.” It is Cal’s Kingdom and I am a faithful subject/follower of the Emperor.
Livin’ Blue & Lovin’ It!
Nice job Linda. I usually take this time to enjoy friends and family. I also love MLB. With you being a “one sport woman” not sure what will help you but but stopping next to cars with the dirty bird flag on them and waving your blue and white pom poms should help. You could also get a t-shirt made that says “got pitino who the heck cares” and where it to lunch at the McDonalds on campus. LOL
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GO BLUE OR STAY HOME