courtside

I'd agree with that. But if it is good reporting from females, I also do not care if she is unattractive either. If you are going to be bad, or unimportant, you had better be attractive. I have seen quality people ripped because they were overweight or unattractive females. I don't really like or understand that either. Take that Lisa Dergen chick from Fox Sports...I have never heard her say a single word...but I know who she is/was on there. I have no interest in what she has to say....perfect for guys out at the bar, sound down looking for sports on tv. Gotta love Summer Sanders...she is well educated, jock from Stanford, almost nerdy type...and she openly rips the U.S. swim and dive chicks from past Olympics for posing naked and things like that....how there needs to be a standard...etc....then she proceeds to go on some dopey terrible sports list show wearing anything and everything tight to sex up her and the show. Priceless.

Erin Andrews comments...well...every time I see or think of her...I will not shake something I read about her. The power of message boards. Apparently previously Andrews did TB Lightning hockey coverage, and Turner sports in Atlanta after college graduation fro Florida...and being very young, etc...feeling good about herself...a little cocky...and she goes online and reads message boards ctitiquing evrything about her...she was bashed in ATL pretty bad...and not just for her work...many threads on when will she get that nose job and get it fixed etc...and she spent some time iin tears to come back to earth. I have heard that Andrews is in the jock sniffer category...mixing busiess with pleasure...the one thing that blew me away is that she calls a lot of players by their personal nicknames as close friends would. Hard to imagine a 24-25 year old being that close to some of them...it comes across rather awkwardly to me. I don't like sideline reporters. All the announcer has to do is get info off air from the reporter down on the sidelines without doing live shot, or stupid halftime interview. I am not above eye candy. Maybe others are. I just prefer mine in a different role than sideline reporter. Guerrero would get bashed by self important twits like Dan Patrick etc...who ripped her credibility...give me a break...your job is sports. Sure critique someone's lack of knowledge etc...but it is a sideline reporter...and their purpose in life is to be eye candy. Guerrero I assume is still with Scott Erickson enjoying the good life. I mean, do we really care what Erin Andrews has to say or what the interview is about? Andrews: "Hey Coach your team is down 21 points at half, how do you turn it around in 2nd half?" Coach: "We have to tackle better and get something going on offense." Andrews: "Thanks coach. Back up to you." Michelle Tafoya got hammered at a game and threw beer at people from luxury box...now we're talkin...

There are two different things: Dry Campus, and no booze at games on campus. I know many campuses who have a campus bar or pubs...on campus, some even University owned serving booze. Some of these same places have on campus arenas and serve zero booze at games. As I said, most on campus places serve no booze of any kind at arenas...they aren't dry campuses...just at arenas. Let's see Midwest? You can get booze at Louisville, Marquette DePaul...off campus venues.....But go to bigger schools, or state schools...schools with on campus venues ....Mizzou, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan....etc...Illinois...no dice. The urban schools that have off camous venues are usually the exceptions. In fact it is unique to have venues that serve booze imo. Maybe some of the lcoal STL folk don't realize that they are definitely the minority at SLU games. ....and as we discussed, kids can't afford it anyway.

I am unfamiliar with Katie. Can't comment. I do however know that more and more women have gone into sports because it is easier for them to break in than in news. In local markets...I have seen many times where a sports chick(no offense in my terms, just trying to type)...moves over to news after a while after getting experience...that Naughton gal would ge an STL example. That happens a lot. Other younger, more attractive chicks like the attention and try to go national and eventually parlay it into entertainment career as well. Kelli Johnson formeerly of channel 5...not in that hottie category....she is former jock....has a god job with Comcast sports in Baltimore/D.C. area...perhaps Taj is a viewer or Steve? I had heard rumors, strickly rumors that she dated some Rams players and mgmt didn't like it. They are from reliable sources. I met her a few times and was always nice. Never saw her work though. So she could have been terrible or good. When channel 5 opening was available, Trey Wingo commented that it was a gold mine great job etc...etc...when asked the same thing, Matt Winer took the approach that he liked it much better doing ESPN national stuff, had no interest. Different strokes for different folks. There are a lot of ex ESPN guys around the country popping up more and more, because they don't like living in Bristol. ...either on local news in big markets....Brett Haber D.C NY, Mark Malone Chicago, Pat Boyle Chicago, Larry Beil San Francisco....and others who went the play by play rout like Charlie Steiner, Dodgers, previously Yankees....etc...a lot of different ones.

I don't know the rules...but most on campus arenas or football stadiums have not had beer for sale. Off campus yes. There is a difference between having a pub on campus and serving alcohol to 20,000 for hoops or 80,000 plus for football. I would definitely say I haven't been to an on campus football stadium that served beer, and I go to a lot of sporting events.

8 seems about right for Big East. If DePaul is in fact the 9th right now on paper(I haven't looked at it today)...DePaul isn't in imo....they have the opportunity to get some high quality conference wins and change that. They have lost a lot of close games....Notre Dame as well....I would say 8-8 in conference and not a first round Big East tourney loser....would get in with good ratings and non-conference wins. If today....I would say, Nova, UCONN, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Marquette, West Virginia, Cincy, Syracuse would get in....no particular order. Louisville has a lot of work to do and is not in if up to me....DePaul no, Notre Dame no. Rest of conference is Providence, S FLorida, St. John's, Rutgers Seton Hall....have zero shot for now. With that said, a team like DePaul, Louisville, or even Notre Dame could finish strong and go on a run...because Syracuse is down this year, Cincy has no depth and lost one of best players before Xavier game...Marquette is very young, ....it is still early...they all play each other and knock each other off...tough to win on road against anyone in that conference. But I would say 8 today....could go up or down imo. I think 9 is most they would get...this year And if Louisville is anywhere near, you just know they will take them in a heartbeat...even if their numbers don't stack up to others.

Well...Knott did mispronounce Sutter's name...and he has mispronounced other names badly....as in all pro football players etc...if it were a one time thing...everyone makes mistakes. But he does have a pattern. Knott did go into Miklasz's post forum and apologized for the Sutter thing. His explanation was that he knew it was Sutter but sort of panicked at last minute...it was a weird explanation to say the least. Obviously he is not a local guy...but I have a big pet peeve when people don't call and ask the guy or the guy's rep for proper pronunciation of a name. No excuse. Knott had a prominent weekend job in Washington D.C. It is a head scratcher how he got it. He apologized for his commenst said he was new in town, and hoped to stay and raise his family here. HArd not to have sympathy for that, but there also needs to be a standard of some kind. STL is not a big market and it isn't national sports...so pick of the litter isn't the best...but I travel frequently and have lived in various markets, and to me STL is below avg for their mkt size and tv and radio sports. Just my opinion. There are other bigger markets with bad lcoal sports too. Some smaller markets with better. My pet peeve this year was one guy in a market where every time I was in town to catch his sports cast...he would repeatedly say Stevie Smith of Carolina...as if they were buddies and he called him that. My problem with local sports is 1) Weather gets WAY too much time. Weather needs to show me the next day's weather...and even though they can't predict further than that, show the 5-7 day week thing, and show a nationwide map for travel for people...all of this can be done in 60 seconds. Nobody needs more than that. If so, go to weather channel, which is a good channel. 2) Just show the highlights...I don't need to know what Tom from U.City thinks of this or that. Tom doesn't represent anybody but Tom. more highlights....and give all the scores of major sports. Cusamano, a "Don" like figure on this board....but his sportscasts are in a word bad. He is much better on radio. I do not agree with a lot of his college hoops opinions...I do think he is tuned in to SLU, which benefits this board, and he is the only SLU cheerleader in town...but definitely not tuned in elsewhere. He does work hard to get better guests than the others...and he is better than many others. The biggest problem with STL radio and tv sports? Laziness. If your job is sports, how much game film do you think these guys watch? Think of all the STL area dopes....this is their job. They know they can get away with it and they do. That is why they are local market not big market radio and tv dopes. There are always exceptions. Cusamano, Miklasz...etc...whether you like them or not, they do their job. But so many more sit in their radio studio and eat doughnuts...or in their tv studio....etc... A lot of the recycled veterans, are forever STL people who are lazy. They make decent cash and know they don't want to go elsewhere...so there isn't any pressure to produce.

There is a lot of assumption that SLU will get a fair honest look vs a bigger conference, bigger name school. Looking at SLU's schedule...16-12, based on 7-4...finishing worse than top 2 in conference....and somehow you think SLU has a chance to dance without winning conference tourney? Based on conference strength, non-conference results, other intangibles...I don't think so...just my opinion. We agree to disagre.. NIT with winning record...I'll buy that possibility.

“To separate yourself, you had better win some road games, you had better beat some of the top teams in your league, and you had better win some games against the RPI top 50. January is the starting gate. February has the dog days that make or break you.†-Jay Bilas. I cocncur. If you don't beat ANY of your tough non-conference opponents....it only helps strength of schedule position. I also never saw where it mentioned SLU has a remote chance of anything. SLU's hope is conference tourney run to WIN the conference tourney. If not to HOPEFULLY get an NIT invite. SLU's goal is to improve and get good matchups for conference tounrey to hopefully pull off multiple upsets in that tourney and win it. Then NIT. Their at large chances are none. Compare them to teams in other leagues etc... Let's at least get a reality check here folks. SLU has shown little to no signs of being more consistent...and even if somehow MIRACULOUSLY they ran the table in ALL or ALMOST all of their remaining games...not good enough. Their level of competition will not be good enough. How many other games are on road vs RPI top 50???? I can see SLU improving...but I do not see them avoiding multiple losses to come in conference. Just as people shouldn't overreact to a loss, shouldn't overreact to a win. There are a LOT of mysteries of the universe...such as Louisville being ranked this year...they aren't as good as other non-ranked teams from their own league let alone elsewhere.

SLU won fair and square. I rarely do the official talk, but will sparingly. And it isn't happening here. SLU won, tip cap...move on. I think it wouldn't be a stretch to say SLU surprised X with their tenacity and defensive effort. It's a dreaded Sunday night game at home for X, playing SLU....did they look past them...maqybe. Doesn't matter. Obviously if X matches the intensity of their opponent...most times in the A-10 they will win, including against SLU. SLU is going to get wins against better teams because of their effort. SLU also is going to lose games because of thier ability level, and inconsistency with less expereinced players, and with less talented players. That is just what they have right now. Throw in a game where SLU struggles with thier play and doesn't bring an "A" effort....people will cry Richmond or something else. Very small margin for error. When good teams match their intensity level, they will lose more games. It isn't the case on this thread...but I never undrstood why people get so up and down over one game....this team was supposed to be inconsistent and they are.

No offense to Xavier...but because of their league this year...non-conference quality wins are very important. And I am sure it is tough for them to schedule too. They have ZERO margin for error in conference and conference tounrey. If X keeps sprinking in more of these losses, and has an ordinary conference run, they aren't dancin. Iowa and UNC get to play in the rigors of tougher conferences, where you find out just how good a team is or isn't, as long as their conference is having a decent year. They can lose a few more, if they throw in quality wins. If some other A-10 schools were having better seasons, and more importantly had they beaten some ranked opponents non-conference, X would have a better shot. IMO, X's recent tourney success as well as their tradition, will help them when on the bubble. If, given their results this year...their name was more garden variety...I wouldn't have a lot of confidence with tourney hopes. Those RPI numbers etc...will be making some big changes for people good and bad.

People listen to Slaten because over the years...every other local sports talk show is a snooze fest. It is as if they are all catered to the very casual sports fan. There haven't been any decent alternatives. Fortunately for me I am not in STL on a daily basis where it is one of my few alternatives. I get some of those shows in very small doses. My best advice would be to listen to music...not the radio. It will make you a much happier person. Or if in a car, books on tape is an alternative. For me personally...the quality of hosts isn't up to par for what I seek. But with the infrequency I can catch anything, I will flip something on to see if I am missing anything of value. The other thing in the Lou, compared to some...not all other markets...is the amount of commercial time is much much higher vs show time. When you live in other markets over the years, especially bigger ones, where the commercial time is much less...you can at least feel some fluidity to a show. I really struggle to keep attention and tuning in to STL radio, unless I am on a long drive in or out of the area. I never understood why a host would take calls. Reading e-mails and faxes sure...makes sense...but taking calls kills a show. I just think often times in STL, they just take callers, let em ramble on to fill time. Brings down the quality of the program when more hustle could have been done to get better guests.

SLU has to root for Xavier to win ball games. Xavier did win at Charlotte, but Charlotte ins't good this year. Their one "big" win was the OT win over a depleted Cincy team who had just previously lost Kirkland. But their timing of that game was very good...I think later in the year, Cincy's rating may have been sliding with Kirkland out. The last thing you want to see is Xavier falling back. I can't imagine Xavier losing very many more ball games. This really hurts Xavier's tourney hopes. I don't see more than two from A-10. Without many quality non-conference wins for X, they need to dominate the league and conference tourney. I actually think Iowa is in same boat...not strong non-conference, so they need an upper Big Ten showing, and get another Illinois type win or two. Of all of SLU's opponents, UNC may be in best spot, but certainly a bubble team as well. Their nme, being last year's champ...they will get some benefits of the doubt. If season ended today, which it doesn't, I would say in order of possibility to get in...UNC, Iowa, X. It unfortunately will be difficult for SLU because of opponent quality remaining. Winning most of the remaining games is all they can do.

I am not an RPI expert, but I do know that your opponent's strength of schedule is important, and that winning on the road counts more than winning at home.

Over the weekend, MLS draft....Danny Wynn did not get drafted. He was among about 50 players invited to pre-draft camp. 4 round 48 person draft. He still has a chance to catch on with someone. Noteables..... A couple of non college u-17 players taken. St. Louisan, DeSmet High School, Indiana U Senior Mike Ambersley was drafted by Dallas in the 4th round.

Self's remarks are really nothing earth shattering...just typical of a coach whose team is struggling under high expectations. Be it radio, tv, print, now internet....lashing out when the pressure gets a little much.

You have to do what you can with what you have. It is tough for SLU to get home and home with a very good team. Take em when you can. It all depends on the conference. SLU needs the UNC, Gonzaga, etc...Iowa games...and a couple more...because of the conference. If SLU were in the Big East...I wouldn't suggest a Syracuse or Louisville non-conference schedule, but ...not say a DePaul one either this year. Part of attracting recruits is saying you play such and such and beat such and such. This is why getting the best local and regional kids first...have some success, schedule named schools...then expand out to other areas. Gotta go inside out recruiting, no choice. Can't sell the conference as strongly as some of the top ones....

I can assure despite the recent negativity...this board is extremely tame and rational compared to most. Intelligent debate and discussion with regards to the program is always welcome. Admittedly some bad eggs. I do think if done in the right manner, there is nothing worng with holding a higher standard for the program. It has to start somewhere. As someone who would like to see the SLU basketball program elevated to much higher heights at more consistent levels, ...you gotta start somewhere. Outside of this message board, where else is there any buzz of concern either way if SLU improves the basketball program or not? I think it is realistic to have a long term goal of building a top 25 level program. Maybe not every year, but in the mix most years. I think it is very doable, challeneging, but doable. The more people who care if that happens, the better.

How in the wrold can you compare 20 years ago to now??? The situations were ...uh...er...uh...just slightly different, don'tya think?

For the most part, it shows you just how tough it is to win on road in any conference, or any road game.

Dude get a history lesson. Look at SLU before Grawer came on board and what he did while at SLU....considering the everything else going on at the school, admin-wise, aesthetically, facilities, on and on...Rich Grawer=Miracle worker. Period. Can't compare that time to now. Beyond silly. Read some of the other threads ...I commented on what SLU needs to be successful. Soderberg is a big part of it...but not the only one. Why does Tommie Liddell get a free pass???? He gasp makes mistakes. Just because SLU doesn't have any other player near his potential on the team, doesn't mean Liddell gets a free pass on mistakes. Enough already. Do you watch hoops? How about this quote I read scoping the college landscape just this week. U Wisconsin-Milwaukee(UWM) coach Rob Jeter was asked why he yanked star player Joah Tucker late in a 1 point big game....after Tucker had made a a couple of mistaks in a row......Answer: Jeter matter of factly states simply..."We went with someone else." If I had a nickel for how often I see this..... Liddell is a Freshman, promising talent...will be a difference maker....he has a hard time currently with consistency, shooting, and finishing near the basket. Liddell is a good solid top 100 recruit...he is not MORE than that, i.e. superhuman. He makes mistakes. Has bad games. etc....it happens. If you want to discuss the dire need of multiple two to three in a rown recruiting classes or many other things, I'd be happy to do so....

One of the following must happen for SLU to attract more students, and also a younger fan base: 1) Fr. Biondi wants to win in hoops, andsees the value of winning hoops for the overall school. (this has not happened in his tenure) 2) The coach sells the program to anyone and everyone, while also coaching the team. It is a business, big time business. The coach cannot defer those things to the Athletic dept and administration. Coach must have a vision for the whole experience. Soderberg does not want to do more than coach...as if he were at a D-III school. I admire his passion for pure hoops, but it doesn't work that way...gotta enbrace the rest too. 3) Win games, and not by 50-48 scores. Dynamic non-conference shceduling(the conference itself won't drsw extra folk). and recruit better players. Not just one class. 4) The AD needs to have that vision that the coach does not have. Levick for example, came from a long winning tradition in multiple sports at Stanford. Seriously, for anyone to go to Wake Forest, Marquette, Villanova, Xavier etc...go to a Thurs night or Sat game against a decent opponent. Observe all the things going on...you would be amazed at the difference. I am telling you...that kind of atmosphere extends past the handfful of great games on a schedule and dips into the average games on a schedule, or still exists if your team is merely decent, once the atmosphere is created.

On a practical level for recruiting right now. I see no reason Soderberg can't go into a Chicago and get talent that is under the radar, or late bloomers. In large markets, there sre pften times eventual great players who who can fall through the cracks...get a few...or even less talented but athletic kids who can improve....and add this to competing for the local top players in the STL area...and some central Il kids. Or find another spot in the region....and work your way out. Win win win. Then get a conference tv contract, or get in a conference with a good tv contract eventually after a lot of winning. Long long gone are the days of grabbing random NYC or wherever kids...The Big East Conference and other stook care of that when they formed over 20 plus years ago. SLU's hope is that they can start winning some ball games, that the conference improves...gets some tv play...and once recruiting is established, then go get some big East coast market kids.

Fabulous post SShoe. Fabulous!

Okay...now we're talkin easily one of my favorite topics that never gets enough attention. In NO particular order: 1) Ripping the few people who do go, is a head scratcher for me. It takes balls to go out there when your group is only 20 or so. And not the 4000 of Marquette or Xavier's crowd, or whomever. 2) Not having the tradition mentioned above is a major disadvantage, no question. Not to offend any fans, but objectively a lot of "peer" schools have better traditions. 3) Not winning lately or consistently ...combined with such a BORING brand of hoops...again, no offense to Brad or anyone...but that doesn't help either. I say if you do not believe in seeing thousands, yes thousands of students at games...and much more 20-30 somethings at games...then just cancel the program, and make it intramural. I'm not kidding. Throw in the towel, move on. The constant excuse making...and the SLU can't stuff ...enough is enough. Okay...how does one make it better? ....well....for a long period in time, everyone can agree SLU was considered a commuter type school, or local STL kids school. This obviously has changed a lot for the better....so capitalize on that. Kids living on or near campus....all they need is a reason, an EVENT to go to. Even if your team is not top 25 cailiber, gotta start building traditions, rock concert like atmosphere to most games. Obviously no school is getting packed for Bethune-Cookman, God bless 'em. Wehn Joe random kids look at SLU, or commit to SLU...Hoops, Hoops Hoops ...they need to know that going is THE thing to do....which means it has to be a can't miss event. Why can't Levick park herself at an above mentioned team home game? Notre Dame/Marquette's sell out tommorrow night on ESPN U or tonight's Xavier Cincy game are good starts to stop in. Wake Forest in recent years....dramatically has changed their ATMOSPHERE at games. It is an event. Last time I checked, none of those teams were ranked. Yes they all have had better traditions and better recent years...but many of their home games are THE thing to do at school. Where does it start? IMO....one of two ways...1) The COACH...yes, COACH. the coach's is job is NOT to recruit players and coach the time. Sorry Charlie, or in this case Brad. No, period, no. IMO, Romar had the right idea, and may have re-strategized his recruiting among other things, before leaving. A coach who embraces the selling of the program to incoming students, current students, and alums. If you do not have a dynamic presence...i.e. Brad.,...you MUST have it in your Athletic Dept somewhere. or a basketball power agenda administration. SLU certainly doesn't have that, and the verdict is still out on Levick's new reign. IMO, if SLU is to make a positive upswing in this area, it has to be Levick, cuz the others aren't gonna do it. Perhaps in 2-3 years a new coach will come in and get that ball rolling immediately, then get the administration on board and ad's office on board for support. Some effective recruiting, leads to hiring an expert in EVENTS. You need a school commitment to it. But that commitment may have to begin with a big idea coach. An on campus arena will help...And, give me a break, whining how far it is from dorms. DUDE, this is freakin college, kids can walk to the new arena in droves. hop skip and jump away. And about the booze...you are aware that most college teams play on campus where booze is not allowed and snuck in. In those exceptions off campus, most of those kids are boozin well BEFORE game time...can't afford and don't buy booze during game...and just go back and drink after the games. So, this is a non-issue. I do admit, if I am a current undergrad, yawn city...bad team, low scoring painful games, arena that need seffort to get to....ZERO excuse not to have several buses going back and forth all night long on time etc...Kids don't need much, just a nudge. But freakin give them a reason, a nudge. How about 5 Tommie Liddell's? (actually hopefully they will reach higher than that) An on campus gym? Technological display of excellence, event like atmosphere. This can easily be created. Sorry old-timers, you'll dig it if you give it a chance. How are people gonna donate and get major players involved, if you have a PResident and administration NOT committed to winning hoops? If the coach has zero interest in selling the program, just x's and o's coaching? Somebody needs to take the SLU administration on a tour of other schools. Make them talk to university officials so they can understand the impact on all aspects of your school that a winning hoops program can have...You can increase enrollment, you can increase selectivity of that enrollment, you can increase school exposure all over the place and attract many more successful undertakings. Make them go to a game, on a Wed, Thurs, Fri, or Sat....all of those days are rockin in other places. Make em meet the boosters too. Get all perspectives. That's it....oh and btw...the schedule...keep NAMED non-conference opponents, make them home and home only....and get WEEKEND dates. This means Thurs, Fri, Sat. More of those. ZERO Sun and Mondays. Obviously with a new arena, play when you want. While still sharing....Sat afternoon games, mixed in with occasional fri night, mixed with Wed and Thurs. No more Family Arena. The new arena is a big piece, but just one piece to the puzzle.