All Entries in the "Baseball" Category

Getting It Started

The stadium stalker may have discovered clear evidence that things are going to start happening soon at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The backhoe’s big brothers will be along shortly to handle the heavy lifting. The observer has heard estimates of upward expansion of between 53,000 and 57,000 for the first phase. Nobody seems to know for sure, possibly depending on how low steel and oil prices go — the lower the better. The best news of all may be that interest rates are at historic lows. Hey, Tom, if the economy keeps dumping, maybe only one phase would be needed to get it to 63,000 seats.

Tangible Evidence Of Stadium Expansion

The National Rent-A-Fence Company has erected a fence around the parking area east of the stadium and construction crews are putting the finishing touches on two large double-wide trailers that will serve as construction headquarters for Abel Construction Company.

Abel Construction is the general contractor for the project. So the first steps in the expansion of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium are taking place. As one of the men working on setting up the trailers told this observer, “This thing is gonna happen, and it’s going to be great. They will be moving construction equipment in next.”

Exciting news, especially for Card fans who occupied the old baseball stadium over at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center. The stadium expansion is moving forward, come hell or high water.

The setting up of the construction management offices is tangible evidence that Tom Jurich, Vice President of Athletics, remains firmly committed to the future of University of Louisville football. There are issues, yes, but Jurich recognizes that you have to build now for the future.

“One of the things that Tom has been able to do has been to upgrade all of the athletic facilities to another level,” said Bob Benson, a member of the U of L Athletic Association’s board of directors. “There is visible evidence throughout the campus, the natatorium swimming facility, the baseball stadium, the field hockey complex, the lacrosse stadium. We’ve also got a great new facility (the new downtown basketball arena) going up at Third and Main streets downtown.

“We’re very fortunate to be able to tackle these major projects in a very tough economy. Tom Jurich, with the help of people like Jim Host and others, has provided the leadership and deserves credit for the work he has done and continues to do.”

Some would question whether that long-term future will include Steve Kragthorpe, who will be the head football coach for at least another year. Next season will have its trials and disappointments for sure. In either case, stadium expansion is moving forward.

Seating capacity after completion of the first phase of the expansion will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 55,000 to 57,000.

How Many Murphys In Murfreesboro?

By Sonja Sykes

Your intrepid cub reporter shared a ride with four other Lady Cards supporters and attended the University of Louisvlle women’s basketball game against Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro Thursday night. Here’s a recap of the journey, and names have been changed to protect the innocent. Giggle, giggle. All events occur in real time, as Jack Bauer on “24″ is so fond of saying.

3:15 p.m.

I meet up with the other four making the trip in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Naturally, I’m the last to arrive, but come fortified with food, beverage and gifts for all. Bonnie, Clyde, Laverne and Shirley send me to the back seat of the Mountaineer. I ask if I can use the dribble cup I find back here. OK! Off we go.

5:24 p.m.

Making our first pit stop just short of the Tennessee border. (It’s about time!) We’ve had great conversation and several glasses of wine so far and I’ve made sandwiches for the whole bunch. Clyde’s beginning to look like Elmer Fudd to me, and Laverne and I figured out that we dated the same guy at different times years ago in high school. Bob sure got around, for sure, since I was southwest Jefferson County and she was East End. More wine?

7:13 p.m.

We’re in the parking lot near the Murphy Center, where MTSU plays on campus. Free parking! The KFEC Board would faint…Been picking up WHAS clear as a bell all the way down…listening to the football pregame, And that nut Terry Meiners. His Joe B. Hall parody today had us rolling. Clyde gets praise for his excellent driving and locating the campus, and Bonnie put us all thru a scare when she couldn’t find the tickets at first. We’re cool, we’re dressed in red and we’re ready for some hoops!

7:41 p.m.

Been watching pregame warm-ups. The Cards look loose and relaxed. Several have looked up in the stands and seen the small, but growing contingent of red here. Talked to a couple that moved here several years ago from Louisville. They’re taping the football game, wanted to see Angel play…first time ever for them at a Lady Cards game. They promise to check the website out…so Hi! to Jeff and Denise!  Do I get commission, Charlie?

8:12 p.m.

Game is on 4-2 MTSU early. Very loud in here. Cards with 5 fouls already in just 4 minutes of play.  Good defense, but too many reach-ins.

8:20 p.m.

It’s 7-7 with 11:58 to go. Still tight defense game, Louisville just can’t get the offense going. Angel with 4 points so far.

8:27 p.m.

14-13 MTSU. Emily Queen, from Rose Hill Prep School in KY.is killing us.  Has 11 points so far. Candyce looks tired out there for us. She and Angel going to the bench.

8:35 p.m.

Byrd three, followed by a Monique Reid steal for a lay up!  18-17 us with five minutes to go first half.

8:45 p.m.

We went on an 8-0 run to take the lead 31-24 at the half. Dez has three 3’s. We’re going to see if we can go to the car and get a football update.

8:55 p.m.

After a quick discussion with the security guard, he let us out to check the score. Ugh. 28-0 Rutgers? Rain? Doug Ormay talking about how Dave Kragthorpe is disgusted about the game.  I bet he’s not the only one in the family mad. Think I’ll finish the wine in here (tee hee).

9:05 p.m.

Back in the Murphy Center as Candyce Bingham feeds Keisha Hines for a nice lay up. 36-26 Cards with 17:30 to go. Security guard actually felt sorry for us.

9:18 p.m.

With 13 minutes to go, we’re up comfortably 47-30 and on a 9-0 run. I wonder if the Cards have scored yet (in football)? MTSU has only made one shot from the floor so far this half. Defense rules! Angel’s got 16 and Keisha’s playing well.

9:30 p.m.

A Rutgers fan just informed us were down 49-0 at the half! That thud you just heard was me falling out of the bleachers.  We’re up 60-39 here. Wonder if we could loan the guys our 21-point lead?

9:50 p.m.

It’s over! A convincing 23-point win 67-44. Angel had 24 points, Keisha 11. Cards were very excellent in defense tonight, especially in the second half. Great crowd here and they love their Raiders, but they’ve been complimentary to us as we’re walking out. Not all folks in blue are mean…Now, the ride home and to the radio for some exciting UofL football?

1:15 p.m.

I’m home. I’m surprised people aren’t rioting in the streets after the football debacle. At least I’ll be able to go to work tomorrow and brag I saw a 23- point win. Clyde just shook his head the whole way back as we listened to the football game. At least it kept him awake.

Stuff You Probably Didn’t Know About T-Will

Terrence Williams didn’t play basketball until he was in middle school, learning the game in a Seattle neighborhood from future Portland Trailblazer star Brandon Roy. He talks about that and other things in a recent interview during the Big East get together in New York:

A few more insights about T-will from the media guide:

Feels Al Pacino would be the best actor to play him in a movie.

What impresses him the most about Coach Pitino is “he understands and teaches you. He’s the greatest man I’ve ever met.”

Wishes he was married.

Afraid of heights.

Chose to attend U of L because “Coach P is the best I’ve seen and was real from the start, plus Louisville is the best city since Seattle.”

Chose his No. 1 uniform number because “the ones before me were just No. 1; I want to be the ONE.”

If you walked into his dorm room, the first thing you would notice is his 130 shoe boxes.

Would most like to meet his father.

*   *   *

The Lady Cards basketball team will face Utah tonight in a 9:30 p.m. tip-off in Salt Lake City. Sonja will provide commentary after the contest (if she can stay awake). The game will be on WKRD, with Jim Kelch and Adrienne Johnson calling the action.

Good Ship Kragthorpe

To the tune of Shirley Temple’s ‘Good Ship Lollipop’

By Sonja Sykes

On the good ship Steve Kragthorpe
There’s a great big wish and a lot of hope
That they’ll turn it around.. and sail into a bowl town.

There’s been chances and they’ve fallen short
And a definite loss of fan support…
But the players still say that they believe in Koach all the way.

And if the candy coated dreams of fans could all come true
We’d have a lot of linemen, linebackers and safeties, too
Throw in some wide receivers, true believers and a kicker or two.
And while you’re at it, how about a clone of Pat White..Ooh!

But the truth is, we won’t get all that
Maybe a couple of guys who’ll wear a Cardinal hat
On signing day.
4 or 5 star prospects we all pray.

And whatever the Rutgers game should bring
Be assured Tom Jurich won’t change a thing
Cause it’s rebuilding time
And a 5-7 record isn’t a crime.

So enjoy those trips on the road next year
To Lexington and the Mountaineers
And the warm Tampa Bay
Or the place where the Huskies play.

We may get kicked around…and lose all four…
But there is one thing we know for sure
It’s the Cards golden rule…
Don’t you know we’re a basketball school?

* * *

Moderator Here: More great work from Sonja.  The part about being a basketball school stings a bit for fans who have invested so much time and resources into the football program, recognizing that football success is integral for maintaining national respect for a university’s overall athletic program.

*   *   *

Volleyball Conference Champs: The women’s volleyball team may have something to say about that, too, after winning the Big East Conference tournament Sunday.

Jana Matiasovska’s 21 kills and career high six blocks earned her the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as she led the Cardinals to a 3-1 win over Notre Dame for the University of Louisville’s second tournament crown in three years..

The Cardinals (18-10) earn the Big East’s automatic bid and will make their 11th straight NCAA appearance and their 19th overall.