Golden Age

Here we sit in the veil of summer, the NBA season and draft are finally over and football is still weeks away.  Only baseball is our everyday friend.  Here in Kentucky it's never not a good time to think about basketball.  Fans are waiting impatiently for the start of another Kentucky basketball season and hopes are always at a fever pitch. 

Since John Calipari arrived nine players have gone to the NBA and a Final Four is still fresh in the minds of fans.  He has managed to recruit some of the best talent in years to play for the Wildcats and the pool seems limitless.  After years of Tubby Smith and Billy Gillispie the Wildcat faithful are wearing a pride that has not been seen around these parts since the 1990's.  Most fans don't remember the great decades of the Adolf Rupp era, that's only a name that is attached to their favorite arena, much like famous leaders in history have their picture on our money.  Joe Hall was never appreciated for any of his accomplishments, and Eddie Sutton will remain an underachiever who squandered his chance at the apex of college basketball.

Which brings us to Rick Pitino.  No more affection and accolades could have been given to a Coach who led a once proud program out of despair and firmly stationed it at the pinnacle of success.  Wildcat fans were once again proud and content that they could brag about the accomplishment of a program that had been the source of so much enjoyment over the years.  Once again Wildcat fans were in the midst of a golden age at Kentucky.  Then he left.

For a decade the once proud program flirted with success only to fall victim to upset and disparity.  It seemed that they would never enjoy a golden age of basketball again.  In steps Coach Cal with his optimism and his stable of young stars, his Elite Eights, his Final Fours, and once again the wild ride of magical seasons restored the faithful.   Never mind that he infuriates the NCAA and all of the other coaches and fans, of every other team in the land.  What Wildcat fans are in the midst of is another Golden Age of Kentucky Basketball.  Appreciate it this time and enjoy the ride.