Seedy K Scoops: Every Once in a While

Basketball, College Sports, Rumor & Innuendo, Sportswriting

By dumb luck and circumstance, I beat the crowd yesterday to the exciting positive news for U of L baskeball fans.

The NCAA had declared waiting in limbo PG Ty-Laur Johnson immediately eligible.

A guy in the gym texted me immediately after Kenny Payne told TL-J and the team.

You’ve seen those videos where a football coach announces that a 4th string walk on punter is now on scholly, and the locker room erupts in cheers and hugs? Well, I’m told that’s what happened.

Fortunately, when I got the text, I was sitting at my keyboard, and immediately posted the news at the Chron. With the proviso that I hadn’t been able to officially confirm it. Soon enough that happened, so I edited my original post, then remembered to post it at my own sports blog.

Received a pat on the back from Glorious Editor. Always appreciated. Since it wasn’t always the case years ago at another venue, which you will learn if you continue with this “tell all,” such as it is.

I’ve never considered myself a reporter. I’m a pundit. A commentator. A retired barrister with too much time on his hands and his key to the posting app. Someone who is familiar enough with the writings of local icon Dr. Gonzo, to understand fabulists often speak the truth. Or, so we delude ourselves.

But yesterday’s gotcha got me thinking of the very few times it’s happened before. All during my “Rumor & Innuendo” days at LEO. Continue reading Seedy K Scoops: Every Once in a While →

Ty-Laur Johnson is eligible

Basketball,

It was announced to the joy of his mates that the Frosh PG from the Bronx has been declared eligible.

Which seriously bolsters U of L’s backcourt for the upcoming rebound season.

I mean, you know, a NY PG.

An AAU tourney MVP. New Jersey PoY as a junior when he played at St. Benedict’s.

For more bio info, click here.

I’ve not seen him play yet. But am advised by those who have observed him in practice that he’s the real deal.

— c d kaplan

Some Final Thoughts on Friday’s W

Football

We start with the quarterback, right?

Alway with the QB, isn’t that the imperative?

Yeah, but no. Though we’ll get to the Best Plumm(b)er in Town soon enough.

 * * * * *

First one more shout out to a couple of truly impressive TD grabs in paydirt.

Chris Bell showed strength and poise and focus on his. The one that counted, to pull the Cardinals within 3 at 7-10. Bell and the DB fought for the ball, and Bell won.

Then there’s the fantastic grab Jadon Thompson made in the farthest corner of the endzone that coulda shoulda woulda put U of L up 14-7. He fought DB Aydan White for the ball, while getting both feet on the turf before falling out of bounds yet retaining possession.

Bad call.

Cards settled for a 33 yard FG by Oscar-winner Brock Travelstead to tie the score at 10.

 * * * * *

Other passing game highlights that immediately come to mind: Continue reading Some Final Thoughts on Friday’s W →

U of L CardFile: NC State

Football

Were I more of a professional, not so disinclined to do actual research as to whether there is some symbiotic connection between Cardinals and Lions in nature, this would be a totally different, more informational lede.*

*Yes, I’m going to get get to the U of L victory over the Wolfpack in a sec. Bear with me in the flush of W(s).

Were I a better more pithy fashioner of phrasing, like, say, Charles Pierce or Ryan McGee*, this might be more to the point while still elegantly snarky.

*In yet another aside, which has absolutely nothing to do with the Cards gritty victory in Carter-Finley, I must share this brilliant bit of writing from ESPN’s McGee. Speaking of a center snap that caught Heisman holder Caleb Williams by surprise, the scribe said, “Oh, and he also received a direct snap that hit him right in the family planning aisle.” Wordsmithery of the highest order, there.

So, where am I going with this, ye Cardinal faithful are wondering? Here:

For the second time this season, I am basking in the glow of a Detroit Lion/ Louisville Cardinal Thursday night/ Friday night double W. (So too, Glorious Editor at the Chron, who happens for some reason to also be a Lions fan. My allegiance comes honestly, I was born in Motown, and have been longing for success since the days of Leon Hart, Joe Schmidt, Night Train Lane, Bobby Layne and Les Bingaman.)

So, yeah, on separate football weekends, the Lions won in Arrowhead and Lambeau in Thursday night previews to the University of Louisville Cardinals prevailing in Atlanta and on Tobacco Road on Friday.

Can I get a witness?

How ’bout a Huzzah! Continue reading U of L CardFile: NC State →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week V

Football, Gaming

The nagging nabobs of naysaying who are continually on my case for not picking against the line, or picking games they feel are like shooting fish in barrel, have been eerily quiet of late.

Yoo hoo, dudes, you up or down at your new favorite sports book in town? Or, are you still bookin’ your bets with the barkeep at your country club?

No losing weeks, two weeks in a row of 4-1 pour moi.

And, allow me to pat myself on the back — as much as I can given a bum shoulder — I’ve taken some risks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, to coin a phrase.

Last week, it bit me in the proverbial bum.

Thanks to some coaching gaffes of biblical proportion. The Irish lost with only ten men on the field. Not once but twice in the last minute. The Dabos lost because their mismanaging HC let the clock run out. (There are more details of these miscues and more in Monday’s Pigskin Pundit.

I picked both Notre Dame and Clemson to win. Sigh.

But the Cards won big. The Cats won. And Washington State beat Oregon State for the PAC2 championship.

3-2 for the weekend. 17-8 on the season.

This weekend’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week V →

Pigskin Pundit: Let’s Talk Coaching

College Sports, Football

Coach Prime, meet Will Stein.

Unless you checked out some parochial school football during your stint on the Redbirds, you probably weren’t really aware of the former U of L Cardinal QB before this Saturday past.

One must presume you know his name now.

Stein’s Oregon Duck offense whomped your Buffalo D up one side of the head, then the other. A few shots to the solar plexus after that.

35 zip at the half. Then Will called off the Quack. Down 42, your guys finally put one in the endzone late, very late, garbage time.

 * * * * *

Speaking of coaching, how ’bout that Marcus Freeman? Continue reading Pigskin Pundit: Let’s Talk Coaching →

U of L CardFile: Boston College

College Sports, Football

It is obviously difficult to pick nits — or clean the burrs out of your shoes — when your team beats a conference foe with four touchdown 56-28 dispatch.

Yes, I’m most pleased, as I’m sure most of the Cards’ fans are.

But there are reasons for concern, mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

 * * * * *

But, first there’s these smile inducing observations.

In the first half, the Cards had six possessions. They scored six touchdowns.

To quote Ed Kallay, long time Louisville play by play guy a long time ago, “You can’t do much better than that.”

The last tally was the sweetest. With :33 on the clock before halftime, the Cards got the ball on their own 25, after BC had scored TDs on consecutive possessions.

As he did last week, when in a similar situation, Jeff Brohm called a timeout.

This time around the team lined up for a half ending kneel down.

Did you groan? I certainly did. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Boston College →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week IV

College Sports, Football, Gaming

Yes, it is true.

Despite the reality that I have constantly chosen Graham Mertz as my perennial whipping boy, I picked the Gators to beat the Vols.

So they did. Rather easily actually.

Meanwhile I predicted that Pitt would win its brawl with West Virginia. Even though they lost to Cincy, who then lost to Miami (Oh). Forgetting all the while that the Panthers’ twice transferred TPQB Phil Jurkovec was a non entity at Notre Dame, then really bad at Boston College. I mean his mediocrity has made Mertz seem a legit Heisman hopeful.

Anyway Jurkovec did what he does in Morgantown, lose. My mistake.

North Carolina, Kentucky and the Cardinals all took care of biz, as it was stated would happen in this space.

Second 4-1 weekend in a row, making the kid 14-6 for the season.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week IV →

Pigskin Pundit: 9/19 Edition

Uncategorized

So, ya think that Nick Saban guy down in Tuscaloosa wishes he’d gone after the QB now calling signals in South Bend, instead of the one who did so last season?

Asking for Harvey Updyke.*

* Updyke is the rabid Crimson Tide fan, the owner allegedly of a hundred or so Alabama ballcaps, who poisoned the oak trees at rival Auburn’s Toomer’s Corner.

Tyler Buchner (+ Ty Simpson + Jalen Milroe) ≠ Sam Hartman.

Those heralded Dreamland ribs ain’t tastin’ so tasty these days.

 * * * * *

Speaking of QB dismay, ya think Tom Allen up in Bloomington is lamenting the departure of long gone Michael Penix Jr.? Continue reading Pigskin Pundit: 9/19 Edition →

U of L CardFile: Indiana

College Sports, Football

So there was Uncle Mo on the IU sideline at the beginning of the second half. He’d changed his garb into a crimson and cream hoodie.

Sharp-eyed observers of the game would have known something would be up. They’d have noticed that he was reaching into his duffle bag after that last play of the 2d Q.

Because what we have here is a classic case that would have been an A+ answer to  a question on Professor Chinstrap’s Psych 431 (Coaching Decisions and Game Momentum) final:

Give an example of how duel coaching decisions can totally turn a game around. Extra credit if both benefit the same team.

Totally dominating the interstate rivalry in the opening half, U of L, up 21 zip, got the ball back with :25 on the clock in the 2d.

HC Jeff Brohm called a timeout before 1st down.

Apparently to decide between taking a chance, and throwing deep. Or taking a knee.

The former made sense — to me anyway. The Cardinals have Jamari Thrash, who was breaking open deep with impunity. (And would have had two scores before halftime, had Jack Plummer gotten him the ball long when JT was wide open.)

The latter made less sense. But was somewhat defensible since U of L got the ball to start the 3d Q.

So, one guy’s take, gamble and throw it loooooooong. See what happens.

Brohm, usually wont to double down and raise rather than fold, but was obviously happy with a three TD cushion, folded. Greed might have been good.

Uncle Mo’s change of haberdashery was telling indeed. Continue reading U of L CardFile: Indiana →