Summer Fun Includes Work For Wildcats
Weight Lifting and Jobs Among Activities
Basketball season isn't over.
We still have high school summer all-star games. For some of us, basketball is played year round.
Leroy Byrd (who is my best friend) and I plan on playing a lot of round ball this coming summer. Besides the freshmen to be, the UK squad is currently in Japan. Just when you thought that some players get a break from basketball. . .they're actually preparing for next season by starting in the summer, not October 15th.
Weight Lifting Is Not To Be Taken Lightly
Weight lifting is something that is very important for conditioning. However, there are certain conditions for lifting that can really hurt a person if they don't watch out.
Dicky Beal
Cats' Pause Columnist
I believe that basketball players should not lift like football players do.
In basketball you rely on a little strength and a lot of agility. Of course, in football strength is a necessary component.
Remembering back to my first two years at UK, we lifted weights at a strenous pace. I came to Lexington at 5-foot-ll, 160 pounds and when I went home before the season I weighed in at 175 pounds.
I resembled more of a "strong man" than a basketball player.
I didn't need the bulk because I wasn't going to be a "banger" inside. My game was based on speed. I should have been lifting weights to stay toned, not for strength. Honestly, I believe it was the weight lifting which led to many of my injuries.
In high school I never had those type of injuries (pulled muscles). Because of my increase in strength, my muscles were tight as a drum. My flexibility was really terrible. Being too tight was definitely a combination of weight lifting and my ignorance to stretch.
Bigger guys need weights because they do a lot of positioning. Sam Bowie, Melvin Turpin and Kenny Walker worked on the weights with great intensity.
You might wonder if the weights really helped a guy like Walker. He doesn't look strong but he really has plenty of strength. Walker was pushed and shoved for two seasons
James and Dicky Together in '84
yet he still was a prolific scorer. Had it not been for his stamina, he would have been tired at the conclusion of the game.
Certain players need to work hard on the weights while others need the weights for tone only. The Wildcats have changed their weight lifting program to suit the team better. In the long run it will cut down on injuries.
lust Horsing Around
On the summer agenda along with weight lifting you also have a job to go to. Most of the guys work on a farm while others work in offices. I had the privilege to work on Pillar Stud Farm for three summers. It was a great experience to learn about the horse business.
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Summer Is Also A Time To Relax
I saw everything that has to do with horses  I was at the breeding sheds, I worked with mares and foals, yearlings, stallions and mares. I also helped the veterinarian and I even mucked a few stalls. . .make that a lot of stalls. I never witnessed the birth of a foal, however, I was there to see the afterbirth. But I didn't see the whole process.
My job was interesting to say the least.
During my last summer at UK I worked for the Throughbred Record. Mr. Pat Terry was a great person to work for. I learned about the horse industry from a business standpoint.
Summer jobs were lots of fun. It was a good time to relax and enjoy yourself.
After work most guys would come home and hit the hay. I would go home smelling like I just had rolled in the stalls. The guys used to tease me all the time. They couldn't wait for me to come home as the sweat and smell really intrigued them. Now that I look back. . .that was really funny.
After a little nap most of the guys liked to hang out. It's an opportunity that you don't get when school is in session.
During the summer months you would be very lucky to see some of the guys. Okay, I will include myself in that category. Going to parks, movies and out of town were all popular "things to do" in the summer. Let's not forget meeting girls, which was by far the most popular of "things to do."
The summer was a great chance to be sociable. Most of us usually made up for our lack of time during the summer days.
Basketball Did Fit Into Our Summer Schedule
With all that socializing you'd think that we never had time for basketball. Believe me, the coaches made sure that we played together. Only at the University of Kentucky do you have people watching you play in the summer. With a little attention that's all the guys needed. . .a little motivation to show their stuff.
Probably the toughest player to guard is James Blackmon. He really lets his game out during the summer. He plays with so much confidence. After the year he had he will truly be great this summer.
Not only is summer ball just show-time basketball, it's also a time to improve your overall game. Most of the guys will be working on their weaknesses.
The games can get very competitive, which calls for some fist fights. That type of action is good for the team as long as you don't let the guys fight. The freshmen usually get taken to school during these off-season months. They come in with all the accolades but they leave the gym frustrated. You can bet this sort of thing will happen to Derrick Miller, Rex Chapman and Reggie Hanson.
They will take their knocks, but once they learn the ropes watch out. It's fun to see the freshmen go through the training stage. It wasn't fun when you're the one going through the agony. After it's over, though, you can't wait for next season's freshman class.
With all this activity you might believe that the summer would be short and sweet. You're right. Before you know it. . .it's time to buckle down and head to the books.
With school back in session the anticipation is enormous. No, no, not for the basketball season, but for the new girls on campus. Some freshman don't have it so bad afterall.