A comfortable chair near the bed in my grandfather’s (Pa) bedroom was the place I spent many Monday and Saturday nights as a kid in the late 60s listening to the local radio station broadcast Kentucky Wildcats basketball games. Legendary announcer Cawood Ledford’s description of the games made the action in Lexington, Knoxville, Baton Rouge and other locations come alive. After each game, we listened to familiar sound of an aging Coach Rupp talk about the “boys” …his name for all his basketball players. My love for UK started in that room with my grandfather.

That’s why a blue and white Kentucky basketball was placed in the bassinet at Tuomey hospital in Sumter, SC when our son, Steven, was born. That’s why he and I try to catch at least one UK game in person each year. That’s why we get together to watch big games when UK is on TV. That’s why we watched last night’s national championship game together, celebrating with high fives when it was over and the CATS had their eighth national title. That’s why we were sending text messages and photographs back and forth to family members in New Orleans who were at the game. Blue is like blood in Kentucky and it’s a family tradition.

So what does this blog entry have to do with First Baptist Church or spiritual issues? NOHTING!

It’s just about me celebrating Kentucky’s 67-59 win over Kansas. I’m having fun!

Pastor Steve Hogg