A trip to Louisville

Haven’t done a column in a few days because I was attending a conference in Louisville, Kentucky.....very underrated city.....clean city with friendly people....I high recommend it as a nice three-day weekend vacation spot....

While in Louisville I visited the holy ground of horse racing – Churchill Downs.....I took the $8.00 tour and was in total awe of the place.....also dropped some money in the gift shop....

Other interesting sites I saw was the Louisville Slugger Museum, Science Center, and the newly opened Muhammad Ali Center......also went to legendary Freedom Hall and saw the Louisville-DePaul basketball game.....the people down there love their Cardinals....despite an average season, 19,000 people packed the old place to watch Rick Pitino’s team....

Read in the paper that the city of Louisville is working on a plan to construct a new 22,000 seat arena....however the major sticking point is where the arena will be built....some want it on the Riverfront while another faction wants it in the downtown area....

Detroit took it to the Cavs on Sunday.....they play again on Monday night at The Q......Cavs need to win this game....

I bought a 2006 NASCAR preview book.....I’m really trying to learn the sport.....the Auto Club 500 is on right now.....

The Winter Olympic Games in Torino are over.....here are a few thoughts:
- For some reason, down deep, I think Bode Miller purposely lost all five of his events....he’s flat out a drunken jerk.... by the way, guess who got interviewed by Tom Brokaw on the Sunday night news -- yep, Bode....the spotlight is still on him which is what he wants....
- If the U.S. hockey team is going to play like crap and win only 1 stinking game, I say send a team of college all-stars who train together for at least six months.....that performance by the NHL players was pathetic....
- Sasha, Sasha, Sasha.....you had the gold medal on a platter and once again you chose silver....
- Jerk 1a goes to Shani Davis.....
- Despite a poor showing by the so-called "studs" of the U.S. team, the United States did finish second in total medals....
- That’s about all -- see you in four years in Vancouver.....

Finally, I could not conclude this blog without noting the death of Don Knotts.....Knotts, who played the character Mr. Furley on Three’s Company, was a classic comedic actor....the role he will be most remembered for though is the bumbling, but lovable Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show.....Barney Fife made people laugh....unlike today’s actors, Knotts never had to cuss or make any sexual comments in order to get a laugh......there was only one Don Knotts – and he will be missed.....long live Barney Fife.....