May 31st: On this date...

... in 1983, Kentucky All-American center Sam Bowie continued workouts to rehabilitate his broken left leg. Bowie's leg had been in five separate casts since the fall of 1981, when reports first came out of a fractured tibia. He was able to get back in time for a 1984 Final Four run in Seattle, where they lost to Patrick Ewing and Georgetown. As much hell as he gets, he didn't have THAT awful of an NBA career. (10 yrs - 27.59 MPG - 10.88 PPG - 7.52 RPG - 2 BPG - 2 APG)

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May 30th: On this date...

... in 1989, 23 years ago exactly, two big things happened. Rick Pitino accepted the University of Kentucky head coaching job and the infamous Sports Illustrated cover started circulation into your mailbox. Traitor Rick met with Knicks GM Al Bianchi for two hours and was finally granted permission to take the UK job. Very ironic that this infamous cover came out within hours with a lone player standing in shame -- foreshadowing?. To this day, everyone thinks this guy was bowing his head in defeat because we were about to be on probation. In a BBB exclusive, though, I did some research and found out this kid simply knew we were getting in bed with one of the most notorious people to ever set foot in the state. I'm just kidding Rick, maybe the kid was bowing his head because he knew the media would once again be focused on Kentucky 20 years later even though the story of you and your mistress should be topic #1. Yup...no...hard...feelings...at...all.

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May 29th: On this date...

... in 1975, your University of Kentucky great, Kevin Grevey, was selected 18th in the NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. Grevey's teammates -- 6'4" guard Jimmy Dan Connor (36th - Phoenix Suns), Bob Guyette (3rd round - Kansas City), and Mike Flynn (7th round - Indiana Pacers) were also drafted. Grevey had the most success of the four in the NBA, helping the Bullets to the 1978 NBA Championship. Connor actually never played in the NBA, suiting up for only one year with the Kentucky Colonels. Guyette never suited up for an NBA team. Mike Flynn, on the other hand, played three seasons for the Pacers, scoring a total of 1300 points.

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May 28th: On this date...

... in 1989, future UK coach Rick Pitino still had not made up his mind on taking the head coaching job at Kentucky. Executive Vice President of Madison Square Garden Jack Diller claims to have told Pitino that he only gave permission for he and UK to "talk". For some reason, I guess Mr. Diller thought they would simply be having dinner instead of discussing the UK coaching job. Pitino said, "Nothing else was ever said to me by Jack Diller. To me that meant that if they offered the job and I decided to go, I could go." He later added, "I've always had permission to leave. If I don't get it, I'll stay."

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May 27th: On this date...

... in 1987, former Kentucky forward Larry Steele was named head coach of the University of Portland. Steele was a first-team All-SEC player during his time with the Cats. Although he had never coached a game before in his life, Portland gave him a shot after spending nine seasons playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. The new head coach played three seasons for the University, and averaged just over 10 PPG. Steele later led the NBA in steals in 1974, and averaged 10 PPG during the Portland title run in 1977. On October 11, 1981, his jersey was retired during a halftime ceremony in Portland.

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May 26th: On this date...

... in 1989, the New York Knicks said that Rick Pitino was under contract and needed to be granted permission in order to leave the team. They also announced they would make Kentucky compensate them for any money lost in a new coach search. To which C.M. Newton said, "Hey, I got an idea. How bout you go _______ yourself," or something to that effect. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Pitino's contract would be worth $5 million over seven years in base salary. Years later, he would turn his back on Big Blue Nation and "allegedly" have an affair with his ball boy's wife.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 25th: On this date...

... in 2009, your University of Kentucky Wildcat courts were apparently in session as three of its biggest faces in recent memory were all in the news for court related matters. The three faces: Billy Clyde Gillispie, Jonathan Henry Wall, and Jonathan Henry Calipari.

Billy Gillispie: No. Its not what you think. We'll talk about the golfing incident later in the summer. BCG was in the news because he sued the University of Kentucky Athletics Association for "breach of contract". The "contract" is the same "contract" as the one in "contract he never signed".

John Wall: Plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of breaking and entering into a vacant house in Raleigh with two friends. This, of course, is absurd, as the police saw he and his friends leaving a house that had no damage and nothing missing.

John Calipari: Coach Cal was in the news again. This time for allegations of a three ring circus he was running in Memphis. The NCAA caught John Calipari on video taking the SAT for Derrick Rose. He was actually in a Derrick Rose mask and was found out leaving testing area, similar to how a Scooby-Doo villian gets nabbed.

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May 24th: On this date...

... in 2004, your University of Kentucky all-time great Tayshaun Prince came from out of nowhere to block Reggie Miller's potential game-tying layup. The block clinched Game 2 for the Pistons, 72-67, in the Eastern Conference Finals. Prince's star continued to rise during the 2004 NBA Playoffs, helping the Pistons capture their only NBA Championship during their semi-dynastic run.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 23rd: On this date...

... in 2009, your University of Kentucky Wildcats football team received some bad news as defensive end Jeremy Jarmon was suspended for the 2009 season after testing positive for an NCAA banned substance. This was a huge blow for a team that was going to lean heavily on its defense. The offense was very inexperienced and the defense was full of experienced lettermen. The Cats still ended with a better record than I had anticipated for the 2009 campaign (7-6, loss to Clemson in Music City Bowl), but one has to wonder what they would've been with Jarmon on the line. Coach Steve Brown had to work some magic to get some brand new players to step up in Jarmon's absence. The suspension ended Jarmon's career at Kentucky, as an appeal had been heard but denied. The bad news ended there as he was now available for the NFL Supplemental Draft. The Washington Redskins quickly nabbed Jarmon. He is currently playing in Denver with a slew of other former Cats.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 22nd: On this date...

It goes off his foot.

... in 2009, your University of Kentucky Wildcats received some criticism from a friend in Minnesota as former point guard Saul Smith let his feelings be known about the hiring of John Calipari. And, surprisingly, Jerry Tipton was the guy doing the interview. I'm convinced Saul was simply trying to get some publicity before the new #11 put everyone else who wore the number out to pasture. His Facebook quote: “Bad bad day for my alma mater,” Smith wrote on Thursday. “The UK athletic program will never regain its true champion nature with Businessmen running it. Never, no matter how many so called blue chip players you bring in. You can’t sacrifice your integrity for success. You just can’t do it. I’m an alum and I deserve a clean-ran program, plain and simple. Period, and if anyone disagrees, you, my friend, shouldn’t support the program I played 4.” That last part makes him better than you because his Dad let him play on the team. Tipton then got a few quotes from him saying, "Coach Cal is my guy," and “I don’t think he knew about (the Derrick Rose situation), so he says.” Saul later said everything was taken out of context, but his daddy didn't "pay" for players. The Facebook quote was then mysteriously deleted and Saul went back to his life of irrelevance.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 21st: On this date...

... in 1989, Rick Pitino said he was interested in C.M. Newton's offer to become the next head coach of Kentucky. On his weekly television show, Pitino announced he would be flying to Lexington to tour the UK campus and discuss the job opening. Rick Rote, the host of Pitino's show, told the New York Times Rick said, "Joanne and I are going out Tuesday. I plan to make this decision as quick as possible. I'm hoping I'll be back, but if not, the Knicks will have the biggest cheerleader in Lexington." Statements like these would become all to familiar to Cat fans as Traitor Rick is now known to make these type of statements at every stop.

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May 20th: On this date...

... in 1996, Coach Rick Pitino and his NCAA Champion Kentucky Wildcats took a trip to D.C. to visit Slick Willy in the White House. Pitino and Mark Pope were the presenters of what was some bad comedy where everyone had to fake laugh for the cameras.

Some highlights:

 • Pitino noted that since Clinton and Al Gore took office in 1992, "the SEC is dominating the Final Four. Please re-elect them." Hang on........maybe that did work.

 • Mark Pope jokingly told Clinton he hoped the President would change his allegiance from Arkansas to Kentucky. (Oh SNAP!)

The Cats gave President Clinton a #1 Kentucky jersey, Al Gore a #2. Antoine Walker told the Lexington Herald-Leader, "It was a great experience for me. I've never been to Washington before." Walker then shimmied away.

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May 19th: On this date...

... in 2009, your University of Kentucky Wildcats received a commitment from Freak Show, John Wall. With all due respect for everything else that happened on this day in Big Blue history, this news takes the cake. We were able to witness a point guard with talent none of us had seen before. It only lasted for one year, but the ride was top notch. That's it, I got nothing else for ya.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 18th: On this date...

... in 1989, Kentucky Athletic Director C.M. Newton let everyone know he would be going after New York Knicks head coach Rick Pitino to succeed Eddie Sutton as the University's head coach. This news angered New York Knick top brass, as they were in the middle of a playoff run. The Knicks were preparing for a Game 7 in Chicago against Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The New York Times referred to the courting of Rick Pitino as "The Kentucky bombshell." Years later he had restaurant sex while eating linguini.

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May 17th: On this date...

... in 1975, Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore led the Kentucky Colonels to a 3-0 lead in the ABA Finals, beating the Indiana Pacers 109-101 in Indianapolis. Issel had 26 points and Gilmore had 41 points and 28 rebounds to help the Colonels win their first and only ABA Championship just a few days later. The Colonels were the overall #1 seed in the playoffs after winning 23 of their last 26 games. Former Rupp Runt Louie Dampier added 13 points in the victory. The Colonels, ironically, were known for having great crowds and a rabid fan base, and consistently had one of the better teams in the league. In the Championship year, Kentucky was coached by NBA all-time great coach Hubie Brown. Kentucky was a member of the ABA for all nine seasons and amassed the most wins of any franchise with 448.

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May 16th: On this date...

... in 1991, UK-bound transfer from North Carolina, Clifford Rozier, chose to attend Louisville instead. His recruitment by the University of Kentucky was ended after learning of an NCAA violation. On a recruiting visit to Lexington, his host Sean Woods took him to a party in Louisville, violating the 30-mile visit rule. Sources tell me, it was Rozier's penchant for Keith Sweat that was actually the tipping point in determining whether or not he was Wildcat material. This once again proves nothing good ever happens when you visit that filthy city, with the exception of public sex in a booth.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 15th: On this date...

... in 1981, former Wildcat great Rick Robey helped lead the Boston Celtics to their 14th NBA Title. They beat the Houston Rockets behind an MVP performance from Cedric Maxwell and Larry Bird's 27 points in the series clincher. Robey was a key bench player who often gave breaks to "The Chief" Robert Parrish. In 17 playoff games, Robey tallied 86 total points. After the Celtics wrapped up the title, it helped make Rick Robey the fourth Wildcat to own both an NBA and NCAA ring. The others being Frank Ramsey, Cliff Hagan, and Lou Tsioropoulos.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 14th: On this date...

... in 2008, Johnny Rondo hit back-to-back 3's to help the Celtics win a crucial Game 5 over the Lebron's (Cavs) 96-89. Rondo ended the game with 20 points - 13 assists. Many of the local Boston papers claimed Rondo was the key to the game as he dominated the point at each end of the court. But it was a pair of 3's from the often maligned outside shooter that keyed the run giving the Celtics their first lead of the game. The Celtics went on to win the series and the NBA Championship as Bostonians proclaimed Rondo the perfect piece for their Big Three. After this Championship, many UK fans came out of the woodwork saying they knew Rondo would be this good. Not to mention it gave them another reason to rail on Tubby. In 2010, Rondo and the Celtics made the LeBron's look foolish as they forced him to quit down the stretch. In 2011, the tables were turned as Lebron's new super team dislocated Rondo's elbow, ending the Celtics chance. 

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May 13th: On this date...

... in 1988, King Rex broke the hearts of every little kid in the state of Kentucky by declaring for the NBA Draft. The junior-to-be knew what was on the horizon with NCAA death penalty around the corner. Prop 48 had taken two top prospects away from the upcoming season, and many thought the 1988-89 season was a disaster in the making. Chapman said the pressure of being in the UK fishbowl was the ultimate tipping point in his decision to turn pro. He was selected 8th overall in the 1988 NBA Draft by the expansion Charlotte Hornets. Rex was formerly in the front office of the Denver Nuggets and his son, Zeke (class of 2011), is quite the basketball player (Ball State). Rex can now be found dominating his Twitter game.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

May 12th: On this date...

... in 1997,  the man who enjoyed taking a bath replaced (the newly departed) Rick Pitino as the head basketball coach of your University of Kentucky Wildcats. Orlando "Tubby" Smith formally accepted the offer for his dream job, leaving SEC foe Georgia. As critical as I was during Tubby's last few years, the decision to hire him was the perfect choice. No one can deny this if for no other reason than he won the National Title in year one. You can say all you want about Pitino's players, yada-yada-yada, but we also had the best team in 1997 with Rick and didn't win it all. Nothing is guaranteed, and even most irrational UK fans should know that. Obviously, its much easier for me to say this after experiencing the last 166 weeks of Kentucky basketball under John Calipari, but whatdoyado. Orlando was the first African-American basketball coach for the University and it was a seminal moment in our program's history. His first team went 35-4, won the SEC with a 14-2 record, and won the SEC Tourney by 30. Whether or not you're a Tubby guy or not, the man can coach and will forever be a part of UK lore. His day in Rupp, or wherever we are, will come and it will be well deserved. No man or his family should have to go through some of the things they went though during their time here. Time heals all wounds and that is especially true for Tubby Smith. Also last year (May 12, 2011), we learned Tubby had been diagnosed and beat prostate cancer. Cheers!

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach