Bahama Mamas are Special Group of Kentucky Fans

Left to right: Barbara Coleman, Don Koors, Trudy Noble, Peggy Kays. (Tina Cox Photo)

TORONTO — In 2018 on a rickety bus traveling from the Nassau Airport to the Atlantis in the Bahamas, I met a group of ladies. They were donning their blue and white from head to toe.

As conversation ensued I jokingly called them the Bahamas Mamas. I had remembered hearing their story of getting scammed for $2,400 apiece from a travel company for the trip. New plans had to be made at the last minute but nothing was going to stop this group from seeing the Cats

Over the years I have encountered the Bahama Mamas at Cal’s Clinics, in the line for UK versus Duke in Indianapolis and countless SEC tournaments. One thing never changes … wherever the Cats are they will be also.

They can be found decked in their Kentucky attire all sitting together and are some of the loudest fans in attendance no matter the size of the venue.

I had a chance in Toronto to sit down with two of them, Barbara Coleman and Peggy Kays, sisters from Winchester. They shared stories from their many adventures of being on the road with the Cats. In fact, their tales would make a perfect book for Kentucky fans. Are you reading this, John Huang?

They have been traveling with the team since the coaching days of Joe B. Hall. To this day they say their worst trip was when the Cats lost to Georgetown in Seattle  in the 1984 Final Four. They both agreed that although the St. Peters loss was horrifying, being beaten in Seattle with no way to get home was even worse. They ended up traveling and staying with relatives in Denver to watch the rest of the Final Four.

They were in the Georgia Dome when the tornado hit and it is impossible to express how funny their story was when sharing the details. They didn’t know what was going on as the tornado was peeling away parts of the Georgia Dome. They also weren’t happy when there was no refund and they didn’t get to see the team play the next day at Georgia Tech.

Their favorite trip with the Cats was to Italy with coach Rick Pitino. It was a 13-day adventure, different cities and lots of basketball.

The two hours spent with these ladies will always be one of the highlights of my trip to Toronto. They had nothing bad to say about any of the coaches or players. They kind of agreed Kyle Macy was their all-time favorite player that I would know. They truly love the Cats through the good and the bad.

It was refreshing listening to their expectations for this year’s team. They hope they do well but will not criticize. They have seen it all. No matter what the record their allegiance stays true to the Cats.

I have always wondered what I wanted to be when I grew up and today I realized … I want my own group of Bahama Mamas.