A moment in memory of Melvin Turpin

by theoldman on Jul 9, 2010 10:05 AM EDT

I know most of us here at CC could care less about old UK athletes, but let me pause here to say the world is a sadder place today after Mel Turpin's suicide.

I knew Turp during the '83-84 season which I spent with his UK team while writing a book about them for the CJ. And I came to know Turpin as one of the most likable people on the face of the earth. He was a talented player, to be sure, but I came to know him as a humble and shy kid trapped in the body of a giant.

He never had a cross word for anyone, and was one of the most self-effacing players I ever met. Remember, this came at a time when players are revered, when it's easy for them to slide into arrogance and self-importance. Not Melvin. He was a simple guy with what he admitted were limited academic skills — though he was never the dunce some critics made him out to be. He was happy, period. Which makes his suicide even more disturbing and perplexing. How could such a happy guy slip into such a state of despair?

I'll quit with one absolutely true Melvin story. He had weight issues, of course, and when traded by the Washington Bullets to the Utah Jazz, they surfaced. The day of the trade, Washington listed Melvin at 6-11, 290. When he arrived in Salt Lake City, the first thing the Jazz did was weigh him. The scales said "325." The Jazz said "what the hell happened?" And Melvin replied: "I like airplane food."

Tweet Comment 30 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The sad passing

of the only person Earth that liked airplane food.

by Blocky on Jul 9, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

I also have fond memories of Turpin

This is what I wrote over at A Sea of Blue yesterday:

One of my all-time fave UK players.
He was on one of my favorite UK teams growing up (’84-still remember that big calendar/schedule poster with he and Bowie as the Twin Towers that my dad brought home from Ashland Oil) and he was a home bred which is always a little more special. Always seemed like such a nice guy too. He will be missed. Rest well.

He was also part of that original Dream Game and its hard not to remember or like any player involved in that game.

So theoldman is Mike’s dad? I had no idea.

MnPDX

by kentuckybred on Jul 9, 2010 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

RIP

My regards to the Turpin family. Suicide is impossible to understand.

Now the weeping of the bluenecks can begin as they recount the number of championships Mr. Turpin should have won while he was a Kentucky Wildcat. Of course they’re probably still trying to get over that old over-weight towel boy that never missed an opportunity to blast U of L as nothing more than a ‘city school’ and ‘little brother’.

by BR7 on Jul 9, 2010 1:03 PM EDT reply actions

Dude.

Unneccessary.

by CARD_G6 on Jul 9, 2010 1:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

-1

by SpeedStudent on Jul 9, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

seriously

WTF?

MnPDX

by kentuckybred on Jul 9, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

BR7

you are total tool

by armyof1 on Jul 9, 2010 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

My original post was a comment regarding the blue fans

and not meant to be disrespectful of Mr. Turpin. I went too far.

But I never did like that Keightley guy.

by BR7 on Jul 9, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Me either. And those UK books are merely taking advantage of their nutty fans.

by Harmon on Jul 9, 2010 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

And you thought this was the place for that?

by CARD_G6 on Jul 10, 2010 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions

lol wow BR7

does your life suck that bad to trash a dead uk equipment manager … lol why? because he got involved in the rivalry … wow man grow up .. but thanks to the decent fans in here.. i mean talk trash about uk(cause i will about UL) but i will never disrespect a fallen card

"UK runs this state, little brother knows his role"

by kentuckywild on Jul 12, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Taken straight from your SBN profile page:

anything louisville cardinals related makes me sick, their fans are so sad and envious, just look at any uk thread and you will find sad pathetic UL fans

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jul 12, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

nice work

by Final4Galore on Jul 13, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

clap clap clap

by Mike Rutherford on Jul 13, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

ooookkkkkkk

you dont see me bashing louisville on here do ya just this moron BR7 and as u can see i posted what 3 to 4 post about louisville NONE negative … its one thing to talk sports and another to be a sad pathetic loser like BR7 the louisville fans that come to uk threads are usually all trash talk so hence my profile ..BUT i have no problem with anyone wanting to talk ball MANY MANY louisville fans has come over to a sea of blue and bashed uk example “hozeking” but unlike him i keep my hate for louisville to a respectful minimal … but good try though… me not liking the troll louisville fans vs a cards fan talking trash about fallen cats… yea i feel like im in the right there buddy

"UK runs this state, little brother knows his role"

by kentuckywild on Jul 14, 2010 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

must have hit a soft spot

by Final4Galore on Jul 14, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Future Halloween Costume Idea: Straw Man

I did read one of your comments in which you projected UL FB to win something like 7 or 8 games this season. Good for you, I guess. But what’s sad is that I can’t even agree with you—I’m much more bearish about UL FB this year.

Anyways…you can’t advertise that quote above in your SBN profile and then come onto a UL blog to bash a UL fan and expect a warm reception, no matter how many “positive” comments you’ve made before/after.

Plus, multiple CC members stepped in above to say “check yourself” before you felt the need to do so as well. Furthermore, BR7 himself admitted he went too far. So for you as a rival fan to join the CC community mere minutes before you bash a longtime CC member is already uncalled for. It becomes even worse when one reads the aforementioned “sad pathethic UL fans” comment in your SBN profile.

Let CC do CC and you do you. If I were the manager of CC, I would never discourage UK fans from coming here and posting thoughtful/respectful analysis but anything related to personal attacks is out of bounds.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jul 14, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

ok i agree my profile quote was a little to much

but in truth it was put up because of the trolls i encountered at a sea of blue , it has since been edited to fit who it was originally aimed at, BUT come on whether this br7 guy admitted he was wrong or not doesn’t change what he said, also id like to point out he changed his tune after the majority of louisville fans got on him about it, only after being called a tool by a fellow fan does he say he went to far.. my profile quote was put up because of louisville trolls who i had problems with over on the other site but was never advertises, i believe someone else posted that up, and i only admit that it was wrong to classify ALL louisville fans because of those few trolls so it has been changed but i still feel those trolls are envious and sad and im sure this br7 guy still feels the same about our fallen cats

"UK runs this state, little brother knows his role"

by kentuckywild on Jul 15, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions