From St. Louis Sports Online #39

October 1, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (10.1.95)

What observers had worried about during the off-season came to fruition as the St. Louis Rams suffered their first loss of 1995 in Indianapolis. The offensive line, which struggled during the pre-season, was tossed around by a more physical Colt defensive line, eliminating any threat of a Rams running game and placing quarterback Chris Miller under heavy pressure. With just thirty-seven yards on the ground, St. Louis couldn't overcome a sterling effort by Marshall Faulk and fell to the improving Colts, 21-18. Right tackle Zach Wiegert should see action against Atlanta on October 12 at Busch Stadium, and Wiegert, paired with right guard Dwayne White, should form an effective run-blocking tandem. The Rams also miss right end Sean Gilbert greatly. His brute strength and mean streak make him perhaps the best player on the defense, even better than Roman Phifer...and when any team loses their best defensive player, they're going to be in trouble.

Speaking of being in trouble, how about the St. Louis Blues? They lost 3-2 in pre-season action to Dallas Saturday night, and when asked what positives could be gleaned from the pre-season so far, Captain Brett Hull said "none". Veterans have suffered injuries, Mike Keenan has only been behind the bench for one game, and no two players have been on the ice together enough to forge any sort of a relationship. Additionally, the Kiel Center ice is, according to Hull "worse than last year, if that's possible." That means that any cohesiveness a pair of players would generate would be retarded, because passes don't go where you want them to go, and every skater is at least a half-step slower than on normal ice. When reminded of the Rams 1-3 pre-season record, Hull huffed and said "yeah, right."

The Cardinals wrapped up their season by losing 2-of-3 to Pittsburgh. With the Buccos clinching the first overall pick in next season's draft, the pressure to NOT sign a free agent will be lessened. It would be very difficult for a team with the number one pick in the draft to sign a free agent, and give up that choice as compensation. Look for Walt Jocketty to be busy with the product...and active in the trade market. Asked how Cardinal fans would feel if they knew what he was up to, Jocketty said "ecstatic." The search for a manager begins immediately, and the Cards would like whomever is going to run their ship in place by the end of the World Series. Don't discount Sparky Anderson. He's sixty-one years old, is a proven winner, and just might be interested in the Cards job. A definite long shot, but a name worth remembering nonetheless.


Cardinals News (10.1.95)

*"Right now, if I had to make a decision, I'd have to say I'm leaning toward retirement," said Tom Henke when asked after the Cards final game about his future as a baseball player.

*The Cards 1995 Septeber/October record, (home series in caps with city names, road series lower case and use nicknames), is shown below--*The Cardinals finished the 1995 season with a record of 62 wins and 81 losses (.434 winning percentage). At home, the Redbirds were a decent 39-33...but on the road, the St. Louisans won but 23 while losing 48. The 62-81 record was good enough for fourth place in the NL Central Division, 22.5 games behind the division-leading Cincinnati Reds


Blues News (10.1.95)

*On Saturday night at the Kiel Center, the Blues lost to the Dallas Stars 3-2. Chris Pronger and Adam Creighton scored for St. Louis. Jon Casey played goal for the Blues, stopping 22 of 25 shots. The Blues outshot the Stars 16-2 in the second period.

*On Sunday night, the Blues defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3. Highlights for the Blues included Shayne Corson's two goals, and Brett Hull's successful breakaway against Hawk goalie Ed Belfour. Of equal importance was the strong goaltending provided by Grant Fuhr, who played the entire game, stopping 25 of 28 shots.

*The NHL's waiver draft is Monday, October 2. Significant Blues exposed include Guy Carbonneau and goalie Bruce Racine. If the Blues were to draft a player or two, it is likely that player would either tend goal or man the blue line.

Available goalies include Robb Stauber, Jimmy Waite, Bob Essensa, Peter Sidorkiewicz, and Pat Jablonski.

Unprotected defensemen include Peter Taglianetti, Ivan Droppa, Mike Lalor, Brad McCrimmon, Adrien Plavsic, and Garth Butcher.


RamNotes by JIM HUNSTEIN (10.1.95)

*This was a career-high rushing day for RB Marsall Faulk. His previous best was 143 yards in last year's season opener.

*This was the Colts' first win over the Rams since 1971.

*Two players of local interest on the Colts: TE Ken Dilger is a rookie from University of Illinois, where he was a teammate of Rams LB Dana Howard. He finished the day with two catches for 17 yards. The other is second-year DE Bernard Wittington, who hails from Hazelwood East High School. He had three tackles.

*The Rams might not be in any real hurry to have the Trans World Dome completed if this is how they play indoors. The RCA Dome was their first domed stadium game this season.

*Faulk keeps all the balls with which he has scored a touchdown. An equipment manager takes the ball and puts in a special truck to be saved. Why? So Faulk can have the ball auctioned off and the proceeds donated to charity.

*QB Jim Harbaugh's interception thrown in the second quarter was his first in 100 attempts.

*The Monday-after will be only slightly brighter for K Steve McLaughlin, TE Jim Price, and QB Mark Rypien: They all share an October 2 birthday. For those interested, their ages are 24, 29, and 33, respectively.

*The Colts used Faulk and RB Roosevelt Potts almost exclusively. The two combined for 26 of the team's 36 rushes and caught eight of 11 completed passes.

*Faulk's efforts for the day were the best by any running back for any team in the NFL this year.


A Q and A with the D by JIM HUNSTEIN (10.1.95)

The remarkable thing about talking to the Rams' defensive unit is that not one of these guys will talk about anything in any terms but "we" and "us". Being on the defensive side of the ball means high visibility in critical situations. And a missed tackle, a blown coverage, or some other failed man-on-man encounter shows up on television (and especially on game films) as a potentially personal disaster. Yet these guys manage to maintain their esprit de corps and team attitude. No one points fingers but rather accepts responsibility.

After the Bears game, I wandered around the locker room and talked to some key members of the defensive unit about the great start, takeovers, the new defensive scheme, and other topics as they came up. The overall feeling I got was that this is one cohesive unit that has total faith in their defensive coordinator, Willie Shaw. He came to the Rams from last year's AFC champion San Diego Chargers, where he was the coach of the secondary. Prior to that he spent two years as the secondary coach for the Minnesota Vikings. He also served once before with Coach Rich Brooks as a linebacker coach with Oregon. But this isn't about Shaw (except in that his players revere him and his new schemes for the defense), this is about his disciples:

D'MARCO FARR is a six-foot one-inch, 270-pound second-year defensive tackle from Washington, where he was the Pac 10's defensive lineman of the year.

FRED STOKES is a six-foot three-inch, 274-pound ninth-year defensive end from Georgia Southern, who is starting in place of the injured Sean Gilbert.

ROMAN PHIFER is a six-foot two-inch 230-pound fifth-year weak-side linebacker from UCLA who currently leads the team in tackles.

CARLOS JENKINS is a six-foot three-inch 217-pound fifth-year strong-side linebacker from Michigan State who spent the last four years with the Vikings, where he played for Shaw.

KEITH LYLE is a six-foot two-inch 204-pound second-year free safety from Virginia who was named to the 1994 All Rookie team by Pro Football Weekly.

TODD LYGHT is a six-foot 186-pound fifth-year left cornerback from Notre Dame who was one of only two defensive players to start every game last year.

Following are their answers to a few questions.

ST. LOUIS SPORTS ONLINE: To what do you attribute the Rams' great start this year?
PHIFER: We're building up confidence every week so we expect to win. That's the nature of the defence. We want to cause some turnovers and put our offense in a position to score.
JENKINS: It's the attitude of the team. We brought a lot of new guys in. We had to have it right off the bat from a winning standpoint, which is what I had where I came from (Minnesota).
FARR: Coach Brooks and God. Not necessarily in that order. We have the talent in this room and Coach Brooks is bringing it all out.
STOKES: We're playing hard and things are going our way. We're just winning.

StLSO: What's creating all the takeaways?PHIFER: That's the nature of this defense. When you're aggressive you're going to create turnovers and force the offence to make mistakes.
LYGHT: The pressure that we have up fornt and the speed in the secondary. That's been the key. And our linebackers have tremendous speed.
STOKES: The more aggressive style of defense. Whereas before we sat back kind of hoping something will happen. Now we're trying to make things happen. And that's what you need to do on defence. Chicago did it in '84 and '85 when they won the Super Bowl. The Redskins have done it. The Giants have done it. You've got to be able to make teams turn the ball over and do things they don't want to do.
LYLE: This type of defense is so aggressive. And we got so much unity. We believe in each other and everybody has their own responsibility. Putting lots of pressure on the quarterback. Putting more guys in the box than they can block.
FARR: We keep taking the ball away, who knows where we can go.

StLSO: What do you like best about the new defensive scheme installed by defensive coordinator Willie Shaw?
PHIFER: I love this defense. It's great for me. It frees me and my athletic ability up a lot to make big plays.
FARR: It allows the defensive lineman to be an offense lineman. We're offensive on defense. We're going to run up field as fast as we can and see what we can do. Willie Shaw came in and lit a fire under our butt. And we come out with blinders on and cause as much havoc as we can.
LYLE: It puts a lot of pressure on the secondary because we've got so many guys up fornt. But it puts pressure on the quarterback so quickly he's got to make a quick decision and a lot of times he's hasty and to our benefit.
LYGHT: The ability to stop the run. When we get eight guys up front and everyone's pursuing the ball even on the back end. When we know it's run, we can force the team to pass.

StLSO: Can you see any room for improvement for next week?
LYGHT: We played great the first three games and faltered a little bit today. That gives us the inspiration to go on the rest of the season.
LYLE: I think we have a sound defense. And as long as we keep game planning and preparing for each team week-to-weekm we're going to be fine.
JENKINS: Middle areas. And no one can get arrogant. When we make mental errors, they turn into touchdowns. Including myself. We gotta do some soul-searching. This game was close. We made a lot of mistakes and almost beat ourselves today.
PHIFER: We're celebrating this one for 24 hours. We haven't even looked at Indianapolis yet.
FARR: The defensive line, we definitely need to work on pass rush. Some times we get paralysis by analysis instead of just playing the defense. We think too much nd we get lost.
STOKES: We can improve all across the board. Jackie Slater has played the game for 20 years and there are areas he can improve on. As long as you're playing, as long as you're doing your job, there's something you can get better at everyday. Just because you win doesn't mean you played the perfect game.


StLSO Quote of the Week (10.1.95)

"Man, that was fun!" said Tripp Cromer after his three-hit game Saturday vs. the Pirates.


StLSO Headline of the Week (10.1.95)

From the 10.2.95 Chicago Tribune--"Bevington, White Sox Pull Surprise". In the Paul Sullivan-authored article below the headline, Sox GM Ron Schueler explains why he decided to sign Bevington to a multi-year contract to manage the White Sox.

Tony LaRussa, should he choose to exercise an escape clause in his contract to manage the A's, thus may have the Cardinals in mind after all.


Cardinal Conjecture by MARK BAUSCH (10.1.95)

In a recent StLSO article, I wrote that Tony La Russa's first three choices, in terms of future managerial jobs, were Chicago, Chicago, and Chicago.

Well, the White Sox just signed their current manager, Terry Bevington, to a multi-year contract. So, the Sox are out, as far as La Russa is concerned. And forget about the Cubs, too. Jim Riggleman just re-upped.

Assuming that current Cards manager Mike Jorgensen returns to his position as Farm Director (which, although likely, is not a sure thing), would LaRussa, who worked with Cards GM Walt Jocketty, really consider switching leagues and come to St. Louis to manage?

No one, save LaRussa and perhaps Jocketty, really knows for sure. But...the more I think about it...the more a LaRussa-to-St. Louis move makes sense.

Here's why.

*The Cardinals were awful this year. LaRussa may want to be part of a turnaround that would re-energize baseball in our community

*LaRussa knows how to get the most out of young talent

*The Cardinals have a great deal of young and mostly unpolished talent that seems primed to take off

*In addition to Oakland's change of ownership, their young talent doesn't come close to matching what the Cardinals have to offer

Finally, Jocketty continues to extol the virtues of Ray Lankford, a wonderfully talented young player full of unharnessed potential (a player who hit TEN home runs in the month of September). The Cards GM seems to believe that Lankford is ready to have a blockbuster season, the likes of which Cardinal fans will remember for a long time.

StLSO readers with long memories no doubt remember that yours truly does not share Jocketty's brimming optimism regarding Lankford. In particular, Lankford's inconsistencies in center field are more than a bit troubling.

In addition, Lankford's numbers this season should qualify him to receive a contract in the Brian Jordan range. This observer finds it hard to understand how the Cards budget can withstand retaining Lankford AND signing the infield bat (McGriff? Biggio?) that Cardinal fans from Centralia to Joplin know is needed.

And, if Lankford is retained, then Bernard Gilkey is most likely history.

But let's give Mr. Jocketty the benefit of the doubt. What could he be thinking about regarding the rapidly maturing Lankford?

I have this feeling, and it's only a feeling, that Jocketty believes that Tony LaRussa, who managed Jose Canseco and Rickey Henderson during their glory years in Oakland, is THE man capable of helping Ray Lankford get the most of his considerable skills.

The question is...can Jocketty convince LaRussa of that?


The StLSO SportsTalk Monitor by JOSEPH ANDREWS (10.1.95)

It seems there's a bit of a shouting match developing between two of the bigger names in the St. Louis sports media. And it's out in the open for all to see. At 10:45 am on Wednesday of this past week, KMOX's Charlie Brennan and his Morning Meeting partner, Kevin Horrigan, were discussing that morning's Bernie Miklasz P-D column about the Rams. Brennan and Horrigan were killing time, as scheduled guest Bob Costas was running a few minutes late. Their main target? Miklasz' self-admittedly rather genteel column that attempted to describe some of the Rams from a more human perspective.

"If you asked a Rams publicist to write that, you couldn't have done any better," said Brennan with a self-assured chuckle.

Well, apparently ol'Bernie got wind of that discussion. Some Miklasz quotes from his KFNS show the next day (Thursday):
--"Apparently some people over at Mother Radio were talking about my column yesterday. I've gotten away from the kind of journalism where you just go out and automatically rip people"
--"I'm really sorry I didn't attack the Rams personally to make the boys at KMOX happy"
--"You know, they have the Steve Ortmayer show over there. The guy who usually hosts the show (EDITOR'S NOTE: Horrigan) rips the Rams all week, and then when Ortmayer's on...he never asks a tough question because he's a coward"
--"[Horrigan's] just getting old and kind of cranky. He's trying to do the Jim White thing over there"

EDITOR'S NOTE: After verifying the essence of Mr. Andrews' account, I decided to publish his submission...hoping, somehow, that evidence of Miklasz's wrath would appear in his column. Sure enough...in his Saturday morning "Bernie Bits" column, Miklasz once again chastised Horrigan for the Ol' Sport's softballs tossed in the general direction of Steve Ortmayer.

From St. Louis Sports Online #40

October 8, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (10.8.95)

The Cardinal interest in Oakland manager Tony LaRussa is commendable on one hand, and disturbing on the other. Granted, LaRussa is considered ahead of his time, a computer wizard, a competitor, "corporate" enough for Anheuser-Busch, and certainly a winner, as his three American League pennants will attest. On the other side of the coin, for the entire time he was in Oakland, LaRussa managed with almost an unlimited budget. Not only did the A's develop people like Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, they kept them. Throughout the prime of their careers, Dave Stewart, Bob Welch, Rick Honeycutt, Dennis Eckersley, Dave Henderson and Terry Steinbach stayed in Oakland. And LaRussa has one World Series ring. He not only has not managed in the National League, LaRussa has never been around the senior circuit. At a cost of more than $1 Million a year, one has to wonder whether he would be the best choice. I just don't know. Jim Leyland would seem more logical, but the Pirates probably won't let him go. Here are some other candidates, with Karraker qualifications being that the new man must work well with young players, have a history of winning, been around the National League to understand pitching changes, double switches, etc., and of course, be A-B corporate. Gene Tenace? He played under some great ones like Dick Williams, Whitey Herzog and Chuck Tanner, and has been a coach in a successful organization in Toronto. Has corporate capability. Dave Duncan? Proven rehabilitator of veteran pitchers. But when was the last time the A's brought along a successful young pitcher? Willie Randolph? Played for Billy Martin, but also Tommy Lasorda. Chris Chambliss? A winner...also worked for Martin, works well with young players and knows the Cardinals. Hal Lanier? Apparently, for some reason, blackballed. But a good manager...and the kind of personality these Cardinals need. Art Howe? Lanier did better in Houston. Buddy Bell? The hot candidate this off-season, but limited NL experience, and has never won. Sparky Anderson? Sixty-one years old, folks in Detroit say he's burned out. Nick Leyva? Failed in Philadelphia, but worth consideration. Walt Jocketty would do well to interview all of the above. If you have any candidates I didn't list, please forward them to StL Sports Online, and we'll evaluate them.

The Blues opened up the new season in Washington with their new-look club. Certainly this is a team capable of winning, but doesn't have as much winning personality as last year's team. Dale Hawerchuk has limited playoff experience, Shayne Corson spent three years not playing much in Montreal before moving to Edmonton, Brian Noonan has been pedestrian on a pair of Stanley Cup finalists, and Chris Pronger has done nothing of note as of yet. Physically, this team is capable except in one area, and Mike Keenan should take care of the mental and emotional angles. The problem is going to be in the nets, and you won't believe me if Grant Fuhr is brilliant in the first dozen games. Let's talk again WHEN, not if, Fuhr gets hurt. By the way, attendance for the Blues three home pre-season games was way down. A trend? I doubt it.

The Rams have the week off. The field at the University of Oregon was re-named Rich Brooks field over the weekend. Congratulations to the coach. The Thursday night encounter with Atlanta should be lots of fun. This will be the first Thursday night game ever in St. Louis, so let's hope the city does it up right and the blimp and the TNT cameras can give St. Louis some shots to be proud of.


Cardinals News (10.8.95)

The Cardinals, if "reading" occasional media pronouncements by President Mark Lamping and GM Walt Jocketty is any indication, seem to chomping at the bit to make changes that they believe the club's fans will find acceptable. Stadium improvements, managerial changes, front office reorganizations, and (last but not least) player moves all seem virtual certainties as the team's upper management strives to revive the Redbirds. Stay tuned.


Blues News (10.8.95)

*In the Blues final pre-season game (a 5-0 shutout of Buffalo), the Blues first power play unit consisted of Dale Hawerchuk, Shayne Corson, Brett Hull, Chris Pronger, and Al MacInnis. When the Blues were two men short, Mike Keenan employed two different three man units: Hull, Pronger, and MacInnis; and Pronger, Hawerchuk, and Courtnall.

*Ex-Blue Rob Ramage has signed on to become part of the Blues broadcast team. While details remain a bit sketchy, it appears that Ramage (an occasional StLSO contributor) will perform many of the same duties that Blues VP Bruce Affleck has carried out in past years (i.e. player interviews and game introductions). Ramage will do TV for 37 games, 22 of which are on the road.

*About Chris Pronger, Ramage, whose first NHL season came at age 20, said "He sees the ice well. I'm looking forward to seeing him develop."

*Between the second and third periods of the Washington game, Hawerchuk, when talking with KPLR's Bruce Affleck, said that "we haven't worked on it [the power play] too much".

*Hawerchuk played very little during the last half of the Capitols game.


Ramnotes by JIM HUNSTEIN (10.8.95)

Rams' Depth Chart:
(R = Rookie)

OFFENSE:
WR: 89 Alexander Wright (injured), 86 Jessie Hester, 83 Lovell Pinkney (R)
LT: 70 Wayne Gandy, 72 Clarence Jones
LG: 79 Leo Goeas, 64 Keith Loneker
C: 61 Bern Brostek, 69 Jessie James (R)
RG: 67 Dwayne White, 71 Chuck Belin
RT: 73 Zach Wiegert (R) (injured), 77 Darryl Ashmore
TE: 84 Troy Drayton, 87 Jim Price, 88 Pat Carter
WR: 80 Isaac Bruce, 81 Todd Kinchen, 18 Johnny Thomas (R)
QB: 12 Chris Miller, 11 Mark Rypien, 16 Dave Barr (R)
HB: 47 Marv Cook, 30 Ron Wolfley
FB: 36 Jerome Bettis, 42 Leonard Russell, 20 Johnny Bailey

DEFENSE:
LE: 93 Kevin Carter (R)
NT: 98 Jimmie Jones, 96 Jay Williams
UT: 75 D'Marco Farr, 95 Brad Ottis
RE: 90 Sean Gilbert (injured), 60 Fred Stokes, 76 Robert Young
SLB: 51 Carlos Jenkins, 53 Cedric Figaro
MLB: 56 Shane Conlan, 57 Thomas Homco
WLB: 58 Roman Phifer, 50 Dana Howard (R)
LCB: 41 Todd Lyght, 46 Torin Dorn
RCB: 27 Anthony Parker, 29 Dexter Davis, 21 John Reece
SS: 32 Toby Wright, 23 Gerald McBurrows (R)
FS: 35 Keith Lyle, 22 Mike Scurlock (R)

SPECIAL TEAMS:
P: 5 Sean Landeta
K: 3 Steve McLaughlin (R)
H: 11 Mark Rypien, 12 Chris Miller
PR: 81 Todd Kinchen, 27 Anthony Parker, 20 Johnny Bailey
KR: 81 Todd Kinchen, 18 Johnny Thomas (R), 89 Alexander Wright (injured)
PC: 87 Jim Price, 47 Marv Cook
KC: 87 Jim Price, 69 Jesse James (R)

PRACTICE SQUAD:
DT 65 Jon Kirksey, DE 99 Bronzell Miller (R), RB 31 Brent Moss (R), OL 66 (Corey Swinson (R), WR 19 Billy Williams (R)

PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM:
QB 9 Jamie Martin, OT 78 Jackie Slater


Mizzou Update (10.8.95)

"The offense was not there today," said coach Larry Smith after his Tigers were defeated 30-0 by their Big Eight rival Kansas State.

In the game played at Manhattan, KSU led 7-0 at the half and dominated the second half with the aid of a defense that limited Mizzou to 118 yard total offense.

As pointed out on KMOX by Randy Karraker, KSU has outscored its last four opponents by an aggregate score of 141-0. Mizzou (2-3) trav
els to Nebraska next Saturday.


St. Louis U. Update (10.8.95)

On Tuesday, 10.3.95, the Soccer Billikens traveled to Evansville, Indiana, to take on the Evansville Purple Aces. SLU defeated UE, 3-1, as freshman Jacob Thomas scored twice and assisted on Matt McKeon's goal. Billiken victories over their former MCC conference rivals, the Purple Aces, are always sweet, and this one was no different.

Then, on Friday night at the St. Louis Soccer Park, SLU defeated Memphis 4-0. Tanner Rupp scored two goals to lead the Bills.
As a result of the victories, SLU improved their record to 9-2 overall (5-0 in C-USA.


Cubs Fans, Blues Fans, and Mike Keenan by MARK BAUSCH (10.8.95)

During the early 1980s, it was surprisingly easy for a lifelong follower of the Cardinals, stuck in Chicago while attending Northwestern University, to become something of a Cubs devotee. That the Cubs hired Harry Caray away from the Chicago White Sox helped. And Wrigley Field itself, the charming home of the Cubbies, also loomed large in the fan's temporary (but lasting) conversion.

But it was an increasing affinity for Cubs fans (and an affinity for one female Cub fan in particular) that catalyzed yours truly's interest in Chicago's North Side baseball team.

Unlike Busch Stadium, which is accessible by several area highways and surrounded by safe and reasonably-priced parking facilities, Wrigley Field can be a nightmare as far as driving and parking are concerned. So in-the-know Cubs fans ride the elevated train to and from Wrigley.

Therefore, the best way to try and understand Cubs fans...and indeed, the best way to get to Wrigley Field...is to ride the "el" that stops just a block or two east of the ballpark. In addition to the convenience factor, the rides afford everyone on board a chance to talk about the latest Cub happenings.

Over time, I gradually came to appreciate Cubs fans for their happy-go-lucky, let's play two attitude. While the Chicago media continued to rail about the latest bad trade, the most recent kicked ground ball, or the current sad-sack manager...Cubs fans just kept on smiling.

But I learned not to mistake that self-satisfied smile for a lack of baseball knowledge. Cubs fans know their baseball, and they therefore know that their favorite team is generally mediocre. But they have their favorite players, and darn it...they're not going to let some know-it-all ruin their fun at Wrigley.

In other words, I think Cubs fans have this spectator sports thing just about right.

As this is written, the Blues are playing the Washington Capitals. The game marks the opening of the 1995-96 regular season. The home opener is Tuesday night...and once again, Blues fans, much like Cubs fans, are excited as ever.

Or are they?

This reporter senses a change in attitude among Blues faithful. Nothing major yet...but a subtle change has occurred. The natives are restless, and don't quite know how to view C&GM Mike Keenan and his re-tooled gang of blade runners. Just exactly what is the problem? Mike Shanahan's main achievement as Blues Chairman, in my view, was the creation of a Cub-like attitude among Blues fans. Let's face it--the Civic Progress boys (with a bit of help from the City of St. Louis) provided the capital necessary to build the Kiel Center. But without the Mike Shanahan-generated positivity surrounding the Blues franchise, the Blues are still skating in the Arena.

Sure, Jack Quinn and Ron Caron aided Mr. Shanahan in his efforts to make the Blues viable in the minds of St. Louisans. But for whatever reason, Mike Shanahan had the "right stuff" as far as St. Louis' hockey fans were concerned. Everyone (even Keenan) seemed to take a liking to the Blues while Shanahan was at the helm. Blue collar, white collar, it made no difference...everybody wanted to "BE LIKE MIKE".

It also made little difference that, during the Shanahan era, Blues players seemed to be making tee times in mid-May (or earlier) of each year. No matter. Blues fans loved their team...and nothing was going to change their minds.

Blues fans even came to expect the occasional front-office boo-boo. The comparison is therefore apt: St. Louis puckheads loved the Blues the way northside Chicagoans loved (and still love) the Cubs. It was an unconditional thing.

This was no minor deal. For a franchise that was rumored to be heading to Saskatoon, this was big stuff. And important stuff, too, for a team playing a sport that many Americans feel still isn't quite "big-league".

But Mike Shanahan's mug no longer adorns the Blues media guide. Banished to the Blues alumni box after some sort of squabble with one or two of the Civic Progress money men, Shanahan no longer has a place in the Blues organization. Out of sight, but to Blues fans, not out of mind.

Therefore, as this reporter sees it, Mike Keenan faces two challenges this year.

First, he has promised St. Louis fans that he will deliver a team that will contend for the Stanley Cup. Keenan's past history suggests that he is more than capable of delivering on this promise. With decent goaltending, the team that he has assembled may very well dominate the NHL's Western Conference.

Second, Iron Mike must rebuild some of the good-will bridges between the local hockey community and the hockey team as a whole. One senses that Mr. Keenan believes that a Stanley Cup parade up-and-down Market Street in June of 1996 will take care of that.

Is he right?


1995-96 Blues Preview by MARK BAUSCH (10.8.95)

St. Louis' hockey fans have had a long love affair with their Blues. If nothing else, the Blues were always good for the odd surprise. One spring, the club would trade Geoff Courtnall, Sergio Momesso, Cliff Ronning, Robert Dirk, and a draft choice to the Canucks for Garth Butcher and Dan Quinn (even fans still wearing Scott Campbell jerseys knew that one was a dud).

Another spring, the Blues acquired Brett Hull and Steve Bozek from the Flames for Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley (c'mon, you didn't really believe Ron Caron when he predicted greatness for Hull, did you?). Reading the morning Post-Dispatch was always a treat; the Blues have always entertained their fans.

The 1995-96 edition of the Blues will be no different. Maybe more successful in the playoffs, but overall, just as interesting.

First, let's take a quick tour of the Blues Top 10 forwards. At right wing you've got Brett Hull and Brian Noonan. Lining up at center for the Blues are Dale Hawerchuk, Adam Creighton, and Ian Laperriere. The left wingers include Geoff Courtnall and Greg Gilbert. Esa Tikkanen and Shayne Corson are probably best referred to as center-forwards (players capable of playing anywhere up front). And of course, Basil McRae plays the role of tough guy.

I dare say there isn't another squad of forwards in the entire NHL that can match the Blues unique blend of snipers (Hull and Courtnall), attitudes with talent (Laperriere and Corson), scoring playmakers with defensive skills (Hawerchuk), two-way players with a bit of touch (Tikkanen and Noonan), seasoned veterans (Gilbert and Creighton), and tough guys with character (McRae).

Clearly, C&GM Mike Keenan believes in the George Allen credo "The Future Is Now". Hull, Noonan, Hawerchuk, Creighton, Laperriere, Courtnall, Gilbert, Tikkanen, Corson, and McRae are 31, 30, 32, 30, 21, 33, 33, 30, 29, and 34 years of age. Of Iron Mike's Top 10, only young Ian is under 29 years of age.

But all is not lost, as far as youth is concerned on the Blues front line. The Blues have ample depth up front, as represented by center-forwards Roman Vopat (19), Craig Johnson (23), and Dave Roberts (25); right wings Denis Chasse (25) and Patrice Tardif (25), and tough guys Tony Twist (27) and Kevin Sawyer (21).

It does seem a bit odd that the regulars are, as a group, five to seven years older than their backups. Perhaps that says something about the kind of players that Keenan leans on in clutch situations.

Among those listed in the latter group, expect Chasse (a tough guy who tallied eight points in seven playoff games last season) to see the most ice time. Tardif, Johnson, and Roberts all possess many of the necessaries to play in the NHL, while Twist would probably be on the Blues opening night roster had he not suffered some sort of upper body injury that necessitated surgery and will sideline him for several weeks. Sawyer showed up nicely in this season's training camp, taking on all comers...so he will probably see some time in St. Louis this year as well.

And Roman Vopat, the apple of Ron Caron's eye, seems remarkably poised for a lanky 19 year-old from Czechoslovakia. He may be a diamond in the rough...

So that makes for 17 forwards with NHL skills of one kind or another. Blues fans haven't seen that much depth up front since...well...probably never. Mike Keenan has assembled a group of feisty veterans with superior skills, and, combined with the youngsters from the Caron-led regime, has a group of forwards second-to-none in the NHL.

If there's a weakness to be found, it's that the speed factor isn't really there.

But hey, on the slush they call ice at the Kiel Center, skating speed isn't all that important, eh?

More of a question mark is the Blues corps of defensemen. It seems likely that Al MacInnis, Jeff Norton, Murray Baron, Jay Wells, Chris Pronger, and rookie Jamie Rivers will get the bulk of the playing time on the blue line. Here too a dichotomy is observed as far as their ages are concerned: MacInnis, Norton, Baron, and Wells are 32, 29, 28, and 36 respectively, while Pronger is 21 and Rivers only 20.

MacInnis is the clear leader of this group, and perhaps, as KMOX's Randy Karraker likes to point out, probably the most important player on the team. "Chopper's" experience, savvy, and skill (not to mention his booming slap shot from the point) were sorely missed last season when he twice went down with a since-repaired shoulder injury.

Norton is probably the best skater on the team, while Baron plays the stay-at-home role about as well as can be expected. Wells, who was acquired from the Rangers in exchange for Doug Lidster, provides what toughness there is among the blueliners...but not much else.

Finally, in this year's exhibition games, Pronger and Rivers have played like the youngsters that they are. Both have exhibited flashes of brilliance, but both have also committed the mistakes that young defenseman are prone to make. As Rob Ramage points out, Pronger sees the ice well, and should be a joy to watch this season. Rivers seems supremely confident in his hockey skills, and Ron Caron has compared his overall hockey sense to that possessed by ex-Blue Doug Gilmour.

It will be interesting to watch and see just how much patience Coach Mike Keenan will have with these two youngsters. Hopefully GM Keenan will remind Coach Keenan that the organization's stable of defensemen isn't quite as deep as what is found among the forwards.

Finally, one could make the argument that a successful Blues season depends most on the development of Pronger and Rivers as serviceable NHL defensemen.

But that argument would be wrong. Because GM Keenan has asked Coach Keenan to get 50-60 games (maybe more) out of Grant Fuhr. Examination of Fuhr's stats indicate that he has played in more than 50 games in only four of his 13 NHL seasons.
In addition, Fuhr, who was a major cog in Edmonton's string of Stanley Cup successes in the 1980's, has played 21, 13, 66, 58, 32, and 17 NHL games in the past six seasons (1989-90 - 1994-95).

During that time, his goals against averages were 3.89, 3.01, 3.66, 3.30, 3.68, and 4.03, respectively. Finally, during those six years Fuhr's teams won a grand total of eleven playoff games while he was tending goal.

So Fuhr, who is 33 years old, seems like an odd choice to rely on as far as a #1 goaltender is concerned. But Keenan, even after publicly reprimanding Fuhr for reporting to camp out of shape, still professes to support Fuhr in his efforts to regain his Stanley Cup form.

Overall, then, the Blues are first-rate up front, have some interesting question marks on the blue line, and one huge question mark in goal. 42 wins and seven ties seems about right for this team. That's 91 points...certainly enough to make the playoffs but not enough to finish ahead of Detroit and Colorado. The Blues will fight it out with Chicago for third place in the NHL's Midwest Division.

But at the very least, the 95-96 season will be good theater. By golly, with those Kiel Center prices, it oughta be.

From St. Louis Sports Online #41

October 15, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (10.15.95)

There are positives and negatives to the Rams 21-19 win over Atlanta Thursday night at Busch Stadium. The obvious negatives are that the Rams made mistakes that championship teams don't make...allowing a blocked field goal to be returned for a touchdown, allowing a punt return for a touchdown, and committing a costly motion penalty that nullified a touchdown. Those kind of mistakes will be killers against the likes of San Francisco or Miami down the road. On the positive side, everyone around the team said that last year, the team would have lost this game. They showed a lot of character, and had an exceptional game-ending drive to get the win. Good teams overcome their mistakes to win. Great teams don't make mistakes. Getting Sean Gilbert back at defensive right end was huge. He had a solid performance, which was important because Kevin Carter was invisible. The Rams are going to have to get more production out of the defensive line next Sunday at Busch against San Francisco. At 5-1, with winnable games left against Carolina, New Orleans, Atlanta, Philadelphia, the New York Jets and Washington, there is the possibility of a twelve win season for the Rams. A far cry from the five or six wins I predicted prior to the opener in Green Bay. Remember this, sports fans...don't ever believe what you see in training camp.

Speaking of training camp, the Blues started the "pre-season" with a 2-and-1 mark. Surprisingly, Grant Fuhr has played very well in the early going, and Mike Keenan is looking smart with that move. He is not looking smart by blaming the media for his being booed, which he did after Tuesday night's home opener. Does someone as smart as Keenan allegedly is think the media has that kind of power over the fans? To me, saying that is an insult to the intelligence of Blues fans. Hockey fans and experts all over North America questioned Keenan's off-season moves, so he shouldn't be surprised by the reaction here. If you don't read negative things and hear negative things in the St. Louis media, you certainly will in national publications and broadcast outlets. Let's give Keenan credit for being adaptable. With the officials ridiculous obsession with calling every penalty in the early going, Keenan has succumbed to practicing the power play. We can only hope that it works. Players say this team is still jelling, and will need about a month to reach a point where they are comfortable with one another. Perhaps this Blues edition won't peak in February and March, and with some luck make a strong playoff run in '96.


Cardinals News (10.15.95)

The 1995 Official St. Louis Cardinals HOLIDAY CATALOG has found its way into the StLSO mailbox. The four-color brochure is full of depictions of neat Cardinals "stuff" that, as they say, would make great stocking stuffers.

Also of interest, though, is the fact that oodles of Rams merchandise is also featured in the brochure...perhaps part of the pay-back for the Rams use of Busch this fall?

The best way to get a copy of the brochure is to call 1-800-421-FAME.

Two Cardinals FOQs--

Fact: Cards GM Walt Jocketty, speaking on KMOX, has on two occasions referred to how the '95 season would have been different if Geronimo Pena had not been injured, saying that "A healthy Pena enables us to move Gilkey lower in the order, in more RBI situations."
Opinion: Jocketty speaks the truth...but it seems obvious that the "Geronimo Pena Experiment" has run its course in St. Louis
Question: Will Pena and Gilkey return to St. Louis in '96 as members of the Cardinals?

Fact: Bob Nightengale, in a recent Sporting News column, reported that Tony LaRussa's failed negotiations with the White Sox turned on LaRussa's desire to have substantial input on player personnel decisions, a request that Sox GM Ron Schueler was not willing to go along with. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf backed Schueler, who then re-hired current Sox manager Terry Bevington.
Opinion: It is likely that LaRussa will make the same demands vis a vis the Cardinals and GM Walt Jocketty.
Question: What will happen at Stadium Plaza?


Blues News (10.15.95)

*At the conclusion of the opening night light show, Blues C&GM Mike Keenan's introduction was greeted by a chorus of boos which was gradually matched by cheers

*Brett Hull scored four goals in just over 32 minutes of play opening night vs. Edmonton, and shot wide on a clear breakaway just a few minutes later. Hull hasnow scored four goals in a single game twice during his NHL career (last spring vs. the Red Wings was the first time)

*Friday night's edition of the Mike Keenan show (on KMOX) was punctuated by yet another criticism of the media by Blues C&GM Mike Keenan. Said Iron Mike, when asked to comment on the media's criticisms of this past summer's Blues transactions: "The reporters didn't have the courtesy to ask me what I thought of the moves. I wasn't called by any of these reporters on the deals. They never asked my opinion."

*After the Blues Opening Night 5-3 victory over Edmonton, Blues center Ian Laperriere was asked about the rules changes implemented this season/ "I have to work hard and play physical," said Laperriere. "Yes, I have to think about the rules changes. I can't play with the stick anymore. I don't blame the ref. I blame the league."

The likeable Laperriere also commented on the importance of conditioning. "I played a total of 91 games last year. I have to take care of myself...eat well...stay in shape," he said.

When asked about personal goals, Laperriere said "I just go day-by-day and play hard." When it was pointed out that his English was much improved over last year, he smiled and looked at his teammates, saying "The best way to learn English is to talk to these guys."

*After the Edmonton game, Grant Fuhr patiently answered tens of questions. Many of the questions centered on his reaction to the fans booing of Mike Keenan, as well as his own view of Curtis Joseph. The soft-spoken Fuhr won over the media horde with well-phrased answers to these and other questions. "It's gonna take time to win people over. Curtis was very popular. Whether they like me or not was out of my hands."


Game 6 RamNotes by JIM HUNSTEIN (10.15.95)

*This fifth win of the year means the Rams have already bettered their number of wins from last year. It also matches their victory total from 1993. Speaking of five, the Rams are 5-0 against NFC teams this year.

*The Bighorns are 3-0 at Busch Stadium this year, on a seven-game Busch winning streak, and are 9-1 overall at Busch. This 3-0 home start is their best since 1989...when they whipped the Colts, Packers, and these same Falcons in weeks 2,3, and 5.

*The attendance was 59,700 to set yet another record. Anybody got a crowbar to fit in a few more for the 49ers game? There were actually 347 no-shows, otherwise the attendance would have topped 60,000. Must be selling seats around the upper rim.

*During the player introductions, CB Todd Lyght was taking only four steps to cover 10 yards. That's 2.5 yards per stride.

*The mascot spent most of the National Anthem talking to one of the cheerleaders. Hmmm. (Sorry. Coudn't resist.)

*With his 5-1 record, Coach Rich Brooks is an early favorite for NFC coach of the year. But he's only tied for first among rookie head coaches: The Raiders' Mike White is also 5-1.

*For those who are need of such information, here are the members of the Rams kickoff units: Kicking; 41 CB Todd Lyght, 18 WR JT Thomas, 29 CB Dexter Davis, 23 DB Gerald McBurrows, 57 LB Thomas Homco, 3 K Steve McLaughlin (of course), 22 DB Mike Scurlock, 30 RB Ron Wolfley, 21 CB John Reece, 53 LB Cedric Figaro, 50 LB Carlos Jenkins. Receiving; Reece, Homco, Scurlock, Jenkins, McBurrows, Figaro, Wolfley, 87 TE Jim Price, 81 WR Todd Kinchen, Thomas.

*The last time a field goal was blocked and returned for a TD against the Rams was...never! This was the first. The last time a field goal was blocked was 12/18/94 by Alonzo Spellman at Chicago.

*WR Isaac Bruce had his second 100-yard game in a row. He's the first Ram receiver to record back-to-back 100-yard games since Henry Ellard in weeks 3 and 4 in 1990. This was Bruce's third 100-yarder in four weeks.

*Superstar Bruce has achieved the next level: He now has two chants. Besides the "Bruuuuce", the crowd also sings his name to "Bruce! There it is!"

*Speaking of crowd chants, the Busch squatters utilized an obscene cheer as a way of expressing their displeasure at penalties calling back a couple keys plays, including a beautiful touchdown pass to TE Marv Cook.

*The skies over downtown looked like some kind of bizarre air war with helicopters buzzing the Goodyear blimp.

*The national anthem was sung by non other than Eartha Kitt her own self. Future singers must include Julie Newmar and Lee Merriweather to complete the original Catwoman trifecta. Michelle Pfeiffer? No way. The fifth Beatle is never included in Fab Four honorings.


Mizzou News (10.15.95)

The Missouri Tigers traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska and lost to the Cornhuskers for the 17th consecutive time. The final score was 57-0.

On the heels of a 30-0 shutout loss to Kansas State, the Tigers offense repeated its woeful performance. Missouri gained only 122 total yards...and gained 39 yards rushing (in 39 carries).

Of note is that freshman QB Corby Jones appeared in the game, thus losing his redshirt season as Coach Larry Smith pulled out all the stops. Jones is expected to play more during the remaining portion of the season.

Nebraska improved its record to 6-0, while Missouri's record drops to 2-4. Oklahoma State's Cowboys travel to Columbia next Saturday.


St. Louis Univ. News by EVAN PEDERSEN

October rolls around, the temperature begins to drop, the leaves change color, and self-respecting college basketball fans around the country have one thought on their mind...Midnight Madness, and the official start of the basketball season.

October 15th at 12:01 am the Saint Louis University men's basketball team opened practice with over 1,500 fans cheering them on. Billikens fans have had a lot to cheer about the last two seasons with Saint Louis University reaching the NCAA tournament both years and advancing to the round of 32 last season. But the question most fans were asking in the wee hours of Sunday morning were, "Who are these guys?"

Gone are Erwin Claggett, Scott Highmark, H Waldman, and most of the rest of the familiar Bills. Enter Corey Frazier, Donnie Adkins, Jamall Walker, and J. J. Halliburton. Who? With 5 freshmen, 2 sophomores and 2 transfers, it will take this team a while to gel, but the new Bills put on quite a show.

Freshman guard J.J. Halliburton opened the evening by running out on the court and doing a double back handspring into a backflip a la Ozzie Smith. University of Miami transfer and former Kirkwood High School standout Jamal Johnson took an entry pass on the second play of the game, drop-stepped between two defenders and did a two handed monster slam. Sure didn't see any of that the last two years. Freshman small forward Donnie Adkins stole the show in the dunking exhibition with several gravity defying leaps. Then he did his best Scott Highmark impersonation by going 4-4 from the 3-point line and finishing with ascrimmage high 14 points.

Sophomore guard Corey Frazier looked eerily similar to Erwin Claggett with his knack for the outside shot and ability to attack the basket.

The blue team, led by seniors Carlos McCauley and Jamal Johnson, easily defeated the white team. Rounding out the squad was Halliburton, Cobbin, Adkins, and Caswell.

The white team consisted of returning players 6'5 forward Jeff Harris, 6'8" Sekeue Barentine, and newcomers Walker (6'0"), Frazier (6'2"), Nondas (6'9") and Ryan Luechtefeld (6'8").

While SLU is young and extremely inexperienced, one thing that was evident was the height. Five of the Bills are 6' 8" or taller...a dramatic change from the last few years.

But after all the fanfare and the fun, it was time for the Bills to go to bed and be back on the court at 4:00 Sunday afternoon to start fitting together the pieces for a third straight run at the NCAA tournament.

*Other Billikens Notes: Derek Thomas the CBC head coach and former Billikens asistant under Rich Grawer, resigned his CBC position and was rehired by Spoonhour when assistant coach Kelvin Lee took a similar position at Texas A&M under Tony Barone.

*Erwin Claggett is planning to sign a contract to play for the Connecticut Pride of the Continental Basketball Association.


Illini News (10.15.95)

Michigan State fullback Scott Greene scored four touchdowns and led the Spartans to a 27-21 victory over Illinois. With the loss, Illinois' record falls to 3-3 (1-2 in the Big 10).

Illinois' musical QB continued as Johnny Johnson relieved starter Scott Weaver early in the third quarter. Weaver fumbled twice and threw two interceptions.

Positives for Illinois included Robert Holcombe's career-best 146 yards rushing. The Illini's next game is October 28, when they host Northwestern.


StLSO Quote of the Week (10.15.95)

On his KFNS afternoon show, Jay Randolph Jr., when informed that Post-Dispatch sportswriter Jeff Gordon was an occasional contributor to StLSO, laughed and said: "Well, we won't hold that against you."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Gordon is the godfather of St. Louis Sports Online.


StLSO Headline of the Week (10.15.95)

From the 9.15.95 Post-Dispatch: "'Huskers Sputter to 57-0 Victory".


Opening Night and Mike Keenan by BRIAN STULL (10.15.95)

After the Blues 5-3 victory in their home opener October 10 at the Kiel Center, Head Coach/GM Mike Keenan held his customary post-game media conference. After some general discussion about the game, Keenan was asked how he felt about being booed by the fans during the pre-game introductions. What follows is Keenan's response and further dialogue with the press......

KEENAN: "It's unfortunate, I'm disappointed...and hurt. I was give a mandate by our owners, I cut 11.5 million worth of salaries, I removed 17 players out of the organization including a couple of stars and tried to build the best hockey club I could with the amount of money I was given.....I don't know what the fans expect and I suppose they may have somebody in mind who could do a better job for them, I don't know. And if they do, they should express themselves.

MEDIA: ..."were you surprised that the crowd wasn't a sellout?"

KEENAN: "....you couldn't tell at first with the lights down. There's football in town now, too. So,...it's very disheartening and it's very disappointing to see the reaction. I don't know, as I said, we built franchises from the base before in Chicago and worked with the youngest pro team in sport with Philadelphia, coached a team that had never made the playoffs to a Stanley Cup playing team and, I don't know. They (the fans) are obviously getting feedback from you people (the media) as well. So, I think they base most of their opinion on what's written or said in here. I think it's very unfair.

MEDIA: "Do you think maybe the fans don't understand what it takes to win a Stanley Cup?"

KEENAN: "Well, that might be part of it, but I think the older fans must know, you had two Stanley Cup playing teams here with expansion. Maybe that's too long ago, I don't know.

MEDIA: "Were you disappointed that you had...(inaudible)..."

KEENAN: "Well, I've, as I said, coached the Blackhawks and when I went there they weren't a very good playoff team and, in fact, the fan base was at an all time low of 8,000 season ticket holders that went to 14,500 by the time we left and as I said, we went to the final four three of four years and the finals once...and went to the finals two out of four years in Philly and end up in first place three times in the division, first twice overall in the league, first overall in the league in Chicago, we were third overall with no pre-season or training camp a year ago with this team, and yeah...it was."

MEDIA: "Mike, is there a message you'd like to give to the fans?"

KEENAN: "I don't know if the fans are getting the message from the people in here. I think, as I said, that you guys have been unfair. I think you guys have been unfair. They can make up their own minds and have their own opinions, but I think a lot of it's been written from here--it's been pretty negative."

MEDIA: "So, what do you think has been the most unfair thing?"

KEENAN: "Well, there were a lot of value judgements made about hockey players and support of fan favorites. Like when Michael Shanahan was fired, I made the decision to stay here and then the ownership group came with a mandate to cut the budget by three million bucks. As I said, I've traded or made moves to get rid of 17 contracts over the course of the summer which is 11.5 million dollars and with that signed some free agents that were available there, probably paid too much for some of them, but there is a competitive market so you pay what you have to pay to get them and that means that there were three or four other clubs vying for every player that we were able to, and we lost out on some too. We lost out on 2 or 3 free agents that we tried to sign. At the same time, I don't think you've given these guys a chance, either.

"But, there was a little bit of reaction when I traded Savard in Chicago, but not like this. Not nearly like this because they gave Chelios a chance. Chelios has become, and is without question, the best player in that franchise and has been for the past five years. Chris Pronger tonight, in my opinion, dominated the game. And he's just one player, and Shayne Corson was a very dominating player as was Dale Hawerchuk, as was Noonan and Courtnall. Noonan and Courtnall were very important, so I don't think you're giving any of us a chance. And Grant Fuhr, if he can't play goal, I'll be surprised. And yeah, I knew there was a risk in it, and I took that risk, but, on the other hand what he's shown in the last four games--he couldn't be any worse than the goaltending we had a year ago. But, I don't know. That's my perception of my opinion. I was asked if the fans were being fair, maybe they are. They're entitled to do and say what they want, they pay for the seats."

MEDIA: inaudible

KEENAN: "In my opinion, I've said it all along, it's a better team. It doesn't take, you people can see it with your own eyes, I don't have to explain it you or even defend it. The players know it and you know it and hopefully one day the fans will know it. We never had a Dale Hawerchuk to put out on the power play with Brett Hull a year ago. Yeah, there were moves made--I'd still make the Janney move. Craig Janney to me is not a hockey player that we want on this hockey team. The toughest trade I had to make was Brendan Shanahan, but he makes 3.5 million dollars. And we needed more hockey players with a reduced budget, so that's the only way I could figure it out. Any more questions?"

MEDIA: "When during the calendar year of the offseason did you find out you needed to cut the budget by 3.5 million dollars?"

KEENAN: "Before, just before the Brendan Shanahan trade."

MEDIA: "Is it correct that when you decided to stay, that mandate had not come down?"

KEENAN: "That is correct."

MEDIA: "Would you have stayed if that mandate had been there?"

KEENAN: "It's a moot point, isn't it."

That ended the post-game conference and opened the Blues locker room. It was interesting to note the mixed reaction and mood change among the media assembled for the conference. Several seemed shocked or in disbelief that they had been lumped together, not to mention accused, of being unfair. In my opinion, much of what Coach Keenan said was indeed accurate and on track.

Whether it's because of last season's faltering in the playoffs, the off-season acquisitions and departures, having to share the spotlight with a new, and winning football team, or a combination of all of these, the Blues are no longer the media darlings they were last year. Remember when Keenan first arrived? Everyone except the extreme anti-Keenanites believed we had already won the cup. Every move was applauded loudly across the front pages as well as on radio and television.

Now, things have changed. The Blues didn't win and fan (and media) favorites Brendan Shanahan and Curtis Joseph are gone. So is Zombo, Carbonneau, and others. In their place have arrived Dale Hawerchuk, Shayne Corson, Geoff Courtnall, Brian Noonan, Grant Fuhr, Chris Pronger, Dallas Eakins, and Jay Wells to name a few. What sort of reaction would've occurred if these moves had been made prior to last year? Sure, Shanahan and Joseph would've still been missed, but I wonder if the newcomers would've received more of an open arms response instead of questions and doubts.

Keenan is correct. This is a better hockey club--stronger, deeper, and more balanced. The players believe this as well. New faces, old faces, young faces, they all echo Keenan's sentiments about the ability of this team. Captain Brett Hull has spoken often about his support and excitement of playing with his new teammates. And why do you think the free agents wanted to come here? Sure, the money didn't hurt, but they believe this team, the team put together by Mike Keenan, can win it all. Are there still some questions, sure. But as one player explained to me last season, Keenan's system is simple: he demands everyone give 100% and to be interchangeable so that anyone can play on any line with anybody. This season it looks like most of the parts are here, all we have to do now is see if the system works--and based on past success, it does.


Top 20 Rejected Marketing Themes For The Blues by JIM HUNSTEIN (10.15.95)

Speaking of the Blues, their season is now officially underway. After all the tumultuous changes that Coach/General Manager Mike Keenan has inflicted on the team, it's little wonder that the suits in the home office had to come up with a primo marketing blitz to capture the hearts of the fans. Following are from the discard pile.

20. New And Improved! Chunky Style Blues!
19. We've Never Missed A Field Goal
18. No, Really, This Year For Sure!
17. We Were Blue & Gold Before Blue & Gold Was Cool
16. Real Men Wear Knee Socks And Sweaters With Their Shorts
15. Hockey: A Concussion A Game Ain't No Thing
14. VO2 Be Or Not To Be?
13. We Gladly Accept Your New $100 Bills!
12. No Ice Fishing
11. Opponent's Goals: Fuhr And Far Between
10. PSL Losers Welcome
9. Blues Hockey: What Indoor Sports Was Meant To Be!
8. A Pucking Good Time!
7. It's Not Our Fault It Rhymes With "Lose"
6. Compared To Football, Our Prices Are Almost Cheap!
5. Come See Our Sticks!
4. Blues Hockey: In The On-Time Dome!
3. It's Hull-Acious!
2. Hey, We Don't Know You Either.
1. More Bloody Gloves Than You Can Shake A Stick At!


Top 12 Reasons Blues Fans Were Booing At The Home Opener by JIM HUNSTEIN (10.15.95)

12. Actually, just cheering their team, the Bluuuuuues.
11. They were caught in the middle of the "fish" cheer from Woodstock.
10. Debating the correct pronunciation of that noted French writer, philosopher, and penalty killer, Marcel Proust; most thought it should be Proooooooost.
9. Counting Keenan's years with the club; twooooooo. (Although some weresaying tooooooo many.)
8. First part of "ooooooohs" and "ahs" for Pronger's size.
7. Non-drinkers were ordering tea - ooooooolong.
6. They think Fuhr looks like Winnie the Poooooooh.
5. Quoting their favorite line at the end of "The Longest Yard" when Eddie Albert as the weasel warden is screaming at Burt Reynolds as Paul "The Wrecking" Creeeeeew as he went to pick up the game ball.
4. Thought Isaac Bruuuuuuce was in the house.
3. Chanting for the Rams' cheerleaders, those Embraceable Ewwwwwwwes.
2. Trying to attract a beer vendor by yelling like Arnold Horshack.
1. They weren't booing, they were saying "Whoooooooo?"'


Blues Opening Night vs. Edmonton Oilers by BRIAN STULL (10.15.95)

The Blues defeated the Oilers 5-3 in a game marked by the Kiel Center partisans booing of Mike Keenan, strong goaltending by Grant Fuhr, and four goals by Brett Hull.

The traditional laser show opened the festivities for the Blues home opener as St.Louis played host to the Edmonton Oilers last Tuesday night at Kiel Center. The announced crowd of 17,565 didn't have to wait long for something to cheer about as Brett Hull sent a deep pass behind the Edmonton net for Adam Creighton. The pass drew Oiler goalie Bill Ranford out of the net and Creighton deflected the puck back to Hull for the open netter at 1:13.

Edmonton needed just over four minutes to tie things up as left winger Kelly Buchberger took a pass and streaked along the near boards before beating Blues goalie Grant Fuhr with a slapshot stick side.

The Blues maintained their offensive pressure with defenseman Jeff Norton leading the puck in for a series of shots from Chris Pronger, Esa Tikkanen, and Creighton but Ranford held strong for Edmonton. St.Louis had another strong chance during a power play when center Dale Hawerchuk used some fancy stick work to set up an Al MacInnis slapshot. But once again, Ranford was there for the save.

Later in the 1st, it was the Blues penalty killing that came up big. With :44 left in Geoff Courtnall's high sticking penalty, Pronger was whistled for slashing. Edmonton's David Oliver was able to break in only to be denied on a great save by Fuhr. The Blues killed off the rest of the penalty and the game settled into a defensive battle until 18:50 when referee called and open ice check from center Ian Laperriere high sticking.

Hawerchuk spoiled the Edmonton power play, intercepting an Oiler pass center ice and breaking in on Ranford. Hawerchuk's shot was stopped, but Hull was there to bury the rebound and the Blues went up 2-1 with a minute left in the first period. The Golden Brett made an attempt for the hat trick with :25 left, but Ranford put the pads on the back-hander the period ended with the Blues up by one.

The Blues continued their steady offensive pressure and strong defense to open the second period. Laperriere and Shayne Corson had a nice attempt and Fuhr came up with a big save on Edmonton's Bryan Marchment. The game's physical intensity picked up as Hull was rammed into the post by Jiri Slegr and moments later Kirk Maltby joined his teammate in the penalty box after slashing Pronger.

This 5 on 3 advantage was all the Blues needed as Pronger slid a pass across the top to MacInnis, who sent a hard pass to the net Hull was able to deflect pass Ranford the goal and the hat trick at 6:51. Edmonton tried to strike back, but Grant Fuhr continued to make the big saves.

At 9:40, Laperriere to a pass from Dallas Eakins and burst into the Edmonton zone only to be tackled by the Oiler defense. Laperriere, the defender, and the puck all crashed under Ranford for the goal and the Blues were up 4-1.

Tempers flared soon after when Edmonton's Scott Thornton tied up with Eakins for a battle resembling "Rock'em Sock'em Robots". Eakins received 5:00 for fighting, Thornton was sent to the showers, picking up instigating, fighting, and a game misconduct.

The penalties hurt Edmonton as the Blues power play did it again with the combination of Pronger to MacInnis to Hull putting past Ranford. The goal(4) tied Hull's career best for a game, as well as tying him for the NHL lead in goals.

The Oilers had a chance late in the period, when Pronger, whistled for holding, was sent to the box to join Tikkanen who was serving an unsportsmanlike after arguing about referee Lance Roberts selection of penalty calling. The penalty killing, backed by Fuhr, continued to shine and closed out the second period with the Blues leading 5-1.

Edmonton's power play finally got on the board at 12:39 in the third, when Doug Weight sent a shot to the net. Fuhr couldn't stop the rebound and David Oliver was there to knock it in. The crowd responded with a much deserved applause for Fuhr (who had received mixed reaction during introductions), who had stopped everything sent his way since early in the first.

Minutes later with Chasse off for hooking, the weary Blues penalty killers were victimized again as Doug Weight was able to sneak one into the net at 18:05. That led to a St.Louis bench minor and captain Brett Hull receiving a 10:00 game misconduct for arguing with Roberts and breaking his stick over the boards. The Blues then used that frustration to shut down Edmonton's last attempts and held on for the 5-3 victory.

GAMENOTES: Grant Fuhr stopped 33 of 36 shots, Bill Ranford 22/27......Blues received 18 penalties for 47:00, Edmonton 10/31:00......In 10:36 the St.Louis power play was 2 of 6, Edmonton 26:13/ 2 of 15.

From St. Louis Sports Online #42

October 22, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (10.22.95)

One has to wonder whether anyone involved with the Kiel Center Partners was paying attention as Mike Shanahan turned the Blues from an unpopular, generally uncared-for franchise into a flourishing public dynamo. Granted, the team made money during the Harry Ornest regime, but Shanahan turned the franchise into the pride of St. Louis. He orchestrated the signing of stars, and then had a staff to promote them, integrate them into the community, and make them St. Louisans. Now, with Shanahan gone, Blues players are virtually invisible in town. If ten people saw Brian Noonan, Dale Hawerchuk and Shayne Corson walking down the street, perhaps one would know who they are. Part of the reason for the Blues popularity, and the success of the NBA, is the marketing of stars. The organization would do well to get players and nice guys such as Al MacInnis, Corson, Grant Fuhr, Hawerchuk and of course Brett Hull out in public. There must be some reason, in addition to the arrival of the Rams, for the Blues lower attendance figures so far. Stars sell, and the Blues would do well to sell their stars, first. By the way, by not raising ticket prices this year, the Blues dropped from second to seventh in the league in average ticket price. Boston, Chicago, the Rangers, San Jose and Detroit are among the teams with higher prices than St. Louis.

The Cardinals' apparent imminent hiring of Tony LaRussa is a terrific move. Of all of the available managers, he is the one with the most name recognition, the most previous success, and the understanding of "Cardinal baseball." LaRussa managed a team with good speed, (Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Walt Weiss) and used it well. They played decent fundamental baseball, and pitched well. LaRussa and his staff were able to resurrect the careers of Dave Henderson, Geronimo Berroa, Dennis Eckersley, Dave Stewart, Bob Welch and Rick Honeycutt, to name a few. Let's hope he brings along his Oakland pitching coach, Dave Duncan. In doing a little LaRussa research, it appears he used his bullpen in a National League style while working in the American League. If LaRussa's adjustment to the NL is anything like his former coach Jim Leyland's, the Cards should be fine from a managerial standpoint.

It was interesting to see the 49ers, coming off back-to-back losses, playing at their best. Now the Rams will have to wait 'til Thanksgiving weekend to face their stiffest challenge: a rematch with what will most likely be the Steve Young-led 49ers. But the next few weeks should put St. Louis in the playoffs. With road games in Philadelphia, Atlanta and New Orleans, in addition to the November 12 Dome opener against Carolina, the Rams may not lose again by the time they hit Candlestick on November 26th.

Good luck to the defending NPSL Champion St. Louis Ambush. They open their '95-'96 campaign in a couple of weeks, and most expert observers look for St. Louis to repeat as league champs. We'll follow them closely here at St. Louis Sports Online.


Cardinals News (10.22.95)

Reports persist that Tony La Russa will be named manager of the Cardinals on Monday of this week.

It is impossible to over-estimate the degree to which the culture that surrounds the Cardinals will change, should LaRussa assume the manager's role. To say that the man is focused and intense is putting it mildly.

It is hard to place blame with either Joe Torre or Mike Jorgensen, but LaRussa's presence in the dugout means that many of the mistakes of the past will simply not be tolerated. And it is difficult to imagine that any of the personalities on the Cardinals roster will present La Russa with situations that he hasn't faced previously (Jose Canseco and Rickey Henderson come to mind, as well as Ruben Sierra, who LaRussa termed "The Village Idiot").

In addition, LaRussa's public personna (outspoken and opinionated are two appropriate descriptions) nicely complements Cards GM Walt Jocketty's more understated approach.


Blues News (10.22.95)

*A sign that the Blues have not adjusted to the NHL's new rule changes: prior to the Blackhawk game, nine Blues were in double figures in penalty time (led by Ian Laperriere's 24 PIM), while the Chicagoans had only two (Jeremy Roenick with 14 and Gary Suter with 12). After the Chicago game, Mike Keenan was asked whether the Blues were taking bad penalties...or whether poor officiating was to blame. "I don't know; I don't know," said Keenan.

*According to Blues President Jack Quinn, the club has sold 14,800 season ticket packages, an all-time high.

*League sources say that the top 4 referees in the NHL are, in order: Bill McCreary, Kerry Fraser, Terry Gregson, and Andy Van Hellemond.

*After his third period tussle with Hawks enforcer Bob Probert, Blues winger Denis Chasse was still on fire. In a very controlled fashion, Chasse was quite explicit in carefully describing why he and "Probie" dropped the gloves. "Look, nothing was going to happen...but then it seemed like the ref and the linesman made it worse. They were telling me 'He's the King...he's the Master'. I'm not going to take that."

Blues fans are going to like Chasse. Recall that he was the Blues second leading scorer in the 1995 playoff series vs. the Canucks.

(contributions by Randy Hu)


Game 7 RamNotes by JIM HUNSTEIN (10.22.95)

*This loss snaps the three-game home winning streak for 1995.

*TE Marv Cook played in his 104th consecutive game.

*WR Jessie Hester has now caught a ball in 85 consecutive games. He is currently third among active receivers behind WR Jerry Rice, who has 150. (That's third on the all-time list.)

*Rice was thwarted in his effort to take over the NFL career record for receiving yards from former vagabond James Lofton. Rice was 94 yards short of the record but only got 21 yards for the game. Question: Does his two yards on the two-point conversion count?

*After each of his interception returns, LB Ken Norton, Jr. did a little heavy bag work a la Ken, Sr. as he beat up the goal post padding. After the first one, the pads had to be retaped. After the second, the crossbar-mounted camera had to be fixed.

*WR Isaac Bruce had his third straight 100-yard receiving game. (He had it wrapped up in the second quarter.) It marks the most consecutive games for the Rams since Bob Boyd's four straight to open the 1954 season. Bruce was named last week's Miller Lite NFL Player of the Week as well as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 10-catch, 191-yard effort against the Falcons.

*The Rams dominated in two categories that typically bode well for a team: They had the ball for six and a half minutes more than the 49ers. The Bighorns also had almost 100 more total yards, 355 to 257. They also had one less punt, but then you don't need to punt so often when you throw four interceptions.

*The skinny from the press box; don't hold your breath that the Trans World Dome will be ready even for the Carolina game in three weeks.

*It was old home week for a number of former college teammates. The most notable reunion was for Rams' RB Jerome Bettis and CB Todd Lyght and 49ers DE Junior Bryant, DT Bryant Young, and LB Anthony Peterson, all of whom played together at Notre Dame.

*Rams' Coach Rich Brooks spent the 1974-1975 season as the special teams coach for the 49ers.

*The scariest moment of the game came early in the fourth quarter. On a punt return, WR Todd Kinchen muffed the catch. Fellow returnman WR JT Thomas recovered at the two, circled back through the end zone, and made for daylight. But he got caught from behind by LB Antonio Goss, who grabbed a handful of Thomas's facemask, and twisted the Ram to the ground. Thomas's head turned all the way around and he suffered a hyper-extended back.

*There was a moment of silence observed before the national anthem for legendary Mizzou coach Don Faurot, who passed away earlier in the week.

*The honorary ballboy for the Rams for the game was young hero Larry Champagne. He's the fifth grader who took control of a runaway bus earlier this month when the driver suffered a stroke.

*The Rams, in their seven games, have scored one fewer point (148) than their opponents (149).


StLSO Quote of the Week (10.22.95)

After the Blues-Blackhawks tussle Saturday night, Mike Keenan addressed the media with his usual no-holds-barred approach. "[He] didn't play very much and [he] didn't play very well," said Blues Coach Keenan, referring to Dale Hawerchuk, the player that Blues GM Mike Keenan signed to a three-year $7.5 million dollar deal during the recent off-season.


StLSO Headline of the Week (10.22.95)

From the 10.21.95 P-D: "La Russa Ready To Bite on Cards' Bait"


Family Matters by JIM PETKOVSEK (10.22.95)

EDITOR'S NOTE

St. Louis Sports Online has been pleased to provide its readers with news and features on everything related to St. Louis-area athletes, teams, and events. Not surprisingly, StLSO often serves as a primary source of information for relatives of St. Louis athletes, relatives who often live hundreds of miles from St. Louis.

Usually (but not always!), the far-flung family members are happy with the news brought to their computers by StLSO's correspondents.

Jim Petkovsek, an older brother of Cardinals righthander Mark Petkovsek, sent e-mail to StLSO last spring, asking "To what degree are you planning to cover the Louisville Redbirds, and would it be possible for St. Louis Sports Online to provide Redbirds stats?"

It is important to point out that Jim's e-mail was signed "Jim P. in Texas". It wouldn't have made any difference, though, had he signed his mail using his full name. At that time, very few St. Louisans (including yours truly) were aware of Mark Petkovsek's exploits at Louisville.

Anyway, StLSO gets a handful of requests like Jim's each month. When possible, we try to use the power of the Internet to satisfy our readers' interests.

After lining up a Louisville correspondent, a response was sent to Jim, saying that things looked good for an occasional summary of the Cardinals AAA affiliate.

Jim replied and explained that the Howe Sportsdata Service had offered to provide him with all the stats he wanted. But he noted that the price was too steep (several hundred dollars), and that he would look forward to our reports.

But a Texan...interested in the Louisville Redbirds? This seemed a bit unusual...and his e-mail was filed away for future reference.

Not long after "Jim P. in Texas" inquired about the Louisville club, the Cardinals purchased the contract of Mark Petkovsek from Louisville. Unknown to most Cardinal fans, Petkovsek, a veteran righthander, had put together some impressive numbers in eight starts with the Redbirds.

Prior to his first St. Louis appearance, the Cards front office put together a press release that summarized important personal and professional facts about Petkovsek and his background. A couple of things stood out about Mark Petkovsek. First, the uncommon surname. Second, Petkovsek was born and raised in Texas, and played college baseball at the University of Texas.
After checking the previous correspondence with "Jim P. in Texas", it seemed that Jim left a clue or two that enabled inquiring minds to surmise that Jim and Mark Petkovsek were, in some way, related. A couple of e-mailings later, Jim Petkovsek confirmed that, yes, he and Mark were brothers. After StLSO profiled Mark Petkovsek (ISSUE #21), Jim sent an e-mail letter of thanks, and mentioned how important the concept of family was to the entire clan of Petkovseks.

As the '95 season wore on, in addition to providing a woeful Cardinals squad with some much needed innings (he led the team in innings pitched), Mark Petkovsek became one of the most respected members of the Cardinals pitching staff. Cardinal announcers, radio and TV sportscasters, sportswriters...everybody seemed to have a kind word to say about Petkovsek's performance on the mound. The guy pitched like a bulldog, and seemed to get every ounce out of his pitching repertoire...a repertiore which, while not including a 90 MPH fastball, did include a wicked sinkerball.

But there was something else, too. People (including teammates) seemed to like Mark Petkovsek. Perhaps the experience of several years in the minor leagues had given him a dose of wisdom and maturity not often found in major leaguers. Whatever--the guy was likeable and, more importantly, he was getting people out!

This was quite a surprise, coming from a career minor leaguer such as Petkovsek. Indeed, while Tom Henke's season certainly qualifies him as the Cardinal Pitcher of the Year, Petkovsek's 1995 performance puts him at the top of all Cardinals starters.
Joe Torre and Mike Jorgensen must have felt confident in Petkovsek: his 21 starts and 137.1 innings pitched led the Redbirds in those categories.

But back to Jim Petkovsek.

At the conclusion of the season, Jim was asked if he would consider writing a short piece in StLSO that would summarize his view of Mark's '95 season with the Cardinals.

A summer's worth of occasional correspondence left a few hints as to what the article would contain. But that wasn't the only evidence which indicated that the Petkovsek family was special.

One Saturday afternoon prior to a Cards game, in the Busch Stadium West Parking Garage, a Dodge mini-van with Texas license plates pulled in to the space next to my car. Now, Texas IS a large state, but I had to ask.

"Do you know Mark Petkovsek? He's from Texas, too", I said to a woman who appeared to be the mother of two kids. She smiled broadly (as did a man who appeared to be her husband), turned toward me, and said "Of course. Everyone knows the Petkovseks."

I was so darned excited I failed to write down their names. But the two adults went on for a couple of minutes describing the Petkovsek family, and how they all seemed to stay together and pull for Mark, the youngest of eight children.

Nifty, eh?

In my own mind, that parking garage conversation was one of the brighter moments in a most dreadful season for the Cardinals.

Jim Petkovsek's story about his brother Mark and the 1995 Cardinals baseball season follows.


My Brother's Summer of 1995 by JIM PETKOVSEK (10.22.95)

Baseball has been a part of my family's life for as long as any of us can remember. Mark is the youngest of a family of eight brothers and sisters and it is a point in his favor that he developed not as a stereotypical "baby" but as a quiet, aggressive and confident young man who excelled in all sports. His father taught him a few things, his brothers may have added a few more bits to his make-up, but Mark learned the most from quietly studying those around him. It is his quiet, calm nature that can be his biggest asset and at times has been pointed to by others as a sign of weakness.

I disagree with the latter viewpoint and credit those criticisms to those who haven't taken the time to learn about Mark. His fire to succeed burns hot and deep--but below the surface.

As Mark moved up the ranks in the game we in the family seemed to feel more and more...something. I don't know what. Maybe anxiety because we wished so much good to come to our little brother.

This spring began like so many previous years for Mark. Hopes of a major league camp fading into the more familiar excuses ending in a strong minor league camp performance. We all knew he would do well and with a little luck would move up to the majors when the time was right.

We always believed in Mark but not until this season did he really get the opportunity to do what he had been training for all those years...to be a starting pitcher.

For me it was difficult to listen to KMOX (and not because of all the static) on the games he pitched. Depending on how Mark performed I would wake up early... to either agonize over the newspaper boxscores or savor my morning coffee while I listened to ESPN butcher our last name. More often I stayed up late to analyze every statistic my computer would generate about the games.

Mark's season with the Cardinals was full of ups and downs and he would be the first to tell you that he'd love another chance with this club to improve over last year...to help an organization that had faith in him. Mark has a big cheering section pulling for him--hoping that things work out and we can all go through this again next year!!!!! Ugh!!! (joke).

Thank you, St. Louis Sports Online, for bringing baseball closer, to me and my family, than ever before. We all have someone to whom we wish good things come. During the 1995 baseball season, good things happened to the Petkovsek family. It was quite satisfying to watch the summer unfold before our eyes. Let's hope we can do it again next season.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Petkovsek is pronounced pet-KIE-zek, with the emphasis on the second syllable (which rhymes with pie).

Mark Petkovsek: 1995 Statistics

Team       W-L  PCT  ERA  G GS CG ShO  IP   H   R HR BB SO WP
Louisville 4-1 .800 2.32  8  8  2  1  54.1  38 16  3  8 30  1
St. Louis  6-6 .500 4.00 26 21  1  1 137.1 136 71 11 35 71  1

Team       AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SH
St. Louis .081 37 4 3  0  0  0  2   5 11  2

Jim Hart Memories by screenname PAGANNBABY (10.22.95)

I sit here on the eve of the Rams/49ers game having absorbed another Missouri football loss (vs Oklahoma State) with the help of too many cold frosty Busch beers. It strikes me that the Rams could perform a very neat function for the benefit of us old Big Red fans who have followed them from the start of this year's training camp. Retire Jim Hart's 17.

From the outset, let me state that I know little of the Ram's past in LA and other cities. The number 17 may be already spoken for by a prominent Rams player. Their first quarterback I can remember with clarity was Roman Gabriel. I also appreciate that it is usually the team that retires the number rather than the city. This suggestion is merely to undo an injustice.

When I started following the GridBirds, Charlie Johnson was the quarterback. As a kid, the Johnson/Hart dilemma was the first QB controversy I heard about on any team. Charlie Winner decided that Hart was the future and moved Johnson (himself a very good player). The Cards prior to Don Coryell had occasional good teams and flirtations with the playoffs, but never quite made it. In those days, it was popular among St. Louis fans to lay all the blame on the quarterback for the lack of the team's success. Hart withstood the handing of the job to various replacements over the years (Gary Cuozzo, Pete Beathard, Tim Van Galder, Steve P. and Neil Lomax to name a few), winning the job back in each case on merit alone, Lomax not withstanding.

When chased out of the pocket, Hart wasn't a pretty thing, resembling more a full-sized van running with one flat tire than an NFL back, but his arm was another story. When given a bit of a running game (MacArthur Lane or Terry Metcalf) to take some of the pressure off of the passing game, or decent pass protection (Cardiac Cards), Hart could be virtually unstoppable. Favorite receivers included Mel Gray, Bobby Moore (guess who), Jackie Smith, JV Cain, Pat Tilley, and Roy Green (whom Hart discovered).

Maybe it's just fan loyalty, but I can't think of anyone of his time who was a better passer. When Don Coryell came to the Cardinals, one of the first things he did was tell the St. Louis press that Hart was the quarterback for his team. Coryell knew what he was doing. (Coryell's successor lost his job because he refused to start ex-Mizzou star Steve P. over Hart. Jim Hanifan was a bit more pragmatic when ordered to play Lomax.)

It is common knowledge that there was bad blood between Hart and Bill Bidwill. That feud kept Hart from ever receiving any official acknowledgment of his contributions to GridBird football. In years past, jersey number 17 has been work by a collection of the Phoenix Cardinals, including special teams members and most recently Dave Kreig. It would be a nice gesture to the fans of St. Louis, and correct a major wrong, if the Rams would recognize his contributions to the city's football legacy with a retirement or some other ceremony.

Better get ready now for the 49ers game and brace for OU coming to town.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As described by Jim Hunstein, the Rams plan to honor 20 former football Cardinals during halftime of today's game. Jim Hart is one of the honorees.

StLSO seconds PAGANNBABY'S sentiment. Under Coach Don Coryell, Hart, Terry Metcalf, and Mel Gray darn near turned St. Louis into a football town in the mid-70's. Remember?


StLSO Interactivity (10.22.95)

*Screenname Gumbot writes--

I'm glad that someone else recognized Eartha Kitt as Catwoman (StLSO ISSUE #41). I was at the concession stand trying to buy an ice cold frosty when she popped up on the monitors. I said, "Hey! It's Catwoman!" and by the looks I got you'd have thought I was drinking a Coors product.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The StLSO hockey staff was surprised to see honest-to-God Miller products (i.e. Icehouse and Red Dog) for sale in special kiosk-type displays during Blues pre-season games in the Kiel Center. Lordy, it seems that everyone is asked to "Embrace Change".

*Ronald W. writes--

I would like to see some information on the Missouri basketball team. Some preseason polls have them in the top ten.

EDITOR'S NOTE: StLSO has written the Missouri Sports Information Office and explained what it is that we do, while requesting that all relevant Tiger info. be passed our way. As of 10.22.95, StLSO has not received a reply from Columbia.

*Pete Ventura writes--
A while back you ran a story about satellite radio and how it works. If it is possible could you please send me a copy. I thougth I saved every copy of my favorite sports mag but I guess I missed one.

*Screenname Illini 80 writes--
I would like information on St. Louis Sports Online. I heard you on KFNS today. My preference would be to access the information on the Internet. Thanks!

*Former Ohioan Jim Herries writes from California--
There is even less St. Louis sports news here in LA than in Ohio, except of course for bitter parting shots by former Rams sportswriters for the Times. Part of my weekly ritual is to go check the Sunday sports page football predictions in the Times for the usual Rams-can't-keep-this-up prediction of a loss. Poor babies!

Also, I was at an airshow at Pt. Mugu (north of LA) and heard the announcer acknowledge he was from Phoenix, which "doesn't have pro football either." It was fun to be among the LA crowd laughing, but for a slightly different reason.

*Jeff Dawson writes from St. Louis--
I heard about St. Louis Sports Online on 590AM and would like to know more. Thanks.

*Erik Klass writes--
Please cancel my subscription to your newsletter. I find that it just takes too long to download the letters when I retrieve my mail. Plus, it is too difficult to find the RAMS news stuffed between all the useless baseball, hockey, etc. news. If you come out with a RAMS-only newsletter, let me know. Thank you.

*Tom Murphy writes--
Please include me on your distribution of St. Louis Sports Online. Thanks!

*Ron writes--
I no longer have a computer, my ex-wife got it! THANKS! for what you have sent. Please take me off your list.

*Chris McCarthy writes--
Hey, I heard your interview on KFNS several weeks ago, I did not get to hear all of it, though. Could you send me some information or whatever i need to start getting your newsletter? Go Blues.

*Tony McColl writes--
Gentlemen. We would like very much to receive your newsletter concerning St. Louis sports. Heard about it on KFNS radio. Thank you very much.

From St. Louis Sports Online #43

October 29, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (10.29.95)

Last week may have been the wildest off the field or ice week in St. Louis sports history. With the hiring of Tony La Russa by the Cardinals, the stripping of the "C" of Brett Hull by Mike Keenan, and the announcement that the Cards are for sale, St. Louis sports fans were in a frenzy.

Monday: To the surprise of no one, La Russa was named as manager by GM Walt Jocketty. At the time, the best available manager. He has worked closely with Jocketty in the past, apparently knows and appreciates the National League style of play, and is tough enough to get the Cards to hustle and play solid fundamental baseball. La Russa will erupt occasionally, and that will be something the Redbirds have lacked since Hal Lanier departed for Houston in 1986. Additionally, Dave Duncan, one of the best in his profession, joins La Russa, and says he's excited about the pitching talent the Cardinals have. LaRussa and Jocketty head to the World Series where they learn that their top choice for an off-season acquisition, Matt Williams, is untouchable. They don't find out definitively about the status of their second choice, Ken Caminiti, whose contract with San Diego is in dispute. Other possibilities that might intrigue the Cards this off-season include 1B's Mark McGwire and Fred McGriff, 2B Craig Biggio, SS Walt Weiss, and 3B Jeff King.

Tuesday: Keenan reveals that He (that is correct, He) has decided to remove the captaincy from Brett Hull, and give it to Shayne Corson. Although Keenan will later blast Post-Dispatch scribes Dave Luecking and Tom Wheatley for not giving his side of the story, he tells Luecking that the problem is an internal one that he doesn't want to discuss. He says Hull has been a model player for him that hustles all the time, just two days after saying Hull had taken the night off. The misinformation spewed out by Keenan continues a pattern that began last year.

Wednesday: Anheuser-Busch shocks the community with news that it is selling the Cardinals. More importantly, what isn't said is that the board of directors came within an eyelash of closing the St. Louis brewery, putting thousands out of work. A-B has always maintained that the Cardinal subsidiary was expected to at least break even or make a profit. Well, a small profit isn't enough to provide proper value for brewery stockholders. Several media members, even on my own station, try to scare fans into believing that the team could move. No chance. Nobody would A) buy a franchise with a stadium and parking garages, which is a requirement of the sale, and move it, leaving their stadium empty, B) move the Cardinals out of one of the two or three best baseball towns in America and C) be able to convince baseball owners, who have kept teams in San Francisco and Pittsburgh, to move a team from St. Louis. Unlike football owners, baseball still has their anti-trust exemption, and can do whatever they like. Cardinal president Mark Lamping was correct his his assessment that in the long run, private ownership will be better for the Cards than public. Why? Because private owners will, we assume, try to make money by being successful, rather than refusing to take a gamble of $500,000 or $1 million to pacify their stockholders. A gold mine is for sale. Now, someone who knows how to properly mine it needs to make the purchase.

Thursday: Stan Kroenke and Enterprise leasing owners Jack and Andy Taylor announce that they have no interest in the Cards. No concrete prospects surface. This observer predicts that the new owner will arrive much like Jerry Jones did for Dallas and the Cowboys, unknown and out of the blue.

Friday: Corson scores two goals in his home debut as Captain in a 4-2 Blues win over Anaheim. The clubhouse is impressively calm, with players to a man supporting Hull.

Saturday: Mizzou plays Oklahoma tough, making one hope that progress is being made...while realistically knowing that this program is years and years away from respectability unless they do what they should have done five years ago...cheat.
Sunday: The St. Louis Rams turn the ball over four times at Philadelphia, and lose 20-9. Chris Miller tosses two interceptions, making it nine in his last four games. Is a switch to Mark Rypien in the offing? Kicker Steve McLaughlin misses a key 33 yard field goal, and by all rights should be out of a job. The Rams reach the midway point at 5-3, surprising even the most optimistic observers. Can the next week, and the next half of the season, be as wild?


Cardinals News (10.29.95)

This week's Post-Dispatch headlines:
--10.24.95: "Skipper Rates 'A' For Effort, Output"
--10.24.95: "He's Kind Of Like Bringing Herzog Back"--10.26.95: "A-B No Ordinary Lame Duck"
--10.26.95: "A-B Sells Soul; Let's Find An Owner With Heart" (Bernie Miklasz Commentary)
--10.29.95: "Cardinals Leave? You Must Be Joking"


Blues Banter by BRIAN STULL (10.29.95)

*Who says special teams aren't a key part of the game: thirteen of the Blues twenty nine goals have come on the power play this year, likewise, the team has given up seventeen of thirty goals on special teams

*Dale Hawerchuk only needs ten goals to reach the 500 career mark, Brett Hull needs 50

*See if you can match which player Coach Keenan was discussing after the Anaheim game:
A) "He is a very valuable member of the hockey club and just as importantly he's one of the keys to the powerplay....He tips well and he's quick around the net, he can pick up rebounds."
B) "...made an impression again. His size and strength is really something we need."
C) "....outstanding, just outstanding!...He played like an All-Star tonight and he has all season long."
If you said A) Shayne Corson B) Roman Vopat and C) Grant Fuhr congratulations

*Despite some persistent questioning from some media, no one in the Blues locker room, including Keenan, Corson, and Hull, felt that there was any relation to the team winning two in a row since the change in captaincy

*More sounds from the locker room
--"I don't want it, give it to Corts"-Jeff Norton after learning he had been credited with the goal instead of Courtnall
--"C'mon we're hockey players, our IQ isn't real high"--Brett Hull joking about why the repetition of practicing the power play is needed.

*Did you notice the "A" on defenseman Jay Wells' sweater in the matchup against Hartford? That is a result of the new rotation in effect for the Blues. Since naming Shayne Corson captain, Mike Keenan announced that the two alternate positions would be rotated by game--not a complete surprise as several Blues wore the "A" in pre-season. Al MacInnis retained his "A" for the Hartford game

*Does anyone really believe that it was Brendan Shanahan who pointed out that Brett Hull was using an illegally curved stick, c'mon would Shanny do that to his old pal?

*I almost feel sorry for the other "tough guys" in the NHL when Tony Twist returns. The Twister is bound to cause more damage to opponents than Hurricane Hugo

*Congratulations to Blues' organist/sound man Tom Docter, aka the Hockey Disc-Jockey, enjoying his honeymoon after recent wedding vows.


StLSO Quote of the Week (10.29.95)

After plea-bargaining his way out of a felony rape charge (by pleading guilty to two reduced misdemeanor charges), Mizzou wide receiver Rahsetnu Jenkins suited up for the Oklahoma game after serving a seven game suspension imposed by Head Coach Larry Smith. According to Vahe Gregorian's story in the 10.29 P-D, after the OU game Jenkins was asked whether his current situation was of his own making. Jenkins response? "I think I'm a model citizen. But certain things happen sometimes. Sometimes beyond my control."


StLSO Headline of the Week (10.29.95)

From the San Francisco Examiner: "La Russa's Lucky, Smart To Be Leaving Oakland Now" (contributed by Stan Johnston)


A's Players Sad to See LaRussa Go by STAN JOHNSTON (10.29.95)

How much do baseball players like working for new Cardinals manager Tony La Russa? Enough to muse about following him from Oakland to St. Louis.

A's slugger Mark McGwire was one of many Oakland players reacting to La Russa's move last week. McGwire told the San Francisco Chronicle he would welcome a trade to the Cardinals.

"I'd be thrilled to death to play for him again," McGwire said "It would be great. We have such close ties, he knows how I play and I know how he manages. It's a sad day for me."

It may be a sad day for the players' pocketbooks, too. La Russa's departure follows the Haas family's decision to sell the team to a new ownership group, effective next week. The new owners plan to cut the team payroll from $35 million to $25 million, and they have said they may have to trade McGwire or catcher Terry Steinbach to reach that goal.

Steve Schott, head of the new ownership group, has criticized McGwire in print and St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty reportedly loves McGwire's abilities. Anything is possible at this stage of the season.

"You wish somebody would have met you before they say some things," McGwire told the Chronicle. "I was pretty shocked to see that. The comments he made didn't sit well with me...I'm concerned about what I've heard of the new owners, and I think the fans in Oakland have to be concerned, too."

Neither fans or players in the Bay Area seemed surprised La Russa was leaving.

"Personally, I kind of expected it," Steinbach said. "From some of the comments I had heard from Schott, it seemed kind of contradictory. Tony felt it was time to move on."

Said Scott Brosius: "At some point you have to make a fresh start. The fact he was so close to the Haas family meant that staying under the new ownership would be kind of tough and kind of uncomfortable."

Still, last weekend Schott told The Sacramento Bee all he wanted was for La Russa to be happy.

"If Tony would be happier in St. Louis, then that's what I want," Schott said. It seems both got their wish. Now Schott must find a replacement, which won't be easy. Kansas City bench coach Jamie Quirk, A's infield coach Carney Lansford and A's batting coach Jim Lefebvre are among the candidates to replace La Russa.

A prerequisite: Work cheap.

"We're looking for someone who has managing experience, not necessarily at the major-league level," general manager Sandy Alderson said. "We're looking for someone who can further the development process of young players."

That is something La Russa excels in doing. Though he'll be absent, many players said La Russa's influence will stay with them a long time.

"He's going to be missed, that's for sure," Todd Van Poppel told the Chronicle. "A lot of things are going to be different the look of our team, the style of baseball. He ran things very smoothly and things were very relaxed. Can another manager do that and duplicate that? I doubt it."

McGwire said said his personal relationship with La Russa had been critical in helping him through some tough times, such as a divorce in 1988. "He was there for me," he said. "We were definitely close, even though there were some wordsbetween us during the strike."

But baseball is big business, so money ultimately was the key issue for La Russa - and it will be for the 1996 A's, too.

"I was just in Hawaii, but I did happen to see a newspaper and saw some comments the new owners made in reference to Rickey (Henderson) and myself. That didn't make me too happy," McGwire told the San Jose Mercury News.

"It's going to be different...They're not the Haases, I'll tell you that."

La Russa's announcement came on the same day that the new owners decided to terminate their director of public affairs, director of baseball information, director of media relations, and administrative assistant for public affairs.

"A lot of important people got let go today and that's sad," McGwire said. "Those people handled the public relations side of it terrifically."

In the end, the team may need all the public-relations help it can get.


A Sampling Of Opinion From Northern California Sports Columnists compiled by STAN JOHNSTON (10.29.95)

BUD GERACIE, San Jose Mercury News:
Tony La Russa's departure from the A's isn't merely the end of an era; it's the end of the A's. By the turn of the century, sooner if they can, the A's will be on their way to northern Virginia or Nashville or some such baseball-hungry place.

The A's drew 16,540 per game this past season in Oakland, an average that ranked 23rd among the 28 major-league teams.

They have no chance of drawing next season, unless they win, and now they have no chance of winning.

La Russa was worth 10 wins a year to the A's, just by his ability to run a game. It's impossible to calculate further, but his ability to motivate a team and steer it through the rigors of a 162-game schedule was surely worth something more.

No team ever has played through injuries better than LaRussa's teams. In 1989, the A's played without Jose Canseco, Walt Weiss and Dennis Eckersley - their slugger, their shortstop, and their ace reliever - for half of the season and still won the World Series. The last two seasons, they played without Mark McGwire and without much talent, and still contended for a playoff spot.
*****
St. Louis isn't the best place for La Russa. The best place would have been Boston his dream job, really but he turned his back on the Red Sox last winter to honor former owner Walter Haas' final wish, and that ought to keep anybody from questioning La Russa's loyalty today.
*****
In his fierce and blind loyalty to the American League, La Russa always has maintained that it is the better league and, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the more difficult league in which to manage.

It'll be interesting to see what he says next season. It'll be interesting to see what he does with a Cardinals team that, frankly, isn't all that much better than the team he has left.

Still, St. Louis is a baseball town, something Oakland was only nominally and soon to be not at all.

RAY RATTO, San Francisco Examiner:
La Russa had wearied of the Bay Area's entertainment pecking order, and the media that he believed help set it. Forty Niners first, then Giants, then A's. That is, until the Raiders sailed into second place past both baseball teams.

He was becoming, for lack of a better term, irrelevant in the local scene as the A's faded both in the standings and in the consciousness, and La Russa doesn't do irrelevance very well.

MARK KREIDLER, The Sacramento Bee:
It's difficult to know whether La Russa gets too much or too little credit for what went on during his nine-plus years in Oakland, years that produced some tremendous teams, four divisional titles in a five-season span, three trips to the World Series, and a single championship in the earthquake-overwhelmed Bay Bridge classic of 1989.

Yes, the A's were talented; but it was La Russa and his staff, particularly pitching coach Dave Duncan, who exposed and manipulated some of that talent so well, extending or resurrecting the careers of players like Dennis Eckersley, Dave Stewart, Dave Henderson.

Yes, La Russa could run a game; but he also was blessed with more stand-up, clubhouse-steadying players than most managers get in a career. For every Rickey Henderson there was a Stewart, for every Jose Canseco a Carney Lansford. Don Baylor. Terry Steinbach.

Is La Russa a genius? Aside from the fact that the words "baseball" and "genius" go together like hot chocolate and Spam, it certainly bears note that there is no amount of thinking, planning, inspiring, imagining and cajoling that will compensate for an essentially bad team. Ask Sparky Anderson. Or Jim Leyland.
*****
It's incredible: Baseball in Northern California has been reduced to one massive 98 Cent Clearance Center. Maybe Giants manager Dusty Baker is the last remnant of the good times. Maybe Walter Haas and Bob Lurie were fairly grand owners, in the end.

Maybe La Russa, standing there in St. Louis, holding up his new Cardinals jersey, will go down as the one we miss the most, because with La Russa around no one was willing to really concede defeat.


Jim Hunstein's Appraisal of the Cards Sale (10.29.95)

So Anheuser-Busch wants to sell the Cardinals. Many a cynic would say that it's about time. That they haven't cared that much about running a baseball team since Gussie went to that big luxury box in the sky. (Although he'd probably prefer to be in the box seats among the fans.) That this was inevitable.

August Busch III, on the pretense of having to tell hundreds of workers at the Tampa brewery not to get too excited about Christmas this year, was not in St. Louis when the announcement was made. So the job fell to spokesman John Jacobs (who wisely dropped his last name Jingleheimerschmidt) to tell the masses (after a 10-minute reading from the annual report, highlighted by a $0.44 per share dividend) that A-B, in an effort to appease the stockholders, wanted to focus on domestic and international beer sales, family entertainment through the theme parks, and can production (makes sense; if you're going to increase beer sales, you need to increase can production).

To do this, he said the corporation would sell off Eagle snacks, reduce wholesale inventory by a third, close the Tampa plant (which is surrounded by Busch Gardens, so guess what will happen there) and, of course, sell the Cards.

Since when are the Cardinals not part of family entertainment? I realize it's no theme park in the multi-ride, two-hour queues for rides sense of the word. But there's no park with a stronger theme than a baseball stadium. And, the Cardinals obscene play the past few years to the contrary, there's no better family entertainment than a ball game.

But they play in St. Louis and I guess A-B is more concerned about focusing on family entertainment enterprises outside of St. Louis. They probably feel asthough they have done enough for local folks by hiring so many of them at the brewery and other assorted ancillary companies around town.

I would love to poll the shareholders of AB to see what they think. Are they really that concerned about a minor part of the AB empire that lost an accountant's $12 million a year? (That's as opposed to a real loss, which is doubtful.) They probably spill that much beer in the course of a year.

I wonder how many of the shareholders bought the stock because it made them indirect (very) owners of a baseball team. Despite the 12 mil loss, along with a $25 million loss at the Tampa plant, the corporation still paid a dividend after yet another record quarter.

But there's an old Andy Capp cartoon that is appropriate here. A neighbor wants to borrow Andy's bottle opener, presumably the old church-key kind. Andy says no, he's using it to cut linoleum. The guy says, "You can't cut linoleum with a bottle opener." To which Andy replies, "You can if you don't want to lend it."

A-B is going to sell the team and, whether we like the reasons or not, they're going to. They've wanted to for a while. It's been obvious for a long time. The suits have long been perceived, justly or not, as not caring about baseball other than how it affects the bottom line.

So they'll sell the team to refocus on their core business of selling beer by spinning off the Cards and Eagle snacks. Seems to me they could sell more beer and snacks and promote their family entertainment by putting a little cash into the Redbirds for some quality players. Maybe that would have drawn more fans, who would have bought more beer to offset the $12 million loss and edged the dividend up to 45 or even 50 cents. But there I go again.

They say they don't have an owner in mind, but I'm skeptical. No one with any business sense (or common sense, for that matter) quits one job without having another one lined up. And no good trial lawyer asks a question they don't know the answer to, "Will the defendant please try on the glove?" notwithstanding. And new manager Tony LaRussa knew about all this. He had negotiated a clause in his contract with Oakland that gave him an out if the team was sold. It was and he was. Out that is. And in here. I can't believe he would leave that situation for this one without knowing exactly what he was getting into. And for whom he would be working. And the brewery has been busy spending big (or at least good-sized) bucks rehabbing the old ball yard.
The big question is whether the new owner will want to move the team. A possibility but unlikely. I'd like to think highly unlikely, but who can say. The Cardinals franchise is one of the primo baseball, nay sports, franchises around. Anytime St. Louis is mentioned (remember the slams against us during the NFL expansion derby?), it's as a baseball town. We draw from hundreds of miles around, which was always the argument against natural turf. "People plan trips here and we can't have rainouts, blah, blah, blah."

I don't think the team will move. The AB boys say they will do all they can to prevent such a move. Hey, they talk around town is whether the brewery itself will bolt. ABIII has never been much of a homer, and this could be the first step in signing a listing contract with some lucky local real estate broker.

A new owner will have to pony up some major dollars. The numbers thrown around range from $150 to $300 million. Someone with that kind of wherewithal will really have to love the game to commit that kind of jack. Of course, it's also someone with excellent business acumen, unless it's someone genetically gifted enough to have been born to the manor, not bred. In that case, we have the same owner we have now.

No, the new owner, we have to hope, will take a real interest in the game and in the team. There won't be anonymous shareholders who "demand" profits. A guy like the Cowboys' Jerry Jones can pretty much do whatever he wants to improve his team the way he wants. Works for him. He doesn't need to consult a committee or board of directors. Sometimes it seems as if he doesn't even consult his own brain. But he seems to have turned the Cowboys around.

The brewery couldn't take too many chances because they had to "answer" to those elusive stockholders. The new owner/owners might be able to stick their necks out a little bit. And along the way, maybe they can rebuild the Cardinals to the greatness we have all enjoyed in the years gone by. So I'm all for this sale. A-B might have given us that past glory, but that was a whole different regime. They'll never be back to give us our team back. So let someone take over who can. Let the bidding begin.

All that said, here are...

The Top 12 Real Reasons AB Is Selling The Cardinals
12. Players constantly refused to wear sweaty costumes and walk around Busch Gardens in the off season.
11. The team lost $12 million last year. Yeah, right. And a pitch at the belt is a ball.
10. If they can't have a team with sexy cheerleaders, they don't want a team at all.
9. All part of August Busch III's rebellion against his old man.
8. Pave the way for Miller to establish a stronger presence in town. (Look for pro beach volleyball, sponsored by Miller Lite, at the newly renamed Genuine Draft Stadium.
7. Part of La Russa's package - no alcohol tie-ins.
6. Tired of taking potshots from wise guy sportswriter wannabes who are clueless about big business.
5. All part of the settlement deal with the Czech Budweiser brewery, which also owns a darts team called the Cardinals.
4. Ran out of money to lay the sod at Busch and it was sell the team or get a home equity loan on Grant's Farm.
3. Those damn Clydesdales dumped on the turf just once too often.
2. A-B suits are just trying to impress Jodie Foster.
1. Keenan said so. Period.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In real life, Jim Hunstein is a commercial real estate appraiser. Hey Jimbo...what's the downtown St. Louis real estate market looking like these days?


A Report Card for St. Louis Touring Professionals by JAY RANDOLPH Jr. (10.29.95)

I enjoy reading St. Louis Sports Online, and believe that StLSO readers would enjoy reading a year-end summary of St. Louis area golf professionals that competed on either the PGA, Senior PGA or NIKE Tours in 1995.

Jay Haas: A-
The Belleville native has put together a tremendous season on the PGA Tour this year. Despite not winning an event, Haas ranked 15th on the PGA Tour Money List heading into The Tour Championship with over $765,000. Haas was put in a difficult situation at this year's Ryder Cup, and if not for a poor drive on the 18th hole at Oak Hill, Haas may have earned a full A on his report card.

Jay Delsing: B The former UCLA Bruin had one of his better years on Tour winning over $230,000. Delsing who now ranks among the most successful PGA Tour players without a victory, might have won at Memphis. However, an errant tee shot late in the final round hit the cart of a PGA Tour official. Many have questioned Delsing's commitment to the game and many will continue to question this tall St. Louisan who plays out of St. Albans...until he captures a Tour title.

Hale Irwin: B, A-
First the regular tour grade of B. No, Hale Irwin did not win on tour and did not play in that many events, 14. He did earn $190,000 in those 14 events while the media focussed on his 50th birthday. On the geezer circuit, Irwin did not win immediately. But following his victory at the Ameritech Classic, Irwin went on to win the prestigious Vantage Championship and prior to this weekend's Kaanapali Classic, Irwin had won over $750,000 in just 11 geritol tourneys. Look for Irwin to spend the majority of his time on the senior circuit in 1996 and mark my word, he will be the Senior PGA Player of the Year in 1996.

Jay Williamson: B-
I have been one of the most vocal supporters of the "cinderella story" of Jay Williamson. Williamson was a qualifier from the 1994 PGA Tour School. In his first PGA Tour event, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he made the cut, playing three golf courses he had never had the opportunity to play because practice rounds were cancelled. In 1995, Williamson's biggest challenges were final rounds. The John Burroughs High School graduate had one of the highest final round stroke averages on tour. His highest finish was a tie for fourth and he achieved two other top ten finishes. At this years B.C. Open he butchered the 18th hole, hitting in the water off the tee, in each of the final three days. It is unfair to look specifically at one hole in determining a season, but that hole may have cost J.W. a top 125 finish on the money list. He ended the season with an impressive $120,180. He is exempt into the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School where he will try and retain playing privileges on the PGA Tour. Williamson also had to deal with being a rookie on Tour and some rather difficult emotions with decisions that he made and will continue to have to make.

Tom Wargo: B+
Maybe we have all come to expect to much of Tom Wargo. I have had at least twenty people ask me what is wrong with Tom Wargo. Well if winning close to $650,000 in a season on the senior tour constitutes a problem, I would love to have Wargo's problems. Granted, the fierce competitor from Centralia, Illinois only won once, at the Dallas Reunion Pro-Am. He ranked in the top 10 in only statistical category: birdies. Don't forget that Wargo had some physical problems that hindered his chance to finish in the top ten on the money list.

Joe Jimenez: A
He gets the A simply for shooting 62 at the Ameritech event that Irwin won. The former Jeff City club pro has won over $240,000 when you combine his regular senior and super senior earnings. This guy is truly amazing. Joe will be inducted later this year into the Gateway PGA's Hall of Fame.

Brian Fogt: C+
It has been a tough year for one of the games true gentleman. Playing the NIKE Tour is not nearly as glamorous as the PGA Tour. Fogt endured some rough family situations like a true champion. His heart earns the letter A and when he gets the opportunity to show folks what his game can really do, an A will be posted for Brian Fogt. He has already advance to the second stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, and it wouldn't surprise me if Fogt wound up as an exempt player on the 1996 PGA Tour.

Stan Utley: B
Utley finished 12th on the NIKE Tour Money List. If he would have finished 10th or higher, he would have earned an exemption onto the 1996 PGA Tour.

Jerry Haas: D
The younger brother of Jay Haas really struggled in 1995. After a strong showing in 1994 on the NIKE Tour, the former Wake Forest standout did not finish in the top 200 on the PGA Tour Money List. I am sure that he is contemplating his future as a golf pro. Hopefully Jerry will get his game back in shape for the 1996 season.

Congratulations to all of the St. Louis golf professionals that do what we only can dream of doing--competing at the highest levels in the game of golf. I know it was my dream and now I live out my dream following the Jay Willamsons and Brian Fogts out on Tour. Good luck next year.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jay Randolph Jr. hosts the successful Fairways & Greens Golf Show on KFNS that airs Thursday's from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. He also hosts the Dr. Pepper Sports Jam, the Bernie Federko show, and the Brett Hull show, all three of which also air on KFNS in the early-to-mid afternoon hours, weekdays on KFNS AM-590.


From the High Post by EVAN PEDERSEN (10.29.95)

If you're still smarting from the sight of Tyus Edney jitterbugging through the Missouri Tiger defense to hit an improbable shot ending the Tiger's NCAA tournament....relax. The Tigers will be loading up again this winter on Big 8 foes by returning 4 of 5 starters and adding Big Eight Freshman of the Year Kelly Thames back into the mix.

The only significant loss for the Tigers was shooting guard Paul O'Liney, and while his 19.7 points per game will be missed, there will be plenty of talent on this year's team.

Back are Derek Grimm, Kendrick Moore, Jason Sutherland, Julian Winfield, Sammie and Simeon Haley, Corey Tate, Monte Harge, and a healthy Thames. Gone is Stewart's luxury of saying we're young and inexperienced and who knows how good we'll be. This team has the potential to win the Big Eight and is being picked by many as a dark horse Final Four team.
Julian Winfield will emerge this year as one of the signature players for the Big 8. His defense and athletic ability are unequaled in the league. After averaging 11 points and 8 rebounds per game last year, he will be looked on to provide scoring and leadership on the court. Stewart on Winfield, "If he can hit the 15 foot shot consistently he'll be a first round NBA draft pick."
The readdition of Thames to this team gives them one more option at small forward. It may take him a while to regain the form he displayed during Missouri's run to the Final 8 two years ago, but if initial reports are true, he's well ahead of his recovery schedule.

Two questions this Tiger team needs to answer if they are going to compete with the elite teams in the country include (a) Who can provide a consistent outside scoring threat? and (b) How much better will the Haleys be? Even though O'Liney's instant offense is gone, Moore, Sutherland, and Winfield have all shownflashes of potential. The wild card may be in the form of newcomer Danny Allouche, a 21 year old Freshman from Omer, Israel. "I'm impressed so far," said Stewart of Allouche, "He's a little older and he'll get down and play hard. We won't be hurt when he's in." Look for Allouche to be a designated 3 point specialist off the bench this year.

Now the Haleys. "Simeon wants to face the basket all the time," said Stewart in an interview with KFNS' Frank Cusumano. "We'd like him to be able to score consistently from six feet, but both of them need a little more leg strength. Between the two of them we have 10 fouls. Put in Harge and that makes 15. The biggest thing for us is what is our size going to do. Are they gonna score? If they are them we're gonna be pretty good."

Don't be surprised if 6-9 freshman Dee Murdock from Columbus Kansas works his way into the rotation. Murdock averaged 30 points and 18 rebounds per game his senior year of high school and Stewart feels he has the best footwork of all the big men on the team.

The schedule will be tough as usual with non-conference foes Arkansas, Illinois, Maryland, and George Washington, as well as the Big Eight being as strong as usual. Speaking of this year's Big Eight race Stewart said, as only he can, "It's about time we won one of these. It's our turn." Look for 20+ regular season wins, no less than a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament. Anything less would be an underachievement.


StLSO Media Watch by JOSEPH ANDREWS (10.29.95)

Now it's Jack Buck that's raised the ire of Post-Dispatch sports columnist (and KFNS talk show host) Bernie Miklasz.
It was Thursday morning of this past week, the day after A-B announced that it intends to sell the Cardinals, Busch Stadium, as well properties surrounding Busch Stadium.

Here's Bernie, on KFNS at 9:20 am Thursday--
"The legendary Jack Buck was taking sh