Well, this has been all the rage around the Big Blue Nation, so I think it bears discussion here. This:
In this video, if you haven't listened by now, or can't, here is the substance of what Digger Phelps says from this article by Eric Crawford:
"This is important," he went on. "We've been with you at Kentucky. This is Vandy's home game (cheers). This is Vandy's (pause) listen to me. Listen to me. It's their home game."
...
"You (UK fans) are a part of it. But you show respect for Vandy. I don't want any nonsense. I don't want any incidents. Don't ruin this for College GameDay."
More after the jump.
First of all, if this is something that GameDay does at every big game they attend, I think we have nothing to complain about -- if (and I think if is the operative word) it's part of ESPN's standard operating procedure to warn opposing fans before every GameDay show not to make a mess of things, then that's fine.
In any case, Phelps is a known Kentucky detractor and like most UK fans, I'm going to assume that this isn't SOP and that Phelps just wanted to get a dig in. And even if it is SOP, singling out UK fans by name not to "ruin it for Gameday" is just the wrong thing to say to any group of people.
I know it will come as a shock to some, but the respect thing works both ways, and it is not okay to implicitly license home fans to act the fool and for opposing fans to be asked to sit there and take it. Kentucky fans weren't there illegally or unethically, they were there to support their team, and had just as much right to be in attendance as any Vandy fan.
By the way, this is in no way meant to be a commentary on Vanderbilt. They had a great crowd show up, and as far as I know, they treated Kentucky fans well enough. At least they didn't shout profanity at our women and knock them down. As far as I'm concerned, it isn't necessary for opposing fans to give more than a chin jut and a "What's up?" [The first person to correctly identify that reference gets a free .PDF copy of Wildcat Tip-Off 2011-2012 - Ed.]
Dear Digger: You can have the front half of that horse now, to go with the prodigious back half you already walk around with. [see the link just above for the proper context to all who may be unfamiliar with it].
0 recs | 59 comments
Digger is free to say what he wants....
however, whatever the consequences are for doing so, it OUR business :). I do think, given what he does for ESPN, it was not in his place to make that statement. If ESPN does that all the time, should have been some producer or something, not one of the “personalities” that comment on teams. Bad choice IMO.
kentuckyrules - February 13, 2012
I agree.
Also, because of Phelps’ known distaste for Kentucky, it was a bad choice.
Glenn Logan - February 13, 2012
They couldn't bribe RMK to say it!?!? '-)
a2d2 - February 13, 2012
Heh.
Glenn Logan - February 13, 2012
Digger doesn't think highly of the BBN?
Meh. SOP or not, it seems he thought we were Hoosiers or something. ’-) We know that is not true.
As Coach would say, “Next!”
a2d2 - February 13, 2012
Whats up....
Big Bang Theory, when Leonard and Sheldon void the friendship agreement?
tisbutterboy - February 13, 2012
Winner winner, chicken dinner.
Send me an email, and I’ll send you the book.
Glenn
Glenn Logan - February 13, 2012
....
tisbutterboy@aol.com
tisbutterboy - February 14, 2012
Bazinga!
a2d2 - February 13, 2012
Hey Digger
Sit down and STFU, clown….
btcoop71 - February 13, 2012
Haha.
+1
a2d2 - February 13, 2012
Obviously, Digger has not been witnessed Vandy fans in Memorial's stands...
The way the Vandy fans act is the reason I quite buying season tickets (used to get them just to see the SEC games and particuarly UK). I worked in a building adjacent to Memorial and parked for work in the garage by Memorial so it was easy to walk through the garage to the games after work. However, after many years of the folks around us arguing with every call by the officials, calling the visiting team (whomever it was) names that I was embarrassed to hear and the guy at the end of our row picking (physical not verbal) fights with visiting fans and the ushers doing absolutely nothing about it, I had enough and decided that it was not worth risking my life and limb over. These were not the cheap seats EITHER! Digger’s comments were VERY misplaced as it was ALWAYS the Vandy fans who were antagonistic, crude and aiming to ruin someone’s day!
ukkrazyintn - February 13, 2012
Digger was afraid. He was aware of the Occupy Memorial movement
and I think he associated it with the clashes and conflicts of the other occupy events around the country. I think he severely overreacted because it was UK and he had a chance to flex a self perceived power over us that he rarely accomplished on the basketball court.
Of interesting note, observe Jay Bilas in the background. His body language appears to be showing his disapproval of how Digger is handling the situation. They probably had debated this and he knew what Digger was about to do. It reminded me of a few times when my father would show self inflated ego in public in a most embarrassing way and I would be thinking “Jeez, there he goes again”.
kywineman - February 13, 2012
Right on kywineman - about Bilas
When I first saw the bad version of Digger’s tirade…I thought that long, lanky guy was Bilas. I noticed his indifference. Bilas is not the self-absorbed “pontificater” that Digger and Knight are – he measures his words and speaks from his mind (not his heart).
JandPsDad - February 13, 2012
Digger has never had the most likeable personality -
compare Hubert Davis’ easy laugh and Jay Bilas’ intelligence and wit – but this still disappoints me. I don’t like seeing the uglier side of people I’ve come to know over the years. Makes me a little sad.
Wheatgerm - February 13, 2012
Digger is a clown.
That video needs a laugh track.
Im_a_fun_haver - February 13, 2012
Quelle maroon!
blenheim bard - February 13, 2012
Just shows
how strong BBN is and what influence they have to force the person whose name I do not speak to bring attention to them. The whole thing just makes me very proud.
UK72CatFan - February 13, 2012
Was it ESPN Game Day or ESPN Vandy Day
I have already written ESPN and encourage you to as well. I was under the impression it was ESPN Game Day – insinuating that it was for both teams that played in the game – it was just hosted at the home school. I do not like being lectured to by Digger, nor do I like his condescending tone. He adds nothing to Game Day and should be released.
scwhite9 - February 13, 2012
scwhite9
How right you are. Jimmy The Greek was fired for a lot less. All he did was tell the truth. Ditto with Rush Limbaugh.
bigboyblue - February 13, 2012
Jimmy & Rush
You’re saying Jimmy the Greek’s and Rush’s on-air racist remarks are a lot less fire-worthy than Digger’s dumb, condescending off-the-air lecture?
I also think Digger is a tool. But those are strange examples to make your point.
Filmcat - February 13, 2012
Filmcat
Your perspective and mine about racism are obviously not in agreement. Because I know that mine is right, then you may go your way and I’ll go mine. Thank you.
bigboyblue - February 15, 2012
two thoughts..
if it was vandy day, why did they pick UK weekend – why not UT or UF
second – notice Digger looks to the rafters to get the USA chant going – i guess the vandy fans weren’t getting it done
memphis wildcat - February 13, 2012
ESPN's Responsibility
CNN’s commentator Roland Martin was recently suspended due to his perceived anti-gay tweets during the Super Bowl; CNN says the remarks violated their ethics policy. Perhaps it is written in the contracts of Phelps and Knight that they are predisposed to oppose all things UK and thus are relieved of the need to be objective in their reporting and commentary. If no such exemption is contracted then it becomes the responsibility of ESPN — in the interest of good sports journalism — to publicly state their displeasure and take measures to see such bias doesn’t occur again.
Wild Weasel - February 13, 2012
Digger is what he has always been...
an overrated and self-important jerk. He has made his living off of one game. I met him once several years ago and he was dismissive of everyone around him. Ego run wild. An apology will NOT be forthcoming but at the very least Digger should have to explain why he felt the need do what he did.
jbt36 - February 13, 2012
I'm sorry, but
personally I do not allow anyone to talk down to me without calling them out on it; as if I were their child, or am somehow less capable than they are of handling myself with dignity. I’m glad I wasn’t there, but had I been, I would likely have filed a complaint with ESPN by now.
Whether or not it’s a stab at Kentucky fans as specifically being morons, the tone and message here is clear:
“You people do not understand the importance of this event for ESPN or the host school and I am warning you NOT to misbehave. Listen to me, I am an important guy myself and you should also humble yourself before me. Now you little boys and girls sit down and be quiet while us adults do our thing. After all, we gave out candy at your school already, so let’s make sure we share.”
Seriously, just who does Digger Phelps think he is?
Thomas Mario Adams III - February 13, 2012
amen !
I totally agree with you. WHO died and made this guy king ?
pacecat - February 13, 2012
Agree
Where does he get off lecturing others about behavior? I thought is role was to be a BB expert, not crowd control. That would have been a nice chance to start the “Lets Go Blue”!
BarryM - February 13, 2012
Whatever
On Sunday I saw a couple references to this and didn’t have a clue. Now I do. Thanks.
My interpretation is, Digger recognized there were a bunch of UK fans in the house and since GameDay is to some extent a promotion of the host school, he didn’t want UK fans shouting down Vandy fans. Appropriate? No, but it is Digger.
I sort of get it. What school wants to be on national TV when the visitors shout down the home team? Which happens frequently when the visitor is UK. What I would be interested to know, is there any documentation of incidents involving UK fans or bad behavior by them at away games. Surely it must happen, but I haven’t read about it.
A side point is, I believe a mistake a great many people make is to think that all successful coaches are smart or articulate. Most aren’t about things beyond basketball. Or football. Or whatever sport they coach. For every Coach K or Coach Cal there are dozens of Diggers. Guys who think because they had success in this one area, they know something about how people should act, behave, whatever. They don’t. The command and control leadership of a coach is a world apart from leading in rest of life.
darkandbloody@gmail.com - February 13, 2012
Once again...
Whatever “good” intentions he may or may not have had or was trying to articulate, they were lost in the miserable"fail", as evidenced in the video. If he is not “smart enough” to understand how he should comport himself, ESPN ought remove him immediately and without discussion.
He is being paid to speak to the public, and there are certainly “best practices” which I doubt include insulting them and/or their intelligence. It is ridiculous to think he should slide because he is not professional enough; since he is after-all an “ex-coach”. His job is there to be performed in a professional manner.
Individual adults are responsible for their own behavior, and NEVER grant an implied authority over that behavior… in any circumstance… to anyone else. That’s where Digger went wrong… he lost his place by losing respect for others own equal responsibility for their own behavior. He crossed the line.
FIRED.
Thomas Mario Adams III - February 13, 2012
You Talking to Me?
Digger is what Digger is.
He won’t be fired, if he were it would be for being BORING the last few years. Gosh is he boring. At least with RMK, you can learn something about bball by forcing yourself to listen. With Digger you don’t get that.
darkandbloody@gmail.com - February 13, 2012
"What school wants to be on national TV when the visitors shout down the home team?"
Maybe Vandy should have thought about this before inviting GameDay to their campus when the BBN was in town. PR fail!
Acdixon - February 13, 2012
Wow!
You said a mouthful except mentioning Coach Cal and The Duck of Dixie in the same breath.
Pardon me while I barf. LOL
bigboyblue - February 13, 2012
Digger
Digger Phelps is a miserable, mean, cruel and in general an obnoxious person. He and King Knight actually look enough alike to be brothers. Hee.
bigboyblue - February 13, 2012
Digger or Billy Packer?
Maybe Digger can assume the mantle of the Big Blue Nation’s most despised talking head.
chicagoblues - February 13, 2012
Poor Digger......he thinks everyone acts like they do in Indiana......
too mcuh time spent in that state for the poor man. I wonder if he knows that Hoosier is Latin for “gaping sphincter”…….??
Greg Alan Edwards - February 13, 2012
LOL
And all the time I thought it was short for hoosier daddy? (assuming they actually know).
blenheim bard - February 13, 2012
GAE
You are BAD. LOL
bigboyblue - February 13, 2012
Who cares?!?
Seriously, is this of any importance at all or just another reason for those folks to hurl insults at Digger Phelps. Me thinks the latter.
SevenRings - February 13, 2012
Long time before
the next game, Seven!
oldcat'69 - February 13, 2012 via mobile
That's it.
Glenn Logan - February 13, 2012
The latter works for me......lol
Greg Alan Edwards - February 13, 2012
What is this guy talking about?
“But you [UK fans] show respect for Vandy.” Has he witnessed times when UK fans haevn’t shown respect for Vandy? When. " I don’t want any nonsense." Has the Big Dig witnessed “nonsense” displayed by UK fans towards other College GameDay teams? " I don’t want any incidents." What does he mean by “incidents”? Has he seen this before? Where, and by whom? “[Hey, you UK fans], Don’t ruin this for College GameDay.” When have UK fans EVER “ruined” a CollegeGameDay for anyone? What’s he talking about, or does he just like to hear himself talk? Why single out UK fans? I don’t get it.
Blueboy - February 13, 2012
Blueboy
Methinks that poor Digger Daddy just can’t make his nightmares about all the defeats he has to remember at the hands of UK and (I might add, U of L also) over the years when he was at ND, go away.
bigboyblue - February 13, 2012
I get "this video is private" and no-go when I try to play it.
sweasyf - February 13, 2012
Found it elsewhere
If he had just come out and said something like, “we’re getting ready for gameday let’s all have some fun but be respectful so the censors won’t have to pull the plug on us. Enjoy the show.” It would have been fine.
It was not fine.
sweasyf - February 13, 2012
My thoughts precisly. He was totally tactless while
demanding tact from the UK fans.
kywineman - February 13, 2012
You just nailed it.
No one has a problem with the statement you just made, because that’s the kind of thing any sensible-minded person would say. Evidently Mr. Phelps isn’t too “sensible” minded. He has a I-hate-UK-complex of some kind.
Blueboy - February 13, 2012
Hey, I found another one of Digger's speeches......this one is from back in the 1980's
here you go…..it’s a classic!!!
Greg Alan Edwards - February 13, 2012
Ha, ha, good one...
LOL, that’s back when he had a lot more sense.
Blueboy - February 13, 2012
Dean Digger Wormer
Cut the horseshit, son. I’ve got their disciplinary files right here. Who dropped a whole truckload of fizzies into the varsity swim meet? Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween, the trees are filled with underwear. Every spring, the toilets explode.
ukcris - February 13, 2012
LOL
“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son!”
SevenRings - February 13, 2012
Well, as of this moment, they're on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION! ..... :)
ukcris - February 13, 2012
Spoken like a true wind BAG>>.....
ukcris - February 13, 2012
at least Digger can say the word "Kentucky"
whereas Bobby Knight (when forced to have to discuss the Final Four on one of ESPN’s pre-final weekend shows last season) couldn’t even bring himself to say “Kentucky” and had simply referred to them as “that team” (of course, he picked UConn to win)…and at least Digger isn’t a wanted man in Puerto Rico (nice role model there BKnight)…and at least Digger wasn’t fired for smacking/hitting/choking one of his players…still, I think it’s preposterous for an on air “talent” (stretching that one a long ways) to admonish a fan-base for simply showing up at an away arena to cheer on their team…maybe Digger needs to sit with Roy Williams next year at the Presbyterian-UNC tilt to lecture future priests to not razz UNC players as they shoot their FT’s…if this is another sign of political correctness (what an oxymoron that phrase is) that somehow fans aren’t allowed to be fans, then maybe all of the games should be played in practice facilities with just coaching staffs and TV “personalities” (again, a stretch…for Digger has no “talent” and has no “personality”)…what a buffoon
fincity - February 14, 2012
Digger is one of the 1%.
Seeing the word “Occupy” being used terrified him. He was afraid the crowd would be 99% UK fans.
kywineman - February 14, 2012
What happened? Video is private?
Why is the video gone? Looking around the WWW – all the videos of this tirade are gone or, like this one, now private.
Wonder if either Digger or ESPN is doing something behind the scenes to keep this out of the light?
JandPsDad - February 14, 2012
I saw a video taken
at the game by a UK fan in the upper section. It was posted on KSR. It is quite a distance away but you can hear the now infamous “Listen to Me” speech. It was posted a day or two after the fact and I am sure it is still out there. You can also hear the comments coming from UK fans as he was lecturing.
kywineman - February 14, 2012
The video I referred to is still available
in the KSR archives. It is in the last post listed for Feb 12. Digger can censor the ESPN footage but he can’t touch the internet. Another reason to oppose attempts at censorship.
kywineman - February 14, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of A Sea Of Blue to post a comment.