Of college hoops. I think Lexington is the capital myself but that's not what Mayor for Life Jerry Abramson thinks. Okay, this is by Mayor Abramson so I am reprinting in full.
Mayoral decree: Louisville capital of college hoops
March 31, 2005
By Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson
Special to SportsLine.com
It was 1986 when the University of Louisville Cardinals brought home their second NCAA basketball trophy. Seems like yesterday ... perhaps, because I was mayor of Louisville back then, too.
Basketball's changed since the '80s. The shot clock's shorter. The shorts are longer ... thankfully. And the high-tops are more high-tech. One thing hasn't changed. Louisville, Ky., is still the epicenter of college basketball. This may be argued, especially by our friends in some North Carolina towns. From where I sit, Louisville takes the title, hands down.
Legend has it a mayoral candidate once ran on the platform, "A hoop in every driveway." People schedule weddings, bar mitzvahs and funerals around Cards games, and attending a game at Freedom Hall is part basketball, part high-school reunion.
Louisville fans are known for going to great lengths to support our team, and in fact, a recent survey* ranked Louisville as the market with the most loyal college sports fans in America. At this year's Maui Invitational, you saw more Cards fans than grass skirts.
In March, you'll find as many business people in the sports bars as you will in the conference room, and a blank NCAA Tournament bracket is practically part of the job application throughout Louisville. I believe someone once proposed Bracketology as a non-credit course at one of our colleges. Some see the first Thursday and Friday of the NCAA Tournament as local holidays.
Everyone in Louisville pledges allegiance to some team. Of course, this is Cardinal Nation, but we have our share of University of Kentucky fans, too. With Indiana just across the river, even the Hoosiers have their devoted following on our side of the Ohio.
So, from the center of the college basketball universe, please allow me to offer a few tidbits about Louisville for those who might be watching our Cardinals this weekend for the first time.
Pronunciation: Let's get one thing clear -- there are right ways and there are wrong ways to pronounce the name of the 16th-largest city in America. Out-of-towners may say "Lewis-ville," and the more refined may enunciate "Loo-ey-ville." But if you really grew up here, it's "Loo-uh-vul," or even just two syllables, "Luh-vul." And if you're young, hip, under 30 and don't wear a belt, it's "the 'Ville." No matter how you say it, Louisville is a terrific sports town.
Our sports products: In addition to our Cardinals, the following also have called Louisville home: Muhammad Ali, the late Pee Wee Reese, Darryl Griffith, Pat Day, Allan Houston, Denny Crum, Paul Hornung and Olympic gold medallist Mary T. Meagher.
We produce Louisville Slugger Bats, and our Cincinnati Reds Triple-A affiliate consistently leads the league in attendance at our jewel box ballpark, Louisville Slugger Field. We've hosted two PGA Championships, including the 2000 epic that ended in a showdown between Tiger Woods and Bob May, and we will host the 2008 Ryder Cup. Many may not know we're home to the Derby City Classic, one of the nation's largest top-level billiards tournaments, and we have an extreme-sports park that is receiving national acclaim. And, oh yeah, there's a three-week festival we throw for the greatest two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby.
Red vs. Blue: In politics these days, we hear a lot about "red states" and "blue states." In Louisville, however, red versus blue has a whole different meaning -- and the Louisville Cardinals-Kentucky Wildcats rivalry means much more to many people in town than the elephants and the donkeys do.
Pitino-Petrino: Our coaches. One's basketball. One's football. Both Italian. Don't confuse the two or you might have Tony Soprano after you. (This year, both the gridiron and the hardwood Cardinals ended the season ranked among the top six teams in the nation.)
The Cards: I contend that Louisville was the team of the 1980s, and with four Final Four appearances and two national titles, I would argue that fact with anyone. I also believe this year's team -- led by Francisco Garcia, Larry O'Bannon, Ellis Myles and Taquan Dean -- stacks up against anyone. And Coach Pitino has the players waiting in the wings to keep Louisville in the top tier as we make our move to the Big East next year.
I look forward to the Cardinals bringing home another NCAA championship ... further solidifying Louisville as the college basketball capital of the world. And if someone disagrees, we'll be happy to take on any city one-on-one.
Mayor Jerry Abramson has earned the nickname "Mayor for Life" and is currently serving his 16th year as mayor of Louisville.
* -- According to a College Sports TV survey conducted September 2004 by Scarborough Research.
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