Just returned from Caravan in Lexington

[Son_Of_Saul]

Maybe Washington had a bad day. I’m sure his wrist is killing him and now after signing all day I’m sure his other wrist is sore.

Maybe his dog is sick. Maybe his Mom is nagging him about something. Maybe he’s having girlfriend issues. Who knows? We need to stop instantly judging people on short experiences. This is how people feel crapped on and bullied. I know it’s not hard to say “You’re welcome.” and “Thank You.” but if he’s feeling like crap or again having personal issues, it can be a lot harder.

As a introvert myself I have to really force myself to interact with people in a large setting. I used to work sales for while and let me tell you, I went home drained every day. It’s really hard to put yourself out there for the public and not feel exposed or vulnerable. Yes. Good for growth, but it’s exhausting. Maybe that’s his nature. Maybe he’s an introvert off the court and what he shows us on court is his job face.

Point being, we should cut him some slack. Crap happens.

Good post.

I saw pictures of some of those toothy, creepily grinning adult fans. I'd have a hard time too hearing about how their 12 year old kid is a starter for some dumb Pee-Wee league roster and how he hopes to make the UK team someday under Cal.

Then, can you imagine, all the knuckleheads who think they're being clever by reminding guys like Washington to "beat Duke in November" while Washington and his teammates are doing something normal like standing in line at the theater, ordering popcorn?

It must be exhausting. It's like being a celebrity to fans who only know how to say one of about a dozen of the same things:

"Beat Duke in November!"

"So glad you came back!"

"I've been a UK fan for 50 years!"

"My kid wants to play for UK. He's pretty good, too."

"Number 9, PJ! Go get number 9!"

"You ready for Louisville this year?"

And about five or six other lame quotes that likely encompass the overwhelming majority of these player/fan interactions.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I can't think of any reason not to smile or say hello to a little girl..not cool PJ

Is that what happened?

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

I can't think of any reason not to smile or say hello to a little girl..not cool PJ

Is that what happened?

No that’s not what happened. Nothing happened. OP didn’t get what he expected from PJ and decided to put him on blast and now posters are sensationalizing.

 

[PikeCat15]

No that’s not what happened. Nothing happened. OP didn’t get what he expected from PJ and decided to put him on blast and now posters are sensationalizing.

Lol! Some of you people live to make up stuff on here. I simply went to the caravan, wrote my observations (and the observations of others) and get put on blast for doing so. I didn’t “expect” anything from the kid. I said I was surprised he didn’t have the smallest inkling of manners. I’m not one of the one’s who asked them a million questions. I don’t think “thank you for signing this ball” is outrageous. I don’t really give a rat’s behind what you think did or did not happen because you weren’t there. @KYFOSSIL you can keep the tissues as well my friend.
Doesn’t keep me up at night if the kid is just having a bad day or he’s not pleasant all the time.

Only observation was I witnessed him being very unpleasant to several people, including my wife, AND other people’s children in the line, as someone who wasn’t there above pointed out didn’t happen.

Some of you need to be able to read something without immediately crying foul and saying “GET A TISSUE!”.

I will however standby Travis being a man child. Carry on.

 

[buckethead1978]

Maybe your wife and these children are ugly.

 

[PikeCat15]

Maybe your wife and these children are ugly.

Here we go. Winner of the thread. Thanks for the laugh this morning my friend. Have a good day.

 

[Cardsstink]

It was great to see the team up close and have interactions with the players.

Cliff notes:

Reid Travis is a grown man and is going to punish some people this year. Really nice guy as well. He seemed somewhat shellshocked at BBN, ha.

Ashton Hagans is as enjoyable of a personality I’ve seen on a UK team in some time. Constantly smiling, polite to all fans and just good attitude in general.

Quade Green looks much thinner and in good shape. He was also smiling the entire time and cutting up with fans. Tyler Herro also super nice.

EJ and Nick were sitting beside each other and I can’t imagine anyone is gonna get a shot off in the paint with those two tall trees in there.

Coach Cal personable and swaggy.

Now to the one negative. I understand these players are tired. It had been a long day of signing autographs and I’m sure some fans asked more questions than appropriate. That being said, PJ Washington is the rudest UK player I’ve ever met. Head down the entire time. Refused to interact with fans. Wouldn’t respond to questions or comments from fans, not even if they just said thank you. Never smiled, once. Was rude to the fans in front of me, to my wife and I, and to the people behind us. Several fans walking back to their cars were talking about it. It was truly shocking and disappointing. PJ is one of my favorite players, and it was just a big let down. I know fans can be exhausting, but he was the only one acting like that. He acted as if he wanted to be anywhere else.


Rant over. This team looks like they really like each other (with the exception of PJ who acted like he wanted to die). I think we are poised for a big year.

GBB

You should have bowed your chest up at him to give him some of his own medicine.

 

[jwheat]

Pics of the wife?

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

Seemed pretty loose earlier in the day with his buds...

 

[JC CATS]

Not getting that guaranteed first round pick would be my guess.

He should be moved past that by now and preparing for that $$$ next year

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

I never really understood the allure of getting someone’s autograph. It’s a name, written on a piece of paper. Don’t get it. Not intending to criticize, I know I’m in the minority....

 

[Drcats2025]

I never really understood the allure of getting someone’s autograph. It’s a name, written on a piece of paper. Don’t get it. Not intending to criticize, I know I’m in the minority....

I can see both sides of it. Not for me personally, but it was cool as a kid. After about age 15 it was no longer intriguing to me.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Creepy *** middle aged dudes. PJ should’ve punched you with his good arm.

 

[natchezrule]

I never really understood the allure of getting someone’s autograph. It’s a name, written on a piece of paper. Don’t get it. Not intending to criticize, I know I’m in the minority....

Agree

 

[PikeCat15]

First time my family and I had done it. Really enjoyed meeting the guys, and was appreciative it was close to home. Didn’t even come with anything to autograph. Just came to say thanks for coming to Kentucky. Guy behind me was nice enough to give my wife and I a basketball to be signed. As I said, 99% of guys were awesome to interact with. Amazing my observations from meeting the guys triggered people this way. I don’t think you have to be a “creepy middle aged man” or deserved to be punched for wanting to meet the team. But that’s just me. Have a good Monday fellas.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Good post.

I saw pictures of some of those toothy, creepily grinning adult fans. I'd have a hard time too hearing about how their 12 year old kid is a starter for some dumb Pee-Wee league roster and how he hopes to make the UK team someday under Cal.

Then, can you imagine, all the knuckleheads who think they're being clever by reminding guys like Washington to "beat Duke in November" while Washington and his teammates are doing something normal like standing in line at the theater, ordering popcorn?

It must be exhausting. It's like being a celebrity to fans who only know how to say one of about a dozen of the same things:

"Beat Duke in November!"

"So glad you came back!"

"I've been a UK fan for 50 years!"

"My kid wants to play for UK. He's pretty good, too."

"Number 9, PJ! Go get number 9!"

"You ready for Louisville this year?"

And about five or six other lame quotes that likely encompass the overwhelming majority of these player/fan interactions.

Great post. Our fans can be outright embarrassing as hell. If you’re there as some middle-aged rube without a kid, you’re creepy.

 

[PikeCat15]

Great post. Our fans can be outright embarrassing as hell. If you’re there as some middle-aged rube without a kid, you’re creepy.

Thank you. Your opinion means so much. I see you enjoy degrading and calling people names. Enjoy your day man, hope you let out some of that anger. My family enjoyed it. I’ll get your permission to go next time, since this was my first rodeo.

 

[jrm693]

I attended the Final Four in Dallas I was fortunate to have great seats, about a minute before tip off in walks John Wall, Patrick Patterson, and Anthony Davis, as I had my granddaughter along and had taken her to see the Championship game in New Orleans, I wanted to get her picture with AD but I decided I wasn't going to bother him, poor PPat he had the misfortune of seating in a aisle seat and he was deluged by people wanting their picture made with him, he would no more than get watching the game than someone would tap him on the shoulder he would just swing around and smile, it wasn't kids it was adults 40-60 I couldn't believe how good natured he was about it. John Wall finally pulled his hood over his head and left. I understand that these guys are adored by the fan base and fully understand kids wanting to see their heroes up close, but adults I think out of respect allow them some privacy so they can enjoy themselves a little.

 

[CatColumbia]

I never really understood the allure of getting someone’s autograph. It’s a name, written on a piece of paper. Don’t get it. Not intending to criticize, I know I’m in the minority....

I agree. I believe that a picture is worth far more. Even a handshake or conversation is better.

 

[morgousky]

Players have changed a lot. It’s just this generation. They believe they are entitled to what they have so very few respect it. For everyone bitching about their popularity and what it brings, I also assume you believe they need to skip the pros? Because it gets far worse.

These fans adore them, the kids are what it’s all about. If they can’t understand that then go play somewhere where it won’t happen. Take your attitude to Las Vegas. No one will care about you.

Nothing worse than a player who disrespects the fans and kids. They will get what’s coming to them eventually with that attitude.

 

[uk78_rivals88018]

Because I don’t want to lose faith in humanity entirely, I don’t spend much time at all on social media. So this is just a guess. We lost an NCAA tournament game in the very rare year where we got some lucky breaks and had a pretty easy path to the FF, and we lost that game - by 3 - due in no small part to one kid going 8-20 from the line. I can’t imagine what he read about himself in the days following by “fans”. If I’m right about that guess, that could change a person’s perspective pretty completely...

Not to revisit, what we can't change, but I lay some of the blame at Cal's feet as well. Your go to play is clearly not working as it was like hack a Shack. I think better coaching decisions might have helped so not to put a guy who is observably not even getting close on his foul shots to constantly be put in that position.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Thank you. Your opinion means so much. I see you enjoy degrading and calling people names. Enjoy your day man, hope you let out some of that anger. My family enjoyed it. I’ll get your permission to go next time, since this was my first rodeo.

You were with family. My post wasn’t addressing you.

I will say this. I remember seeing Tubby Smith being hounded at a Fast Food joint by a fan wanting to talk about the NCAA tournament. Typical fat idiot wearing blue head to toe who hasn’t shaved for days.

I’m thinking dude..let the guy get his food and leave.

 

[Huma1894]

It was great to see the team up close and have interactions with the players.

Cliff notes:

Reid Travis is a grown man and is going to punish some people this year. Really nice guy as well. He seemed somewhat shellshocked at BBN, ha.

Ashton Hagans is as enjoyable of a personality I’ve seen on a UK team in some time. Constantly smiling, polite to all fans and just good attitude in general.

Quade Green looks much thinner and in good shape. He was also smiling the entire time and cutting up with fans. Tyler Herro also super nice.

EJ and Nick were sitting beside each other and I can’t imagine anyone is gonna get a shot off in the paint with those two tall trees in there.

Coach Cal personable and swaggy.

Now to the one negative. I understand these players are tired. It had been a long day of signing autographs and I’m sure some fans asked more questions than appropriate. That being said, PJ Washington is the rudest UK player I’ve ever met. Head down the entire time. Refused to interact with fans. Wouldn’t respond to questions or comments from fans, not even if they just said thank you. Never smiled, once. Was rude to the fans in front of me, to my wife and I, and to the people behind us. Several fans walking back to their cars were talking about it. It was truly shocking and disappointing. PJ is one of my favorite players, and it was just a big let down. I know fans can be exhausting, but he was the only one acting like that. He acted as if he wanted to be anywhere else.


Rant over. This team looks like they really like each other (with the exception of PJ who acted like he wanted to die). I think we are poised for a big year.

GBB

As Cal often says, these young men are not machines. They are human beings who have up days and down days. Who knows what was going on. Maybe his girlfriend just broke up with him. You never know. I've had bad days as does everyone else on this plane of existence.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Players have changed a lot. It’s just this generation. They believe they are entitled to what they have so very few respect it. For everyone bitching about their popularity and what it brings, I also assume you believe they need to skip the pros? Because it gets far worse.

These fans adore them, the kids are what it’s all about. If they can’t understand that then go play somewhere where it won’t happen. Take your attitude to Las Vegas. No one will care about you.

Nothing worse than a player who disrespects the fans and kids. They will get what’s coming to them eventually with that attitude.

I think there is a middle ground here. The OP throws him under the bus based on a brief interactions that didn’t meet his expectations. No one knows what was going on with him at that moment in time.

 

[Macys Socks]

Maybe your wife and these children are ugly.

I understand you were trying to be funny but that's crossing the line.

 

[JoeBeeHall]

Hope he learns to enjoy the limelight.
The rockstar treatment will not last forever.
Hope the young man has a productive career.

 

[Cardsstink]

Great post. Our fans can be outright embarrassing as hell. If you’re there as some middle-aged rube without a kid, you’re creepy.

Sounds like you’re kidless and bitter about it.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

Tough crowd.

 

[bthaunert]

I never really understood the allure of getting someone’s autograph. It’s a name, written on a piece of paper. Don’t get it. Not intending to criticize, I know I’m in the minority....

As an adult, it's creepy imo. Taking pictures with a college kid, getting their autograph...all of it is creepy for an adult to do.

 

[PikeCat15]

I think there is a middle ground here. The OP throws him under the bus based on a brief interactions that didn’t meet his expectations. No one knows what was going on with him at that moment in time.

I’m not sure reporting exact observations from a person-to-person interaction is “throwing someone under the bus”, but I will say I probably overreacted and he could have been having a bad day. From the way he acted it must have been one helluva bad day he was having to treat the fans that way. But, I have bad days. Everyone has bad days. Never said that was the way he was all the time. I’m gonna leave this alone. You can’t get on here and make an observation without being blasted and your wife called ugly apparently, but it’s a message board.

I hope PJ kicks *** this year and we win the title. My thread was meant to show my excitement for this year’s team and not solely PJ’s behavior, so I apologize it came out differently. I’m still rooting for all those guys, including PJ, who I’m sure I caught the wrong glimpse of him on the wrong day.

Go Cats

 

[caneintally]

Agree. I’m generally easy to get along with but would be grumpy after a day of having to what these players had to do today.

Yep . The fact the kids are as nice as they are is amazing to me. That kinda stuff would get soooo old .

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Sounds like you’re kidless and bitter about it.

Quite the opposite. My swimmers have produced, and have no bitterness.

I just don’t understand some of our fans have a complete lack of self awareness.

 

[Jkwo_rivals113955]

I don't care if one or two kids on the team are not nice to fans.

I care that they win and that they follow the rules. Everything else is vying for a distant third.

However, if he was really just ignoring everybody, he might have just been tired and zoning out.

I have what women call "resting (female dog) face", and when I'm tired and in public with my wife and her friends, they often ask her afterwards why I was in a bad mood. I'm not. I like them just fine. I'm just day dreaming and apparently looking like a sociopath at the same time. Can't help it.

 

[Drcats2025]

I don't care if one or two kids on the team are not nice to fans.

I care that they win and that they follow the rules. Everything else is vying for a distant third.

However, if he was really just ignoring everybody, he might have just been tired and zoning out.

I have what women call "resting (female dog) face", and when I'm tired and in public with my wife and her friends, they often ask her afterwards why I was in a bad mood. I'm not. I like them just fine. I'm just day dreaming and apparently looking like a sociopath at the same time. Can't help it.

Lol. That’s funny and I can relate at times

 

[FiveStarCat]

Don’t want to throw PJ under the bus but my mom had similar things to say about PJ after she visited one of the satellite camps a couple weeks ago.

So clearly not just a bad day, probably just his personality. Quite frankly, if I were in his shoes, I’d do my best to put on a happy face but there would be days that all the attention and questions would wear thin and I’d probably come across as a jerk.

No need to throw the OP under the bus for an observation that I’m sure many others can verify.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

I don't care if one or two kids on the team are not nice to fans.

I care that they win and that they follow the rules. Everything else is vying for a distant third.

However, if he was really just ignoring everybody, he might have just been tired and zoning out.

I have what women call "resting (female dog) face", and when I'm tired and in public with my wife and her friends, they often ask her afterwards why I was in a bad mood. I'm not. I like them just fine. I'm just day dreaming and apparently looking like a sociopath at the same time. Can't help it.

You need to get that looked at

 

[Cardsstink]

Quite the opposite. My swimmers have produced, and have no bitterness.

I just don’t understand some of our fans have a complete lack of self awareness.

So a parent taking a child to get autographs is creepy??

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Look at it this way. Suppose PJ is tuning into KSR one day, and he hears all the callers (John Short, Chester, Chris from Richmond etc). Suppose he listens for a week and listens to 100 different whacko callers.

Now imagine those same whacko callers showing up at the train.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

So a parent taking a child to get autographs is creepy??

No..a middle-age man fawning over a teenager for autographs and photos is. Read Baunerts post above.

If you’re childless and showing up to talk to the players, it’s a little strange

 

[Bluemoon725]

During the first year of the Cal era, I was a sophomore on campus. All I heard for the first few months from several people on campus was what a rude jerk Demarcus Cousins was. I thought nothing of it and didn't put much stock into it.

Going into the summer after those guys declared, I had the privilege of getting to interact with Cousins about 2-3 times. And I gotta say, he's easily one of my favorite players that we've had here in the Cal era. Dude constantly fields pictures and autographs from fans, and always talks to the fans when they come up to him, and is smiling and cracking jokes. Guy genuinely loves the fan base and the city and the school. Whenever he comes back, always know that he's thrilled to be here.

Point is, PJ could be a perfectly good kid. Just having a tough period where he's having to nurse a nagging pinky, and he knows that it's putting him behind in his development compared to his teammates, and he may feel like he's letting his team down. You never know. None of us do. So cut the kids slack until otherwise and just let it go. It's an autograph signing, they're not splitting the atom or pushing for peace at a meeting at the UN.