Tarkanian died at age 84 on Feb. 11, 2015. As a tribute, members of UNLV’s title team, including Hunt, Johnson and Augmon, gathered in a Las Vegas tattoo parlor to get inked and commemorate their coach and their record-setting 103-73 win over Duke.
The lights of the Strip were dimmed for three minutes, a southern Nevada honor reserved for U.S. presidents (John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan) and Las Vegas royalty (Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Elvis Presley).
What would Tarkanian, who was as popular as any Strip headliner and once had Ol’ Blue Eyes himself make a recruiting call, have thought of the NCAA actually brightening the lights on his old stomping grounds with a Big Dance residency?
He would be vindicated, but not vindictive, said his youngest son, George Tarkanian.
ESPN – Gutierrez – The NCAA loves Las Vegas, but that wasn’t always the case
The more your players have to think on the basketball court, the slower their feet get.
Jerry Tarkanian
ESPN – Purdum – How Las Vegas became a host city for the NCAA West Regional
For a loser, Vegas is the meanest town on earth.
Hunter S. Thompson
Phil has a question:
Did Halloween come early in Las Vegas as there seemed to be a large chunk of fans wearing their empty seat costumes to the UConn Huskies – Arkansas Razorbacks game.
Phil’s reprising these articles as they are probably 2 of the most cogent and important articles that the minions at Horse Racing Alberta will ignore.
Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken, it must do a certain amount of scratching around for what it gets.
Henry Ford
No business can change what it does not measure. Racing’s public measurement of support, via wagering, hides serious issues.
…
Over the last century, U.S. racetracks have reported total handle on their races and, for most of that time, it was one metric that accurately depicted the health of the business. But in our modern era of simulcasting, rebating and high-frequency betting from professionals, often called computer-assisted or robotic wagering (CAW/CRW), total handle figures actually deceive industry stakeholders more than anything.
…
Using inflation-adjusted figures from that NTRA study, published in 2004, CAW/CRW betting has likely tripled in the last 20 years. That means mainstream betting is probably down about two-thirds since then. This is an atrocious trajectory from racing’s largest customer base–rank-and-file horseplayers–and has occurred during a period where racing had a veritable monopoly on legal, regulated betting via the Internet.
Now racing’s inferior, expensive product for mainstream bettors has to compete with legal sports betting. Good luck.…
I’m all for technology. I’m not against CAW/CRW play. I want all customer segments to grow. I want a bigger pie for everyone. I’m FOR horse racing. We all enjoy bigger purses, but the realities of our core wagering business, which sustains the sport and keeps it in the public consciousness, is really alarming. Most owners and breeders don’t see it because it has been, relatively, hidden behind antiquated methods of reporting handle.
I encourage owners, breeders’ and horsemen’s organizations to demand far greater transparency–both of operators and regulators–as it relates to racing’s wagering business. We need to be stewards of our sport and not merely accept elevated purses while ignoring the economic fundamentals that impact our largest base of customers.
TDN = Letter To The Editor: Craig Bernick
That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.
Aldous Huxley,
Phil has a question:
Do the powers that bee in horse racing remember that it was the part of the iceberg that wasn’t visible that sank the Titanic.
How soon before PETA and the other groups looming to kill racing and get the slot and casino revenues start using the figures that Bernick speaks about against horse racing.
Do you think anyone at Horse Racing Alberta understands the implications of this article
Do you think anyone at Horse Racing Alberta cares about the implications of this article as long as their slots paid cheques keep arriving.
Edmonton Journal – Toews – Finance minister Travis Toews not running in May election
This Week’s Stops on the Road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby 149
Mar 25, 2023
Meydan Racecourse
UAE Derby 100-40-30-20-10
Fair Grounds
Louisiana Derby 100-40-30-20-10
Turfway Park
Jeff Ruby Steaks (Stakes) 100-40-30-20-10
Mar 26, 2023
Sunland Park
Sunland Derby 50-20-15-10-5
Bloodhorse – Pedulla – Congruent’s Co-Owner on Path to the Kentucky Derby
Bloodhorse – Curry – At a Glance: Cairo Morning-Line Choice in UAE Derby
TDN – Carasso – Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Concludes at Nakayama
Bloodhorse – Angst – Jeff Ruby Steaks Offers Important Kentucky Derby Path
Horse Race Insider – KY DERBY DISPATCH
Bloodhorse – Curry – At A Glance: Hard to Figure Imposing in Sunland Derby
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Irish and Japanese Colts Seek KY Derby Points in Dubai
DRF – Grening – 2023 Kentucky Derby: Riders face difficult decisions as final preps near
Although he will need to be nominated for the Triple Crown, for which connections will need to pay $6,000 by March 27, victory could see him finish top of the European standings and edge him closer to the Kentucky Derby, which no horse trained in Britain or Europe has won.
Phil has a question:
Will the connections of Airtime or Chase the Chaos pay the $6,000 by March 27, 2023.
Horse Racing Nation – Shifman – Kentucky Derby prep: Louisiana Derby odds and analysis
DRF – Russo – Major Dude solid favorite in 12-horse Jeff Ruby Stakes
Bloodhorse – Major Dude Shifts From Turf to Synthetic for Jeff Ruby
Paulick Report – O’Brien-Trained Cairo Will Try To Emulate Mendelssohn In Saturday’s UAE Derby
Charles Fipke’s home bred Shirl’s Bee has suffered a minor setback and will miss the UAE Derby. Phil has been advised that as per the original plan Shirl’s Bee will be returned stateside and should be back to full potential later in 2023.
Airtime – 200 – 1
Chase the Chaos – No odds listed
Horse Racing Nation – Flatter – Kentucky Derby odds: Futures prices move for 69 of 96 horses
DRF – Andersen – Yakteen Derby hopefuls running through four time zones
DRF – Illman – Hayes Strike eyes Kentucky Derby prep after Private Terms triumph
Brisnet – Hanson – Instant Coffee favored in Louisiana Derby; Fair Grounds Oaks attracts five
Paulick Report – Cox-Trained Instant Coffee Morning-Line Favorite Among Dozen For Louisiana Derby
DRF – Hersh – Cox has three for Louisiana Derby
Bloodhorse – Ehalt – Longer Fair Grounds Preps Working Out Well for Cox
TDN – West Coasters Breeze Towards Next Preps
TDN – Practical Move, Reincarnate Work for Yakteen
TDN – Forte Breezes for Curlin Florida Derby
Paulick Report – Pletcher: Forte ‘Doing All The Things The Way You’d Want Him To Be Doing Them’
Phil’s Drink ‘n a Flick
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Forte, Instant Coffee Remain 1-2 in Derby Dozen
TDN – Thornton – TDN Derby Top 12: Forte Vs. Everyone Else
Horse Racing Nation – De Rosa – Kentucky Derby 2023: DeRosa’s Fair odds for Forte, 18 rivals
Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2023 Contenders
TDN – Bill Finley – Kentucky Oaks Top 10: Strange Year Continues
Bloodhorse – McCroskey –Pretty Mischievous Looks Tough to Beat in FG Oaks
SMORGASBURG FRIED CHICKEN DAY SATURDAY, MARCH 25 SPECIAL OFFER: *Promo offer included in ticket link below. Don’t miss out on Smorgasburgs LA best chicken vendors as they serve up their recipes right on the trackside apron during live racing. Online package includes your track admission, parking, one (1) fried Chicken item from any participating vendor, one (1) craft beer or wine and more. FRIED CHICKEN VENDORS OFFER GOOD THROUGH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 |
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Don’t be against things so much as for things.
Colonel Sanders
San Diego State did what the fucking ballless NCAA, Alabama AD and that fucking brutal excuse for a coach Oats didn’t have the balls to do, got rid of that scumbag Miller.
The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky they’re going to give Cleveland State another year of probation.
Jerry Tarkanian
In the final analysis, Alabama sacrificed every shred of its institutional integrity for a meager Sweet 16 run. That’s not a great return on the mortgaging of a reputation. But then again, this is the pattern for the Tide under Oats: NCAA tourney upset losses that transpire well short of the expected performance.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
John Wooden
Phil has a question:
What is it with 5s in March Madness.
Sports Illustrated – Forde – Brandon Miller, Alabama and ‘a Moral Dilemma of the Highest Order’
Unfortunately, as I tell my white friends, we, as black people, we’re never going to be successful – not because of you white people but because of other black people. When you’re black, you have to deal with so much crap in your life from other black people.
Charles Barkley
Global News – Bartko – Did you see it? Vivid aurora borealis lights up the sky across much of Canada
Phil has a question:
Were they cheering for the UConn Huskies.
Sports Illustrated – ‘This Is My City’: Hometown Hero Markquis Nowell Lights Up New York in Sweet 16
Phil has a question:
Would John Wooden say that Donald Trump is a whining, fat, fucking failure.
Was Jerry a close #6.
The absolute heart of loyalty is to value those people who tell you the truth, not just those people who tell you what you want to hear. In fact, you should value them most. Because they have paid you the compliment of leveling with you and assuming you can handle it.
Pat Summitt
The Ringer – Ruiz – One Big Question for Each Men’s Sweet 16 Matchup
Phil has One Big Question for Each Men’s Sweet 16 Matchup
Who’ll win.
FiveThirtyEight -Nerkar – Yes, A 16 Seed Beat A 1. But March Madness Hasn’t Been That Mad
Sports Illustrated – Forde – SI Ranks the Sweet 16 Teams Left in the NCAA Tournament
March is a month without mercy for rabid basketball fans. There is no such thing as a ‘gentleman gambler’ when the Big Dance rolls around. All sheep will be fleeced, all fools will be punished severely… There are no Rules when the deal goes down in the final weeks of March. Even your good friends will turn into monsters.
Hunter S. Thompson
ESPN – Lunardi – 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracketology
ESPN – Men’s Tournament Challenge
CBS – NCAA® March Madness® 2023 Men’s Bracket Games
TDN – Japanese Superfecta In UAE Derby, As Mind Your Biscuits’s Derma Sotogake Romps
Asked about the Kentucky Derby, Lemaire said, “How could you refuse a mount in the Kentucky Derby? I had my first experience last year (13th aboard UAE Derby winner Crown Pride ) and I’d be happy to go again.”
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Derma Sotogake Wins UAE Derby, Targets Kentucky Derby
Phil has a question:
Can the horses combine the Japanese points with the UAE Derby points.
Bloodhorse – Baffert, Shirreffs Excited About Clients’ OBS Purchases
Phil has a question:
Does Baffert know what a combine is.
TDN – History-Making Lord North Secures Third Dubai Turf Victory
TSN – Coyotes’ minority owner Barroway suspended indefinitely by NHL following arrest
New York Times – Wirecutter – Johnson – The Best Frozen Pepperoni Pizzas
With all due deference to the writer Mace would make a frozen pizza taste better. Phil’s philosophy is that every once in a blue moon you need to order a Little Caesar’s or a frozen pizza just to remind yourself how awful they are.
FOAL CROPS BY PROVINCE
Canadian Thoroughbred – Canadian Foal Crop 2022 Estimated to Hold Steady
Phil has a question:
With a drop from 267 in 2018 to 120 in 2021 do you think that Horse Racing Alberta is doing their job or just filling their positions.
How can the UCPs who are supposed to be conservative continue to allow Horse Racing Alberta to exist and waste Alberta taxpayer dollars on window gazers.
Is it not time to get rid of Horse racing Alberta and move the regulation of horse racing directly to AGLC.
Edmonton Journal – Toews – Finance minister Travis Toews not running in May election
Bloodhorse – Downey – Zayat Lender Loses in Kentucky Supreme Court
I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don’t criticize a teammate. Never be late.
John Wooden
The Ringer – A Ranking of the Best F-words in ‘Succession’ History
The Ringer – Gayle – ‘Succession’ and the F-word, by the Numbers
The Ringer – Phillips – The Profane Poetry of ‘Succession’
Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.
Mark Twain
Tracks in West Virginia and Louisiana are not covered by HISA regulations because of court injunctions in cases that are pending. And because HISA covers only tracks that export their simulcast signals, Texas and Nebraska are not included because they opted to not export signals. And in states that are covered, not every track will be operating on Monday.
Horse Racing Nation – Greer – What happens when federal anti-doping rules launch Monday?
TDN – Thornton – Federal Bill To Replace HISA Reportedly In Pipeline
TDN – HISA’s Lisa Lazarus Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Lazarus: HISA’s ADMC Launch ‘a Momentous Occasion’
TDN – Campbell – Stauffer’s Voice Booms At Lone Star Park
Bloodhorse – Racing Post – Record-Breaking Funds Added to Irish Purses for 2023
FiveThirtyEight – Potts – Recess Is Good For Kids. Why Don’t More States Require It?
Study Finds – Seeing sporting events in person boosts mental health as much as getting a job!
I’m not going to the horse races, I’m going to an event to improve my mental health.
Phil has a question:
Why do the people who leave comments always seem to know more than the researchers.
Phil saw an advertisement for Lattes from A&W the other day so decided to give them a try. The machine was a Franke that makes a beverage they call a latte in an semi-automatic and semi-flavourful manner. Spend the extra toonie with your local unchained barista and both you and the merchant will be much the better for it.
Speaking of Frankie if he rides like Franke makes lattes he’ll be seeing a lot of butt ends in Dubai.
Phil has a question:
How could someone named Marco Pierre White go through life without being confused.
You know the espresso will be crema del raccolto when the machine looks like this.
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – The $12 million Dubai World Cup: Japan vs. the World
Sports Business Journal – Ohtani’s WBC performance shows why MLB should showcase him
Sports Illustrated – Verducci – Julio Rodriguez Is the Star Baseball Needs
Phil has a question:
When is Flightline’s next race.
The Ringer – Kram – The Top 10 Moments From a Classic World Baseball Classic
ESPN – Passan – Shohei Ohtani fans Mike Trout for final out as Japan wins WBC
Front Office Sports – World Baseball Classic Final Draws Record TV Viewership
TDN – Carasso – Favourites Draw Wide Gates For Dubai World Cup
Someone once asked me, ‘How can you get as strong as an ox without eating any meat?’ My answer was, ‘Have you ever seen an ox eating meat?’
Patrik Baboumian
TDN – Carasso – ‘Grammer’ Lessons–Part II
Aljazeezra – Photos: Ukraine soldiers ride out war stress with hippotherapy
TDN – Fanduel Lands Breeders’ Cup Extension
Bloodhorse – Gash – OBS March Sale Concludes to Notable Gains
Southern Living – Sims – 24 Easter Dinner Ideas That Go Way Beyond Ham
TDN – Martini and Bossinakis – $2-Million Good Magic Colt Paces OBS March Tuesday
TDN – Carasso – Gun Runner Colt Tops ‘Vibrant’ Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale
DRF – Welsch – Gulfstream to host a pair of Royal Ascot qualifying races for 2-year-olds
Front Office Sports – Perez – Brett Favre ‘Knew’ Mississippi Funds Transfer ‘Was Illegal’
Front Office Sports – Christovich – Foot Locker Revamps Brick-And-Mortar Store Strategy
Phil has a question:
Were the lights at 27 seconds a cryptic clue.
Inverse – Fauzia – A New Universal Covid-19 Vaccine Could Stop Future Variants in Their Tracks
One day, I just thought, if you see a bird with a broken leg, you really have the urge to do something about it and help the bird. Then, at the same time, you go to a restaurant and eat a chicken or something. It doesn’t make any sense.
Patrik Baboumian
Bloodhorse – Trainer Vella Joins Woodbine as Horse People Liaison
Phil has a question:
If Woodbine is hiring and paying for the Horse People Liaison position, why is Horse Racing Alberta hiring and paying for a similar position in Alberta.
Does anyone other that Phil, Sal, Mucka and Topo care how Horse Racing Alberta wastes money.
No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride…and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well…maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten.
Hunter S. Thompson
Phil has a question:
Why does pushing a wheelchair down stairs result in three criminal charges, but delivering a gun to a murder gets you a bodyguard.
Scientific American – Bischoff – The Most Boring Number in the World Is …
Front Office Sports – McCarthy – Meet Topgolf for Baseball: ‘Home of 7 MPH Fastball’
Garden and Gun – Hendrickson – The Living Rock-and-Roll Legends
Daily Hive – Stephen – These Canadian cities are most likely to survive a zombie apocalypse
Southern Living – Phelps – 26 Make-Ahead Casseroles For Easter Sunday Brunch
Phil M Stockmen
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