Kentucky Colonels

Did You Know?

• The Colonels won 448 games in the ABA, more than any other franchise.
• Artis Gilmore signed a ten-year, $1.5 million deal with a Dolgoff Plan paying him $40,000 a year for 20 years starting in 1981.
• The Colonels' 1974–75 championship season included a 23–3 finish to the regular season and a 4–1 playoff victory over the Indiana Pacers.
• The Colonels were forced to fold during the ABA–NBA merger because the Chicago Bulls owned the NBA rights to Artis Gilmore.

Overview and background

The Colonels were known for their mascot Ziggy, a prize-winning Brussels Griffon dog owned by original team owners Joe and Mamie Gregory, the latter being the daughter of former U.S. Senator Robert R. Reynolds. The team also gained attention for publicity stunts, such as signing Penny Ann Early, the first licensed female horse racing jockey, in 1968. On November 27, 1968, Early inbounded the ball to Bobby Rascoe, becoming the only woman to play in the ABA or NBA; a timeout was immediately called and she was removed.

The Colonels' biggest rival was the Indiana Pacers, a reflection of the prominent college basketball programs in both states. Storen fired head coach Gene Rhodes, stating Rhodes "is not in the best long-term interest of the team. That year, the Colonels signed All-American Dan Issel and changed their uniforms from chartreuse to a blue and white scheme similar to the University of Kentucky Wildcats, with players' last names on the back featuring only the first letter capitalized.

Issel's signing helped the Colonels gain recognition as a legitimate team, and despite an average regular-season record, they reached the 1971 ABA championship series, losing to the Utah Stars in seven games.

Year-by-year results

On March 6, 1967, the ABA awarded the franchise to Don Regan for $30,000. Later that year, the franchise was bought by Joseph Gregory, Mamie Gregory, and William C. Boone. John Givens was named the first coach. The Colonels' draft picks included Kentucky standout Louie Dampier, who signed; Western Kentucky's Clem Haskins, who signed with the NBA's Chicago Bulls; Bob Verga, who signed with Dallas; and Randy Mahaffey, who signed with the Colonels.

The team also signed Darel Carrier, Jim "Goose" Ligon, Kendall Rhine, Stew Johnson, Rubin Russell, Bill Bradley, Cotton Nash, Bobby Rascoe, Howard Bayne, Orbie Bowling, and Tommy Woods. Home games were played at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center (Freedom Hall) and the Louisville Convention Center. After winning only 5 of their first 17 games, Givens was fired and replaced by Gene Rhodes. In November, Stew Johnson was traded to the New Jersey Americans for Jim Caldwell.

Darel Carrier, Randy Mahaffey, and Louie Dampier played in the ABA All-Star Game, but the team finished 36–42, tying New Jersey for fourth in the Eastern Division, averaging 3,225 fans per game. A one-game playoff for the playoff berth was scheduled at the Long Island Arena because New Jersey's Teaneck Armory was unavailable, but the facility was in such poor condition that the game could not be played, and the Colonels won by forfeit. They then lost to the Minnesota Muskies 3–2 in the Eastern Division semifinals.

Among later draft picks was Louisville star Wes Unseld, who chose a higher-paying NBA deal. The Colonels also drafted Manny Leaks and Gene Moore, who signed; acquired Sam Smith from Minnesota; and traded Randy Mahaffey and Manny Leaks to the New York Nets for Oliver Darden and Andy Anderson.

Broadcast media

Colonels games were broadcast on WHAS Radio, a 50,000-watt clear-channel station that could be heard across much of the continental United States at night. Van Vance handled play-by-play for nearly all games, and Cawood Ledford, known as the longtime voice of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, occasionally served as color analyst. Some games aired on local television, but the team was usually seen only during ABA network broadcasts.