Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
We all have stories about some of the great things we’ve experienced as Kentucky fans. The offseason, when news is slow, is a good time to share some of those stories as we’re in the midst of making many new ones. Today’s comes from Ryan Clark, who was able to return a favor to his granddad.
Back in early 2007 I was a newspaper reporter and I was lucky enough to land a gig writing a book about UK basketball – Game of My Life: Kentucky (http://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-Memorable-Stories-Wildcat-Basketball/dp/1596701196), where I was able to choose 30 former players and have them talk about their favorite games while at UK. (Gregg Doyel was actually supposed to write it, but decided he couldn’t and instead helped me along with it. Great dude).
It was a blast. I had the most fun I’ve ever had taking to these folks. But one of the best things about it was being able to meet and interview Ralph Beard, who lived in Louisville and just happened to be my Granddad’s hero. Granddad said Ralph was so fast and so good with the ball he would have no problem playing in today’s game.
After talking with Beard and his wife, I asked if maybe I could bring my Granddad by to meet him. Beard of course said yes.
My biggest thrill was taking my Granddad over to meet his hero. We spent about two hours going through the Beards’ basement, which was a museum of memorabilia and articles. It was just amazing. We took some pictures with them, including one of them pointing to Beard’s framed gold medal from 1948.
It was a pleasure, and Beard shared his story with us, which was both heartbreaking and mesmerizing.
When we left we all felt like friends, and I was proud to say I could do something for my Granddad - a person who had done so much for me.
Just a few months later, in November, Ralph passed away at age 79.
But we were able to talk to him and spend time with him, and I’m so thankful for that. He was an extremely nice man, and I just wish more people knew who he was and what he meant to UK basketball.
He certainly meant a lot to me and my Granddad.
A love of UK basketball that has been inherited from family, specifically a grandfather in both Ryan’s case and mine, is one of the best parts about being a Wildcat fan. I’ve enjoyed reading all the stories that folks have emailed to me over the last couple of weeks. Keep them coming to coreynichols86@gmail.com.
Go Cats.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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June 8th, 2012 at 9:05 am
I see you took my advice on your text to quote ratio. Good job, keep it up…but CN still sucks.
June 8th, 2012 at 9:06 am
God Corey you suck balls
June 8th, 2012 at 9:21 am
That is a great story and these other guys before are straight douchers, but you probably already knew that
June 8th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Nice artical CorEy! Ralph Beard was one of the fabled players to ever don the Blue and White. When he passed away, he took a good part of the glory days of Adolph Rupp with him.
June 8th, 2012 at 9:38 am
I would like to see a story about “King” Kelley Coleman. I grew up with the belief that he was commonly known as the best high school player to ever live. I’ve asked around recently and was surprised that people of my generation (i’m 37) have no clue who he is. A lot of the stories I heard when i was a young were about him showing up at a game half drunk or hung-over and scoring 50 points like it was nothing. I’m sure some of the stories were exagerated but he was certainly a legend of older generations. Just wish we knew more about him. There’s not much on the web about him.
June 8th, 2012 at 9:45 am
I am from close by to where King Kelly played in high school. Have heard alot of stories about him some of which seem to be fiction. For ex. had a older man who played against him in high school said that he showed up during the first half at Wheelwright and was drunk. at halftime they sobered him up and went on to score 40 in the second half. Good enough for the Wayland Wasp to come back from 18 points down to win.
I think there was a book that was wrote about him a few years back but can’t remember the title or where you can buy it. Would love to have a copy if anyone knows where to buy it.
June 8th, 2012 at 9:53 am
#6, That’s basically the story i heard. I grew up in Paintsville, about 15-20 miles from Wayland. I know Rupp wanted him and declared he was the greatest high shool player to ever live. He recruited him and ended up blowing the whistle on West Virginia when they signed him after illegal recruting tactics. They bought him clothes, car, etc. The book is on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Kentuckys-greatest-basketball-legend/dp/0977319806
June 8th, 2012 at 9:53 am
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977319806?ie=UTF8&tag=thedraftrevie-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0977319806
Nevermind found the book
June 8th, 2012 at 10:03 am
As a relatively old reader of this site at 45, I became a UK fan in the mid 70s (Jay Shidler, Jack “Goose” Givins, Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, Truman Claytor, etc.) I never cease to be amazed at how little current UK fans know about the history of UK basketball. For instance, I can reel off the starting 5 of the 48 Championship team (Ralph Beard, Kenny Rollins, Wallace Wah-Wah Jones, Alex Groza, Cliff Barker), even though I wasn’t around till ’66 and wasn’t watching games till ’76. It wouldn’t be the worst endeavor for KSR to have a weekly story about someone who helped develop the traditions that we take for granted. The information is all readily available at other sites, so KSR can continue its tradition of stealing material from others and not noting the source
June 8th, 2012 at 11:25 am
1 & 2, what the F–k is wrong with you?? How do you read a touching story like that and immediately decide to pollute it? Please, for the love of God, find a hobby, a wife, or anything you can that will bring you some sense of happiness. I and the 98% of other KSR readers implore you.
Thanks, Corey.
June 8th, 2012 at 11:44 am
#9. I never cease to be amazed at people who act like they have alot of knowledge on blogs when there no telling if you had information up on that stuff so why even act like you know anything. And as for the information they have most of it is from other sites they pretty much tell you that. Hell I think you should site your source from which your information derived.
June 8th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I read this article, which is great, an awesome story that goes into the depth of the meaning of what “Kentucky Basketball” means to so many fans. Especially when talking about Ralph Beard. Go ask Bob Cousy how good Ralph would have been in the NBA if he was eligible to play.
Then I read the rest of these ‘replies’ and all I can think of is reciting the speech by Principal Anderson in “Billy Madison”.
June 8th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Nice story to pass along!
June 8th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Yes, Ralph Beard could play today, he had blazing speed and an accurate shot. I was fortunate to see him play 4 times. I also remember seeing him play 2nd base for the old Evansville Braves in about 1950 in the old Three I League. This was a minor AA team of the Boston Braves.