In Illinois, like West Virginia years earlier, the types and locations for gambling are expanding wildly. ''When the 10th casino license opened (in Northern Illinois), the four northern casinos' revenues went down 12 percent. The closest casino is down 24 percent,'' said Tom Swoik of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association.The community, ravaged by wildfires last week, needed the lift amid an effort to reestablish a semblance of normalcy. Although no one in the Chargers' organization lost a home, the crisis hit close to home with more than 50 Chargers players, coaches and staff evacuated. The fashion in which the team showed its community respect was admirable, from team prez Dean Spanos donating $1 million to relief efforts and Philip Rivers giving seats in his luxury box to families of rescue victims and firefighters' families, to Shawne Merriman carrying a fireman's hat for player introductions and a pregame tribute to emergency workers.

Yet, these 40 give or take a few