Lexington Herald-Leader from Lexington, Kentucky • A6

SATURDAY JUNE 25 2022 6AFACEBOOK.COM/KENTUCKYCOM TWITTER.COM/HERALDLEADERKENTUCKY.COM Sports Title IX turned on Thurs- day, the 37-word civil rights law enacted in 1972 to ensure person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participa- in educational programs that receive federal funding. It is time for celebration, to marvel at the 50-year-old legis- lation that forever changed the landscape of sports in this country. Fewer than 300,000 girls played high school sports in 1972; now 3.4 million do. The biggest impact, though, came in college sports, specifi- cally at the Division I level where athletic departments now had to equitably distribute scholarships across genders and where football programs annual- ly soaked up 85 with no female equivalent. That sent ripples in both directions, spawning a multibillion-dollar youth sports industry for girls chasing sud- denly plentiful college scholar- ships in soccer, softball, rowing or dozens of other disciplines while transforming the United States into an Olympic jugger- naut, with women developed through college programs win- ning more medals than their male counterparts at the last five Summer Games.

So walk to the rim of the Grand Canyon today and gaze Future of sports as Title IX turns 50 BY MARK ZEIGLER The San Diego Union-Tribune SEE TITLE IX, 8A NBAShaedon Sharpe was the first former Kentucky player to be chosen in Thursday NBA Draft when the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the seventh overall pick. Later in the night, he was joined in the first round by fellow UK freshman TyTy Washington. Sharpe, the former No. 1- ranked basketball recruit, joined UK at midseason but never suited up for the team. He had intended to play for Kentucky this fall, but had to alter those plans when draft feedback indicated he would be an early first-round pick.

The first five picks of the draft were Paolo Banch- ero (Orlando Magic), Gon- Chet Holmgren (Oklaho- ma City Thunder), Jabari Smith (Houston Rock- ets), Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings) and Pur- Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pis- tons). Sharpe, a 6-foot-6 wing from Canada who played an organized game of basketball in front of NBA decision-makers since last Nike Peach Jam, is considered to be one of this biggest mysteries, and one of its biggest gambles. from high school to college and not playing your college season and then straight to the NBA, quite the journey but every step of the way just fought and had fun with Sharpe said, according to The Associated Press. The Trail Blazers are led by All-Star Damian Lillard. a great guard himself and been in this league for some time now, so I just wait to really learn from Sharpe said, according to the AP.

Sharpe is the third player in UK program history to be se- lected by the Trail Blazers, following Larry Steele (1971) and Sam Bowie (1984). is going to a great situation in Portland which will allow him to develop and take his game to where we all know it can UK Coach John Calipari said in a news release by the school. WASHINGTON SQUEEZES INTO FIRST ROUND TyTy Washington is headed to Houston. The Memphis Grizzlies chose him with the 29th pick of the 30- pick first round on Thursday night, but the Rockets traded for that pick. At one point in the pre-draft process, Washington was con- sidered to have an excellent shot to be a lottery pick (top ALEX SLITZ Herald-Leader file photo Former Wildcat Johnny Juzang has reportedly agreed to a post-draft deal with the Utah Jazz.

Sharpe, Washington selected in first round of NBA Draft SEE NBA, 11A BY DENNIS VARNEY JOHN MINCHILLO AP TyTy Washington was the No. 29 pick in the first round and will be headed to Houston, where he will be joined by fellow 2022 first-round picks Jabari Smith of Auburn and Tari Eason from LSU. NEW YORK The question for weeks lead- ing into the NBA draft was whether the first pick would be Paolo Banchero, Chet Holm- gren or Jabari Smith Jr. The answer finally came Thursday night and even Banchero know it until moments before the announce- ment of the Orlando selection. had a feeling from the information I was being told is that it was just kind of up in the Banchero said.

really sure yet, and just to be ready for whatever. find out, though, that I was actually getting picked until about 20 seconds before the commissioner got on the stage. I even have time to really think about it or anything. It just kind of hap- pened. I believe it, but ready.

After leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four in coach Mike final season, the 6-foot-10 forward was called first by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to begin the draft, beating out fellow first-year forwards Smith and Holmgren. The order had been debated throughout the process, with Smith often considered the player who would go No. 1. Instead, he even sec- ond, falling behind Holmgren to Houston at No. 3.

added a chip, but God makes no mistakes, so happy to be Smith said. happy to be where wanted. happy to get to Houston and just show them, give them what they picked. Just happy to be All the players picked looked thrilled, with Banchero among those crying or coming close as they hugged friends and family. Wearing a purple suit full of bling, he received a loud ova- tion inside Barclays Center, where Duke lost in the ACC Tournament final.

He came the fourth Duke player taken No. 1 since 1966, when the NBA did away with territorial draft rights, and was followed by Blue Devils teammates Mark Williams (No. 15, Charlotte), A.J. Griffin (No. 16, Atlanta) and Wendell Moore Jr.

(No. 26, Dallas). The Magic were picking first for the fourth time and done well with their previous choices. They took Shaquille in 1992, traded the rights to Chris Webber for Pen- ny Hardaway the next year, and went with Dwight Howard in 2004. All eventually reached the NBA Finals with the Magic.

Holmgren went second to the Magic take Banchero 1st; Holmgren, Smith follow in NBA Draft SEE MAGIC, 11A BY BRIANMAHONEY Associated Press JOHN MINCHILLO AP Paolo Banchero was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic at NBA Draft. COLORADO TRIES TO CAPTURE ITS THIRD STANLEY CUP TITLE WITH A WIN OVER TAMPA BAY IN GAME 5 OF THE FINALS. Go to kentucky.com/eedition/ xtrasports. AVS SEEK NHL CROWN Bruton Smith was a character, and I mean that in the best sense of the word. He died Wednesday at age 95, but he leaves a remarkable legacy, full of tall tales that often turned out to be true.

Racing promoter, Charlotte Motor Speedway builder, bil- lionaire auto dealer, NASCAR Hall of Famer, guy who some- times liked to pick a fight just to see if you were paying attention: If Bruton Smith existed, some screenwriter would have made him up. company, Speedway Motorsports, owns numerous racetracks, including Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. He was good for Charlotte, no doubt about that. I asked him once during one of our several long interviews over the years what he was proudest of in his life. got to say and I hope it sound corny that I have four very successful and remarkable Smith said.

love my kids to death. They all work in my businesses and will keep them going long after gone. No. 1 without question. The second thing is very proud that made a lot of people million- aires.

Hundreds of Everyone called him sometimes admiringly and sometimes in a you see what Bruton has done sort of way. He was contro- versial. Energetic. Charismatic. Well into his 80s, he liked to tell everyone he was 39 years old.

Smith had one-of-a-kind life, legacy BY SCOTT FOWLER The Charlotte Observer COMMENTARY SEE SMITH, 11A.