The Reggie Warford Story : Integrating Basketball at the University of Kentucky / Scott Brown and Jack Givens.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brown, Scott, 1971- author.

Givens, Jack, author.

Series:

Race and Sports Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Warford, Reggie, 1954-2022.

Warford, Reggie.

African American basketball players.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (256 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Lexington, Kentucky : The University Press of Kentucky, [2024]

Summary:

In 1972, Reggie Warford was a sinewy, lightning-fast, sharp-shooting leftie who was in high demand by such renowned coaches as Bobby Knight at Indiana and Digger Phelps at Notre Drame. When the prolific player was signed by Joe B. Hall at the University Kentucky, he would ultimately become an inspirational scoring force on the team and the first Black basketball player to graduate from the university--instrumental in helping to break the color barriers for generations of students who followed. Scott Brown tells the remarkable story of this trailblazing player and the barriers he broke at Kentucky. Despite a heart condition and health issues that plagued him and eventually claimed his life, his body and spirit exuded a commitment to the game he loved: basketball. From growing up during the Civil Rights era, relating his courage in remaining seated during the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" (a protest that led to the eventual rewrite of the lyrics), recollections of his seminal games, including the contest against Indiana during which Bobby Knight hit Joe B. Hall, and the Final Four match against UCLA, this is a wide-ranging look at Warford's life and career. The sports legend speaks honestly regarding his college coaching career that was torpedoed by agendas and dubious claims, his life experiences with Muhammad Ali, Larry Bird, and the Harlem Globetrotters, to working with youth at a juvenile detention center and winning a libel suit before the US Supreme Court. Throughout the highs and lows of his life, Warford's mantra "it was all worth it" exudes hope, optimism, and an unwavering determination. More than just a biography, this is an incredible story of inspiration, strength, resilience, and resolve--a testament to a world-class athlete, coach, teacher, mentor, and basketball legend.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Foreword

Preface

1. Strange New World

2. Roots of Strength

3. A Shooting Star

4. Staying the Course

5. Power of Perseverance

6. A Coach Is Born

7. Recruiting-Trail Tales

8. Fall from Grace

9. Rise and Redemption

10. Long Road Back

11. Homecoming to Remember

12. Fight for His Life

13. Call to the Hall

14. Reckoning for Reggie

15. Fighter to the End

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Appendix

Notes

About the Author

Index

Race and Sports

Illustrations.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-9859-0109-9

1-9859-0107-2