Category > Illini BasketballPoetry In The Motion
GOOD NEWS FROM SATURDAY Lost in the malaise of Illini basketball's latest Headless Chicken routine, an important point demands attention: Meyers Leonard was fantastic against UNLV's big, butch, bearded front line. From the opening bell, Meyers moved through the low-post with purpose. He set hard screens. Really hard. No Illini big man since ... actually, I can't remember an Illini big man setting so many great screens.
I guess some people didn't like the Coppin State game. I thought it was great. I'd prefer to see Meyers Leonard get twice as many shots, but ten field-goal attempts is a big improvement on the Bonaventure fiasco. Meyers tallied four assists, too — demonstrating an expert understanding of spacing, and a deft passing touch.
Well, that reverie didn't last long. Illini basketball thought it was pretty hot shit for a few days there. Wednesday night against a .500 St. Bonaventure team, Illinois slurried from its brief flirtation with solidity. Forgetting about the giant, NBA-bound athletic freak in the paint, the Illini devolved into a slippery slop not seen since... Cancun? Any Penn State game? Every year since Dee left? Actually, every year since Deron left. The disease is familiar. The cure continues to elude …
Before Tuesday's practice at the Assembly Hall, the Illini seemed pretty loose. For the players, that's not unusual. But even the coaches were relaxed. Bruce Weber handed out Tootsie Pops to staff. Jay Price sang the dreidel song. Jerrance Howard joined the team managers' hot topic of discussion: who will be the next Illini football coach? Wayne McClain arrived last, which is generally the case with the coach assigned to prepare the scouting report for the upcoming opponent. Here's what …
Ron Zook's firing overshadowed a meaningless basketball game. Whispers abounded among the (9,000?) attendees of Sunday's "contest" with hapless, 0–6 Chicago State. Among the media, everyone continually checked his iPhone for confirmations & updates. We noted the absence of SID Kent Brown from his usual spot on press row. The game went as expected, a 90-43 blowout that wasn't as close as the score indicates.
Not quite a handful of media showed up Friday afternoon for the Illini basketball media availability. There were four of us. Two TV guys, one Illini Sports Network and me. DIA Media Minder Derrick Burson completed the fist, doubling his duty by camera jockeying for FightingIllini.com Steve Breitwieser ran point, the "index finger" of our handful. Michael Kiser was the ring finger, keeping things traditional with a mindfulness of the past, but always looking to the future. I was the …
(Ed. note: We apologize for the lateness of this article, due to travel) I've stolen my headline from Smile Politely's best sportswriter, Jamie Newell. It's appropriate for analyzing Thursday's win over Lipscomb. Something didn't work in the first half of the the Lipscomb game. Maybe it's that Meyers Leonard picked up two quick fouls, and sat for 90% of the period. But even in the second half, Illini guards and wings were too slow at feeding the post. Leonard and …
No, seriously. People complain about bad officiating, but they never seem to talk about the masterful performances. Friday's crew — Illini hero Ted Valentine, Glenn Mayborg and Jim Schipper — got it right. My seat on the baseline brings me close enough to smell the officials. I think I now know what kind of talc Valentine uses to keep that big ole booty from chafing. I can hear the chatter between refs and players, and between refs and coaches. …
Myke Henry glides. Whether he's mid-air or earth bound, he flows like honey. That's his personality too. He's sweet, and he goes with the flow. After Monday's exhibition, Myke sauntered up the Assembly Hall tunnel toward the emptied arena. Checking his texts, he never looked up when Tracy Abrams's tiny nephew, Arsenio, toddled into his path. Myke's left leg swung around the youngster, seemingly of its own volition. I was standing two feet away. Naturally, I asked Myke whether I'd …
Friday in Jon Corzine Gym* Bruce Weber huddled the team in the corner. On the dry-erase board, he wrote "Osmosis." "Who knows what osmosis is?" Silence. "Nnanna?" Nnanna Egwu may be the team's leading intellectual, but he didn't offer an answer. Meyers Leonard volunteered "microbiology." Weber was teaching a lesson about instincts. He began with some concrete examples. Players shooting 8% from three should consider abandoning the long ball. But rebounding will keep a guy in the rotation. Know your …
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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.