Déjà Blue

During a Hall of Fame career that spanned nearly 50 years, veteran sportswriter Jerry Tipton was best known for his no nonsense coverage of University of Kentucky men's basketball, challenging questions, catchy leads, and legendary exchanges with Coach John Calipari. In Déjà Blue--A Sportswriter Reflects on 41 Seasons of Kentucky Basketball, Tipton shares a behind-the-scenes look at his career in sportswriting, from his early years at the Huntington Herald-Dispatch (W.Va.) through over four decades covering the highs, and lows, of the Wildcats for the Lexington Herald-Leader including three national championships ('96, '98, '12), nine Final Fours, and six head coaches. More than just a memoir, Déjà Blue presents a journalistic reflection on Tipton's award-winning career in which he recalls the stories, the games, the personalities, and his relationships with coaches, players, and members of Big Blue Nation. Déjà Blue gives insight into Tipton's skill as a beat reporter--interviewing, writing, and old-fashioned hard work--that led to his induction into not just one, but three sportswriting hall of fame associations, a fitting tribute to his storied career.