"One and Done", a Kentucky basketball poem. Inspired by the NBA's rule allowing college backetball players to jump to the pros after their freshman season.

One and Done [Part 3 of My Bluegrass Trilogy]

Kentucky poet and former student of the Speed Scientific School of the University of Louisville, and big time U of L fan Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro posing with his stylish Louisville Cardinals clock. Unfortunately, the damn thing crapped out after just 3 months. And yes, I did try changing the battery.

A poem by Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro

STRUCTURE SCHEME: Accent points align for all four verses.

Consider reading along to my Spoken Verse Performance!

VERSE 1

If round ball is the game you play,

And book reading isn’t much fun.

Thank your buddies at the N.B.A.,

For the program called “One and Done”.

CHORUS

Go "One and Done",

Be done in one.

You’re Mr. Basketball,

An All-American,

And the big man on your campus,

But if your shortfall,

Is in education,

And you can’t find Iran on an atlas.

Chrome Dome Mike at famous Wagner's Pharmacy & Cafe in Louisville near Churchill Downs, rockin' a University of Kentucky cap and WKU Hilltoppers sweat top.

Guess there’s no use pretending,

That the classroom is your place.

What's the point in extending,

When you’re on the paper chase.

So you’re better off attending,

Schools with coaches who embrace,

The game plan they call One and Done.

VERSE 2

Here’s two schools were you must apply.

If your favorite color is blue.

Join the Wildcats down at U. K-Y,

Or the Jayhawks of Kansas U.

VERSE 3

The big dog's name is Calipari.

The Grand Potentate of One and Done.

Yeah, you'll soon be driving A Ferrari.

If your play is great in Lexington.

BRIDGE

This thing called “One and Done”,

Is the path to wealth and fame.

And if: “Behold, the Chosen One!”,

Is what the coaches all proclaim.

There's no doubt that you're a blue chip.

But if your pro plans don’t work out.

They won’t be the one to blame.

If you choose that one year route,

Don’t expect fans to remember your name,

Unless you win the Championship.

VERSE 4

Few do well after U of L. [Note: University of Louisville, per rpiratings.com]

We're behind the schools from Michigan.

While I didn't have any pics of Louisville Cardinals, I did take these photos of Texas cardinals in the town of Lakeway, just northwest of Austin in the Texas Hill Country.

Sending players to the N.B.A.,

Outta be in Rick's bonus plan.