Gimel Martinez's Thursday News and Views

Before his likeness was used by the Fake Gimel Martinez here on KSR from 2008 to 2011, the real Gimel Martinez was a star for the University of Kentucky's basketball Wildcats. The 6-foot-8 forward from Miami, Florida played under Rick Pitino from 1990 to 1994, scoring 719 points and hauling in 338 rebounds in 127 career games for UK as "Pitino's Bombinos" transformed from a .500 team in '89-'90 to an NCAA champion in '95-'96. Martinez was a huge piece of the program's growth in the four seasons he wore blue and many have wondered where the program would be today if that mustache had gone somewhere else out of Miami Senior. It's by far one of the best mustaches to play at Kentucky and it's hard to imagine another one coming along anytime soon to challenge its throne. Last we heard, Gimel and his 'stache were working for WH Humphrey Inc., a heavy lifting company out of Dublin, Ohio. (That came from Bryan The Intern so who knows how accurate it is.) But wherever he is today, we know that he is happily enjoying and celebrating his 41st birthday by jacking up an ill-advised three-pointer or dancing with Junior Braddy and Travis Ford. That's enough facial hair for now, let's get you your News and Views...  You hear that? That's the sound of Louisville fans talking trash about the upcoming football season. And it's very, very loud. Sure, Louisville is going to compete for a Big East title next season, but ask any fan of the birds about their expectations and you'd think they were already in line to buy streamers for a national title parade next January. The latest chirping we've heard from the area surrounding the pizza bucket is the new "Lexington Is For The Birds" bumper sticker campaign to buy a billboard in Lexington. A t-shirt website is hoping to sell 900 "Lexington Is For The Birds" stickers so it can purchase a billboard on I-64 East just outside of Lexington with the same catchy slogan. It's not a bad idea for the rivalry, but I don't know how far $3,600 will go for a billboard spot on I-64. We wish them the best in the advertising venture. Also, #CardNation better hope Louisville beats Kentucky on September 2, because the way they are talking, it will get reeeaaaaallllyyyyy ugly if the Cats sneak in there and steal a victory. I don't think they'll ever recover from that. Someone should tell Louisville fans to turn it down a notch because Brian Brohm isn't riding through that door on the back of Bobby Petrino's motorcycle and the Governor's Cup isn't guaranteed to be as lopsided as they're expecting.  On another UK/UofL note, I'm absolutely shocked the video of the Final Four game hasn't been removed from YouTube. You better watch it now because there is no way it lasts another day. CBS protects its March Madness footage like a polar bear protects its young, assuming polar bears are protective of their young. That's a topic better fit for CM Tomlin to explore in his next issue of National Geographic For Kids.  "The Dream Team", a new documentary about the USA's 1992 Olympic basketball squad aired Wednesday night on NBATV, and like many of you, I'm disgusted I was unable to watch. The previews and clips I've seen online make it out to look like the best basketball documentary since Reggie Miller's 30 for 30 special (sorry, huge Reggie fan), and it is a shame that it's limited to those who have NBATV, which doesn't include the Insight crowd. I try to keep my internet browsing 100% street legal, but I think I'm going to do some searching for the documentary online once I finish this post. If the feds kick down my door on Thursday, just know that it was my love for the Dream Team that took me down. I have to see this documentary. ***Update: It's on YouTube!!!! ***  Mitch Barnhart wrote a letter to Big Blue Nation on Kentucky's extraordinary season. He sprayed it with his Stetson cologne and sealed it with a kiss. Give it a read.  2014 point guard Emmanuel Mudiay claims to have an offer from Kentucky, according to a video he did with Five Star Basketball. Mudiay said he is considering UK, Arizona, Texas and Baylor, and has offers from all four. Scout.com ranks him as the sixth-best recruit in the class and the second best point guard, behind No. 1 player Tyus Jones.  As far as Kentucky's current recruiting class goes, Jeff Borzello thinks it is the best in the country. The man with the best hair at CBSSports.com ranked the top recruiting classes in 2012 and Kentucky took the top spot for the fourth year in a row, ahead of UCLA, NC State, Arizona and Baylor. Rivals and Scout also rank UK at the top of 2012, leaving ESPN.com as the only hater.  Terrence Jones worked out with his hometown Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday. Watch what he had to say about the team he's always dreamed of playing for. That'll do it for now. I'll leave you with another Awwwwwwww moment from Coach Cal's satellite camp tour across Kentucky...