Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Last Friday night I attended my first high school basketball game since I’ve been up North. Growing up it was pretty much a given that every Friday or Saturday night would be spent at William S. Johnson Arena in Jeffersonville, IN watching my mother’s alma mater (and mine eventually) take the court. My dad would buy us popcorn and lollipops and until I figured out how fun basketball was (and how much I loved keeping statistics on the game), I would use the night to run around with my friends. Probably some of the best times of my life were spent in that arena, as I cultivated my love of sports and the fellowship I felt with the town on those winter nights. Big cities may have some pretty great perks (Whole Foods stores being one I long for), but you can’t beat small, Midwest and Southern towns on football Fridays and basketball Saturdays.
I work in a small town and a lot of my coworkers are boosters or cheerleading coaches or parents of players and they had all been trying to persuade me to check out a game for some time now. As I’m sure some of you know, having a sports adverse spouse can cause some arguments what to do on weekends, and so until then we hadn’t made it out. Beyond all that, I had heard that the basketball coach was a Kentucky fan, regularly reads the blog, and has raised some doubts about my actual existence, especially in a little town like Attica, IN. As we all know, the BBN support one another and so I made the trip.
The game was uneventful as one of the home team’s best players was out and, as nearly everyone had pointed out, Sectionals is Tuesday and this game meant nothing. But it was still neat to watch young kids unclouded by fame or fortune or Twitter, hustle and make plays for nothing other than small-town glory. There were no college scouts there, no media, no Ashley Judds; just a bunch of boys who love to play basketball with their friends. They have no illusions of national titles or D1 college basketball or the NBA for that matter. It was refreshing and innocent and hopeful.
As it was the last game of the season, it was also Senior night where the graduating players (and cheerleaders and swimmers and all the other winter sports) march out and except accept flowers and balloons from small-town cheerleaders and little girls who dream of becoming small-town cheerleaders. As the announcer relayed all their future plans, (to be engineers or lawyers or one boy’s dream of majoring in modeling), I thought about how hard their transitions would be to college. Even if they didn’t play ball, they’d still be going from a small town where everyone knew them and saw them play every weekend, to a nameless, faceless kid on campus.
I also thought about senior day at Kentucky. Sure, many of our seniors have had millions of dollars in their pockets to soften the blow from college stud to NBA bench warmer (and many women for that matter), but still the BBN is a little bit like a small town. We worship and worry over these guys for 4 years, putting them on a pedestal that, unless their name is Rondo or Mashburn or Prince, probably won’t be there for the rest of their lives. As much as we as the fans are told to savor the little time we have with these players, I hope they take a moment and savor their time with us.
All this is not to say that your high school or college years are really the greatest of your life. Weddings and babies and retiring with the love of your life will eventually replace your teenage years as the main highlights of your existence. But if I had a son or a daughter playing high school basketball at a small gym in no-where Indiana, on senior night, or in Rupp Arena for that matter, I’d tell them to hold on to their youth for as long as they can. I’d tell them to cherish the wintry Friday and Saturday nights filled with popcorn and lollipops, when its just them and their friends and a whole town enjoying a game that possesses no magical powers except to give one small town (or one big blue nation) something to cheer about.
Shout-out to the Attica High School Red Ramblers and Coach Chuck Hitchens. Good luck at Sectionals!
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March 2nd, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Ill be honest, i didn’t read it.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Negative Nancy reporting J. Hood approached Cal about wanting to play. Ballsy move.
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/03/02/1164670/uk-notes-hood-implores-cali pari.html
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Splendid essay, Kate! “Hoosiers” quality
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Nice work Kate..
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Nice, Kate. I used to play hoops in nowhere West Kentucky. So I can appreciate and empathize with that moment. Great post.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:19 pm
That’s the good stuff…
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Attica? Booo…go Crawfordsville
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Is anyone gonna mention that UK Hoops won every major SEC award? Matthew Mitchell-COY, Victoria Dunlap- POY, and A’dia Mathies- Freshman of the Year!!! Go Lady Cats! I have a feeling the men’s awards might have a similar theme!
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Nice work. I have been a high scghool football official in Georgia for thirty years. I have been from Valdosta to Dalton and in many a small town in between. There is no better feeling than hearing the National Anthem played by sqeaking 15 person band (with a crop duster fly over) on a cool Friday night in October. Great stuff.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:26 pm
i think they ACCEPT flowers and balloons, not except…otherwise, this post sucks like your husband at sports.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 pm
i love small town sports.. the word you guys are looking for.. is COMMUNITY.. shout out to my kin in southern IN and all over KY
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Anyone else feel a Jon hood sighting in Athens coming on?
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I enjoyed the story.
#9, please tell me that a crop duster flew over during the National Anthem. Now that is funny.
I am a small town person, that loves the Friday night Football and home Basketball games.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:36 pm
This is a great post, brought back memories of the tiny gym at Breckenridge County High (the pre-consolidation BCHS) in tiny Hardinsburg, Ky., and the great huge times that were had in it.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Note the pic…oh how our talent level has risen.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:42 pm
8-had their own blog entry earlier today, look down the list.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
So Kate, Did you grow up watching Sheron Wilkerson playing ball for Jeff? I saw him play 3 times in my days for Jeff!
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Nice work, Kate. What is it that we like to say about Coach Cal?…He gets it. This post proves that you, too, get it.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:49 pm
#17 I did…and future Cardinal BJ Flynn and Damon Bailey @ Bedford NL
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Right there with ya, Kate. I, myself, attended a small city high school (surrounded by large county ones) and there’s nothing like a school with only 300 students. Friday nights in winter were reserved for basketball games against much larger schools, but it was always fun, even when we didn’t pull out the victory. I stopped playing basketball after my sophomore year (to focus on baseball), but I took over the PA duties for home games. I had the best seat in the house for some of the best games of my high school experience.
Great post and thanks for bringing back some fond memories!
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
http://espn.go.com/
vote for Wall or Cousins
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Nicely said
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Gotta love the Tubster. Needed a win tonight against a mediocre Big 10 team and lose by 30 on the road. We’ve been down that road before.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Killer post.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Love this post…I only graduated 2 years ago, and I sometimes find myself missing my sports filled high school days in eastern Kentucky. Running out to a pumped up crowd was something magical. Nice job, Kate
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Blah Katie: my sons went to New Albany and they owned Jeff!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Nice job Gators choking at the end with Vandy. I hate that clown Donovan.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:09 pm
14) were you at Breck Co during the Butch B days. L Poole, etc won state in ‘65
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Kate Martin, you are awesome!!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I saw all of those players as well. COurse I also saw Pat Graham who played at Floyd Central before playing for IU!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:19 pm
For some reason my post got deleted!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:20 pm
ah, Kate, your post brings back the memories! As a HS cheerleader in a small eastern Ky town, I looked forward to those Friday games…the crowd, the game, the win (or lost)…just the love of B-ball. That is what the BBN is all about. Goodluck UK Seniors!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Oh I might be a Cat fan but Indiana High School Basketball is tops in the Country…If only we still had one class system like Kentucky still has..I remember making trips to Evansville (Roberts Stadium) and Terre Haute (Hulman Center). Got to see some very good players!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Kate always enjoy your blog. I live a little North of the Lafayette / Attica area. Cool to have a Cat fan in the heart of Boiler country.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:29 pm
My golden locks are going to will my team to an SEC crown.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Prince hurt his ankle tonight.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Anyone seen the ESPN College bball front page? It features a Forde story on “historical venues” and of COURSE the picture accompanying the story is of Cameron Indoor and Freedom Hall…
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 pm
yeah i remember bobby knight going after damon bailey when he was in like 3rd grade.. they made a big deal about billy clyde, but bobby did it years ago.. jasper, evansville, and washington.. folks that settled that area migrated from KY when IN opened up for settlement.. folks in KY might be surprised to know they have some long lost kinfolk up there..
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:50 pm
37.. yeah they did not mention memorial at all .. idiots!!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:59 pm
after the first few post I still cant bring myself to read her crap
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 pm
I never read any of your stuff katie sorry, youre unentertaining
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Great post Katie! I am a Purdue grad in West Lafayette, but grew up bleeding blue in Kentucky. It is nice to see comments posted from other cat fans in the area. Also nothing that compares to Senior Night in a small town.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Nothing against the guys in the picture, but no wonder our program took a detour for a couple years……just look at that group last year. How many of those players would hit Calipari’s radar ?? The freshmen we have this year are absolute studs…..I would give anything to see Wall, Cousins, Orton, and Bledsoe together for 4 years…….
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:19 pm
…..and I like Katie……she gets it……
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Katie, Crazy to hear that you live in Attica. I was born in Kentucky (thank the good Lord!) but lived most my life in Veedersburg, and even a couple years in Attica! Glad to hear there is another die hard UK fan in that State! They need it. They have been fed Bobby Knight for too long.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Wow, Katie, that was great.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Jeff sucks. Always sucked, still sucks, always will suck. Too bad you didn’t grow up in a nice town…like say, New Albany?
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 pm
I lived in Rockville for the end of elementary school through middle school. My dad worked at the steel mill in Attica.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 pm
49-there is absolutely no need to rag on Katie and other writers of this site. If you think her posts are that dreadful to begin with why don’t you try not reading it when you see who wrote the article. Maybe you could productively use your time getting typing lessons instead of spreading your misery.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Damn, that’s a sorry looking team in that picture… (sorry Perry and Ramon - you’re cool).
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Great post, Katie. So basically ur saying … hold on to 16 as long as you can, changes comin round real soon make us women and men.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:06 pm
15)ROFL..I noticed the same thing. Great post Kate. Almost brought tears to my eyes thinking back to all the nights I spent in the High School gym watching my school play.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:11 pm
#48-I work at the steel mill as an accountant….and to everyone else from up here in Indiana-you’re right there’s way too much Bobby
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:21 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter
Everyone player of the year voting on sport center vote for our boys! Wall and Cousins is on the list.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:25 am
is #47 Coach Shannon?
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:51 am
William S. Johnson Arena. Wow, what a great place to be a basketball fan. Back in my day the Jeff High/Ballard games where epic and once even pitted the Indiana #1 vs the Kentucky #1. Thanks Kate, for bringing back some truly great memories.
ToeMater
J.H.S. Class of 1980
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:42 am
The truth is Coach Cal can’t hold a candle to Bobby Knight…not until he can achieve something of the Knight level. Even if UK wins a national championship this year, it doesn’t compare. Only when he can put together a team that stays together for 4 years, has great success on the national level (beyond a decent record in a weak basketball conference), and turns his players into fine gentlemen in later life (without having all those accomplishments vacated by the NCAA) will he be in the same league as Bobby Knight. I’m a hardcore UK fan and loved to cheer against IU all the years Knight was at the helm, but from an objective perspective putting Coach Cal on the same scale as Knight is laughable.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:12 am
if that aint a team full of sh_t players i don’t know what is. i know church league teams who could be those dang scrubs
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:12 am
who could BEAT those dang srubs i meant. Man i’m glad the days of Tubby’s crap players are over!!!!
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:23 am
I regret quitting High School Basketball after my freshman year everyday. Now I regret it even more after reading this, Kate. Thanks.
(It was a very good read by the way)
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:48 am
Great article Kate. I’m from a small town and know exactly what you’re talking about. Its funny, reading that made me have some pretty surreal flashbacks to the exact same sort of moments that I experienced growing up and playing ball in HS. Nice job on the write up, keep up the good work.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:56 am
#14 When we’re at Rough River in the fall we try to make it to the football games in Hardinsburg..And we’re from Indianapolis, it’s a great atmosphere
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:08 am
Just when I think you have hit the acme of your posts Kate, you write something else that either hits home or gets you to think, for tthose of you who just skip her post, well you’re missing something….GREAT ONE AGAIN! Thanks Kate….And like the few of you who say this state is ate up with Knight, How right you are, and the saddest part they still think that everything that jerkoff says is “still” gospel….Sad…… very very sad
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:47 am
Kate- Now you’re on to something. Good job! And a big thanks for not boring me with stats
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:59 am
You deserve a shout out for the post you made. I really appreciate the distaff side of sports commentary because a fresh insiteful perspective is brought to the website. Your intuitive grasp of emotions and feelings all of us experienced coupled with your clarity in presentation is something we all are, or should be, comending you for. Keep writing and I will keep reading.
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:15 am
I went to elementary school 1st - 3rd grade in Attica! My step father worked at Harrison Steel. Is that where you work Kate? It blew me away when I read this post, just because I’ve not seen or heard anything about Attica since I moved away @1991.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
yessir JHS class of 97….another guy played at jeff and won the indiana mr basketball….who was it?…i believe the cat and pacer legend mike flynn…he still plays down here in rec leagues aganist guys like bryan nothern and drops about 30 a game…
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:51 pm
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NATIONAL-I-HATE-DUKE-DAY/385209109516?re f=nf
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:28 pm
I really enjoyed reading this. I grew up in Paducah, KY and I love BBN, so I related very well. I live far away from the Bluegrass State now, but I cherish those Friday and Saturday night memories. But for me it was watching the game with cotton candy. People who aren’t part of it don’t “get it”. But I “get it”.
March 4th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Great read Kate… Your dad really liked it…