St. Louis Sports Online

Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 time: (7:00-8:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays) E-mail Mike at: hussonwgnu@aol.com

It is good to be a St. Louis Sports Fan these days! So as we approach the end of the 1990's and look forward to future years that will begin with the number 2, let's recap and point out a few items of interest in this end of the year edition of Things and Stuff.

That rich and arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League should be more concerned about the number of concussions their players are receiving and the quality of their officiating instead of the noise level at the Trans World Dome during Rams Games.

With that said, before Sunday's game with the Bears, the Rams turned out the lights for a raucous player introduction. It reminded me of indoor soccer. Just think, twenty years ago that same rich and arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League mocked the then MISL for such player introductions.

I have not heard many complaints this year from the local faithful on the length of Dick Vermeil's practices or the number of Vice Presidents on the Rams payroll.

Here is an on-line stock tip for the first month of the year 2000. If you really think the Rams will make it to the Super Bowl, buy Kleenex stock.

A burning question on local sports squawk radio: who will be the Rams Quarterback in the year 2000; Kurt Warner or Trent Green? My answer: WHO CARES!! Let's worry about next year, next year!

Speaking of squawk radio, I have heard one caller on every local talk show argue his case that the Rams would enjoy the same degree of success with Tony Banks as their #1 quarterback. To that gentleman: LET IT GO. Tony Banks, just like Brian Jordan and Brett Hull, is no longer a member of this team/community. Banks is gone. Fantasizing about Banks' contributions to this team is totally irrelevant.

Who will be the NFL/NFC Most Valuable Player? Will it be Warner or Marshall Faulk? Another WHO CARES issue from squawk radio.

The real MVP of the Rams this season is John Shaw. He forced Dick Vermeil in the first week of January 1999 to bring in an offensive coordinator, make a change at quarterback, secure more input from Charlie Armey and open the purse strings.

The Faulk trade from Indianapolis was a good one for the Rams. But, before local sports fans continue their crowing about this being the greatest steal since Lou Brock, remember that #28 would not have played one minute for our Blue and Gold heroes had the Rams not renegotiated his contract. Although Faulk delivered, he did have the Rams over a barrel and did receive a king's ransom for his services.

My opinion remains the same: the Bob and Weave touchdown stage show is still silly and immature.

Can someone please tell me why the official starting time of the Rams/Bears game was 12:02 P. M.?

Obviously there were many tickets given away at Sunday's Rams/Bears game. Most of the near 66,000 were nestled in their seats at the opening kickoff.

Just when you think the Rams have broken their eccentricity, they revert to their old form and do something silly. A well-known local radio station has put together a downtown pep rally days before the Rams first playoff game in mid-January. Sponsors were secured and giveaways will be provided. Yet, one specific Rams executive would have nothing of this. He informed that radio station that they could not use the Rams name or any of their players in this pep rally, and the Rams would not even acknowledge it! (I can hear the cheers now: "Here we go St. Louis NFL Franchise, here we go"!)

You heard this right: the Rams were handed an opportunity for free publicity and an opportunity to get the town fired up (at no cost to them) for their playoff drive. Yet, one executive in a decision-making capacity said no. This is strange for an organization that has a history of extorting things from this community.

This will be a new challenge for us St. Louis media types: we have a meaningful January of sports events.

Although it was first stated in this space in October and reiterated in the same week on WGNU, the very talented Post Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz was right on about the correlation between Pope John Paul's January visit and the performance of the St. Louis sports teams. It was truly a shame that the Holy Father did not spend quality time in the Cardinal Bullpen last January.

Good work so far by Walt Jocketty in making the attempt to improve the Cardinal pitching staff. Now, do the Cardinals really believe that Eric Davis is this team's third outfielder? Perhaps they will need two because more and more people are talking about J D Drew starting the season in Memphis.

Although Kile, Hentgen, and Veras are nice pick-ups, I wonder about the status of last year's ace: 18 game winner Kent Bottenfield. You may recall that the team closed him down in late September.

If Andy Benes really wanted to return to the Cardinals, he should fire his agent. While agent Scott Boras was holding steadfast to his $40 Million ransom, the Cardinals called his bluff by making trades to bolster their pitching staff. The net result: there may not be enough money left in the budget for the older Mr. Benes. Still, if he still really wants to return to St. Louis, he will have to take less than anticipated or sign elsewhere. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Late last week the Houston Astros traded 22 game winner and Cy Young runner-up Mike Hampton to the New York Mets because they felt unsure of re-signing his services at the conclusion of his contract. The Texas Rangers felt the same way about two time MVP Juan Gonzalez and the Seattle Mariners with the best player in the game: Ken Griffey.

The Astros, Rangers, and Mariners, all have either brand new or relatively brand new stadiums. Yet they are apprehensive in re-signing their superstars. The moral of the story: a new stadium does not necessarily mean all your money problems will be solved. It adds more fuel to my belief that baseball will experience yet another shutdown in the next few years.

Many of the hockey faithful in town feel that the Blues are being ignored. It may be a blessing in disguise. There has not been much pressure on the Blues as they quietly climb in the standings. This is a good thing

Once again, Joel Quenneville has proven that he is the best of our town's professional coaches.

Bill and Nancy Laurie so far have allowed the Blues Management team of Sauer-Pleau-Quenneville to run the team. Good move

Is there a classier act in this town than Al MacInnis?

Hopefully, this town realizes what a treasure it has in Ron Caron.
Now, three years later, we can say that Mike Keenan was absolutely right about Chris Pronger, Pierre Turgeon, and Pawel Demitra.

IN MY OPINION ONLY:
The best sportswriter in the St. Louis market is Rick Hummel.

The best television sports reporter/anchor, in a landslide, is Doug Vaughn. (The best by far in a weak field)

Even if the Rams get upset in the first round of the NFC playoffs, this has been a wonderful season. I hope the fans are not so spoiled to trash the terrific results should the Rams stumble early in the playoffs.

I wish Channel 5 would stop its cheap self serving, self promoting practice of playing Mike Bush's radio calls during their replays of the Rams video highlights. I really do not care how the plays sounded.

Even if a referee accidentally hit you in the eye: no player should ever lay a hand on an official. If so, a long suspension without pay should result.

Both Lorenzo Romar and Quin Snyder are welcome additions to the local sport scene.

Bill Laurie has become the most powerful person in St. Louis sports. His power will grow when his NBA arrives in the Gateway City. Incidentally, name rights for the Kiel Center are now for sale.

Do you think that Notre Dame's weak penalties for football violations have anything to do with them being a television ratings magnet?

SLU Sports Information Director Doug Mc Ilhagga is truly one of this town's unsung heroes.

Despite the recent success of the Rams and the Blues, the baseball Cardinals is still far and away the number one professional sport franchise in St. Louis.

With that said, if the Cardinals put enough pressure on the community, they will get a new stadium.

The top two 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 realize this.

If we all stop talking about John Rocker, eventually he would only have to deal with his ignorant remarks with his teammates.

AND A FINAL THOUGHT FOR 1999
Thank you, my friends, for making St. Louis Sports On-Line the popular website it is. Thank you, for reading my articles and allowing me the opportunity to talk sports with you. Thank you for the many e-mails. As Dean Martin once said, "Keep those cards and letters coming in".

I predict that sometime in the new millennium the Cardinals will return to the World Series, the Rams will play in the Super Bowl, and the Blues will finally house the Stanley Cup. I just haven't narrowed down the exact year.

May the year 2000 and beyond be healthy and successful. May your Super Bowl Party colors consist of blue and gold.

See you next year!