Not only do they go to Lexington and beat the team that one publication says is the nation's number one squad, they thump them by a score that would have evoked the "mercy rule" in high school. I can't wait for someone with more knowledge of the squad and the game to provide the kind of detail the Cardinals team deserves, but they are surely worth a significant amount of attention on the Chronicle today.

Hat's off to Coach Dan McDononnel and the Cards, now 24-9 and climbing up the to 25 rankings. Here's hoping this baseball season proceeds with a flourish and ends with the same type of finish our basketball Cards gave us. A trip to Omaha would be fitting for the kind of year Cardinal athletic teams are having.

Congratulations to Louisville Cardinals baseball. Let's keep a good thing going....

by the image of Russ Smith staring up into his coach's eyes, wringing his hands during the entire, though brief and one-sided, conversation. Rick Pitino just a few weeks ago said he loved Russ, that he never had to worry about what he said to Russ because Russ doesn't take anything seriously.

Really? Did you see Russ Smith's face during that interlude late in last night's embarrassment? Did you see the look in his eyes? Did you see the constant, uneasy and unsettling motion of the kid's hands? Sure, Russ didn't play well and didn't seem to much care — but at the end of all that it was Russ who had the look of someone heartbroken. Russ "doesn't take much seriously?" We should remember this comment came from the same guy who said our offense is fine.

I don't know what the answer is — others smarter than I might figure it out. But something happened internally that's torn this team asunder. They don't appear to be having fun; they don't appear to care one bit for one another's company. And there is a definite dis-connect between the team and their coach. All this has happened just three weeks after Pitino said he was having more fun coaching this bunch than any other team he's ever had.

What's gone so terribly wrong? It looks as though everything has. I only hope someone steps forward with an explanation because when that happens — when the problem is admitted — then perhaps the team can get about the task of fixing it.

My favorite Cardinal of all-time...seriously

Hajj Turner was always one of my favorite Cardinals during his years here, and it's good to see he's doing well.  The AP or somebody is reporting:

"University of Vermont men’s basketball assistant coach Hajj Turner has been promoted to associate head coach, athletic director Robert Corran announced Tuesday."

Hajj was always positive, bright, articulate and hard working and I always thought he could have been used more effectively than he was (poor knees). Good to know that this intelligent young man is advancing in his chosen field.  

Perhaps one day he'll return to the Cardinals — we'd all be the better for it if he did.

I know most of us here at CC could care less about old UK athletes, but let me pause here to say the world is a sadder place today after Mel Turpin's suicide.  

I knew Turp during the '83-84 season which I spent with his UK team while writing a book about them for the CJ.  And I came to know Turpin as one of the most likable people on the face of the earth.  He was a talented player, to be sure, but I came to know him as a humble and shy kid trapped in the body of a giant.  

He never had a cross word for anyone, and was one of the most self-effacing players I ever met.  Remember, this came at a time when players are revered, when it's easy for them to slide into arrogance and self-importance.  Not Melvin.  He was a simple guy with what he admitted were limited academic skills — though he was never the dunce some critics made him out to be.  He was happy, period.  Which makes his suicide even more disturbing and perplexing.  How could such a happy guy slip into such a state of despair?

I'll quit with one absolutely true Melvin story.  He had weight issues, of course, and when traded by the Washington Bullets to the Utah Jazz, they surfaced.  The day of the trade, Washington listed Melvin at 6-11, 290.  When he arrived in Salt Lake City, the first thing the Jazz did was weigh him.  The scales said "325."  The Jazz said "what the hell happened?"  And Melvin replied:  "I like airplane food."

Something about this morning's CJ story about Zach Price moving to Louisville just doesn't feel on the up and up.  So, a 6-10 kid is shopping around in the city for a high school at which he can play his senior year.  He's committed to U of L, he says, so wants to be close so he can "go to campus and watch games firsthand every weekend."  (Aren't tickets to the new arena going to be difficult to come by?)

So, is he coming with his parents?  Is he coming by himself?  He says he's coming with his best friend, "U of L target Jakarr Sampson on Monday for a four-day visit."  So who's paying for all of this?  Is somebody offering his family a job or two?  Just how in the hell can something like this happen on the up and up?

And believe me, I raise all these questions as a fan, a life-long fan, of U of L athletics.  Honestly though, this kind of thing raises a lot of questions.  Maybe everything's on the up and up, the family is free to move and seek jobs even at a time of high unemployment.  Maybe I'm just being a fuddy-duddy for even questioning the kid's intent.  It's just that the story raises a lot more questions than it provides answers.  At least for this old man.

There's a pretty good story on the bracketology section over at ESPN.com concerning the top seeds for the upcoming NCAA baseball tournament.  And as things stand now, the Cards are one of the top eight.  Here's the link: http://espn.go.com/ncaa/blog/_/name/ncaa_baseball/id/5161093/opportunity-knocks-tourney-hopefuls

With all the hubbub about losing a high school junior and the woeful lack of academic accomplishment from Cal's Cats (heh!), it's time to pay a little attention to what is more than likely the best baseball team in the history of the U of L nine. I must admit I've yet to see a game, but I'm old and have excuses. That said, I still want to find my way to Patterson Field sometime soon because everyone who goes there says it's a hoot.  And the team is, what, 36 and 7 and perhaps a legitimate threat to win the whole shebang.

Anyway, for what it's worth, we might spend some time talking about coach Dan's team.  Seems they deserve it.

And I promise this will be the last I ever say about it.  But somebody somewhere posted a comment, I think it was on Facebook but it might have been Twitter, that was made by someone pretending to be Calipari.  In the fake message, slick John said, I'm paraphrasing here, let's keep all the stuff that went on behind everybody's back quiet, okay?  Nobody should say a word about it, OK?  And the kid apparently replies, "Yea."  And the reply is allegedly 100 percent genuine.  Don't know how you can tell, but this SB Nation poster said that was the case.

If that's all true, then what the hell?  Does Teague know that something untoward really did go on behind everybody's back?  Did this high school junior agree, with his texted "yea," to being a co-conspirator in keeping the skullduggery under wraps?  If so, when does the NCAA start asking questions?

Or perhaps it's all nonsense.

Here's a piece from the SI web site that once again praises our new head football coach.

 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/04/12/charlie-strong/index.html

The writer's name is Andy Staples  and I don't know much about him but this piece examines all the other jobs that were open and somehow didn't come Strong's way.  Well, we got him and every time I read something such as this I'm glad.  Here we are in that sports void that arrives each year after the Final Four and before baseball really ramps up, and I find myself reading stories about spring practice that, for the past three years, I basically ignored.  

It's great to have reasons to feel good about U of L football again, and it's great to be able to look forward to autumn.

At his press conference today, Coach Pitino announced that he was going to start Rakeem Buckles in place of Jerod Swopshire "to get more defensive presence" in the lineup.  Whatver.

Buckles has problems staying on the court while not committing numerous fouls. If he can keep from putting his hands on people and if he can move his feet, then perhaps his athleticism will make this a good move.  Swopshire has been regressing, no doubt about that, and it's disappointing because we began to see some potential in the second half of the Kentucky game.  That said, we've been getting little or nothing from our two starting forwards recently; playing three-on-five a great deal of the time.

Don't know if this is part of a solution (Jerry Smith is still starting?). But everyone seems to realize that a loss at Seton Hall will condemn this season into the sewers.

I'll admit it. I'm one of the people who heard about Sepehenson's troubles in New York and concluded this was another bad actor, a one-and-done guy who'll bush-league his way through a year at Cincinnati and then take his attitude somewhere else.  Maybe the NBA, maybe some backwater place in Europe, who knows.

But Stephenson apparently isn't the guy I thought he was.  There's an SI.com story here http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/paul_daugherty/01/13/stephenson/index.html?cnn=yes that says as much.  It's a nice read, and it's nice to learn that a kid can mature enough to get excited about a 3.5 gpa.  Granted, he probably won't hang around four years and graduate, but it looks as if he's a young man who has realized that there's a down side to all the perks young basketball phenoms often receive.  It's a refreshing read and I commend it to your attention.

That means that Kentucky, our beloved state which just finished next-to-last in overall educational achievement, is leading the nation in at least one thing.  The head football coaches at both of the state's major institutions of higher learning are African Americans.  That's something to celebrate in a state that doesn't have much going for it these days.  We've somehow found a way to do the right thing more quickly than the overwhelming majority of colleges and universities in this nation.

It may be a small thing to many fans, but it's something important and something for which we ought to be proud. Here's hoping both Charlie Strong and Joker Phillips conduct themselves with class, with honesty and effort and integrity.  Here's hoping the U of L Cardinals fight and find their way back to the top.  And here's hoping that university presidents across the country see the results and say, you know, we ought to be taking a look at a lot more people of color for our head coaching jobs.

which is meaningless, I know, except that it serves to keep our ever-declining attention span on the up and up.  Besides, if it means a few more days of being excited about Louisville football, then by all means keep those "Gruden-to-Louisville" stories coming.  I know it's unlikely; I know it makes no sense for Jon Gruden to take the job.  But you know what?  I said the same thing about Rick Pitino coming to town.  Wrong about that, of course, and I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I still think this would be the best possible hire and a tremendous national story for our program.

Now with that said, it's Oct. 15 and back in the days of long ago that meant the first day of basketball practice. So I'll shoot a couple of free throws this evening, think about the slippery slopes of times past and dream about a resurgent football program led by a guy who looks like a sci-fi movie character.  What's the harm in that?

If so, that would bring an end to his 17-game streak.  I don't remember seeing the Male High grad (plug for old school) injured, but the CJ says he has a concussion.  Hope he can take the field and keep his streak alive, because Doug always gives everything he has.  He's also someone who deserves more from his football program of choice than he's received so far.  That's the humble opinion of an old man who is trying with all undo verbosity to reach the 75-word limit for the post.

The Cards just finished a mercy-rule thumping of Cincinnati 12-2 today (Tuesday, May 19) in a game that started an hour and 20 minutes late because of rain.  Jeff Arnold hit a 3-run homer to bring the game to an end but that's all the detail I could get out of a poorly-working radio in my office.

Must say that baseball coach Dan McDonnell has done a remarkable job putting the Cardinal program on the map.  Let's hope they make it back to the big show in Omaha after winning the Big East tournament.  Go Cards, obviously.

I love college basketball with the same passion that most people at this site share.  I revel in it each season; I have vanity over the fact that I once played the game.  But even I can't ignore the problems manifest in college basketball, problems revealed by a cursory examination of  Cal's new contract.

Base salary of $400,000 grand a year with $3.3 million for broadcasting and endorsement the first year; $3.4 million the following four years; $2.85 million the following three years.  He get's even more if he wins the SEC, goes to the Sweet Sixteen or Final Four, or wins the national title.

Now here's the sad part:  If his players meet "certain academic standards," he'll get an extra $50,000.  Chump change; pocket money.  Fifty grand compared to millions.  Fifty grand for getting his kids to go to class, which, by damned, should be a part of any coach's friggin' job description.

According to an MSNBC report, UK has offered their head coaching job to John Calipari of Memphis.  I hope that's true, because Calipari is a loathsome figure, someone easy to root against.  It's kind of surprising, with a couple of UK bred candidates lurking in the wings, that they'd pursue such an unsavory guy, but hey, more power to 'em.  They're all the easier to dislike.  Let's  hope he takes the job.

Billy G is gone.  Orlando Sentinel says Donovan has resigned at Florida. Of course, WHAS reported all of this last night, then backtracked a bit and issued the ol' denial statement put out by the university.  Wonder if it's true that UK decided to time this announcement on the day that it's cross-state rival was playing for a spot in the Elite Eight?  Nah.  They'd never stoop to such things I'm sure.

I know the cliche is probably true, but I still can't help thinking that the portrait of the U of L head coach that graced the CJ sports page today is revealing.  In its vapidity, that is. In it's blank stare; in it's clueless expression.  In it's "maybe if I bite my lip I'll look thoughtful" countenance.

Sorry, but on occasion you might get a glimpse of what's inside the book by looking closely at its cover.  In this instance, the cover suggests that the book is mostly blank pages. And there is two years worth of evidence to prove that statement is true.

U of L football.  Doomed as doomed can be.

But the worship doled out to him during Thursday night's championship game was nauseating.  That announcing crew was obviously out of their league, but the truth is the whole Fox production was terrible.

All the confusing numbers across the top of the screen looked like a stock market ticker. But the worst was saved for the closing moments when it became obvious Florida was going to win.  Tebow is a terrific kid and a good leader and a wonderful story, no doubt. In fact, I'm guessing he's such a good kid that the kind of high fructose corn syrup served about him by the announcers last night would probably embarrass him to the core.  

These guys were so bad I found myself longing for Lindsey Nelson.  That's how bad they were.  Whatever happened to the days when game announcers actually called the game?  Please, somebody in network sports production offices, please put people in the trucks who've actually played a sport.  Please put someone in the booth with a mike and tell them to forget the personal pronouns and CALL THE DAMN GAME.

Bumped from FanPosts

Today's column in the CJ by Eric Crawford is what those of us who have been in the column-writing business call a "throw-away."  You don't have a lot to say about anything in particular, so you recycle some ideas about the U of L fan base and the football program, write enough to get them to hang together until readers can get to the end of the piece.  That's where you put something trite to tie it all up — in this case one of those God-awful attempts at new lyrics to a familiar song.

What the column ignores, in fact, what every column about the abysmal season has ignored so far, is Kragthorpe's leadership role in all of this. HE is the guy responsible for the last two seasons. Not the fan base. Not Bobby Petrino, regardless of the innuendo that spews from both Jurich and Kragthorpe.  Regardless of the "lack of depth" that the coach keeps talking, or the lack of talent.

One person has responsibility for the utter destruction of the program and that's the guy Jurich hired to lead it. Crawford, as much as I appreciate him, is wrong. It's not time for a truce between fans and football leadership. No one should sign a truce when the results of that "sue for peace" moment will be one-sided. What's needed is the opposite — more noise. More discontentment. More expressions of unhappiness from the people who pay for the luxury boxes, or once did. A truce does no good at this point because it says to Jurich and Kragthorpe, okay, you won, do whatever you're going to do. That may happen anyway because Jurich says he's not going to fire his boy. But fans don't have to like it.  And they ought to make themselves heard.

We don't need anyone to tell us "shut up and take your medicine and maybe things will get better."

Like many others in Louisville, Mike's house is bereft of electricity.  Not only that, his computer apparently gave up the ghost.  So even if, miracle of miracles, the electricity suddenly returned — a long shot since the only utility trucks I've seen in the area were parked and without peopole — Mike isn't certain his computer will be working.

But before you feel too sorry for him, remember that he's spending this delightfully sunny day watching the Ryder Cup people practice.  Some of the rest of us are working...

And as for a new post from the man himself, I have no idea.  In other words, it might be a while....