| Mount 
            Pulaski finalists again 
            We did hear that Mount Pulaski did in 
            fact advance to the championship game once again. That is a huge 
            accomplishment, and we are so proud of these young ladies. They have 
            been on a quest or on a mission all season, and it is so good to see 
            them continue to bring home the hardware! We know they wanted to win 
            it, but we're still as proud of them as ever. CONGRATULATIONS to 
            Coach Donna Dulle and to the Lady Toppers for being champions to us 
            in every way! The LDN salutes you. 
      
       Rams clip 
            Bears in heartbreaking fashion 
            We did hear that the Bears were inches 
            away from claiming a big victory. But in a story that has grown all 
            too familiar, the Rams came back in the final minute and went back 
            happily to the Gateway City, 23-21, thanks to the foot of Jeff 
            Wilkens. It appears that the Bears must have played better, but is 
            it good enough to expect that they will soon be realistic 
            competitors? We think not! Colts 
            avenge embarrassment 
            Last year the Colts ended their season 
            on the playoff road with a humiliating 41-0 loss to the New York 
            Jets. This year in Indianapolis, the Colts made sure there was no 
            repeat, as they handed the Planes a 38-31 loss. Edgerrin James 
            implored Colts management for more work, and it led to him carrying 
            the pigskin in for three scores!   
            [to top of second column in this
            article] 
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            One other NFL note… The Raiders finally 
            won another game, 28-18, over the suddenly struggling Vikings. 
            At this point we have no other local 
            reports on football or basketball, but we will try to get back into 
            the hunt this week. Illini 
            about to be unveiled 
            By this time next week the 2003-04 
            basketball Illini will have had their curtain-raiser. They open the 
            season on Saturday with a game versus Western Illinois that always 
            seems to be more of a struggle than you'd like it to be. We'll try 
            to bring you some inside coverage on it to whet your appetite. The 
            gridders will close their season by hosting a surging Northwestern 
            ballclub. Have a great 
            week, everybody! 
            [LDN sports staff] 
       
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