Kentucky Wildcats: A Big Brother/Little Brother History Lesson
By Wayne
Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
A little video of Willie Cauley-Stein on the Louisville game from a player’s perspective.
It never gets old to see a mega rich athlete give back to the community, in particular the children, so I give you our very own, DeMarcus Cousins. Big Cuz is awesome.
"John Calipari always talks to his players about giving back once they’ve achieved success and made a little money. “Fame is fleeting,” he says, so give back and make a difference while you can. DeMarcus Cousins apparently took Coach Cal’s advice to heart. The former Wildcat, who is now with the Sacramento Kings, has been releasing a behind-the-scenes video series about his life, and the latest video features taking 100 kids on a Walmart shopping spree. Remember, Cousins also donated $1 million to local charities upon signing a contract extension with the Kings during the offseason."
It almost always shocks me when a Kentucky fan turns tail to become a Louisville fan but that’s exactly what happened with former administrative assistant to UK coaches, Marta McMackin. Now, I’m not throwing anyone under the bus but it just blows my mind. I’ve talked to former Kentucky players under Rick Pitino who hold him in such high regard for what he meant to them personally and for their careers so if they were to switch sides, I could kind of see it.
"Believe it or not, a person can root passionately for Kentucky to beat Louisville. Then at another time of life, the same person can root passionately for Louisville to beat Kentucky. The mere thought of Louisville beating Kentucky once drove Marta McMackin, a long-time administrative assistant to UK coaches, to seek psychiatric help in dealing with the anxiety the game produced. Hypnotism helped her cope. McMackin, now retired, does not plan to attend the Kentucky-Louisville game on Saturday. She frets that Louisville might lose to Kentucky. “I must have lost my hypnotic suggestion,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve come full circle. “If you had told me 10 years ago I’d be wearing red, I would have said you’re crazy. But, then, I didn’t know Coach ‘P’ would be there either.” McMackin’s regard for Rick Pitino, one of her former bosses at UK, transcends the Kentucky-Louisville divide. She once kept a kitsch on her UK desk year-round showing a ravenous Wildcat clutching a helpless Cardinal in his mouth. Then last March, she wore a Louisville sweatshirt to Rupp Arena to watch the Cards play in the NCAA Tournament. This seems akin to someone participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement, then later joining the Tea Party. Or a fundamentalist Christian becoming an atheist. “I have a lot more red in my closet than I ever did,” she said. “It was mostly all blue. Now, it’s mostly all red.” That most elemental of rooting impulses — that sense of belonging to something — moved McMackin, 68, to change sporting loyalties. She’s remained friends with Pitino and his family while no longer feeling welcomed at UK. “I feel a kinship with them now that I don’t feel with Kentucky since I retired,” she said. “. . . I sort of feel ostracized from (UK) because there’s no warm and fuzzy feeling.” “Coach Pitino has always been very, very good to me,” McMackin said. “I feel a certain loyalty to him. He’s afforded us that inner feeling with Louisville.”"