Tell me true, you know you really want to know.

Thanks to eagle-eyed reader Doc, I can confirm that the former U of L head coach is now Assistant Head Coach/ Secondary Coach on Willie Taggert’s staff at South Florida.

Most recently, Cooper was on the staff of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after stints at LSU and South Carolina.

I am sorry to report I have no word on how much of that 50 strong bucket list of his Cooper has completed.

* * * * *

Tapping into his inner Bobby Petrino, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly flirted with the Philly Eagles last week. Confirming that he learned every nuance from the master, this came on the heels of Kelly calling Notre Dame, his “dream job.” He’s also on record as saying, leaving South Bend “wasn’t an option.”

Turns out the echoes aren’t rollin’ down in South Bend over the news. TD Jesus is none too pleased.

According to a story in the Chicago Tribune, one ND colleague of the Kelly asked, “What the hell was he thinking?”

According to the article, the descriptor being used most often when talking about Kelly’s move — at least the one that’s not a four-letter pejorative — is disingenuous.

It’s not like the guy wasn’t globbersmacked by Alabama, or anything like that.

Yo, Brian, two pieces of advice. 1) No motorcycles. 2) Don’t hire Katherine Webb as recruiting assistant.

* * * * *

The first college hoops poll since the undefeated were none is out.

Gary Parrish’s always thoughtful Top 25 (+1).

He still has Duke on top, based on the legit conclusion that the Blue Devils’s  body of work remains the best in the land. Good for you, Gary.

I’m on record as saying I only want my Cardinals #1 after that last Monday night of the season. My guess is the AP and “coach’s” poll will have U of L on top come this afternoon.

* * * * *

Louisville is a 6 1/2 point favorite tonight over UConn. I’d settle for a 68-67 W.

* * * * *

Lance Armstrong is going to come clean on Oprah. Or, is that clear?

The question, of course, as any barrister would ask, “Were you lying then? Or, are you lying now?”

* * * * *

Yes, Peyton Manning threw a pick to end Denver’s chances against the Ravens.

But, the real culprit in the loss was safety Rahim Moore, who made a play an alum might expect from my JM Atherton HS Rebels. His sidekick, CB Tony Carter is also culpable. They handed the Ravens the game.

The Atlanta/ Seattle finish was great, right?

Glad the Falcons came back. Don’t know why, but I just don’t like Pete Carroll. Guess it’s the way he jumped ship at Southern Cal.

* * * * *

Speaking of dislike, I gotta smile at the travails of the LA LA Lakers.

If you don’t think their season is toast, think again.

Jack has left the building. (Along with his sidekick.)

– Seedy K

Didn’t think so.

Surprisingly, Celtic is up early, 1 nil. But you really really don’t care, right?

I’ll move on.

* * * * *

Despite all the negative tests, Lance Armstrong did take performance enhancing drugs, it seems.

Imagine my surprise.

Those 7 Tour de France titles. Forgettaboutem.

As I’ve mentioned before, cyclists taking drugs doesn’t bother me that much. They all did it. Perhaps still do. So that evens things up. Besides, that event is far and away the most arduous sporting contest in the world, so all the more power to them if they need some juice to pump 12 miles up a 12% grade after cycling 100 miles.

Armstrong though is another matter. He’s been so aggressively arrogant about the whole thing.

Bottom line, the guy’s a real schmuck. He’s helped raise tens of millions to fight cancer. Good for him. He’s still a putz.

Disgrace suits him.

* * * * *

As a Tigers fan, I was kind of hoping St. Louis would take the NLCS.

Not that I like the Cardinals. I don’t. They still have the stench of retired Tony LaRussa about them.

But Detroit and St. Louis have a rather testy World Series history. ’34. ’68. ’06. Kind of a rivalry there. A renewal of tensions would have been an interesting dynamic.

But, San Francisco continued its resilient run. Three elimination game wins over the Cardinals. To match the three over the Reds. Six straight elimination game Ws. Got to admire that.

I don’t hate the Giants. But I’ll be sure to be rooting against them.

First pitch tomorrow night.

* * * * *

Iniesta just tied the match 1 apiece for Barca in the 45th minute, right before halftime.

* * * * *

Would somebody please explain the concept of defense to Dana Holgorsen?

The state of West Virginia would be most appreciative.

* * * * *

It’s that time of the year, kids.

When I start to rant about how there’s no college football playoff. And how even the new soon to be seen four team playoff isn’t enough.

Right now, Alabama, Florida, K State, my Quack and, sigh, Notre Dame would all deserve a shot. At the very least.

Eight teams is the absolute minimum number of title contestants that should be competing. Sixteen would be optimum. That way, every school with even a glimmer of a claim to contest for the championship would be included.

Four’s a start. It will expand in the years to come. Because . . . well . . . money talks. And ESPN shall wish it to be so.

* * * * *

No I don’t have any idea why Chane Behanan is in The Rick’s doghouse.

My guess is Pitino needed somebody on the team to rag on, so he pulled Chane’s name out of a hat.

* * * * *

Does the winner of the Ohio State/ Penn State game this weekend get time off its sentence for good performance?

* * * * *

Beaver fever. Oregon State is 6-0. The half dozen Ws is twice as many as it captured all last year. The school hasn’t been 6-0 since the oughts. The 19 oughts.

* * * * *

Why did Cincy go and lose at Toledo last Saturday?

* * * * *

The NHL and the player’s association are still at loggerheads. No pucks yet. Sigh.

Oh yeah, I forgot, you’d just as soon have an update on Messi. (Still 1-1 in the 65th minute.)

* * * * *

Since the real refs returned to the NFL, there hasn’t been much to talk about in the play for pain league.

* * * * *

Our local cable network now carries NBA TV. Haven’t watched for a nanosecond.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/10/23/tuesday-sports-update-a-little-of-this-some-of-that/feed/ 1 http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/07/04/the-fourth-wieners-wimbledon-woods-wheeling-through-gaul/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/07/04/the-fourth-wieners-wimbledon-woods-wheeling-through-gaul/#comments Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:19:10 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=7689 (Seedy Slog Note, pre-posting: I planned on having this up before noon, this Independence Day. Well, you can tell I didn’t make it. Sooooo, from the get go, I can report that Joey Chestnut repeated at Coney Island and is now six time champ. But I’ll post this as if it didn’t happen . . . yet.)

Have to wonder if my interest in THE sporting event of Independence Day in recent years has waned?

ESPN’s infatuation certainly has lessened. The Worldwide Leader is televising some twee tennis tourney from Wimbledon live instead of Joey Chestnut @ noon defending his Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championship from Coney Island. You can catch all the wiener action live on ESPN3, but it’s certainly a blow to the prestige of the event that it’s not being televised live on one of the network’s 114 stations, like, say, ESPNFood.

Frankly, the contest lost its luster for me when, a couple years back, Major League Eating — the sanctioning organization for such affairs — banned Takeru Kobayashi, the groundbreaking Babe Ruth of the “sport.”

* * * * *

Speaking of sports that have lost luster, let me broach the topic of horse racing for a moment.

A fan of this blog recently asked my opinion on the debate over the use of lasix for thoroughbreds? At which point, I asked if he had me confused with my compatriot, for whom such matters are a concern, Bill Doolittle?

“You write a sports blog, don’t you?”

“Well, yes,” I responded, “but I really could care less about the ponies. I haven’t been in town for the Derby in years.”

Which disinterest shall not prevent me from commenting on Jennie Rees’s Churchill Downs Spring Meet wrap up in this morning’s C-J.

Essentially she said there were more worthless nags racing on Central Ave this year than in the last three decades she’s been covering the Sport of Kings. (Most excellently covering it, I might add.)

If the purses were higher consistently on a daily basis, there would obviously be more of the better stables and horses on the grounds for the entire meet. Instead, they’ve journied to those tracks where the pots are bigger.

This is obviously an issue for the inveterate horse player. Short fields. Inconsistent talent. Speed ratings that induce yawns. Makes betting less fun. Or, so I’m advised.

I’m wondering though whether it matters to the casual player, to the folks who show up on Tuesday afternoon when the boss says “Let’s take off and go to the track for a couple races.” To the hotties who dress Kardashian on Friday nights, and the fellows who show up to ogle and flirt.

I guess the folks at the Downs have to look at the bottom line and have a business conundrum. Which is that if they raise the purses with the commensurate upgrade of quality of horse flesh that would follow, will it increase attendance and betting enough to make it financially feasible?

So far, they’ve opted out.

I’m reminded of hockey in Louisville. The era of the Louisville Blades and Louisville Rebels and Louisville Shooting Stars ended when JFK took office. The sport returned in ’90 with the Icehawks then Riverfrogs, both of the lowest minors, the East Coast Hockey League. They skated at Broadbent before loyal, enthusiastic, small but apparently financially sustaining crowds. It was fun. The locals, experts in college hoops but relatively ignorant about back checking, didn’t care about such as quality of play.

Then the Florida NHL franchise made a bold but really stupid move, putting their AAA American League team in Freedom Hall, where the same small rowds showed up. For awhile anyway, since it was more expensive. The locals could have cared less that the hockey was significantly of a higher quality.

That, one guy’s opinion, is an analagous situation to the decision Churchill faces. More or less. Except for the presence of that event on May’s first Saturday.

* * * * *

As I write, British favorite son, Andy Murray, is not looking good. The 4th seeded homie is down to #7 seed, David Ferrer. It would be a pity if he lost without making it to Sunday for a shot at winning the championship. A Brit hasn’t won at Wimbledon since just after the Norman Conquest.

His path is relatively clear, meaning he wouldn’t have to beat Raffie Nadal to make it to Breakfast at Wimbledon on Sunday. Of course, all the others on that side of the bracket — Ferrer, Tsonga and Kohlschrieber — are thinking the same thing.

What I find fascinating is how they seeded the players this year. On the other side, #3 Roger Federer is facing #1 Novak Dkjokovic in the semis. Which means they seeded the top players 1 vs. 3 and 2 vs. 4 instead of the more common 1/4 and 2/3.

If there’s some tennis follower more knowledgeable than me out there who can explain that, please feel free to post a comment.

* * * * *

Tiger Woods.

* * * * *

Have I mentioned how much I love watching the Tour de France, even though I know little of the subtleties of big time bicycle road racing. (Nor do I understand why in track racing, the competitors often ride as slowly as possible. But that’s a discussion for my Olympics coverage next month.)

Luxembourg’s Fabian Cancellara still wears the yellow jersey, won on the first day’s time trials.

I’m fascinated by the strategies employed in different stages of the three week competition. There are always three or four or several guys who speed out from the peloton and get a five minutes or more advantage. Early in the race, the field reels them in. Later on, teams and individuals get more defensive. If the break out riders have no chance of gaining on the race leaders, the peloton lets them go. Or, so I would observe.

I trust if I’m wrong I’ll hear from one of my readers who knows a lot more than I do.

I really love watching the stages each morning, especially the sprints and the mountain stages when stamina rules.

– Seedy K

While the word is a perfect combo of sports and blog — you know, a descriptor of what I try to do here — I didn’t want to bear the wrath of systemic watchdogs throughout the cybergalaxy. So, “slog” (the “p” is not only silent, but not there at all) is what I shall call this, “slogging” if verbacized.

* * * * *

Which brings us this Tuesday afternoon to Wimbledon, where it is, of course, raining.

* * * * *

Anthony Davis has apparently done something to an ankle, dashing the US of A’s Olympic Gold Medal hopes.

Or, so are the reports coming out of Maysville.

And Caneyville.

And Hoptown.

And Paducah.

And . . . well, you catch my drift. The Big Blue Nation.

So, I’m flying my Cat flag at half mast.

After all, it’s the least I can do for this long time, dearly beloved Wildcat basketballer.

* * * * *

Is Dwight Howard the new Brett Favre, or what?

* * * * *

So, what else of interest sportswise around here, is going on today, Independence Day Eve.

Well, it’s two months until U of L and UK kickoff.

* * * * *

Louisville hoops fans are already frothing at the mouth in anticipation of next season, when the Cards will be a legit national contender for the first time since . . . ’86 realistically, the early 90s theoretically.

That anxiousness is all appropriate, but remember this. You gotta have a decent backup PG to run the show. If Terry Rozier doesn’t make his grades, or, Russ Smith doesn’t mature enough to play point in a pinch, all that beastiness underneath shan’t matter. You gotta be able to get the ball up court and get the offense started.

* * * * *

I must admit. Lochte vs. Thorpe might actually get me to watch the first week of the Olympics, which is always too much swimming too much of the time.

* * * * *

Boise State is considered a possible savior of stature for Big East football.

Remember back in ’04 when football wags were saying that the Liberty Bowl between upstart Louisville and upstart Boise State would be the best game of the post season. (Which it was, a 44-40 U of L W.)

The Cards were -10 heading into the game. Boise State’s biggest claim to fame at the time was it’s obnoxious blue field.

Now the two are destined to become the big Big East rivalry, annually fighting it out to see which team will win and become most disappointed when the BCS playoff committee chooses a two loss SEC squad over the Big East champ for the 4th playoff spot.

* * * * *

The Courier-Journal hasn’t exactly rushed right in to replace Eric Crawford and Rick Bozich.

* * * * *

While hindsight is always 20/20, it always seemed like Joe Paterno was a might too self righteous.

* * * * *

Tiger Woods.

* * * * *

Did you happen to see the PTI interview last week with Mike Tyson?

The former champ, former prison inmate, former cannibal was pretty funny. And most of all, very self effacing.

His memory of being hot for some action with his then wife Robin Givens, who then shows up at their house with Brad Pitt, is priceless.

* * * * *

I love watching the Tour de France on TV with my cereal.

* * * * *

Acknowledging that it’s far more fun to watch NFL on TV, where at least you can kick back during the interminable timeouts — 5 minutes alone around a kickoff — the poobahs in charge have changed the blackout rule.

Now a game can be shown in a home market if 85% of the tickets are sold. They used to have to be sellouts.

There is not TV package in any sport as righteous as NFL RedZone. It was $20 for all of last season, sure to be more this one. No commercials. Every important play in every game and they do all the clicking.

* * * * *

ACC signed a dozen year contract for its football champ to play in the Orange Bowl.

Wonder where the Big East champ will land?

– Seedy K

How can we miss him if he won’t stay away?

What a revoltin’ develpment this is.

Yo, Rick, two words: Willie Williams. I’m talking Rick Stansbury here, not The Rick. What on earth were you thinking when you recruited Renardo Sydney?

Short of setting up character transplant surgery for this talented ne’er do well, what possible positive outcome might you have expected?

Instead of accompanying his teammates on a summer excursion, meant for bonding and team unity, Sydney is off to counseling with John Lucas in Houston. Oops.

I’ve always thought Stansbury somewhat of a charlatan since I saw him ignore an opponent’s practice several years back at an NCAA sub-regional. That’s he’d take a chance on this kid confirms what a short cut kind o’ guy the Mississippi State coach is.

Speaking of questionable transfers . . .

. . . If it quacks like a Duck . . . The peripatetic former Demon Deacon and former future U of L Cardinal and former future UK Wildcat Tony Woods will matriculate at Oregon. Quack.

Word is the school’s academic year calendar will allow him to finish his academic requirements and be eligible this coming season.

Who knew the kid was in academic limbo? We thought he was just tainted goods ’cause he smacked his GF.

And, speaking of academic limbo . . .

. . . What up with Ware & Blackshear? Why is it that these guys are still completing high school stuff? Can’t practice with the team. Can’t travel to Bahamas. Aren’t even in town.

Sounds like same ol’ same ol’ to me.

Oy Oy Oy. Tip of the helmet to the oldest Tour de France victor in decades: Cadel Evans from Down Under.

In the Alps, he survived equipment malfunction and having to change bikes, to save enough time against Andy Schleck to keep him within distance. Then, in Saturday’s individual time trial, he blew the Luxembourgian away.

And while we’re tossing bouquets, let’s fling one Mark Cavendish’s way. There’s a guy with some leg drive. He won the Tour’s last leg (and a couple others) and the Green Jersey, emblematic of best sprinter.

Go Tigers. Talking Detroit’s Tigers.

Despite going 6-4 in their last ten, and scoring five less runs on the year than their opponents, the Motowners are 7 games over .500 and two games up in the AL Central.

I’d talk more baseball, But, frankly, I haven’t been paying that much attention. Except to my team.

– Seedy K

Nor is there any quite as cockamamie.

Alberto Contador, defending champ, an almost certain also ran this year, having gotten trapped in a crash on Day One, made one last Herculean effort to grab the yellow jersey today. He broke away early on in a killer 68 mile stage.

With 5 km to ride to the summit of iconic Alpe d’Huez, a 21 switchback climb that only the Beelzebub himself could have designed, Contador still had the field measured. Including his main competitors, the Brothers Schleck — Andy and Frank — Aussie Cadel Evans, and fading leader of the last ten days, homie favorite Thomas Voeckler.

Riding through throngs along the narrow mountain pass, the riders must not only peddle up an almost 10 degree energy-sapping grade, but dodge yahoos in costumes and speedos and wacky headgear, flag waving, photo taking fans narrowing the course to a matter of inches.

And some guy in green surgical scrubs starts running alongside Contador, and sticks a microphone in his face. So, Contador, weary from the three week grind, weary from a third day of climbing the Alps, knowing in his heart that his effort is for naught, gives the guy an elbow shiver.

This is 30 fans running from the stands, lining the free throw land, standing under the hoop with a spinning wheel and surrounding Dirk Nowitzki, who is attempting 2 charity tosses to clinch the NBA title.

This is 50 cheeseheads in the backfield waving green and yellow #1 fingers in Aaron Rodgers face as he’s trying to look down field and toss a winning TD pass in the Super Bowl.

This is Kemba Walker having to dodge Dickie V, Clark Kellogg, Digger Phelps, Bobby Knight, Bobby Plump and Gus Johnson plus a phalanx from the Butler dance squad, while he’s weaving his way to the hoop with :45 to play in a knotted NCAA title game.

This fan berzerkiosity is but one reason why the Tour de France is like no other big time sporting event.

I, for one, love it.

* * * * *

I can claim no expertise regarding world class cycling.

What I do finally understand, after paying attention for the third year in a row on Versus, is there is way more strategy involved than I ever conceived. Who to challenge on breakaways? When to do it? Who helps who by drafting along the roads, and who doesn’t?

Frankly I’ve been mesmerized for the tortuous three week challenge of endurance and athleticism.

I could care less which riders are on drugs. If they have to climb 50 miles up a 10% grade today, after doing it yesterday, and the day before, give all the juice they want.

* * * * *

Contador’s last gasp chance was to no avail. He didn’t even get the stage W, having been passed by Frenchmen Pierre Rolland as his legs turned to lumber.

With but one competitive stage left — a time trial — the Schlecks from Luxembourg lead the pack, Frank the lesser :53 behind Andy. Aussie Cadell Evans is :57 behind. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler is 2:10 back. Contador, the defending champ needs to make up 3:55 tomorrow to win the Tour.

I’m not familiar enough with the sport to know if there’s a legit chance that Schleck can be caught. The excitable announcers Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen seem to think it’s not a done deal. I can’t disagree.

There’s 42.5 km of rolling countryside around Grenoble for the riders to battle tomorrow. The roads will lined with all sorts of unusual creatures in various stages of dress and un-. Waving flags and signs and arms and legs. All in celebration of this world class competition that goes generally unnoticed stateside when no American is a challenger for the crown.

It’s gonna be fun.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/07/22/tour-tames-the-alps-or-vice-versa/feed/ 0 http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/07/14/the-font-the-tour-the-open-the-forehead-midsummers-thursday-musings/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/07/14/the-font-the-tour-the-open-the-forehead-midsummers-thursday-musings/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:59:46 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=6652 What Da Font? I’ve been reading the Courier-Journal first thing in the morning since I was in the 5th grade.

Always the Sports Section first. Of course.

Dean Eagle. Earl Cox. Earl Ruby. Johnny Carrico. Dave Kindred. Pat Forde.

And the current crop of pros who give me my first dose of sports in the a.m. Eric Crawford. Rick Bozich. C.L. Brown.

Despite the reality that editing at the C-J has become sophomoric way too often. Plus those vexing typos. And that on too many mornings there’s not enough of the print edition to line a bird cage, I know these reporters and columnists to be diligent, dedicated and professional. It makes me sad to see the inexorable, inevitable decline of print journalism.

And I mention this because of a change this morning to the C-J’s sports page. The fonts are different.

It’s neither a good nor a bad thing. Just different.

I pray it’s not the harbinger of further decimation.

Red, White and Blue beats Rouge, Blanc et Bleu. After they ran the Americans up one side of the field and down the other, after making Hope Solo think she was playing dodge ball, but still losing the World Cup semis, those French futballers must have looked at each other and wondered, “La vache sainte, ce qui s’est produite?” (“Holy Cow, what happened?” Thank you Babelfish.)

Let’s face facts, America’s new darlings — Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Ms. Solo and teammates — played on their heels most all of yesterday. After they scored early, they spent the next 70 minutes runnning backwards, apologizing to Solo for allowing so many shots on goal and failing to generate a scintilla of offense.

When France scored to tie the game it was no surprise. They’d been attacking with fury over the whole pitch all day.

Then Ms. Wambach’s noggin saved the day again. Lauren Cheney delivered a precise set up on a corner and the most famous forehead in the land directed the ball into the net for the game winner.

The Americans best be prepared for Japan. The Asian girls have oh so quietly slipped into the final with wins over Germany and Sweden.

All of which begs the question: Why in hell would you name your town Moenchengladbach? Really, why?

The Tour or The Open? I gotta tell ya, I’ve become fascinated with the Tour de France. It’s easily the most cockamamie of the world’s great sporting competitions. Fans in costumes running out on the road close enough to touch the bicyclists. Motorcycles and cars weaving in and out of the peloton and breakaways.

Wacky, I tell ya.

They’ve reached the Pyrenees, which makes it all that more interesting. How the teams work together, the strategy. Fascinating.

The Open? I’ll check out the leaderboard at Royal St. George’s during commercials. Or maybe just wait until Saturday to start paying attention.

What’s great is to be able to watch major sports events during coffee and cereal.

The Phenomenological Query du Jour. Which dispute would you like to see settled the most: 1) The NBA labor dispute, 2) The NFL labor dispute or 3) The Debt Limit Smackdown in Congress?

– Seedy K

There are worse ways to wake up than to the commentary of Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwen and the amorphous athleticism of the Peloton, chasing breakaway cyclists up an ancient French hillside. All on Versus HD.

Big time bicycle racing — there is none bigger than the Tour de France — is an amazing sport, full of strategy, speed and danger. For the latter, ask the guys hit by a car. Or the one who went into a barbed wire fence.

At the end of the day, a gamble by Frenchman Thomas Voeckler who went with the breakaway paid off. He finished second in this mountainous stage, yet is several minutes out front, claiming the yellow jersey.

Frankly, I could care less if they’re all on drugs. These guys are amazing athletes and their competition is invigorating.

* * * * *

I trust you’ve heard by now that some New York Yankee baseballer went 5 for 5 yesterday, knocking a tater out of Yankee Stadium for his 3000th hit as a Bronx Bomber. The first guy in pinstripes ever to garner that many.

So, as tired as I am of hearing about Derek Jeter. The guy’s done something that Ruth didn’t do. And Gehrig didn’t do. And DiMaggio didn’t do. And Mantle didn’t do.

Tip o’ the ballcap to you, dude.

* * * * *

One of the Busch bros. won at Sparta last night.

But the big story was the hellish, horrific traffic jams coming and going to and from the Speedway.

I don’t do traffic reports. So that’s all I’m going to say about that.

* * * * *

Notwithstanding all the excitement commented on above, the highlight was the cockamamie World Cup quarterfinal between the from the U.S. of A. and their counterparts from soccer-addled Brazil.

The Americans struck early. Really early. Attacking a minute into the match, their aggressiveness resulted in a 1 nil lead on an own goal.

The teams played even. The U.S. caught a break at the 51:00 minute mark, when Carli Lloyd playing on a yellow card — not to be confused with the yellow jersey — got away with a deliberate hand ball. The good luck didn’t last long.

At 65:00, American Rachel Buehler caught a red card, checking Marta inside the penalty area. Buehler was gone.

Then goalie Hope Solo stopped the penalty kick by Cristiana of Brazil. Then was given a yellow card for dissenting, a replay because another American jumped the box too soon on the play.

Marta scored on the replay.

Playing 10 on 11, the Americans attacked until the end of regulation, but failed to score, sending the match to OT, tied 1-1.

Despite an arguable offside which was not called, Marta gave the Brazilians a 2-1 lead in the extra period, as quickly as the U.S. grabbed the lead at the game’s start.

Then, when it appeared that the match belonged to the South Americans, Abby Wambach headed in a tying goal in the game’s 122d minute.

Then, to finish, one of the best soccer games I’ve ever seen — admittedly not a great sampling — the Americans hit all five of their penalty kicks for the W. The lone missed Brazilian penalty kick was by Daiane, who ironically gave the U.S. the own goal at the game’s start.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/07/10/sunday-morning-sports-on-the-climb-in-the-record-book-a-u-s-a-w/feed/ 0 http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/01/19/wednesdays-whimpers-my-own-wintry-mix/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/01/19/wednesdays-whimpers-my-own-wintry-mix/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:37:07 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=6226 Who was it the other day who used Anthony Grant as an example of a coach making a questionable “upward” move?

Oh yeah, c’est moi.

Well, the ‘Bama hoops mentor, after last night’s stunner over UK, is on top of those Alabama sports pages today. Unless, of course, Nick Saban had some recruits at the game last night. First things first, ya know.

Be that as it may, they call Alabama, the Crimson Tide. And UK woke up in Tuscaloosa with the Deacon Blues again.

* * * * *

And what have we learned in the past week, my fellow hoopaholics?

All comebacks are not created equal.

I keep thinking about that U of L recovery on Saturday. Marquette did all they could to hand the game to U of L. But the Cards still had to grab it by the short and curlies and bring home the bacon. Which they did.

The Cats made a valiant comeback last night.

* * * * *

Now that the Purple Prima Donna up Minnesota way is retired — and I don’t mean Prince — we are left with the tiring saga of Lance Be Armstrong.

Yawn.

Here’s a suggestion for the muckety mucks that run cycling. Let ‘em do drugs. Let ‘em blood let or whatever it is they do. Call in Theodoric of Yorick. If they’re all doing it, the road will be evenly paved.

I don’t care if a guy’s got a Hemi engine implanted next to his aorta, and a hep lock with a methamphetamine drip. Anybody who can race up Mont Ventoux is a jock of the highest order, no matter what he’s done to his system.

Which mention of cycling, and passing reference to the Tour de France, reminds me of the best animated film of the last couple decades. Which happens to be about cycling. Sort of.

* * * * *

Heard some marvelous innuendo the other day when I was talking with a group of U of L fans who would be simply beside themselves with joy, should The Rick decide to move on.

One of the fellows has apparently chatted with Thad Matta’s brother (or brother in law). Who told my guy that Matta would leave Ohio State in a NY minute to take the Louisville job, were it to open up.

Which I found reasonably interesting. And suitably salacious enough to pass along here. For gossipular purposes only, you understand.

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For whyever, I’m looking forward to Sunday’s AFC and NFC title battles more than I have in years.

Da Bears vs. Packers on the frozen tundra of Soldier Field. That, my fellow pigskinophiles, is Football.

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Is Carmelo Anthony the new purple guy from Minnesota whose name isn’t Prince?

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Cards vs. Johnnies tonight. Sweet. (Though my whisper counsel advises that Steve Lavin assistant Gene “Coach Combover” Keady won’t be in the house, because of some NC2A rule.) More’s the pity.

Knights vs. Norsemen tomorrow on Norris Place, snow or no snow, the school advises. Which is great, ’cause I can walk.

– Seedy K

Seems the left coast conference (with a couple mountain states recently added) has a new logo. Which is all part of boffo new marketing scheme to — here comes that word again — brand itself anew.

Ah, collegiate sports conference as a brand. How sis boom bah refreshing. Can I get a rah rah?

But cutting to the chase, riddle me this. How come the conference, which is now made up of 12 schools, didn’t rebrand itself as the arithmetically correct PAC-12?

I mean, really, it’s such a no brainer.

That Last Ceremonial Stage. I was at Bicycle Sport today getting a new helmet. So I asked a couple of the biking acolytes that work there whether the last stage of the Tour de France should be ceremonial — as it traditionally is — or should it still be a race?

Both agreed the participants should race to the end.

At which point, I joked that Andy Schleck would have become a pariah, had he tried to break away on the last leg to Paris in an attempt to make up the half minute he was behind this year’s winner Alberto Contador. In reaction to which barb, one guy wisecracked, “Yeah, breaking protocol, like grabbing the lead when a guy jumps his chain.”

Race to the end of the race for heavens’ sake.

Ho Hum, Another No Hitter. Last night’s victims were my injury-depleted Detroit Tigers. Tampa Bay, normally the losing nine in such affairs, was the benefactor of hurler Matt Garza’s 27 batter “masterpiece.”

People who obsess about baseball — there aren’t a whole lot of those types in this neck of the woods — are wondering how come shutting the other side has become so mundane? Seems like there’s been one every other day this season.

The answer that pops up most often? Steriods.

Or, lack of ‘em.

But pitchers were taking the banned substances too. Yoo hoo, Roger, Roger Clemens. So I don’t understand.

Pump it up when you don’t really need it/ Pump it up until you can feel it. Fewer hoops fans know the names David and Dana Pump like they do that of their countepart World Wide Wes. But the Pumps have built up a college hoops reputation as player brokers just about equal to WWW.

Now it seems that the NCAA is going to outlaw involvement of associations like that of the Pump Foundation.

Seems to me college sports’ ruling confederation could end a lot of the shenanigans by outlawing participation in summer camps and showcase events. Make coaches recruit kids during the school year. Period.

This Sounds So Familiar. Florida Atlantic’s new stadium is apparently going to be named after The Schnell, the prime mover behind the soon to be built edifice. Seems the coach is adamant that the turf be natural, as opposed to the artificial stuff which is pretty much the standard these days.

Didn’t the coach take the same position with Louisville’s new stadium, for which he was also the prime mover?

How’d that turn out?

Free Agency. I love it here at LEO. I’ve had a long and fruitful relationship with the franchise through three sets of owners. I’m happy here still and love our fan base, the best in all of journalism. I know I can still contribute.

That said, the New York Times needs to understand I’m available for a sign and trade.

– Seedy K