Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Four Questions

Calm down, I know it is football season.

I'll be tuned shortly. Akron at Wake Forest. Will it be the first Mac surprise of the season at ACC's expense? Coach Prime back in 'Lanta.

I know the Cardinals have a huge nationally televised prime time opener against an SEC power just days away in NashVegas.

I understand, even though it's 128 degrees outside it's football time.

But, you know, I am an admitted, long acknowledged hoopaholic.

Basketball is always on my mind. A junkie gotta have a fix.

Just a few things have come to mind, given some recent reminders.

The new kid in town legal gambits. Partial schedule release. An article about one of our foreigners.

U of L has been very transparent about its financial shortfall in the athletic budget. $30 mill loss built in.

So, why not offer one more money making opportunity?

Schools can now schedule three exhibition games. Louisville has two. At Kansas. In the Yum! against Division Whatever Mercyhurst, which tilt I'm sure will be included in season ticket packages.

So, why not one more moneymaker at home? Against a school of consequence that fans will want to pay to attend.

Seems like some income left on the table. A no brainer if you ask me.

Which brings me to this constructiveness query . . .

Why in this modern era does U of L not have a Basketball GM?

There are all the legal issues that have become rampant.

There's the money making imperative that's year round.

Given the basketball program's personnel, it appears that Pat Kelsey is CEO . . . and CFO . . . and Chief Recruiter . . . and Head of the Rah Rah squad . . . along with, we gotta remember . . . his coaching duties.

Anecdotal evidence tells me most legitimate programs now have a General Manager.

Kelsey has more energy and drive than your average Energizer Bunny.

But still, this is not College of Charleston.

As of now, the former Tar Heel star guard is legally able to play.

Thank you, Jefferson Circuit Judge Brian Edwards.

But that eligibility status is far from written in stone.

Fans understand what happens when a key piece of any roster goes down with a season ending injury. That's exactly what this will feel like if he projects as a starter, but 36 hours before opening game, there is a definitive ruling that he's ineligible.

The article at cnn.com a few days ago was right near the top of the home page.

Headline read, "The Chinese mavericks looking to buck the trends in American college basketball."

The opening paragraph, "C'mon Bo, C'mon Bo, C'mon Bo."

The exhortations of Cardinal hoops strength coach, Eli Foy.

The next paragraph starts, "Zhang Boyuan, a 19-year-old from northeast China . . ."

What a sec, I immediately wonder, have we been mixing up the name of this intriguing freshman since we became aware of him?

But still, a hoopaholic obsesses. About all facets of the game, no matter how much it is just minutiae.

Some quick research indicates in China, the surname comes first.

So, you understand, former pro Yao Ming's first name is Ming, not Yao.

Anyhow, I'll wrap up this much ado about zilch, with this.

Coach will surely be referring to him as Bo, not Zha. Just so you don't get confused about whom he's referring to. As if you would.

The cool thing is he's a Cardinal with a major upside, and he's the centerpiece of this article.

Alright, you can put the brats on the grille now.