Traveling the Commonwealth to continue promotions of his co-written autobiography “They Call Me Goose,” Kentucky men’s basketball legend Jack “Goose” Givens pulled the curtain back a bit for the Hopkinsville Rotary Club Tuesday afternoon — where he brought the past, present and future a little perspective.
In other words, the “Goose was loose.”
A gaggle of members rapt with attention packed War Memorial Building and heard Tom Leach’s co-host, a 1978 NCAA National Champion and Bryan Station High School alumnus talk about his life before Lexington, this early transition between legendary coach John Calipari and “Bleeds Blue” Mark Pope, and all the “what-ifs” and “coulda-beens” in between.
One of 10 children growing up in a 3-bedroom apartment, Givens said he had fond memories of Hopkinsville — especially from right after college.
About to celebrate his 50-year high school class reunion, Givens confirmed he had tryouts for both Henry Clay and Bryan Station high school basketball the same week, before a family move settled those details.
He also spent the first half of his high school career thinking he was going to be a Tennessee Volunteer, and not a Wildcat, because of a memorable prep camp in Knoxville — where he took a Greyhound bus through Danville — and because, in the early 1970s, Kentucky didn’t have a reputation of recruiting Black players.
That, however, also changed — particularly under the leadership of Hall-of-Famer Joe B. Hall.
Givens said he and Cal had a great relationship, even before his analyst career, where an open-door policy with practices and conversation led to better understanding of the team, and the decisions within.
However, Givens also noted when it comes time for SEC play, and the looming battles between Kentucky and Arkansas, all is fair in love and war — with Cal, and the fans, “probably in need of a change.”
Pope, in his eyes, is “perfect for the job,” with a different throwback philosophy on the game.
Asked about Lyon County’s Travis Perry, who along with fellow freshman and Harlan County native Trent Noah call the Commonwealth “home,” Givens said the state’s all-time leading scorer is going to be “a good player, who’s coming along” and “smart, really smart.”
Full audio from Givens’ includes a lengthy breakdown of UK men’s basketball, and where the team stands at this moment.
GIVENS
