This message board was better when.....

[SMUtrojanFAN]

And don't forget Nelly...

[ThadFilms]

Ted Drews baby. Well worth however long you have to stay in line. Never lived in the Lou myself, but my family is from there - my entire family... parents, brother, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents... now I have a niece and nephew born in CO - so I have spent a ton of time there. I myself was born in Big D.

Yes, Tulsa ain't a bad drive for you. We used to stop in Tulsa too and/or fro St. Louis every year... my dad has a colleague in Tulsa from his Wash U days.. oh and the colleague also has very nice guest accomodations.

And who could forget Nelly and his St. Lunatics. Gah. He is number one, though... I mean, if you believe him.

[Mustangs35SMU]

I spent 5 1/2 years in St. Louis, and they were probably the best I had. It's an absolutely gorgeous city, with Cardinals baseball, the Arch, the Mississippi, and wonderful people as well. Plus some outstanding barbeque, and of course, Ted Drews Frozen Custard.

But more importantly, HOCKEY.

Planning on making a couple trips to Nashville as well to cheer on Dallas. When I went up to visit this past February, the Stars were playing there so we went to the game.

I was surprised how many Dallas fans were there. I'd say atleast 300 were in Stars uniforms in the crowd. Sadly, we lost 2-0. It was fun though.

[PonyKai]

Many years ago my parents got to see the Blues play against the Soviet National team. Of course St. Louis got whipped, but they said it was great fun to watch the USSR play hockey.

[Buddha]

I think the board jumped the shark when MrMustang1965 left.

Then why do you still visit?

[jtstang]

I think the board jumped the shark when MrMustang1965 left.

Then why do you still visit?

You are an SMU fan, you need to get a sense of humor.

[ThadFilms]

I spent 5 1/2 years in St. Louis, and they were probably the best I had. It's an absolutely gorgeous city, with Cardinals baseball, the Arch, the Mississippi, and wonderful people as well. Plus some outstanding barbeque, and of course, Ted Drews Frozen Custard.

But more importantly, HOCKEY.

Planning on making a couple trips to Nashville as well to cheer on Dallas. When I went up to visit this past February, the Stars were playing there so we went to the game.

I was surprised how many Dallas fans were there. I'd say atleast 300 were in Stars uniforms in the crowd. Sadly, we lost 2-0. It was fun though.

No worries, you'll get the Stars at Bluies a couple times a year too. And just be glad you never have to go to a game at the checker dome. Ask the locals about the smell.

Oddly, never been to a hockey game at Kiel (Savvis/Scottrade) Center. Been meaning too, but it's never worked out. I'll rectify that next year.

The Edward Jones Dome is a dome, so it automatically sucks. But then they had to go and do everything in nice bright colors. It feels like Jurrasic Park in the concources. "You here for the game?" "Nah, I heard they had a T-Rex."

But "your" Rams just added Dante Hall, so that should be fun. Oh and it does get pretty darn loud in the dome, so that's fun.

But St. Louis, if there ever was one, is the ultimate baseball town. Never forget that. It will be (almost) impossible for you to live there and not become a Cards fan. Everybody (I mean everybody) knows not just the score of last night's game, but can talk about Eckstien's crucial sack fly, or Edmonds bunt, or the diving grab by Rolen that saved a run. It's pretty crazy. Then you go out at night and they are replaying the games at bars. And no kidding people are watching, even if they saw the game. It's really incredible.

BTW - I wish the Rams and Blues well, so you caould say I root for them, but they aren't by any stretch "my teams"... but I love the Cardinals. Ever since leaving Dallas, it's been official that the Cards are my baseball team. Living in Dallas I couldn't tell, you know growing up with Rangers. But now, it's so hit or miss whether we get the Rangers (the Stros always superceed them here in town on FSSW... I hate the Stros), I don't even pay attention. But I never miss a chance to see the Cardinals. I even drove to Houston to catch that early season series at the Juice Box. Glorious baseball park, by the way, too bad you also have to watch the Astros play.

[PonyKai]

I'm an all around St. Louis sports guy, but I truly love the Cardinals. Haven't been to a game at new Busch stadium, but it was probably one of the most relaxing places on earth to be- enjoying a Cardinals game at old Busch with the most knowledgable and passionate baseball fans in the world.

[FordtoTolbert]

ThadFilms...please..as a native st. louisian, i have never, ever, ever!! heard St. Louis referred to as "the lou"....come one, man. you make a couple of decent st. louis references, but don't try an over sell your st louisness by calling it the lou.....funny stuuf on this board sometimes. by the way, how are things in the aus?

[ThadFilms]

ThadFilms...please..as a native st. louisian, i have never, ever, ever!! heard St. Louis referred to as "the lou"....come one, man. you make a couple of decent st. louis references, but don't try an over sell your st louisness by calling it the lou.....funny stuuf on this board sometimes. by the way, how are things in the aus?

Haha... I had never heard it either until on of the folks I work with called it as such the other week. She works in Chicago and is from the STL (as I always call it), and she said to me, "Hey I am going back to the Lou this weekend, what's that bar you recomended?" (The answer: The Royale) So I was kind of like, weird, I guess that's a new nickname.

Then Mustangs35SMU called it as such, so I doubly shocked. But still I prefer the STL. I enjoy the fact that you called me out on it, I said the same thing to my co-worker. "The Lou?" When did that happen. And why? "The Bathroom?"

I don't believe I have any St. Louisness, I just like the town... okay, so I do in the sense that I feel it is more my "native land" then the Czech Republic. I mean I visited Prague, great city, but I didn't fell a twinge of, this is where my people come from. I might have said, but I didn't feel it.

Anyhow, I just think that St. Louis is under appreciated city, and it's nice to see folks moving back into the city. I myself under-appreciated it for most of my life. Basically so much of it was delapidated and scary, you could see why it was under appreciated. It's really making a nice comeback.

With all my grandparents being now deceased, don't know how often I'll make it up there. Maybe once a year/every other year. Still have aunts, uncles, cousins... but it's not the same level of urgency without aging grandparents.

So yeah, I like St. Louis MO. Could see myself moving there for a year on day. Don't know that I would settle there. But yeah, I feel that St. Louis is a vital part of me, not as much as Dallas, Denmark, or Austin (all places I have actually lived), but it is a part of me.

I should note that I am wearing my Albert Pujols #5 tee-shirt. Funny because it kind of just happened. Mavs looked like crap the other night. Didn't want to wear the Dirk tee all day, wanted something with a little luck in it. Cards won the series, I wore the Pujols shirt all through the playoffs, figured I'd bring some good luck into tonights game. I'm not supersticious in reality... I'm an agnostic... don't think what I do actually makes a difference but wouldn't want to do anything wrong because of the possibility that it might have an effect. Even if it's a butterfly flapping it's wings in Hong Kong type of thing.

Life in the "Aus" is great. Couldn't be better. Ahh, the glorious ATX. Only four things wrong with this place - UT is here, no pro sports, no world class art museums/symphony/opera, no ocean. But it makes up for it in other ways. Just love the people here, the rolling hills, the art that is being made here, the watering holes, etc.

Peace out from the ATX... the Aus... the Stin... A-Town... Live Music Capitol of the World... and the home of the dastardly Longhorns (how infected am I? I picked them to win in my tourney bracket pool? not because I had become a fan - at least I hope not - I guess it's sort of access to seeing them play a lot... Durant equaling good, but whatever.. dumb... btw football-wise the Mustangs share five common opponents with Texas next year... place yer bets),
Thaddeus

[SMUtrojanFAN]

ThadFilms...please..as a native st. louisian, i have never, ever, ever!! heard St. Louis referred to as "the lou"....come one, man. you make a couple of decent st. louis references, but don't try an over sell your st louisness by calling it the lou.....funny stuuf on this board sometimes. by the way, how are things in the aus?

Well, as master musician and poet Nelly states in his first hit smash single, 'Country Grammar' - "Sing it loud (what?) I'm from the Lou' and I'm proud."
If anybody knows anything about St. Louis, I would put my trust in Sir Nellyville himself.

[FordtoTolbert]

well there ya go.....i guess my limited time in east st louis is the reason why i never heard "the lou" (man, i even laugh as i type it..)..long live nelly, my he be our guiding light.

[smupony94]

Ford - called my cousin in St. Louis and she even said it is called The Lou

[FordtoTolbert]

...is she an under 30 rapper....? Never heard it before..one of my st. louis bros here in town and i are getting a kick out of this..long live the lou.

[FordtoTolbert]

..simply a "post 2000 thang", coutesy of the "biggest selling" rapper of all time, Nelly, from st. louis, or the lou, as he calls it. doubt if auggie busch, yogi berra, stan the man, hale irwin, ozzie smith, etc., etc. are "louers".