Noogie.

Then again, I don’t have the storied tradition of excellence that was the C-J and its sports section for decades. Which is not an excuse, but reality. I resolve to do better in ’13.

But I feel compelled to start the New Year by pointing out today’s inexcusable C-J gaffe.

At the top of PAGE THREE, right above a column in which the sports editor fails yet again to be as funny as he would like, there’s this stat: “50 years since the Arizona Cardinals (and the Chicago, St. Louis and Phoenix versions of the Cardinals before them) have won an NFL football game.”

Which statistic would be of mild interest . . . perhaps . . . if it wasn’t so totally wrong.

The Cardinals beat Green Bay, 51-45, in a 2010 playoff game. After winning three playoff battles the year before against Atlanta, Carolina and Philly to make it the Super Bowl. Oh yes, they beat the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in ’98.

The once great newswpaper compounded the felony on the next page when reporting correctly that Arizona’s coach, Ken Whisenhunt, fired yesterday, had led the team to a Super Bowl.

I know I’m being a crank, but I still read the C-J every morning as I’ve done since my age was a single digit. More and more I find myself looking for the errors, which are manifest on a daily basis now, more than insight into the world of sports.

Nougat. To Bill Walton. It was great to hear his voice again. He did color commentary the other night during UCLA’s resurgent W over Missouri.

There’s something about his exuberance and willingness to call it as he sees it that I find refreshing.

I also have a soft spot for Walton. In ’90, I was hit by a car while jogging and my left leg was held together for a year and a half by an Iliazarov Fixator. He was in town covering a U of L game. When the former Bruin superstar saw me hobbling down the steps toward my seat, he, who has dealt with serious leg and foot problems throughout his career, stopped, chatted me up and offered words of encouragement.

Hope to hear his voice more during the coming hoops season.

Nougat. To James Franklin’s Vanderbilt Commodores, who finished their season 9-4, after bashing NC State by two TDs yesterday in the Music City Bowl.

Vandy. 9-4, including SEC games. One of them Milt Wagner academic schools that doesn’t even have a separate athletic department.

That, football fans, is a piece of work.

Noogie & Nougat. To two of Louisville’s future ACC compatriots.

Speaking of academic schools, Duke had a win just about secured over Cincy the other day in the Something or Another Bowl, driving into the Red Zone with the game knotted for a sure score with only a couple minutes to play.

They fumbled, giving up the ball to the Bearcats, who soon enough tallied on a long pass play. Then scored again before the gun sounded for a two TD triumph.

But another future U of L conference mate came through last night in the clutch. Clemson fought back from 11 down late to beat LSU in the Cows Want You To Eat Chicken Bowl. Hit a field goal. Held the Tigers to a 3 and out. Scored a TD, but missed the try for 2.

Held the Tigers to another 3 and out. (Though LSU’s three straight incomplete passes when they could have probably run out the clock on the ground was a monumental strategic miscalculation. Wonder if that Bayou Bengal QB coach, a fellow named Kragthorpe, was making those ill advised calls?)

Then Clemson drove for a winning FG as the clock expired.

Noogie. To those who are trying to make a big deal out of that free throw situation in the UK/ U of L game, when Alex Poythress replaced Nerlens Noel at the line, when Noel was probably the Cat fouled.

So what? Only Sean Hannity or Keith Olbermann could find controversy there. Okay, Ann Coulter too.

Nougat. To Boise State for staying in the Mountain West, where it belongs. And to that league for making it happen.

Noogie. To the Big East . . . whatever it may actually be. It’s hard to conceive what next year’s U of L football schedule is going to look like.

Perhaps the Cards can schedule a home and home with Trinity HS. The opener at Papa J’s. The season ender at Marshall Stadium in beautiful downtown Saint Matthews to decide which school has the best team in town.

Nougat. To the Colts and Bengal, Louisville’s “home” NFL teams, for making the playoffs.

Well, my New Year’s resolve to write only positive stuff in 2013 lasted a solid 9 hours and 26.5 minutes on the game clock.

Hope this annum is a peaceful and serene and productive one for you and yours. (And that includes you editors at the C-J.)

– Seedy K

Actually, disconcerting is a more apt descriptor.

The rumor du jour is that Strong interviewed for the Tennessee job. Again, as with the Auburn situation, Strong has told a member of the media, this time a reporter for Fox Sports, that the Rocky Top rumors are false. Or, so says the reporter.

So, here we go . . . again.

I’m on record as opinionating my take on Strong is that he feels a sense of loyalty to Tom Jurich and U of L above and beyond the norm for his ladder climbing profession. Louisville, with Teddy B and a defense totally returning, is sure to be pre-season Top 10, or better, next campaign.

I would be flummoxed if Strong jumped ship now.

That said, the rumors are that Tennessee is offering Strong more money per year than Alabama pays Nick Saban. And he’s won three BCS crowns, with another in the offing come January. $5 mill per year, the figure floating about, is, as they say, mucho dinero.

That’s enough to turn anybody’s head, even the most loyal person.

Hell, for that I’d go on Fox News every night and let Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly beat me up.

I’m sure Tom Jurich will sweeten Charlie’s pot. It’s the nature of the game, most recently played by Les Miles.

Deep Pockets Owsley Frazier is no longer with us. Steve Trager, come on down.

* * * * *

One last thought on yesterday’s Cardinal hoops W.

Illinois State played that tough without its starting point guard, Kaza Keane.

I’m impressed. They’ll be my team come Arch Madness.

* * * * *

There have been better athletic days in the history of Nicholls State than yesterday.

The Southland Conference school was nudged on the hardwood by Michigan State, 39-84.

On the gridiron, the Colonels were tripped up by Oregon State, 3-77.

Composite score: Nicholls State 42, Opponents 161.

* * * * *

James Quick played for Trinity in its title romp over PRP.

He played with two broken ribs.

Impressive.

You ever had a broken rib? I have. It hurt a lot. For a long time. I had to sleep in chair for 6 weeks.

* * * * *

I’m sure my fellow Kentuckians are as proud as I am of a new record recently set in the commonwealth.

During hunting season, a record 92.737 whitetail deer were, what’s the proper term? Harvested? Slain? Killed?

* * * * *

UK and U of L women’s hoops this evening at 6:00.

Both teams are in the top ten, adding zest to the rivalry.

I’ll be in the house. You?

* * * * *

While I watched nary a play of Florida State’s slog over Georgia Tech in the ACC title game, I did surf through the pre-game, when Brent Musburger and Herbie were setting up the game against a backdrop of empty seats.

The announced attendance in Charlotte was 62,000+. Didn’t know they’d hired the UK stat crew for the game.

Truth is the only leagues that can fill a neutral site for this type of affair are the SEC and Big Ten.

The ACC needs to adopt the PAC-12 way of doing things. Play it on one of the participant’s fields. Figure out a fair formula to determine the most deserving school, and it becomes host.

* * * * *

I know the show must go on and all that razzmatazz.

It’s still hard to believe they’ll be playing pro football in Kansas City today.

– Seedy K

“There are but three cities in the United States. New Orleans, New York and San Francisco. All the rest is Cleveland.”

Thinking of New York because of the justified hullabaloo about Hurricane Sandy and all the mess going on in the northeast. Not to mention the Giants comeback over a comeback against those Cowboys.

Thinking of New Orleans because Sunday night is “Treme” night, no matter what else is going on. Last night, Davis actually went to Fats Domino’s house. Cool.

Thinking of San Francisco because The City’s magnificent Giants sliced and diced my Tigers to win the World Series in a four game sweep.

Actually thinking of Cleveland too because the Browns eked out a 7-6 W over woeful San Diego. (And aren’t we all on pins and needles until Thursday night’s boffo Chargers vs. Chiefs NFL-TV battle?)

* * * * *

Were Detroit’s conquerors anybody besides those irrepressible Giants, I would surely be much sadder than I am.

Don’t get me wrong. I still can’t figure out why the Tigers decided to mimic against SF what the Yankees had done in the ALCS? Which was to allow their bats to sleep to sleep through the games.

But Bochy’s crew got timely hitting and great pitching. And, by all accounts, it’s a fun gang of guys. I don’t know that I have ever seen as loose a dugout in the Bigs as the Giant’s.

Good for them.

* * * * *

The NBA starts play this week.

Which makes at least one reader of mine really happy. (Because all I get from him are emails, demanding more coverage of the play for pay boys.)

Here’s what struck me while previewing the rosters of the teams. I didn’t recognize very many of the players.

I’m a reasonably obsessed viewer of college hoops, tracking players around the country, not only those who play around here or on Big Monday. But the NBA rosters are filled with foreigners and one & doners. Which makes it hard for the casual fan to relate to those he’s seeing on the court.

Jonas Jerebko? Mirza Teletovic? Larry Sanders?

Then there are the guys of whom there are faint recollections. Kosta Koufos. Didn’t he flame out at Ohio State, but left after one season anyway? Steve Novak. Isn’t he that lanky guy who used to reign threes on the Cards? Sebastian Telfair. He’s the paradigm of former future U of L stars, right? Unless it’s Amir Johnson.

Terrance Williams? Name nowhere to be found.

* * * * *

Notre Dame, sad to say, apparently has a really good football team. Especially on the defensive side.

Even though it’s clear to me that Oregon has the second best team in the country and should get a crack at ‘Bama, make no mistake. If the Irish win out, they will play for the BCS. I’m pretty sure it’s in the Bible somewhere. Early on too, like in Genesis.

* * * * *

If Louisville wins the Big East and qualifies for the BCS, the Cards now seem destined for New Orleans’ Sugar Bowl.

Here’s why. After all the arrangements are taken care of, and schools have been slotted where the place cards put them, there will be two squads left. Louisville and future league mate Boise State, which will automatically qualify if it finishes in the top 16 of the standings. Fiesta gets first choice and, as things stand now, it’s going to match the two of the following trio that don’t get slotted with the Crimson Tide: K State, Notre Dame and Oregon. Sugar is next, and the general feeling is that the Cards are a more attractive opponent for the SEC team than Boise.

All that said, if U of L wins out, it will be, as they say, some kind of miracle. With Halloween coming up, it’s appropriate to note that Louisville has been playing Beat The Reaper all year. And winning . . . so far.

* * * * *

The NBA isn’t the only hardwood game tipping off this week.

U of L welcomes the Pikeville Elishas to the Yum! on Thursday.

Kentucky plays its first exhibition that same evening against something called Northwood, a school with campuses in Michigan, Texas, Switzerland and Florida. I believe the Cats are balling against the Seahawk team that resides in West Palm Beach. That would be in Florida.

IU also plays Thursday. Against Indiana Wesleyan. Which foe, when it comes to number of campuses, trumps those Northwood folks many times over. IW has 17 campuses. Including one out there off Blankenbaker Parkway near I-64. And a few in Ohio. ??????

* * * * *

Look who is back on top in NASCAR?

That Jimmie Johnson fella.

* * * * *

In the UK/ Mizzou “football game,” there were 7 fumbles in the battle’s first 20 minutes of action.

* * * * *

I think the Breeder’s Cup is this coming weekend.

Yawn.

* * * * *

Don’t be surprised if this is Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s last season.

Seems like a lot of his players have been more than one toke over the line through the years, but the coaching staff has looked the other way.

Frankly, that behavior, which seems very familiar personally, has never bothered me. College kids smoke pot. Basketball players are ostensibly college kids.

Apparently the NCAA frowns on schools that make rules then don’t follow them.

* * * * *

Around here all the gridiron talk is whether Charlie Strong will be gone after this season?

I have no information whatsoever. I haven’t even heard any innuendo.

But my observations of Strong tell me he wasn’t just woofing when he told Jim Rome he’s not cut like that. I’d be very surprised if Strong were coaching somewhere besides Louisville next season. Hopefully with a new assistant for special teams.

* * * * *

There is one benefit from the World Series being over so soon. Don’t have to listen to Tim McCarver anymore.

Stay classy, sports fans.

– Seedy K

How do the Wildcats ever expect to be relevant in the world’s most powerful football league, when they allow a 4th string QB to miss all the pregame meetings and the entirety of the 1st half because he was taking the LSAT exam? I mean really, either the kid wants to play football and focus in, or he wants to be a lawyer. Make your choice, son.

And, UK, either you want a program that takes the game Saban seriously? Or, you want to be known as a basketball school?

* * * * *

I’ve talked a lot about the need for a College Football Red Zone.

Yesterday’s proceedings proved why.

At some point during the day, I realized that Stanford/ Arizona was more interesting than the other game(s) to which I was paying attention. The schools were back and forth. Every time Zona scored, the Cardinal would come back and was ahead going into the 4th. Then Arizona took charge, leading by 14 with a little over 9:00 to play and looked like they’d cantor in for the W, kind of like the way Northwestern looked in State College earlier in the day. I shoulda paid attention. Those purple clad Wildcats lost.

So did Arizona’s. I clicked away to other battles. Then I noticed in the scrawl that Stanford came back and won in OT. Musta been exciting.

I was pissed.

Fortunately, I did notice what was happening in Florida State/ NC State. Again thanks to the now ubiquitous scrawl across the bottom of our TV screens, the one now mandatory that bothered the hell out of us just a few short years ago when first introduced on the Deuce. The Wolf Pack was driving late with a chance for the upset. Which they garnered, scoring on a 4th and goal pass with :16 to play.

Watching one down to the wire game, while missing one is . . . okay . . . I guess. But if I’m going to spend my Saturday eating chips in my recliner watching all the football TV has to offer, I want 100% of the real action, not half that.

Sooooooooo, ESPN, if you really are the World Wild Leader you claim to be, make it happen. I know it won’t be quite as tidy as the NFL’s. But you owe it to your adoring pigskin public. Do the deal.

* * * * *

South Carolina is a contenda.

South Florida is a pretenda.

The Gamecocks came out ready for prime time. They flattened UGa from the opening kickoff.

The Bulls have lost four in a row. They lost to Temple yesterday in Philly. Who knows what’s going on down there? This is a school that all football pundits believe could be a major power, given the number of DI players are there to be harvested in the Sunshine State. SoFla has plateaued.

Add Skip Holtz to the Dead Man Walking list.

* * * * *

Three of the natiion’s Top 5 lost yesterday.

Alabama and Oregon appear the cream of the crop. Though I wouldn’t be countin’ out the Ol’ Ball Coach in the SEC.

The Quack still have to travel to Zona State, Southern Cal and Oregon State. Plus Stanford visits Eugene.

The Tide actually has an easier schedule. Yes, Mike Slive, it’s twu, it’s twu.

The dark horses at this point — one guy’s opinion — are Kansas State, West Virginia. Then there’s the Golden Domers. Notre Dame appears legit. If the Irish happen to handle Stanford, Southern Cal and Oklahoma, taking care of biz the rest of the way, they will play in that BCS title game.

* * * * *

In case you are wondering how my picks fared yesterday, here’s how: Not great, but better than average.

South Carolina, Oklahoma and Mississippi State performed as expected. Nebraska and South Florida didn’t.

* * * * *

More later. I need to lock in on my Tigers, who have fallen behind Oakland in Game 2.

– Seedy K

State of the Cardinals.

Another commitment kept me from the women’s scintillating comeback W last night over South Florida. I am advised however that the conversation on everybody’s lips, at least before the game in which the ladies showed significantly more mettle than their male counterparts, was at what point of the Providence game fans turned their TVs off?

More than a few chose “Extreme Couponing” or “Toddlers & Tiaras” before halftime.

It is interesting to note that the die hard fan base, for the most part, sees the team over the precipice in free fall, while objective observers are concentrating more narrowly on the travails of this particular squad.

Of course, those Louisville fans are the ones paying thousands of dollars a year for their seats. Is it not reasonable for them to expect more than parachuting t-shirts, visits from the West Dakota State Fighting Sagebrush and the knowledge that Rick Pitino’s children, grandchildren and their progeny will be set for life financially?

Not to beat a dead horse, or anything.

The Cats. I found UK’s W over feisty Auburn interesting for a number of reasons.

Tony Barbee’s Tigers outrebounded UK 35-29. I also believe the home team outscored the highly ranked Wildcats in the paint.

Impressive is the fact that youthful Kentucky, in only its second real road test, its first in the league, only turned it over 8 times in an intense atmosphere.

More impressive is that UK pulled away at crunch time for a convincing W that could have gone the other way.

Former Future Cardinals. Sebastian Telfair, now a Phoenix Sun, is averaging 3.9 ppg in 7.5 mpg of action.

Boston Celtic Rajon Rondo is averaging 15.8 ppg, 5.0 ppg more than his career average. And 10.1 assists per game, 2.5 more than his career average.

Former Future Wildcats. World Champ Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 18.6 ppg, down a couple notches from his career average. But the Mavs, after a slow start, have won 5 of 6.

Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods.

Roll Tide. I haven’t commented on Alabama’s beatdown of LSU in the BCS “Championship” game. Because, well, what is there to say?

I’d already fallen asleep in my recliner and reawakened and eaten my nightly pre-going to bed bowl of cereal before the Tigers crossed mid field, midway through the 4th quarter.

I loved Brent Musberger’s comment on the play before they did that. “The Tigers almost made it past the fifty. Oh, Herbie, I’m looking for something to get excited about.”

The performance of the losers’ QB Jordan Jefferson sure had that Steve Kragthorpe look to it.

Top Newcomers. ESPN.com lists its Top 25 freshmen hoopsters in the country. Three are UK Wildcats. One is an Indiana Hoosier. No Louisville Cardinals are on the list.

More Problems than U of L? Pitt, at home, lost by 23, 39-62, to Rutgers. That’s correct, the Panthers tallied a middle schoolish 39 points in their own gym.

Those Other Wildcats. Northwestern, the only major conference school that has never played in the NCAA tournament, will not break through that barrier this season. With a legitimate shot at a major upset in Ann Arbor last night, Bill Carmody’s team simply couldn’t score from the field.

NFL Playoffs. Am I the only one who finds the spreads for this weekend’s games to be really big? I’m fascinated that New Orleans is favored in San Francisco. Were I a betting man, I wouldn’t be placing my hard earned dinero on the visitors.

Syracuse Doing Just Fine. For the second season in a row, the Orange have started 18-0. Last year, it never felt legit. This season it does.

Futbol Report. My Tottenhem Hotspur bested Everton yesterday 2 nil. They remain tied with Manchester United for 2d in the Premier League, just three points behind Manchester City. I ordered a Hotspur sweatshirt from the team’s shop over a month ago. It still hasn’t arrived. I’m assuming it was shipped on one of those same slow ocean vessels Margaret Thatcher used to ship her troops to retake the Falkland Islands decades ago.

– Seedy K

Anybody who ever played sports at any time in his/ her life, who toiled at right guard but longed to be the QB, or donned the tools of ignorance but longed to be the other battery mate and take the mound, or was one of the pine time sitting seven and desired to have the ball in his/ her hands at crunch time, is loving the story of Matt Roark.

The wide receiver, benched earlier in the season for lack of production and execution, took the reigns of the Wildcats’ simplified offense and beat Tennessee for the first time since, well, it seems like since “Rocky Top” was penned by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and recorded by the Osborne Brothers and adopted as anthem in Big Orange Country. Read: Kentucky hasn’t beaten Tennessee for a long, long, long time.

Thanks to Matt Roark, and an offensive line that stepped up big, the monkey is off their backs.

UK apparently entered the game with a simplified playbook, one less sophisticated than your basic Toy Bowl contender. But the team executed on both sides of the ball, though it did seem like Vol QB Tyler Bray had all day to throw the ball. That was of no matter. As pigskin deity Vince Lombardi always pontificated, it’s about execution. Run a few plays, but run ‘em well.

That’s what Kentucky did. That’s why the Cats won, 10-7.

Joker Phillips and his staff came up with a game plan, convinced their squad to keep its collective mouth shut and stole one from arch rival Tennessee. It was a disappointing year for Kentucky. But a boffo finale.

Good for them.

* * * * *

Thanks for nothing Syracuse.

If the Orangemen had won, they’d be bowl eligible. If they hadn’t blown an early lead yesterday at home against Cincinnati, Louisville would be headed to the Orange Bowl.

Instead, the injury-depleted Bearcats stayed strong, winning easily 30-13.

Now the Red & Black Nation has to become a major supporter of the UConn Huskies, who venture to Cincy this coming Saturday. A W by the carpetbaggers and Louisville still heads to F-L-A for the New Year. Should Cincy win, and West Virginia lose, the Cards are shit out of luck. The Bearcats hold the tiebreaker. Should the Mountaineers also prevail, Louisville would surely be one of the odd men out and headed somewhere other than South Beach. If the Cards can’t go, let’s hope it’s Cincinnati. At least the league will be represented by a league member.

All that contemplation aside, who among us would have thought that the Louisville Cardinals would have legit BCS hopes as December dawned?

* * * * *

The Big East has had its face smothered in egg all season. The league has been pilfered. The football played on the gridiron has been less than upper echelon. It doesn’t have a member anywhere in the BCS standings.

Yet, the conference everybody likes to diss might not be sending the least worthy contender to a big time bowl game.

Consider this. UCLA, which was thrashed last night by arch rival Southern Cal, 0-50 (That’s right, the Bruins were bashed 50 zed.), could play in the Rose Bowl. At 5-4 in the league, 6-6 overall, Rick Neuheisel’s mediocre squad qualified for the PAC-12 title game against Oregon. Should they somehow muster the ability to upset the Ducks, UCLA would be Rose Bowl bound.

Just when you think the BCS can’t get any more ridiculous, it proves it can. Season after season after season.

So, let me once again call for a 16 team playoff. (Skip to the next paragraph if you think you’ve read this before.) The winners of all the FBS leagues, plus enough at large spots to satisfy Mike Slive and his SEC cohorts.

This is such a no brainer, the mind boggles that there are entrenched forces that have held off what should be an inevitability for so long. Even the tobacco lobby should be jealous.

* * * * *

Speaking of absurd, back to the Big East for a moment.

The league’s best non-BCS bowl tie in is the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, this year to be played early in the evening of December 29.

Ah, but no Big East football member will participate. The bowl will surely choose, as it can by contract, that deity known as the University of Notre Dame.

The current Big East commish — I can’t even remember the fool’s name — deserves to be thrown overboard. But he can’t be blamed for this bowl situation. Somewhere along the way, one of his predecessors thought it a good idea to give away significant bowl berths to the Fighting Irish. And get ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in return.

It reminds me of those insufferable commercials where the adults talk like babies and the guy in the office gives away his sandwiches for no reason whatsoever, because some comely co-workers coo at him.

* * * * *

Step up to the Podium of Shame, Cornelius Douglas.

The Texas Tech DB delivered far and away the dirtiest hit of the season.

At the end of a run last night, heralded Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, a legit Heisman candidate, was sliding, as QB’s do, at the end of an end run. At which point, Douglas lowered his head and aimed for Griffin’s. Unable to get low enough for a helmet to helmet smash, he, hurling himself with full force, forearmed Griffin’s head into the turf.

Were it my call, I’d say the junior, by his actions, had forfeited his upcoming senior season, meaning the rest of his collegiate career would be over.

* * * * *

Just wondering. What if Urban Meyer says no to Ohio State, and chooses to build the program at Memphis State?

Okay, just joking.

* * * * *

While I’ve said early and often that the whole BCS set up is BS, I have no problem with Alabama and LSU meeting again.

The Tide is actually benefiting at this juncture by its loss to the Tigers. Bama doesn’t have to play Georgia this week to secure that “national title” shot.

While I admire what Mark Richt and Georgia have done this season, I’d like to see the rematch. It happens all the time in the pros, why not in college? The two SEC schools do appear, flaws and all, the best of this year’s collegiate football crop.

Unless Okie State bashes the Sooners big this coming week. Now that would cause some bedlam.

* * * * *

How seriously amusing to watch Bobby Petrino, his Razorbacks drawn and quartered by LSU after holding a 14 nothing lead, point his finger at Les Miles across the field after a late LSU score.

Petrino, a great offensive mind and head coach, but a nasty man, never let up on the throttle that I recall.

This what he gets for choosing to coach Arkansas. His team may be the 3d best in all the land. It remains also the 3d best in its division of the SEC. But he will soon have Texas A & M and/ or Missouri to beat up on. So he’s got that goin’ for him. Which is good.

– Seedy K

Which U of L team will be the next to win a national championship?

Men’s soccer is a good bet. It came oh so very close last year, but took a little step back this season. That said, Ken Lolla’s boys are still alive in the post-season after a double OT W yesterday.

Women’s soccer is on the uptick. The program had its best season ever, which included two NCAA Ws.

Know this about the volleyball program. Anne Kordes will get it done here. This is one determined coach.

Charlie Strong’s football program is a longer shot, but it’s certainly headed in the right direction.

As for hoops, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that Jeff Walz will get it done before Rick Pitino or his successor does. I went to the Xavier game yesterday, and one thing was clearly evident. There is a lot — and I mean a lot — of young talent on this team. Freshmen. Sophs. The distaff Cards will be a constant playah on the national scene.

It appears obvious that the men’s team will never make it all the way to the upper echelon during the current regime. There may be another Final Four in the next season or so, but that appears to be the ceiling.

* * * * *

Speaking of Charlie Strong’s pigskinners, it is almost incomprehensible that they could actually play in the Orange Bowl this season.

The scenario for that to happen is not unfathomable. U of L must beat South Florida. Though the Cards have never won on the Bulls turf, it is not an impossible task. West Virginia must beat Pitt. Very doable. And Cincy needs to lose one of its final two games. The Bearcats travel to Syracuse, then close the season with UConn at home. Without Zach Collaros, Butch Jones team is not nearly as strong as with him. They were manhandled by Rutgers Saturday.

While the Cards’ L to Pitt would have made the path a little easier, it wouldn’t have made that much difference. Except for the team’s final overall record, which would be more respectable. It would only have eliminated the necessity of a West Virginia W over the Panthers.

We don’t have to wait long to see if the part the Cards can control pans out. Louisville kicks off 11:00 a.m. Friday morning.

* * * * *

The Cats hoopsters had a relatively tough game against ODU in the Hall of Fame Tip Off tourney.

It seems to me there are a few things to be taken from the W.

1) The team will struggle as long as Marquis Teague struggles. You’ve got to have a point guard. Especially in Calipari’s offense.

2) There’s nothing quite like experience. Darius Miller will be a major factor in how much this squad succeeds.

3) Extreme talent — which this team has in abundance — will overcome a lot of ills. At least until it plays teams which also have extreme talent.

* * * * *

As I watched Okie State destroy its chances to play for the BCS “championship” Friday night, I couldn’t help but think of one of Denny Crum’s favorite aphorisms, mentioned when one of his teams would be upset by a lesser foe. (Something that happened, sadly, with increasing regularity as his career wound down.)

“You’ve got to have a healthy respect for your opponent.”

Okie State never thought it could lose to Iowa State. And thus it did.

* * * * *

In case you haven’t heard, Mike Krzyzewski now has more Ws than any other major college coach.

* * * * *

Oregon’s chances for a BCS “championship” were derailed by one of the best teams money can buy, Southern Cal. But, my oh my, did they make the game breathlessly fascinating to watch.

The Ducks fell behind 38-14 with 3:28 to play in the 3d.

They ran the ensuing kickoff back to cut the deficit to 38-20. (Why they went for 2 at that juncture remains a mystery.)

They scored again early in the 4th on a fast break drive that covered 75 yards in 2:12. The kicked point after was good. 35-27.

They scored another TD on an expeditous 60 yard drive that t00k 1:27.

Then, after recovering a fumble at its own 14, the Quack ran 15 plays in 3:13 to get in field goal range. I was out of breath, sitting in my recliner watching. The FG was wide right. Disappointing. But it is truly fascinating to watch Oregon’s fast break football.

* * * * *

Obviously I have mixed emotions about Bobby Petrino and Arkansas. If the coach had stayed at U of L, I’m certain the Cards would have played at least one more and probably several more BCS games.

But he’s gone. And his offense remains innovative and a marvel to watch.

I would love to see the Razorbacks beat LSU Friday and throw the charade that is the BCS into total chaos. (Thanks Baylor for doing your part against the Sooners.)

I don’t know how it’s all going to play out, but I’d sure looooooove to watch a Razorbacks vs. Ducks match up. And I don’t care where they play.

* * * * *

Is Western Ky the best football team in the state?

I dunno. But the simple fact that you didn’t flinch when I asked the question means it’s not so off the wall.

Willie Taggert’s Toppers are bowl eligible — in their case, a most legit goal — and getting better by the week.

Plus, Bobby Rainey is the LEADING rusher in the land with 1,468 yards. He’s 32 yards shy of becoming the only the 8th rusher of the millennium to have back to back 1500 yard seasons.

* * * * *

South Carolina’s hoopsters followed their dumbfounding L to Elon with another to Tennessee State.

Say buh bye, Darrin.

* * * * *

Okay, enough for now. I need to get out of here before another U of L baller gets injured.

– Seedy K

Just the Same as it Ever Was.

Injuries.

Qualification issues.

And, in the case of Wayne Blackshear, one of the Cards’ two Golden Arches All-American recruits, both.

We’ve known for awhile that he has a shoulder injury that’s been more than a vexation for quite some time. But just learned yesterday, thanks to Gary Parrish of cbssportline.com, that, not only is U of L’s most important recruit hurt, but he hasn’t been cleared by the NC2A yet to play.

So he joins several teammates on the injured list, a key factor every year of The Rick’s underperfoming reign at Louisville. And he joins fellow star recruit Kevin Ware on the ineligible list.

Injuries happen randomly. Constant injuries season after season after season are more than coincidence. There’s a reason. Overwork? Poor preparation?

Something’s happening, and I don’t know what it is? But I know it’s long past wearing thin.

* * * * *

Network Battle of the Hand Slaps. The 49ers W over the Lions was intriguing for a lot of reasons. Two upstart squads that look to be playoff ready. Relatively young head coaches who are gettin’ ‘er done. A bruising if flawed mid October battle.

And all NFL fans are talking about in this age of If-There’s-Not-A-Controversy-Let’s-Invent-One is the post-game Jimmy-jam imbroglio between the head coaches, Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh acted like a putz. Schwartz over reacted. Period.

Let’s talk about how San Fran’s D shut down Calvin Johnson, and made Matt Stafford look mediocre. How the 49ers scored late when they had to, and Detroit, at home, didn’t.

Forget the fisticuffery.

* * * * *

Blame it on the BCS. I heard several college football wags opine over the weekend say that  you can’t blame the conference realignment mishmash on the BCS.

To which I respectfully respond: Bullshit.

The conference school grab is all about getting a seat at that BCS table and more than one piece of the pie.

If there was a 16 team playoff with at least one spot from all 11 major conferences assured, sanity would prevail. That would leave 5 spots open for worthy behemoths from the SEC, Big 10(12), Big 12(9), PAC Whatever, Indies, or even an extra school from the Mountain West.

Everybody would make more money. Traditional rivalries could be restored during the season. Geographical integrity would hold. December would be as exciting as March.

The Big Boys would get more seats at the table. Little Brothers would be represented.

Most Important: We’d have some damn good college football to look forward to post-season, instead of the meaningless to everybody but the bettors bowl games. And a Legitimate National Championship, won On The Field.

This is such a no brainer.

* * * * *

Stern Warning: One or Done. Those Too Rich for their Own Good pro hoopsters and the Formerly Financially Irresponsible bosses they toil for remain at loggerheads.

The Commish says get it done. Today. Or no game in your Christmas stockings, kiddies.

I saw a chart yesterday that compared the CEO to average corporate employee pay ratio for leading industrial nations around the globe. The largest disparity by far, an alarming disparity really, was the US. CEO’s here earn about 475 times what the average worker does, compared to something like 11 to 1 in Japan.

I thought of the ridiculous statements coming from some of these pampered pro basketball players, guys making millions of dollars to play a game they love.

It’s reality check time, LeBron. And you journeymen at the end of the bench. I know, I know, lots of travel, boring days in luxe hotels in cities far from home, away from family. Nagging injuries that deplete the body’s ability to recover. Yada, yada, yada.

Give it up. Get a deal done and shut up.

I’m rarely inclined to side with management is such affairs of labor. But these NBA ballers need a reality check. Immediately. As in Today, or so says Boss Stern.

World Serious Issue: Busch or Bush?. My Detroit Tigers have been bested.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Texas Rangers.

The Cardinals have tradition, the Clydesdales, “the best fans in baseball” and Tony LaRusso. But the manager is a good buddy of Bobby Knight. Guilt by association for me.

The Rangers have a funky manager, solid hitting up and down the lineup and a deep pitching staff. But Fan #1 is George W. Bush, a man whom I’d love were he MLB commissioner. Unfortunately, he took another job.

All things being equal, I’m an American League guy. Go Texas.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/10/18/waiting-for-waynes-world-other-tuesday-considerations/feed/ 2 http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/10/16/smqb-there-have-been-more-joyous-saturdays/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/10/16/smqb-there-have-been-more-joyous-saturdays/#comments Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:20:46 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=6973 Schnell on the Schneid. The appropriate word here is easy: Bittersweet.

Schnell opened his new stadium at Florida Atlantic, a program he’s built from scratch. The inagural game’s foe was on the rise but still relatively hapless Western Kentucky. I wrote earlier in the week that it would be a bowl game for the Fighting Owls. FAU AD Craig Angelos confirmed this in a post game comment. “We wanted this to be a bowl game.”

The Schnell never lost a bowl game.

Until yesterday.

Fighting Owls 0, Hilltoppers 20.

It wasn’t that close.

FAU had three times as many yards in penalties as they did rushing. 8/71 vs. 25/25. Six 1st downs. Four — count ‘em — 4 return yards. Nine punts.

College Football’s Poet Laureate was beside himself.

“Oh boy,” were the first words he uttered to assembled media after the shutout.

“I’ve never been in this situation before.

“We had such a wonderful story going in, and we had a really different and bad story going out.

“I was feeling like a proud father watching a baby being born . . .

At the end, considering the joy of opening his stadium compared with the desultory play of his team, His Verboseness articulated, “That made the wonderfulness of the day melt into the agony of where we are as a football team.”

Before we leave this Battle in Boca, some props for Willie Taggert and his Western Kentucky Toppers. They’ve won two in a row for the first time since ’07, and their first FBS shutout.

* * * * *

Cards Crap Out. Reality has set in for the Louisville Football Cardinals.

I must remind myself once again that I should have known this year was going to be tougher than last, Charlie Strong’s first at the helm. Too young. Too raw. Too tentative. Too many penalties.

The offensive line continues to struggle. Perhaps more mightily than Card fans might have hoped.

Some of what caught my eye. Eli Rogers being caught from behind by a linebacker on that long pass play down the sideline. Throwing a pass on 3d & Goal at the 1/2 yard line. Mike Evans big time 63 yard pick six. Philpott’s steady field goalery. 3d & 38.

Next up: Big East’s surprise team of the year. Rutgers, which stands 5-1.

* * * * *

Texas Tames Tigers. Not much to say about this one, except that the team with the best pitching staff, best hitters top to bottom and least number of significant injuries won. Period.

Somehow it’s easier to take when your team is throttled like Detroit was last night. That early two run lead dissipated quickly. And with terrible swift sword.

It allowed for contemplation of a season well played.

And to consider what Dave Dombrowski is looking at for next season. More help at 3d. Some back up behind the plate. Maturation on the mound.

* * * * *

Holy Trinity may be just a Top Two. Oklahoma is good. (And, to be honest, cross state rival Oklahoma State, with its almost 30something QB, is probably better.)

LSU and Alabama are great college football teams. What they are doing in the SEC, a conference so much better than the others it’s not even open for argument, is simply astounding.

* * * * *

Enough is Enough. The college basketball season hasn’t started yet and I’m already way tired of the UK/ U of L pissiness. Matt Jones’ totally uncalled for “joke” at the UK luncheon. Coach Cal’s verbal shots across the bow. The Rick’s petulant retorts.

Just ball, for heavens’ sake.

* * * * *

Tigers Tamed. Will Lions Roar? Time for my Detroit Tigers throwback to go back on the shelf. And to invoke the spirit of Bobby Layne, Doak Walker and my main man, Night Train Lane.

Lions and 49ers in a big one at 1:00. That, thank the football dieties, is not a typo.

* * * * *

Mo’ later.

– Seedy K

Show Me, Missouri.

Is the domino teetering, ready to fall in a southeasterly direction? Or, are they shoring up their midwestern foundation?

I know Cardinal fans have out their binoculars, hoping for a better view. So too, West Virginia Mountaineer faithful. That dunderhead that runs the Big East is surely looking askance toward the heartland.

Are the Tigers waiting for Mike Slive, having satisfied his constituency, to give the all clear? Are they looking for some props from DeLoss Dodds and David Boren, a peck on the cheek perhaps, a slap on the back, some extra cabbage in the pocket?

Or, is this rarely exalted school — athletically speaking, of course — simply milking its Warholian 15 minutes in the spotlight?

Whatever. Show me, Mizzou. Show me. Now.

The College Pigskin Nation turns its anxious eyes to you.

Cats Thwart My Heisman Guy. There’s not much about UK’s performance against South Carolina to make the Wildcats proud.

Except for this. They stopped my man, DL Melvin Ingram. Ingram, who has scored three TDs this year and turned Auburn’s Tigers into his own personal pussycats (though the Gamecocks lost that one), was held to 0 sacks, 0 tackles for a loss, no picks, no fumbles recovered and but one stop total.

So, hey, Kentucky’s got that goin’ for them, which is nice.

They Called Him Al. Always sad to see somebody pass away, especially when he/she was a stalwart in their given craft.

Al Davis was such an elusive figure in later life, I, for one, forgot his estimable contributions to professional football.

For whatever reasons such perspectives evolve, I loathed the Raiders during those glorious early days of the AFL. Don’t know why. Can’t explain it.I hated John Madden when he was coaching there.

During the 70s, I hung around for a bit with some fellows who loved the Raiders. I remember watching one of Oakland’s games at a guy’s pads. The black shirts were behind. The guy got up, walked into another room, came back carrying a little bottle.

“It’s time for Oakland Raiders cologne.”

The bottle was passed around, each fellow dousing a dab on his neck. Who was I to disagree? Raiders won.

In later years, I learned to admire the rebel in Davis, the impunity with which he’d snub his nose at the increasingly corporate NFL under the tutelage of Pete Rozell and beyond.

Oddsmakers. Both U of L and UK are having basketball luncheons in Louisville this week.

What are the odds that Little Johnny and Little Ricky hurl some not so veiled barbs at the other.

Coach Cal: 92% chance he makes some Little Brotherish reference.

The Rick: 92% chance he proclaims how he’s mature enough not to react in any manner whatsoever, and won’t stoop low to respond or even mention any petty jealousies that others might exhibit toward his Louisville Cardinal basketball program.

Hail to the Victors. Michigan is still undefeated. So is Houston. And Kansas State. And Georgia Tech. And Illinois. And Clemson. And Oklahoma State. And Stanford. And Boise State. And Wisconsin.

Plus the Holy Trinity of Alabama, LSU and Oklahoma.

While I haven’t looked up the exact stats — I’ll leave that to Pat Forde, who is getting the big bucks to do real research — I can’t recall a season when so many teams have had unblemished records this far into October.

There’s a legit possibility that there might be 6 undefeated teams at season’s end — one from the ACC, SEC, Big 10(12), Big 12(9,10), Stanford and Boise State.

Your move, BCS.

Oddsmakers, Part Deux. It is reported that the parties negotiating a possible settlement to the NBA labor situation are meeting today in a last ditch effort to save the entire season.

What are the odds that a full 2011-12 NBA schedule is played?

.000025%.

What are the odds the entire season will be lost?

42.8%.

Tigers/ Tiger Update. Detroit was rained out. Thirteen players finished between The Messiah and Bryce Molder, who won the always in the news Frys.com Open.

Has Been Report. The Vikings won. You Know Who is back to working out with Hattiesburg H.S. wideouts.

– Seedy K