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Saturday, Sept. 7

NFL football comes to central Illinois

It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood

[SEPT. 7, 2002]  In one of the most unlikely developments in my lifetime, a major sport is coming into our very neighborhood. Most people have to make a long drive to see a professional sporting event.  But starting this Sunday you can make the 60-mile jaunt over to Chambana and see one of last year’s NFL playoff teams in the the guise of the Chicago Bears. 

Yes, it’s expensive.  But life’s expensive.  I see people plunkin’ down big money for CDs and DVDs at Wal-Mart, and I know how much concert tickets are.  Broadway shows even locally cost money…everything costs money.  I also hear people say that they’d rather watch the games on TV rather than seeing them live.  Spoken truly by people who have not seen very many of them live.  You miss so much by not seeing them live that it is hard to compare.  The enthusiasm and electricity that you feel in a stadium or in an arena is something that cannot be felt anywhere else, with the exception of an exciting, inspiring church (which this writer is fortunate to belong to)!

If money is really an issue, you can do what I did: Troll for one ticket. In my early days I don’t think I ever paid more than $5 for an Illini football or basketball ticket; pretty good value if you ask me.  My first Bears game, I saw for free.  They were hosting the Falcons and I arrived late at halftime.  I introduced myself and my fellow LCC students to some fans who were cold and were going home.  They gave us their stubs and we entered to see an exciting second half.  There are so many ways to experience sporting events that your ingenuity is your best asset!

I doubt that a major sports franchise will ever set up shop again in this part of the country, so I would recommend to you to take in a game, if you can.  I’m sure glad my dad took us to some games.  It turned out to be quite a motivation for me in school.  It helped shape me as a person, and I always looked deeper than the games, as my dad instructed us to take life lessons from the total experience -- things like working hard.

 

Those of you who think we are soft and have it easy weren’t around when I first came to town in the ’70s.  I worked for one of the hardest-working men I’ve ever seen, in the person of Earl Given.  I mixed mud (mortar) for him during the summers as he laid bricks all over this town.  I was dirty from head to toe at the end of every day and would just go home and collapse and get up and do it all over again the next day.  I decided early in that career that I needed to finish my college degree so I would have other choices than being a bricklayer, even though I enjoyed it.

Don’t you think that that hard work was a motivator?  You bet it was.  I saw the same kind of work ethic in athletes, and I tried (and still do) to emulate it.  Former Lincoln Courier sports editor Dick Huston wrote that about me and my teammates out at LCC.  That meant more to me than the neat game stories that he used to write!  It also helped me land a lot of good jobs/ministries through the years.

So, to me it’s not just a waste of time, and watching it on TV won’t do justice for me.  I will take my son (who already can say ballgame and loves to go to any game from pee-wee sports to professional games without even any prodding from me) to a few games along the way until he can really decide for himself which if any he wants to attend.

I can tell you this.  I treasure those times that I spent with my dad, and I miss him so much.  I thought that my dad was the greatest dad in the world, not because he took me to games, but because he always had time for me.

We did our homework first, and if we stupidly did not get it done or were not getting it done in the classroom, our going-to-games privilege was lost.  Believe you me, my grades did not stay down for long.

Sports also taught me to read.  I was not the greatest reader of all time. My dad got me hooked on newspapers and especially sports pages at an early age, and rapidly my reading got better.  Going to the games just enhanced that reading experience.

It also improved my math.  My dad would use statistics like winning percentages, etc., to teach me a plethora of math concepts.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

I also learned a lot about socializing from those sports contacts.  I learned that the world is a great melting pot, made up of all races and creeds and all social and class groups.  To this day I do not have to sit on the 50-yard line or at midcourt or in a club box to fully appreciate a game; bleacher and end zone seats are fine with me.  I still think it is cool that at any game at any time, blue collar workers can slap fives with white collar workers and in the midst of any emotion a crowd can become a family like you’ve never seen. Believe me, you can’t get that experience watching the game at home, I don’t care how great your TV set is!

For further proof, I offer up this evidence.  One of my great joys in life has been following in my father’s footsteps.  I like to introduce others to college and pro sports the way my dad introduced us kids to them.  To this day I don’t know of one person I’ve ever taken to a game that later said to me, “I wish I would’ve stayed home and watched it on TV!” (with the exception of last week’s Illini debacle in St. Louis). I don’t think that’s because I’m all that great for company either.

Learning things like courage, stamina, a strong work ethic, fighting through adversity, learning to be gracious, becoming a good sportsman and teamwork are the foundational principles of what makes laborers and blue collar workers people that I will always admire.  Those same principles have made white collar workers excel in their businesses, and many of them are thriving even in a down market.  I couldn’t respect them more.  I met many of them at games over the years and learned so many things that I couldn’t possibly share them all here.  Not to mention the many stimulating conversations that took place going and coming to those contests.  I have to admit that those multitudes of experiences shaped, molded and formed the person that I have become.

That may not mean much to many of you, but it’s been good enough for me so far.  And I don’t think I could’ve learned all that stuff if I’d have just stayed home!

As for the Bears, I really am not the best NFL prognosticator in the business.  That is why I work part-time for the LDN instead of full-time for ESPN.  I believe that if they come out aggressive and open up their offense a little bit, coupled with the continued strong showing of the defense and special teams, that they could still go 9-7 or 10-6 this season.  They do have a brutal schedule, and that is why I’m not predicting a repeat of last year’s 13-3 record.  I think they should at least be a wild-card winner.

 

I also think that if the crowd can be whipped up into a frenzy that the atmosphere in Memorial Stadium could be as good as any in the NFL, and I hope the Bears don’t even want to go back to Chicago.  Whatever happens, it should be a lot of fun.  And isn’t that the best part of sports?  Sometimes we forget that here in Lincoln, Ill. We have been spoiled through the years by outstanding sports teams and programs and we just expect to win.  But when having fun is a bigger part of the mix, the enjoyment and satisfaction level reach a crescendo that few aspects in life can match.

My dad told me at an early age not to make sports the driving force of my life.  That if I could learn to have fun and enjoy them for what they are, kind of a diversion from work and the troubles and concerns of just daily living, that then I could hope to get the most out of them.  Truer words were never spoken.

So, to all my LDN friends, whether I see you at any games or not, have some fun this year.  I believe that this is going to be yet another adventure that we will never forget!

Good luck, Bears, and welcome to my neighborhood!

[Jeff Mayfield]

9-11-01

Fallen but not Forgotten

9-11-02

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Locals have a swingin’ time
with the Aussies down under

[SEPT. 7, 2002]  Several local youths along with a high school coach and a few parents recently experienced the trip of a lifetime. Lincoln Community High School players Ryne Komnick, Derek Schrader, John Peters, Neil Rohrer, Curt Courtwright and coach Pat Hake made the trip down under.

Click here for more photos

The Lincoln contingent was part of a group of 96 players, coaches and parents from all over Illinois. The traveling party also had room for a couple of families from Iowa.

The trip was put together by an organization called Friendship Through Baseball, and this particular entourage was sponsored by Bloomington’s McDonald’s and Mitsubishi.

The team the Lincoln athletes competed with included three players from Quincy, two from Normal, coach Hake and coach Jimmy Young from Quincy. Besides this team there was one other baseball team and two softball teams comprised of athletes between the ages of 14 and 21.

The team featuring the Railers went 2-3-1 on the trip, but the real record was the amazing amount of fun that they had on the trip.

 

A diary of the trip

Friday, Aug. 9

Leave St. Louis for Los Angeles at 3:18 p.m.; flight 3 hours, 54 minutes.

Layover in LAX six hours.

Leave Los Angeles for Auckland, New Zealand, at 11:30 p.m.; flight 12 hours, 45 minutes.

Layover in New Zealand; little over three hours.

Leave New Zealand for Brisbane Australia at 10:30 a.m.; flight 1 hour, 30 minutes.

It is now Sunday; we lost a day.

Sunday, Aug. 11

Pick up luggage, load two buses, arrive at hotel about 1:30 p.m.

Board buses for supper at Mount Coot-Tha Restaurant… overlooking the city of

Brisbane — BEAUTIFUL!

Monday, Aug. 12

Morning and afternoon was our own time to explore the area…. the manmade beach, shopping, casino.

About 3:30 we boarded buses for the ballgames.

Played one game against the Australian team. After the game we ate supper with them at the clubhouse, then went back for the second game. First game ended in a tie, and the second game we lost.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 13

Early morning we boarded buses for the day.

Went to Australia Zoo. We were met at the entrance by an employee holding a koala bear. We were on our own to explore the zoo, watch the crocodile show, snake program and play with the kangaroos.

Boarded buses for the ball diamonds at 2 p.m.

Arrived for two ballgames at a different baseball club than the night before.

We won both games.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Very early morning shopping across the street for some.

Then boarded bus for all-day games

Ryne played with the other USA baseball team for the first game, and Derek played with them the second game. First time that all five Lincoln boys didn’t play together. Both teams lost both games that day.

Had supper in the club house and a small program with Americans and Australians speaking. Coach Hake spoke. This was the end of the baseball games.

 

Thursday, Aug. 15

We left early in the morning for a trip down to the Gold Coast, about an hour ride. Lots of shopping and neat places to explore.

Spent time on the beach. Our boys went swimming in the ocean in the afternoon. Pat, Amy and others took surfing lessons and attempted to surf in the ocean. It was cold, but they tried it anyway. What a fun day!

In the evening we ate at an open-air steakhouse — about froze to death. Kids had a good time getting to know the other players.

Friday, Aug. 16

Boarded bus for airport at 7 a.m.

Flew to Sydney, Australia.

Took a tour of the city, learned a lot about their history.

Stopped across from the Opera House for pictures. Took a tour of the Opera House — really neat!

We had supper at I’m Angus Steakhouse; then everyone was on their own to explore the harbor.

 

Saturday, Aug. 17

The day was ours to travel by boat around the harbor to see the sites, stopping at several locations. Several of us chose to go by another boat across the harbor to Manly Beach. It was really pretty to watch the waves and watch the surfers. A few of us visited the aquarium to watch the sharks swim over us in the glass tunnel. They were sure interesting to see. In the evening everyone did their own thing. Several of those in our group stayed up all night so they could sleep on the trip home. They had lots of fun.

Sunday, Aug. 18

6 a.m. we left for the airport.

Departed Sydney airport for Los Angeles at 9:35 a.m.; 13 hour, 40 minute flight.

Gained a day back from crossing date line.

Layover in LAX for nine hours. Very long time to sit in an airport!

Departed LAX at 3 p.m. for St. Louis; 3 hours, 41 minutes

Arrived in St. Louis about 8:35. We were met at the airport by several family members.

•  •  •

When asked, no one knew if they’ll get a chance to go again, but if they do, they all say that they’d like to.

[Jeff Mayfield]


High school football

[SEPT. 7, 2002] 

At Chatham

Lincoln             0   0   7   7   --14

Chatham           7   0   0   3   --10

At Warrensburg

Clinton             0   0   0   7   --  7

Warrensburg    7   6   8   0   --21

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Lincoln College cross country

[SEPT. 7, 2002]  NAPERVILLE - The Lincoln College men and women ran in their first ever cross country meet here Friday evening.   The Lynx had six participants in the men's division and three in the women's division.

The Lynx men finished with a score a 566 with Jordan Gerard finishing 156 to lead the way.  Others placing for the Lincoln College runners were 169 - Matt Livermore, 174- Justin Pogue, 190 - Russ Holstine, 198 - Jake Kennedy, and 203 - Michael Lister.    A total of 205 runners competed in the men's division.   Lewis University won the team competition with a score of 33, placing four runners in the top 10.

The Lincoln College women did not qualify for a team score as they did not have the required number of runners to compete.  Jenine Mills finished in the 87th position to top the Lynx runners, followed by Christien Taitt at 118 and Mary Daum at 138.   A total of 163 runners were entered in the competition and Elmhurst College claimed the title with a team total of 61 points.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College
sports information director]

Thank You

To Lincoln Developmental Center employees:

The Lincoln Parents' Association would like to express our sincere appreciation for the excellent care you have given our loved ones over the years. You chose to make a career in caring for the most fragile of individuals with disabilities. For this, we are most grateful. 

The stress of this past year has been almost unbearable for you and for us. In spite of poor management, politics and constant scrutiny, you have maintained your excellent level of care. There are not enough words to express our thanks.

Sincerely,
Members of the
Lincoln Parents' Association


Illinois releases men’s basketball schedule

[SEPT. 7, 2002]  CHAMPAIGN — The complete 2002-03 Fighting Illini men’s basketball schedule was announced Thursday. Highlighting the slate under third-year head coach Bill Self are eight games against NCAA tournament teams from a year ago, including two matchups with national runner-up Indiana and a showdown with Final Eight participant Missouri.

The Illini open the regular-season Nov. 24 against Lehigh in Champaign. Other changes to the schedule announced in August include the addition of a game at Memphis on Dec. 28 instead of playing North Carolina-Greensboro in Champaign.

On Dec. 3, when the North Carolina Tar Heels come to town, Illinois will host an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at the Assembly Hall for the first time in the four years of the challenge game’s existence. This will also be North Carolina’s first trip to Champaign since 1987 and the first visit to the Assembly Hall by an ACC team since the Illini defeated Georgia Tech in double overtime in 1989.

The Illini will appear nationally on ESPN for three consecutive Saturdays during the month of December, beginning Dec. 7 against Arkansas in Little Rock. Illinois will face Temple at the United Center in Chicago on Dec. 14, and the Illini and the Missouri Tigers will square off in the annual border war game at the Savvis Center in St. Louis on Dec. 21. Illinois travels to Memphis for an ESPN2 matchup on Dec. 28.

The Illini also host a Big Ten home game away from the Assembly Hall when they take on Northwestern Feb. 22 at the United Center in Chicago.

"We have a good, competitive schedule this year," Self said. "We play some of the premier programs in the nation but also several home games that will hopefully allow us to grow as a team prior to Big Ten play."

 

Illinois will appear at least 13 times on national television,  including six times on ESPN, three times on ESPN2, and four times on  CBS (with the possibility of a fifth game) during the 2002-03 season.

The Illini begin Big Ten play on the road for the first time since 1999 as the team travels to Minnesota to open the conference slate Jan. 7. Big Ten teams that the Illini will play just once during the 16-game conference schedule are the same four as last season: Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State.

Remaining television and game-time information will be released when available.

2002-03 Illinois men’s basketball schedule

Date, opponent, time (CST), TV

Friday, Oct. 11 — Midnight Madness (at Huff Hall), 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26 — Orange and Blue scrimmage, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 12 — Spotlight Jammers (exhibition), 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 15 — EA Sports All-Stars (exhibition), 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24 — vs. Lehigh, 7 p.m., TBA

Wednesday, Nov. 27 — Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7 p.m., TBA

Sunday, Dec. 1 — Western Illinois, 2 p.m., TBA

Tuesday, Dec. 3 — North Carolina (ACC/Big Ten Challenge), 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, Dec. 7 — vs. Arkansas (at Little Rock), 6 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m., TBA

Saturday, Dec. 14 — Temple (Chevrolet Shootout at United Center, Chicago), 11 a.m., ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 21 — vs. Missouri (at Savvis Center, St. Louis), 4:30 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 28 — at Memphis, 5 p.m., ESPN2

Monday, Dec. 30 — Coppin State, 7 p.m., TBA

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Saturday, Jan. 4 — Oakland, 7 p.m., TBA

Tuesday, Jan. 7 — at Minnesota, 6 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Jan. 11 — Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Plus regional

Wednesday, Jan. 15 — at Iowa, 8 p.m., ESPN Plus local

Saturday, Jan. 18 — at Indiana, 3 p.m., CBS

Wednesday, Jan. 22 — Purdue, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, Jan. 25 — at Penn State, 11:15 a.m., ESPN Plus regional

Wednesday, Jan. 29 — Michigan, 7 p.m., ESPN Plus local

Sunday, Feb. 2 — at Michigan State, noon, CBS

Sunday, Feb. 9 — Ohio State, noon, CBS

Saturday, Feb. 15 — at Purdue, 7 p.m., ESPN Plus local

Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Michigan State, 6 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 22 — Northwestern (at United Center, Chicago), 1 p.m., CBS

Tuesday, Feb. 25 — Indiana, 8 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, March 1 — at Michigan, 11:15 a.m., ESPN Plus regional

Wednesday, March 5 — at Wisconsin, 8 p.m., ESPN Plus local

Saturday, March 8 — Minnesota, 3:30 or 7 p.m., ESPN Plus regional or ESPN Plus local;

or Sunday, March 9 — Minnesota, 1 p.m., CBS

March 13-16 — Big Ten tournament, at United Center, Chicago (schedule below)

March 20-23 — NCAA tournament, first and second rounds

March 27-30 — NCAA tournament regionals

April 5, 7 — NCAA Final Four, New Orleans

Note: Dates, times and TV coverage subject to change.

 

Big Ten tournament schedule

United Center, Chicago

Thursday, March 13 — First round

Game 1:  No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed, 11 a.m., ESPN

Game 2:  No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed, 1:30 p.m., ESPN

Game 3:  No. 6 seed vs. No. 11 seed, 4:05 p.m., ESPN2

Friday, March 14 — Quarterfinals

Game 4:  Game 1 winner vs. No. 1 seed, 11 a.m., ESPN

Game 5:  No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed, 1:30 p.m., ESPN

Game 6:  Game 2 winner vs. No. 2 seed, 5:40 p.m., ESPN Plus

Game 7:  Game 3 winner vs. No. 3 seed, 8:10 p.m., ESPN Plus

Saturday, March 15 — Semifinals

Game 8:  Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 12:40 p.m., CBS

Game 9:  Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 3:05 p.m., CBS

Sunday, March 16 — Championship

Game 10:  Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2:30 p.m., CBS

[Kent Brown, U of I]


Articles from the past week

Friday:

  • Lady Railers refuse to lose

  • LC cross country begins competition

  • Ball State game postponed

Thursday:

  • LC soccer clinic to benefit Pettijohn family

  • LC vs. Springfield College in volleyball

  • LC vs. Springfield College in women’s soccer

  • LC women’s golf results

  • Redbirds meet two top 20 teams in Wisconsin

Wednesday:

  • Lady Railers smoothly dominate in home opener
    A new brand of football -- Program kicks off on 32 campuses, including the U of I

Tuesday:

  • Illini disappoint in a big way
    Missouri hands Illinois a 33-20 whopping

  • Illinois-Mizzou notes

  • Labor Day mutterings

  • Lincoln College men’s soccer vs. Yavapai

  • Lincoln College men’s soccer vs. Iowa Central

  • Lincoln College women win soccer opener

  • Lincoln College plays in volleyball tourney in Mattoon

Saturday:

  • Railers open football season

  • LCC men's soccer vs. Blackburn


Labor Day mutterings

By Jeff Mayfield

[SEPT. 3, 2002]  Do not count me among the scoffing fans of the Lincoln Railer football squad. I thought they made positive strides on Friday night. And yes, I was disappointed that they didn’t win, but not any more disappointed than those young men and their coaching staff were when they came off the field. It takes time to build a program and this group is improving.

You wonder, what kind of a difference might Derek Schrader have made in that game?

If I was to be critical (and as a former coach, I never cared much for second-guessing), I wondered if Lincoln would go conservative or aggressive in a tight ballgame. Many people will criticize either choice. I’m too much of a gambler when it comes to playing sports, so I usually go aggressive. However, the Railers looked (although we could be more than wrong, as that has happened to us once before) like they took a more conservative route. Sometimes you can shorten the game with that approach and then hope for something good to happen. With a tough schedule in the weeks ahead that may be a good approach.

I’m sorry for our guys this past week; I believe they deserved a better fate!

•  •  •

The Rail was all Patricia Meunier-Lebouc this past weekend. She was on fire from wire to wire. When you open with a 64 and finish to win with a 67, you are playing a game in which I am not familiar! Meunier-Lebouc, who has won several times on the European tour, carded her first-ever LPGA tour victory on Sunday. And she did so by being as cool as the other side of the pillow!

The LDN followed Jennifer Rosales, who fired a closing 65; Candie Kung, who was playing great for a while; and Amy Fruwirth, who was really giving us a lot of insights. As she struggled with her swing, she approached us after a wayward driver tee shot. I asked her if she could feel the problems somewhere in her swing or if the outcome was just something that happened. She said, "No, that’s just my swing." She has a very good demeanor for this sport.

The LPGAers may well be the most accessible athletes of any sport.

Is there anyone more colorful than Michelle McGann?

•  •  •

Thank you, Texas Rangers, for your holiday treat.

•  •  •

 

[to top of second column in this article]

The Cardinals picked up Jamey Wright, who’s already posted a Redbird victory, from the Milwaukee Brewers. I didn’t know they had arms to spare???

The Cardinals also acquired Jeff Fassero from Chicago. Thank you, Cubbies.

•  •  •

LCC looked rather impressive in their opening-night win over Hannibal-LaGrange in straight sets before a large, raucous crowd!

•  •  •

I didn’t get to see it, but I heard LCHS soccer teams looked quite impressive in their most recent wins as well.

•  •  •

How ’bout those Oakland A’s? BTW, they are a team that I followed as a kid. If you ever dig into our archives, look what the LDN said about Art Howe early in the season even when he was under fire… And you don’t even pay a subscription for our inside scoops!

•  •  •

Thank you to the many of you who have made gracious comments to Greg and me following our first episode of "Fandamonium!" We really want to cover the things that you want covered and the stuff that you want to talk about. We’ve got great sponsors and great giveaways, so give us a call with your questions or comments. The holiday scrapped this week’s show, but we’ll return next Monday night, following the opening of the NFL season and leading you into the first evening of "Monday Night Football."

•  •  •

There’s lots of other stuff happening in sports, but it’s late and I’m tired… Have a super week, everybody!

[Jeff Mayfield]

[Aug. 30 column: "Bonus mutterings...
live from the Rail Classic
"]

[Aug. 26 column: "‘Fandamonium’ opening tonight -- Lincoln/Logan County Chamber, team of the week"]


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