By Morgan Witt - Alan Lytle
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-828712.mp3
Lexington, KY – The University of Kentucky is continuing a successful springtime promotion with Maker's Mark and Keeneland this year with a different beneficiary. For the past 3 years, a commemorative bourbon bottle featuring Wildcat Basketball figures has been sold with the proceeds benefiting the Markey Cancer Center. At a press conference Monday it was announced that UK head football Coach Rich Brooks will grace this year's label, and all the sale profits, which could be a million dollars or more, will go to UK's burgeoning music in the schools program. UK Symphony Director John Nardolillo says it's a great marriage between athletics and the arts.
Coach Brooks says, while he's anything but musical, he understands the importance of music education at the university and beyond.
The bottles go on sale statewide this Friday morning. Coach Brooks will autograph them the following Friday morning April 10th at Keeneland.
Shortly after the press conference, UK President Lee Todd was asked about the latest rumor that Memphis Coach John Calipari would be Kentucky's next basketball coach. Todd would not confirm that an off had been made to the coach.
Later this afternoon the university did confirm that Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart has received permission from the University of Memphis to talk with John Calipari about the job. According to a report from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, Calipari met earlier today with his team and several of the players were convinced that he would take the job if offered.