RFT Best in St. Louis

[RUBillsFan]

St. Louis Best Coach - Jim Crews

One has to wonder if Rick Majerus saw this whole story play out long before it ever happened. Majerus, who had a history of serious health issues, called his buddy Jim Crews and talked him out of what was probably a perfectly relaxing retirement to serve as an assistant coach. Fast-forward one year, and all of a sudden Crews finds himself heaved into the interim head-coach position owing to Majerus' failing health. And then it really hits: On December 1, 2012, Majerus passes away due to heart failure, and Crews is left with the loss of a great friend and a team of crushed young men. Crews perseveres through the loss (they play, and win, the night after Majerus passes) and the remainder of the season (with a school record of 28 wins). He not only wins the A-10 Conference tournament, but he also steers the Billikens to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. To endure that much pain and grief and churn out the best season of both your and your school's careers is truly unprecedented. And you have to tip your cap to Majerus — he was always good at spotting not just talent, but also headstrong guys.

St. Louis Best College Athlete - Robert Kristo

You want to know how badass Saint Louis University men's soccer forward Robert Kristo is? He actually makes a fauxhawk look good. He's a hometown boy, but he's got that Euro fútbol guy thing down in a big way, and it totally works for him. It also doesn't hurt that he's a huge, physical presence on the pitch, capable of taking a game over at any time, clogging up the middle of the field and forcing the opposition to play his game. He tallied 27 points total for the Billikens in 2012 (eleven goals, five assists) and was named a top-ten forward in the nation byTopDrawerSoccer.com in its 2013 season preview. SLU is an emerging powerhouse on the collegiate soccer landscape (or more accurately, a reemerging powerhouse — the Billikens were a dynastic team during the '60s and '70s, winning ten NCAA Championships from 1959-1973), and Kristo is its best player. He's big, he's fast, he has a striker's scoring touch and he has great hair. What's not to love?