Taking
A Cut
January
17, 1999
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True Blue Fans can be as tough, demanding and as supportive as any in America. Joe B. Hall took three UK teams to the Final Four and won one NCAA Championship. To many, that wasn't enough in his 13 years as the boss. Now 70, Joe B. is now recovering nicely from by-pass surgery. Last fall, some of Joe B.'s close friends were worried about his health. Always the tough guy, Joe B. downplays the issue, "I'm still here aren't I ? I'm a far sight better off than if I didn't have the surgery, I'll tell you that." Taking a Cut did a question and answer session with a man who always respected UK's tradition more than he was ever given credit for. Taking a Cut:
Joe B., you use the word "love" when you talk about watching UK play
today. What about Tubby ? Taking a Cut:Fans
have talked about replacing someone special. Do they understand what it
was like for you to follow Rupp, or Tubby to follow Pitino ? Taking a Cut:
Joe B, when you travel the state, do fans now look at you differently
? Taking a Cut:
Joe B. never coached with the 35 second shot clock or the three point
shot. Has the game of hoops changed since you coached ? Taking a Cut:
There are some that say that ESPN has changed the way kids today look
at and play hoops. ESPN shows the big time dunks, and very little 'team
play.' |
There is something about the style of play that is so similar among all teams. Everybody pretty much playing the same kind of offense, the same kind of defense. They get used to each other. It's kind of a stymied situation where no one looks that good." Taking a Cut:Would
you change anything ? Taking a Cut:
Do you consider yourself one of the luckiest guys around ? Taking a Cut:
A couple of years ago you went to Japan to coach. Why was it so much fun
? Joe B: "It was a situation where I didn't do anything but practice and games. I didn't have any media problems, and I didn't have any recruiting, or the NCAA. It was just basketball. It was a real pleasure." Taking a Cut:
Last summer, former UK great Sam Bowie told me that when he played for
you, he was a "load, hard to deal with." Bowie admits that it took him
a number of years after he left UK before he started to really appreciate
the discipline you put on the team and how much you really cared about
him. Joe B: "That's a story you hear pretty often with your former players. If you were a disciplinarian, they are not going to like you at that time. I think back in the 1700's they said you needed more discipline. For order and a society to exist, and a basketball team is a society within itself, it needs discipline." Taking a Cut:
Joe, you were always known for rolling up a game program while you coached.
While we were talking, you have a program rolled up in your hand. After all these years, it is about time that Joe B. received his due for a job well done. I will always believe that if Sam Bowie never got hurt, not only would UK have won two more titles during Sam's time, but, the recruiting advantage of winning the last game of the year might have set up Joe B. for one or two more |
Alan Cutler is a motivational
speaker, TV sportscaster, and sports talk show host in
Cincinnati and Lexington. E-mail can be sent to sportscut@mis.net
. Choose to have
a great day ! choose
to have a great day alan s. cutler