Adman

Biondi said no to this. Not exactly sure why. Perhaps others know the story. I don't believe it had anything to do with cost. Ed's family is same class act as he was. Would never say anything about it. Now that Fr. Larry is gone, perhaps can be revisited. Chris May?

Did anyone receive the SLU in the Postseason email? I can't figure out how to post images here or I'd post a screen capture. Anyway, I received it this afternoon. Guessing went to all alums, season ticket holders, friends? Check your Inboxes. Very cool. There's info on A10 conference tourney schedule, various SLU parties in Brooklyn (the good Doc Chaifetz is hosting the first,) TV schedule, watch parties across the country, heck, even discounts with American Airlines and Marriott for fans into NY/Brooklyn for the games. The email directs to a post-season landing page, too: www.slu.edu/postseason This is the way it should be done! Really glad SLU is doing this. Outstanding.

Thanks for the info. I'll reach out to you guys if I can make my trip work, maybe hook up at pre-party. By the way, the alumni office told me this afternoon that there ARE 6 alum tickets left. There will be something like 100+ people in the section.

I may be there, trying to juggle biz trip itinerary. Alum tickets left? Anyone going to pre-game Alum event Meg is throwing? Should be great game, great party.

Yes, indeed. Outstanding.

Yea, sorry! Will try harder. During game, didn't always know what specifically Chaka Khan was belly achin' about. Sorry about ending preposition. But I saw the seal on the monster dunk and no question about the reason for his bitchin' and moanin' beeline.

That's why Dwayne owes him beer or two. Got him some SC love.

Good reporting and headline / above the fold placement by P-D team. Apparently getting on bandwagon.

Rob Loe had a great game yesterday, we all agree. His big 3s, overall D, overall points and seals have been mentioned. But what I thought were amazing (and perhaps already mentioned) were his two outstanding seals that lead to Dwayne jams. Dwayne's first half two-handed monster jam (off JJ's amazing shot block on defensive end) was made possible by Rob's complete seal of the baseline. Shaka was complaining about that btw during commercial break immediately after. Then in second half Dwayne goes to the hoop down left side of the paint unimpeded for another jam -- again made possible by Rob sealing off the lane. Those with TiVos, go back and watch. Things of beauty. Mr Evans owes Mr Loe a beer or two this week. Nice job RL.

...and watched Ron Ekker.

If the bills marketing team had sense (and funding) imagine the scene with stamos actually in house, sitting with Dr C, talking ball with Knight at halftime. If not, which Blues or Rams star would like to sit courtside with Dr C? (Cards gone to FL.) Spike who?

Sorry about that, misread! And you're 100% right. What still really goads me is what must be 100+ columns in paper, various Bernie Bits formats, morning videos from his home office -- and not one devoted to Bills till today. Wow... There is also an attitude -- still -- of we should be grateful for what we get. Now go away. Ok I'll take deep breath.

The P-D most definitely sends reporter to every Cardinals road game -- actually two usually. Sometimes three. I'll defend him on that point; there is significant cost in committing to Timmerman's time and travel expenses for Bills. Good for P-D. But yes he is deflecting, moving goal posts. What is missing is columnist commentary. Anything with any opinion, hate to say, heart. For this season, the third successful one in a row in midst of historic change in program, to be void of any storytelling until after their 24th game from their executive sports editor is noticed. Very noticed. Embarrassing and not befitting a guy of his talent, intellect, position and knowledge of sports in this city. I've obviously weighed in on this subject already so I won't belabor. Is the P-D responsible for lack of sell-outs? Of course not. But they contribute. What the columnists say and how often they say it affects box office -- Bernie most directly.

Don't know about Albus being involved in a Commisioners tourney, but for those interested, he eventually went on to a successful career in sports marketing at Anheuser Busch and after leaving there probably 20 years ago, is today one of the most respected sports marketing minds in the biz. Good guy. Still lives in STL.

Joe, Yes, Chester is one of us. If anyone just happened to watch the Channel 5 Sunday morning news at 6:00 am with Chester and Pat co-anchoring (I know...at that hour, high on everyone's must see TV,) you'll see them deliver a terrific SLU basketball commentary -- reveling in Saturday's victory and also in Spoonball. Chester even said that Spoonball back in the 90s significantly influenced his decision to attend SLU. If anyone wondered if a basketball program could actually be an enrollment marketing tool, there you have it. If it hasn't been already, that piece of video should be shown to Chris May, student recruiting office, university PR and the interim Prez. Wish I had TiVo'ed but it was 6am... Really like these guys.

While not the most goosebump-inducing column, and bad he got Jake's name wrong, this is nice work. Our team is one for the ages. High praise. Nice to finally see something. Plenty left unsaid in case he wants to write another...

Actually a Joe Buck head would be tremendous and has added benefit of likely being shot by the video cameras during Fox Sports Midwest telecasts. Not sure how many FSM games are left. But is good regardless.

Nicely played!

DoctorB, agree with you on seeding. If 6 or 7 is all we earn, disappointing. On other hand, we have quite the gauntlet to run between now and conference tournament. If we take care of business, our RPI will catch up with the polls -- and we'll earn something much better. If not, a disappointing 6-7 is what we'll earn. I'm down for Indy ... or STL!

As much as I've said about the P-D's lack of Billiken commentary and coverage of what the program has accomplished through major investment and commitment, I must recognize them when they get it right. Here are some nice notes from Jeff Gordon -- one of their best writers and a Mizzou Antler to boot. http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/gordon-slu-soars-mizzou-teeters-illini-plunge/article_00bd16bf-273d-58b8-bc61-440be1b5cd42.html The story requires much more in-depth reporting but Jeff's commentary is right on. Like the Majerus connection, too. This doesn't get done without him as we know. Sorry if this was already posted.

Brian, Agree Joe has done decent job with space devoted to Bills in his columns. At least we have that. But Joe is the king of adversarial journalism at the P-D. Rather than help build up a program on its way up, he'd rather tear down. He adds very very little to the sports department in terms of interesting insights. Just another guy to write and hopefully generate clicks -- largely negative. Another outsider with an ax to grind with equally negative opinions of St. Louis, the place he calls home. That's not to say he is wrong about everything. Am I disappointed we didn't have sell-out last night? Sure. Should the fans have been more rabid during last night's game? Maybe. Sure. Should our marketing department be doing better job so that groupon doesn't have to be used? Sure. But you can be negative or positive. I'm a glass half full guy with little use for guys like him. And by the way, he's wrong about there not being a significant support in St. Louis for Bills. We know it's there based on Spoonball era attendance. 4th in NCAA Div 1. It is more function of our own marketing. But now Joe's a marketing expert? Groupon can be very effective if not overused. Used as a sampling device it is tremendously effective. We need people sampling the product and then buying. With lack of compelling marketing campaign -- or much if any support from P-D, I'd rather use Groupon than nothing. When demand picks up and people can't get cheap seats, they'll figure it out and buy. We all do.

Maybe but I doubt it. Been quite a while since Rick's death. Certainly shouldn't get in way at this point. Other than one or two sentences buried deep in a Saturday column, to my knowledge, he's said nothing.

Moy, absolutely right and no argument about P-D's thesis of Cards content driving clicks. But I will say two things (sorry for length. I need editor!): - I am a huge Cardinals fan, generally really loved their coverage. But even I am ignoring the umpteenth story of the decisions on their outfielders, pitching staff, statistical minutiae, etc. It has been covered so many times; they seem to struggle every day to find some slightly different angle to regurgitate the same old same old. There just isn't that much to cover. Wonder if others aren't clicking as well. Perhaps fewer unique visitors clicking and just a smaller group of fanatical users clicking over and over on same old subjects. - Rather than be reactionary and only create content about what currently or historically has driven clicks, the PD should look for ways to generate NEW interest in the sports section with new users - print and online. Why? Growth. There most definitely is interest in the Bills in this town. We know this due to the 16K+ average crowds we drew at Scottrade under Spoonball. No NBA team in one of the largest markets not to have one. Only game in town. The interest is there, just needs to be tapped properly (by SLU Athletic Mktg Dept, too, BTW.) They need new and interesting content. But the biggest reason why? The reinvention of the SLU basketball program is a major story. Hell, we get more and better columnist coverage on it from the national publications than we do from the P-D! Sports Illustrated covering. ESPN online. Fox Sports online. The list goes on and on. Imagine if the Cardinals got better columnist coverage from them than they did the P-D? Hah! So it is a story. The fact that it is a story provides opportunity for the P-D to build readership long term. If I was editor or writer and was sitting on the best three-year run of NCAA Div 1 Mens basketball in St. Louis history, SLU history, perhaps in state of Missouri (can't recall if Mizzou has had,) the University's plan for reinvention of the basketball program now being realized (major investments, Chaifetz, Majerus, Crews, player recruiting, improving budgets, etc) and a real chance for the Bills to go deep this year, I'd be trying to partner with SLU, trying to find multiple angles for story content, try to lay foundation for building long-term readership in the paper/online with current readers and new/casual readers. This is of course a bit of investment from P-D and wouldn't turn into staggering click counts overnight. But they've potentially been handed a story and long term content gift horse. Yet with no NBA team to cover and the next best thing to a 4th major franchise in town to help drive sports readership -- SLU right in front of their nose -- they've largely ignored it other than game stories. We have a number of issues that make it a bit harder: lack of top name teams in our league especially in early part of schedule, weak marketing campaign, the central portal for online discussion (and clicks) is here at billikens.com (not stltoday,) perhaps lack of Athletic Dept PR in creating interesting story ideas and dealing with local media (not sure.) But if SLU successfully maintains and builds upon the reinvention, it is tremendous for the St. Louis metro, for the sports scene in St. Louis, for the writers, the paper. Imagine if/when SLU becomes Gonzaga, the vision I think most of us had, minimum. Our program would be the pride of the city with a rabid fan base - like the Cards, Rams, Blues -- not a sleepy little bball pretender. A Kentucky? Prolly not. But a power. You'd think the PD might imagine it the same way...and see it in their interest to make it happen. Help with buzz to build fan base/attendance, who knows - going out on limb - maybe work behind scenes on Big East entry, build the franchise. The build in readership would take some time. And I don't have the statistics about how much stltoday.com traffic is generated by Sports, but suffice to say it is very high. SLU success would deliver to the PD ready-made content in driving even more readership. With today's "adversarial" journalism mentality where partnering with sports franchises is not "their role" and beneath them, it's a struggle. When you add that the PD sports dept has no SLU grads and the paper's financial struggles, tougher to get them to see the light. But what's good for the goose is good for the gander. It will sell papers and clicks. It is the future. The SLU reinvention story is a story, kids. In days of yore, Burnes and Broeg would have actually led efforts to help create it. They had vision to make things happen. Leaders, not followers. Who do you think worked hard behind scenes to bring NBA Hawks, Blues, to a degree Football Cardinals to town, helping build demand for basketball, the NHL, the NFL - and drive readership - in the city they loved? We became a major league sports city. Their papers' sports departments really grew, too. More demand for content and readership. Remember: before Ben Kerner brought the NBA Hawks to St. Louis in the 50s, we were just a baseball town (with the Bills winning national championship just a few years before.) No NFL. No NHL. No NBA. There is no reason today that the Bills can't become the next big thing. Already well on way. It takes vision, passion, smarts and guts for the PD to want to get involved with SLU. Bernie Miklasz has all of that...plus the gravitas and connections to make it happen in his role as Executive Sports Editor. Carry on the tradition of the double Bs. That's why I'm disappointed he sits on the sidelines, making up weak excuses he's too busy writing his 88th or 99th piece of other content since the start of this Bills season to opine till after Super Bowl. Really? The reinvention story (or simply how well their season is going) doesn't even make his top 100 list? No sale. How in the world did columnists at Sports Illustrated and other national pubs judge it a story but not him in his backyard? Wow. Leaders lead. They create the conversation. His complete silence on Bills is very curious. Shortsighted. Begging so many questions. Yeah, he'll get around to it in a couple weeks, closer to March Madness. Weak. But what's really frustrating? Most of the heaviest lifting has been done by the University, the Board, Mr. Chaifetz, the coaches and the players. He doesn't have to really play a Burnes or Broeg role. It's all teed up.

Joe Don't they usually post game stories after 12 midnight? Thought that was process...

I suspect but am not 100% sure that Bernie's new compensation deal with the P-D and stltoday.com that made him exclusive there with significantly more writing and content output -- allowing him to leave his radio show without losing much if any compensation -- is closely linked to total clicks on his stories, bits, morning video, time spent on each page etc. Thus he has vested interest in not writing about the Bills. He writes for cash and the Cardinals are cash. Perhaps his editors are partially directing this, too. The newspaper biz is in trouble and part of this is understandable. But what really disappoints me -- and I know this will make me sound like an old fogey -- is that guys like Burnes at the Globe and Broeg at the Post saw it as their DUTY to write stories and actively promote sports properties in town, part of their civic obligation and partially their love of sports and St Louis. These gents were behind the scenes movers and shakers who helped franchises come to town and generate some buzz after. Actually create more demand for reading the sports section of the paper. In a way, creating their own news. I used to think Bernie was the closest thing we had to the Benchwarmer, Mr Burnes. He has generally been fair to the Bills and his writing about Majerus was A+. But as time goes on and I see one boring Cards story after the next and he ignores likely 3-time NCAA team, jury is way way out.