A Brief Edition -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour

The last couple of days have been articles mostly related to news, rather than sport. I haven't seen any new stuff come across the wire since yesterday, and Jeff covered graduation in his Friday piece. I briefly perused the Louisville athletic site to determine if there was anyway to find out the majors of some of our favorite players, but was unable to do so. At any rate, with a big game tomorrow, and nothing much having happened this week, I figured I would leave the rivalry preview for tomorrow and I would give our readers a bit of a break, as I need one myself after a long couple of weeks at work.

While there isn't much I have to say on the pages this morning, I feel quite confident that the words will flow at the microphone during the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour. As many of you may have seen via Facebook and some mentions here at the site, the studio for WCHQ FM is moving locations. During this transition period, there will be no live shows on the channel. That means today is the last live Cardinal Couple Radio Hour that you will find until the New Year. There will be quite a bit of basketball and the bowl game for football between today and the next show. From what I hear, Paulie may be trying to work out a brief recording to fill some space so that your weekly "Cardinal Couple Radio Hour" time is not completely empty. If you really need your fix, you can go to the WCHQ website and access past broadcasts just to hear us rib each other.

Sometimes it can feel a bit wild in studio.

Today's show is sure to be full of basketball chatter. All of our other fall sports are done or otherwise irrelevant at the current moment, and there are big games on the horizon for Louisville WBB. Paulie, Jeff, and myself will be joined in studio by Julie Sullivan, another knowledgeable fan of WBB. Paulie will bring you the insider info many others don't have, Jeff will bring the snark, Julie will bring the true fan view, and I'll try to hold everyone (including myself) together. We'll see how well I can achieve my task. The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour airs on 100.9 WCHQ FM from 11AM to noon. Today's broadcast will take you right up to the men's basketball game against Memphis State. If you aren't in the broadcast area of the station, you can listen along on the WCHQ app or the website, at WCHQFM.com. Come along and join us!

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-

Cardinal Couple - Horses Turning Left Edition

Softball Set to Wrap Regular Season

On the road in Tallahassee, UofL Softball looks to wrap up their regular season with some upsets against the 5th ranked Florida State Seminoles.

It will be a tall task, and success would not improve the Cards' seeding in the ACC tournament, though it may prevent the bat swingers from dropping to lower seedings if Notre Dame or Boston College see success this weekend.  Both Notre Dame and BC are poised for success as they tangle with Pitt and NC State respectively to finish off their seasons.  Neither Pitt, nor NC State are powerhouse teams in the ACC.

Here's how some of the math works out.  If BC sweeps NC State, UofL only has to win a single game in the weekend to stay ahead of BC.  If ND sweeps Pitt, UofL would have to sweep FSU to hold onto their second place seeding.  If ND drops a game against Pitt, UofL only has to take a single game off of FSU to stay in 2nd place.  If ND drops two games against Pitt, they can't catch UofL.

So all three teams, UofL, FSU, and BC know what they need to do this weekend, now it's time to go out and do it.  With a powerhouse like FSU in the other dugout, The Cards may have the hardest task of the weekend, despite being on the defense for their position.

Games are at 4pm and 6pm today, and 1pm tomorrow.  All are available on ESPN3.

Horses Turning Left

The drumbeat of decadence and depravity (with a hat tip to Hunter S. Thompson) has begun.  OK,
this is Louisville, the only place in the world that can turn a two minute long event into a two week party, so it actually began two weeks ago.

You saw the extent of my horse picking prowess in yesterday's article, so I shan't be elaborating on that anymore, but as a born and raised Louisvillian, I thought I might take a few minutes to try to capture why the Derby is a special thing to me.  This is primarily geared for our out of town readers, but I hope I can give some words for other Louisvillians to latch on to as well.

My recent vacation included an eastern European river cruise, which was wonderful in general.  One thing happened frequently on the cruise when other passengers found out we (the four of us traveling together) were from Louisville.  Almost without fail, particularly because of the time of year it is, they asked us if we always go to the Derby.  My response was always a hearty laugh followed by, "Lord no, I avoid that whole area of town the whole week!"

I've have only ever actually been to the Derby one time, and I was working grilling hamburgers in the infield for nearly all of the day, so my appreciation of Derby has nothing to do with actually going to the event.

The city spruces up for Derby, and that's a part of it.  The first year that Tess Clark, of UofL Volleyball, was here, she was excited, but uncomfortable, with our winter because of the cold and snow...that's what you get from an Arizonan.  My response was, "Yeah, but April and May in Louisville are worth it!"  Of course, Louisville tends to get wonderful weather in April and May (albeit, a bit miserable for allergy sufferers), and that's a big part of the meaning in my response, but part of it also comes from the way the city puts an effort to presenting itself for the best in the season leading up to Derby.  Having a large national spotlight on the city every year gets the city and its citizens to put in some serious effort in putting our best foot forward.

Louisville is also just a very congenial city, I'm coming to recognize that more and more.  I may have been a little slow in recognizing this, as I grew up here and assumed incorrectly that the general congeniality of Louisvillians was common across most cities.  That approach to others is only enhanced by the large influx of visitors to the city this week.  We are proud of our city, and I think with good reason, so when others come to visit, we don't resent their presence...we dearly want to share our city with them and for them to see how awesome this city is and what we have to offer.

I'm speaking in some sweeping generalities here, and of course, any group of people will have its That is what makes me appreciate Derby.  I'm proud of my city year around, but Derby is the day, every year, when that pride reaches full blossom and we have a reliable stage to show off what is great about us to the country, and even to the world.
Curmudgeons, some...but there is very real and tangible sense of civic pride in Louisville, particularly around Derby time.  

So this is our day to shine.  We love it here, and we hope you can join us, perhaps even for Derby week festivities in some future year.  Plan ahead, though, as hotel rooms sell out early.  Seriously, if you want to come for Derby week next year, book a hotel room now.  If you can't make it for Derby, come to The Ville whenever you can.  This is a particularly great time of year, but anytime in Louisville is great.

Paulie's Derby Selections

Paulie's Derby Selections are at his personal website. LINK: www.paulsykes.com

After the day he had Friday, they may change the name of the facility to ChurchPaulie Downs. If he has the same successes today that he did yesterday, he just might abandon THE CARDINAL COUPLE website and start his own tip sheet service.

HAPPY DERBY TO ALL FROM PAULIE, JEFF, SONJA, SAM and all our valuable associates! 

- JMcA

Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Cards face Idaho today @ 5:30 pm

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Louisville WBB faces Vandals in Iowa City today

- Softball splits against Rutgers @ Ulmer

- Congratulations Louisville MBB!

- Day One: NCAA WBB

- Contest standings after Day One


The University of Louisville Womens' Basketball team begins their quest in the NCAA Tournament with an opening round game against the Idaho Vandals today on the campus of the University of Iowa with a 5:30 tip off.

We covered the Vandals pretty extensively the other day here at the site, so...let's look at Louisville and our five keys to a Cardinal victory.

1) Start strong, finish strong. It may sound simplistic, but in Louisville's four losses this year...they've trailed early in three of them. All, of course, against UConn. The Cards did lead early against Kentucky but faltered at the end. Louisville needs to jump out to an early lead, continue to apply the pressure and finish with a flourish.

2) Guard the three. Idaho loves the three ball. They hit it with pretty good regularity also, so the Cards must get out on the shooters, make it tough on them and limit the chances if at all possible. A good pressure defense that throws the Vandals out of a rhythm would be the best possible scenario.

3) Strong on the boards. Louisville is tough to handle when Asia Taylor and Sara Hammond are scoring inside and grabbing rebounds. They'll need a good board effort out of Emmonnie Henderson and Cortnee Walton when they're in there and if Bria, Tia and Nita can grab a few caroms here and there...the more the merrier. Board supremacy!

4)  Schimmel magic. It'll be advantageous if Shoni is "on" and the threes are falling, the passing is accurate and if Jude contributes significant minutes with assists, steals and the occasional three. Here's hoping Holly Rowe and Brenda Van Lengen (the ESPN crew) have a lot to gush and ooohh about.

5) Let's see ya, Bria. Here's hoping that the Cardinal point guard can punish the Vandals defense with those mid-range jumpers and slashing drives to the basket. It'll give Idaho one more thing to worry about and free up the other UofL offensive weapons.

It should be fun...we'll have a recap in the Monday edition of CC...which we'll probably post early.

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Louisville softball split with Rutgers Saturday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards took the first game 10-6 but dropped the second by the same score...10-6.

Louisville 10 - Rutgers 6

The big noise was Whitney Arion who went 2-4 and blasted a three-run homer.

A rough start for the Cards, falling behind 5-0 in the first inning. They countered with two runs in the bottom of the first...loading the bases and getting two across on an error with Maggie Ruckenbrod at bat.

Rutgers made it 6-2 in the top of the third but Kayla Soles got that one back in the bottom of the fourth with a fence clearer.

The boom came in the fifth inning...Louisville getting a two RBI double from Maryssa Becker, Arion's three run blast and scores on a walk and wild pitch.

Rutgers 10 - Louisville 6

Rutgers started the second game the same way they did the first...with five runs in the first inning. Two walks and three singles...with a few wild pitches from Rachel LeCoq did the damage.

Soles popped another home run with Ruckenbrod on to cut the gap to 5-2 in the fourth. The teams traded runs in the fifth but Rutgers posted four scores in the sixth to go up 10-3. Louisville plated three runs in their final at bat...a Whitney Arion two-run blast made it 10-6 with no outs...but Rutgers reliever Alyssa Landrith shut down the final three UofL batters to end the game.

The teams play today at 2 p.m. It's even on 11.2 locally and Insight 432. Comcast, too...Our buddy Patty Norton and the world's most interesting man-beard Brian U'Sellis have the broadcast.


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Congratulations to Rick Pitino and the guys for advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. Louisville struggled through the first half but still managed to lead St. Louis by nine after twenty minutes. St. Louis rallied to actually take the lead in the second half...after a slow Louisville start...but the Cards rallied and won going away 66-51.

Luke and Russ!


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Bad hair day? Sheri headed home after one...

The first day of the women's tournament is in the books and there were a few surprises out there. How about BYU taking down future Cardinal conference mate NC State?

Or previous Cardinal opponent and future conference foe Florida State sending Iowa St. to the sidelines...on Iowa State's home court? Cal got all they wanted from a inspiring Fordham team before squeaking one out. And, our buddy the "Q" and his Syracuse team barely survived against the Chattanooga Choo-Choo's.

Heart as big as the Moon honors

This goes to WKU for the battle they gave Baylor. We saw earlier in the year how big Chastity Gooch could bring it. She showed the world last night. It was fun seeing Cards alumnae Michelle Clark-Heard, Candyce Bingham and Laura Terry on the sidelines urging on the Toppers. Great to see Jeffersonville's Jaylynn McClain have a good game.

Proud of ya Tops. C-USA has no idea what is in store for them next year.

Yeah, we pretty much owned you award

Did Robert Morris ever get off the bus to play Notre Dame?

The Irish are still undefeated. The game most of the nation wants to see is still possible (UConn v ND). Excuse us if we'd rather see a different Championship matchup.

Who IS this team ??? recognition

Fordham. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb is one of my favorites...as a few of you know. I was actually hoping she would be a first round flameout yesterday at the end of this one. Fordham, you've picked up a new fan...

16 more games today. Sleep? It can't wait. Remote control, don't fail me now. I DO think it stinks that ESPN decided to show NASCAR yesterday instead of hoops. You have the exclusive tournament rights and then decide to show a bunch of guys turning left for a few hours? And don't explain it away with this WatchESPN/ESPN 3 option crap. Give the gals their props and credit. NASCAR is all year. This is MARCH MADNESS!  

Boooo....

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We have 16 contestants in the CARDINAL COUPLE Pick 'Em Challenge. After the first day of action, your bracket leader is...

Paulie! 

(Hey, I posted my picks for all to see. Failure to pay attention to them is your fault, not mine...)

Yes, the senile old fool went 14-2, with only NC. State and Oklahoma tripping up his bracket. WE still got a ballgame, though...with plenty of contestants snapping at his heels.

Yer stats:

Paulie                       14-2
Jeff McAdams            13-3
Charlyse                    13-3
Vivian                        13-3
Blue Lou                    13-3
David Watson             13-3
Jennifer B                  12-4
Sonja                         12-4
Joe Hill                      12-4
Kenny S                      12-4
Curtis F                      12-4
Gary W                       11-5
Willie Cat Fan             11-5
A Cardinal Chimp        11-5
Matthew M for Gov       9-7
The Other One             8-8

Good luck today!

paulie
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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Words from Watson

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( Former CARDINAL COUPLE columnist and now occasional contributor DAVID WATSON offered to let Paulie sleep off his turkey slug and is our writer for the Friday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. )


I hope CARDINAL COUPLE readers one and all are having a great Thanksgiving weekend. As someone said once -- if you aren't having fun, you aren't trying hard enough.

The family is off fighting crowds at Black Friday deals, so I contacted the hibernating Paulie and offered to do a write. I think he said, "Sure, go ahead." but it was hard to tell. He was in between snores. Doesn't everyone get up at 4 a.m. on Black Friday?  

I will talk about the Lady Cards today. I still use the term for the UofL women's basketball team. Wednesday night, I was listening to the game and started interchanging it with "Lazy Cards". They won, though, so I retract it.

Is there any thing wrong with calling Louisville women's basketball the Lady Cards? I think Paulie did a poll on this a few years ago and came up with the following results:

43% said they didn't have a problem with it
32% were offended.
18% didn't care. They were at the wrong site.
5%  put "Go Big Blue" in the 'other' category

My youngest daughter thinks it's a demeaning term. She asked:

"Do they refer to the men's team as the 'Gentleman Cards? I think that adjective is un-needed. You're my parent, do you want to be called teenager daddy? Dad works just fine, doesn't it?"

She's got a point.

I was at Notre Dame for years. The team there are called the "Fighting Irish". It doesn't mean they are constantly involved in brawls, fracases and fisticuffs. They were sometimes a battling bunch, but boxing and MMA weren't D1 Sports back then. And, should Irish always be associated with fighting?

So, does it matter? Should "Redskins" be "Red Storm" or "Pigmented outer layered climatic disturbance"? My Cleveland Indians and our fan base refers to their Major League Baseball team as the "tribe" at times. I refer to them as perpetual cellar dwellers.

I think we're just becoming a too-politically correct society. Pretty soon, we'll be forced to call bears "woodland animals with hibernation-oriented traits and sharp claws".

That'll go over well in Soldier Field.

Moving on...

I am excited about the annual matchup between Louisville and Kentucky in women's basketball Sunday. Louisville needs to get a "W" since they've lost the last two and we can't have Kentucky professing superiority in anything.

I think the Cards (that aren't men) have a good chance to go to Lexington and bring back a win. 8-0 would be a great way to start the season. I'll be the first bird to go out on the limb here at the Couple.

UofL 63 - UK 61.

Finally, an associate of mine who is just beginning to get into women's basketball after years of poo-pooing it asked me the other day if Louisville's coach Jeff Walz is a target of other high profile schools to take over their reigns. I told him that Walz had indicated he will coach the Cards until he is retired, fired (or the zombie apocalypse takes over the world.) I added the zombie apocalypse part. My son has me hooked on The Walking Dead TV show.) 

Even if The Walking Dead type apocalypse ever happened, my guess is you'd find Walz in the Cardinal Arena gym in his zombie state. Carrying a clipboard and still in his checkered shirt. Watching Shoni shoot.

My Thanksgiving holiday wish for you readers this morning is that you be thankful for the team that graces the Denny Crum Court in the KFC YUM! Center. They are 7-0, have bucketfuls of talent and their approach to the season -- the "unfinished business" mission statement sums up where they want to be this season.

Cutting down the nets in Nashville.

The Huskies of Connecticut look to be unstoppable this season. Many said the same thing about the Baylor Bears last season.

Stopped.

Have a great rest of the holiday weekend and now -- it's off to raid the refrigerator for cold turkey, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce.

The breakfast of champions.

-- David Watson --

Friday Cardinal Couple -- W.Soccer open regular season @ home tonight!

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Women's Soccer opens regular season tonight at Cardinal Park

It's Soccer season! Yah-hoooo!

After going 2-0 in the exhibition season...and wins over Big Ten (Purdue) and SEC (Vanderbilt) opponents...Louisville women's soccer faces their first opponent of the regular season tonight at Cardinal Park.

The dangerous Butler Bulldogs from Indy visit at 7 p.m.

You want to be there.

This may be Coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes most explosive offensive attack ever. Charlyn Corral...she of 10 goals in six games in the WUGS...and Christine Exeter...the offensive juggernaunt of the 2012 season are seniors with a mission and dedication to taking Louisville Women's Soccer further than the program has ever gone since Dayes took over the reigns back when I still had accountable hair.

Complimented with a tough and sturdy defense and a freshman goalie that played like a upperclassman in the exhibition slate, the 2013 version of the Kickin' Cards should be a delight to watch and, yes, the AAC (The American) Conference thinks so, as well...picking Louisville as the pre-season choice to finish on top of the conference standings.

You thought 2013 was The Year of The Cardinal ? Women's soccer wants to add a notch to that totem poll...

Butler has a strong program and has given Louisville all they have wanted over the past several years. If the Kickin' Cards can crush the Indy dogs tonight...it is an indicator that Coach Karen is holding some pretty good "Cards" in the race to provide UofL Women's Athletics a winning hand over the next eight months.

WE love the way Cardinal fans flock to WBB, Volleyball, Softball. WE ask you to go a few steps further. Support your women's soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams with that same fervor. Get your butts in the seats and make some noise! Tonight is a beautiful chance to do it!

We'll have a post-game interview with Coach Karen on the Saturday broadcast of CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO...along with a pre-game spot from her that I recorded on Tuesday.

WE also have interviews with Justine Sowry (Field Hockey), Arthur Albiero (Swimming) and the cagey and delightful Kellie Young (Lacrosse) on the show at 11 a.m. on CRESCENT HILL RADIO.

http://www.crescenthillradio.com

Please join us.

-Paulie

onnowyoumightycardianlscausewesurecanwintsgameonnowyoumightycardinalscausethebigeastrefsaretoblamerollupthescorenowandgiveashoutbecausetheyclosedthebeveragestands.

Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Putting Up the Flag

FROM ALL OF US AT CARDINAL COUPLE...WE WISH YOU A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY. WE'LL SEE YOU FRIDAY! 

WHETHER IT'S A PICNIC, FIREWORKS, GRILLING OUT, VISITING FRIENDS OR JUST TAKING THE DAY OFF AND RELAXING...HAVE A WONDERFUL ONE!!

REMEMBER...WE'RE THE BEST NATION IN THE WORLD AND WE HAVE THE FREEDOMS TO ENJOY THIS DAY HOWEVER WE WANT WITHOUT FEAR OF PERSECUTION, CENSORSHIP OR INTIMIDATION. USA! USA!

WE PRESENT TO YOU THIS GREAT ARTICLE ABOUT SHONI TODAY FROM INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY. ENJOY!

SHONI SCHIMMEL

-PAULIE

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Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- The Fist Philosophy

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-The Fist Philosophy

-Walz eyeing two for 2014?

-Pinocchio speaks

( Regular Wednesday columnist Jenny O'Bryan has the flu and asked me to fill in for her today. She felt so bad that the missed Saturday's WBB game and a trip she, Renee and friends had booked to go to South Bend and watch the WBB game Monday night.

You know Jenny's got it bad when she misses out on her beloved UofL women's basketball team. Twice in a row and it's really got her down and out. She reports that she is starting to feel a little better, though and we're looking forward to her back on the site next week  - Paulie)

The Fist Philosophy

I developed the "fist philosophy" several years back when I was in a brief period of crisis. I've shared it with a few people over the years, most recently my massage/physical therapist Demond Thompson. As some of you know, I've got shot knees and a bad I.T. tendon in my quad. He does great work and I'd be a lot worse off if it wasn't for his work on me.

He surprised me by putting my philosophy (he named it for me...I never really had a name for it) on his website:

Renaissance Fitness

He did a great job of writing it up and expressing it, better than I do, for sure...so, here it is.

THE FIST PHILOSOPHY

A simple cure for the blues.

This is a suggestion made by my buddy Paul. He told me this the other day and I thought it was brilliant. If you're having a bad day, or having a moment, stop for a second and then open your hand. Then, think about five things you are grateful for.

1. Family. It doesn't matter if it's mother, father, spouse, significant other, siblings or kids. If you're not grateful for any of them, go to extended family :) . After you spend some time here, close your index finger.

2. Friends. This one is a bit fun because there are people you choose to have in your life. Remind yourself of good times you've had and be grateful that you've had them. After you spend some time thinking of them, close your middle finger.

3. Job. (You can use school here, too). Most of us don't like our job ALL of the time, but we like it at least some of the time. If nothing else, your job provides you with an opportunity to earn an income to support yourself and/or your family. And hang out with your friends. After you've spent some time thinking about your job, close your ring finger.

4. Work. Some people confuse their job with their work. Your job is your "nine-to-five" or your 15 credit hours that you earn your living from or pursue to earn a living. Your work is what you were put on the planet to do that only you can do. If your job is your work, that's awesome. Sometimes it's not. I work as a massage/physical therapist, but my job is helping people to get better through better movement. Two related things, but actually different. After spending some time thinking about your work, close your pinky.

5. Life. Be grateful that you're alive. Just by having the problem that you are dwelling on, you have a chance to experience it. We truly get to experience life when we handle our problems head on...because we learn from them. After you've reflected on life a bit, close your thumb around your fingers.

What are you left with?

A fist.

Your hand is strongest when clenched in a fist, and you are strong because of the five things you're grateful for.

Give it a shot and see what you think.

( Thanks for letting me share this with you, CARDINAL COUPLE readers. We'll dive back into the world of UofL women's sports tomorrow...Jeff McAdams grabs the lacrosse stick and challenges Nikki Boltja to a shoot-out. We're not sure what he'll bring to the table tomorrow, but if it's Jeff...it's gonna be good.)

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White has the coaches flocking to her games

Coach Walz and crew are back out on the recruiting trail before Sunday's game against DePaul from what we hear. Coaches do that, you know. We've heard that a couple of potential targets include Jatatie White and A'ja Wilson.

White, a very impressive post, is highly regarded in the 2014 Class and stands 6'4". She's out of Charlotte, NC and plays for Providence Day School. Can take over games with her scoring and rebounding.

Aja a powerful presence in the paint

Wilson hails from Hopkins, SC and is a 6'3" combo forward. Has the strength and aggressiveness to be an impact player at the next level and another Class of 2014 player that is highly-sought after.

It's no secret that both of these girls are potential benefits to any program they choose and the Cardinal coaching staff is making sure they get a lot of "face time" at their games....as well as others that are on the 2014 radar.

Bringing Sydney Brackemyer into the 2014 class is a major coup for the Cards. The guys at Peach State Hoops love her and she's the type of player that other players would die to play with because she does so many things well and gets her teammates actively involved as well. Syd is all about team.

Obviously, recruiting is a major part of a coach's job. It's the part that doesn't get the press clippings and internet discussion right away...but if the seeds planted now grow into sturdy program contributors...the fruits of the labor are shared by the entire fan base. Coaches are farmers, in a sense. Let's hope the "Cardinal Farmers" have a bumper crop...

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Finally, in a non-women's sports look, clown-prince Bobby Petrino has placed the blame on Arkansas' dismal season after his dismissal on...(wait for it)...him.

Really, Bobby? Ya think? (Paulie delivers "Gibbs slap" to the back of the coach's head.)

He also claims that his new employer (WKU) has a better training and conditioning facility than Arkansas.

They're gonna love that in Fayetteville.

Pinocchio has spoken. Here's hoping Willie Taggert goes 11-1 in Tampa (losing only to the Cards) and B.P. goes 1-11 and ends up working as a salesman at a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership.

It just boggles the mind, sometimes. It really does. I wonder if Hilter accepted responsibility for the fall of the Third Reich?




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RED OUT Clothes Must Be Laundered Separately

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(Staff columnist Sandy Walker brings us the Election Day edition of CARDINAL COUPLE this Tuesday. Basketball, Volleyball and Soccer are the items today. Thanks to Sandy for the updates and for donating her leftover Halloween candy to Bill the Goat out on Hwy 22...campaigning for Loquacious Gadfly! )

Sandy is running late today and has washer loads backed up waiting for the dryer to finish her red out outfit for this Friday’s basketball game.   For now, here are the moments highlights but feel free to promote current news in the comments.

BASKETBALL

It’s here! – the week we have all waited for since our earlier than desired 2012 NCAA tournament exit.   The women’s long awaited return to the court provides two opportunities this weekend.

TEXAS A & M

 This season’s opening game is Friday November 9, 2012.  Just in case you have been so involved with so many  of our schools other successful teams and have not noticed, this Friday’s game is against the 2011 NCAA National Champion Texas A & M.  Tip off is  at the YUM! Center at 7:00 pm.  This is our opportunity to shown A & M all of Louisville’s team and what they can do as last year’s game at Texas found us to be understaffed for the match.  Word is that we can look forward to seeing Mo back on the court, at least for part of the game, as she returns from last season’s injury with Tia soon to follow. 

Friday’s match is a RED OUT where everyone should show up wearing their brightest U of L Red attire.   Kroger is making it easier for us to pack the house by making $2.00 admission tickets be available to anyone who presents a Kroger Plus card at any U of L Ticket office location.  Information can be obtained by calling the U of L  ticket office at (502) 852-5151.

Texas claims everything is larger in their state, but compared to Louisville, attendance at their women’s basketball is not one of them.   Do your part to keep that fact in fact as this year the women strive to become the #1 ranking in women’s basketball attendance.   This has to be the best entertainment value in town.  Coach Walz has encouraged everyone to bring a first time fan to one game then let the team convert them into a full time fan.

The fan that we anticipate is traveling the farthest to see Friday’s game is Oregon native and Cards Fan Philip Van Der Weele.  Philip contacted Cardinal Couple owner Paul Sykes this fall and indicated his intent to attend Louisville’s opening game against Texas A & M and I hear that he already has his 1^st and 2^nd round NCAA Louisville regional tickets purchased.  This is just another example of Louisville’s athletic team influence which is truly coast to coast.   Other long distance visitors are welcome to contact us through the comments or Paul’s e-mail to let us know of your travels.

PORTLAND

Not to worry, basketball fans, we also have something to occupy us on Sunday.  Portland will be in town on Sunday to challenge U of L beginning at noon.   The game, as is normal with our women’s team, will also be at the YUM! Center.    We all need to get our game fix this weekend as the next home game is not until November 28 against Eastern Kentucky which is followed by Kentucky – at our home this year.

TICKETS

Single game tickets went on Sale Monday.   Corner arena and baseline season tickets are still available.  http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/102912aaa.html 

Contact the ticket office at 502-852-5151. Also, don’t forget – U of L is pleased to be hosting the first and second rounds of the 2013 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament in the KFC Yum Center!. Tickets are currently on sale.  Coach Walz had indicated the need to pre-sale at least 8,000 tickets at this year’s award of the openings rounds is hoped to be the beginning of what some day will culminate in the hosting of the Final 4 Championships.  Selection to the 64 team NCAA tournament team will insure that U of L will play in the first round in their regular season home.  A win would give them home court advantage also in the 2^nd round which is also being played in Louisville.   U of L has not enjoyed the tournament home court advantage in recent years, if ever.  I would advise you to get your tickets now before the tournament teams are announced and you find yourself competing with fans from other teams for premium seats.

RECRUITS

We at Cardinal Couple again want congratulate Emmonnie Henderson, Janelle Cannon and Alexis Montgomery for their great choice to become Louisville Cardinals.

L1C4

Are there other top recruits waiting in the wings to announce Louisville as their new home (such as maybe Imani Wright who is reported to be favoring staying in her home state) and join Louisville to be a part of the future in women’s basketball or will Coach Walz save those scholarships for the next season of young stars?  No matter which way it goes we are confident in our Coach’s proven ability to develop the players who want to be here into stars which surpass all of our and the national recruiting sites projected expectations.

100 BEST PROGRAMS IN DIVISION 1

Last week I included information about rankings created by James Bowman of SB Nation / Swish Appeal has again created what it considers to be the best 100 women’s basketball  Division I programs.  I am happy to update that information with Louisville women being named at # 10 in their poll.   The link below includes the Louisville information printed in the poll along with the 1^st through 9^th ranked teams.

These were their rankings of the 100 best programs in Division I. This is not the same thing as the 100 best teams in Division I for the 2012-13 season.  Considerations were Wins and quality of competition, Attendance, Recruiting, and Hitting benchmarks.  Benchmarks are Postseason play, win totals, Conference titles and tournament victories, All Americans and WNBA high draft picks.  Excluded were Faraway glory, Coaching records and longevity and Academics.  http://www.swishappeal.com/2012/11/2/3524410/ncaa-womens-basketball-top-100-programs-recruiting-infractions

TIA GIBBS ARTICLE

The Courier Journal published a great interview article with Tia Gibbs.  It can be found at http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20121105/SPORTS02/311050143/Q-Louisville-basketball-player-Tia-Gibbs?nclick_check=1 . 

She is anxious to get back onto the court and has indicated that what she best plans to bring with her is Energy, Leadership and most of all DEFENSE.

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VOLLEYBALL

Friday is a great opportunity to fill your evening with Louisville women’s sports.  Our 23 -3 Volleyball team plays at Cardinal Arena against Marquette at 4:30.  This leaves plenty of time to watch our Volleycards then head downtown to park then off to a quick dinner before the 7:00 basketball game tip off.   I can’t think of a better way to start your weekend.  This is their next to last match before the Big East Championship begins.   Your final regular season opportunity to see this team in their race to win the Big East Championship is this Sunday November 11 at 12:00.  This match will also be at Cardinal Arena so get your tickets early as a sell out for both matches is anticipated.

Cardinal Volleyball in Cardinal Arena is a loud, rowdy and fun couple of hours spent. It's also intimidating for opponents.

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SOCCER

Charlyn Corral was selected as the 2012 BIG EAST Conference Midfielder of the Year. 

Corral, of the Louisville women’s soccer team was selected as the 2012 BIG EAST Conference Midfielder of the Year while three other Cardinals earned All-BIG EAST honors during Thursday night’s awards banquet at the Hartford Downtown Marriott.   Charlyn was also a First Team All-BIG East selection.   Other recognized players were Angelika Uremovich who was named to the Second Team All-BIG EAST team while Chloe Kiefer and Christine Exeter were both named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team.   Complete details can be found at http://www.whas11.com/sports/university-of-louisville-sports/Louisvilles-Corral-named-BIG-EAST-Womens-Soccer-Midfielder-of-the-Year-176888711.html .  

SKILLS CAMP

On February 3, 2013 the women’s soccer program will host a Winter Skills Camp which will be held at the Trager Center at the U of L Campus.   The camp is open to all female soccer players ages 10-14.  Details are at U of L ‘s official website under women’s soccer news.

       

Sandy W.

( Our thanks to Sandy for the updates on our Louisville womens' athletic endeavors!)

Finally, a bit of sad news to pass on. Louisville women's basketball's assistant sports information director Kim Pemberton lost her mother to cancer Monday. It had been a long battle for Barbara and a tough struggle for Kim and the family as well...but the pain is gone now and she is watching over her loved ones now in Heaven.

Kim does a wonderful job keeping us updated and informed on Cardinal Womens' Basketball and our thoughts and prayers are with her during this tough period.

"We are only here for a brief time in the scheme of things. We never are really gone, though. As long as the memories and thoughts continue about those who have gone on to their great reward, they'll live with us forever."
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