Let me start out by apologizing because I haven't written a thing in almost two months...
On to everything that's been happening in my sports world...
White Sox: No more Maggs, Carlos, Jose on the team could be a problem this season, but I guess we just have to wait and see what A.J., Scott, and Jermaine Dye can do for us. Without our (most prominent) power hitters, we're going to have to develop a well rounded defense and really maximize the things we can do keeping the ball inside the park, like stealing bases and getting crucial hits. CF Aaron Rowand will prove to be a valuable asset this year--look out for him to take a dominant role on the team. What about all of the young new guys? I wonder if they can take what the big leagues have to offer them. (On a side note, one of the guys in the Sox' farm system (AAA Charlotte Knights) went to my high school--he was the minor league's MVP last year.)
MLB: Fantasy Baseball, baby. 'Nuff said.
Valpo Basketball: No NCAA tourney for either team this year--apparently, we weren't up to the challenge of defending our crowns and proving everybody wrong this year. A loss to UMKC for the ladies? Damn. A loss to Chicago State for the men? WTF?! I can see both Oral Roberts teams making it to the dance, but not very far afterward.
Valpo Football: Better news...recruitment going well this year. Spring ball starts on March 29, so that means fans should be looking out for the QB spot: who's going to step up and take the challenge of being the starter? Shamburg and Doerffler both have in-season experience, but Mirando (redshirt frosh) has a strong arm. Guess we'll have to wait and see them on the field. I wonder how that position is doing on the recruitment side of things. As for grads of the program, a few are preparing themselves for the NFL combines.
NCAA Basketball:
*Illinois drops a 65-64 decision to Ohio State and falls to 29-1, BUT is still the top-ranked team in the nation. Sad for the Orange Crush, but I feel that they'll be able to bounce back in the tourney.
*Fill out your brackets soon!!
NCAA Football:
*The NFL draft will happen in April; watch QBs Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers as they hope to be drafted first.
*Colorado University president Besty Hoffman will resign June 30, 2005--CU's past few years has been tarnished by alleged scandal (Katie Hnida's accusations that she was raped by football teammates, using sex/drugs/alcohol to lure recruits, Gary Barnett's coaching position re-instatement, the slush fund, etc.). Some may be wondering why she's leaving after all of this; others want to see Barnett take the fall, too.
I can't wait for the Sox' season opener on April 4!! Right now, I'm satisfying my craving for baseball by taking advantage of Comcast's broadcast of 20 of the Sox' spring training games.
Enjoy March Madness!!
