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Central Division race even zanier
than we thought…
By Jeff
Mayfield
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[JUNE 21, 2004]
I feel a
little like Ernie Soucheck this morning. Wasn't he the lovable
Chicago newspaper writer who was featured in the movie "Continental
Divide"? Coincidentally, I'm returning from the same place he
traveled in the movie (to find out where that was, you'll have to
rent the movie), and I have to say that it is even more impressive
and wonderful in person than it is on film. As always, when you are
gone the world keeps spinning and doesn't pause for even a
millisecond, so obviously a few things have happened while I was
away. Gas prices have inched down a little, the weather is
uncharacteristically good, my lawn needed to be baled (how much can
you get a bale nowadays?), and world peace is still a few years
away. Of course a few things appear to have happened in the sports
world, like…
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The totally wacked-out standings in the
National League's Central Division. While I love the current
condition (seeing those lovely Redbirds perched at the top), I never
expected this development. That is exactly why I am paid top dollar
for my incredibly keen sports insights!? Seriously, I always had the
Cards penciled in as pretenders, not contenders. If every other team
continues to have injuries and other meltdowns, I guess St. Louis
could conceivably be there at the end of September… I'm just not
seeing it. This Cubs series looms largely on the horizon.
Cards skipper Tony LaRussa seems to
think that it'll still be a four-team race with his Cards, the Cubs,
the Astros and the Reds. That's right. He believes that the Reds are
for real and that they will be a factor. I don't know what I think
about that. I'm still seeing Houston and Chicago battling it out in
September.
Well, Cook is going to get a ring --
just not the world championship version. And with the Lakers' team
about to unravel, it is anybody's guess whether that means Brian
will stay there or if they will package him and send him in a deal
to change the makeup of their ballclub. We hope to be in contact
with Cook soon and will update you as to what he knows at this time.
I just can't believe that Detroit won
it all. I did see them play this season and reported to you loyal
LDN readers that they were a force that should not be taken lightly,
but I did not envision them winning it all. I wonder if the critics
think that Larry Brown can coach yet???
[to top of second column in
this article]
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How 'bout Ratief Goosen winning the
U.S. Open for the second time? Phil Mickelson just didn't have
enough juice in the tank to overcome Goosen's 12 1-putt greens…I
haven't had that many in my entire life, and this joker nails that
many on Championship Sunday… Sometimes the golf world is just not
fair.
Racing was back in the swing at Lincoln
Speedway Sunday night. We caught a little of the action from the
Dairy Queen but were a little too tired from the traveling to take
it all in (I have no reported results at this time).
I told you that the Stanley Cup finals
would be great. Tampa Bay captured their first cup ever, and former
Lincoln resident Curt Swan is STILL dancin' in the streets several
days later… Of course he does that on regular days too! BUT, Stanley
got his tan!
No word on Illini football except to
say that season ticket sales reportedly have been better than many
people expected. Perhaps the fact that seven of the 11 will be
played at home could make a difference. I just hope the boys are
ready to go when they come out of the gate!
Sad to see that our horse Smarty Jones
didn't take the Triple Crown. He was so close… I guess it just
wasn't meant to be.
That's it
for me as I need to get caught up. Have a great week, everybody!
[Jeff Mayfield] |
