Reynolds Moreland III of Mason County now counts himself among those reading vaughtsviews.com regularly and he admits “basketball season is sure going to be fun this year” just as many of you also believe.

Moreland read the column with former UK quarterback Dusty Bonner last week explaining why he thought Mike Hartline was playing better than many understood — before he went out and had a spectacular first half before injuring his knee at South Carolina. That prompted Moreland to share a Dusty Bonner story I thought you would also enjoy.

“I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Dusty a couple years ago. I don’t think I have ever met anyone any nicer. I was always a big fan of his while at UK and thought he was done very wrong while he was at UK. But as you said, he is still a big supporter of UK athletics.

“Dusty rode a cutting horse that I own in the Kentucky High School Rodeo Celebrity Cutting in 2006. The cutting used to be held in May at the Kentucky Horse Park during the high school rodeo. All proceeds from ticket sales benefited the contestants (kids) who were competing for scholarship money. Dusty was kind enough to help out and participated in the show. He even took time to drive to our place in Mason County to practice on the horse he would be riding.

“I don’t know how much you know about the sport of cutting, but this is not something you can just get on a horse and show. Dusty did very well and I believe he enjoyed this a great deal. Last time I spoke with Dusty he was still general manager of the Horseman. I did not know if he was still in the Lexington area. Next time you speak with him please tell him I said hello and that I still own the horse and he is welcome to stop by and take a ride if he is ever in the area.”
Consider that done since Bonner will be on the UK pregame show on WLAP (630 AM) again with me before the Cats play Northeast Louisiana Oct. 24.

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If you have a UK related story to share, send it to me at larry@amnews.com. Other fans enjoy stories related to UK basketball or football because part of what makes Kentucky athletics special is the relationships players and coaches have with fans.

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