The University News

Fans expand taunting horizons

Matt Auxier • April 6, 2006

Somebody threw a syringe at Barry Bonds on Monday night. Hopefully, the San Diego Padres are giving that somebody free tickets for the remainder of the year. The problem is, Bonds picked up the syringe and took it toward the dugout with him-and nobody checked what was inside.

Billikens struggle to find consistency

Thomas W. Delaney • April 6, 2006

Saint Louis University softball team was in action on Tuesday at the Billiken Sports Center for a double header against Southeast Missouri State. The two teams split a pair of games. The Billikens had been riding high after sweeping in-conference foe George Washington over the weekend.

Confessions of a sports addict

Jim Gallen • April 6, 2006

Hi. My name is Jim, and I'm addicted to sports. There, I said it. I have no problem admitting it. I love sports and spend quite a bit of time watching them. Many times my schedule revolves around when certain games will be played. Now before you book me a room at the Whitey Ford Clinic, allow me to explain myself.

Teams wind down their final seasons as varsity programs

Thomas W. Delaney • April 6, 2006

With only a couple of tournaments left for the Saint Louis University golf team, both squads hit the links last weekend.The Billiken men's golf team took 11th place out of 11 teams at the Branson Creek Invitational, which concluded on Tuesday. The Billikens registered a team score of 948 for the tournament.

MO state beats Basebills

BRENT CARNEY • March 30, 2006

Missouri State scored in all but one inning on its way to a 10-2 victory over Saint Louis on Wednesday night. The Bears' (12-9) offensive onslaught kept SLU (11-11) winless on the road for the season. Missouri State did not waste time getting to Bills starter Lance Rhodes.

Billikens fight to a .500 weekend record

Andy Pollock • March 30, 2006

The softball team managed to split a pair of doubleheaders over the weekend as the team began conference play. Following spring break play in Florida, the Billikens traveled to Philadephia to take on Temple and St. Joseph's. In both series, the Bills dropped the first half of the doubleheader before rebounding in the second game to earn a split.

Cinderella is ready for the dance!

U. News Staff • March 30, 2006

I don't want to get caught up in the moment. Seeing how I am writing this article only two minutes after the buzzer. But what I just witnessed was the greatest, perhaps most significant game in the modern era of college basketball-if not ever. I looked at my phone to discover a buddy had text-messaged me, "Is this a joke?" I thought for a second that the T-shirt and hat company crudely crossed out both UCONN and GEORGE WASHINGTON before realizing that, indeed, a commuter school founded in 1972 was emblazoned on Final Four paraphernalia.

SLU debuts a brand new varsity program

Jim Gallen • March 30, 2006

Few people might have known about it, but history was made last weekend for the Saint Louis University Athletic Department. The SLU track and field teams traveled to Carbondale, Ill., to compete in the Saluki Spring Classic, which was the first varsity track and field meet for the newly established program at SLU.

The pen is mightier than the board

Thomas W. Delaney • March 30, 2006

With the NFL draft still approximately a month away, there are bound to be shakeups in the prognostications of experts between now and then. Prospects are moving up and down teams' draft boards with the liquidity of the international financial markets. But the curious fan has to wonder about the different reasons as to why a prospect changes his draft position from the end of the college season to Arpil.

Look out Lawrence, Manhattan will be the big apple

Andy Pollock • March 30, 2006

There have been many compelling college basketball stories as March winds to a close. This year's tournament has proved to be one of the most balanced fields in recent memory. George Mason has gone from an unknown to the toast of Indianapolis. Gonzaga and Duke were upset, causing each team's respective star to get upset, Morrison more visibly than Redick.

Redick-ulous! Don’t believe the hype surrounding J.J.

Tony Meale • March 30, 2006

It has to be said. And if Dickey V won't say it, I will. J.J. Redick is overrated. I know that Redick is not only the frontrunner for the 2006 Naismith Player of the Year Award, but he is also Duke's and the ACC's all-time leading scorer and has made more 3-pointers than any player in the history of the NCAA.

Inconsistency plagues tennis team

Matt Auxier • March 30, 2006

Injuries took their toll on the Saint Louis University men's tennis team, as Illinois State beat the Billikens 7-0 in matches on Saturday. Last weekend's series marked the third consecutive outing in which the Bills have dressed only four players. Each time represented a loss for SLU.