A “Giants” Task

I’ve been a New York Giants NFL fan since I was a little boy growing up in Pomona, NY, just outside New York City.  In the 60′s The Giants were horrible.  But I have priceless memories of me and my dad driving to The Bronx and parking, then taking an elevated subway to the old Yankees Stadium, where The Giants played.

We would go early and stop at an old jewish deli for big bologna sandwiches and the extras. Then get to the stadium in time to see the warmups. The intoxicating sights and sounds and the priceless time with my dad were part of my foundation which eventually led me to pursue a career in tv sports.

My dad passed 2 years ago, but he was lucky enough to see The Giants win three Super Bowls.  The first after the 1986 season was the best, at The Rose Bowl when Lousiville’s Phil Simms was the MVP.  Made even more special because I got to cover Phil and his family out in L.A. and then hosted a celebration for them here at the old Louisville Gardens. There are no words to describe our insane happiness to see our favorite team reach the top of the world after being so bad for so long.

This Giants team was my dad’s favorite kind of team.  Riddled by injuries, it got healthy late and put together an unlikely run which included a priceless regular season ending win over the hated Cowboys for the division title.  Then more wins over The Falcons, Packers and 49ers, the last 2 on the road.

Now they have “The Giants” task of a repeat win over the formidable New England Patriots for a 4th Super Bowl win in 5 trys. In the same situation in 2007, The Giants stopped an unbeaten Patriots team for the NFL Title.

Here’s hoping they can do it again. But win or lose, it’s been a priceless few weeks for me. My children have seen their dad get a rare chance to be a fan. To yell at the tv and experience the roller coaster of emotions that can only come when your heart is truly with a team and the stakes are oh so high. Maybe Freddie, Chrisitian, Grace or Scarlett will somehow get a piece of what I got with my dad 45 years ago and pass it on to my future grandchildren. A shared experience that can only come with father and son and/or daughter through the wonderful delight that is sports.

I miss you dad.  And I know on Sunday February 5, heaven will be rockin’ with you yelling…Goooooooooooooo Giants.” 

You can count on the fact I’ll be yelling it too, and remembering all you did for me.

My Vote, KY Sports Person of the Year

The Lexington Herald-Leader invited me to vote in its annual poll of the media, deciding who was the most influential newsmaker in The Commonwealth in the last 12 months.  I’m honored to be included. It’s a perk of the job I do not take lightly.  What I do for a living is a privilege and I know thousands would gladly trade places with me.  I get it.  That said, this is an opinion situation and I realize others see this differently. So here’s my best shot at 2011.  My top 3 picks are below.  The newspaper announces the winner shortly.

3) John Calipari (leads UK Basketball to an unlikely Final 4)

2) Scott Davenport (leads Bellarmine Basketball to a first-ever Div. 2 National Title)

1) Bob Beatty (leads Trinity Football to a mythical national championship in 4 polls)

Thoughts As We Start 2012

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the best player I’ve seen in person this year.  The UK Basketball freshman could leave for and play in the NBA tonight.

Anthony Davis isn’t far behind Kidd-Gilchrist. The UK Basketball freshman combines with him to make them a dynamic duo that will likely take them to The Final 4 in New Orleans March 31.

Cards fans don’t worry so much. I’ve rarely seen a team with such a refuse to lose attitude. To be down by 15 at your arch rival in the first half, then go on a 13 point run and eventually tie it at 40, bodes well for The Cards over the next 2 months.  They get star freshman Wayne Blackshear back from injury and continue to blend and become more cohesive after a laundry list of injuries. I never thought they were a top team now.  But I have always believed they might be a top 4 team at the end.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Hoosiers fans. Beating then #1 UK and then #2 Ohio State certifies IU Basketball is back. Now with more wins this season than the previous 3 under Head Coach Tom Crean. 

Hey, how about a Final Four that includes U of L, UK and IU? Wow that WOULD be a huge 2012.

Here’s wishing you the happiest of New Years, and may your best days be ahead in 2012.

Some of the Best Local Sports Stories of 2011

We’re running a vote right now on wlky.com about what the top stories were of 2011. It runs through Friday.  Here’s my top 3…

1) KY Speedway first ever sprint cup race: between and fun Quaker State 400 won by Kyle Busch and the 16 miles of traffic jams, it was an event to remember with historic implications.

2) Trinity Football wins mythical national championship: The Rocks finished #1 in at least 4 national polls after winning a 9th KY big school title in 11 years. We may not see this again in our lifetimes. Except maybe next year, as many of the still players return for their senior seasons.

3) Bellarmine Basketball wins the Division 2 National Championship. It was a first for a historic The Knights and that’s something that stands out over many good stories this year.

My Christmas Wish-List

I may be 54-years-old but I maintain there is a Santa Claus.  I don’t just believe.  I know.  He lives is all of us. It’s up to us to find that spirit and do something about it. 

That said, I have a short wish-list for Santa this year.  Quality over quantity.  In no particular order…

2 new bridges for the Louisville area.  Just say yes.  It will take tolls, so why not let the people who use it, help pay for it?  And with unemployment high, it’s a works project that’s a win-win situation. Think about all the gas and wear-and-tear you’re spending on your car idling in traffic. One day this fall I sat in grid-lock for two hours trying to get back to Kentucky when the Second Street Bridge was closed with an accident. This would solve a huge need and bring new business to the Louisville area. Sign me up for 2 new bridges right now.  A few critics should not block the needs of 1-point-4 million people.

A citizen vote on expanded gaming. Kentucky politicians have blocked our right to decide. The thoroughbred horse racing industry in the blue grass no longer is on the same playing field with neighboring states which use expanded gaming to fund bigger payoffs for their racing and breeding industries. This is quickly damaging one of Kentucky’s signature sports and industries and the tipping point is nearing. If we don’t do this soon we won’t have to worry about it because we’ll lose it all, including the iconic Churchill Downs.  We have the right to vote on this.  Kentucky politicians have no right to block that right from us.

Politicians who want to solve problems together instead of simply win elections.  I’m sick of the divisive politics and gridlock. We have serious problems to solve here and nationally. Can we please have some people who are more worried about our futures than theirs.

30 minutes with my Dad. Ralph Cowgill passed away 2 years ago and I still hurt beyond words. I still talk to my best friend every day but unfortunately it’s a one-way conversation. I look forward to seeing him in heaven and spending more time together. But that will have to wait, I still have much work to do here.

Remember the reason for the season.  2000 years ago God sent Jesus here to reconcile our relationship with him. His atoning death is a promise to us all. 2000 years later his invitation still stands. Are you listening? 

Merry Christmas everybody!  May all the gifts under your tree be exactly what you dreamed of.

And may you have a happy, safe and productice 2012.

 

 

 

“Rapid Redux” Horse of the Year? Why Not?

“Rapid Redux” won 19 races in 19 starts in 2011.  Nobody’s ever done that.  And, he tied the legendary “Citation”, which got 19 wins in 20 starts in one season half a century ago.

And,  Rapid Redux has a North American modern day record 21 straight wins dating back to last year.  So why not vote him horse of the year?

Here’s why.  Many voters will discount Rapid Redux’ achievements this year, saying he did it in a low level of racing.  He’s raced against claimers and starter allowance competition, among the lowest levels in the sport. 

But what is the definition of Horse of the Year?  Shouldn’t it be for the best performances of the season regardless of the competition, whether it’s mules or “Secretariat?”  And if you make history in the process, so much the better.

2011 was not exactly filled with a superstars or remarkable performances. We’ve been spoiled recently with “Zenyatta”, “Rachel Alexandra” and “Curlin.”  Those horses were the best against the best in the top rungs of the sport connected to some of the sport’s wealthiest people.

A vote for Rapid Redux is a vote for the blue collar guys in the sport, that they matter too. He was the best against the best at his level representing the 2 dollar connections in the game.

Rapid Redux is a throw-back.  From a time in the sport where horses raced seemingly every week.

Now we’re lucky to see them race a half dozen times in their careers. Inbreeding and drugs have made thoroughbreds more fragile.  So we may not see another like him, ever.

Reason enough to make Rapid Redux the 2011 Eclipse Award Winner for Horse of the Year.  I know it won’t happen.  But i wish it would. This horse deserves to be more than a footnote in a history book.

ps…for that matter, David Wells should win trainer of the year.  And Robert Cole should win owner of the year. They are Rapid Redux’ connections.

 

Cards, Cats and Hoosiers Unbeaten, Oh My!

Who would’ve thunk?  U of L, UK and IU Basketball unbeaten almost 4 weeks into the new season. It’s unprecedented.

Louisville now ranked number 4.  Kentucky number 1!  Indiana is the most pleasant surprise. The fourth year rebuilding project of Head Coach Tom Crean is finally showing progress after three losing seasons.

Enjoy this while it lasts.  The latest it can go is Saturday, when Kentucky visits Indiana.

 

The Cards A BCS Team? Why Not?

I love the line from my friend and CJ Columnist Eric Crawford.  If you finish last in your medical school class, you are still called a doctor. 

So if Louisville Football defys the odds Saturday and gets The Big East’s automatic BCS bid (Cincinnati must lose to UConn for this to happen) they are likely last in The BCS club but who cares?  At least they are in it fair and square by the rules. 

And even if Cincinnati wins, how about the job Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong has done.  Two seasons, 2 winning records, 2 postseason bowl games.  That after the program missed both four straight years under Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe.  Plus, Strong is producing young men who are improved on and off the field.  Not bad for a team picked to be an also-ran the last 2 years.  Got the feeling Strong and The Cards won’t be underestimated any more?

The Road To The 2012 Kentucky Derby Continues Saturday

“Drill” is the 2-1 favorite in a huge prep race this Saturday for next year’s Kentucky Derby.

Yes, we’re still over 5 months from Kentucky Derby 138, but The Delta Jackpot’s worth a million bucks.  So the winner earns 6 hundred thousand dollars, enough to automatically qualify to run for roses May 5th, 2012.  The Kentucky Derby is limited to the top 20 graded stakes money winners who enter.

Drill starts from post 6 for Trainer Bob Baffert in a full field of 10.   It’s a grade 3 test at Delta Downs in Louisiana, a mile-and-a-sixteenth on real dirt.  Baffert’s won 3 Kentucky Derbys (1997 “Silver Charm”, 1998 “Real Quiet”, 2002 “War Emblem”).

The Horse Of The Year Debate Rages

Normally the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner has the inside track to win the Eclipse Award as Horse Of The Year. 

But when longshot “Drosselmeyer” took the featured event in the World Thoroughbred Championships Saturday, it didn’t decide anything.  Drosselmeyer was an underachiever all year and this was by far his biggest win.  Runnerup “Game on Dude” has been good, but a Horse of the Year is supposed to be better than good.

So who’s left?  “Havre de Grace” has been a monster filly all year and already beat the boys in The Woodward.  Her connections put her in The Classic to win Horse of the Year, but she finished fourth.

One interesting idea being floated is “My Miss Aurelia” which is the unbeaten winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.  She fits the definition  of the award but you get the sense she won’t win it.

Who will? Who knows.  We find out at the awards in January.  But one thing I do know, it’s a shame that this year’s winner will pale in comparison to last year’s runnerup “Blame” who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, but lost horse of the year to the mare “Zenyatta.”