Seedy K’s Super Sunday Sports Snippets

Posted: February 7, 2010 – 11:02 am

I want New Orleans to win because it’s my favorite city.

I want Indianapolis to win because Peyton Manning is the most exquisitely performing QB I’ve seen.

I want New Orleans to win because New Orleans JazzFest is one of my favorite things to do in life.

I want Indianapolis to win because it’s as close to “our” team as we have other than the Bungles.

I want New Orleans to win because it has the greatest collection of eateries anywhere. Drago’s grilled oysters. Galatoire’s Godcheaux salad. Ummmm good.

I want Indianapolis to win because owner Jim Irsay is the antithesis of his father, and owns the original rolled manuscript of “On The Road.”

I want New Orleans to win because Marc, my best buddy from college, has a serious future book bet brewing and will win 40 large if the Saints prevail.

I want Indianapolis to win because if you go to their games you can park at Shapiro’s Deli and eat there both before and after the game.

I want New Orleans to win because they’ve never done it, and it would mean a lot to the city that the government forgot in a time of great need after Katrina.

I want New Orleans to win.

Geaux Saints!!!

* * * * *

I know the institution of the NCAA is a really dysfunctional and oftentimes stupid organization.

Yet I am dumbfounded, flabbergasted, disgusted that it would even consider messing with the formula of the nation’s greatest sports event by expanding the field of the basketball tournament.

96 teams is 96 Tears.

This move would be absurd. It would reward mediocrity.

Memo to NCAA: More is LESS.

Actually the tournament should contract by a team, deep sixing the idiotic play-in game.

Etc, etc, etc . . . I can’t believe they’re even thinking of doing it.

* * * * *

Listen, I hate Duke as much as the next fan. (Except, of course, my wife, the Film Babe, who has a Duke ballcap and loves Jay Bilas. To the extent that she said her love for me increased after I revealed to her that I peed right next to Jay in the media bathroom at halftime last Monday.)

But my loathing notwithstanding, I just realized yesterday that the team does do something very feisty. When the Blue Devils have the ball, and the shot clock hits ten seconds, all the reserves on the bench stand up, so the players on the court will know they have to bust a move to the bucket.

* * * * *

Tiger Woods.

* * * * *

I think if it were the days of yesteryear and this group of ballers that Coach Cal has assembled at UK would stay together four years, they’d realistically be in the argument as “best college hoops team ever.”

* * * * *

I don’t know about you, but I’m at the edge of my seat, awaiting that inevitable first figure skating judging scandal at the Winter Olympiad. It’s right around the corner.

* * * * *

Be sure to stock up on popcorn and your favorite beverages. ESPN hype notwithstanding, there are some seriously great ballgames on tap this coming week.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Calipari, College Sports, Gaming, Hoops, NCAA Tournament, NFL, TV, UK | Comments (0)

Louisville Card File: Rutgers

Posted: February 7, 2010 – 10:22 am

The Cards are an unblemished 2-0 since the biggest moment of the season. Which was last Monday’s absolutely, positively, no doubt about it, unequivocal, don’t even try last chance to give mo’ money mo’ money mo’ money to U of L’s Athletic Department, so you season ticketholders maybe, possibly, might, could conceivably increase your chances for better seats in the new as yet unnamed but soon to be world famous downtown arena.

I know I should be sleeping a lot easier, knowing that no more nouveau riche Cardinal fan of 35 days or less can slip in the back door of the ULA office with a bag o’ bills and jump me in line . . . or, at least, I hope not.

But I’m just wondering what would happen if Bob and Betty Billionsworth, who just moved to town and have never been to a Cardinal game, called up next week and said they had a juicy ol’ check in six figures and they sure would like some seats down low near mid court in the new gym?

* * * * *

One more thing before I get to yesterday’s game.

I’m starting to get real emotional about the end of the U of L era in Freedom Hall. I’m working on a cover story that will appear in LEO’s print edition of 2/24, as well as online. There have been some incredible moments since that first tilt in ‘56. I was there, and have been at most of the games since.

Yesterday they introduced the ‘74-’75 Cardinals, a magnificent team that really knew how to play the game. They shoulda won that semi-final against UCLA in San Diego. I remember walking out of the arena into glorious Cali sunshine, as depressed as I’ve ever been in my life. Sigh.

I know this new gym is going to be big and bright and boffo and all. But Freedom Hall is just all right with me.

* * * * *

Jerry Smith is back on his feed. But Preston Knowles is now slumping a bit. That’s the continuing yin and yang of this Cardinal edition.

This team still needs some fine tuning. One would hope a week into February there would be more consistency.

Odd situations keep occurring. Rakeem Buckles tallied 5 points and grabbed two boards in only two meaningful first half minutes. But his counterpart Jared Swopshire continues to get mo’ betta, playing his steadiest game as a Cardinal. So Buckles had to sit.

I’m not convinced a lineup with both Samuels and Jennings is U of L’s best. I understand the Cards are going to need the bulk and length against some schools. But TJ is just too passive on the court. Obviously The Rick thinks so too. Jennings played only 9 minutes with a goose egg in the rebound column.

The flip side is that he and Siva appear to have the best two-man on-court chemistry. Which offers hope for next season when it will be Peyton’s team.

Why on earth was Preston Knowles playing point guard for so long during Rutgers comeback at the end of the first half?

The Cardinals are still woeful attacking certain zone defenses. Imagine the scenario against Syracuse, a really good team with the best zone in the land.

The Rick called Louisville’s second to last timeout with 18:44 to play. Which could have really kicked the Cards in the butt, had the Scarlet Knights come all the way back.

It was good to see the Cards shooting well. Making baskets, as it has often been said, makes up for a lot of ills. Louisville was 12/17 (71%) in the tilt’s first 11:30.

* * * * *

I’m on record as saying this looks like an NIT-bound team to me. I’m also on record as saying I really hope I’m wrong about that.

One of the factors worryworts such as myself annually fail to take into consideration is how many similarly situated teams there are in other leagues around the country. It’s the nature of the beast.

Fact: Louisville does not have a quality win — in conference or out. Until they beat somebody better than them, I’m a skeptic.

To go dancin’ in March, I think Louisville needs to beat St. John’s, Notre Dame, DePaul, Georgetown, either Marquette or UConn on the road and Syracuse in the Freedom Hall finale. If they don’t, and don’t pull off a Jerry McNamara BEast tournament miracle, Selection Sunday is going to be fraught with tight sphincters awaiting Louisville’s name on the bracket.

* * * * *

Somewhere from the past in the deep recesses beyond the smoke rings of my mind I think I remember the term “bozo” being used to refer to a replacement player on a bowling team in a league.

Anyway, Cardinal fans’ favorite reporter whipping boy Pat Forde was called into duty as color guy on U of L’s game telecast yesterday because the regular got snowed in back east.

I kept calling Forde a bozo. Today I was looking for something on the www. to back up the use of that sobriquet. But, much to my chagrin, haven’t found any.

If any of you readers out there could help me, I’d be much obliged.

* * * * *

Rick Pitino was on yesterday’s game ticket. When it was mentioned during a timeout yesterday, the applause was stunningly perfunctory and passionless.

Next Up: St. John’s in the Garden. Yet another “must win.”

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Announcing, Big East, Hoops, Pitino, TV, U of L | Comments (2)

Derrick Caracter’s Food for Thought

Posted: February 4, 2010 – 9:35 am

Loyal reader Fred Smart sent me a link to an interesting article by Bill Knight in the El Paso Times about former Louisville Cardinal enigma, Derrick Caracter.

He now plays — apparently very well and without incident — for Tony Barbee’s UTEP Miners. He’s had a number of double doubles and no suspensions since gaining eligibility.

The fellow who used to be the bane of The Rick’s existence has some perspective on his days as a Cardinal.

Apparently Caracter bought in at first.

” . . . when I got to Louisville, I weighed 320-pounds. I was just eating Chinese food and doing unnecessary stuff. My first year at Louisville was cool. I felt some of the assistants were harder on me than the other guys, but that just made me better.”

His further comments give insight into what was going on in the locker room during his stay here.

“It seemed like I had a certain leadership on the team. A lot of guys would follow me, do what I did, even dress like me. In some ways that hurt us and in some ways that was a good thing. But if I felt like I was better than David Padgett and I was not playing, I would be negative. Coach (Rick) Pitino felt it was like a cancer, that it would spread.”

Caracter mentions in the article how his buddy Earl Clark helped him get in shape for his stint at UTEP.

“It gave me a whole new outlook on fitness. When I was at Louisville, I was dieting all the time and eating so little I just never felt strong.”

I think he’s delusional about his leadership skills versus those of David Padgett.

But his comments about Rick Pitino’s ways resonate some. There’s no doubt RP considered his attitude a cancer. Nor, one guy’s opinion, that he made Caracter diet to the point where he was less effective on the court than when a bit heavier and stronger.

In this Cardinal winter of moderate to heavy discontent, many red & black fans have been questioning some recurring traits of The Rick.

One, that he’ll give up on recruits. If a player the coach thinks he can paternally mold into a fixture on his team doesn’t buy in quickly, Pitino’s tendency is to cut bait. UK Exhibit A: Rodrick Rhodes. Celtic Exhibit B: Chauncey Billups. U of L Exhibit C: Bryan Harvey. To name but a few.

Disgruntled former Card Derrick Caracter is not the only one of The Rick’s charges from the past to mention the extreme exercise regime and how it sometime sapped energy and resulted in tired legs as the season progressed.

Then again, Pitino’s teams at Louisville have tended to peak as the season progressed. Pitino’s exemplary February and March success is a matter of record. So the postulation I’m presenting is certainly fair game for discussion. There are legit arguments that I’m full of it.

But, to use the vernacular of the day, I’m just sayin’ . . .

Which is to not even mention the kind of eerie disengagement with which Pitino addressed some of U of L’s recent setbacks, compared to his former fiery ways.

One has to ask if he’s lost some Eye of the Tiger?

You can read the whole El Paso Times article here.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Hoops, Pitino, U of L | Comments (2)

Louisville Card File: UConn

Posted: February 1, 2010 – 10:22 pm

Revised 2/02 6:59 am

It is my intention to unequivocally praise the Cardinals’ effort tonight.

I’m still from Missouri as for their post season chances. They need to show me they can beat somebody better than them. That’s not UConn. But no more negativitude.

* * * * *

Peyton Siva, Samardo Samuels, Jared Swopshire and Reginald Delk continue to impress me with their improvement. Samuels didn’t get a lot of boards tonight, but it was battleground in the paint and he gave no quarter. Love that little jump hook he’s developed. Siva is getting calmer by the game. It’s a good thing. Swop had nine boards. Delk is hitting his treys and sneaking in the back side for some key rebounds.

* * * * *

When you hit 10/22 from beyond the arc, it overcomes a lot of flaws. Though tonight U of L didn’t display any fatal flaws at all. Making baskets is always a plus. Duh.

* * * * *

Some other random observations. With Dyson playing only 9 minutes in the first half, I thought U of L’s 14 point lead at the break was a false positive. I was wrong.

UConn really misses Jim Calhoun. The Huskies are playing a disheveled game. Walker and Dyson dribble drive a lot and the others kind of stand around. Calhoun has missed a stunning 25 games as Huskie coach. Assistant George Blaney has coached a dozen of those absences and now stands 6-6.

U of L outblocked the blockingest D in the Land since forever. Cards garnered 8 rejections to only three from the visitors. That, despite the Huskies appreciable length advantage.

Down 68-51 with 13:10 to play, UConn outscored the Cards 14-4 in the next three minutes. It was Season Ticket Insurance time for Cardinal fans. U of L showed, at least for tonight, they can hold a lead. The good guys hung tough.

Even The Rick coached a bit better tonight. I thought starting Swopshire for Samuels at the beginning of the second half was a clever move. On the other hand, I don’t agree with his assessment of Stephan Van Treese. I think the Hoosier is ready for college ball and can give the Cards solid minutes in short bursts. He certainly held his own tonight.

I’ve got to wonder why UConn isn’t better????????? Their win total away from home still stands as 0. As in none.

* * * * *

Before the game, Tim Higgins came over to chat up Knick scout Steve Yoder, who was sitting next to me. A fan behind us yelled, “Let’s get it right tonight, Higgins.” To which the ubiquitous zebra responded with a little smile, “Why should tonight be any different than any other?”

At which point, Yoder confirmed that its’ the same at every venue. “I’m going to UK tomorrow and it will be the same thing. At Vandy on Wednesday.”

* * * * *

A quick shout out to the two ball boys sitting on the floor in front of my press row spot. Unlike most of the kids who get this privilege, this duo was really into the game. Jumping up and high fiving at every Cardinal trey and steal and good play. Of course, being a cranky old guy, it got a little bothersome when they blocked my view. Until I realized that I was 10 once and sitting on the floor for a U of L game would have been the coolest thing on earth to do. Stay true to your school, dudes.

* * * * *

Dennis Frogman, Harry Canary, Mackerel Jordan and the rest of the Zooperstar crew are far and away my favorite halftime entertainment. Those dudes are funny.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Hoops, Pitino, U of L | Comments (4)

TWill & The Rick: Together Again For The 2d Time

Posted: January 31, 2010 – 10:39 pm

Talk about your equal time, gettaloadathis.

I get a call tonight from a “source” who says I can’t even intimate his name. Or that of his source.

So the double heresay he say he say goes like this:

“This is definitely Ricky P’s last year coaching the Cardinals. The deal’s been cut. He won’t ever coach in the new arena.

“He’s going to New Jersey to coach the Nets.”

Really now.

So, as these rumors go, The Rick and Coach Cal shall renew their rivalry. But in the Big Apple instead of the Bluegrass.

Coach Cal and LeBron and Knicks. Versus The Rick and TWill and the hapless Nets. In prime time in the Garden.

I’ll have to see it to believe it.

Whatever are these rumormongers thinking?

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Calipari, Hoops, Pitino | Comments (2)

Considering the Cardinals As They Head Down The Stretch

Posted: January 31, 2010 – 6:11 pm

At least one fan wasn’t so pleased with my observations about the Louisville Cardinals in the wake of yet another blown opportunity, this time in Morgantown.

Basically the comment sardonically complimented my “brilliant conclusions” made in the “emotional fervor of the moment.”

I wrote that this edition of the Cards is toast, and that U of L will not make it into the NCAA tourney.

I wondered if I had rushed to judgment? So I have reconsidered.

I sincerely hope I’m wrong, but I stand by what I’ve said. It certainly is not impossible for this team to go on a late run, nabbing a pair of those dancing shoes on Selection Sunday. I don’t see it happening. Even if the Cards get something going, here’s their last four: Georgetown, @ UConn, @ Marquette, Syracuse.

That has the look of an 0-fer from where I’m standing.

Of course the ‘06-’07 squad comes to mind. But David Padgett’s not walking into Yum, and nobody on this squad has displayed DP’s ability to be a catalyst. Sure it could happen. I hope it does. But . . .

Let’s start at the top. This is not one of Rick Pitino’s better coaching efforts. I’m frankly surprised. I thought Ralph Willard in the second chair would help more than it has.

Pitino has always called out his players in the media. It’s never been a very enduring trait. Less so with a fragile bunch like the current one. “We’re not a very good defensive team.” “Stephan Van Treese is not ready to play collegiate basketball.” “Buckles started, but didn’t know what to do when they gave him space.” “TJ worked on the wrong things this summer.”

Too much public negativitude, one guy’s opinion. How can that not hurt the psyche of this team?

Pitino’s forte has never been in-game adjustments. He’s seems especially underwhelming in that regard this season. The latest evidence was the Cardinals inability to cope with Bobby Huggins’ 1-3-1. U of L had a deer in the headlights look about them.

The coach is still searching for combinations that work. And this campaign has rarely found the right one at the right time.

I’m not going to go through the squad player by player. I’m sure not going to do what I’ve just accused The Rick of doing. Missed free throws. Silly unforced errors. Lack of rebounding fundamentals. Periodic woeful shooting. Strange substitution patterns. Defensive lapses at critical junctures. The inability to close the deal. All and more have contributed to this team’s mediocrity.

On the plus side, Samuels and Siva have improved appreciably as the season has progressed. So too Reggie Delk. Swop is playing better than fans give him credit for, but is inconsistent. Jerry Smith and Preston Knowles always play full tilt, even when their skills abandon them.

Come Monday, the Cards have another chance at rejuvenation, to start down the road to redemption.

Will they be Phoenix, arising from the ashes?

Or Icarus, crashing and burning?

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Big East, Hoops, Pitino, U of L | Comments (0)

Louisville Card File: West Virginia

Posted: January 30, 2010 – 5:29 pm

Revised 1/30 5:47 pm

The 2009-10 Louisville Cardinals are toast.

The loss to West Virginia is simply the latest in a season of meltdowns.

The Cards try. They’re good kids. They are not awful.

They simply don’t have the wherewithal to close, to stay focused and execute when it matters, to grab the W and hold on to it.

And Rick Pitino is not doing a very good coaching job this season either. Except his reluctance to play Samuels and Jennings together is not irrational. TJ was beaten badly on West Virginia’s first two hoops of the game, both threes. He’s slow afoot and slow thinking from a basketball sense.

The Cards were up 11 with 6:37 on the clock. “Louisville is going to get a big road win,” or so went a premature ejaculation from the hyperventalive announcer Mike Patrick. Uh, not so fast, dude.

Bobby Huggs, who can coach as well as he can bellow, switched to a 1-3-1. The Rick had no adjustments. U of L fumbled, stumbled and bumbled away the lead. Once again, they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

No go to guy. No savvy. Just a run o’ the mill bunch of guys, a cut or two below championship level.

Yes, there were two unacceptable officiating calls at game’s end. The ball bouncing off a Mountaineer’s face right in front of the ref should have been Louisville’s. And Delk was assaulted on his late three. No call. Which is not to mention that it’s against the rules for zebras to use replay on an out of bounds call. Which they did to West Virginia’s advantage when they looked on one play and when they didn’t look on another.

But here’s the Truth: Those calls should never have mattered. Louisville simply gagged away a big lead it should have held onto. It’s not the first time. They threw it away. Missed a couple of big front ends of 1 and 1s. Gave away too many second chance opportunities. Simply blew an eminently winnable tilt.

The Cards will not play in the 2010 NCAA tournament.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Announcing, Hoops, Pitino, U of L | Comments (3)

LeBron & Coach Cal: Together Again for the First Time

Posted: January 30, 2010 – 5:14 pm

So I get a call here during the first half of UK’s evisceration of Vanderbilt’s Commodores from none other than my man Formerly Known As Source of Year.

He’s somewhere where it’s warm and sunny and must have gotten tired of walking the beach, riding his bike and lamenting about the Cardinals’ loss.

Anyway, he asks “Have you seen LeBron and his posse courtside in Rupp?”

Yes.

“You know he wants to go to New York?”

Yes, that’s not especially breaking news.

“Well, he really respects Calipari and wants to play with him . . . in New York.”

So, uh, XXXXX, what is it your saying? That Coach Cal is going to jump to the Knicks after this season? Why on earth would he jump to a team where he would be burdened with a salary cap?

“Remember where you heard it first.”

And so I shall.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Calipari, NBA, Personalities | Comments (2)

Saturday’s Snowy SportsFlakes: Cycling, Soccer & Enough Hoops to Satisfy

Posted: January 30, 2010 – 8:51 am

Shovel the walk or blog? Shovel the walk or blog? Shovel the walk or blog?

Hmm, well, here I am. First things first.

My suggestion. Finish reading and devouring every word of this. Then shovel the walk and get it over with.

Then grab the clicker, make sure your recliner will lock in at the proper angle, have the TV listings handy and settle in for the day. You got your Cards, your Cats, a big Big 12 smackdown. And, for the real junkies, you got your Aston Villa vs. Fulham soccer matchup at 10:30. (Sure they’re a couple of Premier League middle of the pack squads, but so what?)

* * * * *

You’d never know it by reading the sports page — our local paper ran the article in a separate section — but Louisville’s going to host a truly world class sporting event in 2013. The first time it’s ever been held outside of Europe, truth be told.

We’re talking the world’s cyclocross championships. That’s riders on bicycles, competing at the highest levels of athleticism, over hill and dale. A world class course is to be developed at Eva Bandman Park on Upper River Road.

Stay tuned, but don’t peak too early. We’ve got awhile to get ready for this one.

* * * * *

I periodically post the following Hoopsylvania national anthem as a public service. Simply as a reminder what’s truly important in these parts.

* * * * *

It’s another big road game for the U of L Cardinals in Morgantown. Unless The Rick has really tightened the screws, and this edition of the Cards exhibits more moxie than it has so far this season, it’s going to be a really tough W. The L at Pitt still stings. Bobby Hugs teams are never fun, especially in the comfort of their own home. More so when that guy in buckskin with a long rifle gets an opposing free throw shooter in his sights.

U of L needs to be harvesting some signature Ws, and soon. Or, they’ll slip off the cusp of the Big Dance and firmly into an NIT host role. And wouldn’t that be fun.

The Cards are a 7 point dog. I’d love to say I’ve got a feeling they can pull it out. But I don’t. It’s not impossible, but . . .

* * * * *

Vandy at UK is, other than the smackdown in Kansas, the most interesting tilt of the day.

The Commodores are good. Good enough to win in Rupp? Probably not, but they have done it before.

How UK reacts to its first loss of the season is the big question mark. We’re all pretty sure they’ll come out with their game face on and smite the invaders from that academic school from south of the border. But, this too, is not a sure thing.

I think the Cats win. But not by as much as the Big Blue Nation would like. Should Kentucky lose, the state and team would be on suicide watch. Of course, such a meltdown would generate enough heat to melt the snow, so it would have that goin’ for it.

* * * * *

The major reason to watch Kansas/ Kansas State is to see whether this is the game when the Purple’s coach Frank Martin implodes. This is a fellow ready to go Mr. Creosote, but I’m not offering him that last wafer thin mint.

Can the Wildcats pull off another major upset at home? Yes.

Will they? Uh, I dunno. That’s why they play the games.

* * * * *

Who do you root for when Duke plays Georgetown?

Beats me. Of course, my sweetie a/k/a The Film Babe loooooooooves her some Coach K. She’s already pulled out her Blue Devil ballcap in preparation.

But if there’s a coach as easily dislikable at Mike Krszywskgekrysfskiski, it’s got to be the personality-bereft JTIII. I like the way Thompson’s teams play, but I like my mentors to possess at least a little bit of personality and sense of humor. Neither of which seem to be in his repertoire.

Who do I like in the game? Nobody.

Who do I think will win? CBS. It should garner some nice ratings along the storm plagued Eastern Seaboard.

* * * * *

Has Brett Favre retired yet?

No, but Kurt Warner has. And good for him. Hats off to a guy who understands he has enough $$$ and taking hits like he did a couple of weeks ago is a good reason to hang ‘em up.

* * * * *

The other games I’m interested in seeing today is Northwestern at Michigan State. I don’t think Bill Carmody’s guys have a chance, but I love watching the Princeton offense run in its purest form. And I wonder how far a team with really talented players running it would go? Of course, really talented players like to do their own thing — Can you say Dribble Drive? — which is why most schools stay away from Pete Carril’s concepts.

Plus I want to see the Spartans. They’re one of my current Final Four faves, but I haven’t checked them out for awhile.

* * * * *

As a public service, let me remind that the Pro Bowl kicks off at 7:20 Sunday night. Which I advise so you can be sure to anywhere else but in front of your TV with ESPN dialed up.

* * * * *

John Daly, slimmed down as he may be, hates pro golf. Tiger Woods is the new JD Salinger.

Which raises the question: Whither professional golf?

* * * * *

The New Jersey Nets one game winning streak is over. They lost last night at home to the Washington Bullets, 79-81. Our man TWill contributed 4 points to the losing total. More salient stats: No shootings, No Glock sightings.

* * * * *

Okay, I’m outta here. My better half has suggested that I get out and shovel the walk.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Fandom, Golf, Hoops, NBA, NFL, Personalities, Pitino, TV, U of L, UK | Comments (0)

Stupid Sports Stuff

Posted: January 28, 2010 – 6:45 pm

There’s a report out of Tulsa that the Golden Hurricane AD has been contemplating rehiring Steve former coach Kragthorpe as “Assistant Head Coach.” Seems the school isn’t happy with this year’s performance by current coach Todd Graham’s squad.

The fly in the ointment: Graham has a 10 year deal, with apparently a substantial buyout. So he would stay as “Head Coach” with a new “Assistant Head Coach” who used to be the head coach.

It’s reported that He Who Thought He Used To Coach The Louisville Cardinals wants more money than the school is willing to pay. Which is not to mention the kind of tension that might arise between Graham and Kragthorpe.

Hey I don’t know about you, but I’ll toss in ten bucks — hey, make it $20 — just as a ticket to watch that circus on the sidelines.

* * * * *

Maybe Britain’s Andy Murray is better now — he has won his way to the final of the Australian Open — but, oh my, what was he thinking when he got Down Under to start prepping for the sport’s first major of the year.

One scorching, sunny day in Perth, Murray practiced with his shirt off. Smart move, dude.

“My back’s on fire,” he’s reported to have complained. Really now, whodathunkit?

* * * * *

Michigan State, at the behest of Emperor Phil Knight I’m so sure, changed its Spartan logo. (At right is the older, more aesthetic logo, now RIP.)

Fans are pissed. As of this afternioon, more than 17,000 had become Facebook Fans of a protest Page.

Good for them. While not much different than its predecessor, the new logo sucks. Less subtle. Clumsy.

And I don’t want any readers to think that I’m writing about this just because Joey the Vig is a State fan, and I happen to be into Joey for a few drachma long past due and that Joey called me today and requested that I protest the change. I would have done it on my own . . . honest.

* * * * *

More than a few UK fans are wanting Coach Cal to remove Patrick Patterson from UK’s starting lineup, because of his 0-fer 2d half against the Gamecocks.

* * * * *

More than a few U of L fans think Kentucky’s loss to the Gamecocks is the beginning of the end of Coach Cal’s team. Silly folks. It’s absolutely positively the best thing that could happen to them.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Calipari, Fandom, Hoops, Kragthorpe, U of L, UK | Comments (1)