Weather Damages Churchill Downs

((HT: WAVE-TV Louisville))

Officials at Churchill Downs are working to relocate horses after a powerful storm that spawned tornadoes blew through Louisville. A few barns partially collapsed and horses were running loose Wednesday night at the track. The chapel was also damaged, but thankfully, there are no current reports of serious injuries.

No races are run on Wednesdays at Churchill Downs, but track President Kevin Flanery says there was simulcasting of races elsewhere, so people may have been there. Thursday's race card was canceled.

Louisville Gas and Electric reported about 5,000 were without power late Wednesday night.

“It’s been a rugged night at Churchill Downs,” track spokesman John Asher told Louisville Courier-Journal's Jessie Halladay.

Some horses had to be shipped to alternate sites, and training was also canceled.

The area in and around the University of Louisville and Cardinal Stadium also saw some damage, but there have been no injuries reported from there as well.

More when we know more...

The March To The Madness: Day One Recap

Around the horn we go...

Team coverage from our friends at KHQ-TV in Spokane on the Zags win over St. John's
The HQ is sad that ther will be no more open-collared-dom from Steve Lavin this tournament...


WLEX-TV has True Blue Tampa coverage as Cal's Cats survived Princeton


The HQ is guessing that network coverage wasn't off the air as to why Alan Cutler gave us full screens...

WHAS-TV in Louisville gives us Team Onions coverage when Morehead knocked off the Cards in Denver...


Coach Pitino talked retirement, but the HQ doesn't buy it at present...
Emotional man after an emotional game...

The sign of the day in the stands goes to BYU in their win over Wofford...
Wanna stop the Cougars...? "Fredette About It..."
Nice...

Here's some Cougar postgame, thanks to our friends at KSL-TV in Salt Lake...

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

A not-very-good UCLA team almost blows a 23-point lead, but hangs on over Michigan State and the Fighting Izzos... Bruins head coach Ben Howland attempts to explain...
Thanks to our friends at KTLA-TV
 

Butler finally got their buzzer-beater win as Matt Howard lingered long enough for the put-back in the game against Old Dominion...
Here's Howard, thanks to our friends at FoxIndiana...
((HT: WXIN-TV))
 

That should get you warmed up for Day Two...

Brackets Explode As Morehead Wins

((HT: NCAA/TBS/AwfulAnnouncing))

Demonte Harper sent brackets in the wastebasket this afternoon with the dagger with four seconds left... and the end was a great defensive no-call for the win...

Congrats for More Head...

hehhehhehhehheh...
Enjoy...

NCAA Tournament: Demonte Harper Has ONIONS!!!!!! Morehead State Upsets Louisville

Morehead State's Demonte Harper is a hero in Morehead, Kentucky. Harper's 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left sent Louisville home.

Here's the game winner with a classic Bill Raftery call. (Thanks Youtube.com/CBS Sports)

Doofus Cheerleader Nearly costs Louisville a game

The Incident Screen Grab/Courtesy: SBNation.com

Jordan Alcazar, a male cheerleader at the University of Louisville will be hearing about this for the foreseeable future.

The "3rd Year" cheerleader did something really stupid on Sunday. At the end of the Louisville/Pittsburgh game, he ran on the court after a Louisville dunk with 0.5 seconds left in OT, which gave the Cardinals a five point lead. The problem. Alcazar ran on the court, grabbed the ball after the dunk and threw it in the air. The BIGGER problem....the game wasn't over.

Alcazar got a technical, Pitt got to shoot two free-throws, making it a 3-point game. They couldn't hit a three at the buzzer to tie it, but imagine if they did....

The story from the Louisville Courier-Journal RIGHT HERE

And video of the "Cheeerleader Incident"



Louisville Coach Rick Pitino was less than thrilled after being asked about it after the game. He was politically correct and didn't say anything bad about it, but he looked...a bit ticked off.

Here's the post-game from the Courier-Journal, though you have to sort through a few commercials 1st, sorry:

DEVELOPING: Sypher Sentenced To 87 Months

Karen Sypher has been sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in a federal prison and 2 years supervised release after being found guilty of extortion, lying to the FBI, and retaliation against a witness.

Sypher could have received a sentence of 4 ½ years to 9 years in federal prison based on federal sentencing guidelines.

Judge Simpson decided on the lowest end of the range of possible sentence, saying that the range he has settled on was from 87-108 months. 87 months was the lowest Sypher could have received within the range Judge Simpson selected. In sentencing Sypher, Judge Simpson said, “this is a serious crime because it involves serious money.” Simpson said it was a brazen offense, driven by "sheer greed."

Here's coverage from our friends at WHAS-TV in Louisville..


Sypher had demanded, as part of the extortion from Pitino, items with an appraised value of US$4.4-million- not including the college education demands she made. Her attorneys wanted their claims that Sypher suffered from ADHD and PTSD to be included in the consideration of her sentencing term.

No New Trial For Karen Sypher

A federal judge says the woman convicted of trying to extort Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino out of millions of dollars has not produced any new evidence and will not get a new trial.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III wrote that claims by Karen Cunagin Sypher of newly discovered evidence are "merely compilations of items" her previous attorney had during her trial. Simpson also turned down a claim that Sypher's former attorney, James Earhart of Louisville, was ineffective.

Sypher was convicted back in August of extortion, lying to the FBI, and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors said she sought millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino to stay quiet about a sexual encounter in a Louisville restaurant back in 2003.

She is scheduled for sentencing February 18th...

Here's the story from when the judge initially postponed the sentencing...
((HT: WHAS-TV Louisville))

Upset Saturday In NCAA's... How Many Ranked Teams Fell...???

((HT: KSL-TV))

First off, BYU couldn't keep their momentum after knocking off San Diego State as they lost to New Mexico at The Pit...

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Louisville got a hold of UConn, but it took double overtime to do it...
((HT: WHAS-TV))


Arkansas, somewhat inexplicably, knocked off Vandy in Nashville, thanks KARK-TV...

Penn State surprised 17th-ranked Wisconsin, thanks WISC-TV in Madison...

Nebraska upsets Texas A&M...


Miss State beat Florida, thanks to MyFoxMemphis

And Marquette upset Syracuse ((but isn't everyone these days)), thanks cbs58...

Broseph's Bits And The Weekend Gospel

Another full weekend of college basketball is almost upon us. Time to alert the reader of the games to pay attention to and the potential upset specials.

Saturday:
#23 Louisville @ #5 UConn, Noon -- This one's intriguing because Louisville's got the pieces to make it interesting. Rakeem Buckles will be out for at least three more weeks making the Cardinals a more perimeter oriented team.

#21 Georgetown @ #8 Villanova, Noon -- The Hoyas are such a sketchy team. They are talented with Austin Freeman and Chris Wright but they have struggled from time to time. Last year, Georgetown beat then #2 Villanova 103-90 in DC.

Xavier @ Richmond, Noon -- Atlantic 10 supremacy is at stake in this one. I think the Spiders flex their muscles and defeat the Muskies. Justin Harper and Kevin Anderson are two players you are going to want to know about in March.

#16 Minnesota @ #12 Purdue, 1pm -- I had to include this game even though Big 10 basketball bores me for the most part. Purdue is probably going to win because they are real tough at home.

#9 Syracuse @ Marquette, 3pm -- Can the Orange stop their slide against a Marquette team that plays pretty much all close games against the better competition. They have lost by eight to UConn, five to Notre Dame, one to Louisville, one to Vanderbilt and eight at Pittsburgh.

OSG Buzzer Beater: Peyton Siva's Shot Boosts Louisville Over West Virginia

Louisville point guard Peyton Siva is 5'11" but with the game on the line that didn't stop him in challenging West Virginia bigs 6 foot 8 Kevin Jones and John Flowers whose 6-7. Siva just flipped the ball up, hit the top of the backboard and went through the net and Louisville was a winner 55-54.

Here's the highlights including Siva's shot. (Thanks WHAS-TV Louisville, KY)



"Peyton made a great play." Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said in a press conference after the game.

"I was hoping," Siva said. "I looked up and I fell down and I just saw it fall through."

Louisville Wins A Bowl Game, Defeats Southern Miss In Beef O'Brady's Bowl

The last time the Louisville Cardinals won a bowl game Bobby Petrino was the head coach and the Cards defeated ACC Champion Wake Forest in the 2007 Orange Bowl.

Tuesday night Louisville ended the first year of the Charlie Strong era on a high note defeating Southern Miss. 31-28 in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl.

Check out the highlights from St. Pete. (Thanks WDRB-TV Louisville, KY)



"A team that was picked to finish last in the conference, a team that was pick to won no conference games but 25 seniors decided that they were going to take this program and lay their foundation within this program." Louisville head coach Charlie Strong said after the game. "A team that was down 14, no quit."

Strong praised the Cardinal senior class who accomplished their goal to make a bowl game and winning it.

Those Louisville fans who couldn't get down to St. Pete fill the sports bars to catch the game. Of course this story was filed before the game was over. (Thanks WHAS-TV)

DEVELOPING: Sypher Attorney Says Witnesses "May Have Lied"

((HT: WDRB-TV Louisville))

The attorney for Karen Sypher, who was convicted of trying to extort University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, says prosecution witnesses may have lied during trial.

James Earhart alleged that idea in a motion filed in U.S. District Court in Louisville asking for more time to request a new trial. The motion says "a key witness or witnesses" may have committed perjury.

Earhart doesn't go into any further detail and has requested U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson give him another month and a half to investigate his finding so he can request a new trial.

Sentencing is currently set for October 27th...
More when we know more...

2000 UPDATE: According to WLKY-TV in Louisville, the judge has granted the order sought by Earhart...

Karen Sypher Guilty On All Counts

((HT: WDRB-TV Louisville))

A jury has convicted Karen Sypher of attempting to extort millions of dollars from Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino after the two had sex in a restaurant in 2003.

The jury delivered the verdict after deliberating a little over five hours over a two day period.

Sypher was convicted of extortion, lying to authorities and retaliating against a witness. She faces a max of 26 years in prison, but under federal sentencing guidelines, the penalty shouldn't be that bad.

Here's Chris Turner outside in the shade again for his liveshot after the verdict was read...


The line of the tourney comes from Karen Sypher's son, Jacob Wise, as he was walking out of the courtroom. Wise, according to witnesses, clapped his hands sarcastically and shouted out, "Thanks for taking my mother away, guys!"

Sentencing is set for October 27th. She is free on bond until then...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 7: Everyone Rests, Jury Deliberating

Karen Cunagin Sypher's defense attorney, James Earhart, said she had been "villainized" during the trial during his closing argument. He also called her the victim of a botched investigation by police- despite the apparent contradictions in her timelines, questioning, and interviews...

Before that, the prosecution stated its case. Federal Prosecutor Marisa Ford, "This is a case about a defendant, Karen Sypher, seeking a golden parachute." She continued, saying Sypher wanted "something for nothing."

Ford also described Sypher's actions as a shakedown...

Earhardt rested the defense case without calling any witnesses- including Karen Cunagin Sypher.

Closing arguments were slated for the afternoon...

Chris Turner is outside in the shade again for his liveshot...
((HT: WDRB-TV))


1600 UPDATE: The jury has started deliberating the case. If convicted of extortion and lying to the FBI, she faces up to seven years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 7: Detectives Testify Against Sypher, Prosecution Rests

Prosecutors have rested their case against Karen Sypher.

Tuesday's close came after seven days and 21 witnesses. Sypher's defense is expected to begin Wednesday. It's not known if she will take the witness stand in her own defense.

Louisville police Sergeant Andy Abbott took the stand detailing his interrogation in Karen Sypher back in July of 2009, her contradictions, and her fervent charge that Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino raping her...

Chris Turner looks like he found some shade for his live shot...
((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox 41))

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 6: More Testimony Against Sypher

((HT: Fox 41/Louisville))

Day six of the testimony in the Rick Pitino extortion trial centered around:

One of Karen Sypher's divorce attorneys who thought the head basketball coach at Louisville deserved what he was going to get from Sypher. Dana Kolter, was the lawyer who penned the letter to Pitino threatening a lawsuit, and he almost was drawn to tears as he testified.

One ex-husband of Sypher, Randy Wise, testified about how he heard his ex-wife describe what she planned to do to Pitino. Another man, Tyree Fields, also testified that he had an affair with Karen Sypher as her marriage to Tim Sypher was deteriorating. He testified that Sypher knew what she was doing with the extortion claim was "stupid."

Chris Turner has the afternoon patrol for our friends at Fox 41...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 5: Tim Sypher Testifes

((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox 41))

Tim Sypher told jurors that Rick Pitino asked him to "take a woman out of town" for medical services after the woman said Pitino got her pregnant in the incident described in the Louisville restaurant back in 2003 during the extortion trial this week.

Sypher testified that Pitino didn't mention taking Karen Cunagin Sypher to get an abortion. Tim Sypher also said he called clinics in Indiana and Ohio before taking Karen Sypher to Cincinnati, where she terminated a pregnancy on August 29, 2003.

He also testified that he paid for the procedure from $3,000 Pitino gave for medical insurance.

Tim Sypher and Karen Cunagin would marry less than a year later and are currently divorced...

Here's the early coverage again, thanks to our friends at Fox41...
Chris Turner is in the sunlight again and addresses the delay the trial had during Day 5 as well...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day Four: Pitino Grilled About Encounter With Sypher

((HT: WDRB/Fox 41 Louisville))

It was another fun day on the stand for Louisville head men's hoops coach Rick Pitino. Karen Cunagin Sypher's attorneys got their shot at him...

Pardon the pun...

And it also led to some testy exchanges between Pitino and James Earhart.
Chris Turner had the dayshift again outside the courthouse...


Pitino's testimony ended after two hours Thursday.

Karen Sypher's ex, Tim, testified that she first started making rape allegations in 2007, when their marriage started going in the toidy. He also said his ex-wife, two years later, started talking about things she "wanted from Pitino."

Tim Sypher's testimony continues Friday.
The HQ is thrilled we've made it to Day 5...

Pitino Extortion Trial Day 3: Pitino Testifies

((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox 41))
Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino admitted to a jury that he had sex with Karen Cunagin Sypher in day three of the extortion trial.

Pitino testified Wednesday that he met Sypher on July 31, 2003, at an Italian restaurant, where Pitino had gone following a golf outing.

Pitino said he and Sypher exchanged small talk after the restaurant closed. He testified that as they were leaving Sypher whispered something, opened his pants and the two then had sex.

Sypher asked for cash ((ten million dollars)), cars and a
house as part of her alleged plot. She has pleaded not guilty, claiming Pitino sexually assaulted her. Authorities are saying her assault claim lacks any kind of foundation at all...

Understandably, the courtoom was standing room only...

Here's the early shift again... thanks to our friends at Fox 41 in Louisville...
((HT: WDRB-TV))

Pitino Extortion Trial: Day Two

The early part of Day Two of the Karen Sypher-Rick Pitino extortion trial got to send our friends at Fox 41 to the front of the room...

Testimony centered around an interview that the Louisville station had around their exclusive Karen Sypher appearance...

The unedited tape... all 70 mintes of the damn thing...

Chris Turner has the day shift outside the courthouse in Louisville...
((HT: WDRB-TV/Fox41))