The observer grew up in Central Kentucky, his first trip to Louisville coming at 17 years old, along with three other kids from the orphanage, as well as Donnie Lane, who would become head basketball coach at Transylvania.
Unheard of, kids from the orphanage in Versailles going to Louisville, going somewhere besides Lexington. A milestone for a kid who had decided he was a University of Louisville fan and engineered the trip.
To a youngster knowing his future would be in Louisville, the journey was magical. The wider highways, the taller buildings, the landmarks, all held significance. Louisville was center of the universe for the kid, an avid reader of two local newspapers who kept his radio on Louisville stations and the TV on Channels 3 or 11. He knew more about the city than most natives.
That first trip would include a strolls around the U of L campus, Parkway Field, Churchill Downs and the banks of the Ohio River. The kid was breathing rarefied air.
The highlight of the trip was Freedom Hall, home of the University of Louisville Cardinals. Peck Hickman’s palace. The home of Charlie Tyra, Jim Morgan, Phil Rollins and other members of the 1955-56 NIT champs.
Approaching us in the corridor was Ed Kallay, the likeable play-by-play announcer, actually speaking to us, wanting to know how we were doing, and that chuckle of his putting everyone at ease.
Then we would hear the crowd, the roar engulfing us as we entered the viewing area, that vast expanse of spectators stretching as far as the eye could see. Peck Hickman’s team was bounding onto the court. We were at the Mecca of college basketball, Freedom Hall, the home of Louisville Cardinals.
We had arrived.
CJ, I’m in Virginia too! Richmond area. Sang the National Anthem at a VCU game recently (search youtube for Soundworks).
My first game was with Jerry King and Butch Beard, right after Unseld left and I was hooked thereafter. I live in Virginia now, but am returning with my son for the Syracuse game. I am going to miss the Hall immensely. I think these players do their best, and like all of us, some days they have it and some days they don’t. We owe it to them to carry them through the Syracuse game. They need us and we owe it to them and the ghosts of Freedom Hall past. This one is on the fans. Let’s get up on our feet and bring the noise!
Uncle Ed! The unabashed homer. “Come on, you Cardinals!”