Here’s to the Jealous, Malicious, Ignorant and Paranoid

Yes, you. Rick Pitino is ignoring you. And John Calipari, and all those witty Big Blue followers filling the Internet with barbs about Pitino, now that the Rick decided he had to take a shot at Calipari for saying earlier this week that UK was the only basketball program in the state. If you missed it, Rick said this, as reported by CBS Sports::

“Four things I’ve learned in my 59 years about people. I ignore the jealous, I ignore the malicious, I ignore the ignorant and I ignore the paranoid. If the shoe fits anyone, wear it.”

Much of the Big Blue rage is directed now toward C-J columnist Rick Bozich, who had the nerve to write that Calipari suffers from Pitino Envy.

Considering it’s early October, and the game between the two schools is 3 months away, the fact that this story is getting more media attention than, say, both schools’ football games this weekend, just tells you a lot about us.  Maybe we’re the ones Pitino was calling jealous, malicious, ignorant and paranoid.

Of more importance to U of L is the setback that is TCU going to the Big 12, announced yesterday. Pitino was quoted in the New York Times, saying, “It’s one of the most disappointing things I’ve seen in 35 years in the game to see this thing break up like this. We’ve stayed loyal to it all along. We’ve stayed loyal, and by staying loyal we’re not sure what’s going to happen to us.”

Loyalty counts for nothing in sports these days, and the next domino to fall seems to be Missouri, which will either stay in the Big 12 (which would be a 10-team league), or bolt for the Big Ten or SEC. If either of those things happen, then the Big 12 might be shopping at the Big East store for a school (U of L or West Virginia) to complete its lineup. In any scenario, the Big East needs to go on its own acquisition shopping spree, and quickly.

Let’s Hear it for the Huge, Furry Lovable Creature: It’s not all bad in college football. If you stayed up last night, you saw Western Kentucky survive a double overtime thriller at Middle Tennessee, 36-33. And Big Red got plenty of national airtime on ESPNU.  The Toppers scored a TD in the 2nd OT after Middle managed a field goal in its possession. WKU had lost 9 straight games in which it had led or tied in the 4th quarter.

Outside the Lines:

Tooth Fairy, Anyone?: I love this message from Jackie Green, fighting the good fight against all the powers that be, touching on many of the ills of our time and the fantasies of those in power:

Metro Council, approving a $10 million dollar industrial bond measure to finance a Brazilian iron forging company supplying Ford components, believes it did not betray local labor or Brazil’s abused labor.  Local media believes it serves the public though it fails to cover this story of outsourcing local dollars and labor to a distant country that fails to protect labor or environment.  Metro Council, passing a resolution asking a citizen’s group to drop a legal objection to the Ohio River Bridges Project, believes it does not betray the right of citizen groups to judicial process.  Metro believes it can successfully recruit nationally a Director of the Office of Sustainability, without changing metro’s transportation and land use policies/practices.  Business leadership believes infinite growth can be maintained on a finite planet.  Conventional developers believe their new neighborhoods do not hurt existing neighborhoods.   The Ohio River Bridges Authority believes continued investment in interstate highways does not hurt public transit investment.

What Happens if you Don’t Pay the Rent:  The Red Star Tavern, one of the least-liked eateries at Fourth Street Live, is getting evicted for failing to pay rent.  And another tenant, Saddle Ridge nightclub, owes $133K in back rent, so you can imagine what Red Star owes. Rumor has it officials are recruiting yet another restaurant for the now-empty Borders spot.

Weekend To-Dos:  There’s the Louisville International Film Festival, with more than 100 films, mostly showing at the Galt House. It’s the opening weekend for “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” at Actors.  and tonight there’s a new event, Art Night Under the Bridge” to show off the new Whiskey Row section next to the arena.

1,000 and Counting: Thanks for not ignoring us. Not to make a big deal out of it, but earlier this week LouisvilleKY.com published its 1,000th post. Not bad for just over 6 months in business.