Fourth of July Foods Compared to John Calipari-Era Kentucky Wildcats

The Fourth of July has arrived! As we celebrate the independence of our country, we often gather together with friends and family to share food and drinks. Much of these American favorites have a distinct purpose to the meal, much like former Kentucky greats have a distinct role they have played in their careers. Here I take a look at ten favorite Fourth foods compared to ten of our favorite Kentucky Wildcats.

Veggie Tray – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Veggies are often not the flashy choice of any BBQ, much like Kidd-Gilchrist is not a flashy offensive option. Veggies help counteract the inevitable heartburn from 4^th foods, as Kidd-Gilchrist’s defense helped defend against any offense on the 2012 National Championship run.

Pasta/Potato Salad – Andrew and Aaron Harrison

Both are side dishes to the main meal, almost identical with small variances, often overlooked yet pivotal. Neither dish is the main meal on Independence Day, yet they can come up big when you need them most. Much like Aaron Harrison did in 2014.

Watermelon – Jamal Murray

Cold Watermelon helps cool-off us on a hot day, much like Murray helped sooth a rough year for the Cats with his sweet shooting. Though 2015-16 was rough for the Cats, Murray was the side that made the season a little more bearable.

Corn – Malik Monk

Sweet corn, buttered to perfection. The perfect side to a great 4^th BBQ. Much like Malik was a great side to De’Aaron Fox’s main course, he has a sweet, buttery smooth shot that was on display for Big Blue Nation to see. Corn can be overlooked, as Malik was in the draft when he slipped out of the top 10. Don’t overlook corn at your BBQ!

Potato Chips – Terrence Jones

Potato chips can come in all different flavors that can complement the perfect Fourth of July meal. Terrence Jones’ versatility during his career complimented two different teams to the Final Four, resulting in one national championship. Though Jones was never the main option, like potato chips is never the main course at a Fourth BBQ, he was a fantastic role player who complemented his team well.

Hot Dogs – John Wall

When I think of 4^th of July foods, I always come back to hot dogs as the pastime food. When I think of Calipari players at Kentucky, John Wall is the original Cal Cat. As hot dogs are staples to the 4^th, Wall is a staple to John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky, and both have gone down as all-time classics.

Burgers – Karl-Anthony Towns

If you center your 4^th of July BBQ around burgers, chances are you are going to have a great BBQ. It is an all-around great main course. Put some lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and some ketchup and you have a near undefeated food item. Karl Anthony-Towns is a guy you can center a team around and, with the right pieces, you are looking at an all-time great team, much like the 2014-15 Wildcats.

Beer – DeMarcus Cousins

Everyone enjoys and loves beer, but too much beer can lead to a combustible situation and a headache in the morning. Sacramento learned that DeMarcus Cousins can be very similar over a six-and-a-half-year period. In moderation, beer can be the best part to your 4^th festivity. The same can be said about Cousins, who, in his one year at Kentucky, often proved to be the best player on the team.

Ribs – Anthony Davis

If your BBQ on the 4^th of July has ribs, you have taken your cookout to the next level. It is a food that can stand alone as the only food, yet surrounding ribs with the right sides can create a championship meal. Anthony Davis is the not-so-arguably the best player Cal has had in his tenure at Kentucky, and was the centerpiece of the 2012 National Championship team. Here’s to ribs. And Championships.

Fireworks – Devin Booker

Fireworks amaze and wow us, exploding into the night sky, capturing our imagination. On March 24^th, Devin Booker did the same. He became only the sixth player in NBA History to score 70 points in a game, putting on a dazzling display that amazed everyone who watched. Gazing into the sky to watch the fireworks explode, we can only wonder how much more amazing the next firework will be.

And we can only wait until the next game to see what Devin Booker can do next.