It might be about time for Cal to start trying to accomplish his goal of eradicating generational poverty on his own time.
Screw changing generational poverty...
- Thread starter ukfan041
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seccats, you are 100% correct. I would have given my left one to have played for UK. I just wasn't tall enough or good enough. Rupp always said, "I go to Eastern, Ky. to get my guards." If you have ever lived or visited Eastern, Ky., you realize we don't have a lot of level land. If it was level, it was used for farming when I grew up. We put a basketball goal up where ever we could. I spent 6 hours a day in the summer shooting hoops. If I wasn't working in the garden or the tobacco, I was hunting, fishing or playing basketball. Mom would always call us in for what was called then, SUPPER, now dinner. DINNER then was lunch. My Grandkids can't believe at 81, I can shoot hoops better then them. They say, "Papaw, how did you learn to shoot so good." I explain to them, that we didn't have computers, but we had a basketball, and we played ALL day. Those were GREAT days to be a young boy. The boys today are missing out on some GREAT times of being a kid.
It doesn't matter how you cut it, basketball is still about putting the ball in the basketball, as Cal should be seeing. Kentucky players will give you everything they have. They leave it ALL on the court. You don't want to explain to your friends and parents why you didn't give 100%.
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
I grew up as one, but I didn't know it. We were all poor when I grew up. We had plenty to eat, and one pair of Sunday shoes, and we could pick black berries barefooted. We had a big garden, raised tobacco, killed two hogs every year, and my Dad and I hunted rabbits and squirrels. Yes, we ate them, and I still like them today. No one ever told us we were poor, because we had the same as everyone else. No computers, but a basketball and a goal. That was good enough. I was HAPPY! My Grandchildren ask, "Papaw, how did you get to where your at today?" I tell them, "The military, Hard Work, and a lot of Luck. The harder I worked, the Luckier I got." If you are willing to work, America is a great place to live. You can live a good life. I PRAY it never changes.
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
I had ancestors who fought for the Union. Possibly had some fighting on the other side, too. I’m not sure.
I also had ancestors who were slaves, though you probably couldn’t tell it just by looking at me. Makes this whole thing kind of confusing.
Was much simpler just to judge a man by the content of his character (to the point that could be ascertained), and to treat everyone else the way I wanted to be treated.
Actually, I think I’ll stick with that philosophy, and leave the politicians to their own devices.
You made me cry with your post...in a good way. Your post could have been written by my daddy. He was poor but didn't know it. They had plenty of food and lots of LOVE. And a basketball. Good times, he used to say. Daddy so worked hard to get out of poverty and he made it. Taught me about hard work. Thank you.
It was about fake virtue signaling in cohesion with a literally violent Marxist organization.
Susan, crying is NEVER a weakness. It just means your tender-hearted, and care about people and our way of life. When my Old Kentucky Home, or The National Anthem is played,. this old guy gets all teary eyed. I can read about something sad, and do the same thing, or see something about "Our Greatest Generation," the WW2 men and women. They paid the price for how were living today. There was not much wealth by many people when I, or your Daddy grew up. I can remember when sugar and a lot of things were rationed after WW2. Times were tough, but they made our fore-fathers tough. The 18 and 19 year old don't realize the price so many Americans paid for them to live like they do.
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
Go to College of the Ozarks or Berea work and graduate debt free. Big Universities are so overrated. Cambellsvile another one.
Given the rampant amount of generational poverty in Kentucky, odd thread. Think everyone can agree generational poverty is a problem. Kind of weird to oppose that.
not really. while I applaud your success. not everyone has equal opportunities. life has a way of determining the paths we can travel!
He could change generational poverty for all the players by valuing an education and keeping players around for a few years.
My solution to generational poverty is to have fewer children so there aren't so many mouths to feed.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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It's probably in your drawer labeled "Cultural Appropriation".
You don’t have to be drafted in the NBA to change generational poverty. Is that a quick way to do it, sure it is. But what about getting a college degree in a field that’s in demand? Will it take longer, yes of course. But which method will affect the most players?
Of course family wealth and having parents involved in your life certainly gives one a better start at success in life than those who grow up in poverty with parents who aren't involved in their lives. That being said, those conditions don't prevent someone from being successful. If college is is ones goal, there is no reason a person can't work and go to community college and eventually get a degree. If a person has the determination, he/she can be successful in this country. If college isn't the goal, there are lots of opportunity in trade school, etc., where a hard working kid can make a good living. It all comes down to desire and effort.
Let’s say that is the solution. That personal responsibility is the solution. I think it’s debatable if it merely is personal responsibility, but regardless, if you do believe that... it doesn’t mean “screw generational poverty.” It means you should promote your solution to generational poverty. It’s a problem that impacts everyone and you’re not necessarily wrong.
I wasn't proposing that as a solution. I'm simply saying in a free society, people have options for succeeding if they have the desire to do it. I guess I don't think there is a solution to generational poverty. I don't think society can correct for parents that don't set good examples for their kids or parents that aren't involved at all in their kid's life. Unfortunately, growing up like that creates a person who is far more likely to continue the cycle than to break it. I do think government has made the problem worse with social programs that make it easier to have kids out of wedlock. Perhaps making it harder to do that would produce some improvement over several generations. Ultimately, you and I can't raise their kids, so in a very large way it just isn't correctable.
Good post. So did I. Worked my way through college then went back to the family farm and have been there ever since. If anyone knows anything about farming, they would know I’m definitely not rich, money wise. But my wife and I love being outdoors away from everyone to hunt , fish, or just walk through the woods. More than once while out, one of us has turned to the other and said “where are the poor people at?” Don’t have to have money to be rich. And that’s how I raised my kids to think. If you are truly happy, you’re rich.
The ones going into the NBA would have gotten there anyway, how about helping the kids that don't already have their NBA ticket already punched?
Personal responsibility is the solution. If one really wants to get out of poverty bad enough they will do it but, some roads are easier than others though. Meaning some people just have it easier because of luck, family ties, natural talent, and looks (Yes looks). In the point about family, many times it was the ones before them that pull themselves out of poverty and passed it on. Most of the time hard work and perseverance pays off.
I think eliminating poverty is unrealistic and I also think if it’s left unfettered societally you will inevitably have to deal with it. There is a common thread among the Trump riot and riots over summer. It’s largely lower middle class or lower middle class people who’ve been marginalized and left behind in modern economy.
Furthermore, an economy with more earners means more resources for the whole.
It’s why poverty in Eastern Kentucky is a relevant issue in Louisville and why poverty in inner city Louisville is relevant to eastern Kentucky. It’s in everyone’s interest to have other people do well. Not the inverse.
So, then you’re not against addressing generational poverty, correct? You believe you have a solution. And that’s what should be communicated. My point is, it’s not an all or nothing situation. You having that belief should not be in spite of those who need help, but the portrayal in today’s world is that you must oppose because it’s suggested you are ideologically opposed.
And there’s the olive branch that’a rarely extended.
I’m white. I don’t remember white privilege getting me much. I remember working 50 hours a week my senior year of high school and four and half years of college. I remember the student loans I’m still paying off. I remember living in a trailer park growing up, praying I wasn’t in the wrong spot at the wrong time after dark. I remember my parents working three jobs every year in November and December to put some presents under the tree. And I remember my dad crying real tears first time he walked into Rupp using the guest ticket I got him my freshman year at UK in 1993. Good times.
If Biden ushers in reparations, Cal may not feel the need for his players to move to the NBA to accumulate generational wealth
Who knew so much of BBN grew up dirt poor in trailer parks and worked 200 hours a week to make something of themselves.
Backer, you are so right. I live in Louisville, because I computed to different cities to fly with Northwest Airlines when I was a pilot for them. I live in a subdivision in Prospect, but I have a farm in Shelby County with a house on it, and good turkey, deer, and squirrel hunting. I'm there ever day when I'm on Kentucky, but I'm at my home in Bonita Springs, Florida now. I love the farm, and I still get back to the farm I grew up on in Wolfe County. My parents are gone, but I still have the farm. Like they say, "You can take the boy out of the hills (country), but you can't take the hills (country) out of the boy." At 81, that is so true with me, and I'm proud of it. I still love to frog gig, hunt squirrel and rabbits, fish a farm pond, and look up in the sky at the stars, and know, God created all of this for us to enjoy.
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
Never gets old does it? Once it’s in your blood, it’s there to stay, Visited Wolfe County for the first time back in October. Beautiful country. But where in the hell could you put a tobacco patch lol?
Backer, that's what I was pointing out in Eastern, Kentucky. Everyone raise a garden, or a small patch of tobacco on the level land. We put a basketball goal up, anyplace we could. If you missed the backboard, you had to go about 100 yards over the hill to get the ball. Kids from the hills knew how to shoot a basketball and a rifle. I started hunting squirrels by myself at 6 years old, with a .22 rifle. I loved growing up, and still love the life I had, and have today.
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
It’s the same here, except not as rugged. I’m in hill country but we do have river and creek bottom land. A good mix of both I guess. But yeah, sounds like we both grew up in the same manner, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Love my upbringing, and feel lucky to have had it.
nope, they have the privilege card at birth that prevents hardship of any kind.
Yeah all those “hard times” my family went through trying to keep our head above water were just mirages. Looking back, it’s clear we were just drunk on silt and clay. We were high and didn’t know it lol.
Mother just died on January 3rd, and I was in Jacksonville at the Gator Bowl. Long trip home but I thought alot about growing up in Monroe County and how the people of Kentucky gave me a free education. Then I read about people who grew up just like I did and it makes me proud to be from this Commonwealth. Now lets go win a basketball game.
Condolences for your mom. Still have both my parents but I know it’s getting close to my time. And we’re close neighbors, as I’m typing on my phone from Cumberland County. Like you, I’m proud of where I’m from.
I asked the IRS where my card was and they didn’t know what I was talking about. Still made me pay taxes too.