Card Game

Zev Buffman is not a familiar name to University of Louisville fans unless they also follow the Miami Heat NBA franchise or the Broadway theatre scene. However, he has been intimately involved in a project new and dear to them.

Buffman is a member of the Louisville Arena Authority, bringing with him vast experience in sports and entertainment. He was founding general partner in the Miami Heat franchise, spearheading their entry into the NBA and the planning and construction of the Miami Arena in just 16 months.

However, he is best known for having produced over 40 Broadway shows, introducing such “first timers” as Dustin Hoffman and Elizabeth Taylor to the theatre. He also built and/or managed 15 Performing Arts Centers, including the historic Saenger Theatre of New Orleans and the Jackie Gleason Performing Arts Center in Miami.

He arrived in Owensboro three years ago where he plans to retire, developing the RiverPark Entertainment Center, which has drawn Broadway touring companies.

He has high expectations for the downtown U of L arena, as he told the Business Journal of Louisville:

"I feel, when I go to Louisville, that I’m in an active, bustling downtown already," he said, pointing to the city’s downtown hotels, restaurants and improved waterfront as examples of local progress.

"Usually, the arena comes first or early in the restoration or resuscitation of a downtown," he added. "In this case, it’s coming while so much more is planned or on the ground. It’s a different feeling. There is more confidence."

He predicted that the coming arena will be "a true signature piece you’ll start seeing on postcards around the country."

Buffman, an Israeli soldier in his youth, is a recognized name in Los Angeles, New York and Los Angeles. Been around, knows whereof he speaks.

Since Sandy Pearsall is a pretty special coach, it wouldn’t surprise people who know her to see the Lady Cards’ softball team do well in their fifth straight appearance in an NCAA Regional Tournament, set this weekend at Knoxville.

Earlier this season the Cards marked the program’s 300th win since U of L softball started in 2000. The win came against Oregon, where Pearsall played in 1983-84. Pearsall has more than 600 wins as a coach.

Five U of L players earned conference honors: Senior Sarah Totten and sophomore Kristen Wadwell were selected to the second team, while junior Kassie Stanfill, sophomore Melissa Roth and freshman Colby Wherry were named to the third team.

Here’s the weekend NCAA schedule:

Friday, May 16

2:30 p.m. ET - Louisville vs. Virginia Tech (Game One)
5 p.m. ET - Tennessee vs. Winthrop (Game Two)

Saturday, May 17

Noon ET (ESPN2) - Winner Game One/Winner Game Two (Game Three)
2:30 p.m. ET - Loser Game One/Loser Game Two (Game Four)
5 p.m. ET - Loser Game Three/Winner Game Four (Game Five)

Sunday, May 18

1:30 p.m. ET - Winner Game Three/Winner Game Five (Game Six)
4 p.m. ET - (if necessary) Rematch of Game Six

The University of Louisville may be in the process of opening up a pipeline to Indiana basketball talent, if recent activity is any indication.

First, there is the commitment to U of L of Kyle Kuric, a 6-foot-4 guard from Evansville Memorial. Described as a great three-point shooter, he averaged 20.8 points and 6.7 rebounds as a senior.

Stephan Van Treese, a four-star forward from Indianapolis Lawrence North, has narrowed his recruitment down to five programs, according to Inside The Ville. U of L is said to be on Van Treese’s short list. The 6-8, 225-pound forward is currently playing for the Indiana Elite AAU team.

Also sure to catch U of L’s eye on a 15-and-under Indiana Elite team are a couple of high school sophomores from Southern Indiana – Evan Maschmeyer, of Jeffersonville High School, and Brandon Dunaway, of Corydon. Both started as point guards on their varsity teams, with superior playmaking, three-point shooting, and defensive skills. Some local high school fans may recall Dunaway hitting a 60-footer against Silver Creek this past season.

The Indiana Elite team features Marshall Plumlee, a younger brother to two Duke commits, and Cody Zeller, younger brother of Luke and Tyler Zeller, who both earned Mr. Basketball honors in Indiana.

* * *

Sonja On Softball — Despite losing to South Florida 2-1 in the Big East Tournament semifinals , the U of L Softball Cards have earned a berth in the NCAA Regionals.

They’re headed to Knoxville to face 17th ranked Virginia Tech (44-15) on Friday. Tennessee (47-14) and Winthorp (36-17) will square off in the other opening round game.

The Cards are led by hard hitting sophomore catcher Melissa Roth (.361) and freshman third baseman Chelsea Bemis (.333). Senior First baseman Sarah Totten (.316), junior outfielder Kristi Cunningham (six home runs) and freshman shortstop Colby Wherry. The Cards banged out a cumulative .270 batting average and held their opponents to just .221.

Kristen Waddell (18-13, 32 starts, 2.19 ERA) and Kassie Stanfill (10-7, 18
starts, 3.34 ERA)handle the pitching duties for U of L. The Cards’ pitchers posted a 2.57 ERA for the year.

University of Louisville fans can exhale now. The downtown arena for the U of L basketball teams is a go. This time for sure.

Assured Guaranty, a Bermuda-based company has agreed to insure the bonds for the facility to the tune of $280 million in a variable-rate bonds and the remaining $80 million in fixed interest bonds. If the economy continues along its bumpy road, those variable-rate bonds could turn out to be quite a bargain. For every negative, there’s a positive … or is it the other way around?

Rick Pitino expressed serious doubt that Governor Ernie Fletcher’s $75 million grant would ever get through the Kentucky Legislature. Jim Host got it done.

Skeptical U of L fans wondered whether someone so closely tied to the University of Kentucky, a person who used those same ties to build his publishing, construction, real estate and financial empire could be trusted. Jim Host proved otherwise.

David Jones and John Schnatter, two local power brokers and U of L supporters, opposed the effort to get the proposed arena site moved from the Louisville Water Company site to the riverfront site, drawing upon their considerable clout to block it. Jim Host got it done.

Some of the Nervous Nellies on the Louisville Metro Council, namely Jim King and Tina Ward-Pugh, were having a tough time “getting their arms around the project” at first, forcing unnecessary delays in the debate, jeopardizing critical deadlines. Jim Host got it done, got their arms around it, their heads where they belonged.

Some pessimists were doubting that bond insurance was even possible in the current economic climate, the economy going to hell in a hand basket. Jim Host got it done.

There will be other major challenges in a project of this magnitude. It is inevitable.Too many things can go haywire in an unpredictable economy. Mother Nature is creating chaos around the world. PETA may get concerned about the proximity of the arena to the carp and catfish in the Ohio River. The crazies in the Middle East are still breathing and breeding hate.

The best thing the arena has going for it is Jim Host. He has made this personal. He will get it done.

It bears repeating: Take good care of yourself, Big Jim.

He was a University of Louisville fan before he was born.

As a two-year-old, he was lifted high in the air by his dad after U of L scored a touchdown in his first U of L football game ever, at the old Fairgrounds Stadium, the dangling binoculars striking his old man squarely in the nose.

The first U of L basketball game he remembers attending was an 82-79 win over Duke in the NCAA Championship at Dallas in 1986. No wonder he has such high expectations for the Cards.

His first dunk came from a strong assist from Darrell Griffith at Male where his mom, Barbara, was teaching summer school.

He hyperventilated when Everick Sullivan hit a three-point shot at the last second to give the Cards a win over Florida State.

He remembers the basket brawl against South Carolina, U of L winning the game in overtime after trailing by 14 points with just over a minute to go.

He read Denny Crum’s mind, calling the play before Brian Kiser hit the winning shot over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.

He traded U of L baseball caps with Howard Schnellenberger, the coach grabbing his own cap and sticking it on his admirer’s head at a weekly coach’s show.

He endured the frigid rain at U of L’s first Liberty Bowl win, with Jeff Brohm calling the signals against Michigan State.

He enrolled in college, but his head wasn’t in his studies. He became a dad, another U of L fan was born. He postponed his education.

Some time between the Michigan State win and a later frigid loss to Colorado State, in the the same Liberty Bowl, he matured and became a man.

He re-enrolled in college again eight years later, this time fully committed to the process. Made straight A’s his first semester. Stayed on the Dean’s List much of his four years. He graduated cum laude this weekend.

He is Stephen Springer, son of Charlie Springer, and Steve is this week’s U of L Fan of the Week.