Many many moons ago, a wise man in baseball, Bob Umfleet, the coach of the Ballwin American Legion team in the 1970s told me “Jim, don’t worry about the weather because you can’t do anything about it.”So true. A washout of the Burroughs-MICDS clash at Busch Stadium left other opportunities. Not to waste a rainy Sunday, I decided to stay indoors and catch up to the Jackie Robinson Movie “42.”That was a good idea. Of course I’m a sucker for movies like the Notre Dame Saga “Rudy” but this was a really good one in my book.Others might think differently. Breaking the color lineRobinson was the …

Give me a “D,” give me an “E,” give me an “S,”....Sounds really silly calling on a high school cheer for a property development corporation. But let’s give credit where credit is due.DESCO Properties, developer of Schnucks Markets throughout the Midwest is putting the cherry on the topping of one of the most beautiful and purposeful shopping centers anywhere in the region.The Colonial MarketPlace in Ladue (and part of Clayton) serves as a front-door entrance to the city.The shabby Lammert’s Center, home of long-gone Wild Oats Market and other failed projects are a mere fleeting memory. And …

My sportswriting career, off and on has now spanned more than 40 years. That includes covering more than a zillion games. I was lucky enough to get my start at the Suburban Journals, starting in 1971.My single greatest source of pride was covering the career of Kirkwood’s basketball coach Denver Miller. He coached the Pioneers for 43 years before the administration drove him into forced retirement.Second on the list and moving up has been my relationship working with Michaela Witcher, athletic director for the St. Joseph’s Academy Angels.I wasn’t sure how to react when the word came down a …

Bet you didn’t realize it, but a basketball team from Missouri just won a national title and it wasn’t the Billikens or Mizzou. It was the Panthers of Drury Missouri in Springfield.The tiny little school, some 202 miles down I-44 from St. Louis, nestled in the foot hills of the Ozarks in Springfield came from 12 down at half to defeat Metro State University of Denver Roadrunners 74-73 to earn the Division II title. Drury is better known for academics and women’s swimming than hoops these days.Now, once a coach told me, no kid ever woke up in the morning, dreaming of playing Division II …

Oh, my God, Justin Tatum was just named CBC’s next basketball coach. What shocking news. As if the whole world didn’t know this was wired and that all they had to do was can 17-year dedicated veteran coach Bobby McCormack and hire one of his disciples. The good Brothers at CBC did that and more. What a revelation.  The win-at-all-cost agenda has landed at the school in Town and Country.  The mentality of hiring and firing on the spot has now gone from the pros to college to the prep ranks. Win, brother or you are thrown out like the baby with the bathwater. This sucks. Bobby McCormack did so …

The ball racks are all shoved in the closets. The uniforms are all cleaned and stowed away. All the whistles are packed away for the season. So what would basketball be like without some kinds of post-season awards? Drum roll please, I present to you the first-ever  “Jimmy’s,” awards for the local hoop stars and starlets from your local pundit, Baer Facts author, Jimmy Baer. Where to begin? Remember, there will be a male and female winner for each award. At this popsicle stand  gender is equal. The MVP’s of the season. Easy: Sydney Stipanovich of St. Joseph’s Academy and Austin DaGue of Ladue…

I’m still trying to figure out that whole De La Salle tradition preached by the Brothers of CBC. Over the course of some four decades of prep reporting, I’ve seen my share of poor decisions and bone-head moves. The Brothers at CBC get the all-time top prize for dismissing their beloved basketball coach Bobby McCormack after 17 years at the helm. Now I’m not naive enough to believe that Bobby won the hearts and minds of everyone at the school in Town & Country. Sure, he probably rubbed a few players and parents the wrong way. But let this be crystal clear--by refusing to renew Bobby’s …

Is it just me, or has the political discourse in this country become much more course and strident lately.People used to believe that Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan could scrap like cats and dogs, then tip a brandy together over a late-night supper.  Lyndon Johnson used to win over congressmen with some good arm twisting and a charm assault.That’s all been replaced by “in your face” politics. Congressional leaders smack each other like opposing players in an NFL showdown game. Being macho is more important then being right, or for heavens sake, serving the welfare of our country.I’m an avid …

President Obama referred more than a few times to the definition of diversity in the State of the Union address recently. That got me to thinking about what he was talking about. In my lifetime, I’ve seen diversity not just talked about, but become a reality. We all migrated from somewhere else This all remind me, we all came from somewhere else. If either we, or our forefathers were on the reception committee when the Mayflower landed, then we all came from somewhere else. Only American Indians can lay claim to the statement, they are the real native Americans, and we know how that story has…

The toughest spot at Super Bowl XLVII this year will be for former collegiate coach Jack Harbaugh and his wife Jackie who live these days in Mequon, Wis. Their two sons, Jim and John, coaches for the San Franciso 49ers and Baltimore Ravens respectively are the first two brothers ever in the history of the NFL to face each other in this championship series. Choosing sides is something the elder Harbaughs simply would really rather not be doing. Getting it wrong, again It does bring me great pleasure to report that the mound of sound, radio’s Rush Limbaugh got it dead WRONG again. Several days …

You just knew at age 92, and in failing health this day would finally come--Stan “The Man” Musial would depart this earth and head for his next journey with an All-Star team in Heaven. His wife of more than a half century Lillian “Lil” passed away last year and there was precious little more to live for. Musial had rounded third, and headed home so many times in a 22-year Major League career, the count was almost endless. Having lost he ability to stand on his own and really take any more steps, Stan used to laugh and say “I guess I just legged out too many triples in my career.” Mostly, it …

Tickle me with a feather. In my entire adult life, I have never agreed with one solitary word that Rush Limbaugh has uttered on the EIB (Excellence in Broadcasting) Network. Never, ever. Some would question my sanity at all why I even listen to this bafoon on the radio. As a side note, here’s why. When Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz are bashing El Rushbo on PSMBC as the Great One calls it, I want to know exactly what he said on KMOX’ 50,000 red hot watts between 11 and 2 so I understand exactly what they are referencing. I live by the belief: keep your friends closer, and your enemies closer. …

  Ezekiel Elliott, Burroughs Wonder-kind football star learned some tough but valuable lessons Saturday. He was one of 90 players selected to play in the 13th annual U.S. Army All-Star football game in San Antonio. These hand-picked stars were the best in the land. In life, and in sports in general, lessons are plentiful to learn. Athletes have to persevere; fight through injuries, adversity and rejection. Zeke learned some valuable lessons in that 48 minute of competition on the turf of the Alamodome in San Antonio. He found that even with his bountiful talents, coaches felt others were more…

  Sometimes, it just seems downright dangerous getting on our highways and byways. There are far too many rude, inattentive drivers on our roads these days. Count the number of times you see someone on their cell phone, texting, applying makeup or just not paying attention while trying to negotiate the road. Lucky for all of us, not more are getting killed on the roadways these days. Its doubtful if anyone fully realizes how much an automobile weighs, and how easily it can maim or kill. The Department of Revenue for the State of Missouri has put out an updated 120 page drivers guide. This …

Update Monday, January 7. Add Jon Vaughn and Bob Christian, both of McCluer North to the list. Christian starred at Northwestern while Vaughn played at Michigan before going on to the NFL. Bryan Keys actually played in the 80s, graduating Burroughs in 1986. Update Sunday, January 6. Morris Bradshaw, running back from Edwardsville has been added to the list. He was a star running back at Ohio State; converted to wide receiver upon the arrival of Archie Griffin and went on to a story-book receiving career with the Oakland Raiders. When Montee Ball crossed the goal line for the Wisconsin Badgers…

  The doldrums of January can present quite the challenge as most of us might just experience the battle of the bulge. We’ve pigged our ways through the holidays. How many pounds were put on noshing and drinking and loading up on the calories at all those holiday parties? The Christmas cookies, the champaign and the snacks just take their toll. The time has arrived to shed the LBS’s in 2013. I love this time of the year. The work out centers are jammed to the rafters. People are taking numbers to get on the stair masters and the tread mills. Everyone is there with the best of intentions. …

Correction: The donation for the new MICDS Math & Science building came from the Danforth family, not the Danforth Foundation. Patch regrets this error. Ah, as your trustworthy Ladue-Frontenac Patch editor, it seems time to look into that crystal ball and see what is going to happen in 2013. A pox on those who say nothing ever happens in Ladue or Frontenac. Here’s some Patchy items heading into the New Year. The Ladue School District will get a new Superintendent. Now that’s earth-shaking. Marsha Chappelow wrapped up a 40 year teaching/supervisory career and headed to Kansas City the very end…

We Hope everyone wants to read the L-F Patch in 2013. Hmmm, I could mail greetings to one and all. Lets see, that would be .38 cents times some 11,000+. I think I will just pass out my wishes for a new years by posting on the Ladue-Frontenac Patch. Here we go: Mayor Anthony Bommarito, City of Ladue--Thank you for serving as mayor and as councilman for an additional 10 years. A lot was accomplished on your watch. Mayor Keith Krieg, City of Frontenac--Here’s hoping that eyesore of the corner at Lindbergh and Clayton roads finally take on a whole new look. Mike Woolridge, Ladue City Manager--A …

Eight weeks can seem like a very long time, when one is out of action. Let’s put it this way, as your Ladue-Frontenac Patch editor, I have returned from my medical leave.  I told you I would return, way back in October. That seems so long ago now. Seasons greetings to all and the happiest of holidays. It feels so good to be back in the saddle. I regret being off the reservation for those tedious and long two months. In a hut shell, here’s what happened. I had major reconstructive surgery on my left foot.The arch was nearly collapsed (flat feet, too much walking and some bad luck heredity wise…

This week, the focus has been on a senior bullying tradition that smacks of sexism at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Seems that anonymous graduating seniors at Ladue Horton Watkins have been making disparaging remarks about senior female graduates for two decades or longer.School officials have tried to shut down this misbehavior but efforts so far have failed. A parent in the district recently brought this to the attention of the school board to take decisive action.Ladue has had a tradition, particularly of senior pranks going back to its earliest days in the 1950s. Sometimes, they …