| 
            
            
             Archived columns by Jeff Mayfield and LDN sports staff:         
            
         
            Send a link to a friend 
            
            
              - 
                    
        
        Cards sweep Brewers and into first place 
        Cubs dump Bucos, Sox take two of three from Seattle 
        
        April 18, 2005 
               - 
                    
        
        A series of unfortunate events 
        
        April 16, 2005 
               - 
                    
        'Spring has sprung' mutterings 
        
        April 11, 2005 
               - 
                    
        
        
        Fairy tale season turns to final chapter 
        April 4, 2005 
               - 
                    
        
        Angels in the arena? 
        March 28, 2005 
               - 
                    
        
        Illini cast Pearl to the swine 
        Illinois thumps Wisconsin-Milwaukee 77-63 
        March 25, 2005 
               - 
                    
        
        Railers' magic carpet ride times out;
        Illini 'bigs' come up huge 
        March 22, 2005 
               - 
                    
        Illini, Railers 
        lock down titles 
        March 14, 2005 
               - 
                    
        
        What I've learned... 
        March 12, 2005 
               - 
                    
        
        Railers shock Mount Zion 
        Illini loss not the end of the world 
        March 7, 2005 
               - 
                    
        Great sports time, 
        but more news than that 
        Feb. 28, 2005 
                     - 
                    
        
        Alexander, Redbirds dash Phoenix back to the ashes; Illini... 
        another ho-hum day at the office 
        Feb. 21, 2005 
                     - 
                    
        Illinois' magical mystery tour continues 
        Illini badger Bucky 70-59 
        Feb. 14, 2005 
                     - 
                    
        
        Illinois beats Indiana, again 
        Feb. 7, 2005 
                     - 
                    
        Celebrating basketball 
        Jan. 31, 2005 
                     - 
                    
        Illini try to match ISU's 
        road warrior approach 
        Jan. 24, 2005 
                     - 
                    
        
        Mutterings: Page 2 
        Jan. 18, 2005 
                     - 
                    
        Illini 
        dispose of rude 'Cats; Alexander shoots holes in Bulldog zone 
        Jan. 17, 2005 
                     - 
            
            
            
            Illini don't pout or cry... they just win 
            Jan. 10, 2005 
               - 
            
            
            Illini end 2004 No. 1, begin 2005 No. 1 
            Jan. 3, 2005 
               - 
            
            
            
            Illinois jousts the Lancers 
      Dec. 28, 2004 
               - 
            
            Lightning quick... Christmas 
            mutterings 
            Plus prophecies to follow 
      Dec. 20, 2004 
               - 
            
      Alexander, ISU stampede the Herd;
            Illini STILL No. 1 
      Dec. 13, 2004 
               - 
            
      The case for No. 1... 
      Dec. 6, 2004 
               - 
            
      Alexander, 'Birds feast on another 
            win; thankful Illini kick the stuffin' out of the Zags 
      Nov. 29, 2004 
               - 
            
      Illinois out of the gate at 2-0 
      Nov. 22, 2004 
               - 
            
      A cornucopia of volleyball action 
      Nov. 15, 2004 
               - 
            
      It's time for Illini 
      basketball... 
      Nov. 1, 2004 
               - 
            
      Herzog and Taylor were right 
      Oct. 26, 2004 
               - 
            
      
      Losses take their toll 
      Oct. 18, 2004 
               - 
            
      Railers, Cardinals taste the 
      promised land 
      Oct. 11, 2004 
               - 
            
            Cubs can't back into the postseason 
            Oct. 4, 2004 
               - 
            
            Illini, Railers come up short 
            Sept. 27, 2004 
               - 
            
            What, me worry? 
            Sept. 20, 2004 
               - 
            
            Endless summer in Illinois and beyond 
            Sept. 14, 2004 
               - 
            
            Railers, Cards, Illini, Redbirds and the Rail cap a LABORious 
            weekend 
            Sept. 7, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            St. Louis road warriors continue march 
            Aug. 30, 2004 
               - 
            
            Cook 
            expects playing time to increase 
            Aug. 23, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Cards' 'new' Big Red Machine is Rolen 
            Aug. 16, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            A tale of two cities 
   Maddux wins No. 300 
   Walker era begins with 2 W's 
            Aug. 10, 2004 
               - 
            
            Nomar 
            era begins with a W 
            Aug. 2, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Loving it! 
            July 26, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Illinoisan wins British Open 
            July 20, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            'Fair' time had by all 
            July 12, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Celebrating our freedom 
            July 7, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Cardinal hitters sizzling;
            pitchers throwing BBs 
            June 28, 2004 
               - 
            
            Central Division race even zanier
            than we thought… 
            June 21, 2004 
               - 
            
            Cook & 
            Company head to the finals 
            June 1, 2004 
               - 
            
            Cook, 
            Lakers split in Minnesota 
            May 24, 2004 
               - 
            
            Smarty Jones one race away from
            Triple Crown and immortality 
            May 17, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Mutterings 
            May 10, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Cards-Cubs split first series 
            May 4, 2004 
               - 
            
            Alexander inducted 
            April 27, 2004 
               - 
            
            Illinois football: good news and bad news 
            April 19, 2004 
               - 
            
            Arnie says goodbye to the Masters 
            April 12, 2004 
               - 
            
            Phil wins his phirst Mick-major 
            April 12, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            A stroll along the Riverwalk 
            April 6, 2004 
               - 
            
            
            Spring is finally here... 
            March 29, 2004 
               - 
            
            Orange-hot Illini turn 
        Sweet 16 
            Illinois buries Cincinnati 92-68 
            March 22, 2004 
               - 
            
            Wisconsin upends Illini for tourney title 
            March 15, 2004 
               - 
            
            Illini capture Big 10 championship 
            Thrilling 64-63 win at Ohio State gives Illinois the crown 
            March 8, 2004 
               - 
      
      
             
        
        It's all about Lincoln 
        March 1, 2004  - 
      
      
             
        
        Illini charting a course 
        Feb. 23, 2004  - 
      
      
             
        
        Cook gets his due 
        Feb. 16, 2004  - 
      
      
             
        
        Snow-filled Mutterings 
        Feb. 9, 2004  - 
      
      
             
        Super-Mutterings 
        Feb. 2, 2004  - 
      
      
             
        
              
              Mutterings, dedicated in memory of Jerry Alberts 
              A non-sports weekend 
        Jan. 26, 2004  - 
      
      
             
        
        Mini-mutterings 
        Jan. 19, 2004  - 
      
      
             
        
        
        Railers do 
        it again... 
      Jan. 12, 2004  - 
      
      
             
      
      
      Belated mutterings 
      Jan. 7, 2004  - 
      
      
             
      
      Quick Christmas mutterings: Cook activated and nails first shot! 
      Dec. 29, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Railers' first road tilt rules 
      Dec. 22, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Magical Hall lifts Illini again 
        Illinois knocks 
        off Memphis, Calipari 74-64 
      Dec. 15, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Illini 
        back on track... or are they??? 
      Dec. 8, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Plenty to be thankful for 
      Dec. 1, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Illini gain split 
      Nov. 24, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Soggy mutterings 
      Nov. 18, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      
        LCC captures second national 
            championship! 
        Nov. 10, 2003  - 
      
      
             
        
        
        It's time for Illini basketball 
        Nov. 3, 2003  - 
      
      
             
        
        
        Railers complete successful season 
        Oct. 27, 2003  - 
      
      
             
        
              
              Missed it by that much! 
        Oct. 20, 2003  - 
      
      
             
        
        
        Back to Chicago for one more game! 
        Oct. 14, 2003  - 
      
      
             
        
        Cubs 
        win! Cubs win! Cubs win! 
        Oct. 6, 2003  - 
      
      
             
        
        Cubs don't wait for next year! 
            Sept. 29, 2003  - 
      
      
             
            
            Railer 
            pandemonium!!! 
            Sept. 22, 2003  - 
      
      
             
            
        
            Rains spell stormy weekend for area teams 
            Sept. 15, 2003- 
      
      
             
            
      First-place Railers move to 2-0 
      Sept. 8, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Sesquicentennial mutterings 
      Sept. 2, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Hot August mutterings 
      Aug. 25, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      What in the heck happened? 
      Aug. 18, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      August mutterings 2 
      Aug. 11, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      August mutterings 
      Aug. 4, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      
      Lincoln Legion's season over 
      July 28, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      Cubs crush the fish! 
      July 21, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      All-Star mutterings 
      July 14, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      Recovering mutterings 
      July 7, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Book-signing mutterings 
      June 30, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Golf nirvana mutterings 
      June 17, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Inter-league mutterings   
      June 9, 2003- 
      
      
             
      
      Stormy mutterings   
      June 2, 2003- 
      
      
             
      
      Memorial mutterings 
      May 27, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
      Cards and Cubs at it again 
      May 19, 2003  - 
      
      
             
      
            
            Cubs-Cards series No. 1 a draw   
            May 12, 2003- 
      
      
             
            
            How 'bout those Cardinals 
            May 5, 2003  - 
      
      
             
            
            'Spring has sprung' mutterings 
            April 28, 2003  - 
      
      
             
            
            Easter mutterings 
            April 21, 2003  - 
      
      
             
            
            
            Good weather mutterings 
            April 14, 2003  - 
      
      
             
            
            
            March Madness Mutterings   
            March 31, 2003- 
      
      
             
            
            Cook's Illini 
      career is over   
      March 24, 2003- 
      
      
             
      
            Cook's NCAA double-double
            leads Illini to victory 
            (LDN staff) March 21, 2003  - 
      
      
             
            
              Cook, seniors say goodbye to the Hall 
              (LDN staff)
              March 10, 2003  - 
      
      
              
              It was all Lincoln 
              March 3, 2003  - 
      
      
              
              Coach Alexander new victory king 
              Feb. 24, 2003  - 
      
      
              
            Alexander ties record 
            Feb. 17, 2003  - 
      
      
              
              Snowy mutterings 
              Feb. 10, 2003  - 
      
      
              
              Redbirds finally back on track 
              Feb. 3, 2003  - 
      
      
              
              First things first 
            Jan. 27, 2003  - 
      
      
              
              Railers keep rollin' 
            Jan. 20, 2003  - 
      
      
            
            Cook's scoring explosion dooms Badgers 
            Jan. 13, 2003  - 
      
      
            
            
            Lincoln Railers splittin' the competition   
            Jan. 6, 2003- 
      
            
            Mount Pulaski steals area spotlight 
            Dec. 30, 2002  - 
      
            
            Cook, youngsters declaw, 
            defang, derail and dismantle the Tigers 
            Dec. 24, 2002  
              - 
      
            
            Cook doesn't give a hoot about the Owls 
            Dec. 16, 2002  
              - 
      
            
            Cook, Illini, Railers, Preachers,
            Toppers all make statement 
      Dec. 9, 2002  
              - 
      
      Quick Monday morning mutterings 
      Dec. 2, 2002  
              - 
      
      
      Semple shines but Bears win in OT 
      Nov. 25, 2002  
              - 
      
      
      Illini make it a Champaign double 
      Nov. 25, 2002  
              - 
      
      
      Mount Pulaski goes all the way to state championship game 
      Nov. 18, 2002  - 
      
      Strange things happening to
            Lincoln and area sports teams 
      Nov. 12, 2002  - 
      
      
      November mutterings 
      Nov. 4, 2002  
            
            
              - 
      
      
      Harvest mutterings 
      Oct. 21, 2002  
              - 
      
      
            Illini 
            finally have something
            to cheer about 
      Oct. 14, 2002  
              - 
      
      
            ‘Monday Night Football’:
            A total blast... other than
            the score 
      Oct. 8, 2002  
              - 
      
      
      I was wrong 
      Oct. 7, 2002  
              - 
      
      
      
      Area fans run over by a truck 
      Sept. 30, 2002  
              - 
      
      
            Cardinals clinch 
            Central Division title 
      Sept. 23, 2002  
              - 
      
      
      
      Quick mutterings 
      Sept. 16, 2002  
              - 
            
      We 
      win! We win! We win! 
            Sept. 9, 2002 
               
              - 
            
      Labor 
      Day mutterings 
            Sept. 3, 2002 
               
              - 
            
      Bonus mutterings...live from the Rail Classic 
      Aug. 30, 2002  
              - 
            
      ‘Fandamonium’ opening tonight 
      -- Lincoln/Logan County 
            Chamber, team of the week 
      Aug. 26, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            August 
            mutterings...
            Gearing up for another great year of sports 
      Aug. 19, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            Quick 
            mutterings 
      July 29, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            Summer 
            ramblings... 
            July 22, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            Lincoln loses one of its 
            finest 
       
            July 16, 2002  
            
            
              - 
            
       
            Sports 
            firecrackers from the Fourth 
            July 8, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            Dog 
            days already here 
            July 1, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            
            ‘Greatest 
            Cardinal of them all’ has fallen 
            June 19, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            Soccer bandwagon? 
            June 13, 2002  
              - 
            
       
            Athlete of the week 
            June 3, 2002  
              - 
            
            
            New baseball stadium a hit with the fans 
            May 28, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Take off the parkas — baseball’s back… 
              But for how long? 
              May 20, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              ‘Raindomly’ speaking... 
              May 13, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Lincoln, the hub of sports activity 
              May 6, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              What’s happening in sports? 
              April 29, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Lincoln’s King signs with the Rams 
              April 22, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              I’ve run out of superlatives for Tiger 
              April 15, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Live from the Final Four 
              April 1, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Quick hitters 
              March 22, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Hoops hysteria 
              March 4, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Cook stifles Jeffries and Hoosiers 
              Feb. 27, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Weekend wild cards come up aces 
              Feb. 18, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              The madness is almost here 
              Feb. 11, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Sports news and notes 
              Jan. 28, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Sports weekend goes up in smoke 
              Jan. 21, 2002  
              - 
              
              
              Spectacular weekend for local and national sports 
              Jan. 14, 2002 
               
              - 
              
              
              Illini lay another egg 
              Jan. 10, 2002 
               
              - 
              
              
              Local team of the week; professional team of the week; this, that 
              and the other 
              Jan. 7, 2002 
               
              - 
              
              
              
              The Sugar Bowl adventure begins 
              Dec. 31, 2001 
               
              - 
              
              
              Bayou adventure continues... 
              Dec. 31, 2001 
               
              - 
              
              
              Athlete(s) of the week 
              Winter baseball 
              Dec. 20, 2001 
               
              - 
              
              
              Tuesday morning morsels 
              Dec. 18, 2001 
               
              - 
              
              
              LDN Athlete of the Week and more 
              Dec. 15, 2001 
               
              - 
              
              
              
              Before I even start with sports let me tell you about my two best 
              highlights of the week… 
              Dec. 3, 2001 
               
              - 
              
              
              
              This week, I don’t even know where to start... so, I’ll just start 
              at the beginning. 
              Nov. 15, 2001 
               
               
              
             |