I was too young to remember my first UK game, but I do remember that taking the 4.5 hour trip from Pike County to Lexington as being a ritual about 3 weekends a year.

 

One of my first memories of UK basketball is after a game staying and seeing my dad and grandfather stand up and singing "My Old Kentucky Home"

 

UK basketball made the biggest impression on me in 1992, I was 13 and had watched John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus and Richie Farmer, boys from Eastern Kentucky, lead UK to within one shot of the Final Four.

 

Then in 1996 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 3 from TN., mixed with Walker, Sheppard, Pope, Turner, and McCarty win a NC.

 

In 1997 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 2 from TN., mixed with Edward, Turner, Mohammed, and Magloire lose in the title game.

 

In 1998 I watched 2 kids from Ky, 1 becoming an All-American, the other working his butt off to become a sharp-shooter, help lead UK to a NC.

 

All those teams was fun to watch, they pressed, shot the 3, and and played with a huge amount of pride. I could relate to guys, I was John Pelphrey and my brother was Richie Farmer on our court. Jamal Mashburn was the answer to every UK fans prayers, Turner was the almost perfect PG, Heshimu Evans is one of my all-time favorites, and in high school I wanted a tattoo like Ron Mercer. Later on I watched as my younger cousins were Padgett and Mills.

 

I wanted to be Jeff Sheppard, cause I would be able to ball and the ladies would love.

 

 

Now-

I don't see kids in Jr. High want to be any UK player

 

I see kids from Paintsville and Mason Co. go to Marshall and Tenn., or get ran off

 

I see my dad want to throw junk at the t.v.

 

I see uninspired play.

 

I see no pride.

 

I go to Rupp and I'm bored.

 

More importantly I can't relate to anyone on the past 5-6 teams.

Let me find my dead horse image again...

If not Tubby, then who do you blame for that? :lol:

I was too young to remember my first UK game, but I do remember that taking the 4.5 hour trip from Pike County to Lexington as being a ritual about 3 weekends a year.

 

One of my first memories of UK basketball is after a game staying and seeing my dad and grandfather stand up and singing "My Old Kentucky Home"

 

UK basketball made the biggest impression on me in 1992, I was 13 and had watched John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus and Richie Farmer, boys from Eastern Kentucky, lead UK to within one shot of the Final Four.

 

Then in 1996 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 3 from TN., mixed with Walker, Sheppard, Pope, Turner, and McCarty win a NC.

 

In 1997 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 2 from TN., mixed with Edward, Turner, Mohammed, and Magloire lose in the title game.

 

In 1998 I watched 2 kids from Ky, 1 becoming an All-American, the other working his butt off to become a sharp-shooter, help lead UK to a NC.

 

All those teams was fun to watch, they pressed, shot the 3, and and played with a huge amount of pride. I could relate to guys, I was John Pelphrey and my brother was Richie Farmer on our court. Jamal Mashburn was the answer to every UK fans prayers, Turner was the almost perfect PG, Heshimu Evans is one of my all-time favorites, and in high school I wanted a tattoo like Ron Mercer. Later on I watched as my younger cousins were Padgett and Mills.

 

I wanted to be Jeff Sheppard, cause I would be able to ball and the ladies would love.

 

 

Now-

I don't see kids in Jr. High want to be any UK player

 

I see kids from Paintsville and Mason Co. go to Marshall and Tenn., or get ran off

 

I see my dad want to throw junk at the t.v.

 

I see uninspired play.

 

I see no pride.

 

I go to Rupp and I'm bored.

 

More importantly I can't relate to anyone on the past 5-6 teams.

 

 

I agree

If not Tubby, then who do you blame for that? :lol:

 

I don't know, I think he can coach, maybe his assts?

I was too young to remember my first UK game, but I do remember that taking the 4.5 hour trip from Pike County to Lexington as being a ritual about 3 weekends a year.

 

One of my first memories of UK basketball is after a game staying and seeing my dad and grandfather stand up and singing "My Old Kentucky Home"

 

UK basketball made the biggest impression on me in 1992, I was 13 and had watched John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus and Richie Farmer, boys from Eastern Kentucky, lead UK to within one shot of the Final Four.

 

Then in 1996 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 3 from TN., mixed with Walker, Sheppard, Pope, Turner, and McCarty win a NC.

 

In 1997 I watched a roster that consisted of 4 boys from Ky., 1 From WV, and 2 from TN., mixed with Edward, Turner, Mohammed, and Magloire lose in the title game.

 

In 1998 I watched 2 kids from Ky, 1 becoming an All-American, the other working his butt off to become a sharp-shooter, help lead UK to a NC.

 

All those teams was fun to watch, they pressed, shot the 3, and and played with a huge amount of pride. I could relate to guys, I was John Pelphrey and my brother was Richie Farmer on our court. Jamal Mashburn was the answer to every UK fans prayers, Turner was the almost perfect PG, Heshimu Evans is one of my all-time favorites, and in high school I wanted a tattoo like Ron Mercer. Later on I watched as my younger cousins were Padgett and Mills.

 

I wanted to be Jeff Sheppard, cause I would be able to ball and the ladies would love.

 

 

Now-

I don't see kids in Jr. High want to be any UK player

 

I see kids from Paintsville and Mason Co. go to Marshall and Tenn., or get ran off

 

I see my dad want to throw junk at the t.v.

 

I see uninspired play.

 

I see no pride.

 

I go to Rupp and I'm bored.

 

More importantly I can't relate to anyone on the past 5-6 teams.

Hard to dispute that claim. No bashing involved, and a lot of well spoken emotion...

Hard to dispute that claim. No bashing involved, and a lot of well spoken emotion...

 

I think his last statement, "More importantly I can't relate to anyone on the past 5-6 teams," is a problem that many Kentucky people are experiencing that isn't addressed enough.

Hard to dispute that claim. No bashing involved, and a lot of well spoken emotion...

 

 

Over the past 6-7 year I have good memories of Chuck Hayes, Tayshaun, and a few others but for the most part the others are that of transfers, suspensions, and could have, would have, should have.

 

I have a son on the way, plus a 3 year old nephew and another on the way and me and my brother and father hope to give them the same memories he and my grandfather gave us, like their first UK game etc.

 

Sadly I don't see that happening because the magic just isn't there.

You opened my eyes to a whole new side of the issue JD. Thanks and well done...

You opened my eyes to a whole new side of the issue JD. Thanks and well done...

 

I have to agree, he made me realize alot of things.

I was just thinking about it- doesn't the magic generally disappear from something as you get older? You know when you're a kid, and the world is so big and you need someone to look up to, UK ball players are there. Do you think your kids don't see magic, or do you not see the magic?

I can see your point of view though, there was something warm and fuzzy about those mid-nineties Pitino years and recent teams has seemed to lack. I remember crying when Laettner hit The Shot. I don't think I could cry over any UK team anymore. But does that have to do with me being older? Or because UK has lost its luster?

Very nicely said JD.

I see uninspired play.

 

I see no pride.

 

I go to Rupp and I'm bored.

 

More importantly I can't relate to anyone on the past 5-6 teams.

 

I'll give you that this season and the one before it have been hard to watch, but the three proceding seasons they were 32-4, 27-5, and 28-6. Those stellar records were not acheived by uninspired play. Within the last 5-6 teams you speak of, Chuck Hayes had more pride than just about anybody whose ever worn a UK uniform. If you can't relate to a kid like that, than I'm sorry.

I dont know what everyone else has to say about this, but Lucasz Obrzut has more Kentucky pride then half the fanbase. If you can't see that in his play and his emotion, then you just cant see...period.

I'll give you that this season and the one before it have been hard to watch, but the three proceding seasons they were 32-4, 27-5, and 28-6. Those stellar records were not acheived by uninspired play. Within the last 5-6 teams you speak of, Chuck Hayes had more pride than just about anybody whose ever worn a UK uniform. If you can't relate to a kid like that, than I'm sorry.

 

JD

Over the past 6-7 year I have good memories of Chuck Hayes, Tayshaun, and a few others but for the most part the others are that of transfers, suspensions, and could have, would have, should have.

 

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