I want everyone to know that I turned down a day of golf on Saturday to watch this game.  That's a big deal for me, and it shows just how important I consider this contest.  Kentucky and Louisville will meet tomorrow at high noon in Commonwealth Stadium, and it is a big one for both teams.

I know that UK fans are confident and Cardinal fans are down right now.  Kentucky seems to be getting stronger, and Louisville seems to be struggling with new players, new coaches, and they are not getting the highly-ranked problem children that the Cards brought in under Bobby Petrino.  Louisville fans, taken together, have no confidence they can win this game, and UK fans are celebrating early.

That's a mistake for both sides.  Just yesterday, the 16th ranked Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team lost to the unranked Louisville Cardinals.  Louisville has owned that series over recent years, and that ownage just continued for another year.  Don't think rivalry games matter?  The best team always wins?  Don't you believe it.

It will take a terrific effort for the 'Cats to overcome the Cards tomorrow, and I sure hope the team doesn't think this will be easy.  Louisville will be coming at UK like a wounded tiger -- underdogs are usually more motivated and determined, at least at first, than the favorite.  We should be prepared for Louisville's best shot early, because they are absolutely going to try to deliver it.  If the 'Cats are on their heels, or not taking this game seriously, UK could be in serious trouble.

Now, for the news:

Top Stories

• SLAM ONLINE | " The Cost of King Cal’s Court

  "You look at those two cases—I know the details are different, but the endgame is exactly the same—according to the NCAA [regarding Memphis], if you play an ineligible player, you vacate the wins. That’s what they told Memphis," Parrish said. "It’s the opposite—literally the opposite—of what they told Duke."
  
  "If the NCAA would’ve applied its rule to Duke in 1999 the same way it applied its rule to Memphis in 2008, Coach K would have a vacated Final Four on his record. There’s no getting around that. And yet they simply didn’t apply the rule, and so Duke is a clean program, and Memphis is a dirty program. I think that is an issue that can’t be highlighted enough."

  This is a simply terrific article at SLAM magazine that takes a very fair look at Calipari and the controversy surrounding him . Absolutely one of those, drop-what-you-are-doing-and-read-the-whole-thing articles.

• " A flashback to Governor’s Cup 2008 John Clay’s Sidelines
  The big 'un. Classic.

• UK’s Lindley ready for whatever is thrown his way | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
  He's the University of Kentucky's best cornerback. There's a case to be made that he's the top cover corner in the Southeastern Conference. I wonder if Lindley will get any picks this weekend?

• It's big recruiting weekend at UK | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
  UK will be hosting dozens of top-level prospects in several sports, including men's and women's basketball and football. The biggest is point guard Brandon Knight, who is ranked No.1 nationally in the Class of 2010 by Rivals.com. The 6-foot-3 Knight is also considering Kansas, Connecticut, Miami and Duke.
  
  So Brandon Knight will be here this weekend. A big deal.

UK Basketball News

• Catching Up on Gillispie v. University of Kentucky Athletic Association | Think Law
  Good read to catch you up on what is happening with this suit.

• Calipari’s college coach left him stranded for being late | Vaught's Views
  Calipari was a kid, too, and this was a sharp lesson.

• ZAGSBLOG " Kyrie Irving to Visit Kentucky Oct. 15 (UPDATED)
  Interesting. I am not sanguine about Irving coming to UK.

UK Football News

• Mark Story: U of L fans down but not out | KentuckySports.com
  I must say, I think UK fans supported the Kentucky team better when we were on probation than Louisville supports theirs now, but that's just my perception.

• Scouting the Louisville Cardinals - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
• Bozich misses the mark - Card Chronicle

• College Football Nation - ESPN
  Kentucky 24, Louisville 10: Remember when Rich Brooks couldn’t beat Louisville? He lost four in a row to the Cardinals starting out in the Bluegrass. But Kentucky has turned the tide in this battle for state bragging rights and won the last two. This is not one of Louisville’s better teams, and Brooks thinks his team has a chance to be really good. How good? We’ll know a little more Saturday and a lot more two weeks from now after Florida and Alabama make back-to-back trips to Commonwealth Stadium.
  
  Keep your fingers crossed.
  

• Tom Leach Productions -- Rich Brooks
• Tom Leach Productions -- Chris Matthews
• " Video: Mike Hartline after today’s practice John Clay’s Sidelines

• Maxwell, Lentz are Game Captains - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

• Governor's Cup open thread image vote-off - Card Chronicle
  Heh.

Other UK Sports News

• Baseball America names Paxton a top pro prospect | KentuckySports.com
  Great news for the baseball team.

NCAA Sports News

• Miami Destroys Georgia Tech, Continues to Impress - SB Nation
  Wow. I didn't think Ga. Tech was all that great, but Miami is really showing us that they are back.

• Bruce Pearl Picks Up Commitment from Georgia Guard Trae Golden | Flagrant Fouls
  If I recall correctly, Golden was a UK recruit at one time.

• Tubby gets his first commitment for class of 2010 - The Daily Gopher
  Good for Coach Smith.

• ZAGSBLOG " Memphis AD Says SEC is First Choice
  How 'bout that? But I don't think the SEC is looking to expand.

Other News of Interest

• Secondhand smoke risks underestimated, survey finds | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
  Calipari helps with anti-smoking campaign.

• Does The World Need Cheerleaders? - Cheerleaders - Deadspin
  The answer, of course, is "Yes." But why should that be so? Because the pretty up the place, that's why. And oh, yeah, UK wins all the NCAA cheerleading competitions -- that's another good reason.

The Daily Schadenfreude

• News Flash: Memphis hopes for Big Six move - College Football - Rivals.com
  The only way Memphis gets in a BCS league is if that league throws someone else out.

• This Week’s Separated at Birth " Over The Pylon
  Heh.