I wanted to address some “hate” against Big Blue Topia that I see from time to time on other sites. I have no desire to get into a feud with any UK fan (I like to save those against Louisville fans…) but if you are just silent on an issue, people just assume what people are saying is true.
I don’t mind it if I am called out for getting something wrong, if I did it, then call me out. I’m open to any mistakes I may have made. I try to never come across as a “know it all”, I am a UK fan just like you. For example, when Cal’s Cats started out a few summers ago I had good sources telling me that Jodie Meeks said he was coming back. I firmly believe that he said this. I made the mistake of running and telling everyone that he is coming back. He didn’t and I look like a fool, despite Meeks saying this. The problem is, players say a lot of things and you can’t just go run and post it when they do and say it’s for certain. I did the same thing with Xavier Henry not longer after Meeks. So when I see posters on sites bringing these two things up, they are right, but if the best shots they have at me, was from a long time ago when I was just learning the process…then I’ll take that and own up to that. I hated getting fans hopes up and it not working out.
Of course those who are out to attack others like to twist the truth to prove their points. I never said this but for example a writer could state, “Rumor has it that C.J. Leslie has committed to UK.” Then when Leslie committed to N.C. State, they could try to insult this writer by stating that he said he committed to UK. Classic example of twisting what was said.
When you see “rumor has it” that is not a confirmation, it says rumor for a reason. Cal’s Cats was originally founded on summing up all the free UK news out there and putting it in one message for those who did not have time to go through all that stuff, or just didn’t care enough to do so. Then Big Blue Topia was formed for those without Facebook and it has extra information, I try to avoid flooding people’s Facebook mailboxes. Since then through Cal’s Cats and other sources I have gathered credible sources.
So if there is talk out there of a rumor, I always report it as what it is…a rumor. When I get confirmation on it, then I will state such and such is confirmed.
How can you trust what you hear on this site? I will tell you this. Cal’s Cats has over 6,000 UK readers through Facebook. Not just members, these are people who receive the messages in their mailbox and if they didn’t read it, then they would leave the group because the messages continue to keep coming and would fill up your mailbox over time. It isn’t like they just joined up and are never heard from again. In Cal’s Cats there are big name people including Erin and Megan Calipari, former players, current players, incoming players such as Doron Lamb, former famous football players such as Tim Couch, major boosters to the UK program, family connections to former and current players. The list goes on and on.
The thing is, my best two sources are not members of Cal’s Cats at all, they know more then they will ever tell me and they have no need to read my stuff nor do they have the time. They have proven over and over again they know what they are talking about and most of it isn’t public consumption for the good of the program.
I’m not saying this to brag in anyway nor am I stating that I know everything about what is going but it is important to realize that I'm not just making things up. I would never want to mislead the UK fan base
There is also this mindset of “well I didn’t hear it, so it’s bogus” that I’m seeing from people who do have connections…and that is just laughable. Just because you do have connections doesn’t mean you hear everything and that includes me.
My advice is this. Anyone, including Big Blue Topia, let their works speak for its self. Just because they have a real nice site or a post every ten minutes on something doesn’t mean they are or aren’t credible. Continue to read their post with an open mind and if they continue to be wrong over and over then you are welcome to read elsewhere.
I will promise you this with Big Blue Topia:
1) I will always post things as rumors or confirmed, notice the difference
2) I will never make you pay for information. I do this as a hobby, not to make money off of you.
3) I will never intentionally mislead you. If it is best to not mention something for the good of the program, I will do just that, not bring it up. Which happens all the time…
4) I will never tell you to choose UK writers to like or hate. I have no ill will to any UK fan. I may disagree with their actions from time to time but there are no sides with Big Blue Topia and Cal’s Cats,
5) I will never turn into someone who thinks they know it all and if I didn’t hear it, then it didn’t happen.
It’s important for everyone to be aware of the truth. If you do post on other sites and see misleading information out there about Big Blue Topia, I hope you will set them straight. Of course many posters are like arguing with a drunken person; useless…people are going to believe what they want to believe. It’s usually the loudest one in the room who wins the argument, even if they are wrong…
