Introducing Our New Manager

Greetings, TCR readers!

My name is Jim Vainisi and I'll be serving as manager of The Champaign Room moving forward!  You may or may not remember me from a fanpost during basketball season (a game recap of Illinois vs. Oregon), so allow me to formally introduce myself.

I'm from the glorious state of Illinois and was raised as an Illini fan since birth.  I'm currently an advertising major at the university and I'm heavily involved with the student-run fan organization, Illini Pride.  I primarily serve as an Orange Krush Chair, but you'll also see me helping out with Block I this upcoming Fall.  Over the course of the next few months you may find that I have an unhealthy obsession for anything that has to do with the basketball program: expect to see a lot from me about John Groce's squad, whether it's team news, recruiting, or game analysis.

I'm obviously a big fan of hoops, but that's not the only sport I follow at Illinois.  I'm a big football fan (we're going to a bowl game this year) and I also attend games/matches for volleyball, golf, baseball, and tennis.  If the players are wearing "Illinois" across their chest, I'll support them!

In addition to the Illini, you'll also catch me cheering for the Cubs, Blackhawks, Bulls, and Bears in that order (thank God I have a winner in the Hawks).  Putting team interests aside, I'm a complete sports fanatic that watches anything and everything that ESPN decides to air.

It's certainly an exciting time to be an Illinois fan and I'm looking forward to experiencing it with you all.  I-L-L

Follow The Champaign Room on Twitter at @Champaign_Room and Like us on Facebook. You can follow Jim Vainisi on Twitter at @jvainisi005.