Miss Kentucky USA Maria Montgomery sits in the press box beside yours truly, Larry Vaught (I'm a lucky, lucky guy!)

By LARRY VAUGHT

It’s amazing the respect one gets by just being with Maria Montgomery, Miss Kentucky USA 2009.

She’s at Commonwealth Stadium with me today blogging and doing video interviews for vaughtsviews.com much like she did at the UK Basketball Media Day.

Tom Leach, the play-by-play voice of the UK Radio Newtork, called me the “best recruiter” in the pressbox for bringing her today. Others have stopped to chat and former Cats’ Pause publisher Oscar Combs has smiled more than ever with Maria sitting next to him.

Leslie Phillips, the wife of UK assistant Joker Phillips, talked to Maria before the game and even Karen Brooks came out to say hello. After the game Maria plans to interview Chuck Smith, who was coaching at Boyle County when she was a student there, and hopefully a couple of players.

Since she’s a student at Eastern Kentucky, she might have some mixed feelings at today’s game. Then again, I doubt it since she has been a life-long UK fan and remains one today.

Her interviews will be posted here along with other insightful work by Gary Moyers, our Web Master and special producer for today’s UK coverage.