Sunrise/ Sunset/ Since the beginning it hasn’t changed yet/ People fly high begin to lose sight/ You can’t see very clearly when you’re in flight — “On Your Way Down” Allen Toussaint
To be honest I didn’t pay much attention initially when Pat Kelsey was first asked Monday morning about not being invited to attend the NBA Draft.
He was diplomatic, commenting how Mikel Brown Jr. only had so many invites, etc, etc.
Then he said this, and my ears perked up.
“Although he was only here for one year, that young man is going to be celebrated and remembered and revered around here for a long, long time.”
I. Don’t. Think. So.
At least that’s my sense from feedback by the Commentariat, conversations along the way, and my own conversion on the issue.
I still didn’t pay a lot of attention. For me, the NBA Draft is a curiosity, far from an obsession.
However when Louisville’s Dean of Sportswriters Eric Crawford returned to the subject later in the interview, I rethought my dismissal that it wasn’t any big deal in these environs.
I’ve thought about it a lot between then and now, just having viewed the part time U of L mercenary take the stage in his bespoke white, pink and baby blue tux, the fitting of which was videoed by his team.
To which attire he added a Brooklyn Nets hat.
Let’s set aside for a moment the underlying dialog about the true extent of MB’s injury, considering how bad the kid’s back really was that “caused” him to sit out over a third of the Cardinals’ games, including the post season.
What I know is Pat Kelsey had Brown’s back during the step aways. Season long. As late at his presser.
“He’s got an ‘it’ about him. … I’m well aware of how special of a player I coached. I’m more proud of how special of a human being Mikel is.”
Unlike Bill Self who publicly wondered aloud how much his eventual No. 2 pick was truly injured last campaign, PK has never never had a discouraging word for Brown.
The very least Brown and his team — Read: Helicopter Father — could have done was bring Pat Kelsey along Tuesday night. To show some respect. Gratitude for PK’s indulgence.
They did not.
For shame.
I’m firmly of the opinion it was a disgrace.
It’s high time that you found/ The same people you misuse on your way up/ You might meet up/ On your way down — AT
* * * * *
During the season, I was an apologist for Brown.
I was close by in the gym when his back when out during a game. Memphis State, right?
Having had a troublesome back through the decades, I observed the signs in the PG’s hobble during his down time.
A fellow Cardinal hoopaholic advised Brown told him, he’d had back issues previously.
Thus I was inclined to accept he simply wasn’t sandbagging after his breakout national TV performance against UK.
Of course, I was dazzled by his game in early February against a North Carolina State gang mailing it in, “coached” by Will Wade who was already packing to move to Baton Rouge.
I was still dismayed that he matched the individual game point record of four year icon Wes Unseld in ’67. Just didn’t feel right, worthy.*
*I’ve had a former Cardinal, member of the family, share that he’d heard Brown’s dad was upset because Kelsey pulled him before he could break the record. ????
In retrospect I now find it suspect that Brown shut it down once and for all as a Cardinal after hitting but 2/10 in a late February L at Clemson, following by five days his atrocious shooting night in a loss to the Tar Heels on February 23.
How conveeeeeniant!!!
Then came his remarkable full recovery when NBA tryout season and combine dawned.
The same no lumbar issues that didn’t seem to plague him in AAU and for the USA squad before he came here.
* * * * *
So, I’d offer he dropped by for a cup of coffee. Shared a couple of almond croissants with us against UK and a jayvee Wolfpack contingent.
Then moved on. Without giving a legit thank you to his coach.
Sayonara, dude.
* * * * *
I read a piece this morning about Steve Spurrier. In it, he lamented like many the current state of roster movement in college sports, how different it was in his heyday of the 90s.
How his recruiting pitch was, “You’ve got a home to come back to.”
Jordan Nwora comes back for visits.
Donovan Mitchell comes back for visits.
Chucky Hepburn, though a senior one and done is properly revered, and comes back for visits.
Mikel Brown Jr.?
If the over/ under on how many times he comes back was 1, I’d bet the under.
This was never home; to Mikel Brown Jr..
This was nothing but a way station.
— c d kaplan
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