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Hello, News-Gazette readers

Posted by: Paul Klee

Saturday, September 30, 2006 12:00 AM

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Hi, I'm Paul Klee, the new guy at the News-Gazette. I've been hired as the beat writer for University of Illinois basketball.

I guess you could say Friday served as a sort of orientation. That's when Loren Tate shared his expansive knowledge of Illini athletics during a 5-hour drive to Michigan State. (Thanks, Loren.) It's also when Bob Asmussen safely navigated Chicago-area traffic and somehow got lost just once. (Thanks, Bob. By the way, is that a tape recorder or a Volkswagen?)

I love college basketball. For the past two-plus years, I covered Southern Illinois, a fine program, and the Missouri Valley Conference, a strong league that is finally getting its due.

As the Illini beat writer, I will continue the outstanding coverage expected by News-Gazette readers. Fans make college basketball special, and there are no greater fans in college basketball than Big Ten fans. Thirty consecutive seasons the Big Ten has led the nation in attendance? That's crazy stuff.

Please, feel free to contact me at any time. Provided the Denver Nuggets aren't playing. Especially if they're losing. But that's another blog. Reach me by e-mail (pklee@news-gazette.com), at the office (217-373-7422), on the News-Gazette's "Sports Page" on Mondays (5 p.m., WDWS 1400 AM) or at the Assembly Hall, once the season begins. And if you're like me, that can't come soon enough.

Thanks for reading,

PK

P.S. By the way, this is being filed from the press box at Michigan State's Spartan Stadium. The press box looks like Mile High's, or Heinz Field's. Sweet digs. And what's all this talk I've heard about bad football at Illinois? It's halftime, and the Illini are smacking Michigan State, 10-3.

Comments

Welcome Paul! So far, the Saluki to Illini train hasn't let us down. Good to have you.

Posted by uofidave on October 2, 2006 at 10:27 AM

Welcome. We love Illini basketball!

Posted by apagelee on October 3, 2006 at 8:04 AM

Thanks to you both! Looking forward to the season. I'll have a brief blog up today (Tuesday) about Utah Jazz - Utah Illini? - training camp, so keep an eye out.

Posted by PK on October 3, 2006 at 9:53 AM

Good to see you back on the blog. I look forward to reading good articles about U of I although I will miss the good articles about SIU. I know they will find a fine beat writer at The Southern. Wow you got to go to the Illinois/M. State game, you got to see the Illini win (which rarely happens). Good luck on the upcoming season. B Webb will have another fine year.

Go Dawgs!!

Posted by promisekeeper on October 5, 2006 at 10:02 AM