Greenwell leads Team USA again...

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SATURDAY FROM THE CHIMPS DEPARTMENT AT CARDINAL COUPLE:

We've turned the Saturday Edition of C.C. over to chimps.

-Lala writes: I wish I could play hoops like Becca Greenwell

-Co Co tells us: Atlanta Dream falls to Lynx 96-85

Gearing up for another Cardinal Couple
weekend. Keep 'em coming, boyz!

-Jojo sends us pictures from Downs After Dark.

It's almost getting to be predictable news. Another Team USA game, another 30-40 point romp and Becca Greenwell leading the team again in scoring. Happened again last night in Mexico. 99-51 destruction of the Puerto Ricans and onto the Saturday title game against Brazil...who topped Canada yesterday.

Greenwell had 20 points, 6 boards in the USA win. She offers:

"Now that we are all in a groove and we've played a couple of games, I think we all have the confidence to share the ball and knock down shots."

(Hopefully basketball shots and not the house tequila from the hotel
bar.)

The USA squad benefited from a 23-0 run in the second half. In Brazil tonight, they face a team that actually gave them a brief challenge for a half earlier in the week. Bring the gold home, ladies.

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Angel is back but her teammates aren't
on the bus yet...

The Atlanta Dream fell to 1-4 last night, losing to the Minnesota Lynx 96-85 in Minneapolis. Angel is definitely back on her game...scoring 27 in the loss...but the Dream couldn't contain Rebekkah Brunson (18 points, 14 grabs), Lindsay Whalen (16 points, eight assists) and Maya Moore (13 points).

The Dream hung close for a half, but a 13-0 Minnesota run early in the third quarter put the Lynx up 54-43. The Lynx pushed that out to 78-64 and Atlanta could get no closer that six points the rest of the way.

Erika de Souza scored 18 for the Dream and Izianne Castro Marquez ended with 12.

Nobody expected this poor of a start for the defending Eastern Division champs from 2010 and one has to wonder where the magic and cohesion that took the Dream to the finals went. With only one major lineup change...bringing Lindsey Harding in at point guard...it's the same Dream attack.

A long season to go still. We'll just look at it as a work-in-progress.

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The paddock area at Churchill around 11 p.m. or so...

Raindrops didn't dampen the spirits of the Downs After Dark crowd at Churchill Downs last night. A large turnout for the event...which featured eleven races and live music. The crowd was still going strong when this guy left after midnight...dancing to the sounds of DMC down in the paddock area.

Greta Kuntzweiler doesn't get a lot of riding opportunities at Churchill Downs, so to see her in five races yesterday was a bit intriguing. She's Sonja's favorite jockey, so I dutifully put $2 across the board on her horses. She didn't disappoint..winning the 2nd race at 7-1 and the third race at 15-1. Must have worn the poor girl out...she didn't hit the board in any of her final three rides...but the $30 invested turned into $73. Yes, I gave Sonja the winnings. She was last reported being seen at a local area nurseries' plant sale...

Paul unofficial axioms of racing at Churchill have been:

1) You must include Freddy Lenclud in your wagering
2) Gotta use Manny Cruz. Doesn't like to lose.
3) Those in the know choose Julian Leparoux

We add another one:
4) You better "betta" Greta.

In the background watching Peb paint is CARDINAL
COUPLE Director of Wagering and nonsense Tommy Boy
who is waiting for a chance to do some painting. His
request was denied.

If you've been to the Downs, you may have seen the murals on the 2nd floor clubhouse wall near the food court. Wonderfully character-painted stars of horse racing from yesterday to current. Last night, I got the opportunity to watch the creator of these murals at work. PEB BULLOCQ is pictured at work here adding the trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom...H. Graham Motion... to the mural.

Peb is lively and talkative artist and cheerfully answered questions while he added Motion to the mural (center right). He chuckled when I mentioned that the caricature looked like Donny Osmond. Unfortunately, it looks like the mural is out of room to add any more offerings. Here's hoping that the Churchill guys give him a blank canvas to create a new montage of personalities...
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