Gloria Mackenzie’s Thursday News and Views

If you’re one of the many fine, hardworking, taxpaying Americans who bought a Powerball ticket for the record $590-million jackpot two weeks ago, you directly contributed to the reason Glorida Mackenzie is smiling — well, she’s kind of smiling. The 84-year-old from Zephyrhills, Florida, is seeing money green through her jet black fitovers today after coming forward with the winning ticket, two weeks after the drawing.

Mackenzie presented the winning Powerball ticket at the Florida Lottery headquarters Wednesday morning with her son, who happens to be a financial advisor, and a lawyer from a Jacksonville firm. She elected to go with the cash option over the 30 annual payments of $19-million.  I guess she isn’t counting on living to see 114.

The winning ticket was purchased at Publix Supermarket in Zephyrhills. Mackenzie said she bought a single quick pick ticket after, wait for it, a fellow lottery player let her go ahead of them in line. Ouch.

Mackenzie said she doesn’t know what she plans to do with the money. I assume her children will get what’s left after she stocks up on crossword puzzle books, Centrum Silver and curlers.

Congrats, Gloria. Now us poor people have the Thursday News and Views to attend to…

 Wednesday was a big day on the newswire as the University of Kentucky added a new basketball walk-on and Mark Stoops picked up a football commitment on the defensive side of the ball. First, Dunbar’s Edrick “E.J.” Floreal Jr. announced on Twitter that he will walk on to the Kentucky basketball team next season. Floreal, the son of UK track coach Edrick Floreal, transferred to Dunbar last summer from Palo Alto, California when his old man left Stanford to take the UK job. He was an ESPN preseason All-State honorable mention prior to his junior season at Palo Alto and was named Boys Track Athlete of the Year. At Dunbar, he averaged 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a senior in his only season at the school.

Floreal will provide even more athleticism (as if UK needed more) during practices and could potentially emerge as a contributor after a few years. He played out of position in high school, but with that 6-foot-4 frame and ridiculous vertical, he could be very useful after a little work on his perimeter game.

 UK football landed a verbal commitment Wednesday evening from JUCO linebacker Ryan Flannigan. Flannigan attends Blinn Community College in Texas with cornerback Shyquawn Pullium, who committed to Kentucky Sunday night. Flannigan was a three-star prospect out of high school, when he originally committed to Texas Tech, and was ranked the 60th best OLB in the nation. He chose UK over Arizona State, Cincinnati, Houston, and Texas Tech.

Yahtzee!

 We showed you a piece of mail Drew Barker received from the UK coaching staff, but he isn’t the only current commit to find a surprise in his mailbox this week. Mikel Horton also got some love from the staff:

In the wavering world of college football recruiting, it’s important to keep the commitments on board until National Signing Day. This will certainly help.

 Hey, Matt Elam, Alabama added another defensive tackle. Just thought you should know.

 Thanks to Twitter, Instagram, and (insert other trendy social media app), we learned the jersey numbers of Marcus Lee and Dakari Johnson. Johnson will wear No. 44, a tribute to his late grandfather, who played at Long Island University. Lee will wear No. 00, a number we haven’t seen on a Kentucky jersey since Adam Chiles on photo day in 2001. Tony Delk will be proud.

 Coach Cal plays golf?

And wears shorts?!

Cal’s son captured his swing during their father-son round of golf Wednesday.

Way to keep that left foot planted, Coach. But work those hips and keep that left arm straight. Eyes on the ball.

 Tim Couch will host Kentucky Sports Radio radio Thursday morning and we’ll have a preview of a big recruiting weekend on the website later in the day. Be sure to stick around.

Go Cats.