PLAY, DELAY OR STAY AWAY? -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 JCPS ATHLETIC BOARD MAKES THE CALL TONIGHT

The Jefferson County Public School Athletic Board meets this evening to make a decision on fall sports in the Louisville area. 

If you're wondering what exactly this has to do with the joy and excitement of University of Louisville athletics, consider the rosters of the women's fall sports squads on the Belknap campus. You'll find several "homegrown" student athletes on the squads. Women's Soccer star Emina Ekic, who went to Louisville Manual. Sam Minrath and India Reed both played field hickey locally. Louisville Volleyball has a couple as well on  the 2020 roster with Alexa Hendricks and Anna DeBeer. Local talent has always been a "feeder"for the Louisville fall women's sports squads -- and there are many other high school seniors who have played at Jefferson County high schools and gone on to other colleges and universities to establish student-athlete careers. 

Earlier this month, the KHSAA (Kentucky High School Athletic Association) voted to proceed with fall sports. Jefferson County, however, has a bit of different circumstances than some of the smaller counties and communities that make up the KHSAA. The wider spread of COVID-19 being the main one. 

This is a decision ahead that isn't going to be popular, no matter which way the athletic board votes. 

If they decide to start fall sports, there will be worry about the health and safety of the participants, coaches and those who attend the events as fans. If they cancel the fall events, there will be an outcry from the coaches, parents and student-athletes who want events and participation. The third option is a delay. That, in itself, had subsections -- in, how long a delay? For a month, until the spring, until January 1st, 2021? 

This is no easy decision to make and I'm glad I'm not on that board that will make the decision tonight.

To the north of Louisville, Southern Indiana high schools, who have already gone back to school, are also playing fall sports. Including football. With fans in the stands. Of course, it's too early to tell what COVID-19 case will spring up from that. From all indications, spacing and masking has been in place in the stands. But, what about the linemen, or forwards and defenders on the field that are breathing on each other unmasked? 

The vast majority of fall sports are, of course, outdoors. Volleyball, though, in Kentucky can start practice today and begin matches/competition on Sept. 7th. 

It'll be interesting to see how the Jefferson County High School Sports board votes tonight. 

APOLOGIES AND CHANGES

Our platform for posting articles here at Cardinal Couple is Blogger. Blogger recently went through some updates and changes designed to "improve the experience". 

Maybe...

What has happened here on the posting end is that the format has gone to double spacing only, which is annoying and not great for a daily column like ours. Also, pictures and labels have become much harder to add to articles. And, finally, the ability to comment on articles has disappeared, it seems, for many of our readers. 

On Thursday of last week, commenting suddenly stopped functioning for a lot of you. I've gotten e-mails from you and I thank you for letting me know about this function not working for you. I apologize for not jumping on this situation earlier, but, it took me awhile just to figure out how to try and change things in the blogger format and, quite honestly, I'm not sure I understand it yet. 

Gee, I could use an IT guy...

And, I haven't commented in awhile, admittedly, so I don't know if it affects the staff here or not, and, let's be honest, our guys aren't much on commenting to begin with -- but the loss of readers' comments does concern me. And, the staff here is registered to comment under a different category than the "anonymous" commentor....we're registered through Blogger.  

I know, commenting "anonymously" can be trickey with the verifying stuff you have to do...like "how many fire hydrants are there above?" or "choose the automobiles" but we have to have some type of verification/identity procedures here -- otherwise the comments would be over-run by "bots", spammers and sellers. 

So, my request is simple. Would you try to comment today? It doesn't need to be long or eloquent. Just a simple "Interesting article" or "I disagree" or even "Hi guys!"  -- anything, just to see if we can get comments again. I'm no I.T. specialist, so maybe I messed something up in the change-over. 

Thanks for you help.   

paulie

Agents of Change -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CONTINUING THE LEARNING PROCESS

The student-athletes at the University of Louisville began returning to campus on Monday. A chance for them to reconnect with their teammates, their coaches and staff and other student-athletes. 

A different return than in other years. A return that is affected by two major changes in the world we used to know. The COVID-19 Pandemic and the social unrest present over changes needed in our society. 

Teams are taught to "rise as one" and be a united unit when they take to their various venues of activity in sporting events. That unity needs to be nurtured and applied in our current situation. An understanding the things that are needed to be done to stay safe, healthy and to battle this deadly virus. Also, the unity in creating an example of how people of all walks of life, socioeconomic status, heritage and upbringing can be brought together as a solid, unified base for the way our society now needs to be. 

An acceptance, understanding, respect and practice of all being created equal. 

The University of Louisville has received numerous awards for public service, community involvement and academic excellence. These awards must continue to be employed by the student-athletes. No resting on one's laurels. College is a learning experience, use it and benefit from it for the betterment of all. Life is a learning experience. The late Sam Cooke song -- "A Change Is Going To Come" is worth a listen.   Our work is not done.  Hear the words, act on the words. 

LINK: A CHANGE IS GONNA COME

Being agents of change is a task that requires dedication and commitment. Doing the right thing. Working with others to affect a change. Teaching by example and having open, frank, honest and meaningful dialogue and discussions. Being the change that you want others to learn from and follow. 

Learning. 

Sporting events will eventually return. So will fan support and attendance of these events. Let them be examples to all that, despite the rivalries and regional differences, at the end of the contest, there is unity. 

A coach told me years ago that giving one's all in a contest was all he could ask of an athlete. If my best effort didn't produce a victory, there was no reason to hang my head. As long as I knew that I had "left it all out there on the field of competition" then there was no reason for sorrow. My best that day simply wasn't as good as those who competed against me if we lost. There was a chance to learn from the defeat. To grow. 

As a player, these are simple rules to follow: 

-- Living clean and playing hard. Playing for the love for game. 

-- Winning without boasting, losing without excuses and never quitting

-- Respect for coaching and official's decisions. Accepting them with the knowledge that they were designed for the betterment of the event. 

-- Never forgetting that you represent a school or organization and acting accordingly.

These are guidelines than can easily be applied to the world outside of sports. 

Living clean, doing the right things and showing love, compassion and understanding. Being complimentary and humble in life's victories, not making up excuses for failures and learning from those defeats. Never quitting. Respect for the proper authority. Not blindly following authority but realizing that if change is needed in authority, that change will come. Representing your cause or idea in a peaceful, non-violent fashion. Being quick to praise, slow to blame and learning from mistakes. Seeing all sides objectively. Doing the right thing. It's time to listen and respond. It's far overdue, but it is never too late. 

Authority figures must learn that it is their role to serve, protect and set the right examples. Authority figures must not taunt and belittle. They must see their responsibility of leadership and perform it correctly and effectively. 

It is time to stop being a self-sacrificing "me first" society and work toward equality and improvement. It will be a tough battle.

It is long overdue. 

 We must stay dedicated toward it, though. Don't quit. A player may miss a shot, a block, a pass or assignment...but they do not quit. They learn from the mistake and learn to do better. The five year-old doesn't not make every shot he attempts, but, if the hard work and dedication is there....that five-year old could become an Angel McCoughtry or Asia Durr. Two examples of never quitting. Follow their example. Don't quit on making a change. Don't quit on becoming better. And don't quit on learning and understanding. 

I strive to become a little better each day. There are days I win, there are days I lose -- but in my losses, I learn. Will you take that challenge? Will you be an agent of change? 

I will not quit. Will you join me ? 

As our student-athletes return, so does the learning process. Remember, they are our future. They will be the decision-makers, leaders, agents of changes.

Let us believe in them, support them and understand that there will be good and bad days for them. They will not quit. Support them, support your friends, neighbors and learn how to look at all sides of an issue and grow from your observations. 

It takes a much bigger person to admit they were wrong and want to change than being a person who boasts about their accomplishments. Acceptance is the first step in learning. In betterment. 

Welcome back, student-athletes. Be that shining example we need in today's world. 


paulie
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paulie
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