From early on in my youth, I can remember curling up on the couch with my grandfather to watch the Kentucky Wildcats play basketball. It should be noted that while my Pa and I were watching the Cats, my Granny was cussing and passionately cheering as well. It did not take much to wind Granny up.
It was my dream to go to UK for college. However, out-of-state tuition made that an impossibility. That’s okay. I got a scholarship to Morehead State and received a great education. However, I still always cheered for the Cats. Also, my daughter is now a sophomore at the University of Kentucky. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
One year in college, 1992 to be exact, I was in a pool and drew Kentucky and had a chance to win something like $200. That is big money for a college student. Many college basketball fans will remember that it was the year that “He Who Shall Not be Named” hit a last-second shot, beating my dear Cats in the final. Yes, the entire state of Kentucky still takes this very personally. Some of the first words I taught my daughter were “Duke puke.” This was some of my better parenting.
I lived in New Jersey when we won a title against UMass. All my co-workers were cheering for UMass, but I wore my Kentucky blue every game day throughout March. This was the year there was so much celebration at Casa de Traver that my 6’2” husband, whilst jumping about with great enthusiasm, jumped on one of our dogs, making her very gun-shy of celebrations. She was fine.
We haven’t won a championship in a while. We are usually in the mix, but we are in a major dry spell. Here’s the thing: We are basketball royalty. Everyone wants to beat us and always brings their A game when they play us. We get it, but it is a lot of pressure. Sometimes we rise to the occasion. Sometimes we fall short. Regardless, Big Blue Nation always shows up. We plan our lives around Kentucky basketball. And oh, how we will travel to see our Cats play!
I was at the library knitting last Friday when we beat Santa Clara in the first round—in overtime, nonetheless. It was a rowdy knitting session as we had the game playing on one of the library computers. When Oweh (my favorite player) hit the three-pointer to send the game into OT it sounded like a wild rave at this small Nancy, Kentucky library. We all went nuts. Stitches were undoubtedly dropped. I made a mess of what I was knitting and finally just put it down.
Unfortunately, we lost this year in the second round. Iowa State’s defense was just insane. We did not play our best. That has been a problem all year. We just have not brought it consistently.
Despite my Cats being out of it, I will soldier on with March Madness. I’m really not cheering for anyone in particular. It is an ABD (anybody but Duke) situation.
I just love March Madness. It marks true sporting excellence as well as the beginning of spring. What’s not to love? To get college basketball at its finest so soon after the Olympics is a sports lover’s dream.
We may not have gotten far this year, but there is always next year. That is the great thing about sports. This Wildcat fan will hang tough for another year. Hey, 2026-27 season! The Cats are coming for you! Go big blue!
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
