D-League

[Sawnee Cat]

Good Morning D

67° at the present and it will be 80° around noon with a 15% chance of rain.

I am going to fine tune my irrigation system this morning. 40 sprinkler heads and 12 zones. A couple of sprinkler heads will be replaced but the zones are working without incident so that will probably just be a visual inspection.

This time last year I was going through the horror of replacing my well and the months it took to get it done. There were so many new residential homes going up that well diggers couldn't keep up with the work.

I too am a simple man when it comes to eating. I am lucky to have fresh, never frozen seafood. available year round which is my favorite food. Well it is probably tied with beef and pork. Hard to pick a favorite food.

If I want fancy food I can get everything I want down in Tampa or Pinellas County. It is a bit of a drive but worth it due to the quality of the restaurants. My favorite being Columbia in Ybor City. It has been there since 1905. Time tested to say the least.

I trust all are well and in good spirits.

 

[berniecarbo]

Good morning folks. Hope all is well.

Getting colder in the east. And gray.

So the basketball season starts in earnest tonight. I hope this is the beginning of one we remember, like 66, 75, 78, 92, 96, 98, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, a few others. We Kentucky fans have been blessed with good memories.

Concentrating on work today in hopes of getting out early Friday for a quick trip to the Bluegrass state. I’ll check in with you all later.

Some of us older guys remember a little further back. My cousin and I used to pretend we were Johnny Cox and Vernon Hatton in our driveway games. I recall the older folks discussing the merits of Groza and Beard.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Some of us older guys remember a little further back. My cousin and I used to pretend we were Johnny Cox and Vernon Hatton in our driveway games. I recall the older folks discussing the merits of Groza and Beard.

Yeah, that’s a great thing about being a Kentucky fan, Bernie. While Rupp’s Runts were the first team I remember from TV games and Cawood broadcasts, I recall my uncles and father sitting around talking about Beard and Cox and Hatton’s shot, and Cotton Nash and Cliff Hagan and on and on. When I stepped into Kentucky fandom it was like entering a river already wide and deep.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Some of us older guys remember a little further back. My cousin and I used to pretend we were Johnny Cox and Vernon Hatton in our driveway games. I recall the older folks discussing the merits of Groza and Beard.

My first UK hero was Ralph Beard. He was a champion and would have been an immortal had he been allowed to play in the NBA. Bob Cousy became the premier point guard during that era and Beard was better and proved it.

I doubt many UK fans today have heard of this man and know just how dominant he was in college basketball. UK does a horrible job of remembering and promoting their history.

 

[storm1507]

I would love to know just how good Beard was? I've read a lot about him (love the history of UK BB) but would like to know how he compares to the more recent guards. Recent = 70's and beyond for me. I can remember back to mid 70's.
I cringe when I see lists of "All Time Greats" and they only go back to a certain decade. Some of those lists I see now don't even go back to the years beginning with a 1. lol

 

[berniecarbo]

Yeah, that’s a great thing about being a Kentucky fan, Bernie. While Rupp’s Runts were the first team I remember from TV games and Cawood broadcasts, I recall my uncles and father sitting around talking about Beard and Cox and Hatton’s shot, and Cotton Nash and Cliff Hagan and and and on. When I stepped into Kentucky fandom it was like entering a river already wide and deep.

Leroy Edwards - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A bit before my time.

 

[Girthang]

I would have thought this game was as a close to a sure thing as possible.

You and the team both. I warned people on the football board that this was no where close to a gimme. No one listened. We played like we thought it was a gimme, JUST LIKE we did when we played NIU. Vandy is better than anyone ever gives them credit for

 

[UK82]

My first UK hero was Ralph Beard. He was a champion and would have been an immortal had he been allowed to play in the NBA. Bob Cousy became the premier point guard during that era and Beard was better and proved it.

I doubt many UK fans today have heard of this man and know just how dominant he was in college basketball. UK does a horrible job of remembering and promoting their history.

I've had the good fortune to play golf with Ralph Beard a few times. That's back when I played golf. Haven't played a round in 20 years. Great guy. Very humble and couldn't have been nicer.

 

[Girthang]

If Levis is an NFL starter I know nothing about football. I’ll admit I don’t know much, but no one can convince me he’s got the vision, judgment and accuracy to play on Sunday.

I try not to comment on it, because I don't want to be negative especially during the season, but he needs another year and better coaching.

 

[Girthang]

I hope he didn’t score too soon. Cats D has been putrid.

D was tired. Way too long on the field and the ground and pound they faced wears you down faster than defending the pass, from my experience

 

[MdWIldcat55]

My first UK hero was Ralph Beard. He was a champion and would have been an immortal had he been allowed to play in the NBA. Bob Cousy became the premier point guard during that era and Beard was better and proved it.

I doubt many UK fans today have heard of this man and know just how dominant he was in college basketball. UK does a horrible job of remembering and promoting their history.

I remember a story about Bobby Knight bringing Ralph Beard in to talk with one of his Indiana basketball teams of the 1980s. He introduced Ralph Beard to his team as "The Michael Jordan of his time."

That story is in this appreciation of Beard by SI when he died.

The story of Ralph Beard

One thing you have to know about Ralph Beard is that he was cheap -- and proud of it. He said he never got over what it was like to grow up poor in the Great

www.si.com

 

[Girthang]

When I visited it was a very somber place and there were many WWII Vets there. I went about 25 years ago.

Hawaii was a big spot for Japanese tourists then and as we moved in the line there was a very large group of Japanese tourist. They were laughing and very loud and not respectful of the scene below. I saw a few old vets looking in their direction and expected WWII to start all over again with the look on their face at the Japanese laughing tourist. They were livid and their faces turned beet red with rage.

It was touching and I could not hold back a tear as I went by and looked down at the Arizona. Maybe people of my age born during WWII have a different perspective on these things. We were raised in families that had fought in the South Pacific and carried the scars that lasted forever. I had four uncles in the Navy during WWII, all dead now. All were in very fierce battles at sea. They went in just carefree boys but came out hardened and tough as steel.

I am grateful and thank God for the military history in my family that goes back before the founding of our nation. When they died I promised to never forget. Never forget.

I'd have gone OFF on ANYONE over the age of 7 being disrespectful in such a manner. Wth... I grew up wishing I had been a gunner on the deck of one of the ships in the harbor Dec 7 1941. Made me so angry what the Japanese did that day back then, and that hasn't changed. Now that I know our gov knew it was coming and let it happen to get into the war, I am also angry for other reasons with no one left to direct it towards.

"East wind, rain"

God will punish those that left our men to die that day with no warning. I will be going to see the Arizona in person when I visit Hawaii to see my nephew stationed there and my grand niece. Will likely go alone once by myself to get the grief out of my system as best I can before I take my family there.

 

[UK_fan_41102]

Good morning D-League. It's currently 34° and rainy here in Eastern Kentucky. This afternoon will bring more rain and a high of 43°.

Have a great day.

 

[Girthang]

This guy pulls out in front of me on my way home today, which led to me braking hard and hitting my horn. Well the guy starts throwing up his arms when he gets beside me, so I roll the window down and he wants to know why I blew the horn. I said you cut me off back there, and his comeback was "who wants to wait 15 minutes to pull out". I use to love driving, but anymore I despise it because of people like this.

I have seen more jerks running stop signs and red lights the past few weeks than ever. The ones that jump in front of you to lake you slam on your brakes when there is no one behind you, also. When you combine that with the texting vidiots, it's making me want to buy an old V8 full size truck and just not slow down. I have to ask God's forgiveness for my thoughts and words so often these days, when I'm just driving to the store

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

I am simple when it comes to food (and many other things). Beans, potatoes, meat, eggs, and a few other things is all I need. I rarely eat lobster or crab when I go to Red Lobster (once a year, anniversary) I generally get the admiral's feast and take some of it home for later. My daughter gets the lobster or crab. My favorite fast food is KFC, but they too are getting expensive.

I worked in Sales & Marketing at the railroad and we entertained folks in the best restaurants in North America and money was not the question. I never ordered lobster. If lobster was the only meat left I would eat it but there are so many better foods to my taste at a fraction of the cost. Crab cakes are good but I use them as an appetizer, not the main meal.

I am like you warrior cat; I love the basic foods. It is hard to beat beans and taters along with pork ribs, ham, good beef steak, prime rib, a good roast. I like TexMex, Italian et.al. but the exotic/expensive stuff they can keep and I will keep my money.

The best fried chicken, according to my taste, is still KFC original. Geeze is it good.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Rainy and 42.1°F (0.10" so far) on our way to a whopping hot 45°. We can sure use some good moisture. It is a good day to get ready for UK's first big game of the year.

I met Ralph Beard at the railroad back in the early 1970's. He had a hard time getting his business done as all of us were wanting to talk basketball. He tolerated the attention well.

 

[warrior-cat]

I worked in Sales & Marketing at the railroad and we entertained folks in the best restaurants in North America and money was not the question. I never ordered lobster. If lobster was the only meat left I would eat it but there are so many better foods to my taste at a fraction of the cost. Crab cakes are good but I use them as an appetizer, not the main meal.

I am like you warrior cat; I love the basic foods. It is hard to beat beans and taters along with pork ribs, ham, good beef steak, prime rib, a good roast. I like TexMex, Italian et.al. but the exotic/expensive stuff they can keep and I will keep my money.

The best fried chicken, according to my taste, is still KFC original. Geeze is it good.

Add a simple but good tasting cornbread or biscuits with those meals and we are Gouda.

 

[storm1507]

I just watched a highlight film of the 48 championship game and I think Groza and Beard could easily star today.
I appreciate all the old basketball, war, history posts here. My wife and I are "old souls" and most of our friends have always been a generation older than us. 58, am I the youngest that is in this thread right now?

Keep those stories coming.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

I just watched a highlight film of the 48 championship game and I think Groza and Beard could easily star today.
I appreciate all the old basketball, war, history posts here. My wife and I are "old souls" and most of our friends have always been a generation older than us. 58, am I the youngest that is in this thread right now?

Keep those stories coming.

I am 76. My son is 55.

 

[storm1507]

I am 76. My son is 55.

My Dad is 81 and still doing good. He's one of the reasons I retired. We have enjoyed plenty of fishing trips. But he has been slowing down this last year.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Looks like the Big O will get some minutes tonight. I wouldn't expect much from an ordinary player coming off a surgical tweak and without game conditioning -- but Big O ain't no typical hombre.

I'm a bit nervous about tonight. People are selling this Michigan State team short all over Rafters. But they had Gonzaga beat, leading by double-digits before losing by one point.

I'd love to see Kentucky live up to all the promise right off the bat and really get us juiced for the season.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

I remember a story about Bobby Knight bringing Ralph Beard in to talk with one of his Indiana basketball teams of the 1980s. He introduced Ralph Beard to his team as "The Michael Jordan of his time."

That story is in this appreciation of Beard by SI when he died.

The story of Ralph Beard

One thing you have to know about Ralph Beard is that he was cheap -- and proud of it. He said he never got over what it was like to grow up poor in the Great

www.si.com

Thanks for linking this great article. Ralph Beard every bit as good as Rupp said he was and how could you be better than to be called "The Greatest Player I Ever Coached" by Adolph Rupp.

I love this quote by Uncle Adolph. Lord knows he was the man and would never sugar coat anything. You want to leave, there is the door.

Initially, he didn't know how to handle Rupp's sarcasm. He became so upset, in fact, that at some point in his freshman year, he went to Rupp and told him he was thinking about transferring to Louisville.

"Well, by Gawd, if you want to play at the Normal school, that's fine with me," Rupp said. "But I can tell you this -- the university will not cancel its basketball schedule because you are gone."

Yes before they were Little Brother they were The Normal School.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

I just watched a highlight film of the 48 championship game and I think Groza and Beard could easily star today.
I appreciate all the old basketball, war, history posts here. My wife and I are "old souls" and most of our friends have always been a generation older than us. 58, am I the youngest that is in this thread right now?

Keep those stories coming.

You joined the right place when you came to the D League for stories. We are seasoned fans who go back 50 or 60 years. My father and grandfather became UK fans in the early years of UK. Grandpa in the early 1900's and dad in the 1920's. I was born into that heritage.

The players we idolized and rooted for can be found in the record books but most young fans today have no idea who they were or even care. I can understand that as it is a generational thing.

I was listening to Matt Jones one day and he was absolutely clueless of UK basketball before Rick Pitino. When he showed his UK basketball ignorance, I turned him off forever.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Initially, he didn't know how to handle Rupp's sarcasm. He became so upset, in fact, that at some point in his freshman year, he went to Rupp and told him he was thinking about transferring to Louisville.

"Well, by Gawd, if you want to play at the Normal school, that's fine with me," Rupp said. "But I can tell you this -- the university will not cancel its basketball schedule because you are gone."

Yes before they were Little Brother they were The Normal School.

Great story Sawnee.

The idea of Beard transferring out of Kentucky caused a dip in my stomach like heading over the big hump of the Roller Coaster: Imagine the history of Kentucky basketball if Ralph Beard hadn't been there to lead the Cats to the first two titles: Does Rupp ever reach the pinnacle of the profession? Does Kentucky become the GOAT among all the Elite Programs in college basketball, or are the Cats scuffling around to this day making a case to be in the conversation of "First Tier Programs" like Indiana or Kansas

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Great story Sawnee.

The idea of Beard transferring out of Kentucky caused a dip in my stomach like heading over the big hump of the Roller Coaster: Imagine the history of Kentucky basketball if Ralph Beard hadn't been there to lead the Cats to the first two titles: Does Rupp ever reach the pinnacle of the profession? Does Kentucky become the GOAT among all the Elite Programs in college basketball, or are the Cats scuffling around to this day making a case to be in the conversation of "First Tier Programs" like Indiana or Kansas

He was that good. He should have a statute if we are erecting statutes

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

My Dad is 81 and still doing good. He's one of the reasons I retired. We have enjoyed plenty of fishing trips. But he has been slowing down this last year.

They always say that the time you spend fishing does not count on your time on this earth! Tell you dad to fish more.

 

[vhcat70]

Good morning D-League. It's currently 34° and rainy here in Eastern Kentucky. This afternoon will bring more rain and a high of 43°.

Have a great day.

Which side is Canada?

 

[storm1507]

You joined the right place when you came to the D League for stories. We are seasoned fans who go back 50 or 60 years. My father and grandfather became UK fans in the early years of UK. Grandpa in the early 1900's and dad in the 1920's. I was born into that heritage.

The players we idolized and rooted for can be found in the record books but most young fans today have no idea who they were or even care. I can understand that as it is a generational thing.

I was listening to Matt Jones one day and he was absolutely clueless of UK basketball before Rick Pitino. When he showed his UK basketball ignorance, I turned him off forever.

I go back almost 50 years, but at that time I was more about the Reds, Celtics, and Steelers. UK didn't have cards for their players. Dang, I sure wish I kept all of mine. I can remember trading something for someone's old baseball cards and had a ton from the 60's and a few from the 50's.
Edit; Just realized one of my buddies probably got their rear beat for trading off their Dad's cards.

 

[berniecarbo]

If you guys already know this, forgive me for posting it. The coach before Rupp was the most successful UK coach to that point. John Mauer coached a methodical slow brand of ball he called submarine ball. When UK refused him a raise, he went to Tenn. Rupp was a high school coach in Illinois. To get the Illinois job he had to also coach wrestling. He had never been involved with wrestling, but he bought a book and won a state championship. He also coached black players there.

He got the UK job by promoting the use of a new-fangled thing called a fast break. He told the hiring committee he was the best dam coach in the country. He had talked with some of the players about the new style and they approved.

Later Rupp became good friends with Red Auerbach and Red Holzman (two of the best early pro coaches) and discussed basketball strategy frequently with both. Getting his players in front of pro eyes is the reason he was one of the first to start playing a national schedule when others were playing regionally.

Most of this from The Rupp Years by Tev Laudeman.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

If you guys already know this, forgive me for posting it. The coach before Rupp was the most successful UK coach to that point. John Mauer coached a methodical slow brand of ball he called submarine ball. When UK refused him a raise, he went to Tenn. Rupp was a high school coach in Illinois. To get the Illinois job he had to also coach wrestling. He had never been involved with wrestling, but he bought a book and won a state championship. He also coached black players there.

He got the UK job by promoting the use of a new-fangled thing called a fast break. He told the hiring committee he was the best dam coach in the country. He had talked with some of the players about the new style and they approved.

Later Rupp became good friends with Red Auerbach and Red Holzman (two of the best early pro coaches) and discussed basketball strategy frequently with both. Getting his players in front of pro eyes is the reason he was one of the first to start playing a national schedule when others were playing regionally.

Most of this from The Rupp Years by Tev Laudeman.

I knew the granddaughter of John Mauer. She married one of my best friends and I was at their wedding. She told me many stories of Coach Mauer at Kentucky. Fond memories.

I never told her I thank God UK hired Adolph Rupp when he left for Tennessee. But she knew.

She was a wonderful wife and mother and moved from Clearwater to Tallahassee when her husband Tom, took a job up there. She was a saint of a woman and darn good looking. Died of cancer much too young.

 

[UK82]

Three games in three cities in 120 hours. Heaven on Earth for UK fans. Not to mention the UGA game thrown in Saturday.

 

[warrior-cat]

Three games in three cities in 120 hours. Heaven on Earth for UK fans. Not to mention the UGA game thrown in Saturday.

Well, here is to hoping that we will go 3-1 in that span. Unfortunately, the Georgia game is a wash. While there is always a chance to win, the possibility of if happening is next to none.

 

[UK82]

Well, here is to hoping that we will go 3-1 in that span. Unfortunately, the Georgia game is a wash. While there is always a chance to win, the possibility of if happening is next to none.

There's a better chance of me dunking a basketball. Not gonna happen.

 

[berniecarbo]

Great story Sawnee.

The idea of Beard transferring out of Kentucky caused a dip in my stomach like heading over the big hump of the Roller Coaster: Imagine the history of Kentucky basketball if Ralph Beard hadn't been there to lead the Cats to the first two titles: Does Rupp ever reach the pinnacle of the profession? Does Kentucky become the GOAT among all the Elite Programs in college basketball, or are the Cats scuffling around to this day making a case to be in the conversation of "First Tier Programs" like Indiana or Kansas

Jmo, it may have altered things some, but Rupp had the idea of speeding things to put talented players in spots to use their skills. He was making road trips to areas where pro ball was big, so pro scouts would see his players and this would help with recruiting. One All American whose name I forget, wrote Rupp a letter asking to play after seeing them on a roadtrip. Losing Beard would certainly have hurt, but Rupp had it figured out before anyone else.

 

[starchief5]

 

[BBUK]

Hello all,

Been a long day but I only have tomorrow and I am off again until Monday. (Mostly off anyway.)

Settling in to hopefully, finally watch a full basketball game this year.

Go CATS!!!

 

[UK82]

I'm getting ready for the game and just turned on ESPN. Looks like they're going to keep playing those same 3 or 4 commercials over and over again. I've been using the mute button a lot during games.

 

[BBUK]

Kentucky....period!

I was born a Michigander but throw Michigan State in a Great Lake Kentucky!!!

 

[AustinTXCat]

Oscar looking good. MiState killing it from beyond the arc. Hope we fix that.

Go Cats!

 

[UK82]

I feel for Collins. I really do but he is not contributing and getting a lot of minutes. Hopefully I'm not sounding cold-hearted.