No Matter How Harsh The Charge, Mike Leach Will Be Just Fine.....

Talk about a bizarre story to end the decade.

Yesterday Texas Tech University fired its head football coach Mike Leach after allegations of mistreatment of player Adam James (who is the son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James). Leach allegedly ordered James to stand in a dark shed away from practice because Leach believed James was faking a concussion. Leach had James under the watch of others and told the people watching James to not let him sit down.

Now in the grand scheme of things this treatment of James doesn't sound too harsh to me. If James indeed had a concussion, I am sure that there were proper procedures taken to make sure if he did or not. With the recent discussions by both the NFL and NCAA on how to handle players who suffer concussions, I am sure the right steps were taken.

Now if they were not....that's a big problem and that is a reason for termination.

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Carlos Zambrano Is Untouchable As Any Chicago Cub.....

Checked out this article in today's New York Post from Joel Sherman (twitter.com/nyp_joelsherman).

Near the end of the article, Sherman talks about a Carlos Zambrano rumor and if it could be a possible trade idea for the New York Mets.

"The Mets determined a power bat was their number one quest this off season, but that should have paled to finding a high-end compliment to Johan Santana.

Two AL officials say the Cubs are definitely dangling Carlos Zambrano, who has three years at $53.75 million left. The same officials say Zambrano, for comfort reasons, has no desire to waive his no-trade clause and leave Chicago. But in Santana, Francisco Rodriguez and Kelvim Escobar, the Mets have three pitching friends from Zambrano's native Venezuela to offer for comfort. So maybe there still is a chance to import the volatile but talented Zambrano."

If I am the Chicago Cubs, there is no way I am trading Carlos Zambrano.

If I am the Chicago Cubs, I am especially not trading the ace of my staff Carlos Zambrano to the Mets.

Have you looked at the Mets roster??

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Del Negro Shouldn't Fall Alone, John Paxson Must Join The Party....

Earlier this year I wrote about needing a reason to care about the NBA (especially the Chicago Bulls) this year. It just seemed to me like most NBA teams are taking the year off and building themselves toward that free agent class of 2010. I guess that is the sentiment that most NBA fans share.

So why should I care about Vinny Del Nergo's job status?

Isn't it the same argument?

Obviously when the season began we (Bulls fans) all knew that the "rumors" about Vinny Del Negro leaving the Bulls were at some point going to be around. We (Bulls fans) all knew for the most part that he would not be the head coach going into the 2010-2011 off season. We (Bulls fans) knew that the Bulls have to bring in a coach that is as much of an attraction to some possible free agents so that the coach could be a selling point for the organization.

So why can't they (Bulls management) make up their minds yet?

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Win Or Lose, The Results Don't Matter......

After a wonderful holiday vacation, it's good to be back and I am looking forward to a strong 2010 w/ChicagoNow.com.

On top of taking time off to be with family and gaining about five pounds in the process, the Bears beat the Vikings last night.

Yep!

The Bears beat the NFC North division champion Minnesota Vikings by a 36-30 overtime score and therefore the first thing that is on everyone's mind is "Lovie saved his job last night."

Did he really?

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Will Peer Pressure Lead To A Ban On Fighting In The NHL?

With all the recent changes to the NFL when it comes to addressing players who have concussions, the NHL is possibly the next professional sports league to take the next step.

The New York Times reported last week that researchers posthumously examined former NHL bruiser Reggie Fleming and found brain damage brought on by repeated blows to the head from his playing days. Another former player in the article said that his memory is so bad that he'd write a book about his career if it weren't for the fact that he can't remember anything about it. Both men began playing in the league before protective head wear was made mandatory in 1979 and there will likely be other aging veterans who complain of cognitive and behavioral difficulties.

So with the recent stand by the NFL to protect its players from lingering effects of head trauma and the recent article in the NY Times, is it time to consider seriously banning fighting in hockey?

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Jerry Angelo Is Showing Confidence Rather Than Voting On It

The vote of confidence. What exactly does that mean?

Do the fans and media need a statement on how much the GM and upper management support Lovie Smith as their head coach?

Here's an even better question, what good does a vote of confidence do if your a head coach of a team in professional sports? Isn't the vote of confidence the first sign that management is planning of moving on from you and your staff?

That is why this whole "Jerry did not give a vote of confidence" thing is just stupid. It upsets the fans and the media that Angelo did not step out and give a statement in support of Lovie Smith because that is the first sign that something is officially in the works.

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Milton Bradley Traded!! Yes!! For Carlos Silva? Eh?

The Cubs have traded troubled outfielder Milton Bradley to Seattle for pitcher Carlos Silva and some cash.

Here's the terms according to Jon Heyman of SI.Com

The Mariners and Cubs reached agreement on a deal that would send outfielder Milton Bradley to Seattle in exchange for pitcher Carlos Silva and $6 million, SI.com has learned.

The money, which will be paid out over two years, is to offset the difference in salaries (Bradley is owed $21 million over the next two years and Silva is due $25 million over the same period) and to make up for Silva's poor performance.

The correct reaction for this trade should not be:

"Thank God Milton is gone!"

The correct reaction for this trade should be:

"We traded trash for hot garbage?"

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Everybody's Got A Price....Do You?

Something that I've been throwing around with friends and co-workers as of late is the idea of pay per view sports. Not the WWE or UFC or anything of that sort, but MLB, NBA, and especially the NFL.

Yesterday's thrilling Colts/Jaguars tilt which finished in a 35-31 final kept the undefeated streak alive for Peyton Manning and company. The game was extremely entertaining as both teams fought a back and forth contest which ended with Peyton Manning throwing for four touchdowns and leading his team closer to the promised land.

However most specialty networks like the NFL Network (channel 168 on Comcast HD), still aren't in every home because of fees associated with the channel and the cable/satellite provider. Even with the fact that more people than not do not have the NFL Network, the numbers of viewers remains for the most part the same.

For example, when you compare Sunday Night football (which averages among 14-20 million viewers a night) and Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network (highest game ever 12.1 million viewers), the numbers watching the NFL Network games are creeping up game after game. This proves that football is intoxicating no matter if you have to pay for it.

So, the question that needs to be asked is if the numbers for the NFL Network continues to go up, this is the first sign that NFL fans are willing to pay for their football. What is to stop the NFL from going to a pay per view type of system rather than sticking with the contracts of the national television stations (FOX, CBS, NBC)?

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The Bad Guys Continue To Win......

This is always one of my favorite times of the calendar year, when all the sports "awards" are handed out. Everything from the "Sportsman Of The Year" to the "Athlete Of The Decade," someone will disagree with almost every single "award" recipient.

However as we turn the page on another decade of sports, yesterday's "Bad Timing Award" goes to the Associated Press who named Tiger Woods as their "Athlete Of The Decade."

Let the debate rage on!!

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These Aren't Your Daddy's Chicago White Sox.....

The White Sox continue to bolster their lineup today by adding outfielder Juan Pierre to the roster. Pierre who played the last three seasons in Los Angeles is a career .301 hitter who loves the leadoff role and loves stealing bases. Just what the White Sox were looking for.

General Manager Kenny Williams seems to be as aggressive as ever this off season (counting the in season moves he made as well) to make sure the White Sox will be the best team on paper to win the American League Central. With the additions of Jake Peavy, Alex Rios, J.J. Putz, Mark Teahan, and now Juan Pierre...the makeup of this White Sox roster is almost completely reconfigured from the 2005 Championship team.

The White Sox as of right now do not look like the South Side hitmen of old. In fact it's a much more balanced team than anything when you mix the speed of players like Juan Pierre and Alex Rios with the power of Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko. It's also a great blend of old and new with veterans like A.J. Pierzynski and Omar Vizquel with the budding youth of Gordon Beckham.

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When The Outcome Doesn't Matter, The Positives Should Shine More

Bears/Packers!!!

Throw out the record books!!

"The greatest rivalry in the National Football League."

Sure

Let's take this past Sunday's thriller in proper perspective rather than over blowing everything like we Bear fans tend to do every day after a game. This was a initially a match up of one team who needed a win and one team who needed a challenging scrimmage. The Packers had everything to play for while the Bears didn't. The outcome of the game mattered to only one team yesterday, and that's the truth.

The finality of the game doesn't matter anymore when it comes to Chicago Bears football. The result of the sixteen game season doesn't matter anymore because we all know what's happening next season. For as much time as we spend on harping the same issue, we know it's not going to change. So why do we get upset with the outcome of each game anymore this season?

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Bears/Packers Rivalry Is No More....Just Another Game

Have you checked your Bears schedule lately?

It's Bears/Packers week!!!

And a collective sigh is all the city of Chicago can provide.

It's sad to say, but there is NO hated rivalry anymore among DA Bears and the hated cheeseheads. Do not tell me that Bear fans still get up this game because they hate the green and gold and their polka music. Please!

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Advice To Tiger Woods: "Retire"

Tiger Woods should retire.

The most dominating golfer of my lifetime has turned into the biggest phony in the world. The same person who was a clean cut African American considered by many as the world's most famous and trustworthy athlete is nothing more than a dirty lying cheat.

He dominated the PGA for the last 13 years winning 14 major championships, ten time PGA Player of The Year, and nine time PGA Tour money leader. He has been on the covers of People Magazine, GQ and the only athlete to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman Of The Year more than once.

He has grossed over a billion dollars among his tour earnings and endorsements (before taxes of course) ranging from Nike to General Motors. The guy has his own brand of Gatorade for god sakes.

However the last two weeks for Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods have shown that this man is not the man we believed in. He is not the perfect family man we all believed he was. He is not the role model kids should be looking up to in an age where athletes are in the papers or jail more often than not.

He is a fraud.

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Chicago Bears Fans Got The Scrimmage They Asked For....

Who knew "Winning ugly" could be so boring?

Then again, isn't this what Bears fans wanted for the remainder of the season?

I know a win is a win, but yesterday's game at Solider Field against the 1-11 St. Louis Rams was a glorified scrimmage. These were two teams that obviously did not care what the outcome of the game was.

They cared about what plays worked and what plays did not. Either way you look at it, the Bears used this game against an inferior opponent to try some things that they normally would not try in a game that mattered.

Some worked....some did not. That fake field goal was pretty ugly.

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Blackhawks Should Concentrate On The Now And Not Tomorrow

Over the last couple of days I've noticed all sorts of opinions on the Blackhawks and how they will work the NHL's salary cap for the next few seasons. The extensions of C Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith currently put the Blackhawks at 60.609 million (per Mike Kiley) for next season which is estimated to be a little over the estimated salary cap of around 57 million or less.

The Blackhawks will have to make some tough decisions on who goes and who stays, but here's my thinking on this.

Why don't the Blackhawks just go for it with the guys they have on the roster?

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Tiger Woods Shows The World He's Only Human.....

I've never been able to understand how people who achieve great success in their careers seem to find their weak point more often than not. Today Tiger Woods who will go down as the greatest professional golfer ever to walk the plant was what I will term "next."

In our current society where camera phones, texting and internet access surrounds us, you would figure that we would be more educated on the term privacy. There is no privacy anymore. In fact, while I am typing this blog I am sure there is some camera, IP tracker or whatever watching my every move. In other words, "big brother" is always around and watching you.

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No Matter The Coach, Notre Dame Will Never Be A Dynasty Again

LET THE BIDDING BEGIN!!!

The search is on for the next victim head coach of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Yesterday it was made official that the Irish will no longer be headed by Charlie Weis after a five year run at the university finishing with a record of 35-27 and a ton of unfulfilled expectations.

That is what Notre Dame has a problem with however. Expectations.

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Brian Urlacher Puts His Foot In His Mouth Once Again....

Surfing the web this morning came across an article written by Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver (@RealMikeSilver) about spending the weekend with Chicago Bears Linebacker (and Old Spice spokesman) Brian Urlacher. Urlacher's season ended after injuring his right wrist in the first game (loss) of the season against the Green Bay Packers.

While watching a bunch of NFL games at brother Casey Urlacher's condo, the six-time pro bowler made this comment about Jay Cutler and the struggles of the Chicago Bears offense.

""Look, I love Jay, and I understand he's a great player who can take us a long way, and I still have faith in him," Urlacher said. "But I hate the way our identity has changed. We used to establish the run and wear teams down and try not to make mistakes, and we'd rely on our defense to keep us in the game and make big plays to put us in position to win. Kyle Orton might not be the flashiest quarterback, but the guy is a winner, and that formula worked for us. I hate to say it, but that's the truth."

Maybe I am mistaken, but the way I read this quote it seems to me either one of two things could come out of this.

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Chicago Sports Fans Could Never Run A Successful Sports Franchise

What I am about to say may insult you as a Chicago sports fan, but honestly it's gotten to my boiling point and I have to vent.

Chicago sports are too much about "What have you done for me lately" and not enough "patience." It seems the only answer Chicago sports fans have for any semblance of struggle is "You're fired!"

In the past five years, all our Chicago sport teams have had some sort of success and all our Chicago sport teams have made the postseason. The Bulls/Bears/Blackhawks/White Sox/Cubs have all made the postseason with four of those five going numerous times. Although the only title won came from the South Side, the city has had recent success in recent times. Yet with all the success we have had in this city with our sports teams, the first sign of any struggle means someone needs to lose their job and their overall performance as a coach/player is compared to the trash in my kitchen.

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Seven Things Chicago Bears Fans Must Understand About 2009....

As I recover from my Bears/Eagles hangover from Sunday night, I've found myself becoming not so much upset and the Bears themselves or the coaching staff. I do not know if it's the constant over-reacting by Bears fans every week or whatever, but I am becoming less and less a fan of Bear fans. Not to say that Bear fans shouldn't expect great things of this team, but sometimes I think Bear fans need to be a little more realistic and less ignorant.

So here's my guide for the later type of Bears fan. Here are seven things that you (as Bear fans) should really understand about this team and just get used to the idea for the remainder of the season.

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The Silence Speaks Volumes About The Chicago Bears

So let me get this straight because maybe I am misunderstanding something here. The Bears square off against the Philadelphia Eagles on NBC's Sunday Night Football this coming weekend. So the Bears have decided to reject access to Head Coach Lovie, GM Jerry and QB Jay for prime time interviews?

The reasoning behind this, according to the Bears, is there is nothing left to say?

What does this say about the mentality of the Chicago Bears?

What does that say about the ego of the Chicago Bears?

What message does this sell to the fans of the Chicago Bears?

Two words...Season Over.

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Irish Robbed With The Handball Felt Round The World

If only sports in the United States were as important to the people of this country as they are around the world. It's difficult sometimes to understand what goes on outside our little bubble here in Chicago. We often times ignore anything else that is going on in professional sports in the US unless it effects our fantasy team or we are on a trip to the local sports book. We get so deeply invested in who's starting at left guard for the Bears on Sunday that our sports universe consists of just the Chicago sports scene.

However while we discuss the Bulls playing the Lakers tonight, the rest of the world is crying foul over a foul. Not just a foul that lost a game, but a foul that affects an entire country.

Forgive me while I take my blinders off for a second, but France advanced to the 2010 World Cup last night. I bet most of you did not know there was a World Cup in 2010 and that France was still a country. OK I'm exaggerating there a little....I hope.

You may ask why is a story about how France advanced to the South African hosted games starting in June? They cheated. That's right....cheated.

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Bulls Looking For Answers....Bring In "THE ANSWER"

I know the following blog could be compared to the craziness that is a Sam Smith column, but I want Allen Iverson on the Bulls.

Call me crazy, call me insane, but I believe if you bring in AI, he will be "The Answer" to whom teaches Derrick Rose how to play the game of basketball.

The Bulls kept Lindsey "Old Man Buckets" Hunter on the roster to work with Rose this season and mold him into the player everyone expects him to be. What knowledge can a 39 year old Lindsey Hunter (2-time NBA champion) pass on to a young budding star like Derrick Rose that Allen Iverson cannot.

My overall view of Derrick Rose resembles a lot of what Allen Iverson represented in his career. Hardworking, nose to the grindstone, high minutes, lots of scoring and a leader of the team. Not all the attributes I have seen from the 34 year old Iverson over his career is what I would like to see preached to Rose. Iverson's ego, premier ball hogging ability, and numerous "practice" issues are something I think do not belong in the schooling of D-Rose. However if the Bulls bring in "The Answer", it not only pits Rose with a possible NBA Hall Of Famer as a personal coach but it also solves the go-to scorer issue since the departure of Ben Gordon to Detroit.

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Nothing In This World Is Given, Why Should Awards Be Different?

In the effort to stray away from the numerous "Charlie Weis Must Go" blogs and articles, here's something about Chicago I just don't understand. Why is it that Chicagoans always feel slighted when something national is given to someone else? Whether it be the 2016 summer games, or a national poll on the best cities in the country to drink.

I've been a Chicagoan for most of my 28 years on this planet, but I've never gotten over the fact that Chicagoans feel that everything must be given to them when it comes to national (and sometimes worldwide) notoriety.

Yesterday was a perfect example when rookie third baseman second baseman phenom Gordon Beckham finished fifth in the American League Rookie Of The Year Voting. Beckham this year hit .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI in 103 games played. He didn't make his major league debut till early June and led all American League rookies in RBI, doubles, and extra-base hits. Beckham won the 2009 Sporting News and MLBPA Rookie Of The Year Award last month which is an award given out and voted on by major league players.

Yesterday the kid they call "Bacon" was burnt as he finished fifth among AL rookies with no first place votes.

The outcry from White Sox fans is a little disturbing to me. Some saying he got robbed, cheated, even striped of what was rightly his.

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Tennessee Titans Owner Bud Adams Deserves Max Punishment

So on a weekend where the Bears did not play, and the hangover from yet another embarrassing loss is still not gone. What did you do with your weekend off?

Some of you I am sure raked the leaves in your front yard or did a little early Christmas shopping. My wife and I took our son to see his grandparents in Rockford and of course a quick stop for a Beef-A-Roo!

However there still was football on the list of to do's for the weekend and with the power of my Sirius Satellite Radio, I scanned around the country getting caught up on what is happening in the National Football League. Here's what I found out.

#1 - The Saints and Colts remain the class of the NFC/AFC respectively. Although both teams got wins in close games.

#2 - There is no slowing down the Minnesota Vikings. Adrian Peterson is a beast and the rise of Sidney Rice as a go-to WR for Brett Favre makes the Vikings look like a strong contender for the NFC crown.

#3 - Bill Belichick went for the win and lost out. I agreed with the decision, but not the play call.

#4 - How bout my upset special of the week picking Washington to beat Denver. Just another reason to listen to the Joe O And Rock Show, Saturday nights on WSCR 670AM The Score. (Shameless Plug)

#5 - Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams is officially the dumbest NFL owner in history.

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Larry Johnson Isn't The Answer To The Chicago Bears Problems

The Chicago Bears running game has not been anything to write home about this season. Let's face it, the Bears are "running off the bus" for 28th best in the NFL per game (90.5 yds/game) and next to last in attempts in the NFL right above the team that beat them by 20 this past Sunday. As much as head coach Lovie Smith and "meatball" fans want to admit the Bears are a run first team only, they are lying to themselves.

I really do not blame the Bears for the next to last in rushing attempts because I think this is a year of transition. When you bring in a franchise type of quarterback, you want to see what the man has got. I think we all knew Jay Cutler could throw the ball around before he got here, its just how would he adapt to the mediocre at best receiving core here in the Windy City. Add in the fact that Matt Forte (who was 37% of the Bears offense last season) has been playing on a bum wheel (left knee) most of the season. You cannot expect as much production as you had last year from the running game.

However I find it interesting how many Bear fans think that the addition of one of the most nonproductive running backs in the league could help the Bears deficiencies on offense this year.

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Another Sports Autobiography To Waste Your Money On!

How come everyone needs a book about their life in sports?

Seriously!

Do sports fans find it interesting that Joe Torre confirms that Alex Rodriguez is a diva? Did you spend $25.00 on "My Prison Without Bars" by Pete Rose just to get insight on how he gambled on baseball when you already knew he did? Is it that much of a draw that NBA refs really fixed outcomes of games and gambled a ton...by convicted felon and former NBA referee Tim Donaghy? Jose Canseco changed baseball with his book "Juiced," because it told you that baseball players were taking steroids....didn't we know that already? We did not care before, so why should we care now?

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Chicago Bears Fans Need To Put The Firing Gun Away

It's amazing to me as a producer at the Score how fans in Chicago are no where to be heard or seen when it comes to a winning team, but yet when a team is in flux like the Chicago Bears....everything has to change.

Change is not always a good thing, and usually it doesn't happen until there is no other option with the personnel employed.

So the Bears yesterday for the second time in four games allow 31 points in the first half and lose to the Arizona Cardinals 41-21. After a hot 3-1 first quarter to the season, the Bears follow a week five bye and finish the second quarter of the season 1-3.

I agree that it's been painful to watch the Bears be outscored 113-75 over the last four games. As a fellow fan I totally understand, but I think its time to step back and take a look at this team with an open mind and a honest heart.

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Kenny Williams Turning Up The Heat Before The Stove Arrives

The hot stove hasn't even had a chance to turn to knob to "lite" yet and the Chicago White Sox are off and running with their off season moves. Kenny Williams kept busy during the season by trading for Jake Peavy and Alex Rios and kept the ball rolling this off season by bringing back Matt Thornton, Freddy Garcia, and Mark Kotsay.

All great moves but the best move by Kenny Williams so far this off season happened today.

Today the Chicago White Sox bought out Jermaine Dye's mutual option for around a million dollars making the 35 year old veteran right fielder a free agent. The 2005 World Series MVP batted .250 last season with 27 home runs and 81 RBI. A moderately productive for a guy who baseball considered finished after shattering his leg in the 2001 ALDS hitting a foul ball. Dye worked hard and found success again after Kenny Williams took a flyer on him in 2005 and thus turned his career around winning a world series MVP.

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Don't Hate The Yankees Because They Do Things Right......

I just don't get some people today when it comes to their opinions of the New York Yankees. "The Evil Empire" apparently is all that's wrong with today's society because they outspend other teams by a drastic comparison. The pinstripes take all the best players every year and forcing the smaller market teams to get by on the second tier or even third tier players. The "NY" on the face of the jersey stands for "Not Yours" because it's all about the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees.

Blah Blah Blah.....

How can you hate a team so much that it distracts you from what your team isn't doing? Seriously, you HAVE TO RESPECT the way the New York Yankees do business because it's the perfect business motto for sports....DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN!

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Rock Report Rant: I'm Addicted. Are You Too?

NHL '10 for Playstation 3

I have a little problem and I wonder if you have the same thing. I'm addicted to something that doesn't harm your body, but alters your mind. I'm addicted to something that won't make you fat, drunk, or high. I'm addicted to something that is still rather expensive, but it has no taste, smell and you can't wear it.

I'm addicted to NHL 10 for Playstation 3.

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Jim Hendry Isn't Going Anywhere....PERIOD!!

In the Cubs never-ending quest to win the World Series, this past season was a sucker punch to all Cubs fans. To see a team fall from a 97 win team to a just over .500 ball club had to be not only disappointing but extremely unsatisfactory.

I have to admit that watching my Cubs fan friends this past season hurt me, cause I've never been in that situation. As a White Sox fan, I feel I'm more realistic about my teams' chances than my friends who have always believed that "This Is The Year."

It's sad, pathetic, and sometimes downright disgusting.

However, I believe that General Manager Jim Hendry summed up this past season best today in an article by Paul Sullivan calling this past season a "hiccup." A bump in the road, a simple red light. This season which the Cubs dropped 15 games in the win total from last year (2nd worst swing in win total in MLB) was just a minor glitch in the application that is the Chicago Cubs.

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When It Comes To The Bears....Who Can You Trust?

Hey Hey!! It's victory Monday!

Sure.

I don't know about you, but that game yesterday was single handily the worst looking win by any professional football team I've ever seen. The term "Winning Ugly" has come up a couple of times this season, but the Bears don't even deserve that association. The win against the Browns can only be described by one word: "_______." Go ahead, you try to come up with a word that describes how the Bears took a W from single handily the worst team in the NFL.

However while meddling through the game was this question that kept coming up in my mind, what can you trust when it comes to the Bears? Trust is defined as a confident expectation of something, In other words something you know will happen because it's always happened on a consistent basis. You know you can trust the sun will rise at some point in your lifetime. You know you can trust the IRS will screw you in some way on your taxes at some point in your life. You know you can trust in that if you take that extra bite of that quarter pounder, it's going straight to your hips.

Trust. Also a pretty good song by Megadeth.

When you look at this team, who or what can you lay your trust in as a fan? Do you trust this team can turn the season around and make a run of it?

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A Letter To The Ricketts Family......

Dear Ricketts Family Ownership Group:

I would like to congratulate you on your purchase of the Chicago Cubs. I feel as a baseball fan that a family ownership is so much better than a corporate entity running a baseball franchise. I think that with so many voices from random parts of the country, it's too difficult for a corporation to have one voice on one goal. With family ownership it's a little less involved and more goal oriented, therefore I look forward to your ownership of the Chicago Cubs.

As a life long Chicago White Sox fan, I have to tell you that winning a championship is a treasure whose riches will never fade away. That 2005 season was not only the year of the Chicago White Sox, but it was my year....my father's....my grandfathers...etc. Winning a title in Chicago means so much to so many generations that no monetary value could ever purchase. I sincerely hope one day that with your family's leadership you will present that treasure to the fine Chicago Cubs fans of this great city, and I hope I will be out of town for the parade. Again, I am a life long White Sox fan.

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Rock Report Rant: My Issue With Halloween This Year.....

Forgive me but I have something that has been bothering me for about a week now, and I need a little room to vent.

Why does Halloween have to happen this Saturday? WHY?? What nimrod up in his stone tower decided that October 31st this year should fall on a Saturday? Couldn't we find a better day to parade around like the clowns we are in all sorts of get ups and costumes? Why not a Thursday that way it leads into our Friday where we as Americans always seem to do the absolute minimum to just get into the weekend. Even Wednesday would be a better fit. Right smack dab in the middle of the week on the same night as ladies night at most fine establishments. Halloween and ladies night should always go hand in hand for the 20 something crowd.

For the first time in my life I am playing the father walking around with my one year old son to trick or treat "bother" the neighbors. I am a 28 year old, married, father of one, and I have to admit....I'm a little upset that Halloween is falling on a day where the World Series and College Football is normally on my radar.

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Get Over It! Welcome Back "Big Mac"

"Big Mac" is back with a new job to torment Cubs fans, teach Albert Pujols how to be a better hitter!! Is that even possible?

Yesterday Mark McGwire was hired to be the new hitting coach of the hated St. Louis Cardinals. What an outstanding move for the Cardinals organization to bring back McGwire back to the organization and sport where he was one of the more dominant power hitters of the past generation. Isn't that what most organizations do now-a-days anyway? Bring back the stars of yester-year to help the stars of today?

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Calm Down Bears Fans, Nothing Is Going To Happen......

Embarrassing. Mortifying. Worrisome. Discomforting. Any adjective you would like to use to describe what happened in the Queen City yesterday is up to you. Let's face it, the Chicago Bears did not show up to play. No matter who the player or coach, they all know its a game they would like to forget. This game is the 2009 version of the Atlanta game last season. Simple as that Bears fan, but let's all settle down for a second.

One loss to a good AFC team is not going to mean changes are on the way. Lovie Smith is not going to get fired. Jerry Angelo will stay as General Manager. Ron Turner will still be employed by the Bears. One game means nothing, there has to be a pattern of this type of play for anything to happen.

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Dear Reader....I Need Some Help! Why Should I Care About The NBA/Chicago Bulls in 2009?

I've made it a goal of mine (sort of a new season's resolution) to watch more Chicago Bulls basketball this upcoming winter. However, like any other resolution I've tried...I'm already trying to figure a way out of it. Now I will admit I am not the biggest fan of the game. Come to think of it my favorite part of the NBA game is watching what Craig Sager is wearing and the last two minutes of a contest. It's just a slow boring game to me with little suspense or build up that I can get into.

After last years' run of the Bulls in the postseason, I really got into the idea of rooting for cinderella only to have my hopes shattered once again by a Chicago sports team. I watched more NBA hoops in those seven games than I did all season long. Of course I have my favorite players which I enjoy following just like anyone else and I am sure you root for the same guys I do.

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Steroids Are Bad, But Missed Calls Kill

If this baseball postseason has shown "Joe baseball fan" anything, it's that instant replay needs to be instituted NOW. Last night provided three more examples of why the national past time needs to get with the times of today's technology. I do not understand how the human element aspect of America's game can be tolerated any longer with missed calls seemingly in every game of this postseason.

When people talk about the problems with baseball however, rarely does the issue of bad umpiring come up. Of course the steroid problem is first and then the high salaries these athletes are being paid always come up before anything. While steroids and high dollar salaries may taint the sport, these missed calls are killing the sport.

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Chris Chelios The Latest Athlete Who Can't Hang It Up When He Needs To

Retirement is a wonderful thought....to people over 40. Let's face it, at my age I am expecting to work in some capacity of the rest of my life. A lot of people at my age believe that same thing and think with the state of social security, planning for over 65 years of age is on the back burner. Let's face it, the age to retire might be 80 around the time I get an opportunity to do so.

One thing that has always bothered me however is when the millionaire sports figure cannot give it up. They "love" the sport so much, that they want to play till that "desire" (and money) is not there anymore. The latest victim of this is Chris Chelios who just signed a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers minor league affiliate Chicago Wolves.

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Message To The 4th Phase....Time To Rise Up!!

I know you were like me on Sunday night staying up way past your bedtime only to see the most disappointing loss of the year for our Chicago Bears. The Bears move to 3-2 and unfortunately could not keep up with the Minnesota Favre's falling to a full three game swing behind the NFC North leaders.

However with each game, there is little time to move on and get ready for the next opponent. This Sunday the Bears have a tough test heading to the Jungle in Cincinnati to face the 4-2 first place Bengals.

Now of course the story lines this week in Chicago will be former first round bust Cedric Benson and felon Tank Johnson facing their former team, but nationally it will be something different. People around the country will be talking about Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson and his trash talking twitter style.

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Bears Add DE Gaines Adams, Angelo Still Doesn't Address Biggest Need

Today the Bears made the first trade of the NFL season, and it wasn't for a wide receiver or even some help in the secondary. It was for a backup defensive end as the Bears picked up the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft Gaines Adams from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2010 draft pick. Does that mean come April 2010, will the Bears be the first team to not participate in the draft because of lack of any picks??

A quick rundown on Gaines Adams (Clemson) includes playing for some mediocre Bucs teams under John Gruden and one playoff appearance in 2007. He's a tall (6'5) guy to put on the end and adds another body to an already deep DE's list on the Bears roster.

This was nothing more than to see if defensive line coach Rod Marinelli can do anything with Adams this year so the Bears can make a decision on what they want to do with Adawale Ogunleye and Mark Anderson, who are both free agents after this season.

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Bears Fans Need Direction With The Bye Week Blues

It's been very interesting over the last week and a half to watch/read/listen to Bears fans while they find ways to discuss their team during the bye week. No matter if you think its too early for a bye or it's at the correct time for this team with they injuries they have, everyone is different how they deal with their bye week blues.

I enjoyed a very comfortable day off to celebrate my son's first year on Earth while watching some football on a new 46' LED Samsung with family members. All the while participating in arguments over whether or not Ben Roethlisberger should cut his hair and if Brett Favre should stop wearing the flack jacket under the purple #4.

However, the conversations over the past week about the beloved have focused on two people who aren't even on the current Bears roster. One being the bearded one Kyle Orton and the other being T.O. otherwise known as Terrell Owens.

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USC/ND Is Just Another Ballgame...Nothing More...Nothing Less

Ever since I started producing at the Score I've been of the opinion that college football is not on the radar for most people in the Chicago market. This NCAA football year I decided to watch more of the game and with the increased viewing I've found that more people than I originally thought are into the college game.

Although this season seems like a race of four teams (FLA/TEX/USC/ALA) and the rest go by the way-side as well as arguing the BCS standings starting this Sunday, this weekend is all about Notre Dame and USC. The next chapter in the never ending story that is the coaching career of Charlie Weis and the much hyped and small burst Notre Dame team. A team that is so hyped by the national media that even former ND coach Lou Holtz before the season began saw the Domers in the national title game with defending champion Florida.

Since the Irish last pulled out a close OT win over Washington and USC rolled over rival #24 California, these last ten days have been nothing but relentless hype and speculation. Questions about if the outcome will be the last straw for Charlie Weis' coaching career. Questions about Jimmy Clausen and if this is a defining Heisman trophy game for him. Could Notre Dame actually make the national title game if they defeat USC?

For all the hype and speculation, here's three things that WILL happen no matter what the outcome of the game.

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Baseball Needs Some Advice: "Less Is More"

In case you have not noticed, the MLB postseason is underway!!! The problem is judging by the numbers (TV ratings) you are not watching.

Why aren't you (baseball fan) compelled by the Colorado Rockies and Troy Tulowitski's mullet? Why are you (baseball fan) not interested in Jason Kubel going 0-the series? You (baseball fans) are not watching more Chip Caray in the last week than you ever did when he was manning the Cubs broadcasting booth?

For all lack of an actual pennant race this season in any division, I figured when the stakes were raised....then people will watch. Unfortunately the ratings show, that even with a 14% increase in viewers overall for TBS playoffs, the numbers are compatible with Monk (Fridays at 8pm on USA) and ICarly on Nickelodeon.

Trying to find a reason why the numbers are where they are is an enigma. Of the a ton of reasons that may come up, some may bring up the markets where teams are from and some may say there needs to be more day games that way there is less competition among programming.

Could it be that the MLB playoffs are too long?

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In 2011, Ryno Is Not The Answer For The Cubs

As Lou Piniella heads into the final stretch run of the "Tampa Mai Tai Tour" next season, the question that begs to be answered is who replaces Sweet Lou? This decision could be the most important decision of the Tom Ricketts regime because you want to make a good first impression with the Cubs fan base. If you get off on the wrong foot, you may never come back into good graces.

I've noticed over the last five to six years, that Cubs fans have become the most demanding fans in major league baseball and for good reason. When your team doesn't win a World Series for over a century, you have the right to be a little upset with how things are on the north side of Chicago.

However this notion I've heard over the last week or so that Ryne Sandberg should be the next manager of the The Cubs is just asinine.

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When Winning Is More Important Than Life......

Remember when you were a kid and you dreamed of being the next sports superstar? No matter what the team or sport, you wanted to be the next big thing. The next Barry Bonds, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, or even Pele!

When you were that age it was all about the love of the game and all the other stuff that came along with it was just icing on the cake.

Few of us get to live that dream and maybe that is a good thing, because no one wants to see 275 pound guys try to hit a baseball or deke around a double team. It's just not a pretty sight and the risk of injury would be so high that contracts would not be nearly worth the money they are today.

However as the dream fades to black as we age, we become more critical of athletes and everything they do on and off the field. The one perk about being an athlete which always strikes me the worst is how they are treated differently the everyday guy.

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Hate It Or Love It....You'll Always Watch It

There are certain things I have found rather amusing when it comes to sports fans and the way we operate. I used to word amusing because it always makes me laugh even when I do the same thing I see others do. Sports are just games however and they're supposed to be fun, but the fans of teams no matter the sports always have the same issue with everything.

When you hate it, you still love it.

What I mean by this is as sports fans we always have a hero (love) and an enemy (hate) in our own sports world.

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Who's To Blame.....It's Someone You Might Know

So Chicago didn't finish first, second, or third...but LAST!

The second city in the free world couldn't make it to the final two.  As per my last post here, I was not a fan of bringing the Olympiad and will therefore keep my opinion.  

The decision was...

Shocking..yes.  

Disturbing..absolutely.  

But was it ever a guarantee that the Olympics were coming to the American coastline....NO.

The real question here after all the tears have been shed, after all the trash is collected from Daley Plaza, after TributoSaurus has played their final encore, is who's taking the hit for this?
Of course the easy targets are Mayor Richard Daley, Pat Ryan, and President Barack Obama.  Almost too easy to point the finger at them and say "You're too blame" for this extremely disappointing day.  However, the real people we need to blame are people who didn't even committed to the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid.  These people didn't sign on and petition for the games.  They didn't go out and lobby, hold a public speaking forum, or even hand out fliers to the general public.

The people who should take the biggest hit are the citizens of this city that were fine with the idea of the Olympics coming to Chicago.

The same people who are fine with the idea that there was going to be corruption somehow someway in the way the Olympics are paid for.  The people who use the excuse about how the Chicago school system has always been messed up.  The people who were OK with bulldozers and evictions and the idea of building sporting venues that will be used rarely if ever once the Olympiad left town.  

The same people who said that those that didn't "Back The Bid" are un-American and anti-Chicago.

You the Olympic supporter are to blame and you will take the biggest hit of all.  The hits Daley, Ryan and Obama take are merely political, but yours is something that I hope makes you look in the mirror and re-think your priorities for the future of Chicago.

You turned a blind eye to the real problems of this city because you thought you could pay outrageous prices to see the opening ceremonies.  You shunned the idea of safer streets with more police because Michael Phelps at the age of 31 could win his 24th gold medal.  

I hope you and the rest of us learn a valuable lesson from this experience.  Let's focus on what makes US better as a city rather than dream big about events that are not needed.  Let's ALL make Chicago the best city in the world where any possible worldwide event would BEG to come to.

-RoCk

Chicago 2016...Have We Forgotten What's Really Important?

I feel it would be a dis-service to our reading audience if each blogger on ChicagoNow.com didn't express their opinion on the upcoming decision by the International Olympic Committee.  Friday afternoon will change the lives for so many people that a simple "yes" or "no" on whether or not you want the Olympics is just not enough.  This decision will affect cultures, financial markets, and the overall global economy for not only the next 7 years but generations after that.

It's hard to imagine how big this decision affects not only for the people of Chicago and the United States, but also for big business who look to profit at any cost with this opportunity.  If Chicago is the city spoken at 11:55am central time on Friday morning you can all but guarantee business plans of all kinds from t-shirts to special Chicago 2016 car rental specials will be in the works.

Anyway you look at it, lots of people will profit and lots of people will be billed.  

However the issue that gets lost in all the celebrity and politics of the announcement itself is how our priorities seem to be lost in the whole spectacle of sport.
For example, it's amazing to me how much money universities will put into their football program as opposed to their science labs.  It's shocking that we can't find people to volunteer their time to clean up a vacant lot for a playground, but if we need ushers for a movie premiere there are lines miles long to apply.  Let's face it, we're all at fault of overlooking what is important as opposed to what's popular and more personally appealing.

The 2016 Olympic games are no different.

Granted the games will be held in seven years and it's almost impossible to predict what the overall cost of the games will be as well as what kind of revenue will be generated.  What is known is that most of the cost (over 1 billion of it) will be paid by private money and that's where I am confused.  

Why is it that communities who beg and plead for funds to improve schools, rebuild their neighborhoods and hire police to protect the good of the people are shunned without a second thought.  However if the city wants to host a track and field tournament and build a brand new stadium for it, the private investors jump on it like flies on (you know what).  

I've never understood this notion that the people who need don't get, but those that have always receive.  

And the one phrase you hear from everyone who supports the Olympic bid in Chicago is this is "good for the future of Chicago."

When we think of the future of Chicago, should we really be thinking of a sporting event?  We should be thinking of what's best for our kids.

How about building state of the art schools, supplying new up to date textbooks.  How about building up run-down areas of the city with so low-income families can have a shot at making it.  How about keeping the police and fire departments running at 100% and hire as many people as possible who want to give up their lives to help others.  How about improving the CTA either on tracks or by bus.  That's how you improve the second city in the world.

However if you ask big business who'll put up billions of dollars to see shot-put in Lincoln Park in 2016 about these issues....you'll never get an answer.

For as corrupt a city and state we live in, big business may have the coldest hearts of all.  

Priorities for the good of the city of Chicago for generations are being ignored for a 3 week sporting event.  

Shame.

-RoCk