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Friday, July 26

United Cerebral Palsy raffles
position in State Farm Rail Classic

[JULY 27, 2002]  With summer making its mark on central Illinois, the golfing season is in full swing. This summer, UCP Land of Lincoln is raffling a position to play in the Cingular Wireless Pro-Am during the State Farm Rail Classic. Along with 224 other amateurs, one lucky winner will have the opportunity to play a round of golf with 56 of the LPGA’s top players.

Raffle tickets are only $10 each and are available at local Prairie State Bank and Bank of Springfield locations. The value of the pro-am spot is $1,600. Play will be Wednesday, Aug. 28, and the winner will be chosen and notified on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

To purchase your ticket today, stop by any Prairie State Bank or Bank of Springfield location or call UCP at (217) 525-6522. UCP Land of Lincoln is the largest provider of services to children with disabilities in downstate Illinois and serves over a thousand children and adults each year in central Illinois.


Articles from the past week

Friday:

  • No new sports reports posted

Thursday:

  • No new sports reports posted

Wednesday:

  • Pony baseball championship game

Tuesday:

  • No new sports reports posted

Monday:

  • Mayfield's Mutterings: Summer ramblings...
  • JV Legion baseball season ends

Saturday:

  • Legion team picks up win in first round of tourney

  • Pony baseball


Summer ramblings...

By Jeff Mayfield

[JULY 22, 2002]  Have you ever seen a better bunker shot than Ernie Els pulled off on the 18th in sudden death to win the British Open?

CONGRATULATIONS to Olympia’s Mike Manahan. Manahan was recently recognized by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association as the National Wrestling Coach of the Year! My understanding is that he has been coaching for something like 35 years and is the only coach Oly has ever had, taking the position when the school officially opened its doors back in 1972. Way to go, coach! If anyone knows this guy would you please invite him to be a guest on the Taylor-Mayfield sports showcase this fall?

Where would the Cardinals be without Jason Simontacci?

No Americans were on the front page of the leader board at Muirfield. When was the last time that happened?

No word yet on how the Railers did this past weekend in their annual voyage south to Tennessee or Kentucky or wherever it is. Word on the street is that Lincoln has been very good so far this summer. Hopefully good enough to surprise a lot of people on the way to a state berth!

 

Rumor has it that the hoopsters will have to succeed without the expert tutelage of longtime Railer assistant coach Donnie Aeilts. Sources close to the program told the LDN that Donnie has returned to his old junior high post vacated by the departure of Darrick Reiley. Great for the Trojans, not as great for the Railsplitters. However, you know that coach Alexander will come up with yet another winning combination!

Congratulations to Mount Pulaski’s Jim Jumper, who was recently named the new head coach for boys basketball. And thanks to Bill Rucks for the many years of outstanding dedication he has given to the Mount Pulaski program. I will always respect and like the Mount Pulaski athletes. They always hustle and they always play hard. They must have a lot of great coaches over there!

Also thanks to longtime junior high coach Bob Gasaway who retired after decades with the program. Many kids who learned the fundamentals of the game and to always give your best effort have him to thank for their skills. I tip my cap to all three of these guys!

Where would the Cardinals be without Eli Marrero?

In talking with Michelle McFadden, she seemed to indicate that Railer volleyball will once again be very exciting this season. Since she didn’t know I was grilling her for info, I won’t quote her directly. But, I have enough respect for her knowledge of the game to tell all you fans that this looks like another great year to be a Railer fan!

 

[to top of second column in this article]

 LCC’s team continues to reload and then reload some more. I wonder if coach Crawford has been reading all of those coach K books?

I expect that LC’s team will take another big step up this year as well.

From my vantage point, one key is to follow the rule of real estate: Location, location and location… good players, good players and good players. Speaking only for myself, I somehow seemed to be a better coach when I had outstanding players. They must have risen above the coaching level… That’s the only thing I can figure.

Where would the Cardinals be without Albert Pujols?

For some reason I have a funny feeling that LCHS football will take a step up this year. I sure wish I was going to be about a sophomore or a junior myself. Not that I could start or anything. I just always liked to play for teams where fans and experts thought that we weren’t going anywhere. I love stunned looks on people and the joy you get by being one of the only ones who believes.

Speaking of stunned looks. Did you see the one on Ernie Els face when he won the British Open? How about the display of sportsmanship by Thomas Lovet? I thought it was moving and is one of the things that can make sports great.

If you see any outstanding displays of sportsmanship, please let me know and I’ll immediately include them in this column. Just because it’s a dying breed doesn’t mean that it still isn’t one of the most important aspects of being a competitor.

 

After Sunday’s stage, America’s Lance Armstrong was leading the Tour de France by 4:21. He is nothing short of amazing. Did you see some of those roads those guys have to pedal on? I think I’ll stick to pedaling my son up and down Lincoln Avenue!

I like the Reds move of picking up Kenny Rogers… Wish the Cards could have gotten him.

Not sure about the Finley deal just yet.

It’s too hot; so, that’s all for now. Have a great week by making it a great week for everyone you come in contact with!

[Jeff Mayfield]

[July 16 Mutterings:  "Lincoln loses one of its finest"]


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