Kentucky Pickers: The One-Handed Roll Pass

If there’s one thing Kentucky fans love more than their teams, it’s the stuff they can buy to support them. KSR wants to see your odd and unique UK memorabilia. No, not just your run of the mill UK flag or t-shirt collection. We want the weird stuff. Have a stuffed Wildcat eating a cardinal? Send it in. A portrait of John Calipari made entirely of popcorn? Send it in. The odder, the better.

Today’s Kentucky Pickers treasure comes from Gaile Humston, a former Kentucky cheerleader who has collected UK memorabilia over the years, namely text books. Every once in a while, she passes down an artifact to her children and grandchildren. Gaile’s grandson, David Gash, was kind enough to share two of those treasures with us: “Rupp’s Championship Basketball,” a book detailing some of Coach Rupp’s techniques, and a basketball signed by the Fab Five. David writes:

“Before the 2012 season, she gave me “Rupp’s Championship Basketball,” copyright 1948 and a Fabulous Five signed ball. She and my Grandfather Charles developed a good friendship with Kenny Rollins while they were in school and still keep in touch. She was a cheerleader – of the long skirted sweater wearing no jumping sort, but a cheerleader non-the-less. I’m not sure how long ago it was, probably late 90’s, she had them all over to her house while they were all in at the same time. Seizing the opportunity she scurried off to Wal-Mart and bought four balls for them to sign. The way she tells it, they all used the roll pass method to get the balls to each other to sign. I know what you’re thinking, and you can’t prove they didn’t.

I’m afraid that you only see this passing style in church league and really old school ball signing sessions — and it’s really too bad. Seeing a Harrison to Harrison roll pass would be breathtaking. Keightley Classic in-bounds play? Bobby Mo would never see it coming.”

No, they wouldn’t, David. For a closer look at the one-handed roll pass, click on the picture below:

Think you can do better? Send us a picture of your unique “UK junk” along with the story behind it and we’ll post the best ones on the website. Email pictures to [email protected] with the subject heading “Kentucky Pickers.”