I miss you so much, I don't know what to do...

**Back in My Life**

So what do I miss?  Nothing now because today is a wonderful day.  Why?  University of Kentucky football has started!!!

Brian and me showing our Wildcat pride

Now, some of you may be asking...why are you writing about the University of Kentucky in a Backstreet Boys blog?  Those of you who are actual fans, know the connection.  For those of you who are not and are reading this because you know it makes me happy, I will explain....Brian Littrell is from Lexington and is a UK fan.

Now, I know I have written about this before, but in case you missed it....I am not a UK fan just because Brian is.  As a matter of fact, I was a Kentucky fan before  knew who the Backstreet Boys even were.  I honestly don't remember when I became a fan, but I have been one for as long as I can remember.  There are a few funny aspects to my fandom though:
1)  I was raised in Northwest Indiana - 336 miles and almost 6 hours from Lexington, KY.  Indiana is Big Ten country, and most people could not tell you more than one or two teams in the SEC.  Therefore, UK games that are on the SEC or Big Blue Network are not aired.  This means I became a fan in the few games that are aired on ESPN.
2)  No one in my family is a Kentucky fan.  They were mostly Indiana University fans and anti-Purdue.  But there was totally no influence from them on me becoming a Kentucky fan.
3)  I had never even been to Kentucky until the summer of 2003.  This means that no trip to Kentucky influenced me becoming a fan.

So why did I become a fan?  I have NO idea!  But how can you not appreciate the legend that is University of Kentucky men's baskeball:
-  All Time Wins:  2052 (#1)
-  All Time Winning Percentage (#1)
-  7 NCAA Championships (#2)
-  10 NCAA Championship Game Appearances (#2)
-  17 NCAA Final Four Wins (#2)
-  33 NCAA Elite-8 Appearances (#1)
-  42 NCAA Sweet 16 Appearances (#1)
-  51 NCAA Tournament Appearances (#1)
-  105 NCAA Tournament Wins (#1)
-  151 NCAA Tournament Games Played (#1)
-  59 Total Postseason Tournament Appearances (NCAA and NIT) (#1)
-  100 NBA Draft Picks (#2)
-  52 All-Americans (#1)
-  82 All-America Total Selections (#1)
-  91 Total Winning Seasons (#2)
-  4 Total Coaches with a NCAA Championship (#1)

So maybe those are some of the reasons that I became a fan?  There is no denying their greatness.  It was UK basketball that made me become a fan of the school, and therefore, other UK sports....hence the UK football excitement.  The football team has made it to a Bowl Game every year for the past 5 years and has won 4 of them.  They just don't have the same greatness that the basketball team has.  But, I will continue to cheer for them through the good times and the bad.

Hoping to be bak here in October!

Before I moved to the Louisville area in 2008, I had never attended a University of Kentucky sporting event.  Now, I have been to 3 football games and 1 basketball game.  My spectator record shows that maybe I should not attend anymore:  0-4.  Regardless, Tammy and I are hoping to make it to a football game this season in October.  Those events will be reviewed once I get to them in my timeline of reviews.  Because Brian is also a Kentucky fan and is from Lexington, I will always associate my University of Kentucky activities as part of my Backstreet world...even though UK came before BSB.  Plus, many of our UK games were preceded by a little site seeing and some "historical tours."

By the way, as I write this, it is now half time and Kentucky is up 7-3!

Thumbs up for Kentucky Football!