Live from the Sporting News' "Best Sports City in North America", it's time for another edition of "Things and Stuff". This is our periodic capsule look at the goings-on of the Gateway City sports scene. Let's go to press.

The Cardinals will win the National League Central Division title. If things ended today, they would meet the Atlanta Braves in round one. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Unlike most in our town, I would not write off the Red Birds in these playoffs. It is true that they would be underdogs. Yet, as the Blues hockey playoffs taught us this spring, anything is possible in a short series.

Hopefully the locals on squawk radio are noticing that the Red Birds have a losing record without Mark Mc Gwire. Perhaps this will put to rest the silly argument that the Mc Gwire home run shows of 1998-1999 were a distraction for a "winning" baseball team.

Has anyone noticed that Garrett Stephenson has a record of 17-9 since August 1, 1999?

It is intriguing to watch how Tony La Russa remains a lightning rod with local fans. Remember how #10 was crucified for bringing in Dave Veres in a 9th inning loss at Arizona? Yet in the make-up afternoon game with Colorado, no praise was given when the Red Birds scored a run on a squeeze play or how La Russa's late inning outfield replacement of Shawon Dunston defensively and offensively saved and won the game.

One of the Sporting News' criteria in their selecting their top sports town is the knowledge of their fans. I still wonder about just how smart our folks are. In Friday's game with Atlanta, the locals booed Kerry Lightenberg brutally thinking he was John Rocker.

Yet on the other hand, with Mc Gwire out of the line-up more fans are staying till the end of the game rather than leaving after #25's final bat of the night.

Speaking of Rocker, I see that Channel 5's publicity stunt of trying to get him on film in route to the Braves' clubhouse backfired. To you folks "where the news comes first", what did you expect was going to happen? Filming Rocker in that tabloid manner was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Your failed publicity stunt will only be another chapter in an upcoming John Rocker "tell-all" book after his baseball days are finished.

Is it just me or is there a striking similarity between J D Drew of 2000 and Andy Van Slyke of 1985?

If you want to see just how big business enters into the sports world, check out Tom Anderson's cover story in the 8/7-8/13/00 St. Louis Business Journal. Thanks in large part to an insurance policy on Mc Gwire's injury; the Red Birds could afford the contract of Will Clark and others down the stretch.

Is it possible that both Will Clark and Mark Mc Gwire could co-exist in 2001?

The Rams made a nice showing in their pre-season debut at the Dome. Mike Martz was smart getting the regulars in and out early in game one. It looks like the post game wraps will be shorter and more efficient as Martz will not pontificate and preach after games.

Congratulations to Rams Management on taking the pro-active approach on signing both Isaac Bruce and Kevin Carter. Now, be prepared to open the checkbook!

With KLOU being the FM flagship station for the Rams, that means the rock 'n roll music of the 50's and 60's will fill the Dome. That is the good news for us of that era. The bad news is that music will be amplified through the Dome's inferior sound system.

I will preface this comment by saying that I am far from the fashion police and admittedly have trouble picking out my own clothes. Still the Navy Blue is sharper than Royal Blue and Notre Dame gold is light years better than mustard yellow for the Rams new uniforms. (All of which are available at your local retail or internet outlet.)

Do you think that rich and arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League and its poster boy Commissioner Paul Tagilabue hold grudges? Remember the infamous Georgia Frontierre "we made the right decision in moving to St. Louis" remark while receiving the Super Bowl trophy? Well, I'm sure it is only a coincidence that the NFL scheduling committee have the Rams at home for their two pre-season and first three regular season games on the same dates when the Cardinals in town (including Sunday September 17 when the Rams host the 49ers at the Dome AND the Cardinals entertain the Cubs at the ballpark at the same time!). There are two weekends and August and September when BOTH teams are on the road. It's probably just an oversight, though.

After Saturday night's Rams' game with Oakland, a local female sports journalist was seen embracing a Rams executive; congratulating him on the team's win while exiting the Press Elevator. A similar incident occurred in September 1995 when a different local female journalist was spotted embracing and high-fiving Rams players as they exited the field after a win over the Chicago Bears. These highly unprofessional acts only give ammunition to the outdated and neanderthal arguments of women in sports journalism.

Memo to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sports Editors: can someone tell me why the Rams new "Duck Down" touchdown celebration merits page one coverage? It seems to me that the Cincinnati/Atlanta baseball story (which was posted on page 3) is more timely than a fluffy piece on watching 250 pound Millionaires squat in front of 60,000+ people.

For the record, in my opinion the Duck Down holds much of the same traits as the Bob and Weave. Both are silly, immature and should not be considered sports stories.

Times have changed. The Kiel Center lost at least twenty-five dates with the elimination of the Ambush. Meanwhile, the St. Charles Family Arena is very booked with basketball, hockey, indoor soccer and indoor football.

Bill Laurie is the most powerful person on the St. Louis sports scene. He has no political or social ties to the local corporate elite or politicians He outright owns his building and hockey team and only has to answer to himself. Laurie has a solid argument in demanding a ticket tax cut from the city. The City of St. Louis has no choice but to give Laurie (as well as the Cardinals) anything that he demands.

It is good for both KTRS and KMOX that the Blues will be heard on the Big 550.

Speaking of KTRS, best of luck to my former WGNU colleague and friend Scott Warmann. The region will shortly know what we at 920 AM have known for years: that Scott is a marvelous talent with great radio presence. We have another such person in Harry Schroeder at the 'GNU. Aside from being refreshingly articulate and knowledgeable, Harry is one of the most positive persons I know and a friend to many.

Dennis Miller-WHO CARES!!

If you win the Super Bowl, you get the Lombardi trophy. If you survive the NHL's playoff marathon, you win the Stanley Cup. What exactly do you get for being the Sporting News' Best Sports City?

AND FINALLY:

Those in promotion and marketing of Minor League Baseball have to be very creative in order to get butts into the seats. Perhaps one of the more unique Minor League Baseball promotions comes from the Tri-City Posse Baseball Club of Pasco, Washington and a member, Western Baseball League. This summer, the Posse will sponsor The Ultimate Sumo Challenge Night at the ballpark

A local Pasco restaurant sponsors the Ultimate Sumo Challenge. Evidently, two people will get suited up in our sumo wrestling suits, and battle it out for great food from that dining establishment.

And just think, there will be people spending money to buy tickets to view this spectacle.

Upon further review, perhaps the Duck Down or Bob & Weave don't look so bad.