Darrell Bird

Be strong @sec 24 team CFP is a joke. Participation ribbons all around.

In adults, limiting smartphone functionality to texting and calls and blocking all social media and mobile internet for 2 weeks significantly improved attention, self-reported well-being and mental health. 90% of participants experienced a benefit.

“TikTok is the fentanyl of social media.” Jonathan Haidt didn’t mince words on the High Performance podcast. He called it the number one destroyer of attention, focus, and executive function in kids, and by extension, human potential. He sees students in his class spending six hours a day on it. Not scrolling casually, living there. Skipping homework, skipping friends, just endless algorithm-fed dopamine. The Chinese version keeps kids focused and limited. Ours? It weaponizes micro-pauses to push pro-anorexia content to teenage girls in days. No social graph, just pure brain-hijacking precision. That hit me hard. We’ve normalized something that’s quietly rewiring an entire generation’s ability to think deeply or sit with discomfort. I’ve gotten stricter at home because of stuff like this - the data is too consistent to ignore. In a world selling constant distraction as entertainment, protecting real attention might be the ultimate parenting (and self-parenting) battle left. What’s been your line with TikTok or short-form apps — full ban, strict limits, or something else?

The Cats’ Pause’s own @DarrellBird did a wonderful story on Davis’ journey as well. Well worth going back to read! 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

I won't lie, this is a BEEFY four-part story that I've been working on since Friday. Very happy to finally get this one out and had a lot of fun writing it and speaking with the team all throughout the weekend. Don't expect me to shave my head, though!

We got a second round of social media answers from Kentucky Basketball Head Coach Mark Pope today. Today's answers mostly centered around international recruiting. I broke it down for The Cats' Pause. 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

Full story: 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

Forget Stokes. Move under way to expand NCAA Tourney. Understand this is nothing about worthy teams. It’s more inventory for TV networks to sell and nothing more. Live shows at a premium in this age of streaming.

I may be proven wrong but not sad @KentuckyMBB missed on Stokes. Locker room matters.

The University of Kentucky announced today that Mitch Barnhart will retire on June 30 and his previously expected role, called by some a “golden parachute” will no longer happen. Significant news after all that has been said this week.

I understand fan angst, but it's amazing how few had ever heard of Donnie Freeman and suddenly he's a must get in the portal or season is doomed. I suspect there are a dozen Donnie Freemans out there.

When it comes to @KentuckyMBB @CoachMarkPope and the transfer portal, the internet brings us both immediacy and idiocy. 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

Kentucky football's 2026 Spring Game is in the books. Over at The Cats' Pause, we broke down what you need to know about UK's Spring exhibition including quotes from Will Stein, Kenny Minchey and Ty Bryant. 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

Three-star tight end Trae Proctor has flipped his commitment from Auburn to Kentucky. Told the subscribers at CatsPause to keep an eye on this one. VIP Story: 247sports.com/college/kentuc… — @TraeproctorTE — @247Sports . @EdwardsCBS

New @KentuckyMBB asst. coach @mowilliams is no stranger to UK, going against Chuck Hayes in 2002 from Cats' Pause photo archive.

It's been a busy day for Kentucky basketball. Three former targets (Avdalas, Evans Jr., Bizjack) have come off the board. Two have been added. And Kentucky is facing a MASSIVE week with Stokes, Freeman and Wright on campus. Stay up to date: ⬇️⬇️ #2811033" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">247sports.com/college/kentuc…

While many will be excited about the idea of what Kentucky football can do on offense under Will Stein and OC Joe Sloan, the defense, led by Jay Bateman, has also been repeatedly praised throughout the Spring. Check out my latest for The Cats Pause ⬇️⬇️ 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

Mikkel Skinner is a name we heard a lot of today, but it wasn't the first time. The second-year tight end is raising his stock significantly throughout the Spring for Kentucky football. 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

Kentucky football running back CJ Baxter was adamant that "culture wins games" when we talked to him earlier this week. Baxter said that, this year, Kentucky has the culture it needs to win. 247sports.com/college/kentuc…

A bummer but can't blame @KentuckyMBB newlywed Collin Chandler for wanting to go home. Perhaps a trade? Chandler to BYU for Rob Wright.