Rich Clarkson

Photographer Rich Clarkson prepared for the Kentucky-Texas Western championship game the way he’d been preparing for NCAA Championship Games since he covered his first one back in 1952. He did his homework. What he “knew,” what virtually everybody “knew,” was that the mighty Kentucky Wildcats would beat the lightly-regarded Texas Western College Miners. “That’s what we all thought was going to happen,” said Clarkson who would go on to cover a total of sixty NCAA championship games and score thirty-five Sports Illustrated covers in his storied career. “Basically I decided I wanted to sit on the end not for the game itself, but for the Kentucky bench.” That would put him in the perfect position to photograph the celebration as Adolph Rupp’s team won a fifth NCAA championship for their legendary coach. The Kentucky championship didn’Photographer Rich Clarkson prepared for the Kentucky-Texas Western championship game the way he’d been preparing for NCAA Championship Games since he covered his first one back in 1952. He did his homework. What he “knew,” what virtually everybody “knew,” was that the mighty Kentucky Wildcats would beat the lightly-regarded Texas Western College Miners. “That’s what we all thought was going to happen,” said Clarkson who would go on to cover a total of sixty NCAA championship games and score thirty-five Sports Illustrated covers in his storied career. “Basically I decided I wanted to sit on the end not for the game itself, but for the Kentucky bench.” That would put him in the perfect position to photograph the celebration as Adolph Rupp’s team won a fifth NCAA championship for their legendary coach. The Kentucky championship didn’t happen, but Clarkson’s decision put him in just the right place to capture the game’s most iconic moment, when Texas Western’s Bobby Joe Hill snatched the ball away from Kentucky’s Louie Dampier. It was the little guard’s second steal in ten seconds and it proved to be the turning point in the history-bending game. Fifty years later Rich Clarkson’s image became the cover picture for The Baron and the Bear. As Clarkson says, “We attend events on TV. We remember events with classic still photographs.”



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An injured knee made it impossible for Harry Flournoy to keep up with Pat Riley so he took himself out of the game leaving Texas Western without its best rebounder for thirty-four minutes. Photo by Rich Clarkson

With four returning starters – Conley, Dampier, Riley and Kron – Kentucky began the ’65-’66 season in search of a center who could help make them competitive against their taller competition. Courtesy of the Lexington Herald-Leader

One of two Miners (with Harry Flournoy) recruited sight-unseen out of Gary, Indiana, Orsten Artis had a silky smooth jump shot. He was the only player who could beat Don Haskins in a free throw contest. Photo by Rich Clarkson

Balanced on Nevil Shed’s head, little Willie Worsley took down the nets loop by loop while teammates Jerry Armstrong and Dick Myers held him steady. Photo by Rich Clarkson

Steve Tredennick ended his playing career the year before the championship season still disliking Coach Haskins. Later he became Haskins’s lawyer and friend playing a pivotal role in helping TWC become the first college team admitted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Courtesy of UTEP Athletic Department

Because of Rupp’s aversion to the distraction of girlfriends, Tommy Kron and Dianne Berger arranged with a Lexington jeweler to sneak in at night to select her engagement ring. Courtesy of Dianne Kron

“You stupid sons-a-bitches,” shouted Rupp, after the steals and a David Lattin dunk put Kentucky on the short end of a 16-11 score. Kentucky would never regain the lead. Photo by Rich Clarkson