Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
The second largest city in the state of Kentucky, Lexington is modest in size compared to most American cities. It has its share of wealth, largely from the horse industry, but that is not what it is best known for.
Lexington is in many respects a college town, home to the state's flagship university: the University of Kentucky, member of the Southeastern Conference, and one of the elite men's college basketball programs in America.
1,356 victories.
36 Southeastern Conference regular season championships.
28 NCAA Tournament appearances.
26 Sweet Sixteen appearances, 16 in the Elite Eight.
Eight Final Four appearances.
Five National Championships.
Quote:
All good things must come to an end, but all bad things can continue forever. - Thornton Wilder
February 13th, 1984
Kentucky 67, Florida 65, at Rupp Arena.
The last home game for the Kentucky Wildcats until...
14th
Three- to four hundred students organized an impromptu peace march, starting from the UK campus and finishing in front of the mayor's office downtown...
15th
"Kenny, I'm going home."
16th
The university president refused to close the campus, despite increasing calls from students and their parents to suspend classes...
17th
"My God, Coach. They're really going to war."
18th
"The Southeastern Conference says it will follow through with its slate of games scheduled for this weekend, despite the ongoing war in Europe..."
"I can't get home, man. It's Marion. Not that far away. But I can't. Get. Home."
19th
The bus drive.
A fleet of state troopers and National Guardsmen throughout the city.
"You can't listen to the game in town; it's all news. I can't even pick up WHAS."
The gym filled to capacity, most of the fans wearing Blue, the home team's fans - and students - having fled the city...in increasingly dread expectation.
"The Cats are runnin' the other way. Master drives, passes to Blackmon...Blackmon inside to Turpin and SLAM DUNK! Kentucky has its first lead of the game!"
"There ain't gonna be a press conference. Kentucky's getting right on the bus. If you want to talk to them, now's the time."
The drive home.
"I've never seen so many people out, going down and coming back up, out to support us. Thank you...this is a tough time for all of us, and certainly for our team. We deeply appreciate your show of support."
20th
The University of Kentucky campus remains open for students who are unable to return to their homes. Classes are suspended until further notice, but essential services remain open.
In other news...Governor Collins has signed an order authorizing the restriction of gasoline to eight gallons for personal use, 25 for Class C use and unlimited use for essential police, government and military vehicles, effective immediately. This follows her executive order taking effect an hour ago mandating grocery rationing thoughout the state...
"Mom...I'll stay here....I love you, I love you all."In other news...Governor Collins has signed an order authorizing the restriction of gasoline to eight gallons for personal use, 25 for Class C use and unlimited use for essential police, government and military vehicles, effective immediately. This follows her executive order taking effect an hour ago mandating grocery rationing thoughout the state...
21st
"Winston is back? With his family?....where are we going to put them? In the lodge!...the NCAA? The hell with the NCAA!!! That's the least of our worries right now! Those people need someplace to stay. I don't give a damn about the NCAA or sanctions or what the hell they think!!!"
************************************************** ********
"Coach? Coach?"
The Deputy pounded on the basement door. It cracked open, the Coach's son peeking out.
It took a little bit of coaxing, but the Coach and his son eventually agreed to leave the basement. The Deputy stayed with the wife and daughters, while the two men walked out with the Sheriff.
Off in the distance, the remnants of a mushroom cloud.
"Lexington's..............gone" said the son, wide-eyed, somewhat in shock.
************************************************** ********
"Sir. This is the Governor of Kentucky. We have her on the radio."
No time for pleasantries. The President immediately got to the point: what was the situation in Kentucky, how many casualties, fallout, food, any enemy activity. The known target list.
"...we know that Louisville took three bombs. Fort Knox--zzzzzzzzzzzzzage from the blast. Fort Campbell is gone, Hopkinsville and Clarksville, Tennessee unlivable. Army depot in Richmond--zzzzzzzzzzzzzzztown of Richmond in flames. Blast hit Covingtonzzzznorthern Kentucky, probably intended for Cincinnatizzzzzzzzzzzhonestly not sure if Cincinzzzzzzzstill there. Lexingtonzzzzzzzzzzzzzzblast hitzzzzzzzzzzz."
"Hello? Hello? Governor? Governor Collins. Governor Collins. Hello! Are you there."
The Operator tried to raise the Governor, without luck. The interference was too strong.
The List of Homeland Targets were updated for Kentucky and Ohio.
Louisville
Lexington
Fort Knox
Fort Campbell
Richmond (Army depot)
The List, like many other things from those weeks and months following the Exchange, was incomplete and, in some respects, completely wrong.
Protect and Survive: The Last Game
A story of a college basketball team during the Third World War