David Watson on...Success and UofL women's sports -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SUCCESS...OBJECTIVE AND DIFFICULT 

Hi, again from the nutty ex-professor living "the dream" (or nightmare) in Florida. It has been awhile since I've been on these pages. A dottering old man can find all kinds of mischief to get into if he applies himself to the task.

I have taken up another hobby beside golf, collecting 8-track tapes, pestering my kids, wondering why I can't grow tomatoes like I used to back in Muncie, IN and keeping a still very interested eye on UofL Athletics. 

Bocci ball. 

Some call it lawn bowling. it is widely known as bocce, too. Some call it croquet without mallets. Some call it a good waste of valuable land property. Whatever you want to call it, I call it a fun way to spend a couple of hours a few times a week. Maybe it's the shuffleboard of this decade for old farts like me but it is challenging and rewarding at times. Or maybe I just like sitting around after a couple of games and sipping wine and beer with the other participants. I play in a men's and mixed league. Maybe with a few under the witness-protection act -- I don't ask a lot of questions. Keep your eyes downfield and develop a strategy, son.

I would not say I am successful at it yet. But, I am fascinated by it to a degree and trying to become proficient at it. I have gotten pretty good at placing the "jack" (smaller ball -- also called a a pallino or boccino) and I am trying to be a valuable team member. 

I'm not a Asia Durr or Myisha Hines-Allen yet. Maybe a Sam Fuehring or Jazmine Jones. Without the strength and speed. It's fun, though and another reason to slip out of the house before my betrothed can find me with her "honey-do" list. Elusiveness suits wide receivers and me quite well, at times.   

I have to say that I am excited about the things I am seeing here at the website. I like the writing styles of Case and Jared and I think they add a valuable emphasis and depth to the already excellent Jeff and Paulie. Keep up the good work guys. You've come a long way and greater things are ahead for you -- of this I have no doubt. You and your rapport on radio is fun and refreshing. A lot better than some of the crap that passes for sports radio down here. 

I read with interest the recent articles on success. I even took time to send Paulie an e-mail and offer my ideas on it. That's what brings me here to these hallowed and respected pages today. He said "Go for it." I think his hip has his interest more than the site or show these days. I can't condemn him for that. Walking? Yeah, that's a pretty valuable commodity and need. 

I am a firm believer in the quotation: 

-- Successful people do what unsuccessful are not willing to do. Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better -- 

I have met a few very successful folks over my years and found that, to a rule, almost, they have been willing to look at things with an objective viewpoint. Instead of "I can't", they say "Let's try." Instead of "impossible" they see "difficult but possibly worth the effort". The will take the road that many don't want to travel. They see the journey as a chance to learn and benefit, not arduous and cumbersome. They caught breaks, sure, but they make a few of their own as well.  

They are willing to go a few steps further. 

I'd like to think I've been moderately successful in my time here on earth. Not a corporate tycoon or Nobel Prize winner, no yacht or hovercraft in the back yard -- but felt I've made the difference for a few in their lives. I've sent my kids to college. I've retired from a very prestigious university. I can still amble the grocery aisles and come back with a lot of stuff originally on the list. I'm nice to waitresses and can routinely whip Joe Hill in golf. 

I have taught, people have learned. They have come back years later and thanked me for what they learned. That is rewarding. It is maybe one of the most simple concepts out there, but one of the most rewarding.

To learn.

Once you close your mind to the concept of learning, of betterment -- that's when you start to die, in my opinion. I try to be open. Sometimes, it is not an easy thing to do. Embracing concepts and ideas that may not correlate with your own is not easy. The thing is, you can always give them a try, a look-see -- and if they aren't meant for you, at least you probably gained from the experience in some way or means. Ignorance is a sin. Apathy is pointless. 

Or: 

It's difficult to remember your initial objective was to drain the swamp when you're up to your ass in alligators but you learned a valuable lesson.   

On success and sports: 

So -- here's what I would consider successful for three of the six UofL women's sports the guys here have been bandying about lately. No offense, Paulie -- but lacrosse and women's soccer just aren't my bag and I just haven't followed them very closely. After being a field hockey parent and watching one of my daughters for 14 years of grade, middle, high school and college field hockey -- I do believe I am worn out on the sport currently and I'm taking some time away from it.  

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

Water Under the Bridge

I think the Walz Cards need another Angel or Shoni and a supporting cast to surround one. Is Asia Durr that next-in-succession candidate? I didn't ever think it was Mariya Moore and don't think it's Myisha Hines-Allen. Maybe that player is a year or two away? With those two (Angel and Shoni) the "buck stopped there". Yes, a Final Four is probably needed. Or, at least a better performance than the abysmal performance against Baylor that ended last season. That Louisville team quit. Does Coach Walz need to be off coaching USA squads during the summer when he has a relatively unproven roster of 13 on campus that have never been to a Final Four? I'll trust in his judgement, he knows better than I. He does have good assistants. He needs scorers, rebounders and a leader on the court. Whether he can find them or not is a question some are beginning to ask (again). Never doubt the mad scientist, some say. What has he done lately, though? The golden ring has eluded him.  

VOLLEYBALL

Who knows what changes Dani Busboom Kelly can affect? In horse racing parlance...the breeding looks good, the past performances are impressive and there is talent in the barn. Is there spectacular, though? A Katie George? A Lola Arslanbeckova? I'm willing to give Dani a few years to "build it and see if the wins come." I'd think that a top-four conference finish and a better than .500 mark would be the right steps for 2017. And, an emerging star. Normally, when a program moves from a larger to smaller arena, that's not-so-inspiring. Would the Louisville Bats move to Jim Patterson for the season? Or the Tampa Bay Rays to the USF campus? Or is it a step back before a big step forward? A boutique arena might be trendy, I couldn't say for sure, but if you can play in front of 3000 or 1200, which would you choose? Maybe it was a financial thing. 

Will this bunch eventually become "Kelly's Heroes"? The stopwatch has started and you're under the gun, Dani.  

SOFTBALL

She will be greatly missed

Is the clock starting to wind down on Sandy Pearsall? Or has she been reborn and rejuvenated by a new staff and improved facilities? Fans want to see this team get past a regional, or even to a regional, and they've been waiting for awhile. The ACC is a good, but not great conference. Besides Florida State, there are no perennial powerhouses. So, shouldn't the Softball Cards be able to ascend the ladder to success here rather quickly? A follower of the program for quite a few years who now has retired and lives and resides in Florida offered me this insight. 

"Pearsall's successes started to slide when she lost Carol Bruggermann as an assistant. Those high profile recruits don't walk through those gates at Ulmer like they used to. Maybe Sandy's peaked." 

A struggling infield that can only get better with the return of Melton but also an infield that lost Goetz and Sanabria. Losing McNary's speed and Becker's arm. Who will carry the circle staff besides Hensley, who could be inconstant at times last year? A great pitching staff usually has three great pitchers. Louisville has maybe one very good one and question marks. They have hitting returning. The thing is, pitching wins titles. Coaches go get good and healthy pictures.  

So, dear readers: 

It's been great being with you all again. I catch the radio re-broadcasts and the writings here most everyday. I think what Paulie and the guys have built here is a success. It's been a long time since the days of me, Paulie and Sonja doing the articles here and site has come such a long way. I think the ship is in very good shape and full steam ahead, ladies and gentlemen! Keep representing the fans. Don't let the muckity-mucks bully you. Stay strong and independent. There's a lot of negativity out there about UofL Athletics these days. Continue to be a bright spot! 

In the meantime, Ill be out searching for a little white ball in a glorified cow pasture, tossing a hard plastic ball down a freshly manicured surface as close as I can to a smaller ball or scouring yard sales and flea markets for 8 tracks 16,000 + now and still growing. (From Aardvark to ZZ Top and all artists in between). Maybe I'll open a retail outlet. (Next to Mouseville, of course!) 


Your friend, 

David Watson