The NBA in Kentucky debate resumes…

It’s not a secret that there is a huge number of Kentucky fans that travel to games that are played outside of Rupp Arena. For many of us, the closest city with an NBA team is Indianapolis. A score of Kentucky fans will travel to Indianapolis to see ex-Wildcats in the NBA.

I’m a Boston Celtics fan at heart. Outside of one day making it up to visit the Garden, there’s nothing more I would want than having to spend less money to see the Celtics play in the Commonwealth. It’s not just about seeing my favorite players play in person but it’s also about keeping Kentucky money in Kentucky.

I hate mixing sports with politics but when push comes to shove, that’s what this debate is all about.

During the last year, Kentucky’s senior senator Mitch McConnell made no secret of his involvement in holding up West Virginia’s move from the Big East to the Big 12. WDRB recently spoke with him about that. While most of their talk was related to the University of Louisville and conference realignment, the NBA was brought up.

“I’m a little biased because I personally don’t care much for the NBA,” he said. “I’m just not interested in it. So it wouldn’t have a lot of appeal to me. In terms of the economics of it, does it compete with UK or U of L? Is it value-added or value-subtracted? You’d have to ask the coaches.”

McConnell admits upfront that he’s biased and does not care much for the NBA. That’s just one man’s opinion. He certainly does not speak for the rest of the state.

I can’t speak for Coach John Calipari but I would like to think that he would not be opposed to an NBA team in the Commonwealth, especially with the rising number of former Wildcats in the NBA. Sure tickets might be expensive but as Oscar Combs suggested on Twitter this morning, an NBA team in Kentucky could also have package of games played in Rupp Arena. At some point, the University of Louisville has to wake up and realize that the KFC Yum! Center will have to be bailed out by the taxpayers unless they can bring more events to the arena. I don’t think anyone wants to see that happen.

Just as what is good for the goose is good for the gander, so is Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.