Tonight at my grandson’s baseball game

[MathUK]

I had my UK jacket on and we were leaving a little early from my grandson’s game. A man kind of sidled up to me and said, “I was the referee that had the call on Laettner’s shot.” I said, “well you should’ve gone over to Pitino during the timeout and told him to put someone on Grant Hill.” He said I always said Pitino’s biggest mistake was that he had two 6’ 11” guys and he didn’t use either one of them to put on the ball. There’s no way they could’ve got the ball over those guys all the way down the court to Laettner for a clean shot. I agreed with him, and then we parted ways after a few pleasantries. I got home and looked up who the referees were. I definitely did not talk to Rooferee. It definitely wasn’t the black ref. The third ref‘s name was Tom Clark. I looked him up and found a story. Someone had written about how he rode the plane home the next day and about 80% of the plane where UK fans. And the writer talked about his job as a school psychologist in Sharonville, Ohio, which is right next to Blue Ash, Ohio, where the game was so I totally believe that this was the man.

 

[M.Freeman]

Would have been a cool auto to have on a frame shot. Got a few in baseball signed by some of the more famous umps in MLB. A forgotten signature but when you see it it’s cool as hell next to the players.

 

[Pelosigalore]

Should have asked him why he didn’t eject laetner for stomping on Timberlake

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Should have asked him why he didn’t eject laetner for stomping on Timberlake

Or why Kentucky received egregious officiating during the entirety of that game. If not for that, UK wins by 10+ IMO. “They’re just not gonna call a foul on duke!” - Cawood Ledford.

 

[Bluesbrother]

Or why Kentucky received egregious officiating during the entirety of that game. If not for that, UK wins by 10+ IMO. “They’re just not gonna call a foul on duke!” - Cawood Ledford.

WOW ... coming from Cawood, that says all you need to know about the refs. We were so lucky to have Cawood Ledford ... I always had such respect for him in how he called it for what it was.

 

[ORCAT10]

WOW ... coming from Cawood, that says all you need to know about the refs. We were so lucky to have Cawood Ledford ... I always had such respect for him in how he called it for what it was.

My brother and I still call each other Cawood.

 

[MathUK]

Should have asked him why he didn’t eject laetner for stomping on Timberlake

That would’ve been an excellent question! In that moment, I didn’t think of that.

 

[2Dope15]

Yeah the fouls they called on Mashburn were some of the worst. Ever!

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Yeah the fouls they called on Mashburn were some of the worst. Ever!

They sure were! Legit, THREE were absolutely non contact fouls! Lmao possibly even FOUR. Mash had one clear foul the whole game. Still pisses me off!

EDIT: Not to mention, there were at least three terrible foul calls on Pelphrey as well.

 

[FurdTerguson]

I didn't realize we had two 6-11 guys. Put one on the ball and one in front of Laettner.

 

[SenseMaker]

I didn't realize we had two 6-11 guys. Put one on the ball and one in front of Laettner.

They had two 6’9” guys, Timberlake and Riddick. Both were freshman which I believe played a role in them not being on the ball.

 

[littlecreek]

My brother and I still call each other Cawood.

There was a guy that I went to school with that we called Cawood. His last name was Cassidy. Could this be you or your brother?

 

[jeffky]

I had my UK jacket on and we were leaving a little early from my grandson’s game. A man kind of sidled up to me and said, “I was the referee that had the call on Laettner’s shot.” I said, “well you should’ve gone over to Pitino during the timeout and told him to put someone on Grant Hill.” He said I always said Pitino’s biggest mistake was that he had two 6’ 11” guys and he didn’t use either one of them to put on the ball. There’s no way they could’ve got the ball over those guys all the way down the court to Laettner for a clean shot. I agreed with him, and then we parted ways after a few pleasantries. I got home and looked up who the referees were. I definitely did not talk to Rooferee. It definitely wasn’t the black ref. The third ref‘s name was Tom Clark. I looked him up and found a story. Someone had written about how he rode the plane home the next day and about 80% of the plane where UK fans. And the writer talked about his job as a school psychologist in Sharonville, Ohio, which is right next to Blue Ash, Ohio, where the game was so I totally believe that this was the man.

If you watch the replay John pelphrey freezes up he could have easily swatted that ball away oh well what ifs now and K aka the rat wanted hill to throw the ball to Bobby hurley around half court and hill did not obey

 

[kyrx]

Nice story.

And thanks for the reminder.
Next time, just cut me and pour lemon juice on it.

 

[oldsports_]

I had my UK jacket on and we were leaving a little early from my grandson’s game. A man kind of sidled up to me and said, “I was the referee that had the call on Laettner’s shot.” I said, “well you should’ve gone over to Pitino during the timeout and told him to put someone on Grant Hill.” He said I always said Pitino’s biggest mistake was that he had two 6’ 11” guys and he didn’t use either one of them to put on the ball. There’s no way they could’ve got the ball over those guys all the way down the court to Laettner for a clean shot. I agreed with him, and then we parted ways after a few pleasantries. I got home and looked up who the referees were. I definitely did not talk to Rooferee. It definitely wasn’t the black ref. The third ref‘s name was Tom Clark. I looked him up and found a story. Someone had written about how he rode the plane home the next day and about 80% of the plane where UK fans. And the writer talked about his job as a school psychologist in Sharonville, Ohio, which is right next to Blue Ash, Ohio, where the game was so I totally believe that this was the man.

What was the man's name? I remember that ref dying in 2017.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

If you watch the replay John pelphrey freezes up he could have easily swatted that ball away oh well what ifs now and K aka the rat wanted hill to throw the ball to Bobby hurley around half court and hill did not obey

He froze up because he was scared to death to be called for another bullshit foul! The officiating completely affected that game. It was incomprehensible the calls/lack of calls in that game. I remember Pitino going nuts on the sideline.

 

[TeoJ]

If you watch the replay John pelphrey freezes up he could have easily swatted that ball away oh well what ifs now and K aka the rat wanted hill to throw the ball to Bobby hurley around half court and hill did not obey

Pelphrey and Feldhays were afraid if they got to close they would call them for a foul.

 

[MathUK]

What was the man's name? I remember that ref dying in 2017.

Same name; different refs. The ref who died in 2017 was a wrestling referee not a wrestling referee.

Here’s the obit of the wrestling guy:

Tom Clark, BHS grad, was a past USA Wrestling Official of the Year

Former Bluffton resident, Thomas G. Clark, 59, of Fishers Ind., a 2008 Olympic referee and longtime leader within USA Wrestling, died on Friday, March 10, 2017, at home. He was born on Feb. 22, 1959, to James A. and Mary (Canaan) Clark in Bluffton, Ohio. His parents preceded him in death.

www.blufftonicon.com

 

[Bluesbrother]

My brother and I still call each other Cawood.

He may have been the best ALL TIME Nationally. He was the consummate professional. I will always remember his description of "Moving Left to Right" on your radio dial.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

I didn't realize we had two 6-11 guys. Put one on the ball and one in front of Laettner.

We didn't. As mentioned above, the two tallest guys were freshmen.

Here's the roster with heights:

#24	Jamal Mashburn (L)	F	So.	6-8	240	Bronx, NY (Cardinal Hayes)	All-American [Basketball Times (2nd)]; All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [First Team (AP & Coaches)]; SEC Tournament MVP;
#14	Jeff Brassow	G	Red	6-5	195	Houston, TX (Alief-Elsik)	(Redshirted after 2 games (knee injury));
#34	John Pelphrey (L)	F-G	Sr.	6-7	195	Paintsville, KY (High)	All-SEC Tournament;
#12	Deron Feldhaus (L)	F	Sr.	6-7	210	Maysville, KY (Mason County)	-
#32	Richie Farmer (L)	G	Sr.	6-0	170	Manchester, KY (Clay County)	-
#11	Sean Woods (L)	G	Sr.	6-2	180	Indianapolis, IN (Cathedral)	All- NCAA Regional Team;
#31	Dale Brown (L)	G	Jr.	6-3	200	Pascagoula, MS (High)	-
#44	Gimel Martinez (L)	F	So.	6-8	220	Miami, FL (Miami Senior)	-
#5	Travis Ford (L)	G	So.	5-9	165	Madisonville, KY (North Hopkins)	Academic All-SEC;
#23	Nehemiah Braddy (L)	G	Jr.	6-2	190	Jacksonville, FL (Middleburg)	-
#10	Andre Riddick (L)	C	Fr.	6-9	190	New York, NY (Bishop Loughlin)	-
#42	Carlos Toomer (L)	G	So.	6-4	190	Corinth, MS (High)	-
#25	Aminu Timberlake (L)	F	Fr.	6-9	195	Chicago, IL (De LaSalle)	-
#3	Chris Harrison (L)	G	Fr.	6-3	165	Tollesboro, KY (High)	-

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Or why Kentucky received egregious officiating during the entirety of that game. If not for that, UK wins by 10+ IMO. “They’re just not gonna call a foul on duke!” - Cawood Ledford.

Good points. We all tend to fixate on the Laettner shot and forgot the awful officiating in that game.

 

[BlueSince92]

Excellent story but as far as the advice I don't believe a word of it. I trust 39 year-old Pitino's instincts far more than I trust any ref or even Pitino's own second-guessing later. Frickin All-American and future seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, free to run the baseline, was just not magically going to up and have problems throwing the ball in just because loopy little Andre Riddick was waving little needlepoint arms near him. With a man off the ball we got to play the rest of Duke's team 5 on 4. That was the best we were going to get and we needed that extra man advantage like that, because the way the refs had called that game we couldn't play normal defense on Laettner or they'd blow the whistle and give him two shots if we breathed on him. (In fact, shame on that ref for calling that game the way he did with his buddies and then later suggesting it was Pitino's choice that determined the outcome.)

Absolutely we could have won that game playing a man on the ball.

But absolutely we could have won that game playing a man off the ball. And out of 100 tries we would have won more often that way.

Smart coach. Dumb luck. (And bad refs.)

 

[FurdTerguson]

I can't hate Laettner too much for the Timberlake stomp. If you saw the Why I Hate Christian Laettner show (hosted by Rob Lowe), they show the play that triggered it. Feldhaus completely cheap shotted Laettner on the other end.

 

[catzfanjim]

I can't hate Laettner too much for the Timberlake stomp. If you saw the Why I Hate Christian Laettner show (hosted by Rob Lowe), they show the play that triggered it. Feldhaus completely cheap shotted Laettner on the other end.

I hate him enough for both of us.

 

[It'saDoneDeal]

If you really bled blue you would've beat that old man's ass. I know I would've. I'd knocked his false teeth right out of his GD mouth then stomped him like what Laettner did.

You're a disgrace to Big Blue Nation son. Look everybody at the little goo goo gaa gaa baby that can't even beat the shit out of an old man. And he has the nerve to come on here and try and brag about it? Back up son, big daddy Deal got this. *BAM* Lights out to that old slut. How's my fist taste old man? But no, little boo boo baby didn't want to cause a scene. Pssh. Coward.