Rams should be under Marshall's law

Worry means to have, show or allow no ease of body or mind, or to be uncomfortable, disturbed, perturbed, etc.

Or in layman's terms: "We keep tying our shoelaces in knots and stumbling over ourselves," Marshall Faulk said.

Well, something like that.

If you're counting, the Rams have lost seven straight games dating back to the Super Bowl. Today the Rams are in Tampa to play the Buccaneers, a team they've never played well against. Last year: Lost 24-17. Two years ago: Lost 38-35.

What do they need to do to snap out of it? Three words: Marshall, Marshall, Marshall.

In the past three years, the Rams are 10-0 when Marshall Faulk rushes for more than 100 yards. He averages 4.4 yards per carry in his career -- that's almost a first down every other time you give him the ball.

Which brings me to my next point: Give him the ball. Twenty-four carries in two games? No. He should average 24 carries every game. He's the heart and soul of the team. He puts the Great in the Greatest Show on Earth.

The Rams aren't panicking yet and they shouldn't. But they need to bust out or, as Marshall would say, untie their shoelaces.

Now don't you panic, because here's your week ahead:

Tuesday

Word has it that Carbondale wants to play Notre Dame in a boys' soccer match. Notre Dame will let them because Carbondale beat the Bulldogs the last time they played (ND Soccerfest) on their own turf. The last time Notre Dame was beaten in the finals of their own tournament was last year (Central) and they went on to lose the regular season match against the Tigers. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Central plays their first of four home softball games in an eight day span. Sikeston is first. The Tigers beat the Bulldogs in their own cage earlier in the season 12-2. It was the fifth win of the current 10-game winning streak for Central.

Saturday

In the mood for a good road trip? I hear Nashville is nice this time of year. Vanderbilt hosts South Carolina in football. By the way, the Indians are in Murfreesboro to play Middle Tennessee this week. MTSU played Alabama and Tennessee in their first two games and they're looking to take out their frustrations. Both games are at 6 p.m. so take your pick.

Rusty, Kenny, and Mike Wallace will be at Auto Tire and Parks Racepark near Benton, Mo., for a special autograph session before the night's events. Rusty is the oldest of the trio and the winningest. Although he is winless in 28 starts this year, Rusty has 55 career victories under his belt. He finished seventh in the point standings a year ago and is currently only 146 points behind the Terminator, Mark Martin, for sixth. The brothers are native St. Louisans and began their racing in the Midwest.

The River City Rascals will hold their Beer and Baseball Tournament from 9 to 9 in O'Fallon, Mo. There will be a men's pitching machine baseball tournament, a home run derby, keg toss contest, a car wash featuring the Rascals Diamond Girls and the lovely ladies of Hooters Restaurants. The only thing better than a car wash with Hooters girls is free admission. For more information: (636) 240-BATS and ask for Scott Morel.

Sunday

This is it. The final regular season game for the Cardinals. To say that it has been a long season is an understatement, but it has been. At the end of a season that was almost halted because of a strike it's Fan Appreciation Day. Is that irony? All fans with a paid admission receive a free terrace reserve outfield gift card for any regular season game in 2003.

David Wilson, a junior at Central High School, is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian. His column appears each Monday.