John Calipari tops list of of Newsmakers 2010

John Wall #2 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Rand Paul #3 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Joker Phillips #4 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Matthew Mitchell #5 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Lee Todd #6 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Country music star Eddie Montgomery #7 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Rick Pitino #8 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Lexington Mayor-elect Jim Gray #9 on list of Newsmakers 2010

Gov. Steve Beshear #10 on list of Newsmakers 2010

#1 John Calipari

From Memphis to Lexington, the buzz began the moment we heard he was coming to Kentucky.

Coach John Calipari is the top newsmaker of 2010 according to viewers.

Coach Cal has re-energized the Big Blue nation with winning teams, charisma and a willingness to become an active member of the central Kentucky community.

Calipari led the bluegrass in raising money for earthquake ravage Haiti. He brought more than a million dollars with his Hoops For Haiti telethon on WKYT. He even visited Haiti in June to see the relief efforts.

Back on the court, a winning first season at UK and trip to the Elite Eight secured his spot as a fan favorites.

Under Calipari's leadership, the Cats secured UK's 44th SEC championship and it's 26th SEC tournament championship.

Coach Cal was named the Adolph Rupp coach of the year and the only coach in NCAA history to have 5 straight 30 win seasons. He was named SEC coach of the year AND HAD 5 first round NBA draft picks.

Only one season behind him and already Coach John Calipari is now firmly entrenched in the fabric of this city and the history of the it's team.

Coach Cal's popularity ALSO stretches far beyond the bounds of the bluegrass. The Dominican Republic is considering Cal to be the coach of their olympic team in 2012.
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#2 John Wall

Here in Big Blue country, UK basketball players are always big stars in town. In 2010, one of the brightest in a while graced the court of Rupp Arena.

John Wall comes in at #2 on the list top newsmakers in 2010.

Wall had the Big Blue nation on their feet in 2010 for more reasons than one.

He was Kentucky's first number one pick in the NBA draft and scored the most points every for a freshman.

Wall also had the most single season assists ever at UK with 241.

When the time came to go, Wall headed out west to play for the Washington Wizards.

Though only here for a year, Wall and his teammates won the hearts of UK fans forever.

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#3 Rand Paul

Love him or hate him, one thing's for sure, Rand Paul and his senate campaign had people talking in 2010.

He comes in at number 3 on your list of top newsmakers for 2010.

His campaign ended in a victory for the Tea Party member.

He's filling the seat vacated by Senator Jim Bunning.

Paul faced off with Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway in a race that was anything but civil.

As Paul heads to Washington to begin serving, he's already talking about what he wants to accomplish and abolish.

Paul will join other senators in Washington when the new session begins early in 2011.
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#4 Joker Phillips

A former UK football player turned head coach comes in at the number 4 spot on your list of 2010 newsmakers.

Coach Joker Phillips took the head coaching position with the enthusiasm and lineage for the job.

Fans filled Commonwealth Stadium hoping that was a winning combination.

The history making appointment of Joker Phillips as UK's first African-American head football coach was not a surprise.

Phillips, a player from 1981 to 1984 at UK, became the fifth Kentucky alumni to take the lead of the football program.

His first season as head coach was rocky, finishing 6-6, but still strong enough to get the Cats to their fifth consecutive bowl game.

The Compass Bowl in Birmingham against Pitt is January 8th.
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#5 Matthew Mitchell

Matthew Mitchell is the fun loving, game winning coach of the UK Hoops team.

His work on the court, and in the kitchen, have made him a fan favorite and number 5 on your list of 2010 newsmakers.

2010 was Mitchell's best season yet as the UK Hoops coach.

With an Elite Eight appearance, Mitchell's team defeated nine nationally ranked opponents, and finished in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

Seven players also received all SEC accolades.

After ending the season with an impressive 28-10 record, Mitchell was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2010.

His success on the court is rivaled only by his success on television.

"The Matthew Mitchell Show" is a hit on WKYT.

Each week, Coach Mitchell not only recaps the games, but gives fans an insight into his life and hobbies. The show also includes a cooking segment.

In November, Mitchell signed a five year contract extension worth $600,000 annually, with performance based incentives.

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#6 Dr. Lee Todd

An entrepreneur, inventor and innovator takes the #6 spot on your list of 2010 Newsmakers.

As Dr. Lee Todd steps down as the University of Kentucky's president, those who know him can't wait to see what his next act is.

Dr. Todd is stepping down as UK's president in June after a decade of leading the state's flagship university.

Under his leadership, Dr. Todd says UK's increased in size, set research records and worked to restore the integrity of the athletics department after NCAA sanctions in 2002.

The economic downturn forced Dr. Todd to make tough decisions at UK, freezing faculty and staff salaries and eliminate 188 positions due to state budget cuts. The following year, Dr. Todd turned down a $168,000 performance bonus, saying it would be wrong to take the money when others are doing without.

As he prepares for retirement, Dr. Todd is optimistic about the future.

Dr. Todd says after retirement, he plans to work with the legislature on education initiatives and economic development.

He also will take some time to relax and enjoy his family.
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#7 Eddie Montgomery

A country music maker comes in at the number 7 spot of your 2010 newsmakers.

He's Eddie Montgomery, and he's had quite a year.

Montgomery is used to making good music, and making the local headlines.

He's half of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, and the brother of John Michael Montgomery.

He's also the owner of a restaurant in Harrodsburg, and an active philanthropist in central Kentucky.

But two recent major announcements at the end of 2010 have Montgomery making the news for very different reasons.

In November, Montgomery revealed he's battling prostate cancer, and shortly after, he announced a divorce from his wife.

Montgomery was reportedly served divorce papers Tuesday by his wife of 20 years, Tracy.

He's speculated on Twitter that the divorce stems from his wife's inability to cope with his recent diagnosis of prostate cancer.

However, Tracy Montgomery fired back with her own statement, saying, "Despite what is being said, Eddie's cancer had absolutely nothing to do with my decision. It's what the public doesn't know that finalized an extremely difficult decision that I was forced to make."

Eddie Montgomery underwent successful surgery this month.

Published reports say he is recovering at home and plans to spend some down time with family.
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#8 Rick Pitino

Once famous for his winning ways on the court, Rick Pitino made headlines in 2010 in a different type of court.

He comes in at the number 8 spot for your 2010 newsmakers.

Pitino's eight seasons at Kentucky's head basketball coach made him a central Kentucky legend to some.His job as Louisville's head coach makes him the enemy to others.

But in 2010, it was his daliance in a Louisville restaurant, and the firestorm that followed that had the nation watching.

Karen Sypher, the estranged wife of a U of L equipment manager, claimed Rick Pitino raped her in the summer of 2003 at a Louisville restaurant.Pitino said the sex was consensual, and claimed Sypher was the aggressor.Pitino claimed Sypher extorted money, cars, and houses from him to keep the encounter a secret, and in 2010, both sides told their story in a Louisville courtroom.

Pitino, a married father of five, had his say in the courtroom. When the trial ended, it was Sypher who was convicted of extortion.

Pitino's latest career move includes the Olympics.

Pitino will coach the Puerto Rico National Team next year as they prepare for the Olympics in 2012.
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# 9 Jim Gray

He is Lexington's next mayor.

Jim Gray is already making changes at City Hall.

His supporters hope he'll have the same success as mayor, as he's had in business.

Jim Gray is your number 9 newsmaker for 2010.

Gray will take office as Lexington's next mayor on January 1.He says after a hard fought campaign, he's ready for the job as Lexington's leader.Gray, who's 57 years old, spent the last four years as the city's vice mayor, and years before that building Gray Construction.

He campaigned on a platform of change, job creation, and creativity.He also outspent his opponent, incumbent mayor Jim Newberry, in the last days of the race, throwing in $1 million of his own money.

Gray's election to Lexington's top spot is historically significant as he is the city's first openly gay mayor, and the first businessman elected as mayor since the city and county merged governments in 1974.

Gray's inauguration is set for Sunday, January 2.
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#10 Governor Steve Beshear

The budget, the furloughs, and the always present issue of gambling. Governor Steve Beshear is your #10 Newsmaker of 2010.

Always with a full plate of issues and the challenge of a bipartisan balancing act. Tough times call for tough decisions in 2010, that's something Gov. Steve Beshear knew all too well. It was indeed a spring of discontent in Frankfort with no budget passed and no compromise in sight.

Finally, the compromise was made in a special session. A passed budget didn't mean the end of the state's financial woes. Gov. Beshear announced a plan to furlough state workers for several extra days throughout the year, saying this would help balance the budget. A labor union filed suit to block it, but later dropped it. As the year draws to a close, Governor Beshear is optimistic about the future.

When the 2011 General Assembly convenes on January 4, the Governor will be faced with new political realities, more republicans than ever in the Senate and his re-election hopes on the line. Gov. Beshear and his running mate Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson announced in the fall they currently have more than a million in the bank for their re-election bid.