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APRIL 21, 2005 - Page 6 COMMENTARY The Illini Welcome to life on 'the wall' A team to love Let's all get along Goodbye rugged jeans of it. We are only here a hand- tucked into UGG boots, hello TODD KNEPPER ful of years. STAFF WRITER Rainbow sandals and We carne to a small school Woodstockesque halter tops. our own opportunity. Think for our own separate reasons. It's great to see all the won- about it, which is safer in their Undeniably, one reason is be- derful Iadies and classy gents eyes and a chiller scene in cause we want to know the ROB GOEKE back on "The Wall" this ours; crushing liquor (which faces we see, unlike the larger NEWS EDITOR spring. And is it just me, or isn't even allowed) with 3-5 campus scene. When's the last are there some really nice and heads in a dorm room or min- time 30% of College Park's stu- Insome religions, you have two birthdays. Day one: when reasonably young men gling outdoors along side of you and womb became two. Day two: when the epiphany oc- dressed up in dark green but- stunning females and guys dents kicked it together on a ton-ups and khakis, with you rarely see? Wednesday night and hummed 12/1/04 was day two for me. AUfe affirmation. A change. walkie-talkies roaming the As an off-campus. resi- along to "Sweet Caroline" by A departure from anything I've ever known. All because of one scene. dent, the only thing better Neil Diamond? game: Wake Forest vs. Illinois. Mutual respect might then coming up to campus, My feelings are these: The recap said it all: "The Illini were so dominant in just be the reason things are tossing random fives and giv- There's no reason everyone as- stretches they looked like the Globetrotters." 12/1/04 was the going so well as of late. ing sketchy hugs is walking sociated with this institution can't have a good time. Let's day I became a believer in Coach Bruce Weber, the Reverend, Just like our parents back to my house at 2:15 a.m. stop the fighting, vandalism, (Got?) Head, Dee, Deron and the whole crew. told us the summer before knowing that I am allowed to and anger, and recognize the college, "We were your age do it again next weekend. key components to memorable The best columns are the ones you can't write. once." The guys in green "The Wall" is a part of nights. If April 4 had gone different, 1would have come at you don't want any problems. I our campus, good times a Maybe I was supposed to collar popped, gums flapping, happy as hell. You would have am starting to see that deep part of college, and authority grow up in the 70's. Who known what G.O.A.T. means, because if things had gone dif- down they enjoy their jobs figures a part of life. It's about knows, but Ireally think incom- ferent April 4, 1would have told you. and kind of like us. time they coexist. Granted it's Then McCants. May. Dream? Done. The bottom line is it's not going to compare to Iiv- ing freshmen just might be able April 4 didn't happen the way I Imagined it, so you're all about safety. to say that their stay here was stuck with this. But April 4 didn't change my love; it strength- We pay for a degree, ing in Ocean City for the sum- as equally great the entire time. mer, even at home in some It starts now. I'm sure I'll ened it. and indirectly pay to protect cases, but let's make the most bump into you on the wall. I didn't realize the change on 12/1/04. That's how She works: mysterious ways. It h.appened before the championship "The Wall is a part of our campus, good times started, seeing Mike Jordan walking into the building decked a part of college, and authority figures a'part of out in Carolina blue. Mike was pro-Tar Heel, and anti-me. Words then escaped life, It's about time they coexist." from my lips involuntary: "F$#@Jordan."Istoppedmyselfcold. 1grew up in the city that this man reformed. 1sat in the build- ing he built on 6/14/98, watching the Iumbotron as he pushed off Bryon Russell to get 'chip number 6. I broke down that day, There's too much to do, so I like a baby, balling when it was over, I was there for all the moments. TIle first three-peat. The Iloved the man. Loved everything he did. Cried both times .need less time for papers double nickel. 72-10. The flu game. Everything. he retired. This was the man I had just told to put it where it don't shine just because he was rooting for the other team. That's when I realized the depth of love I had for this Illini Plus, there's the added Patterson." team. I loved them more than I ever loved him. BRIAN PATTERSON bonus of more study time for "The Brewtus is 23 ounces SENIOR WRITER finals later on. not 32." There are some things you can't wait to tell your grandkids During the l~st few Laughing in the background. about because you know they'll say "Wow." Then there are the I have no time for this. weeks of every semester the Click. things you will tell them that they won't believe. Stuff you'll Instead of researching CDP work literally piles on. Senior Talk about crappy crank have to get the tape out and show them. figures for year is the worst. There are calls. Who does that? I can't wait to tell them how I felt the day Illinois came m y too many sources to read, and (See my last commentary back on Arizona. Money too many pages to write. for the misprint regarding beer With 39 seconds left, Deren Williams' three dropped. 1t and Fi- My spring total will be volume.) was 80-80. With 4;04 left it had been 75-60. How did this hap- coming in at around 65 pages, How am I supposed to get pen? 1n 205 seconds, it had become all square. How? r dropped 30 of which will be singled any work done with the Wiz- to my knees. Sensation gone. spaced. ards on a playoff run and base- I wasn't happy. 1 was overloaded! needed some time to Am I complaining? ball to watch everyday? I don't reboot. It was too good and too ~uch to comprehend. Biology, Chemistry, and even have any time in my Neuroscience majors would schedule to watch my Netflix Sometimes, late at night in Westminster, you can tum the niorsemi- probably say I am, with their anymore. radio to 670am and get scratchy ruminants of a Chicago sports nar paper, I'm embarking on labs and "MCATs" and board How about that, r guess I station. Near tears, Iwent there for consoling April 4. On it was another meaningless journey presentations looming over am complaining. Weber, uplifting as ever. Talking about life, the season, 37 wins, into commentary land. them. Another reason why an how proud he was, how no one could take anything away from This wouldn't be a Hopefully the students early due would help is that a what the team did. problem if professors just in the Sociology, Communica- smaller pile of work at the end Bruce wasn't fazed by the loss. How could he be? Basket- made papers due a month tions, Psychology, and Politi- of senior year would open up ball may be life, but it ain't life. and a half into the semester. of cal Science departments can some time for job hunting. Par- The vast majority "It goes down in history," said Coach. "Not only Illinois identify a little bit, at least I don me for the conjecture, but I history, NCAA history. TIed the most wins ever, No. 1 for all McDanielians wait to start a would like to think so. don't think all the seniors know week or two before a project the time. You get to the championship game. You know, I mean, is to be turned in anyway, so I need more time and who will be cutting the checks if you're not happy with this, I feel sorry for you, because life why not push the date up? there just doesn't seem to be next year yet. ain't getting better." (Who am I kidding, enough for everything. Wow. I really could have Damn right. There's required speakers to used an extension on this, but most of the work that goes go to, endless graduation pa- into a paper gets done the as the Commentary Editor I Lloved this team because Luther Head and Dee Brown per work, and disgruntled strictly enforce deadlines for all are the epitome of the312. I loved this team because of Weber's night before the final copy is Applebee's employees who writers. handed in.) courage. I loved this team for Roger Powell's faith, Nick Smith's If you're a more serious have nothing better to do That should just about do picks, and everyone's collective heart. Iloved this team because, student, don't worry. The than hassle me about writing it. Be sure to catch my review to me, they were a connection to a home that's 1000 miles away. month and half time period that a Brewtus is 32 ounces of Juiced in the sports section The last loss left me sad but not disappointed. They when it's only 23. and check out my story on the weren't the G.O.A.T, but they had the greatest season, playing would give just enough time "Hey is Patterson front page. for completing research and at all times with the greatest heart. In the end, that's what mat- editing a few drafts. there?" In the words of Rob ters and that's what I'll cherish "Yeah, this is Goeke, Marinate on that.