Ron Mercer at Nike All American camp 1994. Was a rising soph ranked and thought I was all world since I dominated at five star and around my state. Anyone who remembers Nike it was like the top players in the the United states, anyway I scored my first three buckets on Ron and thought I was the ish so I started talking trash. Rib commenced to destroying me the rest of the game without saying much then after he pulled me aside and told me what I did wrong and what I needed to work on. Been a big fan of his ever since and kept in touch. He was a big reason that one of my teammates picked UK (Keith Bogans)
Who's the 1st Wildcat player that you met, spoke to in person?
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I got to see him play for UK and the colonels.
seen him play for Uk and the Colonels. I was at a game when we played the nets. Didn’t he play with Gilmore. Can’t remember the guys name that played for the nets but they were going at each other all night. Colonels won. Place was packed I stood underneath the goal and they were dunking all night.
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My classmate Melvin Turpin, who I went to school with at Bryan Station.
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That probably would have been Billy Paultz for the Nets. Issel did play with Gilmore for the Colonels in the '70's and they won the ABA Championship in 1975. Hubie Brown would later state that the 1975 Colonels were the best team he ever coached.
Louie Dampier..played softball against him. My baby daughter was born same day as Issel's daughter, same hospital. Dan was on the Colonels at that time and the players inc. Dampier, Caldwell, Carrier and the others came to the hosp to say hellos to the newborn and I got to meet all of them. Dan and I sat in the waiting room awaiting our new child and we talked bb for 9 hours. Long Labors. Later on when I bought a liquor store in St Matthews, many of the Colonels were customers of mine inc. Caywood also traded with me as did Gilmore and others.
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Met Winston Bennett in the Fayette Mall Dawahare’s store. One of those early memories that I’ll never forget. I suppose I would have been 7 or 8? I was a very small fella and his hand probably could have wrapped around mine twice when he shook my hand. Also remember correcting my mom when she called him ‘James Blackmon’ as we were leaving. Luckily Winston didn’t hear that.
Went to school with Mills back through junior high.
Went to school with Mills back through junior high.
Kenny sky walker. 1986 in pikeville on the barnstorming tour. Man I was a star struck 9 year old lol.
I've led a blessed life. I ate dinner with Dan and Cheri. Great people.
Much earlier my first UK acquaintance was Coach Rupp and Esther (who were best friends with my uncle/aunt).
Cotton Nash was the first player I got to know personally.
Spoke with Cameron Mills at the barnes and noble hamburg. He had a book signing.
I was a teenager and played basketball....
Met several from the billy clyde era in class at UK.
I was a teenager and played basketball....
Met several from the billy clyde era in class at UK.
My parents took me to wildcat lodge in about 83-84. Sam Bowie picked me up over his head. I remember that vividly but also met a bunch of others. They gave me a signed pic. I met some players before then but those are my first memories.
I talked with Padgett and Pope after a practice they had here in Cincinnati in the early nineties and they were both really nice guys. I was impressed with how Padgett shot the ball in that practice and asked why he wasn't getting more playing time and he said coach (Pitino) didn't like my defense.
Not a player but, Bill Keightley was a pleasure to talk to. Loved the program like no other.
Bobby Watson and Randy Embry. They were friends of my dad's and I knew them that way before I found out that they played for Rupp.
I remember an interview with Eddie Sutton and he told Cawood Ledford that Scott had “soft paws.”
Fwiw, I remember Joe Hall talking about his new freshmen and, when asked about Todd Ziegler, he said ... “he’s a lefty and everybody ought to have one”.
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Cotton Nash (along with Rupp) at Franklin Co HS in 1962. They were on a school tour before the season started.
Kyle Macy after they won the championship in 78, I was at UK basketball camp and he would come over and watch.
Ralph Beard. One of the nicest guys I have ever met. He proclaimed his innocence until his death. Had a promising career totally destroyed without any semblance of a trial or justice, but worked hard and remained a loyal UK fan, no matter how many times he was thrown under the bus. Fulled admitted he was given money to live on, but never to influence the outcome of a game (that little fact which was never proved)
After that, although I have met many UK players over the years, one of the most impressive instances was outside CMS, standing next to Sam Bowie and asking for his autograph for my son. After waiting for him to finish a conversation with Dewayne Casey, I asked for his autograph which he willingly gave. A lady then came up and asked what he was charging for it, and he looked at her , somewhat surprised, and said, which I will always remember " Mam, I'm at UK, I don't charge for autographs from my fans"
GO CATS
After that, although I have met many UK players over the years, one of the most impressive instances was outside CMS, standing next to Sam Bowie and asking for his autograph for my son. After waiting for him to finish a conversation with Dewayne Casey, I asked for his autograph which he willingly gave. A lady then came up and asked what he was charging for it, and he looked at her , somewhat surprised, and said, which I will always remember " Mam, I'm at UK, I don't charge for autographs from my fans"
GO CATS
First I ever met and spent much time talking to was Jamal Mashburn. His girlfriend moved came to UK with him and in a apartment at G Paige by mine.
Feldhaus was high school buddies with one of my fraternity brothers so he came to a couple of our parties with Martinez and Toomer.
Met and talked to a ton of UK players at the tire store I worked at while in college. Dermonti Dawson, Kenny Walker, Sam Bowie, Mel Turpin (his cousin was a mechanic there he used to come visit all the time), Rex Chapman, Tony Delk, Rob Lock, Marc Logan, and I am sure there are more but that's been a while ago.
Worked at Lexmark with Todd Svoboda
Feldhaus was high school buddies with one of my fraternity brothers so he came to a couple of our parties with Martinez and Toomer.
Met and talked to a ton of UK players at the tire store I worked at while in college. Dermonti Dawson, Kenny Walker, Sam Bowie, Mel Turpin (his cousin was a mechanic there he used to come visit all the time), Rex Chapman, Tony Delk, Rob Lock, Marc Logan, and I am sure there are more but that's been a while ago.
Worked at Lexmark with Todd Svoboda
It was either Dan Issel or Louie Dampier. I went to their camp at Bellarmine in the early 80s, twice. Dampier actually tried to coach me. I had some hitch in my shot and he tried a couple times to fix it and then laughed and said "that's going to be hard to fix." What the hell would he know about shooting?
Met Karl towns at Fayette mall and got to talk to him for a little bit kinda sucked tho haha he is 7 foot and I’m only 5”6 lmao
