All’s well, no worries, next year will be great!
Over the course of a challenging year, I've learned to distinguish between the two varieties of Illini follower. Some want to know all the news. Some want just the best stuff — the good news!
Lately I've been harangued for appealing only to the former group. Today, I want to make up for that.
GOOD NEWS!
All's well with the Illini!
For the sixth season in seven, Bruce Weber has led his charges to a winning record. And it's not over yet! By the end of this week, we'll know where and when we can watch them in post-season play.
Let's remember that sports is about fun. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. It's how you play the game. And between the lob dunks, the eye-popping long range marksmanship, and the ever-present fraternal goodwill to allow their opponents a shot at the basket too, this Illinois team is fun to watch!
AND BOY DID THEY WATCH!
Chicago Orr's Mycheal Henry enjoyed his third Illinois game on Sunday. Two of his favorite teams were on the floor. The 6'5" swingman feels his game would compliment either team well.
The Illinois staff enticed Madison's Junior Lomomba (left) to come watch his hometown team. How devilish of them!
Behind Lomomba is 5'11" Indianapolis point guard Yogi Ferrell, a sophomore at the chic Park Tudor School. Ferrell left the Assembly Hall with a scholarship offer from the Illini.
Model and Soulstress Syleena Johnson sat in the front row of the recruits and families bleachers.
She's getting ready to record her fifth solo album in New York, and boning up on health and fitness in preparation for a bit of editorial oversight. But here, let her tell the story.
Oh ... Syleena also brought her husband along for the game. His name is Kiwane Garris (or as he's known at Illini HQ, Some Guy).
They're a weird bunch over there at HQ. Probably didn't get enough affection from their mothers.
It was Senior Day/honor Local Olympians Day at the Hall.
Richard Semrau's family came all the way from Grafton, Ohio to watch Mike Tisdale play basketball and Wisconsin get rebounds. Bubba Chisholm's family came all the way from Savoy and got to see him score a bucket!
Dominique Keller's grandmother Roxie Alpough ("like the dog food") and Etonia Auzenne came a whole long way too! They're from the bayou, where people acquire their names de la langue Française. They joined Keller's mom and dad in seeing him honored before a packed house of Illini fans.
Dominique promised to stay in touch. I'm sure he'll have interesting things to say. He always does.
PICTURES OF FUN TIMES HAD BY ALL
Everyone enjoyed the game. Some of the loudest noises came when Illinois made exciting plays. The crowd also got loud when longtime referee Jim Burr made exciting, unusual rulings on plays.
Spectators were wowed by Burr's intriguing interpretive variations on standard rules. They also appreciated the zeal, and decisiveness with which Burr blew his whistle — sometimes foreseeing rulings even before the on-court actions had played out.
Historians of basketball officiating believe Sunday's was Burr's most enthusiastic performance since he began officiating in 1926. Mysterious McDade again captured the mood by pointing a camera at it, and pressing the button that makes the clicking sound.
8 comments
undercoverillini
Oh my God, what a horrid game.
Just read this over at the Gazoo. Perfect ending to our underwhelming season, should it continue to go in the direction I think it will and we get an NIT invite:
“Illinois wouldn’t be able to host a game in the first round of the NIT, Brown said. A Cirque du Soleil production is booked at the Assembly Hall from March 17-21. The NIT’s first round is March 16-17. There are second-round games March 18, 19, 20 and 22, so Illinois could host a game late in the second round.”
Can you say “NIT first round exit?”
Jeff
Burr did make some bizarre calls that killed our momentum, but the main problem was shot selection. It’s been the same thing all season, shooting off-balance shots and long range jumpers early in the shot clock.
Maybe we’ll fare better in the rematch Friday.
We just couldn’t stop them on the defensive end. They scored almost a will against us. Sigh..
NEXT YEAR! :)
Bob
I like the old Rob better, but I can understand why we have the new Rob. The illini crowd turns on anyone who doesn’t toe the line. Guess that’s why the local media never asks tough questions of Weber nor have follow up questions to some of his vague mysterious answers.
Craig
Rob, don’t ever change. I lean “merryman,” but still can’t wait to read your take after every game and that hasn’t changed one bit in recent weeks.
Illni 1990
Actually, I think you have been ‘harangued’ by writing your opinions and judgements and considering them as ‘news’ asopposed to editorials.
Taking a side on any issue dismisses journalism. It’s then an editorial.
This is an arrogant writing.
May I borrow your Grey Poupon?
I suppose I could write my news column one day, and my opinion column the next—as with Tatelines or Tupperlines.
But I don’t write a news column, so it seems like a lot of extra work.
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Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
Very inspired Photochops as well….
Props on the new YMCA dig. I think it’s a terrible spot for it, but then again, I’m not well-to-do and I’m not willing to drive 15 minutes at $4/gallon to exercise for an hour.
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ Are you a smoker, too? I feel like I’m just getting recycled arguments.
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/dangerous_motorcycle_safety_myths/index.html “Myth 2: Loud Pipes Save Lives”
Yes, I also love the idea of the downtown! However, the “turds” that ride Harley’s or any other motorcycle have the right to ride their motorcycles regardless of the “loudness” anywhere they want. They are buying gas, hence they are contributing to the motor fuel tax that…
Yup, this was the year I realized there’s no way this is my last CU marathon, even though I’m gradumacating next week.Where else am I gonna get cheered on by 70+ year old heart-of-gold volunteers who smile at me so genuinely I could believe I’m their granddaughter?…
I always have a good, but disappointed, laugh when marathon time creeps up and I start seeing posts on the WCIA Facebook page lamenting race day and how difficult it is to get around town that day. One this year said, “can’t they just go run in…
Reminds me of Total Football (soccer) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football
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Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
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@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.