Kentucky Lawmaker Says Cats-Cards Bill Just An Attention-Getter

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Kentucky state senator Tim Shaughnessy got what he wanted from a proposed bill that would force UK and Louisville to meet in football and basketball every year — attention.  The lawmaker admitted yesterday that he threw the Cats/Cards talk into his bill just to draw attention to the rest of it, which would mandate better graduation rates and better governance over Kentucky schools.

“UK is the only state institution that graduates more than 50 percent of its students in six years. … That is unacceptable,” the senator said.

What’s also unacceptable?  Stirring up fan emotions as part of a ruse.  Shaughnessy’s motives appear to be good — who can argue with better schooling? — but sports is an area we believe lawmakers should seldom tread.

Wildcat hoops coach John Calipari seems to agree.  “I would hope (Kentucky’s lawmakers) don’t think I need help scheduling,” he said at lunch for lawmakers yesterday.  “I hope they have more important things to do.”

Calipari attended the luncheon in order to ask the politicians to help fund new academic buildings on UK’s campus.