Starting lineups announced for Lady Cards vs. Lady Vols

FRIDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE

-The Vols are coming, the Vols are coming

-Dyer could be out several weeks

-Marra keys Cardinal MBB romp

-Those crazy Underdogs

-Volleyball on the road

Welcome to the Friday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. Tonight it happens in the KFC YUM Arena, with the Tennessee Vols facing Jeff Walz's Lady Cards. The #4 Vols are searching for the right starting lineup and Pat Summitt (pictured here) will send Angie Bjorklund, Shekinna Stricken, Taber Spani, Alicia Manning and Glory Johnson out for the opening tip. It is a first attempt for Summitt to find a starting five out of her talented troop. Seeing them go "small" without 6'6" Kelley Cain or 6'4" Vicki Baugh getting the starting nod would appear that "the Pat" is looking for defense and mobility.

Jeff Walz will counter with Monique Reid, Tia Gibbs, Shoni Schimmel, Asia Taylor and Keisha Hines out as starters. Four out of the five have played against UT in the past and Schimmel, a freshman from Portland, Oregon, gets the nod at point guard.

Expect both teams to do quite a bit of rotation and substitution. Louisville will need some long range bombing from Becky Burke and Antonita Slaughter to keep UT honest on the defense.

Walz vs. Vols. The action starts at 7 p.m. and will be shown on a delayed basis on CBS College Sports at 9:30. ET. If you go, try to be in your seats early for the 6:45 p.m. ceremony for Angel McCoughtry. Her jersey will ascend to the rafters of the YUM. About as high as she used to jump in Freedom Hall....

CBS College Sports will also show the BIG EAST Soccer Tournament semifinal match between UofL and WVU at 7:30 p.m. If you're not in the YUM cheering on the Lady Cards tonight, give it a view...

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Freshman forward Shawnta Dyer suffered a fractured heel in the scrimmage against Marshall last weekend and will miss several weeks of action. She started against Indiana Wesleyan and was expected to see significant playing time this season. Hate to see the injury bug rear its head so early in the Lady Cards season. Dyer will either be put in a cast or have a pin inserted. Dyer's length and defense will be missed...at least this year there are others available to step it up in her absence. Get well soon, Shawnta'.

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A nice 96-54 exhibition win last night for the men's team against Kentucky Wesleyan. Mike Marra had the hot hand from outside...burying six of eight treys and finishing with a game high 22 points in only 20 minutes of court time. Peyton Siva (18 pts.) and Terrence Jennings (15 pts.) joined him in double figures. Preston Knowles sat out the contest with a thigh bruise.

Marra's deep range bombing and several electrifying dunks by Jennings got the 19,227 in the YUM fired up. Pitino played 12 and 11 scored, with George Goode failing to swish the hoop. Elisha Justice is a scrapper...nailed two of his three treys and showed some excellent passing and ball handling skills. The crowd, in typical Cardinal fashion, began the exodus at the half...with Louisville up 51-25. The road gets harder for Rick's guys Tuesday night with NCAA Tournament runner-up Butler in town.

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Volleyball is in Milwaukee tonight for a match against the Marquette Golden Eagles. Louisville can solidify their hold on 2nd place in the BIG EAST with a win tonight. The BIG EAST Volleyball tournament is a week away...in Pittsburgh. The Volley Cards will close out the regular season at Syracuse.

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Dave Jennings and Tony Vanetti are the AFTERNOON UNDERDOGS and they host a sports talk show on WKRD 790 AM/101.7 FM Monday thru Friday that starts at 3 p.m. It's usually a pretty good show and they get some great guests on there. They got a little off topic (and off color) yesterday in OUR opinion when talking about Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt. References to her looking like Denny Crum and comments about her wearing a cheerleading outfit last year and the questionable innuendos surrounding that is pretty much sophomoric humor. Stick to sports, guys. There was a great comedy duo on Louisville radio years ago when Terry Meiners and Ron Clay hosted a morning show on WLRS and WQMF.

You ain't the second coming...boys.

Why does sports talk radio have to be all about the "shock and wow" effect these days? Van Vance never needed it and he was the best at it ever on the Louisville airwaves. The "Dogs" lost a good one when Adam Neft skipped town to do Columbus, OH. radio. Some say they haven't recovered his leaving. If you're going to talk about women's sports, try to put the events in a favorable light.

Why drag down the show's credibility with potty humor about the best coach in women's basketball? I guess that's what happens when you stick a classic rock disc jockey and 'has been' bowler on sports radio...

(Pictured above is former UofL men's basketball head coach Denny Crum. We see no resemblance between Denny and Pat. Maybe Jennings and Vanetti need glasses or lasix surgery...)

EPILOUGE

I ran into Tony Vanetti at the Tennessee game and told him of the displeasure his actions had given one of the co-owners of CARDINAL COUPLE. He pointed out that it had been a caller who made the original Crum reference. He did offer an apology, though. Vanetti is a class guy...even if he is a disc jockey. He also thinks Pat is an attractive woman. After a couple of glasses of wine....

Volleyball falls to Illinois

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Volleyball against the Illini

-Grieshaber finishes second

-Football Cards: Shoulda been...

Charlie Strong (pictured right) appears to be a bit disgruntled...maybe it was the pre-game meal? Stick with Panera Bread next time, coach.

We'll have some observations on the Cards 35-28 loss at Oregon State at the end of this column. Meanwhile, let's talk women's sports... (photo by H. Lindsey/Cardinal Sports.com)

The University of Louisville women's volleyball team gave a good effort yesterday against #5 Illinois but lost the match 22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-18. Louisville looked ready to pull the upset early on, winning the first game by three...thanks to the play of Emily Juhl. The freshman had five kills and the Cards finished strong in the opener with three of the final four points.

Illinois regrouped, though, and swept the remaining three games. Besides Juhl, Lola Arslanbeckova, Anastasia Artemeva and Amanda Simmons played well for the Cards. Arslanbeckova and Artemeva finished with 12 kills each. Louisville (5-4) placed Simmons on the All-Tournament team.

Tough competition on both Friday and Saturday that will undoubtedly help the Cards as they prepare for the BIG EAST schedule. Leonid Yelin's young team has shown flashes of being a top 25 caliber squad and will only get better with each game...learning and improving as they've gone thru a murderous pre-conference slate of matches.

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Kim Grieshaber finished second in the Navy Invitational cross country event in Annapolis Saturday. The UofL women finished fifth out of the nine teams participating in the meet. Louisville's men's team did very well...finishing second...just three point back of Navy.

Grieshaber was only seven seconds behind the winner and the Cards placed three runners in the top eleven. The Cards return to action in two weeks...hosting the Greater Louisville Classic at Sawyer Park in eastern Jefferson County.

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A big time comeback got Louisville within seven points of the Oregon State Beavers in football action Saturday but it was the start of the game that actually did the Cards in. Two blown scoring opportunities in the first quarter had Cardinal fans watching the game at Tailgaters Bar and Restaurant ready to tear their hair out yesterday. A yard short on a fourth and two run by Bilal Powell deep in Beaver territory and a wacky sequence a few minutes later when Louisville QB Adam Froman appeared to run one in for a touchdown but had the ball poked out of his grasp as he reached the end zone. Out of bounds, a touchback and Oregon State ball at the 20.

I'm not Charlie Strong...nor would I ever pretend that have better judgement than him...but you take the field goal and get the lead during that first drive....in my opinion.

The Cards rolled back from a 21 point deficit early in the third quarter and had a chance to tie it late but Froman threw one right into the paws of a Beaver defensive back.

This very well may have been the toughest opponent Louisville will face this year. These Cards will be just fine and this writer can see UofL winning the next four.

As for Charlie...enough can't be said. A Steve Kragthorpe team would have thrown in the towel and gone thru the motions down by 21. This team, with this leader, was moving late in the game to send it to overtime...shocking the 45,000 in attendance.

Tom Cahill, in attendance at Tailgaters to view the televised match, summed it up perfectly when he said:

"Nobody gave Louisville a chance before the game. They should have won this thing at least by three. Louisville may have lost the game...but they won the hearts and minds of every Cardinal fan out there tonight...including me."

Lacrosse falls to Georgetown 17-13

Shouldn't wearing a jacket like this get you a free bowl of burgoo? It's Kentucky Derby Festival time again in Louisville. Abandon all hope ye who enter here.

It was a perfect afternoon for the lacrosse match between Louisville and #14 Georgetown on Sunday but the results weren't exactly what the Louisville lacrosse team wanted to acheive. The Cards started out slowly against the Hoyas and found themselves on the short end of a 15-6 score at the end of the first half.

Louisville coach Kellie Young knew that the defense had to pick it up if Louisville was going to get back in the contest and they did respond in the final half...holding the Hoyas to just two goals...but Louisville couldn't get enough shots in the net to catch the Georgetown team at the end.

Liz Lovejoy led the Cards with five goals and Katie Oliverio dished out five assists.

Louisville continues the home stand Saturday against Jacksonville. Game time is 1 p.m.

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Cardinal women's tennis wrapped up the regular season on the road against Miami, OH. and brought back a 5-2 win against the Redhawks. Mandy Brown won in both singles and doubles matches for Louisville, who evened their record to 10-10. The tennis team is idle until April 22nd. They'll travel to South Bend to participate in the Big East Championships.

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With the recent low attendance at the Derby Classic and Night of the Future Stars...events held this weekend for high school boys basketball...isn't it time to include the best senior high school girls in the area and around the nation in the event?

This debate surfaced again as several friends, Sonja and I sat with the 6200 Saturday night and watched the action in Freedom Hall. It's the lowest amount of people I've seen at the game and we've been going since the inception. The talent level was slightly down from past years..but there were still 3 Cardinal signees, 1 UK signee, and 1 IU signee playing. The UofL fans turnout was particulary disappointing. I attended the Night of the Future Stars Friday, and there were plenty of empty seats for the slam dunk, two on two and three point shooting contests over at Bellarmine.

With the low attendance for both events as a lead-in, we discussed and debated another question that surfaced about holding the Friday night event at Bellarmine University's cozy but antiquated Knights Gym instead of Cardinal Arena or the Yum Center. Bellarmine hasn't had a participant in this event as far back as I can remember...but each year they play the Friday night contests in a place with poor accoustics. You could not understand one word of the player introductions...being hyped up by a local radio station rap DJ. No problem with the revved up, hip hop player intros, mind you...but they should at least give the emcee decent accoustics so it's enjoyable and not nerve grating.

With the advent of the downtown SONJA arena, it is high time to get the girls involved in this thing. The committe also needs to lower ticket prices (preferred seating at $17 for this thing is too high for what you're receiving) and make the Friday night events free for all, instead of having to have a ticket for the Saturday night game to gain admittance on Friday. Especially in a tough economy...where the idea is to make this affordable and attended instead of holding the gun to the potential consumers' head. Group pricing, senior citizen discounts...c'mon use a little imagination here.

Getting people in to watch the Friday night festivities free just might spur them to purchase a Saturday seat, especially if you've got the girls from around the area involved in the two on two and three point contests. Attendance for Louisville, Kentucky, Northern Ky and Bellarmine women's basketball has never been higher and the McDonald's All-Star classic did the smart thing and involved the girls several years ago.

Of course...we are dealing with the Kentucky Derby Festival Committee here. New and exciting ideas are like castor oil to this bunch. At least they toned down the gaudy and garish colors of the "official Ky. Derby Festival sports coat" this year. Still think they look like a bunch of misplaced fraternal lodge convention attendees. Much is made of the countless hours of hard work that festival organizers put in each year for the Derby activities...so, in return...they have to dress like lounge singers when they make appereances at these events? Do they really need the attention that badly? Being snobby and aristocratic is one thing (and a manuever they've got down to a "t")...but looking foolish while doing it...it just makes you wonder. Derby Festival should rightly be a time for Louisville to showcase the activities surrounding Derby...not the time for a bizarre fashion show by pompous promoters of the annual event. Get matching polo shirts or maybe a logo on white dress shirt...gang.

OK, Monday Morning Arm Chair Quarterback endeth...Go in peace and be nice out there today.

Written by Paul (who isn't wearing a Derby Festival jacket and never will.)
4/12/10

Louisville drops NCAA, joins NAIA

(The following article is an April Fools parody. In no way does it represent the outstanding work and progress of the University of Louisville's athletic department and their leader Tom Jurich. Just a bit of lighthearted humor for a very nervous world. Enjoy.)

Tom Jurich addressed a hastily assembled group of local media writers, television stations and a few interested bystanders late Wednesday night at Mulligan's Bar and Grill to make the surprise announcement. Jurich, standing atop a pile of milk carton crates began with these remarks:

"I guess you all are wondering why I've called you here this evening when you could be at home watching SOUTH PARK. Well, it isn't for the 25 cent wings and draft beer specials...although I encourage you to take advantage of those delicious deals.

As of about 30 minutes ago, I have decided to place all University of Louisville athletic programs in the NAIA and withdraw from the NCAA. This decision has the full support of all the coaches employed by me...well, it darn well better have or they'll be out on the streets faster than you can say Calipari...and we plan to move on this puppy muy pronto, folks. They won't have Louisville to kick around anymore. No more questionable officiating, snubs by the commish or whacked out scheduling.

I have listened to our fan base, discussed our present situation with anyone who would listen and I know what the Cardinal fans want.

Wins. Big, sloppy blow out wins against directional and hyphenated schools. What we've had here in the past is a failure to communicate with our fan base. You want wins, you get wins. NAIA. NCAA. Both are four letter words. We may have to change a little stationary but in the long run...the future looks so bright, I gotta wear shades, dudes!

Gang, the NAIA is full of four and five word institutions and it's time we started raking in the pot. Along with the move, we're changing the name of the school as well. We are now The University of Kentucky-Louisville. Get used to it, buy a bunch of new shirts, sweats and jackets and get behind our new image. I need to go pee now but a few coaches here will tell you why they love this strategy."

Jurich tumbled off the milk crates and Rick Pitino hopped onto a table and continued the conference.

"We are moving to a brand new downtown arena for the 2010-11 basketball season. Ticket sales...oh hell, who gives a hoot about ticket sales? I want to win a few more games each year. It's the only thing that makes most of you happy, it sure doesn't suck...and I really think the move will allow me to spend more time pursuing my real love...(no, not Karen Sypher)...horse racing. McCarty, Willard...they can run this program. Why do you think I brought Ralph in here anyway? Comic relief? See you at the track and at Rally's, where you can get a Cardinal Collector cup with the purchase of a Cardinal Combo meal."

Pitino dove into the crowd and body surfed to the jukebox. Charlie Strong climbed atop a chair and continued.

"I am loving me some Jurich right now. Talk about taking the pressure off a new coach in a major conference with a group of underacheivers! Everyday I watch that white albetross being constructed on Floyd Street and wonder how in the heck am I going to get warm bodies in there to watch games? Going to the NAIA. That'll do it. We're a tailgate school anyway, so fans can stroll in anytime they want, see that we're up 77-0, yell a few times and head back to their parties. I've got a list right here (holding up a bar napkin) of 14 schools...mostly from the plains states and Cuba...that are dying to get on the upcoming schedule. Be strong, stay strong, party strong and make sure and save Charlie Strong a cold beverage and brat!"

Strong pointed to the northeast corner of Mulligan's, where Jeff Walz stood, dribbling two basketballs. Walz threw one wide of a patron and shot the other at a trash can...producing an airball. He crouched into a squatting position and started shouting:

"I've had it with losing to Connecticut every year. Having Rutgers wipe the floor with us in that cow barn they play in. I want to take this team on the road to places like Campbellsville, Pikeville, Brescia...and sit back...enjoy the game and not have to scream at my kids like my hair is on fire. Let's face it, once I lost Angel...any chance of ever building a winning women's basketball program here at the Ville went right down the drain. This is a chance to get some lopsided wins, practice my sarcastic and sly sense of humor during post game press gatherings and radio interviews. Now I can catch up on all those DANCING WITH THE STARS episodes I've had to miss while playing a bunch of snobbish, thug laden, aristocratic east coast colleges. I won't miss Providence, Seton Hall or St. John. And, I may just move our home games to the Masonic Home gym over on Frankfort Avenue. Half our fan base lives there, anyway."

Walz gestured to UofL baseball coach Dan McDonnell, hitting ground balls to a gathering of bewildered waitresses, but Dan just smiled and started chattering:

"Get two, get in front of the ball! Look it into your glove. Good throws to the bag!"

A stunned group of observers then watched as Jurich and the coaches formed a chorus line and started singing off-key:

"Start spreading the news...we're leaving today. Gonna be a part of it. NAIA."

The group then bowed, high fived each other and refused to take any questions. UofL SID Kenny Klein, selling 50/50 chances in the crowd, made a brief statement as the coaches piled into cabs, limos and SUV vehicles and departed...except for Strong, who started jogging down Barret Avenue back to campus:

"Let me start by reading one of my favorite poems to you. Up on the rooftop...click, click, click. Down thru the Big East with ol' Saint Rick. OK, enough of that. This commitment to excellence displayed by our athletic director and coaches is a prime example of why we are the best college sports town in America.

In the name of the Godfather, the Big Owl and Jim the holy Host...Go in peace...but make sure you purchase a few tickets for the big raffle I've got going here before you go."

(Happy April Fools day to all! We'll return to sanity Friday)

Wriiten by Sonja and Paul
4/1/10

Adam Neft leaving Afternoon Underdogs

Co-host of the Afternoon Underdogs Adam Neft, pictured on the right, is leaving Louisville and WKRD to pursue a job opportunity in Columbus, Ohio. I swear I had nothing to do with his decision...

The popular and occasionally cantankerous Louisville sports talk host revealed yesterday on the WKRD drive time show Afternoon Underdogs that he will be leaving the show and the Louisville area to accept a job in Columbus, Ohio. Neft has been a driving force on the Louisville airways since his arrival after graduating from Indiana University and helped raise the show to the top of the radio ratings in the Louisville area, a position long dominated by WHAS's Terry Meiners. His off the cuff banter with co-host Tony Vanetti and his devotion to Louisville sports coverage made for informative and sometimes hilarious afternoon radio listening.

Neft also hosted the show Cardinal Insider, an hour long look at Louisville athletics and aired many interviews with the players, coaches and staff of the University of Louisville women's athletic teams. Neft provided candid and revealing interviews with Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz, softball skipper Sandy Pearsall and field hockey's Pam Bustin. He offered an unequalled look and access to the efforts and accomplishment of the UofL women's sports teams...something that will hopefully not disappear with his leaving.

Neft related to me this morning that:

"I'm headed to Columbus, Ohio. It really has more to do with a great opportunity that I felt was a good chance for me to take than anything here. I love it here. I really do. The decision was tough. I won't go into the entire story, but I didn't apply for the job. Heck, I haven't applied for a job in years.

The guy called me, the more we talked the more it sounded like maybe it was worth taking a chance. So I decided at 27 years old, may as well take a shot and go for it! I'm sure they'll replace me with someone better, not that that is too tough a task."

Neft's contributions to Cardinal Athletics will be greatly missed. Tenative plans are for Vanetti to go solo on the show until a replacement for Neft can be found.

I'll miss my e-mail buddy and fall afternoons at the Parrish House won't be the same with out his part in the pregame UofL football shows that he and Vanetti did live there.

Opportunity is what you make out of it, though...and Neft will undoubtably continue the groundbreaking and excellent work that he graced the Louisville airwaves with during his way too short time as a popular and intelligent member of the Louisville sports talk show community. Neft was never prejudiced in his opinions, a Louisville fan but never a blatant "homer" and allowed callers to make their points without overriding them or responding too negatively. Many felt the show would be a suitable replacement for WHAS's evening Sports Talk program with controversial host Lachlan McClain but they have done well in the afternoon drive time slot against one of the most popular radio personalities in the history of Louisville radio in Meiners. Low wattage AM radio isn't exactly the giant of media popularity and probably not too many knew of Neft's work outside the Kentuckiana area but there is no doubt that the Louisville experience will be one that will help spring Neft onto bigger and better things, given the accomplishments and popularity he garnered while here.

Best of luck to you, Matman...and thanks for the hard work, brilliance and contributions. At least you're going to a town that has a university with red colors...

Written by Sonja
3/23/10