Elvis Presley's Thursday News and Views

We have several reasons to honor the life and career of Elvis Presley, but tonight we’re gathering around the News and Views ouija board to try to channel some positivity and good fortune from “The King” to the Kentucky football staff and players, who are staying in his hometown tonight.  That’s right, your University of Kentucky Wildcats are staying in Tupelo, Mississippi tonight, where 18-year-old Vernon Elvis Presley and 22-year-old Gladys Love Presley welcomed a young Elvis into the world back in 1935. As I mentioned in the “Facts, Stats and Other Useless Information” post just south of this one, Elvis and his family survived the fourth-worst tornado in United States history in Tupelo. Two years later, they were evicted from their home and his father was jailed after it was discovered he altered a check to the landowner. Elvis and his mother moved in with relatives and later moved to Memphis when he turned 13.

On second thought, it appears Elvis didn’t have a lot of luck in the Tupelo area. But Kentucky hasn’t had a lot of luck against Mississippi State in recent years, so they’re not so different. Maybe staying in Elvis’ birthplace is more “Heartbreak Hotel” than “Good Luck Charm.”  But hey, at least it’s not Starkville. When they said it was high classed, well that was just a lie.

Give ’em some magic, Elvis. And sleep tight in Tupelo, boys.

Beat Mississippi State.

News and Views…

 

Devin Booker is ready to wrap up his recruitment, but still undecided.

He has taken all five of his official visits, and now Devin Booker is ready to get the process over with by announcing the university he will attend in the fall of 2014. Booker told the Sun-Herald in Biloxi that he is working on a date to bring his family down from Michigan for an announcement, some time before the early signing period begins on November 13. Though he still insists he hasn’t decided, Booker feels it’s time to man up and make the decision, now that he’s seen all five schools.

As Matt wrote in his evening notes, there was a time, not so long ago, that Booker-to-Kentucky was inevitable. I would’ve bet my lifetime supply of Taco Bell on it. But now that confidence has faded just a bit as Missouri came on strong during his official just a few days ago and another unofficial visit to Columbia looms this weekend. Michigan also makes a strong case, being his home state and all, but Missouri is the only school I believe can potentially pull the rug out from underneath Calipari’s Gucci loafers and steal Booker in the final minutes.

If that happens, and that’s still a big if, Kentucky will need Stanley Johnson more than ever, if that’s even possible. Johnson became a must-get for Kentucky’s 2014 class when Kelly Oubre committed to Kansas, back when there was 99.999% confidence Booker would be a Cat. Losing Booker will only maximize the desperation for Johnson.

James Blackmon Jr. will visit Indiana this weekend.

Blackmon’s on-again, off-again trip to Bloomington is on again, at least for now. The five-star guard announced via Twitter Wednesday night that he will take one last look at Indiana before making his final decision, although most everyone in, near, or around Blackmon’s recruitment believes it has already been made. Kentucky is the heavy favorite, like, Renardo Sidney smuggling bowling balls heavy, and Big Blue Nation shouldn’t be overly concerned about the Indiana visit. It will take an impressive showing in Saturday’s exhibition game against Southern Indiana or Sunday’s “Haunted Hall of Hoops” — featuring candy and a costume parade for kids!!! — to change his mind.

The 2013 Major League Baseball season got underway Wednesday night.

I watch anywhere from four to seven MLB games on television every year and the season kicked off Wednesday night in Boston. Most of you know it as the World Series. 

The Red Sox won, I think. I switched over to NBA TV for the Sacramento Kings Season Preview show some time around the 7th inning.

Lonny Demaree broke the James Young injury news.

If you tell me there is a better UK-related Twitter account on the internet than Lonny Demaree’s, I’ll tell you you’re a liar. The longtime Kentucky Sports Report writer put that account to good use Wednesday morning when he broke some news from the breakfast counter at Wheeler’s Pharmacy, where John Calipari stopped by for a cup of coffee and a large helping of friendly conversation. Cal told Lonny and the gang that James Young suffered a slight shoulder strain on the final play of Tuesday’s practice. Luckily, it isn’t severe and Young is listed as day-to-day.

Lonny also tweeted, “Cal is playing Gentry Autry’s “Back in the Saddle Again.” He showed up at Wheelers.”

The Blue-White game is less than a week away.

It’s basketball time in the bluegrass, my friends, and the Blue-White game is less than a week away. The toughest competition UK will face all season awaits in Rupp Arena next Tuesday night in the annual intrasquad scrimmage. Tickets are still available for those of you interested in attending for a very affordable $5.00 (plus $1.25 in devil fees) at Ticketmaster.com. Hopefully James Young and his shoulder will be back to compete against his teammates and fellow future NBA lottery picks and NCAA national champions. See you there.

The Mississippi State game is winnable.

Never mind the four-game losing streak, the double-digit point spread, and hostile SEC road environment, Kentucky has a legitimate shot at beating Mississippi State. Sure, us fans would feel a little better if a healthy Jalen Whitlow were starting for Kentucky, but it’s still a game the Cats can win to start off the back end of the schedule with a bang. Mississippi State hasn’t show anyone much outside of blowout home wins over Troy and Alcorn State (R.I.P. Steve McNair), so we sure as hell shouldn’t turn on ESPN with expectations of a Kentucky loss tomorrow night.

The key to the game will be Kentucky’s front seven holding its own early. Mississippi State is good at quick starts and running the ball down the defense’s throat, so slowing down the ground game and slowing it down early will set the tone for the game.

Offensively. the line needs to buy Max Smith time to show us something. UK doesn’t need a lot from Smith, but it needs a little something. The Bulldogs give up 220 passing yards per game, good enough for 49th in the country. This isn’t the Alabama Crimson Tide he’s going up against here.

For more about the game, scroll down. It’s everywhere.

No gray uniforms, but check out these thigh pads!

I don’t know what to make of Kentucky’s new thigh pads. On one hand, they’re unique and look pretty neat. On the other hand, they’re thigh pads.

Do thigh pads win football games? Absolutely not. Do gray uniforms win football games? No, but it would’ve been cool to see Kentucky wearing something new and flashy on national television. Recruits like that stuff, whether you want to accept it or not. And we like recruits, especially the good ones.

The KSR Football Pregame Show starts at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Go Cats.