Almost a week ago, news leaked that the UK basketball museum was closing due to a large debt it couldn’t overcome.
The museum wasn’t part of the University, but UK did donate up to $100,000 a year to help the museum out. Before closing, the museum was housed in the Lexington Center, which connects to Rupp Arena. Now, the museum is closed, the exhibits and donated items are being returned and UK athletics is saying they will somehow create something in the Joe Craft Center, although nothing like museum. No final word on what the new creation will be.
And then I went and read Jerry Tipton’s basketball notebook that the Herald-Leader publishes every Sunday. In the notebook, Tipton talks about what he thinks UK will do to honor the late Mr. Wildcat, Bill Keightley. Tipton says that UK hasn’t decided what to yet, but Tipton suggests making the “K” on the jerseys black, or placing a big “K” on the court in front of Keightley’s chair.
Of course, a lot of people are saying they should leave that chair empty. And that’s a good idea, as are Tipton’s. But here’s a better one: Create a smaller, more interactive UK basketball museum in the Joe Craft Center. Then name it after Bill Keightley.
In essence, The Bill Keightley UK Basketball Museum.
The museum could have a huge exhibit around the man who has seen more UK basketball games than anyone else. It could be the feature exhibit and surely would gather a crowd to see it.
Of course, the new museum in the Craft Center would have be to be interactive, but anyone who has stepped foot in the Craft Center knows technology isn’t new to the building. Naming the museum after Keightley and making him the centerpiece of a new venture would be a fitting tribute and a good way to preserve the great tradition of UK basketball. Then, all the other exhibits that made up the UK basketball museum could be updated, made interactive and placed around the Keightley exhibit.
If the Craft Center doesn’t have enough room, build another floor. Or move the exhibits around Memorial Coliseum as part of a tour of both the Coliseum, the Craft Center and the Museum. There are ways to make this happen. And if donors know that the new museum will be in Keightley’s honor, that may help sideline any costs.
Coaches have come and gone, leaving their mark. While most think Adolph Rupp and UK Basketball, true fans put Bill Keightley right beside Mr. Rupp. Rupp has the arena named after him. Let’s give Mr. Wildcat the building where all of the UK basketball history will reside.
I can think of no more fitting a tribute.
I think Kenny has hit upon a great idea. I have read where the decision makers were already considering placing much of the memorabilia in the Craft Center for all to admire. Organizing the displays into one area, instead of spreading them throughout the facility, is all that would have to be done.
I think Kenny has hit upon a great idea. I have read where the decision makers were already considering placing much of the memorabilia in the Craft Center for all to admire. Organizing the displays into one area, instead of spreading them throughout the facility, is all that would have to be done.
I think Kenny has hit upon a great idea. I have read where the decision makers were already considering placing much of the memorabilia in the Craft Center for all to admire. Organizing the displays into one area, instead of spreading them throughout the facility, is all that would have to be done.
What ever it takes. Just add another floor to the Craft Center. Certainly the money will start rolling in when the name Keightley is put over the door. How much money? A new floor ought to cost about 25 million, so we will need a lot of it. The Museum was a failure. It was closed after 9 consecutive years operating in the red. It will be greatly down sized, not expanded, while the University starts making the 100,000 dollar per year payments trying to pay down the debt it reluctantly inherited.What can we do to honor Bill? Perhaps a better question is what are we going to do, to honor Joe B, that will top the honor of Bill? We named the arena after Adolph and the court after Cawood. If we don’t actually spend $25,000,000.00 on a state of the art fourth floor Museum after Bill, we might just name his empty chair after him. So when that sad day comes, what are we going to do for Joe B?. We now have problems about how to honor those two people that have represented the program. And for sure they are great people. But it seems that our real problem right now might be is trying to figure out how to win again.
What ever it takes. Just add another floor to the Craft Center. Certainly the money will start rolling in when the name Keightley is put over the door. How much money? A new floor ought to cost about 25 million, so we will need a lot of it. The Museum was a failure. It was closed after 9 consecutive years operating in the red. It will be greatly down sized, not expanded, while the University starts making the 100,000 dollar per year payments trying to pay down the debt it reluctantly inherited.What can we do to honor Bill? Perhaps a better question is what are we going to do, to honor Joe B, that will top the honor of Bill? We named the arena after Adolph and the court after Cawood. If we don’t actually spend $25,000,000.00 on a state of the art fourth floor Museum after Bill, we might just name his empty chair after him. So when that sad day comes, what are we going to do for Joe B?. We now have problems about how to honor those two people that have represented the program. And for sure they are great people. But it seems that our real problem right now might be is trying to figure out how to win again.
What ever it takes. Just add another floor to the Craft Center. Certainly the money will start rolling in when the name Keightley is put over the door. How much money? A new floor ought to cost about 25 million, so we will need a lot of it. The Museum was a failure. It was closed after 9 consecutive years operating in the red. It will be greatly down sized, not expanded, while the University starts making the 100,000 dollar per year payments trying to pay down the debt it reluctantly inherited.What can we do to honor Bill? Perhaps a better question is what are we going to do, to honor Joe B, that will top the honor of Bill? We named the arena after Adolph and the court after Cawood. If we don’t actually spend $25,000,000.00 on a state of the art fourth floor Museum after Bill, we might just name his empty chair after him. So when that sad day comes, what are we going to do for Joe B?. We now have problems about how to honor those two people that have represented the program. And for sure they are great people. But it seems that our real problem right now might be is trying to figure out how to win again.
I’m not so worried about the wins. Maybe there won’t be a drastic improvement from last year to this year… but there is definite improvement brewing down the road. The recruits just pour in.
I’m not so worried about the wins. Maybe there won’t be a drastic improvement from last year to this year… but there is definite improvement brewing down the road. The recruits just pour in.
I’m not so worried about the wins. Maybe there won’t be a drastic improvement from last year to this year… but there is definite improvement brewing down the road. The recruits just pour in.