Bilas has become UK and Cal's staunchest defender....by far!

[louisvilleblue_rivals102699]

I don't have any links but in the last couple of weeks I have read numerous articles where Bilas has defended our team. He has countered several journalists and talking heads for being negative and writing negative articles concerning Cal and our Cats. Bilas best quote might have been (may not be exact but close)....."what in the world do the media and fans want? UK has given them everything they ever ask for. They win and win the right way. They have a well balanced team of freshmen, sophs, and juniors, not just a OAD team. Cal's players seem to really care for and respect each other and not one player has been in trouble. Cal is a fine coach who is seemingly coaching a bunch of fine kids! Put any other name on their jerseys and the media and fans would love them.

Don't do any UK trash talking around Jay Bilas because he wii rip you up pretty bad!

 

[musrat59]

Coming from a former Dookie makes it even more surprising.

 

[new era cat]

Originally posted by musrat59:
Coming from a former Dookie makes it even more surprising.

His grandfather's last dying wish must have been for him to be nice to UK.
It makes absolutely NO sense that he supports us. It really doesn't.

 

[UKvisitor_rivals101449]

This guy agrees:



hint: Capt Obvious.

This post was edited on 3/12 4:28 AM by UKvisitor

 

[Dutycat]

Fran Fraschilla on KC sports radio yesterday was asked if he thought UK would go undefeated and if it would be good for basketball . He gushed about California and UK and said he was rooting for UK because it would be such a special feat.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

I usually criticize Bilas but I will give him credit in that yes he does usually have our back. then again DV says this same type of stuff about us and people treat him like garbage.

by the way has Bilas said anything about the UNC scandal? I know everybody expects Vitale to.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[SLONER67]

Originally posted by CatFanInTheBathtub:
I usually criticize Bilas but I will give him credit in that yes he does usually have our back. then again DV says this same type of stuff about us and people treat him like garbage.

by the way has Bilas said anything about the UNC scandal? I know everybody expects Vitale to.

Posted from Rivals Mobile

We wouldn't treat DV like garbage if he didn't do so with us first. You obviously have forgotten the history and how he unapologetically tore into us without any thought that he could be out of line. He clearly was out of line and never bothered to acknowledge it. He's probably too senile to remember what he said or did. I pretty much just ignore the old man now.

I applaud his charitable contributions to cancer research and all but in the world of sports, he is nothing to me. Just a talking head with nothing of real substance to say on sports topics.

 

[G0BigBLUE00]

I don't know 100% if it is Bilas being so much of a Cal "fan" or "defender," or, if it is that he just prefers to point out the hypocrisy in many people's arguments regarding their disdain for Cal's methods.

IMO, Bilas believes that he gets more credibility for himself when he points out the hypocrisy of other media members, and with the NCAA modus-operandi so to speak. As it is, one of the areas that is so easy to point to hypocrisy is with the way in which Cal is treated by some in the media, and with the NCAA. By pointing out these hypocrisies, it allows Bilas to remain objective as a broadcaster/journalist, and not be viewed as a "fan/defender" of any particular coach/team.

IMO, he is intentional about this, and that is what is separating him from Dick Vitale. I believe ESPN and its viewership is recognizing this as well. It could possibly be one of the reasons why Dick Vitale is being relegated to "lesser" games and Bilas is slowly becoming ESPN's go-to man as a color analyst during their prime-time games. Think along the lines of this year's Duke-UNC matchups. Never in a million years would anyone ever believe that Vitale wouldn't be the analyst for those games. People are just growing tired of Vitale's BS over all of these years. He praises EVERY coach, EVERY team, and EVERY fanbase. When that happens, you leave little room for yourself as a broadcaster/journalist to be critical of an infraction (i.e. Syracuse, UNC) when one truly does occur------and then, because you've staunchly praised said coach and team relentlessly for so many years, there's nothing left for you in the realm of credibility to your viewership when the time has now come for you to be critical of them.

This post was edited on 3/12 2:28 PM by G0BigBLUE00

 

[CrazyCarl69]

I agree with the take above - Bilas hates the hypocrisy of all the criticism being leveled at this team.

They are not all OADs. They share the ball, they share the minutes, and they defend like crazy. All of this without flexing or taunting. And with no off-court issues involving the legal system, no disciplinary action, and no questionable academics or other eligibility issues.

WTH are they complaining about? Oh, that we're winning...the shame of it all.

I say screw 'em and enjoy the view of the debris field we leave behind.

 

[Orange Soda King]

Yeah. Bilas isn't a UK fan like we are, but he actually gets it and admires the coaching job of Cal and the great environment he has created at UK

 

[akaukswoosh]

Originally posted by Orange Soda King:
Yeah. Bilas isn't a UK fan like we are, but he actually gets it and admires the coaching job of Cal and the great environment he has created at UK

The fact his niece married Mark Krebs doesn't hurt either.

 

[LowCountryCat]

Bilas is truly objective. He really separates himself from haters.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Sloner you've told the same DV story in every post I've read of yours. Nobody forgets what he said. Its just that some people like me didn't take it as harshly as you apparently did. Because while he probably painted us with too broad a brush, there were absolutely plenty of people who intended to run Tubby out of town.

Anybody ever put signs in your yard or start websites called fires loner.com when you have failures in your job?

But not to get off topic because we're talking about Bilas here. Like somebody posted above about Bilas pointing out hypocrisy, I'm just saying I think it's hypocritical with all this praise of the guy when he's just another talking head like the rest.

And if we're going to get on other talking heads for avoiding the UNC scandal then why isn't Bilas held to that same standard? As much as he whines about the officials and how unwatchable cbb is you'd think he'd have some choice words about Roy and co. but I've yet to hear it.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[Free_Salato_Blue]

Originally posted by Smashcat:

Originally posted by Orange Soda King:
Yeah. Bilas isn't a UK fan like we are, but he actually gets it and admires the coaching job of Cal and the great environment he has created at UK

The fact his niece married Mark Krebs doesn't hurt either.

Didn't he have a nephew graduate and was student body president at UK?

 

[FutureCityCats_rivals]

Go back to what Bilas said to the team while they were in the Bahamas. It was very prophetic. It has played out just as he said. Everyone needs to see that. It was during a team meeting. I'll never look at Bilas the same. No literate enough to post a link. Someone else please so that. Go Cats. FCC.

 

[STEVEGRO50]

Originally posted by new era cat:

Originally posted by musrat59:
Coming from a former Dookie makes it even more surprising.

His grandfather's last dying wish must have been for him to be nice to UK.
It makes absolutely NO sense that he supports us. It really doesn't.

It makes perfect sense. So your saying because he went to another school he cant be impartial? Perhaps he is just a fair minded individual who tells it like it is. Now lets dont turn on him when he says positive things about Duke or NC. If he is telling the truth now we cant turn on him say later he is full of crap. I really enjoy the honesty weather its about Ky or any other school. Especially when he calls the officiating the way he sees it.

 

[FutureCityCats_rivals]

Originally posted by STEVEGRO50:

Originally posted by new era cat:

Originally posted by musrat59:
Coming from a former Dookie makes it even more surprising.

His grandfather's last dying wish must have been for him to be nice to UK.
It makes absolutely NO sense that he supports us. It really doesn't.

It makes perfect sense. So your saying because he went to another school he cant be impartial? Perhaps he is just a fair minded individual who tells it like it is. Now lets dont turn on him when he says positive things about Duke or NC. If he is telling the truth now we cant turn on him say later he is full of crap. I really enjoy the honesty weather its about Ky or any other school. Especially when he calls the officiating the way he sees it.

Steve, have you seen the Bahamas talk that Bilas did to the team? If you havn't, you will really like it. FCC.

 

[FutureCityCats_rivals]

bttt. FCC.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

They don't come better than Jay. He is a very smart person who tries his best to not be biased. I don't know what else should be expected.

Plus I think that Ian Eagle is the best play by play man doing basketball today.

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

Originally posted by G0BigBLUE00:
I don't know 100% if it is Bilas being so much of a Cal "fan" or "defender," or, if it is that he just prefers to point out the hypocrisy in many people's arguments regarding their disdain for Cal's methods.

.

I agree, but it doesn't matter, at least he's doing it. They are being hypocrites. Many just completely ignore the quality of young men has brought through UK in his time. Not just on the court, but off. Cal speaks to it all the time. They ignore the fact that 5 of our first 9, and 3 starter's are not freshmen. There's a lot of jealousy, and little respect for what Cal has done in being able to mold young teams except perhaps other coaches who know how hard it is.

 

[kitkoodle]

makes perfectly sense, since it was him, that Coach Cal personally asked to travel with team, etc..during the summer trip

 

[STEVEGRO50]

Originally posted by FutureCityCats:

Originally posted by STEVEGRO50:

Originally posted by new era cat:

Originally posted by musrat59:
Coming from a former Dookie makes it even more surprising.

His grandfather's last dying wish must have been for him to be nice to UK.
It makes absolutely NO sense that he supports us. It really doesn't.

It makes perfect sense. So your saying because he went to another school he cant be impartial? Perhaps he is just a fair minded individual who tells it like it is. Now lets dont turn on him when he says positive things about Duke or NC. If he is telling the truth now we cant turn on him say later he is full of crap. I really enjoy the honesty weather its about Ky or any other school. Especially when he calls the officiating the way he sees it.

Steve, have you seen the Bahamas talk that Bilas did to the team? If you havn't, you will really like it. FCC.

I have seen it. I couldnt believe how insightful it was. He described the season to a T

 

[SLONER67]

CatFanInTheBathtub:
1) But not to get off topic because we're talking about Bilas here. Like somebody posted above about Bilas pointing out hypocrisy, I'm just saying I think it's hypocritical with all this praise of the guy when he's just another talking head like the rest.

2) And if we're going to get on other talking heads for avoiding the UNC scandal then why isn't Bilas held to that same standard? As much as he whines about the officials and how unwatchable cbb is you'd think he'd have some choice words about Roy and co. but I've yet to hear it.

====================================================================================

I've only repeated my DV story as much as I have because it seems some have a bad case of amnesia. Maybe you remember...I don't know most people here so I don't have much to go on. It just boggles my mind that people are as easy on him but no big deal.

As for point 1)...I admit you have a point but I think Bilas is less of a "talking head" than most in the business

And 2), how do you know that he and all the other ESPN crew haven't been warned in advance to not comment on the UNC scandal until advised otherwise by management? It wouldn't surprise me if that wasn't the case. Not every ESPN (I wouldn't think) is a total ACC homer.