The running season has gotten off to an early start this year. You can thank Mother Earth or BP for that. If there are benefits to the rise in temperature, one should be that we’ll be more acclimated for upcoming races such as the Cristie Clinic Illinois Marathon. It’s on April 27 & 28 this year and includes the expo (beginning on April 26), the Friday night 5k, and the youth run, 10k, half, full, and marathon relay on Saturday. …
Thomas Lindauer and Reid Roper make up the starting middle infield for the Illinois baseball team, at shortstop and second base respectively, and are usually two of the more quiet players off the field. They are the last players their teammates expect to be talking to each other on the field all throughout games, practices and warm-ups; but they’re communicating with each other all the time, yet no one really seems to notice. It’s because Roper and Lindauer can speak …
It's an exciting time for Illini basketball, what with the recent jettisoning of a frustratingly inflexible coach, and the possible hiring of a replacement who hasn't yet let anyone down. My apologies if this type of post has already made the rounds on message boards. Let's begin by comparing the careers of a couple of former Big Ten coaches. Coach A: 210–101 overall, 89–65 Big Ten (9 seasons, 6 NCAA bids). In program's previous 13 seasons before Coach A's arrival: …
Last night at around 11:00pm CT, the news broke on Twitter that champion mare Zenyatta had given birth to her first foal, a colt by Bernardini. Minutes later, Zenyatta’s official blog posted an entry giving the vital details about the newborn foal and provided a photo and video of the new mother and son. The sweet picture of Zenyatta and her colt went viral in the horse racing world, being reposted countless times on Twitter and on Facebook, with nearly …
The Fighting Illini have won the most B1G tournament games of any team, boasting a 23–12 all-time record. An optimist would see today’s game as an opportunity to pad our statistical dominance. They would also note that Bruce Weber has a nice, healthy glow about him. Bronzer, or burst capillaries? Either way, he is sharply dressed for the occasion, ready for success. Reality shares a differing perspective. This looked and felt like a high school game. Sadly, approximately 300 orange …
From my perspective, this Illini basketball season began and ended with expletives. Things got off to a bang — or as Eccentrica Gallumbits might say, a fuck — when I casually MF-bombed Illini recruit Mike LaTulip during a (football) halftime interview. It's just how people talk. Neither of us paid much mind to it, but the internets got some mileage from the experience, so I got a few extra dollars from Google. The season ended with a thud, basketball-wise. The …
After observing the final Illini game of the season — if you like to play along with the fallacy that the B1G Tournament is not part of the season — Smile Politely editor Robert Hirschfeld and writers Matt Campbell and Rob McColley held a round-table discussion, hoping to find The Root of It. ROBERT: It was a foregone conclusion. There was no energy in the building, even from Wisconsin fans, apart from a heartfelt moment for Jordan Taylor. The game …
Poor Hansen didn’t have a clue he was about to tango with dynamite when he went up against Algorithms in the Holy Bull. Suffering the first loss of his career to the Todd Pletcher-trainee, the White Streak proved his vulnerability, which may account for the full field lined up to challenge him in the Gotham Stakes this Saturday. With Alpha out of town, and no other hometown heroes set to pounce, Hansen may have found the perfect spot to reset …
Good news! I had a nice little chat with Devin Langford after Thursday's game. At the end I said I hoped to see him next year. "Definitely," he said. "I can print that?" "Yes."
World peace broke out Sunday evening in Champaign. Meyers Leonard celebrated his benching with a double-double. University President Michael Hogan embraced Chancellor Phyllis Wise. Tyler Griffey offered his hand to fallen Hawkeye Devyn Marble. mccolley & Toranut97 bonded over the ordination of women. Jay Price sported a rainbow tie to signal his support for Tracy Nectoux's column. And to top it all off, Bruce Weber named this Illini team the greatest bunch of kids he's ever coached ... here, at …
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Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
Very inspired Photochops as well….
Props on the new YMCA dig. I think it’s a terrible spot for it, but then again, I’m not well-to-do and I’m not willing to drive 15 minutes at $4/gallon to exercise for an hour.
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ Are you a smoker, too? I feel like I’m just getting recycled arguments.
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/dangerous_motorcycle_safety_myths/index.html “Myth 2: Loud Pipes Save Lives”
Yes, I also love the idea of the downtown! However, the “turds” that ride Harley’s or any other motorcycle have the right to ride their motorcycles regardless of the “loudness” anywhere they want. They are buying gas, hence they are contributing to the motor fuel tax that…
Yup, this was the year I realized there’s no way this is my last CU marathon, even though I’m gradumacating next week.Where else am I gonna get cheered on by 70+ year old heart-of-gold volunteers who smile at me so genuinely I could believe I’m their granddaughter?…
I always have a good, but disappointed, laugh when marathon time creeps up and I start seeing posts on the WCIA Facebook page lamenting race day and how difficult it is to get around town that day. One this year said, “can’t they just go run in…
Reminds me of Total Football (soccer) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football
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As a liberal conservative, and a person who favors taxes & services ... and also a sense of proportion; I savor the comic potential that still exists in this comments section. I’m pretty sure we can goad more anti-government rhetoric from confirmed progressives and government employees. If…
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
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@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.