UPDATE:
I did a story for today's Tribune following the sentencing of Phillip Notah, the ex-boyfriend who confessed to stabbing Gallup High hoops star Brooke Spencer to death. It was an emotional day at federal court.

The Trib is encouraging friends and family of Spencer to continue using this blog as a space to most memorial messages and share their thoughts.

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 2006-06-14 13:03:01
The Gallup Independent did a great job covering the funeral of Brooke Spencer, the Gallup girls basketball player stabbed to death last week. Her ex-boyfriend is facing charges in connection with her death. Spencer, along with future Lobo Valerie Kast, were part of Gallup's Class 5A state title run this year.
I've attended many funerals and visited countless crime scenes on my previous job covering crime and public safety for the Trib. It's never easy.
The high school girls landscape is usually a pretty tranquil place, and I never imagined we'd see two stabbing cases involving top players in one year.
It just goes to show you no element of our culture is immune from violence.

Posted by ilimon at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)

So my profiles of three seniors on the UNM women's basketball team are finally running this week. Our plan was to run them the Friday before Senior Day in The Pit, but then Ritchie McKay was fired and space became pretty scarce. We could have squeezed the stories in, but they would have been buried in our section. So my boss, sports editor Mike Garcia, decided to hold those stories until this week so they could get proper (huge) play in our section.

Today, the spotlight is on Katie Montgomery. Thursday you can read about fellow seniors Julie Briody and Timi E-Nunu. You'd think I'd know all about these players after covering them the past three seasons, but I did end up learning quite a bit while working on these stories. I hope you enjoy them, even if they are a running a little later than planned.

Posted by ilimon at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There was a memorial service today for Mike Hall, the Journal sports writer and editor who died last week. A really nice crowd showed up, and it was standing room only. Lots of people from UNM, the Journal, Trib, Associated Press, Mike Roberts, Joe Behrend and other friends of the Hall family showed up to pay their respects.

Mike's son, a family friend and boxer Danny Romero all delivered eulogies, then a few people in the crowd shared memories of Mike. The family put together a nice slide show and then a soloist sang Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," which is always sure to bring down the house.

For the UNM sports fans who read this blog and on message boards, I did want to pass along a message from the Hall family. Mike's son, also named Mike, said the family was touched by the people who sent cards and posted memorial messages on all the fan sites. He said the family was moved there was a moment of silence in Mike's honor at The Pit Sunday and appreciate all the support.

Posted by ilimon at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For such a hyped event, it's been hard to get straight numbers from the NFL Combine. We've seen two different 40-yard dash times from Quincy Black, but both are good so it's not too bad. He led linebackers in the shuttle drill times updated today. And, as far as I can tell, he had the best vertical leap of anyone at the combine at 41 and 1/2. That's really impressive and should finally turn some heads for Black, who I think was stuck in the shadow of Utah's Eric Weddle way too much his senior year. That's not to say Weddle isn't a very good player, it's just that Black didn't get the recognition he deserved nationally. That should change very, very soon.

Posted by ilimon at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos were scheduled to have a marathon week, taking two days off last week to make up for practicing and playing every day this week. Coach Don Flanagan had a change of heart, deciding to give the team Monday off. "I thought we would be better off if we were rested and mentally focused for the rest of our games this week," he said. "That was a very tough game against TCU, and I thought the players needed the break." Flanagan said he was happy with the team's effort in Tuesday's practice.

Senior forward Timi E-Nunu gave everyone a bit of a scare when she was tripped up coming off a screen and landed on her left elbow. She was examined by trainers and had her elbow wrapped heavily before rejoining practice. "I just got a little banged up, but I think they might have me see a doctor just to make sure it's OK," E-Nunu said. "I think it will be fine. It's just going to be sore."

That's all for today. Check out tomorrow's Trib for more women's basketball news.

Posted by ilimon at 06:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Former Lobo Quincy Black seems to be doing well at the 2007 NFL Combine.

NFL Network is reporting Black had the top vertical leap among all linebackers at the draft, leaping higher than the measuring stick being used. He also ranked was among the fastest linebackers in the 40-yard dash. Black was credited with a 41.5" vertical leap, a 10-foot, four-inch broad jump and posted an official time of 4.42 time in the 40-yard dash.

I'll post an update as soon as the NFL Network releases his results on other tests.

Posted by ilimon at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Lobos earned a huge senior day win. If all goes well, you can check out Lobo Zone later today for both the postgame story and audio of Senior Day speeches.

Posted by ilimon at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM is poised to win this game, but I would be a little concerned about how the team handled TCU's zone defense and full-court pressure. The Lobos had trouble running their offense smoothly in the face of pressure, but they were bailed out by the Frogs' foul trouble.

Posted by ilimon at 04:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Julie Briody hit a huge 3-pointer to give the Lobos more breathing room. TCU starters Lori Butler Rayford and Ashley Davis have fouled out with 6:28 left in the game.

Posted by ilimon at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TCU will not roll over in this game, clawing within single digits again. But the Lobos are countering with enough intense play to overcome shooting 25 percent from the field and 69 percent from the free-throw line in the second half.

Posted by ilimon at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TCU cut the Lobos' lead to five, but UNM responded in a big way to stretch its lead back to double digits.

The refs continue to be a big factor in the game, with starters Adrianne Ross, Lori Butler-Rayford and Ashley Davis all saddled with four fouls. TCU's bench also was called for a technical to help UNM's run.

Posted by ilimon at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos got off to a sluggish start, but picked up the pace a bit and drew several more big fouls. Two starters, including Adrianne Ross, now have three fouls. Ross was on fire and leading TCU's comeback, but she has slowed down since Amy Beggin took over on defense.

UNM is getting help from a rowdy Pit crowd. The official attendance tally is 12,437.

Posted by ilimon at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you could bottle energy the Lobos have displayed in the first half of this game, you could shoot a rocket into space. After a brief lull that allowed TCU to cut UNM's double digit lead to seven, UNM went on an 8-0 run to end the first half. Timi E-Nunu played stellar defense in the final 17 seconds, deflecting the ball away from TCU's point guard and preventing the Frogs from getting off a final shot.

Julie Briody led all scorers with 14 points, while Adrianne Ross led TCU with eight points.

Five TCU players have two fouls, including Ross and three other starters. Dionne Marsh is the only Lobo who ran into foul trouble in the first half, also picking up two fouls.

The Lobos shot 43 percent from the field, 67 percent from 3-point range and 69 percent from the free-throw line. They outrebounded TCU 22-15 overall and 9-5 on the offensive boards.

TCU shot 36 percent from the field, 25 percent from 3-point range and 100 percent (4-for-4) from the free-throw line.

Both teams had 12 turnovers, with the Frogs scoring 12 points off the turnovers and UNM netting 11.

If UNM can sustain this energy level in the second half, the Lobos will win easily.

Posted by ilimon at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos are still playing hard but their shots aren't falling as well, fueling a 9-3 TCU run.

The Frogs also have deployed a press that has hampered the Lobos ability to run their offense.

It doesn't help that Dionne Marsh is still on the bench with two fouls, limiting the Lobos' offensive firepower.

Posted by ilimon at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos are maintaining a 13-point lead with all out hustle. UNM also is out-rebounding TCU 15-10 with Dionne Marsh on the bench with two fouls. Not bad.

Posted by ilimon at 03:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos went on a 13-0 run, then TCU answered with two quick buckets before the second media timeout of the game.

UNM didn't knock down every shot, but they chased every board and were smothering on defense. This is a vast improvement over the Lobos' play against the Frogs during their loss last month. Huge, huge difference.

Julie Briody leads the Lobos with 7 points.

Posted by ilimon at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos went from dormant to a 5-0 run, forcing TCU to take a 30-second timeout at the 14:41 mark before this big Pit crowd fueled a bigger Lobos run.

Posted by ilimon at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It hasn't been a particularly pretty start for either team, with the first field finally coming at the 17:59 mark.

The best news for the Lobos is TCU's leading scorer, Adrianne Ross, already has two fouls and is on the bench.

Posted by ilimon at 03:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was an emotional start today. UNM asked for a moment of silence in honor of Mike Hall, the Journal women's basketball beat writer who died this past week.

Then crowd pepped up with howls for the Lobos. Seniors Katie Montgomery, Timi E-Nunu and Julie Briody were recognized before the game. They brought out the 2005-06 NCAA Tournament banner and will be recognized again after the game. The Lobos also gave roses to TCU's two seniors.

If you catch the game on CSTV, you'll note Jeff Mittie is wearing sweats. He was locked out of his hotel room and hotel staff could not get the door open to let him into his room and change into his suit. The game also almost got pushed back to 6 p.m. because the Frogs had a hard time flying in to Albuquerque thanks to high winds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It's like the Boston Celtics' luck in the old Boston Garden.

On to the main event.

The Lobos' showdown with TCU just tipped off. Stay tuned for updates.

Posted by ilimon at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Albuquerque Journal reporter Mike Hall, who had been battling severe pneumonia for just about two months, died this morning. It's a sad day for all of us who knew Mike.

Here is the Tribune's obit. I'll post more details about memorial services as soon as they are available.

I spent a lot of time around Mike covering the women's basketball team during the past three years. We were competitors but had a very friendly relationship. He was a nice guy who always looked out for me, although he also insisted I could do just fine on my own.

After Mike came back to work following his successful battle with lung cancer, he gave some great advice. He encouraged me to spend as much time with my family as possible. He said I should take long weekends to visit relatives in El Paso or encouraging my parents to make the short drive north as often as possible. He said he wished he had taken advantage of more of those opportunities when he had them, and he was happy he still had the chance to spend time with his family. It's not always easy to take that advice, but it's good for everyone.

My condolences to all of those who knew Mike or were touched by his work. He will be missed.

Posted by ilimon at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Running backs coach Cornell Jackson is leaving UNM to take a job as an assistant coach at Baylor. Jackson has been with UNM for the past two years, although he had a previous stint as the Lobos' linebackers coach in 1995. He coached a pair of 1,000-yard rushers during his time at UNM -- DonTrell Moore and Rodney Ferguson. No word yet on a potential replacement for Jackson, who interviewed for the Lobos' offensive coordinator job before it was awarded to Dave Baldwin.

The Lobos filled their offensive line coach vacancy, hiring former Lobo offensive lineman Jason Lenzmeier to coach the line. Lenzmeier, a graduate assistant for UNM last season, replaces Bob Stanley, who spent one season at UNM before moving on to Western Michigan.

Posted by ilimon at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNLV just handed the Lobos the biggest gift ever.

The question is whether UNM can capitalize on it.

The Rebels upset BYU 76-71 in overtime Wednesday night in Las Vegas, seriously shaving the Cougars' lead in the Mountain West Conference title race. The standings are now: BYU 10-3, TCU 9-3, UNM 9-4, Utah 9-4, Wyoming 7-5, San Diego State 5-7, UNLV 4-8, CSU 2-11 and Air Force 1-12.

The Lobos have the easiest slate of games remaining, although they aren't exactly a waltz. They face TCU at home Sunday, then travel to UNLV and San Diego State.

BYU still has to play San Diego State and Utah at home, then ends at TCU.

TCU has to take Wyoming at home, the Lobos in The Pit, San Diego State on the road and BYU at home.

And Utah plays at Air Force, at BYU and Wyoming at home.

The UNM-TCU just went from very big to HUGE. I thought it would be the game for second place. Now the winner has a legitimate chance to catch BYU. That's the crazy world of college basketball.

Posted by ilimon at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you're the Lobos, how do you beat TCU?

The Horned Frogs blew past UNM 67-43 Jan. 24 in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU forced the tempo and really controlled the game from start to finish. So I would guess during the rematch you should do everything you can to slow things down and maybe throw 6-foot-6 Valerie Kast at the undersized TCU lineup.

UNM coach Don Flanagan, a man with infinitely more experience, has some different ideas.

"I'm not sure we really can slow them down," he said. "I think we actually need to push the tempo and be faster than them. We have enough people that we can wear them down if we really push them."

Umm, isn't this a team that is loads faster than the Lobos? How do you go faster than the blistering Frogs?

"Looking back at the tape, it looks like TCU is going at full speed and we're just standing around," Flanagan said. "We can run with them a lot more than we did the last time played them."

UNM's offense has been at its best when the team gets into a rhythm in transition. The team struggles when it is forced to earn basket on halfcourt possession after halfcourt

How would you attack TCU? Would you throw Kast out there or hold her back because she could easily get burned on defense? Would you push the tempo or slow it down? Would you press the fastest team in the conference or hang back against the Frogs?

Posted by ilimon at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We're getting down to the wire, and I'm going to make some predictions about the UNM women's basketball team based on .... covering the Lobos for a few seasons and my highly suspect gut instinct.

The Lobos will sweep the remainder of their games but finish second behind BYU in the final regular season standings.

UNM will advance to the Mountain West Conference tournament championship and face BYU for the title. I'm still not sure who will win that game. I'll say it's too close to call for now.

The Mountain West Conference will get three teams in the NCAA Tournament -- BYU, UNM and TCU. Utah will be left out and really upset but make a nice run through the WNIT.

The Lobos will be better off if they lose to BYU because the title winner will get an eight or nine seed in the NCAA Tournament, slamming into a No. 1 seed in the second round.

Adrianne Ross will beat Dionne Marsh for MWC player of the year honors. Marsh will still earn first team all-conference honors. Katie Montgomery also will make the first team, but Julie Briody will be stuck on the second team. Briody will make up for it by earning all-MWC tournament first team honors.

It's a long week before the Lobos play another game, so make this entertaining and share your thoughts in the comments section of the blog.

Posted by ilimon at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

You may not believe it, but reporters are easy to please. Give us access to players and we're happy. Give us access to players who are bright, open and articulate, then we're in heaven. As a result, I happen to think Valerie Kast is awesome.

I did an interview with Val for a feature we call In Her Words. She amazes me every time I interview her. Who else would drop the names of French author Michel Houellebecq and American actor John Cusack in the same interview? It's nothing against the many other Lobos I've interviewed during my time at the Trib. It's just that I feel like I learn something new every time I talk to Val.

Posted by ilimon at 02:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Tribune rolled out a lot of cash to send me to the Super Bowl, so my bosses decided I should stay home for the Lobos' game at Air Force today. I would love to be there, but it's hard to argue with their logic. No matter how much the Lobos insist Air Force is no cake walk, there's a reason those Falcons are 1-11 in Mountain West Conference play.

So, I'll provide scoring updates and a postgame story, but no courtside insight. I know it hurts, but I'm sure the Sports Animal's ace radio crew Joe Behrend and Brook Brandenburger will help you cope.

The good news is I won't miss a game the remainder of the year.

Posted by ilimon at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I reported in a story today that Brandi Kimble will start in place of Amy Beggin at Air Force. Both are expected to play a lot and UNM coach Don Flanagan said it had nothing to do with how either player performed against Colorado State. He said Kimble just gives the Lobos more of a rebounding edge. Air Force happens to lead the Mountain West Conference in offensive rebounds per game.

Andrew Leo Lopez sent me an e-mail and also posted on previous blog entries that Beggin's performance vindicated his view that she is not a good player. He argued Colorado State's Sara Hunter, who scored 22 points in the game, proved his point.

I still disagree, and I think most basketball fans would agree that Beggin is good player. The comparison to Hunter is unfair. Hunter has to be the Rams' scorer because they have few other threats. Beggin plays well within the Lobos' offense and gives them a tremendous spark on defense. I doubt you will be convinced until the end of Beggin's career at UNM, but she is developing well as a young player.

Posted by ilimon at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

UNM coach Rocky Long made it official today, hiring Tulsa tight ends coach Matt Wells to take over as the Lobos' wide receivers coach. Wells is expected to start work with the Lobos Feb. 19.

Now Long and offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin will look to replace offensive line coach Bob Stanley, who took a job last week at Western Michigan. Long said he hopes the hiring process will move more quickly to replace Stanley because he interviewed so many candidates for other coaching vacancies who would be qualified for the offensive line position. Graduate assistant and former Lobo offensive lineman Jason Lenzmeier is still a candidate for the position.

Posted by ilimon at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I feel like I may have shouted fire in a crowded theater by reporting Julie Briody aggravated an injury to her left wrist against Colorado State Wednesday night.

Team trainers decided Thursday she did not need X-rays after all and she practiced well with the team Wednesday afternoon.

"It's just one of those things I'm going to have to fight through," Briody said.

She wore a wrist brace to practice and will continue icing it regularly to try to limit any swelling or pain.

Posted by ilimon at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I grew up going to former UTEP Miner Tim Hardaway's basketball camps, and credit the coaches he hired with teaching me a lot of great things about basketball. Hardaway also was one of the last great UTEP stars to play under legendary coach Don Haskins. It was a treat to go to his games with my dad and cheer for the Miners.

Now I'm bummed. Hardaway, who went on to a decent NBA and is now a TV analyst, made a string of unforgivable homophobic remarks when asked how he would deal with having an openly gay teammate on the heals of former NBA center John Amaechi's book disclosing he is gay. Hardaway said, "I hate gay people." He later apologized for the remarks, saying he regretted them and never should have said what he did. Hardaway did not, however, say he didn't mean it.

Tim Hardaway isn't the first sports icon to disappoint me, but I gasped when I heard his remarks. His statement was so unfiltered and unbelievably intolerant. A lot of guys in the NBA may feel the same way, but they don't have to be role models for bigotry.

Posted by ilimon at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

UNM made the plays it needed to down the stretch to close out the Rams.

It wasn't pretty, but the seniors made sure the Lobos didn't let this win slip away.

Check out Lobo Zone after the game for complete postgame coverage.

Posted by ilimon at 08:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos are starting score more but have had trouble closing out on Colorado State guard Sara Hunter all game. She leads all scorers with 21 points. The Rams are shooting 69 percent from the field in the second half, so it's a bad idea to keep trading baskets.

Julie Briody has come alive for UNM, scoring 24 after being really quiet at BYU.

Posted by ilimon at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's still ugly.

Dionne Marsh still isn't looking to score much and the Lobos' offense is bogging down. They run a series of screens on the perimeter to either get open looks outside or draw double teams away from Marsh. But few Lobos are knocking down shots and Marsh isn't looking to score.

On the other side, CSU is hitting enough 3-pointers to keep things interesting.

Posted by ilimon at 08:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The good news is UNM is no danger of losing this game. The bad news is the Lobos also aren't exactly playing stellar basketball. I'm sure it's hard to get hyped up for a team like Colorado State, but it's what you have to do to come back from four conference losses.

UNM has yet to extend its lead to a comfortable enough margin that UNM coach Don Flanagan will throw out more of his reserves.

On the up side, Colorado State starter Marilyn Moulton fouled out with 13:29. A slew of other Rams are in foul trouble.

Posted by ilimon at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Colorado State coach Jen Warden called timeout after UNM went on a 5-1 run. This is when the Lobos really need to keep the pressure on the Rams and close out this game. Dionne Marsh finally drove to the basket after the last timeout, missing. But I would argue Colorado State had to fear her drive and doubled down, leaving Julie Briody to finally knock down a 3-pointer.

Posted by ilimon at 08:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM continues to play down to the level of its competition. Dionne Marsh still isn't looking to shoot and has coaches pleading with her to look to the basket and go to work. She does have five assists, but it's not really helping the flow of UNM's offense. Her drive would open up the offense a lot more than extra passes.

Posted by ilimon at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM went on an 11-4 run to close the half, with freshman center Valerie Kast scoring five points in the final three minutes to help the Lobos pad their lead. It was a preview of how Kast can change a game and be a major force for UNM.

Colorado State's Sara Hunter is the game's leading scorer with 10 points, while UNM top scorer is Katie Montgomery with eight points. Timi E-Nunu and Julie Briody have 7 points apiece. E-Nunu's points are a career high.

Dionne Marsh has been in a passing mode, but she hasn't taken the ball to the basket as much as coaches would like and needs to pick up the pace in the second half so more reserves can get into the game.

The big first-half surprise was UNM coach Don Flanagan sending Christian Shelter in as first player off the bench. Brandi Kimble, who was replaced in the starting lineup by Amy Beggin, was the next guard to go in the game but she didn't get in until the 10-minute mark. It's clear Flanagan is looking to test other options and isn't handing Kimble a whole lot of playing time.

Posted by ilimon at 07:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos are still off from long-range and don't seem to be driving on the Rams as much. UNM is 4-of-11 from the field since the 10-minute mark.

Posted by ilimon at 07:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Colorado State briefly held a lead, relying on stronger outside shooting to pull ahead of the Lobos. UNM was shooting 60 percent at the 10:56 mark but then went 1-of-4 from the field during the next three minutes.

Posted by ilimon at 07:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Colorado State hit a pair of 3-pointers and a few buckets in the low post to get back in this game.

Posted by ilimon at 07:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The first few minutes were pretty ugly for both teams, but the Lobos settled down after two bad possessions and made some good plays on offense. The same can't be said for Colorado State, which is 0-for-5 from the field.

Posted by ilimon at 07:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

just tipped off. Stay tuned for updates.

Posted by ilimon at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM coach Don Flanagan said he will start freshman guard Amy Beggin in place of junior guard Brandi Kimble against Colorado State Wednesday night in The Pit. The rest of UNM's starting lineup will include Katie Montgomery, Julie Briody, Dionne Marsh and Timi E-Nunu.

"Amy just had two really terrific games, and I think she deserves to be rewarded," Flanagan said. "She earned a spot in our starting lineup."

Beggin played strong defense in wins at Utah and BYU last week. She also scored 10 points in second half and overtime against the Cougars. Her overtime heroics pushed the Lobos ahead of the Cougars for good and locked in the first sweep of the Utah schools in UNM history.

"It's pretty exciting, but I'm not going to treat differently than any other game," Beggin said. "I'm just going to go out there, work hard and try to help the team as much as I can out there."

Flanagan said he also would like to go at least nine or 10 players deep against the Rams, but his rotation depends on how well the Lobos play against Colorado State.

Check out Wednesday's Trib for more women's basketball news.

Posted by ilimon at 05:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

One of my regular blog readers, Andrew Leo Lopez, has blasted UNM freshman guard Amy Beggin all season in both e-mails and comments on the blog and on the Tribune's Web site. He often wrote Beggin is not slow and a liability to the Lobos. He has irked dozens of women's basketball fans with his harsh views, who have begged me to ban his comments from the Trib Web site and this blog. As long as he doesn't curse or threaten anyone, we let him keep posting.

Beggin responded in her own way. She was huge for the Lobos Saturday, making a bunch of clutch plays to help UNM collect an 80-75 overtime win at BYU. She has been a strong defensive player and spark off the bench for the Lobos. Now she is adding clutch baskets to her arsenal.

So, I think it's time for Mr. Lopez to eat crow.

Posted by ilimon at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Katie Montgomery earned Mountain West Conference player of the week honors for her crazy awesome performance at Utah and BYU this week. I had no doubt she'd win the honor, but I also would picked fellow Lobo Dionne Marsh as co-player of the week. Both of them had great games during the historic sweep of the Beehive state.

What do you think?

Posted by ilimon at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lobos swept Utah and BYU for the first time inm school history, knocking off the Cougars 80-75 in overtime. Amy Beggin knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:00 to put Lobos ahead for good. UNM iced the game with strong defensive pressure and free-throw shooting.

Check out Lobo Zone soon for complete postgame coverage.

Posted by ilimon at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM pulled ahead off three Amy Beggin free throws, but the Lobos missed a switch off a screen and BYU knocked down a 3-pointer to jump back ahead 71-69. Don Flanagan called a timeout with 2:43 left to talk over both the offense and defense with the Lobos.

Posted by ilimon at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM pulled ahead off three Amy Beggin free throws, but the Lobos missed a switch off a screen and BYU knocked down a 3-pointer to jump back ahead 71-69. Don Flanagan called a timeout with 2:43 left to talk over both the offense and defense with the Lobos.

Posted by ilimon at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shawnee Slade's jumper rolled off the rim as time expired, setting up overtime.

Posted by ilimon at 03:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos are battling but can't seem to turn the corner. BYU's legs are definitely tired, but the Lobos also have to score to be effective in the final stretch.

Posted by ilimon at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM just forced a big turnover and is in a position to tie or take the lead. The Lobos forced BYU center Lauren Riley to foul out and has fellow center Dani Kubik stuck with four fouls. The Cougars' long-range shooters have been off lately and look tired, but I wouldn't test them by leaving them open in crunch time.

Posted by ilimon at 03:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos are going with the smallest lineup I've ever seen -- Katie Montgomery, Amy Beggin, Julie Briody, Brandi Kimble and Dionne Marsh. And Montgomery was just called for fouling BYU's center. We'll see if it pays off on the other end.

Posted by ilimon at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Angela Hartill tweaked her ankle, but she helped the Lobos claw back into a game they easily could have given up on at this point. Brandi Kimble has stepped up the scoring effort for the Lobos, which has been huge in this comeback.

Posted by ilimon at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos trail BYU 49-40 with 12:19 left. UNM pulled within three points several times, but BYU keeps knocking down heartbreaker 3-pointers as the shot clock expires or late in the Cougars' offensive sets. Coach Don Flanagan to adjust and calm down his frustrated team.

Posted by ilimon at 03:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM struggled to score and BYU pounced. If you give the Cougars shooters an inch, they can knock down shots. It also hurt that Timi E-Nunu quickly picked up her third and fourth fouls. We'll see if UNM can get the stops and buckets it needs here.

Posted by ilimon at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is kind of impressive UNM held a lead and only trailed by five at the half. The Lobos shot just 35 percent from the field in the first half, while BYU fired 57 percent from the field. It would help the Lobos immensely if senior guard Julie Briody could shake off her scoring slump and knock down a few field goals in the second half or get to the line.

Posted by ilimon at 02:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM's scoring slowed down just long enough for BYU to get the lead back. UNM had a chance to trim the deficit with an inbound play with 3.8 seconds left, but Amy Beggin's pass to Dionne Marsh in the paint was deflected and Katie Montgomery forced up a quick shot that didn't have enough force behind it from 3-point range.

The Lobos have a chance to beat the Cougars, but they have to play smart basketball and can't afford long scoring droughts. They also have to be wary of both strong post moves from every BYU player and a slew of Cougars hot 3-point shooters. The BYU guards really do a remarkable job of posting up strong and making great moves to the basket. It's pretty clear the position battle is essential to stopping BYU from scoring because once they set up and get the ball inside, it's a bucket for the Cougars nine out of 10 times.

Posted by ilimon at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a pretty good situation for the Lobos, with two BYU players already saddled with three fouls.

Posted by ilimon at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dionne Marsh has taken over this game. She has 11 first-half points and is driving to the basket to draw fouls in a way she really hasn't since the Lobos' loss at Oklahoma. She also drew the third foul on BYU's Dani Wright, arguably the biggest play of the first half for UNM.

Posted by ilimon at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM pulled ahead for a 20-19 lead over BYU, thanks mostly to strong halfcourt defense. The Lobos haven't used their press as much as I would have expected, but they have rattled BYU lately. Timi E-Nunu and Brandi Kimble also have scored for the Lobos, helping spread out the burden of getting some points early.

Posted by ilimon at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM now trails BYU 15-14 with 10:52 left in the first half. The Lobos are getting a big effort from Dionne Marsh, who is both rebounding and scoring well so far. Katie Montgomery also knocked down a big 3-pointer to help the Lobos cut the deficit. The only problem for UNM right now its five team fouls.

Posted by ilimon at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM coach Don Flanagan is talking with the Lobos about setting more effective ball screens because the Cougars always switch on screens, which should give UNM guards open looks outside. He also emphasized the Lobos have to close out more quickly on BYU's twin towers Dani Kubik Wright and Lauren Riley.

Posted by ilimon at 02:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

just tipped off. Stay tuned for updates.

Posted by ilimon at 01:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm sitting here with Richard Stevens in Provo watching the Lobos and Cougars warm up. This time we've got a pretty good seat right behind the UNM bench, which means we've got a chance to hear all the timeout action.

So that Lobos have never swept the Utah trip, and it's going to be tough to do it this year. BYU is, by far, the better of the two Utah teams. The Cougars have more depth and pose more matchup problems inside for the Lobos. We'll see if UNM can pull off an upset here.

There's a handful of loud and loyal Lobos fans here, while a few BYU fans are trickling in the Marriott Center. I'd be surprised if the people here cracks 1,000 come tipoff. I think Utah maybe had 500 fans at the UNM game, but season ticket sales probably let them fudge all the way past 1,000.

Posted by ilimon at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos pulled off an improbable comeback, knocking off the Utes after trailing by double digits most of the game. Check out Lobo Zone soon for complete postgame coverage.

Posted by ilimon at 08:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Utah coach Elaine Elliott hasn't done enough to help her team protect it's lead and the Lobos have pounced like an angry junkyard dog finally let off its chain.

Posted by ilimon at 08:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM has applied tremendous defensive pressure and finally hit the outside shots they needed to get back in the game. The Lobos also have been impressive from free-throw range.

Posted by ilimon at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM is rallying, only trailing Utah by eight with 7:23 left in the game. Katie Montgomery is leading the charge with 19 points so far.

Posted by ilimon at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM has finally picked up its offense, but Utah still seems to have all the luck. The Utes are managing to score off broken plays and are getting all the bounces. UNM trails Utah 46-33 with 12:05 left in the game. Katie Montgomery seems to be willing the Lobos back in this game but it may not be enough.

Posted by ilimon at 08:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM coach Don Flanagan angrily called for a timeout and shouted at his players to step up and play with effort after Utah scored a wide open layup off an inbounds play at the 18:24 mark in the second half. The Lobos now trail the Utes 35-22 with 15:59 left in the game.

Posted by ilimon at 08:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

UNM is fortunate to only be trailing the Utes by 11 points. The Lobos turned in arguably their worst half of basketball this season.

The Lobos shot 5-of-27 from the field, and 1-of-9 from 3-point range during the first half. Utah went 11-of-20 from the field and 3-of-6 from 3-point range. That means UNM shot 18.5 percent from the field, while the Utes shot 55 percent.

Katie Montgomery led the Lobos with seven points, while Dionne Marsh only managed two points before picking up her third personal foul in the first half.

Marie Warner led the Utes with 13 points, scoring at will off drives to the bucket.

It's not that the Lobos aren't hustling. They outrebounded the Utes 18-15 and picked up 8 offensive boards to the Utah's 0. The Lobos just haven't been able to do anything once they got the ball.

Posted by ilimon at 07:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lobos look plain awful tonight. It's like a high school junior varsity team took over for UNM. The Lobos are 2-of-15 from the field and making some real basic mistakes. The Lobos trail the Utes 22-6 with 7:28 left in the first half.

Posted by ilimon at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM is doing a terrible job of feeding Dionne Marsh in the post and finally got its first field goal with 12:44 left in the first half. The Lobos still trail the Utes 15-4 with 11:45 left in the first half and need to wake up fast or risk getting blown out here.

Posted by ilimon at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNM has yet to hit a field goal and trails Utah 6-2 with 15:46 left in the first half. The Lobos only points came from a pair of Dionne Marsh free throws. The is 0-for-6 from the field and struggling to run their offense against Utah's defense.

Posted by ilimon at 07:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

just tipped off. Stay tuned for updates.

Posted by ilimon at 07:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Utah used the world's slowest color guard to do the present the colors before the national anthem. We'll be under way soon.

Posted by ilimon at 07:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

UNM coach Don Flanagan and Utah coach Elaine Elliott have had a long streak of bad blood, but it appears the support Utah got in The Pit during its Elite Eight run last season helped smooth things over a bit. The coaches had a friendly pregame chat here in the Huntsman Center. They shared a few laughs, shook hands and looked a lot friendlier than I've seen in quite awhile. Richard Stevens said, "They should get a room." Not to worry. I'm sure the snarling will begin momentarily.

Posted by ilimon at 07:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was in Albuquerque for all of a day and now am settled in for a long weekend in Utah.

Richard Stevens and I will be providing double coverage of the Lobos' tour of the Beehive state, with games tonight at Utah and Saturday afternoon at BYU. Why two of us? We think this is a huge trip for the Lobos and wanted to cover it from every angle. Look for loads of blog updates, stories and podcasts during the weekend. We have to justify all the great meals we're going to have this weekend. Feel free to suggest any of your favorite restaurants in Salt Lake City, Provo and anywhere in between. We'd be happy to sample the best fare. We already hi PF Chang's, but we're also happy to go after local favorites.

Posted by ilimon at 06:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It looks like the UNM football team may have caught a break, with former recruit Ervin "Una" Smiley signing a letter of intent to play for Oregon State. Smiley was shot during his official UNM recruiting visit while leaving a strip club with three UNM football players. He suffered severe nerve damage in his right leg and is still awaiting surgery to repair the damage.

Now that he has signed with Oregon State, it seems unlikely UNM would have to foot the bill for his education. There is still a chance Smiley's relationship with the Lobos could be messy because he may not ever be able to walk normally or play football again following the surgery. If Oregon State decides at that point to withdraw the scholarship, then UNM may have to pay for Smiley's education at another school or face a lawsuit.

I still think it's a good sign for the Lobos that another school is taking Smiley in and sharing the burden of caring for him in the future. What do you think?

Posted by ilimon at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm sure you've cleaned up the party leftovers, and I've finally made it back to Albuquerque after Super Bowl XLI. I posted one final gallery of my game day photos on the Trib's Web site. Former Lobo Brian Urlacher looks pretty bummed, and that's pretty much the vibe he gave off with his answers as well. It's really tough losing a Super Bowl, especially when the start of the game went so well for his team.

On a lighter note, here are some of the things I learned spending a week in Miami:

1. Bears and Colts fans can't dance. It was amusing watching them invade Cuban restaurants and take a stab at salsa dancing.

2. Someone decided to call South Beach SoBe. So now everyone calls it SoBe. I think that may hurt the area's cool factor more than it helps it.

3. Las Vegas and California has Inn and Out Burger. The stars' favorite fast food joint is .... Johnny Rockets. Yes, it's the same cookie cutter diner in most malls across America. They call it The Rocket. Every day in the Miami Herald, a new star was spotted eating at The Rocket during Super Bowl week. I don't get the draw, but it was the best place for celeb sitings.

4. Miami is like LA of the South. Loads of construction and angst for the locals, who had to deal with even more traffic than usual.

5. Tim Hardaway, one my favorite UTEP players when I growing up in El Paso, has a car wash in Miami. I think it's amusing how many athletes own car dealerships and car washes. I guess they sell well.

6. Even Cuban ex-pats have their limits. They hate Fidel Castro but not enough to feel completely comfortable throwing a party celebrating his death. City officials began the week talking about juggling the possibility of Castro's death coinciding with the Super Bowl. They said they would have a party at the Orange Bowl to contain the celebration. Then some people pointed out that was just a little creepy. So the celebration plans were toned down and it was made clear the gathering, not a party, would celebrate the potential political climate change in Cuba. Fancy tap dancing there.

7. There seems to be a really huge rift between the rich and working class in Miami. I have never seen more luxury cars in my life. It's not every day you see a Lamborghini. But on the flip side, the working class is being priced out of living anywhere in Miami and struggling to get by each day. Cab drivers, hotel workers and restaurant employees I talked to all had to do a ton of extra work to make South Florida look good during the Super Bowl, but they aren't going to get much of the financial reward out of it. Not cool.

Well, that's a wrap on my Super Bowl experience. A huge thanks to the Tribune for spending me on the trip and to our readers for checking out my coverage from Miami.

Posted by ilimon at 08:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm not sure if there is an ickier feeling as a sports reporter than heading into a losing locker room.

It turns out losing locker rooms are bad everywhere, but the Super Bowl losing locker room is especially ugly. When you reach the epic stage of your sport and are about to be crowned a world champion and fail, that's a special kind of pain. And microphones and cameras certainly don't help you deal with it. This is not to say this is the worst situation a reporter can be in by any stretch. When I was a police reporter, interviewing homicide victims' families was far worse. Still, it the Chicago Bears' postgame locker room and interviews in the media area weren't pretty. To add insult to injury, the guys had to listen to part of the Colts postgame celebration while answering reporters' questions in a mass interview area because NFL officials forgot to turn off the live feed to the field being piped into the area. Very nice touch.

Big Brian Urlacher handled the drama as well as could be expected. Better, in fact, if you hold him to the Peyton Manning standard from last year. This year's Super Bowl MVP was the same guy who threw his teammates under the bus last year when they lost in the playoffs. Urlacher lost the Super Bowl this year but met him midfield after the game to congratulate him and didn't lash out at his teammates. Urlacher could have just obliterated Rex Grossman for his Rextastic play, but he didn't.

Check out Monday's Tribune for a last shot of Super Bowl coverage from South Floirda. I'll also have some photo galleries up soon on the Trib's Web site with images from inside the stadium and Urlacher's postgame interview.

Posted by ilimon at 10:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Why settle for one big interception when you can give up two in a row?

It's Rextastic! (you must understand that means fantastically bad by now).

Rex Grossman is trying to get the Bears back in this game, but his biggest trouble always seems to have been trying to do more than he is actually capable of doing on the football field. You know, forcing things.

I'll be heading down for some postgame interviews soon. I have a feeling Mr. Urlacher ain't going to be chatty. Hard to blame him.

Stick with the Trib's resident couch potato Phil Parker for more game analysis and check my blog soon for more postgame coverage.

Posted by ilimon at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rex Grossman completed a big pass, and I thought maybe he'd rewrite my definition of Rextastic (fantastically bad).

Not so much.

No, he threw an interception in traffic on a first-and-10. The Colts ran it back for a touchdown, although the Bears are challenging the call. It's gonna be close, but with Rex's luck it will stand. Sure enough, it did and the Colts lead the Bears 29-17 with 11:44 left in the game.

Now I'm going to keep using the term Rextastic. This game is really Rextastic for the Bears. They're about to lose the Super Bowl, which I'd imagine feels real crappy.

Posted by ilimon at 07:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Colts took a big risk challenging another play when they lost a challenge earlier. Does Tony Dungy believe his team is so awesome it won't need things like timeouts late in the game? Sure, Indianapolis got the call but there's no guarantee it would go their way.

That's Rextastic. (Fantastically bad for those just catching up).

Posted by ilimon at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've got a new word now: Rextastic. It means fantastically bad, until Rex Grossman changes my mind today.

By the way, right now the Bears' offense is Rextastic. All they got out of awesome field position was a field goal, which is better than the near interception Rextastic Grossman almost handed to the Colts.

Posted by ilimon at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Colts gave the Bears great field position with an awkward kickoff and a penalty on the return. The only question is whether Chicago's offense can figure out to score. Most NFL teams have at least a 90 percent chance of scoring when they get inside the 50-yard line.

Hey, there's that Kevin Federline commercial. It may have been his funniest rap moment ever. And, I hope, his last.

Posted by ilimon at 06:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I can see the TV broadcast on a monitor at my seat. (I'm not bragging). But the other fans here can't, and it makes for the world's longest game ever. And a lot of standing around for the players waiting for the TV cameras. And a lot of time for Rex Grossman to search the Bears sideline for a place to hide. He promised he was up for this game. He's had a few good passes, but it's been typical Rex. Two steps forward, a million backward.

It's on the defense and special teams to get the Bears back ahead.

Posted by ilimon at 06:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Oooh, someone in the press box is gonna get it after convincing Tony Dungy there weren't 11 players on the field for the Bears. He challenged the call and the rest of the world got to count the 11 Chicago players real easily on replay. The Colts were charged with a timeout, a real blow in such a close game.

Adam Vinatieri hit the field goal to push the Colts ahead 19-14, but you gotta think it's a victory for the Bears not to give up a touchdown on that drive. Now their offense has to do something. Or they need another kickoff return for a touchdown.

Posted by ilimon at 06:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In case you're curious, former Lobo Brian Urlacher had six tackles and pass broken up in the first half. He's not a happy camper right now, as the Colts continue chewing up the Bears' defense in the third quarter. He's shouting at his teammates and raising his arms at them, If I were them, I'd fall into line because he doesn't look like a dude you want to cross when he's angry.

Posted by ilimon at 06:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The teams are back on the field. There was a rumor reported by a CBS affiliate in Chicago that both teams would have chefs provide snacks at halftime because it was going to run so long. The bigger problem may be dealing with more rain. It's been clear all week, but now it won't stop. And there's leftover smoke from Prince's halftime show, so it's a big old foggy mess in Dolphin Stadium as they start the third quarter.

Posted by ilimon at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Is this a sign of the apocalypse?

Adam Vinatieri missed a field goal to end the first half. I didn't know he could miss in the playoffs.

One can only hope the second half will be filled with as much excitement and drama because it's a lot more fun to watch than most of the lame blowout Super Bowls.

Ooooh .... here comes Prince.

And he's got what looks like the Miami marching band on the sidelines.

Posted by ilimon at 05:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The rain here is coming down in steady sheets, and I have to think that's helping cause all these crazy turnovers. At least I'm sure Rex Grossman will want to hide behind that excuse after looking pretty shaky late in the second quarter.

I never saw a betting line on the odds of there being a billion turnovers for both teams in this game. Somebody, somewhere is making a lot of money off all these turnovers.

Posted by ilimon at 05:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The momentum has shifted back to the Colts in this wild game.

Here in the stadium, you can feel the change. During the opening quarter, the Bears were puffed up and looking like they were larger than life. Right about now, down 16-14 with about five minutes left in the first half, they aren't quite deflated but they certainly aren't moving around like they are untouchable.

Posted by ilimon at 05:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I never expected this kind of wacky start from two relatively tame NFL teams. Sure, the Colts have an explosive offense but they haven't provided the biggest sparks so far in this Super Bowl. It's early, with the score 14-6 Bears with 3:12 left in the first quarter, but it's a nice start for Chicago. And I can't help but think the Colts' botched extra point is going to come into play at some point.

Posted by ilimon at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I posted some pregame photos on the Trib Web site. You can find them at this link.

So far the Bears fans here are very, very happy. This is the best start the Bears could have asked for under any circumstances. Opening kickoff returned for a touchdown, interception and Rex Grossman didn't throw a pick on his first pass attempt of the game. He almost did on the second, but they only need him to be almost good in this game.

Before everyone gets too giddy, this is how the Colts started off that AFC Championship game they won. Choke early, pull of miraculous comeback late. We'll see what happens.

Posted by ilimon at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Devin Hester just sent this crowd into a frenzy with the unbelievable opening kickoff return for the touchdown. He weaved through some traffic to get the opening. Madness.

Posted by ilimon at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've probably heard the national anthem about 100 times during the past year. This one was the best. Billy Joel kept it short and sweet, and the jet flyover was really impressive. Above all, the energy and excitement in this stadium is unbelievable.

Posted by ilimon at 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Greetings press row. I'm seated near the Bears' end zone inside Dolphin Stadium. I can't believe I'm here right now, and I'm all set to bring you all the crazy vibe of Super Bowl XLI. I wish everyone from New Mexico could be here because it's really something to behold.

Getting here was a little tough. I left four hours before the game and was in traffic on an NFL media shuttle for a little less than three hours. The trip normally takes about 35 to 45 minutes. People were getting off buses on the freeway near the stadium and walking the rest of the way. There was no chance of them getting hit or anything since the place turned into a parking lot. Crazy.

It's a little foggy and has been raining all day, which could favor the smashmouth Bears running game. Of course, I can see the field but can't touch it, so who knows if it actually has been affected by the weather. Earlier this week Brian Urlacher kept going on and on about the field and the fast grass. I think he was happy to talk about something besides himself and the grass here was his fallback anecdote. Mmmmm. Grass.

Bears fans did indeed travel well, I can't say for sure whether they outnumber the Colts, but they are a lot louder and appear to be a lot drunker. Drunk with hapiness? Who knows. They just break out into random Bears chants more often in random corners of the stadium -- even the luxury boxes.

OK, look for updates all evening here from press row. Right now I'm going to try to quickly add a pregame photo gallery.

Posted by ilimon at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Aside from fireworks and whole bunch of parties, all was quiet for both teams Saturday in Miami.

The Bears flew in the chef who normally feeds the team before games to maintain a little consistency and bring a touch of normalcy to one wacky and crazy week. Although it is common for teams to change hotels before game day, Chicago is staying put. About 400 friends and relatives are in town to support the team, but they are staying at a separate hotel. Former Lobo Brian Urlacher said he planned to get to bed as early as possible Saturday night and skip the whole club scene on South Beach all of this week, adding he can come back any time. Good for him, because is the worst time to try to get out anyway.

Miami is overloaded with people. And the natives are getting restless, tiring of all the lost tourists getting in their way. I have to say, it's really funny to see a bunch of Midwesterners -- from Indianapolis and Chicago -- taking over sunny South Florida. There was some seriously ugly dancing going on at some Cuban restaurants. Ah well, it's good for them to branch out anyway.

The vendors I've talked to around the city have Bears merchandise heavily outselling Colts gear. And I'm seeing loads more Bears fans than Colts fans. It's not too surprising, but it looks the Chicago fans will take over Dolphin Stadium on game day.

Check out our bonanza of Super Bowl stories at abqtrib.com. And don't forget to check out all the links on the right side, complete with some really cool old Tribune stories about Urlacher's early years. I give Trib editor Phill Casaus for writing way back on April 3, 1997, the words Urlacher and Monster were an important combination we should all remember. This was three years before Urlacher was drafted and became the star Monster of the Midway. It's all in that archive. Good reading.

Posted by ilimon at 07:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lobos offensive lineman Bo Greer, who was a senior on the 2006 team, was a last-minute replacement to represent Texas during the Texas versus the Nation game Saturday in El Paso. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CSTV. Greer has never lived in or played in Texas, but he still got the invitation to play for the Lone Star Team.

Posted by ilimon at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NFL had press conferences with Billy Joel and Prince promoting the Super Bowl entertainment. Joel will be singing the national anthem for a second time in his music career and Prince will be doing the halftime show.

Joel was pretty sarcastic with reporters, explaining he did not think it was a big deal singing the national anthem. He said it was a tough song and "America The Beautiful" is a lot better and easier to sing, but he'll make the most of it. He also said he is aware people are worried about the length of the long and the last time he did it, he came in around a minute and a half.

Then came Prince. The Purple One is notoriously reclusive, so it was a little surprising he was doing this press conference. Well, he wore Florida orange from head to toe and opted to play a few songs live instead of answering questions. He came to the stage and said contrary to what was said, he would take a few questions. One reporter finally shouted a question, asking how Prince felt about playing the Super Bowl. Prince responded by laughing and launching into his musical numbers.

He is supposed to be doing more widely loved popular stuff, not the sexier and racier work of his early days. His backup dancers were still scantily clad, so I wouldn't rule out another wardrobe malfunction or fines for some heavy petting that PC police might not like during a game watched by a lot of kids. I think you have to expect a little unpredictable behavior with Prince, but the NFL folks seemed happy to have him around.

Pepsi, which is hosting the halftime show, also announced a big give away. The company created the world's most expensive Pepsi can made with rubies, sapphires and diamonds and will give it away to one lucky fan. The same fan also will get a cooler gift, Super Bowl tickets for life. You can sign up for the contest at this Super Bowl Web site.

Posted by ilimon at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Former Lobo Brian Urlacher is officially a free man. He completed his last round of interviews with the media this morning. He gamely answered the final round of questions from reporters. I give him credit for staying calm after answering the same questions easily 20 times.

Check back for more updates later today.

I'm getting ready to head back to the media center for press conferences with Billy Joel, who seems like a football kind of guy and will be singing the national anthem, and Prince, who doesn't seem like a football guy and will be doing the halftime show. I saw the spoof on Chapelle's Show with Dave Chapelle dressed as The Purple One playing basketball, but I'm not sure he really digs sports. I really want to see how the notoriously shy guy reacts to a room full of sportswriters. Fun!

Posted by ilimon at 09:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)