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Rick Pitino
by Elakin
Having grown up just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, I suppose it's a fair assumption that I'd be a University of Tennessee sports fan as most are in the area. However, I'm a Daddy's girl and well, Dad likes the University of Kentucky men's basketball team, so, the 5-year-old me decided I had to like them, too. Frankly, I've never liked football, so I don't even care what team Dad likes for that sport, but I love basketball! Over the years, I've stood up for my boys against all kinds of sneers and jeers but a lot of good-natured ribbing, too, much of which came from with the natives in the family. My mom swore up and down her blood ran orange despite not being much of a sports fan of any kind. My baby brother is die-hard UT in everything from football and basketball to underwater basket weaving (if they had it, of course). It was, however, during the days of head coach Rick Pitino that I really began to get the logistics and strategy of the game and came to love Kentucky for more than just being Dad's favorite team. It's the passion and the tradition and the fire and the drive - and Pitino did great things that rivaled the philosophy, dedication, and overall teamwork of the late, great Adolph Rupp. It was a sad, sad day to see him leave Big Blue, but he definitely left his mark. He even had a hand in making Billy Donovan, of Florida fame, into the success he is today. Yes, he's got his skeletons, but he did great things for basketball at Kentucky and he made the game an absolute thrill to watch and attend. I've never been to a game at Rupp Arena, but it's on my "Bucket List". I'd love to get Pitino's autograph to go with my Jamal Mashburn and a few of the other players' autographs I've already got. Of course, I might still get that chance one day - he's not dead just yet - or at least I don't think his wife's killed him yet!
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