Archive for July, 2008
Josh Langford U of L Bound
New commitment for the University of Louisville basketball team, namely Josh Langford, a 6-foot-6 forward from Huntsville, Alabama, who has consistently been ranked among the top 50 recruits in the class of 2010. Here’s what the professional hoop watchers say about him:
ESPN Insider: Josh is a solid, strong wing player. He has good size and can score off the dribble and must extend his range as he gets older. He plays solid on defense but does not excel on this end. Josh mixes it up for rebounds and must continue to develop his ability to create for himself. His size and strength make him one of the top players in the class right now. He must get better to stay at this level as others catch up to him in size and strength.
Josh is a wing with great size and is a nice athlete. He has decent skill but will need to improve upon them some to remain an elite prospect. He is strong and a good rebounder. He is an average defender. He scores with a solid jump shot to 17 feet. His off the dribble game is ok for now. Josh is a top 30 player in the 2010 class nationally.
Mike Hughes, Scout.com: Currently ranked as one of the Top 50 prospects in his class, Langford showed in his first game at the HoopFest that he can operate and score along the baseline, rebound his position well and knock down the midrange shot with his smooth left-handed stroke.
i95ballers.com: Josh Langford has been working hard all summer to improve his overall skills on the basketball floor. Already possessing superior athleticism and a knack for attacking the basket, the rising junior has begun to transform himself from an interior presence into a more perimeter threat … USC, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Penn State, Memphis, Stanford and UAB have all been showing Joshua love to varying degrees, but the Cardinals have been in constant contact and currently lead for his services.
One Last Call To The Post For Luke
A tribute from one of his many fans to long-time Card fan Luke Kruytbosch, the veteran track announcer at Churchill Downs and Ellis Park, who recently died of cardiac arrest at his Evansville residence:
By Sonja
I can only start with the first time I met Luke. It was pre 9/11, and he was calling the spring meet at Churchill Downs in June, 2000.  We were sitting in one of Churchill’s bars after the races, discussing our luck (and lack of it
) in wagering when one of our group pointed him out and told us who he was. Undaunted, and fueled by a couple of white zinfandels, I made my way to the bar stool he was perched on, and asked him if he had any opinion on the races coming up the next day.
With a twinkle in his eye, and jovial chuckle, he informed me that he didn’t do much handicapping, he was a race caller, and more familiar with the California circuit. But, he took my advance program for the next day…thumbed thru it and circled a couple of horses. Then, he warned me that track conditions would have a lot to do with his picks, offered to buy me a drink and invited me to come up to his announcers’ spot the next day and watch him call a race. We became casual friends after that, and he had a pet nickname for me that I won’t mention here, which he would use whenever we’d run into each other at Churchill.
Luke loved Cardinal sports, football in particular, and saw his share of games during the Smith and Petrino eras. I remember how he once spoke admiringly of Stephen LeFors’ talents, and the amazing power of Michael Bush. Luke also admired fellow race callers Tom Durkin and Kurt Becker, and indicated that some day he’d like to return to Hollywood Park and finish out his career as a race caller…but not until current track announcer Vic Stauffer retired.
One of my favorite stories about Luke involved the way he called a race. As the horses would approach the legendary Churchill Downs stretch, Luke would passionately announce that the horses were set down for the stretch drive. We had a visitor go to the track with us several years ago, and I noticed she would sit down every time the horses would arrive to the stretch, a time when most race track followers begin to get the most excited about a race. I asked her why she did that and she matter of factly told me that she was just following the track announcers instructions to “sit down for the stretch drive.” I told the story to Luke, who enjoyed it so much he later retold it to the Daily Racing Form.
Unfortunately, I missed the last couple of racing days at Churchill Downs this spring and did not get the chance to say goodbye to my friend before he departed for Ellis Park’s summer meet. It’s hard to believe I won’t see him again, or heard that rich baritone smoothly report the progress of a race, but his rich legacy and professional attention to duty will always rate him up there with my favorite track announcers of all time.
You’ll be missed Luke, and I know that your legend and lore will live long past the 47 years you shared with us here on earth below.
Surprise Visitor
Guess who made a surprise appearance to honor Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Casey Springer at their wedding reception? None other than University of Louisville football coach Steve Kragthorpe. The reception was held Saturday at the University Club at U of L. Also, notice the observer over the groom’s shoulder. The wedding took place two weeks ago on the beach in Fort Myers, Fla.
Jurich Stakes Reputation On Kragthorpe
Tom Jurich remains firm in his support of Steve Kragthorpe as coach of the University of Louisville football team. “He’s as good a coach as I’ve ever hired,” he said Thursday at the Governor’s Cup Kickoff Luncheon. “I’m going to stand behind him as long as it takes. I’m in this for the long haul, to build it the right way.”
Strong words, spoken without any indication that Jurich’s confidence in Kragthorpe’s abilities has wavered after a disappointing 6-6 record in his first year at the helm. No parsing of words, no beating around the bush: he believes in the coach.
Jurich knows football, he knows his glowing reputation is at stake, and he knows the future of the program hangs in the balance. It’s the same kind of confidence he has voiced in Rick Pitino when some fans were all but jumping ship during the early going of a couple of basketball seasons.
He knows fans, knows they are impatient, knows their expectations can be unreasonable during coaching transitions. He also recognizes that they may not have all the facts about the personnel, what has gone on in the past, and what is transpiring now. He also knows what it takes to field winning teams and ensure long-term stability.
Jurich has transformed the athletic program at UofL in ways that were not imagined just a decade ago. If he stakes his reputation on Kragthorpe, then one has to believe there is ample justification for his faith in the man.
Downtown Arena Haters Smell Blood
The word is that Goldman-Sachs has canceled the deal with Assured Guaranty, and the bonds are reportedly being pulled from the market. With a troubled economy, the high costs, and the inability to acquire bond insurance, the future of the project is uncertain for now.
If so, it’s a major setback for the University of Louisville. The nation’s most profitable basketball program deserves a state-of-the-art, first-class arena. What was really remarkable was how the project cleared so many hurdles:
– A promise of a $75 million grant from a Kentucky Governor.
– Approval of the grant from the Kentucky General Assembly.
– The withdrawal of David Jones and John Schnatter’s opposition to the Riverfront site.
– The creation of a tax incentive plan (TIP) district to help shore up the project.
– Approval by the Louisville Metro Council.
– The removal of the LG&E power grid station.
– The implosion of the Humana office building.
– A design that would have clearly delineate U of L’s position as a driving force in this community.
– A community largely coming together on the need for a new arena.
Bonding problems aside, some downtown arena bashers apparently have never gotten over that a site on or near the U of L campus was not picked. They use every opportunity to lampoon the project, unable to acknowledge the enormous benefits of a downtown location for the program and the community. Worries about out-of-control costs are understandable, but we suspect that their feigned concern about finances is secondary for some of the anti-downtowners.
This observer spoke in favor of an on-campus arena during the hearings. A campus arena would have done wonders for Belknap Campus, opening up all kinds of opportunities for new development, including dormitories, research facilities and beautification. When the idea of a campus facility was dropped, the next logical step was to get behind the downtown site.
The community may have to go back to the drawing boards again unless Jim Host pulls another rabbit out of the hat. That would truly be a miracle.
