courtside

Yes it was. Here is to hoping the team is at a point where a corner can be turned the nxt few years. They are benefitting from the weak A-10. Not sure an NCAA corner would have been turned if been in past conference.Would love to see more national powers scheduled even if they lose.Eventually they hopefully can win those games.

No need to apologize to me but thanks. The point was that St. louis doesn't have the mkt cornered on bad cable companies. I am all in favor of the success and mainstream of cstv and espn u.It means more college sports options for everyone. Problem is cable companies are slow to carry, but carry some other curious choices. I'ved lived in Chi more than once.I've earned the right to rip it.Great Midwestern City., but not without its spots like anyone else. It definitely needs more SLU fans.

Aranda is most likely a defensive mid ball winner for SLU.He was injured first part of the season. I am confident he will be fine. Haffner was easily SLUH's best player in their sectional loss to Chaminade, physical, active. I just don't see many finishers in stl hs area other than Bruin.

Thanks. SLU women need to keep scheduling the strong non-conference teams...frankly adding a couple more tough games a year replacing cupcakes. Duke & Illinois this year.keep them and add a couple of powers. Conference does them nothing.

Illinois 4 SLU 1 slu.edu recap suggests a one sided woodshed from start to finish. Anyone else at game with comments?

DirectTV and Dish have it....little instead of bashing CSTV as saying...'is it an actual station?' how about asking yourself why Comcast Chicago doesn't have it and the other two big boys do??? Get it in the game Comcast. Say hi to lol Dan Jiggetts. Loved him when he did Big Red games as last chosen announcing crew. I am guessing they don't get ESPNU on Comcast either? Could be wrong.

kshoe is taking care of this thread quite well. Billikan and others, hate to see you go to a big media market and not little St.Louis. It damages recruiting?? This is done MUCH worse with more writers more often in many more cities. As foe the casual fan believing the local sportswriter....it is up to that casual newspaper reader to ynderstand that Miklasz is a COLUMNIST, not a reporter & he merely writes an opinion. I know many casual fans who read Miklasz and believe his every word.I know others who hate him. That is what columnists do, get half to like you and half to not.

I think BM was merely stating that SLU fans reflect the same beliefs held by the St.Louis metro area in general.Locals can rip it but not outsiders.St.Louis in general has an inferiority complex.Every time he mentions the very small but vocal Billiken contingent,he is saying same thing. I like that someone is bringing attention & accountability to the program.Hopefully aspirations are higher. The best answer is to win&win a lot.and win enough to reach higher aspirations than A-10. I do agree that the board shouldn't be a daily bitchfest and hold positive thoughts. I also agree that the pressure is on to win this year. SLU would be an after thought if they struggled this year & everything remained status quo.or, if next year they fell back with two weaker recruiting classes. I like accountability. BS had the class that saved him.We can talk about his disadvantages etc..v other programs too. He has gotten a fair shake so far...& I think SLU has gotten a fair media shake as well. In other big media markets, SLU would get hammered more often. We'll just play those games.

This is mostly for Skip and SLUballs..and those others who like to talk recruiting. There have been a few mior rumblings that some local players again are leaving the nest for other places....but I would argue those leaving aren't a good fit for SLU's needs. Cole Grossman(SLUH) defensive midfielder and high character player headed to Duke. Pat Clendenny, shut-down defender from Chaminade (SMU)...terrific player, this year's Zach Tierney(New Mexico)...SLU has needed forwards who can finish, and creative midfielders. While you want ll the top players you can find out there....SLUH's Tommy Meyer(Scott Gallagher)..defender, or Chris Haffner(Scott Gallagher, SLUH) defender who starts at forward for forward challenged SLUH)...who frankly was SLUH's best forward that I saw this season. With possibly few minor exceptions, DeSmet(Scott Gallagher) Junior Will Bruin is the type of player SLU needs, power forward in every sense, who can go anywhere. Mike Raoch is going to Indiana(Chaminade midfielder, forward)...but imo not the type of character player that would fit in well at SLU. Talent yes. So while some top overall players heading out of town, not necessarily the ones SLU needs at certain positions. Sure you want shut down level players, but that is why it is always necessary to recruit nationally and not just the backyard.

SLU women's 2-1 2 ot win over Illinois at home reg season is SLU women's signature win, and really only quality win this season non-conference or in conference. Pressure is on them to repeat the victory at home against same team.

In an ideal world DM would redshirt. Slu might have to suit him up 4 this season. He would be a redshirt on many high level D 1 teams.

If I am a coach, and one of my best players has a dislocated pinkie...and I am playing an exhibition game or early cupcake game...I may send the player out to get a feel of his hand for game interaction etc...test it out....but that player isn't playing much for me. Period. Future games are far more important to me. now if he is completely fine, I'd think about it...but likely there is some discomfort and awkwardness playing with it, therefore I don't risk any other possible injury in an EXHIBITION game. Everyone else can have their own opinion and that is fine.

I agree on IV not playing if injured, even if reg season game.If u r injured and can't play, u don't. Recruiting and article space? This isn't Albuquerque New Mexico.It is a pro sports town.Personally I prefer college sports, but St. Louis is a pro sports town.So with that said, win consistently at high level against top quality teams people know,&coverage will be there for SLU. There certainly is an opportunity, but no big names on recruiting front, & possibly first good season in long time, possibly.Why would one believe there would be more coverage? Beat a UNC or some other high level program...and win consistently & coverage will be there.

...or in message board terms, you came to troll and ruin yet anothee positive thread on Billiken Athletics. (sigh) ...There are also articles this week on Taylor Twellman at Boston.com.....where he deflects all individual praise and accomplishments to the team...but does answer question about being left off WC team by saying it is the U.S.'s loss. Also sepeeate article on Noonan missing WC due to injuries.

As usual good posts from Skip & Balls. There was nice article this past week on Pat Noonan on how injuries forced him off World Cup team & how he is coming back for NE, if interested. Obviously Pat did not attend SLU.

Facts have never gotten in the way of an Abomb post before, why would they start now.Ralston, Oakville FIU, Twellman SLUH Maryland, Noonan DeSmet IU, Davis Chaminade SLU. Wynn Haminade SLU.

No offense, but it took me a long time to remember who you were.You are the one who doesn't believe in any sort of statistical analysis as part of a factor in evaluating a player. Perhaps if read more closely, u would have comprehended more.But I think your reading comprehension has been well documented here. Slu hosting the Final Four made it possible to get a break as I and others said it might...that wacky ncaa committee...and they did give slu a break that they didn't get last yr. As someone posted, even the team was very surprised at their favorable seeding, as were all the posters on here. What exactly more do u need? But your purpose as was before is to troll and come on board to troll as opposed to enjoy the good day for Billiken soccer. That says a lot about you.

I know a lot of non-soccer people read some of the soccer threads. First let me say there was never a doubt as to SLU making this year's tournament. Not up for discussion. Where they played and whom they played was up for discussion. 11th seed. 16 teams are seeded in 64 bracket field consisting of 48 actual teams. SLU came in to conference tourney as an 8-9 seed in NCAA, 1 seed in conference tourney...winning conference tourney would have given them a 6-7 seed and guaranteed home field til Final Four. But how much would losing conference tourney title game hurt? Well...it hurt a lot more last year. Why? SLU's results in non-conference games were better this year against better teams. Also, SLU is hosting the Final Four this year. People who don't think that comes into play are dreaming. SLU fell to an 11th seed, but no further than that. That means first round bye, round of 32 home game, ....on paper road game at West Virginia in round of 16, and on paper road game in quarterfinals in rematch with SMU. If West Virginia gets upset in 2nd round, SLU would host a round of 16 matchup. If SLU kept winning and made it to quarterfinals, ONLY SMU could host them. So, rooting against West Virginia and SMU would be in SLU's home field interest. Bottom line, a favorable overall draw for SLU. Scouting the competition. SLU begins at home 2nd round vs winner of Cincy, a familiar foe, and Northwestern, a familiar foe. SLU played neither team this season, but is familiar with both schools. On paper Cincy has had the better results this season, neither team a has a signature win. SLU will be favored to beat either of these two grinding teams. If SLU wins at home, they are likely, likely to get West Virginia on road. Why is WV a 6th seed? They took care of reg season conference. Took care of business. Not overly impressive non-conference results, but they beat UCONN, ND etc...They lost to St, John's in conference tourney. upset. But they really didn't even tie anybody in conference, and Big East has rep as strong conference. Definitely a winnable game for SLU. But still rooting for either Va Tech or UNC Greensboro to upset WV. SMU is 3 seed in entire tourney. They came in and beat SLU at SLU. I think SLU would like the rematch against a great team...but not on the road imo. I would rather see an upset and SLU getting UNC at home instead. Bottom line: An opportunity for SLU, and hope for some luck in other games. I'd give SLU a 25% chance at making a big run to Final Four, primarily because I believe WV is beatable. However this is the same SLU team that has mental breakdowns on back line and has trouble finishing. So results will likely be in middle, bye, win, loss. But that is why they play the games. SLU is generally speaking playing better ball lately. I would expect a big crowd for the 2nd round game, as perhaps it may be their only home game. End results are solid draw, an opportunity....we shall see what they do with it. But a good day for the Billikens.

How tough is the ACC in men's soccer? A very strong UNC team was seeded 7th in their conference tourney. Wow. Joe Germanese leading Duke to conference tourney title. SLU women? Frankly I will not be impressed until they win a couple of games in NCAA tourney. They did nothing in non-conference, couldn't win their conference, and won the conference title at home. Good for them, but I would be surprised to see them with any home games either. The program has been around long enough now to start doing some nice things in NCAA tourney. Last year was a nice start for them.

SLU loses 2-0 to Rhode Island in finals of A-10 conference tourney. Same result as last year. The differences, SLU tied for reg season conference crown last year. Thsi year they won it outright. And, the bigger difference, SLU has performed much better in non-conference play. This should enable SLU to get an NCAA invite. I would expect the team to get a first round road game without bye. I would be very surprised of any other scenario. But the NCAA is a funy strange organization.

Barring major surprise, Rose is one and done.

If only the Dome weould get a new scoreboard. Sorry had to take the shot while it was there. The dome itself, and its scoreboard is so outdated and poorly designed, I couldn't resist. Thought they were fixing their scoreboard too. Guess not.

Memphis. I know many on this board have followed Rose in HS. Simeon's Rose headed to Memphis By Brian Hamilton Tribune staff reporter November 4, 2006, Despite all the histrionics and 11th-hour maneuvering, Derrick Rose will wind up where most everyone guessed he would: At Memphis. The prized Simeon point guard announced at a news conference Saturday night that he plans to ink with the Tigers when the early signing period begins Wednesday. Rose, rivals.com's No. 3 player in the Class of 2007, picked Memphis over Indiana and Illinois. Memphis had long been considered the favorite to land Rose, especially since it was thought to be the preference of his older brother, AAU coach and recruiting advisor Reggie. The Roses made a late visit to Illinois last weekend, after theoretically eliminating the Illini from consideration over the summer. But neither that, nor Indianapolis guard Eric Gordon's commitment switch to Indiana, swayed Rose. Rose's teammates, Kevin Johnson and Tim Flowers, both announced they have commited to Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

I just happen to enjoy tht particular style of pizza. I had it often when living there. It became a favorite. I grew up in St. Louis on all the local haunts, and evenold chains...Pantera's anyone?...lol. As I said, I won't turn down any pizza unless it has anchovies on it...and I don't prefer or like onions or black olives either...anything else goes. In the area, I have enjoyed Dewey's...chain I know....Vito's, and just tried Caito's for first time. Living in Chicago caused me to not enjoy deep dish and stuffed pizza. I do not understand the love affair with Lou Malnatti's, or Gino's or Uno...etc...I must be missing something...no thanks. Just an opinion and preference. But as I said I can always eat pizza. I could even fire up a frozen one from time to time if had to... I am hoping La Pizza is closer to what I am looking for.

Really disappointed both times I had a Racanelli's, at different locations. I have had East Coast pizza, was good, not great. And I just recently had Caito's for first time. I was with a group and we had the thin style. It was very good, but not NY style. My definition of NY style...and I am by no means an expert or pizza snob. I love pizza, all kinds. I just get tired of St. Louis style(thin) and Chicago style(stuffed, deep dish, thin.) To me NY style is oversized, moderation in sauce(tomato), and cheese(real cow milk mozzerella.), crust is hand tossed, doughy, soft, half inch, not too thick or thin, but gets crisp as you eat it, thin triangle slices, foldable in half, ...doesn't have to be an old coal oven, can be conventional oven but needs some sort of brick enhancement to that oven. Some people yap about the water to make it...don't care about that as much. I lived in NYC and liked many dive places probably no longer around....but bigger named places....like John's pizzeria(origial in Village, also Theater location next to St. James Theater), Patty Grimaldi's in Brooklyn, or when in Boston, Pizzeria Regina. etc... Again I am by no means an expert, just lookin for some good NYC style. In the Lou, I eat at Vito's(he is a life long friend), The few mentioned seemed solid, not NY style but solid. I'll even eat an Imo's and that is fine. I enjoyed Dewey's in Kirkwood. Liking their salads helps too. Haven't had Fortel's enough to know...but have a few friends who swear by it. Tried Rich and Charlies...okay. I do like St. Louis pizza much better than Chicgo pizza places(lived there too). and no don't like provel....sorry Faratto's.(sp?)