Cawood Ledford

[2] In a gesture of appreciation, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski walked to the broadcast area immediately after the game's conclusion and congratulated Ledford on his career.

Ledford's play-by-play style was known for its technical prowess, excellent command of the English language and colloquialisms, enunciative quality, gentility, timeliness, humor, and rapid but unhurried delivery.

Listeners to his basketball radio broadcasts found that he was able to paint an extremely detailed visual picture of the game and call the action as it happened without sounding rushed.

However, the tonal quality of his voice was smokey and resonant, which balanced a subtle twang and provided his listeners with a smooth and highly articulate delivery.

His first obligation to the listeners was to build their trust and he achieved this by calling plays as they happened, praising hard effort, and meting out criticism when it was warranted.

For example, in a hotly contested 1981 home tilt against SEC champion and #2 ranked LSU, Kentucky guard Dirk Minniefield was whistled for a bad charging call in the final moments and Ledford asked facetiously to long time color commentator Ralph Hacker "Did they ride here on the bus together?"

Ralph Hacker noticed it and Ledford replied "Well, I'm sure Coach Hall couldn't care less; or if you'll pardon the expression, give a damn."

Many of these stories revolve around themes of fans going to great lengths to pick up Kentucky radio affiliates from faraway locales, tuning in to hear Ledford's voice over the radio even when the game was televised, and feeling as if Ledford's voice extended a feeling of warmth, familiarity, and comfort on sometimes dreary winter nights.

[5] Ledford is generally considered among the finest play-by-play commentators in the history of American sports broadcasting and is highly esteemed by his peers.