Conservative Musings

You Go, Girls!

I don't usually pay much attention to women's basketball, however, with the University of Louisville women's team in the NCAA Final Four I decided to watch.  The first half was ugly.  The Cards started out missing their first dozen or so shots from the field and Oklahoma roared out to a 16-4 lead.  Amazingly, the Cards were only behind by that margin at the half, but I thought they were pretty much sunk and didn't plan to watch the second half.

A little bit later I turned on the TV just to see how far behind we were.  Lo and behold, we were ahead by 4!  There followed a very exciting game with several ties, a couple of lead changes, and a last second three-point attempt by Oklahoma to try to win the game.  It bounced off the rim and the Cards won their first-ever Final Four game 61-59!  Now they move on to the Championship game against either Connecticut or Stanford.

Go Cards!

--Red

Go Cards!

Congratulations to the University of Louisville Cardinals for getting the #1 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament!  Go Cards!

--Red

The Real China

The real side of China reared it's ugly head as part of President George W. Bush's visit to Sunday services in Beijing.  The kind of thing I thought would happen did - another christian taken into custody while heading to this same service, then hidden away who knows where.

Folks wonder why some complain about the Olympics being hosted in China.  Need we say more?

-Colonel Steve

Triumph & Tragedy

Today the city of Louisville celebrated its most famous event:  The Kentucky Derby.  I was rooting for three horses:

1. Colonel John:  named for an Iraq war vet
2. Big Brown:  has connections to UPS, as do I
3. Eight Belles:  hey, you gotta' root for a filly in the Derby

It was an exciting event.  Big Brown, the favorite, was starting from post position 20.  No one has won from that position since 1929.  He ran from the outside for most of the race and I didn't think he'd make it.  Suddenly, though, he turned on the gas and shot into the front to win by five lengths over Eight Belles.

Then, as the horses were slowing down after the finish line, Eight Belles collapsed.  Both her front ankles were fractured and she had to be put down.

My congratulations to the owners, trainer, and rider of Big Brown.  My condolences to those involved with Eight Belles.  She was a fine horse and ran a fine race.

--Red

A Great Play Thirty Two Years Ago

I've never been a Chicago Cubs fan.  Probably never will.  But when I saw this awhile back, I am definitely a Rick Monday fan.

Since this happened back in 1976, this has become one of the top 100 sports moments in history.  It's good that the one remembered here is Rick.  No clue who the two activists were.  Actually, don't want to know.  But for a couple of guys trying to make a statement, they sure got forgotten.

(HT: Ed Morrisey at Hot Air)

-Colonel Steve

Louisville #1 Ranked for March Madness

For the 9th year in a row, the Louisville TV market ranked #1 in NCAA basketball viewers.  Sounds like we like good basketball, whether or not the Cardinals are on the schedule.

-Colonel Steve

I'm Baaaacccck!

I'm back......to the colder, wetter home of Louisville.  Just missing, by about 3 hours, the mess Kentucky fans lived through down in Atlanta.  One time I'm glad all I saw was rain.

-Colonel Steve

Neat Technology

This past month, for our anniversary, Lady Colonel and I broke down and bought a new television to replace a dying one.  We went all out and bought the Sony Bravia KDL-46V2500 (46 inch LCD, 1080p).  After fiddling with it for awhile, I am now getting the Insight cable local channel high def signals working.

For me, it's just in time to see this Saturday's UofL-UK game on CBS at 4pm.

Seeing that it's a home game for the Cats, and the "gotta win this game at all costs" thinking in Lexington for this game, that means it'll make it closer anyway.

-Colonel Steve

China's First Guide Dog

I've been far from a supporter of China being a host of the Olympics.  I'm not behind the implicit sanctioning this gives to the Chinese government.

That said, there still are positives that inevitably will occur as Beijing opens it's doors to foreign travelers coming in to view or compete in the Olympics.  Although China is cleaning up its act around Olympic venues, visitors still have a chance to see directly some of what is happening there.  Also, the Chinese themselves will be rubbing elbows with folks from free countries.

This story hit close to home for me, since we have trained service dogs ourselves.  A competitor in the 1984 Paralympic games is now the recipient of Beijing's first guide dog.  Ping Yali competed in that year's Olympic games for "athletes with physical, mental and sensorial disabilities."  Although this move might not be directly related to China opening it's doors for the Olympics, it is a good thing to see.

-Colonel Steve

NASCAR and Democrats

There once were the "Soccer Moms" who leaned towards democrats, followed by the "NASCAR Dads", who leaned republican.  Now they have one more reason to keep leaning that way.

I'm sure you've heard by now the story behind the House Homeland Security Committee visit to a NASCAR site, full of requests from a democrat to get immunized before the trip!  It's the first reported case I've heard of requiring Immunizations for DOMESTIC travel.

All this time I thought it was only required if visiting a democratically-controlled Congress.  Like Patrick McHenry said, "If anything, it’s the Nascar fans who should get immunized against Washington officials."

-Colonel Steve