http://http://www.kentucky.com/287/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com Mark Story 60 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:28:25 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench interactive-ops@herald-leader.com http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/852617.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/852617.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:26 EDT
When the sheriff sends official notice that your house will be auctioned out from under you in foreclosure, it tends to be rather jarring.

Still couldn't believe her life had come to this. "I panicked," she says now. "I can't describe the feeling. This wasn't how things were supposed to go."

After surviving a youth spent as one of her parents' 10 kids growing up in the gritty city of Camden, N.J., Still's had been an often charmed life one that saw her become the greatest women's basketball player in University of Kentucky history.

After college, she headed to Italy where she became famous and made good money as a pro hoops player, a fashion model and an entertainer. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/851848.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/851848.html Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:20 EDT
When Donnie Tyndall has headed down to Main Street in Morehead this summer to sample the pizza at Pasquale's, he has noticed something different.

"I see more people wearing Morehead State shirts and caps in there than UK stuff," the Morehead men's basketball coach says. "It's pretty neat."

That is hardly all that's changed since last season, when the school made its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 25 years.

Since last March when MSU beat Alabama State in the dreaded NCAA tourney "play-in" game, then put up a dignified fight before falling to No. 1 overall seed Louisville, Tyndall says things have "been a little bit of a whirlwind."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/849857.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/849857.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:11 EDT
21. Meeks vs. Bogans. It looks as if former Kentucky shooting guards Jodie Meeks and Keith Bogans will not be dueling for a roster spot with the Milwaukee Bucks. Bogans, who was traded from Orlando to the Bucks last season, is a free agent and does not appear to be in Milwaukee's plans.

20. What sent Meeks to Milwaukee. Wonder why it was the Bucks who pulled the trigger on the Kentucky shooting star in the second round (41st overall pick) of last week's NBA draft? Turns out, Milwaukee director of player personnel Dave Babcock was in Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena last winter on the night Meeks dropped 54 points on the Men of Pearl.

19. The Bucks' book on Meeks. "I went to see (Meeks) and Patrick Patterson," Babcock told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about his trip to Knoxville. "(Meeks) moves so well without the ball and obviously he's a very good shooter. Couple with that he's physical, strong and a good defender, for him to be at 41 was sort of shocking."

18. Good omen for Jodie. As a second round pick, Meeks does not get a guaranteed contract, but the Bucks have a history of success with second-round picks. The team's star, Michael Redd, was a second rounder (43rd pick) in 2000; promising guard Ramon Sessions went in round two (56th) in 2007; forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee's second-rounder in 2008 (37th), started 56 games this past season. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/847472.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/847472.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:40 EDT
In 2006, UK beat Georgia for the first time since 1996. The Cats went to a bowl for the first time since 1999. Kentucky won a bowl for the first time since 1984.

The 2007 season brought a win over a top-10 foe (Louisville) for the first time since 1977. It brought an upset of a No. 1 team in the country (Louisiana State) for the first time since 1964. It brought bowl wins in consecutive years for the first time since the 1950 and '51 seasons.

Even last year's 7-6 slog included Kentucky's first-ever win over Bobby Petrino; a third-straight winning season for the first time since 1954-56; and a UK bowl victory in a third consecutive year for the first time in all the recorded history of all mankind.

The bad news for The Long-Suffering UK Football Fan is that Kentucky's post-Bryant run (more or less) of pigskin mediocrity means that embarrassing streaks of Cats football futility remain alive in 2009.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/830163.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/830163.html Sun, 14 Jun 2009 06:25 EDT
Anthony Gay has been gone now almost one full year (June 29).

One year since you drove what was probably a truck or SUV police don't know for sure down Lexington's Walden Drive, banged into a couple of parked cars.

Then crushed a walking man beneath your wheels.

You drove away.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/830124.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/830124.html Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:58 EDT
"That's the 1,000,462nd time I've been asked that," Smith said.

Surely, you already have surmised what the question was: What is the status of bringing that ever-elusive Sprint Cup race to Kentucky?

Especially as it pertains to the 2010 season?

"I think there may be a slim chance and slim probably left town," said Smith, the billionaire race track mogul before Saturday night's Meijer 300. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/827738.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/827738.html Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:37 EDT
Brad Keselowski figures he's watched his dramatic last-lap victory over Carl Edwards which ended with Edwards' Ford airborne and against the catch-fence in this spring's Sprint Cup race at Talladega "at least 30-40 times."

"It gets better every time," Keselowski said Thursday.

You would also think that winning your first ever Cup race in only your fifth start in NASCAR's major league and doing it while racing for an under-funded, part-time team (James Finch's Phoenix Racing) would be the ultimate life changer.

While acknowledging that the surprise win has given him the confidence to believe he's ready to run Cup full time in 2010, Keselowski says his life hasn't actually changed much.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/824128.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/824128.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:05 EDT
21. Richie playing on ... C-SPAN? Had a bit of a surreal moment one morning last week while channel surfing. Was cruising past C-SPAN when, HEY, isn't that Richie Farmer?

20. Not on Road to the White House: Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture was touring a hospital with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack during the latter's recent visit to Kentucky.

19. On C-SPAN with U.S. Cabinet members: Richie is a long way from his days running Bobby Keith's high stack at Clay County.

18. Landon Slone's decision: The former Kentucky Wildcat picked well in choosing Morehead State as a transfer point. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/822102.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/822102.html Sun, 07 Jun 2009 08:08 EDT
On June 13, the Kentucky Speedway holds the first major event of its 10th season when NASCAR's Nationwide Series returns to Sparta.

For a facility that has yet to achieve what it was built to do attract a Cup Series NASCAR event to Kentucky the Speedway has nevertheless made a rich contribution to the commonwealth's sports lore.

As it's 10th year begins, here are my top 10 Kentucky Speedway memories:

10. Girl power. For whatever reason, female drivers have had boffo success in Sparta. In 2000, IndyCar's Sarah Fisher led an IRL race for the first time in her career and earned the first podium finish (third) ever for a female racer in that series. Two years later at Kentucky, she became the first woman to win the pole for an IRL race.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/819470.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/819470.html Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:52 EDT
In November 2006, Western Kentucky University honchos came to Lexington to talk about their school's transition to what used to be called I-A football.

In making the move up in class, WKU President Gary A. Ransdell said Western was bidding to change the way Kentuckians thought about college sports in our state.

For all of my lifetime, if someone asked you to name the major sports programs in the commonwealth, the answer has been Kentucky and Louisville, period.

In moving to the highest level of college football, Ransdell said one of Western's aims was to someday be perceived as the third major sports program in Kentucky.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/815667.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/815667.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:03 EDT
Billy Gillispie and the University of Kentucky seem to be engaged in one of them.

Last week, that divorcing "couple" filed dueling, multi-state lawsuits against each other arguing over the terms of the financial settlement that will finally end their unsatisfying union.

Before this potential basketball version of the War of the Roses (the film, not the actual War) gets any hotter, I'd like to offer both a bit of advice.

You each have a lot to lose if this case ever gets to court or even to the deposition stage.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/813750.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/813750.html Sun, 31 May 2009 07:36 EDT
The Casey County High School senior literally put his heart and his parents and coaches feared, his life on the line just to play one season of football.

His trek to leave high school as a football player began when Cobee came into the world on Jan. 3, 1991, feeling a little blue.

After David and Kathy Goode's only son was born, he was soon diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (fuh-LOE). That is a condition that generally consists of four heart defects at one time. It afflicts roughly five out of every 10,000 babies (according to Mayo Clinic).

The practical effect is that oxygen-poor blood comes out of the heart and leaves the skin of sufferers' looking blue.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/811108.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/811108.html Fri, 29 May 2009 06:24 EDT
Re: The recent hiring by UK of a head men's basketball coach whose former program now stands alleged of major NCAA violations.

Well that didn't take long, did it Dr. Todd?

Exactly 56 days after you introduced John Calipari as Kentucky coach on April Fool's Day, it became public that the NCAA is charging Cal's former school, Memphis, with major violations including academic fraud.

Now you, Dr. Todd, as president of one of the most penalized schools in NCAA history, have hired a coach who may soon have Final Four trips from two different schools "vacated" due to rules infractions on his watch.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/806036.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/806036.html Sun, 24 May 2009 08:23 EDT
If one added up all the hours I've logged in football stadiums, basketball arenas and auto racing tracks, you might just have one year of elapsed time out of my life.

All of which led me to pondering this: In which sports venues has my time been best spent?

College basketball arenas

My three favorites (and, yes, my list is very provincial): ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/804217.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/804217.html Fri, 22 May 2009 06:14 EDT
Playing the par-3 Meadow brook Golf Course by himself on April 27, Dean Gorman figured he was showing proper golf etiquette when he let two guys "play through" on the 14th hole.

As it turns out, what he'd done was give himself witnesses to vouch for a rather dramatic golf occurrence.

The two strangers were leaving the 14th green for the 15th tee when Gorman took a 5-iron from his golf bag and let 'er rip.

"I could tell it was going to be a good shot when I hit it," Gorman said Thursday. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/800298.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/800298.html Tue, 19 May 2009 15:31 EDT
21. Carmelo Anthony. The 2003 NCAA championship banner hanging in The Carrier Dome is testament to why "a special talent" justifies a college basketball program taking a one-and-done player.

20. O.J. Mayo. The agent-initiated mess at Southern California is testament to the risk a college basketball program is taking when it signs a one-and-done player, even one with special talents.

19. John Wall. Like Anthony, he is a difference-making talent capable of taking a team to the proverbial "next level." Question is, does he come with Mayo-esque baggage, too?

18. Kenny Walker. The former UK hoops star is solidly on the John Calipari bandwagon: "I think people are going to love his brand of basketball," Walker says. "And from a personality standpoint, he's got enough (personality) to fill this job. That's a big difference."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/798615.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/798615.html Sun, 17 May 2009 06:38 EDT
It is a tradition that current Cats radio announcer Tom Leach hopes to revive.

This weekend, Leach is putting the finishing touches on a book designed to be the "inside story" of how Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks went from the verge of a pink slip midway through the 2006 season to becoming the first UK coach ever to win three straight bowl games.

The book, tentatively titled Rich Tradition , is scheduled for release in July.

"I just thought it was a really interesting story how the players rallied around an old coach that many said was past his prime and a lot said hadn't been a good hire in the first place," Leach said Friday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/796221.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/796221.html Fri, 15 May 2009 12:44 EDT
Wanted to get the now-former owner of Kentucky Speedway's reaction to claims made last week by the new track proprietor, Bruton Smith.

It is, Smith said, the appeal of an anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR filed by the Speedway's old owners that is now the only thing standing between the commonwealth and the long-elusive Sprint Cup date coming here in 2010.

I planned to ask Carroll why not just drop the suit, declare victory after Smith moved a Cup race here and then be heroes to Kentucky sports fans forever?

Even starting down that line of questioning, however, got the always effusive Carroll revving faster than Kyle Busch's engine.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/792609.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/792609.html Tue, 12 May 2009 13:42 EDT
After a formal news conference Monday in which Wildcats standout Patrick Patterson explained his rationale for pulling his name out of the NBA Draft to stay in Lexington for his junior year, Tywanna Patterson, his mother, discussed what the UK star's sophomore year had been like for his family.

As I listened, it reinforced for me that the issues that drove Billy Gillispie from the job as Kentucky basketball coach after only two years were far more than bad sideline interviews, spurned Rotary Club speeches and too much losing to the likes of Gardner-Webb and VMI.

Those late season rumblings that Billy G. had "lost" his best players? It seems clear they were far more than the typical UK basketball rumor-mongering.

"As a parent, you know when your kid isn't happy," Tywanna Patterson said Monday. "I could just look at Patrick's face last year and see he wasn't happy."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/790889.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/790889.html Mon, 11 May 2009 07:19 EDT
The Super Bowl-winning, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts will receive the Blanton Collier Award on June 19 at the Lexington Opera House.

Presented in memory of the late University of Kentucky and Cleveland Browns coach, the honor is given to a football figure that has shown "integrity on the field and off."

The devoutly religious Dungy is widely recognized as one of the true gentlemen in American sports.

"We're very, very thrilled he is accepting the award, our whole family is," says Kay Collier McLaughlin, one of the former Kentucky coach's daughters. "I have never met (Dungy). But we have always admired Tony Dungy and all that he has stood for."]]>