The ‘Doctor’ is in. Beloved Bourbon County sports writer marks 40 years.

In Paris and Bourbon County, Ivan K. Rice is “Sports.”

For going on 40 years, Rice, affectionately known as the “Doctor of Sports” — “Doc” or “Sports” for short — has recounted thousands of high school sporting events in his hometown from bass fishing to basketball for the Bourbon County Citizen.

His plainspoken style, countless amusing tales and irrepressible enthusiasm for all things Paris and Bourbon County have made him a legend in his community and among his reporting colleagues across the state.

“He’s a great friend of mine and I know I can’t do without him,” said Paris High School’s “Mr. Greyhound,” Eugene “Puck” Puckett, who has kept Paris football stats for decades and, with Rice’s help, keeps up with all the community’s sports history. “There’s no way I could do it all by myself.”

During basketball season, Rice works the public address system and even keeps the official stats for some teams, like he did for the Greyhounds’ 2017 All “A” Classic boys state basketball champions. That service earned him a championship ring from the team with his own name on it, a treasure he wears proudly.

But with the unapologetic homerism, Rice also portrays sincere respect for Paris’ and Bourbon County’s opponents and offers honest assessments when the results don’t go their way. Rice has earned numerous awards from the Kentucky Press Association and gets positive feedback on his social media pages, too.

“They really do appreciate the coverage I give all the kids in the community,” Rice said. “And it’s about the kids to me. When I was growing up, I loved to see my name in the newspaper, so I know right now that may not mean anything to those kids, but 20 years down the road when they have kids, they’ll be able to say, ‘Look, there’s a newspaper article.” I’ve written a lot of names over the last 40 years.”

Rice is the quintessential “homer” journalist in the same vein as any sports commentator who grew up and played for the teams they eventually covered. His Saturday morning Facebook videos, delivered with his trademark toothpick ever-present, reveal the love and passion he has for his teams. And he often celebrates and takes photos with the athletes.

For many journalists today, even in small towns, that’s a step too far. But few of Rice’s sports writing colleagues begrudge him for it. They respect his work and enjoy his company so much that seeming fault doesn’t matter.

“The way he embraces it, I think is what’s funny,” said Evan Dennison, longtime sports editor at the Maysville Ledger-Independent who now heads up the sports department at LinkNKY.com. “He’s through-and-through a Paris Greyhound, but he’s not afraid to put on some Bourbon County gear, too.”

Earning his nickname

Rice, who turns 60 on Sept. 16, got his “Doctor of Sports” nickname in high school when a classmate noted his remarkable ability to recite sports history. And he probably got his job at the Citizen in part because of his skill at winning the sports pick ‘em game in each week’s paper back then.

Rice won so often that then owner and editor Larry Brannon banned him from participating because advertisers were getting upset that the same person was winning each week. But Brannon remembered Rice when he needed someone to cover local sports for the paper.

Rice was still a student at Eastern Kentucky University when Brannon asked him to cover Paris sports for the Citizen back in 1984.

“He said they just needed somebody that can cover Paris sports ‘until we find somebody.’ That was his exact words,” Rice said. “I said OK, and well, I’m still there.”

During Rice’s high school playing days as a multi-sport athlete, a young Tom Leach, himself a Bourbon County High School graduate, called Paris and Bourbon County games for the old WBGR radio station. He remembered Rice’s speed on the field. But he’s also since admired Rice’s contributions as a sports writer.

“Every community needs an Ivan Rice for their athletes and their teams and their community,” Leach said, “somebody who really cares about it and puts in the time for too little pay and too few thanks. He was a Paris guy and I guarantee you he’s got as much respect from Bourbon County folks as he does from Paris because of how he does his job.”

Leach, of course, has been the voice of the University of Kentucky Wildcats football and basketball teams for many years now. Rice is an unabashed fan of the University of Louisville, often sporting his Cardinals gear when he’s not wearing Paris or Bourbon County colors. Leach doesn’t hold that against him.

“Nobody’s perfect,” Leach said, laughing.

Rice considers stepping away

After a prostate cancer battle and several surgeries in recent years, Rice says he’s contemplating stepping back from the demands of being a full-time sports writer on top of his other full-time job at Geno’s Formal Affair.

Prostate cancer claimed his father’s life many years ago. Rice has had some complications since his prostate procedures, but has returned to all the activities he loves, like playing flag football, tennis, basketball and golf.

The Citizen’s current co-owner and editor Becca Lawyer, Brannon’s daughter, marvels at Rice’s ability to keep up with all the things that he does for the weekly publication and has jokingly threatened to not let him go.

“He’d better not be retiring,” Lawyer said with a laugh. “I told him we were holding him hostage. He’s been like part of the family. It’s more than just a newspaper job.”

Rice is quick to credit the many helpers he’s had over the years — folks like Jennifer Arnett at Paris and Krista Barnett at Bourbon County — who provide photos and game information to him for his reports each week. In past years, Liz Yeiser and Jill McKenzie helped too.

“He covered half of my family,” Arnett said of Rice. “I don’t know that Paris would ever have the team exposure or anything without him. It’s been an unbelievable pleasure to work with him over the years because he’s amazing.”

If Rice does retire any time soon, there’s no doubt he will be missed.

“Any time Sports walks into a room, he lights it up,” Dennison said. “He’s fun to be around. When he was going through some of those health issues and missed some events, it made you realize how much you wanted him around and how much you enjoyed being at a game because he was there.”

Rice’s favorite memories include Bourbon County’s improbable 1997 state football championship and the All “A” Classic win, and he’s also enjoyed the success Paris has had in track in recent years. Just when he thinks he might give it all up, a new batch of young stars persuades him to stay.

“I can fly and leave but then the kids start growing on you.” Rice said. “And then you hear people give you compliments for your work. ... It kind of makes you proud that somebody likes what I’m doing. So, you know, why don’t I keep doing it?”