KENTUCKY - University of Kentucky Athletics

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K E N T U C K Y W I L D C A T B A S K E T B A L L HISTORY AND RECORDS MEDIA Tuning into Kentucky basketball games on radio has been a tradition of following the Wildcats since the dawn of the Fabulous Five. Even today, as Kentucky basketball continues to dominate the state in popularity from Pikeville to Paducah, fans tune into the action all across the United States. Again this year, more than 75 stations will carry each game live. So whether the Big Blue fans are in Orlando, Fla., or Harlan, Ky., they can tune into the largest college basketball radio network in the country. The network reaches its outer limits thanks to such stations as WILDCATS ON THE AIR RADIO BROADCASTS Tom Leach and former UK All-American Mike Pratt, one of the top broadcast crews in the nation today, teamed up for the first time in 2001-02. Clear Channel’s WHAS in Louisville, 840 on the AM dial, or WSAI-AM in Cincinnati, at frequency 1530. Each broadcast also can be heard around the world on ukathletics.com. Outstanding broadcasters have called Wildcat games through the years. Claude Sullivan spent 19 years (1948- 67) behind the microphone describing UK men’s basketball and football games, while the legendary Cawood Ledford described the action for 39 years (1953-92). Ralph Hacker, Ledford’s partner beginning in 1973, took over the play-by-play duties in 1993 before retiring following the 2001 season, an impressive 29-year career. The rights to the UK broadcasts are owned by Host Communications and Gray Television with WLAP Radio Lexington serving as the flagship station. For information on the Big Blue Sports Network, contact Mike Dodson at Host Communications, (859) 226-HOST. BIG BLUE NETWORK PERSONALITIES TOM LEACH Play-by-Play Broadcaster Tom Leach is in his seventh season as the “Voice of the Wildcats.” Leach was a familiar voice on the UK Radio Network for 12 years before replacing long-time announcer Ralph Hacker at the start of the 2001-02 season. Leach, who began calling the play-by-play for UK football in 1997, anchored the scoreboard segments during the network’s halftime and postgame coverage from 1990-2001. He also filled in for an ailing Hacker on several games during the 2000 season. Leach serves as sports director for WLAP Radio in Lexington, a position he formerly held at WVLK Radio for nine years. He began as news and sports reporter at WVLK in 1984. A native of Paris, Ky., he is a three-time winner of The Associated Press’ “Best Sports Program” award. He also won an Eclipse Award in 1993 and 1999 for his thoroughbred horse racing coverage, and was named Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year in 1997 and 2004. He currently teams with Tad Murray on the WLAP "Morning Team" show. Leach and his wife Robyn Rabbeth Leach, a 1 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 F A C T B O O K 8
K E N T U C K Y W I L D C A T B A S K E T B A L L former local news television anchor, have one son, Connor (14), and a daughter, Caroline (9). MIKE PRATT Broadcast Analyst Former two-time All- Southeastern Conference performer Mike Pratt is in his seventh year as analyst on the UK Radio Network. The former professional ABA player, college and pro coach replaced Sam Bowie, who retired from broadcasting prior to the start of the 2001-02 season. Pratt joined the network after compiling extensive experience as a broadcaster. He began calling games in 1985 for Creative Sports in Charlotte and prior to returning to the Kentucky sidelines, served as an analyst for NCAA Productions, the Charlotte Hornets Television Network, ESPN and Fox Sports Net South. Pratt lettered for the Wildcats for three years (1968-70) under Coach Adolph Rupp. In addition to his All-SEC honors, he was a second-team Converse All-American in 1970, Kentucky’s third Academic All-American and a two-time Academic All-SEC selection. While playing alongside the Cats’ all-time leading scorer, Dan Issel, the 6-4 forward averaged 19.3 points per game as UK finished the season as the nation’s No. 1 team. Pratt finished with 1,359 career points, which still ranks 22 nd on UK’s all-time list. After Kentucky, Pratt played two seasons for the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels. He spent three years as an assistant at UNC-Charlotte for Coach Lee Rose, helping guide the 49ers to the 1977 Final Four. He was named head coach at UNCC in 1978 and compiled a 56-52 record there in four seasons. He worked as an NBA scout for seven years and in ’89, became an assistant to Hornets’ coach Gene Littles. Pratt currently works in private business in Louisville. ROB BROMLEY TV SIDELINE Rob Bromley is in his 28th year on the Big Blue Sports Network, handling play-by-play duties for live and delayed broadcasts. Bromley called the television play-by-play of Wildcat football and basketball from 1980-86, and since that time, he has served as color commentator and sideline reporter for both networks. Again this season, Bromley will serve as producer and host of the weekly Coach Billy Gillispie television show. A graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Bromley has worked on the sports staff at WKYT- TV for nearly 31 years, the past 28 as nightly sports anchor. Prior to joining the station, he worked as a sports anchor in Lima, Ohio. He began his sportscasting career on radio in Lima, calling the play-by-play for Bowling Green University and Bluffton College as well as local high school games. KYLE MACY TV Play-by-Play Broadcaster Former two-time All- American Kyle Macy joins the Wildcats this year as the television color analyst for the Big Blue Sports Network. Macy began his playing career at UK in 1977 and became one of the most popular Wildcats ever, finishing his career as a two-time All- American and three-time All-SEC performer. Macy was a starter on the 1978 NCAA National Championship team. As a senior, he became the first Kentucky player ever to be named consensus SEC Player of the Year. Known for his cool approach at the free throw line, Macy still holds the school record for career free-throw shooting percentage (.890). Macy played five years with the Phoenix Suns, then spent a year each with the Chicago Bulls (1985-86) and Indiana Pacers (1986-87). Macy was head coach at Morehead State for nine years. His 2003 Eagles won 20 games, its most in 19 years, and a share of the OVC championship. MEDIA 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 F A C T B O O K 9
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KENTUCKY - University of Kentucky Athletics

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