June 2, 2012 Louisville, Kentucky: the birthplace of the iconic Louisville Slugger bat. To baseball lovers everywhere, the Louisville Slugger is more than the official bat of Major League Baseball. It’s a window to a rich history of a beloved game. The museum gives visitors a unique view into the sport of baseball from the perspective of the game’s most valuable tool: the Louisville Slugger bat. The museum shows visitors how the sport has evolved over the last 100 plus years, in addition to celebrating the thrill of the game.

The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory calls Louisville home, and allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the importance of the Louisville Slugger in baseball’s history. Visitors can experience engaging exhibits featuring unique baseball memorabilia, and can tour the factory where the bats are actually made. Visitors can’t miss the museum building; they’re encouraged to keep an eye out for the World’s Biggest Bat casually leaning against the museum building. Visitors also can take advantage of the opportunity of their visit to get their very own personalized Louisville Slugger.

The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory boasts many unique exhibits. One such exhibit features a bat once used by George “Mule” Suttles, one of the Negro League’s best players. Another exhibit, “Ballparks: From Classic Cathedrals to Concrete Donuts,” juxtaposes the classic baseball photography of Jim Dow with rare artifacts borrowed from The Baseball Hall of Fame.

Over two million people have walked through the halls of the museum and factory since its inception, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in Louisville. A record number of visitors graced the museum’s halls in 2011, with 238,912 baseball fans gaining a fun, educational and memorable experience.

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June 1, 2012 The University of Louisville Cardinals released their 2012 football schedule. The Big East contenders will play seven games in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, their home field.

The season-opener against arch-rival Kentucky on September 1 kicks off what is expected to be a great season.  On September 15, the North Carolina Tar Heels come to town.  The Cardinals will be looking for redemption following their heartbreaking 14-7 loss to the Tar Heels last season.  The Cardinals will open Big East competition on the road on October 13, when the Cardinals face the Pittsburgh Panthers.  New Big East competitor, the Temple Owls, will face the Cardinals on November 3. This is the first time these two teams will meet since the 2006 season.  The Cardinals will face Rutgers during their regular season closer on November 29.

You can find the full Louisville Football season schedule below:

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May 31, 2012 Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali is a hometown hero whose professional and personal crusades impacted the entire world. The Muhammad Ali Center, located in downtown Louisville, aims to share the history and ideals of Muhammad Ali and inspire every visitor to achieve greatness.

Billing itself as both a cultural attraction and an international education center, the Ali Center’s inspiration stems from Muhammad Ali’s own legacy and the hope that each person will strive for greatness. The Ali Center contains numerous inspiring exhibits, educational and public programming and global initiatives in its three-story building. The hope of the Ali Center is that visitors will have an educational experience within its walls, by learning about the rich history of Ali himself. Additionally, the Ali Center wants to provide each visitor with the inspiration needed to begin their own journey of inner reflection so that they can find and challenge their own values and character.

Muhammad Ali lives his life according to six “Core Values,” all of which are represented within the Ali Center’s walls: Respect, Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving and Spirituality. Each “Core Value” is given its own section of the museum, so visitors can explore their meaning and gain inspiration via media presentations and interactive exhibits. The historical significance of these exhibits shows how a sports legend grew from a dreamer to becoming the best that he could be, and then in turn how his personal growth helped him inspire that same sense in others.

In addition to the “Core Values,” the museum explores other themes such as empowerment, personal discovery, compassion and conflict resolution. The focus of these exhibits is to demonstrate how all individuals are linked, rather than how they are different. The Ali Center bills itself as a “global gathering place” where visitors can experience Ali’s values both online and at the Ali Center.

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