Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Sandy has laundry day----today the Commish cleans out the Bull Pen

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-The Commish is in the bullpen.


-The Flying Cardinal.


(We thank you for your comments on the series of bull riding articles that Mark the Commish has been posting over the last two months. Today's final in the series covers ownership, bull-fighters, wrecks and girls. 


Add a few chimps, beverages, bananas and Poobah and it sounds like a typical night around CARDINAL COUPLE Worldwide after Sonja and I have left for the day.) 

Would you like to own a bull ?  There is a new Turn-key ownership Program sponsored by the PBR and American Bucking Bull Inc (ABBI) called the Back Seat Buckers Program.  If you have the money, you could own a competitive bucking bull and become a Stock Contractor. Once you own the bull, the ABBI will do the rest.  They will house it, feed it, take care of it, train it , etc.

Basically, it is an auction and there are only 100 spots.  To obtain a spot (sold on a first come first served basis) in the auction one needs to cough up $3500.  An auction spot ensures the right to bid on a draft position at the Live Draft and Back Seat Buckers Auction held at the PBR Iron Cowboy Invitational in March 2013. A draft position will dictate when the buyer (contractor) will be able to pick their bull(s).

Minimum bid for a draft position is $1000. Once the bull is bought, you will need to fork over another $3600 to the ABBI for feeding and housing.

Here is how the competition works: There are 100 top-rated 2-year-old Futurity bulls (plus alternates) in the program. They will be competing for $500,000 in prize money this season. They’ll buck in four regular season events, and at the World Finals in Las Vegas in November. These animals are still babies and will buck only four seconds with a 25-pound weight aboard.

This years bulls will buck at 4 PBR BFTS events across the country and the World Finals:

Event 1: Pueblo Invitational Pueblo, CO May 18-20, 2012

Event 2: Tulsa Invitational Tulsa, OK August 11, 2012

Event 3: Thackerville Thackerville, OK September 1 , 2012

Event 4: Springfield Springfield, MO September 15, 2012

Final Event: Las Vegas World Finals Las Vegas, NV October 23, 2012

Final Event: Top 5 Return Las Vegas, NV October 27, 2012
  

Here is a list of some famous people that bought bulls this year:
John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, Reggie Jackson, Bear Pascoe, Chad Ochocinco (who recently got married and changed his name back to Chad Johnson) and CBS Sports' Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton.  Thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens also got into the act. (they named their bull Silverbulletday) He bucked May 19, 2012 and scored a 61.  Didn't place in the money.  All the bulls are scheduled to buck again August 11.

If you got the "bucks" and want to buy a bull, here is all the info on the program.  Auction spots for 2013 are available August 1, 2012.

http://backseatbuckers.com/home.html

The Bull Fighters

Sometimes during or after a ride things go wrong. A cowboy gets his hand caught in his rope, or he may get stomped on by a bull.  This is called a wreck. When this happens, the ones who save the day are the Bull Fighters: A bullfighter's job is to distract a bull when a bull rider either bucks off his bull or dismounts after his eight-second ride. The distraction provided by the bullfighter gives the rider a chance to get back to his feet and out of harm's way.

Bull Fighters get hurt too.  According to one of the top Bull Fighters--Shorty Gorham:  "Broke my shoulder, blew out my knee, broke a leg and an ankle, broke ribs, broke arms, separated both shoulders and separated my sternum … but it’s part of the deal. None of them are serious injuries. It’s just a part of it. You gotta know that going in that there’s going to be some broke bones. We’re like the Secret Service guys. If things are going well you don’t notice us, but when things go bad, we’re there."

Watch as retired 5 time World Champion Bull Fighter Rob Smets explains what Bull Fighters do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Swn2XwmpI&feature=related

Wreck, Wrecks, And More Wrecks:

When there is a wreck, the Bull Fighter will usually save the day. Here is a video of the top 10 Wrecks of 2010.  There are some squeamish moments so watch with caution. Due to some violent content...Parental Discretion is advised.  As bad as some of these wrecks are, all the Cowboys lived to tell about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WnYZxhOV1w&feature=relmfu

Let's hear it for the Girls:

One of my articles featured Women Bull Riders.  One was about 13 year old  Tayler LaFlash of Plantersville, TX. Recently her Grandmother wrote Cardinal Couple with more information about her and an update on her status:

"My Granddaughter is Tayler LaFlash and at age 9 she started riding the mechanical bull at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. She did this for 2 years. At age 11 she entered the Grimes County Fair N Rodeo Steer Riding and won her first buckle in 2009. That was her first time on a live animal. We are so proud of her accomplishments and we stand behind her 100%. Good luck at World Finals, Tayler. Ride Rank!!!!!"

Looking forward to seeing how her career develops.  Hope to see her riding in the PBR someday.  I'm sure with her will and determination she will be a success.

Kallie Kautzman

A female Bull Rider that missed being mentioned in the article was Kallie Kautzman.  I found out about her because her stepdad emailed Cardinal Couple and mentioned she rode bulls as well.  I did some research and here is her story:

Kallie Kautzman is from Bismark, ND and has been on the Bull Riding Circuit for about 5 years. She has won several prizes and  events including the 2008 Little Bull Riders junior championship and 2009 Mandan Horse and Saddle championship. Every event she has won was against Men---or should I say young boys.....and I almost forgot to tell you---Kallie just turned 13.

What does Kallie think about competing against the boys?  She says, "It doesn`t feel natural being around all boys, not really a girl thing but it`s okay."  And what is in the sport for her besides prizes like trophies or Belt Buckles? Well, as Kallie says,"You win money".

Kallie's stepdad who was brought up in Rodeo himself got her started in the sport.   Kallie was watching her brother ride a Bull and decided she wanted to try as well. Turned out she was a natural and rode him pretty well.  She has been riding ever since.

It seems Kallie is going to hang up the Bull Rope when she turns 14 because the Bulls get bigger and stronger. Have no fear--she will continue her Rodeo career by concentrating on her true passion of Barrel Racing.

Best of luck in the future as well Kallie.

This concludes my series on "Everything you wanted to know about bull riding but was afraid to ask".  Although Bull Riding does not fit the profile of "Cardinal Sports", since Paul gave writers free reign to write on any subject they wished sports related, I chose Bull Riding because I knew about it, and wanted to share with readers the different aspects of a  sport that  no one would think that WOMEN participated in.  I figured that most may not know much about the sport and would be interested in learning something new.  Even I learned some new things about the sport researching the articles: I never knew 13 year old girls rode bulls. I know Bull Riding is not everyone's cup of tea, but I never was a fan until I actually sat down and watched it on TV. Then I attended two live events (Nashville and Chicago).

PBR viewers have an average household income of $66,000, and 40% are women; 70% own their own home; 53% attended college and 68% own a computer. The PBR has more crossover with NASCAR and with the NFL than with rodeo. So, why not Cowboy Up and take in a PBR event?  You can watch it on TV or attend a live event.  It is really a family orientated event. Lots of things to do and see. And tickets prices would fit into anyone's budget. Ticket prices range from  $10, $25, $35, $50, $75, and $100. Events usually last about 2 hours.

Here is the PBR BFTS Event schedule with ticket and TV schedule info:

http://www.pbr.com/en/bfts/schedule.aspx

And the level below the BFTS--the Touring Pro Division schedule:

http://www.pbr.com/en/tpd/schedule.aspx

Note: The Touring Pro Division usually has a stop in Louisville each year--they were here February 24-25 at Broadbent Arena.  The Touring Pro events don't have as many "bells and whistles" as the BFTS events but it is Bull Riding with some of same bulls and riders that are on the BFTS Tour.

Commish Mark


( Mark will check back in from time to time with "bull updates". We've currently got him scheduled for women's sports duties and also to see if he can ride the offensive and defensive linemen on UofL's football team or guard Asia Taylor and Sara Hammond for eight seconds. Stay strong, Commish!)  


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The first FLYING CARDINAL has been introduced by UofL Director of Social Media Nick Stover. His first episode includes guests we know and love here at Cardinal Couple...Howie Lindsey and Charlie Springer. 


Charlie's got a link to it at his site...UofL Card Game. Link below.


Card Game

You can follow Nick on Twitter as well. We're checking into the legalities over contacting him and seeing if he'd like to challenge the Commish to a bull-riding contest or taking the staff chimps out for Bananas Foster and bowling. 


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Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- The recruiting process

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Jenny looks at recruiting.

As Cardinal Couple reported on Monday, Makayla Epps has re-opened her recruitment.   It has also been noted that while reopening her recruitment Louisville is still being considered.  Many people are speculating and offering their opinion about why this has happened.  

All you have to do is go to a Louisville fan/message board to see everyone’s opinion about why this has happened twice now, in the last few months.   Some are suggesting that Epps and Goodin-Rogers are being “recruited over” and were worried about playing time.  Others are suggesting that perhaps something is going on with the program, questioning Coach Walz and his management of the program.   Both of those opinions, and the many variations of those opinions, I believe are completely disrespectful of Coach Walz and his program as well as these players’ talents. 

Let me offer you my opinion about this.  It is an opinion, my opinion.   It is not necessarily the opinion of Cardinal Couple or any of the staff writers.   I cannot pretend to know what has gone on in these young women’s minds.  Again, these are just my opinions. 

Epps and Goodin-Rogers both verbally committed to Louisville on May 31, 2011.  That was the beginning of last summer.  Both of these young women were beginning summer before their junior years in high school, or stated another way, just finished their sophomore year in high school. 

Any readers out there have teenage daughters in their household?  Raise your hand.  If so, would you want your teenage daughter making a major life decision at that young age?  If they did make a major life decision at that tender young age, would you really blame them if they reconsidered?  Quite frankly, I would encourage it, if it were my daughter. 

As fans, we want to know where our favorite players are going to school and who is going to show up donning a Cardinals uniform.  Read any fan board, folks are clamoring at the bit waiting for any big news. 

The NCAA has rules and guidelines about the recruitment of prospective student athletes.  There are rules about coaches communicating, visiting, watching them play, and the lists go on and on.  There is also a process put in place to help the student athlete navigate the recruitment process. 

Prospective student athletes can make any number of visits to colleges of their choices.  These are called unofficial visits.   On an unofficial visit the athletes must pay their own way.  They can make unlimited visits to as many schools as they want.  Unofficial visits.   

Somewhere along the way an athlete will start to make a list of schools that they are potentially interested in.  They will do their homework; decide what they want out of a school as well as an athletic program.  They may even attend a basketball camp being hosted by colleges they are interested in.    At some point their list of suitors has grown.  Also, at some point, they will start to whittle their list of schools they are interested in.  Eventually, they will get to a manageable list. 

In the fall of the student’s senior year in high school they can take an official visit.  Each athlete is allowed 5 official visits.  The school being visited pays for an official visit.  This cannot happen until fall of their senior year.  Official visits. 

Anywhere along the way a student may verbally commit to a program.  A verbal commitment is just that, a verbal commitment.   Nothing is a done deal, for either the student athlete or the college program that is receiving a verbal commitment, until a Letter of Intent (LOI) is signed. 

In November of one’s senior year they are eligible to sign their LOI in the early signing period.  The signing period is over the course of a certain amount of days.  Once that signing period closes, they cannot sign again until April of their senior year.  The April date is considered the regular signing period.    Once a LOI is signed, the student athlete can get out of their agreement only under certain conditions (a coaching change for instance) and often with penalty for doing so (not signing with another school within the same conference is an example of a penalty, or sitting out a year). 

As fans, and as a culture in general, we have grown to be an immediate gratification society.  Fans love early commitments, who wants to wait to hear great news, right? 

I firmly believe early commitments, without following the recruiting process through, can and do lead to exactly this kind of scenario.  That is not to say that all early commitments fall through.  But, early commitments leave both the student athlete and the school's program vulnerable. 

Let’s look at Epps again.  As noted above, she verbally committed at the end of her sophomore year in high school.   A lot can change in a year.  She can grow, add to her strength and conditioning, become a better player, develop a deeper skill set, add to her arsenal of threats on the court.  Epps still had two seasons of summer/AAU ball ahead of her to develop, gain exposure, to have other programs see her, recruiting services rave about the growth in her game, all after she verballed to Louisville.  A lot can change in a year, and in two seasons of summer ball. 

Epps has had a fantastic month of ball so far this evaluation period.  Scouting services are raving about her game, her growth.  There appears to be a buzz about her game.   Look up the recent event in Franklin, TN at The Battle in the Boro.  Epps' stock is rising. 

I can absolutely understand why a teenage girl, in this scenario, may want to explore her options.  I am not saying that is what is going on with Epps, as I have not talked to her.  I do have a teenage daughter though.  I can absolutely see it, and as a parent, understand if not encourage it.   

As a fan, is it a little disappointing?  Sure it is.  Epps has stated she is still interested in Louisville.  That is not to say that she will, or won’t, end up at Louisville.   Only time will tell if she ends up in a Cardinal uniform playing at The YUM!

As a parent of a volleyball player who one day hopes to play on the college level I would like to think I would discourage my daughter from committing too early.  I would want her to explore all of her options.  Part of exploring all of her options, in my opinion, is allowing oneself to go through the entire recruiting process.  I am not pointing fingers or placing blame here.  Just stating what counsel I hope to one day bestow upon my daughter.   

Had my daughter committed early to a program you better believe if there were an inkling of a doubt, the tiniest desire to look around, I absolutely would encourage it.  This is a major life decision.  One must be as certain as they can be. 

I personally do not believe there is anything sinister or awry going on within the Louisville program, nor do I think these talented young recruits doubt their abilities or question their playing time at Louisville.  I firmly believe they are young and made a decision without exploring all of their options. 

While the majority of fans love early commitments I think it is a recipe for exactly what we have going on right now. 

 Look at it another way, do you want your teenage daughter to marry her high school sweetheart, right after graduating?  Absolutely not!  A major life decision deserves the time to explore all options.  Whether it is a life partner or a decision about one's education and future livelihood. It is only fitting though that this is my opinion.  I do, after all, live with a teenage daughter.  


( Wonderful commentary by Jenny today! An old adage reads that everyone wants to see, hear and know about the baby. No one cares about the nine months of labor and the delivery. Recruiting is exactly what the Webster's definition of it is: The process of enrolling members in an organization. The process isn't official until the enrollment is done.)
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Tuesday Cardinal Couple -- A woman's work is never done!

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


(Sandy takes us through Cardinal women's golf and soccer, Sally Ride, high school hoops and the 2012 Olympics today in her report. It's our version of '60 Minutes' but it'll take a lot less than that to read it. Only thing missing is Andy Rooney and a ticking clock. Enjoy!) 



The summer seems to produce more and more laundry.  Here are today's loads

GOLF

U of L Golf Coach Courtney Trimble has announced the signing of Oldham County High School Meghan Theiss.    Meghan is a great example of the student athlete we seek as beyond playing varsity golf for 7 years – the last 5 of which she was named the team MVP – winning multiple awards including the Junior Bluegrass Championship in 2009 and 2010 – she graduated as Cum Laude and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Picture by Doug Thomas

SALLY RIDE

In this 40^th anniversary year of the passing of Title IX we also are experiencing the loss or cruel illness of too many of the pre and early Title IX year female program pioneers who broke ground where others had not yet traveled.  Sally always directed her own ride through life as she became a physicist at a time when high school girls were still regularly maneuvered into the limited choices of teaching, secretarial work, nursing or homemakers. 

Picture compliments of NASA

Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman and at the time, the youngest American astronaut at 32 years old, to go into space, died Monday at the age of 61 after battling pancreatic cancer. In 1983 this was a feat which absolutely inspired many others to seek to crack the “glass ceiling” as was exhibited on launch day when spectators all across America wore “Ride, Sally, Ride" shirts and buttons. 

I had some trouble embedding the CBS video but this hyperlink will take you to a page, which after a commercial, contains a video of Sally during an early interview.  It is worth the short amount of time to view it.http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7415910n or you can find a more complete CBS article with the video at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57478225/sally-ride-pioneering-astronaut-dead-at-61/?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesAreaMain.

“In 2001, Ride founded Sally Ride Science, part of her ongoing mission to encourage students - and especially girls - to take up science studies. The foundation developed camps, festivals, and classes for children who dreamed about reaching for the stars.”

Ride is survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy, her mother, Joyce; her sister, Bear; her niece, Caitlin, and nephew, Whitney; her staff of 40 at Sally Ride Science; and many friends and colleagues around the country.”

ESPN HoopGurlz High School Girls Basketball

2013 Listed Louisville Prospects

The current ESPN HoopGurlz list of 2013 players considering Louisville as of Sunday are Mercedes Russell, Kendall Waters, Alexandra Harris, Nina Davis and Emmonnie Henderson.   Others have been named elsewhere but these are those listed as considering Louisville at http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/97/class/2013/page/considering

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USA SOCCER TEAM IN LONDON LIP DUBS

“PARTY IN THE USA”

You can view a hilarious video where members of the USA soccer team let off some steam while creating a hilarious video which can be seen at:

www.cbssports.com/olympics/2012/blog/eye-on-olympics/19640453/video-us-womens-soccer-team-lip-dubs-for-their-country.  Their first game in on Wednesday against France where they absolutely need to focus their time and energy as lip dubbing music video stars they will never be.

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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COVERAGE

Saturday, July 28: USA vs. Croatia, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., NBC

Monday, July 30: USA vs. Angola, 5:15-7 p.m., NBC Universal Specialty Channel for basketball

Wednesday, Aug. 1: USA vs. Turkey, 5-7 p.m., NBC Sports Network

Friday, Aug. 3: USA vs. Czech Republic, 5-7 p.m., NBC Sports Network

Sunday, Aug. 5: USA vs. China, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., NBC

Tuesday, Aug. 7: Quarterfinals, either NBC Sports Network at 4:30 or 5:15 p.m. or NBC Universal Specialty Channel for basketball at 5:15 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 9: Semifinal Game 1, NBC Sports Network, noon-2 p.m.; semifinal Game 2, 4:15-6 p.m., MSNBC.

Saturday, Aug. 11: Bronze-medal game, noon-1:45 p.m., MSNBC, gold-medal game, 4-6 p.m., NBC.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER

Women's soccer head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes has announced the addition of Mexico City, Mexico resident Charlyn Corral to the Cardinals' 2012 team.  Charlyn has extensive international experience playing for the Mexican National team and is one of her countries most decorated players.

“She will have two years of remaining eligibility starting with the 2012 season after transferring from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.

Corral and the Cardinals will begin preseason preparation when they report to campus later this month. Louisville, which won a school record 14 matches, won the BIG EAST National Division title and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship in 2011, will host a pair of exhibition matches on Aug. 10 (Ohio State, 6 p.m., ET) and Aug. 12 (Wright State, 1p.m.) before opening the regular season on Aug. 17 at Butler.”  See http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/071912aaa.html.

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OLYMPICS - ACROSS THE  NETWORKS

The Hartford Courant has gathered the following Olympic Broadcast Information.

NBC: Daytime coverage will begin on most weekdays at 10 a.m. Primetime shows will typically be broadcast from 8 to 11:30 p.m. with a 30-minute break followed by an hour of late-night wrap-up coverage.

NBC Sports Network: Serves as the home to U.S. "team sport" coverage, including basketball and volleyball. The cable channel will offer about 258 hours of original programming, starting with Team USA's opener vs. France in women's soccer on July 25.

MSNBC: Will deliver 155.5 hours across several of the 32 sports, including badminton, wrestling, table tennis, basketball and soccer.

CNBC: Will showcase boxing, with 73 hours of coverage over 16 days.

Bravo: Is dedicated to tennis, televising 56 hours worth of matches (July 28-Aug. 3) from the All England Club.

NBCOlympics.com: Will provide comprehensive live streaming.

Telemundo: Spanish-language Olympic coverage will feature more than 173 hours.

NBC PRIMETIME DAILY COVERAGE

FRIDAY

7:30 p.m.-midnight: Opening Ceremonies.

SATURDAY, July 28

8 p.m.-midnight: The first night of swimming finals includes the men's and women's 400m IM events. Also, men's gymnastics qualification and early-round beach volleyball.

SUNDAY, July 29

7 p.m.-midnight: Women's gymnastics qualification-round competition. Swimming finals include the men's 4x100m free relay. Plus, diving's first gold medal is awarded in the women's synchronized springboard event.

MONDAY, July 30

8 p.m.-midnight: In their first head-to-head duel in the London pool, defending Olympic champion Michael Phelps and reigning world champion Ryan Lochte race in the 200m freestyle final. Also, Jonathan Horton leads Team USA against the world in the men's gymnastics team final, and diving crowns its champions in the men's synchronized platform event.

TUESDAY, July 31

8 p.m.-midnight: The U.S. women target team gold in gymnastics, plus diving, Michael Phelps (men's 200m fly final) and more.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1

8 p.m.-midnight: Swimming and diving finals, plus the crowning of the men's all-around champion in gymnastics and the U.S. beach volleyball team of May-Walsh in action.

THURSDAY, Aug. 2

8 p.m.-midnight: Gymnastics determines its women's all-around champ, plus swimming finals (Phelps vs. Lochte in 200m IM) and more.

FRIDAY, Aug. 3

8 p.m.-midnight: Swimming finals include the men's 100m butterfly, plus track and field's opening night, diving and more.

SATURDAY, Aug. 4

8 p.m.-midnight: Swimming concludes with four finals, including the medley relays. Plus the women's 100 meter race and more.

SUNDAY, Aug. 5

7 p.m.-midnight: Track and field's centerpiece event, the men's 100-meter dash, plus apparatus finals in gymnastics and more.

MONDAY, Aug. 6

8 p.m.-midnight: More apparatus finals in gymnastics, plus the men's 400-meter final in track, diving (men's springboard) and more.

TUESDAY, Aug. 7

8 p.m.-midnight: Finals in gymnastics, track and field, and diving, plus a key U.S. women's beach volleyball semifinal.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8

8 p.m.-midnight: Gold is determined in women's beach volleyball and track (men's 110-meter hurdles). Plus diving and more.

THURSDAY, Aug. 9

8 p.m.-midnight: Track and field finals include the men's 200 meter, plus diving (women's platform) and quarterfinals from BMX cycling.

FRIDAY, Aug. 10

8 p.m.-midnight: Cycling's BMX finals, plus relays at track, men's platform diving and more.

SATURDAY, Aug. 11

8 p.m.-midnight: Track and field finals include the men's 4x100-meter relay and women's 4x400-meter relay. Plus, gold will be won in men's platform diving and women's volleyball.

SUNDAY, Aug. 12

7-11 p.m. Closing ceremonies.

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Title IX thoughts


-Lacrosse Stadium


-Makayla Epps


-Megan Deines


(Sandy Walker brings us the Monday C.C. David Watson, your normal Monday columnist is on vacation for a couple of weeks and 'in an area where bandwidth is the size associated with your ball cap'.  Here's Sandy!) 


In a continued acknowledgment of the celebration of 40 years since the passage of Title IX in the United States we must stay aware.  More work is needed as examples of inequitable treatment of women, including those in athletics are constantly available.

I absolutely believe that in these days of continued seeking of athletic equity between the sexes that airline seating for athletes should not be determined by team ranking.  I am pleased to report that discrimination based upon a team’s ranking does not appear to apply to Olympic teams flying to London.   

Recent news has shown Japan’s women’s world-beating soccer team was flown to London in premium economy seating while on the same flight the lower ranked men’s soccer team enjoyed business class and...while making sure not to be outclassed by Japan...Australia has “one upped” Japan. They flew their women’s basketball team (winners of silver medals in the last 3 Olympics) an upgraded premium economy while the men’s basketball team (who have never won an Olympic medal) flew business class.  Representatives attempted to indicate that the difference in accommodations was partially based upon the player heights while no one could explain how this consideration was made with women’s star player, Liz Cambage, standing 203 cm (6’8”) tall while two of the men’s team stand at 188 and 183 cm.

Apparently sprint cycling in Australia better understands equity as the male and female team members all traveled to Europe from their home country in economy class. 

What I want to know is – where do these players manage to store away their knees and legs during the flight as we are all aware of the joke the airlines consider to be adequate seating and leg space.


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In case you have not yet attended a U of L women’s Lacrosse game please take a look at the facilities.  The 2 million dollar Lacrosse Stadium was completed in 2006 and features a “FieldTurf” surface for play.  There is plenty of comfortable seating with a 12’X 20’ Daktronics Video Wall and Scoreboard.  I was unaware and pleasantly surprised at my learning of another top end U of L athletic facility. The YUM! Center is located on your right after you pass through Cardinal Park.

Check it out at : http://www.uoflsports.com/facilities/lou-facilities-lacrosse-stadium.html

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More news surfacing about the 2013 UofL WBB class. Looks like Makayla Epps (Marion County High School, Lebanon, KY) has re-opened her recruiting. 


The tricky game of recruiting. 


WE expect that we'll hear much more about this in the upcoming days. 


We would also remind our readers that we have no insight into what recruits, prospects and talent that is currently hot and in demand with the UofL coaches...because they can't talk about them until the LOI is signed and received. 


If you want rampart rumor speculation, you're at the wrong website. 


Seeing Epps with her knee iced up during the Walz Elite Skills camp raised a question or two. Her game is solid, opening her recruiting up gives her the chance to take a few more trips and see what is out there and she has said for a long time she wants to play her college ball with her teammate at Marion County Kyvin Goodin-Rogers....who de-committed from Louisville earlier this year. As we are fond of saying here at CARDINAL COUPLE: 


"We know nothing." 


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Clip below features Cardinal WBB freshman Megan Deines speaking about her family. 


Thanks to Doug A. for the link!




Megan Deines

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Sandy W
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Sunday Cardinal Couple -- A Tayy a mainstay for Cards

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Asia Taylor -- Triumph over adversity.


( We continue our look at the 2012-13 University of Louisville basketball team with a look at senior Asia Taylor today.) 

The world was looking pretty bright for Asia Taylor in February 2009. She was averaging 29 points a game at Columbus (OH) Whetstone, was a top 25 recruit and headed to final four bound University of Louisville. 


But, in the space of a few seconds, calamity struck. An broken tibia and dislocated ankle injury that had her sidelined for the rest of the season.


"It was devastating. Basketball was my life. I couldn't imagine not playing." Taylor recalls. 


 A long rehab process that had her arriving on the UofL campus less than 100%. Trial by fire on a short-manned UofL squad that had her on the court for long stretches against more experienced and talented opponents. The ups and downs of being a freshman. 


But there was no "quit" in her. A dedication to getting better. Continued determination to improve her skills in the game she loves. 

She remained an important role player through her sophomore and junior years. The talent displayed in her high schools days began to re-surface. The ankle was getting better, the BIG EAST opponents were seeing the board-dominating, inside-scoring and lock-down defense night after night and she was assuming a leadership role with a young bunch of Cardinals that were jelling. She was the second leading rebounder on the 2011-12 squad. 


Then, things changed again.


A sore hip in June 2012 after a day of individual practice. Continued pain the next day. Diagnosis, scans and the determination that surgery would be necessary. Another roadblock in the path.


Some players don't come back from hip surgery. Some find their skills diminished and are never the same.

Asia Taylor will survive. She'll be back, full of the same  fight and desire. 


Just one day after surgery, making an apperance at an Elite skills camp on crutches. No sitting around feeling sorry for herself. Basketball is her life. There was basketball going on. She was going to be there. 


And when she returns, she'll be a working cog in a UofL front line machine that is as strong and deep as it has been since Jeff Walz arrived on the UofL campus. 


There are bad breaks in life. The true test is how you comeback from them. Fight or flight? 

Asia Taylor is a fighter. Asia Taylor is a conqueror. Asia Taylor is a survivor. Time and time again. She probably won't join the 1000-point club at UofL. Most likely won't receive BIG EAST All-Conference awards her senior year. But, she's made a mark on the UofL womens' basketball program. And, will continue to.


If you "google" the word Dedication, though, we'd like to see a picture of her come up next to the definition. 


She's earned it. And keeps on earning it. Dedication to the team. Dedication to the cause. 

Those of you who know me know that it's no secret she's my favorite player on this UofL team. Has been since she got on campus. I've seen the young lady who loves Disney movies and ham and pineapple pizza grow into a confident, self-assured woman who produces, writes and stars in her own videos. I may never be able to walk in Kroger again without chuckling when I walk down the cereal aisle. Video below.


A Tayy31 goes shopping


My heart beats a little faster when she scores, enters a game, grabs a rebound. I groan just a little when she turns the ball over or fails to block out. Rejoice in her triumphs and share the sadness when things don't go so well. 


It's the final go-around for #31 as a college basketball player. But far from the final impact that A-Tayy will have on the world she encounters after graduation.  


Go get 'em, A Tayy!


Have a super Sunday readers and...L1C4 !


Sonja




THE TAYLOR TIMELINE


Games Played  Games Started Points Rebounds  Avg


09-10   31            10               133       82           4.3
10-11   31            18               120       103         3.9
11-12   32            20               180       152         5.6
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..
...