HOWIE LINDSEY
feeder system of young talent for local TV and
radio stations.
What’s next for Adidas and Louisville?
A common question over the last few weeks has
been what happens to the 10-year, $160-million
deal between Louisville and Adidas. It was, after
all, an Adidas employee who was involved in
the FBI scandal.
While no one knows for sure what will happen
with the deal, my guess is that Tyra and UofL will
do everything they can to make sure Louisville
gets that money. Even though Interim President
Greg Postel said he wanted “no part” of the
money “if it’s tainted,” the agreement is so key to
Louisville’s Athletic development that it would be
prudent for Louisville and Adidas to implement
more oversight and continue working together.
On Oct. 24, Tyra said “I’ve been through that
thing quite a bit. The contract itself does not
raise concerns for me. … We’ll go through that
and flush out more details this week as we move
along. But today I don’t have a report that there’s
anything negative tied to that contract.”
The deal included an innovative Create Space
on Louisville’s campus that would allow for
product innovation and creation with the aid of
athletes and trainers. It also established funding
for internships and Sports Administration major
opportunities that would give Louisville’s SPAD
program a leg up on every University except
perhaps Oregon, who has a similar partnership
with Nike.
What’s next for local sports?
This is perhaps the most interesting question.
Could Jurich’s firing at Louisville open the door for
proponents of professional basketball at the Yum!
Center? Possibly, but I still don’t think the city
has enough corporate donors to make it happen.
Of course, all that could change if Louisville’s bid
to become Amazon’s HQ-2 is successful. Now
THAT would revolutionize this region.
What’s next for the Louisville and Southern
Indiana sports landscape likely includes the new
stadium for LouCity FC and continued rise for
that fan base and franchise. The location there
in Butchertown could be a stellar spot, and the
renderings the ownership group have proposed
would make the stadium a showpiece on the
highly visible I-64 corridor just east of downtown.
On the college level, newly signed deals for
long-term rivalry games between Louisville and
Indiana will be good for our area, plus the NCAA’s
new charity basketball game legislation will allow
for Kentucky and IU to arrange a new preseason
basketball game in the Yum! Center each year
to benefit a charity of John Calipari’s choosing.
Won’t that be fun? Well, we can dream, can’t we?
[Editor’s Note: This issue of Extol Sports went to
press Oct. 25.]
QUALITY COMES NATURAL
FALLS CITY
NEWS &
Specializing in high quality
beef, pork, Amish chicken,
game meats, Boar’s Head Deli meat
and fresh seafood
7617 Old State Rd 60 Sellersburg, IN 47172
812-246-5930
www.preferredmeatsinc.com
BREWS
Presented by
extol podcasting
DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN TO THE
PODCAST AT EXTOLMAG.COM
37