This week starts the insanity that is district basketball tournament action in Kentucky. The flowers are starting to creep out, the grass is somewhat greener, and hope springs eternal in the eye of every high school player in the state. This time next week most will have played their last game of basketball, and the next week, just about as many will have, as well. But, for this small window, glory and immortality is alive with promise.
After all these years, I remember, as if it was yesterday, the thrill of the fans, and the "butterflies" that came with that one moment of competition. Caravans of school buses, followed by many more cars, wended their way through the back country of rural Kentucky, knowing you would probably lose, but just maybe, you might be witness to something great. I still hear the screams of the crowd and the friendly faces of the cheerleaders, seemingly the only allies you had. I still remember the tears that followed the inevitable loss that all but very few will never feel. My one consolation was, that at least tomorrow I could start thinking about baseball season.
So, if you want to recapture some of the nostalgia that lives in the back of all of our minds, go to a game, there's surely one playing near you. Feel the excitement, enjoy the pageantry, smell the odor of apprehension, and watch the show. Each spring the same scenario plays out at a high school gym near you. You might be surprised at the memories that come storming back.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
American Hero
I have never been a huge NASCAR fan, but every year I do tune in and enjoy the Daytona 500. The start of that race is as exciting as any thing in sports. It sometimes gets a bit tedious and long, especially if there are lots of caution flags and restarts. This years race was like that. Until the end.
All of the greatest drivers in the world took their shot at victory and came up short, then from out of nowhere a twenty year old rookie, who had never run in "The Great American Race" shocked the racing world. Trevor Bayne, a young man who just turned twenty yesterday, grabbed the lead and held off everyone to pull one of the most stunning upsets in NASCAR history. He becomes the youngest winner of the Daytona 500 by five years. Jeff Gordon being the youngest previously. Many of the greatest drivers have never won this race and many more never will, but on this sun-drenched day in Daytona Florida miracles still happen.
This is why I love sports. Sports are one of the few places where fairy tales can come true and we all can get reminded that anything is possible. So Trevor Bayne, you transcended folklore today, and gave us what few things other then sports can do. You, young Trevor Bayne, leaped into that rare class in sports of American Hero!
Thanks, I hope your ride continues.
All of the greatest drivers in the world took their shot at victory and came up short, then from out of nowhere a twenty year old rookie, who had never run in "The Great American Race" shocked the racing world. Trevor Bayne, a young man who just turned twenty yesterday, grabbed the lead and held off everyone to pull one of the most stunning upsets in NASCAR history. He becomes the youngest winner of the Daytona 500 by five years. Jeff Gordon being the youngest previously. Many of the greatest drivers have never won this race and many more never will, but on this sun-drenched day in Daytona Florida miracles still happen.
This is why I love sports. Sports are one of the few places where fairy tales can come true and we all can get reminded that anything is possible. So Trevor Bayne, you transcended folklore today, and gave us what few things other then sports can do. You, young Trevor Bayne, leaped into that rare class in sports of American Hero!
Thanks, I hope your ride continues.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Love Is In The Air
Yesterday was Valentine's Day and today is one of my favorite days of the year, February 15, the official beginning of thoroughbred breeding season. You don't have to be in the horse business to appreciate the significance of today. What the start of breeding season means here in central Kentucky is the unofficial start of spring. A time of new hope, a time to put away the past and look to the rejuvenation of life.
I didn't mean to get all philosophical on you, but its been a long cold winter, and the promise of spring is one of those things that brings a smile to everyone. Oh sure, we will have to put up with the multitude of horse vans and trailers that crowd the narrow lanes of the back roads of horse country, carrying their precious loads of amorous mares. The gleam in a stallions eye awaits their arrival. Eleven months from this mating, a potential foal could stand on wobbly legs and find its way to glory, down the road.
There is promise in this ritual, taking place every year at this time, inside the plank and stone fences, that make this a magical land. Many Kentuckians hurry through the country side and never know that love is in the air, just up each and every lane. That's what this day means to me. The promise of spring time and the promise of something new.
I didn't mean to get all philosophical on you, but its been a long cold winter, and the promise of spring is one of those things that brings a smile to everyone. Oh sure, we will have to put up with the multitude of horse vans and trailers that crowd the narrow lanes of the back roads of horse country, carrying their precious loads of amorous mares. The gleam in a stallions eye awaits their arrival. Eleven months from this mating, a potential foal could stand on wobbly legs and find its way to glory, down the road.
There is promise in this ritual, taking place every year at this time, inside the plank and stone fences, that make this a magical land. Many Kentuckians hurry through the country side and never know that love is in the air, just up each and every lane. That's what this day means to me. The promise of spring time and the promise of something new.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Box of Chocalates
Do you remember the old Tom Hanks' movie "Forest Gump"? One of the most famous lines from that film was "Life is like a box of chocolates. you just never know what you're going to get." Watching Terrance Jones play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, is much like that. From one game to the next, you just never know what you are going to get.
Terrance Jones is a great talent. At times he looks like an All American, the next time he looks like what he is, a freshmen, who is trying to find his way in the world of big time college basketball. He reminds me of a young thoroughbred colt, breath taking speed one moment, bolting to the outside rail, or throwing his rider, the next. That's Terrance Jones.
Coach Cal rides him pretty hard at times and you wonder if he can take it? Just as suddenly, that talent comes out, and he slams a in your face dunk, and Coach Cal can't remember why he was mad at him to start with. He confounds you with his immature attitude,and bravado, and you ponder what's he going to do next. One thing's for sure, this team needs him to bring it every game. Many people speculate that he needs another year to harness the great talent that he so obviously has. The NBA loves his potential, he is in the top ten in all of the mock drafts. My guess is he will probably enter the draft. Which means, we better hope he gets it together by the end of the season.
Terrance Jones is like a box of chocolates, any one you choose is good. But, when you grab one of those special pieces from the box, your mouth starts to water, a smile creases your lips, well, it's just breath taking.
Terrance Jones is a great talent. At times he looks like an All American, the next time he looks like what he is, a freshmen, who is trying to find his way in the world of big time college basketball. He reminds me of a young thoroughbred colt, breath taking speed one moment, bolting to the outside rail, or throwing his rider, the next. That's Terrance Jones.
Coach Cal rides him pretty hard at times and you wonder if he can take it? Just as suddenly, that talent comes out, and he slams a in your face dunk, and Coach Cal can't remember why he was mad at him to start with. He confounds you with his immature attitude,and bravado, and you ponder what's he going to do next. One thing's for sure, this team needs him to bring it every game. Many people speculate that he needs another year to harness the great talent that he so obviously has. The NBA loves his potential, he is in the top ten in all of the mock drafts. My guess is he will probably enter the draft. Which means, we better hope he gets it together by the end of the season.
Terrance Jones is like a box of chocolates, any one you choose is good. But, when you grab one of those special pieces from the box, your mouth starts to water, a smile creases your lips, well, it's just breath taking.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Reality TV
I have never been much of a fan of the television genre of reality TV. I will confess to investing in one season of America Idol, to which, to this day I regret. Some how, this has become the way most Americans pass time and conversation. Which brings us to sports. I never felt I needed reality TV, when all I had to do was tune in to whatever sporting event, that happened to be playing each night, and weekend.
This Sunday is Super Bowl XLV, and it got me to wondering why 150 million Americans will spend millions of dollars, devote as many hours of their time, and generally, just stop their lives for several hours on Sunday. Not every one who gets so excited about the Super Bowl are football fans. In fact, most probably didn't even know who was playing until this week. Now they are experts on every thing, from Ben Roethlisberger's off the field problems, to Troy Polamalu's hair.
Maybe the Super Bowl is not just about football. Maybe there is more to this Sunday that we just don't get. I hear more people say they watch it for the commericals, but yet those same commericals will be aired for weeks to follow, and don't ever forget YouTube. Others say, the half time show is the best spectacle in entertainment. Remember the wardrobe malfunction? You always hear, "its about the party and the food," it is the second biggest day of eating next to Thanksgiving. What is it about the Super Bowl that makes it one of the biggest days of the year?
So, this got me to thinking about what it is about America that makes us watch. I have concluded, it's our thirst for reality TV. The Super Bowl is all about that. Two great fan bases are as excited as any kid at Christmas, and after the game some are going to be heart broken. Many are going to ride a high that will last, at least into next week. After all it is the middle of winter, and spring seems like a dream. Yep, the Super Bowl is a huge dose of reality TV, at least for America
As for the nearly billion people that will watch it around the world, well, that's a whole different story. Maybe many of them hate America, but you just can't deny, they sure do like to watch us.
This Sunday is Super Bowl XLV, and it got me to wondering why 150 million Americans will spend millions of dollars, devote as many hours of their time, and generally, just stop their lives for several hours on Sunday. Not every one who gets so excited about the Super Bowl are football fans. In fact, most probably didn't even know who was playing until this week. Now they are experts on every thing, from Ben Roethlisberger's off the field problems, to Troy Polamalu's hair.
Maybe the Super Bowl is not just about football. Maybe there is more to this Sunday that we just don't get. I hear more people say they watch it for the commericals, but yet those same commericals will be aired for weeks to follow, and don't ever forget YouTube. Others say, the half time show is the best spectacle in entertainment. Remember the wardrobe malfunction? You always hear, "its about the party and the food," it is the second biggest day of eating next to Thanksgiving. What is it about the Super Bowl that makes it one of the biggest days of the year?
So, this got me to thinking about what it is about America that makes us watch. I have concluded, it's our thirst for reality TV. The Super Bowl is all about that. Two great fan bases are as excited as any kid at Christmas, and after the game some are going to be heart broken. Many are going to ride a high that will last, at least into next week. After all it is the middle of winter, and spring seems like a dream. Yep, the Super Bowl is a huge dose of reality TV, at least for America
As for the nearly billion people that will watch it around the world, well, that's a whole different story. Maybe many of them hate America, but you just can't deny, they sure do like to watch us.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Stormy Night in Mississippi
The young Kentucky basketball team could not close out a win on the road in Oxford, Mississippi last night. There is nothing new about that, its just frustrating, seeing no production out of the upper classmen, Miller, Liggins, and Harrellson. Experience is supposed to be the thing that gets it done in close games and on the road, but on this team the freshmen are the fearless ones, that at least, show some leadership and a will to win.
Coach Cal has been preaching all season about this and apparently it falls on deaf ears. Case in point was in the last few seconds, with Kentucky clinging to a one point lead, Darius Miller passed up a wide open shot, and than the Cats fumbled away the possession with a shot clock violation, and boom, made three pointer, another loss on the road to an inferior team.
Florida looms on Saturday, in Gainsville, and it makes you wonder if the training wheels aren't running off of the Big Blue Express. Leadership is never thrust upon you, most of the time you have to reach out and take it. Until the older players on this team grasp this, I am afraid expectations are going to fall far short, this basketball season. Still, watching these freshman perform, always gives you hope.
That's the way I see it on a stormy night in Mississippi and Kentucky.
Mikey Cameron
Coach Cal has been preaching all season about this and apparently it falls on deaf ears. Case in point was in the last few seconds, with Kentucky clinging to a one point lead, Darius Miller passed up a wide open shot, and than the Cats fumbled away the possession with a shot clock violation, and boom, made three pointer, another loss on the road to an inferior team.
Florida looms on Saturday, in Gainsville, and it makes you wonder if the training wheels aren't running off of the Big Blue Express. Leadership is never thrust upon you, most of the time you have to reach out and take it. Until the older players on this team grasp this, I am afraid expectations are going to fall far short, this basketball season. Still, watching these freshman perform, always gives you hope.
That's the way I see it on a stormy night in Mississippi and Kentucky.
Mikey Cameron
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