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Though for some reason the LDN was
shorted on press credentials, our staff comes through for you loyal
LDN readers once again. Our own Tom Seggelke braved the cold, rainy
conditions, the police and the scalpers to still find a ticket and
lead Chicago to two of their most dramatic victories in their team's
history. Tom called the rest of the LDN staff, stationed in
Champaign for the Illini debacle, and as we answered the phone we
heard delirious Cub fans singing during the seventh-inning stretch
of Mark Prior's gutty first-game performance. Later we watched the
Cubs clinch in Game 2 on a double-play ball, and it was pandemonium
in the press box and at Memorial Stadium.
The only way you'll be able to wipe
that smile off Greg Taylor's face is by reminding him of the
Illini's performance! I'm happy for you Cub fans… It's been pretty
bleak the last few years. I also like your chances versus Atlanta (I
know Terry Davis doesn't!)… I'm just saying I like them better than
playing Florida or San Fran! I think the Cubs will make the World
Series, but I don't know how they'll fare once they get there!
This is a hard ditty for me to write,
but good reporting means writing up ALL teams regardless of who they
are. I just wish we were having this much fun with all our other
sports teams!
Congratulations, Ron Santo. Brought
back memories of me collecting baseball cards as a kid (and you
should've seen the collection I had that my MOTHER threw away!) and
even we California kids knew who Santo was… We didn't like him much,
but you get the idea.
Cardinal factor. Hey, Cub fans. Did you
see who was on the hill to make sure that the Cubbies would clinch?
None other than former Cardinal Dave Veres. He induced a double-play
grounder that sent Cub Nation into Nirvana! Seggelke STILL hasn't
left Chicago… I wonder if he knows that the Bears denied LDN
credentials for the Monday night football game???
The Railers met what may well be the
No. 1 team in the state in Sacred Heart-Griffin. And that
conglomeration of players is a pretty good football team and very
well coached. Rain and lightning kept my son and me away from the
game (Mom's orders), but I don't think there's any shame in losing
to a team like that.
The more important thing is bouncing
back and taking a bite out of Taylorville next week. The Tornadoes
have struggled some in recent weeks, and adding to their struggles
would be a welcome sight for Railer fans and players alike,
especially for homecoming. Here's to hoping that we come out on fire
and use the inspiration from the fans to get back on the winning
track.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Another thing I don't want to write
about or talk about is the Illini. But again proper protocol demands
it. You could say that Illinois was right there, that the Illini
were recapturing the momentum and were within an eyelash of making a
game of it. Or, you could say that Illinois is just not a very good
team. I'm sad to report to you that that's what this would-be
reporter has seen. It's been very difficult to watch. Although
freshman sensation E.B. Halsey showed signs that he is indeed the
player that Greg Taylor promised us he would be.
The only silver lining I could find in
all this is that Greg and I WON'T have to talk about it tonight on "FANdamonium!"
However, you race car fanatics can join Laz Pozsgai and Rick Charron
tonight at 6 on CITV-5 to get your racing fix!
Cards players picked up some individual
accomplishments yesterday. Albert Pujols became the first Redbird
since Willie McGee in 1990 to win the batting title over Colorado's
Todd Helton
-- by mere percentage points!
Woody Williams won his 18th game (and
all that for Ray Lankford), Jim Edmonds hit another homer, and Edgar
Renteria went over the 100-RBI mark and became the first shortstop
to do it since the Mets' Hubie Brooks, who did it in 1985!
Central Illinois' Jim Thome tied A-Rod
for the home-run title with 47.
Illinois State lost to Florida Atlantic
28-10… No further report as the LDN was spread pretty thin this
weekend and most were on assignments elsewhere.
The St. Louis Rams beat the Arizona
Cards but not sure what that means.
Tonight, the Chicago Bears will unveil
the new-look Soldier Field. The Bears rejected LDN press
credentials, so we'll have no photos and probably no story. That
might be easier for fans to take anyway.
USA women's soccer won again without
Mia Hamm.
Former Illinois football coach John
Mackovic was fired by Arizona five games into the season.
Peyton Manning fired six TD passes in
Indy's rout of the Saints.
I'm still trying to recover from
everything that's happened in the sports world the last few days…
so, I'll sign off for now.
HAVE A GREAT
WEEK, EVERYBODY!
[Jeff Mayfield]
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