April 2008 Archives

Why?
Why not run either the North Suburban Conference girls track meet or the Lake County boys track meet on Friday? Running them at the same time on Thursday means the two major events will have to share the spotlight.

Incidentally, the marquee race at the NSC girls meet just might be the 200-meter dash. If Zion-Benton star Aireonna Bailey and Lake Zurich star Olivia Allen actually go head-to-head in this race, it should be worth the price of admission.

The pick to click? Aireonna

There are two keys to having a quality prep soccer program, and neither key has to do with having a great coach because we are going to assume, for the sake of argument here, that all prep coaches are created equal. We know they're not, but we're going to say they are.

Key No. 1: A very, very strong travel soccer program in your community.

That's why Libertyville High has been good for so long, and that's why Lake Forest's girls program is so strong this season. In fact, there are two good travel soccer programs in Lake Forest.

Key No. 2: Getting your elite players to play high school ball during the season rather than travel ball. Actually, Lake Forest has been stung by this, with a couple of their better players taking a pass on prep soccer in order to concentrate on club soccer. Still, ehough are playing with the Scouts that they are the feel-good story of this spring at 9-0-0.
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Best in boys meets
1) high jump
2) long jump
3) 100-meter dash
4) pole vault
5) 400-meter relay
Worst in boys meets
1) triple jump
2) shot put
3) 3,200 relay
4) 3,200 run
5) 1,600 relay
Best in girls meets
1) high jump
2) long jump
3) 100-meter dash
4) 400 relay
5) shot put
Worst in girls meets
1) Pole vault
2) 3,200 run
3) 3,200 relay
4) triple jump
5) 1,600 run

There were four reasons for the increased interest in the Hawks, a bad team that didn't even make the SIXTEEN-team playoffs:
1) The Bears stunk so we couldn't cheer for them.
2) The Bulls stunk so we couldn't cheer for them
3) The Fighting Illini basketball team stunk, so we couldn't cheer for them.
4) Northwestern's basketball team stunk, so we couldn't cheer for them.
In desperate need of hopping on someone -- anyone's -- bandwagon, the Hawks, a non-playoff team in their own right -- were the last team standing.
Besides, the Hawks glorified the return of Bobby Hull, the tarnished jet. Have you ever read the kind of husband/father he was? Why, on earth, would we welcome back with open arms someone like that. Time erases some things, but not the kind of stuff this "family" man did.

1) Chicago Bears
2) Chicago Cubs
3) Chicago Bulls
4) Chicago White Sox
5) Chicago Black Hawks
6) Chicago Wolves
7) Chicago Fire
8) Chicago Rush
9) Chicago Shamrocks
10) Chicago Sky

All reports suggest that the number of rounds of golf being played on golf courses throughout the country are down as the economic realities of the world and the time it takes to play a round have turned into a lethal combination for the sport.

That said, if fewer people are playing golf, what sports are more people playing? It doesn't seem like the number of runners is way up, and area tennis courts are still, for the most part, empty 24/7. And bowling alleys aren't hopping any more than usual either.

So, where are people spending their recreational hours these days?

At least that's how the report came across that aired during the semifinals of the NCAA men's hoops tournament. The so-called experts said that college coaches are now dealing with AAU coaches and that AAU ball is way more important than high school ball.

While there may be some truth to that, there is still no substitute for the enthusiasm and energy that comes from a high-school student-fan section when it has a winning team to support.

No AAU program can duplicate the noise that was made when Ronad Steward of Zion-Benton hit the halfcourt shot to beat Evanston in the semifinals of the IHSA playoffs.

That's why high school ball is important.

tell other people how to spend their money.
Today, the people being told how to spend are the men and women in charge of financing at Waukegan High.
The thinking is that big bucks are needed to bring the Weiss Field athletic complex up to the standards of places like Carmel and Libertyville. One great addition would be installing artificial turf on the football field. Another would be installing lights. Another would be the construction of new locker rooms, new washrooms and a new concession stand. As for who's going to pay for all this, the response is that you ask too many questions.