With August upon us, it must mean the prep football season is closing in as well. It’s hard to believe, but soon the pigskins will be flying, the shoulder pads will be popping and the helmets will be smacking against each other.

Of course, it doesn’t all magically begin when teams report for preseason practice Aug. 13. Hopefully, most players have spent the summer getting in shape, doing some weight lifting and taking part in summer contact sessions, whether it be workouts or perhaps 7-on-7 camps.

Schedules are out and that means plenty of speculating can begin. And even without seeing a single snap from center, there are plenty around the River Bend who have opinions on which teams will be the ones to beat and which will be also-rans. With that speculating comes predicting.

So let’s hear it from the fans. Which teams will be toughest? Weakest? Which have the hardest schedules? Which have the weakest schedules? And most important, which teams will be left standing at season’s end with the best chances to bring home some state championship hardware?

Let us know what you think! We’ll print the best of the fans’ opnions.

Our old pal Jim Emonds may not have been in the All-Star Game this time around, but the former Cardinal centerfielder was seeing stars during the break - as well as Cupid’s arrow, evidently.

While eight of his teammates from the Cubbies were in New York for the All-Star Game Tuesday, Edmonds, 38, was in Clayton getting married. He and longtime girlfriend Allison Raski, 28, exchanged vows at the St. Louis County Courthouse. The two were dressed quite casually, including jeans, T-shirts and sneakers. After the brief ceremony, they adjourned to Edmonds’ downtown St. Louis restaurant, F15teen.

Edmonds played with the Cardinals from 2000 through 2007, played in two World Series and was a three-time All-Star. He also made thye All-Star team once as a California Angel. He was traded to the Padres in December last year, was released by the Padres on May 9 and signed by the Cubs on May 15.

Raski is a graduate of Ziegler-Royalton High School in Southern Illinois. She and Edmonds have a young son, Landon. Finding a bride from the Land of Lincoln is nothing new for Cardinal favorites - former slugger Mark McGwire wed Edwardsville native Stephanie Slemer in 2002.

There’s no word on honeymoon plans for the new Mr. and Mrs. Edmonds or whether or not they are registered at WalMart.

As we celebrate America’s independence, it is I think, a good idea for River Bend sports fans to take a few minutes to ponder…
ITEM: With the Major League Baseball season in full swing and nearing the All-Star break, the Cardinals are in the thick of the NL Central race, despite considerable number of problems…
Cubs fans - and I admit there are quite a few in our area - have a lot the cheer about.
ITEM: St. Louis fans showed a lot of class Friday when they gave Jim Edmonds a standing ovation. They appreciate the way Jimmy E. played when he was a Cardinal and they never really got a chance to thank him before he was shipped off to San Diego. Now that he’s a Cub, they’ll have plenty of opportunities later to show disdain, but for the moment, it was nice to show they can be grownups. Those who, for some reason, hold a grudge against Edmonds and say he should be treated no better than any other opposing player are missing a chance to demonstrate some maturity.
ITEM: The Telegraph’s annual Spring All-Area section was recently published and we showcased the high school players we felt were the best at their sport. It’s a tough decision and we try to get input from as many avenues as possible. One problem when choosing any all-star team is that some very good players will not be selected. There are only a certain number of spots available.
COMMENT: Isn’t it great we live in a nation where we have enough freedoms and enough time to actually care about any of this? Just think about the people unfortunate enough to live in countries in which just worrying if you or your family will live to see tomorrow trumps whether or not your team wins a game.
Just take a few minutes.

There are rivalries that develop naturally over time and there are contrived rivalries.
Watching the Cubs and White Sox battle at Wrigley Field. it’s obvious in which category this so-called rivalry falls. The Cubbies and the White Sox, while sharing the same city for more than 100 years, do not have the same kind of natural rivalry the Cardinals share with the Cubbies.
Having spent a good portion of my childhood in an area of Illinois that’s split evenly between Cubs and Cardinals fans, I know about that rivalry. I’m interested in seeing how the contrived White Sox-Cubs rivalry stacks up in comparison.
It doesn’t.
Oh, the crowds are loud and the cheers and jeers are all there. But it’s not the same. Neither team’s season depends on how they do in these few interleague contests. The history isn’t there either.
The fans walk out of Wrigley arm in arm in a lot of cases – a Sox fan and a Cubs fan. But Cardinals-Cubs games can get downright nasty. Sure, the games might not be as ugly as Red Sox-Yankees games, but then, Midwesterners are more laid back – they aren’t as nasty as a rule – at least not until they’re filled with enough Old Style.
I really miss the animosity.

We’ve got way more good than bad sports this week - and that’s a good thing. The only problem is that the lone bad sport is SO BAD that it defies logic. As always, you’re invited to sned in your own lists. So here goes, these are my picks for the past week:

GOOD SPORTS
1. Charlie Raich - The former Roxana coaching great passed away last weekend. Hundreds of former players, students, colleagues, friends and family have paid their respects to Charlie. They don’t come much better than him. (By the way: If Jim Herndon is still around when I pass away, I want him to deliver my eulogy - his for Charlie was amazing.)
2. The East Alton-Wood River High girls soccer team - The Oilers and coach Matt Herndon recently received this Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association state-wide award. It’s a great tribute and we’ll have more on the story later in The Telegraph.
3. The Edwardsville High wrestling team was honored last week with a national sportsmanship award for turning in a scoring error.
4. Eileen Waters - The former Godfrey resident is well known to River Bend auto racing fans and she was inducted recently into the Gateway International Raceway Hall of Fame. Again, look for expanded coverage in The Telegraph.

THE ONE REALLY BAD SPORT
1. You talk about bad taste - this person takes the cake. He or she knows who they are - an anonymous letter writer with nothing but bad things to say about one of the most honorable people I’ve met in all my years as a sports journalist. Of course, these sort of writers are always anonymous. They don’t have the guts to put their names on their penned garbage. I won’t give them a soap box here, but suffice to say, these types of correspondence are rougher than Charmin. It must be tough going through life bitter and ticked off.

Once upon a time, the power-that-was in Illinois prep soccer was Granite City. Period. No comma. Granite was the be-all, end-all of high school soccer. The Warriors won the first boys state championship in 1972 and once had a string of five consecutive state titles. As soccer’s popularity grew, so did the talent pool. With successful recreation programs such as the one in Collinsville, it didn’t take long before that success reached the prep level. Collinsville High joined Granite City as a downstate power. And Chicago caught up quickly as well. Then came strong soccer club programs, such as the Granite City Elks, Collinsville United and eventually Metro out of Edwardsville, which led to EHS becoming a state title contender neary every year in both boys and girls soccer.

Prep soccer is still growing - for both boys and girls. As examples, just look at what happened in the recent Class A playoffs. When Marquette Catholic faced Olney in the semifinals of the Columbia Sectional Tournament, it won - but not in a walkover. MCHS dominated much of the play, but had to stay focused, lest Olney see an opening and pull an upset. A couple years ago, it would have been a laugher, but not anymore. Then there’s Columbia, which edged Marquette in the sectional title game 2-1 on a last-minute goal. The Eagles went on to grab third place in the state tournament and came close to making it to the title game. They dominated play against eventual champion Rochester in a semifinal, but came up short 1-0. They rolled over Chicago Herscher 4-0 in the consolation match. It was the most goals given up in a match all season by the Chicago team.

Recent changes in the club soccer makeup in St. Louis could continue to spread the soccer wealth through improved training. The club team scene is where much, if not most, of the serious training takes place for post-rec league players. That’s what’s needed in areas such as Olney and other areas starving for more soccer.

The beautiful game continues to grow in the U.S. - and that’s a good thing.

I caught the new Indiana Jones flick on opening night - it’s one of the top four Indiana Jones movies I’ve ever seen. Heading home from the cinema, I started thinking about my favorites sports movies. There are a lot of good ones – and plenty of not-so-good ones. Who can forget William Bendix as Babe Ruth? Or what about “Chariots of Fire,” my pick for the best ever treatment for insomnia.
As for the good sports movies, I wrote down my favorites, then tried to whittle down the list to a top ten. That meant I had to leave off some really good ones. The ones that came up just shy of the list included “Pride of the Yankees,” “Eight Men Out,” “One on One,” “The Natural,” “Brian’s Song” and “Bad News Bears” (both versions, Walter Matthau and Billy Bob Thornton).
Here goes - my terrific ten:
10. “The Longest Yard” 1974 – Burt Reynolds, football, prison guard and rough talk. This one makes the remake with Adam Sandler look wimpy. It’s one of the great guy movies of all time.
9. “Caddyshack” 1980 – This one has so many famous lines, I can’t list them all here. Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight and who can forget Bill Murray as greenskeeper Carl Spackler and his war on gophers?
8. “Bull Durham” 1988 – This movie may not make you love baseball, but it will make you love Susan Sarandon.
7. “Rudy” 1993 – Even people who hate Notre Dame love this one. A heart-warming underdog tale. Makes Dan Devine look satanic.
6. “Rocky” 1976 – Just the mention of this one gets the familiar soundtrack music rolling through my head. I liked all the Rocky flicks – well, maybe not No. 5 – but the original is the best.
5. “Cinderella Man” 2005 – This true tale of supposedly washed-up boxer Irish-American James Braddock and his comeback is a fantastic picture. It’s also a good look at life in the Depression that gives this Baby Boomer pause to appreciate my parents.
4. “Victory!” 1981 – I know, I know. This one doesn’t make too many great movie lists, but I like it. It’s about soccer and beating Nazis – two of my favorite themes. The story line: A group of Ally POWs plays a team of Germans in an exhibition soccer match in Nazi a public relations move. There are some great real-life soccer players in this one, including Pele (“You give me de ball – I do dese, dese, dese - goal.”). Sylvester Stallone plays the lone American (he’s the goalie, since he’s the only guy who knows the escape plan). Kind of an unbelievable premise, but what the heck - it’s a movie.
3. “A League of Their Own” 1992 – This one gets better every time I see it. It’s about professional women’s baseball during WWII and stars Tom Hanks, Gina Davis and ….. Madonna – woo hoo. It gave us “There’s no crying in baseball.” Part of this one was filmed in Evansville, Ind. – and my cousin’s somewhere in the crowd in the game scenes – but I still like this one anyway.
2. “Hoosiers” 1986 – This is one to watch anytime you’ve got an athlete in the house with a big game coming up. Every time Gene Hackman says, “I love you guys” at the end of this flick, I get a lump in my throat. Even non-sports fans love this one, but for people who’ve ever played a team sport, it’s special.
1. “Field of Dreams” 1989 – This one was easy. It’s pure fantasy, but it’s about the love affair we have with baseball in this country. Kevin Costner builds a baseball field out of a patch of his corn field and Shoeless Joe Jackson and some other dead ball players come out and play – including Costner’s now-deceased father. It’s a warm and funny movie about baseball – and families. When my son was 10, he and I went to Dyersville, Iowa where the movie was filmed. We played catch and I hit some grounders to him on that very infield carved out of the cornfield next to the same farm house.
It was heaven.

I’m back from vacation - Southern California has nothing on the good ol’ River Bend! But now, it’s back to spouting off at the keyboard…

This space is often used to list the past week’s top five good sports and bad sports. But a recent act of good sportsmanship deserves to stand alone and gets a big salute from this corner.

In a recent women’s college softball game between Western Oregon University and Central Washington in Ellensberg, Wash., players from Central Washington were caught in the act of showing more class than I’ve ever witnessed.

Here’s what happened: Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon hit her first career home run, but tore a knee ligament after missing first base and turning back to tag it. She went down in a heap, unable to go on. Her first-base coach said she would be called out if teammates tried to help her. An umpire said using a pinch runner would reduce the hit to a single. What to do?

Enter the best sports I’ve ever seen. Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky around the bases to a three-run homer that helped beat their team 4-2 and knock it from the playoffs. The umpires said that while it would be illegale for teamates to help her, there was no rule against the opponents coming to Tucholsky around the bases. As they reached home plate, both teams were in tears. There’s a video link at the bottom of this blog.

The Illinois High School Association has promoted tons of programs to promote good sportsmanship among players, coaches and fans. It’s a worthy cause.

Evidently, they know a thing or two about sportsmanship in Washington state, too. (I hope the “other Washington” is watching - it could use a lot more good sports.)

Tucholsky, a senior, suffered a torn ACL on the play - the dramatic scene was play of her college softball career. But thanks to some pretty darned-good sports, it’s something she’ll never forget.

I won’t either.

To see this act of good sportsmanship, click this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd…

Now that we’ve sprung ahead, let’s fall back into this week’s good and bad sports. You know the drill …

BAD SPORTS
5. Mother Nature – I’m still ticked off about that whole 11 inches of snow thing from last week.

4. The Steroids Boys - If Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Big Mac, et al, had just admitted they once needled up and apologized for doing so, they would all be in better shape now. I don’t know who’s worse, Clemens and Bonds, who deny, deny deny, or Mark McGwire, who pleads the fifth.

3. Brett Favre - Memo to Brett: You’re a millionaire who has made his fortune playing a game. Turn off the water works. There are children starving in the world.

2. Spring Sports - Hey, I love baseball, track, soccer, softball and tennis, but holy cow - give us at least one week between March Madness and the rites of spring.

1. Tripp Isenhour – Name doesn’t ring a bell? This is the pro golfer who killed a hawk for chirping too loudly. Excuse me, but you were outdoors – on a golf course! You were in the hawk’s territory, Tripp my lad. Wow, what an arrogant moron. It’s still early, but this idiot could have Bad Sport of the Year honors wrapped up.

GOOD SPORTS
5. Kyle Busch – This NASCAR driver was dumped by Hendrick Motorsports to make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Busch is leading the early points race and won in Atlanta Sunday to give Toyota its first Sprint Cup victory. Revenge is best served cold.

4. Trent Green – He’s baaaack! He’s this week’s first “green.” How ironic would it be if Bulger went down in preseason and Green led the Rams to the Super Bowl next season?

3. Mike Waldo – I could make Waldo a Good Sport every week. This time he receives the honor for showing how to lose with class after his Edwardsville Tigers lost to O’Fallon at the 4A Super-Sectional earlier this week. This old Granite North guy is one class act.

2. Olney Tigers – Gotta give my old homeboys a nod this week. These Tigers finished third in the Class 2A boys basketball tourney by beating Pinckneyville. Maybe this new class system isn’t so bad after all …

1. St. Patrick – “Green” No. 2. His day is next week, but we can start celebrating all that is Eire a wee but early with a pint or two - but watch out for ticked-off hawks.

Those are my picks. Let’s hear your ideas.

Here’s my weekly intallment of Good Sports and Bad Sports. Take a read and then let me know your picks.

GOOD SPORTS
1 & 2. Mike Waldo and Layne Bennett: These two high school basketball coaches show how to do it the right way - and with class. Edwardsville’s Waldo and Bennett of Alton have guided their teams through a dramatic season and have their teams set for Showdown III this Friday - providing they each make it that far.

3. Andy Schranck: The Marquette Catholic High School senior brought back two medals from the past weekend’s IHSA Boys State Swim Meet in Evanston. Not bad for a guy from a part of the state that doesn’t have real high school swim teams.

4. The Alton High boys basketball team: I just have to revisit this topic. Alton’s never-say-die attitude helped keep it in the game last Friday against rival Edwardsville and the Redbirds won on Ruben Cotto’s 3-pointer. If these teams meet Friday, look for another classic. It’s March Madness in February.

5. The IHSA: Even though the Illinois High School Association is often frustrating and at times mind-boggling with its decisions, it’s still light years better than the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

BAD SPORTS
1. Kelvin Sampson: This cheater finally got the axe at Indiana - and landed softly with the helped of golden parachute. Don’t feel too sorry for this guy - you probably won’t find him waiting in line for free cheese at the Salvation Army.

2. The ESPN college basketball analysts: These guys - many of them former coaches, mind you - made it sound like Sampson was somehow the victim and that he was wronged by IU. Pucker up, boys.

3. Tony La Russa: After being a Good Guy last week, ol’ Tony gets a spot on the dark side after we learned that he honestly thought Barry Bonds would be a good fit with the Cardinals. And then we find out he still doesn’t believe Mark McGwire used steroids. Is this guy KIDDING?

4. The IHSA: Our friends in Bloomington find a spot on both lists this week for their class work. All these basketball classes are confusing and diluting - and now we find out they’ll start wth three-class soccer next season. The way it is now, there aren’t even enough soccer-playing schools in the state for two classes, let alone three. Amazing - they obviousy don’t talk to coaches around the state before making these decisions.

5. Floyd Irons & the MSHSAA: Sorry, but one week on the Bad Sports list wasn’t enough for Coach Cheater. He’s close to earning a permanent spot here. The MSHSAA supposedly oversees high schools in that state. But the more we hear about the Hill brothers/Vashon case the more it’s obvious the MSHSAA cowtowed to Irons. If he had been coaching in Illinois, he would have been nailed years ago.

Those are my picks. Let’s hear from you …