I have two, one was when I met Patrick Patterson 4 times and we exchanged phone numbers. We texted each other a lot. Another one is after we lost to West Virginia, me and my dad visited the players to congratulate them and I met John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Darius Miller and Jon Hood. Wall told me to call DeMarcus "Boogie." I did and he gave me a glare.
Your favorite interaction with a UK player.
- Thread starter David Rice
- Start date
Darius Miller played spades and cornhole and hung out with our crew for several hours one of the nights at big blue madness the John wall cousins year. His girlfriend was camping next to us was the main reason, but he couldn’t have been cooler to a bunch of random fans.
I used to play a lot of Call of duty with Jon Hood
After a kill, he’d yell “ACE HOOOOOODD”
Idk if that’s my favorite but there’s some inside info for ya
After a kill, he’d yell “ACE HOOOOOODD”
Idk if that’s my favorite but there’s some inside info for ya
Sat next to Hagans dad and family one game. They were very much into gambling and point spreads, definitely had some money on the game.
Met Jeff Sheppard at a free basketball camp with my son when he was around 5. He's a 1st class dude and spent hours with the kids at the local YMCA. Would love to see his son in the blue & white! Only thing that would be missing when they announced his name "and now from Peach Tree City, Georgia, Reed Sheppard!
One of my favorite all-time player's!
One of my favorite all-time player's!
Friends with Tayshaun and Tubby , got invitation and attended Tayshauns wedding, we have hung out several times, I had interaction with so many of the players, but I stay in touch with those two....
My son coaches junior high basketball in Memphis. I went to several of his games. One of the teachers there went to church with Tayshuan Prince while he was their as a Grizzlies exec. Knowing what a rabid UK fan my son was she talked Tay into stopping in at one of his games. I was lucky enough to be there that night and sat with him a few minutes, we talked UK and it was awesome. After the game he met with my sons players and had pictures taken with them. Real class act, a real winner.
I was once on an elevator with Steve Masiello at the Mariot in Atlanta during the SEC tournament. He had a strong "think I'm better than everyone" vibe and looked ridiculous with gold chains and such. I don't remember a ton of details but I was like 12 and loved UK, so it would have been hard to give me a negative opinion of a UK player.
I used to sit behind the bench a lot when I was younger because my dad worked right there in the 101, so I met a lot of other players. The rest were great. Donna Smith was the nicest person in the world.
I used to sit behind the bench a lot when I was younger because my dad worked right there in the 101, so I met a lot of other players. The rest were great. Donna Smith was the nicest person in the world.
I have met Joe B. several times, Tubby and Pitino. I have met several players but my best interaction with a player was playing golf with Jimmy Dan Conners a few years ago.
Playing 2 games of ping pong with Jack Goose Givens my freshman year in 1977 in the basement of Holmes Hall..
He beat me 7-0 and then I returned the favor and beat him 7-0....The players moved to Wildcat Lodge in Jan of 1978....
Good times!!
He beat me 7-0 and then I returned the favor and beat him 7-0....The players moved to Wildcat Lodge in Jan of 1978....
Good times!!
Not necessarily for me, but the one that stands out the most...May 31st, 2010. My then 9 year old son, was absolutely enthralled with DeMarcus Cousins. So much so, that he made his Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby Car into a “Big Cuz” car. After the season, the players went on their annual autograph signing run, and DeMarcus came here to Louisviile, so my son wanted his autograph on the car. We stood in line FOREVER, but finally got to the front. Now by this time you could see DeMarcus was getting tired of signing stuff, but he was genuinely intrigued by my son’s car. He wanted to know all about how he built it, and how it did in the Derby. He signed it very legible right on top, and posed with my son holding the car. I’ll never forget that day seeing my son’s face glowing like that!!
High school locker partners with Reggie Hanson. Had almost all our classes together Jr. and Sr. year.
Played a lot of bball with Reg. He used to brag that he was going to play for UNC. Gave him all kinds of hell when he signed with the Cats. LOL! Great guy from a family of great athletes and basketball players.
Played a lot of bball with Reg. He used to brag that he was going to play for UNC. Gave him all kinds of hell when he signed with the Cats. LOL! Great guy from a family of great athletes and basketball players.
Getting a high five from Deaaron Fox after he personally went around and high fived and took a selfie with a fan, in a line of 300-400 fans.
I got to be friendly with Roger Harden years ago and that was pretty neat. My old company used to do business with his company and he would get me lower level tickets at Rupp. The stories he told me were great, Kentucky players live like rock stars. Roger is a good guy.
Several...
Playing one on one with Ramel on old courts by the lodge.
Playing pickup with Nazr at LAC
Playing pickup with Tom Leach at LAC
Playing pickup with Jonathan Davis at the old Powerhouse gym on Nicholasville Rd
Playing pickup at Haggin Hall all year with Glenn Packulak freshman year when he was just walking on football team.
Keeping my friend from getting beat up by Chuck Hayes. Possibly egging my friend on prior...ha.
Playing one on one with Ramel on old courts by the lodge.
Playing pickup with Nazr at LAC
Playing pickup with Tom Leach at LAC
Playing pickup with Jonathan Davis at the old Powerhouse gym on Nicholasville Rd
Playing pickup at Haggin Hall all year with Glenn Packulak freshman year when he was just walking on football team.
Keeping my friend from getting beat up by Chuck Hayes. Possibly egging my friend on prior...ha.
I’ve enjoyed this thread and these are some fun stories. I’ve had some brief interactions with players over the years but I sat next to Orbzut in class. I don’t even remember what the class was, it was like social studies or something. But we sat next to each other most days and hung out some. I remember when we took the final I asked him right before the test if he was ready and he said “I’ll get B”.
Another time I was in the cafeteria on campus and the day after a win, Ramel Bradley walked in and climbed up on a table and started dancing. People (girls) flocked to that table haha
Another time I was in the cafeteria on campus and the day after a win, Ramel Bradley walked in and climbed up on a table and started dancing. People (girls) flocked to that table haha
I went to a couple games when Patrick Patterson and OJ Mayo was in High School and played together. PP was so kind and humble and talked for a good 10 minutes. I know he wasn’t a UK player but OJ was very arrogant and thought he pooped ice cream!
I met Coach Rupp and Cotton Nash at Franklin Co HS in 1962, as a HS sophomore. Had just moved to Frankfort, and was star struck by Nash. I'm a Kentuckian by birth, but lived all over growing up since my father was career military. That move brought us back home, and meeting those two cemented my being a Cat fan for almost 60 years now.
When I was pretty young probably around 10 I went to the Senior day game for Gerald Fitch. After the game they Fitch and his family were standing in the hallway below the stands and myself and others were standing there waiting for him to come out and sign autographs, I remember he put his finger up like wait a minute and he’ll come out. A few minutes passes and him and his family took off down the hall and didn’t come out. Well his mom must have noticed my disappointment and followed us out to the parking lot took me to the lodge and went and got him to sign my wildcat headgear thing. Never met Fitch but who I remember as his Mom was awesome.
Eating ice cream while talking to Sam Bowie at the Red Mile many nights when he was recovering from leg injury. Super nice guy
I have a few. I have someone close who played football at UK.
Sitting in the football family section, usually around second quarter, other teams come in for empty seats. Here's my favorite three stories from then.
During Tubby's last year, he ended up sitting right beside my father-in-law and myself. Spent the whole game more interested in talking with us about our lives than the game. Was an absolutely wonderful person to talk to a spend a few hours with.
During the game with Woodson at QB where we almost beat U6, the players from the basketball team were extremely invested. There was a young high school kid there wearing a U6 shirt. Ramel Bradley kept yelling at him to take that $%^$#*^ shirt off. The kid turns around and says if UK scores he'll take it off. Shagari Alleyne leans forward and wraps his hand around the kids back and booms out, "Oh no, we'll take it off for you WHEN we score". That kids face and the sheer hilarity that that man's hand was bigger than the kids back was great. Unfortunately, we didn't score...
Cal's first year and he comes in with the whole team, Wall, Cousins, Patterson, all of them. We had got tickets for my uncles 70th birthday to the game against UF when Tebow got KOd. We were talking about them and my uncle says rather loudly "that kid has the broadest shoulders I've ever seen" when Cousins was right beside us. Boogie looks at him and says, "And they gonna carry us to a title" then shook my uncles hand. As Cal comes by, my sister asked for a picture. She holds up her phone to take it, but Cal puts his arm out and puts it around her so she could be in it. Cal also wished my uncle a happy birthday.
Sitting in the football family section, usually around second quarter, other teams come in for empty seats. Here's my favorite three stories from then.
During Tubby's last year, he ended up sitting right beside my father-in-law and myself. Spent the whole game more interested in talking with us about our lives than the game. Was an absolutely wonderful person to talk to a spend a few hours with.
During the game with Woodson at QB where we almost beat U6, the players from the basketball team were extremely invested. There was a young high school kid there wearing a U6 shirt. Ramel Bradley kept yelling at him to take that $%^$#*^ shirt off. The kid turns around and says if UK scores he'll take it off. Shagari Alleyne leans forward and wraps his hand around the kids back and booms out, "Oh no, we'll take it off for you WHEN we score". That kids face and the sheer hilarity that that man's hand was bigger than the kids back was great. Unfortunately, we didn't score...
Cal's first year and he comes in with the whole team, Wall, Cousins, Patterson, all of them. We had got tickets for my uncles 70th birthday to the game against UF when Tebow got KOd. We were talking about them and my uncle says rather loudly "that kid has the broadest shoulders I've ever seen" when Cousins was right beside us. Boogie looks at him and says, "And they gonna carry us to a title" then shook my uncles hand. As Cal comes by, my sister asked for a picture. She holds up her phone to take it, but Cal puts his arm out and puts it around her so she could be in it. Cal also wished my uncle a happy birthday.
Met Goose Givens. Hands down the guy you want to meet. Wonderful guy, and nothing but respect for him.
I went to UK from 99-03 and had classes with and got to know a lot of the players pretty well. Was pretty good friends with Bogans, Jules, JP Blevins and Tayshaun. My girlfriend's roommate dated Tayshaun and we hung out quite a bit. He brought me a signed jersey shortly before he left UK.
I also worked at UKAA and got to know Tubby really well. Unsolicited, he sent me a very nice letter congratulating me when I graduated from UK. Was very cool of him to do.
I also worked at UKAA and got to know Tubby really well. Unsolicited, he sent me a very nice letter congratulating me when I graduated from UK. Was very cool of him to do.
Almost hit delk with my car coming out of the old “C” lot behind memorial coliseum. Damn sure glad the brakes were working that day. He just looked over at me and flashed the peace sign.
I talked with Kenny Walker once for an hour or so. He shared a lot of stories of his time at UK and for a guy who grew up as a huge Sky Walker fan I was in awe. For that hour or so it was like I was a 13 year old kid listening to stories from one of my favorites Cats of all time. I think that is what has been harder for me with the one and done culture is having that connection with guys who are here for 4 years.
I sat next to Rondo's family when he was at Oak Hill but had committed to UK. I have no idea if it was the norm as it was a single interaction but they were very nice to us that night.
Yep. 7-0 is a skunk...play to 21 (win by 2) otherwise....Some also play 11-1 as a game winner as well.
As a side note to the ping pong game with Givens, the CAT I got to know the best on the 78 Championship team was Chris Gettlefinger. Would talk to him quite a bit at night while some of us watched TV downstairs, eating pizza. He had a very southern accent and was a really nice guy.
A couple of times we both would be shooting some hoops at Alumni Gym (which was across the street from Holmes Hall). One day Macy was with him and I asked Macy why he transferred from Purdue.. He said because "this place" was really serious about basketball.
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To many to name, coaches and players. Everyone I know was really nice, and this goes back to Cliff Hagan. I spent more time with Larry Pursiful. Larry and I both worked at Natural Bridge State Park, and we're still friends today. My wife and I were at his house the night before I went into the USAF. Larry is a good Christian man, Assistant Pastor, loves hunting. He was one of the best shooters in basketball when at UK. He grew up in Bell County. My claim to fame is, in a pick-up game at Wolfe County, when he was a Freshman at UK, my friends didn't know who he was, and picked me, before him. That changed in about two minutes. He could "Fill it up."
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
partied with Mash an Prickett a couple of times...
Toomer got smashed at my place and cried for over an hour about his girlfriend (how I ended up his "counselor" that night is beyond me)
Donnie Gardner was "my boy" when I was a bouncer at crystals
Ed Davender was my partner in Military science
I had some classes with pelphrey (he was an *** his freshman year)
Toomer got smashed at my place and cried for over an hour about his girlfriend (how I ended up his "counselor" that night is beyond me)
Donnie Gardner was "my boy" when I was a bouncer at crystals
Ed Davender was my partner in Military science
I had some classes with pelphrey (he was an *** his freshman year)