ThomasCrone

Tossed together some words for the RFT's Best Of. Hope you agree with me: https://tinyurl.com/yxvu23cn Have a pleasant today and tomorrow, too, Thomas

Hello. Let me take a stab at an answer here. When Tommie was a freshman, I wrote a story about him for St. Louis Magazine. This was in 2005 and I actually quoted from that piece in the current one, specifically the bit about Hargrave. It was probably the single, most-frustrating story I've ever worked on, and only about a third of the piece is actually mine; the rest was rewritten, including interviews I didn't conduct. In some respects, I always wanted a "do-over" on that piece and it gnawed on me for about a decade. ("Problems letting go of something?" "Yeah, maybe.") Anyway... About two years ago, I'd heard that Tommie and some friends/MC's were cutting tracks at Jupiter Studios, just around the corner from the Field House on Locust. I thought it would make for an interesting story, to talk about a former basketball star at the school now recording music just a few blocks away from his old arena. At the time, he was more-removed from the program than he is today, obviously. I was greenlit for the piece, but the few times we got together, Tommie didn't seem especially into it. He moved. There was a phone number change. FB messages went nowhere. Not completing the assigned piece landed me in my editor's doghouse for a bit (she's generally super-supportive, but I didn't deliver a finished draft, so... my bad) and I always had this sense that it was an potentially-interesting story. And, as a freelancer, these were sunk costs, in terms of time and energy, too. So, moving ahead to 2018... I'd heard that Tommie was about to take classes again. So I approached my editor and asked about a restart on the piece, which would now be a different, and likely better, article. She okayed it, with the caveat that I had to have a sit-down with him before she'd put it on the editorial calendar. Janet Oberle arranged for me to meet with Tommie at a restaurant near SLU, after he finished some paperwork on campus that afternoon. We spoke and he seemed a really different person, somehow. More engaged and seemingly down for the piece, which he hadn't been 100% into before. With that meeting in-hand, I got the okay and went to work. From that pizza meeting to the piece running, about five weeks passed. It came together pretty quickly, but I'd actually had the roots of the piece growing for years. And that's the story behind the story. Sorry to ramble, but I'm a rambler. Thomas

For all those offering some, thanks for the kind words. Looks like I'll be discussing this story on 590 The Fan tomorrow at 11:30, with host Martin Kilcoyne. https://590thefan.com Thomas

Wrote about TLIII for the Riverfront Times: https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/tommie-liddell-iiis-new-goal-puts-him-back-at-his-old-stomping-grounds-saint-louis-university/Content?oid=17680239&showFullText=true Thomas

Wrote a piece about Joe for the Riverfront Times, where Joe was a two-time alum: https://www.riverfronttimes.com/foodblog/2017/11/02/remembering-joe-bonwich-food-critic-and-generous-friend Thomas

Thanks, GoSluBills for ^. Also wrote this week about Billiken athletes from abroad and what they do over American holidays: http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=210532588 Happy holidays, TC -30-

Quotes from Ash, Coaches Crews and Cheaney. http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=210529087 TC -30-

Recovering-from-injury defender Julian Gieseke's been cranking out a few vids about the soccer program. Up on YouTube, a few pieces of the SLU team traveling and preparing for the A-10 tourney. Day 1: Day 2: A nice look at the road life for a collegian. And a nice video postcard for these guys when they're old and gray like a lot of us. TC -30-

Great lists and one-off suggestions. Appreciate 'em. Vetting these against the SID's own list and we'll come up with something representative, I think. If you have any late contenders, keep sending through today. (Have also seen some concerts at Chaiftez, but none have changed my world, yet.) TC -30-

Friday marks the installation of a new court and branding effort at the Chaifetz. Let's say someone was making a list of the Top Ten moments on this court... That list could include: ... Kwamain Mitchell's "the shot" vs. Dayton. ... the Bills beating Washington and former coach Lorenzo Romar. ... a handful of games against VCU. Non-MBB events qualify, too, ala the volleyball team's win over Stanford. List could include great wins, or wins with meaning, or even losses of stature. Let's say someone was making this list tonight, tomorrow and Thursday. What should he include? TC -30-

That's just what this is: http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=210476391 TC -30-

Via slubillikens.com: http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=210458702 TC -30-

Feature on senior middle blocker Megan Gilbert, a four-year starter for the 15-5 volleyball team. Touches on her injury-tinted season, but mostly highlights her impromptu "white coat ceremony." Loaded up today at slubillikens.com: http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=210402194 Solid student-athlete, worthy of respect. TC -30-

He was the easiest guy to talk to! As I mentioned to a couple of SLU officials, he even texted me in thanks for the story. That's not something done by 21-year-olds too often. "Class act," as the old expression goes. Thomas -30-

A list, okay? 1. It's been a while. How are you? 2. I'm good, but who am I? And I am I talking to you today? Well: http://www.billikenextra.com. 4. So that I can dedicate real time to this, I need some cash: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/billiken-extra/x/655084#/comments. 5. Why contribute if the thing's already up-and-running? Good question and I can't answer that for you. I would think, though, that a SLU fanbase always looking for a little more media sugar, would want to crowdfund a journalist to make this a part-time job. Or so I'm betting. The more money I can crowdfund, the more time I'll spend on this. It's the honor-system and I'll bring honor to your dollars. 6. Also, I'm writing a weekly feature for the department, over at slubillikens.com. The first installment will run today. It's a look at how Billiken athletes, coaches, administrators and alumni take part in the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA). The video accompanying the piece, "Billikens at SPENSA" is already live and the feature will be shortly; just go to slubillikens.com and scroll down to the video section. Even as some of you have the cold, dark hearts of the Voldemort variety, you will appreciate the basic humanity of the piece and will likely shed a tear. Seriously. I warn you. What's happening at SPENSA is beautiful. That's all. Flame away. Thomas