Who here used to turn Cawood Ledford up and turn the TV down?

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

I spent many hours on a tractor listening to Cawood call UK Football and watching Basketball games with the volume turned off and Cawood on the radio. 1978 I was in bed under the covers with my radio when UK won the National Championship.

Any links to Cawood audio.

http://www.setel.com/%7Ekyfan/0000coaches/images/ledford1.gif

I still get chills remembering his opening "Hello everybody this is Cawood Ledford."

[surveyor]

ROFL

That's like asking, "Who here is a living, breathing being?" :lol:

[ryanebelhar]

he retired the same year I started watching kentucky in 3rd grade.

[secatman]

That was me. Cawood was by far the best around. And objective as well. He absolutely could paint a picture with his words. I felt as if I were at every single game he called.

[CurlyCat]

I remember it well...

Accompanied of course, by one of the few times my Daddy would sit still from working on the farm, and I would be right there in his lap. :)

We're obsessed fans because Kentucky basketball always has been, and always will be, an actual part of our family. The tie that binds cannot be broken.

[CATHYnKY]

CurlyCat wrote: I remember it well...

Accompanied of course, by one of the few times my Daddy would sit still from working on the farm, and I would be right there in his lap. :)

We're obsessed fans because Kentucky basketball always has been, and always will be, an actual part of our family. The tie that binds cannot be broken.

You get a Big Blue AMEN from me Curley. Cawood....of course I turned the TV down. If there was delay, I would listen thru head phones because I could pace :D Back in the day (before headphones) I put my transister next to my ear. Remember transisters??? :cool:

[Terry L. Wildcat]

secatman wrote: That was me. Cawood was by far the best around. And objective as well. He absolutely could paint a picture with his words. I felt as if I were at every single game he called.
:cool:Could not have said it better...close your eyes and you were there...he was the one and only...I have his call of the 1978 championship on cassette...my folks taped it on a portable recorder sitting next to the radio so their voices are in it too...since they are both gone this tape is extra special.

[CurlyCat]

Terry L. Wildcat wrote: secatman wrote: That was me. Cawood was by far the best around. And objective as well. He absolutely could paint a picture with his words. I felt as if I were at every single game he called.
:cool:Could not have said it better...close your eyes and you were there...he was the one and only...I have his call of the 1978 championship on cassette...my folks taped it on a portable recorder sitting next to the radio so their voices are in it too...since they are both gone this tape is extra special.

That is about a special a memory a Kentucky boy could have on tape. I know that is incredibly precious to you.

Kind of wish I had a tape of my Dad yelling at Joe B. Hall, "Put Sheidler in! Put Shidler in!" ;)

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

In 2000, I was working at the Harlan Daily Enterprise as a sportswriter. We did a special section about the most influential Harlan Countians of the century or something like that.

Anyhow, I was given the assignment of doing something on Mr. Ledford. The first thought that went through my mind was, "How am I going to get in touch with him." Then the editor of the paper told me to just look in the phone book.

Sure enough, he was listed right there in the Harlan phone book. I called the number and when the person on the other end said, "Hello" there was no doubt as to who it was.

Long story short, I got to go out to his farm a few times and talk to him and his wife. Both really great, friendly, down to earth people. Cawood sure could tell a story. And he had a ton of them.

To this day, that's one of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do.

[CurlyCat]

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: In 2000, I was working at the Harlan Daily Enterprise as a sportswriter. We did a special section about the most influential Harlan Countians of the century or something like that.

Anyhow, I was given the assignment of doing something on Mr. Ledford. The first thought that went through my mind was, "How am I going to get in touch with him." Then the editor of the paper told me to just look in the phone book.

Sure enough, he was listed right there in the Harlan phone book. I called the number and when the person on the other end said, "Hello" there was no doubt as to who it was.

Long story short, I got to go out to his farm a few times and talk to him and his wife. Both really great, friendly, down to earth people. Cawood sure could tell a story. And he had a ton of them.

To this day, that's one of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do.

It would be equally as incredible to any of us. I'm happy for you though, what a dream come true!

I feel near the same way every time I get to talk to Bill Keightly. :) And, that would embarrass Wildcat Bill if he knew I said that. Never met a more humble man.

[Bombastic Blue]

Everybody.

[ky302girl]

I NAMED MY UK BEAR AFTER CAWOOD. I LOVED LISTENING TO HIM WITH MY DAD.

[BigBlueLuke]

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: In 2000, I was working at the Harlan Daily Enterprise as a sportswriter. We did a special section about the most influential Harlan Countians of the century or something like that.

Anyhow, I was given the assignment of doing something on Mr. Ledford. The first thought that went through my mind was, "How am I going to get in touch with him." Then the editor of the paper told me to just look in the phone book.

Sure enough, he was listed right there in the Harlan phone book. I called the number and when the person on the other end said, "Hello" there was no doubt as to who it was.

Long story short, I got to go out to his farm a few times and talk to him and his wife. Both really great, friendly, down to earth people. Cawood sure could tell a story. And he had a ton of them.

To this day, that's one of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do.
I never got to meet Cawood, but I know many who talked to him almostdaily and I have never heard anything but wonderful things about the man.His farm is absolutelyamazing. I may know you BowlingGreen. Did you ever do a story in 2000on a chubby kid from Evarts signing to play football at Campbellsville? lol If so, that would be me.

[UKSam]

I remember sitting around the kitchen table listening to the games. My parents would be drinking a pot of coffee. I wondered how anyone would drink such awful stuff. (As I sip on a cup right now)

During the time outs I would run to the hallway where I had a small baskeball goal that hung over the door and do my own instant replays. Now I sit on my butt and hit TIVO.

I remember that we got a cassette tape recoded for Christmas. It was the big rectangular shaped things with the big buttons and the single speaker was built in right behind the tape.

I put that in front of the radio and taped Rupp's address when they dedicated the arena.

The actual games have been clouded in my memory. However one game we listened to is a clear as if I watched it this morning.

Dwight Anderson took over the last few seconds and pulled us out of a sure defeat.......................Anyone remember who we played???????????

[macdon]

"Casey from the corner...Got it!"

[UKSam]

cdrw wrote: UKSam wrote: ...

The actual games have been clouded in my memory. However one game we listened to is a clear as if I watched it this morning.

Dwight Anderson took over the last few seconds and pulled us out of a sure defeat.......................Anyone remember who we played???????????

I believe that was Kansas, if you're thinking of the game where we were down by 7 or so with less than a minute.

You are correct...........hadn't thought much about it till this post. Maybe it's an omen.

[CurlyCat]

UKSam wrote: cdrw wrote: UKSam wrote: ...

The actual games have been clouded in my memory. However one game we listened to is a clear as if I watched it this morning.

Dwight Anderson took over the last few seconds and pulled us out of a sure defeat.......................Anyone remember who we played???????????

I believe that was Kansas, if you're thinking of the game where we were down by 7 or so with less than a minute.

You are correct...........hadn't thought much about it till this post. Maybe it's an omen.
Dwight "The Blur" Anderson to be exact. :ggrin:

[UKSam]

CurlyCat wrote: UKSam wrote: cdrw wrote: UKSam wrote: ...

The actual games have been clouded in my memory. However one game we listened to is a clear as if I watched it this morning.

Dwight Anderson took over the last few seconds and pulled us out of a sure defeat.......................Anyone remember who we played???????????

I believe that was Kansas, if you're thinking of the game where we were down by 7 or so with less than a minute.

You are correct...........hadn't thought much about it till this post. Maybe it's an omen.
Dwight "The Blur" Anderson to be exact. :ggrin:

Sis, It's good to see you on the board a little more. I have missed you.

[RP_McMurphy]

You sir are one lucky person. What Kentucky fan wouldn't want to sit down with Cawood. He was our voice, he was eyes and we trusted him. He became a member of the family on many a cold winter's night. When Cawood said "write it down" we wrote it down. When Cawood said it was a bad shot then it was a bad shot. He will never truly be replaced and was one of a kind.

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote:
In 2000, I was working at the Harlan Daily Enterprise as a sportswriter. We did a special section about the most influential Harlan Countians of the century or something like that.

Anyhow, I was given the assignment of doing something on Mr. Ledford. The first thought that went through my mind was, "How am I going to get in touch with him." Then the editor of the paper told me to just look in the phone book.

Sure enough, he was listed right there in the Harlan phone book. I called the number and when the person on the other end said, "Hello" there was no doubt as to who it was.

Long story short, I got to go out to his farm a few times and talk to him and his wife. Both really great, friendly, down to earth people. Cawood sure could tell a story. And he had a ton of them.

To this day, that's one of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do.

[cumberlandredskin]

I turned down the TV every chance I got to listen to him. I did until the very end of his career that ended against Duke in that infamous game. I was living in Northern Virginia, Falls Church to be exact. That game was after dark so I could listen to Cawood and watch at the same time. Cawood was perfect until the end too. When Sean Woods made the shot that put the Cats ahead, Ralph Hacker was pretty much saying the Cats had thegame in hand. Cawood said it ain't over yet. He had seen enough basketball to know that and unfortunately he was right. But that just shows you what a great announcer he was. I remember listening many cold winter nights to him before every game was on TV and you could follow the action just as if you were there. There would will never be another one like him.

One of his famous sayings in a football broadcast was "Hold the Phones" when a penalty flag was spotted. Anybody remember that one?

[RP_McMurphy]

Related note here sorta. In 1992 on National Championship night I was driving thru eastern Kentucky on I-64 going to Rhode Island. Anyways I knew it was Cawood's last game that night. I purposely stopped for a hour in the Ashland area to make sure I listened to Cawood's last game in the Commonwealth.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

Actually, I think he called the Final Four that year too. The Duke game was just the last Kentucky game he called.

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: Actually, I think he called the Final Four that year too. The Duke game was just the last Kentucky game he called.
You are right and Mike the Duke coach came over at the end of the game surprising Cawood and Coach K asked to speak to the fans he made some very generous remarks about UK fans and the game the team had just played classy move by Coach K.

[poodoo]

Count me in. :)

Too, Sir Richard Burton, I, too, had thought that was a really classy mover by Coach K. However, watching Coach K more closely on the sidelines since that game AND especially thinking about the possible consequences for my team :D, I now think that the far classier move, and one that I and many others think so Coach Smith would have done, would have been to make Christian Laettner sit down after his unsportsmanlike "stomp" on Aminu Timberlake, at least for a short period of time.

Back to Cawood, though. Wasn't he special! :)GO CATS!!!

[SamKat]

Sir Richard and poodoo, I agree. What a classy, guy!

Terry Wildcat was one of Mel McCane's closest friends (although all who knew Mel felt very close to the humble man). Mel's ambition was to raise all the money he could to support Cawood's scholarship program to assure that any ex-Cat that wanted couldwork for and obtaina degree at UK.an education. Mel, to say the very least loved Cawood Ledford. I know, personally, that Valerie Still and Reggie Warford used the scholarship.

This Ohioan, who has enjoyed KY basketball all of his adult life, is so envious of these family stories of enjoyment. Neither my dad nor my mother had time for sports. Only one of my nine siblings, Jim Kegley, tasted the great love for The Program. Cawood had the passion, but controlled it very well in his reporting job. Talk about word pictures- the man did it so well.

Ahhhh, he fed the compassion we share.



Aside: RP, I love your signature.

[Caveman Catfan]

When I was young, most games were not on t.v. That might seem like a bad thing, but when you have Cawood, it was a great thing.

I used to get a piece of paper and draw out a box, taking a ruler to create columns for attempts, made field goals, rebounds, fouls,FT/FTA,and points. As Cawood would call the game, I would keep score for my Cats.

I used to love listening when on vacation to Ernie Harwell. He was a master of baseball announcing. Cawood was his equivalent for basketball and college football.

[baldcat]

I always turned down the TV and listened to Cawood.

Is it true that Cawood was offered a big time deal with one of the networks and turned it down to remain the voice of the Cats?

[BigblueDrew]

My father and I used to listen to EVERY broadcast. Not many games on TV in 1965 so his voice WAS UK Basketball for many of us. Too many memories to count. I do know that UK basketball has never quite been the same for me at least since he retired.My father, late inhis lifesometimes turned the TV off and just listened to the broadcast, he said the TV made him too nervous. I loved his call, the way your heart would leap as he described somebody putting up a long jumper and then "GOT IT". He also was no homer. If the Cats were playing poorly he would say so, as would he comment on a bad call that went FOR the Cats. It is sad that our younger fans never got to know what our program was like with him in it. I know those of us that did hear him over the years are much richer for the experience.

[TrueblueCATfan]

YES................and I do the same now with Tom Leach

[UKcat]

I always listened to Cawood; there will never be another one like him on our radios. I have continued to always listen to the radio call instead of the t.v. until we got dish network. Can't listen to the radio anymore; too much time delay; it really screws up the mind trying to watch and listen with that much difference:P

[trublu]

It amazes me sometimes when I think about the other people that were sitting with their fathers and listening to Cawood call the games. I think my dad wanted a boy but he got me first and I was listening to Cawood at an early age and loved to hear him call the games. I could visualize what he said and often did. We had an antenna on a hill and could only pick up 3 channels-all from big orange country.:rolleyes:

It makes me sad to hear some of the stories since Cawood and my dad are no longer with us, but it brings back great memories of a simpler time. But, I still listened to Cawood call the game even if it was televised. He was the best!

[howieg]

UKSam wrote: I remember sitting around the kitchen table listening to the games. My parents would be drinking a pot of coffee. I wondered how anyone would drink such awful stuff. (As I sip on a cup right now)

During the time outs I would run to the hallway where I had a small baskeball goal that hung over the door and do my own instant replays. Now I sit on my butt and hit TIVO.

I remember that we got a cassette tape recoded for Christmas. It was the big rectangular shaped things with the big buttons and the single speaker was built in right behind the tape.

I put that in front of the radio and taped Rupp's address when they dedicated the arena.

The actual games have been clouded in my memory. However one game we listened to is a clear as if I watched it this morning.

Dwight Anderson took over the last few seconds and pulled us out of a sure defeat.......................Anyone remember who we played???????????


I remember that game....I am pretty sure it was against Kansas....I think we were down like 6 with less than 30 seconds....he made 3 straight steals in inbounds passes and scored....of course this was pre-3 point shots. I might be off on the details but I remember tearing up the house watching that.

I will never forget as a child in South Shore KY listening to Cawood on my little transistor radio. I too would shoot NERF hoops and replay the game during timeouts. It was a family thing we all sat around the radio especially when games weren't on tv. Little did I know how special those times were as a lad.