Category Archives: Fandom

Whither U of L Football 2017?

Fandom, Football

So I pulled out my Detroit Lions ballcap yesterday.

Stay with me here, this isn’t some LSD flashback, an indecipherable rambling rumination about nothing much, I shall get to the Louisville Cardinals and the upcoming campaign in a sec. Just want to provide some context.

I was born in Motown, and even though my family moved to Louisville when I was but a mere babe, I follow and root for Detroit’s pro teams. Including the perennially hapless Lions of the NFL.

As you all too well know, it’s the time of year when hope springs you know what– that’s right, eternal — for every franchise at every level of pigskin.

It’s true in Motor City.

It is true in Derbytown, USA.

And it’s welling up inside Cardinal fans either because of or despite the pall that hangs over U of L football no thanks to that the three game nosedive that ended last campaign. The Red & Black Faithful are ready and raring to go.

The L1C4 Nation is dreaming the Cards can be a contender, return to the upper echelon, where they were perched in ’06 before spitting out the bit at Rutgers, and where they were poised last autumn before braying about disrespect, then laying down at Houston, against the Cats and in the Citrus Bowl.

Here’s why there is reason for bullish expectations, in no particular order of importance. Continue reading Whither U of L Football 2017? →

Sunday’s Sports Musings: Lots of U of L & More

Basketball, Fandom, Football, , , , , ,

reporterHoops that matters is back in the form of NBA playoffs.

It’s a good thing.

It’s also early, since the opening slate of first round games isn’t even complete as I write this, early Sunday evening.

I do have one observation.

I took note to check out Brad Stevens. He who is formerly of the Butler Hinkles, currently with the Boston Celtics, and forever topping the wish list of every college basketball fan, whose favorite team is ready for its next coach, the one that will surely lead them to One Shining Moment.

My observation. Stevens looks awfully comfy in front of the Celtics bench.

He does not appear to be a guy ready to jump back to college, so he can try to rah rah sis boom bah for some fat cats’ alma mammy.

* * * * *

Also in the category of Coaches Every Fan Wants Roaming His School’s Sideline, is, or actually, was, Shaka Smart. Continue reading Sunday’s Sports Musings: Lots of U of L & More →

Monday Morning Sports Shots

Baseball, Basketball, Fandom, Football, Golf, Hockey

allsportsNo. I do not have any reports from spring practice.

I don’t do spring practice.

In fact, I don’t do practice at all. I haven’t enough expertise to discern who is playing better, and who worse?

Allow me to remind you, I’m the guy who did go to practice when Teddy Bridgewater was a rookie. I watched him tossing the ball in drills, and thought the other QBs, guys whose names are long since forgotten, had stronger arms and were more accurate.

Which is why, allow me to reiterate, I don’t do spring practice.

In fact, I don’t do practice at all.

I leave it to the good ol’ boys, the wannabe JV assistants, in their double knit shorts. Continue reading Monday Morning Sports Shots →

Cardinal Football Practice Begins; Louisville Coach Petrino Speaks

Fandom, Football, ,

cardfootballIn a hallowed tradition that harkens back to the Days of Yesteryore, at least to the beginning of the cable TV sports era, football coaches meet the media on the eve of fall two-a-days to provide sound bites to whet fans’ appetites.

Bobby Petrino, U of L’s once and once again coach, honored the tradition yesterday.

During which, as is all pigskin mentors’ want, save for Spurrier and Schnellenberger, he essentially said, well, little of substance. (Truth be told, Coach Visor and Coach Pipe don’t provide much real info either, but each in his own way stands above the crowd in his particular entertaining manner.)

It was an interesting interlude anyway, if only to observe if Bobby P was any more relaxed in front of the cameras than his first pass through town as head coach? Continue reading Cardinal Football Practice Begins; Louisville Coach Petrino Speaks →

My Town, My Team: Detroit Tigers; A Respectful Homage

Baseball, Fandom,

tigersErnie Banks recently graced the cover of a Sports Illustrated Where & How Are They Now? issue. The next time out, the ‘zine featured lovely, heartfelt essays from writers of note, sports and otherwise, in which they wax poetic about the baseball teams they revere. Many are filled with melancholy. The national pastime can be cruel for those who have sworn fealty.

In response to the Banks story, I sent a craftily-worded letter to the editor, telling the sweet tale of my moment with Ernie Banks and his response to a barb from Harmon Killebrew, I heard when tagging along with the Hall of Famers as they toured the Louisville Slugger plant during its opening night celebration.

SI chose not to print my letter.

Nor did they ask me to contribute to the “My Team, My Town” essay section.

Had the mag done so, here’s what I would have submitted. Continue reading My Town, My Team: Detroit Tigers; A Respectful Homage →

The Curious Nature of Fandom: How We Come to Love the Teams We Love

Fandom

sportsIt is not always as natural an evolution as we might expect, how we come, that is,  to love the teams to which we have sworn our undying loyalty.

How, for the more fiercely faithful, that dedication can include serious schadenfreude when it comes to arch rivals.

A peculiar beast, fandom.

There are naturally occurring phenomena.

Sharing loyalty for a team with mom and dad. Or, being contrary, choosing their arch rival to cheer for.

Or, the quirky circumstance, the type of loyalty that is without rational basis. Continue reading The Curious Nature of Fandom: How We Come to Love the Teams We Love →