Is Burroughs Grad Jon Hamm the Right Host for ESPN's Sports Awards?

See how the "Mad Men" star referred to his own high school athletic skills in the announcement.

Saying he was a "marginally successful high school athlete" at John Burroughs School, "Mad Men" TV star Jon Hamm said he had the right stuff to be the host of the ESPYS this year—the annual sports awards show by the ESPN sports cable network. "As a longtime sports fan and a marginally successful high school athlete, I feel my skill-set jibes well with a host's duties," Hamm said in the announcement posted this week on ESPN's website. "I now have to figure out what cleats to wear with a tuxedo." The show will be broadcast on July 17, at 8 p.m. St. Louis time. Hamm, a 1989 Burroughs alumnus who returned to teach theater during the 1994-95 school year, also was a member of the football, baseball and swim teams at the school. ESPN said the …

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ESPN: Durron Neal Hopes For Increased Role With Oklahoma Sooners

The De Smet Jesuit standout is in spring practice for the Big 12 power.

Durron Neal knows something about the number 5. He wore the jersey number in a De Smet Jesuit football career that saw him become one of the state's top recruits in the class of 2012. His performance in that jersey attracted the attention of elite Division I programs like the one he chose, the University of Oklahoma Sooners. After he played himself into the Sooners' 2012 plans as a Freshman, Neal saw limited action during the season, due in large part to a pair of receivers who transferred in with experience. His total number of catches last season? Five. Now, going through his first spring practice, Neal, who wore number 13 as a Freshman at Oklahoma, is getting number 5 back for his Sophomore campaign as he competes for a starting job. “I…

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Notre Dame vs. Alabama: BCS Title Game TV Schedule & Predictions

We've got your radio and tv listings for the big game, along with predictions from local coaching experts.

Tonight, the college football bowl season comes to an end, as Notre Dame and Alabama square off in the Discover BCS National Championship Game.  The Fighting Irish and the Crimson Tide, ranked number 1 and 2 respectively in the BCS poll, kick off at 7:30 CT. The game can be seen on ESPN TV and can also be heard on 101 ESPN Radio. Oddsmakers have Alabama favored by more than a touchdown, but we asked Creve Coeur and St. Louis area high school football coaches for their analysis: Parkway North Coach Bob Bunton: Alabama I am a huge Notre Dame fan so in my heart I want the Irish to win. However, I think the 'Bama defense is going to be too much for ND and am going to pick the Tide. I do look for a close game because I think the long time off …

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December Bowl Game Schedule Sets The Stage For The BCS Title Between Notre Dame & Alabama

Here's when all the games are taking place for the rest of the month.

The bowl season will be in full swing this weekend, with teams and players from Creve Coeur area schools you'll want to follow. Here's the rundown for the rest of the month. (All Times Eastern). Here's the entire schedule, including the Notre Dame vs. Alabama game for the BCS Title  Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl, UCF vs. Ball State December 21, 7:30 p.m., ESPN De Smet Jesuit grad KeVonn Mabon has made a freshman impression for the MAC program at Ball State, with 2 TDs and 20 catches for more than 300 yards receiving for the Cardinals.  MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Washington vs. Boise State December 22, 3:30 p.m., ESPN R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl East Carolina vs. Louisiana-Lafayette December 22, Noon, ESPN Sheraton Hawaii Bowl SMU vs. …

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NLCS: What Time Is Sunday's St. Louis Cardinals-San Francisco Giants Game?

A guide to watching Game 6, Oct. 21, 2012, of the National League Championship Series.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter takes on the San Francisco Giants' Ryan Vogelsong when the National League Championship Series continues in San Fran's AT&T Park at 6:30 p.m. With Friday's loss, the Redbirds hang onto a 3-2 lead in the NLCS and still could clinch the National League pennant with a win. The broadcast airs on FOX2, featuring play-by-play with Joe Buck, analysis from Tim McCarver, along with field reporters Erin Andrews and Ken Rosenthal. You can listen to the radio call on Creve Coeur-based 101 ESPN. Temperatures should be in the lower 60s to upper 50s around game time, and mostly cloudy. The Cardinals took a two-game lead on Thursday, setting National League Championship Series at 3-1. The winner of the Cards-…

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State Soccer: Priory Advances, Chaminade Falls

Creve Coeur area teams face different fates in state sectional playoffs.

With state sectional play complete, two Creve Coeur soccer squads in two classes are still alive in the race for a state title. The Priory Rebels (24-0), who have marched to No. 16 in ESPN's national Powerade Fab 50 rankings, continued their remarkable run through the 2011 soccer campaign Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over St. Francis Borgia (16-6) in Class 2. The Rebels will host St. Dominic (17-9-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. The Chaminade Red Devils (19-6-3) fell in Class 3 play Wednesday 1-0 to the Francis Howell Vikings (21-4), who will advance to face De Smet (22-4-1) at De Smet Saturday. The Spartans find themselves ranked No. 29 in the same ESPN poll.

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Rams Exec To Creve Coeur Chamber: Hope For Football In a Week

Discussion focuses on community involvement for better visibility during tough economic times

Bob Reif, Chief Marketing Officer for the St. Louis Rams was dispensing advice to an audience of Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce members Thursday about marketing during tough times. While business owners large and small are still struggling to find an economic recovery Reif had hopeful news for the audience and football fans everywhere. He soon could have an active product ready to market. Reif arrived about an hour late for the Chamber's monthly membership luncheon because he was in touch with team owner Stan Kroenke and executive vice president of football operations, Kevin Demoff, who are both at the NFL owners meeting in Atlanta, about the potential end of the labor lockout. ESPN is among the outlets reporting that players are…

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From Creve Coeur To Hollywood

Former Chaminade guard Bradley Beal was a finalist for a nationwide athletic honor awarded Tuesday.

Being chosen the 2011 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the year meant as much to Brad Beal as winning the state championship his sophomore season at Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur. So when he was invited to Hollywood, CA, as one of six male finalists for the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year Award, the University of Florida-bound guard was on cloud nine. The fact that recent Baltimore Orioles draft pick Dylan Bundy walked away with the trophy Tuesday night didn't change his perspective. "This is an honor and a blessing. I'm just soaking it all in," Beal said after Tuesday night's ninth annual awards dinner at the Renaissance Hotel, not far from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "It's a huge thrill, like …

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Watch Live: Brad Beal To Learn Of Gatorade Honor Tuesday Night

The former Chaminade standout is one of six finalists for Gatorade's National Athlete of the year.

This week may officially mark the end of the Brad Beal high school honor tour. The recent Chaminade graduate has already made his way to the University of Florida where he's expected to make an immediate impact for the Gators in Gainesville for the 2011-2012 season. But Tuesday night, Beal will learn if he can add one more trophy to his impressive high school haul: Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year. Beal qualified for consideration by being named the Gatorade High School Basketball Player of The Year in Missouri, and nationwide. Former college and NBA star Alonzo Mourning surprised him with the national honor earlier this spring. Click here for a look at the male and female finalists for the athlete of the year award. You can …

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The Week Ahead: Smoking Shelters, TDDs and The National Spotlight

A look ahead at what you'll be reading about here on Creve Coeur Patch.

We're in the middle of the hot dog days of summer, but there's plenty to keep Creve Coeur Patch busy in our community. Monday, Creve Coeur City Council meets at 7 p.m. Among the items up for discussion are a proposal to establish "smoking shelters". The Council will get a report on costs associated with having metal detectors in place for Council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. The agenda also includes discussion over a recent Creve Coeur Patch opinion piece regarding Municipal Court. This week is a big one for a pair of athletes who brought national attention to their teams while they played in Creve Coeur. Sunday night, former Westminster Christian Academy pitcher Jacob Turner appeared in Major League Baseball's Futures Game…

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