Richie Farmer is a Legend, and a Criminal, but his Jersey should Remain in Rupp Arena’s Rafters

It was announced today that former Kentucky Wildcats star and Unforgettable, Richie Farmer, accepted a plea agreement that would allow him to serve between 21-27 months in federal prison on charges that he “misused state resources during his tenure as Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner.”  Earlier today, WKYT News posted a poll on FB asking whether his jersey should be removed from the rafters of vaunted Rupp Arena.  It pains me to say this but that’s a fair question.

It’s also an absurd question.

Of course they should NOT remove his banner from Rupp Arena.

Listen, I know what he did was illegal but to quote a friend of mine, “I don’t know if he was arrogant or just stupid.”

Honestly, I don’t know either.  A little of both I imagine.  Which begs the question, why.  Why would a former Kentucky Wildcats legend who could likely have succeeded in any venture, though he only averaged 7.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG and 1.6 APG, stoop to this?

Again, I don’t know but I do know that you have to have been a special player to have your jersey retired at Rupp Arena.

Consider that John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilshrist, Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight, etc will not have a jersey retired until they graduate from UK, even though their tenure on campus was legendary by any standard.

Richie Farmer is in very rarified air for what he meant to the program during his playing days, though his stats don’t reflect it like the aforementioned players.  No, he wasn’t the National POY, an All American or a National Champion.  But he was a home grown star who led his 1992 squad to the Final Four where they were bested by Duke.

What he did as the Agriculture Commissioner is a mute point.  It’s completely unrelated to his behavbior and contribution to the Kentucky Wildcats and, therefore should have no bearing on his jersey remaining retired at Rupp.

The question is legit but calling for his jersey removal is absurd.

Name me one perfect former Kentucky Wildcats who’s jersey is hanging up there.  One.

What say you, Big Blue Nation?  Remove the jersey or let is stay?