There has never been a better time to be a St. Louis Sports Fan than the year 2000. In these past twelve months, we have seen the local teams win a Super Bowl Championship, the NHL President's Cup, and IBL Championship, local NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament Representatives, and post-season baseball. So before we bring down the curtain for the first year that begins with the digit two, let's recap and point out a few items of interest in this end of the year edition of Things and Stuff.

Who would ever have thought that Santa Claus would be kicking for the Chicago Bears?

Hosting squawk radio during this football season has been a real hoot. Local fans continue to be drawn into two camps: mostly those who will live and die with the Rams, and those who would want to see them fail. The emotional roller coaster has been fascinating to gage by both camps. The majority of local media do fall into the first camp.

Yes, that was my picture on the SLSO obituary of the Rams from last week's front page.

Hopefully gridiron fans and media have learned a lesson from this 2000 football season. In that rich and arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League, you can not just make it on reputation. 1999 was a magical year for the Rams as everything fell into place for them. They were blessed with a generally easy regular season schedule and were relatively injury free. Reality did set in during the fall of 2000. Our Navy and Gold heroes were very fortunate to qualify for the 2000 Paul Taglibue's post-season get together.

With that said, I am very alarmed by some of the talk I am hearing around town by local "experts" predicting that the Rams "would coast" to the NFC Conference Finals by virtue of their regular season wins over New Orleans and the Giants. To those of you in the rose colored glasses: first, "Shut Up!" Second, a quick reminder: the regular season is OVER. It is now ancient history and it now means NOTHING. When you go into the playoff rounds, not only is a team's win/loss record wiped clean, but also any previous match-up becomes irrelevant. Should you disagree, I suggest you contact one Mr. Joel Quenneville or one Mr. Larry Pleau at 1401 Clark Avenue, St. Louis Missouri for a testimonial.

Mike Martz has to be suffering from multiple personality syndrome. In less than six months he has gone from Genius, to Rookie Coach, to Offensive Expert to Inexperienced to Playoff General to fan favorite to fan lightning rod to football coach.

Although the Rams defense did respond in New Orleans, is there a way that Chris Pronger and Al Mac Innis can be added to their playoff roster?

A playoff appearance makes the 2001 ticket price increase easier to swallow, doesn't it?

How long will it take before we see Trent Green's name on e-Bay?

With his performances in the final three games of this regular season, Marshall Faulk solidified his position as the league's Most Valuable Player. However, before local sports fans and talking heads crow about Faulk's trade from Indianapolis being the greatest heist since Lou Brock, remember that #28 would not have played one minute for our Navy and Gold heroes had the Rams not renegotiated his contract in the Spring of 1999. Although Faulk did and continues to deliver for the Rams, he did have the team over a barrel and did receive a king's ransom for his services.

On a related note: the Indianapolis Colts have made the playoffs in each of the two seasons after trading Marshall Faulk.

The National Football League was absolutely and positively correct in severely fining the Rams for their December 10 performances of their silly and immature bob and weave touchdown dance. The league had no alternative but to issue hefty penalties when the Rams were dumb enough to announce that they were going to deliberately break this existing rule. The league is well within their power to issue suspensions for future violations. Hopefully the Rams are not stupid enough to try and stare the league down.

Did I just hear a page for Ray Rhodes or Vince Tobin?

The Rams opponents have been announced for the 2001 season. All of the Rams Non-Conference opponents that will visit St. Louis did qualify for the 2000 NFL Playoffs.

I wonder just how many August and September dates where there will be both professional baseball games and professional football games scheduled in Downtown St. Louis. There were five such dates in 2000. The Cardinal baseball schedule has been published for several months. It's now up to that rich and arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League to schedule around such dates in a "fair and equitable manner". (My prediction: at least 4 dates in August and/or September 2001 where there will be a game at Busch and a game at the Dome at the same time and date.)

Thank you, Bud Carson. May you enjoy an uninterrupted retirement.

When the Cardinals open their season on April 2, 2001 in Colorado, the Rockies' pitcher most likely will be Mike Hampton.

Have you noticed how Hampton's value to the Red Birds skyrocketed during their negotiations but then fell like a rock once he signed with Colorado?

With Fernando Tatis, Eric Davis, and Shawon Dunston no longer on the roster, here is a wish for a very successful recovery for Mark Mc Gwire.

Quentin Mc Cracken will fit right in with the Red Birds. Not only does his fill the void for a back-up outfielder, but he also strikes out one of every six at bats.

To those fans screaming that the Cardinals start spending the revenue from their recent ticket hike, it should be noted that much of that money is budgeted for new contracts (signed last season) for Jim Edmonds, Fernando Vina, Edgar Renterria, and Darryl Kile.

Regardless who wins the mayoral election this spring; the Cardinals will get their new stadium. It is Downtown St. Louis' project to lose. The City of St. Louis can not afford to let the Cardinals build their new stadium in St. Louis County or St. Charles County. Without the on-going revenue of Cardinal Baseball and its residual businesses (parking lots, restaurants, bars, etc.), the City's deterioration will escalate. There is no way the City can recoup that revenue loss. The Cardinals know that more than anyone at City Hall.

There is a silly proposal on squawk radio that the players should fund the new stadium because "they have all the money". To those with that point of view, I have one question: how much have you contributed to the building of your current place of employment?

Alex Rodriguez' $250 million contract assures two things: A-Rod and his heirs will be financially set for ten generations, and there will certainly be a work stoppage in 2001.

I have read Bob Costas' fine book. But it still doesn't address a basic question: why would Donald Fehr and the Players' Association give anything back when Major League Franchises are bought and sold at record prices?

Perhaps I'm wrong, but the only way baseball can correct its current economic climate is for at least two existing franchises to simply go out of business. This loss of management and players jobs to the industry with escalating costs may be the only thing that would get the attention of both sides and bring them together in a different frame of mind.

I don't want to jinx the hockey fans of this town, but the 2000-2001 St. Louis Blues Hockey Club do have a special glow about them. At this writing they are awesome.

Yes I am very much aware that the real hockey season starts in mid-April and I am also very much aware of what happened in late April 2000. Still, at this writing, there are eleven Blues players that have plus/minus rankings of plus ten or better.

Once again, Joel Quenneville has proven that he is the best of our town's professional coaches. However, to avoid a "Gene Mauch" or "Dennis Green" moniker, he must advance his team deep into the playoffs this spring.

Even after the abrupt first round exit, Bill Laurie continues to allow the Blues Management team of Sauer-Pleau-Quenneville to run the hockey operations. Fortunately, Mr. Laurie knows that his hockey staff has much more expertise and knowledge than sports talk show callers, radio gab-masters or television talking heads.

Speaking of Laurie, don't think for a minute that he is not watching intently at the City's negotiations with the Cardinals on the new stadium/reduction of the ticket tax. You can lay book that he will be knocking on the Mayor's door should the Red Birds get a tax break from the City. Bill Laurie remains the most powerful man in St. Louis sports.

Isn't it clearer than ever now that Mike Keenan was right about Chris Pronger?

With the exception of Ron Caron, the two most knowledgeable and respected hockey experts in this market are Larry Wigge and George Csolak. I wish all of the other self-appointed hockey geniuses in this town would recognize and acknowledge this.

Kelly Chase is adequate at best as an analyst on the Blues Radio Broadcasts. However, he is getting better. Still, with all the good work the Chaser has done and continues to do in this town, how can anyone stay critical of him? Chaser, please ease up on the Refs!!

Yes, I do know how old he is, but I would still offer Al Mac Innis a contract extension. He is a class act and a true asset to this community as well as a more than adequate defenseman.

I make a motion that the St. Louis University-Missouri University basketball series continue for another TEN years. I make another motion that University of Missouri and University of Illinois meet annually at the rock hard service of the Trans World Dome for another TEN years each fall. Are there seconds to my motions?

As ticket prices go up for professional baseball and football, the best value for your sports dollar continues to be St. Louis University Basketball at the Savvis Center.

One of college basketball's best-kept secrets is headquartered in our town: the up and coming Missouri Valley Conference.

IN MY OPINION ONLY:

The best sportswriter in the St. Louis market continues to be Rick Hummel.

Wouldn't it be fun to have another daily newspaper in St. Louis?

The best television sports reporter/anchor, in a landslide is Doug Vaughn. He is light years better than all the sports anchors/directors in this town. The next best reporter no longer covers primarily sports: Art Holiday. However, the talent pool of TV Sports talking heads has gotten considerably weaker with Matt Winer heading to ESPN.

I continue to smile when I listen to the good work of my former WGNU colleagues: Scott Warmann and Brian Mc Kenna. I also always enjoy listening to the good work of my talented WGNU Colleague Harry Schroeder. Not only are these three men talented and have their own styles, but I'm honored to call them all friends.

The two hardest working folks on the sports media scene may be Dan Mc Laughlin and Tom Ackermann. These guys are everywhere and they are very professional. Memo to Dan and Tom: keep up the good work, but please take a day off once in a while!

Despite the recent success of the Rams and Blues, the Cardinals continue to be far and away the Number One professional sports franchise of St. Louis.

FROM THE CHEAP SELF-PROMOTION DEPARTMENT: As of December 12, my WGNU Sportstalk Show can be heard from 6:00PM-7:00PM on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. You can also hear it via the Internet at the WGNU website (www.wgnu.net).

AND A FINAL THOUGHT FOR 2000:

Thank you again, my friends, for making St. Louis Sports On-Line the popular website it is. Our readership is on the rise and we are honored that you take the time to dial us up.

Thank you for reading my articles and allowing me to talk sports with you and for you. Please keep all of those e-mails coming in: the good ones and the bad ones!

Let these Glory Days continue. May this be the year when the Stanley Cup finally calls the Gateway City home. Here's a hope that 2001 provide another autumn of post season baseball. May you get to enjoy many Navy and Gold Fridays during January 2001.

See you next year!