Earliest Kentucky Basketball Memories

[capcat]

My earliest memories were of listening to the Cats play on my grandmother’s radio, in her kitchen. Born in 1895, she’s the person who taught me to love the Cats. She eventually got a small black and white TV and watched the games on that. I still have the rocking chair where she sat and that’s where I sit to watch the Cats play. Earliest I can remember was how excited she got watching a game and clapping for Coach Rupp and Louis Dampier. I still have a letter she wrote me urging support as the Cats were about to play Vandy.

[Davidmack]

I remember the 1978 team. Goose and Macy.

[Electricat2]

8 years old begged my mom to let me stay up and watch the 78 title game.
she said because it was the last game I could stay up.
Fell asleep and had no idea who won till the next day

[drew_ukfan]

I can remember my dad laying on his side on the floor, pillow tucked under his armpit, keeping score of the UK game. This was late 90s. He used to put an x for a 2 pointer, x with a circle for a 3, tally mark for a free throw I believe.

I can vaguely remember Anderson, Mercer, Heshimu Evans, Scott Padgett

I used to go out and shoot ball for hours alone pretending to be Padgett. His surname and mine are similar and I thought that was awesome

[CATHYnKY]

Because the of my Mom, I was born a Wildcat fan. My earliest memory is of her screaming during a game. Cotton Nash was one of her favorites and I think it was a game he was playing in.

[Joneslab]

I can remember my dad laying on his side on the floor, pillow tucked under his armpit, keeping score of the UK game. This was late 90s. He used to put an x for a 2 pointer, x with a circle for a 3, tally mark for a free throw I believe.

I can vaguely remember Anderson, Mercer, Heshimu Evans, Scott Padgett

I used to go out and shoot ball for hours alone pretending to be Padgett. His surname and mine are similar and I thought that was awesome

This is incredible.

[Joneslab]

That thing about keeping score of games...

That's such an old-fashioned thing. I remember people doing that with UK games *way* back in the day. IIRC my dad did it from time to time, but not obsessively.

That used to be a big thing with people back in the day. More with baseball, but I've heard several stories about UK basketball fans doing it. I've always assumed it was a way to alleviate nervousness during games.

[capcat]

That thing about keeping score of games...

That's such an old-fashioned thing. I remember people doing that with UK games *way* back in the day. IIRC my dad did it from time to time, but not obsessively.

That used to be a big thing with people back in the day. More with baseball, but I've heard several stories about UK basketball fans doing it. I've always assumed it was a way to alleviate nervousness during games.

I can’t explain why, but I actually think keeping score is a good thing. Not that it would make a difference, but a good thing in other ways.

I might carry it over to work in some ways. lol. We’re only as good as the person in charge of entering the data.

[bucsrule8872]

I was born in ‘72.

I vaguely remember UK winning it all in ‘78. Didn’t watch the game because I was only 5 and was more interested in Star Wars than basketball at the time.

I remember my dad telling me about Dan Issel when I was in grade school.

The first team I remember actually watching with my dad was the “83 team. But I wasn’t that into it. Still too young to really care.

I remember Sutton and the ‘86 team. I was in 8th grade and a lot of my HS buddies were UofL fans, so that was tough.

I really started paying attention and became somewhat obsessed with UK basketball with Mashburn and the Unforgettables in 1992. I remember pounding the floor in my living room after the Laettner shot. My girlfriend thought I was crazy, but it didn’t scare her off and we are still together.

So that’s my story.

[SportsFan]

That thing about keeping score of games...

That's such an old-fashioned thing. I remember people doing that with UK games *way* back in the day. IIRC my dad did it from time to time, but not obsessively.

That used to be a big thing with people back in the day. More with baseball, but I've heard several stories about UK basketball fans doing it. I've always assumed it was a way to alleviate nervousness during games.

I used to go to Cincinnati Reds games when I lived in northern Kentucky, at least a couple of times a year...and it seemed like I would sit behind or beside somebody who would "keep score" way more often than you'd think. I've gotta say, I always respected that person, because they had a dedication that I couldn't have. I talk to people around me and make too many trips to the bathroom/concession stand to be that devoted.

[rick64]

A little boy in bed listening to my mom and dad watch the delayed broadcast after the 11pm news. "Get the rebound!!", "That's a terrible call!!"

[Ukcat]

Watching the '66 championship game

[Joneslab]

A little boy in bed listening to my mom and dad watch the delayed broadcast after the 11pm news. "Get the rebound!!", "That's a terrible call!!"

I remember when Lexington news would tell you to turn away from the TV when they reported the score in case you were going to watch the game on delay, which would air after the news ended.

Rob Bromley did a bunch of those games. Weirdly and for some reason I have Rob Bromley's autograph on a 3 placard along with Ramel Bradley and Bruce Pearl of all people. It's probably worth a billion dollars.

[EKYCat]

I remember when Lexington news would tell you to turn away from the TV when they reported the score in case you were going to watch the game on delay, which would air after the news ended.

Rob Bromley did a bunch of those games. Weirdly and for some reason I have Rob Bromley's autograph on a 3 placard along with Ramel Bradley and Bruce Pearl of all people. It's probably worth a billion dollars.

Bromley was hysterically bad at the play by play. He'd get names and numbers wrong. We used to crack up at him. I used to stay up and watch the football and basketball games on tape delay.

[Fox2Monk]

I've been reading the thread regarding some of the players who didn't live up to expectations and I admittedly don't recognize some because they were before my time. I was born in 1982 so I remember watching the Cats in the late 80s. Guys like Hanson, Rob Lock, etc. But my real fandom really began in the early 90s. The Pitino Era is the where I go back for nostalgia. What about some of you all? I know we have some young guys and some old-timers in here too. I'd love to know what Memorial was like back in the day!

85 so same for me.