Reporter shares incredible story of Tubby Smith's kindness during his Kentucky days
On Wednesday, Memphis announced it was firing head coach Tubby Smith, ending his three-year run at the school.
Upon hearing that news, reporter Amy Fadool Kane, who currently works for NBC Sports Philadelphia, shared a story about Smith’s kindness while he was Kentucky’s head coach.
Smith, who led the Wildcats to the 1998 national championship, and his family apparently took Thanksgiving dinner to a TV station where reporters were working through the holiday:
Here’s a story that is very telling of who Tubby Smith is as a person. I could tell you about him personally honoring his $1M pledge to build spaces for Lexington city children to learn computers & programming AFTER he was fired by UK. But this one is something I witnessed (1/4)
— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) March 14, 2018
It was Thanksgiving Day and I was working my first job…just out of college & so I was in with a skeleton crew. We did our 6pm news. It was me in sports, Valeria Cummings anchoring news & Chris Bailey for WX. I’m signing off sports at the desk with my 2 Co-anchors & say …(2/5)
— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) March 14, 2018
“I guess it’s time to eat Thanksgiving dinner”, joking. And Valeria laughs & says “I hope you brought extra coins for the vending machine!” We all have a good chuckle & wish folks a happy holiday & say we’ll see them at 11p. 45 minutes later, there’s a knock on our station door.
— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) March 14, 2018
Now our station isn’t what you think it is. It looks like a house…a big old mansion type house with white pillars and brick and everything. You can’t miss it out Winchester Rd. There were only about 3 other people at work that day, someone answers the door. And to our surprise
— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) March 14, 2018
in walks Donna Smith, with Tubby & sons Saul & Brian & other family member, all carrying huge trays of food. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, biscuits, you name it.
Donna tells them where to put it in our newsroom and we’re all standing there aghast.— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) March 14, 2018
Donna simply looks at us and says, “Tubby & I were watching you just now & we couldn’t bear to think of y’all not eating a proper Thanksgiving dinner. So I asked him what we should do and he said, let’s take them our dinner.”
And that’s what they did.
And that’s Tubby Smith.— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) March 14, 2018
That’s an incredible story, and it’s important to remember that coaches’ contributions to their communities often go beyond wins and losses.
Smith’s future is now up in the air, but whoever lands the former national champion is getting a great man as well as a solid coach.
