 First of all, it is a three-hour drive to the game, if traffic's not
too heavy. And for some reason, people (read -- the Big Ten Network)
are enamored with late 8 o'clock starts … so much for being "family
friendly!" Then when you are all tucked away snuggly in your beds,
I've got to drive three hours to get back home. When your team
rewards that effort by winning 25 or more games a season, you think
it is a good investment. When your team loses most of the games
you've attended … you're not so sure that it is the smartest thing
that you could be doing.However, I have stressed to my son that
loyalty is the one trait that runs the deepest. And for those who
stick it out and go through the team's darkest days … they are the
ones who can truly enjoy the championships down the road. Wow! I had
forgotten how hard it is to be this patient. There will be brighter
days. And some of those days might even arrive next season. But that
doesn't do anything for us right now. Too bad there's not a
concession rule in hoops. You know, like in chess, when you know you
can't win, you can just concede. Or in a boxing match, you can just
throw the towel into the center of the ring or fail to answer the
bell. It would probably be in the Illini's best interests if they
could concede at this point.
But once again … everybody wanted a Big Ten tournament. This is
one of the years that it could come in handy. Now don't get me
wrong. I'm not predicting an amazing run like Lon Kruger's kids had
in '98-'99, but I wouldn't cry if we had one. I'm thinking more
along the lines that some team will put us out of our misery. If we
only had to win one game, then maybe you could stake a claim, but
having to win four when we couldn't even muster back-to-back good
outings during the season … I'm just not seeing it. And how I would
love to be wrong. We've still got Michigan State and Minnesota after
a tasty road win at Iowa between now and Indianapolis, but I'm not
anticipating anything amazing between now and then either. Greg and
I will bring you something from the BTT and maybe a season wrap-up …
or more likely … a look into the future.
All I can say is that this has been extremely frustrating, and I
could only find one bit of silver lining: At least I didn't have to
coach it … and believe me, I don't even know where you would start.
I still love our guys and wish good things for them, and one thing I
do know -- for many of them, no one is more frustrated and
disappointed than they are. Here's hoping for something incredible
to happen…
Spring training
Don't you just love spring training? Every team talks about how
if everything comes together in a magical way, their team will be
playoff-bound. Forgive me, Cardinal fans, if I don't ride that wave
just yet. I think we're a long shot in a best-case scenario. I'd
just like for the front office to be honest and say we didn't spend
any money in the offseason and we're just gonna try to wing it this
year. That wouldn't make me very happy, but at least it would be an
honest approach.
It will be cool to see Rick Ankiel for an entire season (if he
stays healthy) … and it will be cool to see if Colby Rasmus makes
the big club or needs another year of seasoning. It will be
interesting to see if Juan (Gone) Gonzalez has anything left in his
tank. It will be nice to see Scott Rolen's (I'm still not happy
about that deal) replacement, Troy Glaus. And it will be great to
see if Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder can even approach their
mighty form from their successful pasts.
The problem is that this team has way too many question marks.
When your starting rotation is like throwing darts to figure out who
gets the ball each day, that does not bode well. Then you compound
that by not being sure what your everyday lineup is gonna be, and
you've just made things a lot harder. Factor in that the Cubs are
solid (maybe I can get Greg to cook up a little something on the
Cubbies for you great LDN readers) and the Brewers, who came close
to winning the division last year, may have gotten better, and it
just doesn't look all that good for Redbird rooters in 2008. But
they tell me that that is why we play the games. That somebody has
to win the divisional crown. Who knows? Maybe the Cards will
surprise us and everyone will stay healthy and play well and we'll
shock 'em all. That would be fine with me. But they've got a lot of
work in front of them to even give us a decent ride.
[to top of second column] |
 But hey, it's spring training. We've got the same regular-season
record right now as anyone else. Maybe we'll surprise a lot of
people. Heck, I'd be happy if they just surprised me!
Railers get seasoned
It sounds like the Lincoln Railers got a great year of seasoning
under their belts. From the sound of things, they came a long way
this season and hopes burn bright for the future. My son asked me
how many years before he can play for them … not sure if he thought
he could help 'em or if he just wanted to run around the court
slappin' fives with everyone. Also, not sure how he thinks he can
play for them while going to school up here… Should I burst his
bubble?
Speaking of Payne
 He just finished his first (second if you count last year's
beginner year) season of organized hockey. He played for the Stars
and got to play a little bit on the front line, mostly as a right
winger. However, he spent a majority of his time, especially during
the last half of the season, as a defenseman. He really improved
over the course of the winter and was not afraid of anybody and
loved sweeping the puck away from the league's top scorers. He did
have to put up with one of the worst kiddie coaches in the country
... yours truly.
However, just like Jeff Daniels totally redeemed himself in the
movie "Dumb and Dumber" by trading the van for the mini-bike "hog,"
I, too, totally redeemed myself during the last weekend of the year.
Payne had accused me of being a little too hard on him (though even
my wife said that I was pretty soft on him) during the season, so I
relaxed a little in the trophy tournament. In fact, I suggested to
our head coach, who was letting Payne get some scoring opportunities
at the right wing position, to move Payne back to defense, which
enabled his high-scoring son to fire the puck at the net. We scored
two late third-period goals because of that adjustment.
The next day I was unable to coach the final game of the season
as I had to teach and cover some other responsibilities at church.
We won our finale 3-1 and then awaited the final results for the
tournament. We were almost assuredly locked into a third-place
trophy finish based on records. However, the tourney was played on a
points basis, and because of our little coaching adjustment on
Saturday we edged out the second-place team in the standings by one
point because we scored more goals. And you all thought I was a
coaching know-nothing! Ha! The smile on my son's face while carting
that second- place trophy around with the medal around his neck
almost made the nasty winter seem worthwhile! Seriously, it was a
lot of fun and certainly a sport I never thought he and I would ever
have a chance to participate in.
Tiger Woods update
A few years ago I wrote a piece in this hallowed newspaper where
I opined that Tiger was the greatest of all time. It was
controversial, as I heard from some Arnie and some Jack lovers who
thought otherwise. I haven't changed my opinion, and I think Tiger
has a little sumpin' sumpin' for any doubters… Can you hear me now?
This and that
It's time for March Madness, and it can never get here soon
enough. The last few winters I haven't seen enough games to give you
any educated info (not saying that after watching I'll be able to
either, but …), but I'm really excited to get to a couple of venues,
spend some quality time with friends, and just drink in the
atmosphere and environment that makes college basketball so
wonderful. I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation, as this
winter has been one for the ages (maybe the Cubs will win it all
after all?), so I'm hungry for some fun. Greg and I and then Craig
and I will try to bring you some of the flavor, the pageantry and
the magic of the upcoming tournaments. Until then, you stay classy,
Lincoln!
Have a great month, everybody!
[By JEFF MAYFIELD]
Respond to the writer at
jeffmayfield@centralwired.com.
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