Derby bets

Hello folks. Here are a few betting combos for the upcoming Derby. Try a $2 exacta box on Lookin At Lucky and Devil May Care. Another $2 exacta box I like would be Looking At Lucky, Super Saver and Sidney’s Candy. Talk to you after the race.

Hangin’ at Churchill

Kentucky Derby fever officially hit yours truly this morning about 6 a.m. when I hit the backstretch of Churchill Downs, with the full moon setting and the sun rising.

I had a visit with Nick Zito, who is scheduled to send out Jackson Bend and Ice Box for Derby 136 on Saturday. I will have a column on that discussion in Thursday’s sports section.

Also got the chance to talk with Jeana Bamberger, the Owensboro resident who is part of a horse ownership group that has Negligee running in the seventh race on Thursday.

Some funky numbers

Daviess County’s miraculous 12-11 baseball victory over Owensboro Catholic on Tuesday produced what you might call some statistical anomalies.

Seldom if ever would you see a team make up an 8-run deficit in its last at-bat, and it was exceedingly rare for a high school club.

There were no extra base hits, which was the most stunning thing to me in a game where there were 23 runs and 21 hits.

And unfortunately for Catholic, it could not record an out in the bottom of the seventh to slow down DC’s momentum.

Back again folks

Hello there, sorry it’s been awhile since the last post, but spring break vacation and other bits and pieces have kept me off the trail. I am back, though, and looking forward to sharing more insights and other items from the world of sports.

Another take on the last UK men’s game of 2010

The Final Four will convene in Indianapolis on Saturday without the one team that most folks, certainly in this region, thought would be there.

The University of Kentucky’s fabulous season halted with a thud on Saturday night.

A lot of talk got rolling shortly after the final horn talking about John Calipari getting outcoached, the Cats getting outplayed, and their youth finally showing through against a West Virginia team that got tough with them.

All those things were also on the checklist of why UK didn’t get the chance to host a Cat pilgramage in Indy.

Outside shooting had been a major worry, along with the free throws, and how UK would respond when it got a major challenge.

The ultimate lesson learned was that no matter the talent level, if you can’t get enough shots to go in, or figure out how to compensate for that problem, then you will get beat.

Cousins, Wall rare All-American pair

Both DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall were named first team Associated Press All-Americans on Monday.

The University of Kentucky teammates made history with the selection. It is the first time ever that two freshmen teammates were named to the first team. They were only the ninth pair of teammates to make the first team.

UK junior Patrick Patterson was an honorable mention All-American.

Cousins and Wall are both projected among the first players picked in this year’s NBA Draft. Patterson is also expected to be a first-round choice.

Brackets shattered, not busted

I didn’t have the courage to look at my wrecked NCAA brackets until today. Always late on filling them out, I made my
“picks” the day before the tournament started.

There were red lines all over the place, noting all the teams that had been eliminated from my picks.

Only the U.S. Government has gone through more red ink in the last couple of weeks.

The short version of this complete mess follows.

My Midwest Regional final is gone (that Northern Iowa bandwagon left without me).

I had Notre Dame meeting Duke in the South Regional final. (Filling the brackets out on Saint Patrick’s Day had me loving the Irish).

Also I must have wanted to open a restaurant in Santa Fe (with apologies to RENT), in thinking New Mexico was Elite Eight material.

There are only four teams left in my Elite Eight that are still actually playing.

Obviously, I’ll be collecting no money at the end of this Madness.

Big Red fans of Big Red??

Big Red fans could be feeling conflicted today.

The Big Red of Cornell faces the University of Kentucky in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

Does that mean Big Red fans of Western Kentucky University will be pulling for the other Big Red?

Or are Big Red fans of WKU perturbed that the Ivy League school has the same nickname as the Toppers’ beloved mascot?

A coworker brought up this interesting point heading toward tonight’s UK game.

And it’s a legitimate point to ponder while wondering what happened to their own brackets.

I knew I should’ve gotten on that Northern Iowa bandwagon… But I’ll have more on the Mathis bracketology implosion later this afternoon.

Muhlenberg makes run back, but can’t finish it

Muhlenberg County made a run back to get within two with 2:17 left in its PNC/KHSAA Boys’ State Tournament matchup against West Jessamine, but it couldn’t finish the deal.

The Mustangs fell 73-63 in their first state tournament appearance.

Muhlenberg trying to hang in

Muhlenberg County has gathered itself somewhat after going 1-for-12 from 3-point range in the first half of its PNC/KHSAA Boys’ State Tournament game with West Jessamine.

The Mustangs are staying in contention with better shot selection, and they are at least finding some working room in the middle of W. Jessamine’s zone.

But W. Jessamine is getting baskets much easier than Muhlenberg County. And W. Jessamine guard Jarrod Polson is doing what he wants against the Mustangs defenders.