Rollin' With My Homies

Last night Nik and I went Huff Hall for the Ultimate Basketball Challenge. The Fighting Illini men's and women's basketball teams took on the Illini men's and women's basketball teams in an exhibition game. The event raises funds for the wheelchair basketball teams, both of which recently won their national championship by the way, and for the "Coaches vs. Cancer" campaign... two very worthy causes.

It was a great time. I think everyone on the court was having a good time. It is amazing how fast the wheelchair athletes move... they leave the other basketball players in the dust. Typically the teams were a mix of men, women, able-bodied and wheelchair athletes, but you really got to see how fast the wheelchair athletes move when for a few minutes each it was only the able-bodied athletes on the court, and then right after that is was only the wheelchair athletes.


At half time they had a celebrity free-throw shooting contest (from a wheelchair of course) between Bruce Weber, Jolette Law, Ron Zook, Chancellor Herman and President White. The finals were Coach Law vs. President White,and Coach Law won. I think Ron Zook was kind of frustrated he didn't do better... so be it... I like that kind of competitive attitude in our football coach.


Alex Legion, who transferred from Kentucky (sorry Billy) at semester and will be eligible to play with the Illini beginning Spring 09 semester, totally stole the show. I think he was 0 for 10 at one point, but he certainly was having a good time. Hopefully he turns out to be a better basketball player when he can use his legs. He was just fun to watch... my new favorite for sure.

Brian Randle meets with the Illini press one last time.

You may be Michael Jordan's son, Jeff, but you still appear to be getting run over by your teammates.

What up with that hat, Chester?

Mike Tisdale's 7-foot frame doesn't really fit in a wheelchair.

Coach Zook, not only did you get beat, you got beat by a girl... you got beat by a girl wearing pink shoes!

I am more special than ESPN's Erin Andrews and here is why

So I just got home from working the Illini game. I was working on the floor tonight, on the west side where most of the media are located. The game was on ESPN (yep, that was a game we wanted the nation to see... not!) and sideline reporter, Erin Andrews was there. When we first went to our locations Erin was sitting at one of the press tables working on some notes. My co-worker Ted came by and he gave Erin a Werthers original candy (side note about Ted, he gives everyone a Werthers candy at every event and must have stock in Werthers, and just happens to have gone to school with my Dad from elementary all the way through high school), then Ted proceeds to open his hand to me where he has both the original Werthers hard candy, and the soft/caramel chewy Werthers, and says "You are special, Jane, you get to choose which kind you want". This is why/how I am more special than Erin Andrews... okay so kind of lame, but it was a slow news day here at janofabulous.com. In case any of you are wondering Erin Andrews is pretty awesome. Not only is she ridiculously beautiful, and and a woman who knows her sports, she is very nice and pleasant. She chatted with our staff a bit, and was very gracious to the random assortment of men/boys who wanted their picture taken with her. Kudos to Erin for being a kind and intelligent sports lovin' girl.

So there is a GRRR in today's blog, and surprisingly enough it isn't the Illini basketball team's performance tonight. No, today's GRRR goes to the four men sitting the second row of A section that completely ogled Erin tonight everytime she passed by, making some very crude comments, and basically just treating her like a piece of meat. The usher sitting right in front of them said it was just rude and disgusting... granted Erin could not hear the comments but plenty of other people could. Why do some men think it is okay to completely objectify women in that way? Lord knows if other men were making those same comments about their wives, girlfriends, sisters, mothers or daughters they would be ready to "throw down". It was just completely disrespectful. So here is a challenge for my reading public out there. If you have the opportunity to influence boys or young men in any way (as a parent, teacher, friend, church or community member, whatever) please make sure that they know this kind of behavior is rude, disrespectful, and unacceptable! * steps off soap box *

Brain Randle... he's a Christian you know... and I touched him!

Well as promised some game highlights from the Busch Braggin' Rights game. First of all, in case you missed Sports Center, the Illini won by one point. It was a very close game at the end, and I seriously had my doubts... but God bless 'em the Illini came through... keeping our perfect Braggin' Rights record in tact.

This game is just always lots of fun. Half the arena in orange, the other in gold and black. I have yet to go to a Braggin' Rights game that wasn't filled with lots of emotion, and this one was my seventh. This year besides basketball, football took center stage as well as the Illini faithful enjoyed turning the knife on the Mizzou football fans, pointing out how they got hosed out of BCS game, gleefully chiming in on the M-I-Z-Z-O-U cheer with our version, M-I-Z... B-C-S!

To offer you a little background on the post title, I have to go back a number of years. I was taking the Fab 5 (my five nieces and nephews) to an Illini basketball game and Lane asked me "Aunt Jane, is Dee Brown a Christian?". I replied that I didn't know and later Lane said, rather out of the blue, "Brian Randle, he's a Christian you know!", which for whatever reason just tickled me, and to this day we can't discuss B.R. without throwing in the "He's a Christian you know" line. To further explain, turns out that we live in a very small world and Lane goes to church with Brian Randle's Grandma's best friend, Virginia. Lane helped Virginia to her car after church one day when she wasn't feeling well and she later got Brian's autograph for Lane, to thank him for his kindness, and Lane being Lane had a discussion with Virginia about Brian's faith... it turns out Brian is a Christian.

Okay, so back to the game. It was crazy. Very close the whole time, and Nik, Karen, Sarah J and I even developed a high fiving routine. We were sitting in two rows of two so the routine was high 5 the person in your row, high 5 the person in front/back of you, then high 5 diagonal, Nik and Karen down low, and Sarah J and I up high. We were on edge, and even threatened to make Nik go to the bathroom at the end of the game because when she went in the first half Trent Meacham or T-Meach as Karen calls him, went on a 3-point shooting spree, and we really could have used he offense in the second half. I managed to get B.R. to make a couple of free throws by reminding every one that, and I quote "B.R. is a Christain, and Christians make their free throws, especially this close to Christmas!" Yep, those words came out of my mouth... completely silly, but hey whatever I could to for the team, right.

Also there was a very intense moment when during a timeout the short referee (I can't say what Karen called him all night) came over and just started going all nuts on assistant coach Jerrance Howard, yelling and wagging his finger at him. Never did find what that was about, but it was funny to watch, and we didn't appreciate someone giving "our Jerrance" the business. Not quite so funny was B.R. fouling out... again the short official... he didn't seem to like B.R. last night.

Well despite Brian fouling out, the Illini managed to pull off the victory. It was the best Braggin' Rights celebration ever. The folks in the next section took off (kudos to them) so we slid over into their seats where we could hang over the rail and "Woo Hoo" the entire team as they headed to the locker room. We got to "High 5" nearly every member of the team, including B.R., and Nik and I even got to touch the trophy as they brought it over to us. Somehow in all the excitement I managed to snap this photo of Brian as he was heading over to High 5 us. As you can see he was soooo excited. I know that he didn't have the game that he wanted, but it was great to see him so excited to have gone undefeated in his Braggin' Rights career too. That kind of excitement just makes you smile. It was awesome... we totally got Brian Randle sweat on our hands... how cool is that.

This morning as we were telling Sarah J good-bye in parking garage we told her we hoped that it was worth the 8 hour drive... her response... "We won, and I got to touch Brian Randle, he sweat on my hand... totally worth the drive!" So that pretty much sums up the Braggin' Rights game.

Merry Christmas to all, especially Brian Randle!

Crack those nuts... Smash that cake

So Saturday was a big day. In the afternoon I watched the Illini football team hand #1 ranked Ohio State their first defeat of the season. Okay, I should clarify, I watched the game on TV, not in person from Columbus. Anywho, Nikki, Larimer and Jake came over for the game and some lasagna. It was a good time, and I don't have many leftovers so I don't have to eat lasagna for the next 12 days. It was kind of cool watching a game with Jake, since he was a member of the team last year... he provided an "insider" viewpoint. Also, he quickly picked up on who to counteract the "announcers jinx". For those of you unfamiliar allow me to explain. The announcers jinx is when the announcer says this hasn't happened all day, and then it happens. For example "Well you know Bob, Illinois has been doing a bang up job protecting the football today.", and then on the very next play Illinois fumbles. You can totally counteract the announcers jinx if you catch it early enough in the sentence and then just start yelling things at the TV loud enough that you have basically drowned out what ever was being said. It was great to see Jake jumping in with a "Hey, hey, hey!" Anyway the game was awesome and we had a great time hanging out together.

After the game Nikki and I headed to Fisher for Jeremiah's 1st birthday party. It was rather exciting as well. The best part was Jeremiah eating his cake. Please see all of the photos below. In some of them he looks like a victim of a violent crime, but it is red frosting. Also, he isn't crying as you might think he is squealing with delight. There are a couple other photos of him playing with the back of wrapping paper trash, which was far more entertaining than any of his gifts, and of his new Illini sweatshirt (believe or not Nik and I did not give him that) which was perfect since we had beaten OSU earlier, and of John working furiously to get Jeremiah's new toy out of the box. Oh, and speaking of John and Jeremiah's new toy. It was a caterpillar that have various different learning games. One was to hit the different letters on its feet to spell words and learn phonics. John so tried to spell and therefore get the caterpillar to say "bad words". The best part is that when you try certain letter combinations, the caterpillar stops saying the letters and says "Oh, that tickles!"

So Saturday was a good day. The Illini cracked those nuts, and Jeremiah smashed that cake!

Rashard & Real Estate

Saturday I went to the Illini football game. It was awesome, the Illini came out fighting and beat #5 Wisconsin. Rashard Mendenhall (coincidentally also #5) ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns, and once again proved to me why he is one of my favorites. When I think of Rashard I can't help but think of my favorite Rashard story. Last season while at a game Rashard made a great play and they put up his picture on the jumbotron, along with the following "Rashard Mendenhall, So. Skokie, IL". My response to Nikki, "Hey look, I didn't know there was a South Skokie, who knew, but that is where Rashard is from." Nik gave me the strangest look, and replied "Um, Jane, I think that he is a SOPHMORE from Skokie, not from South Skokie!"... yep, perhaps one of my dumbest moments ever. To this day we laugh about "South" Skokie.

Nikki was at her class reunuion, so Richard when to the game with me. He loves football, but doesn't have a particular allegiance to the Illini. He didn't wear red, and didn't actively cheer for the Badgers so I can live with that :) Walking towards the stadium Richard and I came across a lovely house. I know Nikki has been thinking about buying a house in Champaign, and Richard being ever the smart azz thought she might want take a look at this one. Here is the picture.

If any of you want to take a closer look, it is across the street from Jillian's. I told Richard that it kind of looks like they took the wheels off of one of those "log cabin" looking trailers from which they sell hickory pit barbeque at local fairs and festivals. Nik, on the plus side... you would be conveniently located close to the stadium.

I-L-L...S-O-G-G-Y

So yesterday was the home opener for the Illini football team, a 6 p.m. start which is particularly conducive to tailgating. The "Grrr" of today's post goes to Mother Nature who did her best to dampen (both literally and figuratively) our tailgate plans... but we are a hardy and dedicated lot and would not be denied.

So we headed over to the stadium just after 3 p.m. yesterday, after the big rains passed through, and tailgated in the mud. We nearly had to take out a couple of kids playing football in the parking lot with the van because the lot was a bit muddy, we were loaded down with people and supplies and weren't about to stop and get stuck in the mud... sorry kids.

Kudo's go to Nikki's Dad, Jerry, aka "Captain Map" (if you are ever lost give Jerry a call) who brought a tarp, albeit as slightly leaky on, so we could fashion a MacGyver-like tent out of the back of the van. It looked a little redneck, perhaps a little "ghetto fabulous" if you will, but it worked and we stayed relatively dry. Here is a picture of the setup.

We had a few of the enemies among us. Nikki's sister, Angie, and her friend, Tara, attend Western Illinois University, the Illini's opponent. They challenged Nik and me to an Illini vs. Leatherneck washers show down. As much as I hate to admit it the Leathernecks put a beat down on the Illini in washers... but the Illini won the football game, and that is all I really cared about it. Here is a great pic of the "Sisters Murbarger" throwing down.

Also, joining us at the tailgate was my buddy and former Illini football player mentee, Jake. Jake recently made the tough decision to give up football this season to pursue being a "normal" college student this year. This was one of his first tailgating experiences (the coaches frown on the tailgating when you are actually on the team) and I think Jake enjoyed it. He put his former NCAA Division 1 athlete skills on display with this 4-point washer shot (see below)... but I think he still got his booty kicked by girls... Tara and Ang have some serious washer skills!

Anywho, perhaps the best part of Jake leaving the team is that now we are no longer subject to NCAA rules and regulations and I can feed the boy. Here he is enjoying a tailgate sandwich, along with Captain Map... and it is totally legal.

Angie had the line of the day, though. She is not yet 21, but the rest of her posse is, so she went up to Captain Map and asked "Daddy, can I have a beer?" You don't hear that everyday, it was a precious... FYI the answer was "No!"... sorry Ang.

I little later my college buddy Scott Larimer, aka "Larimer" stopped by with his parents. Here is a picture of the two of us. He still looks like he is in college... me... not so much.

The construction around the stadium is a bit a of a pain, especially in the rain... muddy porta potties... need I say more... but I was perhaps expecting even worse? The new student section is really nice, and I am looking forward to seeing what the west side will look like next season.

It was little soggy, but still a great day.

The Ultimate Double Header

Being the sports-minded girls that we are, Saturday was pretty much the best day ever for Nikki and me. We went to STL for the day to see the Illini football team take on the Mizzou Tigers at the Jones Dome at 2:30 p.m., then headed to Busch Stadium for the Cardinals vs. Reds at 6:15 p.m. We have had September 1st on our calendar since the MLB baseball schedule was released last winter when we realized that the Cardinals would indeed be in town when the Illini football team headed to STL for the Arch Rivalry game. In case you haven't noticed, Nik and I are pretty die-hard when it comes to our boys in orange and red, so to have both combined in one day was pretty amazing. Earlier in the week I had mentioned to a couple of people that the only thing that would make it even more perfect would be to somehow incorporate Illini basketball into the mix. The basketball team is currently on a trip to play several games in Canada so that didn't look possible... but funny enough at the pep rally put on by the Illinois Alumni Association we did see former Illini basketball player, Sean Harrington. Sean now lives in "The Lou" as earlier this summer he was named as Director of Basketball Operations for St. Louis University by new coach, Rick Majerus. So in a way we did get to throw Illini basketball into the mix. Here is a great photo of Sean Harrington walking past me :). Also is a photo of a gentleman at the pep rally that I readily admit may be more of a die hard fan than me. Please take note of his orange and blue beard... now that is team spirit.

After a stop at the Illini pep rally we headed to the Jones Dome for the football game. It was a great atmosphere and the dome is really loud. Obviously we were pulling for an Illini victory, but I give the team credit for coming back and having a chance to win in the final minute. It was a baptism by fire for backup QB Eddie McGee, who made some great passes, and just needs to learn to protect the ball. On random football game side note: Nikki sat next to Illini linebacker and super cutie, J Leman's, neighbors.

It was a little crazy transitioning to football from baseball. When QB Juice Williams got hit/hurt Nikki said "Look, they are taking Juice to the dugout, I mean clubhouse, I mean locker room. This was our first real look at back up QB Eddie McGee, who sorry Eddie, but we kept calling Willie McGee by mistake. Willie McGee if a former Cardinal, an MVP center fielder and WS champ who played in the 1980's. We were laughing about the mixing of sports when I said "Okay Willie, here is your chance... home run buddy!". Evidently I am prophetic, I had no sooner uttered those words when Eddie/Willie connected with WR Kyle Hudson for a beauty of a touchdown pass. Ironically Kyle Hudson is a 2-sport athlete at Illinois... he also plays CF for the baseball team.

We did notice that one of our baseball "traditions" does not crossover to football. Typically Nikki finds a hottie on the opposing team at the baseball games, and then when she mentions said hottness, the guy usually plays sucky, striking out, going 0 for, or giving up big time hits if the hottie is a pitcher. Well I mentioned that Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel was rather attractive... ooopps... this doesn't work in football... after the comment the Illini fumbled and Mizzou scored a touchdown as a result. My bad!

With sore throats from yelling so much, we left the dome and headed for Busch Stadium. We missed the first 1.5 innings but got there just in time to see Yadi hit his home run. We got to see one of our favorite Cardinal pitchers, Adam Wainwright... all of the Cards games we have been to this season and this was our first Wainwright start... what up with that? The baseball game had a much better outcome, the Cards won 11-3 and again the boys up from Memphis, Rick Ankiel and Brendan (I heart him) Ryan brought their bats. We had seats in left field and sawRyan Ludwick make an awesome catch in front of us.

All in all a splendid day!

Editor's Note: Yes, if you take note of the pic's at the beginning of the post, there was a wardrobe change involved in the ultimate double header... we may love sports but we are still very much girls. Plus, we had to fully support both our teams. We were clever and wore tank tops under our Illini shirts. Then once we got to our seats at the baseball game, much to the amazement of the folks sitting around us, we took off the Illini togs, pulled our Cards shirts out of our bags and put them on :)