LOOKING BACK

 This past week John Clay, a columnist with the Lexington Herald-Leader, wrote of the recent problems of former University of Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillespie.

This is a sad story of a troubled young man. I first took notice of Coach Gillespie as he guided Texas A & M into Rupp Arena four years ago in the NCAA Tournament.

I will admit I was impressed and had confidence that he could replace Coach Tubby Smith.

I did not know of his inner demons. Perhaps the enormity of the task he had accepted and the pressure of being head coach of the most successful basketball program in the country got him off track.

Many times during his tenure, I heard Coach Gillespie say “I only know one way to do it”. Unfortunately his way could not work in Lexington and it appears it is not working in Lubbock, Texas.

Somewhere in the decade of the 50s, 60s and 70s, a man named Paul “Bear” Bryant established himself as the most revered coach in the game of football.

Coach Bryant at Alabama was a brutal taskmaster and was able to mold young men into champions.

Many of the young men who played for Coach Bryant tried to follow in his footsteps. Charlie Bradshaw came to Kentucky in the 60s and was a disgrace as he brutalized some fine young men.

Coach Bryant was a national champion, but Bradshaw was no “Bear” Bryant. In the 70s, Bobby Knight became head coach of Indiana University and he coached brilliantly and he won three National championships.

The price of Knight’s success was high, however. Knight head butted with several of his players, grabbed some of the players by the throat. He bullied his players and threw chairs and tried to intimidate officials and all. We have seen that before and no telling what went on that we did not see.

Some people were upset that the Indiana President fired Knight. It was far too long to tolerate this egotistic bully.

In Corbin in 1953, a young disciple of Coach Bryant, Bill “Moon” Conde took over as the head football coach of the Redhounds.

Those players who turned out for that football season were put through some grueling practice sessions and were unable to win a single game.

Two years after Coach Conde left Corbin, the Redhounds went undefeated and won the state championship.

This year’s Redhounds have played four very intense games. The Danville game Friday night was very competitive, but the Redhounds lost their game in a row. South Laurel will be at Campbell Field this week.

I have in the past written about the independent basketball league that was played in the mid-60s and early 70’s and how competitive it was.

I was getting a haircut at Carol Simpson’s place down on 19^th and Main and I noticed a gentleman in another chair.  He asked me my name and I told him Crook and he said he was Hershel Collette.

We played in that independent league in the late 60s on the Drive Inn Prescription team. Harold Perry was our coach. Collette was a very strong inside player. I had not seen Hershel in over 40 years and I really enjoyed reminiscing with him.

If you have not noticed I currently have a firm grip on last place in picking a winner in our selection of games over the weekend.

This is not just flash in the pan happening; I was last in 2011 as well. I maintain that I have been very consistent.