In the past 40 years, can you think of another coach who competed against UK that brought out more emotion than Dale Brown ?

With UK beating up on LSU last Saturday, it made me think of my old friend and how his life has changed since retiring from the Tiger sidelines. There is no doubt that at times Dale has pulled some crazy stunts, but there is also no doubt that the man really cares. The stunts have made too many overlook all the good Dale stands for and tries to do.

"Alan, I'm having a great time, I don't miss coaching. But, the final game I coached at Rupp Arena was the most heartwarming thing I've experienced." UK and their classy fans gave Dale a wonderful sendoff.

The Kentucky-LSU rivalry was something special when Dale had the Tigers cooking. For Brown, it will always be one of his special memories. "It was exciting and controversial. It brought out the best and worst out of everyone. But, I think the biggest thing is I think that rivalry made this whole league. Without Kentucky the SEC would never have been what it was. Then, with LSU making a couple of Final Four's in five years, that was special. I take my hats off to Kentucky. We never would have done it without Kentucky."

Dale is involved in many projects, and has been lucky enough to be approached with all kinds of opportunities, but nothing will get him back into coaching or a TV gig that has him being a commentator at games. "Alan, I'd be afraid I'd have to compromise myself if I did games on TV. I'd love to do a show on the road to the Final Four, but I'm not interested in getting back into the arena. I spent 44 years coaching. It paid great dividends. I have great memories. It gave me an education, it was a father substitute for me. It taught me discipline and respect for other people and I don't know if those qualities exist in most programs today. I'm eternally grateful to sports, but I've had enough." "We've coddled and spoiled our athletes. We made them think they can get away with things. It is so easy for coaches to compromise. We've made Frankenstein's. When I say we, I mean coaches and parents. We've been taking care of athletes for so long that they expect to get off. From fighting in a frat party, to a speeding ticket, to stealing, to something much worse. Sports, wow Alan, what good it can do, it can entertain. But, I worry about its present state right now."

Dale, who is doing a lot of motivational speaking, is seriously considering getting pro basketball going in ten Asian countries, and has just finished a book on how to run a basketball program, has high praise for the current caretaker of UK's program.

"I've known Tubby Smith for years. I knew him when no one knew who Tubby was. When he was an assistant trying to crawl his way up the ladder. First of all, he's been very consistent. He is exactly what you see. I believe Tubby is exactly what he is, a tremendous human being. I think he is an outstanding coach. I think he has his priorities down so well."

When it was suggested to Dale that Tubby could end up doing a lot for race relations, Dale went off. "I don't think there is any question that sports has done more for race than anything else. I think Tubby has honored everything with tremendous grace. This guy is a winner. He is the kind of guy I would like my son to be coached by. I think he is sensible. I think he is fair. I think he is a disciplinarian. But, he hasn't been blinded by the business, especially when you consider that Kentucky is the toughest college coaching job in America, even tougher than UCLA. Basketball is Kentucky ! The fans are very sophisticated. I think he has handled the job remarkably well."

One of Dale's favorite memories are two trips to Lexington when he took his team to Happy Chandler's home. Happy never got enough credit for having the guts to break the color line in baseball when he was commissioner. Dale loves people who stick their neck out for the right thing, even when it isn't popular. "The governor was one of the truly great men. I wanted him to tell the story about Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey. But, I sat there and thought, look what sports did."

Although Dale has resisted attempts to lure him into politics, and seriously considered running for the US Senate until his wife and daughter convinced him he would not win due to his habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve, Dale is very upset with many of todays leaders.

"We've lost our direction because of leadership. You can't have your public character honest and the private character dishonest. I have always thought that success without integrity is an empty accomplishment. There is so much pressure to get there, and when they do, there is no there......there. That is why there are so many suicides. 800,000 committed suicide in this world last year. Somehow we are off on the wrong track."

Somehow, watching Kentucky and LSU play without Dale still isn't the right track.