A Loserville Lickin'

I will admit that yesterday's battle between UK and UofL was about what I expected. Still suffering from a football hangover, this years basketball saga has become a bit of an afterthought for me. We are not a good team. Once this is accepted as fact, the losses really don't sting that bad. Even though we were spanked by a coach that I despise as a human being and possibly the most unlikeable group of Louisville Cardinals in the history of the institution, I'm not really smarting from the game.

Give the Devil His Due: On a coaching note, I will say that Pitino did win the battle. UK's four guard lineup threw off Louisville's game plan in the first half. Pitino adjusted accordingly at half time, as UK's line up was rendered useless in the 2nd half.

Now we move on to the SEC, and what an interesting 16 games it will be.

Big Day in the Bluegrass

It's always a big day in the bluegrass when Rick Pitino brings his ego back to Lexington. Things haven't exactly gone as planned for the boys in blue this year, but a victory over the Cards would definitely brighten the spirits of the big blue nation.

If you are like me and having a bit of trouble getting excited about the game, just take a visit to slick Rick's website, http://www.rickpitino.com/. If the music doesn't get your inner spirit bumpin', maybe you need to invest in one of Rick's highly acclaimed self-help books. -- Don't know where to eat, just check out the revered one's restaurant reviews. Have questions about life, god, where to get some killer hair implants? - Visit the ask 'Ask Pitino' section.

Nothing wake's up the bluebloods in the lower level like Pitino. Who knows, if we are lucky, he might even put Richie in!

Good Friday

Last night, the Louisville Cardinal Kragthorpe's lost out on a chance for respectability by dropping a close one with West Virginia. Luckily, Da Crew still has their back.

Former UK Football coach Guy Morris has been told he will not be returning as the coach of Baylor next season. After leaving Kentucky, Morris has led Baylor to 5 losing seasons.

On Saturday, I will be taking My Old Kentucky Gnome to Music City to cheer on the Cats as they take on Vanderbilt. My Kentucky Gnome is rather excited about the trip, as he has never met any country music gnomes before.

In recruiting news, Billy Clyde travelled to Georgia yesterday to meet with Chris Singleton. Singleton is set to announce his decision next week, choosing between the Cats and Florida State. Big man Garrett Stutz, who attended Big Blue Madness, has decided to attend Wichita State. After a brief courtship, Kentucky decided not offer Stutz a scholarship, citing that he was kind of funny looking.

Meltdown in the 'Ville

For a UK fan, things just keep getting better and better. Last night I had the opportunity to spend a couple hours in the 'Ville. Listening to the meltdown on UofL talk radio was worth the trip in itself. After being arrested for the 25th time on marijuana possession, Willie Williams, UofL's version of Michael Vick, has finally been dismissed from the Cardinal squad. The loss of Williams won't help Louisville's porous defense. Loserville's defensive unit has been criticized all season for allowing opponents to put up ridiculous numbers. Things will only get worse as the Cardinals hit the road portion of their schedule, as twenty percent of UofL's defensive players cannot cross the state line due to legal issues.

In other news, Rich Brooks added to next years incoming class by snagging a big-ugly from the 'ville. Dave Ulinski, a 280 lb. offensive lineman , chose the Wildcats over the Cardinals.

Anatomy of a Loss

It has been a week now since one of the biggest wins in the history of Kentucky football. Fans of the big blue have celebrated, gloated to the little guys in red, read the articles in the newspapers, and watched the replays on ESPN. But what about 'lil brother, where does Louisville go from here. Last year there were aspirations of playing for the national title. This year, the Cardinals could not even beat lowly Kentucky. I have heard one UofL fan proclaim that the loss was one of the top three most embarrassing things to ever happen to the 'ville. He didn't tell me what the other two were. However, I have to assume one was the UofL cheerleading episode of Girls Gone Wild. The other is probably the hiring of Rick Pitino.

The loss for UofL was a confirmation. The game confirmed what I had thought to be true once Mr. Petrino left town to referee dog fights. Louisville's tryst with football fame and fortune is coming to a close. And honestly, there is no reason to be ashamed. Last year the Cardinals were an offsides penalty away from playing for the national championship. However, there is something Louisville fans have to realize. To be a dominant program on the national level, the school has to be a destination for coaches, not a stepping stone. Not that being the football coach of the Cardinals is a bad job, but it's also not Notre Dame, USC, Alabama, or Florida. Coaches do not aspire to be the coach at UofL; coaches take the job as an opportunity to better their coaching resume. Kentucky faces a similar dilemma.

Luckily for fans of the blue, Petrino is gone and things are back to normal - two programs battling for bragging rights in the commonwealth.