Glenn
Being a big ACC basketball fan, I'm well aware of the UK/Louisville rivalry. And yes, I'm well aware of the reputation of Rick Patino. He's the only coach to have led three different programs (Providence, UK, Louisville) to the final four.
The reason he's at Louisville is because of his occasional dalliances with the NBA. What works at the collegiate level in basketball usually does not in the NBA, and it doesn't take long for a former college coach to be outed as an NBA coach impostor. So going back to college coaching means... going where the opening is. And Louisville it was. So you can't blame the guy. Instead, admire the man.
I have more memories of Louisville with Denny Crum - another top-tier college basketball coach.
I did a little bit of checking up on where people come from who are hired at this company. Apparently it's mostly in-state, and mostly from either Kentucky or Louisville. But a business can't remain national and international if it only dips into local talent. Hence the reason why they're reaching outside the state for people such as yours truly. In fact the whole department I'm going into is a veritable United Nations. But again... I'm used to that. These are the fish I constantly find myself swimming with. I don't look for them; they find me. That's what I get for being certifiably off-the-wall.
We allegedly have our own intra-state rivalry with Virginia and Virginia Tech. But we graduates of Mr. Jefferson's University would rather consider North Carolina or Duke as worthy rivals - both academically and athletically. Or if it's lacrosse and the fight for the national championship, then we're talking Johns Hopkins, Princeton, and Syracuse. You know... THOSE unknown schools. And that of course just pisses the Hokies off all the more. And that IS the point of it all.
I saw the ballfield. It's one of the best minor league stadiums I've ever seen. Sadly they USED to be a farm team for the Red Sox. These days it's the Cincinatti Reds. It's a little hard getting passionate about that. But oh well...
I'll have more fun with the rival directly north of us. In Indianapolis is the headquarters of a former employer, now turned business rival. (I still own their stock...) And of course there are those annoying Colts to root against. It'll be fun wearing Patriots jerseys in the fall. Sort of like going into New York airport with a Red Sox shirt. Gotta love it!
Let's also not forget two other important contributions of Louisville:
1) The birthplace of the greatest boxer of all time, and
2) The maker of the best baseball bats in the world.
Maybe I'll have a gift for Yonamine or Shinjo next time I see them.
- Bill