Ex-Kentucky star Ralph Beard dies at 79 (AP) Ralph Beard left the University of Kentucky's basketball program having won national championships in 1948 and '49 and with a reputation as one of the all-time greats on the hardwood. Beard's promising professional basketball career only lasted two years, though, brought down in a point-shaving scandal that saw him and several of his former teammates barred from the NBA for life. Publish Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:10:03 PST Read more...