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Thursday, Aug. 22


Articles from the past week

Wednesday:

  • Libero? White says new position is more about picking up

Tuesday:

  • Dingman curious heading into Saturday’s public scrimmage

Monday:

  • No new sports reports posted

Saturday:

  • No new sports reports posted

Friday:

  • No new sports reports posted

Thursday:

  • No new sports reports posted

August mutterings...

Gearing up for another great year of sports

By Jeff Mayfield

[AUG. 19, 2002]  I hadn’t been near my computer for a few days, and when I checked in, it appeared that the Cardinals had squandered a divisional lead that they had held for most of the summer. So, I did what any good baseball fan must do… I kept my ear closer to the ground and tried to nurse them along. That is always a difficult task, especially when you’re busy trying to take part fully in family activities.

I mention St. Louis only because they’re the only area team that is still sporting any postseason aspirations. I haven’t given up on the White Sox or the Cubs, but I think they surrendered for their fans several weeks ago. I do like the look of the future Cubs, but I’m not too happy with the direction the White Sox are going.

As I write this segment of the "Mutterings," the Cards, on the other hand, are coming off their first four-game sweep of the Pirates in Pittsburg since 1971! Then they went to Boo-Bird land, otherwise known as the city of Brotherly Love (apparently they didn’t get that moniker from the sports fans) and amazingly took two out of three up there this weekend. Jason Simontacchi and Matt Morris turned in tremendous outings once again. It was really good to see Jason get back on track. He had been pretty brutal of late after carrying the staff and the Redbirds for most of the first half of the season.

If Woody Williams can now come back at full strength, I feel much better about the Cards chances of hanging on. If he doesn’t come all the way back, expect this race to go to the wire. Houston has been red-hot since the All-Star break, and the Reds just won’t go away. If Bob Boone does not get some votes for manager of the year, you can pretty well be assured that the writers were too busy playing golf and not paying attention to baseball at all.

 

By the way, if the players strike, you will see no further mention of baseball in this column… period. And if I’m terminated, that’s great with me. The only baseball news you’ll get in this great paper will be the news that our editors will link for you. I have no sympathy for either group, the owners or the players. But anybody that makes as much as both of those groups does and then treats fans like myself the way they do deserves nothing from me.

There was a time when I went to a dozen or more baseball games a season. Since 1994 that number has dwindled to two a year. If there is a strike this year, they will likely NEVER get me back. I use that word guardedly because IF my son begs me to take him to one, I probably will cave… BUT that is likely the ONLY way that they will get me back.

I think they have already lost thousands of great fans, and if they think they haven’t, they are ONLY fooling themselves. After 9-11 and with the economy struggling like it is, the very threat of a strike is a slap in our faces. BUT, if you’re surprised by their attitudes, you shouldn’t be. Neither side has shown any allegiance to the "true" fans for years!!!

Needless to say, you will see no updates of the issues here either because in my mind, there are no issues. My answer to the whole thing — to resolve the things that keep the sides apart: Shut up and play ball! With that result, everyone wins!!!

 

Also as I write, Justin Leonard-Rich Beem and Fred Funk all sit atop the leader board at the last major of the year, the PGA. But Tiger is lurking. And if you’ve ever glanced at the "Mutterings" before, you should know to NEVER count Mr. Woods out! Although he has never won a major coming from behind like this. But there has to be a first time for everything… at least, that’s what my mother used to say!

I’m anxious to get caught up and to see how the Railers and the Illini are looking in preseason camp. It won’t be long now.

I am happy to report that the Bears like the LDN and the LDN likes the Bears. Incredibly, someone from their organization is cyber-friendly, and Chicago has invited us to be part of the Bears’ Champaign party this year in the twin cities. As always, we won’t let you loyal readers down, and we’ll try to bring you as many inside scoops as is humanly possible.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

The Sporting News lists the Illini at No. 24, but Illinois is conspicuously absent from most top-25 rankings. I assume that is because the pollsters don’t think we’ll be as good without Kurt Kittner at QB. I have to agree that he has big shoes to fill. But, don’t be surprised if the Illini don’t go at least 7-4. I know that is not as good as the 10-win season they put up a year ago, but remember how many games they won in the fourth quarter. I think it was something like five fourth-quarter wins — games they not only won but came from behind to do so.

Maybe their absence in the ratings will give them a chip on their shoulder. The defense was pretty decent last year, and if it could get to the point where it became stifling, then maybe they could nurse the offense along to the point where they could even become a lot better than people, including me, expect! The potential is certainly there with 14 lettermen returning. An outstanding kicking game, especially in the punting department, could loom as the difference-maker for this year’s Fighting Illini!

Railer, Lynx, Angel and Illini volleyball should also be in camp by now, not to mention Hartsburg and Mount Pulaski too. This could be a great year for area volleyball squads.

Local reader John Welter was like Craig Zastrow and me — quick to spot Lincoln’s Andy King early in the Bears’ 19-17 victory over the Super Bowl runner-up Rams on Friday night.

Both teams looked pretty good. This writer was especially pleased with the Bears’ early creativity and innovativeness. If coach Shoop can continue to improve his play calling, it could really help the Bears as they tackle a much tougher schedule this year. One of the few complaints levied at the Bears last year was that they were too predictable when they had the ball.

 

Also, don’t be surprised if the raucous crowds in Champaign don’t become a factor in some games. Heck, the Bears may never want to leave the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium! And I for one hope they don’t!!!

I also want to go on record again this year by saying that even though the critics love to rip head coach Dick Jauron, I really like the guy. I think he is MUCH smarter than most of those critics think he is. That does not mean that I agree with EVERYTHING he does. But maybe he doesn’t agree with everything I do either!!!

Back to King… Everything I have read points to King not being left out by the Rams when they go to making their cuts. Conventional wisdom says that he probably won’t make their official squad, although Andy will work hard like he always has to make it, but that he likely will find a place on their practice squad. Should that happen and he continues to impress, you never know when his chance will come. Linemen get injured a lot, so maybe he’ll get an opportunity quicker than everyone thinks!

It’s time to get back to school. Always one of my favorite times of the year! Seeing everybody again, getting caught up on all the things that happened or didn’t happen during the summer, meeting the new kids (I inserted that one because I was often the new kid — and to you people who are good at including the new kids, thank you; it makes a huge difference and doesn’t really cost you anything), and just getting back into the routine. One thing parenthood teaches you is how important good routines are. Here’s hoping that all of you get the school year off on the right foot!

[Jeff Mayfield]

 

[July 29 Mutterings:  "Quick mutterings"]


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