What year of high school was David Freese in when you taught him?
David was my student his junior year in algebra two. Then, his senior year, he was a cadet teacher. This means that when I was teaching a class he would run errands for me, or grade papers, or help students. I saw him once a day for two full years.

Did you consider yourself to have a close relationship with him when he was in high school?
Yes. Sometimes it’s hard to really connect with kids, but when they chose to be your cadet, it gives a teacher a special relationship where they are taking on some responsibility, and you can see them grow as a person. The teacher becomes a person the student feels they can touch base with if there’s something wrong. If they forget something, I’d be the one to supply extra pens, paper, and whatever else they may need.

Was David Freese a good student?
He was. He was in algebra two, which was not the honors course, but he probably could have made it in honors if he had decided to. As a high school student he wasn’t really interested in being a book worm, but he did very well.

What were his best qualities as a student?
He didn’t really let anything get him down, which is a trait he carried to his baseball career.

Freese, who is looking to become the every day third baseman (above)  for the Cardinals in 2012, was taught by Jane Glenn his Junior Year of High School. (Photo by Peter Baugh)

Did he struggle with anything in your classes?
Not really in math. I think in high school we didn’t challenge him enough. He could have been in the honors track. Sometimes high school is just a growing up period. He wasn’t striving to be the star student, but later on he decided that baseball was his goal, reached for it and got it.

Is he a good role model for students here at Clayton?
Yes, because I know he is a good person at heart. You can talk about the DUIs (Freese has had two DUIs, the latest in December of 2009) and that is a part of growing up that a lot of people have gone through. He made mistakes. We all have, but he can show you where hard work can get you and what choosing a goal and sticking with it can get.

What were your emotions watching him throughout the postseason?
I was pinching myself saying, “Is this really the kid that I knew?” Its just hard to believe he got that far and was so excited.

What should students take from him in his journey with sports?
Stay with it and conquer. He was in the minor leagues, and how many years has it taken him? He is 29. He has had lots of injuries; many would have given up. He could have said, “I’ve worked too hard; I want to do something else.” He could have chosen a different career, but he stuck with his dream.

Photo by Peter Baugh

SS Brian Dawkins of the Denver Broncos signs autographs at the 2010 Pro-Bowl (MCT Campus)

This past weekend was probably fairly busy for everyone, and numerous noteworthy events occurred. The Pro Bowl, however, wasn’t one of these events. That’s not to say that the Pro Bowl didn’t take place this past weekend; I’m merely stating the obvious—that the Pro Bowl is the most unnoticeable, hilariously unexciting sports event of the year.

In case you weren’t aware, the Pro Bowl is an unwanted interruption in the much desired Hawaiian vacations of some of the NFL’s best players who weren’t quite good enough to make it to the main event. After having gone through the regular season, and for a few even a stint in the postseason, the NFL players in the Pro Bowl have had their hopes of getting a Super Bowl ring dashed. As such, many are relatively downtrodden and eager to forget about the past season. A “football game” is the last possible thing they want to participate in after a less than desirable season, especially if the best players from the teams headed to the Super Bowl won’t even be there, in addition to those who claim to be “injured”.

“Football game” is in quotations because the Pro Bowl is anything but a football game. With bans on blitzing, any defense other than the 4-3, and motion by the offense (these are but a few of the regulations imposed during the game), the Pro Bowl has become little more than a glorified game of flag football. Indeed, the primary concern of players and coaches alike is to avoid any injuries that might affect a team’s performance in the next season (which actually matters). All of this considered, we have to ask: does anyone even watch this charade of an all-star matchup anymore? The Pro Bowl might have had its day in the past, but the time to do away this “tradition” is long overdue.

After coaching water polo and swimming for almost 60 years and teaching at CHS for 35 years, Wally passed away on Dec. 26, 2011.  He was a memorable coach, a wise mentor, a kind friend, a loving father, and a devoted husband who will always be remembered by the lives he touched.

Wally Lundt was a swimming and water polo coach for almost 60 years. He coached the CHS Boys' Swimming Team this past fall. (Courtesy of Sonia Beard)

Wally was born June 10, 1927 in St. Louis as an only child to loving parents, Walter Herman Lundt and Elsie Wilmsmeier.  His parents were not outdoors people or swimmers, but he spent many days at his cousin’s cottage on the Meramec River.  By the age of nine, he had learned how to swim.  In the later years of high school, Wally joined the Meramec River Patrol and saved over 200 lives from accidental drownings.  The Meramec River was ultimately a large source of Wally’s lifelong love for aquatics.

Coincidentally, through his newfound love of aquatics, Wally found the other love of his life, Ann Lundt.  She shared Wally’s passion for aquatics and eventually became his lifelong partner in marriage.

“My first date with Wally was on the river in a canoe while he was river patrolling,” Ann Lundt said.  “I also grew up in a family that had a cottage on the Meramec River…Wally and I really shared a love of the water.”

After graduating from Beaumont High School, Wally joined the Merchant Marines before attending Washington University in St. Louis.  Later, he joined the Marine Corps and was stationed as a Military Police in Guam.  He was then selected for the All Navy Swimming Team to compete in the mile swim.  Drawing upon his years of swimming, he won two events in Guam, two events in Mariana Islands, and one event in Shanghai, China.  He then was a finalist in the 1946 All Navy Championships held in Jacksonville, Florida.

“He was, in short, a man who never sat down,” Ann Lundt said.  “He always wanted to be busy and be doing something.”

Along with his interest in aquatics, Wally loved music and travel.  He started to play the violin in elementary school, played the bass in college with a musical group called the Hush Boys, and maintained season tickets to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

After serving in the Navy and Marines in the Pacific islands, Wally remained deeply committed to travel and extensively toured throughout Europe with Ann.

Coaching

For Wally, his choice to become a coach and teacher was derived from years of being involved with aquatics.  He never regretted this decision.

“His love for the Meramec River, swimming in high school and at Washington University where he was captain of his swimming team his senior year reinforced his love for water,” Ann Lundt said.  “He loved the outdoors, but he also loved competing.  The two worked together well and gave him the idea of what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.”

Seeking to share his passion for aquatics, Wally began his career as a high school teacher and swimming coach in 1952 at Normandy High School.  In 1957, he came to CHS where he coached swimming and water polo, and taught physical education, scuba diving, canoeing, and lifeguarding courses over the years.

Wally Lundt smiles after a victorious swim meet. (Courtesy of Sonia Beard)

His athletes saw him as a humble and direct coach.  Wally emphasized the importance of mastering the fundamentals of a sport like the different strokes in swimming.  CHS alum Richard Yawitz of the Class of 1973 who swam and played water polo under Wally, remembers a certain regimen and style to Wally’s coaching.

“He had a program,” Yawitz said.  “He prepared in advance what his practices were going to be.  He was predictable in terms of how he would construct his workouts, the passing drills, and the scrimmaging at the end… There was a certain flexibility and interpretation, so that as long as you stayed within the guidelines, you were fine.”

Sports with Wally, however, required a significant amount of hard work, dedication, and commitment.

“He brought this attitude of winning and taught the players and the team that it was important to play as hard as they could,” Yawitz said.  “[The team] would think about water polo not only when they were practicing, but other times during the day too.  So it involved the team 24-7.”

Even till this past fall when he coached the CHS Boys’ Swimming Team, Wally continued to inspire and instill in his players the ability and confidence to take on difficult challenges.

“He taught me to work hard, and even though something was hard, it didn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it,” junior Nico Salavaggione, a current CHS swimmer and water polo player, said.

Despite his sometimes blunt and serious tone as a coach, Wally found moments for the team to have some well-deserved fun.

“He definitely made practice hard, but during breaks he always had something to say, a story, or a compliment to give to us on how we were doing,” Salavaggione said.  “He knew how to make us laugh…He connected with all of us so well because he was a nice guy with a good sense of humor…We were all just really good friends.”

Although Wally coached into his eighties, he was always able to connect on a personal level with his players.  CHS alum Todd Almli of the Class of 1989 who swam with Wally, remembers the friendly and personable spirit that Wally brought to the team.

“He was sixty back then with me,” Almli  said.  “He was old at that point, but that did not matter.  His age did not matter.  He was relate-able to anybody.  For six decades, he connected with teenagers.”

More Than A Coach

Wally was much more than a coach for his athletes; he was friend and mentor that players could count on for counsel and guidance.

“He was able to see the real person and understand what was going in each young man or young woman’s life,” Ann Lundt said. “Working with people was pure joy for him.”

Wally coaches 1968 CHS water polo players Alan Stiffelman on left and Jimmy Spiegel on right in the water. (Courtesy of Alan Stiffelman)

CHS alum Alan Stiffelman of the Class of 1967, swam and played water polo with Wally.  During high school, Wally became a fatherly figure in Stiffelman’s life as he was always accessible for a conversation with kind words of advice.

“When I had problems, I knew I could talk to Wally,” Stiffelman said.  “You just knew that he could be trusted.”

Wally cared about each of his athletes.  CHS alum Jim Floerchinger of the Class of 1988, swam and played water polo with Wally.  He remembers Wally as a warmhearted coach who was concerned about the “success of the whole athlete.”

“Everyone needs someone like Wally in their life,” Floerchinger said.  “He cared about our lives…He probably cared more about the successful life of his athletes outside of the sport than the actual competition…I always felt that even though I was being pushed, Wally wanted the best for me.”

Inspired by Wally’s coaching, Floerchinger has become a successful water polo and swimming coach.  As a coach, Floerchinger echoes Wally’s focus on the individual success of each of his athletes to help prepare them for life–beyond just the sport.

Although Wally focused on the individual, he also recognized the importance of teamwork, valuing the bonds and friendships formed between the various freshman to seniors on the swimming and water polo teams.  According to Almli, Wally was “part of the gang” and the uniting factor of the team.

“Traveling to meets in the bus, Wally never sat in the front of the bus,” Almli said.  “Instead, he sat in the back with us, yapping away.”

Over the years, Wally coached numerous successful swimming and water polo teams.  Under his leadership, the CHS aquatic program flourished throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s.  At the time, it was not unusual for over a hundred students to pack into the old Natatorium for a swim meet.  Water polo and swimming were among some of most popular sports at CHS, amassing several state titles during those decades.

From 1967 to 1972, Yawitz recalls losing only a handful of water polo games in high school and going undefeated in his senior year at a time when Clayton aquatics were top in the state.

Life Lessons

Indeed, Wally loved to win; however, it wasn’t all about winning for him.

“He always said, ‘It’s easy to win, anybody can win, but the ability to lose and go on the next day is the most important thing of all,’” Ann Lundt said.

Thus, Wally not only taught his teams how to win, but he also taught them how to lose.

Wally smiles in the center of the team picture of the 2010 CHS Water Polo Team. (Courtesy of Sonia Beard)

“He taught us about fair play, and honesty, and how to approach any situation,” Yawitz said.  “I remember that by just playing the sport, you learn more from your defeats than you do your victories.  When you lose, you think of how you could be better, so you don’t lose again.  The games that we lost, I remember the most.”

The principles that Wally taught were timeless for his athletes.

“He also loved helping young people fit into adulthood by really thinking about strong ideals, the importance of a work ethic,” Ann Lundt said.  “He tried to also teach courage to young people, a keen sense of integrity, and the ability to cope with the inevitable failures in life.”

Junior Jack Layden, a current CHS swimmer and water polo player, recognizes the significant impact that Wally has made on his life.

“He helped me grow from being a freshman and learn how to be a man,” Layden said. “He taught me how to be a good person.  Wally was someone who you could look up to as he had dedicated his whole life to helping people.”

As Wally coached year after year, his enthusiasm never diminished because he truly loved his job.

“He was in the right niche,” Ann Lundt said.  “Wally never complained about going to work.  He really loved it.  He wanted to get there, the sooner the better.”

Even this past fall, when he became sick during the boys’ swimming season, Wally was committed to trying to come to as many practices as possible.

“This season I did my best because I wanted him to be proud,” Salavaggione said. “Although he wasn’t always there, he was with us in our thoughts.  We kept working hard because that it what he wanted us to do.”

Family Man

Wally always kept a busy schedule, but first, and foremost, he was a family man.

“When he came to the door, I could tell whether they had won or lost, but the minute he came in door, he was hundred percent husband and father,” Ann Lundt said.  “He had the ability to put aside anything that had gone wrong…  Not many men can achieve that.”

Wally enjoys watching a Civil War Re-enactment in May of 2011 at Jefferson Barracks with his wife, Ann Lundt. Wally always set aside time for his family. (Courtesy of Sonia Beard)

Wally made sure that he devoted time always to his family.  Almost every weekend, the family would go on a hike, with a 5-miler being a short one.  Also, Wally and his wife, Ann, loved to share their love of the outdoors with their children and grandchildren.

“He was always involved in teaching the children about the outdoors,” Ann Lundt said.  “We did a lot of camping and canoeing.  We probably hiked 200 miles a year always.  We were both hikers.”
Wally coached many successful teams and he was loved by many, but perhaps his greatest accomplishment was his 57 years of marriage.

Wally’s teams knew just how meaningful his family and Ann was to him when practice would usually end fifteen minutes early on Fridays so he could take Ann to the lake house.  He always had a place in his heart for both his family and aquatics.

His Legacy

When Wally began working at Shaw Park Aquatic Center in 1952, no one knew of his future legacy.

After being a lifelong proponent of the sport as an athlete and a coach, Wally was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2004.  He was a pioneer for water polo in the Midwest by helping start the first water polo league in St. Louis with University City and Ladue in 1960.  Wally also began one of the longest running water polo tournaments in the nation in 1971, the Clayton Invitational Water Polo Tournament. Today, his presence as well as his passion for aquatics and for helping others is felt by six decades of high school students and members of the community.

“He gave his life to other people,” Layden said.  “The swim team and the water polo team will never forget Wally.”

The Clayton community is fortunate to have had Wally as their keystone for aquatics for almost 60 years.

“I think it is profound the impact he had on the people that he came into contact with,” Patty DeForrest, the Director of Clayton Parks and Recreation, said.  “I don’t think there’s any family in Clayton that did not have any connection to Wally.”

As the principles that he taught were timeless, his character and devotion to people were untouched by age or health.

“After seeing the memorial service, it was interesting to see his consistency in character,” senior Julia Grasse, a current CHS swimmer and water polo player, said.  “It just made so much sense. We actually really did know him.  There were stories that were told that we could relate to that happened fifty years ago.”

The memory of Wally will continue with the countless individuals who were touched by his life.  He was a constant example of dedication, fortitude, and service.

“I was always remember his life lessons, first and foremost, but also just remembering Wally in the last 25 plus years at Shaw Park with his brimmed hat, and swimming suit,” Yawitz said.  “There he was out there with his smiling face, always happy.”

Thank you Wally for teaching us how to live a rich and fulfilling life.  We will always love you.

“No team likes playing against huge hitters all the time,” Freshman Ethan Leong says.

Fielder at bat against the Cardinals in August. (Peter Baugh)

Fielder’s contract was similar to that of Albert Pujols, though Pujols got one more year signing with the Los Angeles Angels. Though the short term results will be good for the Tigers, people do worry that Fielders age will be a burden, and his play will decline.

Victor Martinez, Tigers catcher and first baseman, recently was ruled out for the season. This is most likely why the Tigers went after a bit bat like Fielder, who can also play First Base.

Detroit is coming off of a strong season, where they reached the American League Championship Series, but fell short to the Texas Rangers. The Tigers have reigning A.L. MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, along with sluggers such as Miguel Cabrera and defensive phenom Austin Jackson. Detroit plays in a division with the Minnisota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals, none of which are ready to take a jump and become division champions.

Leong says, “Detriot is a good team that is going to start getting closer to the World Series every year.”

(Photo By Peter Baugh)

(Patrick Tehan/Sen Jose Mercury News/MCT)

Super Bowl XLVI Prediction

The New England Patriots and the New York Giants faced each other in Super Bowl XLII in 2008 and the Giants won 17-14, boosted by an amazing catch by David Tyree in the final minute. Earlier this season the Giants and Patriots faced off and once again Eli Manning and the Giants won 24-20, a tight game. The Giants’ victories over the Patriots in their past two meetings leads most to believe they have the edge. Lawrence Tynes for the New York Giants has also proven that he can kick in the clutch by hitting two game winning field goals to send the Giants to the Super Bowl. In the official Globe prediction: The dual threat of Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks combined with a good power run game in Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs will be too much for New England’s weak secondary to handle. The Giants ferocious defensive line will be too much for Tom Brady. He had a weak passer rating of 57.5 in the AFC Championship and had two picks and zero touchdowns passes. All of these factors point towards the Giants prevailing, in what will likely be a close game.

New York Giants 23, New England Patriots 17

Timeline for the New England Patriots

July 29, 2011-New England trades a 2013 fifth-round draft pick to the Washington Redskins for Albert Haynesworth. New England trades a fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2013 draft to the Cincinnati Bengals for Chad Ochocinco.

September 5, 2011-New England is upset by the Buffalo Bills due to Tom Brady’s four interceptions and a stellar game by CHS graduate Jarius Byrd.

November 6, 2011-New England hits a two-game losing streak including a tight game in which the Giants prevailed on a last minute drive.

November 8, 2011-New England releases Albert Haynesworth after his slow start.

January 1, 2012-New England dominates the Buffalo Bills despite a loss earlier in the season, and they secure the number one seed in the AFC by finishing the season on an eight game win streak.

Jan 14, 2012-Tom Brady and the Patriots shut down the miracle man Tim Tebow in a complete blow out.

Jan 22, 2012-The Patriots squeeze by the Ravens due to a missed 32-yard field goal with 15 seconds left by Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff.

Timeline for the New York Giants

December 4, 2011-The Green Bay Packers defeat the New York Giants on a last-minute drive, which puts the Giants on a four game losing streak and their playoff hopes begin to fade.

January 4, 2012-Eli Manning and surprise star Victor Cruz lead the New York Giants past the Cowboys to complete the regular season sweep on Sunday Night Football in a must win game.

January 8, 2012-The Giants defense allows no offensive points to the Falcons in one of the few playoff blowouts.

January 15, 2012-The Giants stun the Super Bowl favorite Packers at Lambeau Field, after an amazing Hail-Mary catch at the end of the first half by Hakeem Nicks.

January 22, 2012-New York prevails in the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, after two costly special teams fumbles by Kyle Williams of the 49ers. One of which led to the game winning field goal in overtime.

Former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, seen in this 2007 file photo, died Sunday, January 22, 2012. He was 85. (Barbara L. Johnston/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

Joe Paterno, former Penn State head football coach, has died at age 85.

Paterno, who was relieved of his duties at Penn State in the middle of the college football season, won 409 games as the Nittany Lion’s head coach. He was their head coach for 46 years.

He is also remembered as a great person, not just a historic coach.

Paterno will also be remembered for not so pleasant news. Paterno’s former defensive coordinater, Jerry Sandusky, has been accused of sexual harassment on young boys.

Penn State’s head coach was supposedly told of the incidents, then told the university athletic director. Whatever actually happened in this awful turn of events is still unknown, but it should not tarnish Paterno’s memory.

Despite mistakes, Paterno was a good man. He was well respected, loved by his players, and never gave up. Though these events are awful, we must remember that Paterno did not have a direct hand in what was happening. Yes, he should have done more. He did tell his boss, though, which at the time he felt would take care of the issue.

We all make mistakes, and he was no different. His was a big one, and amplified because of his high ranking position, but it can not take away from all the good he did.

Many have weighed in on his death, including high ranking people outside the world of sports.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Paterno,” President George H. W. Bush said in a statement. “He was an outstanding American who was respected not only on the field of play but in life generally — and he was, without a doubt, a true icon in the world of sports.”

The Paterno family has released a statement on his death, which came after a two month battle with lung cancer.

“He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been,” the statement said. “His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.”

Source: ESPN.com

On Nov. 9, the St. Louis Blues had a record of six wins, seven losses and zero overtime losses. It was on that day, that the general manager of the St. Louis Blues, Doug Armstrong, made a rather large decision. He fired the team’s head coach, Davis Payne, and replaced him with a coach by the name of Ken Hitchcock.

Since that day, the Blues have won 23 games, lost five in regulation and six in overtime. Out of 68 possible points (a win is worth two points, a loss in overtime is worth one point and a loss in regulation is worth zero points), the Blues have earned 52 points. That’s remarkable.

The team has responded wonderfully to the coaching change and is now looking towards the playoffs. Currently, the Blues are in fourth place in the Western Conference with 64 points with 47 games played.

The Blues have been succeeding without key players such as Alex Steen, David Perron, Andy McDonald, Kris Russell and B.J. Crombeen. Each player has missed a rather large part of the season or their return is in doubt. Perron had been out since last season after he missed 72 games due to a concussion. He missed over a season’s worth of games when he returned in December. McDonald and Steen each have concussions, which leaves the question if they will return this season or not.

As for Hitchock, with the way the team has had success, he might win the Jack Adams Award (the National Hockey League’s version of Coach of the Year) assuming the Blues can make the playoffs.

At this point in time, the Blues look like a playoff team, but things can change. Although fans can’t be certain, the Blues looked primed for their first playoff win since 2004.

Harry E. Walker/MCT

Patriots vs. Ravens

The Patriots offense is on fire, burning the Broncos for 45, while the Ravens defense hasn’t let up, forcing five turnovers against the Texans. However, the Ravens offense did not play well against the Texans, with Ray Rice putting up only 61 yards. None of the Ravens receivers looked great and Joe Flacco was inconsistent as usual. Granted the Texans’ defense is much better than the Patriots’ but slip-ups on offense will give Tom Brady several chances to do some damage. No matter how good the Ravens’ defense may be, if Tom Brady has a large time of possession, he will burn them.

Patriots -30 Ravens -17

Jim Gensheimer/MCT

This game is going to be on the wire. Both teams have good defenses and good offenses. Alex Smith has proven he can make big plays, but can he do it against a strong Giants’ defense? Same thing with Eli Manning, he may have burned the Packers, but can he outplay the best defense in the league? Ultimately, I think this game will come down to who runs the ball better. Not only do the 49ers have the best run defense, they have a Pro-Bowl running back in Frank Gore. I don’t see how the Giants will be able to compete with those circumstances.

49ers – 27 Giants – 23

Tebow’s Cinderella Season is Over

He has had a lot of ups this season, but his ghastly performance against the Patriots yesterday was not one of them. Tebow was sacked five times, fumbled the ball, and worst of all, he failed to make big, moment-shifting plays. The guy threw 9/26 – 34 percent! Tebow does not get all of the blame for the rout however; the Broncos’ defense was downright awful, allowing Tom Brady to burn them for 363 yards and six touchdowns. Despite the defeat, the Broncos should be happy of Tebow has played throughout the season. They have the potential to dominate their division and do some serious damage next year. Tebow’s future remains bright, and he may one day play in the Superbowl, but this year, he will just have to watch it from his couch.

Green Bay Who? 

After going 15-1 in the regular season, the Green Bay Packers instantly became Superbowl favorites. And why not? They had a terrific quarterback, who broke the record for highest quarterback rating this season, as well as two great receivers with Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings. However, the Packers had a daunting weakness that was slightly forgotten about due to their dominant offense: their defense. The Packers had the worst defense in the league, an aspect of their game that the Giants exposed today, scoring 37 points. Eli Manning of the Giants out-played Aaron Rodgers, throwing for 330 yards and three touchdowns. Hakeem Nicks was a complete monster, racking up 165 yards and two touchdowns from Manning. The Giants defense was phenomenal as well, limiting the NFL’s most potent offense to only 20 points. A tremendous performance by the Giants; no one expected them to go anywhere in the postseason, yet they make the NFC Finals. Could they meet the Patriots in the Superbowl for a 2008 superbowl rematch? With the way both teams are playing, that is highly plausible.

The 49ers Reach the NFC Finals

This 49ers-Saints game was supposed to be a low scoring game, with many analysts picking the Saints to come out of top. Quite the opposite took place; it was a very high scoring game with the 49ers taking the win. That’s right, the 49ers beat the Saints with their offense. Alex Smith, regarded as a draft bust throughout his career, had a fantastic performance, throwing three touchdowns for 300 yards, and running for one touchdown. Not only did the Saints let Alex Smith burn them, they burned themselves, committing five turnovers. Their terrible defense allowed a low-scoring team drop 36. After Jimmy Graham’s amazing go-ahead touchdown from Drew Brees, the 49ers came back to score the game winning touchdown with under two minutes left in the game. Vernon Davis, who had 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including the game winning touchdown, was sobbing after his clutch play. That emotion defines the 49ers, a team that was worked so hard to get to where they are now: the NFC finals (after 14 years).

It’s So Easy to Throw Away a Game

You had to feel bad for Arian Foster (Texans) as the Baltimore-Texan game came to an end, with Baltimore winning 20-13. The league’s most dangerous running back had another dominant game, running for 132 yards and a score. The Texans’ defense deserves some sympathy as well; they contained running back Ray Rice of the Ravens for 61 rushing yards. Yet, the Texans still lost; why? It’s simple, stupid, stupid turnovers, the biggest offender being Texan receiver Jacoby Jones. Jones committed not one, but two fumbles! How do you have the nerve to lose the ball twice in a game? To add fuel to the fire, T.J. Yates had three interceptions. In no way should Baltimore’s efforts be disregarded, as they played very well, but the Texans could have easily won this game. Without a doubt, they threw away the game.

Go here to read the Globe’s Conference Finals predictions.

Stat Sheet:

Starting Caliber Players

C- Molina

1b- Berkman, Craig

2b- Schumaker, Descalso

SS- Furcal, Descalso

3B- Freese

OF- Berkman, Jay, Beltran, Holliday

Peter Baugh’s Projected Opening Day Line Up

The stats on the side are the projected stats (Batting average/RBIs/Home Runs)  for the starting line up. 

1: Furcal  (SS) .277/45/5

2: Jay (CF) .293/53/7

3: Berkman (1B) .301/92/29

4: Holliday (LF) .305/100/26

5: Beltran (RF) .279/87/28

6: Freese (3B) .299/76/18

7: Molina (C} .291/66/9

8: Schumaker (2B) .287/30/2

Pitching Rotation

1: Chris Carpenter

2: Adam Wainwright

3: Jaime Garcia

4: Kyle Lohse

5: Kyle McClellan

Bullpen:

Closer: Jason Motte

Set up Men: Rzepczynski, Salas, Boggs, Lynn, Romero

Long Reliever: Westbrook

Bench:

Descalso, Chambers, Greene, Cruz, M. Carpenter

Notables on the DL:

Allen Craig (When he returns IF M. Carpenter will be optioned to Triple A Memphis)

Future Faces:

Shelby Miller (#5 on MLB.com prospect list, #2 out of RHP)

Carlos Martinez (#25 on MLB.com prospect list, #9 RHP)

Zach Cox (#3 Cardinals prospect according to MLB.com prospect list)

Projection:

The Cardinals will make the playoffs in 2012, but first baseman Albert Pujols will be missed. Coming off a World Series championship, pressure is always high, and, weather or not the pressure is the reason, teams don’t seem to do well the year after a World Series Championship. Lets look back at some past World Series Champions not so special seasons.

2011 Giants: After a 2010 World Series Championship, the Giants struggled mightily. Despite the mid season acquisition of now Cardinal Carlos Beltran, the Giants finished with a 86-76 record, and failed to make the playoffs.

2007 Cardinals: Yup, that’s right, the Cardinals were World Series champions in 2006 too. The Cardinals had a disappointing 2007 year. Dealing with injuries to ace Chris Carpenter and a declining outfielder Jim Edmonds, the Cardinals finished with a measly 78-84 record, and failed to make the playoffs.

2006 White Sox: The White Sox swept the Astros in the 2005 World Series. Despite the thrilling ’05 team, the Sox failed to deliver in 2006. A third place finish kept them out of the playoffs.

Will the Cardinals have the same fate as these three teams? I don’t believe so.

The NL Central is not a very strong division. The Milwaukee Brewers are going to lose star first baseman Prince Fielder to free agency, and, unless something crazy happens, slugging outfielder Ryan Braun will miss fifty games due to a positive performance enhancing drug test. Braun is appealing the suspension, but he is expected to lose the appeal.

The Reds were division champions in 2010, and are still a strong team. That said, even with the acquisition of Padres pitcher Mat Latos, the Reds do not have a strong pitching staff. This will hold them back, and I do not expect to see them in the playoffs.

I expect the Cardinals to make the playoffs, and advance to the NLCS for a second straight year. However, the Cardinals luck will then run dry, and they will lose to the pitching strong Philadelphia Phillies.

Still, do not rule out the Cardinals to be  repeating champions. David Freese will be a year more experienced, and healthy (Freese dealt with injuries in both 2011 and 2010).

Only time will tell what this team holds, and don’t rule out anything. Nothings impossible in baseball. If that needs proving, just look at the 2011 Champion.

Photo by R. Baugh