How would Cawood call UK's biggest games
- Thread starter Kentucky fan 1989
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On many made baskets, he would say simply "Got it!" or "It's good!" but it seemed he would be a little more dramatic on more important Kentucky field goals made and he would say "Bullseye!" or "Write it down!"
His voice, his southern accent, and his manner of presenting a great picture to all of us is cemented into my brain as much as the voices of my grandparents. He was regularly chosen to do radio for the Final Four radio broadcasts if Kentucky was not in the Final Four. I last saw him in the Jo-Beth bookstore parking lot walking with his wife as they seemed to be looking for their car...I regret now I did not speak to him but have always tried to be overly respectful to people in the public eye. Regrettably, he passed away shortly after that.
Richie's tribute speech to him on his last game at Rupp was an absolute classic and a fabulous moment each UK fan should see at least once. Cawood Ledford was a huge part of the program while he was alive--we coveted his nationally renowned abilities, and loved the fact that he could be a homer yet would tell you when he thought Kentucky was not playing up to par...he would normally describe that as "getting whipped." Finally, he was not only good during the game but was part of the same outstanding tradition we have now of programming before and after the game. His post-game interviews with Coach Rupp were very interesting and insightful.
I am too tired to organize this better...normally I try a little harder but right now it's the best I can do. Just some random thoughts about a very key player in our glorious program's history.
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Cawood could make you believe you are there. No video, just audio.
WISCONSIN game in Cawood voice
" Andrew Harrison goes down the right side toward the baseline...Wisconsin guarding him very close...keeps his dribble alive under the goal...gives it off to Johnson...Johnson back out to Harrison who gives it out front to his brother....7 secs left...Harrison takes two dribbles....goes up from 25.....HE got it!!!..Kentucky leads 74-73 and Wisconsin calls time out...wow what a shot by Harrison , Ralph"
" Andrew Harrison goes down the right side toward the baseline...Wisconsin guarding him very close...keeps his dribble alive under the goal...gives it off to Johnson...Johnson back out to Harrison who gives it out front to his brother....7 secs left...Harrison takes two dribbles....goes up from 25.....HE got it!!!..Kentucky leads 74-73 and Wisconsin calls time out...wow what a shot by Harrison , Ralph"
No one was ever better than Cawood, loved listen to him..
Cawood's voice and his calls, are and will be forever etched in my mind till the day I die.
I just imagined that call in my head. I almost choked up. If you listened to Cawood, you know exactly what it would sound like and it almost brings him back to life. WOW!
There has never been a better and there will never will be. I met him once and he was as gracious a man as he was an announcer.
"Lob to Bowie stuffed it" and after Lattner hit that crazy shot and we were in a emotional mess without missing a beat Cawood said "Thats why they are number 1" He had the great ability to control his emotions and just deliver he game so unlike the commentators of today who don't even try to hide their bias. He would always say "moving from left to right on your radio dial"
Cawood had an ability for you to visualize his broadcast. I grew up with that because the Cats weren't on TV much back in the day. From his calling a long shot "From Downtown Lexington...Good" to "The Cats are running" No one did it better than Cawood!!!
He would call them all with great eloquence, extreme class, and humble dignity. Cawood is the greatest of all time and it's not even really close.
Absolutely. The smoothest voice that made you feel you were there.
Wow. I could really hear it. Literally got chills.
True, he would call them out on it if they weren't playing well.
He wasn't happy with the officiating that night & even said, "if these guys call any games at the final four, they have some low friends in high places." I'm sure his assessment of Higgins would've been priceless. And, likely unfiltered, too.
I recall his post game show after the '92 Duke game, Coach Ratface came on the show to speak to the UK fans about what a great game our guys played and how proud BBN should be if their team. Only time I can remember having respect for K.
K was only gracious cause they won and he knew his jerk player should have been kicked out of the game. He's a fraud
Macy comes over to balance out the floor.. passes off to Anderson on the left side. Anderson goes down low to Cowan. Cowan from 5 feet no good. Rebounded by Williams he goes up no good. Put back up and in!!! by Cowan.
Ralph they haven't shot it well but they are going to war on the boards..
Ralph they haven't shot it well but they are going to war on the boards..
Ford's got and he is tripped up. I don't think they are gonna call anything on Duke.
Kentucky will not be in shouting distance of the bonus in this game.
They just searched Timberlake and they stripped him and they gotta get him out of there Ralph.
Duke fast break. 3 on 1 Martinez back alone and here's a charge. OOOHHHHHHHHHH! I can't believe that. They can't believe that. Martinez will never take a better charge but it goes the other way.
Kentucky will not be in shouting distance of the bonus in this game.
They just searched Timberlake and they stripped him and they gotta get him out of there Ralph.
Duke fast break. 3 on 1 Martinez back alone and here's a charge. OOOHHHHHHHHHH! I can't believe that. They can't believe that. Martinez will never take a better charge but it goes the other way.
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I read in Cawood's book. I can't remember the refs name. But the radio was still on commerical break but the game was ready to tip.
Cawood ask the ref if he could delay the tip for a minute till radio commerical break ended. Ref said sure no problem if you say something nice about me on air.
Cawood said toss the damn ball up and start it.
Cawood ask the ref if he could delay the tip for a minute till radio commerical break ended. Ref said sure no problem if you say something nice about me on air.
Cawood said toss the damn ball up and start it.
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This has me ready to pull out my cassette tapes of Cawood on the call. I think I will listen to Cawood's last game. When Woods goes up and tatoos it off the glass I will hit stop button.
I always listen to the games when I can't make it to them.Cawood was the eyes for the blind.There was nothing like listening to him call a UK game on a cold winter night.I was listening to Cawood when Laettner hit the shot.My heart broke when he said that's why they are number 1 but my heart broke more when he said his last words on the UK network.."And borrowing a saying from Coach Rupp,for all of you who have gone down the glory road with me,my eternal thanks".
"It's white-knuckle time"
"The Cats are going to war"
"Macy from the elbow...good!"
"The Cats are flat-out getting whipped tonight, Ralph"
"The Cats are going to war"
"Macy from the elbow...good!"
"The Cats are flat-out getting whipped tonight, Ralph"
The thing that always impressed me about casinos was he never missed a call. He knew the players on both teams so well that he never misspoke a name when he made a call. He was the best and never will there be another. With that said we have one of the best in the biz now, but even he would admit that there is only one goat in NCAA broadcasting and it's not even close.
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