The Yearly Night In The Champaign Snow

Leitch — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:30:42 EST

We arrived in the new generation coal plant capital of the world late last night — the mayor of Mattoon, charmingly, used to coach us in baseball — so our holiday season has already begun. And we kick it off with our yearly trip to Champaign for some Illini basketball.

Joe Lunardi has our Illini as a No. 9 seed, and having watched this team play this year, man, is he ever being kind. Illinois has no one who can score consistently — we'renotgonnatalkaboutericgordonnopenopenope — and they kind of look like they have no idea what they're doing. It is worth noting that Michael Jordan's kid has three points so far; they're all free throws (he's 3-for-6). They might just lose to Miami of Ohio tonight. But it's the holidays, so no matter what, all will be well.

Ron Zook, Illinois And Our Spinning Brains

Leitch — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:45:51 EDT

We have resisted as long as we can: We now, to finish our day, talk about the Illini. And what better way to do so than through the restless guns of Ron Zook.

Actually, we're not gonna talk too much about it, considering everyone's assuming Illinois is going to beat Iowa this weekend, and as someone who has watched almost every Illinois football game over the last 10-plus years, let us say that it is a mistake to ever concede a defeat to Illinois.

Second, and lastly, we find it amazing that Fox Sports' current bowl projections have Illinois in the Rose Bowl ... playing USC! Can you imagine a scenario coming into the season where anyone could even imagine Illinois and USC playing in a bowl? Our brains reel; we don't understand anything about this college football season.

Next Saturday, we will be at Memorial Stadium for Michigan at Illinois. It's a night game and will be nationally televised. Heavens.

Deadspin: i - l - l

The Yearly Night In The Champaign Snow

Ron Zook, Illinois And Our Spinning Brains