Channeling George Noory...

Loyal readers are aware of my fascination with all things paranormal. Look, I'm no UK fan, I like to think I'm still grounded in objective reality, but even so, CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL THIS THING IS???

Eastern China has been abuzz for the last week, this is the second well-documented, yet unexplained recent sighting.

How does it relate to UofL sports, you ask? Well, I recall reading an editorial in the CJ from a disgruntled local a few months ago (that they love to publish) complaining that the new downtown arena was an abomination that looks like a spaceship landed on the Waterfront.

So there.

Here's hoping we can hang a banner in The New Gal before this whole ship goes down in 2012.

Now, where did I put my tin foil?

I'm not joking.

I got a little bit of somethin, god it's better than nothin

Another slow, sweaty week as we count down to September 4th. Here's a few tidbits to help pass the time...

* Charlie Strong has his own sandwich at Champion's Bar & Grill. Sounds pretty tasty, but I prefer the "Charlie Strong Burger" served at Shenanigans in the Highlands. Two beef patties, grilled onions, pepperjack cheese...a fine product.

By the way, the "Kragthorpe Burger" jokes never get old. From my understanding it was made from top-ten sirloin, had all the condiments returning, and was poised to be a burger of national prominence. But then the waiter drops it in the urinal and covers it with hair before serving it to you.

* I love Jody Demling's work, but I think I would blow my head off if I had to cover recruiting for a living. I tuned in to his live blog today to be treated to 900 iterations of, "Does Quincy Miller like us? But does he like like us??"

Wake me when we have a commit.

* Speaking of, the football Cards got a big one today, literally. Ryan Mack, the 6'6'' 320lbs offensive tackle has given his verbal to Louisville. Click here to see him in action. Pretty impressive clips as far as offensive tackles go.

* And finally, the conventional wisdom about the 2010 Football Cards is hardening quicker than concrete. Roughly, it seems to be that the Cards will stink, but not as bad as last year, the team will play hard and show signs of improvement, and the fans will rally and reunite.

I'd like to buck the trend for a minute and propose that these Cards will be good. Like, winning many games good. Like, going to a bowl good.

Maybe I've just seen too many episodes of "Friday Night Lights" lately (a terrific show, I'm watching them nonstop to fill the hole that "Lost" left in my life) and therefore am delusional about how quickly a team can turn around.

But, as painful as last season was, I can't shake the memory that we weren't that far from a winning season, we were competitive in almost every contest. So I find it somewhat baffling how tempered most fans' expectations are.

We have the skill players to win now. Guys like Darius Ashley and Vic Anderson are top-flight talents, and there's a talented group of frosh that will battle for the reward of immediate playing time. Throw in some competence in the headset, a new team attitude, and actual fans in the seats, and there's no reason why dividends should not be reaped immediately.

The Governors' Cup sets the tone for the season, and we match up well against the Cats. We have the backfield speed that can expose their weakened defensive line, and they lack the true quarterback to exploit our, how to put it, mercurial secondary.

Win that game and all bets are off. So get hyped Cards fans, dream big. No one ever got anywhere on this marble through meekness, and life's too short to talk 10-year rebuilding plans. I'm calling for 8-4 next season and a bowl in temperate weather. You heard it here first.

Go Cards.

Ladies and gentleman, we have a jury!

Despite all odds, the U.S. District Court was able to find 16 local men and women unbiased enough to sit in judgment on one Karen Cunagin Sypher. Her two-week trial commences July 26th.

This has always struck me as a flaw in our judicial system, at least when it comes to well-publicized cases. Sure, unbiased members of the jury are a virtue, but shouldn't minimum levels of engagement with community be one as well? I cannot fathom the Louisvillian that doesn't have some preconceived notions about the case.

Samardo's debut...

In the Bulls losing effort last night was so-so, one of those B- efforts those that followed his college career got used to. In 16 minutes of play he scored 8 points, was only 1/2 from the field, but he continued his penchant for getting whistles and went 6/10 from the free throw line. Perhaps most importantly, he turned the ball over 4 times. Not a disastrous performance, but not close to the type of play he'll need to showcase in order to make the team.

For shame

Just because the newly announced NCAA tournament format isn't as disastrous as doubling the whole field doesn't mean it shouldn't be derided for what it is. Stupid.

Under the new guidelines, a new round, the "First Four" round, will be played early in the week between the last four "at-large teams" against the final four "automatic qualifiers". The greed works thusly...

The "First Four" will be played either the Tuesday or Wednesday after Selection Sunday. The winners of the four games will advance to what will now be called the "second round" on either Thursday or Friday. The newly named third round -- with 16 games -- will be Saturday and Sunday.

It's just dumb. No matter how hard they try to redefine a lexicon that has arisen organically, the new "first round" will be recognized for what it is, a stupid gimmick to maximize revenue.

It's not a "round" if only eight teams have to play. And you're no longer an "automatic qualifier" if you must jump through another hoop than the rest of the field to join the Big Dance.

The Selection Committee's task is an unscientific endeavor, but at least it's a line in the sand.

To throw another subjective rung in the mix, this one covered by thinly-veiled greed, it flirts with permanently scarring our March Love Affair.

And, without a doubt, that is the end game. This is the initial push down the slippery slope to the expanded field that every CBS and ESPN suit wants to see. It further devalues our terminology and paves the way for the "expanded field" to be more palatable...

"Wow! Did you watch last night? What a great game! Look how many quality teams are out there! How can we deny these young athletes a chance at March glory? Let's expand the whole tournament! Huh? Huh?!?"

The Big Dance should be the great equalizer. You punch your ticket, you win 6 games, you reap the glory. Adding qualifiers bastardizes the process and muddles our March language, except for one word. Greed.

Brian Bennett back and talkin' Red and Black!

The former CJ writer, now ESPN's Big East beat reporter, Brian Bennett is looking ahead to the 2010 season. Speaking from a bizarrely nondescript location, Bennett offers some fairly generic observations about Louisville's prospects moving forward. But I don't care, it's good to be talking football and it's good to have him back in my life. I mean that in the creepiest way possible.

Tweets of note

The "No Fly Zone" broke the news today that would-be Cardinal tackle DeAntre Rhodes will not be eligible to play next season. Here's what he wrote, also updating us on his own status...

Dang! My main man DeAntre Rhodes aint gonna make it to Da Ville dis year. I am prayin I can play sum ball dis year there!

To All My Fans: I am goin 2 do watever is needed of me to play ball @ Da Ville! Trust me on dat, it wont b cuz I didnt try. Count on dat

Viva Sosa

Edgar Sosa has landed with the Detroit Pistons, and was largely credited with sparking their comeback in a summer league game on Saturday. Edgar scored six points, dished five assists, and ably commanded the offense. After the game, Detroit assistant coach Pat Sullivan said, "It's no secret. You guys saw who changed the game, at least in my eyes, was Sosa." Watch the highlights below to see him score on a slick corkscrew layup and make a beautiful bounce pass on the fastbreak...