PAGE 3    THE CATS'  PAUSE, APRIL 8,  1978
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Anderson's Column Indicted All Kentuckians
I've been a Kentucky sports fan (both basketball and football) all my life and after picking up the morning newspaper with Dave Anderson's column in it, I'm ready to throw up. Literally.
The name of the Kentucky Wildcats has been run through every garbage disposal in the country by the national media during the last week and it's about time that these so-called experts shut their_mouths up.
Anderson, who works for the New York Times Service, had the audacity to level the following paragraph about Kentucky and its fans:
"But the Kentucky fans had fun long into the night. And somewhere one of them was chuckling, presumably the one who threatened the life of Gene Banks, the Duke freshman forward, in a telephone call to the Checkerdome before the game. If college basketball is so important in Kentucky that somebody would threaten a college kid's life in order to distract him in a championship game, it's to be wondered if somebody would've threatened Hall's life, even as a prank, if Kentucky had lost the championship game. And if that's what winning the college basketball championship is all about, Kentucky can have it."
Normally, I'd make light of comments like that, but Anderson went about as low as a sportswriter can go, if you can still honestly call him a sportswriter. And I mean that.
When a supposedly well-respected writer like Anderson can accuse the whole school and all supporters, then where is his sense of reality?
I was at the Checkerdome and was given the same press release as Anderson and others concerning a phone threat to Banks' life. It was not said there that it was made by a Kentucky fan.
What is appalling about the situation is that someone would be sick enough to make such a prank call and what's even more appalling is for a sportswriter to be so smart to KNOW the caller when the police don't know.
Anderson's column was just another attempt by the national media to demean the Kentucky program. That seems to be the order of the day. Two years ago it was Bobby Knight's turn at being roasted.
It's very difficult for the national media to accept anyone other than the big East teams, Notre Dame and the California schools as being good enough to win a national championship.
Anderson would have everyone believe that Kentucky's team exper-
ienced a horrible season this past year because the fans demanded so much in the Bluegrass state. Well, wonder where Anderson was when the thousands of Kentuckians and the Wildcats were rejoicing Tuesday and Wednesday in Lexington.
I'll tell you where he was, he was still in St. Louis. I also wonder how many times Dave Anderson has visited the University of Kentucky in the past four years. I don't know, but I'll bet his face hasn't been around.
Anderson also took a couple of parting shots at Joe B. Hall, saying "some of the coach's language was brutal in chewing out a player after a mistake. He wasn't supportive to his players. He hardly ever had eye contact with them as they came out of the game. Nobody seemed to be having any fun."
When you look at all the game and post-game photos in the papers, just remember, you're really not seeing what you believe you're seeing, because the Wildcats are never happy. Dave Anderson said so and you've got to believe one of those big cityslickers.
And when Anderson spoke of pressure being on the players, one has to wonder if he voted in any basketball polls which placed Kentucky at the top and brought on much of that so-called pressure.
# # #
You would think things should be getting back to normal around Big Blue land, but it's just beginning to hop, if you'll pardon the expression.
With the arrival of spring (finally), there's a big weekend of sports activity around the UK campus.
Here's a sampling: First, there's the Buckshot Underwood Roast and retirement dinner Friday evening, then the annual Blue-White spring football game Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Commonwealth Stadium. And there's the big World Invitational Tourney Sunday afternoon at Rupp Arena. And for a side menu, racing returns locally this weekend also.
Then the action continues next week when the Committee of 101 sponsors its annual banquet honoring the national basketball champions, the Kentucky Wildcats, on Tuesday evening at the Lexington Center.
Each year, the committee has to turn fans away from the banquet and this year should be no exception. A limited number of tickets were available early this week at $12 each.
#
#
Would you believe that a few pieces of sports equipment which sell for the retail value of about $125 brought more than $22,000 in an auction last Sunday?
Two basketballs used in the recent NCAA by the Wildcats, a UK game football and a UK practice ball were auctioned off during the Cardinal Hill Easter Seal Telethon on WKYT-TV in Lexington Sunday.
Local horse breeder Seth Hancock won the first NCAA basketball with a bid of $10,000 and Cynthiana banker Tracy Farmer took the second ball with a bid of $5,000. Farmer also bid $5,000 for a UK football. Another horseman, Brownell Combs, put up $1,500 for a UK practice ball.
UK football and basketball players appeared on the telethon, as well as basketball coach Joe B. Hall and football coach Fran Curci.
#
Most every basketball fan in the country knows about the Jack Givens-es, Rick Robeys, Mike Phillipses, Truman Claytors, James Lees and Kyle Macys. But there's one young man who stands just as tall.
I've known this young man for the past two years (at least I thought I knew him). But a story relayed to me by state attorney general Bob Stephens over the weekend really restores faith in mankind and sports.
Friday night, Stephens was accompanied by Kyle Macy and Dwane Casey to a charity function in Logan County which was attended by more than 700 citizens of that county.
When Casey approached the podium, he admitted he was nervous. Nervous he might have been, but no one could have uttered a speech more inspirational than the young Union Countian delivered to that congregation.
Without all the fanfare of a big-time hero, Casey calmly told his story of being a proud member of the national champions, how he looked upon his role with the UK Wildcats.
Then he dropped the bombshell.
' 'There are two important things for you to remember," Casey quietly told the crowd. "Remember, whatever you are doing, wherever you go and whatever time it is, God is always with you. God will always be there and I put all my trust and faith in him. Secondly, always listen to and obey your parents.
They are much smarter than you are and will only do what is best for you." Need more be said?
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