When I was your age

I hate it when young people try to prematurely age themselves. I cringe whenever I hear someone in the mid-twenties say, "OMG, I can't believe so-an-so's sister is graduating from college, we are so ollllldd!".  Yes, time elapses, but that doesn't mean you qualify for Abe Simpson status.

Nevertheless, even I get a little wistful watching as the college landscape is ravaged. The major conferences, their past, their rivalries, had become the comfortable backdrop for every discussion between fans of college athletics. Who's up, who's down, who's overrated, who's dangerous, it was like a big game of Risk in that the geography was shaky, yet still relavant, and everyone mostly knew the rules. The old conference bickering will be missed.

Much like the debate a couple of months ago about expanding the NCAA tournament, I like the way things are, or were, and the motivating greed behind the moves is just too transparent for my taste. We're in uncharted waters, but I think Tom Jurich is the right captain to guide us through.

What a Mas

The worst part of the Derby Ticket scheme is that I'm going to have to look at that face on the left in the CJ for the near future. Yeesh.

Police are still investigating assistant coach Steve Masiello's role in the exchange, but it appears to be larger than was first thought. A corrupt official, a con man, and a UofL assistant. Sounds tailor made for Outside the Lines.

Masiello is one of the highest (or over) paid assistants in college basketball.

Noteworthy on the NBA Finals

Solid win for the Lakers and tough loss for the Celtics last night in Game 3; though no one should have had any illusions that Boston wouldn't lose a game at home. Great series thus far. For the Celtics to win the championship, I think they have to win the next three games, closing out the series in LA in Game 6. Boston does not win this series if it goes seven games.

Here at Cardinal Laws, we've referenced more than once Pitino's failed courtship of Rajon Rondo in favor of Sebastian Telfair. Yestercday, ESPN.com put up an article by Pat Forde detailing Louisville's doomed half-recruitment of Rondo, part of ESPN's special nine chapters (!) on the arc of Rondo's career. Check it out, it told me a lot I didn't know about Pitino's thinking on that one and is also a good read (as is the previous chapter on Rondo growing up in Louisville and the next chapter discussing his highs and lows at Kentucky).

(Hat tip: Straightpinkie).

Free Fallin

Possibly the coolest thing I've ever seen. World champion diver Guillaume Nery basedives into a massive underwater sinkhole.

Cards fall

To the Vanderbilt Leaners, 3-2, in extra innings. Hats off to Dan McDonnell and his squad on a terrific season.

Quote of the Day

Here's Michael Ventre's take on the terrific Final's game last night, glad to see he's doing his part to bring about the death of mainstream sportswriting. One inane blurb...

“We’ve just got to go to Boston and win,” he (Kobe) said with a shrug.

That last item is key here. The shrug. Bryant has apparently made a commitment to aloofness in public. If the Mamba has a mantra, it’s probably “Whatever.” He came out in Sunday’s post-game press conference with the nonchalant look of someone who is vacationing on the Isle of Capri and bored stiff about it.

Seriously? A shrug in a post-game interview after a fierce contest is a referendum on Kobe's commitment to winning? Please read the entire thing, it's the dumbest, most poorly-argued, over-the-top reactionary article I've read in awhile (and I read KSR once a day). Michael, I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

For all the marbles

After getting completely shutdown against Vandy last night, the Cards will play the rubber match for all the marbles tonight at 6:00. I have absolutely no idea what to expect, but it does seem that the Cards batters fare better against supposed "overpowering" fastball pitchers rather than the Greg Maddox junk-artists.

But Dan McDonnell will be back, the crowd will be loud and the temperature hot. High drama at Jim Patterson tonight. By the way, what do you think of the ads? From my limited understanding I think we get paid when they're clicked. We've made roughly 3 cents.

Suck that beak, Commodores!

The Louisville baseball team took down highly-touted Vanderbilt in the regional semifinals on Saturday afternoon, 7-1. Along the way, the Cards rocked star pitcher Sonny Gray for seven runs, which according to Rick Bozich is among his worst shellackings. See Bozich's blog post on the victory here, including the rundown of what happens next:

Vandy moves into the loser's bracket to play Illinois State at noon Sunday. The Commodores beat ISU, 8-7, Friday in 13 innings. The winner of that game plays Louisville at 4 p.m. If the Cards win, they are the regional champs and will host the Super Regional on June 11. If Louisville loses, there will be a rematch for the title on Monday at 6 p.m.

I can't ever get my head around how double-elimination works no matter the sport, so I was grateful for the explanation. Was also interesting to read this recap from the Vandy side. Hat tip to Ditchball yet again. Go Cards!