Volume 290

(All opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author. In no way does this reflect the opinions of members of the Tri-C Youth Athletic Board or any others affiliated with the program.)

In this column you will find the standings for our basketball league, as well as the scoring leaders for each league. This is put in here as a point of reference and fun reading for the youth involved. In no way is it intended to imply one is more skilled or the better player because they score more points. Scoring is just one facet of the game of the game. Personally, I am more impressed with those who position well on defense or when going for a rebound. Making good passes to teammates is high on my list of contributing factors which makes a person a well rounded basketball player also.

Regardless, we hope that providing the scoring list in well received by those reading this column.

On the subject of basketball, it is great to see our Junior High teams continue to excel. I was fortunate to watch the girls annihilate a decent Carbondale team 54-30 to advance to the State Tournament. They play West Frankfort on Saturday. The boys, who are at home Thursday, are beginning tournament play next week and we hope they are knocking at the door of state also.

The high school had the initial game at the new gym last Friday. The boys are at West Frankfort this week and the girls are at home Thursday. We should all make an effort to get to a game to see this beautiful new facility.

Regrettably, I did not attend the first game at the gym, due to the fact I was at the SIU Arena that evening. It is with pleasure that I report that I was much more impressed with The Salukis on this visit than on my previous three games this year. Outside of Mamadou Seck the team is made up of under classmen, who appear as if they WANT to play the game. Sadly, this is something that has not existed in the Arena the past three seasons. This team is at least making an effort. Even though their skill level may not be that of some of the better teams in the MVC, they are improving and earning some of the fan’s respect. SIU has three freshmen that have the potential to be very good basketball players in the future. Let us all hope they are able to keep Daniels, Setty, and Swan.

Two other things made me feel good about my most recent visit to the Arena. First, was SIU’s recognition and commitment to disabled servicemen and women. The program that has been established by SIU and Fort Campbell is one that should make all of us from southern Illinois proud. Another moment that meant a lot to this writer was watching Doug and Minta Keirn’s daughter, Katie, calmly swish her shot in the Walker Bluffs Challenge. Very impressive to say the least!

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Many of you who watched the 49ers and Saints game were really treated to a very exciting fourth quarter. How many of you were thinking of Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, or Tom Brady when watching? Wouldn’t it be great if all games were that exciting? Alex Smith really took a step toward gaining some respect as a major player in the NFL. Interesting this season that Smith, nor the record setting Drew Brees or the great play of Aaron Rogers or Tom Brady got the most press for a quarterback. That was reserved for the number 27 ranked quarterback in the NFL in Tim Tebow.

Tebow of course was the quarterback on many dramatic finishes this season. He benefited and received more credit than he deserved, as a player, as the Broncos have one of the best offensive lines and a great kicker. This is not to say that he may not develop into a very good quarterback and I wish him no ill will in becoming such, but he is a long way from that now.

“Tebowing” has become a national craze. At first I thought this was an imitation of Rodin’s “The Thinker”. This in itself should not offend anyone, if an athlete makes a gesture giving thanks to their God. My problem, though, is two-fold. First, the press has over-played Tebow and has placed God like proportions on his current skill and ability level. For the last half the NFL season you could not listen to a sports show without a discussion of Tebow. Not the Broncos, but Tebow! Secondly, an implication that I have read on facebook and other places gives the impression that God is on Tebow’s side. Many of the NFL quarterbacks and other players are also very religious, even though they are not as demonstrative as Tim Tebow. If God is on Tebow’s side does that mean the others are playing for Satan?

Let me state, clearly, that I respect much of what Tebow has done as a person in his humanistic caring about those in need. My problem here is not with Tebow and his potential to be a fine role model for our generation, but rather with the hysteria surrounding his team’s success. Oh well, I guess that is where the term fan (fanatic) comes from.

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As interesting as many of the NFL playoff games have been, the BCS game was nothing short of a joke. It was sad commentary on a very flawed system. If Alabama and LSU were the two best teams in the country that is fine, however, the selection process smells of favoritism to one conference. Every year at this time I have asked why is there not a legitimate playoff system in college football.

Some have recently recommended a four team playoff. That would be a start, but an eight team playoff would make a lot more since to me. First, you take the winners of the five or six major conferences and then fill up the bracket with the best runners up in the country. The problem here of course is the corporate greed of those that sponsor the bowl events. It is great to make money and wish people and corporations well in doing so, but when it adversely affects that wishes of the fans and the teams that would qualify for a playoff, someone in the NCAA needs to take a strong stand for the betterment of the game.

While on the subject of the NCAA it becomes increasingly obvious that the greed factor plays such a factor that the organization is becoming unrecognizable to me. The initial reason for establishing conferences, many years ago, was to have teams from the same geographic area and the same educational goals in competition with one another. Now that the system has becomes as corrupt as Enron or Bernie Madoff it makes one wonder if conference play means much of anything.

It is a small wonder that little Johnny and little Susie are having trouble with Geography in school when they are told that Missouri is in the Southeastern Conference, Colorado is in the Pacific Coast Conference, and my favorite, that Boise State is in the Big East. Top that off with The Big Ten having 12 teams, makes one understand why school kids have trouble with Math.

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I read an interesting article this week that American citizens owe approximately $500 billion in unpaid taxes. In my opinion people who cheat on their taxes are among the lowest creatures on this planet. It is a crime that affects all of us. The article went on to say that 15 percent of the public admit to cheating on taxes. If that is the number that admits to it, then, the actual figure is undoubtedly much higher. It is hard to believe that a nation that stands for morality can amass such a figure.

We, as a nation, could do a lot of good or help pay off a portion of the National Debt with that type of money. We can argue the tax code and talk about the unfairness of the rates from many different angles. That is a fair and responsible debate. Being a common thief, though, is neither responsible, nor fair to anyone.

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Barry Larkin was voted to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this coming summer. Larkin is very deserving of the award, as he may have been the best shortstop in the National League during his career. Others including Jack Morris, Lee Smith, and Tim Raines have every bit the credentials of many already in the Hall, even though they were over-looked this year. Had I had a ballot I would have used one vote for Raines. He may be the second best leadoff man in history. His problem though is the fact that he played at the same time as the best leadoff man, Rickey Henderson.

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There were a few birthdays this past week of note. Of course many celebrated the birthday of Martin Luther King, but some also celebrated the 90th birthday of Betty White and the 70th birthday of Muhammad Ali. Betty White has always been a class act. If I told you I remembered her from December Bride, that would not only prove how old she is, but says something about my age too.

The other individual I do not hold in as high a regard. He may have been one of the best showmen and boxers of any era, but as a person he ranks near the bottom. Ali, in recent years has been credited with a number of humanitarian acts. This is a plus, but it does not negate his cruelty in the ring to people such as Floyd Patterson and Ernie Terrell, each of whom represented better role models than Ali. His badgering and name calling was similar to the class warfare that existed prior to the 1960s in the African-American Society. His refusal to serve his country, that helped to make him rich and successful, was a total self-serving action. He spoke in terms of higher principles, but in fact he was a man with a lack of principles.

By the way, I NEVER once rooted for Cassius Clay or Muhammad Ali even when he fought criminals and thugs such as Sonny Liston and Leon Spinks.

One more birthday.  The game of basketball was first introduced this past week 120 years ago.  Thank you Dr. Naismith!  In case any of you were asking NO I was not there, nor did I ever play in a gym with peach baskets as the goal.

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There were a lot of different subjects discussed this week. Remember half the fun of being a sports fan is having different opinions. Each of you are welcome to express a varying opinion to me on any of the subjects discussed here. One of my friends took the time to tell me that he thought I was wrong on a subject this regarding the Carterville football team recently. His point was well made, but he did not alter my opinion. If you have disagreements or agreements with anything written here, please, feel free to let me know. My email is brm48@hotmail.com.

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Each week we will try to update the league standings and the scoring leaders for each league on the website.

BOYS A----------W----------L

Black---------------2----------0

Blue----------------2----------0

Green--------------0-----------2

Orange-------------0-----------2

BOYS B-----------W----------L

Black----------------2----------0

Blue-----------------2----------0

Orange--------------2----------0

Gray-----------------0----------2

Green----------------0----------2

Red------------------0----------2

BOYS C------------W---------L

Black----------------2----------0

Green----------------1----------1

Red-------------------1----------1

Blue------------------0----------2

GIRLS A-----------W-----------L

Black-----------------2-----------0

Blue------------------1------------1

Green----------------1------------1

Orange---------------0-----------2

GIRLS B-----------W-------------L

Orange--------------2--------------0

Blue-----------------1--------------1

Green---------------1---------------1

Red------------------0--------------2

SCORING LEADERS

BOYS A

1. Nik Lamb----------------------54

2. Christian Albert--------------29

---Ryan Gaddis------------------29

4. Kestutis Lazdinis------------21

---Alex Meade--------------------21

6. Brandon Teal-----------------20

7. Markas Lazdinis-------------17

---Connor Bybee----------------17

9. Brock Evraets----------------16

10.Ethan Krumrey--------------15

---Matt Turner-------------------15

BOYS B

1. Trent Glidewell--------------27

2. Cedric Jordan----------------24

3. Haden Vaughn--------------23

4. Tyler Bittle--------------------19

5. Luke Stritzel------------------18

6. Peter Baker-------------------17

7. Cody Rector------------------16

8. Cameron Hall----------------15

9. Keenan Williams------------14

10.Connor Hawkins------------13

---Caleb Knight------------------13

BOYS C

1. Nick Brown--------------------20

2. Taylor Siemer-----------------16

3. Bryce Anderson---------------13

4. Ben Haake---------------------10

5. Quentin Myers-----------------8

6. D’Andre Boens----------------6

-- Matthew Wallace--------------6

8. Lance Thomas----------------5

9. Eric Bybee---------------------4

--Braden Ingle--------------------4

--Keaton Rosado-----------------4

GIRLS A

1. Caitlyn Culp-------------------41

2. Brittney Morgan--------------20

3. Taylor Morgan----------------18

4. Hannah Hooks---------------12

---Brianna Perry-----------------12

6. McKenzie Rogman----------11

7. Georgie Ren------------------10

---Brittany Swain----------------10

9. Madilyn Billington------------6

---Kate Crosby-------------------6

---Elizabeth Dennison----------6

---Summer Rains----------------6

GIRLS B

1. Madison Fleege--------------36

2. Abbey Crain---------------------31

3. Julia Stroud--------------------22

---Megan Beach------------------22

5. Emma Robinson-------------18

6. Alaina Reno-------------------12

7. Maddie Campbell------------10

8. Abigail Krumrey---------------8

---Mallory Sizemore-------------8

---Emma Watson-----------------8

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No one took the time to answer our last question. It was as easy as it gets too. We will run the same question again this week. The question was and is which quarterback led the NFL in yards passing this year?

If you know the answer, please email me at brm48@hotmail.com to be included in the drawi

ng for a $10.00 gift card from Subway.

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Until next time,

Pay attention,

Hustle, and always

Use your “noodle.”