Alex Wilkins is a HUGE commitment for Kentucky and was the player I wanted the 2nd most in all of the portal
I think he is going to be great for the Cats.
It’s also a definitive win for Mark Pope who beat out a lot of schools for him
There's a lot of talk about the toxicity in the Kentucky fanbase today. FWIW, I think that exists everywhere, but BBN has a big online presence, so it's just louder, especially when UK is losing.
My one contribution to the discussion: I think the pandemic had a huge impact on mental health. People have a harder time separating social media from reality now. I think that's especially true for players, who were at a formative age when the shutdown happened. Seeing what is said on an app by an anonymous fan can overshadow real-life interactions. That's the sad state of life right now. Don't get me started on how negativity is being actively promoted by some algorithms.
tl;dr -- Winning helps everything. And don't be a butt online.
Can you imagine if John Calipari hadn't bailed him out by leaving for Arkansas, Mitch Barnhart would be saddled with not one but two of the worst contracts in college sports?
@shawn_boy5@RussellMac5 The numbers are out there. Compare the Medicaid rate in Eadtern Ky with the unemployment rate and you will have your answer
And then throw in older folks on Medicare and you get the number the government reimburses to hospitals
This isnt an opinion, it’s a fact. If the Budget that the House passed last night is approved in the Senate, it will cripple rural hospitals and many of them will close
I hope it gets changed in the Senate bc the first hospitals that will get crushed are in Eastern Kentucky
@shawn_boy5@RussellMac5 I think there are a lot. Obamacare is an extension of Medicaid and the amount of working people (who are often in service industry jobs) on them is quite high
Ask anyone who runs a rural hospital
@RussellMac5 Most of those who work in Eastern Ky are also on Medicaid. They will still be on it after the work requirement. It will cripple the hospitals and unfortunately, very quickly