Fractured leg will force UK fan Sarah White to miss her first UK Women’s Clinic

Sarah White, second from left, has loved everything about attending the UK Basketball Women’s Clinic and appreciates what coach John Calipari does for female fans. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Guest Post by Sarah White

I should be up and moving — getting ready for my annual trip to the 2022 Annual UK Basketball Women’s Clinic Sunday at the Joe Craft Center.  

I have never missed a clinic with Coach Cal and his staff — whether I go alone or with one, two, or three of my daughters. I anticipate this annual trip from Tennessee to Lexington from one year to the next.

Up until this year, I have attended every single UK’s Women’s Basketball Clinic. I would love to send this to Coach Cal with a big “thank you” for all he does, especially the annual clinic.  But he says over and over he will not read/or answer any typed emails/letters. Too bad — this is a huge “thank you” to him and the UK basketball staff.  

But he wouldn’t be able to read my handwriting.  I  turned 75 this October with a handwriting I can barely read myself.  And I have a computer typed message.  I’m sorry he won’t read this, but I fractured my humerus and have been in an immobilizer for 12 weeks. I think I will get to enjoy it six more weeks.  Trust me, this is not very humorous!!!!!!

I have three girls — Jennifer, Josie, and Angie that have gone with me to each or most of these clinics. So I will sit here and sulk and tell you what I know I will be missing. I am so sad that I am not allowed by my doctor to go to the clinic nor will I get to meet all of the new and current players.

— I will never get to relive the experience of  my first clinic walking out of Memorial Coliseum to find my vehicle and about 10 more vehicles towed for being at the wrong place. I think Will was a student then, but he volunteered (most likely was forced to carry all of us in the school’s van) to the police station to retrieve our vehicles). UK folks were so nice to us.

I had a great time with an unusual experience. Coach Cal insisted on refunding our tickets. I begged his office to keep the money, but he wouldn’t do it. Looking back, I am sure the police were just as shocked as we when they started towing all of these cars and mostly older women were showing up to pick the vehicles up.

— I loved meeting Erin Andrews at one of the clinics. She said one of the first people to contact her after she had dealt with her stalker was Coach Cal. She was so impressed at how respectful he was to her. I was impressed with her as a great sportscaster..

— Coach Cal always sat down in the middle of the benches. My daughter Josie begged Coach Cal to take a picture with him. He agreed but said for me to hurry. Who knew they must have split the floor and I immediately fell, twisted my ankle, laughed like a hyena and hopped off.  As we were leaving the clinic, Josie and Jennifer asked security if I could ride up the elevator so I didn’t have to walk up the steps at Rupp. There were two elevators across from each other.  

We chose one — the wrong one we later discovered. Next thing you know we were at the top of  Rupp and cannot get in or out. There were two folks on the floor and us taking turns opening doors, running to the next door and holding it open for another one of us. As you can imagine we were laughing hysterically. Eventually two guards came up, looked at us and said, “You shouldn’t be up here.” I had to turn off my sarcasm button off so I wouldn’t say “no thanks.”

— The very best of the clinic is reuniting with our long-time friends. The Women’s Clinic was responsible for bringing about 13 of us together many clinic years ago, and we have become great friends. Without this clinic, we women would have never met. I consider myself the unappointed Ambassador to the UK Women’s Clinic.  

“Someone dared me to eat a piece of candy from Coach Cal’s office. I did. I’m sorry. Hope he will accept my apology.”

— One year we were invited to attend the volleyball game prior to the Women’s Clinic. What a brilliant idea. I knew it had to be Cal’s idea. We would be able to support another UK athletic group. I now love UK volleyball.

Thank you, thank you, thank you University of Kentucky and Coach Cal. We love the annual Women’s Clinic. We love the clinic and how much you give back to your supporters.  Please continue to do all you do.