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Santa's toy house filled with gifts for sports' VIPs
Act III: In search of Eddie Sutton's present
1 don't think even Santa Clans could find anything in Ins workshop that would reverse frowns of Kentucky Wildcat fans into smiles. I know because I explored the jolly ol' man's toy shop last week and there wasn't a
--~~I
Nick Nicholas
Cats' Pause Columnist
power rebounder nor a magic wand to place under Eddie Sutton's Christmas tree.
You mas remember about this time every year 1 venture my way to the North Pole lo extend Christmas greetings to Mr. and Mrs. S. Claus. And one night during my stay, guided by just the trail of my shadow, I invited myself into his palace of toys.
I didn't see anything labeled for the Kentucky Wildcats which would turn the 'Cats into a Final Four contender.
What did I see'.'
Glad you asked.
/r>r Bobby Bowden: an offensive playbook authored by a certain UK assistant. Last year at this time we gave Kentucky offensive coordinator Jerry Eisaman a playbook from the Florida State head coach. This season the favor is returned. That is. Santa will send Bowden a Jerry Eisaman playbook. Despite the loss of big play man Dee Smith and an inexperienced offensive line, Eisaman's offense was productive more than not. The run-and-shoot attack early in the season proved to be an excellent call by the UK coaching staff.
For Dale Brown: a box containing two video cassettes marked Chris Jackson's 1988-89 highlights. Written on both tapes was: "Jackson's 53-point extravaganza against Florida." Hi^  *Tort against the Gators was so spectacular it took two     .iiinute tapes just to cover it all. I guess I should inform Santa that he might not want to send the tape by way of Emery.
For the University of Kentucky student body: Plenty tickets to get hack on the Wildcat bandwagon.
For Johnathon Davis: A chain like the one Rex has with "Johnathon" dangling from the gold links. Not only is Davis' name misspelled (Jonathon) in the UK statististics but in NCAA allegations as well. Hang in there Jonathon. eh Johnathon. they'll get it right one of these days. Have you considered Jon for short?
For Bill Mailory: A book entitled How Not To Make Your Opponent Angry. Giving All-Big Ten junior tailback Anthony Thompson the ball for a touchdown on the final play of this year's Kentucky-Indiana game will be talked about, talked about and talked about until the two teams meet Sept. 9. "That really hit me in the gut," said linebacker Randy Holleran. No, that statement wasn't made after IU's 36-15 win in Bloomington. Holleran. though, made that statement a couple of days after he was named to the Associated Press' All-SEC team. He said many of his teammates still are embarrassed by Thompson's meaningless touchdown and even now are eyeing UK's first game of the '89 season.
For Pervis Ellison: the 1989 Adolph Rupp Trophy. Santa must have read my mind. You can have Sean Elliott or Danny Ferry. For my team I'll take Ellison. Enough said.
For Ed Murphy and Sonny Smith: a 10-minute spot on the Johnny Carson show. Not only can Murphy and Smith draw the Xs and Os with the nation's best but they can match wits with any of the country's wittiest coaches. Yes, duos like Laurel and Hardy, the Smothers
Brothers, Abbott and Costello, Earl and Oscar have tickled the funny bone of their respective followers. No doubt about it, the Ed & Sonny show would be a Hollywood smash.
For Dick Vitale: an "A" for being honest with his audience. Whether or not you agree with Vitale's remarks last month, he has to be admired for having enough courage to not only "tell it like he sees it" but to confront Sutton and his staff before he made his feelings known on national television. In no way did Vitale have anything to gain by saying that Sutton and his staff (innocent or guilty) should resign for the overall betterment of the program. Was this a PR stunt by Vitale? Not likely, because the ESPN and ABC color commentator already has climbed his way to the top of the success ladder. Fact of the matter is, he had everything to lose. His popularity among Kentucky fans, once at a colossal level, is permanently stained.
For Jerry Claiborne: a box full of Ws. Next season, the UK coach will have his best team, on paper, to work with. With eight starters returning on defense (including All-SEC players Holleran and Oliver Barnett) and six on offense, the Kentucky staff should be eager to begin spring drills. And next September if the Wildcats can start with a couple of nonconference wins over Indiana and North Carolina then Claiborne may well be on his way to his best season ever at UK.
For Oliver Barnett: a pie aimed for revenge against Lexington WLEX sports anchor Alan Cutler. Recently.
Barnett lost a beta pie in the facethat the 'Cats for the first time in four years would finish with a winning season. It's only fair for Cuder to give the 6-foot-3, 285 senior-to-be a second chance. I'd give anything to see the tables turned on our friend at WLEX. I bet Ollie and the 'Cats would, too.
For Dana Kirk: switches. Need I say more?
For Leon Spinks: two front teeth. Remember the song? Altogether now. . .all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. (I couldn't let that one slip by).
For Keith Madison: more season ticket holders. Of the three major sports. Kentucky's baseball team may be the only one to produce a winning record. After last year's sterling regular season performance and in the NCAA tournamentone game from a trip to the College Wc J SeriesMadison and his Bat Cats deserve a season l.ned
Sutton will be glad when 1988 is over
with sell-out followings.
For Rex Chapman: the opportunity to form the "Y" in the cheerleaders' traditional letter formation of "Kentucky." Chapman's decision to jump to the NBA upset thousands of Kentucky fans, some to the extent of a devotion of lifetime hatred toward the 21-year-old Owensboro Apollo product. Rex's decision was his and his parents' call. If given a chance to return to Rupp Arena it would be only fitting that a standing ovation greet Chapman. In two years at Kentucky his presence on and off the court was superb. And for UK fans to snub their hero would be selfish as well as foolish.
For Mike Pfeifer: a protective brace which will ward off all blows to the knee. Next season will be the final time (will not play this spring) this fifth-year senior gets a chance to show off his muscles before the eyes of pro scouts. He was well on his way to a fine junior year before being sidelined with a knee injury against Alabama. Like Barnett, the 6-7. 290-pound offensive tackle has an excellent shot to make a living in the pros.
For the UK sports information department: a two-week vacation to the island of their choice. Ever since last spring when the now famous off-the-court turmoil hit the fan. UK's sports information deparment has been forced into a difficult situation, not to mention long hours. The role of being a mediatorbetween the coaches and the mediahas not been an easy assignment for this group.
? ? ?
I'm sure Santa didn't forget Eddie. While trying to uncover the UK coach's present, Santa all of a sudden popped in dressed with a peculiar stare aimed directly at yours truly. "Ho, ho, ho, Nick, what are you doing in my toy house?
"Well, Santa." I nervously said, searching for the right thing to say, "I just wanted to see what you had picked out for some of the boys back home."
I then inquired. "By the way. what did you get coach Sutton?"
"Oh. it's over there in the corner." Santa noted.
I spotted a Christmas card opened on a table. Looi-closer I saw that it was marked w ith the words: For I die Sutton and his basketball family: A Merry Christinas and a Happy New Year. Signed Santa Claus.
It's a gift Sutton and his staff would welcome dearl;
'89 season could be Mike Pfeifer's year