Each Generation of Fans has Special UK Memories

A 25-year-old UK fan really would not know former UK players Marquis Estill, left, or Kenny Walker without checking Google. (Vicky Graff Photo)

What are your first memories of Kentucky basketball?

Kyle Macy wiping his hands on his socks before shooting free throws, “Goose” Givens scoring 41 points in the 1978 National Championship game, Rex Chapman being the King of the Bluegrass and staying up after the 11 p.m. news to watch the game are just a few of mine that come to mind.

There was a time when all the sporting news a Cat fan could gather would either be from print or the local news. Larry Vaught and Rob Bromley were superstars to area Cat fans. Times have changed as have memories of Cat fans.

I was enlightened by a 25-year-old Cat fan, who is currently a dental student in Knoxville, recently during a game at Rupp Arena as what it is like to be a fan whose first memories were made during the John Calipari era.

The conversation was initiated when Kenny “Sky” Walker was shown on the JumboTron. “Do you know who Kenny Walker is?” I asked. He went on to explain he kept seeing him on the screen and finally googled him and saw his highlights.

His first memories of Kentucky basketball involved sitting behind the bench the Wall/Cousins year. He laughed as he told me he heard words during that game he had never heard before.

He knows Rex Chapman from Twitter. He had heard the name Kyle Macy but nothing else. He has only seen the Christian Laettner shot because they put it on loop during the NCAA Tournament.

His memories are fresh, mine are old. However, it was as if we had known each other for years. We were connected by the best tradition in college basketball.

My grandchildren will never know what John Calipari did for Kentucky basketball. At the young ages of 6, 5 and 3 they watch the games and imitate the cheerleaders. At some point they will start to develop their own memories. They will pass those memories down to their children and grandchildren just as all Kentucky fans do.

Kentucky basketball is a tradition like no other.  It does not involve the memories of winning a few banners and championships. It is a way of life passed down from generation to generation.