SB Nation User Blog: theoldman

Hey! SI's "Truth & Rumors" has picked up the Gruden thing,

theoldman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:14:46 -0000

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?

CJ says Doug Beaumont may miss a start

theoldman — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:28:08 -0000

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.

In case you missed the baseball game...

theoldman — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:21:29 -0000

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.

Calipari's contract

theoldman — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:09:16 -0000

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.

UK makes offer to Calipari

theoldman — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:03:38 -0000

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.

This time it's for real

theoldman — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:15:40 -0000

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.

You can't judge a book by its cover

theoldman — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:18:31 -0000

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.

I know Tim Tebow is a great kid...

theoldman — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:25:56 -0000

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.

Crawford's column

theoldman — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:03:28 -0000

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."

In Case You're Wondering

theoldman — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:24:29 -0000

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....