Saturday Cardinal Couple -- B.B. headed to Poland

.
SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Becky Burke headed to Poland for Eurohoops


-Theophille, Okoro lead Cards in NCAA Track/Field


-Ky. High School Girls thump Ind. 75-47


-Angel movie?


-Belmont Stakes picks


Louisville womens basketball player Becky Burke has signed a contract to play for ROW Rybnik Poland in the highly competitive EuroBasketball leagues. 

Burke joins a team that went 15-11 in competition in the 2011-12 season. A scan of the roster from last year shows several former USA college stars were on the squad last season. Alexis Rack (Miss. St./San Antonio), Mekia Valentine (UCSB/N.Y. Liberty), Sybil Dotsy (Ariz. St.) and Rebecca Harris (Illinois) played for Rybnik last season.

Given the transient nature of players and rosters in Euro basketball, it's hard to say whether they'll be there in the upcoming season to help Becky learn the important phrases in Polish like pizza, cereal, remote control and Justin Bieber...but it's a great opportunity for the Clarks Summit, PA star who was UofL's long range specialist in her four years at the Ville. We'll always remember the "Beckster" for that big smile, too. 


Going from the red and black to the green and orange. Load up on the Cocoa Puffs, B.B. Just in case. We hear the Polish cereal brands aren't that great. 


*******************************************


Results from Friday NCAA Outdoor Championships:

Four UofL womens track and field stars were in action yesterday in Des Moines, Iowa for the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Michelle Theophille tied for 6th in the high jump and Maggie Gilbertson tied for 17th. Theophille cleared six feet (or 1.83m...for
you metric fans) in her best attempt. 


In the shot put, Chinwe Okoro finished seventh with a toss of 56-5.75 and Khadila Abdullah grabbed eleventh place...hurling the ball 54-4.75. 


*******************************************

The Kentucky All-Star girls basketball team took it to Indiana last night in Freedom Hall, pounding the Hoosiers 75-47. Kentucky Miss Basketball Sydney Moss led the way for the winners with 14 points and 11 grabs. She was proud of the feat:


" Been a lot of good Kentucky teams to come through here and to beat them by the second-biggest margin is saying a lot."


Moss is headed to Florida this fall to be a student-athlete and is the daughter of NFL great Randy Moss. 


Took the Kentucky squad a bit to get started, going scoreless in the first five minutes of the contest, played in front of a sparse crowd in Freedom Hall. Marion County's Bre Elder (Dayton) finally connected for KY and it was 39-27 at the half for the home team. Indiana was 0 for game from the three-point arc. 


The two squads will battle again today in Indy.


*******************************************


Film in the works for #35? Charlie Springer spills the beans (hopefully not the popcorn) over at the very fine UofL Card Game. Give "The Observer" a read at the link below. 


Angel documentary


*******************************************
******************


OK, here they are. The CARDINAL COUPLE Belmont Stakes picks. A revised forecast, since the "scratch" of I'll Have Another. 

Not gonna happen...

Disappointment? Sure. Everyone wanted to see the California hero try for the Triple Crown. Tendinitis in the left front leg will make that something that isn't going to happen. We're guessing no amount of Aleve could have taken care of the pain (that's what Paul takes for his tendinitis) and it's a shame that the three-year old can't go...but the care, well-being and safety of the horse is the main thing here and Doug O'Neill made the right call. There are plans to walk him around
in the paddock area today. Previous plans to lead the post parade in the BELMONT STAKES have been scratched.


PAUL

Dullahan, you da man!

One of my favorite bartenders at Churchill gave me a DULLAHAN pin to wear earlier this week for Saturday. Didn't think too much of it at the time, but now I believe it is manifest destiny and the horse is my top pick here. His late-closing style is ideal for the lengthy Belmont stretch. I'll go with ATIGUN for second. Was impressed with his win on the undercard at Churchill on Derby Day and he's another who flies by them from the back. D.Wayne Lukas keeps bringing OPTIMIZER back for punishment in Triple Crown races and maybe he'll appreciate the added distance today...so we'll peg him for third. UNION RAGS should be good enough to pick up the pieces for fourth. 


I'll play exacta and trifecta wheels with these four and make sure they're included in a pick three that I'll start in the ninth race with my best pick of the day...Hierro. 


SONYA

"Hello, Sonja? I think we have
a live one Saturday. How's Co-Co?"

Bob Baffert is up to something. I figured he wouldn't toss BODEMEISTER in the Belmont, too far for the mile specialist, but he has entered PAYNTER. Ol' white-hair was puffing the goods on this one early in the Derby trail and he was impressive in winning a big allowance race at Pimilco on Preakness day. PAYNTER, at a price, is my top pick. I think DULLAHAN will be gobbling up ground at the end, and it wouldn't surprise me if he wins...but I'm picking him second today. ATIGUN comes out of Kenny McPeek's barn and is a closer who will like Belmont's surface. He only knows one speed and it is flying late. He'll get third. UNION RAGS will contest it for awhile before fading to fourth. 
It would not surprise me if "Ragsie" wins, though. 


I'll box these four in an exacta and put win, place and show money on Paynter, Dullahan and Atigun. By the time the Belmont Stakes, the 11th race on the Belmont card today, I'll also probably come up with a few "hunch bets"...paying particular attention to how speed is holding up on the rock-hard, lighting fast track. 


DAVID

I've chased OPTIMIZER in the first two legs of the Triple Crown so far. Not backing off now and that's my top selection. Trainer D.Wayne Lukas got a noggin thump from one of his horses earlier in the week. It would be fitting if they played Dean Martin's "Ain't that a kick in the head" during the post parade. Give me DULLAHAN for second and I don't care who comes in third or fourth.


Paul still hasn't paid me for my I'll Have Another score in the Derby. Something about the increased cost of UofL Football tickets. I'll call him later Saturday morning and tell him to invest my Derby winnings on any horse that nods and winks at the TV cameras during the post parade. These horses -- they're smarter than you think. 


Paulie, cue up a little Dino for me...


(Ask and you shall receive. Click the link below for classic Dean Martin) 


Ain't That A Kick In The Head?


NBC has the coverage again. Post time around 6:30 p.m. Good luck and remember that our selections are for entertainment purposes only. 
.
..
...

.
DERBY DAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Happy DERBY DAY! 


-Softball @ St. John


-Golf gets honors but NCAA snub


-Derby preview and picks


-Oaks recap

First off...HAPPY DERBY DAY Cardinal Couple readers! It's been a newsworthy lead up to the first Saturday in May so far. We've had Cyndi Lauper dropping "f-bombs" at the Pegasus Parade, jockey Robby Albarado beating up his girlfriend, the Infield at Churchill Downs evacuated because of potential impending weather and a female jockey named Rosie coming thru on "Pink Day" at the Downs and besting the boys by winning the "Lillies for the Fillies" Kentucky OAKS. 

With the storms that rolled through Louisville from midnight to 6 a.m. Saturday morning, chances are we'll see a muddy or sloppy track for the 138th. Kentucky Derby. Adding further confusion to one of the most evenly matched and hard-to-select-a-winner fields in recent memory. 


Throw in Cinco de Mayo celebrations and you have a recipe for a wild Saturday in Louisville. Jump in, sit down, strap up and hold on...here we go with Derby de Mayo...Cinco Churchill or Slosh for the Corona's.   


************************************************************************


Cardinal softball takes on St. John's for two today in the final regular season series in the BIG EAST. It's do or die time for Sandy Pearsall's sluggers. Win and you're in the #1 seed for the BIG EAST Tournament and the regular season champs. 

Louisville was picked to finish fourth in the pre-season BIG EAST Coaches Poll. Tori Collins and crew didn't buy into that and their fate now is basically in their own hands...playing three against a St John's team that will most likely grab the #6 seed in the BIG EAST tournament and is hoping to finish over .500 in BIG EAST play by upsetting the Cardinals.


Two today, one tomorrow. We'll have a post double-header report in Sunday's CARDINAL COUPLE. 


************************************************************************


Three UofL women's golf team members have been named to the All-BIG EAST team. Senior Anna-Karin Ljungstrom
and freshmen Katie Petrino and Emily Haas get the honors. 

Anna graduates with
three NCAA appearances
in four years of
Cardinal golf

Not so good news for the squad about a continuation of the season, though...as they were not selected to participate in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. 72 teams will play at three different regional sites...but Louisville won't be one of them. First time in four years the Cards haven't been selected. 

Would "Happy Gilmore" Adam
Sandler put some "punch" into
Uofl women's golf? 

WE have to wonder if the recent UofL decision not to renew  Coach K's contract had anything to do with the NCAA snub. The Cards were squarely on the bubble for getting selected...two BIG EAST teams did get invites...Notre Dame and South Florida. They were the top two finishers in the BIG EAST Tournament...Louisville was third. 

Katie has three more
years to drive and putt.

Hate to see Anna-Karin go out without a chance to play in golf's "Sweet 72" her final year. Good news is that with two freshmen on the all-BIG EAST team, the Cards could have steadily improving squads the next three years. Whoever the coach is. Wonder what Adam Sandler is doing these days?


Golf, like some of the other "non-revenue" sports at all major universities, doesn't get nearly the coverage that college football or hoops does...but WE continue to be amazed at how these college athletes shoot consistently in the 70's. As former "duffers" who found cause to celebrate if we shot under "the century mark." 


We're watching and cheering, ladies. Straight drives and close chips next season.


************************************************************************

A Derby betting tip...if Asher likes
it, stay away from it. 

Here we go...we've crunched the Beyer's figures, allowed for rain and post-positioning, thrown innumerable darts at the board to get exacta and trifecta numbers and we've had the Chimp Selection Committee sequestered away for the last 24 hours...eating banana pudding, listening non-stop to John Asher Derby talks and determining the top four finishers for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. All selections are for entertainment purposes only, of course. If you wager, please do so responsibly. Or, be like the chimps and just go by horse names...


PAUL


I hope that Butch Lehr and the grounds crew guys can perform their usual magic on the Churchill dirt...because that's the way I'm  picking this one. Fast track. 

HANSEN

DULLAHAN is my top choice. He's coming off a career best effort. He'll only get better.BODEMEISTER wowed them in his final drill and previous race. He falls just short today. UNION RAGS may have had excuses in his last...but he's a quality horse and a big old galoot to boot. He stays on for third today. HANSEN will contest the early pace and could be the leader with a furlong left...but speed kills today and he fills out the superfecta.


SONJA


The "forget about the favorites" worked well for me yesterday in the OAKS -- so I'm going right back there again today. WENT THE DAY WELL gets last year's Derby winner Johnny Velasquez on board and he's been wowing them on the backside at Churchill. Wins at a nice price. HANSEN has the heart of a champion and he'll be there at the end...just short, I fear. I truly love "Big Whitey" and wouldn't mind one bit if he gets the garland of roses. TAKE CHARGE INDY is a very "live" longshot and gets Churchill legend Calvin Borel in the saddle. He'll pick up the pieces for third. GEMOLOGIST has never lost a race. Picking him fourth may be a mistake on my part, but that's where I have him.


CARDINAL COUPLE staff columnist JENNY gives us a Dullahan/Hansen exacta box as her Derby play. 

Our very special correspondent DAVID WATSON is sticking with his picks from last week. HE goes Optimizer, Gemologist, I'll Have Another and Done talking. MARK the COMMISH had his top pick from last week scratched in Mark Valeski. His next three were Sabercat, Daddy Long Legs and Creative Cause. 


Other races to watch this Derby Day:


Race 3. I like GOLDEN TICKET in this spot. Sonja agrees but is also looking at Z DAGER.


Race 5. I hestitate giving best bets after yesterday's fiasco with Plum Pretty...but MACHO MACHO certainly looks unbeatable in these conditions. Also consider BIG BLUE NATION ( for racing purposes only...we don't want any of you converting to "Cal")


Race 6. BRIDGETOWN returns to the track after a layoff and if he's fit and ready he's the best here. Sonja counters with CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE


Race 7. I absolutely love SHACKELFORD and he'll appreciate the extra distance today. Sonja agrees.


Race 10. TURALURE could be a "single" for me in the Races 10-12 Pick 3. He's that good and looked great last time out. Sonja counters with GET STORMY, who won this race last year on Derby Day. 


(The Derby is RACE 11)


Race 12. MANN drops a little in class today and that should get him to the winner's circle. Sonja agrees but will also have GOODTIMEHADBYALL, who seems to love returning to Churchill.


GOOD LUCK TODAY! 


Here's a link to Jill Byrne's Selections. She a pretty astute handicapper. 


JILL'S PICKS


*******************************************

Finally, a great time had by all watching Oaks Day racing over at Churchill's simulcasting facility TRACKSIDE. We had an all-star cast of friends and handicappers with us in Tommy Boy, Norma, Brother Ron and UK football legend Doug Van Meter. 

Doug Van Meter (right) played for UK as a
defensive end in the sixties...

WE gave you some pretty nice winners as well if you played our choices yesterday. The third race exacta of YOUNG AND LOVELY and ICE CREAM SILENCE paid $42 on a $2 box. OK, PLUM PRETTY, our best bet of the day was third. It happens. (Thanks for the e-mails on that one, readers...) 


GOOD DEED ran second in the seventh and got you $6.60 back 'across the board'. STEPHANIE KITTEN won the eighth and was a $9.80 win payout. SILVER MAX wired them in the tenth and a $2 win wager brought you $24.40 from the teller. 


Then the OAKS. 

Sonja called it with BELIEVE YOU CAN with 'Rosie Nap' on board. A $2 across the board venture was worth $46.80. With her profits from earlier, she and Tommy Boy also have a #9 / ALL Oaks-Derby Double wager alive. They win, no matter who wins the Derby.


And, although we didn't give it to you...Paul and Tommy Boy hit the late Pick 3. That .50 cent wheel got them back $328. 


Hope the good fortune continues today. 


.
..
...

.
TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Tori Collins corrals opposing batters for Cards


-Can Dullahan do Derby?

As one of the three seniors on the current UofL Softball team, Tori Collins is looked to for leadership, advice and experience. Opponents aren't too excited, though, about having to look out in the pitching circle and see the lefty lined up to pitch against them.


She's on pace to catch Catherine Bishop (2004-07) as the second all-time strikeout leader in Louisville softball history. Tori has sent 572 batters muttering back to the dugout in four years....168 of those coming this season. She needs 13 more "punch-outs" to pass Bishop. Kristen Wadwell (2008-10) leads Louisville with 696 career strikeouts. With a Wednesday game at Tennessee and three left to close out the regular season at St John's...it is possible she'll climb into second before Louisville starts BIG EAST Tournament Play.

Collins is 23-1 on the season and has two no-hitters and two one-hitters to her credit this year. She pitched five strong innings in her most recent outing against Georgetown -- giving up just two hits and striking out five Hoya batters. 


Collins came to Louisville as a freshman in 2009 after leading her McCutcheon, IN high school team to the state championship in 2008. She was Miss Indiana Softball and was selected to the 2008 Indiana All-Star team. With strong-arm Kristin Wadwell on the mound for the Cards, Collins' appearances were limited her first year..but she posted a 7-1 record in 81 innings of work. She struck out 57 batters her first year and had shut out wins against Rutgers and Eastern Kentucky. She was also named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star team. 

Collins numbers picked up her sophomore year...going 18-6 and recording 163 strikeouts. Three shutouts and she was named to the All-Big East First team and Tournament team. She set a then career record with 11 strikeouts against Houston. Things looked bright for her and the Cards going into the 2011 season. 


She began the season as the Cards 'ace' in the circle. Unfortunately, she missed three weeks with a stress fracture and wasn't able to return to the Cardinal rotation until mid-April. With a 16-12 record and 184 strikeouts, she was key for the Cards in the BIG EAST Tournament...pitching back-to-back complete game shutouts in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the tournament at Ulmer Stadium. She was a BIG EAST All-Tournament selection and was posed to have a great senior year. 

And, she has. With several very good and dominating pitchers in the BIG EAST this year, naming Collins the best in the league might draw some protest in Tampa and Syracuse...but Louisville's one game lead in BIG EAST regular-season play going into the final weekend wouldn't have been remotely possible if she hadn't done what she's done this season.

Along with sophomores Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard, she gives the Cards the strongest pitching staff in the BIG EAST and they've combined for 340 strikeouts this year. No one has scored more than seven runs on them this season in a game or gotten more than nine hits (DePaul...back on March 31st.)


Collins' major is elementary education with a emphasis in English.


It's been far from elementary for opposing batters to reach base and score on her this year, though.


*******************************************


One of the most impressive wins on the Road to the Roses has come from Dullahan this spring. He flew down the stretch at Keeneland back on April 14th., and passed Hansen to win the Blue Grass Stakes by one and one fourth lengths. 

Owned by Donegal Racing, trained by Dale Romans and getting Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, Dullahan has had an interesting preparation for the 138th Kentucky Derby...with races on the polytrack and turf.


He's also had three trips over the Churchill surface -- the last one coming in the Breeders Cup Juvenile -- where he finished a closing fourth after being last in the backstretch -- behind Hansen, Union Rags and Creative Cause. All three of these are expected to run Saturday. 


Dullahan had no chance to win back in November..but has made strides since then and impressed more than a few with the way he relished the extra distance of the Blue Grass Stakes and ran down Hansen two weeks ago. His 1:47.94 winning time was the fastest win time ever in the Blue Grass Stakes since it's been run on Polytrack. 

A "dullahan" is translated in Irish mythology as "being without a head." A dullahan is a mystical fairie and rides a black horse with his head under his arm.


Kent Desormeaux would be best advised to have his head about him and his wits keen and sharp if the duo are going to weave their way through the 19 other expected runners in Derby 138. Backers at the window may see 10-1 or better odds on the late-charger...and we'll be watching in the deep stretch at Churchill to see if he comes flying late as he did at Keeneland. 


PAUL: The way he dismantled Hansen at Keeneland shows me he's going to love the longer stretch at Churchill. Rain and a sloppy track shouldn't hurt him at all. As of Tuesday, he's my pick to win the Derby. Desormeaux is called "Superman" by racing fans...and he'll have this one flying faster than a speeding bullet down the stretch in front of the Twin Spires 


SONJA: I'm afraid it's going to be "too little, too late" for the closer. Weaving through 19 horses is a little different than nine. Still, I like him in the exotics and see a third or fourth place finish for him. If the speed should somehow completely fall apart (and I don't think it will) I wouldn't be surprised if he wins or gets close trying. The big knock against him is this...a horse has never won on the poly-track at Keeneland and then won the Kentucky Derby next time out. It's been since 1991 when a horse winning the Blue Grass Stakes (then on dirt) has won the Derby (Strike the Gold).
.
..
...

Softball takes two and Spring Game a fun affair Saturday

.
SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Cards sweep Longwood 8-0, 7-1. Collins gets
no-hitter.


-Dullahan upsets Hansen in the Bluegrass Stakes


-Spring Football game showcases Teddy's Talent


Louisville softball took two from Longwood yesterday at Ulmer Stadium...Tori Collins getting the first no-hitter of her collegiate career in the first game. 


The Cards go to 37-2 with the win and can get out the broom and sweep the series with a Sunday game at noon today against the Farmville, VA squad.


GAME ONE

Louisville wasted no time getting an early lead against the Lancers. Jennifer Esteban and Katie Keller socked back to back singles in the bottom of the first and Alicja Wolny drew a walk. The bases were covered in Cards for Taner Fowler who singled to bring Esteban home. Jordan Trimble got the Cards fourth single of the inning and Keller scored to make it 2-0 UofL. Hannah Kiyohara got the second base on balls off Longwood starting pitcher Ashley Cornell which allowed Wolny to greet the home plate umpire. 3-0 Cards after one inning. 

Louisville increased the margin to 5-0 in the second. Esteban getting her second single of the game and Keller pounded a double to center next. Wolny drove both home with a single and the Cards were well in command after two. 


Meanwhile, Collins was dominating inside the pitching circle, allowing just one base runner on a walk in the second inning. Louisville added a run in the third when Esteban lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Kayla Soles. 

The Cards ended it in the bottom of the fifth. Soles started the inning with a double and scored on Hannah Kiyohara's triple. Whitney Arion doubled home Kiyohara to make it 8-0 and end the contest because of the "mercy" rule. 


Collins goes to 17-1 with the no-hitter. She struck out eight Lancers in her five innings of work. Four Cards had two hits in the white-wash.


GAME TWO


Once again, the Cards put runs on the board early. After a Kristin Austin single and Esteban walk, Wolny drove in both with a single to give the Cards an early 2-0 lead after one inning.

Wolny would lead the Cards again in the bottom of the second. After Kiyohara walked and Arion reached on a bunt, Austin singled to fill the bags with Cards. Esteban tapped a grounder and Kiyohara beat the throw to the plate to make it 3-0. That set the stage for Wolny's double which scored Arion and Austin. Wolny scored on a Fowler single and the Cards were in control 6-0 as the team went to the third inning. 


Louisville pushed their final run across in the bottom  of the third. Once again, Wolny figured in the tally...singling with two outs and getting home on a Fowler double. 

Sandy Pearsall used both Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard in Game Two...Connell getting the start and win to go to 13-1 on the season. She pitched four innings of one run, two hit ball before giving way to Leonard. Leonard earned her eighth save of the season by shutting out the Lancers over the final two innings and striking out three Longwood batters. 

Sunday is the Cards "pink" game so get out and support Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing your Pink at Ulmer today! 


*******************************************


DULLAHAN, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, unleashed a furious stretch run at Keeneland Saturday to catch front running HANSEN and win the Bluegrass Stakes by a length. 


It looked like HANSEN had put away challenger GUNG HO as the horses charged down the Keeneland stretch and was well on the way to victory...but DULLAHAN switched from the rail to the center of the poly-turf and gained rapidly on the leader...catching the grey just shortly before the wire and breezing by for the win.


DULLAHAN went off at 3-1 odds. HANSEN was the 6-5 favorite. Sonja long-shot favorite GUNG HO held on for third and HOLY CANDY came from far back to finish a rapidly closing fourth.  


The trifecta (6-4-2)paid $82.25 on a .50 cent wager and the .10 cent superfecta (6-4-2-9) returned $148.92. 


Dullahan               8.40 3.60 3.00
Hansen                         3.20  2.60
Gung Ho                               9.20


Not a bad return on investment. Two trifecta box tickets purchased for $24 returned $164.50. A .10 superfecta wheel cost $24 and returned $148.92. Straight out bets of $4 across the board on Hansen and Gung Ho cost $24 and returned $11.60 on Hansen and $18.40 on Gung Ho. 


We wonder if Hansen is capable of getting the mile and a quarter distance of the Kentucky Derby in first after losing the 1 1/8 mile distance Saturday in Lexington. Or, is Dullahan just that good in the stretch?


We'll know in 3 weeks.


BODEMEISTER ran away and hid from the field in the Arkansas Derby with Mike Smith on board...winning by almost 10 lengths. Trained by Bob Baffert, who also had second place finisher SECRET CIRCLE, the chestnut 3 yr. old went off at 2-1 odds. "The Bode" is now Paul's pick to win the Derby. 


Well played, sir.

*******************************************

Over 15,000 attended the Spring game

The Louisville Football Spring Game on Saturday was a fun afternoon of pre and post game tailgating and the precision passing of sophomore UofL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.   

Poobah in disguise in a blue shirt and seen here calling
security to have Sonja locked up. 

The format featured Bridgewater and the first string offense and defense and Will Stein and the second string offense against the second string defense. It was Louisville against the Cardinals and Stein's squad got a 21 point advantage to begin the game. 

Poobah has gathered several devout followers
but the "Chair of the Divine (Miller) Lite" has
not been filled yet. 

WE were impressed with Teddy's accuracy and his hookups with former Ballard great DeVante Parker and Louisville Trinity grad Scott Radcliffe. It also looks like Louisville will have no shortage of capable and talented running backs this year. Senorise Perry, Dominique Brown, Jeremy Wright and Corvin Lamb will all keep defenses honest with their carrying skills. 

Tillie the Tour guide proved to us later that she
knows how to display the "L" the correct way. 

The rain early Saturday morning was a bit depressing weather...yeah it was ominous as we prepared to go over to Papa John's. Rained on us, in fact, pretty heavily as we made the drive to Floyd and Central. Just as we reached the I-65 cutoff for Eastern Parkway, though, the raindrops stopped and the rest of the day turned out beautifully. 

Upon arrival, we met up with CARDINAL COUPLE readers and staff members Tillie the Tour Guide and Tom the Transportation Captain. WE discussed shortening Tom's title to something like Tranny Tom or Tom the Trans-Sport but the motion was tabled when the "Tillie-ritas" (her EXCELLENT version of Maragarita's) came out.  

Poobah  details the events surrounding his trip to remove
Bobby Petrino from Fayetteville and his subsequent addition
of four Guatemalian engineers to his palace staff. 

The couple of hours before kickoff seemed to fly by. Plenty of Cardinal fans stopped by our tailgate staging area to say "Hi!" and, fortified with delicious food and beverage...we were prepared to make the walk inside PJCS and get an early look at the 2012 Football Cards.

Cardinal Couple readers and good friends Bill and
Barbara Hancock offer to take Sonja away from our
tailgate area and put her in a secure and safe area.

The crowd wandered inside in typical tawdy and casual Louisville fashion as the contest began. A brief second quarter rain sent some to the parking lot but most just sought higher, covered seating or braved the short shower out. It was 24-14 at the half and public address Sean Moth was covering the contest from field. He got Cards engaged in a side-to-side chant of "Go...Cards" and it could be a popular cheering tactic when the regular season arrives. 


Louisville has the potential to be great this year on the gridiron but needs to bolster the thin offensive line ranks. Two O-Line Cardinals suffered injuries early in the first quarter...but neither injury appeared to be serious and both are expected to be ready for fall practice. 

Popular Louisville Sports Report and local media impresario
Howie Lindsey stopped by to exchange greetings with our
group and take photos. He is seen here reacting to our shouts
that the stadium is in the opposite direction. 

Teddy's team defeated Stein's Squad 27-24 in the Spring Game but just because the contest was over didn't mean that the parking lot festivities were through. 

Several K.B.'s are hidden in this group of
Poobah disciples. They must be sought out,
revealed and eliminated.  

Plenty of Cardinal fans fired up the grills and brought the coolers back out for post-game discussions, bean bag toss and tailgating. We also were blessed with a group-consciousness vision and apperance of POOBAH. He appeared before us in his red chariot of fire, sacramental beverages magically appeared with this vision and he spoke of things relevant, forecasted future events and appearing with him our...the legendary "five horse" BABS. She brought word of her encounters with the evil Kitchen Biotches...the demons that have brought us all pain, suffering and bloating.


Poobah also revealed his dislike of a certain type of steak and told parables of the epic "battle of the mulch" and his "against all odds" winter campaign and victory...armed with only a rope and plastic garbage can lid. He then magically disappeared again and we departed as well shortly thereafter, honored and a bit humbled with this unexpected revelation. 


A great afternoon for football, fun and friends. WE arrived home a few hours later just in time to see Hansen's disappointing defeat on television and several hours later...were fast asleep after a full and rewarding day of gridiron and socializing.  
.
..
...