The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Ncaa Passes Banon Text Messaging

INDIANAPOLIS - College coaches will have to recruit the old- fashioned way next year. The NCAA's board of directors approved a ban Thursday to eliminate all text messages from coaches to recruits beginning in August, then left open the possibility of revisiting that legislation as early as 2008.

Jeff Jordan Set to Announce for Illini

CHAMPAIGN - Michael Jordan's son, Jeff, is expected to announce he will attend the University of Illinois as a walk-on in basketball and enroll for the summer session that begins June 11, according to a story on the Chicago Tribune Web site Thursday night. The Tribune reported the Loyola Academy guard, a three-year starter for the Ramblers, dropped a big hint on his Facebook.com Web page when he wrote: "Illinois 11, psychology and business" under the heading "College."

Track and Field

Track and field w Parker Thompson won the 800- (2:11.2) and 3,200- (10:51) meter runs and was on two winning relays to lead Tremont to 140 points and the title in the Tomahawk Invitational boys meet at Manito.

Somers, Pioneers Turn Back Saints

Sophie Somers scored two goals to lead University High School's girls soccer team past Central Catholic, 5-1, Thursday at Normal. Jenna Wampler, Mackenzie Olson and Sadie Somers added one goal each for U High (6-4), while Liz Phipps, Paige Knippenberg and Emily Allen had assists.

Eldridge Willstay at Isu

NORMAL - Those wondering whether Osiris Eldridge will transfer from the Illinois State basketball program can move away from the ledge and officially relax. The Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year confirmed Thursday he is staying with the Redbirds. "I was real close to leaving," said Eldridge. "But now I'm just sticking around and riding it out."

Extreme Plans Ticket Drive

BLOOMINGTON - Bloomington Extreme indoor football officials announced a 5 for 50' drive on Thursday. The drive allows fans to purchase a season ticket in the upper end zone (rows W, X, Y and Z) for the remaining five home games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum for as little as $50.

High-Scoring Heydorn Named Women's Mvp

Sophomore Mallory Heydorn has been selected as the most valuable player on the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team. The 5-foot-7 guard was a first-team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection and a second-team all-Central Region choice. She averaged a team-high 17.1 points and made a school-record 85 3-pointers for the Titans, who finished 22-6 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Flash's Spring Hoops Review Set for Sunday at Shirk Center

BLOOMINGTON - Flash's Spring Hoops Review, held by Bill "Flash" Flanagan of Peoria, will be Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. at Illinois Wesleyan's Shirk Center. Approximately 200 boys basketball players from Class A and AA schools will participate in games in front of college coaches and scouting service representatives.

Isu, Bradley Series Key to Conferencetourney Standing

Illinois State's baseball team will try to enhance its Missouri Valley Conference Tournament hopes this weekend in a three-game series against Bradley at Peoria's O'Brien Field. ISU is 18-20 and 8-7 in the Valley. Bradley is 20-16 and 4-8.

Babb Set for Farmer Cityreturn in World of Outlaws

FARMER CITY - Shannon Babb was a teenager when he made his first start at Farmer City Raceway in 1991. The Moweaqua native will return to the quarter-mile dirt oval Friday night as the headliner of a stellar field for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Farmer City 50.

Isu to Nfl: Ex-Redbirds Await Draft

NORMAL - Laurent Robinson isn't paying particularly close attention to the widespread speculation surrounding the NFL Draft. His parents (Mike and Linda Brown) are handling that job quite nicely.

Unlikely Journey From Maine to a Milestone

Dennis Martel sounds more like a Fenway Park vendor than a baseball coach in the farm belt. His accent is as New England as clam chowder, more Kennedy than crop duster. He says "Sarer" and "Jenner" and "Anner," and your mind races.

Fury's Robinson Earns Uhl Mvp Honors

LAKE ST. LOUIS, Mo. - High-scoring Muskegon Fury center Todd Robinson was named the United Hockey League's Most Valuable Player on Thursday. The 28-year-old Robinson led the UHL with 79 assists and 123 points. -He was the only player to amass more than 100 points this season while also recording a UHL record-tying 11 game-winning goals. Robinson ranked second in the league with 44 goals and a plus- 38 rating.

Loss Can't Cloud Murray's Season

NORMAL - On the other side of heavy cloud cover and rain Wednesday, the sun came up for Jenn Murray and the Normal West High School softball team. Sure, the Wildcats had suffered their first loss of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 setback at Bloomington, but they weren't looking for sympathy.

The Fishing's Fine in Warm Weather and Clear Water

Some people know just what to do when fishing is tough in the Midwest due to cold weather and dirty water from rain runoff. They head south or they head to power-plant lakes where runoff isn't such an issue. Fishing educator and guide Jim Crowley of Bloomington did both. He traveled to the Sea of Cortez just north of the Baja Peninsula to catch big striped marlin and lots of dorado the week from April 7- 14, and he started catching big smallmouth bass at Powerton Lake near Pekin as soon as he...