Interview with Ray Edelman, October 24, 2017

Partial Transcript: Hi, Ray, if you would, uh, first off just, uh, look in the camera and state your name and years at UK.

Segment Synopsis: Edelman introduces himself and discusses growing up outside of Philadelphia in a town called Haverfield. He says that his dad was a large influence on him when it came to basketball. He was a P.E. teacher and a coach of baseball and basketball. He says that where he lived was a great area for basketball, specifically college basketball. He describes playing high school basketball. He also describes his family and says that he is the oldest of six children. He discusses his siblings' basketball careers and education.

Keywords: Basketball; Childhood; Family; Fathers; Haverfield (Pa.); University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: Basketball; Childhood; Families.; Philadelphia (Pa.); University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: Well I have to ask you, with the, the influence your dad had and his input there...

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses how he was recruited to the University of Kentucky to play basketball instead of any schools around Philadelphia. He says that he did not want to play under his dad and put that kind of pressure on him. He also says that he did not have any attachments to any of the other schools. He says that two UK coaches recruited him after an all-star game during which he won MVP. He says that his dad was excited for him to go to UK.

Keywords: Basketball; Family; Fathers; Most valuable players (MVPs); Recruitment; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College athletes--Recruiting; College environment; College sports--Kentucky; Families.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: You talked about, um, changes going on and those type of things, and as you come to Kentucky, at that time freshmen were ineligible--

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses a lot of the changes that were going on at UK and around the whole region. He describes Tom Payne becoming the first African American basketball player at UK. He describes Payne's only year at UK and how he was competing for the center position with several other large players. He says that after one season Payne went on to play for the Atlanta Hawks. He then discusses Reggie Warford who was the next African American recruit at UK.

Keywords: Basketball; Desegregation; Tom Payne; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: African American basketball players; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; African Americans--Sports; Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College athletes--Recruiting; College environment; College sports--Kentucky; Discrimination in sports; Integration; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: Okay, let's move on, um, but still at that, that same year.

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses Mike Casey and his impact on the team. He says that Casey was one of the best players in UK basketball history. He says that Casey could do everything on the court. He says that the team in 1970 probably would have won if Casey had not been injured. He says that Casey took him under his wing and became his good friend.

Keywords: Basketball; Mentors; Mike Casey; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College sports--Kentucky; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: Let's move to your sophomore season and you become eligible to play, uh, on the varsity.

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses his sophomore season. He describes the play and performance of each of his teammates that year. He discusses Ronnie Lyons, and how they were running mates on the freshman team. He also discusses Jim Andrews and how he might have been the most talented player he had seen at UK. He then discusses Tom Parker and his college career.

Keywords: Basketball; Jim Andrews; Ronnie Lyons; Tom Parker; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College sports--Kentucky; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: Now that sophomore year, '71-'72 for you, uh, that was Coach Rupp's last season.

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses Adolph Rupp's last season coaching. He says that Rupp was sick for several road trips. He says that it was the right time for Rupp to retire because of his health. He also discusses the politics behind Rupp's retirement. He then describes the rest of the season and their success.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Basketball; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--Coaching; College athletes; College environment; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: Well as you said, that team, they finished 21-7 and then lost in in the mid-east regional final at Dayton.

Segment Synopsis: Edelman describes his junior season and the success that they had. He says that it took a while for them to mesh. He says that by the end of the season they were clicking and went on a roll. He then describes playing in the NCAA tournament where they played Austin Peay University and lost to Indiana.

Keywords: Basketball; Joe B. Hall; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--Coaching; College athletes; College environment; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; Hall, Joe B. (Joe Beasman); University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: That transitions into the, the '73-'74 year which, which was my senior year and, and, and we were all you know--of course we had all these Super-Kittens who are now juniors.

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses his senior season and how he realized during his junior year that he was not going to play basketball for a living. He says that during his senior year he knew that he was not going to play much because of the talent they had. He says that they struggled greatly during his senior and it was very disappointing. He says that his goal was to go to professional school after his senior year. He describes how he went to law school and how Coach Hall let him miss games to take the LSAT exam. He also describes how the team went on a trip after the season for three weeks to Tahiti and Australia to play many games. He also talks about being a graduate assistant the following year while he was in graduate school and how he helped recruit and coach the JV team.

Keywords: Basketball; Graduate schools; Higher education; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky basketball

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--Coaching; College athletes; College environment; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; Education; Education, Higher; Hall, Joe B. (Joe Beasman); University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: Now let's talk a little bit about your personal life.

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses his personal life after graduating from UK. He says that he went on to be a lawyer and married a woman from Louisville. He says that he has a good relationship with his father-in-law who played basketball for UK in the 1940s. He describes his wife's family and their athletic careers at UK. He then talks about hearing stories from his father-in-law about Adolph Rupp in his prime. He then tells several stories about his experience being coached by him.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Family; Occupations

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--Coaching; College athletes; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; Employment; Families.; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: I, I tell you the one, the one thing I did want to talk about a little bit is, is, is, is, is, is I did a little bit of research here, not, not so much on UK basketball but, but you know trying to put this, this...

Segment Synopsis: Edelman discusses money in college basketball. He says that as the sport has grown and made more money, players that won't have the opportunity to play professionally should be compensated.

Keywords: Basketball; College basketball; Compensation; Funding; Money; Payment

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College basketball; College sports--Kentucky