Politics play in Illini loss to Northwestern
Sunday afternoon in the House of Plain, a lanky group of future CEO's played keep-away from its prospective labor force. It was kinda fun to watch. How often do social elites deign to mix it up with the unwashed masses?
The cat-and-mouse game ran for 40 minutes, and then Northwestern's Wildcats got bored and left town with a 74–67 victory. (Brandon Paul's last three-pointer snapped the net as the final horn sounded, making the official score more respectable.)
Labor versus management is an ongoing struggle only in the eyes of Lenin and Trotsky, and they're both dead. Perhaps labor wins the yearly picnic game, but management wins the other 364 days. And why not? They're smarter.
Face it: they're better.
In real life, it's always been this way between Northwestern University and the University of Illinois. Northwestern produces the leaders, and U of I churns out the employees. We made up for our woeful inferiority by kicking Northwestern's nerdy ass all over sports fields, three times a year — as brutish dullards are wont to do.
Not anymore.
Since Gary Barnett's tenure in Evanston, Northwestern has been our superior in football. As of Sunday, Northwestern is our equal on the basketball court.
It seems almost impossible.
Northwestern is the doormat to the Big Ten. Snickers is the best-selling American candy bar. Thanksgiving is on Thursday. Rely on it. It's carved in stone.
But not anymore.
Fittingly, as the rich kids lorded it over us taxpayers, America's last remaining Kennedy guffawed from the best seat in the house. Chris Kennedy, the product of exclusive (that means they exclude) private schools made the trip from ... oh I don't know, Kenilworth?
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Chris may be a nice guy. He might be capable. Because his name is Kennedy, and his dad was Bobby, Peeeyatt Quinn appointed him Chairman of the University Board of Trustees. If you're a republican or a Democrat, you should be disgusted by this nod to privilege and peerage.
"Well, now we know he's been to campus" quipped a former university higher-up. Of course he came. It's the Northwestern game. Not the Illini game, mind you. Chris Kennedy got his MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School.
RECRUITS AT THE GAME
Ashton Winfrey came from Peoria with a gaggle of five or six teenagers. They seemed to have a good time. Winfrey balls at Richwoods, Doug Altenberger's school.
Mikal Muhammad was more subdued, but then he was joined by his dad, Michael. No matter how cool dads are, gaggles of teenagers are more excitable. Mikal plays for Hales-Franciscan, in Chicago.
Mike LaTulip came with his dad Gary and brother Mitch.
Friday night, Mike broke the all-time scoring record at Prospect High. The 22-point effort brought his career total to 1298. That's a lot.
Mike says he started playing varsity ball as a sophomore.
Former Illini football/basketball player Jeff Finke brought a pair of unusually tall sons to the game. Only Michael is old enough (a sophomore at Champaign Central) to be considered a recruit.
J.C. Caroline is among the all-time Illini football greats. He was a reasonably good 8th-grade gym teacher, too. His genes are now powering Jordan Caroline, also at Champaign Central.
2 comments
Q-Tips
The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!
beton
That’s definitely the GOOD kind of quiet! So sweet! beton
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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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Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
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.
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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.