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UK coach visits Maysville
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By CHUCK HAMILTON Sports Writer
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University of Kentucky head basketball coach Orlando "Tubby" Smith paid a visit to the area Wednesday and dined with alumni at the Maysville Conference Center before heading back up the hill for another speech, followed by a question and answer session, at the Fields Auditorium on the campus of Maysville Community & Technical College.
The dinner, where proceeds benefitted the Tubby Smith Foundation for the purchase of new computer equipment at the Tom Browning Boys & Girls Club, was a well-attended and successful event and the coach spoke of the foundation, as well as basketball.
The Tubby Smith Foundation was established as a way for the UK coach to raise money for underprivileged children and has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception. It currently benefits many important and diverse causes, including Special Olympics, Operation Read, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky and many more.
To date, the foundation has raised over $2.3 million for over 200 local and national charities.
In January 2004, "Tubby's Clubhouses" was originated with cooperation from Dell Computers to provide at-risk middle school children with a 40-hour afterschool life skills program. Thus far, the program has seen over 500 young students graduate, with the assistance of refurbished computers used in the centers.
After receiving the 40 hours of technology education, each student receives a free Dell computer, a Lexmark printer, a year of free Internet access account and a computer accessory kit.
The Tubby Smith Foundation committed to contributing $350,000 for Tubby's Clubhouses when the program was founded nearly three years ago.
Following opening remarks from Tom Coe, a UK season-ticket holder and member of the Maysville Rotary Club, Smith was introduced to the gathering by Jim Stice, who serves as president of the local chapter of the University of Kentucky Alumni Association.
In his short speech, Coe thanked the sponsors of the event, as well as the UK coach.
"This night couldn't have been held without our starting lineup of Clarke & Clarke Attorneys at Law, Limestone Properties, Clarke Insurance Agency, Real Estate Counseling Inc. and Humana," said Coe. "I invited Tubby to come to Maysville when we were on the same flight and I'd also like to thank Coach Smith for being here tonight."
Each table at the dinner featured an autographed UK mini-basketball signed by Smith and the diners were asked to conduct a mini-auction for the collectible, with proceeds benefitting the Tom Browning Boys & Girls Club.
Smith, who visited the facility before the dinner, was kiddingly chided by Stice in his introduction.
"I invited Coach Smith to my wedding several years ago but he couldn't make it," said Stice. "I'm very happy he is here this evening, and along with being one of the premier coaches in the nation, it is his off-court accomplishments that demonstrate his ethics and integrity, which is certainly what UK fans expect out of their coach."
Smith took the podium, greeted by a standing ovation, as the audience was enjoying their excellent cuisine from D & D Catering.
"It's always an honor and privilege and the best part of my job to get out in the state and meet the many wonderful people in Kentucky," Smith said. "I don't consider myself to be a very good dinner speaker and I liken this to a wake. it is like a wake in the sense that people come because they want to see the body but they don't want to hear him speak."
After the laughter subsided, Smith continued.
"I'd just like to thank everyone for coming tonight and I thank the good Lord for being here in this All-American town," said Smith. "Things have changed here, people used to be more good-natured towards me in what I call the 'BC' days, or 'Before Chris.'"
Smith was referring to former Mason County Mr. Basketball Chris Lofton, currently a member of the Tennessee Volunteers. Smith has endured a barrage of public criticism for not signing Lofton to a scholarship and to his credit, confronted the issue head-on.
"Many people said Tubby was nuts, maybe rightly so, and called me 'Yucky Tubby' as well as other things," noted Smith. "Chris is one heck of a basketball player and I wish him the best, but I know basketball is a religion to many in Kentucky and some of them considered Chris to be the second coming for what he did at Mason County. I know better than anyone what could've been and I've spent many a night kicking myself, especially after he lit us up. But there are still a lot of loyal 'Cat fans here and now that's behind us and we must move forward."
Smith kept the basketball discussion to a minimum, emphasizing that the real reason for the visit was to benefit the Tom Browning Boys & Girls Club.
"I have been very blessed in my life and much more important than my celebrity status as the Kentucky coach is to help serve the needs of our most precious possession, our young people, especially those who through no fault of their own are in need," explained Smith. "My mom told me that to whom much is given, much is required. We are trying to make a difference in the lives of children, many of which are helpless and frightened. We must shelter, serve and save our children."
The UK coach also implored those in the audience to do the same.
"I encourage you to go to the Boys & Girls Club and help. I could just write a check but that isn't the same as showing up with a smile, a pat on the back and words of encouragement," said Smith. "People may say I have a scowl on the bench, but when I go to visit these children, they see a different Tubby. Just the like the commercial says, it is priceless. If one child is encouraged by seeing me, that means as much to me as winning a national title."
Smith summed up his comments by thanking everyone in attendance and reiterated that he would help in any way he can.
"I challenge the people of Kentucky to help their children and to change the score in kids' lives, especially our most vulnerable, at-risk children," said Smith. "If you need my help, you know where to reach me."
Following the coach's speech, Kelly Clarke, one of the event sponsors, spoke about the Tom Browning Boys & Girls Club.
"We have over 50,000 visits yearly, with 180 kids there every day. The cost is $1.00 per child per year but the expense is estimated at $250.00 for each child, so we rely on giving," Clarke said. "I'd also like to thank Coach Smith for visiting, where the kids were chasing after him like he was the pied piper and he signed every autograph request. The donated computers will help a lot and we're also going to remodel a special blue and white room, which will be known as the Tubby Smith Computer Center."
The festivities came to a conclusion after several items, including tickets to the UK-UT game were auctioned, and several dignitaries spoke briefly.
At the end of the evening, State Rep. Mike Denham presented Smith with a Kentucky Colonel commission, calling Smith "an Admiral in the Commonwealth" and Denham also presented a commission for Smith to take to his wife, Donna.
When Smith arrived at MCTC, he was greeted by another ovation along with the UK fight song over the loudspeakers. He led the crowd in a short "C-A-T-S" chant before briefly speaking.
"I'm excited today ... well, we played better last night," said the coach, adding "Maysville has always been an important place to this state, to this region."
Smith went on to speak of his childhood in Maryland, as one of 17 siblings, and focusing on goals, speaking to the youth in the Fields Auditorium.
"Most people don't dream big enough dreams," Smith said, alluding to the fact that if he hadn't, he wouldn't be "leading the most prestigious college basketball program in America."
Smith spoke more about the current Wildcats' squad at MCTC, referring to the lineup changes he recently made as hopefully being helpful to the team's future successes.
"The changes we made in our lineup, I think will be helpful," said Smith. "Moving Bobby Perry to small forward and Ramel Bradley to shooting guard, and starting Derrick Jasper at point guard," which got a nice amount of applause from the crowd.
During the brief question and answer session, Smith responded to such subjects as turnovers ("It's a mental thing now, (we've) just got to go back to fundamentals"); newest recruit Ramon Harris from Alaska ("He can't practice until Dec. 16," after which it'll be determined whether he'll redshirt the rest of the season); and Saturday's matchup against Indiana (What worries him? "Everything. They're a very good team, talented and very physical. It's a different coach and different style of play ... (and) it'll be a test for us.").
No questions about Lofton were posed at the college, though Smith didn't pass up the opportunity to comment on Maysville's favorite son, for his very last comment of the evening.
"We had one from here get away from us, but I'm not going to let any more get away," he said.
Sports editor Jonathan Fraysure, from MCTC, contributed to this story. |
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