-Buckles & Billboards

We learned today that Rakeem Buckles is transferring from the Cardinal program and will join head coach Richard Pitino, a former Louisville assistant, at Florida International. Buckles is the third injury-plagued player to transfer from Louisville this season, following Stephan Van Treese and Jared Swopshire out the door.

There are many folks buzzing today about the way Coach Pitino is handling the recruitment process within the Louisville Basketball program. I guess they have a right to their opinions but I don’t see an issue here. Those young men were given the opportunity to play for one of the greatest basketball programs in the country and to learn from a Hall of Fame Coach. Now they have a chance to take what they have learned and be big time contributors at their next stop. No basketball player wants to sit on the bench and watch someone else play in their spot and that would have happened if these players had remained at the University of Louisville. I truly believe that this move was the best for all involved. Louisville will be a stronger, deeper team because of it.

(Courtesy UofL press release)

We also learned today that the billboard wars are on. After @BigTimeYurts reached their goal of selling 900 bumper stickers for the #LexingtonIsForTheBirds billboard the company that agreed to host the billboard backed out of the deal saying it was degrading.

But don’t worry Cardinal fans the company Lamar advertising called today and said that they had changed their minds. Ha! The power of media persuasion I guess. The billboard is set to go up on I-64 westbound close to Frankfort. I can’t wait to see it on my way to work every day.

(Courtesy Whas 11 & @BigTimeYurts)