Jack Givens

In 1972, Reggie Warford was a sinewy, lightning-fast, sharp-shooting leftie who was in high demand by such renowned coaches as Bobby Knight at Indiana and Digger Phelps at Notre Drame. When the prolific player was signed by Joe B. Hall at the University Kentucky, he would ultimately become an inspirational scoring force on the team and the first Black basketball player to graduate from the university—instrumental in helping to break the color barriers for generations of students who followed. Scott Brown tells the remarkable story of this trailblazing player and the barriers he broke at Kentucky. Despite a heart condition and health issues that plagued him and eventually claimed his life, his body and spirit exuded a commitment to the game he loved: basketball. From growing up during the Civil Rights era, relating his courage in remaining seated during the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" (a protest that led to the eventual rewrite of the lyrics), recollections of his seminal games, including the contest against Indiana during which Bobby Knight hit Joe B. Hall, and the Final Four match against UCLA, this is a wide-ranging look at Warford's life and career. The sports legend speaks honestly regarding his college coaching career that was torpedoed by agendas and dubious claims, his life experiences with Muhammad Ali, Larry Bird, and the Harlem Globetrotters, to working with youth at a juvenile detention center and winning a libel suit before the US Supreme Court. Throughout the highs and lows of his life, Warford's mantra "it was all worth it" exudes hope, optimism, and an unwavering determination. More than just a biography, this is an incredible story of inspiration, strength, resilience, and resolve—a testament to a world-class athlete, coach, teacher, mentor, and basketball legend.

In 1972, Reggie Warford was a sinewy, lightning-fast, sharp-shooting leftie who was in high demand by such renowned coaches as Bobby Knight at Indiana and Digger Phelps at Notre Drame. When the prolific player was signed by Joe B. Hall at the University Kentucky, he would ultimately become an inspirational scoring force on the team and the first Black basketball player to graduate from the university—instrumental in helping to break the color barriers for generations of students who followed. Scott Brown tells the remarkable story of this trailblazing player and the barriers he broke at Kentucky. Despite a heart condition and health issues that plagued him and eventually claimed his life, his body and spirit exuded a commitment to the game he loved: basketball. From growing up during the Civil Rights era, relating his courage in remaining seated during the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" (a protest that led to the eventual rewrite of the lyrics), recollections of his seminal games, including the contest against Indiana during which Bobby Knight hit Joe B. Hall, and the Final Four match against UCLA, this is a wide-ranging look at Warford's life and career. The sports legend speaks honestly regarding his college coaching career that was torpedoed by agendas and dubious claims, his life experiences with Muhammad Ali, Larry Bird, and the Harlem Globetrotters, to working with youth at a juvenile detention center and winning a libel suit before the US Supreme Court. Throughout the highs and lows of his life, Warford's mantra "it was all worth it" exudes hope, optimism, and an unwavering determination. More than just a biography, this is an incredible story of inspiration, strength, resilience, and resolve—a testament to a world-class athlete, coach, teacher, mentor, and basketball legend.

When Jack "Goose" Givens first walked onto the basketball court at Lexington's Douglass Park for the legendary Dirt Bowl league, it was the beginning of one of the most illustrious sports careers in Kentucky history. After being named 1974's Mr. Basketball for the state of Kentucky as a high school senior, Givens signed with the University of Kentucky and went on to amass a string of achievements that place him among the all-time greats in NCAA college basketball - most notably leading UK to the 1978 NCAA Men's National Championship with his 41-point performance against the Duke Blue Devils in that historic game - and being named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player for that year. They Call Me Goose: My Life in Kentucky Basketball and Beyond is an intimate and all-encompassing look at the life and career of the basketball legend, from growing up in a housing project in Lexington, his success with UK men's basketball through his years with NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the Japan Basketball Association, his career as a college and NBA television color analyst, to his recent appointment as a commentator for the UK Sports Network. Givens shares personal and endearing stories from his childhood - how he was initially interested in baseball instead of basketball, the summers spent with his grandmother in Danville, Kentucky, and the teachers and coaches who guided and supported him along his journey. He also speaks candidly about his experiences with poverty, ruinous financial debt, the blowback from sexual assault allegations, and how his faith and his family helped sustain him through hardships and challenges. In collaboration with journalist Doug Brunk, Givens presents fans with the powerful story of a husband, father, mentor, businessman, and ambassador for Kentucky - who also just happens to be an iconic sports legend.

When Jack "Goose" Givens first walked onto the basketball court at Lexington's Douglass Park for the legendary Dirt Bowl league, it was the beginning of one of the most illustrious sports careers in Kentucky history. After being named 1974's Mr. Basketball for the state of Kentucky as a high school senior, Givens signed with the University of Kentucky and went on to amass a string of achievements that place him among the all-time greats in NCAA college basketball—most notably leading UK to the 1978 NCAA Men's National Championship with his 41-point performance against the Duke Blue Devils in that historic game—and being named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player for that year. They Call Me Goose: My Life in Kentucky Basketball and Beyond is an intimate and all-encompassing look at the life and career of the basketball legend, from growing up in a housing project in Lexington, his success with UK men's basketball through his years with NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the Japan Basketball Association, his career as a college and NBA television color analyst, to his recent appointment as a commentator for the UK Sports Network. Givens shares personal and endearing stories from his childhood—how he was initially interested in baseball instead of basketball, the summers spent with his grandmother in Danville, Kentucky, and the teachers and coaches who guided and supported him along his journey. He also speaks candidly about his experiences with poverty, ruinous financial debt, the blowback from sexual assault allegations, and how his faith and his family helped sustain him through hardships and challenges. In collaboration with journalist Doug Brunk, Givens presents fans with the powerful story of a husband, father, mentor, businessman, and ambassador for Kentucky—who also just happens to be an iconic sports legend.