Fire Billy?

Hello, Internet! Here is a picture of new UK 2008 Recruit Josh Harrellson, provided by the sensuous Matt Jones:

Josh Harrellson is STRONG like UKRAINE!

I’m sure some Wildcat Fans are clinching their assholes as we speak. We’ll have the usual overcritical analysis towards Harrellson for taking the picture and towards Jones for posting the picture. And we’ll have the typical “gaaaay” reaction from Wildcat fans and rivals.

The latter remark — that throwaway semi-offensive exclamation that my young generation throws around without remorse — makes me giggle. After all, a majority of Wildcat fans are currently extremely focused on the decisions and fitness of young men aged 15 through 20. We encourage and pay older men who specialize in watching these young athletes run, and evaluate their physicality. We celebrate the young man’s commitment to our cause, and look forward to seeing the young man in our clothing.

Oh, right! We’re not interested in these young men sexually. Whew! I was a little worried there.

Anyhoo, Josh’s picture is one of many that have gotten sucked off his Facebook or MySpace account. (Honestly, I’m not sure which.) I’m not entirely for sure if Josh cares that Matt Jones is posting these goofy photos. Earlier today, Matt wrote a diatribe about how he’s not looking to dive too deeply into the lives of potential and committed recruits:

While I understand the desire to have these interviews, after speaking with some families of players who actually came to Kentucky, I think the recruiting gurus (myself included in the past) go a bit overboard with them. While the families seem not to mind some interviews, the UK internet media takes it too far and every family I spoke with this season said it became a hassle quickly. Because of that, I have decided not to contribute to that mess of interviews any more than I have to for the radio show and this site. I think that is best for those families involved and while it may lead to a bit less news from this particular site, if all followed suit, it also leads to a lot less hassle for the players and their parents.

Note: Bold text above originally in Matt’s article.

So if Josh is okay for these pictures to be out and about, then I feel okay sharing in the joy that the picture displays. A young man — who’s led a blessed life as an athlete good enough to advance his way into a major basketball program — that is also a young man who’s blessed to have friends. He’s making a goofy photo that most young adults his age put up on the Internet or within a social networking site like Facebook. Just because now that he’s a Wildcat makes the photo any more or less shameful, stupid, or gay.

(For the record: Photo of you smiling goofy with your buddy is just fine, if you’re fine with the Internet never forgetting. Photos of you jumping off a frat house balcony into a pool? A little less fine. Not a wise way to show your team’s fanbase that, even though you are so HARD-WORKING and DEDICATED to basketball, you blow off steam like some other risk-taking young adults your age.)

However I’m sure Wildcat fans would prefer pictures — and video, now that we’ve broadband-ed up in the Bluegrass State and beyond — of Josh not at play, but at work. Springing up towards the basket in lay-up drills. Diving at loose balls. Draining each and every jumper.

Oh yeah, that’s the stuff.

(Time for a “Fake Gimel Gets Real” Moment. If you can’t tell that I’m working common homosexual prejudices for humor’s sake, and humor’s sake alone, then you may want to find another blog to read. All due respect is given to Wildcat fans of all sexual orientations, Josh & Matt.)