Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Mariya Moore ready for more.

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Mariya ready for more

- Pauley Pavillion floods


( WE SHARE THIS GREAT READ TODAY FROM USAB ABOUT INCOMING FRESHMAN MARIYA MOORE...WHO IS CURRENTLY IN COLORADO SPRINGS WITH COACH WALZ PREPARING FOR THE FIBA AMERICAS U 18 CHAMPIONSHIP

As an applicant athlete back in 2011, Mariya Moore (Salesian H.S./Richmond, Calif.) made her way to USA Basketball’s Women’s U16 National Team trials on her own, with the hope many young girls had-- to make the national team.


Being an applicant athlete is tough, as you are competing against the most talented girls around the nation, some of whom were invited by the USA Basketball Developmental National Team Committee to participate, however, this does not mean any one player has a greater or lesser chance of making the team.


In fact, several applicant athletes have made a USA Basketball team and gone on to win gold medals. In 2011, that wasn’t the case for Moore.


It would be easy to give up and refuse to try again, and Moore said she sometimes felt like that, but she refused to let that attitude overtake her.


“Not making it definitely changed my outlook on things,” Moore said. “When I first came and paid my own way, I worked really hard to try to make the team, but I didn’t, and sometimes for me personally, that could bring me down.


“It also just pushed me to work harder so that I would never again have that same feeling,” she continued.


In 2014, she was no longer an applicant, but was instead invited to participate in the USA Women’s
U18 National Team trials, and this time, she made the 12-member roster.


“Coming from being an applicant before lets me know that anyone can make this team; they just have to work hard.”


Back in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this week for the 2014 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team training camp, Moore is appreciative of the opportunity and ready to take on the challenge of playing for a gold medal. The USA will begin play at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship on Aug. 6.


“Training camp has been competitive; intense,” she admitted. “We’re teammates, and off the court we’re cool, but we know when we’re on the court and the ball goes up, we’re going hard every time. And then after it, we’ll be cool again.”


Playing under the instruction of head mentor Dawn Staley (University of South Carolina) and assistant coaches Kim Barnes Arico (University of Michigan) and Jeff Walz (University of Louisville), Moore is trying to absorb and take advantage of every moment, especially when it comes to her interactions with coach Walz, who also will be her college mentor this fall.

As an incoming Louisville freshman, Moore has been on campus for almost two months now, and though being away could result in her having a few things to catch up on, she is happy to be with USA Basketball this summer on a journey she will share with the person who will guide her for the next four years of her life.


“College is definitely treating me well, I’m enjoying it. But being here with coach Walz this summer is special,” Moore shared.

Link to story

http://bit.ly/1o9OUAJ



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WE parodied the failed attempts of Don Paulie to get his own pavillion established at UofL women's home events several weeks ago on our radio show. Could The Don maybe delivered some payback?


                      Flooding from ruptured water main threatens UCLA's Pauley Pavilion

CARDINAL COUPLE did ask The Don if he had any knowledge of the wet goings-on out at UCLA.

His response:

" I don't know nothin' about that or any other supposed activities in
California. Me and Johnny were in Louisville and we got plenty of witnesses.

We was feeding the ducks down by the lake at Cave Hill Cemetery when this happened.

A place of business has to be careful about things, though...you never know when a pipe
might burst, toilet back up or a couple of "collection" guys stop in and leave a
gentle reminder about who IS the real Paulie...and that he shouldn't be messed with...

Going forward...we'd like to extend our hopes and desires that this new aquatic facility
in Los Angeles becomes a success...and that our security and protection services are
available if needed..."

paulie

"Coach" passes on

The legendary basketball coach John Wooden has gone to the big fieldhouse in the sky. "The Wizard of Westwood" was 99 and died Friday night.

John Wooden changed the game of basketball. He had three basic rules. Don't be late, don't use profanity and don't disrespect you teammates. He was a man who acheived his great success at UCLA while making $35,000 a year.

I was lucky enough to meet Coach many years ago. He seemed so small, so fragile up close when you spoke with him. He spoke with a gentle confidence...no bragging, just a matter of fact acknowlegement about his successes and his life.

It took Wooden 14 years at UCLA before he won the first of 10 NCAA Championships. In today's "what have you done for me lately" coaching circus...this seems incredible.

We cover University of Louisville women's sports here at CARDINAL COUPLE...but sports as we know them...male or female...were changed by Wooden. He created a dynasty in college basketball...one that will never be equalled again in the game. You can talk about the UConn Huskies and Geno's reign over women's hoops...but his great accomplishments pale against what Wooden did.

Wooden was an Indiana farmboy. He coached in Kentucky briefly at Dayton High School. A small northern Kentucky school..right outside Covington. I played basketball in the tiny gym at Dayton back in the early seventies. A small, nondescript gym...bleachers right up against the court and deadspots in the wood. A plaque in the gym honored Wooden, unfortunately the players at Dayton that year were far removed from the skills of Wooden's UCLA teams.

As we prepared to get back on the bus to return to Louisville after drubbing Dayton by 30+ points, our coach led us out to see the plaque one more time. I don't recall exactly what he said, but he talked about Wooden's ideals. Never giving up, pride and respect for the sport and those who participate in it. Hard work and dedication.

I don't know if that small school and that small gym still exist. I do know, though the the large legacy of the coach who once patrolled those floors will live forever.

Rest ye easy, Coach. Thank you.

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Don't freak out because of all the fire engines and sirens the rest of the weekend here in Louisville. It's Crusade for Children time. Carry a little extra change around with you today and tomorrow and donate to this very worthy cause. The Crusade was my late father's favorite charity and all the volunteers that work the intersections, ride the fire trucks and walk the streets collecting money get a big tip of the hat and sincere thank you from CARDINAL COUPLE.