First, let me take the opportunity to thank the many, many, people who prayed for my family during my mother’s illness and, subsequently, her passing last month.
Everyone’s thoughts and prayers were felt from me. In addition, I would like to send special thanks to a few friends:
Dr. Donald M. Suggs, Earl Austin Jr., Fred Wigham, Scott Rosembloom, Tom Holly, Earl Wilson Jr., William Kreeb, Richard “Onion” Horton, Michael Cox, “Gentleman” Jim Gates, Mayor Gordon Bush, Linda Brown-Jackson, Robert Easton Sr., Minister Ralph Muhammad, Roy Mosley, East St. Louis City Counsel, Centreville Mayor Mark Jackson, East St. Louis Athletic Dept., Cahokia High School, Chief Michael Baxton, Jean Pate, Joan Simpson, Malcolm Hill, Jack Watkins, Stanford Scott, Douglas Clark Jr.
Last Saturday, Saint Louis University recorded its first road win of the season by beating LaSalle 81-74 in a must game for coach Rick Majerus and his staff.
With a home game Saturday against U-Mass, the Billikens can stay alive for a trip to the Atlantic 10 Tournament in March. With another home loss, the closest the Brad Soderberg, I mean Rick Majerus, Billikens will get to a tournament is the smell of popcorn all the way down Lindell and Grand to the Missouri Valley Tournament. That’s why for Slick Rick and his staff, Saturday’s game is important for a number of reasons.
All I heard was that “If Majerus was coaching last year’s team, SLU would have made the NIT, or maybe the NCAA Tournament.” And the nucleus of the team is coming back with Dwayne Polk, Bryce Husak, Luke Meyer and two of the top guards in the A-1O returning in East Side’s Tommie Liddell III and Belleville’s Kevin Lisch. I certainly was in the same cheering section with some of the Majerus fans.
But something happened. After SLU finished with 20 wins last season, Majerus’ team hasn’t been close to consistent. Even on some nights, they looked worse than some of Brad “Lost in Space” Soderberg’s team ever was.
Adding to the up-and-down season, old “Slick Rick” and his million-dollar turtleneck and salary have made two of the best guards in the A-10 vanish from the radar.
National media types are wondering: “What’s going on?” People calling asking, “What’s up with the 618 boys, Maurice? They look like they are scared to make a mistake.”
I don’t know. The media is not allowed at practice unless you are trying to be his buddy, or eat at a restaurant. I personally don’t qualify for either of those assignments, so I wouldn’t be one to know. But what I do know is that Lisch and Liddell were considered two of the most talented players in the conference before Slick Rick and his million-dollar contract arrived in town.
Liddell even made a few freshmen All-American Teams after the 2006 season. In addition, both were Pre-Season 2nd Team All A-10 selections, and highly respected both in and outside the A-10! ANOTHER FACT!
Slick Rick Majerus can get away with this in St. Louis because only Mike Claiborne and a few others are willing to challenge him on some of his words and actions.
“Throw my players under the bus” should be his middle name.
How about “These aren’t my players” Majerus?
Better yet, “Run-em off” Majerus?
Coach Slick Rick Majerus is playing the waiting game to get his players while sacrificing the futures of some who stayed loyal and stuck around to hopefully turn around and be a part of the new Saint Louis University basketball program.
And no, I haven’t forgotten about Edwardsville High’s Dustin Maguire, you know he’s running him off, or East St. Louis’ Anthony Mitchell, whose days are probably numbered based on his playing time this season.
And have you noticed freshman Marcus Relphorde doesn’t play either? Boy, when old Slick Rick gets through, the whole team and another coach or two might be seen running down highway 64/40 asking for work or scholarships.