'Twas but days before Christmas
So let us review
From remarks in this space
And on WGNU

Ninety-Nine was not
what we wanted to see.
No post season baseball,
No Third round hockey.

A basketball regional
was played at our place
While the Rams in the fall
Put a smile on our face

Hence this is my mission
in these few hundred words.
To start with this recap,
Let's begin with the Birds

The Baseball Cardinals
Began Ninety-Nine
With the hope of getting
Their pitching in line

Cause late in Spring Training
A big problem appeared,
Top Starter Matt Morris
Was lost for the year

Hence the day after Easter
The season began
As Donovan Osborne
Took the ball in his hand

The Cards lost that ball game
By a score of ten-eight.
They would split their first six
Before leaving the state

Twelve wins and nine losses
Was the April month yield
But four of those wins
Came from Kent Bottenfield

The Red Birds had faltered
During May and in June
Their pitching was shaky
those blown saves ballooned

It then became clear
Toward the end of July
that post-season baseball
for the Red Birds had died.

But still there were bright spots
In this summer of gloom
Jose Jimenez pitched
A No hitter in June

Joe Mc Ewing got hits
In twenty-five straight
Over 3 Million Fans
Had walked through the gate

Fernando Tatis
With slams back to back
Over 30 Home Runs
And oh yeah, there's Mac

Mc Gwire's mere presence
provided the reason
for the Red Bird fans
to keep up with the season

Batting practice turned into
An everyday treat,
as he kept blasting baseballs
in those upper deck seats

Sammy Sosa kept pace
To continue to the lore
But Mac won the title
By hitting two more

But the Cards finished Fourth
when it was all done
and the retooling process
once again has begun

Good-Bye Mr. Osborne
Ayabar, Jose, Castillo.
Hentgen, Kile, and Veras
will now take the field.

But the job is not finished.
There are still things to do
Can Eric Davis stay healthy
To join Lankford and Drew?

So Cardinal fans everywhere
want their Christmas desire
to come to the ball park
for not just McGwire.

Let's now skate up ice
With the St. Louis Blues
A transitional season
Provided the news

New Year's Day until March
Was not that much fun
As the hockey team lost
More games than they won

And the injuries mounted
Courtnall, Fuhr, and Chris Pronger
The hockey fans screamed
We can't take this much longer

But the team turned the corner
In the spring of the year
As the Playoffs approached
They were getting in gear

Hence, the Blues finished Fifth.
To the playoffs they go
The Phoenix Coyotes
Would be their first foe

But those folks in the desert
Would put up a fight
The fans were quite boisterous
And all dressed in white

It looked bad for St. Louis
Trailing 3 games to one
But the Blues won 2 straight
So they weren't done.

A scoreless game seven
Fears in Overtime grew,
But Pierre Turgeon's goal
Sent the Blues to Round 2

Next up would be Dallas
With our buddy Brett Hull
And Ed Belfour in goal
It wouldn't be dull

But those villains from Texas
Would win in six games
The Blues summer vacation
Began in Mid May

Roman Turek came in
To take over in goal
But in early September,
The team would be sold

Bill and Nancy Laurie
From Columbia, Mo
Will rename the building
And take over the show

It has been a good start
For the Blues in this Fall
There are goals from the Czechs
Most wins overall

Hence Blues Fans still wonder
As Christmas draws near
With dreams of the Cup
Will this be the year?

Let's now set our sights
to the St. Louis Rams
A Four and Twelve Season
As they played just like lambs

--continue from cover here--

So the first of the year
John Shaw saw his coach
Big changes were needed
And a new team approach

It didn't take long
Changes soon would be seen
On Mardi Gras Tuesday,
Signing Q B Trent Green

Free Agents continued
As the Rams kept the push
Welcome Adam Timmerman
And Hello, Devin Bush

On the 15th of April
The Rams walked the walk
Sending draftees to Indy
For Back Marshall Faulk

So it's off to Macomb
In the summertime heat
While football fans wonder
Can these guys compete?

Competition was lively
For Coaches to see
But the Rams biggest challenge
Would occur in Game 3

In a game with the Chargers
The Rams would see fear.
A hit to Trent Green
Sent him out for the year.

Kurt Warner took over
It's now his to run
First test is the Ravens
At the Dome in Game One.

The Rams won that game
Then a BYE the next week
The Falcons and Cincy
Became part of a streak

And then in Game 4
It got that much finer
After waiting nine years
The Rams beat the Niners

Warner kept throwing touchdowns
This guy's on a roll
Whether Bruce, Torry Holt
Hakim, Ricky Proehl

And the Rams kept on winning
Each test after test
On the 5th of December
They were champs of the West

So good luck to you, Rams
As your playoffs begin
You will play at the Dome
Just as long as you win

To you PSL Holders,
I'm happy for you.
After four years of sorrow
Your dreams have come true

Congrats to you, Georgia
And to you, Coach Vermeil
I still can't believe
What I'm seeing is real

New Basketball Coaches
For the Tigers and Bills
You're replacing 2 legends
You've got Big Shoes to Fill

Even though their first season
Might be tough to report
At least the two teams
Have now met on the court

To the Ambush, Swarm, Rascals
The Otters, Mizzou
Continued Success
in all that you do!!

With 2000 approaching
The fans want to know
With the Rams in the playoffs
Just how far can they go?

Will the Cardinals be better?
Is their pitching on track?
Or another six months
Of just watching Mac?

Can the Blues keep it going?
With their style and play.
Will hockey fans see
This team play in late May?

But me, I just thank you
for taking the time.
For reading my pieces
and especially this rhyme.

So on Dancer and Prancer,
Grab some holiday cheer.
Merry Christmas from the Husses
and we'll see you next year!!!!