The Dark Days Are Over

Big Blue Good Times this past weekend with Midnight Madness, the launch of the NCAA basketball season and, more importantly, Coach John Calipari’s promise to return the University of Kentucky basketball to its rightful place at the top of the mountain. In the words of many of our more erudite friends, “Dude, you have no idea.” Translation: we’re stoked.

Dave always bleeds Blue but it wasn’t easy over the past several long and frustrating years where the chances of a tournament title seemed about as possible as Macy making friends with the mailman. Back are the days of hearing about the coach’s recruiting genius, the potential for tournament success, and the litany of stories about players. Once again, he can wear his ratty sweatshirt with pride (note to family: he might be in the market for a new UK sweatshirt this Christmas).  He’s not the only fan talking up a blue streak about the Wildcats. Big Blue Nation is abuzz.

Truth be told, I missed all the hoops talk. Before Tubby Smith and Billy Gillispie, UK basketball chatter filled the house from Midnight Madness to March Madness. We’ve collected some classic stories – sort of like Dave’s highlights of UK fandom — but the past few seasons have let both of us down; Dave more so than me since he’s been a forever kind of fan.

Basketball had become so foreign in the house that when Macy heard the sounds of basketball on tv this past Friday night, it took her a few minutes before heading for calmer shelter upstairs. As for Alice, she was front and center with Dave for all the Wildcat action. She’s already thinking this year’s Cats are ready for the Buddies of Highest Order (BHO) and quite possibly might be the Greatest Of All Time.  High fives all around for John Wall and Patrick Patterson, Alice’s new favorite Wildcats!