“This song, a girl took it away from me. A friend of mine. This girl just took this song. I’m gonna do it anyway.”
After which intro at Monterey Pop in ’67, Otis Redding, backed by Duck Dunn, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson Jr., Booker T. Jones, along with the Memphis Horns — Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love — ripped the joint with an incendiary version of “Respect.”
Aretha’s take was righteous, but My Man Otis, he was something else entirely. The best of them all, y’all.
R*E*S*P*E*C*T.
He took his tune back and proved to be the rightful owner at the hippy gathering.
As, he did when I heard him live at Louisville Gardens a few months before his plane crash.
One more analogy. Then we’ll get to the Cardinals.
The last of the several times I was blessed to hear Etta James live was in the mid to late 2000s.
After shredding her hit “At Last,” the ever prickly Ms. James bellowed into the mic, “Beeeee-Yawn-Say, that’s MY song!”
Which it was. And remains.
* * * * *
There is really no explanation outside that room of decision makers — or even in there — why Louisville was placed on the #8 seed line.
None that makes any sense from a performance/ record standpoint.
But, complaining about it, as the Cardinal Nation has understandably been doing since the Cards name was called, seems an unhealthy way to build up an overload of resentment bile.
What’s the use? For me, life’s too short.
There was that look of confusion on Pat Kelsey’s face as he turned to J’Vonne Hadley when Louisville appeared on the screen. Of course, he handled his later comments with diplomatic aplomb.
But the message boards and social media were all, “Yo Zuckerberg, we got meltdown.”
One guy in the gym, a U of L grad, told me the school should quit the NCAA. I overheard a couple of other guys wondering whether a lawsuit should be filed. There’s the cacophony of ranting plaints. By knowing Cardinal fans, as well as the plethora of dunderheads.
Again, I understand the outrage. I’m just not there. Nothing to be done about it.
There’s seeding strangeness every single season.
It happens. It happened.
R E S P E C T.
Here’s what the beloved band of Cardinals can do:
Earn it. (The Smith Barney way, with a stentorian voice over by John Houseman.)
Beat Creighton.
That’s the only task at hand.
As for the braying fanbase, fill Rupp with red on Thursday.
This time of year, Rule Numero Uno, just the same as it ever was, “You only play whom you play.”
Creighton.
Were the Cards on the #6 line as reasonably projected, replacing Ole Miss, BYU, Illinois or Mizzou, they’d be facing VCU, Drake, or the winner of either Carolina vs. San Diego State or Xavier vs. Texas.
Easier??? I dunno. I’ve always felt that there’s not much difference this time of year among the #5s to #12s. History proves it.
The Cards are 14 spots higher than the Blue Jays in the significant statistical measures. Pomeroy. Torvik. Miyakawa. NCAA Net.
Both were league tourney runners-up.
U of L opened as a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 point favorite. 61% chance of prevailing, however whoever comes up with that percentage.
Win the game.
Earn the R E S P E C T.
Take the song back.
* * * * *
That U of L was placed in the Lexington subregional intrigues me.
Such geographical deference most always is only afforded to schools perched on the top four lines.
Was it dumb luck? Was a bone tossed our way by the committee?
Maybe? Possibly? Probably?
Again, we just don’t know.
I’ve got a plausible theory. The same one as espoused by my Monday Lunch pals.
Ticket sales.
A month or so ago, I saw an ad during a game unlike any I’d ever seen before. It was to sell tickets for the games in Lexington. “Sales must be slow,” I mused to myself. When I saw the Cards’ Dance opener is in Lexington, my kneejerk word association was “Tickets.”
Allow me to reiterate, as is my wont. We just don’t know.
But, for me, it cushions the blow of the absurd seeding. Somewhat.
Beat Creighton.
— c d kaplan
After all these years, they still hate us.
Right seedy / Trump ripping away our constitutional rights and freedoms- “hey just get over it “ – Chuck Schumer looking like a limp noodle in the CR fight – “hey just get over it “ / the Cards an 8 seed .- “hey just get over it “
Whilst I know the first two examples pale to a college basketball seeding tsuris- you of all people take this stuff very seriously – the issue isn’t are we better off an 8 than a 5 or 6 – there’s an issue of fundamental fairness – & stari decisis –
Ive even heard of Auburn fans being pissed that their #1 overall seeded squad got screwed having to play Louisville in Lexington – go figure ‼️. I was basically over the issue and my brackets filled – also was wondering why it took to Tuesday morning for you to opine – but alas – here’s my final 4
Florida (winner) over Houston
And ACC redemption as Cards & Dookies make it to San Antonio 🏀TAKE THAT COMMITTEE
Was also at that Otis show at Louisville Gardens in ’67 (wasn’t it called The Convention Center in those days). Got down on his knees during the climax of “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” memory of which still gives me chills.
And yes, we got Rodney Dangerfielded on the respect Big Dance seeding spectrum, but as you indicate, it cuts both ways, with Auburn fans upset about the prospect of having to play the cardiac Cards. Hopefully we’ll get that 1 vs 8 matchup, in which case I’ll just be humming The Happy Song, “Dum dum dee dee dee dum dum. Come on now!” Beat Creighton indeed.
Best show I’ve ever been to.
https://www.culturemaven.com/blog/2023/03/08/rock-roll-rewind-my-man-otis/
Just win
Is the best cure
Correct.
I would like to see Josh ask the committee for a detailed explanation in his most diplomatic way.
Committee Answer: No Comment.
Committee answer: They are pretty good at providing an answer that really is not an answer – all with a straight face.
No chance. Josh is on the women’s selection committee.
So Josh helped get our Card women set up to play vs. Hailey Van Lith in round 2!
He’s scrubbed them.
Beat Creighton
I’ve seen a lot of outrage over the Tar Heels getting in, with West Virginia and a few deserving others left out. How does one explain that?
Oh yeah, the selection committee chairman is the NC AD!
Come on, dude. He stepped out of the room.😉
Bubba got a $100,000 performance bonus because his team made the tournament.
Is that true, or are you joking?
I agree Seedy. Just win is the mantra. We are partaking in the entertainment industry. Just win and you will enjoy the show. It doesn’t matter if it’s your favorite team or the one where your bet is riding, just win. Once you put on your ESPN/Broadcasting glasses, the sports industry makes a world of sense. The game inside the games is filling as many time slots with as much content that you can generate interest to drive viewers/ revenue. Les Moonves not the NCAA, takes credit for matching UofL and UK in Knoxville back in the day. Even the east coast west coast same conference schedules make sense when you put broadcasting scheduling and revenue first. Eric Crawford describes the purpose of the NCAA well, cover the university president and run the tournament. ESPN will do the rest. Get your popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show. Just win and all is well. Go Cards!
I must be getting old and wise, Seedy, because this was my immediate take also. 😉
We agree? Uh oh. How far we’ve come.
Going to see this team, pissed off, with a chip on their shoulder, play Creighton in the NCAA tournament, live.
I’m too stoked to be mad.
The NCAA has added ESPN to their cover responsibilities.