It has been TOO LONG since I posted updates here...
- Derby Week in Louisville is always interesting, and this week figures to be no different. It has been interesting interacting with the horse racing community this week so far. It is a different crowd than the one at typical UofL events and there seems to be more drama and more snarkiness in the training community than in NCAA athletics, which is saying something.
- We are set up next to all four TV stations for their morning shows each morning. Speaking of drama - the weather guys. Oy. It is interesting to watch the interaction between some of the TV personalities and the producers and cameramen on set. It is a good reminder that people are watching how you treat people and it can influence their opinion of you and your "brand."
- Now that April is over, the Louisville basketball coaches are back to being unrestricted to recruit effectively. That is a good thing. They seemed to make due as best they could during the last month, but it certainly wasn't easy.
- With all the NBC folks in town, the focus is all about Oaks and Derby, but it is also interesting to hear the Sports TV people talk about ESPN and Fox and Skip Bayless landing his crazy money. EVERY media person I have talked to thinks Fox made a bad deal.
- Local folks know that any bad news needs to be dumped on a Thursday of Derby Week. I'm not currently expecting anything, but you never know...
- On an NCAA update, Tom Jurich said he doesn't really have an update last week. The word was the Pitino was meeting with investigators in April, but we never did hear a date. Louisville continues to hope it gets done as quickly as possible.
- Speaking of Tom - he has his football coach on an extended contract and the stadium expansion moving forward. A very strong move in the last couple of weeks.
- The lawsuit brought by Louisville students against Katina Powell has been dismissed by judge Mitch Perry.
- Interesting though, that Judge Perry is allowing the other part of the lawsuit to move forward. A bunch of women depicted as strippers/hookers in the book are suing Powell claiming they are defamed.
- Back to sports - REALLY happy for Kyle Funkhouser for getting his groove back last weekend. His was tremendous in his 7 innings against St. John's. That guy works really hard and has been battling.
- Louisville Baseball is hitting an ACC-best .325 as a team this season. That is flat ridiculous. To put it in perspective, Nos. 2 through 6 on the ACC list are separated by .012 points. Louisville's average is .015 better than EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.
- The Cardinals are also an ACC best in pitching, with a 2.83 ERA. Louisville is the only ACC school with an under-3 ERA. 2nd place is UNC at 3.04 and 3rd is Miami at 3.48.
- Jeff Walz just landed another top 25 overall recruit and a transfer who might be one of the best in the nation (15.1 ppg and defensive all-star). Walz has Louisville rolling.
- Meanwhile in Lexington... Matthew Mitchell's program in Lexington EXPLODED over the last couple of weeks. Could it all be because he asked an assistant to step down and take an unpaid role or could there be more to the explosion than meets the eye?
- Alright, back to laughing at grown men watching a horse take a bath...
- Derby Week in Louisville is always interesting, and this week figures to be no different. It has been interesting interacting with the horse racing community this week so far. It is a different crowd than the one at typical UofL events and there seems to be more drama and more snarkiness in the training community than in NCAA athletics, which is saying something.
- We are set up next to all four TV stations for their morning shows each morning. Speaking of drama - the weather guys. Oy. It is interesting to watch the interaction between some of the TV personalities and the producers and cameramen on set. It is a good reminder that people are watching how you treat people and it can influence their opinion of you and your "brand."
- Now that April is over, the Louisville basketball coaches are back to being unrestricted to recruit effectively. That is a good thing. They seemed to make due as best they could during the last month, but it certainly wasn't easy.
- With all the NBC folks in town, the focus is all about Oaks and Derby, but it is also interesting to hear the Sports TV people talk about ESPN and Fox and Skip Bayless landing his crazy money. EVERY media person I have talked to thinks Fox made a bad deal.
- Local folks know that any bad news needs to be dumped on a Thursday of Derby Week. I'm not currently expecting anything, but you never know...
- On an NCAA update, Tom Jurich said he doesn't really have an update last week. The word was the Pitino was meeting with investigators in April, but we never did hear a date. Louisville continues to hope it gets done as quickly as possible.
- Speaking of Tom - he has his football coach on an extended contract and the stadium expansion moving forward. A very strong move in the last couple of weeks.
- The lawsuit brought by Louisville students against Katina Powell has been dismissed by judge Mitch Perry.
- Interesting though, that Judge Perry is allowing the other part of the lawsuit to move forward. A bunch of women depicted as strippers/hookers in the book are suing Powell claiming they are defamed.
- Back to sports - REALLY happy for Kyle Funkhouser for getting his groove back last weekend. His was tremendous in his 7 innings against St. John's. That guy works really hard and has been battling.
- Louisville Baseball is hitting an ACC-best .325 as a team this season. That is flat ridiculous. To put it in perspective, Nos. 2 through 6 on the ACC list are separated by .012 points. Louisville's average is .015 better than EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.
- The Cardinals are also an ACC best in pitching, with a 2.83 ERA. Louisville is the only ACC school with an under-3 ERA. 2nd place is UNC at 3.04 and 3rd is Miami at 3.48.
- Jeff Walz just landed another top 25 overall recruit and a transfer who might be one of the best in the nation (15.1 ppg and defensive all-star). Walz has Louisville rolling.
- Meanwhile in Lexington... Matthew Mitchell's program in Lexington EXPLODED over the last couple of weeks. Could it all be because he asked an assistant to step down and take an unpaid role or could there be more to the explosion than meets the eye?
- Alright, back to laughing at grown men watching a horse take a bath...
