TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Cotton Nash passes away.

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Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 05-23-2023, 06:48 PM:

Cotton Nash was one of my all time favorites. He was a 3 time All American at UK, played in the NBA, ABA as well as playing Major League Baseball. He was also recruited by numerous universities for football. He played center at 6’5” on an undersized UK team.

Probably several on here don’t remember him playing but I know many of you old timer’s remember him well, as do I. I have been a UK fan for as long as I can remember but it was Cotton who turned me into a fanatic. Makes me feel like I lost a friend.

RIP Cotton.

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mark-story/article275702906.html

[ 05-23-2023, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: handycat ]

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 05-23-2023, 08:40 PM:

I remember him well handy and he was also a favorite of mine. rest in peace Cotton!

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 05-23-2023, 08:46 PM:

You may not realize it Ed but that makes you old too. 😊

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 05-24-2023, 05:42 AM:

Well, believe it or not, I'm one of the young whippersnappers on here that doesn't remember seeing him play.
Obviously, he's always been one of the players that has been mentioned frequently through the years. You don't become a 3-time all-American and not get some ink in the historical pages of your program. RIP Cotton!

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 05-24-2023, 09:07 AM:

yep handy I feel it also - just retired this week from the police dept where I was working. Now its online poker and once a week live game with a bunch of young players.

for what it is work
3 yrs u s army
34 yrs us dept of state (diplomatic service overseas_)
2 yrs private industry (computer sciences)
25 yrs police officer along with 17 yrs as a h,s, basketball coach here in fl.

man it all went so quick (i am 79)

hope I can enjoy one more title by the cats!

p.s. ted deeken was cotton's running mate and those two were hard to stop!

[ 05-24-2023, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: ukcatfannfl ]

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 05-24-2023, 09:20 AM:

I didn't start following the Cats until the mid-70s, so I didn't get to watch some of the amazing teams under Rupp. But from what I have seen, Hash was the Real Deal.

RIP, Mr. Nash. Your place in history is secured.

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 05-24-2023, 09:20 AM:

Remember his exploits well, even though I was just into the Air force during his time at UK. He was probably the first UK BB player I can recall seeing. I was a big Dayton fan as I was going thru H.S. in 56-59 in Springfield, OH.

RIP

[ 05-24-2023, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: Bama Cat ]

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 05-24-2023, 10:22 AM:

Ed, do you by chance play Texas hold ‘em? I played that for years and even played in a few small tournaments. A good friend, who has passed on, taught me how to lose at the game.

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 05-24-2023, 12:36 PM:

handy i play tx hold em on line and can lose with the best of them. However, my main objective is to get my competitors
(my boys) to the wsop! [Smile]

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 05-24-2023, 01:33 PM:

Bama, I only got to see him play a “very” few times. There was limited TV coverage then, at least in my area. BUT, I listened on the radio and that may have been better.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 05-24-2023, 08:52 PM:

Nash (1962-64) appeared in 78 games for the Wildcats and averaged 22.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. He was a member of two Southeastern Conference championship squads and was tabbed an All-American during all three seasons of his basketball career. Nash earned All-SEC Eastern Division honors as a member of the baseball team, and also participated in track and field as a discus thrower.

“As a three-sport competitor, Cotton Nash was one of the greatest all-around athletes ever to wear the Blue and White,” said Mitch Barnhart, UK Director of Athletics. “His accomplishments in basketball and baseball made him a rarity in American sports history. We are thankful for all he did for the University of Kentucky and our sympathies are with (wife) Julie and their family and friends.”

Nash would become just one of 13 players to appear in both the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball following his career at UK. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers and San Francisco Warriors during the 1964-65 NBA season, and he also played nine seasons of professional baseball, including three in the MLB with the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins as a first baseman and outfielder. Nash also played in the American Basketball Association with the Kentucky Colonels in 1967-68.

Link

Posted by country cat (Member # 1774) on 05-25-2023, 11:49 AM:

he was and always will be my favorite kentucky player R I P

Posted by rlt4uk (Member # 3194) on 05-25-2023, 01:19 PM:

I wish I could have seen him play, but my earliest memories of UK began in the middle 70's. Kyle Macy is actually the first player I remember and that's because of the way he rubbed his socks before shooting free-throws. May he rest in peace.