Olympic Ice Hockey Won't Fix NHL's Overall Problem.....

The biggest question to come out of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics is if the public will latch onto any of these sports after the games in British Columbia is over. Millions upon millions of people have been glued to their televisions over the past two weeks where the Olympics viewership number is up by over 14% compared to the 2006 games. Everything from downhill skiing to skeleton competition, droves of Americans have seemed to find a new destination to go to every night for entertainment.

However when talking about the aftermath of these games, what sticks in the collective minds of the American television audience? Since most of these events aren't broadcast on television anyway, the main sport that has garnered the most attention in the media has been the men's ice hockey competition.

What gains are the NHL going to see from these games? Will people start to latch onto ice hockey as they have over the past week or two? Was it worth canceling three weeks of the NHL season to make way for Vancouver?

The answer easily is an emphatic NO.

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Ozzie Guillen On Twitter...ALERT THE CENSORS!!!

There should be a parental warning for this blog, because yesterday a magical thing happened in the world we all love to live in other than reality. Social networking through the website Twitter (my personal favorite) has reached an average of 50,000,000 "tweets" a day. That is 600 tweets per second on average.

"The Twitter World" yesterday welcomed in a new friend and the word is spreading like wildfire.

Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) is now a part of Twitter.

And the Earth shook....

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In A Must Win Game, Give Me Carlos Zambrano In Chicago.....

As the sports abyss continues to rage on here in Chicago, we always tend to get into what some call "The Bar Stool Argument." The one you always seem to get into with your buddies over a few Old Styles while playing MLB The Show 2009. A type of sports argument that doesn't have a right or wrong answer yet year in and year out the debate rages on.

We have all been a part of one.

Rank the Chicago's sports teams in popularity.

Who's the greatest running back of all time?

Blondes or brunettes?

Today on The Mully And Hanley Morning Show, the debate was you got one game to win....who is your starting pitcher?

Mark Buehrle, Jake Peavy, or Carlos Zambrano?

Give me Big Z any day of the week with this "stool" argument.

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USA Beats Canada....The Olympic Ratings Are In

I won't keep this long, but last night was one of the best hockey games I've seen in a long time. It's not just because of the "upset" in a preliminary round match up, but the energy drew me in. A combo of USA and Canada fans matching chants for their respective teams while watching what is basically an NHL all star game that matters more than just home field.

It was about national pride and not playoff positioning. Both teams showed that this was the game both of them respectively circled on their calenders. This was the game that mattered and there was no tomorrow (even if there is).

It was fun, but the bigger debate was who was watching and did the sport of hockey show up in the only numbers that matter in business.

Ratings.....and the verdict is......

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Tiger Woods Public Statement Was Nothing More Than A Great Actor Reading A Good Script

Tiger Woods today did exactly what we all thought he would. If you've followed this story over the last 3 months, you knew he would keep everything private and only between him and his wife. He would be defensive of his children, and acknowledge he has some issues and he's getting help for them.

The only new things we really got out of what Tiger Woods said was:




1. No domestic violence anytime in his marriage.
2. Denial of using performance enhancing drugs.
3. He's still rich and still hates the press.

My hope is that people realize that they just watched/listened to a great actor read a well written script.

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Lindsay Vonn Winning Gold More Fiction Than Reality?

How often do we find ourselves believing in athletes only to find out the real truth about them later? A perfect example would be the man named Tiger Woods who will talk to the media (really, just going to read a statement) tomorrow at 10AM. We thought the squeaky clean image of greatness was due to his true testament to hard work and dedication to his sport. Yet we find out later that he has been cheating on his wife (some would say "sex addict") and romping around like any other single celebrity would.


Call me crazy, but I am not believing a second of the crap American gold medalist Lindsey Vonn is spewing. Yet America seems to keep buying into it more and more and more.

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Johnny Weir's Sexuality Overshadows Everything He'll Ever Do

Let me preface this blog by saying that the following may offend some people who are sensitive to the subject of homosexuality and sports. I am not by any means trying to insult anyone who may be gay or lesbian, but I think that I need to speak my piece about the subject when it comes to American figure skater Johnny Weir.

When talking amongst the crew at WSCR about Johnny Weir, we never get to the conversation about how he performed the night before. I am sure you have the same issue when Weir's name comes up among your Olympic viewing friends or co-workers as well. We never bring up that he is one of the best in his sport today because it always circles back to the question that seems to be on everyone's mind.



Is Johnny Weir Gay?

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Cold And Bumpy Road So Far For Vancouver 2010 Olympics....

To me the things that always stand out about any Olympics is normally the pageantry and desire and heart of the athletes during competition all simply to hear their national anthem played with a medal around their neck. The Vancouver games of 2010 are not off to such a majestic start.

Between no snow, pillar malfunctions, problems making ice, top name athletes dropping out of competition and a death......

It's been a rough start of the Winter Olympiad.

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How Can We Trust "The Big Hurt" When We Can't Trust Anyone?

Today is a sad day for myself as I watch my favorite baseball player of all time walk off into the sunset as Frank Thomas announces his retirement today. "The Big Hurt" as Hawk Harrelson named him is by far the greatest player to ever put on a White Sox uniform on the south side.

His career numbers easily makes him a candidate for Cooperstown in 2014 when the likes of Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine (who is also effectively retiring today as well) join Thomas on the ballot. With over 500+ home runs to his name and seemingly holding every offensive record the White Sox have, you would figure he is a shoe in for the hall of fame on the first ballot.

I love the #35, but he is not headed to Cooperstown on the first try.

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The NHL/NBC Drop The Puck Once Again.....

Who's pumped up about Vancouver 2010?? Raise your hand!!

Ok, all four of you can put your hands down.

If you did not know (and most of you do not), the Winter Olympiad hits British Columbia this Friday kicking off with the opening ceremonies. Athletes from around the world will be all bundled up taking a lap around Vancouver's BC Place representing their country as the proud country men and women they are.

I will admit I really do not care too much about the Olympics (summer and winter), but the fact that six of our Chicago Blackhawks are involved in the ice hockey competition makes me want to tune in and watch. Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Keith, Hossa and Kopecky are all going to be competing on the grand stage in a true World Cup of Hockey.

However there is one problem......why aren't the games on NBC?

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Un-Retiring #11 Ruins The Honor Itself.......

Now that the NFL season has come and gone, it's time to turn our sports attention toward what is to come this spring and summer. Now that the national sports cash cow is done let's look forward to the true national pastime, Major League Baseball.

Spring training is right around the corner for both clubs here in town with both the Cubs and the White Sox going into 2010 with high expectations to meet. The Cubs getting healthy over the off season and bagging on their bad apple in Milton Bradley. The White Sox who have totally changed their starting nine from last year looking for a more balanced approach to the offense on the south side.

One of those new faces is 11-time gold glover shortstop Omar Vizquel who played last season with the Texas Rangers splitting time among 3B, SS, and 2B. Yesterday it was announced that Omar Vizquel would wear the #11 this coming season. You would figure since Vizquel was signed in back around Thanksgiving that this would already have been done by now.

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Super Bowl Halftime Snoozer Needs A Little Injection Of Youth....

sunday.....Sunday.....SUNDAY!!!!

Yes the Super Bowl is finally here and as the entire nation decides to take a three 1/2 hour break from reality, it's time to think of next year's Super Bowl already!

That's right, the Colts are going to win anyway....so lets think 2011!

One thing that has always bothered me about the Super Bowl especially since the famous Janet Jackson Boob-Gate, is the halftime acts the NFL links with for the biggest television event of the year. Let's face it, they are old and boring.

Since Justin grabbed him some Janet, it's been from The Beatles to The Who with a little Stones, Heartbreakers, Prince and The Boss. If you grew up in the 70's and early 80's then that is your niche. However the NFL needs to learn that generation X who grew up in the 90's is getting older and invading that 25-54 male demo. So why can't the music start to reflect it?

Here is five suggestions for Roger Goddell and the NFL to consider for next years Super Bowl XLV in Big D.

#1 - Foo Fighters
The "Fighters Of The Foo" have been around since the untimely demise of one of the greatest alternative acts ever in Nirvana. In their 15th year of being a fearsome foursome, the Foo Fighters are a mainstay on MTV and VH1 and get played not only on alternative music stations, but top 40 ones as well. Dave Grohl and the guys bring a lot of energy to the stage which is something I think has been lacking in recent years with the halftime show. Six studio albums and 28 singles later, the Foo Fighters are a safe recommendation for Super Bowl XLV halftime show.




Possible setlist: Everlong, Learn To Fly, All My Life, Times Like These, Best Of You

#2 - Green Day
They are a little political, a little darker than most current modern rock acts....but they are a for sure must watch. Talk about energy, they bring the noise every time they are on stage. If you thought Green Day was mainstream before American Idiot, then the post-Idiot Green Day is bigger and more popular than ever. It's interesting to see people who listen to Green Day now-a-days and only know Boulevard Of Broken Dreams and Holiday. I love the earlier stuff of Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre Cool, but if American Idiot can be made into a Broadway musical.....why not the Super Bowl halftime show?

Possible setlist: American Idiot, Holiday, Basketcase, Know Your Enemy, Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

#3 - Nickelback
What 35 year old woman has not heard of Nickelback?? Come on!! These guys have had the quickest rise to fame I've seen since the days of U2. Six studio albums and five top 40 #1 hits, this band from Alberta, Canada are a no brainer for the halftime show. They appeal to both the mainstream rock fans and pop people as well as their music is played everywhere. Sure the newest material is a little sexy, a little racy for a rated G production at the Super Bowl....but the Super Bowl act is not there to promote new material. If they stay strictly to the hits, its one hell of a show.





Possible setlist: Photograph, How You Remind Me, Too Bad, Saturday Night's Alright (cover), Someday

#4 - Metallica
Say what you will, they are one of the bigger rock acts in the last 25 years. "They sold out"...."I like the old 'Tallica." They are in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, sold over 100,000,000 albums worldwide and their stage show is some of the best in rock music right now. Maybe the newer stuff is not as popular, but the older Metallica music is as popular now as it's ever been. When you have hits in NASCAR promos and played in sports arenas all over the country, you can definitely fit in James, Lars, Kirk and Rob in Dallas rocking out on the biggest stage of them all.




Possible setlist: Fuel, I Disappear, Turn The Page (cover), King Nothing, Enter Sandman

#5 - Kid Rock
The American Badass has gone soft in recent years doing more radio rock and roll as opposed to a word that is not in the dictionary, Bawitdaba. He is a true musician at heart and loves the big stage. His recent album "Rock And Roll Jesus" went 3x's platinum and the singles are played on multiple formats of radio and music television. He is also a bit of a celebrity hooking up with Pamela Anderson at one point and taped an episode of VH1 Storytellers. He is also very involved with the USO and does a lot for charities in Detroit and around the country. Bob Ritchie (his real name) would be a perfect fit in Dallas to rock the new Texas Stadium.


Possible setlist: Cowboy, Feel Like Makin' Love (cover), Amen, All Summer Long, Bawitdaba

So here's my effort to get the NFL to switch up the halftime show from stuff my parents grew up listening to, and get some new blood in to pump up the halftime show gig. Let's face it, the old aging acts only work for so long when you use them year after year. Let's change it up, making it a little younger, fresher and overall better for the aging youth of the 1990's.

Do not get me wrong, I'll watch The Who. However the mold needs to change because it's getting a little old and boring seeing the same type of act every year. In an era of change all over the country, the NFL should try it as well.

PLEASE!!

-RoCk

Rock Mamola is the Associate Producer of The Mully And Hanley Morning Show and co-host of The Joe O And Rock Show on WSCR 670AM The Score.

You can follow the Mully And Hanley Morning Show at twitter.com/mullyhanley

You can follow the Joe O And Rock Show at twitter.com/joeoandrockshow

Leave The Blackhawks Alone, No Need For ANY Trades!!

Without a doubt the Chicago Blackhawks are the best thing going in Chicago sports. The "Madhouse On Madison" is selling out in record numbers and the buzz in the city has not been this high since the early

1990's with the likes of Roenick, Chelios and Belfour. Last year's run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs only helped the "Red Rising" buzz spike into the collective baseball talk of the time with the Blackhawks only to fall to their arch rivals from Detroit in the Western Conference Finals.

This Blackhawks bunch is by far taking what they went through last year and attempting to take the next step forward which in turn could only be the Stanley Cup Finals. Are the Blackhawks a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season?

There is no doubt that they are, but can the Hawks get better before the trade deadline on March 3rd?

It's time to put away the concerns Hawk fans.....keep this team as is.

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The Super Bowl Hype Machine Is Broken In 2010....

It seems like forever since we saw the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts advance to the biggest game of the NFL season. Since that glorious Sunday where we saw the Saints D destroy the great Brett Favre, and witnessed the patience of the great Peyton Manning....a few things have happened.

1. Dwight Freeny's ankle still is not healed.
2. Reggie Bush went clubbing Monday night till around 3:30am
3. The Pro Bowl had a huge ratings jump
4. Still no agreement on a CBA for after the 2010 season

Welcome to the best MOST BORING buildup for a Super Bowl I've ever witnessed.

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