Wednesday was a typical day during this Sea Change Season.
Within an hour, literally, I had four different people at two different locations ask me the same question.
“Where is U of L getting all this NIL money?”
I’ve long admitted to not being an insider. Alright, maybe once upon a time with some significant contacts in the program, but that was decades ago.
Still, I get it.
I’ve got this forum on the interweb.
Despite my caveats, I feign knowing what I’m talking about, and that I know more than you do.
But here’s the reality.
I know nil about NIL.
I don’t know where all this U of L moolah is coming from. But it’s obvious that it’s being provided from somewhere.
I have a hunch about a couple of corporate sources. Which I shall not name, because, were I to do it, within nanoseconds there’s be posts throughout the cybergalaxy saying “Seedy K says U of L’s bounty is coming from Acme Widgets.”
Besides, it’s just a guess.
But I’m grateful to whomever you deep pocketed patrons are.
Thank you. God Bless.
* * * * *
So, yeah here I am along with every other hoopaholic wandering the Land of NIL, from which for the time being there is No Exit.
Existentialism indeed.
Which is to admit. like every other Cardinal diehard, I spent Wednesday on Alvaro Fologueiras Alert. Typing his name into my search bar every twelve minutes and 14 seconds.
As much as I claim to be too old, too mature, too wise for such obsession, it is obvious I am not.
Again on Thursday.
And, on Friday, when reports sayeth that the Spaniard late of Robert Morris and Iowa is in town or will be in town for a visit.
Friday night I took a break. Went to the orchestra to hear Stewart Copeland’s deconstruction of Police tunes, and his incessant between songs shtick.
Phone off, devoid of updates was I.
Upon returning home, I read that the forward and Kelsey were seen dining, and that the mood appeared “congratulatory.”
It’s Saturday morning.
Shall there be Thunder?
Or a rainout?
* * * * *
Khani Rooths has taken his talents to the municipality of Norman, Oklahoma, where he’ll ball for Porter Moser and the Sooners.
Sananda Fru landed at Marquette, where Shaka Smart, now using the portal, feels he can turn the meek German into a Big East beast.
Eery silence from Adrian Wooley with days left to enter the portal.
Then there’s the kid from West Virginia. And the one from the University of Chucky.
?????????
Got a call into a fellow diehard who follows this stuff way more closely than I do.
Dude, ring me up.
* * * * *
See that Villanova, from which university the Pope is an alum, and Notre Dame will open next season in Rome.
Which is sweet actually, says this Hebrew.
Misread the report at first. Thought the game was actually going to be in the Vatican. Which is actually a fairly large complex, not just the Sistine Chapel.
Out.
Big widget! I knew it! Thanks for inside scoop.
I may be singular in this respect, but, I like hearing about the recruits we lost, players who transferred away, etc., they were good enough to a part of our interests once, so, I wish them well wherever they go.
I wish them the best in their careers and life. Seem like fine gentlemen. I am glad they left, and I will not miss them..
I would like Fru as a back up.
Yeah he would be an okay backup. I agree. Unfortunately probably not workable. I bet his agent got him a much better contract at Marquette than he would have gotten here. Some sources say even mediocre big men are getting $4 mil or close now. He’s probably one of their top two investments, if not top investment.
AMEN, brother Seedy!
OK, feel free to quote me on Acme Widget.
Did you get this information from Wile E. Coyote?
Beep Beep.
Wooley is staying. Huzzah!
I was not understanding people who supposedly follow the CARDS and comment (principally on that other site) not being aware that we were estimated to be a top 5 or so NIL spender this past season. Folks saying we didn’t have the money to compete. Very weird given the historical financial performance of our program. One estimated figure I saw put us spending the same amount as Michigan last season at $10.5 mil. Somewhat like Kentucky, but less severely, we did not get our money’s worth. I understand people not following every detail, but if you are going to make public comments about the state of the program, doesn’t it make sense to do a minimal amount of checking on the subject of which you are commenting on, rather than just make random false statements based on inexplicable erroneous assumptions? Aren’t these comments supposed to be “observations”? Weird how people just say random stuff on the internet, with no actual knowledge of what they are talking about. Thirty to sixty seconds of Googling will bring up close to a dozen reputable sites saying we are a top NIL player, and have been since that former player head coach who didn’t believe in NIL headed off to a pig farm. I do have some inside information on that. In the interest of not ruining Seedy’s day (jk), I will keep my thoughts on that individual’s mental acuity to myself.
Now, where is all this money coming from? I have no idea. Some reports are that we have upped the ante this year and may be the #1 spender when all is said and done. Approaching or exceeding $20 mil. I guess it depends on who we end up signing. It has also been reported that Mark Pope has less moolah to work with due to his $22 mil flop. Giving, apparently, is down in slapdick land. Faith has been crushed.
What a crazy new world. I don’t care where the NIL money is coming from. I haven’t even bothered to ask someone who definitely would know. He probably gets tired of answering the question.
Like Seedy, I’m just thankful that we have it.
Hiding behind screen names, listening to too many other know nothings on the radio, actually believing the posts on fake sites like Nova Hoops Collective, stupidity ensues.