Earl Clark hosts charity event

Come on out to Bullit East High School tonight, where Earl Clark and SLEW of former Cardinals (including T-Will, Taquan Dean, Samardo Samuels, Terrence Jennings, Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Brandon Jenkins, and even Derrick Caracter) will be playing some ball and goofing around with one another in an informal environment.

It should be a ton of fun, all supporting a great cause. Tickets are $12 and the doors open at 6:00. Go Cards.

**UPDATE**

A Dwight Howard sighting at the event, perchance?? Hurry.

Quentin Snider commits to Louisville, studies for driver's permit

Ballard High School standout Quentin Snider commited to Louisville yesterday. For the class of '14. He is the star point guard for the stellar Louisville Magic AAU team.

It's certainly not a bad thing when a local stud knows he wants to stay home. But '14 is a long way away, and Louisville fans know too well what can happen to these frontrunning Louisville-leans.

He also looks a little like a young Michael Jackson. Not a spitting image, mind you, but if he wanted to post a Thriller video on youtube, I'd watch it. 

Run, it's Crumageddon!, cnt'd

It's a story tailor-made for radio hosts. In that, it's a story that can eat up hours of passionate conversation without ever really saying anything. There's a lot of blather, a lot of dumb things being said and more dumb things being said moments later that contradict what was just said moments before. It's a manna-like story for media where people speak solely from emotion, and logic need not present itself.

But I don't want to be dumb. And I don't want to pretend to be dumb. But I will continue to highlight and mock dumb. So, without further ado, from my limited intake, here's my favorite Top 5 dumbest responses to the Denny Crum-"Legends" story...

5) "If Crum goes through with this, he's dead to me." --UofL message boarder

You've been "in the field" too long my Cardinal friend. Because that's insanity. By "field" I mean message board wars, radio smack, twitter nonsense, etc...

The reason I hold ZERO ill-will towards Crum for choosing to partake in this event is this: HE DOESN'T THINK LIKE THAT.

He's 74. He's loves UofL, but he doesn't hate UK. He's not following the day to day volleys of the blogosphere, he's scarcely aware there is a blogosphere! He hasn't even been in town since this whole thing "blew up". That kind of message board-animosity, scheming to "wipe a rival off the map", that kind of thinking is utterly foreign to him. As it should be, it's probably why he's primed for a long and healthy life and I'll be dead by 50.

I do believe that Calipari does care about such things, so yes, in that regard I think he's using Denny to try and further his obsessive one-sided war against Pitino. But that reveals Cal's character, not Denny's.

4) "I might have lofty standards for my trash-talking, but I’m a little underwhelmed by this.  If Cal wanted to take shots, he’d take shots. That’s what he does and he doesn’t leave any room for interpretation." --Thomas Beisner, KSR editor

A quote made without apparent irony, one in the longstanding "if wishing makes it so" practice of KSR trying to create its own reality.

This quote was actually in response to another of Cal's twitter "slams" vaguely directed at Coack K of Duke, but it fits into my repeated retorts against Calipari being described as "tough" and ballsy", as he has been by almost all throughout this Denny story.

No, Thomas, Cal doesn't "take shots". He skirts, insinuates, pokes, prods, but he doesn't "take shots". He's not a badass, he never has been, nor will he ever be. He's not even a confident, well-adjusted, adult by most definitions. True to form with this Denny-"Legends" thing, Cal is only interested in flexing his "big brass balls" from the shadows. Then turn it over to Matt Jones. And then if enough people repeat it, it becomes true.

3) "The flipside of this is that it reveals UofL's obsession with Coach Cal." --Chip Cosby, Wazoo Sports Buzz

Facepalm. So when someone is pathologically obsessed with irking, stalking, and scheming against your program, and if some fans register annoyance to that fact, all the sudden it really says more about you?

Very zen of you, Mr. Cosby. Moronic, but zen.

2)  "It’s a basketball event in a basketball town in one of the nation’s best basketball arenas. If I’m a UofL fan, I want rival fans and players in there at every opportunity, just to show the place off." --Eric Crawford, CJ blog

It's a weird statement, something I'd expect my wife to say rather than a sportswriter: "C'mon in everyone, make yourself at home. Our new arena is cuuuuuuuuute!"

1)  "I’ve heard it said that this is one way for Calipari to slap U of L, but I don’t think so. How does it hurt U of L? I just don’t see it. Joe B. Hall has been coming to U of L events for years and is welcomed with open arms. It hasn’t changed his standing as a UK icon (though, let’s face it, UK fans had to grit their teeth when he was wearing a U of L hat watching his granddaughter play softball there.)" --Eric Crawford, same blog linked above

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd, we have a winner! Dumbest comment by a few miles. I mean, if Crawford actually believes what he's writing, he has his head in the sand and isn't very good at his job. If he's just ignoring the reality of the situation for whatever reason, he's professionally dishonest and isn't very good at his job.

You don't believe this to be an affront (albeit a small, petty one) to UofL? You think Cal is actually just sincere in his appreciation of Denny Crum's fine accomplishments?

And what's worse, you think this is akin to UK fans having to "grit their teeth" when Joe B. Hall once wore a UofL cap during his granddaughters softball game??? WHAT. PLANET. ARE. YOU. WATCHING. FROM?

There's probably 10 people in the state that remembered that Joe B. Hall's granddaughter played softball for UofL. There's probably 4 people that were "upset" over it. Zero were "gritting their teeth" over the fact.

To compare the situations is absurd and intellectually dishonest. And the only way Crawford could be surprised by the fact that some fans are upset when Calipari begins using a UofL patron saint as a pawn in his petty war against Pitino is if he pretends to be less shrewd than he is.

But to play dumb is to be dumb.

Steve Kragthorpe diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease

And according to LSU sources, has stepped down from his role as the Tigers offensive coordinator. Our thoughts go out to the Kragthorpe family, one that has suffered an inordinate share of bad health in recent years.

Get well, Coach.

Football practice starts and other tidbits

* Practice began bright and early this morning, and word is slowly trickling out from some of the poor souls up at that hour. Charlie Strong sent out encouraging tweets, saying that he was pleased with his team's effort and how hard they went at it.

Senior Terrence "Wolverine" Simien is back to full strength and is staying at his safety position, despite some talk that the 6'3'', 210lbs player would be moving to linebacker.

Michaelee Harris, one of the most anticipated players of the Strong Era, is also back from his knee injury and made some dazzling catches.

Stephan Robinson, the speedster out of Central High School, is lining up at cornerback rather than receiver. Strong seems to be taking a kitchen sink approach to the beleaugered secondary, and refuses to single out defensive backs so none gets the impression that a starting job has been secured.

* Rick Pitino has a new blog post, which is always worth a read.

* The #1 ranked men's soccer team will play in a highly anticipated rematch against #2 UCLA. Charlie Springer has more.

* Jeff Walz is also a busy man, he just landed a Top 50 commit in the 2012 class. Newest Ladycard Cortnee Walton had some nice words to say about the Louisville athletic community.

Strong after first practice

It's OUR football team.

Video from today's press conference

Pitino presser recap

* Starting 5 if season started today? Siva-Chris Smith-Kuric-Behanan-Dieng. Sounds right to me. Although I expect Blackshear to move into the starting lineup once he rounds back into playing shape.

* "Physically, Wayne hasn't played basketball in a long time."

* Fully expects both Blackshear and Ware to join the team soon. Says the only reason their absence is being discussed is because of the Bahamas trip.

* Kevin Keatts is the best person at reading high school transcripts he's ever seen. Umm, awesome!

* On Chane's game: "Chane has terrific potential, but is not fundamentally sound. He has a tremendous instinct for the game...but he's got to learn how great players score."

* Said Gorgui needs to improve his shot blocking, which I thought was an interesting comment. I do love how Pitino makes it a point to highlight and get players to get better at what they already do well.

* Pitino got on Gorgui in a recent practice after Elisha Justice drove the lane and scored in the area Gorgui was defending. Pitino was dismayed that Dieng let a 5'9'' player that can't dunk score in the lane. Dieng's response? "I like the Bullet very much".

* "You OK Kenny, are we keeping you up?". Never gets old.

* Clearly Pitino wants Behanan to be more of a banger. He criticized him for "floating on the perimeter" too much. But at the same time, he wants Chane to score. He wants him to get to the line, get garbage points around the rim, etc. Says he's a "unique player" and wants him to dominate the game in an unconventional way. Absolutely loves his attitude and says he's a joy to coach.

* Reiterated that Peyton Siva is one of the best human beings he's ever led. Says his shot "has improved, but not dramatically". Needs to improve his balance, said he's on the floor "more than anyone I've ever seen".

* Kyle Kuric's shooting is better than ever, and he's more comfortable in the mid-range.

* Dark horse for impact player? Stephan Van Treese, who Pitino again singled out for his improved jumper and hard work in the off-season.

* Expects Blackshear to play multiple positions. Also said Kevin Ware will as well, but he will be needed to play some point guard this season.

* "There are certain principles that I believe in that are very old school. In other ways, I'm very liberal".

* Will coach out his Louisville contract. Says national championship is still the ultimate goal.

Run, it's Crumageddon!

UK fans penchant for hyperbole is well-trodden ground. So it's not surprising to learn that Calipari is trying to lure Denny Crum to coach in the UK Legends Game held at the Kayefseum, and that fact has Cats fans cackling with faux-delight much like the faux-outrage they muster after whatever "slight" of the day. Three quick thoughts, and then I'll leave the non-story behind.

1) It's a dumb idea. I mean, really dumb. You know why I wouldn't want Joe B. Hall to coach a UofL game? Um, because I'm a UofL fan. Apparently the simplest argument staring UK fans in the face eludes them, or is completely lost in the new landscape of slights, jabs, and utterly meaningless gamesmenship. Why the hell would you want your "Legends" team coached by a hated rival? Slightly annoying UofL fans means that much? Whatever. More power to you, I guess.

My advice to Cards fans would just be to take Calipari at face value, say thanks for recognizing Crum's achievements, maybe he can show Calipari what a national championship ring looks like. If the entire reason is to upset UofL fans, the only logical response is to not be upset. I mean, what am I supposed to be afraid of? Do I think Crum will suddenly switch loyalties to UK? Are the achievements of his 30 year Louisville coaching career now diminished? Of course not. It's a meaningless exhibition game.

2) Which fan base is supposed to be obsessed with the other again? What I find intriguing is how proud UK gets when their coach does these little things. They burst with pride, talking about how their coach has huge, brass balls and a "Vince McMan Swagger". Because nothing's ballsier than skulking around like Iago, searching for underhanded slights and schemes all while maintaining a safe distance. Cal's not ballsy. Ballsy would be to sac up and state your true motives; if you hate Rick Pitino and UofL and trying to do whatever you can to weaken them no matter how small, if that's important to you, man up and say it. But he never will. Because Cal is a petty, petty man, and he's found an environment he can thrive in, where his cowardice is rewarded as bravery.

3) I doubt Crum will do it. Maybe he considered the bizarre request at first, probably not recognizing Cal's hidden motives, as something so stupid would never have occurred to him. But upon reflection, and after the radio/media blitz going on at the moment, there's no way he goes through with it. Denny Crum isn't in the business of helping Calipari win his cat-and-mouse games.

Tom Jackson on Louisville football and Charlie Strong

Another satisfied customer. From the Bozich blog:

According to Tom, Louisville is even the front-runner college choice for her daughter, who wants to come here and play soccer. Way to give back to your alma mater Tom.

Read Dr. Bo's full post here.