[J. R. VanHoose]

I needed to sit down and write and get this out of my head. You all know I am a head coach now, and I was getting some things situated in my house and came upon some old scrapbooks from high school, college, and my time as a pro. Looking back on these news clippings got me thinking about my time as a player, and I have to admit, I miss it. I don't miss the games, or practices, but I miss the little things.

I miss going into that locker room, no matter if it was at Johnson Central, Pikeville, Miami (OH), Kentucky, or one of the many places in during my time in the IBL and smelling the smells. If you played you know what I am talking about. That sweet locker room smell. The sweat, the emotion, your uniform. Everything there. I miss feeling those ball shoes go tight around your feet, and how hard I pulled to get them laced up tight. I miss feeling that uniform go over my head and onto my body. I miss smelling the tape. I miss, but I am sure my other teammates will not agree, smelling my old, banged up knee brace.

I miss the road trips, especially the college and pro ones (high school I still get to do!!). But I miss riding in a charter bus (college) coming back from the cold confines of Michigan in January or Buffalo in February. Not being able to sleep (charter buses aren't that comfortable when you are my size) and staying up all night talking to your coaches about how you played and the next game. I miss talking with the other guys. Forgetting about basketball and talking about other things (home, loved ones, what we wanted to be, etc.). In the IBL, we took small charter vans!! Everyone was very cramped, but the camaraderie was the same and we still had the dream - the NBA. Life was great, getting paid to play, but not much, and keeping that dream alive. Seeing kids be in awe of a professional player and not really thinking what a great experience it was for them.

What I really miss. Is getting up the day after a game, and being so sore that you couldn't walk to the bathroom. Feeling your ankles and hips pop. Being sore, because you knew you had done something that you had loved to do and it was worth it. I miss smelling Theragesic on my sore muscles. I miss many things about playing, but not the games, it is the little things I miss, to me those things make a better story than the games!!

Sorry, just had to get this off my mind. I am not even sure it belongs in this Forum, but I would like to hear some of things that you miss as a former athlete, if you do at all!!!

[BasketBallonlyfan]

I agree with a lot of that JR. I can remember things that my team mates and myself did out of the game more than I can remember the games themselves. I remember hurting after practices and games like you mentioned. I remember the jokes and stuff that went on in the locker rooms. How no matter what, you stuck up for your team. Even when sometime you got in trouble for it yourself. I played back before the video camera came to be. So a lot of my games I can relive by listening to cassette tapes. I was amazed when listening to a old game how many memories came back just from hearing the names mentioned on the radio.

[J. R. VanHoose]

I agree with a lot of that JR. I can remember things that my team mates and myself did out of the game more than I can remember the games themselves. I remember hurting after practices and games like you mentioned. I remember the jokes and stuff that went on in the locker rooms. How no matter what, you stuck up for your team. Even when sometime you got in trouble for it yourself. I played back before the video camera came to be. So a lot of my games I can relive by listening to cassette tapes. I was amazed when listening to a old game how many memories came back just from hearing the names mentioned on the radio.

Does that mean we are getting really old? I know what you mean, just talking about a person can stir up many memories. People always told me that the things I would remember would seem insignificant at the time, I didn't believe them then, but I really appreciate that advice now. Can you relate to the different smells and things as well?

[BasketBallonlyfan]

Yes, even though I miss the smells, I still smell them quite often, as I visit the gym here in Pikeville a lot. It just seemed to have a different smell when you knew that your sweat was part of the reason behind it. But yes, the little things that back then I didnt think twice about is what I miss the most. Dorm life with your teammates. Doing crazy things that looking back now was kinda stupid, but funner than you thought at the time. I miss the ole days now. Thanks for starting this thread to get me thinking.

[Big Jim]

I miss the looks and the reactions.

I miss the look in somebody's eye when they know you've gotten the best of them toward the end of the game. The beaten look. The "I'd pay you $20 not to come near me again" look.

The look you get when you from your teammate when you hit him with a pass under the hoop and he thought you didn't even see him.

The look on a face that has unexpectedly dunked all over some guy...that's a good one. Vince Bingham dunking on Mark tandy about 5 feet from me at G-town when they were ranked #1 with the foull to take the lead with 1 minute left. That look!

The way you feel when you hit a big shot.

The look in your teams' eye when you win a game your supposed to get killed.

Cheerleaders on road trips...oh...wait...not that kind of discussion?

Seriously though J, I always think of on the court moments first.

[Panther Thunder]

I know John Pelphrey misses it. He played in the Arkansas red-white game. Had 3 Points on 1-3 shooting, 2 rebounds, and a steal.

[Lisa Douglas]

OH J.R., you've done it... you've made me get all nostalgic. Tell them about how it felt to ride out of town on the way to the State Tournament and seeing all the little kids standing on 3rd street cheering you on... tell them about our little band playing the National Anthem in Rupp when the sound system wouldn't work... tell 'em about the game that seemed like your hands and the ball were like magnets and you couldn't miss... tell 'em about beating Lex. Cath in Rupp & the game Matt Ratliff had... tell 'em abpout big Josh McKenzie... tell 'em about Todd Tackett's wardrobe malfunction... tell 'em about the feeling you had when we were introduced in the finals in Rupp in '96... tell 'em about all the sweet little things people did... like handmade/handdrawn good luck books from little kids & good luck momentos.... tell 'em about the smell of oranges in the hallways @ the Harley... tell 'em about the staff @ the Harley & how wonderful they were to us all and especially the team... tell 'em about people liined up along the Mountain Parkway waving to you guys with Mountain Pride in their eyes and what it looked like to look out the rear of the bus windows to see a car parade forever.... tell 'em about looking into the bleachers towards the end of that state victory game and the love/support you saw in return...there are memories that go well beyond the games and these are the things that touch my heart about your special group... trips to hospitals to bring joy to little Tigers who were ailing.... Tigers reading to kids during story time @ the grade school... Big Blue Bashes sponsored by PBH Med Ctr. in the Patterson Ballroom before State Tournament games... and the sweetness of the party in the lounge of the Hyatt after.... (well y'all wouldn't know about those..LOL... but they were sweet too!) Business men and PHS alums singing @ the Harley.... meals @ the Waffle House after a big win!(well you wouldn't know about those either...LOL... my bad) The sweet sounds of my children sleeping peacefully on the way home from a ballgame and their precious little voices asking ,"did we win?" because they had cheered and played so hard they fell asleep before the game was over... Or risking life and limb in vans on snow covered roads to Knott County for the WYMT classic & picking up stranded Tiger parents along the way and going on to the game.... those Frito things @ Knott County's concession... seeing Coach Bill Mike Runyon walk into a gym to hug Miss Mary McClafferty's neck on Sunday after winning the State Tournament... (this forces me to remember her chant... "If you loved Paintsville High School, Like I love Paintsville High School, You'll Fight Fight Fight!") Holy Smokes if I can't hear her as plainly as day and see her in my mind's eye... hopping and skipping along that front row of Seniors @ a Pep Rally... all 98 pounds of Tiger Pride! Well.... thanks for stirring my memories... The whole group was just a joy to follow and support.... you all have provided a lifetime of wonderful memories to recollect and images not to be forgotten.... I could begin on all my recollections from the John Leslie era... but I'll hold off for now... but I'll share this morsel...the very first trip home after winning the Regional finals @ SCHS in the rear of a station wagon and being met @ the turn off from 645 to Rt 23 and getting the escort home.... for our 1st trip to Rupp was mighty mighty emotional and sweet... listening to the post game interviews was pretty sweet too!

[Redneck]

I miss basketball more than anything from high school.

[J. R. VanHoose]

OH J.R., you've done it... you've made me get all nostalgic. Tell them about how it felt to ride out of town on the way to the State Tournament and seeing all the little kids standing on 3rd street cheering you on... tell them about our little band playing the National Anthem in Rupp when the sound system wouldn't work... tell 'em about the game that seemed like your hands and the ball were like magnets and you couldn't miss... tell 'em about beating Lex. Cath in Rupp & the game Matt Ratliff had... tell 'em abpout big Josh McKenzie... tell 'em about Todd Tackett's wardrobe malfunction... tell 'em about the feeling you had when we were introduced in the finals in Rupp in '96... tell 'em about all the sweet little things people did... like handmade/handdrawn good luck books from little kids & good luck momentos.... tell 'em about the smell of oranges in the hallways @ the Harley... tell 'em about the staff @ the Harley & how wonderful they were to us all and especially the team... tell 'em about people liined up along the Mountain Parkway waving to you guys with Mountain Pride in their eyes and what it looked like to look out the rear of the bus windows to see a car parade forever.... tell 'em about looking into the bleachers towards the end of that state victory game and the love/support you saw in return...there are memories that go well beyond the games and these are the things that touch my heart about your special group... trips to hospitals to bring joy to little Tigers who were ailing.... Tigers reading to kids during story time @ the grade school... Big Blue Bashes sponsored by PBH Med Ctr. in the Patterson Ballroom before State Tournament games... and the sweetness of the party in the lounge of the Hyatt after.... (well y'all wouldn't know about those..LOL... but they were sweet too!) Business men and PHS alums singing @ the Harley.... meals @ the Waffle House after a big win!(well you wouldn't know about those either...LOL... my bad) The sweet sounds of my children sleeping peacefully on the way home from a ballgame and their precious little voices asking ,"did we win?" because they had cheered and played so hard they fell asleep before the game was over... Or risking life and limb in vans on snow covered roads to Knott County for the WYMT classic & picking up stranded Tiger parents along the way and going on to the game.... those Frito things @ Knott County's concession... seeing Coach Bill Mike Runyon walk into a gym to hug Miss Mary McClafferty's neck on Sunday after winning the State Tournament... (this forces me to remember her chant... "If you loved Paintsville High School, Like I love Paintsville High School, You'll Fight Fight Fight!") Holy Smokes if I can't hear her as plainly as day and see her in my mind's eye... hopping and skipping along that front row of Seniors @ a Pep Rally... all 98 pounds of Tiger Pride! Well.... thanks for stirring my memories... The whole group was just a joy to follow and support.... you all have provided a lifetime of wonderful memories to recollect and images not to be forgotten.... I could begin on all my recollections from the John Leslie era... but I'll hold off for now... but I'll share this morsel...the very first trip home after winning the Regional finals @ SCHS in the rear of a station wagon and being met @ the turn off from 645 to Rt 23 and getting the escort home.... for our 1st trip to Rupp was mighty mighty emotional and sweet... listening to the post game interviews was pretty sweet too!

I remember most of those things too, but my best memory from the 96' State Tournament was staying up all night after we won and, just before getting a few hours of sleep, looking at the Sunday Lexington paper to make sure that we did really win that thing! If you want to know something really funny. Out of all 12 of the games I played at Rupp in the State Tournament during my career I remember them all, except for those four during the 96' tournament. I mean I can watch them on tape and know what happened, but as far as actual game memories, I have none. Can't remember what it felt like on the floor after we won, or anything!!Yes thise memories were great and I cherish them. But as far as missing things I miss the feel and smell of it all before and after the games. Don't know why, just things I took for granted that I really miss!

[NEXT]

I miss playing the game but I miss the feeling right before the game the most - the anticipation and excitement is the best feeling you could have - JR won the Sweet Sixteen so his is a little better.

Its the greatest game in the world to play, watch, and coach - but also the hardest to coach by far........IMHO

[cooter]

I miss dunking the ball...too old to even try now.

[J. R. VanHoose]

I get to enjoy some of the things that I miss tomorrow afternoon!!! Myself, and a few "older" guys that I played pro ball with will be coming together and playing an exhibition game with Salem International University tomorrow at 3 PM. They are a Division II team in West Virginia. I know it is not necessarily a very well publicized event, but it is an actual game, against a college team. I just hope I am not too sore tomorrow when I get back home!!!!

[BondJamesBond]

I miss the feelin' of being the smalllest player and still controling what goes on with 10 people on a stage

[UK-FAN]

If only you could get the kids of today to understand that this is the best time of their life and to play as hard as they can, because they will miss it someday.

[vundy33]

This is a great thread...

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

Well I played ball my whole life up until my Jr. year of high school but i can remember all these things. But, through playing soccer in high school and now college I can relate to all this. Having my rituals before games, always lacing my right cleat b-4 the left getting those suckers on as tight as I could. Jumping for a header, sweat running down my face. The smell of hard work on the bus trip home. The memory of tears running down my face after our loss to end my high school carrer still knowing I had at least another 4 years ahead of me. Honestly though the best memories of high school for me was car pooling to girls or guys basketball games. I guess it is the EKY love for basketball that has propelled me to appreciate all of these moment. See my dad always helped coach Pike Central since before they consolidated and he coached at Johns Creek. My first ever basketball game was when I was 3 months old and my father held me in his arms on the side line keeping his shot chart in the other hand. I remember watching you play JR when I was only 10 or so in 97 against Pike Central i think the score was something like 116-90 and i remember dad before the game looking at me and he told me to look at you. He said to me "Son that kid right there will be a legend someday," telling me how great of a kid you was off the court not only on the court. He told me that if anything he wanted me to be like you when i grew up even if i wasn't a good ball player, to be some one that kids looked up to a good role model. And even JR that i may have been from Pike County i modeled my life around you. Noticing that to be good/ great at one sport you must sacrifice everything and that is what I did and look at where I am now playing the game I love soccer. Another thing I can remember like it was yesterday is all the regional and district tournaments that I attended always dressed in my Pike Central girl in the old Orange and Blue. As a kid I always thought I was the real deal b/c dad had me a Pike Central jersey made at TD in Pikeville and it had my last name w/ 00 on the back b/c Tony Delk was my fav. player. I wore that thing all the time with my cow boy boots. Jezzzz this brings back so many great memories.

[dano2407]

This is a very good topic. I never did play the game but i really wish that i did. Even though i didnt play i was still participating. I was the manager for the 98-2001 Hazard bulldogs. I remember when we played Paintsville. My freshman year. We gave them a good game at the All "A" but ran us off the court when we had to go to Paintsville and play them on there own court. J.R was a great player. An inteligent young man for sure. This is a very emotional thread. And you are right uk fan if the kids could understand. I think some players should read this especially what lisa douglas wrote and understand how much it will mean to them to play hard and dedicate themselves to this wonderful game. To get to the top. I'm sure its something woderful. I just want to say congratulations J.R. for a wonderful career. And goodluck coaching.

[Capt. DH]

I do not miss playing basketball as much as I miss playing baseball and football. I just didn't get the discipline in basketball that I got especially in football. I also got into a lot of foul trouble early in games. I liked the physicality of football more. The camaraderie I got from football was unparralleled. I do miss playing "THE" game it is just not the same game you guys are probably talking about.

[J. R. VanHoose]

I do not miss playing basketball as much as I miss playing baseball and football. I just didn't get the discipline in basketball that I got especially in football. I also got into a lot of foul trouble early in games. I liked the physicality of football more. The camaraderie I got from football was unparralleled. I do miss playing "THE" game it is just not the same game you guys are probably talking about.

That's alright, even though it is not the "same" game it is still a sport. What do you miss the most about it? You said the camaraderie. Describe what you miss!!!

[catwoman]

Makes me think of you and Tamar Slay celebrating at midcourt when you all beat West Virginia in Charleston~!!

[BCF4L]

I agree with ya J.R. I definitely miss all the memories. I miss the feeling you get when you run out to a packed house during the championship game of district tournament. The chill bumps all over your arms during warmups. The sound of your name being called in the starting lineup after an intense warmup. The juices flowing through your body. The feeling you get knowing you have won a huge game with alot on the line. The feeling of hitting the huge shot at the end of a game that puts your team in front for good. Or the feeling you get when you just can't seem to miss. Everything seems like a distant memory now, and the sad thing is it has only been 4 years since I played. Tore an ACL my senior year though so that ended things early for me. That makes this whole reflection thing harder knowing you didn't get to play your final season because of one bad cut you made on the court. I do know one thing, playing ball indoors at Archer Park can never compare to high school basketball.

[J. R. VanHoose]

Makes me think of you and Tamar Slay celebrating at midcourt when you all beat West Virginia in Charleston~!!

Now that was a terrific feeling!!! GO HERD!!!

[J. R. VanHoose]

I do know one thing, playing ball indoors at Archer Park can never compare to high school basketball.

It's just not the same is it?

[Kentucky97]

You and I and the can play ball as long as we are able. So keep playing and enjoy!