CatsPause.com - Adrenaline Rush: Madness ignites season

October 16, 2009

Matt May
CatsPause.com Senior Writer

Respect the past, fear the future. It's the Kentucky basketball mantra of the next generation.

The John Calipari era tipped off in grand style with a Big Blue Madness production that harkened back to the glory days of UK's basketball dominance. For a night, perhaps for a season and many more to come, adrenaline and life was pumped into a program desperately seeking a return to its regal stature.

It was all 24,000 rabid fans bouncing out of their shoes needed to believe again.

"We are proud to be a part of the next chapter of the storied history of Kentucky basketball," Calipari said. "We've all seen the history, traditional and mystical quality of Kentucky basketball, where everything turns blue around you.

"It's about Issel, Walker, Nash, Groza, Roby, Wah Wah Jones, Macy and it's all about Mashburn, Riley, Delk and Padgett, Rupp's Runts, the Fabulous Five, the Fiddlin' Five, and the Unforgettables."

Anticipation mounted as a backdrop featuring the Cats' and Calipari rising over the globe in the 'One World, One Big Blue Nation' theme for the 2009-10 season unfurled behind the stage. Students, waving blue lights in the dark, flanked each side of the runway style setup, creating a rock concert feel for the introduction of the Cats.

Decked out in blue warm-ups the players were introduced one by one, slowly lowered to the stage by hydraulic lifts behind three video boards featuring videos of them and their names and numbers. Freshman John Wall drew a long lasting cheer, dancing atop his lift with arms held high, but the loudest cheer of the night for the players was reserved for the man of the people, junior Patrick Patterson.

Calipari casually strolled onto the stage amid fireworks at 8:38 p.m. before walking the catwalk to exchanged handshakes and high-fives with the students clamoring for his attention as if he was Gene Simmons. The players weren't far behind, doing the same as the sold out Rupp Arena crowd sent chants of 'Go Big Blue!' cascading to the floor. Moments later he began a 15-minute speech that left fans frothing at the mouth.

"This team is not just about the 13 men sitting behind me, it's much more than that," Calipari said. "It's you the fans, from Pikeville to Paducah to lands where our fans are protecting our freedom. All with the common goal of getting into this building on this night to honor this program. Everyone is connected by the love of blue."

The Cats went through an impromptu dunk exhibition as they warmed up for a short scrimmage, with Wall electrifying the crowd every time he unleashed on of his gravity defying flight patterns to the rim. It was yet another reminder just how elevated UK talent base is from recent seasons.

If the excitement surrounding the future of Kentucky basketball wasn't already apparent the presence of former greats such as Kenny Walker, Derek Anderson, Tayshaun Prince, Jared Prickett, Richie Farmer and Wah Wah Jones being in attendance tied the past and future together in a neat bow.

The celebrities included rapper Drake and country music crooner Eddie Montgomery, who served as guest coach alongside women's coach Matthew Mitchell for their portion of the proceedings. Upon being introduced Mitchell appeared on a platform in the midst of the student section then shimmied and danced his way onto the court to join his squad.

The lasting message of the night was clear, crystallized by the closing of Calipari's speech.

"This is about a return of this legendary program back to its rightful place at the top of the mountain," Calipari said. "It's a vision that you, the greatest fans in the world, will be puffing your chests out again."

Matt May is the basketball beat reporter for The Cats' Pause. If you have questions or comments about the Cats e-mail him here.

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