Tubby

Yes. We admit it. We try to sell our product. As much of it as possible. It's what we live for. In a free market economy, there's no shame in that. What do you live for? Apparently, basketball. Anything basketball. Everything basketball. In Kentucky, there's no shame in that, either. And last week, it was anything Tubby - (Smith, that is) - that sold papers, tuned in broadcast outlets and slammed Web sites. Listening, watching and reading the Kentucky media on Thursday afternoon and Friday was a predictable, but still amazing experience.

Arenson: I predicted Tubby's demise at the end of this season and I also predicted that Pitino would return as the next UK head coach. Well I'm one for one so far, and my chances are looking pretty good on going two for two. Larry: You got the first one, but I have a hard time believing Pitino would come back - or be asked to come back by Mitch. Just don't see that happening.

Lee H. Stewart, Esq.: Larry - I just read your article on Pitino and Tubby. You make some good points, but there were a couple of facts you omitted when discussing the approval rating of each coach. Firstly, it has to be remembered that Pitino took over a program that was in pretty bad shape 5 years ago. He's improved the team's mindset, he's improved the team's record, and he's improved the national perception of the team. On the other hand, Tubby was entering his 5th year in 2001-2002, and while UK's program was in better shape that UofL at that point, it was in worse shape than it was when Tubby got the job. Moreover, an argument could be made (and I'd buy it)

John Hukle II: I have a couple of questions for UK basketball fans.How many final fours did K.Y. go to from 1979 to 1995? How many national title games did the cats play in from 1979 to 1995? As far as Tubby can't recruit.Didn't he recruit Prince, Bogans, Chuck Hayes? Who are all in the NBA right now! What about this Freshmen class we have right now? It's got to be one of the best freshmen classes in the country.Some people like to point out all of the negatives,but they never bring up all of the positives.

Dear Editor: Just the slightest bit of research would reveal how asinine it is to write the article "Nothing Changes at UK. " Given that most of the assistant coach's contracts run through June, and the spring academic semester hasn't ended yet (necessary for determining which, if any, players can go on academic scholarship), there's no reason for any changes to have been made so far. Last time Tubby promised changes, we had the most overachieving team in UK history. Maybe allowing him time to gather more information, rather than imposing an arbitrary one month rule on him, would be a good idea.

Jason Williamson: Glad to see (who is doing better) another in the Ky media firmly in there with the Tubby cheering section. It's really funny all the straw man arguments that you'll go thru to keep this coach at UK. Especially from your latest article, lets cut down Rick, and just use the 5 year mark. Bottom line Tubby , our current coach and tyrant, has broke every record at UK that you don't want to break. Which is so long it would take up the whole e-mail message. He refuses to recruit the best players,make changes with his staff.

OK, Larry. I have to ask you this, even before the team has ever practiced together and hopefully you'll give us more insight after you've seen some practices), but what 5 do YOU like to start for UK this season ? I have to tell you that I like Tubby looking at Randolph at the 4, with Jared at the 5. The big thing with Morris and Carter is stay out of foul trouble, and particularly with Jared is build up your endurance. I'm also going to say something else. Personally, without ever having seen either one of them play, I think either Jodie Meeks or Derrick Jasper (or both)

The University of Minnesota doesn't deserve to have Tubby Smith as its men's basketball coach. The former University of Kentucky coach was fired Monday, less than 24 hours after the Gophers lost to Florida in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The unexpected exit came nearly six years after he resigned as coach of the Wildcats to take a similar post in the Twin Cities, and three days after his team dismantled Pac-12 regular-season champion UCLA in the second round of the tournament, a loss that cost Bruins coach Ben Howland his job. Smith took over a program that had been marred by academic troubles that stripped the team of a Final Four appearance in 1997 and guided the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances despite competing in the Big 10 against the likes of Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Since his arrival in Kentucky a few months ago, new University of Kentucky coach John Calipari has brought a revived excitement about UK hoops to the Bluegrass. He's got more than 300,000 fans following his Twitter account. He's lured the nation's No. 1 recruiting class to UK. He's putting together a powerhouse schedule that may be filled with made-for-TV games. However, I also wondered how younger fans might be reacting to the new Kentucky coach - or if they even cared who was coaching the Wildcats.

Dear Editor, Dr. Todd elected to go with a one-man search committee to find a new coach when Tubby left for Minnesota. This committee found his replacement in a few days of searching for the right replacement. They brought in Billy Gillispie to take over the basketball program. After just two years, Dr. Todd and Mr. Barnhart got together to fire Billy G., saying he wasn't the right fit. What? We didn't hear this when the team started off 5-0 in the conference and the words "chemistry" and "fit" were not in their vocabulary.

Isaac Lee "Tubby" Stratton, Jr., 81, Cowden Court, Lancaster, died Tuesday, July 8 at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville. A native of Boyle County, he was born Dec. 27, 1926 to the late Isaac Lee and Minnie Critchfield Stratton. He was a retired engineer for Norfolk Southern, serving 41 years with them, a member of the Oleika Shrine Temple, Lancaster Lodge #104, and the 1945 Danville High School State Championship football team. He attended Lancaster Church of the Nazarene, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a clown in many of the Shriner's parades.

Former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith won a national championship with the Wildcats in 1998. He talked about that, his future and part of what he misses about Kentucky since leaving for Minnesota a year ago in the final part of a series. How much longer is Tubby Smith going to keep coaching? "I never think about retiring. I am so worried about the next day, I don't have time. I do try to plan for that rainy day and hope we have invested in the right things. We love wherever we live.

Former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith won a national championship with the Wildcats in 1998. He talked about that, his future and part of what he misses about Kentucky since leaving for Minnesota a year ago in the final part of a series. Question: How much longer is Tubby Smith going to keep coaching? Smith: "I never think about retiring. I am so worried about the next day, I don't have time. I do try to plan for that rainy day and hope we have invested in the right things.

Former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, who had an overall record of 263-83 and a winning percentage of .760 in his 10 years at UK before leaving to go to Minnesota, is proud of the success former players have had in the NBA. He talked about those players in the second of a three-part series with the former UK coach. Question: What about Rajon Rondo winning a NBA championship? Has his success surprised you at all? Smith: "He is surrounded by great players. When you put together guys like that, you have a chance to win. I coached Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the Olympics.

During coach Tubby Smith's 10 years at the University of Kentucky, the Wildcats won a national title, made four Elite Eight appearances and won five Southeastern Conference championships. He had an overall record of 263-83 and a winning percentage of .760, including a 120-40 mark in SEC play. Smith left to coach at Minnesota after the 2006-07 season and put together a top 20 recruiting class in his first year with the Gophers. Smith talked about a variety of subjects in a recent interview.