By LARRY VAUGHT

I’m not sure if John Calipari or Patrick Patterson should have been called Mr. Kentucky during UK’s Media Day Thursday. However, there was no doubt about who was Miss Kentucky. That was Boyle County’s Maria Montgomery, the reigning Miss Kentucky and a finalist in the recent Miss USA competition.

She was at Media Day “working” for vaughtsviews.com and The Advocate-Messenger. She has an interest in broadcasting and agreed to do player interviews for this site and will also have a blog about her experiences at Media Day.

I knew some of my colleagues would be a little befuddled that Miss Kentucky would actually be there to work. But that’s Maria, and she took her role seriously.

Patrick Patterson and Miss Kentucky USA Maria Montgomery. (Gary Moyers photo)

However, she was also gracious and posed for several pictures with media members who obviously knew this might be there one, and only, chance to meet Miss Kentucky. There was even a journalist from China who asked to have his picture made with her.

Maria did a great job on a hectic day, too. Even for a seasoned journalist, Media Day can be a zoo because there are way more media members than players. It makes it hard, or even impossible, to sometimes get a one-on-one interview. But Montgomery and Gary Moyers, her videographer for the day, managed to get eight interviews, including five with players, that you will get to enjoy here.

Naturally, the players seemed to enjoy talking to her way more than they did me – or most other reporters. Wonder why? She had a good time with the interviews and was able to relate on a collegiate level and hopefully pry some interesting tidbits out of them that I never could have.

The best part came at the end when most of us left for John Calipari’s press conference. But not Montgomery. She patiently waited for a chance to interview star Patrick Patterson and persuaded him to stay a few extra minutes. Not only did he talk to her, but they posed for pictures together. Josh Harrellson wasn’t about to be outdone – or let an opportunity slip by. He picked Montgomery up and posed for a picture that way with her.

Then there was one of the UK managers. He shyly asked if he could take a picture with her and then came back to give her a UK basketball T-shirt that she treasured because she’s still just a kid – and UK fan – at heart.

On her way out, she ran into new UK staff member Scott Padgett. They had actually met at the Kentucky Derby and Padgett quickly remembered her. For reasons unknown to me, that surprised Montgomery.

I’m going to Big Blue Madness tonight by myself. I’m anxious to see if anyone wants to pose for a picture with me or anything like that. Okay, I know better.

But wait. Did you notice the new header at vaughtsviews.com? I guess I have my own keepsake – and one for you – from Media Day, too.

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