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Thursday, June 13

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Articles from the past week

Thursday:

  • LCC basketball camp
  • Soccer bandwagon?

Wednesday:

  • No new headlines

Tuesday:

  • K of C Phillies vs. Bloomington Marlins

  • Lincoln JV Legion baseball vs. Mason City

Monday:

  • LC player signs

Saturday:

  • No new headlines

Friday:

  • Bronco League baseball results
  • Railers celebrate season with appreciation banquet

Soccer bandwagon?

By Jeff Mayfield

[JUNE 13, 2002]  People are asking us if we’re getting on the United States soccer bandwagon after their rather impressive showing in their first two matches. I guess you can call it "bandwagonning" if you want… I call it reporting the sports news that actually means a lot to soccer fans.

It also means something to sports fans like me. And I admit, I basically know nothing about the sport.

But I always want the USA team to do well in any sport. I think it lets countries all over the world who are oppressed see that a free country can still do well in the athletic arena without being a "state-supported" organization. That men and women can rise up from our largest cities or our smallest towns and represent us on the international stage.

I’m happy for the athletes themselves who have worked and sacrificed their whole lives for an opportunity like this.

And I’m really happy for soccer fans who feel like their sport is relegated to the back pages of the sports section. When World Cup soccer comes calling, they get to be center stage — or if not center stage, at least mentioned with the so-called major sports.

So, if I’m jumpin’ on the bandwagon, so be it! Congratulations to the team so far, and GO USA!

Hopefully they will pick up the other point that they need and advance to the second round. Some of the supposedly giant world powers have already been eliminated. I don’t know the sport well enough to say that anything can happen, but I hope that this great event serves as a catalyst to show the world that we really can live together in harmony and that we don’t have to blow each other up every time we disagree with one another!

And special thanks to Lincoln College soccer coach Mark Howard for calling me at 3:30 a.m. to let me know that the United States was leading their match!

 

Summer baseball in full swing

I know that Lincoln’s Legion teams are already playing on the diamonds and that youth baseball is already going full tilt. So if you want to see some good baseball, go on out to the ballpark!

Cubs, Cards and Sox going in three different directions

I don’t think that it’s unusual, but all three of our area teams are headed in different directions at this point in the season. It appears that the Cubs are playing a little bit better, the Cards are holding their own, and the White Sox seem to be sputtering.

I really like the Cubs pitching staff (the starters), and I think that as the weather has heated up their bats are starting to come alive. It’s a good thing that Cubs management didn’t listen to most of the SCORE’s callers who wanted players sent down or traded. Because as bad as Chicago has looked at times, they’re not that far behind the leaders.

The Cards continue to struggle with health issues. Garrett Stephenson had surgery and is out until after the All-Star break, and this week they have placed Jim Edmondson on the 15-day disabled list. Edmonds was on a tear; will he come back as strong and not miss a beat? Last night in a potential save situation, you looked into the bullpen and you saw no Jason Isringhausen warming up. The closer who has saved 15 out of 16 chances is experiencing some tightness in his forearm. He was not used, as a precautionary measure.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

It sure seems like the Redbirds use a lot of caution. I now know that I’m getting old. In my day we just sucked it up and played ball.

The White Sox, on the other hand, seem to have gotten some bad breaks, but have also disintegrated due to bullpen breakdowns. I believe that even Fulke, their closer, has been removed from that role for the time being. Two late-inning collapses at home versus the Yankees especially hurt. Hopefully they can right the ship and encourage the good starting pitching that has put them in a position to deserve a better fate.

Speaking of baseball

The inter-league matchups are finally starting to produce the kind of marquees that I was hoping for when the idea was first introduced. Growing up as a purist, I still don’t like it; but if you’re going to force it on me, at least give me some good games. I do like the Cards versus the Mariners. But you have to like the Giants versus the Yankees or the D-backs versus the Yanks and the Red Sox. I sure would like to see anybody beat up on the Reds!

It’s over.

The Nets might win a game or two, but it’s all over but the crying. I don’t know if anyone can beat the Lakers and Phil Jackson. He is a great coach, and I don’t want to take anything away from him. However, I sure would have loved the opportunity to coach Michael and the Bulls, and Shaq and Kobe and the Lakers. How bad a job could I have done? I guess there’s no call for a washed-up small college or former high school assistant coach.

No bother, I’m really enjoying coaching the 1½ year-olds. They have some slick moves that NO NBA’ers even dream about!

The Stanley Cup seems to be about over as well. The ’Canes too may win another game or two, but I don’t think they or anyone can beat the Red Wings this year. Perhaps the Blues gave them the best run of all!

 

Lewis-Tyson

I didn’t get to see the fight, but the reports have been interesting. Some say Lewis dominated; others say it was a good fight and maybe could have had a different outcome. More amazing might be the way that Tyson has handled himself following the bout. Of course with the gravy train that those guys are cashing in on, it probably behooves everyone to act like gentlemen. But when has that ever stopped one of the heavyweights?

That’s all for this edition of midweek mutterings. Have a great week, everybody, and if you’re looking for a great place to go canoeing or to take a rather inexpensive camping trip, give me a call or e-mail me at meljeff@lccs.edu.

[Jeff Mayfield]

[Click here for last week's Mutterings]


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