Three-time All-American Kyle Macy is coming to the September luncheon of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Sept. 9, to share stories from and discuss the legendary careers of some of the University of Kentucky’s greatest basketball players and coaches as found in his new book, From the Rafters of Rupp.
Championship banners hang from the rafters on one side of the arena, a tribute to the excellence of those UK teams. On the other side hang tributes to individual players whose excellence on the court have made Wildcat basketball the gold standard of the NCAA. The retired jerseys of Cliff Hagan, Louie Dampier, Dan Issel, Sam Bowie, Rick Robey, Kyle Macy and 36 others hang from the rafters of Rupp, a reminder of the roles they played in the legacy of UK hoops.
Kyle Macy, with the help of collaborator Dr. John Huang, has put the stories of many of those greats into a full-color, coffee table book. From the Rafters of Rupp is an extension of his TV series.
“To complement the television series, why not write a coffee table type book so fans can have a valuable keepsake to hold in their hands—or set on their coffee tables,” Macy writes in the introduction.
To bring the television interviews to print, Macy enlisted the help of Huang, a retired orthodontist who was thrilled to partner with Macy to produce the book.
“I write for a living,” Huang said. “But words can’t express what an honor it’s been – a real privilege for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a geek like me to be part of the tradition and pageantry that is Kentucky Basketball. Working with [Macy] has been like living the dream.”
Macy believes the TV series and book will not only be enjoyed by longtime fans of the Wildcats, but also help to educate the next generation about their hoops heritage.
“I felt it was important that younger generations understand the history of Kentucky Basketball and how UK got to where it is as the all-time winningest program,” Macy said.
The Sept. 9 luncheon will be held at 222 Corbin Center Drive, and your RSVP is required by Monday, Sept. 1. Please send your RSVP to whitney@sky-eda.com.
