BITTERSWEET, Ky. — It goes without saying that I have lived all my life in a place known for many things, including bluegrass music, horses of all breeds, bourbons of all flavors and some of the best farmland in the world.

But of all those wonderful things that are particular to the Bluegrass State, basketball is likely the lifeblood of a state that has multiple NCAA Champions, a heritage that includes the great Adolph Rupp and some of the best college basketball players in the universe.

Now, without getting into all that rivalry stuff between our two largest universities, I would like to stick to the overall environment of basketball at all levels in our beloved Commonwealth.

I realize at this point many of you are about to be enticed by the livestock page, thinking I’ve lost my mind in writing about sports in a music column – but hear me out. Along with the popularity of our college teams is also a plethora of high school programs that are as exciting to rural America as anything you could imagine.

But regardless if you are sitting in a 25,000-person arena or a high school gym, these programs seem to have one thing in common. During warm-ups or halftime or during timeouts, you are likely to be entertained by some of the loudest, wildest music you’ve ever heard (not counting the schools’ bands, of course).

Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s great they play this music and keep the crowd excited and the cheerleaders cheering and the mood upbeat. I would assume that is the intent. What I would like to see, however, is a little bit of a change in the musical genre.

I like a good hip-hop or hard rock selection as much as the next guy! But a few country selections wouldn’t hurt. And I was just kidding about the hip-hop and hard rock; I respect those who perform it, but it just isn’t my cup of tea.

Anyway, getting back to the musical selections at our basketball games: Wouldn’t it be great if a little banjo music blared over the loudspeakers during the halftime show? How about some Hank Williams during a time-out, or perhaps a Reba tune during warm-ups?

I doubt any school sports program would take my advice, but I know somewhere there is a school that plays some good ol’ country music during game breaks. If only I could find that place. Until then, I guess I’ll just have to learn some of the words to a Zombie Nation or Jay-Z song so I can sing along.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.