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Tuesday, July 16

[No new sports reports posted 7-16-02]

[See Jeff Mayfield’s new column below]


Articles from the past week

Monday:

  • Mason City Cobras win Bronco tourney
  • Lincoln JV Legion vs. Mattoon

Saturday:

  • Two Illini on roster for European basketball trip

  • Local club teams play in national volleyball tourney

Friday:

  • No new sports reports posted

Thursday:

  • Lincoln JV Legion baseball vs. Taylorville

Wednesday:

  • Lincoln JV Legion baseball vs. Olympia

  • Thanks from Waterstreet Catering

Tuesday:

  • Gators redefining team excellence

  • Attention LCHS cheerleaders, pom pon squad, athletes

  • Bronco baseball results

  • Cardinal baseball plus brewery tour


Lincoln loses one of its finest

By Jeff Mayfield

[JULY 16, 2002]  In a town like Lincoln most coaches are judged mostly by the strength of their won-loss record. While that is certainly an important statistic, other criteria should be just as important. Take the case of Lincoln Junior High coach Derrick Reiley. Derrick wasn’t the kind of coach who drew a lot of attention to himself. It usually wasn’t about him; it was about his players.

He gave unselfishly of his time. He didn’t try to embarrass his athletes; he tried to teach them and to let them have fun. And in this day and age when some coaches are not the best teachers in the classroom, Reiley went to great lengths to make science understandable and enjoyable.

How do I know these things? Because Derrick isn’t just another coach I know; he is my friend! I spent time with him both on the practice and game courts as well as in the classroom.

You can also tell a lot about a coach when you see who comes around to tell him goodbye. Judging from his farewell party, he will be sorely missed.

Derrick is one of the really good people in sports. Guys like him make it worthwhile to guys like me.

Now he’s moving to Streator to try his hand in administration as an assistant principal. I know he will be successful, but I’m going to really miss him, and so will a lot of others.

Wishing you God’s best as you go, Derrick!

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So far the Cubs are something like 3-1 under new management. BUT, will it continue?

We tried praising the White Sox. We tried shaming them. Now they’ve sunk to new lows. They were swept in a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers! I’m not sure you can sink any lower than that.

I wish I could find out who is sending my columns to Tony LaRussa. Whenever I get on him and say that he is no Whitey Herzog, the next thing I know the Redbirds are out there manufacturing runs. Take yesterday’s game in San Diego for instance. The Cardinals scored on a sacrifice fly, an error by the catcher and a perfectly executed suicide squeeze bunt by Redbird hurler Bud Smith.

Since I bash him when I don’t like what he does, I’d better praise when I do. Tony, I liked the way we played this weekend. With the way the Astros are sizzling, those games against the Padres may loom larger in the future.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Congrats to Bud Smith for finally getting his first win. He had been close the last few outings, but it’s nice to get in that win column. That is especially true when you look at the Cards DL list. It seems to grow every week.

Inside sources say that St. Louis as a team is still caring a heavy burden, and who can blame them? They have been able to avoid a collapse, but for how long? I know they’re professionals, but mourning the loss of your friends and family takes a lot out of you. We’ll see how they manage the dog days.

Did you see the play that Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers (not to be confused with the singer) made against Minnesota? I would say that it has a shot at play of the year!

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The Illini hoopsters have signed Brian Randle out of Peoria.

 

Brian Cook recently served as a counselor at the prestigious Nike camp in Indianapolis.

 

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Plenty of good seats are still available...

You can get Bears season tickets at (888)-79-BEARS (23277). They also have mini-packs of four and six games. Single-game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. July 20 via Ticketmaster.

ISU football and basketball tickets can be purchased at (309) 438-8000.

Illini tickets are available at 1 (866) ILLINI-1. And tickets for the big Illini-Mizzou game at the Dome in St. Louis may or may not be available at (618) 222-2900 or (314) 241-4400!

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I’m still feeling blessed about the cooler weather the last few days. I hear the heat is coming back as early as today. Does anybody know any swimming teams or ice hockey teams for old guys like me?

Hope everybody is enjoying their summer. Have a great week, sports fans!

[Jeff Mayfield]

[July 8 Mutterings:  "Sports firecrackers from the Fourth"]


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