U of L  Coach Rick Pitino  (as quoted in C-J in October, 2009)

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Coach Rick Pitino in happier times...

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Outside of the Cards rocking Freedom Hall big, one last time, in a spectacular send off

not much has gone well for U of L basketball since T-Will, Earl, and gang rocketed to the top of the college basketball world

and then crashed shy of even  a Final Four.

First…the bombshell Karen Sypher “incident” and continuing trial.

Key recruiter Rick, Jr.  departs suddenly for Florida.

Then, Fab Melo (a lock by most accounts) goes to Syracuse.

Followed by Jeremy Tyler foregoing his final  year in high school to go pro overseas,

Michael Chandler de-committing,

and now Marquis Teague (another lock until a month ago) picks UK over us

without ever setting foot on UK’s campus.

And nearby,   Calipari is re-loading Big Blue with 5 star blue chips with seeming ease.

Hmmm….

Is it the style of play?  With Calipari’s dribble-drive offense being the current  craze?

Is it the style of coaching?  Old school, hard-ass Pitino vs.  Let- ‘em- play Cal.

Is it the loss of a key recruiter?  Rick , Jr. was very close in age to guys he was recruiting and obviously could relate well with them.

Is it the NBA- type bling and media fawning?  LeBron James, Drake  and World Wide Wes are tough to recruit against.  Top recruits nowadays are less concerned about winning championships than one-and-done-ing it to the NBA ASAP.  UK only got to the Elite 8 with their star-power freshmen BUT they are  sending 4-5 players to the NBA this year.

Or, is it age?  Pitino is 57, Calapari is 51.  The great coaches seldom achieved great heights again after 55…

Is it something we  as U of L fans even need to be concerned about at all?  After all, NONE of the  four teams in this year’s Final Four had a one-and done player.  NONE.

Pitino has been burned by the pursuing one-and-doners like Telfair and has adjusted his recruiting to focus more attention on players on the next tier down,  that will stay 2-4 years.

Will this type of recruiting focus and different style of play and coaching produce more results–and championships– than the one-and-done style of UK?  For Pitino, is this  the beginning of the inevitable downward trend experienced by all coaches as they age past 55?  Or… is  Rick on target with his style and still will  produce Final 4′s– and a National Championship–during his expected last 5 – 7 years of coaching?

Those are the  key questions in the great local and national college basketball soap opera that will unfold over the next several years as Pitino and Calipari continue their battles….

Two of the better — and more rational — comments on this situation and  recruiting wars…

http://www.cardchronicle.com/2010/4/22/1436272/what-is-rick-pitino-supposed-to-do

http://www.cardchronicle.com/2010/4/22/1437699/gasoline-meet-fire

“There were so many festivities. All the guys were coming back. The NCAA berth being on the line. The No. 1 team in the country. The closing of Freedom Hall.

“I got up at about 2 (a.m.) and said ‘What if we lose?”

Coach Rick Pitino,  on the pressure of winning the last game at Freedom Hall.

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The last game of all time in Freedom Hall.

Against the #1 ranked team.

After one of the worst losses of the year.

A record crowd of 20,135 fans packing the Hall hours before the game–and in their seats and standing 30 minutes before game time

The frenzy of the pre-game dark, alive with 20,000 fans in full cry, waving red -lighted, blinking towels

All the legends of U of L in witness, including Never Nervous, Griff, and the McCrays

And then…and then …the comeback in the second half, like the Cardiac Cards of old

Fueled by the Cheerleader, Rob Hickerson,  spelling out the loudest Cards cheers EVER

And the hearts and souls and throats of 20,000 human beings,  burning for victory

With Siva igniting the energy and Kuric igniting the Hall, with 3′s and slam jams straight out of  the Doctors of Dunk

We won

My God , we won

And when it was over

When it was finally and so sweetly over

I cried.

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It  would have been so, so wrong.

But now it is so right.

FOREVER.

With an exclamation point, the Cards ended their  54 year run at storied Freedom Hall by stunning #1 Syracuse 78-68.

In those 50+ years, U of L has met seven #1 ranked opponents in the Hall.   They leave the Hall with a winning 4-3 record against that gauntlet. And Coach Pitino leaves  with a 3-1 record against #1′s in the Hall.

What does that say about the great coaching at U of L over the years?

What does it say about the great fans in the Hall?

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Anvillian does the work of God for Cards fans…video masterpiece of the Game…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zevk8jgf9gA&feature=player_embedded

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Rick Bozich of the C-J marveled:

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/bozich/2010/03/video-kyle-kurics-big-day.html

“Kuric scored all 22 points in the final 14 minutes and 25 seconds of the second half.

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Understand this: Kuric had only scored in double figures three times in 27 games this season. He made four three-point shots after making only 13 in the first 27 games.

His season high had been 13 points against Louisiana Lafayette on Dec. 23. He had only scored 19 total points in Louisville’s first 13 Big East games.”

Kyle’s dunk at 2:49 to finish Syracuse (courtesy of DocCardsFan of Card Chronicle):

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Pat Forde, ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4971890

Can a building really have magic?

….In a mind-boggling  span of 13 minutes and 41 seconds, Kuric scored all 22 of his points. In that same span, the top-ranked team in the country scored 22. His ability to single-handedly play the Orange to a standstill allowed the Cardinals to surge from three down and on the bubble to 13 ahead and in the NCAA field.

….After he flushed an alley-oop from Preston Knowles with 2:44 left for a 14-point Louisville lead, the building erupted. It was the loudest I’ve heard it in the Hall in more than two decades of covering games here.

….Afterward, when the former players were invited onto the floor for Senior Day festivities, many of them made their way to Kuric to congratulate him.

Someone asked Kuric if they knew who he was.

“They do now,” he responded.”

That’s about as close as you’ll get to swagger from the kid…

“He’s just so shy,” Pitino said. “I’ve never met a person like him. Even when he yells, it’s a shy yell.”

….With a memorable magic act, Freedom Hall was finished.

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“The seniors have never gone to the NIT.  And now they never will.”

Coach Pitino,  addressing the crowd when the game was over.

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They all came today.  all the legends, all the greats in U of L lore.

Never Nervous, Griff, the McCrays, and of course, Coach Denny Crum, who is the principal reason our two national championships and our national prominence.

The first true great player that established Louisville as a basketball power could not be there.  Charlie Tyra died in 2006 at the age of 71.

But his family was there, and shared their memories with Antoinette Konz of the C-J:

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100306/SPORTS02/3060360/U+of+L+s+final+game+at+Freedom+Hall+%E2%80%9Csomething+I+will+never+forget%E2%80%9D

“Vince and Terry Tyra have a lot of wonderful memories involving Freedom Hall, so it was only fitting for the two brothers to attend the last Cardinals basketball game to ever be played there.

After all, in the first University of Louisville basketball game to be played at Freedom Hall on Dec. 22, 1956, their father – Charlie Tyra – scored 40 points in the 85-75 win over Notre Dame.

“This is definitely the greatest memory I’ll have of this place,” Vince Tyra said shortly after U of L defeated No. 1 Syracuse 78-68 in front of a standing-room only crowd of 20,135. “We came in on a victory and we’re leaving on a victory. This is something I will never forget.”

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Ever since the season began–and I wrote down the thoughts below– I have been slightly bummed out,  ticking off  the count-down to what feels like the end of many of the brightest memories of my life.

I know in my heart that there is an end to everything… and that an end often serves as a launching point for an even greater future.

But, for me … it going to really take something truly mind-blowing to eclipse Freedom Hall…)

The basketball schedule for U of L for this season was released the other day.

There it was… in black and white…. Saturday, March 6… the last game to be played in Freedom Hall, and the opponent will be Syracuse.

No fan fare, no mention of anything special.

Just THE END spelled differently.

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The young– ok, almost everyone–sees the Hall as a big, worn out barn.

I …see the glistening

Palace of the South,  as the Hall was known for yrs in the North…

A place so far ahead of its time that it was actually vehemently fought against locally as a white elephant so huge it would never be filled!

A place so unimaginably big, that my 10 yr old mouth hung open in amazement the first time I saw the interior –and the sight of Wes Unseld up close

It was THE  national championship game summit ground almost yearly during the 60′s for basketball gods like Lew Alcindor (Kareem), Elvin Hayes, et al

In the 70′s,  it was one of the key sites for the wildest and perhaps greatest basketball I  ever saw –the ABA and a most amazing young Dr J, and was the site of the championship game for our own beloved KY Colonels in ’75 for our only nat’l pro BBall title

It was also the frenzied race track  of the 70′s and 80′s for Denny’s run of 6 nat’l champs leading to 2 nat’l titles

Frankly, some of my absolute best personal memories and emotions are in that building.

I love Freedom Hall…I hope some things will be done there in the future.

And…I hope it gets some rightful send-off during this season….

I did this interview in March, 2008.  This year, I note Rob is  already warming up, and  led some massive  CARDS cheers at the Villanova White-Out from his seat near my section 336…)

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“The first time I did the CARDS cheer,

I had to spell the it out real slowly.

Nobody knew what the heck I was doing.”

Rob Hickerson, business owner, stadium cheerleader, and Card fan since 1969.

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The Cheerleader is every bit the fast talking dynamo you’d expect from a person who leads 20,000 people by leaping to his feet and stomping , coat-waving, pointing–anything–to get the crowd’s attention, build it to a crescendo and, finally burst it by spelling out CARDS with his body to thunderous chants.

Often he “works” with Sedat, the Handstand Guy, who serves as a killer warm-up act for Rob’s CARDS cheer. And Rob’s nine year old son, Dominic, does the stomp and cheer right next to Dad.

This man knows how to lead a cheer. No, that’s too mild a word. The cheerleaders on the floor lead a cheer. Rob…he conducts the crowd, feels it along, helps it build, and at just the right time, goes for the killer cheer.

This 56 year old guy kinda puts the cheerleaders on the floor to shame, in this regard.

He is a maestro at this, as perhaps he should be since he has been doing this for…28 years.

Rob runs his own mortgage brokerage firm, and I interviewed him by phone, and then had the pleasure of meeting him and his son before the Villanova game. His staccato speech is punctuated every few sentences with a short infectious laugh.

Frank: I understand we share a mutual background and a mutual friend, Greg_____.

Rob: Ah, yes, the Big E. (I smile at this mention of the childhood nickname known by Greg’s close friends.) He and I were in the same class at St. X. Then he and I went to U of L in ’69 together too.

Like you Frank, I grew up in Louisville with Rupp’s Runts and was both a U of L and UK fan back then. Really, quite honestly, it was the race thing with UK in the 60′s that made me want to go more and more toward U of L.

When I went to U of L in 1969, then that was when I really went totally with the Cards.

In fact my senior year when I worked at the old European Health Spa, Dana Kirk used to come in. He was the assistant to Denny Crum back then, you know. Anyway, he comped me tickets all year long.

Images of those plaid jackets of his…bright green and yellow…still pop in my mind! (Infectious laugh)

Frank: Our section calls you The Cheerleader. Others call you the Coat Waver. When did you first start doing the CARDS cheer– and why?

Rob: Actually, it was the first championship year, 1980. We were supposed to be good that year. It was the first game of the season. It was a close game with like 6 to 7 minutes left. And the crowd was dead.

I decided to do something. If you remember back then, UK’s fans were known for loudly supporting their team.

I got up on my chair and started yelling and trying to get the crowd going. And they did get going some. And the Cards went on a run from there to win the game.

After the game, my ex-wife and I, and some friends were at the old Kunz’s the Dutchman. And we were all excited and thinking about what I could do to get the crowd into it even more.

At the same time, if you remember, that trunk driver got up on the Baltimore Orioles dug out and spelled out ORIOLES with his body, and they won the World Series.

So, I decided to spell out CARDS.

The next game I tried it. But, Frank, back then I had to make the letters a lot more carefully. The first time I did the CARDS cheer, I had to spell it out real slow. Nobody knew what the heck I was doing. (Infectious laugh.)

Frank: Had you ever been a cheerleader–or done anything like this before?

Rob: No! Never. I guess the closest was like you probably experienced at Trinity. At St. X, I remember being in awe as a freshman of the large packed gym and the loud cheering. And you know how it was at all the football games too. Crazy.

Frank: I noticed that the Handstand Guy, Sedat, sometimes helps with the cheer. When did that start?

Rob: It was early on, in ’81 or ’82. He was one of the first to come help me. If you remember then, you could walk all the way around Freedom Hall. He and I would do that.

We’d just wander around, yell and wave–try to make eye contact, point our finger. Get one person in that section clapping– the others will follow, you know.

You could work up a hell of a sweat! (Infectious laugh.)

After a while, I asked Sedat what he could do that would help get the crowd going. When he showed me the handstand, it blew my mind. I said, “Let’s do it!” Of course, it drives the crowd wild!

Frank: Do you have any special game memories from all these years?

Rob: Well, the championship game in 1980 was the best, the most memorable.

But I’ll tell you another one. Remember that Tennessee game a few years ago, when we came back from like 9 points down and hit all those 3 pointers in the last couple of minutes to win?

Well, this older couple from Tennessee was seated right down from me, and was razzing me the whole game long in a nice way. Since we were losing I had to take it most of the game.

But, when we won on that last second 3, I jumped out of my seat, and got down on my knees in front of them, spread my arms and said ” Well, how do you like me now?” And they just laughed. (Infectious laugh.)

(And I, of course, laughed too.)

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What primal impulses drive the passion in each of us to follow the pack, the tribe…the team.

Whatever it is, Rob Hickerson has it in spades for the Cards.

He brings down the thunder of the Card faithful, and makes the old Hall shake with mad-dog ferocity in tight games. He sends in the Cards’ most valuable Sixth Man.

By personal example, Rob teaches and shows this incredible passion to his son–and to all Card fans.

Rob says he tries to find one fan– just one fan–at a time to get fired up.

Can you help Rob find and excite that one fan –within you? Whether you’re in the heat of the Hall, or even if you’ve got your big potato parked on your own couch.

Whether the Cards are 20 points ahead… or particularly when the team is way down.

Will you jump up on your (figurative) chair… and yell like Hell?

If you can do that, you’ve learned the  greatest lesson Rob has for any fan.

White Out 2008  Georgetown

GO CARDS!

“There have been some great games over the years, but none so big. So much was at stake, and the winner went to the Final Four. The weight of the State was on the shoulders of the players and coaches.”

“There was only one–the original–Dream Game.”

Charles Jones, U of L center in The Game

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It was — and still is– the most important, most exciting, most meaningful

single sporting event

in my life.

I have never since been so thrilled for a game–and so tense about it’s outcome.

Yes, this was the ultimate “show me” game — against the sport’s dynastic power and for recognition in our own state as an equal.

And, yes, the feelings of tension and anger still well up as I write even these simple words….

Younger Card fans….

you just don’t know.

THIS ONE WAS FOR BLOOD!

24 YEARS !!

24 years of Big Blue condescension, ridicule, and refusal to even consider scheduling us

rising to a peak of hatred and revulsion with the smarmy, snarling UK AD Cliff Hagan

and a Joe B. Hall at his clumsy, arrogant worst.

Hell, they wouldn’t have played us in 1958-59 if they hadn’t been forced to!

And that year, Peck Hickman’s unranked Cardinals whipped Adolph Rupp’s second-ranked Wildcats 76-61 in the Mideast Regional semifinals on the way to U of L’s first Final Four.

Before that, Blue had refused to schedule us   since 1922!

UK was the dynasty, the traditionally dominant player on the national scene for decades. They had only recently been humbled by John Wooden and UCLA. The Cats had claimed five NCAA championships and had produced dozens of All-America players.

Louisville was the upstart, a successful program in its own right starting in the 40′s with coach Peck Hickman, and then regularly crashing the NCAA party in the 1970s under Denny Crum. Only three years earlier –in 1980–the Cardinals had finally won their first NCAA championship.

“I don’t think UK wanted to recognize that our program was on a competitive scale with theirs,” Denny Crum says. “They certainly didn’t want the media to recognize that.”

In those long 24 years, the teams had just missed meeting on a couple of occasions.

In 1975, both teams marched into San Diego for the Final Four.

Even then the fever for a match-up was hot. I was a senior at U of L at the time, and somehow managed to get a ticket in the student lottery– and went on my first airplane trip!

The game was in a small gym (around 15,000) in San Diego — basically a “home” game for UCLA. It was Denny’s second Final Four in his first four years, and he faced his mentor and perhaps the greatest college BBall coach of all-time. John Wooden. In what at the time was considered one of the finest games ever played (and deserves a story in its own right), U of L lost in overtime to top-ranked UCLA 75-74 in the semifinals; Joe B’s first Final Four team at Kentucky fell to the Bruins 92-85 two nights later.

(Wooden has been quoted as saying he feared Denny’s team the most. It has also long been rumored that Wooden announced to his players before the U of L game that he would retire, to fire up the Bruins.)

After Denny won his first championship in 1980, basketball aficionados throughout the nation began to clamor for a match-up. The NCAA committee seemed to want such a pairing too, and they started putting the Cards and the Cats in the the same Regional.

In 1982, Big Blue needed only to beat 11th-seeded Middle Tennessee State University in the tournament’s first round to earn a matchup with third-seeded Louisville. The Mildcats fell in a huge upset, 50-44. U of L then pummeled Middle 81-56 on the way to its second Final Four in four years.

“I really thought (that year) we were ready to play,” says Charles Jones, a 6-8 center for the Cards. “We were disappointed when they lost to Middle Tennessee State.”

The next year it happened. In 1983, UK beat a tough Bobby Knight-led Indiana squad, and U of L –with Razorback US Reed’s 50′ dagger a few years earlier still etched in their minds–edged a very difficult Eddie Sutton-coached Arkansas on a last second tip-in.

Finally…the Game was on!

And it was for the Regional championship, pitting two of the nation’s top programs against each other for a spot in the NCAA Final Four–and with both teams coming off recent NCAA championships- U of L in 1980, UK in 1978!

But there was of course a lot more was at stake when the teams took the floor at the tiny (12,000) and somewhat dingy old Stokely Athletic Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

“I can’t tell you how much more the game meant to U of L than to UK,” says Billy Reed. Then sports editor of The Courier-Journal, Reed incurred the wrath of UK’s coaches and fans for advocating a series between the two schools. “Had UK won that game they probably would never have played (the series).”

CBS and a national audience were focused on the game.

So that you have a true understanding of the intensity of the Game, take a moment and listen to the CBS pre-game show -particularly the classic John Tesch interviews with Denny at his cocky, sarcastic best and Joe B. at his clumsy worst –”Is that (camera) off?” ( You can also watch the entire game at Jerb’s site.)

My brother-in-law — a huge Card fan like me–managed to get tickets. We took our wives–both dyed deep Blue.

I was 29 at the time.

For six years, I had been working and living in Eastern Ky and I was definitely one of only a handful of U of L fans in that region — and EVERYONE let me know it.

I had been raised a UK fan –as most Louisvillians and Kentuckians were in that era. People younger than 50 do not understand this: Rupp was God in Kentucky, even in Louisville in the 50′s and 60′s. When Blue deigned to play at Freedom Hall, it was packed, and people were turned away.

The Cards did not fill Freedom Hall like that until the 80′s.

But after seeing Unseld play, and attending U of L, and being blinded by the brilliance of this new smart-ass coach from the West Coast who wore those so-trendy leisure suits– I had become a die hard Card fan.

You had to be a rebel in your own family and city back then to “come out” as a Card fan!

Now… I ached for –and dreaded –the Game.

If we won… supreme vindication…within our families, our city, maybe even our State. For our style of play…and our ideals (no need to go into race issues here- suffice to say UK did not integrate its BBall until the 70′s- well after U of L).

If we lost… oh God! It felt like we would never get over the hump then. More “little brother” nonsense, more feeling like a second class citizen in your own city, more daily abuse from family, neighbors, friends!

But I and most Card fans felt confident going into this game. Yes, Joe B and Denny each had one NCAA ring at that point. But Denny had taken the Cards to 4 Final Fours while Joe B had only the one. And the Cards were generally considered by impartial experts to have the stronger team in 1983. It had been clear for awhile–even in most UK fans’ minds–that U of L was at least equal to and probably better than UK from 1971-1972 to this point.

Yes, U of L “wanted” the Game more than UK–but let me tell you: UK feared the Game much, MUCH more.

I don’t remember much about the ride down, but I remember being somewhat surprised at how small the arena was. It was old and a bit musty. But every seat had a great view.

As you can imagine, the feeling in the crowd before the game was electric –I’ve seldom felt anything like that raw mix of emotions. Violence had been feared….

But then, just before the game started, in what is one of the most celebrated moments of the entire event, the cheerleaders from both schools locked arms and led the crowd in singing My Old Kentucky Home. The scene sent chills through me and thousands of others. Tears flowed openly in the emotion of the moment…

And then it was on!

From the opening tip it was war. Louisville fell behind quickly. The shooting of guard Jim Master and forward Derrick Hord bolted UK to a 15-6 lead, then 23-10. “I knew they would be tough,” Crum says of that Wildcats team. “Their players were as good as any in the country.”

I remember thinking that the Cards looked tight, and UK played a very steady, controlled game, never allowing our feared defensive pressure to find a crack.

Still, the Cards never panicked. Brothers Scooter and Rodney McCray began to take over inside, scoring six of Louisville’s next eight baskets. Charles Jones’ lay-up cut UK’s halftime lead to seven, 37-30.

Crum felt U of L had begun to take control. At halftime, “He told us not to worry about it,” Jones says. “He said ‘Let’s go out there and play ball.’ “

“There were no Knute Rockne speeches,” Crum says. “The incentive was there.”

UK once again jumped on the Cardinals at the start of the second half. Center Melvin Turpin’s hook shot gave UK a 43-32 lead with 16:38 left in the game.

Then the Cardinals took over.

In less than two minutes U of L outscored the Cats 12-2, cutting the lead to one point. The teams then traded baskets until a similar flurry put U of L up five, 58-53. I remember finally feeling some relief, thinking the Cards had finally rattled the Cats, and that we were ready to hammer the final nail in.

But UK fought back, tying the game at 60 each with just over three minutes left.

We missed our shot, and UK had the ball with about 2:00 to go. This was bad. Very bad. There was no shot clock then. The Cats could just run the clock down for the game’s last shot.

And that’s what they tried to do. The moved the ball around for what seemed a lifetime until finally, with 20 seconds left, UK guard Dirk Minniefield faked Lancaster Gordon right and drove wide open to his left for a certain layup.

Out of nowhere, Charles Jones soared across the lane and tipped the shot away from the goal toward Scooter McCray. He fired a pass to his brother, who then fed Gordon, who redeemed himself with a short jump shot and a 62-60 Cardinals lead. Only eight seconds remained.

Wild CARDS cheers echoed off the old arena walls. High- fiving, raucous Cards fans –after having waited those many long years–were ready, oh so ready, for that final sweet vindication. Imagine the energy of caged animals not fed for a lonnnngg time. I (we) could taste it!

But Blue refused to lose. The Cats got the ball to Master, who nailed a 12-foot jump shot with less than a second left.

The Dream Game was going to overtime!

By this point, the tension was almost unbearable. There was what can only be described as wild-eyed pandemonium on both sides. I could barely speak, my voice so raw from the shouting. This most hoped for victory by the Cards had been snatched away at the last possible second. I was drained dead.

Accounts after the game indicated that some people literally fainted and had to be helped out…

And then… what followed was what many, MANY fans still believe are the best five minutes in U of L basketball history.

As UK’s Master said after the game, “It was like a cavalry charge.”

The Cards took control from the tip. Gordon hit a baseline jumper for a 64-62 lead, which he followed with another jump shot. Jones contributed two free throws. Guard Milt Wagner hit a layup, then two free throws, threw down an exclamation-point dunk and drilled another two free throws to cap a 14-0 run. Two more dunks– by Gordon and Wagner–and three late Kentucky baskets led to a surprisingly lopsided final score, 80-68.

U of L had shot an unbelievable 81% during the second half and overtime and had been perfect in the extra period, hitting all six of its field goal attempts and all six free throws.

And on defense?

“They were all over the floor,” said UK guard Dicky Beal. “They were just everywhere.”

The Cardinals had made 30 of their final 36 shots. Crum described the Cardinals performace as “I don’t think we ever played any second half or overtime any better than today.” He went on to marvel at how Kentucky could shoot 56% from the field during the game and still get beat.

After the game, fans roared while players cut down the nets. Gordon, the regional MVP, stood on a ladder holding the rim with one hand. In the other was a sign that said, “Cardinals Best in State.”

It was a game for the ages… one that is still unsurpassed in this intense rivalry.

Here are some of the interviews with the players before and after the game (just ck out the first 2 minutes.)

In Louisville, fans rushed from the Cardinal Inn out into the streets near campus. Students dangled from telephone poles and street signs. Fans drove throughout the city, hanging out car windows, honking their horns and waving flags.

Yes, we had been denied a seat at the family table for many, many long discouraging years.

And now, as we were seated at the head… it felt good. Oh so good….

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After the game, my brother-in-law and I were of course ecstatic — but our wives…not so much so. : – )

Very prudently, we avoided any razzing on the trip home–although sorely tempted. My sister, when asked for her account of the Game today, simply says she was “devastated.”

After the Game, an emotionally drained Card squad continued on to the Final Four that year, where they lost to the the Houston Cougar’s ‘Phi Slamma Jamma’ squad in one of the more memorable games of the 1980′s.

The Kentucky players–and Big Blue Nation– were heartbroken. Over a decade later, UK point guard Dirk Minniefield still couldn’t bear to watch a replay of what was the final game of his career. After finally being talked into it, Minniefield remarked, “I played pretty well. Everybody on our team did. We played as hard as we could. Louisville just played better. I can give them credit.” And then a pause. “But I still should have dunked that ball.”

(Even as recently as 2007,  Dirk was STILL in denial, blaming a joint he smoked the day  BEFORE  the Game for causing him to miss that layup!)

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The Game caused seismic changes in Louisville and the State of Kentucky.

The governor, legendary entrepreneur John Y. Brown (who had diplomatically worn a half blue, half-red sport coat to the Game), legislators and even the boards of trustees of U of L and UK began to talk about a series between the schools. Shortly after, they announced that they would begin playing each other.

And, so …the U of L-UK series was born.

Denny’s and Joe B’s careers had run remarkably parallel time-wise to each other. And, although he posted a fine record at UK, Joe B suffered in the bright light of comparison to our truly brilliant coach– 1 championship to Denny’s 2, and 2 Final Four’s to Denny’s 6!

The high-flying, full court pressing Louisville style of play had obviously prevailed. Three years later, Joe B was looking for a job.

Yes, this game–the Game –was the tipping point.

We had gotten that first NCAA championship–but we hadn’t won our own State, yet. Now we had not only that inter-family vindication, but we also had cemented our position among the all-time basketball powers in the national consciousness. Denny put down his final exclamation point for emphasis in ’86.

There is little question today whether U of L and UK should play each other in all sports. There is now at least grudging mutual respect.

Our own city of Louisville — previously dominated by UK fans — also began the major change to where the vast majority of Louisvillians are now Cards fans.

And the State of Kentucky — well, it’s still Blue.

But there is little doubt that there are a lot more Cardinals flying high throughout the State today because of

The Game.

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The following are memories of the Game that fans have sent to me. The very last one is one from my brother-in-law, Matt, who got us tickets for the game –and remembers some great details I had forgotten.

If anyone has any pictures or others story to share, please send them or leave a comment!

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I was there as a 14 year old

by neverwrongponchowright

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Actually if you will remember this game was pre shot clock days and the scored was tied at 64 at about the 2 minute mark and Kentucky held the ball till the Minniefield drive at about the 18 second mark. We all know that Jones blocked it we get a fast break and Gordon banks one in with about 10 seconds or so that set up the end. No 3 point line in those days either. Guys like Wagner, Jeff Hall and Jim Master would have had field days back then.

I was 7 yrs old. yet I remember it like it was literally yesterday!

UofLCardsFan

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I was 12. It was truly the most intense atmosphere Ive ever been to, even more so than the National championship games.IMO The best part of the whole weekend, with the exception of the overtime, was the tip at the buzzer in the sweet 16 game. Up to that point I was just sick that we were that close to getting to beat the hell out of UK finally and it was so close to slipping away. The year before in the tournament we were supposed to play them in the second round but they lose to middle tenn. st., I still think they threw that game just so they didnt get beat down by us.

Timb23

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I watched the ot on youtube a while back and it was as good as I remember. I thought we were toast at the end of regulation but that goofy Minnifield thought he could drive on Charles Jones – wrong. Blocked shot and Gordon bank shot and only Master saved them to take it into ot.

IamReady

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I was 29 years old and campus minister at the U of K…. it was fun “jawing” with the students and good naturedly watching the game together at our student center…it became wonder “fodder” for conversation for the next few years..

they were very good natured about the loss and it was edifying to see how they warmed up to some of the UL players afterwards.

In 1988 I was talking to Lancaster Gordon in a private health club (Louisville)…we talked about the Lakers and his time at UL….it was fascinating to listen to him vividly recall the small nuiances of the game itself ….and how defensive errors nearly cost them dearly near the end…. they just didn’t think Masters could beat them, unfortunately he had the game of his life in that loss.

Westport68

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Cardinaldave

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That article brought up a lot of good memories. I was 15 when they played that game. At that time, I was awestruck by these Louisville players. I consider them to be my first heroes in life and I still feel that way. They were 1st class all the way.

Before the Pitino era, a friend’s wife decided it would be a great gift to get her husband a copy of the 1st Dream Game. She called the UofL athletics office and spoke with one of Denny’s former assistants. I believe his name was Jones. He was one of Crum’s long-time assistants (the other great being Wade Houston). He kindly responded he would look around and see what he could find. A week later she received in the mail, not only the Dream Game, but also the Houston Final 4 game and the ’86 championship. We spent all night watching all three games. Even in a loss, the Houston game was great to watch as was the ’86 game. But nothing was more exciting than to watch the ’83 game again. As thrilling as the comeback in the 2nd half was, the overtime was pure magic. They released the ’80 championship on DVD to celebrate its 25th anniversary and I suspect they’ll do the same for the ’86 game as well. More than anything I’d like to have the ’83 game in my library.

AACards

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That game still gives me chills thinking about it. I personally felt I had so much at stake because of the trash-talking I’d done against all the other UK fans I’d grown up with. It was put up or shut up time and I was praying they’d take care of business like I knew they could. And while they scared me for the most part of 40 minutes despite still playing very good ball, I couldn’t ask for more from that overtime. To this day, about as good a five minutes of basketball that I’ve ever seen anyone play. Absolutely amazing.

Shooze

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‘ve noted that most on this board are ‘fairly’ young and only think of UL in terms of their generation. I go back almost 3 generations of being a UL fan; and, I’m here to tell you the real UL vs UK dream game was in the 1958-59 basketball season. I was there; and, also present, at the previous game against Eastern KY at the old arena in Lexington.

After beating Eastern 77-63 in the game before the big one I was in 7th heaven; the minute the game was over UK fans in the arena were chanting something like, “We finally get to stomp your ass”.

It was hard to scrape up the money to go to the NCAA Mideast regional at Evanston, Illinois where finally after decades UL would meet then #2 UK. I had my future mortgaged to cover bets with rabid UK fans I knew.

The game was a real nail bitter, somewhat similar to the 1983 meeting. In the first half, UL could do no right and trailed by 15 points at the intermission. A big red-headed fellow, Don Goldstein, from New York was our shooter. Coach Peck Hickman must have given a whale of a half-time pep talk as UL came out on fire. Now it was UK who could do no right and UL went on to win 76-61 (by 15). That’s a 30 point swing in the second half.

UK coach Rupp was unable to talk after the game and it was days later he finally admitted to Peck Hickman that, “You (UL) really kicked out butts.”

I sure wish video (movies back then) was available of that game on DVD. Maybe UL has film buried in some archive somewhere. But, unlike today, filming of games wasn’t as prevalent back then.

Unfortunately, UL lost next game to WVa (Jerry West) in a good game. I think they were totally worn out.

That was the first of second year the NCAA finals were held in then fairly new Freedom Hall which for years was the biggest indoor arena in the country for basketball. 6 or 7 championships were held here through the mid60s.

None of this should be taken as anything against the 1983 game which is one of my all time favorites too; and, of course, was the first to carry the “Dream Game” moniker.

Swamp Daddy

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And now, from my brother-in-law, Matt, who went with me to the Game:

Dream Game 1983 – Leaving Las Ville

1983 was a hopeful year for the Card Fans. We still had lingering karma from the 1980 championship, and we all thought we had the team to do it again. Little during the season occurred to sway our opinion. We lost to UCLA (we were robbed), and we beat a lot of very good teams. We strung together a couple of streaks, including beating NC State, which we didn’t think much of at the time. Milt “Ice” Wagner sank two clutch free throws to defeat Memphis in the regular season, and then we beat them again in the Metro Conference semis. We went on to win the conference tournament, and were waiting for a great draw in the NC-dubs. I don’t really remember when it started happening, but sometime around that time I started to feel that Louisville always got the short end of the stick in the draws. Instead of a slot in the Mideast, where they would have played in Freedom Hall, they drew the Midwest along with Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and a tough Indiana team. Denny said it was the toughest region. We all saw the possibility of the Kentucky game, but we knew it wasn’t a sure thing, since we were disappointed when Kentucky lost to Middle Tennessee in 1982 to kill our joy.

We were sure that Kentucky was avoiding playing Louisville, since the 1980 team had taken the national spotlight and Louisville was on a roll. If you were a Kentucky fan, you saw your beloved team in a transition period, with at least some loss of prestige. You probably knew you were the second best team in Kentucky, but you didn’t need any proof. The average Kentucky fan was in denial in the 80’s.

Kentucky beat IU in a close game, and the Kentucky fans and students lined up their tickets to Knoxville. Louisville had to go against a tough Arkansas team, which sunk the hearts and minds of Louisville in 1981 with the name US Reed forever etched into our minds when he sank a 50 foot prayer to end our run. This game was a cardio cards game as well, with this game ending in the final seconds with a miss by Ice and a tip-in by Scooter McCray. The impossible dream was set!

I remember the next morning being a turning point in my card fandom. The paper and the rest of the media jumped all over it, and didn’t hold back on any sensationalism. I had to look up the headlines, but the Louisville Times headline was WAR! in gigantic Pearl Harbor sized type. The papers printed special sections for the first time, and if you were a sports fan in Kentucky, you quickly got caught up in all the excitement.

I never got to see an NCAA semi or final in person, and fewer Louisville games in Freedom Hall than I would like. I was a poor working man at the time, with some prospects and a 1983 Renault Alliance 1.4 liter that I bought in 1982 at around a 14% interest rate. George C. Scott was touting the paint job on the car, and it surprisingly won the 1983 Motor Trend Car of the Year. It was about the only thing I could afford, as the government tried to kill inflation, I felt like they were killing me with a 13% mortgage to boot. But I was determined to see this game. The next day, I scoured the classified ads in every publication available to see about tickets. After a few calls, I found a UK student in Lexington that had 4 seats together for $50 bucks each. I couldn’t believe it. I called Frank, and he agreed to spring for the tickets if I could get them. (Thanks again Frank).

We set up the trip with myself and my wife Robin picking up the tickets at a typical UK off-campus apartment. I remember being a little wary about the ticket drop, but there was kind of a festive air about it, and to the best of my recollection the UK student said something about you guys will probably win it, good luck and all. Its kind of hard to understand now, but there were not a lot of confident UK fans, and a lot of them just did not want to go to the game. They had all the tickets, because they knew they were in, and we just appreciated being able to buy them.

We rendezvoused with Frank and Deb at the Holiday Inn on I-75 in Lexington, a famous place that everyone I know seems to use as a meeting point for going south. Not so odd in Kentucky, each car contained a set of UofL and Kentucky Fans in equal numbers (2 and 2). Each of us carried our respective colors, and we would root our teams on in typical fashion. Robin was a big Masters fan. Deb was a diehard UK fan. And Frank and I could hold our own in any arena in the country. So with great anticipation and fanfare, we headed down the winding road. I remember the Renault would go about 90 mph down the hills around London and beyond, and I could push it to 68 mph up the hills. It seemed like but a flash till we arrived for the big show.

The ambiance in the hotel was electric. We checked in and quickly got to the lobby bar. There were minor celebrities galore, and sports figures and team luminaries abounded. But I honestly can’t remember any of them. Maybe it was the Jack and Cokes we were consuming abundantly, or maybe it was the heady feeling that came with the Mardi Gras atmosphere. I do remember people without tickets trying to get them. I heard of $1000 courtside tickets, and all manner of transactions occurring around us. But the thing I remember most vividly was a pair of tickets going for face value just moments before we left for the game, probably around $24. Bottom line was that if you really wanted to get into this game, you could have done it.

The Knoxville Coliseum only seats around 12,000 {check this out}. We were in the upper deck, about 10 rows from the top, and towards the UK side. But I remember fairly good leg room and visibility. If you see the camera angle from the game, that’s about what we saw. It was all in all a pretty good venue for a game.

I will leave it to others to give details on the game itself. The game did not disappoint in any way. U of L center Charles Jones made one of the greatest blocks in UL history with the score tied 60-60, and UL drove the floor and scored with a short jumper to put them up 62-60 with 8 seconds. UK Jim Master hits a basket at the buzzer to tie it at 62 all.

I still regret this a little, it must have been the excitement and the need to relieve a little of the tension, but I got up and went to the concession stand to get a beer. By the time I got back to our seats, UL was up 6 in overtime and it never was in doubt from there. They ran 14 straight before UK scored. U of L won handily 80-62.

Another thing I remember was that UK players were classy throughout the game and afterwards in the interview. They came to play, and even though UL looked to have the better record and the better team, UK played like they didn’t know it, and when they got beat, they recognized U of L as probably the top team in the Nation. Except Louisville lost to the Phi Slamma Jamma in the semis in Albuquerque. They finished the season 32-4. Some say it was the altitude, others say that maybe beating Kentucky emotionally drained Louisville. I just remember that I don’t remember anything about the Houston loss. And remember the NC State team Louisville beat earlier in the year? They won the title that appears every year on your screen during March Madness with Jim Valvano running crazily out on the floor in celebration.

Billy Packard called the original dream game on TV, and every year Billy and Dick tout the great Duke/NC rivalry as the tops in college basketball. But Kentucky knows, and you know, and a large part of the sports nation knows that the Annual UofL/UK game is the original and the best Dream game in the country. They only thing that really comes close is the OSU/Michigan football game.

Lest you doubt the seriousness that UK fans take with the annual dream game, here is a random quote Googled off the net from a UK blog:

“BUT….I grew up as a small child hating UL, lived through the original “Dream Game”, and cried when UK was blow out in the OT. I waited in line for HOURS to get a student ticket to watch UK beat a sorry UL team. I give nose-bleed tickets to UK/UL to 2 uncles that bleed blue and it was like I had given them the winning powerball ticket. UK/UL is a passion. It is much more than a UK/TN or UK/Fla rivalry., although I do hate Tenn and recently learned to hate Fla. UK/UL IS unc/duke, it IS Kansas/Missou, not only is UK/UL a great rivalry it is one of the 5 greatest rivalrys in the country. When is the last time your family held an annual UK/Florida party???????? OH YEA I forgot, now Slicky Ricky coaches there. I wouldn’t root for UL to win a chess tourny, can’t stand to watch them win in football, girls’ BBall, baseball, or swimming for that matter.”

And so time goes on, and the dream continues. The Renault paint job that George C. Scott touted as the best in the world oxidized mysteriously in 5 years and flaked off. The 1986 Consumer Reports “Annual Auto Issue” surveyed owners after five years , and the 1983 Renault Alliance scored worst ratings in “Engine”, “Clutch”, “Driveline”, “Engine cooling”, “Suspension”, “Exhaust system”, “Automatic transmission” and “Manual transmission”. I managed to trade the vehicle in for another Renault that I bought in a giddy frenzy caused by mortgage refinancing my house for 8%, which blew a timing belt 4 years later, thus proving the definition of insanity is doing things repeatedly while expecting different results.

I still expect U of L to win every dream game every year. Regardless, we were young once, and we were there for the first one, and we have the liver spots to show for it.

Matt

Senior Co-Captain Jerry Smith -- last seen awesomely clutching and whipping towels with BOTH hands--drives the Cards charge.

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Video highlights from Western Kentucky game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0thxmq-kVk

Highlights from the Oral Roberts game:

Kyle Kuric’s slam jam:

http://www.cardchronicle.com/2009/12/17/1204266/dunk-videos-from-oru-game

The Double Dunk:  Edgar Sosa to Jerry Smith and Rakeem Buckles.

http://www.cardchronicle.com/2009/12/17/1204266/dunk-videos-from-oru-game

In an international game in 1976, High School senior and future University of Louisville Cardinal great Darrell Griffith casually jumps over a Polish player , who happened to be in his way... (Ck out the Louisville Sports Scrapbook section tab at the top of the home page. Pic contributed by Charlie Springer at Card Game.)

Just a casual leap, in the '80 title game...

And now a bit more determined ('80 title game vs. UCLA)...

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So pics don’t do it for you?  How about video…

Here’s Geico’s College Basketball Top 10 dunkers of all time done in 2008.

Guess who’s #1 ?

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Ck out the Louisville Sports Scrapbook tab at the top for more memories.

(Editor’s note: At the end of his freshman BBall season, I contacted Preston and he graciously allowed me to use some of his personal photos for this article. )

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Preston Knowles.

One of Kentucky’s top high school players in 2006-2007,

yet being dissed by all the major BBall programs in Kentucky.

What to do?

While Kentucky-born fans again bemoaned the lack of attention by the State powers for quality in-state players (ummm, like Chris Lofton perhaps), Mr. Knowles took matters in his own hands.

In the 2007 State tournament, he caught fire, igniting the Clark County Cardinals with 33 points and 8 bounds to an upset of Mason County for the Region 10 title.

That head-turning tour de force finally –thank God! –got someone’s attention. And luckily for Card fans, that someone was Rick Pitino.

Coach invited PK to come on in for a little test — against the big boys. After a few pick-up games with the U of L starters (which could not be viewed by the coaches), the Card regulars quickly got word back this man could ball.

And it sure didn’t take long for Card fans to see that too.

From the beginning, Preston’s frenetic, windmilling, in-your-jock D visibly shook opponents –and the Freedon Hall faithful ate it up!

And the freshman was not hesitant to pick his spots and stick a key jump shot either.

All in all, an incredible start to his young career…with the strong hint of even greater things to come.

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From the U of L Athletic site:

Personal:

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Favorites:

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For those that wish to remember something special: Preston’s dunk against Oklahoma (at the 1:20 mark–after the shot, ck out Jerry Smith’s reaction.)

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We want our young heroes to be strong and skilled.

We want them to be confident, aggressive and bold. Intelligent and well-spoken.

We also expect them to be humble, polite, and self-effacing.

And, if he has a good sense of humor that sure helps.

We expect a lot from our young heroes.

Preston Knowles meets all of those criteria– and more.

A focused and determined young man, striving to better himself every day,

yet with the team as his focal point.

Rejected in the first round by the State powers,

recruited as an afterthought,

expecting a redshirt,

he worked his way into a key role for an ultra-talented team right away

through sheer will and effort.

Yes, we expect a lot from our young heroes.

I give you

Preston Knowles.

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(I want to thank Prudat (Cardinal Empire) and TWill4Pres  for their artistry with the amazing wallpapers.)

Finally, I want to thank Preston for his time and also making available the great personal pictures in this article.)

(Editor’s note:  This interview was done last season in 2008, soon after Sedat had thrilled the Freedom Hall faithful with his railing handstand at the incredible Georgetown White-Out Game.  Will we ever  see his like again?)

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“If you show them true love,

they want to perform better. “

Sedat, life-long gymnast, showman, and Card fan since 1968.

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I wanted to go and personally meet a man that does handstands during big ball games on stadium railings 20′ in the air….with a concrete floor as his safety net.

Yes, I wanted to personally meet and talk with such a man.

For over 20 years now, I have watched an older man in the section next to mine emerge suddenly and confidently from the stands, limp stiffly toward the stadium railing, and slowly but steadily raise his body into a handstand–and then L it off to the side!

He only does it rarely, but it drives the crowd freakin’ nuts.

As it damn well should, since it’s a feat of near super-human strength and daring for a man of any age, much less one turning…64!

Sadly, Card fans, we may have just witnessed his last performance at the Hall — or for U of L ….

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Our section calls him the Handstand Guy. His real name is Sedat Acton.

Sedat was kind enough to meet with me for an interview at the up-scale hair salon named appropriately, Sedat’s Salon, that he runs with his wife of over 30 years, Teresa, next to Equus restaurant near Trinity. They have three children.

I expected a rugged, out-going bear of a man. I met a soft-spoken, elegant man of quiet confidence. And, indeed I found the great strength I expected.

Yes… indeed I did.

Frank: Sir, for over 20 years I’ve watched you do a handstand on the 2nd floor railing to excite the crowd in Freedom Hall. I’ve often wondered how you even thought about doing that the first time.

Sedat: I am a trained gymnast. I did half-time and other shows at University of Louisville or Kentucky Colonel games since I came to the United States to be with my sister in 1968. (Shows me an old picture of himself in the 70’s at a Colonels’ game, doing a handstand on chairs, with another female gymnast wrapped around his waist. In the pic, his hair is pitch black and long, well, 70’s hair.)
Frank: Gosh, looking at this picture–I can see you now in my mind doing that routine. I went to most of the Colonel’s games.

Sedat: Yes, I knew all the players. I met a lot of the UK players too. . Dan Issel, Mike Pratt, Jimmy Dan Connor–they all used to say: “Sedat, why don’t you perform for the UK fans, like you do for the University of Louisville. ” I would say, no, no. We used to laugh. You know they were just kidding. Later, I cut the hair of some of them, too.

Frank: When was the first time you did the handstand on the railing 20′ up?

Sedat: I think in 1975. You know, I only do it at certain times. Only in the second half and only when the crowd really needs an oomph (motions upward quickly with his fist) .

Frank: So, you pick your spot–like a showman?

Sedat (smiling): Yes. You can not do it often. Then it means nothing.

Frank: Why did you become a gymnast.

Sedat: Because I saw gymnasts on the beach when I grew up in Turkey, and they looked like they were strong and could do anything. When I was 3 years old, I got polio in my leg. The leg became small and weak. The brace was heavy and I pushed and dragged it along. The kids would make fun of me. You know…

I was determined to be strong. I did exercises in my backyard imitating what the gymnasts did.

(Hesitating, then leaning closer , and in an even softer voice) Frank, I will admit to you, I did not walk along the beach to see the gymnasts. I did not want them to see my leg.

So, every day I swim in the Bosporus about 100 yards off-shore, a distance like from here to Oxmoor Mall. I would swim to see them and watch them offshore.

Frank: That’s 2 to 3 miles in the open ocean one way! You must have been an excellent swimmer by then, too.

Sedat: Yes, good, but I swim from rock to rock, so I could rest some.

Frank: What brought you to this country?

Sedat: My sister already was in the United States. She wanted me to be with her for many years. I was in Switzerland then. I moved there from Turkey when I was 13 years old. The people where I worked were very kind to me. They wanted me to work at the Swiss Embassy in the United States. But I told them no.

I came in 1968 to Louisville to be with my sister, and worked as a professional gymnast doing shows in different places in Louisville. My wife–I want you to say this, she is so understanding. I go to so many games– Sacred Heart, Trinity, University of Louisville. They all want me to perform for them, and I like to do it to please them. (Sacred Hall plans to put Sedat in their Hall of Fame for all his efforts for them; he was named the #1 fan by U of L in both 1980 and 1986.)

Frank: How did you become such a big Card fan?

Sedat: It was through Joe Ledkte (a center for Cards in 60’s). He was dating one of the gymnasts I knew. He introduced me to Wes Unseld. (Former AD) Bill Olson liked my show. That’s when I started doing half time shows for University of Louisville. (Shows me a picture of himself, doing a handstand at half court with a male Card cheerleader supporting him.)

Frank: What’s your greatest U of L memory after watching them for 40 years?Sedat: It is probably not what people think. It was many years ago in a Metro tournament in Memphis. People did not think our team was good that year. Not many people came to the tournament.

My daughter was having her First Communion that Sunday. I went for the first game on Thursday. Not many people thought they would win one game. But we won the first game, and we won the second game. So I called my daughter and apologized. I had to be there. They needed me on Sunday!

Jock Sutherland and Van Vance were nice and let me apologize to my daughter on the radio. They even gave me a spot on TV to apologize.

Larry Finch–he was so nice to me. He was the coach of Memphis, but he remembered me from playing against us. He gave me free tickets for every game after they lost–he didn’t care. He and other Memphis fans, they say: ” Sedat, why don’t you do your routine for us. We wish we had fans like you.” They kid me. They were very nice to me. Other fans are always nice to me because I try to be kind to them and to be professional.
Frank: And, I guess we won that final game in the tournament…

Sedat: Yes! We won! You know, the players are bigger and stronger, but their heart’s are the same as any 17 or 18 year old. If you show them true love, they want to perform better.

You can not win all the time. Some fans may think so, but no, it is impossible. I told my children when they played: “Give your heart! Do your best!” That’s all you can do.

Frank: How do you keep yourself in shape? What’s your routine?

Sedat: Every morning, I stretch 20-30 minutes. Every morning. And every other day I go to the gym and lift weights, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I go slow and do not do heavy weights. Once, I did a bench press of 317 pounds. In 1968.

Frank: 317! That’s more than twice your bodyweight. My best was only in the 250’s. (Sedat smiles.)

Sedat: Yes, Ken Waller–you know, Mr. Universe in the 1960’s. He was here, and worked with me some. Red hair.

Frank: Yes, I do remember Waller and the red hair vaguely. Let’s talk about U of L some more. Besides honoring you as # 1 fan in ‘80 and ‘86, have they ever given you season tickets, or recognized you in any other way?

Sedat: U of L has always been kind to me. My season tickets are on the floor so the U of L people were very nice, particularly many years ago. But no, they have never paid for my season tickets. I have never asked for anything.

But Frank, I must tell you, I do not know if I can do the handstand again. Last game, they came to me after the handstand and told me I can not do the handstand any more. They brought two police men.

They let me do it at the Georgetown game. Nobody said anything. I don’t understand.

Last year, they said they didn’t want me to do it. It was after I did a handstand at a time out on the court with one of the cheerleaders. When we were done and walking off, a fan yelled at the official near me that it was a bad call. I agreed and I said it was a bad call. And the official heard me. And he got upset and told me to walk off faster. I told him I was walking fast –I pointed at my leg. But he got angry. I did say it was a bad call.

After that, (a U of L official who should remain nameless so he doesn’t get death threats from irate fans –like me) told me he didn’t want me to do it. I don’t understand. After 40 years, why now? After he told me that, I was upset. I tried to talk to Coach Pitino. I heard that he liked what I did. (Another U of L official) talked to me and said he would try to work things out. So I thought it was ok.

I have signed all the papers ( absolving U of L, etc. of any liability for this stunt.) I signed them years ago. I’m willing to sign them again.

I can not hurt anyone but me. There is only concrete below me–no people.

I do not understand. I just do not know.

Frank: Then you won’t be doing the handstand at the Villanova game for Senior’s night?

Sedat: I do not think I should. They had two police last time. I don’t want to get in trouble.

I want to. I will be at the game. I just don’t think I should. I wish someone could do something.

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Many people think Sedat is crazy for doing his handstand. Most of the women I’ve talked to, and at least some of the men. They think he’s going to kill himself or others. At some point they think he won’t know his limit –and then the crowd will witness an incredible tragedy. It’s bordering on insane and U of L is crazy for letting him do it, they say.

I say this. This man wants to fly. This man lives to entertain.

People forget: A few generations ago, it was considered an act of true manhood to show feats of strength and of great daring. For a professional, who knew their limits, to risk their life in a feat of true death-defying daring was (and still is) breath-taking and inspiring to many people–even to some who later will decry it as crazy or stupid.

To lose your life–or to be wounded or scarred —in the effort, was considered noble. Think Harry Houdini or lesser known daredevils and world adventurers.

Physical strength, daring, skill and fearlessness were (and are) core elements of being a man. For Sedat to perform at his level, in spite of his handicap, is transcendent. Sedat is what my Dad’s generation (and Teddy Roosevelt) would call a “man’s man.” It was the highest compliment possible.

But I feel Sedat is more than even that. Devoted husband and family man, selfish giver of his time to schools and charities, soft-spoken and kind….Sedat is the kind of person we all aspire to be.

I have only one question left: Will someone please, please help this man fly?

I posted this last season after a particularly nasty series of dunks by T-Will in a game.  Frenzied debate immediately welled up in Card Land as to who rightfully deserved the title of THE greatest dunker in U of L history.

So…we rounded up video of the main candidates for the title.  You make your choice…)

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T Will blew my mind last night.

Thanks to Mike at Card Chronicle for the cool graphic pic and app.

In particular, that coast-to-coast slam brought me screaming out of my Lazyboy,  scaring the dog a mite.

Five dunks in all and two  Sportcenter dunks, including a windmill jam and an  alley-oop where he magically switched from his right hand to his left before dunking–as he flew out of bounds!

It got me thinking immediately:  Where have I seen such a display of dunking ability in Card history?

Not just dunking, but dunking with the creativity and fearlessness of the Doctors of old.  The fearless leaping into and over hapless defenders, jamming them into submission.

It is a signature of U of L basketball .  As is our pressing full court defense,  incredible athleticism and leaping ability–and of course, dunking.

This is  Louisville basketball,  known  both  to long-time Card fans and to national aficionados of the college game.

Well…here’s a sampling of some of the best dunks of all time in Card history.  I personally believe until we see another  360, Griff is still–by far–THE MAN.

But…you decide…

Up first…Darrell Griffith

Contenders for the throne:

LaBradford Smith

Terrence Williams–from last night against Rutgers.

Alvin Sims

Everick Sullivan

Jerome Harmon?  Cornelius Holden?  (Watch the last minute in particular.)

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From the 2009-2010 UofL media guide…

Most Dunks / Season / Dunks

1. Pervis Ellison 87-88  59

2. Samardo Samuels 08-09  51

3. Alvin Sims 95-96  48

4. Felton Spencer 89-90  43

4. Cornelius Holden 90-91  43

4. Alvin Sims 96-97  43

7. Darrell Griffith 77-78  42

8. Darrell Griffith 79-80  40

9. Billy Thompson 84-85  39

9. Jerome Harmon 89-90  39

9. Marques Maybin 99-00  39

Most Dunks / Carrer / Dunks

1. Pervis Ellison 85-89  162

2. Alvin Sims 93-96  123

3. Darrell Griffith 76-80  117

3. Cornelius Holden 88-92  117

5. Rodney McCray 79-83  103

6. Marques Maybin 97-01  95

7. Billy Thompson 82-86  94

8. Felton Spencer 86-90  93

9. Charles Jones 80-84  89

10. Everick Sullivan 88-92  85

Most Dunks in a game by a player: 7 by Pervis Ellison vs South Alabama Jan 4, 1988

Most Dunks in a game by Team 12, vs Virginia Tech on Feb 2, 1990

Most Dunks in a season by Team 195, in 89-90

Not just the winning–but the key point of this whole tourney: Making progress for a young team.

And the Cards did show that.

Terrence Jennings gleefully slams one home against Appy St. TJ is finally begin to shows signs of his potential like last season. (Pic by Sam4Gtr)

In the first game, the 3 pt sharp-shooting from the big W over Arkansas disappeared, as the Cards got sloppy with lazy /non-existent ball movement –either  in-out or swinging it around crisply.

So shot selection suffered–which led to poor shooting percentage. And the inability to apply the D press as often.

George Goode and Peyton Siva spring the trap on an Appy St. player. (Pic: KyLures)

It all degenerated into a lot of challenged 3′s that didn’t fall.

And although the Cards prevailed 69-56 over ETSU, it was a looonng time before Pitino came into the press room from the locker room.  He was grumpily not pleased, with ether  ball movement or the lack of rebounding–the Cards got out-rebounded by 11 boards in the second half by  a much smaller ETSU team that was without their best player, who was injured.

Edgar Sosa's steady, heady play has opened some eyes this season. (Pic: KyLures)

Coach took about three questions, we all sensed he was pissed, so that was it.  And what more could be said–it was an awful game and a step backward from the previous game against Arkansas.

Kyle Kuric continues to impress with his energy and hops, this jam against Appy St. (Pic by Sam4gtr)

The next game the Cards were focused–and had to be–against a scrappy and talented    Morgan St.  squad.  The Cards erased most of their key errors from the previous game, stayed in control most of the game–and shot a large # of free throws and made over 80% in a fairly clutch, close-game situation.

In the final contest, U of L routed  Appalachian St. 80-53 .  Coach Pitino was pleased with the effort.  He felt the movement and shot selection were sharp again — and this was reflected in over  50% shooting by the Cards.

Coach singled out Jared Swopshire many times across all the games.  He feels Swop is stronger but still too lean.  Has mentioned more than once he thinks Swop  will have an NBA career if he continues to improve and stays 4 yrs.

Jared Swopshire fights for a rebound against Appy St. Pitino sang Swop praises all toruney long--he or somebody is going to have to board with the bigs when Big East play really takes off. (Pic by KyLures)

Swop again...(Pic: Sam4Gtr)

BTW– Louisville is now 4-0 for the first time in 14 yrs.  That kinda surprised me.

My main concern after viewing all the games this season? Lack of strong  rebounding and  inside game against big, physical teams–like in the Big East.  Samuels is very good , but unless Jennings steps up big like last yr (remember him on Harangody at the Hall !) , we will not be able to bang with the big boys and I think we will often be forced to settle for 3 balls.

We need somebody–anybody–to dedicate themselves to rebounding besides just the center too.  Like Luke Whitehead did a few years back. Remember–when he finally totally focused on rebounding he was a 6’5″ machine of a bounder. Maybe Swop or Kuric can do it…

Tomorrow I’ll pick out and post some pics –and maybe provide a few more insights from personally being on press row and at the post-game pressers.  Meanwhile ck out these pic sets:

Siva was relatively quiet during this tourney--but the man has jets to burn. (Pic: Sam4Gtr)

Matt (KyKures) snapped photos for Hell in the Hall as usual:

Game One: Eastern Tennessee State (ETSU)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622726309337/

Game Two: Morgan State (covered by Sam4Gtr–see below)

Game Three:  Appalachian State

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622865775814/

and the Ladybirds  via KyLures’ separate section,  so you don’t have to search too hard  :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622851053684/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622741641621/

Happy 50th birthday, Mr. Kenny Klein. These buttons of some of Kenny's , umm, finer photos were put on buttons and distributed to the press corp before the game.

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Also, as usual,   Sam4Gtr has allowed us to view his excellent game and LadyBird pics:

ETSU
http://s602.photobucket.com/albums/tt108/samhunterphoto/Mens%20BBall%20E%20Tennesee/

Morgan St.
http://s602.photobucket.com/albums/tt108/samhunterphoto/Mens%20BBall%20Morgan%20State/

Appy St.

http://s602.photobucket.com/albums/tt108/samhunterphoto/Mens%20BBall%20AP%20State/

Gratuitous LadyBird shot... (Pic: KyLures)

LadyBirds in flight... (pic: KyLures)

Umm, just one more... :-) (Pic: KyLures)