Spanning the Globe

Another full Saturday sports buffet... I feel like the old ABC Wide World of Sports program. Want to give some best wishes to my teams today.

Starting off the day watching my son's team play in Springfield this morning. Matt loves basketball, and he's had a good year as a sixth-grader playing on the seventh grade team. Started his first game the other night, so he has very excited about that. We have been so blessed that he has grown up around some really good college players--not only that they were good players, but that they treated the game with such respect and that they made Matt feel special when they were around him. He looks up to those guys so much, and they have really shaped the way he approaches being a basketball player himself. I owe a real debt of gratitude to Gill and Tuck and Craig and Nate and more recently, Bear and Zeke and Irv for being those guys to him.

Also another combo afternoon for the Illini and the Blueboys, who are both in the state of Wisconsin today. Illinois is taking on the Badgers in what will be a very difficult game for them. Wisconsin is not one of the ranked Big Ten teams, but they have a good record are always very dangerous under Bo Ryan, one of the most successful, consistent, and underappreciated coaches in the country. Illini will have to rebound and work to get open shots on the road. And so will the Blueboys, taking on league-leading and always physical St. Norbert up in Green Bay today. Never an easy place today, but neither is Grinnell, where IC won earlier this season. So a great chance for IC to pick up some ground in the standings with an afternoon road win. Looking forward to that doubleheader later today.

Special mention today to the Payson Indians and my friend Brian Rea, who'll be coaching 'em up in the Winchester Tournament later tonight. Brian was my assistant at Camp Point Central some years ago, and we have stayed in touch ever since. He is a hard-working, hard-driving guy who is very knowledgeable and really knows system basketball--I'm sure those guys know the plan and are playing like crazy for him. Might try to get over to that tonight. My best wishes to Brian and his guys in that title game.

And that's kinda my Saturday I guess--hope that your Saturday is as blessed and full of joy as mine looks to be.