Fleece the Pig, Flog the Pony

It's Official!

2007-01-29T14:49:00.000-06:00

Yes, moving day is finally here, and we're off for greener pastures.

Fleece the Pig, Flog the Pony is now officially a part of the Sweet Home Sports family.

From now you'll be able to find Fleece & Flog at http://sweethomesports.com/fleece/

Yeah, we're still sprucing up the place, but all our rants and all your comments can be found at the new address thanks to a neat little import tool from WordPress.

If you've linked us in the past, thanks! And we hope you'll update your link.

If this is your first time here, come on over to the new place (the above link) and check out the new digs!

Thanks again for all your support.

The Fleece & Flog Crew

Hump Day in the Life of Chicago Sports

2007-01-24T12:29:00.000-06:00

---The White Sox are in talks to sign a former Nebraska punter. Seems a certain starting left-fielder had surgery and might not be ready by spring training. GM Kenny Williams, less than thrilled by the prospect of well, prospects, playing multiple outfield positions is trying to bring in ex-Angel Darin Erstad. If it so happens to make Scotty Posednik expendable/tradeable, all the better.

---The Fightin' Illini scored an upset at home. Did Indiana, and coach Kelvin Sampson, phone it in? Illinois' men's basketball program took another step toward securing an N.I.T. bid by knocking off the sanctions-in-waiting Hoosiers, previously ranked number twenty-third, although first in the hearts of Klan-worshippin' rednecks (go ahead, pretend it isn't true). Welcome to the era of daylight savings time!

---This just in; the Blackhawks still suck. Firing coaches only helps when the new coach can make good players better. The problem for Chicago's hockey fans is their NHL club can't seem to acquire enough good players in the first place. At thirteen points out of the last playoff spot, things sure do look bleak for the fellows in the bright red sweaters. No matter what, though, this is upper-management's fault. Don't blame head coach Denis Savard for this Suck-o-Rama.

---Former SouthSider Donovan McNabb is not unhappy in that happiest of cities, Philadelphia. Reports that he called teammate Jeff Garcia "gay" are also unfounded. Former Terrell Owens publicist Kim Etheridge was overheard telling anyone who would listen that McNabb has "millions of reasons not to want out of Philly".

---Over on the other side of town, it appears the Cubs are in talks to sign outfielder Cliff Floyd. Gm Jim Hendry can't buy anymore good pitching, so the only option is to stock bats. Much like the Soriano contract, there are rumored to be added perks to sweeten the deal. Floyd will get his own locker on the road, and full access to the post-game buffet spread.

---In other Cub news (and doubling the bad news day for our beloved administrator), the team recently plucked ND wide receiver Jeff Samardzija from a life without Brady Quinn, to, of all things, pitch. In his never ending pursuit to spend all of the Tribune's money, Hendry will soon roll out his new aftershave Desperation. Eau du Toilette (translation:toilet water) indeed.

---Turns out the local pro football team had some measure of success recently, in case you hadn't heard. Something about one more big game. Bears fans just hope that when the Tank (Johnson) rolls into Miami (having gotten a judge's permission to leave the state), all the bars of Ice have already melted. Without a pass rush, Peyton Manning just might have a good day.

---Speaking of that local football team, how a about a big huzzah (yeah you read that right) for the head coach, Lovie Smith? Criticized for sticking by Rex Grossman, demeaned for not being the best X's and O's coach, he nonetheless finds himself the coach of a team going to the SuperBowl. The first black head coach to do it, too, just hours ahead of friend and mentor, Tony Dungy. To invert, subvert, and paraphrase a moon landing astronaut, it is a big step for black folks, and a giant leap for nice guys everywhere.

---Until next time, be good.

Call U-Haul!

2007-01-24T06:49:00.000-06:00

Yep, Fleece & Flog will be moving soon!

What, you say? Why, you cry? Where are you gonna get your Chicago sports fix?

Well, a few weeks ago F&F friend D.T. Kelly invited us along with F&F contributor and Chi-Sox Blog's main man Jeeves to form a Chi-town sports hub of sorts.

We're calling our adventure Sweet Home Sports, and it's all about the Windy City. Under the head of SHS we plan to have dedicated blogs to the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, Cubs and Fire and maybe a few local college teams. (All the sites aren't set up yet.) Fleece and Flog will also have it's own page in the network eventually, and there you'll find rants, raves and unique slices of sporting news to feed the voyeur in all Chicago fans.

We're actually still looking for a few more writers for the site, so if you're interested, drop me an email at fleece-n-flog@sbcglobal.net. But understand this: you must be able to bring it. We want dedication, enthusiasm and passion. We want writers who aren't afraid to drop their pants and show their shit. We want hardcore Chicago fans. We want people who love Chicago teams as much as we do, and don't care they're not getting paid. (We won't be, so you won't be.)

So check us out and bookmark our new site; we've already started posting. Tell a friend or maybe even your cyber-dog. Tell the blogging masses or the crusty old man who shines your shoes. Tell your stock broker or probation officer. Tell whomever. Just tell someone.

Until we're fully imported, we'll still be posting here, but keep an eye out for the day of the move. And thanks for all your support.

Sincerely,
The Fleece & Flog Crew

Wooderson Plays for the Bulls?

2007-01-23T07:30:00.000-06:00

Remember Dazed and Confused, Richard Linklaters' artistic ass kiss to growing up in the 70's? Well, it sounds like one of the characters from that movie pulled a "Take On Me" and stepped into a uniform for the Chicago Bulls.

When asked about his team's flirtation with trading for Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Bulls' Ben Wallace replied in his best Matthew McConaughey voice, "That'd be cool." He'd later say, "He's an unselfish guy. He can score...he's a good passer."

It's unclear whether Wallace was talking about basketball or the ganja, but one thing's for certain: Wallace sure is making a lot of money to NOT be working for the man. In a nip and tuck game against the Pacers where the Bulls were out-rebounded on the offensive glass 16-10, he didn't see an iota of playing time in the 4th quarter.

Must be rough.

But I have a little piece of advice for The 'Fro: "Let me tell you this, the older you do get the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin' man, L-I-V-I-N."

It's A Massacre!

2007-01-21T17:55:00.000-06:00

The Bears are your 2006 NFC Champions. If you didn't watch this game I don't know why your reading this post. There is a great blog on making cupcakes down the road, buddy.

The Bears Defense came through big in this game. They successfully punched the Saints square in the mouth. The Defense forced turnovers, and got a key safety. This Defense did exactly what we knew it could do!

Due to the elation I feel over this win I'm going to be brief. There is one event in this game that I feel embodies the spirit of the Bears and Chicago. Reggie Bush caught a pass and ran it 88yds for a touchdown. This may have really swung the momentum of the game in the Saints favor, but Bush made one fatal error. He taunted Brian Urlacher. What did Brian and the Bears do. They quietly stepped up and destroyed the Saints offense and Super Bowl hopes. That's what the Bears and Chicago are all about. So to whatever team the bears play in the Super Bowl, I say one thing SHUT UP AND FIGHT! That is the Chicago way.

"The Chicago Way" Bears V.S. Saints

2007-01-19T18:21:00.000-06:00

This Sunday at 2:00pm central standard time the "Monsters of the Midway" will attempt to do the unthinkable. Namely, win their first NFC conference Championship since that magical season of DITKA! Despite a very turbulent year the Bears have won their division and put together a very solid season.

Going into this Sunday presents many challenges for our furry friends. First and foremost, the Bears need to somehow pull together and stop the tandem running attack of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. Not only can these two guys run all over a team, but they also catch the ball very well. Bush led the team this year with 88 receptions. Couple this with the fact that the bears allowed a 100 yards rushing in more than half of the games that they played on grass this year, and you start think that maybe the bears have opened the wrong picnic basket.

The Bears second problem in attaining victory comes in the form of one Drew Brees. I mean this guy is a MVP runner-up and had a 96.8 passer rating this year. Brees is a definite upgrade from Matt Hasslebeck.

So if the Bears manage to stop these three extraordinary individuals, they may just have a conference championship and a trip to Miami in their future. That is if the defense isn't totally exhausted from playing behind a ridicules Quarterback. Ok, so I said it. If the bears loose they have one person to blame, and that person is Rex Grossman. His horrible play has kept the Defense on the field all year. That fact is the cause for the injuries and the decline in play that the Bears once mighty Defense has been experiencing.

Bears fans we are in big trouble. This Saints team is not some silly paper opponent. If the Bears don't play to their full potential, particularly the Defense, we may very well loose this game.

That is why I implore the Bears to take action. This town needs a win. Desperate Times call for............Well you get the idea. I propose the Bears Get a guaranteed win, and they do it, The Chicago way!

5. The NFC Championship "Falls off a truck"

4. Both cities vote on a winner. There isn't an election we can't fix!

3. Lovie Smith and Sean Payton Have a polish sausage eating contest, I mean look at them.

2. The Bears convince New Orleans to just give up and, "CROWN THEIR ASSES"

1. Tank Johnson invites Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister to the ICE BAR Saturday night.

In all seriousness, Screw it, We know the stats. We know the odds. Who cares. ITS GOING TO BE A WILD ONE! GO BEARS!

In The Line Of Fire: Bears Linemen

2007-01-19T09:57:00.000-06:00

Cliche Alert: Football games are won and lost in the trenches.

As true today as it was when it was first said, probably in some Harvard vs. Yale game a hundred plus years ago. Cliches are often based in reality, with a solid foundation in the truth. That is why they became cliches. The same goes for generalizations and stereotypes. There are exceptions, of course. This week just won't be one of them.

The Chicago Bears are a very good team. It is hard to reach the Conference Title game by even being mediocre, let alone outright sucking. The team is not without weaknesses, however. Run defense, for instance. Against the Seattle Seahawks nobody except probably A. Ogunleye had a really good game for the defensive line. The other defensive linemen, T. Johnson, I. Scott, M.Anderson, and A.Brown, all got pushed around far too much; especially on run plays. Brown got pushed around by a Seahawk tight-end W. Heller. A defensive end should be able to handle a tight-end with regularity, no? More interesting is that the other option, the rookie Anderson, is mostly just a pass-specialist. Case in point, the Seahawks ran right by Anderson for six yards behind Walter Jones. Thus the Bears don't/won't/can't leave him for long in run situations. Scott, on the other hand, isn't asked to do to much on pass plays because of the scheme that the Bears employ. The problem is that last week he didn't make plays versus the run either. For a defensive tackle, that doesn't bode well. The team desperately misses the injured Tommie Harris, with Johnson being the closest thing the team has. Johnson is, as far as can be genetically proven, not Harris however. Aside from the timely sack got, he only had one other tackle in the game, and it was on a draw at the end of the first half. Don't be surprised if the Saints run at Johnson this next game. In fact, on obvious run plays, especially the short yardage kind, the bigger, bulkier A. Boone might be the better option. Ogunleye had a very big sack, and even fell back into pass coverage to give Seattle different, confusing looks. Adding to the problems for the line is the continued absence of Mike Brown's run support. It doesn't help that the best linebacker in the league will sometimes disappears when a fullback is sent to block him. Not the line's fault, but it is their problem. Add to that native son/Saints head coach Sean Payton aggressively calling plays all year long.

On the other side of the ball, the Bears are a very good running team. The issue is the passing game. While a fair share of the fault/blame can be said to lie with the quarterback, it would be unfair to lay the entire matter at the feet of Rex Grossman and his inconsistent play. It might even be partially negated due to his offensive line. To be fair all the way around, pass blocking is inherently a thankless, uphill battle of a job. Run blocking is typically easier. Blow off the line, straight ahead, plow the road, is a different animal. Compare that to: hang back, block more guys coming in than you started with, and try not to get caught holding the guys who can use his hands. Still, if Grossman had another half to full second sometimes, he might not have so many oops moments. Sure, it would help if he could learn to move up (or forward) in the pocket, as opposed to running backward into trouble. It would help if he could be trusted to think after the snap, not just react. Since that seems unlikely to change this week the offensive line will have to concentrate that much harder. There is a reason the Bears don't use a lot of seven step drops. There is a reason the team does use (and have success with) quick slants. It is easier on the QB, but also the line. Without a great "game-managing" quarterback (think the good Manning brother) to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage, more pressure is put on O. Kreutz, and company to keep this signal-caller upright. It isn't that this is a bad unit, they just face a little more work and a bit more of a challenge. Even the Bears' last Super Bowl team, blocking for the great Walter Payton, couldn't keep Jim McMahon healthy all year.

If this team has any hope of advancing to the Super Bowl (as their talent would indicate they should) it will be in large part to their control of the line of scrimmage. Pressure on MVP runner-up Drew Brees by the D-line will be a good start, along with at least containing the dual threat in the Saint backfield. Letting T. Jones and C.Benson wear down the Saints while keeping Grossman standing long enough to pick on the depleted Saints secondary will pretty much insure victory.

Hopefully, Bears fans can tune in next week for an update of the Cliche Alert: Turnovers.

Until next time, be good.

The Great Links Coaster

2007-01-18T15:39:00.000-06:00

In honor of the "Rexy Back" video and not unlike the great Phoenix rising from the ashes, we bring you the triumphant return of the The Great Links Coaster.

Yes, we've neglected our duty to bring other blogs and posts to the masses and masses of readers here at Fleece & Flog. And since we've had the busiest week ever at Fleece & Flog, we figured it was high time we returned the favor!

Many have been the links to the digs here, and we are greatly appreciative to those who've visited and linked and commented and supported and blah blah blah...

Using a children's puppet to pimp our friends at other sites seems like just the right mix of respect and, umm, disdain. Just kidding , guys. We love their work and hope they keep our bellies full or laughter, our monitors full of boobies and our memories full of happiness.

So Gary Gnu is back to see you see what's to see in the world of sports.

A lot of professional athletes are in a lot of trouble if more mistresses decide to become blog writers. (Double-Nickel)
There's no such thing as a ball girl at US Cellular Field anymore? Why didn't I notice that? (Foul Balls)
Rex Grossman, meet Barak Obama. Barak Obama, meet Rex Grossman. (Ron Karkovice Fan Club)
And now he's back, from the Dominican, no, the Far East, no, Texas... (We Are the Postmen)
In a past life Jeeves earned an A in sports journalism. Just check out his Kenny Williams pieces. (Chi-Sox Blog)
Tom Brady is a pussy; just ask his dog. Did I mention his dog is a poodle? (The Mighty MJD)
Kwame Brown hates cake. How can anyone hate cake? (The Big Lead)
Forget the mistresses of pro athletes, look out for the ex-wives! (Deadspin)
Andres Nocioni is a bad fit for the Tyrus Thomas and the Bulls? Blasphemy, I say. (Blog-a-Bull)
The Blackhawks are pissed about something, and it isn't the lack of butts in the seats. (Wirtzsucks.com)

Rex Grossman Immortalized on Video

2007-01-18T11:51:00.000-06:00

Normally, when I see or read a funny sports related post or incident on this inter-web thingy from a different site, I'll make a small reference to it in my next post. If the something funny approaches genius, I'll post a link so you the reader can take time to check out the source yourself and partake in the hi-jinx as well. Every so often, however, a Picasso or a Joyce or a Led Zeppelin shows up, and I can't withhold the joy -- plagiarism be damned.

Take the following You Tube submission from the nut-cases over at Kissing Suzy Kolber. They've been slanderously funny on old Rex Grossman all season, and now they've made a tribute video including a few of the catch phrases they've betrothed upon the Bears QB. This shit is just fucking funny! Set to the tune of "Sexy Back" by Justin Timberlake, I give you "Rexy Back!"

(Thanks first to With Leather for the original heads up and again to KSK for the video, and the posts that led to it.)

Bulls Score 99 Again to Win

2007-01-18T10:02:00.000-06:00

The Bulls decided to get their third straight victory by scoring 99 points again for the second consecutive time against the Bucks who scored 90. Although victory was their's, the Bucks made the Bulls work for the win. "It was not a beautiful game, that's for sure,'' said Bulls coach Scott Skiles. "We kept saying the whole game we were doing a good job of turning them over, but on many occasions we kept giving it right back to them.'' The Bulls recorded 22 turnovers, and the Bucks 26. "We turned the ball over a lot, passed up on a lot of open opportunities,'' Kirk Hinrich said. "We struggled. It seemed like we could not get into a rhythm all game.''

Late in the third quarter while Chicago was down 73-65, the Bulls decided to pick it up a notch and went on a 20-3 run. "When you shoot 30 percent in the second half and have 26 turnovers, you put a lot more pressure on your defense,'' Bucks coach Terry Stotts said.

With the recent addition of 5'5" Earl Boykins playing his first home game in Milwaukee, the Bucks were hoping for a chance to win against the Bulls. He scored 30 points against Charlotte in the Bucks previous game but only 17 against the Bulls. "We just didn't finish,'' Boykins said. "We put ourselves in a position to win and in the fourth quarter we just didn't do it. We started the fourth extremely flat and they jumped on us.''

"That was probably the thing that helped us go on the run,'' Gordon said. "That defense translated into offense for us. That was a big part of us getting a big lead on them.'' Gordon had 20 points against the Bucks in the 99-90 win. He has scored at least 20 points in his last seven games, and at least 20 points in his last 16 out of 17 games.

Andres Nocioni, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich all contributed to the Bulls victory as well. Nocioni led the team with 21 points on 8-11 shooting from the floor, Deng 19 points, and Hinrich had 16 points.

Ben Wallace returned to the Bulls for the first time since being scratched from the line-up on Saturday with a sore back. He accumulated 10 rebounds against the Bucks. When asked about his back, Wallace replied, "It was a little stiff, but it didn't hinder anything.

With the Bulls only one game out of the lead in the Central division, as well as the Eastern Conference, they hold a record of 23-17, and 18-7 against the East. They also have a 7-1 record against the Central, which is the best in the NBA for any teams against their respective division. Will they be this successful in the second half? Hopefully better.

It's Official: God Hates Notre Dame

2007-01-17T13:55:00.000-06:00

From the world of "kick us while we're down" comes the plight that rare bird, the Caucasian wide receiver Jeff Samardzija. The two-time, 2nd team All-American from Notre Dame is now officially a ONE-time, 2nd team All-American. Seems that in auditing the vote count for what is essentially the college All-Pro teams, a slew of votes from The Sporting News were missed and Jeff Samardzija's award was rescinded. (Dwayne Jarret and Calvin Johnson were the actual winners.)

Let's see. Nine straight bowl losses (a dubious NCAA record as there ever was), repeatedly sub-par recruiting classes including a losing a top ten blue chipper who chooses Illini football of all teams over the Irish, a Heisman dud campaign, a defense that can't keep up with the nuns from Our Lady of Perpetual Motion, a coach who looks like he gets his clothing tips from the Michelin Man, and now the white boy receiver flap. Maybe this is God's payback for the Spanish Inquisition and those ugly mitre caps.

(Thanks to Fornelli and his Foul Balls for the info.)

Crede Avoids Arbitration; Hell Does Not Freeze Over

2007-01-17T11:38:00.000-06:00

Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn avoided the ugly, bloodletting ceremony that is arbitration with the main man-crush of White Sox fandom, Joe Crede. Scott Boras, the Dr. Evil of sports agents and the object of Kenny Williams' ire in the past, allowed Crede to sign a one year deal for a paltry $4.94 million dollars -- some $3 million less than what Joe was speculated to be asking for. Boras and the White Sox have been shaky partners in the past and KW has gone so far as to say he won't he deal with Boras or sign Boras clients.

So why the jovial about-face? Is Joe Crede secretly Kirk Hinrich in a White Sox uniform?

No, the White Sox own arbitration rights with Joe until after 2008, and the market is only gonna explode to even grander proportions after this season. And I'm betting Scott Boras offered Joe Crede his first-born to take the lower money in advance of a greater payday down the road. After all, Boras will have exhausted his A-Rod blood money by then, and Joe will be his new golden goose.

In related news, reports say it was business as usual in hell yesterday, and there was nary a snow flake to be seen.

Spurs No Match For Bulls

2007-01-16T07:02:00.000-06:00

It was a good day in Chicago for some basketball. The Bulls, (22-17), had a 1:00PM game scheduled on Monday, hosting the San Antonio Spurs. Were the Bulls ready for the Spurs? The Spurs, (27-12), are one of the elite teams in the NBA. While being shorthanded, the Bulls managed to flutter the Spurs 99-87. "I don't want to be short-handed, but we've been able to get away with it for a couple of games," Bulls head coach Scott Skiles said. "It's not something long-term I want to do. It gives other guys who are good NBA players an opportunity to play. You get to see other people and it helps me get a different perspective on some other guys." Chris Duhon was suspended for one game for not practicing, and Ben Wallace missed his second straight game because of a sore back, but the Bulls came with their game face on.

The Bulls, (trailing 27-23), went on a 17-5 run early in the 2nd quarter to overtake the lead. With Kirk Hinrich, looking to be back to his usual form, they never looked back. "I have been feeling good the last few games. I kind of gotten back to myself, playing aggressive on both ends and I think my floor game has been a lot better," Hinrich said. He had 23 points and 10 rebounds. "I have played a lot more loose. I think before I was kind of thinking too much, kind of worrying about what the coaches wanted me to do. Instead of going out and playing and using my instincts," he said.

But that's just one of many Scott Skiles' weapons of the day. Ben Gordon, who started in place of the suspended Chris Duhon, also helped with 20 points against Tim Duncan's Spurs. "All in all, they just outplayed us," Duncan said. "They're a good defensive ball club, very good at rotating." Good enough to limit the Spurs to 87 points, who are currently scoring 98.8 PPG, and hold them to 39.5 percent shooting.

After missing the last game on a suspension, Andres Nocioni aided the Bulls with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He also had an impressive 3 point shot, followed by another 3 point shot from Thabo Sefolosha, to give the Bulls an 83-69 lead in the fourth quarter.

Luol Deng respectively contributed 17 points against San Antonio. He's currently scoring 18 PPG and has a FG% of .533.
The Bulls are fighters, and they want to win. Even though they're coming off consecutive wins against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Spurs, the Bulls did lose 5 out of 6 games prior to that. They need to keep winning. Hopefully they can put together a good 10 game winning streak to possibly gain the lead in the Eastern Conference. How about a 20 game winning streak? Eh! Let's just take it one game at a time.

Dear Illinois Basketball Program,

2007-01-15T12:49:00.000-06:00

We noticed your recent second-half collapse against Michigan State. We also noticed it seems to be a bit of a pattern. Your team had trouble holding on to half-time leads versus Maryland, Michigan, and Xavier prior to this game. In order to have a good chance at making the NCAA tournament we reckon a winning conference record would look great on your resume. To that end (that end being a 9-7 conference record) your team would need to go 8 and 4 the rest of the season. Not to say that is an impossible task, but it certainly looks to be an uphill battle from here. There is a distinct possibility that your squad might miss the BIG DANCE. More is the pity.

However, we are here with some good news. The proverbial silver lining, as it were. Should you find yourselves unable to qualify for MARCH MADNESS, there is another option. US! Us being the NIT. We would love to have you. It might be as fancy as the other event, or have all the games televised. The winner might not be held in very high esteem, or have a yearly video game about it. Still, it isn't like kissing your sister, as some have opined. (Maybe like a second cousin? Is that something you would be okay with?)

In any case, we will be like the girl at the DANCE who isn't really pretty, but is better with a nice dress on and has a fantastic personality. While all the real jocks go with the pretty girls who go all the way, we will wait for the guys who don't want it quite as much. Don't get us wrong. We are wishing you luck. But like that girl, we are secretly hoping you don't get too lucky.

See you in the spring,
The NIT Selection Committee

In The Line Of Fire: Lovie Smith

2007-01-12T14:03:00.000-06:00

There is a team going to the next round after this weekend on the strength of a very good running game, a tight end having a breakout year, and consistently strong play-calling. They will do so despite an erratic quarterback and a defense struggling through injuries. A loss in this game might cost the head coach his job.

Since Mike Holmgren isn't about to lose his job, the team in question is obviously the Chicago Bears. Despite some similarities between the two franchises, the Bears are the clear favorite. Granted, the Seattle Seahawks didn't have a healthy Shaun Alexander the last time they played earlier this season, but do they now? Alexander hasn't looked like the MVP of last year at all this year, coming back from foot problems. Worse still for the Seahawks, the recent signings to the defensive backfield give new meaning to the term journeymen. As in trade worker-style. These guys were one step above the Carlos Mencia bit about the day workers in front of California Home Depots. Good luck in the NFL playoffs your first day at work, fellas.

What does this mean for your beloved hometown team? Don't lose to very recently retired house painters, for one. Brian Urlacher's recent sarcastic comments about the media coverage notwithstanding, it would be foolish to consider the Bears the best 13-3 team ever. Sure, worst is probably an exaggeration, if only because of the difficulty in quantification of said description. Even the most cursory glance of some key statistics paints a...colorful picture.

For instance, the string of three hundred yard plus games the defense has given up. With some key injuries, most notably Tommie Harris up front, and Mike Brown in the DB corp., the Bears have slowly drifted toward NFL defensive mediocrity. Added to that is the midseason Tank Johnson-debacle for distraction-sake.

Another interesting number is 0.0. While this might be good if pulled over for potential D.U.I., it is less good when it is the rating for a team's starting quarterback. At least Rex Grossman was able to explain it afterward as a lack of focus and preparation on his part. An argument might be made that great NFL QB's don't let such situations occur. Even good quarterbacks might have a rating in the fifties every once in great while. Grossman's play is so inconsistent, he might as well tie a string to his waist and get a tattoo on his chest reading Duncan Imperial. Some will say he doesn't have two bad weeks in a row. Some had better hope the bye week wasn't the "up" week.

This all matters because the Bears haven't won a home playoff game in a while. (Cheer up, the Seahawks haven't won a road playoff game in quite a bit either.) It really matters to Lovie Smith because it isn't good to lose in the first playoff game two years in a row. When the team started out hot, fans and many media were decrying the fact that Smith's contract was not being extended, post haste. While it is unlikely that Jerry Angelo had a vision of what was to come, for whatever reason, he did not jump on that bandwagon. Was he/is he waiting to see what happens this post-season? Angelo recently mentioned he was working on an extension for Smith, but unless it is unexpectedly finished (extension signed) before this weekend, nothing is guaranteed for next year. Thus it appears to be a vote of confidence for his head coach, without an actual painting into a corner scenario. As an added bonus of drama, there are the low level rumblings of Smith going home to Texas to coach the Dallas Cowboys. With Jerry Jones emphatically stating that Terrell Owens will be back next year it is not emphatic that Bill Parcells will be back to coach. Furthermore, both defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, and offensive coordinator Ron Turner are getting mentions for replacing the many head coaching positions already available. What better time to leave than when all your best assistants have gotten promotions outside your current organization?

Will Coach Smith pull a flailing Grossman before all hope is gone if need be? Will the defense stop somebody? Can Smith survive another earlier departure from the playoffs? Will it depend on the How or the Why of such a loss? Would it be another Grossman-fueled turnover fest? Alexander running for a hundred and sixty? The defensive line failing to get pressure on Matt Hasselbeck, who without said pressure has the ability to pick even very good defenses apart? If, indeed, Grossman falters, and the change to Brian Griese is not made, might that one particular decision spell the end of the Lovie Smith era in Chicago? Should it? If Griese does come in, but does poorly will that excuse Smith with an "at least he tried" attitude? If the Bears lose to an undermanned, somewhat undertalented, already once beaten Seahawks team in any fashion, is there any excuse Bears fans, or probably more importantly, Bears management will accept? Again, should there be?

There are only so many shots at the big game in the modern NFL. If a team can't take advantage of the chances they have when they have them, there are seldom many places that are looked at for blame beside the head coach position. Smith certainly seems like a good head coach. It will be interesting to see if the Bears should fail to advance; can he overcome the possible demand for his job? Bears fans hope they don't find out.

That's all for now.
Until next time, be good.

More National Pastime:Still not NASCAR

2007-01-11T14:27:00.000-06:00

This is a second round involving a first sporting love, baseball. The last column gave short shrift to a continuing controversy that is always bubbling just below the surface...until the pressure is too much and a new eruption bursts forth. This speaks, of course, to the eternal debate about wet-tarp sliding. Oh, wait; steroids, yeah, steroids.
Somewhat overshadowing the achievements of Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn was the babble of Mark McGwire's chances at The Hall and why those chances stand where they do. Resisting the urge initially, it cannot be restrained any longer.
So why is McGwire's case so important? The answer is that it stands as the acid test for the "known" steroid/performance-enhancer users who might find themselves at the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME's doorstep and don't want to buy a ticket and stand in line to get in. McGwire might be the first of his "generation" but he certainly will not be the last. At least not as long as anyone can say Barry Bonds.

Let alone Sammy Sosa. Interesting that he was traded from the White Sox because he was a speed guy, not a good hitter (considering that he was dealt for a very fading George Bell).
What a coincidence that Sosa was caught with a corked bat AFTER the waft of steroid rumor had begun to float. Invited by an SI writer to go with him to take a drug test, Sosa shrank (or not, as the case may be) from the challenge.

Inevitably, nothing with the word steroids in it can go without some expounding upon the poster fool for performance enhancement, Ben Johnson. No, not really, it's the aforementioned Mr. Bonds. With his "flaxseed oils" and ever-increasing cranial cavity, his protests will likely fall on deaf ears. What is interesting is how his apologists will claim that his numbers before his homerun spiked run would still get him in easily. That, in an of itself, is highly debatable. The funny part of the joke is that the apologists essentially acknowledge that Bonds did become a cheat, but as if he were two separate people (half as unnecessarily bitter or twice the jerk?) they feel his career is not connected from one year to another, and as such should be judged first half and second half. If that were a valid way to approach the matter, how many players had promising but interrupted careers due to silly reasons like fighting in World War II, for instance. "Hey, not fair, they were off getting shot at and literally saving the world. If their numbers go up it's because they have fresh legs."

Also, please, please, everyone, reject the moronic Ty Cobb argument that is used to defend other idiots' chances of Hall-of-Fame-ing. Yes, Cobb was a murderer, racist, thug, and all around jerk. Yes, in a perfect world he wouldn't be in The Hall. Saying that other cheats, addicts, or assorted miscreants should get in because he did is ridiculous stance, sorry. Such a view is akin to those who say that all the other drugs should be legalized because alcohol and tobacco are. Show some restraint, draw a line, and get a grip.

Worry about guys that are far more deserving without the taint of...whatever. A player like Andre Dawson was a great right fielder, or a guy like Alan Trammell, who will be perenially overlooked, should get in well ahead of cheats like Mac, Sosa, or Albert "Corked Bat" Belle. Not to mention the relief guys that continue to get overlooked. There shouldn't even be much debate.

Is it fair that not all the cheats get caught? Of course not. Are the all the cheats ever caught? In any facet of society? No. Do we cheer on the thieves and thugs in other walks of life? Just sports. Why is that? Do we as a society invest too much into these empty idols to admit to ourselves when the idols fail? As a fan of baseball it is hard to keep ingesting the slop being fed as excuses for behavior no normal adult would toloerate from their own child. When players fail to live up to even lowered expectations it is up to the fans to take the sport back to it's foundation to clean up the mess. Reward only the players with the least to disbelieve, maybe? Like politics, fans get what they vote for; in this case the voting is done with hard earned dollars. Expect more from the players. Ask for more from the executives. Most importantly, demand more from Baseball.

Sorry, can't have a picture every time.
Until next time, be good.

Futbal That Could've Been

2007-01-11T12:16:00.000-06:00

The British Invasion is happening all over again.

Seems Mr. Posh Spice, David Beckham, has rejected Real Madrid's contract offer and has accepted a deal from the MLS's L.A. Galaxy.

Being the Chicago fan that I am and living a scant few miles from Toyota Field, when I first read Mr. Beckham was coming to America, I was honestly hoping the guys in Bridgeview would have a chance to sign the man a movie was named after.

And a beauty like Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham inhabiting our environs would be a major boost to ego that is the grit and grime of the industrial corridor of the southwest side. A Spice Girl comes to Burbank! What a tale! I could imagine sweeping her off her feet and sitting her down to a lush meal of Durbin's Pizza followed by some serious pillow talk at Charn's Motel and maybe a trip to the waste water treatment gardens in Worth. Maybe we'd enjoy a walk around the pond next to the Little Red Schoolhouse, a slide down the snowy hill at the Hickory Hills park district and a night cap taken in at Frenzel's Pub.

How could she not fall in love with those wonderful south side destinations.

And if it's class she really wants, well then, there's always Polekatz strip club and the Sybaris!

But alas, my dream faded when I read that Mr. Posh signed with Los Angeles, that city teeming with sunshine and all the beautiful people. And rich ones too.

By the way, did I mention he signed a 5 year deal for -- get this outrageousness -- $250 million dollars!

Take your money and run, Mr. Soccer-man. We'll keep our blue collar roots in tact without you, and pray for a glimpse of your wife when you visit Bridgeview next season.

Maybe I can sell t-shirts in the parking lot; all the little girls love David Beckham.

National Pastime: NO, not NASCAR.

2007-01-10T11:47:00.000-06:00

The ballots for the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME are in and
counted. Not surprisingly, Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn both
went in on their first attempt. Also not surprisingly, to people
with brains everywhere, neither went in with every ballot. The great thing about these two players is the types of players that each represents. In Ripken's case, it is that he personifies the work ethic. Obviously any player can be stopped short by a
devastating injury. The modern day player isn't always so choosy,
however. Add to that careful. How many times have you heard
about a player sitting out with some obscure rib cage muscle pull?
Even better, falling, flipping, or otherwise failing to stay on a motorcycle? For Gwynn, well, he epitomizes the contact hitter. Pay attention kids, because there was a time when there was value in a guy who could spray singles and doubles around the yard with some skill and regularity. Ever hear of Rod Carew? The only 'juice' Tony Gwynn was ever on might have been a beef sandwich on which he sat down.

Speaking of juice...What a tragedy that Mark McGwire didn't get voted in on the first ballot. He might not have wanted to talk about the past in front of Congress, but the voters didn't forget about his past.

There are, of course, others for whom a case could be made for induction. These include (but are not limited to) Andre Dawson, Jim Rice, Harold Baines(well mostly just White Sox fans), and the walking paternity suit, Steve Garvey. Dawson will most likely get in next year primarily due to his time as an Exposition, his Cubs career notwithstanding. Rice will get in next year, not sooner because he was not considered reporter-friendly.

The most interesting players not voted in are two relievers, former White Sock Rich Gossage, and former Cub (and sleeping giant) Lee Smith. Why interesting? Because in the modern era of baseball, when every situation, every job is micromanaged to death, all everybody (most especially baseball writers) complains about in baseball is the lack of relief pitching. So who did the Hall of Fame voters (baseball writers!) leave out? Possibly two of the best. Granted Smith took a nap until the bullpen phone rang for him. All he did was take the ball an amass more than four hundred saves. Many for the Cubs (yet nobody called him Sisyphus, odd...). As for Gossage; Billy Martin would say he was the best he had, so why get beat with someone else? Gossage would proceed to go out and pitch two, three innings at a time with great success. Don't worry, Baseball Writers of America, everyone loves a hypocrite.

Guess that is all for now. The picture? What; a guy can't like sunsets?
Until next time, be good.

Medieval Answer to a Modern Problem

2007-01-10T09:47:00.000-06:00

The balls of the world are taking quite a bit of abuse lately.

First Duke PG Ron Paulus gets tea-bagged in a game against Virginia Tech.

Then, if you haven't heard yet, a former Colorado high school boy's basketball coach, Greg Lynn Burr, has been arrested on charges of sexual assault for, among other things, hitting his students in the testicles, some even to the point of needing medical attention. His attacks were coupled with showing some students porn and dowsing them with cold water before driving them to high school games with the windows down. As one student described, his favorite joke was...

"What is the capital of Thailand?" When they would answer, "Bangkok," he would hit them in the groin.

Aside from being a plain old asshole, you'd think he'd come up with a better joke than that.

Finally and completely unrelated comes word that some people are having issues with the football used on the fumbled snap by Dallas Cowboy QB and place kick holder Tony Romo.

Back around 1998 the NFL's competition committee decreed that kickers and punters would no longer be allowed to doctor the balls prior to using them during the game. It seems some of the kicking fraternity were rubbing and buffing and possibly even cooking their balls in an effort to enhance the lengths of their kicks. Kicker Mitch Berger of the Minnesota Vikings had a record 40 touchbacks the season prior to the change. After the institution of the new rules, he had 16 touchbacks. Maybe there was something to the story.

But watching the play that essentially ended the Cowboys' season, one couldn't help but wonder if the slickness of the ball, called a K-Ball, didn't play a part in Romo's botched placement. Even from a seat in front of the television some 2000 miles away, I could see that the ball was different. It was so shiny in fact that Romo could have seen his own reflection between the laces on the pigskin.

Ron Paulus' love affair with sniffing other guys balls I can't help, but I have one solution to the second two problems. Have Mr. Burr be forced to use his nut-sack as a pregame or sideline practice tee so the kickers can kick a little wear and tear into the footballs. If they're good kickers, Mr. Burr can breathe a little easier. If he's Mike Vanderjagt, well Mr. Burr, welcome to Bill Parcell's nightmare.

How's that for a punishment fitting the crime?

Bears 13 wins, Bulls 2 games out

2007-01-09T06:52:00.000-06:00

When Mr. James Nordberg Jr. told me he had created a sports blog called, "Fleece the Pig, Flog the Pony," I was definitely interested in reading it. So, I proceeded to do so. Little did I know, it was a CHICAGO sports blog, with CHICAGO sport fans, that are CHICAGO CUB haters, and are generally Chicago White Sox fans. I do stress the generally, because I wouldn't want to put the dis on my only Cub buddy on this blog, (ChicagoCubbin). I am a diehard Chicago sports fan, (except for the White Sox of course). So naturally, I took it upon myself to ask Mr. Nordberg if I can be a part of this blog.

Chicago is a wonderful sports city to live in. We have the Cubs, the Bulls, the Bears, the Blackhawks, the Fire, and the Sox. Personally, I'd rather watch 2 flies getting it on, then enjoy a Sox win, but that's beside the point. Are we spoiled? I believe so, but being spoiled as opposed to not having a competitive town, is a great thing. Not to mention, the food is outstanding compared to other major cities in the U.S.! That's always a PLUS!!!

But baseball fans, listen up! We need to focus on the sports we have in Chicago right now. The Cubs and the Sox are irrelevant to the playoff Bears for one. We have the Bears going to the playoffs again for the second straight year. Is that not a good reason to be excited? Even though their defense carried them most of the way, the Bears found ways to win 13 games this year. Yes it looks like Grossman is choking on his own vomit at times, and yes Tank Johnson should keep his ghetto fabulous wanna-be crap in the ghetto where it belongs, but look, the Bears are 13-3!!! 13 wins!!! Division champs two years in a row, best record in the NFC, 2nd best record in the whole NFL? Is that not something to cheer about, even if they weren't accomplishing the next level of stardom? C'mon! Let's cheer for them now, because
we may not have another chance again. Let's hope they can accomplish some playoff victories, even though we Chicago fans should know that the Bears sucked lately! Hey, at least they're there!

Bears playoffs are great, but let's not forget about the Bulls. They are 20-15, only 2 games out of first place in the Central, and only 2 games out of the whole Eastern conference. Not bad huh? They could be like the 76ers and have only 9 wins and are in dead last in the Eastern conference. But, the Bulls are actually a good team. How about Deng? FG% .540, averaging 18 ppg. Not too
shabby, eh?. The kid keeps getting better and better. What do you do when you need a player to step it up? Just Deng it!

Gordon has had some good games too with 20.8 ppg. You've got to like that! He is a bench player folks! That's like getting a bonus on your check, getting free drinks at your local bar, and even getting your burrito for nothing on a good drinking night. That's awesome. Does it sound like Jordan? No way! But let's not treat him like a piece of dog poop, and compare him to the best basketball player to ever live. He can definitely lead the Bulls in scoring on any given game though. That's pretty darn good. Once again, not too shabby, eh?

Nocioni ain't looking too bad either. He has a .400 3p%, 15.6 ppg., and a fg% of .482. That's exciting, yeah? Is there a reason to cheer? Yes! Is there a reason to be mad? Not really.

Just remember, the Bears will step it up in the playoffs on Sunday against Seattle. Trust me, they'll have to. The Bulls are only 2 games out of the lead in the Eastern conference, but they have a pretty good chance to do something this year. They did smoke Detroit, (the #1 team in the east), on Saturday. Not too shabby, eh? Yeah, I know the answer.

Writers and Their Ruses

2007-01-08T14:05:00.000-06:00

I hate media controversies. When writers complain about other writers' choices of topics or subject matter, it's like fingernails grating down a chalkboard. Of course I have advocated the neutering of Jay Mariotti's word processor in the past, so I'm not completely innocent of the charge either.

But now comes the Daily Southtown's Paul Ladewski and his absurd baseball Hall of Fame ballot, and I just can't keep silent. He submitted a blank ballot in what he called a test to provide further evidence that the steroid era in baseball wasn't a charade as it concerns first ballot nominees Cal Ripken, Jr., and Tony Gwynn. He says he wants to wait a year or two in case more evidence is uncovered in the ongoing steroid investigations.

But a closer reading of his column explaining his actions reveals a deeper, more hidden agenda:

"Besides, what makes Gwynn and Ripken so special that they deserve to be unanimous selections?
Walter Johnson, Cy Young and Honus Wagner didn't receive such Hall passes. Neither did Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. In fact, nobody has in the history of the game.

Based on the standards set by the Hall of Fame voters decades ago, is there a neutral observer out there who can honestly say Gwynn and Ripken should be afforded an unprecedented honor?"

Is Mr. Ladewski's real problem all the talk about Ripken and Gwynn possibly being unanimous inductees? And is his abstaining from voting on the grounds of possible steroid use just a ruse to hide his indefensible position of not wanting them to have an honor that Ruth, Gehrig and Williams never received?

If steroids were really the question, couldn't he find a few more worthy candidates whose service time didn't conflict with the so-called Steroid Era of 1993-2004?

Say a Jim Rice, perhaps? Or Bert Blyleven? Or maybe even an Andre Dawson?

To summarily reject all Hall of Fame candidates based on his disdain for the possibility of cheating would mean removal from Cooperstown of known spitball pitchers, George Brett and his pine-tar bat, and anyone who may or may not have used a corked bat from time to time. Show me a player from the late '70s to the late '90s who doesn't fall under that cloud of suspicion.

My suspicion is that he just didn't like the idea of anyone being unanimously voted in, but maybe Ladewski's blank ballot was just a political statement on the Steroid Era of baseball. However, if that's truly the case, will he abstain from voting until any and all players from the same era are no longer eligible for the Hall of Fame? Will he turn in a blank ballot next year too? If that's the case, he'll be waiting a long time before he ever votes again.

(Editor's note: In the interest of full disclosure, the Daily Southtown is the one newspaper I actually receive each morning on my porch, and prior to his last column, I'd always considered Mr. Ladewski to be a capable and diligent writer which makes this recent admission and submission that much harder to comprehend.)

In Case You Forgot...

2007-01-08T12:07:00.000-06:00

There's kind of a big game tonight.

It involves one team from Big Ten country and one team from south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Both teams are previous champions, and both teams have been at or near the top of their respective conferences this season.

One team has the better all-around game, while the other team boosts a couple individual superstars.

One team destroyed the defending champions, while the other team has survived in the toughest division around.

One team seems to always play from ahead, while the other team seems to always rally from behind.

Both teams are coached by men who preach defense, ball control and aren't afraid to slug it out.

One team wants respect, while the other team just wants a little payback.

Of course I'm talking about the Bulls vs. Rockets tonight at the United Center.

Who'd you think I was talking about? A couple silly college football teams?

Oh, there is that BCS Championship thingy tonight too.

My prediction: OSU 31 Florida 17

But more importantly: Bulls 108 Rockets 98

Weekend Update with Fleece & Flog

2007-01-07T21:48:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday, critters, and welcome to the first official weekend recap for 2007. For those living in water-logged -- as opposed to frozen solid -- Chicago, hopefully your perennials haven't started blooming and the maple tree in your front yard hasn't started producing buds. For those in warmer climes, screw you, your suntan and your fruity drink with the little umbrella in it. For those of you in colder climes, ha-ha ha ha-ha! The sports news here in the City of Big Shoulders wasn't what it could have been but it wasn't a complete disaster either.

The team that plays on ice reverted to it's losing ways, dumping a few turds in losing to the Nashville Predators on Friday night, 3-8, and the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday, 2-4. The Blackhawks have now lost three in a row and five out of their last six, and the honeymoon is officially over for Denis Savard. Hopefully he enjoyed that Manager of the Year award from Fleece & Flog because 4 for the last 49 on the power play means he may be stripped, tarred and feathered faster than a Chicago lane change on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Martin Havlat missed the last two games with a pulled groin, and captain Adrian Aucoin was a healthy scratch on Sunday. But in good news, 38 year-old Peter Bondra scored again. There's no truth, however, to the rumors that Dale Tallon tried to talk Bobby Hull out of retirement.
In Bears news and in a bit of odd irony, for the second straight season the Bears face an opponent they dominated in the regular season: the Seattle Seahawks. NFL flavor of the month, Cowboys QB Tony Romo, proved that men and moisturizing do not go hand in hand when the game winning field goal attempt slipped thru his hands. In other Bears news, Rex Grossman was NOT intercepted this weekend and Tank Johnson could only bring a knife to a gun fight.
The Cubs still suck. In other news, Lou Pinella was seen cavorting with Larry Brown.
In White Sox news, on Friday starting SS Juan Uribe said he may not play in 2007 due to a Dominican Republic judge ordering him to make mandatory twice monthly appearances in court. On Saturday afternoon, Sox GM Kenny Williams issued a statement saying if Juan Uribe was unavailable, Alex Cintron would take his place in the lineup. Saturday night, Juan Uribe said he WILL be available to play for the White Sox in 2007. On Sunday, negotiations were started between the accuser in the Uribe case and Sox management to frame Scott Podsednik for the Kennedy assassination since there seems to be no other way to get rid of Pods.
In local college basketball news, the Illini (12-5, 0-2) suffered their worst home loss in 31 years by losing 62-44 to the best team money can buy, the Ohio State Buckeyes, despite Greg Oden's 3 of 12 shooting from the field. Taking in the game first hand, Isiah Thomas was seen crying in a corner after passing John Paxson somewhere in the bowels of Assembly Hall.
In other college basketball news, DePaul (10-6, 1-1) went on the road to Philadelphia and defeated Villanova 73-65 for its first Big East win. Nice win, but just how far have the Blue Demons fallen off the map of Chicago sports? Even if Sammy Mejia were to wear a name tag, he'd be mistaken for Sammy Sosa -- ON HIS OWN CAMPUS!
Lastly, the Bulls split back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday losing 91-86 on the road to the New Jersey Nets then pummeling the Detroit Pistons 106-89 at the United Center. Friday night after squandering a 18-0 lead to the Nets, coach Scott Skiles' News Years resolution to stay off the wacky-tobaccy went the way of the 8-track and the Yugo. No word on whether Skiles' man crush Chris Duhon joined him for the festivities or was too busy hitting on short Asian chicks. On Saturday night former Piston Ben Wallace was greeted by his former teammates all wearing headbands. The Body then turned green, ripped off his warm-ups, and gnawed off Detroit coach Flip Saunders' arm. Rasheed Wallace also received a technical for smiling at a Luv-a-Bull, and the Bulls stopped a twelve game losing streak at the UC to the Pistons. On Sunday Luol Deng, shooting 64.7% in his last five games, sunk all twelve of his shots shooting his laundry at the washing machine. Even domestic chores have no chance against Luol right now.
One more note: D.T. Kelly is finally out of hibernation and has updated his Sports Page. He's decided to focus more solely on the White Sox and as such has renamed it "The Exploding Pinwheel". I've updated the side link so check it out when you can!

More Cubby Madness

2007-01-07T06:56:00.000-06:00

I have a soft spot in my heart for my friends. No matter what their faults may be, I just can't seem to let them go.

Take for instance the newest "new guy" here at Fleece & Flog: Cubby_Dog. He's an unabashed and extremely loyal Cubs fan.

And yes, before everyone jumps down this Sox fan's throat, I know that's TWO Cubs fans to three Sox fans here. I know the ratio is decreasing. I know my Sox-cred has reached critical mass. Two tears in a bucket...

But despite his major character flaw in being a Cubs fan, he'll be the only guy at Fleece & Flog to completely have my back when it comes to all other major sports. Yes, his Cub love runs deep, but he's crazy about his Bulls, loves cold steel on ice, and can do the best Steve Fuller dance in the Super Bowl Shuffle since, well, Steve Fuller. Oh, and he's a Notre Dame fan -- huge, huge brownie points from me for that.

He's a Chicago guy thru and thru and that means he can take Chris Farley's place at the Super Fans table any day.

So Fleece & Flog fans, give him a hearty welcome, and White Sox fans give him a mighty middle finger. You know, the one with the 2005 World Series ring on it.

2007: The Year of the Flying V

2007-01-04T15:28:00.000-06:00

For me, the start of 2007 is about 5 hours too heavy. At least for the purposes of this post, the year 2007 started at 7:15 PM on December 31, 2006. Why, you ask? Well, at about that time Robbie Gould was kicking a football to the return man for the Green Bay Packers, and a few minutes later, the Flying V was on.

The Flying V (not the guitar pictured to the left, it's just a non sequitur) is that little reaction your gut gets every time a play by your favorite sports team goes awry. It's that dry heave you feel when a hometown batter strikes out with the bases loaded and trailing with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. It's that stomach jerk you feel when a goalie gives up a sudden death overtime goal to an arch rival. It's the sour stink that rumbles thru your olfactory nerves after the gut punch that is missing a game winning field goal.

Scott Norwood knows all about it, as do most of the denizens of Buffalo, New York. And the Flying V appeared in mass quantities mere seconds after the T.V. announcer uttered those famous words, "Wide right!"

Yes, the Flying V is ubiquitous in sports, professional and amateur. Some athletes and even fans acquire the syndrome pregame, some feel its wrath while in play, but most enjoy -- in a William Wallace purged by pain way -- its grip and hold shortly after the final buzzer sounds.

And this first four days of 2007, I've experienced the Flying V in all its gory glory.

Bears vs. Packers. Bulls vs. Suns. Notre Dame vs. LSU.

The appearance of the Flying V at the Bears/ Packers mess was a little unexpected. After all, the game was meaningless -- even for the Packers. Whether the Bears won or lost, their fate was sealed, and I thought I could sit and watch the game in relative comfort and without the aid of some TUMS or Rolaids. But when Rex Grossman decides to relive the Arizona, Miami and New England game ALL IN ONE HALF, and his backup decided to end any controversy by making Kyle Orton look like a better option, the Flying V is bound to find its mark. And in two weeks, when the Bears take the field for their playoff game, the Flying V will undoubtedly be present.

As for the Notre Dame/ LSU beat down (I will get to the Bulls vs. Suns later), not many people were giving the Golden Child, St. Charles and the Caucasian wide receiver much of a chance, but the loyalty invested in a college football team runs deeper than the San Andreas fault and a magnetism drew my hand to the remote control to suffer what was sure to be another appearance of the Flying V.

I wasn't disappointed.

14-0 at the end of the 1st quarter, a missed FG, a turnover and a momentum killing drive late in the 2nd quarter was all this ND fan needed to feel the stinging wrath of the Flying V. Halftime presented me an opportunity to escape the Flying V's clutches -- a diversion, a trip to bountiful -- and I took it, spared the walls of the viewing room any more abuse, and retired to a restaurant without an idiot box.

Not long enough.

Upon my return, idiot turns idiot box back on. Commercial. First jerk of the Flying V. Another commercial. Anchovy-laden stomach lurches a little more. Bingo. Scoreboard. 34-14. Return of the Flying V in all his olive and green pepper glory. Bathroom. Porcelain god. Good night. Winner: 2007's Flying V.

I take the case of the Flying V associated with the Bulls vs. Suns very seriously for it was the worst form of the entity -- the sudden, gripping malignancy that accompanies any groin shot. That night, that dastardly dirty Tuesday night the Bulls were on their way to ascending to the conference throne. They were even captain-less and still they were playing cat and mouse with the highest scoring team in the NBA. They controlled the tempo, passed the ball like the immortal team from Hickory, and had their own Jimmy Chitwood knocking down shot after shot after shot.

But the 2007 Flying V wouldn't let this night be. No, he turned January 3rd into the next January 1st, better known as National Hangover Day. And as Leandro Barbosa is raising up for his game winning three pointer, in unison the Flying V is rising up in my throat, bringing with it all its Miller Lite and Black Haus badness to remind me that I have no control over the sickness. I have no ability to stop the madness that is the 2007 Flying V, and he's gonna be around all year long.

Yes, that night I realized I'm in for some grave disappointments this season. Will it be the Bears losing it Super Bowl? Will it be another first round playoff exit for the Bulls? Who knows. What I do know is that the 2007 will be the Year of the Flying V, and I'm helpless to stop it. Who knows, maybe it's even warning me of a Cubs World Series win to be.

Me and my damn queasy stomach.

Goodbye 2006! Hello 2007!

2007-01-02T13:34:00.000-06:00

I've always hated Year in Review stories that were published or printed or broadcast before December 31st of the year being reviewed. Generally, these kind of stories run the week between Christmas and New Years, and I was always worried that something B-I-G happening would be left out of the festivities. It reminds me of how my old high school yearbooks always used to wrap some spring events from the previous school year into a yearbook that had nothing to do with that year; my freshman yearbook has all these pictures of people I never saw walk the halls at my school.

We at Fleece & Flog have decided to wait until 2006 was completely laid to rest before having our first ever "Year in Review" post. Me and the guys take a look back at the year in Chicago sports stories and have no reason to think we missed anything since it's now 2007. Also included are some minor prognostications for 2007 in the hopes that this year outshines the last, and we can always revisit the silliness that a "Cubs will win the 2007 World Series" vision provides and make fun of the guy (ChicagoCubbin, maybe?) who made such an outrageous claim.

So as our first post of 2007, here's our look back at 2006.

2006 Chicago Professional Team of the Year:

James: Chicago Rush: Arena League Champions! (Sorry, Jeeves, but the Fire weren't the only team to win a championship in Chicago in 2006.)
Jeeves: Chicago Fire. They are the only team to bring home a championship to Chicago, bringing in the US Cup, but if they're not considered enough of a pro team, I gotta say Da Bears. They've locked up the best record in the NFC and have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl.
ChicagoCubbin: Bears
Soxually Repressed: The Bulls gave eventual champs Miami all the could handle earlier in the playoffs.

College Team of the Year in Chicago (the whole Big Ten counts too):

James: Bradley basketball. Led by big man Patrick O'Bryant, they made a nice run during March Madness.
Jeeves: Ohio State (although it kills me to say it.) They're in a position to win the NCAA Football championship, and have to be considered co-favorites with Wisconsin for the Big Ten title in basketball.
ChicagoCubbin: Ohio State
Soxually Repressed: Hint: They had a very good year against mostly crummy teams, had a Heisman hopeful, and lost the last game they played in California. Answer: N.I.U. What does another LOCAL team match those criteria? BIG TEN team? Even if Ohio State loses, they probably get the nod.

White Sox of the Year:

James: Jermaine Dye, hands down. At one point, he was the leading AL MVP candidate.
Jeeves: Jermaine Dye. He's our MVP, hands down.
ChicagoCubbin: Jon Garland
Soxually Repressed: Joe Crede. Had a Gold Glove robbed from him, saving Reinsdorf money at the negotiation table.

Cub of the Year:

James: Carlos Zambrano. Despite cramps from surfing the net -- and possibly pole stroking -- he was the only Cub with any real emotion or desire on the team.
Jeeves: I honestly couldn't say.
ChicagoCubbin: Zambrano
Soxually Repressed: Carlos Zambrano. If he's the first player a non-Cub fan thinks of, before the third-baseman who shows up after the manager give up on the season, it is a good indication of his importance. (Hello run-on sentence.)

Blackhawk of the Year:

James: Martin Havlat is the most dominating player on the Blackhawks, and when he was injured, it showed in the win column.
Jeeves: The 'Hawks have been an utter disappointment in pretty much all areas. Martin Havlat represented hope during the first 13 games of the season before getting hurt. Those 13 games represent the most impressive and productive of any player, including Bulin Wall's recent hot stretch, so for that reason alone he gets my nod in a category void of legitimate contenders.
ChicagoCubbin: Denis Savard
Soxually Repressed: When in doubt in hockey, pick the goalie. If he's hurt, pick the leading scorer. If he's hurt, pick a top defenseman. If he's hurt, credit the coach. If he's been fired,(it is hockey after all), blame the owner. When blaming the owner see the 'Worst Owner' question.

Bull of the Year:

James: Kirk Hinrich. Anytime a player gets to play on the Team USA, he's usually are doing something right. He's the catalyst on the fastest rising team in the NBA.
Jeeves: Andres Nocioni. Benny G was too up and down, and Noc absolutely carried us in the playoffs.
ChicagoCubbin: Ben Gordon
Soxually Repressed: Luol Nocioni or Andres Deng, take your pick.

Bear of the Year:

James: Brian Urlacher, although maybe he should be disqualified for having a Jordan-like consistency.
Jeeves: Urlacher. The face of the defense and the franchise. His effort alone in the Cardinals game will always stand out to me. I'll never forget how he just ripped the ball away from Edge.
ChicagoCubbin: Urlacher
Soxually Repressed: The portrait of consistency (at least ON the field) B. Urlacher.

Fire Player of the Year:

James: Yeah, like I know anything about soccer. I leave this one for Jeeves to answer.
Jeeves: Justin Mapp. He was the man that linked the defense in the offense, and knew just the right time to push up or drop back. It was really a breakout year for him.
ChicagoCubbin: I refrain from answering this question due to the fact that there is only one recognized fire in Chicago history and that nearly ruined the whole town.
Soxually Repressed: When in doubt, in Futbol, pick the goalie. If you still care, move to any other country beside maybe Canada.

College Player of the Year in Chicago:

James: Brady Quinn is the golden boy and even made a token appearance at the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan, but "the Shark" Jeff Samardzija deserves this award because he not only became the all-time greatest WR in Notre Dame history, he pitched for the Cubs' class A minor league farm teams Boise and Peoria. Oh, and did I mention that he's a huge White Sox fan? That'll always win you awards at Fleece & Flog.
Jeeves: (Again, ew) Troy Smith.
ChicagoCubbin: Brady Quinn
Soxually Repressed: LOCAL: Heisman hopeful Garret Wolfe

Game of the Year in Chicago:

James: I have a few I'd like to nominate. Of course Da Bears vs. Arizona and the Monday night miracle! That night Denny Green uttered a sound bite destined to remain in the Chicago (and national) lexicon for eternity, but it was also the most fun I've ever had watching a non-playoff game at the pub.

Secondly, the Bulls season opening 42 point blow out of the defending champion Miami Heat led to more than one or two drunken howls at the moon that Halloween evening.
Jeeves: Cardinals vs. Bears
ChicagoCubbin: Bears/Arizona
Soxually Repressed: OSU-UM Best Series/playoff: Bulls vs. Miami Heat.

Manager/Coach of the Year in Chicago:

James: Denis Savard. (Yes, above Scott Skiles and Lovie Smith.) Since taking over for Trent Yawney, he's vaulted the Blackhawks near .500 this late in the season for the first time in a decade. Charlie Weis is a close 2nd.
Jeeves: Ron Rivera
ChicagoCubbin: Lovie Smith
Soxually Repressed: Skiles got his team the farthest.

Worst Player(s) of the Year in Chicago:

James: Scott Podsednik and the demons in his head. Tim Thomas getting paid NOT to play.
Jeeves: Tim Thomas
ChicagoCubbin: Tank Johnson/ let the team down
Soxually Repressed: Maybe Podsednik isn't THE worst, but he's the most memorably, consistently bad.

Worst owner/ manager in Chicago:

James: Maybe Bill Wirtz wins the lifetime achievement version of this award, but Dusty Baker wins the 2006 version for being as clueless as a Jay Mariotti column about sports.
Jeeves: Wirtz
ChicagoCubbin: Dusty Baker
Soxually Repressed: Baker took a team with some talent and after one (albeit good) player went down used it as an excuse to throw in the towel way early in the season. Essentially told twenty-four other guys they sucked too much to win anything. Buttermaker was better.

Biggest 2006 Chicago knucklehead(s):

James: Michael Barret and his weak ass right cross. Tank Johnson thinking Gurnee is a good place for a weapons depot.
Jeeves: Tank Johnson. Weakening an already weak (relatively speaking) run defense could kill Chicago's Super Bowl hopes.
ChicagoCubbin: Javier Vazquez implodes in the 6th all the time
Soxually Repressed: If it isn't Tank Johnson, how screwed up is the yutz that beat him out?

Biggest blunder by a 2006 Chicago team:

James: Ozzie continuing to start Rob Mackowiak in CF, Cubs sticking with the notorious toothpick killer, Dusty Baker, for the whole season. Where are the tree huggers when you need them?
Jeeves: The Cubs depending on a healthy Prior and Wood.
ChicagoCubbin: Sox miss playoffs
Soxually Repressed: Cubs not firing Baker sooner. Like last year.

Best and Worst free agent signing/ trade involving any Chicago team:

James: Best: Martin Havlat, Ben Wallace, Jim Thome (for half a season at any rate.) Worst: Javy Vazquez and all his 6th inning gory, Juan Pierre, Jacque Jones and his love affair with Chicago in general.
Jeeves: Best: Kirk Hinrich. Bargain price for one of the better point guards in the league. Worst: Jason Marquis. He's essentially getting paid for once decent year.
ChicagoCubbin: Worst: Ted Lilly Best: Alfonso Soriano
Soxually Repressed: Best:At the time; Sox trading for Thome. Worst:Now; trading away a solid centerfielder in A. Rowand.

Favorite sports-related moment of 2006:

James: Three days in late March and early April of ring ceremony, banner raising wonderment at U.S. Cellular Field and the envy my Cubs-fans friends felt.
Jeeves: UCLA beating USC.
ChicagoCubbin: Denny Green comments on the Bears: Crown their asses!
Soxually Repressed: Whatever day the Cubs were officially elimanated from the playoffs; was that May or early June?

Biggest Sports Story of 2006 (national or world):

James: The BALCO/ steroids scandal and grand jury testimony leak which could have much greater implications than just its effects on the MLB, and Terrell Owens hijacks the media at every turn.
Jeeves:
ChicagoCubbin: T.O. suicide
Soxually Repressed: Locally, the Tank Johnson debacle. Nationally, out of many to choose from, a good one, if not the best, George Mason's advance in the college hoops tournament.

2006 Chicago story you're most sick of/ over reported:

James: The Ozzie Guillen vs. Jay Mariotti war of words.
Jeeves: Headband-gate and the BCS.
ChicagoCubbin: Rex Grossman’s poor play
Soxually Repressed: Urlacher is overrated stories. Anyone who cares or pays attention should be made to repeat the eighth grade until they learn the other kids are just saying mean words, but words can't hurt.

Current player(s) you'd most like not playing in Chicago in 2007:

James: Scott Podsednik -- but his wife can stay. Lisa, call me!
Jeeves: Scott Podsednik (ha!)
ChicagoCubbin: Rex Grossman
Soxually Repressed: Please trade, waive, cut, ship to a foriegn land for a sack of fungo bats Scott Podsednik.

Next Chicago athlete(s) to become a household name:

James: Devin Hester. Athletes wearing the #23 in this town tend to do quite well. Other #23's: Ryne Sandberg, Jermaine Dye, Robin Ventura, Shaun Gayle, and some guy on the Bulls.
Jeeves: I'm assuming outside of the Midwest...Luol Deng.
ChicagoCubbin: Ben Gordon steps up his play. Gordon/ Jordan comparisons rage!
Soxually Repressed: D. Wade already has a commercial with Barkley (who bizarrley has his own homage-named band).

Best athlete from Chicago not playing for a Chicago team:

James: Sure, Dwyane Wade can say he won with Shaq and schmoozed with Sir Charles, but let's look past the media darling and find a more worthy candidate. How about 2006 Olympic speed skating gold medalist and south side native Shani Davis? Sure he might have sabotaged his teammates chances at a relay gold medal by not participating in the event, but damn, if this isn't about individual accomplishments. Can Dwyane Wade say he earned a gold medal? Nope, he only earned a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2006.
Jeeves: D-Wade. Led the heat to the championship.
ChicagoCubbin: Wade, obviously
Soxually Repressed: Well...D. Wade won a championship in his sport before Jordan won his, and he has that funny spot with Barkley previously mentioned, AND he did play high school ball in the town I live in. Okay, Wade.

Predictions for Chicago Teams in 2007:

James: In chronological order (not order of disappointment), the Chicago Bears lose the Super Bowl when Rex Grossman, down 24-20 late in the 4th quarter, mistakes San Diego Charger Shawne Merriman for TE Desmond Clark and hands him the ball on an attempted double-reverse flea flicker -- his record-tying 5th individual turnover of the game. In the post game interview room, Lovie Smith asks for a police escort to keep Rex's teammates from killing him.

The Chicago Bulls, facing the humility of an All-Star snubbing of the entire team, decide to wear headbands as a sign of team unity. Coach Scott Skiles and GM John Paxson are then forced to suspend the entire team for a game for violating team rules and sign the entire roster of the an NBDL team to 10-day contracts. The team subsequently breaks the record for biggest loss in NBA history as their opponent, the Washington Wizards, outscore the Bulls 245-100. At least the Chicago fans go home with free sandwiches.

The Blackhawks miss the playoffs again, and fans boycott the 2007 home opener. The actual butts-in-seats attendance for game include a few tourists from Japan and a lumberjack from Alberta, Canada who thought he was attending The Great Outdoor Games on Ice.

The Chicago White Sox return to glory and win the 2007 World Series over the...

...the Chicago Cubs, and ChicagoCubbin is forced into posting Siberia as his every post, Cubs-related or not, is subject to vile heckling.

Jeeves: Sox World Series, Bears Super Bowl, Blackhawks 10th in the conference, Cubs fall just short of the wild card, Fire get bounced in the MLS finals. (Yes I'm a homer.)
ChicagoCubbin: Disappointing playoff runs for everyone but the 'Hawks...sorry hockey fans, all two of you
Soxually Repressed: The Sox will play cat and mouse with the Twins for the Central, with Detroit fading like the Sox did this year. The Cubs will regret not getting better pitching, like the Cubs did last year. The Bulls will make the Conference Finals, IF they don't play Detroit before then. The Bears will try VERY hard to resign Briggs, but will probably say goodbye to injury-ridden Mike Brown. Also, both Grossman and Griese will not both start next season on the same team, especially with Grossman starting. Grossman's playoff's will determine his future with the former Decataur Staleys.

Mike Tyson or Martial Arts!

2006-12-29T18:48:00.001-06:00

Today, The most dynamic heavyweight champion boxing ever had, surprised all of us one more time. "Iron" Mike Tyson was arrested today for driving under the influence and cocaine possession. Ok, to anybody who has followed Mr. Tyson's escapades this arrest isn't really a surprise, this man has destroyed himself and is a shell of the champion he used to be. That being said, Tyson's stories are one of the only reasons the casual sports fan even remembers boxing exists.
Lets face it folks the heavyweight division of boxing is dead and gone. There is no more Dempsey, Ali ,or yes even Tyson for us to enjoy. When we look at boxing we see, although talented, small men who pound each other longer than a bad Ron Jeremy movie. Most fights end with two bruised men waiting for a panel of judges to decide their fate. This is not what a true fan wants. We yearn for decisive beatings handed out in short order. We are men, and as men we need carnage and grown men going to sleep from crushing blows, right before our very eyes.
Don't fret men. I have a solution. This great solution is called Ultimate Fighting Championship. I could rattle on and on about how wonderful these contests are, but this isn't a commercial. So here are the facts. This Saturday, the Light Heavyweight Champion of the world Chuck "the Iceman" Liddell will be defending his title in a rematch of a 2004 fight, against Tito Ortiz. The last time these two men battled, Liddell laid a beating on Ortiz in the 2nd round and sent him to Neverland, it was beautiful. Besides this contest the card includes a great bout between Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski and Marcio Cruz.
These contests are as close as we can get to the coliseum in Rome. If you like violence, and who doesn't, this card is the must see fight of the year. So if you got the sack, order up the fight on Saturday and witness a return to a better time. When men actually got in the ring to hurt each other and not dance a waltz.
Oh yeah, the fight is going to cost you about forty bucks. So before you start crying, I thought I might remind of what you spent forty dollars on this year.

1. Cheese

2. Jerky

3. A present for some woman, who didn't even appreciate it!

4. Some ungrateful child.

5. Oil changes

Bottom line You deserve this! Do it for you! Plus it is a great excuse to get all the guys together and get drunk.

It's Blackhawks Time

2006-12-28T12:33:00.000-06:00

The home attendance at a recent Blackhawks game was 17,950 fannies in the seats.

No, Janet Jackson wasn't singing the National Anthem nor was Alanis Morisette singing "O Canada" for the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.

No, some hibernating Blackhawks fans just found out that they're actually winning on west Madison Avenue these days. Since Denis Savard took over head coaching duties, the team is 9-3-3, and is actually a game over .500 at the midway point in the season for the first time in a long time, 16-15-5.

Strangely enough, they're winning without the benefit of a decent power play (12.3%, good for 27th in the league), but with Nikolai Khabibulin not stealing from the 'Hawks coffers anymore, the team can actually be counted on making all the games competitive.

They even beat Marty Turco and the Dallas Stars on Tuesday 2-1, Turco being a goalie who was 11-1-1 against the Blackhawks for his career. The Stars were also 23-13-0 prior to the 'Hawks game, a team currently in front of the Blackhawks for a playoff spot.

Dale Tallon's addition of 500 goal scorer Peter Bondra has helped lift the scoring even if the 'Hawks still don't have a viable answer at Center.

But I'm certainly not the best Blackhawk analyst by any means (my forte being more hoops and baseball), so I'd like to direct your attention once again to the best Blackhawks site around -- WirtzSucks.com -- and its administrator, MrMiller, as he hands out his mid-season grades for the Blackhawks.

Click on the above banner for the jump and enjoy!

Are the Bulls Soft?

2006-12-28T09:32:00.000-06:00

My thoughts on a topic that's gonna be discussed ad nauseum today on sports radio, Sportscenter and sports blogs.

Two incidents dominated yesterday's Bulls / Heat game:

Dwyane Wade injured his wrist, and according to Pat Riley it happened because Kirk Hinrich yanked D-Wade's hand fighting thru screen. Riley, for all intents and purposes, said the play was dirty and goes unnoticed all the time.
James Posey committed a flagrant foul on an airborne and defenseless Luol Deng, leaving Deng writhing in pain while holding his wrist.

Initially the incidents look separate and unrelated. The Wade injury happened before half of the first quarter was over and the Posey flagrant foul happened with about half of the fourth quarter left to play.

But I wonder.

Wade was conspicuously pissed about the wrist. He didn't leave the game right away; while trying to play thru the pain he delivered a shoulder block to the sternum of Andres Nocioni setting a pick for Kirk Hinrich. Olin Kreutz would have been proud of the hit, and Wade was clearly upset. Pat Riley voiced his opinion about the Wade injury after the game:

"Hinrich pulled his hand. Hinrich grabbed his hand, which he does all of the time," Riley said. "That's what he does anytime Dwyane comes off screens. They always either grab his shirt or hand. It's a little bit of a tactic down below the body. The officials can't see it. So he had Dwyane's hand and tried to pull it out of there."

Reading between the lines, Riley was calling the play dirty; he was calling Kirk Hinrich a dirty player. And to a greater extent, by his use of the word 'they,' he was calling all the Bulls defenders dirty. I don't have to remind Bulls fans that this is the man by and large responsible for the mucking up of NBA basketball in the 1990's. He was the architect of the defensive-minded New York Knicks and utilized tough, hard-nosed players like John Starks, Anthony Mason and Xavier McDaniel. Some might go so far as to call those players dirty. Some might go so far as call those players thugs. Some might even go so far as to say Pat Riley specifically used playground tactics in direct opposition to the high-flying style of basketball he once employed as the coach of the 1980's, Magic Johnson-led 'Showtime' L.A. Lakers. So Riley is no stranger to the nuances of dirty play and should be able to call it as he sees it.

But Riley is also no stranger to the psychological side of basketball either, and neither are Bulls fans like myself who can remember clearly the days of Phil Jackson at the Bulls' helm. So when Riley spouts off to the media about dirty play and Kirk Hinrich, he's more than calling attention to perceived dirty play. He's planting a seed in the minds of officials and NBA management to keep an eye on the Chicago Bulls and their style of play.

Obviously the ploy is working for D-Wade; he's second in the league in 10.4 free throw attempts per game, and anyone watching Game 5 of last year's NBA Finals recognizes a referee with instructions to watch out. (This isn't a conspiracy theory in favor of the Miami Heat but acknowledgment after watching thirteen years of MJ play.) As for the Hinrich side of the Riley ploy, Kirk is tied for third in the league amongst all guards at 3.4 fouls per game.

Are Riley's words and Hinrich's fouling related? Maybe, maybe not. But when one of the NBA's pretty boys (a la MJ) and major marketing toys becomes endangered, you better believe the suits will intervene regardless of how much wolf is being cried.

Let's also not forget that Pat Riley is an old school guy. He played during the era of Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier, and in those days no rough foul went unrewarded or without retaliation. So when the opportunity presented itself in a meaningless regular season game to pay back the Bulls for their hard play with superstar and NBA stud D-Wade, should we be surprised that James Posey responded with a flagrant foul?

This isn't James Posey's first run-in with the Bulls either. During last season's playoffs, Posey intentionally blindsided Kirk Hinrich on a Bulls' fast break with a shoulder block; said blindside earned him a one game suspension. Opening night, Halloween 2006, Posey welcomed Bulls' rookie Tyrus Thomas with a flying elbow (needless and hence intentional after viewing the video) that broke the rookie's nose and required the use of a face mask by the rookie. He's been responsible for other little shots and fouls that, while not as egregious as the flagrants, still take their toll on the bodies and minds of his opponents.

Posey's place in the Heat scheme of things is seemingly complex. He has nice range from beyond the arc, can man up defensively and has length to utilize on the boards. But deeper than that he's an instigator, a player who can contribute but not fear the implications of league judgment on his rough play because his team doesn't necessarily need his contributions. Basically he's an enforcer with skills in the Charles Oakley mode if not in stature.

Picture Pat Riley in the locker room at half time inquiring about the status of D-Wade, and then giving the team a "win one for the Gipper" speech all while not taking his eyes off James Posey. The subliminal message does not go unheeded by Posey, and Luol Deng becomes the target of Posey's and -- latently --Riley's ire. Pat Riley is too smart to ever actually call for a flagrant foul, but incitement and motivation are certainly tricks of the trade, and he's a master at his craft.

But tell me this Bulls fans, where was the defense of Luol Deng? Where was a teammate with a shove or a even a harsh word for the punk play of Posey? Closest to Deng in terms of on-the-court spacing was big, bad Ben Wallace. Has the judgment from the Malice in the Palace so jaded him that he fears a small man in a suit more than he does a guy 6' 8", 217lbs.? Maybe Ben can be forgiven knowing the consequences of such actions, but where's Kirk Hinrich? Surely someone so closely acquainted with the dirty play of Posey would tire of the thuggery and do or at least say something. Where's Chris Duhon, team leader and voice? Where's Andres Nocioni, Luol's new, close friend? Were Tyson Chandler still around, I know he would did something.

Listening to Bulls coach Scott Skiles post game interview one could palpably feel his anger. Saying it would be "politically incorrect" to voice his opinion, I wonder if silently Skiles was disappointed in his team's reaction. I wonder if he thinks his team is soft. Were Skiles still playing, I have no doubt he'd do just what Nate Robinson of the Knicks did recently, only with a little more justice on his side, and jump head-first into the fray to protect a teammate.

And now after watching the video of the flagrant foul, I wonder how many other teams are gonna think they can get away with picking on the Bulls. How many other teams will try and push the Bulls around, take overly hard fouls? How many other teams will not fear repercussions of physical play against the Bulls?

But this is truly fence straddling territory, as throwing punches or retaliatory flagrant fouls would certainly cost the team in terms of game suspensions and even momentum, and I am not advocating violence. In fact I'm kind of impressed at the Bulls restraint, but just once I'd like to see a Y2K Bull pull an MJ-in-Xavier's-face just to show everyone they're not a bunch of sally's. Then maybe James Posey would think twice the next time he jumps at a Chicago Bull.

Fleece & Flog's Week 16 NFL Top Five

2006-12-26T12:05:00.000-06:00

It's celebration week here at Fleece & Flog. With 2006 about to be viewed from the rear-view mirror, we thought we'd celebrate a few of the interesting achievements and special players from this NFL season --maybe an MVP or ROY vote, maybe the player most likely to be caught in a compromising position with a lemming. We hope you enjoy 2006's last installment of the Top Five and the junk that usually precedes it.

The Rookies -- who knew?: Jay Cutler has been good, Matt Leinert better and Vince Young best; Reggie Bush has been a gift for New Orleans, and that big TE class, well, they've been less than stellar. But the true greatness has been the unknowns. Maurice Jones-Drew, Marques Colston (from Hofstra!) , DeMeco Ryans, Mark Anderson, Nick Mangold and Devin Hester head an unheralded group making a name for themselves in their first NFL seasons.

All Fellatio, All the Time: Two guys earn this title. 1) The ubiquitous Peyton Manning -- the man most annoying by being on T.V. even when there isn't a game, and 2) Brett Favre -- with the slimmest of an outside shot at making the playoffs in the final game of the season, the NFL allowed NBC to move the Sunday Bears/ Packers game to prime time. Yep, New Years Eve. There are gonna be a lot of pissed of women in Chicago and Wisconsin this Sunday night.

Just Shut Up and Play: Who else? Terrell Owens

Athletes Taking Pictures of Athletes: Using a mirror, Steelers kicker (yes, the kicker) Jeff Reed decided to show off his, umm, manhood to impress some chicks he met that night. This is why camera phones are a bad thing.

Biggest Overachieving Teams in 2006: Tennessee Titans (started 0-5 before inserting VY into the lineup, since then they're 8-2), New York Jets (no Curtis Martin, a lame Chad Pennington, and a team picked to be just above the Raiders can clinch a playoff spot with a win), and the hands down surprise team of 2006, the New Orleans Saints.

Biggest Underachieving Teams in 2006: Pittsburgh Steelers (don't even make the playoffs), Miami Dolphins (many a dark-horse choice for the Super Bowl) and the Carolina Panthers (maybe that underreported steroid scandal did take a toll ,or maybe karma's a bitch.)

Coincidental Play of the Year: Devin Hester of the Bears returns a missed field goal by the NY Giants 108 yards to tie an NFL record for longest return for a TD. The previous record was set a year prior, almost to the day, by the Bears Nathan Vasher against the SF 49ers.

My MVP: Landanian Tomlinson. Marty-ball is alive and well in San Diego, and unlike Shawn Alexander, Priest Holmes and Marshall Faulk in ten years when we are talking greatest RB's ever, LDT will be included.

Onto the Top Five------------------------

San Diego Chargers (13-2): With one arm tied behind their backs, San Diego ho-hummed its way to victory over a charged up Seattle team that needed a win for momentum.
Da Bears (13-2): Let the Grossman vs. Griese talk die. There is no controversy. There is no discord. The Griese playing time was planned. Maybe some should focus on the suddenly shoddy defense.
Baltimore Ravens (12-3): I can't wait to see these guys square off with the Chargers in the AFC championship game. It's gonna happen. It happened earlier in the season. The outcome? One of SD's 2 losses.
New England Patriots (11-4): Do you think Bill Belichick gives dating advice to Tom Brady? the two are breaking hearts all over New England and beyond.
New Orleans Saints (10-5): Screw the Colts. The feel-good team of the year is led by a guy from Purdue with a mole the size of Rhode Island on his face. Ugly, like the state the city itself was in after Katrina.

Coming next week, Fleece & Flog's playoff predictions with what I can only foresee as heavily slanted in favor of Da Bears.

It's Christmas Morning!

2006-12-25T05:44:00.000-06:00

And so we wish all of our readers and friends Happy Holidays wherever you are.

We'd also like to wish a few things to a few extra special people, the ones who give us the inspiration for this blog.

For the Bears we'd like to wish a playoff victory; it's been so long that the diehards are even sucking the life outta the '85 team.

For Rex Grossman we'd like to wish a homing pigeon so he can start completing the long pass again.

For Tank Johnson we'd like to wish a judge with a sense of humor.

For the Bulls we'd like to wish a prototypical power forward to lend a hand on the boards on the days the regulars just don't have it.

For Kirk Hinrich we'd like to wish a new set of contacts so he can find his shooting eye again.

For Michael Sweetney we'd wish Richard Simmons' greatest hits.

For the Blackhawks we'd like to wish a trailer full of crash test dummies to at least give the illusion that the United Center is full of fans.

For Denis Savard we'd wish a quarry full of Energizer batteries so he can put some life into that dead power play.

For Martin Havlat We'd wish a bigger closet so he'll have a place to store all the hats he collects after hat tricks.

For the Cubs we'd like to wish a few more victories cuz I hate to see my Cubs fans friends so depressed in May after they've already conceded the division.

For Alfonso Soriano we'd like to wish a bottle of calamine lotion for when he comes down with a case of poison ivy after running into the wall at Wrigley Field.

For Mark Prior we'd like to wish a trade -- to the south side where Don Cooper can fix him, and the Sox can get the best years out of his career.

For the White Sox we'd like to wish a magician's assistant cuz smoke (BA) and mirrors (Pods) won't get it done in the outfield this season.

For Ozzie Guillen we'd like to wish a habanero pepper before each game so he'll have a different type of fire to extinguish when he opens his mouth.

For Joe Crede we'd like to wish all the man love and groupies in the world so he'll stay in Chicago after this season.

For Charlie Weis we'd like to wish a halo cuz when he beats LSU in the Sugar Bowl, he'll become St. Charles of South Bend.

For Bruce Weber we'd like to wish a CTA pass so he'll have access to the Chicago Public League top hoops recruits.

On a more personal note, I'd like to wish ChicagoCubbin a year's supply of tissue since he'll be crying in his beer after the Cubs average more than an error a game this season.

For Jeeves I wish another opportunity to run into Barry Bonds so he can stop straddling the fence and tell him how he really feels.

For Soxually Repressed, well, where do I start? Maybe a wiring kit to fix the negative circuitry in his head. And maybe a can of alphabet soup so he can suck on his P's & Q's. How about a Tardis so he has time for more posts and less comments. And maybe an internship at the Suntimes so he can ass munch his mentor, Mariotti, in person instead of in print.

So to all of you readers and blog brothers and sisters (Fornelli, CA, Panger, Dickie, Tank, etc.), Happy Holidays from the gang at Fleece the Pig, Flog the Pony.

Part 2 of Grandmaster Kenny Williams' Attack

2006-12-24T03:41:00.000-06:00

In chess, a player must think ahead; he must plan his attack many moves ahead of his current move. It is said that a great chess player can see 20 (!) moves ahead of where he wants to end up in order to account for all scenarios.

When accumulating talent in today's MLB, a GM has to have the foresight of a great chess player. With minor league options, arbitration, and the Rule 5 draft all part of the landscape of MLB economics and scouting , he has to have a plan of attack talent-wise and salary-wise. He has to think not only for today but four years down the road. And let's not forget there's talent evaluation and speculation to take into consideration as well. A GM must have more than just one eye surveying the entire playing board of running a team; that's why he's paid the big bucks.

A few weeks ago when White Sox GM traded away pitcher Freddy Garcia to the Philadelphia Phillies for Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez, most people nodded in agreement knowing a spot must be opened for stud-in-waiting Brandon McCarthy. KW's underlying strategy: do not give up MLB-level pitching without getting young pitching prospects in return.

Today, KW made another deal with that same strategy in mind; he traded the aforementioned B-Mac to the Texas Rangers for the very highly touted John Danks and less regarded Nick Masset. Unlike the Garcia deal this move has left more than a few casual fans scratching their heads and for good reason. As it stands, without B-Mac or another move the White Sox are looking at an inexperienced pitcher (knuckler Charlie Haeger, Floyd, Danks) starting every 5th day in 2007, and the even the most casual fan will remember the debacle of 2002-2003 when the Sox had the unfathomable string of games where no starting pitcher in the 5th slot recorded a win for the White Sox.

But there's a deeper method to KW's madness.

From to 2003 thru 2005, KW somewhat ravaged the minor league system to bring in players who could immediately contribute. He traded away the future for the present, and a 2005 World Series championship says he was justified in doing so. Even though the White Sox didn't repeat, last year's moves were also shrewd and well thought out adding Thome, Vazquez, Thornton and MacDougal. But with those moves the minor league system was spread thin, and in a pinch, the Sox were left without much talent to develop looking toward the closing years of the decade. So beyond opening a spot in the rotation, this off-season KW has restocked the higher-level minor league pitching talent, and no longer can the Sox' system be looked upon as being devoid of true prospects -- both Danks and Floyd were high first round draft picks.

That Danks is a lefty (and he's younger than B-Mac) also gives the White Sox some insurance should Mark Beuhrle decide to move on after this season. Remember the AL Central has the likes of left-handed hitting Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Sean Casey, Joe Mauer, MVP Justin Morneau and even Sox killer Mark Teahan to deal with, and the odds of the lefty Beuhrle resigning with the Southsiders after 2007 are 50/50 at best.

As with the Garcia deal, the surprise moving of B-Mac -- once thought of as the only untradeable commodity on the Sox 40-man roster -- seems like a prelude to something bigger, some splashy move KW -- the new Jerry Krause? -- has cultivated quietly behind the scenes. Could some of the recently acquired prospects be used to pry a Rocco Baldelli or Carl Crawford from the Orlando Bay Devil Rays or maybe even an Ichiro Suzuki from the Mariners?

To many observers and fans the LF/ CF situation is still untenable. Even though he resigned with the team, Pods has worn out his welcome with the fans, game winning homerun in the World Series be damned. And as last season showed, Brian Anderson -- he of the Venezuelan stomach virus -- learning on the job doesn't give the Sox the best chance at winning right now. (Impatience with prospects like BA is now the norm, especially when playing in the shadow of World Series trophy.) An upgrade at one of the two positions is expected in light of the glaringly bad 2006 seasons those two had, and now KW has the resources to make such an upgrade.

Or could there be an even bigger fish to catch, say one season of the Rocket Roger Clemens maybe?

So while other teams are dubiously and maybe even irresponsibly spending money this off-season (the Cubs, Red Sox, and even Kansas City -- Gil Meche for chrissake?), quietly KW first strengthened his bullpen and now his minor league system in a fiscally responsible manner. Although many look at his recent moves as mostly lateral, a closer look reveals KW has his eyes on not only the here and now but on the future as well. In three years when the Cubs are crying about the albatross of Alfonso Soriano's contract, KW will still have room to maneuver, be it in free agency or through the farm system and trades. Just like a chess grandmaster, KW's attack is not limited to one approach; he sees the whole board and can go in a different direction if need be. A lot of praise was heaped upon John Paxson and the Bulls' brain trust for their stellar personnel moves inciting some people to hail, "In Pax we trust!" Maybe it's time KW receives a little of the same recognition.

When he finally picks up that outfielder maybe then he can even say, "Checkmate!"

Initial reactions to the B-Mac trade from other baseball sites-------------------

Jim's a little confused by this move. (Sox Machine)
Wiz says, "NOOOOOOOOOO!" as do a lot of others commenting on the trade. (South Side Sox)
Nate Silver at BP thinks KW got the best of this trade. (Baseball Prospectus)
Phil Rogers calls it a "...scary leap..." among other things. (Chicago Tribune)
Update: Jake Berlin initially told Sox fans to stay off the ledge, but now calls it a lump of coal. (The Bard's Room)
Nathan Whelan asks what else does KW has up his sleeve. (Daily Southtown)
The Slobs think KW is crazy. (Snobs vs. Slobs)
Buda says he'll miss the chance to see B-Mac as a starter. (ChiSox Daily)
David Pinto at Baseball Musings likes it for both teams. (Baseball Musings)
Texas fans are straddling the fence too. (Lone Star Ball)
Moutz thinks the outcome won't be pretty at all. (Chicago Sports Blogs: Non Compete)
Update: Jeeves has finally weighed in typical fashion - looking at both sides of the coin. (ChiSox Blog)
Update: Dave Lozo really hates KW and all his moves. (Why Don't We Get Drunk and Blog?)
Update: CA likes this trade for the long term needs. (Ron Karkovice Fan Club)
Update: Yep, Cheat certainly has something to say about this trade. (South Side Sox)

This being Christmas weekend and the timing at which the B-Mac trade went down, there's not much in depth commentary yet posted. Fornelli's Foul Balls along with Black Sox Blog are all somewhat pissed and have reserved judgment, not unlike The Bard's Room, until they can take a closer look at deal. I expect Criminal Appeal over at Ron Karkovice Fan Club to chime in soon too and a Cheat rant can't be too far behind. But mostly the White Sox nation has expressed shock at the trade of the untradeable one; and, as I said, maybe KW should assume the old Jerry Krause moniker of "The Sleuth."

What Will Dennis Do?

2006-12-22T08:45:00.000-06:00

In the pantheon of good vs. evil rivalries there's David vs. Goliath, Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, George Bush vs. Osama Bin Laden (of course the last rivalry could just be evil vs. eviler.)

And now there's a burgeoning new rivalry to add to the list: the Dennis Rodman all-stars vs. the Harlem Globetrotters.

Yes, you read that correctly.

One of the attractions in Las Vegas for the 2007 NBA All-Star game will be the venerable clown princes of hoops hi-jinx and harmony versus the original tattooed wonder and his team of merry misfits in addition to the Trotters' traditional circus show against the New York Nationals. While Dennis hasn't finalized a roster yet, I can only hope the lineup reads like the Syracuse Bulldogs or maybe the New York Knicks of 1990's.

Just think of the possibilities.

Imagine the happy-go-lucky Trotters facing off against a starting five of Bill Lambier, Anthony Mason, John Starks, Vernon Maxwell and the Worm himself with a bench of the likes of Ron Artest, Xavier McDaniel, Frank Brickowski, Kermit Washington, and Kevin Johnson. Add a Bill Cartwright for his elbows and a Reggie Miller for his chicken scratch fighting technique, and the Trotters might wanna think about playing in football pads.

No word yet on whether or not the recently divorced Carmen Electra will be the leader of the cheerleading squad or if Dennis will just pay the day staff at The Pink Palace to moonlight with pompoms.

Family fun for all!

(Photo courtesy of AskMen.com)

Bye Bye Brett?

2006-12-21T17:02:00.000-06:00

Well today we are going to hopefully put to rest a wonderful myth that has been flying around the sports world. That marvelous idea, that I so wish was true, Brett Favre will retire after this season. NFL network has advertised tonight's meaningless contest as our last chance to see Favre at home in front of the cheese heads. Although this may get a few of us to watch the great match-up that is VIKINGS at Packers, the idea that Farve is going to hang it up after this year is right up there with velcro hats and electric water wings. Lets take a look at the facts. Brett Farve is 37 yrs old. This year his QB rating is 74.8 and he has a 56.8% completion percentage. Brett has thrown for 3,315 yards with 17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and has taken 18 sacks. Ok, these aren't the numbers that reflect a player who in the 90's won 3 consecutive MVP awards and led the Packers to back to back Super Bowls, including a championship in Super Bowl XXXI. That being said, these aren't your Pappa's Packers, they are a shell of the team we love to hate. Almost every player is young and inexperienced. So with Favre not performing, and a bunch of youngsters, the Packers are 6-8 with a mathematical chance at the playoffs. Granted this is mostly due to the NFC and its abysmal state, but this season has been good enough so that Green Bay isn't calling for the head of there king just yet. Brett Favre sits 7 TDS away from Dan Marino's record of 420 passing touch downs. A Record that he would definitely come back to break if he isn't able to do it this year. Brett Favre is going to make his 256th consecutive start tonight. Brett Favre is an icon and a hero to a town were football is life, and the only way he is going to retire is when the owner of the Packers takes good old Brett out behind the wood shed and gives him the "old yeller treatment". Hey, look on the bright side, us Bears fans get to watch our once mighty tormenter fizzle and fade. A sweet show that I for one, will enjoy.

Start Shredding the News

2006-12-21T03:39:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's impossible to fear something until it becomes real, until a face is put to an action, until a crime is perpetrated against you or a loved one. People can say they fear radioactivity. They can see the hazard sign, but without seeing the ionized radiation floating through the air, most people will shrug off the danger as harmless. It's the same lack of fear that allows a person to drive an vehicle without wearing a seat belt or safety harness. Until a person finds himself on the hood of his car lying face down in a pool of his own blood, he just won't put the damn thing on. Out of sight is, after all, out of mind.

Certain crimes have a face on them. When we think serial killer, we think Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. When we think assassin, we think John Wilkes Boothe or Lee Harvey Oswald. When we think securities fraud, we think Martha Stewart. We know the crime, we know the criminal, we fear to become the object of their dark obsessions.

Yesterday, a group of nearly a hundred MLB players -- and myself for that matter -- learned a new fear: identity fraud. A thirty-eight year old Chicago man, David Dright, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of identity theft after the police raided his home in response to an inquiry from a credit monitoring company. The first target, Bulls strength and conditioning coach Al Vermeil, was informed that certain incongruities were occurring within his credit account, and the police did find two credit cards in his name at the apartment of the the suspect. Among the names of other potential victims were Jim Thome, Moises Alou, Pedro Martinez and Miguel Tejada.

But the real fear came in reading about exactly how David Dright committed the crime.

He was a dumpster jumper.

Yes, he pulled a Tyler Durden and crawled into the garbage bin outside the office building housing SFX Baseball in Northbrook, IL, in an effort to find personal financial information. What isn't clear is if it was a random choice or just dumb luck on the part of the criminal in choosing that particular dumpster. The police speculate that the office wasn't targeted, but if he had any brains as a criminal he knew exactly what the possibilities were jumping into that exact dumpster.

A few things frighten me about this. First of all, the company, SFX Baseball, disposed of their clients' info without shredding it. There's an irresponsibility apparent on the part of the trusted partner that boggles the mind. As a potential client, would I feel safe having them handling my personal business when they can't remember to do something as essential and yet innocuous as shredding papers with my personal info on it? Were I a directing partner at SFX, heads would roll.

Secondly, outside of Hollywood, the scrap truck guy and the occasional bum, do you ever see people rummaging around in the garbage? As innocent and harmless an act as throwing out the trash can now be added to the list of worst nightmares for people who don't have the foresight to tear up or shred private info. From now on every time a car stops in the alley will you have to worry it's someone trying to rob you of your identity? Some companies are smart and lock up their trash with padlocks and chains, but will Waste Management be forced to raise their rates because they had to hand out new safety trash cans with locks and they had to pay for all the extra time it takes for the garbage men to unlock the safety cans? Just what we need, bigger bills.

Thirdly, and most frighteningly, I wanna know how this guy thought he was gonna get away with saying he was Jim Thome -- you see, the guy was a black man.

Then again I hope all criminals -- black, white, red, green, etc. -- are that stupid. Evolution would be taking a turn for the better.

Andres Nocioni: Gong Winner

2006-12-21T02:29:00.000-06:00

We here at Fleece & Flog would like to extend our congratulations to Chapu, Andres Nocioni, for winning the prestigious Olimpia de Plata (Silver Olimpia for our Anglo-Saxon brethren ) award for basketball excellence in his home country of Argentina.

Each year, a group of Argentine sports writers vote for players in each of 41 separate sports, and the highest vote getter in each discipline receives the coveted award. A singular player of the year award, the Olimpia de Oro (Gold Olimpia for those who never took Spanish as a high school freshman -- the pic on the left is the actual award and Noc's is a silver rendition of the exact same statuette), is given to the best Argentinian player of the year covering all sports. Past winners of the award include Diego Maradona and Gabriela Sabatini.

Nocioni was lauded for his play this past summer at the FIBA world championships in Japan and his stellar work for the Bulls in the 2006 playoffs, but I have a feeling the writers were just tired of giving this award to Manu Ginobli, the so-called MJ of Argentina.

So if Ginobli is the MJ of Argentina, what does that make Nocioni? Barkley? Malone? Hopefully Noc's Bulls career is more productive of post season hardware (read: rings) than those two overrated, ham-fisted power forwards. Just imagine how Sir Charles must feel every time he runs into a Stacey King or a Danny Ferry knowing those two slouches have more rings than he does. Charles can hold his head high though; at least he beat out MJ for the '92-'93 MVP award.

But not an Olimpia de Plata.

Another Bull wins a Player of the Year award. Sounds good to me. Maybe it'll earn Chapu a few more flop calls with the referees, cuz we all know how the NBA caters to its stars, and how can you not be a star if you win the PotY award for an entire country?

(Editor's Note: Hat tip to Blog-a-Bull commenter, Paxson Jackson, for the heads up on the Nocioni story found at SportingLife.com, and Blog-a-Bull administrator, Matt, for finding the new Bulls blog added to our blog-roll called Thank You Isiah.)

Fleece & Flog's Week 15 NFL Top Five

2006-12-20T06:30:00.000-06:00

So the Pro-Bowl starters were announced yesterday, and appropriately seven Chicago Bears were named, including three special teamers. Perennials Brian Urlacher and Olin Kreutz join two timers Lance Briggs and Tommie Harris as starters. Voted by their play rather than their reputations were kicker Robbie Gould, special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo, and rookie kick returner sensation Devin Hester.

I can't argue about any of these selections, even Tommie Harris, cuz they've led the best team in the NFC all season long. In fact, maybe the Bears have some complaining about the lack of offensive selections. Des Clark is definitely deserving, Berrian possibly, Tait certainly, and maybe Moose, but injury replacements have yet to be selected, so we'll see where things stand in a month or so.

Congrats go out to the Bears for consecutive double digit win seasons and back-to-back division championships. Jerry Angelo, the true architect of the team, needs commendations for his draft. While the fans and critics were crying out for the selection of a TE, and even after trading down Anthony Fasano was available, Angelo had the foresight to target defense first. Rookie Danieal Manning has been capable in replacing Todd Johnson, and Devin Hester, well, he has won 2-4 games for the Bears all by himself.

Unlike the luckiest team I've ever seen the 13-3 2001 team, this team has shown growth and progress. They have matured, learned from mistakes and found a QB to rally behind. Yes, I still have faith in Rex. He was the best player in last year's playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers, and he has the fearlessness to lead the team to the promised land.

With that said, it's on to F&F's NFL Top Five for the week........................

San Diego Chargers (12-2): This is the only team, as a Bears fans, I fear. I watched LT go untouched on a 15 yard TD and a 85 yard TD. I was very impressed. And here's one more stat to scare any team: they lead the league in sacks. Scary.
Da Bears (12-2): Minus five defensive starters, the Bears had a brain cramp. Oh, well. The offense was back to its winning ways, and Rex, despite being sacked for a season high four times, threw no interceptions.
Baltimore Ravens (11-3): Brian Billick had better hope Steve McNair's injury isn't serious cuz Kyle Boller leading a team into the playoffs doesn't ring with confidence
Dallas Cowboys (9-5): So how does a team survive a change in QB, a circus like Terrell Owens and a middle of the pack defense? Bill Parcells, that's how.
Indianapolis Colts (11-3): So Peyton to Marvin is the most prolific passing tandem of all time by a wide margin. Marino to Duper is on that list too. And I'm actually starting to feel bad for Peyton.

ChicagoCubbin and I are in a little disagreement about our top five, but since I'm the main administrator, it's my call. And he's also a Cowboys fan so the heck with him. His top five: SD, BAL, CHI, DAL, IND. So we aren't that far apart in our choices.

ISIAH THOMAS: Our Village's Idiot

2006-12-18T13:56:00.000-06:00

There was a basketbrawl recently. Multiple players will be "enjoying" spectating due to their spontaneous combustion of stupidity. The current leading scorer in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony, made the most contact and subsequently the most spectating time. Considering the recent edict by David Stern for players to wear suits, it would appear that the NBA can make them dress up, but still not take them out. However, this is not to be a column focused on the moronic actions of people paid too much money to do what countless scores of others would do (albeit at a far less degree of skill) for far less or free.

This is a question to David Stern. Why did you let Thomas off the hook? For those who are unaware of what the hot-seated Knicks coach did to warrant a hook, here it is. Premeditated assault. You're saying, "Wha...? Who would do such a preposterous thing? Certainly not a coach; not a (supposed) authority figure." Alas, it is sadly true.

Now, there is a list of things that one could rest on the former St. Joe's star. Like how when the Bulls finally overcame the Detroit Pistons thuggery to advance to the Finals, Thomas led most of the classless chumps (notable exception being the current Pistons GM) off the floor without well-deserved congratulations for the Bulls. Even better is destruction of the CBA. After ambling along for decades as the then default minor leagues of the NBA, Thomas came in and after promises of grandeur and an increased association with the NBA, managed in relatively short order to destroy the league and all the work the owners had put into it. (The Isiah-less CBA is struggling to stay in existence to this day, says the research dept.) When things got bad, he couldn't jump to the Pacer's head coaching job quick enough, leaving the CBA's remaining owners to attempt rebuilding their life's work. Larry Bird took over the Indiana franchise eventually, and before his name was stenciled on the door he had fired the Indiana University star. So what would Thomas do next? Take his anti-Midas like touch to New York. The Knicks were already not in the best of shape before Thomas brought his Circus of the Craptacular to town. Many wondered what Knicks' ownership was thinking. Now Knick's ownership is wondering what Knick's ownership was thinking. Hired as the GM, Thomas has seen the great Larry Brown Experiment come and go, minus the countless millions Brown got in settlement. Now Thomas is the head coach on the clock. But all of this is just lead up to what should have been a fired-for offense.

In the moments before the brawl, Thomas is reported as having told Anthony to stay out of the paint. If you want to be upset that the leading scorer in the league is still in game with a huge lead and little time to go, fine. Take that up with the opposing coach, after the game, much like a normal adult would do in the same circumstances. Furthermore, if you suspect that your players will be committing actions that could actually hurt other players, it is incumbent upon you as a coach, as an authority figure, even as a human being, to prevent that from happening. Of course, maybe a former "Bad Boy" is clueless as to what the acceptable social morays of society are, but that leads back to the original question to Mr. Stern: Why did you let Thomas off the hook?

Even if he didn't order it directly, his complicity is secured by his own words. Not to mention his lack of action. If in "regular society" you tell somebody not to go into a theater and that building than burns, somebody might at least question why you didn't do more to stop the building from burning. Just because nobody was seriously hurt, this time, doesn't excuse indefensible behavior. David Stern missed a chance to prove that Mark Cuban isn't the only executive he can fine. If you can fine a dress code into existence, and try to change a billionaire owner's habits, he should be brave enough to keep his players safe...especially from the coaches.

Happy ChristmaHannaKwanzadan.
As always, be good.

Bon Voyage, Ross Gload

2006-12-18T00:13:00.000-06:00

Hello, Andy Sisco.

Yes, the White Sox traded away my favorite player not named Joe Crede for another Kansas City Royal and former Cubs farm hand.

Take in the gravity of the back end of that last sentence again: former Royal & Cub.

Together with David Aardsma, the lefty Sisco will be another big pitcher with nasty stuff (hyperbole) and even nastier control (the bad kind). There are so many reclamation projects now in the Sox bullpen and AAA that if the White Sox make it back to the playoffs next season, Don Cooper will not only be looking for a raise, he'll be looking for sainthood. He might as well just write a book and hand it out to all the pitchers detailing his pitching philosophy because he will pulled in many different directions and will just have to refer to page so-and-so of his manual to get anything done.

At least we can see Kenny Williams' pattern for success in this trade. Trade one of the interchangeable parts for cheap, unvalued relief help. His track record is stellar when it comes to relief, i.e. Vizciano, Marte, Thornton, MacDougal, Jenks.

But my guy, Ross Gload, had to go to improve the pen. We'll lose his hitting (maybe 150 at-bats, 50 hits), his glove (he has better range than Konerko) and his speed (6-6 in SBs), but Rob Mackowiak (who can rake and was originally an infielder) will most likely take his place, and to get Mack out of CF alone was worth the trade.

So, officially, Ross Gload has been freed, at least from the White Sox, which is fine cuz there's already too many former Cubs on the White Sox roster.

And one more note: the White Sox no longer require the services of Crusty the Clown, catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr., as they have signed Toby Hall to a two year, $3.65 million contract with an option for a third year. Now in September AJ will only be thrown out by 10 feet at home instead of 30 feet. Hall wants to start but followed the money, and while in theory this is a very good move by KW, I wonder how long it'll be until Hall starts whining about playing time to the media. This has confrontation written all over it.

As always, Sox links accompany a Sox story.

About Toby Hall from the horse's mouth. (whitesox.mlb)
At least Jeeves understands my pain. (Chi-Sox Blog)
Cheat likes the Sisco move and all the BP moves. (South Side Sox)
Maybe Jim is a little obsessed about back-up catchers. (Sox Machine)
Jake from the Bard's Room thinks the Sox got value in return for Gload. (The Bard's Room)
An early scouting report on Andy Sisco. (The Cub Reporter)
Toby Hall's career numbers. (Baseball-Reference.com)

Guns, Drugs, Tank and a Death

2006-12-18T00:05:00.000-06:00

With the glory of not having to leave Chicago during the playoffs until February fresh on the Bears' plate following a closer-than-it-should-have-been 34-31 win over the Tampa Bay Bucs, the mold around the edges will receive most of the attention the rest of the way into the playoffs. With a healthy Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson's arrest and the tragic shooting of his "bodyguard" would simply add color to an impressive season; it would be a notch in the belt of overcoming odds. It would be a minor occurrence (if death can ever be considered minor) on the way to an inevitable birth in the Super Bowl. But the hamstrung Harris' missing place in the lineup creates a firestorm out of the mess that is Tank Johnson.

Many people have asked, "What was Tank thinking?" And I would never presume to know what was on his mind, but tell me why two men who were just arrested 24 hours earlier are out sowing their wild oats in a city that recognizes its sports celebs with a paparazzi-like zeal. Wouldn't a low key attitude be a tad more appropriate?

Was Tank Johnson asking for trouble by heading out to a nightclub? Knowing the fervor of Chicago fanatics a heckling should have certainly been suspected; looking back at Tank Johnson's past history, a response to such heckling would be expected too. I don't know Tank Johnson personally, I've never even seen him from a distance, but I'm assuming just from reading his bodily dimensions -- 6'3", 300 lbs. -- that he's quite the imposing figure, and sometimes simply being imposing can negate many an incident. But add alcohol to any incident and even the smallest man feels like he's Superman. Yes, I think Tank Johnson was asking for trouble by going out in public so soon after his humbling arrest. And in the eyes of public opinion, he's as guilty as Sammy Sosa or Mark McGwire even though neither was ever caught taking steroids.

As for his gun possession charge, without an FOI card, he is guilty by the letter of the law. And he will have to answer for those charges, both to the Lake County District Attorney and to the NFL disciplinary committee. But like Ricky Manning , Jr., the time line for answering those charges would most likely reach beyond the NFL playoffs and into next season.

Unfortunately for the NFL, and the NBA, MLB, PGA, the PTA, WHO, NWO, etc. for that matter, the founding fathers found it necessary to include firearms protections when putting together the Bill of Rights, their thought process being every man should have the ability to shield himself from harm. And in 1789 those were noble causes and ideals, but -- and I promise not to draw this diatribe out too far -- in today's society, that right to bear arms is outdated. Guns are now more of a toy for the private owner -- a very dangerous toy -- than a tool necessary for survival.

Was Tank Johnson building a Branch Davidian-like stronghold in Gurnee? Was he a disillusioned patriot fighting for the rights of the disenfranchised? Was an army of cheeseheads threatening his home and family? I highly doubt it. More likely he was a wealthy athlete with idle hands, idle time and sense of entitlement bestowed upon most American professional athletes.

And now the eye of the media has descended upon Tank Johnson. Do not think for one minute that he and his "bodyguard," 26 year-old best friend William Posey, would not have made it into the front pages of Chicago's newspapers had the shooting of Mr. Posey never happened. I am certain there would have been some vigilant shutter-bug tracking his every move, and front and center would have been some form of the Paris Hilton-like headline: " Tank Parties to Forget." Tank's attempt at relaxation would have been splashed everywhere from ESPN to the smallest blog such as F&F.

But now as a Bears fan, I wonder what this does for a defense that is reeling. Am I shallow for not considering his feelings concerning the death of his friend? Absolutely. But Tank isn't my friend, he's my defensive lineman. Tank has had countless more resources to help with whatever issues he was facing than I'll ever see in a telephone book. His allowance of marijuana into his home was just stupid, (and I would be far far far from surprised if he took a puff or two now and then.) And now the Bears defense is teetering on the brink of collapse.

Does he not see the potential for greatness in earning the immortality that comes with a sporting championship, and the chance he was taking by inviting such destructive elements into his life? I guess not, and now as a Bears fan I have to suffer.

But maybe I'm the one with the problem; maybe I'm the one overemphasizing the importance of sports in society. Maybe I'm wrong for wanting to spit in Tank Johnson's face for screwing with the Bears' triumph. Maybe I'm wrong for wishing our athletes were perfect automatons without personalities. Maybe I need the help Tank Johnson shunned.

Or maybe I should just learn to live with imperfection. William Posey did, and look where it got him.

Welcome to the Show!

2006-12-14T17:48:00.000-06:00

Well first things first. I think that is great that you guys have taken the initiative and signed a talent such as myself. I definitely think my presence is needed, due to the apparent anti-Cub environment, I will be a breath of fresh air, or least someone who hasn't yet drank massive amounts of the Kool-aid. That being said there has been some inquiry to what my opinion on the "Tale of two catchers" may be. For our readers who aren't familiar with this worn out tale, during the "Cross-town Classic" Michael Barrett punched A.J. Given A.J.'s past, my feeling is that he most likely deserved it. From a fans perspective It did anger me. Basically it just perpetrated the image of losers that the Cubs for some reason love to cling too. You've got a decent catcher in Barrett losing his cool and punching a superior player. Although I disagree with the way Barrett acted he should check into leaving the Cubs for the UFC, because he did lay a massive hurtin' on good old A.J. So now you know, although I don't agree with it, if your going to act like an animal that's the way to do it. To my fellow gents here at Fleece and Flog, I look forward to being part of your well informed, intelligent, cutting-edge, and sometime ridiculous antics!

Obligatory Bulls Post

2006-12-14T11:25:00.000-06:00

The Bulls have been blessed by two things during this current run: exceptionally good health and a string of lousy teams coming into the United Center.

Consider: when blowing out the Pacers on Monday night, Al Harrington, Jermaine O'Neil and Stephen Jackson -- arguably the Pacers' three best players -- all didn't play. Last night, All-Star guard Ray Allen missed the game for the Seattle Supersonics. The 76ers played amid the beginnings of the Allen Iverson turmoil, and Boston was without Wally Szczerbiak, Theo Ratliff and Michael Olowokandi. Who has missed a Bulls game due to injury? Malik Allen? Michael Sweetney early on? P.J. Brown? Not exactly Luol Deng or Ben Wallace now are those guys?

So while the run has been nice, Bulls fans need not get their hopes too high just yet. The streak also includes two games against the Knicks, one against Toronto and one against the NOOCH. They have yet to play Detroit, can't seem to beat LeBron and Cleveland, and still have another seven game West coast trip come February.

In spite of the bad teams the one other thing the Bulls have going for them is that, somehow, they've discovered an offensive. That added to their blitzkrieg defensive intensity and the Bulls are first in the Eastern Conference in point differential per game at + 4.2, fourth overall in the entire league. What's the difference? Most obviously better shooting, but looking a little further the Bulls have found a rhythm. Consider that they're second in the Eastern conference in assists per game at 22.4 which means they're finding one another with more frequency than most teams. And while only the New Jersey Nets average more assists in the East at 23.3, they have uber-point guard Jason Kidd 's 9.6 assist to pad those stats. The Bulls top assist guy, Kirk Hinrich, drops only 6.2 dimes per game, but Chris Duhon drops 4.2, Ben Gordon 3.2, and Luol Deng 2.4. Yeah, they're all in the starting lineup.

At 12-10, the Bulls have done well just to get back to and above a .500 winning percentage, but I'll hold my applause until that number reaches 10 games over .500. Until then I'll just smile, watch a growing team and hope this team doesn't end up like the 2001 76ers team that lost to the Lakers in the Finals a few years ago.

National Sports Round Up!

2006-12-14T00:23:00.000-06:00

The Boston Red Sox just gave the their new Japanese import more than fifty million dollars to pitch after giving over fifty million just for the rights to negotiate with him. This on the heels of signing J.D. Drew to a long term seventy million dollar agreement. Four points of interest.
1)Our trade deficit with Japan just grew instantaneously and exponentially.
2)For seventy million dollars it is hard to imagine not agreeing to almost anything.
3)Boston now has one player they wish they didn't need a translator for, and one they wish they did.
4)The Red Sox just invested 170 million dollars in two players who will only play every fourth or fifth day.

Allen Iverson wants out of Philadelphia. Again. For real this time. The problem for the team is that the market for a fading (probably former)All-Star with a sub-exciting shooting percentage isn't a seller's market. Iverson depends too much on throwing his body pinball-style toward the basket. That equates to a good deal of wear and tear on a body not built for rugby. Plus, where can/will he go and either be the new number one guy, or even more unlikely, the happy new second banana? Has anyone heard of Gary Payton? (Ironically, Miami.)

Terrell Owens now says he "faked" his eary season injury because his feelings were hurt. Seems someone within the Cowboys organization leaked about Owens being late to practice and meetings. Too bad Dallas couldn't have "faked" signing the moron. In other "hurt feeling" news seven year old Becky Fremd from Keokuk, Iowa was sad when her lollipop fell on the floor. The Cowboys presumably declined comment on both instances.

P.J. Brown sat out with a sore foot from a comfortable Bulls win against the Ray Allen-less Sonics. Barbaro, coming off a foot injury was still unavailable for action. His agent was quoted however, as saying that the one time phenom was "champing at the bit".

N.I.U. couldn't lose for winning. Explanation: By not winning their conference, the Huskies have to suffer in the warmth and sunshine of San Diego. Every other MAC team to receive a bid went somewhere colder. A great way to fail upwards.

Lamar Hunt, last remaining founding investor of the Chicago Bulls, founder of the AFL and Dallas Texans (which you might know as the Kansas City Chiefs), and coiner of the term SuperBowl (after watching his kids play with a Superball), died December 12,2006. When told by the NFL he couldn't buy a team and move it to Texas, did what the USFL and the XFL couldn't, started his own successful league. So successful was his league that he ended up with an NFL team anyway; when the AFL merged with the NFL in 1966.

That's all for now, hope you enjoyed this foray into the seamy underbelly of the Repressed's sport pysche.
Happy ChristmaHannaKwanzadan and as always, be good.

Our Latest Addition to Fleece & Flog

2006-12-13T05:39:00.000-06:00

What is wrong with me? Am I growing soft in my old age? Am I feeling nostalgic for Andre and Ryno? Am I giving in to my love for all things Chicago?

Whatever the case, I'd like everyone to welcome our newest contributor here at F&F, ChicagoCubbin. Yes, he'll balance the biased White Sox coverage we at F&F provide with some very knowledgeable Cubs info. Yes, he will be a voice crying out in the wilderness, or more likely, Don Quixote taking on windmills. But mostly he'll be the whipping boy for our Cubs disdain.

That's not to say he won't chime in on another subject or two.

Quite the chipper and feisty young buck, CC has promised to keep up with the joneses here at F&F, and I, for one, believe him. Of course I had to mortgage the farm, sell the family goat and donate a healthy batch of last year's crops in order to keep my White Sox fan card, but I'm not worried about it.

Now the neighbor's daughter, that's a different matter.

Next Sox Step: Centerfield? Lead-off?

2006-12-12T13:49:00.000-06:00

The White Sox traded Freddy Garcia to Philadelphia for a (so-far) bust, and a guy they gave to Philly a year ago to get Peoria Jim Thome. The move is blatantly geared at saving money just as much as it is to creating a spot in the rotation for Brandon McCarthy. The fact the two arms headed this way are young doesn't hurt Kenny William's feelings either. Added to this; Gavin Floyd has two things that Garcia lacks. The potential of youth and a cheaper contract. Some clubs are willing to trade for a young arm with a good contract if they have enough of another position to swap. Say, for instance, Floyd for someone like Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli is young, cheap, and oh, by the way, plays a fair bit of centerfield. Add to this that Baldelli has young(er) guys under him that his organization would like to see. The Sox could do worse.

Are there better guys to go after? Probably, but at what cost? The price for players like Cantu, or Carl Crawford keep climbing. As has been amply evidenced, Kenny Williams seems loathe to sacrifice his four year board for a one year bump, especially if that bump isn't a guarantee to make a dramatic difference. See last year's trade of Williams' favorite Rowand for aging, injury-recovering, unspeedy hitting monster Thome. Obviously not made for four years down the road. Plus, Vasquez had to be one of the more expensive fifth starters not employed by the Yanke(r)s.

Hence, expensive, fading, toking, un-Fast Freddy is shipped away for the same high prospect the Sox reluctantly gave up to obtain Thome. For the math-at-home crowd, this pretty much equates to Garcia and Rowand for Floyd and Thome. Obviously the Sox think (and fans hope) they can mine some gold from former Philly phenom Floyd (f-f-PH-ph-F, triple word score in alliteration Scrabble!) using Don Cooper as the sifting pan.

Posednik will be used as trade bait, make no mistake. Williams isn't the only GM that loves cost-certainty. Look for a couple of minor-leaguers to be thrown in the mix. Nobody sets the hook like Williams. (Go ahead, you're all saying to yourselves, "He's a Master Baiter". Terrible, simply terrible.) Williams, and Guillen, will get their coveted speedy leadoff guy. There is a lot time between now and opening day, let alone the trade deadline. The Winter Meetings are a good diversion in the crappy baseball dull days of December. They are by no means the end of the roster changes. It is called the hot stove league for a reason. Note:Just because somebody says Alex Rodriguez is coming to the Sox, it doesn't make it true. Kenny Williams can only make Scott Boras so happy. (We knew Crede was too good to be true.)

For those who might say that the White Sox traded Garcia away too soon; remember, it is always better a year too soon than a year too late. Too late is always too late. Fear not true believers, something will happen. Maybe multiple somethings.

That's all for now, have a Happy ChristmaHannaKwanzadan.Don't forget to be good.

NFL's Power Five:Repressed Edition

2006-12-12T11:34:00.000-06:00

Glad to see that a "Line of Fire" column didn't end in disaster for once. At least not yet. Sexy Rexy was back (but was Vexy Rexy just in hiding?). It is easy to feel good after a game like last night's. It put a another game between the Bears and their next conference runner-up for home field throughout the playoffs. It showed that hey, maybe Cedric Benson can run after all. Also, Grossman ran...for twenty-two yards! In one play! Still, there are questions to be asked, if any are brave enough to ask them. For instance: If the Bears do, as expected, clinch homefield, will a dome be built to replicate the conditions in St. Louis? Or: Why couldn't Grossman do better against a terrible pass defense (the Vikings), at home? Or: Why did it take so long to get Grossman back to throwing sane passes? Quick slants, dump offs to the running backs (hello Jason McKie) worked great at moving the ball. The BIG ONE: Can Grossman maintain this (which he hasn't all year) all the way to a SuperBowl win?

Now, on to the countdown.

1)San Diego Chargers
MVP probable runningback, more consistent rookie quarterback, good defense, and Antonio Gates. Only a spectacular collapse prevents this team from being the AFC SuperBowl entrant. That also translates as the early favorite in the big game.

2)Chicago Bears
11-2 in the weak sister conference. Hester is the greyhound, and he is hunting for endzone rabbits. Tommie Harris is out for the year, including any post-season. The frontline is already not stopping the run...or getting much pressure on the quarterback. The offense is carrying the defense. Still, is there another team in the NFC that looks any better?

3)Baltimore Ravens
Guessing that this defense might have had something to say about everyone but Jacksonville's craftservice people rushing for a 10+ yards per attempt clip. Everything being equal between the Ravens and the next team, except: The Ravens "D" should do okay against that Colts' "O". One has to believe Steve McNair and Jamal Lewis would fair well against that ever so stout Indy defense.

4)Indianapolis Colts
The defense was exposed in every sense versus the Jaguars. Stokley is gone for the year. Ricky Proehl Sighting! As long as Peyton doesn't become as inconsistent as his brother "I'll only play in New York" Eli, and Harrison and Wayne still have feet, you never can count the Colt's out. Of course, as long as the starting and the backup runningback both rack up over a hundred yards, you can't really count them to far in, either.

5)New Orleans Saints
Why not the Patriots? Because they were shut-out by a team they really shouldn't have lost to at all. Meanwhile, Dem' Saints went into Dallas (let the implosion begin) and beat the new "hot" team. With a three game win streak , they continue to disprove everyone who says they can't win. Probable MVP runner-up keeps staking the claim as best free agent signing of recent years.

It's put up or sit down time. Now is the time of the season when offensive coordinators pull out the trick plays just to keep their defensive counterparts up a few extra hours a week scheming against the fullback flea flicker in case it might be used in a playoff game.

Have a fun week of watching, happy ChristmaHannaKwanzadan, and, as always, be good.

In The Line of Fire: Rex Grossman

2006-12-08T12:28:00.000-06:00

1.3 As an earned run average it would be fantastic. As a golf handicap, you would fair(way) quite nicely. As many stats in various sports one could make something out it. Even in football. Just not as a passer rating. Especially not as a passer rating. Even as a near rookie. There are many ways to frame the argument against sticking with Grossman this long. Let us take one of the better ones in broad terms so there is no confusion. (Pay close attention football stupid of Chicago.) THE CHICAGO BEARS DON'T SUCK.

This probably doesn't come as a surprise to Bears fans who read this column. Or to fans who can read. Or just know what football, American style is at all. See, the exact issue is this is the NFL, where you're good today, and the Raiders tomorrow. NFL teams, all of the teams, every year, try to capture that lightening in a bottle. That magic mixture of offense, defense, special teams, lucky breaks, and few serious injuries. This year's Bears team has a good amount of most of each. Credit, indeed, must go to Grossman (and the receivers) for the seasons early success while the running game got better looking.

Grossman started out like his hair was on fire. Now he looks like the ball is on fire, and opposing teams are the guys who know where the water buckets are. Not just with interceptions, either. Too many Dave Krieg impersonations have the defense wondering if they should bother to sit down at all. As the turnovers mount the wheels on the Rex Grossman Bandwagon have been falling off more each week. Of course Grossman still has one wheel left to his wheelbarrow of love; or should it be called of Lovie.

Despite speculation that Jerry Angelo is the puppet-master pulling the strings on the quarterback follies, it is worth keeping in mind that he, not Lovie Smith, signed a very reliable, serviceable backup quarterback in Griese for an awful lot of money to hold a clipboard. Though ostensibly an insurance policy for the Grossman injury waiting to happen, it can't be out of Angelo's thoughts too far about the possibility of Griese seeing some action if Grossman continues to stumble. Another 1.3 QB rating would have to qualify. A junior varsity high school kid could accomplish that. So what are Grossman's issues?

Grossman is short. Not Eddie Geidel short, but NFL quarterback short. This could be overcome, but only by a quarterback that could, say, move in the pocket. No, running backward while being chased and throwing off his back foot into the loving arms of the opposing team does not count as moving around in the pocket. Another problem is that Rex can't read. As in, his receiver progressions. If the first receiver isn't open and waving a flag, instead of looking at the next option down the read, Grossman will do the football unusual; throw the ball back across the field weakly at nobody good (sometimes a defender will find the pass inexplicably landing at his ankles). Better to throw the ball out of bounds at some poor, unsuspecting drink-fetchers head. Look at the drop off in the tight-ends production as the season has gone on. This behavior also manifests itself with the singular focus Grossman will sometimes use on plays to wide-outs that end up in the opposing defensive backs hands. When the fans twelve rows up can see the play develop and can run down and still get a finger on the ball, just maybe it was telegraphed like Marconi. Of course, one can't forget, "Rex has that gunslinger attitude, though". The gunslinger attitude is only as good as the results it brings. It only takes a single bullet to bring the fastest trigger down. Every turnover is another shot in the foot.

If the Bears were 4-8, it wouldn't be a big deal. Stick with the "rookie" QB, let him get the experience. The Bears aren't 4-8. They are trying to win homefield throughout the playoffs. Too bad the Bears don't have a guy on the roster that is solid, reliable, if unspectacular. Somebody like Trent Dilfer was with the Ravens when that team rode a ridiculously good defense and a solid running game to a SuperBowl win not too long ago. Yep, it's just too bad...oh wait, that's right; the Bears have BRIAN "WEARING A BALLCAP AND HOLDIN' A CLIPBOARD" GRIESE on the roster. Wonder if he might limit the turnovers to something crazy like less than two a game. Might be worth a shot to find out. Forget all those football stupid arguments about Grossman's psyche or confidence. If his confidence is that easily shaken (which seems unlikely) he shouldn't start for the Rhein Fire. Forget about how everyone likes him because he is humble at the post game press conference. It should not be hard to be humble after special teams and defense have to bail out multiple turnovers again and again.

Grossman could very well be the Bears QB of the future. Remember, though, that the NFL despises dynasties. With all the other parts clicking and humming along, the coaches owe it to the other 52 players to do everything they can to guarantee the whole team, this team, this year, gets as far as it can. Let Grossman be the Bears starting quarterback of the future. Take a chance that Griese can be the new Trent Dilfer. If the results are the same, will anybody really care what style the QB used? Tony Romo sat around for four years before replacing the living statue that is Drew Bledsoe. The Bengals sat Carson Palmer for a year under the immortal Jon Kitna. It cannot possibly be beyond comprehension to replace a virtual rookie with a proven veteran in a SuperBowl run. This isn't an 8-8 team hoping to make the playoffs. Everybody raise your hand if you're confident in Grossman's ability to lead the Bears to a SuperBowl win. Not trying to scrape by into the second round with the defense. Tried that last year, remember? (Coincidentally, this serves as a dismissal to the football stupid notion of Kyle "dead otter face" Orton starting. So don't ask. Large men with pointy sticks will be sent after you. Seriously...they know where you are.)

Look Chicago, it's your team. Despite having lived here since birth, the lure of a big blue star was too much for a four year old lad who didn't even know what football was. If you are a fan of the local team, you should demand more. Maybe a more mature, polished, year older Rex Grossman will lead next year's team to glory. Future Rex isn't available for duty right now. Present day Rex isn't too fun to watch, and isn't too convincing. Tony Romo is giving this column hope unexpected. Still, with an erratic running game, defense, and suspect at best kicking team, Dallas is really just disappointment waiting to happen. It is interesting that Dallas has a coach who wants/needs to win now because his own window of opportunity is probably closing. He chose to bench a likely Hall-of-Famer for the new pride of Eastern Illinois University. Lovie Smith won't bench Mr. Concrete Spikes for the son of a Hall-of-Famer. (If that is factually wrong, please write, in long hand to the address below to our complaint department about our research department.) In either case, the Bears need to sort out this mess. If they do, it will not matter who they play in the playoffs. If they do not...it will not matter who they play in the playoffs. Good Luck. Somewhere there is a Danny White jersey waiting to be laundered.

Since it is officially the season,
Everyone have a Happy ChristmaHannaKwanzadan...and of course, be careful.

P.S. This was originally set for broadcast very early Sunday morning. Technical difficulties which resulted in a near computericide occurred, and a cooling off period was enforced. Apologies are asked for, with any complaints being sent to the above noted departments.

Blogging Baseball, Blogging White Sox

2006-12-07T16:55:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure why, but baseball and blogging go together like the air and Britney Spears' undergarments. Maybe it's the shear volume of numbers baseball can provide and the way those numbers can be applied to every single participant in a baseball game.

It's not like football, the game with players that can hide from the stats such as offensive lineman. The professionals themselves can grade an offensive lineman's performance, but ask the average fan to distinguish whose fault it is that a defensive lineman's stunt move resulted in a quarterback sack, and most people would look at you with that glazed, I-just-finished-reading-Proust look in their eye wondering why their head hurts so much when they only wanna see someone get smashed into little snow angels. There are so many specialty stats for individual performers in football. There's the QB rating for QB's, tackles for the defense, sacks for the d-line, kicking stats for kickers, rushing stats for RB's, etc. Not all football players are judged by the same criteria.

In basketball, you would think the lesser number of game participants would go hand in hand for the instant gratification of blogging. Less to keep track of, less to write about, right? Basketball's blogging niche, however, is based more on the personalities in the sport than on the game itself. LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade and even old timers like MJ, Magic and Barkley and their styles of play are what draw bloggers to basketball. (This is where I wanna point out that one of the greatest pieces of blogging I've ever seen was posted today at Free Darko. If you get a chance, check out Bethlehem Shoals and Big Baby's truly genius piece of writing about basketball styles called Wiggles From the Lavender Grave. It almost made me wanna give up blogging it was so damn good.) And for good reason, most philosophical sports blogging will be found dealing with NBA players, coaches and the games themselves.

But the true sports blog, the true sports blurb will focus on a game that can almost be played strictly by the numbers. And baseball is that sport. With the advent of SABRmetrics as a tool to guide the discriminating GM, stat-heads have a gained a foothold on the all-American game. Never before has Stats-101 been such an important class, and the thousands of students looking for outlet for their recently-acquired knowledge have found a home in blogging baseball.

Now all the above was to say that yesterday the White Sox traded big-game Freddy Garcia for one-time phenom Gavin Floyd and former Sox farm hand Gio Gonzalez, and that there are so many internet baseball people who have erupted with their own opinion on the trade, that what this one little blogger has to say will probably get lost or burnt up in the lava flow. But we're gonna try to shout above the din of our Rice Krispies, as Sting would say. And then as quickly as possible, link you to other blogs discussing the situation in much more depth. Yes, the shear number of White Sox blogs alone will run the gamut of the thought process and is why I think baseball and blogging are perfect partners.

My thoughts on the trade in bullet points form:

A starter had to be traded for B-Mac to make the rotation. Garcia and Beuhrle were the names most often mentioned because both would be free agents at the end of the season and the White Sox didn't want to lose both for no return on their investment. Beuhrle, however, is a lefty, and the only one in the rotation, and his starts give some balance to the rotation.
Garcia looked washed up until finding his slider in his last five starts. For a hard thrower his fastball disappeared in the high 80's, and was without any movement. At least Beuhrle was never a power pitcher and has had a history of mini-slumps here and there.
The addition of two young arms to the farm system adds some much needed depth to the pitching prospects for the White Sox, and bringing back the LH Gonzalez, the "player to be named later" portion of the trade, could be the steal portion of this trade. Many people were saying KW was a dumbass for adding him to the Thome/ Rowand trade in the first place.
As a move for the 2007 team, this really does nothing for the team other than opening the rotation spot for B-Mac, but in terms of looking to the future, KW doesn't need another 5th starter debacle from earlier in the decade, and at least he's given the team more options to choose from in AAA and AA in 2008 and beyond. Young pitching prospects are gold in the MLB.
I believe Gavin Floyd will benefit from some Don Cooper tutelage and shed the "club-house cancer" moniker he earned in Philly. Remember, Chicago is much easier place to play than the city that boos Santa Claus.
And to continue the 2007 thought, this, IMHO, is only step one for KW. He himself said, "The White Sox are still open for business."

As I did with the Podsednik post, what follows are some links to sites who are a lot better informed than me, and hence my "blogging is for baseball" PreRamble. (Tip o' the cap to Soxually Repressed.)

As always, our partner here at Fleece & Flog, Jeeves, leads off. (Chi-Sox Blog)
Up next, Fornelli -- or is it Panger today? -- says What.The.Hell? (Foul Balls)
Of course Mariotti has an opinion, and he's got his unofficial ombudsman to call him out. (Jay the Joke)
Phil Rogers calls this a gamble by KW. (Chicago Tribune)
Of course some people had to sleep on it to decide what they thought about the trade. (The Bard's Room)
And Jim didn't recoil in horror after first hearing about it. (Sox Machine)
Lastly there's Cheat, and the host of follow-up comments, with the clearest picture of why KW pulled this trigger. (South Side Sox)
Okay, one more link. Jeeves lyrical odes to Freddy from last season. (Chi-Sox Blog)

The above links are exactly why posting about the White Sox is sometimes a futile exercise for me, especially since (as Fornelli at Foul Balls put so well) I live three days behind everyone else.

Can Ted Shake the Dew Off His Lilly?

2006-12-07T13:01:00.000-06:00

For $40 million dollars he can have a pack of pygmy servants do it for him. Hell, for a measly million dollars I'll do it for him.

In the interest of bettering my life, I've decided to go throw a baseball off the wall at Wrigley Field for an hour a day in the hopes that some club executive will notice my pliable throwing motion, my broken-elbow curve ball, my fast ball that's only about one mile an hour faster than my change up and my slider that has more to do with the ice I'm throwing from than my pitching ability. Yes, I too believe the Cubs wanna give away their money, so who better to give it away to than someone who really needs it like me?

If a guy who's a game over .500 lifetime (59-58) can be offered $10 million a year, I suspect I can fake it into say $350, 000 a season, just enough to get the landscaping done and pay off a few credit card bills and buy a fancy new car -- oh, and one trip to Las Vegas where I'll spend my last few dollars throwing a chip on 23 at the Roulette Table. Maybe I can find Jim Hendry just as he's being sedated for surgery and convince him I'm worth something to the Cubs. I can only imagine what the bat boys and girls make. The way the Cubs are giving away money this off season, you'd think they found an oil reserve under Wrigley Field or maybe the infamous Al Capone missing vault of Geraldo fame.

Whatever the case, Lilly's numbers are far from stellar, but I'd like to throw out this caveat: for most of his career, he's pitched in the AL East, the fourth level of hell for most pitchers. (It would have been lower, but Tampa Bay is good for at least three wins a season. Editor's update: Lilly was 1-1 with a 6.70 ERA in 3 starts against the D-Rays last season. So maybe the AL East is the fifth level of hell.)

For as much as I wanna say this is a good move by the Cubs, there as some stinky numbers involved. I could say he's an innings guy (181.2 last season), but those will be shortened severely in the NL having to bat more frequently and being pinch hit for. I could say the Cubs needed a lefty starter, but Glendon Rusch and Rich Hill are lefties so there's no immediate need for the Cubs there. And one more number I'm sure will astound Cubs fans, his best seasonal ERA was in 2002 when he was a part-time starter (11 starts)/ part-time reliever (5 relief appearances) for the Yankees: 3.40; he hasn't thrown under 4.06 in the rest of his nine seasons including a hurl-inducing 5.56 as recent as 2005.

At least the Cubs have moxie; they're spending money and don't care how it's done. Now where's my video camera so I can make my audition tape for when Jim Hendry's job becomes available in June? Hey, if Theo Epstein can do it, so can I. And I'll only use half the team as Ted Lilly's personal shaker.

The DePaul/ Illini Connection

2006-12-05T15:35:00.000-06:00

How can I let the DePaul defeat of Bill Self's #5 ranked Kansas Jayhawks stay off the Fleece & Flog radar for three days? (I know, my news is older than a subscription to a weekly sports magazine.)

Maybe it's the fact that Kansas already dropped a game to that fiercest of traditional basketball powers, Oral Roberts. (Quick ORU tie-in to the Southside: what's the name of the Argo High School alumnus who played with B.J. Armstrong for one season at Iowa before transferring to ORU? Submit your guesses in the comments and I'll post the answer in a day or two as an update at the bottom of this post.)

But Sammy Meija did his best David Booth impersonation and brought the Blue Demons all the way back from 14-point deficit at the Allstate Arena on Saturday to shock the Kirk Hinrich alma mater, or not shock the Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk group.

On behalf of Illini fans everywhere, I'd like to thank the DePaul Blue Demons for defeating the Self-ish one.

When was the last time Kansas actually won a big game? In their last national championship they were coached by a spry young man named Larry Brown who's now so old he's being paid NOT to coach the New York Knicks. In fact, Kansas has been an underachiever for years now. And with the hated Mr. Bill Self-ish at the helm of the Jayhawks, I really could care less. Roy Williams was someone I could root for at Kansas even if he flat lied about not moving to North Carolina; I wish nothing but a porous defense and turn-over inclined point guard for Bill Self-ish and his new contract extension.

But this post was supposed to be about the Blue Demons and their marvelous win over a highly ranked opponent and how, come tourney time in March, this win will add big points to its RPI, but as an Illini fan, I can't help but look at it from an anti-Bill Self-ish slant, especially after watching the Orange Krush turn to orange mush in the desert on Saturday as they fouled away their chance at beating a highly ranked team on the road in #16 Arizona.

Talk about a team going cold, after shooting somewhere around 70% in the first half the Illini couldn't do anything right in the second half and gave up a 16 point lead as Arizona exacted some small measure of revenge for their 2005 tourney collapse against the runners up for the national championship.

So in a circle of life theme, one favorite team wins (DePaul) while another favorite team loses (Illini), and the devil (Bill Self-ish) gets his due. Two outta three aint bad.

Fleece & Flog's NFL Top Five: Week 13

2006-12-05T12:18:00.001-06:00

Too much of a good thing always seems to result in a backlash of sorts. Finding flannel on the runways and catwalks of the fashion world in the '90s had as much to do with Kirk Cobain's death as did the shotgun hole in the back of his head. Michael Jordan's wearing of baggy shorts have lead to the creation of men's capri pants 20 years later. And too much sun worship can lead to a healthy dose of melanoma or at the least being the object of affection to all cobblers.

And now Power Rankings are beginning to feel a backlash. Of course they started back in Old Testament days when Moses decided instead of dealing with sins on a case by case basis he'd make a list of things the Israelites just shouldn't do, and ever since the world and history and mankind have been wrapped up in the making of lists of things most important.

Like who should face the Ohio State Buckeyes for the National Championship.

Or who's the greatest rock band of all time.

Or who's the sexiest female of all time.

With the addition of the globe-shrinking internet and free speech machine blogs everyone, their mother, brother, sister, dog, and dust mites, have ideas or thoughts as to who is number one and everyone is saying so. And some people are sick of all the power lists. Sure they belittle the thought process even though they're generally followed by some explanation of as why the rankings are as they are. Sure they support the A.D.D. afflicted culture have helped turn a generation of people into blurbettes. But the thing about Power Rankings that makes them so accessible is that they're fun -- fun to create, fun to discuss and fun to discredit.

And I don't care if anyone thinks I'm small minded, I'm gonna keep giving you Fleece & Flog's Top Five until I too put a shotgun in my mouth.

Onto the Top Five-----------------------------------

Indianapolis Colts (10-2): Yes, they lost this week, and to the Tennessee Titans no less, but the Colts have Peyton Manning and...
Da Bears (10-2):...Have Rex Grossman. The Bears defense can only shake their head from time to time wondering what's going on with Rex. One more thing, Devin Hester is a legit Rookie of the Year candidate.
San Diego Chargers (10-2): I didn't realize they were tied for the best record until I looked up the standings this morning. Are they the quietest 10-2 team ever? Maybe not, but they've played a lot of close games and had a few miracles happen which means they only get the 3 slot.
New England Patriots (9-3): Troy Brown is really such a throwback, two-way player. His masseuse bill has to be outrageous.
Dallas Cowboys (8-4): Wow, does it feel good to put another NFC team on these rankings finally. And the Bears had better watch out come playoff time for this team. Who the heck is Tony Romo?

So there you have it once again, my foray into the mind numbing world of Power Rankings. You don't like it? Take it up with the management, and I'll sic the resident arguer of this blog, Soxually Repressed, on your ass.

Mr. Lisa Dergan Is Back

2006-12-03T10:42:00.000-06:00

This is three day old news, yet I still feel compelled to say something about it.

If someone were to ask me a month ago the probability of the White Sox offering arbitration to Scott Podsednik, I would have said it was somewhere in the range of slim to none. And of course I would have been correct.

If someone were to ask me a month ago the probability of the White Sox offering Scott Podsednik an actual contract, I would have said it was as likely as me meeting, bedding and marrying Halle Berry.

Well, I guess I might have a chance with B.A.P.S.

The White Sox offered Pods a one year, $2.9 million contract under the ruse that championship experience outweighs talent. The real reasons had more to do with cost certainty and market inflation. And Pods was smart enough to know he'd not get much more in arbitration.

Personally, I think the contract itself is a bargain. Considering the market for starting LFers with "lead-off skills," I think it's a steal. Pods' 2006 was certainly a struggle, but nagging injuries and the pressure to repeat no doubt affected his play. A rebound season is not as unlikely as it seems.

And with a wife like his, I'd milk my struggles for all it's worth.

This doesn't register as a hot button topic with me the way it's done so with others, so here's the great Podsednik link dump so you can see what other White Sox fans are saying...

The Podzilla is back. The Podzilla is back! (ChiSox Blog)
Crazy doesn't begin to explain this signing to some people. (Foul Balls)
Some people think the signing doesn't mean he'll be back. (South Side Sox)
Then there are the disappointed ones. (The Bard's Room)
Some bargain the idea as a better risk. (Sox Machine)
Some ask Kenny Williams exactly what he's was thinking. (Nathan Whalen's Blog)

Hopefully that's enough input to get your Scott Podsednik fetish on; and if not, you can always look at the pic of his wife!

An Actual Feud

2006-12-02T10:47:00.000-06:00

Bears fans are supposed to hate the Packers; Packers fans are supposed to hate the Bears. Somewhere in posterity this rivalry is steeped; Halas and Lambeau are most likely the origins.

But they are the past. How could a Packer fan not shed a tear the day Bryan Robinson blocked Ryan Longwell's FG attempt to preserve the win the week after Walter Payton tragically passed away too soon?

Bears fans of late have acknowledged the greatness of Brett Favre and esteemed him a worthy adversary. Never before have such glowing words exited the mouth of such hell-bent enemies. Somewhere George Halas is rolling in his grave.

For whatever reason, the grudge match, the rivalry involving the Packers and Bears has shedded the evilness it once possessed. Gone are the days of Charles Martin body slamming a helpless Jim McMahon. Also gone are the cold shower locker rooms of seasons past.

The Bears/ Packers rivalry in today's NFL is more a fan creation than it is an actual rivalry.

But the Minnesota Vikings, now they're a nasty bunch of cusses.

For some reason, the true NFC North rivalry nowadays involves the marauding, mouth-running Minnesotans and our beloved, albeit bad-mouthing, Bears. Buried somewhat by the east coast soap opera that is the New York Giants and commentator-in-waiting Michael Strahan's girly bitch-fest was the burgeoning feud between one Viking safety Darren Sharper and Bears QB Rex Grossman. Seems Sharper had to come to the rescue of his teammate and fellow DB Dwight Smith after Grossman punked Smith and the entire Vikings defense by doing nothing more than throwing the winning touchdown in their previous meeting and giving the Vikings a little of their own trash-talking medicine.

According to Sharper, Rex is the most awful trash talking player ever -- like stuttering gun slingers ever really speak. They let their game do all the talking. Brett Favre was the master at smiling at an opponent and then tearing his heart out. But Rex's malfeasance was supposedly directed at a fellow shit-talker, one who was giving Rex a headache all day.

And maybe Rex deserved a little of the slander. Until that late point in the game, Rex had given the Vikings much to be thankful for including an interception returned for a touchdown. He was playing like your grandpa's soiled Depends -- shitty.

But after the 24 yard strike to Rashied Davis in the endzone for the winning touchdown, a torrent of NSFC (not safe for children) language melted the ears of many a Metrodome fan and burned in the hearts of all the Vikings defenders.

Rex was staking his ground. Rex was telling the main antagonist Dwight Smith right where he could shove that mouth-piece of his.

And now Sharper is sticking up for his tormented teammate, the one whose pride and win column both took a massive hit. I wonder what good ole Olin Kreutz thinks about Sharper's words. Kreutz, who once broke a teammates' jaw for talking too much while attending a gun range together, must delight in the incendiary. I wonder who the first Viking will be to have a Albert Haynesworth-like head stomp performed on him by the Bears' All-Pro center? My guess, it's Vikings DT/ NT Pat Williams, Olin's personal attack ad. The two just don't get along. Williams even accused Olin of lobbying for Williams to be kept out of the Pro-Bowl, not exactly the lovefest the Bears bestow upon Favre and the Packers these days.

The Bears defense has its own swagger these days. And flashpoint Viking Offensive Guard Steve Hutchinson and center Matt Birk just aren't afraid of the big, bad Bear. Jim Kleinsasser once bulled over all-world LB Brian Urlacher and left track marks in his wake. The Viking offense scoffed at the notion that this Bears defense is a fearsome as the media would some believe. What else would you expect from a team once coached by Denny "Then Crown Their Ass" Green?

When you break it all down, the Vikings and Bears just don't like each other. And they save the flowery platitudes for talking to their mothers.

And the NFL needs rivalries like this; it needs fresh blood, something to take the sting out of parity. The league has been looked at as not very exciting this season, with the slop that is the NFC and the I've-seen-this-story-before Indianapolis Colts. That the Bears are good again, and for two years in a row is a good start. And while the Bears/ Packers rivalry sustained fandom during the lean years, add the bad guy Vikings and the healthy new rivalry, and well, you've got some must see t.v. on your hands. And the NFL, and Bears fans, are better for it.

In The Line Of Fire: USC

2006-12-01T09:57:00.000-06:00

The problem with snow is that it is so cold when it happens. If it could be 55-60 degrees while people had to shovel, it might not be such a hassle. Soooo, while this columnist is sitting at at floor-time desk writing this piece, it occurs in the brain section that it is often convenient to have control over one's schedule, or workplace workload, or put more simply one's own destiny. So where is this rambling diatribe headed? Glad you asked. If you didn't, let's just pretend.

The thing about controlling one's own destiny is it sounds sort of easy to manage, like raising sea monkeys. Sometimes, though, it is more like raising an actual monkey. Not the fun helper-monkey kind, either.

For instance, one entity that controls it's destiny is the University of Southern California. Of course, some of the groundwork was laid years ago when the people making the schedule didn't give this year's team a pansy set of teams to play against. It seems North Carolina was already taken by another team trying to control it's destiny. Wonder how that worked for them. Digressing as it goes...

Talking of this year, there was a stumble against a conference foe. College football being constructed as it is, one loss, especially somewhat early, doesn't necessarily spell doom for a team. (Since loss has two s's, it technically can't spell doom, but that is another discussion altogether.) Guess who is sending the BCS computer a fruit basket? That's right, USC. Just as long as they win against UCLA.

This is where the whole destiny control angle really comes into focus. By taking care of the Navy-beaters of the world, USC has put itself at the top of the list for title-game contention. But first up, UCLA. Now bring some string, because this logic maze might get twisty. The now 6-5 UCLA put quite the scare into ND in South Bend (that's the town were Notre Dame plays it's games for you bandwagoneers). That's right, they almost beat the team that until recently was bleating that they deserved a shot at the title. Of course by losing to a team that lost to #1 OSU and losing to the team that will likely face OSU for the title, that took care of that. Logically, one might say if USC beat ND, which did beat UCLA, than one could extend this logic strand to say that UCLA doesn't really stand a chance. (Their respective records might say that, too.)

The problem with this logic is that it also explains New England's SuperBowl win over the '85 Bears. Oh, wait...The Dolphins beat the Bears that year (and this one, yes, stay focused here.), and the Patriots beat the Dolphins to reach the SuperBowl, so obviously the Patriots should have won it all. Except for all the defensive talent and Hall-of-Fame running back that the Bears had.

That is why USC controls it's own destiny. It's one thing to control destiny, and quite another to actually predetermine it though. Looking in the cliche handbook it says to write: That is why they play the games. Having said that, the battle for the city built on water-extortion (whole separate issue) should be won pretty handily by USC (sorry Jeeves). If that is so, and Mars doesn't fall out of retrograde, and Florida and Urban don't hunt down the BCS computer (moved to NORAD for security sake) with a club, USC will have the chance to show the other wannabes (in the end, there can be only one) how to handle a rebuilding year.

It is December 1st, so let the holiday greetings begin.
Happy ChristmaHannaKwanzaRam.
Until next time, be good. (Because he sees you when you're sleeping.)

Blackhawk's Q & A with a Guest!

2006-11-29T17:56:00.000-06:00

(Editor's Note: In honor of this being the 101st post here at F&F, we're trying the first interview ever at F&F.)

Most people think of NHL hockey as a joke. To lose a whole season to the greed and petty squabblings of group of spoiled rich people soured a great many people here in the lower 48 to the big league. And since it's return, the NHL has taken some odd steps in trying to restore its casual fan interest including changing rules to increase scoring and having the players walk around town to give away tickets.

(How would you like to be an elite athlete that has to barter for his meals? "Oh, please come see our games. Hey here's some free tickets. And don't forget to tell them that Nicky sent you." Seems like a righteous retribution if you ask me.)

But last season's playoff were still a source of joy for fans of competition. There's not a much more intense scene than that of a playoff hockey game; every hit is harder, every pass is crisper, every save is more clutch. There are no gimme's in playoff hockey.

Unfortunately for fans of the Chicago Blackhawks, playoff hockey is like a distant memory. Gone are the glory days of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Eddie Belfour and Chris Chelios. Lately the limp likes of Eric Daze, Jocelyn Thibault and Alexei Zhamnov have offered fans a view of what it means to be called the dregs of the league.

Back in the day, the firing of a Blackhawks' head coach would lead all the local sports shows, be front page news of the local newspapers, and be prime water cooler gossip; today it was the third story on television, the fifth page in the paper and a survey of multiple Chicago sports blogs provided nary a note on the situation.

But despite the crap-fest offered by Bill Wirtz and company, the Blackhawks still have fans, and fervent ones at that. And I've asked one of the most fervent to join me in a sit-down concerning the recent and very under-reported firing of Trent Yawney. Michael Miller, the most knowledgeable Hawks' fan I've read and the purveyor of the best Blackhawk fan site I've ever found (check out his comprehensive message boards...and honestly, there aren't many Hawks' sites out there), WirtzSucks.com, graciously granted my request to talk Tallon, Yawney and Savard.Below follows our Q & A...

F&F: Let's get this thing started nice and simple, what the hell was Dale Tallon thinking when he fired Trent?

Michael Miller: I suppose he was thinking about his own future as General Manager and how SOMEONE had to take the fall for this season sooner or later. I wouldn't doubt if he had a white-haired devil over his shoulder saying "It's either him or you. You decide." Personally, I think Dale should take more of the blame than he has. By no means is this fiasco all Yawney's fault.

F&F: Tallon's Wirtz-like demons aside, what did Trent Yawney do wrong?

Michael Miller: I hear people complain that Yawney messed with the lines too much or he didn't show enough emotion or that he refused to hold people accountable for bad play or that he depended too much on the veterans to lead the team as opposed to doing it himself, etc. Perhaps there's some truth to all of that but the guy could only play with the cards he was dealt. It wasn't his fault that Ruutu, Handzus, Havlat, and Khabibulin went down. I think the main thing he did wrong was take a job in which he was guaranteed to fail. Aside from that, I believe he did everything he could to make the best of a bad situation - a situation that wasn't his fault to begin with.

F&F: You mentioned that Yawney was guaranteed to fail. Why do you think that and why, without major personnel change, wouldn't Savvy be guaranteed the same failure?

Michael Miller: Honestly? I think Savard is guaranteed to fail. History pretty much tells us that the Blackhawk head-coaching job is a virtual career killer (similar to the Cubs manager spot.) The 'Hawks just dont have the talent needed to win in the NHL. That's not necessarily's Yawney's fault or Savard's (and not totally Tallon's fault either.) There's a plan in place and several solid drafts have definitely given reason for a more optimistic future. But history tends to repeat itself over and over with this organization. Somehow, someway, they'll find ways to screw it up.

Vorobiev and Yak-me-ov were 2 highly touted picks. Both are gone and Vorobiev was pretty much screwed over. Before that, Ty Jones was a cant miss prospect. There was talk of a great team being built around Daze and Ethan Moreau (until Moreau was traded.) Mccarthy, Bell, Calder, Arnason, Babchuk were all highly touted kids. All are gone.

A couple of years ago, this team was stacked with goaltending talent and prospects. That's been depleted in Tallon's tenure.

Sure they've drafted well to replace those guys - but there are no guarantees and draft picks are a crap-shoot: some will succeed. Most will fail. Hell. Most will be GONE by the time they get close to their prime.

From a fan's point of view - it's absolutely a "I'll believe when I see it" scenario. Until proven otherwise, the status quo will remain the same.

F&F: In my eyes there was improvement. They seemed to adapt well to the new rules and, until the injuries occurred, were scoring at a rate not seen since the Bobby Hull days. Yawney, a coach in the organization for 6+ years, in my eyes led that improvement. Or was it really replacement coach (and power-play orchestrater not to mention Hawks hero) Denis Savard's doing, and what will Savvy do that Yawney couldn't?

Michael Miller: I think you'll see a couple of things happen with Savard at the helm now.

One, there usually seems to be an initial boost in everyone's game when a new coach comes on board. Although it may not necessarily translate to wins (as the upcoming schedule is pretty tough.)

Two, as you mentioned, Savard took over the PP this year and there's been a noticeable difference, compared to the last few seasons, in the set up of plays. THAT, for sure, is a result of Savvy as opposed to Yawney.

Finally, and probably most important, Savard will benefit with the timing of Havlat's return. Havlat's not a god by any means, but he seemed to be a key spark in the early.

F&F: Elaborate a little for me (you somewhat addressed this answering the first question)...the inconsistency of the younger players, the injuries to the front line players, aren't these just excuses for the poor Tallon free agent choices of former Hawk Matthew Barnaby and current Hawks Adrian Aucoin and Nikolai Khabibulin, two of the most overrated players in recent Hawks history?

Michael Miller: I don't think the injuries are 'excuses'. When the top line and #1 goalie go down - it's a huge hit for any team. But the lack of depth, and perhaps overly high expectations on the kids, came back to bite the Blackhawks on the ass. Tallon's mistake in this regard was putting $20 or million of the precious salary cap money to 4 guys: Aucoin, Havlat, Khabibulin and Lapointe. He had to overpay, though, to some extent just to get free agents to come to Chicago. But a lack of wiggle room with the cap space and mere fact that players don't want to come to the train-wreck in Chicago hindered any possible efforts on Tallon's part.

I agree with the idea of not trading away one of the kids (Seabrook, Keith, Barker, etc.) for what would ultimately be a band-aid for this season. But there has to be other options than rotating AHL-caliber players in the lineup.

Maybe to free up some money, he has to SPEND money. Trade Khabibulin (or Aucoin), but agree to pay part of the contract. That way you get something decent in return and save a bit of room on the salary cap. It'll "cost" him a bit, but it would be worth it.

F&F: Okay last question...if hell freezes over and Bill Wirtz sells the team what the heck will you do with your domain name?

Michael Miller: I was actually relying on Peter (Wirtz) taking over and then his kids and then their kids....

But if the team actually get sold? I'll probably drink myself to death in celebration.

F&F: I'll make sure to join you if it does!

(Editor's Note: The banner at the top of this post is taken directly from WirtzSucks.com. All rights to said banner are reserved by WirtzSucks.com.)

Milestone Time: Post 100!

2006-11-29T06:04:00.000-06:00

Yep, this is officially post 100 in the three month life of Fleece & Flog, and we're damn proud of it! But what to write about? Hmmm...

We could write about how we'd rather have Denis Savard skating for the Blackhawks rather than coaching them, but no one really cares about hockey, right? The least Trent Yawney could have done when leaving the team is rip Bill Wirtz and Dale Tallon a new asshole. But we're betting they gave him quite the golden parachute to keep his mouth shut. Coward.

We could write about how the Illini and Indiana and Penn State all lost on the first night of the ACC/ Big Ten Challenge, but somewhere Dick Vitale is screaming at anyone who'll listen to him that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Maryland coach Gary Williams are the best in the business. And the din is too deafening to overcome. At least Lemont native Alando Tucker and Wisconsin won. Oh, so did Northwestern, but like hockey, no one cares about Northwestern basketball.

We could write about the two game win streak the Bulls are currently enjoying and how the players must love being able to sleep in their own beds again after that dreadful Circus trip, but the win streak is back-to-back victories over the dysfunctional New York Knicks, and they didn't play that well in the two wins anyways -- hardly something to be proud of.

We could add to the Ben Wallace rip job, and say that his overt insubordination tells of a deeper rift affecting the team than anyone had previously imagined, but if their early season play didn't already indicate that, well, then we're no basketball fans. The slumping shoulders tell the true story of that team. And we can't handle the thought of a return to the Jalen Rose days of the Bulls past. Free agents will again be shunning Chicago if coach Scott Skiles doesn't show a little flexibility.

We could write about hot stove reports concerning the possible departure of our man crush Joe Crede, but we'll let the rumors and innuendos settle as we search for a reason why Kenny Williams is even considering offering arbitration to Scott Podsednik. Thank god, KW saw the light and resigned semi-man crush, Ross Gload!

We could pine for the destruction of Wrigley Field (it is in a prime real estate area), but the idea watching Sweet Lou Pinella losing his mind when Alfonso Soriano declares he won't play CF is just way too sweet a thing to miss. And we actually like the Cubby Bear, and what would it be called if the ivy came tumbling down? A Prince-like The Bar Formerly Known As...?

We could write how we're seeing the gleam of a Super Bowl trophy disappearing as we type in the shadow of one Rex Grossman, and how under/over-rated (you decide) Brian Urlacher will dig Rex's grave for him if he keeps giving the ball back every time the defense barely takes a seat on the sideline, but we're not into writing about future Urlacher tomes called "If I Killed Rex."

We could express our remorse at realizing that maybe Notre Dame isn't as good as we wished they were, but why spoil a healthy bout of homerism even though we never attended ND nor lived in South Bend. Even the Fighting Irish name is a misnomer, and while the moniker may be the only thing we share in common with the institution of higher learning, we know that in actuality the university was founded by the French and some Potowatami Indians. What the hell do we have in common with them? Damn history. Damn Frances Wallace.

We could write about a great many things here in Chicago -- the possibility of the Olympics; the exploits of native sons Dwayne Wade, Donovan McNabb, Chris Chelios or Jim Thome (okay, so he's from the Peoria area, well, the Illini are from Champaign and by proxy Chicago, so we can use Thome as such); how Chicago will have the two most outspoken managers in baseball in Pinella and Ozzie Guillen -- we could go on and on.

But we'll really just write one small thing:

Thanks for reading, and come on back now, yah hear?

Harrelson and Pinella: A Conversation

2006-11-29T02:22:00.000-06:00

Date: The middle of June, 2007
Location: An undisclosed golf course somewhere in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.
Players: White Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson and Chicago Cubs manager Lou Pinella

Harrelson: Hey, Sweet Lou, how's that carmine derriere doin'?

Pinella: Hawk, you ol' son of a bitch.

Harrelson: So what's the bet today? A sleeve of balls to the guy who stays off the beach today?

Pinella: Eh, I don't know Hawk. I'm tired of gettin' hustled by you, Hawk. I mean, you live on this friggin' course.

Harrelson: I luuvvvv it when you analyze, Lou.

Pinella: Now don't get me started, Hawk, or I'll kick your ass like I did Dibble's.

Harrelson: I'm no can-o-corn, Sweet Lou, like Dibs was. Now you wanna talk can-o-corn. Jay Mariotti, now he's a can-o-corn. Probably never been in a fight in his life.

Pinella: Yeah, Hawk, what's the deal with that guy? At least Psycho Lyons talked shit a seat away from me. This Mari--how do you say his name, Hawk?

Harrelson: I just call him heiny bird.

Pinella: Huh?

Harrelson: You know, Sweet Lou, a bird that flies in concentric circles until it finally disappears up it's own behind.

Pinella: I thought you gave up the sauce, Hawk.

Harrelson: You're dadgum right, I did.

Pinella: (To himself) What the fuck is he talkin' about? (To Hawk) Anyways, so this Jay writer guy...I hear he doesn't actually attend games that he writes about and doesn't do interviews anymore.

Harrelson: Nope, he's afraid to cinch it up and hunker down. At least on the South side he is. I can't speak for that NL park.

Pinella: I don't have a clue what the guy even looks like. Maybe he hides in the back of the reporters and tells that Phil Rogers guy to ask his questions for him.

Harrelson: Nah, Rogers is a big hack, no contact guy. The heiny bird you just gotta reel him in, zone him in, and light him up...like I'm about to do with this 3 iron. (Swings a golf club) You can put it on the board, Yes!

Pinella: You know, Hawk, I sure am glad the guys upstairs at Wrigley got me Soriano. Alex Rodrigez was amazing, but this Soriano guy...

Harrelson: Lou, he's the right size, wrong shape for your club. You need a guy who'll bow his neck.

Pinella: (Stepping onto the tee box) Huh?

Harrelson: You need someone to do some chunkin' for you.

Pinella: Huh?

Harrelson: Someone to throw some hang whiff 'ems.

Pinella: (Swings his golf club) Pitching? (Looking at the flight of his ball) Cabron!

Harrelson: (Looking at Pinella's golf ball) Get foul! Get foul! It will! I luvvvv sleeves of golf balls!

Pinella: What do you mean we need pitching, Hawk?

Harrelson: Instead of spending all that money on one guy, you coulda got double barreled action in Zito and Schmidt.

Pinella: Ah, fuck it Hawk, and your team is any better?

Harrelson: Lou, you better grab some bench talkin' about my team or I'll cancel your postgame show.

Pinella: (Searching the rough for his golf ball) C'mon, Hawk, help me find my ball.

Harrelson: (Walking away from Lou) Sorry, Lou, but you're doing the dreaded lead off walk. Not me.

Pinella: For the forty years I've known you, Hawk, I can never remember you being such an ass. And you call me a hot head.

Harrelson: Sorry, Lou, but I got some gasssssss from the baklava my wife made last night.

Pinella: (Still searching for the golf ball) Here it is! Hey, Hawk, can I take a drop over here?

Harrelson: Sure, but you're just gonna hit a chopper, two hopper.

Pinella: (Swings his wedge) I like it! Stay on the green, stay on the green! How about that shot, Hawk?

Harrelson: (Long space of dead silence)

Pinella: What's the matter, Hawk? Cat got your tongue?

Harrelson: (More dead air)

Pinella: Hey, that guy on the green is playing too slow. Maybe we should ask him if we can play thru.

Harrelson: (Walking toward the green after swinging his club and mumbling to himself) I just missed that one.

Pinella: (To the guy already on the green) Hey, buddy, is it okay if we play thru? You seem to be a little slow today. (The guy on the green looks up and starts running away)

Harrelson: (Motioning to the guy running away) Hey, Sweet Lou, lemme introduce you to the heiny bird himself, Jay Mariotti. He gone!

Pinella: (To himself) I hate golfing with Hawk.

Fleece & Flog's NFL Top Five: Week 12

2006-11-29T01:43:00.000-06:00

We've all heard of the 7 second delay in live broadcasting. To censure any off-the-cuff remarks inappropriate for family viewing most networks send the live feed slighty staggered from the real event. After viewing the Bears game Sunday afternoon, I wonder if Rex Grossman is playing on a 2 second delay. His passes were consistently behind his receivers, his decisions a tad slow. Maybe he's taken one too many hits in the last few games and he and the doctors have missed diagnosing a concussion because his vision has been a tad foggy on the field.

Of the three interceptions and fumble, Rex seemed to be behind the time in each instance. Now rather than join the growing list of people calling for Rex's job, I suggest Lovie take Rex off slow motion and just let him hand off. Cedric Benson is finally showing up. Sadly for Bears fans, it'll be Rex or bust come playoff time. Can Bears fans handle that type of delay?

Onto the Top Five-----------------------------------

Indianapolis Colts (10-1): Smashing Philly doesn't necessarily get you style points anymore. Doing it with nothing but a running game does.
San Diego Chargers (9-2): Is is okay to call Ladanian Tomlinson LT? Isn't there something sacreligious about it? How does Lawrence Taylor feel about it? Can't we be more creative with our nicknames nowadays than to just call people by their initials?
Baltimore Ravens (9-2): Maybe Brian Billick knows what he's doing. Since Jamal Lewis starting running, the Ravens have been unstoppable.
Chicago Bears (9-2): Yeah, I know, I have the Bears ranked ahead of the team that just beat them, but the Pats just didn't impress me. Rex just disappointed me. Losing 17-13 on the road to a good team isn't all that bad. At home or on a neutral field, the Bears win.
New England Patriots (8-3): I was, however, impressed with Tom Brady. He was as cool under pressure as any QB I've ever seen play. He's this generation's Joe Montana to Peyton Manning's Dan Marino.

The Bears can win the NFC North outright with a win against Minnesota this week in Chicago. Let's just hope Rex is on time for the game.

No Headache Approach to the ND/ USC Game

2006-11-26T09:05:00.000-06:00

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. What were you thinking, Charlie?

Okay, to prevent a recurring headache I have at the end of each ND season, I'm not gonna dwell too much on what I should have known was the obvious outcome of a Notre Dame/ USC tilt. As has been reported to death, USC has won the last five meetings, and only last season's game was even close. USC just has ND's number right now, and ain't much gonna change until Charlie Weis can cash in a recruiting class in the top 5.

But I would like to point out one stat that might not get that much attention with Dwayne Jarrett doing his best Keyshawn Johnson vs. Northwestern in the Rose Bowl impersonation.

Notre Dame 4th down efficiency: 2 of 6.

Of the four failed attempts, only one can be called a reasonable attempt, and that was at the very end of the game.

The others?

With 2:34 gone from the opening kick off and ND at the USC 29 yard line, Coach Weis went for it on 4th & 9 instead of attempting a 46 yard field goal. Some will say going for and making it early would have put USC on their heels, but with no score and the NCAA rule of the ball returning to the line of scrimmage on a missed FG, any early points on the road are key. Instead the defense is jacked up, the offense is hyped and, blam-o, eight plays later USC scores a TD, 7-0 USC.

Trailing 21-10 and following a John David Booty interception, Charlie Weis inexplicably goes for it on 4th & 4 at the USC 46 yard line. On the USC 46 yard line? Wouldn't a punt down inside the 15 yard line be the right play? The defense was starting to get its bearings; they were bringing more pressure and had even blocked a punt. Good ole momentum was on the defense's side, not Brady Quinn's.

On the very next Notre Dame drive, which followed another Booty interception, Charlie Weis once again eschewed the field goal points and went for it on 4th & 6 at the USC 32 yard line. At this point, and the word is apropos, points are what mattered. A FG would have made it a one score game, and USC defense wouldn't crush the ND offense's spirit with its 3rd stop on 4th down.

Add to these strange calls the Darius Walker fumble on the USC 3 yard line, and ND was a team marked by missed chances. In all Brady Quinn's completion percentage tells the tale for the offense: 49%. If he completes 3 more passes, we're talking a whole different outcome, but then again (cliche alert), that's why they play the games.

Notre Dame is starting to make me feel like Cubs fans feel when they habitually say, "Wait til next year."

Thanks a lot for that, Charlie.

(Update 11-29-06: The guys at The Blue Gray Sky -- probably the best ND football blog around -- pretty much agree with my assessment. And I was actually gonna use 3rd down conversions in my analysis too, but as we know, I'm lazy.)

Headband-gate

2006-11-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

I've been doing some number crunching, and I've come up with a few stats concerning Ben Wallace.

For the 2006-2007 season, The 'Fro is earning $15,680,000.00.
Thru 13 games The 'Fro is averaging 33 minutes and 53 seconds of court time per game.
That's $191,219.51 per game thru an 82 game regular season.
That's $5643.47 per minute of court time.
That's $94.06 per second of court time.

If Ben Wallace's stats stay at their current per game rates...

Rebounds at a rate of 9.23 per game would equal $20,717.17 per rebound.
Points at a rate of 5.46 per game would equal $35,021.89 per point.
Personal fouls at a rate of 2.38 per game would equal $80,344.33 per game.
Assists at a rate of 1.77 per game would equal $108,033.62 per assist.
Steals at a rate of 1.62 per game would equal $118,036.74 per steal.
Blocks at a rate of 1.54 per game would equal $124,168.51 per block

If Ben Wallace's game play remains at it's current rate...

Smush Parker dunks over The 'Fro at 1.00 per game would equal $7,840,000.00 per Smush poster
Erick Dampier looking like Moses Malone at 6.00 times per game would equal $1,306,666.67 per flashback.
Outplayed by Samuel Dalembert at a rate of 8.15 minutes per game would equal $633,535.35 per minute Dalmebert sees the floor that The 'Fro doesn't
Minutes lost due to wearing a team-rules-breaking headband: 15.48.

Wait, what?

That's right. The day after Ben Wallace plays a season low 19 minutes 38 seconds in a loss to Philadelphia, he's benched at two different times against New York, including what must have been an embarrassing last second yank-job right before the start of the second half.

And the reason for the benching?

That's right. He wore his trademark headband.

So when did the Chicago Bulls become the New York Yankees? When did Scott Skiles gain the cache to impersonate Joe Torre? Did Jerry Reinsdorf secretly channel George Steinbrenner with recent clubhouse edicts including the White Sox insistence on haircuts for Joe Crede and AJ Pierzynski? Long, unsightly hair is one thing; a headband preventing sweat from getting in the eyes is another.

David Stern's recent iron-fisted tactics concerning wardrobe choices for players sitting on the bench and entering the stadium could be seen as an attempt at teaching a younger generation a lesson in class and appearance. And I can somewhat understand his implicit motives -- the perception of reality can outweigh actual reality. In other words, the NBA and it's players had an image problem, one of laziness, insubordination and carelessness. Looked upon as a league of thugs and malcontents with their hip-hop culture including bawdy bling and baggy clothes, Stern choose to institute a dresscode as a direct affront to the thug-life image most ballers chose to portray. Out went the big gold and platinum chains, the sweat suits, the baggy jeans; in were collared shirts, ties and suit coats. If the players look professional, less will be perceived as ignorant and troublemakers, and in turn the NBA will gain back a little of the lofty status it's lost since the golden days of MJ, Magic and Larry Legend.

But the Bulls insistence on no headbands seems to be taking the idea a bit too far. And if headbands aren't allowed, why are wrist bands or knee high socks okay? Both are a part of the street baller image I'm assuming the team is trying to suppress. Why are special shoes allowed? Aren't sneakers/ kicks the godfather of status when it comes to image in the NBA? The idea of uniform appearance would certainly be enforced if the players wore the same shoes; high schools and colleges don't have any problems with the same shoe method.

What if there were a medical need for a headband? What then of Skiles ban? Didn't Tyrus Thomas wear one on top of his face mask to keep the sweat from running in between the mask and his face?

And in the name of team harmony, wouldn't a happy Ben Wallace go a long way to better Bulls play than a brooding and sulking Ben Wallace? He's been accused of such actions in the past. Was the headband a middle finger in the direction of Skiles for the benching in Philly? When he entered the game in the second half with headband still in tow, was it in defiance of Skiles edict, a proclamation that he wasn't going to stand for such draconian laws?

I don't know exactly what Ben Wallace was thinking wearing the headband, nor what Skiles (or Reinsdorf) was thinking issuing such a meaningless restriction. What I do know is that it's one expensive headband to be causing such trouble.

The Great Sports Coaster Is Back!

2006-11-24T14:35:00.000-06:00

After a week's hiatus -- more because we're lazy than any other reason -- the great link dump day is here again. Add the recent Bulls slide to the mix and my brain has been somewhat paralyzed when it comes to thinking rationally. I need the Bulls to do well, or I might go all Colonel Nathan Jessup on someone and skull fuck his ass.

But in the interest of getting out the vote, or reading is fundamental, or a mind is a terrible thing to waste, or whatever catchphrase is popular right now, here's a few links that might help educate a man or woman or maybe just confuse the ever-living piss outta them.

I cannot and will not be held responsible for your reaction to the below links. I will, however, laugh at your ass.

So when does Forbes put out that richest people in the world list, and who on Fornelli's list won't make that list? (Foul Balls)
Following Frank the Tank's theory I should have rooted for the Detroit Tigers, right? (Frank the Tank's Slant)
I actually emailed The Southtown's Joe Cowley once. The guys at The Big Lead really don't like him. (The Big Lead)
Gary Matthews made a killing this off-season, and here's one White Sox fan thankful it wasn't in Chicago. (Sox Machine)
Jeeves thinks the BCS is a mess. Don't we all? (ChiSox Blog)
Another White Sox Fan with a Cubs/ Soriano rant. (Ron Karkovice Fan Club)
Remember the song, "Detachable Penis"? Well, it looks like life actually imitates art on a very big scale. (Deadspin)
Another arena/ stadium with a name too big for a billboard? Geez. (28 Days)
Bull's fans air their grievances. Of course, mine is the first comment! (Blog-A-Bull)
This week's non-sports link is a review of Bobby from the very underrated Chicago Reader. (Chicago Reader)
Non-sports link #2. My buddies play in a band. Their band is playing at O'Malley's in Alsip tonight. Join Us! (Imperial DLX)

And that's all the news that's fit to print. So remember boys and girls, as Gary Gnu always says, "No gnus is good gnews."

Thanksgiving: The Day After

2006-11-24T12:29:00.000-06:00

In a blatant attempt at pity, let me tell you, the reader, in four words how my day went yesterday: sleep, pizza, sleep again.

Thank god for pizza. I prefer mine veggied up -- onions, mushrooms, green peppers and black olives -- the pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars and green clovers of any good Chicago-style pizza. And since I don't get the NFL Network and subsequently last night's KC/ Denver game as part of my cable package, last night was quite lacking for anything of authentic viewing pleasure. In other words I was asleep around 9 PM with dreams of Thanksgivings past dancing in my dreams.

But I awoke around 1:30 AM to an epiphany of sorts. Actually I awoke to the smell of leftover pizza and the sound of whatever piece of educational viewing the History Channel was broadcasting at the time, but why quibble over words. And I digress...

How about the painfully obvious easy post detailing things for which I'm thankful. That's a tad too easy, right? Besides it's not really Thanksgiving Day anymore, is it? So we've decided to take the other side of the equation and be the Yang to Thanksgiving Day's Yin. We'll post the things we're NOT thankful for...

I'm NOT thankful for Alfonso Soriano joining the Cubs. Now I'll have to deal with the listening to another Cub outfielder with a big ego and little English skills.

I'm NOT thankful for Lou Pinella managing in Chicago because now I'll have to hear Hawk Harrelson cry about Jay Mariotti everytime he writes about the White Sox and Cubs.

I'm NOT thankful for Joe Crede's decision not to have surgery on his back. After four months of man love, I'll be forced to wonder what I did to make Joe not love me anymore when the strains and rigors of a long season affect his game and his back again in late August and September.

I'm NOT thankful for David Aardsma and his crazy stare especially after watching a documentary about Robert F. Kennnedy and realizing they have the exact same eyes. I have a feeling I'll have a few sleepless nights next summer after watching him pitch.

I'm NOT thankful for Brian Anderson's stint in Venezuela because it'll give Ozzie Guillen all the the ammunition he needs to start Rob Mackowiak in center field more than he should.

I'm NOT thankful for Brady Quinn's senior season since I'll be rooting against him next season when he's playing in Detroit.

I'm NOT thankful for the OSU/ Michigan game because anytime anything as ambiguous as a close game happens the cries go out for an NCAA football playoff and who can resist the allure of the Chick-Fil-A Bowl or the Car Care Center Bowl or the always splendid Dominios Pizza Bowl?

I'm certainly NOT thankful for what I can only hope is a bad joke by Bruce Weber in offering a scholarship to a high school fresheman. With the advancement of science, what's next? Tracking the fetal movements of embryos?

I'm NOT thankful for the hype machinces surrounding players like Greg Oden who are being hailed as the savior of the Chicago Bulls when he hasn't even played a single game for his current team, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Speaking of the Bulls, I'm NOT thankful for becoming so involved in a team that I've overlooked essential daily functions of life like eating, sleeping, bathing, etc.

And I'm definitely NOT thankful for Ben Gordon's shooting percentage that's hovering somewhere around the basketball version of the Mendoza line.

I'm NOT thankful for the human turnover, Chris Duhon, and hope Thabo Sefolosha will keep taking more of his minutes.

I'm NOT thankful for David Stern's new balls and the consternation they're creating throughout the league, and I'm not even talking about the new composite leather things the players actually shoot with.

I'm NOT thankful for the NHL's unbalanced schedule. It's just a travesty that the Original Six teams the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks have played one game in Chicago in the last three seasons.

I'm NOT thankful for Nikolai Khabibulin who turned his one hot season and Stanley Cup Championship into an albatross contract for the Chicago Blackhawks.

I'm NOT thankful for Michal Handzus, Martin Havlat and Mikael Holmqvist. Injuries have turned the H from hope into horror for the high scoringTriple-H line.

And speaking of injuries, I'm NOT thankful for another Mike Brown season-ending injury. Next season he should be required to get hurt in either the preseason or the first game of the season so he'll be available come playoff time.

I'm NOT thankful for the Miami Dolphins and their supposed hex over the Chicago Bears franchise. I thought bears ate fish for dinner.

I'm NOT thankful for a woeful NFC. It slights the Bears and has an AL dominating the NL only to be shown up in the playoffs feel.

I'm NOT thankful for Joe Theisman in the MNF booth. They should can him already and replace him with Mike Wilbon, a Richard Pryor to Tony Kornheiser's Gene Wilder.

I'm NOT thankful for ESPN in general and their MTV-like slide into a pop culture mess. When did reporting the scores become a red carpet event?

And I'm NOT even thankful for sports blogs. If I never found Bill Simmons, the Daily Quickie, Deadspin.com or South Side Sox (the first blogger/ blogs I'd ever really read), I might actually have a life right now and would have enjoyed a leftover turkey sandwich at 1:30 AM this morning instead of cold pizza.

Bowing Down to the Golden Calf

2006-11-21T14:00:00.000-06:00

This blog is far from objective; in fact it's main goal is to be unobjective, to sear, to masticate, to roar with lions' jowls at aches and pains received daily from the ineptitude of Chicago sports teams. Much to my delight, however, there hasn't been too many things to cry about lately; the White Sox are a year removed from a championship, the Bears are the best team in the NFC if not all of football, Notre Dame is headed to a BCS bowl with an outside shot at the championship, the Blackhawks were playing well until bitten by the injury bug, and even the Cubs made a joyful noise unto their fans with the free agent signing of Alfonso Soriano.

Then there's the Bulls, the team I drink the Kool-Aid from more often than not.

As it stands, the team is 3-7. They have no offense to speak of, the defense is in shambles and the prized rookie, Tyrus Thomas, is getting less than 10 minutes a game. And I can't find a word to say about them.

Yes, I feel hypnotized or mesmorized or brainwashed by the dealings of John Paxson. He put together a team that looked to be a winner, he put together a team that no one should score any points against, he put together a team that had Chicago embracing it before a single game was played. And I prostrated myself just as much as the next person.

So far, Ben Wallace is even money or maybe a little on the bust side. His contributions in the defensive post have been nice and his hustle for offensive boards have helped the Bulls win the three games they've won, but where's the fear he's supposed to strike into opponent's hearts? Smush Parker sure wasn't afraid of Ben when he posterized him the other day. Smush Parker?!?! The free throw shooting we expected, the inability to hold the ball like Tyson Chandler we didn't. Maybe Pax was sold a bag of rocks and has tried to sell it off as a bundle of roses to the fans. You can keep it, Pax.

I'd like to introduce Tyrus Thomas to former draft pick of the Bulls, Marcus Fizer. Here's what happens when you play out of control, Tyrus. You lose minutes, the coach's good graces, teammates' trust and eventually the fans' trust too. You get booed, become a malcontent, and suddenly you're on the inactive list more than you're off it. You care less cuz it seems everyone's against you, don't practice as hard, and one day when you finally get a chance, karma bites you in the ass and you get injured. You spend the next year working your tail off to make it back, but by that time the next flavor of the month has arrived and you're shipped off to the d-league to flounder in anonymity for the rest of your career all while wondering how you're gonna feed the five mouths your family has suddenly grown. I already see the question mark of your game, Tyrus. Just don't' go get it as a tattoo or I'll really be scared.

When did Kirk Hinrich become such a whiner? Just cuz he played well with the national team over the summer doesn't mean he's getting any more recognition now. Sure, he may be friends with LeBron, D-Wade and the rest, but he isn't getting their love anytime soon from the referees. And stop dribbling the ball so damn much and attack the hoop.

The steal of the century, Viktor Khrayapa, has been as advertised -- the Krap-man. Slower feet than Darius Songalia, less jumpers than Antonio Davis, matador defense like Eddy Curry; did John Paxson take all the bad traits of recent players and mix them into one batch to produce this guy?

Chris Duhon -- it should have been this Dookie point guard flying through the air off a motorcycle instead of the other one.

And now for the true enigma of the Chicago Bulls, Ben Gordon. He's not exactly someone I'd like to meet in a dark alley, he might try to sell me bubble bath or something. For as strong a body as the 6' 3" guard has, he plays like Snuggle in the rinse cycle. And the dumb turnovers. But most annoying of all? He'll catch a pass with a wide open shot, and he'll pump fake drawing a defender or two. For as good a shooter as Ben Gordon is, he's doesn't seem to wanna ever catch and shoot. It's always catch, pump fake, drive; or catch, pump fake, spin, travel; or catch, pump fake, dribble, turnover; never a simple John Paxson-like or Craig Hodges-like catch and shoot. The raw spot in the middle of my desk is from the pounding of my forehead everytime Ben catches the ball.

Some niceties here. As I've said before, Thabo Sefolosha is a steal. While he needs a jumper, he's fearless, a good defender and ballhander, and has a better NBA game already than Duhon. And Luol Deng can be a monster. I actually think he's a power forward in a small forward body. If he can work on a post game, the Bulls needs in the post may be solved.

But I'm done with my Mariotti diatribe. I love the Chicago Bulls, more than any other Chicago team around, so when I'm told one thing and shown another, I feel a little hoodwinked. Then again, it's only ten games, and the Bulls have started slow each of the last two seasons only to make a charge into the playoffs. At least Scott Skiles has a plan, but what that plan is I'm not sure. For now I'll just have to keep bowing to the golden calf and hope it grows into a charging Bull.

Fleece & Flog's NFL Top Five Week 11

2006-11-21T13:05:00.000-06:00

The maturation of Rex Grossman is an interesting thing to watch. From throwing the pigskin off his back foot to tucking the ball and taking a sack, Rex's improvement has been noticable. Sure he played with what looked like a sense of fear against the Jets, but to my eyes that was more game planning than anything else. He rushed some throws that ended up behind or at the feet of his receivers, but at least they weren't in the arms of defenders eithers. In fact, Rex probably made one dumb throw all game that luckily went threw a defender's hands.

It's funny how the coaching staff scared Rex into a game plan. They probably had the offense play eleven on thirteen to simulate extra pressure from blitzing, and in the first half Rex still thought there were thirteen guys out there. Sure there was a Bernard Berrian drop that didn't help, but he gets a small pass for trying to play hurt; Rex could have put that pass on his numbers instead of over his head. All in all there really wasn't that much pressure on Rex, and TJ and Ced's running made the day much easier for Rex to handle.

But he'd better get used to the rest of the games being this way. The way to beat the Bears is to pressure Rex, and we'll see if his second year of playing (he's finally made it past 16 games of play in his fourth year) has continued improvement. It sure looks like it to this Bears fan.

Onto the Top Five---------------------------------------------------

Da Bears (9-1): Yeah, this is a homer pick. Yeah, the defense kinda bent but didn't break. Yeah, they only scored 10 points last week. BUT...they won for the second week in a row on the road. They didn't allow a single point scored on the road. They beat a hot team on the road. Did I mention they were playing on the road? (Next week: @ 7-3 New England Patriots)
Indianapolis Colts (9-1): They finally lost a game...on the road...against a hot quarterback...and a tight defense...shocking! Not really. Going undefeated is the hardest thing to do in professional football. Now if someone will just shut up those '72 Dolphins. (Next week: 5-5 Philadelphia Eagles)
San Diego Chargers (8-2): This team has competing values. There's LT and Philip Rivers on one hand -- the guys you really root for, and then there's Marty Shottenheimer and Shawne Merriman -- the former a coach with a Napolean complex, the latter a poster boy for a chem-lab in each NFL training complex. I'm not jumping on this bandwagon just yet. (Next Week: 2-8 Oakland Raiders)
Baltimore Ravens (8-2): This is another team with a god-complex head coach. And don't think Brian Billick's not patting himself on the back right now for the genius behind installing himself as the team play caller. At least Jamal Lewis is happy. Oh, and how does that sideline feel, Ray Lewis, like somewhere god wants you? (Next week: 4-6 Pittsburgh Steelers)
New England Patriots (7-3): They absolutely crushed GB in Lambeau this week with a 35-0 drubbing. That home loss to the Jets kinda pissed Tom Brady off just a little huh? The defense was more pissed; they knocked out Brett Favre and his back-up, Aaron Rodgers, in the same game. (Next week: 9-1 Chicago Bears)

Thanksgiving week is upon us and along with turkey and dressing we actually get a Thursday night football game. Yes, for the first time in over 30 years, someone other than Detroit and Dallas will be playing a home game on Thanksgiving: Denver will be playing at Kansas City. For me the game of the week is the Bears on the road in New England. A win there should finally validate Chicago as the best team in the NFL, and it just might clinch the NFC North title too.

Cubs Magic

2006-11-20T14:18:00.000-06:00

Look over here kids, watch the beautiful assistant (high-priced left-fielder[?]), while your Uncle Jim looks to pull a rabbit (decent starting pitcher) out of his hat(his, well, you can guess).

The Cubs made the biggest splash they believed they could. They signed Soriano. If you wanted Barry Zito, you should have been born a New Yorker. Mark Buerle will be a St. Louis Cardinal before Zito is a Cub. Instead, they signed a guy to play a position he actually sat out a game to not have to play. His formidable offensive numbers scream for a 3-5 slot in the line-up. The problem is when he actually is put there in the line-up, he isn't so good. So lead off it is.

So how does that solve the Cubs pitching woes? It doesn't. Granted, it isn't the best year on record for free agent pitchers. Still, Soriano makes for better headline, if not so much better scoreline. He is an undeniable talent, but unless he can take the mound every fifth day, he won't help the Cubs into the playoffs alone. Hendry looks to have have fallen into the Alex Rodriguez-trap. Ask Texas and even the Yankees how they would love better pitching to actually win playoff games. As a White Sox fan, one could not be happier that the Cubs have decided to tie up their future so misplacedly. The Cubs seem to be hoping that they can get a medium-tier guy or two, and then get lucky that three or four of the starters pitch above all previous expectations (ala 05 Sox). Talk about a magic act. It would be nice to wish them luck, but, um, no it can't be done. It shouldn't take too long for the wheels to fall off this wagon. When they do, the Cubs band will be playing a different, more familiar song. Everybody join in if you know the words, it starts like this: Wait 'til next year...

Until next time, be good.

A Whole New Meaning to a Big Right Hook(er)

2006-11-20T02:53:00.000-06:00

All aboard the crazy train, where it stops, not even god knows at this point.

Our favorite rapist/boxer with a lisp can now add another profession to his resume. If you thought Mike Tyson could sink no lower, you clearly underestimated the storm of insanity that is Iron Mike. Tyson is now partaking in the world's oldest profession. No, he's not a connoisseur, but rather a provider. He is officially a prostitute. Tyson has hooked up with the infamous Heidi Fleiss who now has a 60-acre, legalized, brothel for women known as Heidi's Stud Farm.

Now that I think about it, such a move by Tyson isn't all that surprising. I'm not referring to his craziness, but rather his fondness of loving. Tyson was once quoted as saying,

"I may like fornicating more than other people. It's just who I am. I sacrifice so much of my life, can I atleast get laid? Know what I mean? I been robbed of most of my money, can I at least get a blow job?"

It all makes sense. Tyson loves to fornicate, and he's been robbed of most of his money, so why not fornicate for money? It's perfect, he's killing two birds with one stone.

Tyson on his new profession,

"I don't care what any man says, it's every man's dream to please every woman - and get paid for it."

I have two questions now for Tyson.

A.) Would he really please every woman? Would he really "please" a woman like this?
B.) What's his prostitute name going to be?

Prostitutes are required to have ridiculous names like Candy or Star or Hooty McBoob or Chesty LaRue, so what will Tyson go by?

He could go for the always classic Buck Naked a la Seinfeld. Perhaps he could go by Big Right Hooker and pay respects to his roots as a boxer. He could also go as Big Nasty Nate in homage to his days in jail and to the movie Half Baked. Maybe he'd go and make a play off Brokeback Mountain as everyone else has done in the past year and go by Broke-Ass something or the other to relate to the fact that he has no dough.

Regardless of what his name will be, I think Mike will be very successful in his stint as a gigolo. After all, he claims he could "sell out Madison Square Garden masturbating." Plus, if there are any unwanted pregnancies, Mike can just "eat his children."

So here's to you Mike. You've gone from boxer, to poet, to male prostitute. As you approach this new challenge, just remember this one bit of advice, "Don't be a fool, cover your tool."

I Must Be Having A Flashback

2006-11-19T18:58:00.000-06:00

Last night's ephemeral jaunt into the twilight zone ended with the buzzing of an alarm clock at 11:55 AM this morning so I could be awake to watch the Bears/ Jets game. Let me tell you, I was tired. My throat was sore, my eyes were puffy, and slipping out from underneath the covers was a task I dreaded.

But a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. So after remaining in bed for the first quarter, I courageously crawled out of bed to check how my fantasy football teams were faring. Swooning from a light head and empty stomach I stumbled over to my desk, turned on the computer and found the bookmark to my first team. (Lee Evans massive first quarter staked me to a lead in two of my three matchups.)

The Outlook email notification told me to check the mail so I found a comment from Fornelli about something I posted yesterday, something he obviously found bemusing cuz all it read was, "(shakes his head)." One of the few commenting problems Blogger has is the non-identification of what post the comment email originates from, and with the ambiguity of the comment I needed to check the site to see what had Fornelli shaking his head.

Upon opening the site, I found the post just below this one which I really don't remember typing, but there were no comments attached to it so to the next one I went, the one with a big ole' pic of "Go Blue" staring me in the face. Yikes. Without looking, I knew what Fornelli was shaking his head at.

So after yesterday's games where did Notre Dame stand in the latest rankings? The AP and USAToday/ Coaches Poll were both available by this time, and the next link I clicked was ESPN.com to check it out.

The dream world/ fantasy land I'd invaded last night in order to post such a crazy thing as flags and flaggers suddenly flashed before me. On the television to my left the Bears were struggling with a mediocre Jets team, but that was no dream. The Bears have had issues lately. No, I felt the tug of the prior night's musings cuz of the headline before me: The Cubs Sign Alfonso Soriano for $136 Million.

Huh? Was I still asleep?

Was this part of my nocturnal journal?

A pinch of the skin didn't help; I was still groggy with sleep. Maybe I needed to clean the plumbing, get the blood flowing, get the neurons firing in the brain. Then again, maybe I needed to dry out from yesterday's cough medicine overdose.

The Tribune Company doesn't step out that often to make a big splash in the free agent market; they normally make their hay by trading for big names. They did so for Sammy Sosa, D-Lee and Aramis Ramirez. No, their free agent spending is used on the Todd Walkers, Jeremy Burnitzs or the Jacques Joneses of the baseball world -- third tier players used as stop-gap measures until something better comes along. Or they'll save their money to resign their own guys like A-Ram and Kerry Wood.

No, this headline didn't register in my cerebral cortex because it's something the Cubs management would normally never attempt. Look at the outrageous numbers included in the contract: 8 years at $17 million a year. And this after they just spent a bundle resigning A-Ram. What's with the recent unconscious spending spree? Wasn't the Cubs real problem pitching? Shouldn't they be spending that money on two established starters like Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt? Ten million for Zito and eight or nine for Schmidt would have given them a rather formidable rotation with Zambrano, Prior and Wade Miller or maybe even one of the many up and coming rookies they started last year.

But didn't the Cubs just sign a 2nd baseman, Mark DeRosa, and isn't A-Ram the 3rd baseman for the foreseeable future? What happens to Matt Murton's growth if they throw Soriano out in LF where played most of last season? Does this signal the end of the Juan Pierre era in CF, someone every Cubs fan will tell you they were very high on last year? They can't possibly spend any more money on free agents without risking a huge hit from the luxury tax, can they?

This certainly would signify a change in team strategy, one more to the liking of new team manager Lou Pinella. In fact the Cubs remind me a lot of some of his Seattle teams --big big lineup, fair to okay pitching, defense that will be tested down the lines other than at firstbase.

But now I'm thinking crazy. I'm speculating about the lineup, rotation and defense of the Cubs, a team I dislike almost as much as the University of Michigan. My eyes are starting to swell again, the Bears are still mired in a 0-0 tie at half-time, and I'm having vision of flaggers again.

"Get out quicker," that was last night's medicinal message.

"Get back into bed, you're seeing things" is what I'm hearing today. I can't really be seeing a Cubs team that's giving itself a chance to compete, can I?

Thoughts From a Drug-Addled Brain

2006-11-19T03:04:00.000-06:00

Okay, the little insomnia outcropping from my flu bug impels me to post some garbled and unintelligable thoughts on how certain Chicago teams are fairing right now. Usually, we like to be flippant here at Fleece & Flog, but a semi-serious -- albeit rambling -- post is from time to time a necessary evil. And I know I'm as far from Hunter S. Thompson as the earth is from the moon, so don't give me any crap about the Fear and Loathing vibe. In the throws of a Young Guns-like peyote (the pic on the left) vision quest my mind is wandering to places unforeseen.

Where will the vision stop first?

Join me to find out...

I'm driving northwest on Archer avenue turning right onto to 35th street when I start seeing flags and flaggers. Park here for cheap, avoid the mad scramble at the regular lots, get out quicker, get out quicker, get out quicker. And then I see the grand facade of the US Cellular Field still a mile or so away, but still "get out quicker" runs thru my mind.

Get out quicker.

Neal Cotts got out quicker; he was traded to Cubs. Mark Beuhrle tried to get out quicker; he was seen at Busch Stadium during the World Series wearing a backwards St. Louis Cardinals hat, his wife being overheard to have said they couldn't wait for him to pitch in St. Louis. Brian Anderson is getting out quicker; he alienated himself from team management by being a headcase, hard to work with.

Who else will get out quicker?

Jon Garland is rumored to be heading to Texas since one of the starter has to go to make room for Brandon McCarthy. Scott Podsednik is surely leaving town with a ring and a wife and a tail between his legs. Juan Uribe too may be headed for the Kenny Williams scrap heap if KW can pry Michael Young from Texas.

Get out quicker.

The list of 2005 White Sox is dwindling and I'm wondering who'll be the next to get out quicker.

Freddy Garcia was terrible for much of 2006, Jose Contreras had injury troubles again as did Bobby Jenks, and Joey Cora won't be waving Paul Konerko around 3rd on any more bloop singles.

The fanciful, unexpected happiness the 2005 season provided only made the failure of 2006 more devastating. Get out quicker.

World Series championships don't come along very often, certainly not in Chicago, so don't expect a repeat performance anytime soon is the prevailing notion. Get out quicker.

Living and dying with a team and players holds nothing in the way of loyalties as older generations' teams did. Why care about Scott Pods when after one bad year he's traded or let go? Why scream for Jim Thome's return knowing Frank Thomas is just let go after years of hard -fought, if somewhat petulant, service. Get out quicker.

The last flagger on 35th and Normal avenue passes and instead of parking I head straight for the ball field, the ball mall, the distraction in action. Maybe I'll just drive on past so I can get out quicker by not getting out at all. I mean, who's playing for the White Sox this week? Who's still around even from a 99 win team in 2000?

Change is constant, chaos has its merits, and nothing is as bewildering and wonderful as it was as child. Well adjusted people are just that -- people who don't fear change, but can all change be good? My father talks in reverent tones about players he grew up with. I followed Harold Baines and Ozzie Guillen with a hero-cult passion as a child. But nowadays, the most time any fan can expect a player to stick around for is five years in one city. It's the state of economics in baseball, and unless Derek Jeter is on your team, expect your favorite players to leave.

Subconsciously, I wonder what sort of an affect the constant flux of player movement has on the youth of our nation. Nothing is sacred anymore, certainly nothing as arbitrary as sports and sports figures (remember, a Chicago kid uttered the words, "Say it ain't so, Joe"), but what kind of message is being sent to our children when their favorite player leaves town? Get out quicker? What underlying principles are being undermined by seeing players and GM's bowing down to the almighty dollar? Get what you can and run?

But the stadium is now in my rear-view mirror, and I'm turning onto the Dan Ryan Expressway to escape the flaggers and their "get out quicker" subliminal message. If only I would have thought of that before going to a White Sox day game in the middle of the week. Oh, the gridlock.

(Author's Note: The original thought for this post started in my mind as a bitch-fest about the Bulls and Blackhawks and somehow morphed into a diatribe about the turnover rate of baseball players. See, I told you I was shiftless tonight from all the drugs. Stream-of-consciousness writing is just so damn lazy it cries out for times like these.)

Saturday, In the Park...

2006-11-18T15:19:00.000-06:00

You'd Think It Was the...18th of November?

Or Step 1 in Notre Dame's march to the National Championship.

And here's the unfortunate part. Normally I'd never ever ever use the words "root for" and "U of Michigan" in the same sentence unless they were followed by the words "swallowed by an earthquake-induced sink hole", but today is a day that will forever go down in infamy for Fleece & Flog's main administrator.

I have to utter the words go blue.

The place I once claimed to forever to remain nameless on this blog will now occupy a huge place for three hours on the pro side of my cheering equation. You see, as I've mentioned before, U of M beating Ohio State (pretty handily in my estimation) is Step 1 of the "getting by with a little help from their friends" part of an ND National Championship. And as I type, U of M and OSU are tied 7-7 at the start of the 2nd quarter in Columbus.

Florida has already won today, running up the score on West Carolina, 62-0, and Arkansas is in a close game with Mississippi State, leading 21-14 in the 3rd quarter.

But the game that occupies everyone's attention is the game challenging my own allegiances. Go Blue.

An update of the U of M/ OSU game has OSU leading 14-7 with Chad Henne getting flagged for intentional grounding. What the fuck, blue? The grumbling will increase as the game goes along especially since it's so against my nature to root for U of M. It's like a Hatfield inviting a McCoy to Thanksgiving dinner together and not poisoning his cranberry sauce, or maybe a Palestinian inviting a Jew to brunch without slipping a little pork into his falafel.

And, yet, fate may have already intervened in this game. The face of U of M football -- actually the face of U of M anything -- Bo Schembechler died on Friday. Is it possible that the team may have it's thoughts elsewhere? Invited by U of M coach Lloyd Carr to speak to the team on Thursday, Schembechler's last public appearance was to the team. How can the blow of his death not be on the minds of Henne, running back Mike Hart and the rest of the Wolverines? The last thing they needed was the distraction of his death.

And a distraction it may be indeed. An update on the game has OSU flying 91 yards on only four plays for a 21-7 lead over the Dead Schembechlers (no, not the very recently disbanded punk band of same name). And an 10 yard sack of Chad Henne has Michigan reeling again. Go Blue?

But Notre Dame needs a U of M comeback, and there is plenty of time. A flu bug has me wrapped in layers of sweat shirts and pants with a cup of Thera-Flu steaming next to me on my desk, or I 'd be hootin' and hollerin' at my buddy -- and Michigan fan -- Zilla's house. Of course I'd be getting teased to no end for switching allegiances on this game as happened the only other time I rooted for Michigan (a similar situation some years back where ND needed U of M to beat OSU to get a National Championship shot). From time to time, my ND friends will call me traitor, and my U of M friends will say, "C'mon, Jimmy, gimme just one Go Blue, you closet Wolverine." Well, here it is, guys. Go Blue!

Go, Fight , Win!
GO, FIGHT, WIN!
GO BLUE!
GO BLUE!
GO BLUE!

And Step 1 in the Notre Dame National Championship march will be complete.

Oh, the agony of saying go blue. Maybe I'll fake laryngitis the rest of the day so I don't have to hear myself say it.

(Update: It's 2:45 AM and on top of the flu bug, I'm now afflicted by a bout of insomnia. Of course it could be the pseudoephedrine coursing thru my veins after quite a few drinks of flu/ cold medicine -- shoulda took NyQuil I guess -- but I'm here to say that the day's events have not proceeded exactly as I had hoped. Most likely, following the close win by Ohio State University over the subject of this post, Notre Dame will be playing in a non-championship BCS game come January, and my ego will wallow in the knowledge that I rooted most of the day for a loser which is somewhat ironic cuz I already knew the Wolverines were just that. For shame, James. For shame. )

In The Line Of Fire: Muhsin Muhammad

2006-11-17T14:45:00.000-06:00

So what did Muhammad ever do to anyone? Nothing, really. Unless you belong to the Bears opposing defense. This isn't necessarily a diatribe to his otherworldly statistics. Instead, it is a paean to his skills, and the drop off behind him.

When he was signed, Muhammad was a significant piece of the puzzle for the Bears offense. Some people are all excited about what he is doing this season. Some people have wondered what took so long. Some terrible offensive coordinating by Ron Turner's predecessors, and inconsistent (at best) quarterbacking have finally, it seems, been put behind him. His numbers are solid, if not spectacular. The question to ask is what would happen if he went down?

The Bears upper management has done a good job at making sure that for the most part they have pretty good depth. Wide Receiver is not the best example of this plan. Remember David Terrell? Now, to be fair, it isn't all Jerry Angelo's fault. Terrell seemed good to a lot of folks coming out of college. Otherwise, it has been injury that has held back some of the receivers. Mark Bradley has looked okay in flashes, but flashes rarely win SuperBowls. Berrian seems to be having a good year, if his ribs can hold together. Justin Gage appears to be the little engine that could fly down field but couldn't hold on to the ball. Together they make a motley assortment of plug-in types who collectively can provide decent 2nd, 3rd, 4th receiver help. The real problem is if Muhammad goes down, which of them would step up? Who could? Unlike a small fantasy league, it isn't like the team just picks up another number one WR off the waiver wire. Barring the immensely rare in-season trade, the answer would have to come from the Bears current roster. Does anybody not already associated with the Bears really believe that is likely?

In fact, if Muhammad should go down the team's next best option isn't a wide receiver. It's tight end Desmond Clark. Clark started the season strong but has been attracting more attention lately, partially due to opposing defenses realizing his importance in the passing game behind Muhammad. Better to let the other, "lesser" threats in their eyes, make the play to beat them.

So there it is. On the march to the Super Bowl, it is a wide receiver who holds the key. If Rex goes down, there is the capable, if not beloved Brian Griese to take over. If Thomas Jones, goes down, Benson will get all the carries he can handle and than some. So it is with most of the lineman on both sides of the ball. Pretty much every other spot has at least reasonable backup without insane drop-off. If Berrian were to become number one, that leaves Bradley and Gage to two and three. That fearsome wide receiver set is unlikely to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl berth. Maybe the playoffs, but this team has, as well it should, bigger, grander aspirations. So if you're a Bears fan, send all your warmest wishes towards Muhsin Muhammad. The Bears, and their Super Bowl dreams, need them.

Until next time, be good.

Loyalty At It's Finest

2006-11-16T17:11:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay, okay. By now I'm sure most readers have heard of the trade between the Cubs and the White Sox. The particulars are Neal Cotts (*sarcasm alert* one of my FAVORITE pitchers) for David Aardsma and minor leaguer, Carlos Vasquez. Here are Jeeves' ChiSox Blog words on the numbers the two new Sox put up last season...

Neal Cotts is heading north, and in return we get bug-eyed David Aardsma and minor league reliever Carlos Vasquez. Vasquez, a 23 year-old lefty, had decent numbers in high-A ball and AA ball. In 85 innings he had a 2.75 ERA with 91 K's. In 45 appearances for the Cubs, Aardsma (who you may remember for replacing Hank Aaron as the player listed first alphabetically in basbeball history) had a 4.08 ERA. In 53 innings of work he had 49 K's and 28 BB's. He may not look like much, but his second half was markedly better, which bodes well. Post-ASB, he had a 3.12 ERA in 35.2 innings and had 35 K's along with 14 BB's.

A two-for-one trade usually means the solo tradee was the more valued of the participants, but as all Sox fans know, we have Don Cooper the magician to help smooth the ruff edges on any prospect in need of minor adjustments. If his mechanics are right, Aardsma throws in the mid '90s and would give the White Sox a back-ended bullpen featuring four flamethrowers. Last year Coop turned flame-out Matt Thornton into en fuego lefty in the matter of one spring training, so the hope for any pitching acquisition is at an even keel, 50/50 before he ever throws a pitch in a Sox uniform.

As for Carlos Vasquez, maybe the simple matter of an s replacing a z will mean money to the Sox. Yes, I refer to his homophonic brother, Javier. And don't give me the Vanilla Ice "...It's not the same thing..." crap about how to pronounce his name either. They sound exactly the same. And other than the sound of the name, I know nothing about 'Quez the Younger except what Jeeves has posted. But the current make up of the Sox pitching staff says he'll be in Birminghm or Charlotte come opening day rather than 35th & Shields. A worthy prospect or trade bait, perhaps?

As for Cotts and the Cubs, it's was nice of the White Sox to trade Neal up North so he'll not have to move out of wherever it is he lives during the season. And plying his trade in Wrigleyville, the bachelor will now have better access to all the gay clubs he wishes to attend. (That was in no way any slander toward the gay community. They might not even want Neal as one of their own.) By the way, being from Belleville, IL, a suburb of St. Louis, do you think the Kenny Williams had a sly smile on his face knowing he traded a boyhood Cardinals fan to its hated rival?

"Thanks for all your help, Neal. Now feel the pain of 2006 when you go home in the off-season wearing that Cubs uniform."

Hows that for loyalty?

Shed a Tear, Laugh at Life

2006-11-15T18:37:00.000-06:00

I can't bring myself to post anything substantive concerning the Bulls right now. The misery with which I watch every waning second has somehow morphed into a rather healthy habit of fruited beer and Black Haus. Last night's fouling of the best free throw shooting team in the NBA wasn't without its merits though: practicing their boxing out under the basket without repercussions. (The Mavs didn't miss a free throw. 24 for 24!) And at least I know I have strong neck muscles with all the head shaking going on.

Judgements this early in the season are worthless especially with eight new faces on the roster, but I'm not liking what I'm seeing at all. Shaky perimeter defense, surprisingly shoddy rebounding, the inability to score points: all these things make for a very unhappy administrator here at Fleece & Flog.

"But I'm here to tell yah/ there's something else.../"

The Matadors!

In times of despair, dancing fat guys always make me laugh. And that'll save me from the smack I'm about to spike my veins with.

How About a Happy Happy, Joy Joy for Two White Sox

2006-11-14T18:20:00.000-06:00

Finally! Some love for Joe Crede! He and Jermaine Dye earned Silver Slugger awards voted on by major league managers and coaches for the best hitters at their respective positions. Looking at the numbers, JD certainly deserved his award, but comparing our man-crush, Joe Crede, to A-Rod's numbers, and you just sort of have to wonder what the voters were thinking. But I'll take it, as will Joe Crede, and any A-Rod backlash -- perceived or real --is always a good thing!

For a closer look at a comparison of Crede's and A-Rod's numbers check out Jim @ SoxMachine.com's piece breaking it all down. As Jim points out, prior to a September swoon, they were just about even.

And Now a Word About the Clown Princes of Chicago

2006-11-14T15:27:00.000-06:00

A recent survey (the link to which I do not have) stated that the White Sox had taken over status as the top sports team in Chicago. I'm not sure what the survey was based upon, or whether the study was scientific or not, but one thing is for certain: the Cubs have definitely dropped. (How the White Sox rate over the Bears is the real mystery, if you ask me.)

And yet, maybe there are some signs of hope for the Northsiders. Coups such as Lou Pinella and Alan Trammell joining the coaching staff certainly helped, but in what I think is probably more a step back now there's word that Aramis Ramirez and Kerry Wood resigned with the Cubs this past weekend.

Despite his decent numbers, I can't get past the enigma of Ramirez being a poor man's A-Rod. And while A-Rod has never been called lazy, A-Ram has. He posted his gawdy numbers this year when the season was well out of reach for the Cubs, and his defense has never been called stellar, although he supposedly had less errors this year than in previous ones. Was that a case of him getting to less balls? Let's look at the numbers and see. (Note: the following numbers are strictly qualifying NL players.)

A positive for A-Ram: Fielding Percentage: .965, tied for the best % with Scott Rolen and Ryan Zimmerman for 3rd basemen who qualified for leader status (2 out of every 3 games played)
A negative for A-Ram: Total Chances: 375 to Rolen's 428, and Rolen played in 14 less games and 136.1 less innings than A-Ram. Zimmerman, who played in 14.1 more innings than A-Ram had 427 put-outs.
A positive for A-Ram: only 13 errors.
A negative for A-Ram: a Range Factor of 2.41 ((PO + A) / innings played), lowest in the NL.
A positive for A-Ram: 110 put outs and 252 assists, both career highs
A negative for A-Ram: Zimmerman had 152 put outs, and Rolen has 320 assists
A-Ram's Zone Rating, a defensive metric put together by the geniuses/ geeks at STATS, Inc., was .772 compared to Pedro Feliz's .817 who had 96 more chances than A-Ram. Yikes! The stodgy Morgan Ensberg had an .821 ZR!

I think it's safe to say A-Ram's nice fielding percentage was more a result of getting to less balls than it was to stellar defense. Sure, he may have played better than before, but this was a contract year. And as everyone knows, players perform big in contract years. Let's also balance out A-Ram's big offensive numbers with his contract year status. What will the Cubs get now that A-Ram has all that money, now that he'll have D-Lee back as protection in the lineup? Time will tell.

As for the Kerry Wood signing, who woulda thought they'd ever hear the words again, "Now pitching for the Cubs, Kerry Wood"? Then again, spring training hasn't started yet, and he hasn't had a chance to injure himself again. I'm betting he doesn't make it out of April healthy.

One more Cubs note. Sammy Sosa says he's clean. He says people want to jump on him because they're jealous of what he's done -- three straight years of 60+ homers. He says he wants to play again to get to 600 homers. Well, of course he's clean; he took a year off to get all the crap out of his system. Either that or he could have taken some cutting edge, designer drug undetectable to current MLB drug tests. You know the Dominican Republic is the lab rat for performance enhancing drugs and their makers, and Sosa has just enough money to back such testing for his own personal vindication. I'm not saying he did, I'm just saying.

(Update: The Cubs are about to sign former Texas Ranger 2B Mark DeRosa to a 3 year, $13 million dollar contract. The second coming of Todd Walker -- Baseball-Reference.com likens him to Tony Graffanino -- makes an appearance on the North side. Nothing like sticking with the status quo, Cubbies.)

Notre Dame's National Championship Hopes in a NutShell: Albeit a Very Big Nutshell

2006-11-14T14:28:00.000-06:00

I am unapologetic about my love for Notre Dame football.

Notre Dame stadium is a simple structure, unobtrusive and unshorn with frills and side show attractions. One simple scoreboard hovers over the south endzone and the press box stands silently on the visitor's sideline as unobstructing as a bird flying overhead. There are no gawdy suites, no garish displays of Notre Dame's glorious history stealing the attention of spectators inside the stadium. Outside, the statues of coaches and players stand in silent reverence, almost pious in their relief. There is a quiet calm surrounding Notre Dame stadium, a hallowedness, an awe-inspiring aura that wraps fan and opponent alike.

There's something classy about the gold helmets and the unadorned uniforms. The simple message every Notre Dame football player passes and embraces before entering the playing field expresses not only a sporting motto, but one that every person can use in every day life: "Play like a champion today." Bring your best, boys, cuz any less would be an affront to your own honor. Notre Dame University asks nothing less. Is it any wonder that a player such as Randy Moss never made it to Notre Dame?

Even the religious spectacle of Notre Dame has an un-put-upon feeling. Sure Touchdown Jesus is seemingly out of place in a world driven by money, cockiness and greed, but the rectors and fans and students and athletes all maintain the Notre Dame tradition of attending mass or making a pilgrimage to The Grotto to light a candle.

And if we're talking tradition, who can forget Knute Rockne or the Four Horseman, Grantland Rice's immortalization in print? Who can forget the golden boy, Paul Hornung, or Heisman winners Johnny Lujack or Tim Brown? Joe Montana is an ND alum, and (with apologies to Unitas and Elway fans) is there a greater QB in history than Joe? Ara Parasegian coached them, and an ND alum was immortalized on film who played in all of one game for two plays for his entire career.

I love Notre Dame football, and I still think they can win the national championship this year, but they'll need a little help from their friends. Here's what must happen for ND to play on January 8th in the BCS championship game.

First and foremost ND must win out. They have Navy this weekend and then the biggie: a road game versus USC.
Michigan must beat Ohio State pretty handily.
USC needs to beat Cal this weekend to maintain top five status.
Rutgers must lose one of its three remaining games against Cincinatti, Syracuse or West Virginia (looking like a big game).
Florida loses to Western Carolina (not gonna happen) or Florida State (good possibility)
Arkansas loses to Mississippi State (yikes) or LSU (most likely) or loses to a two loss Florida team in the SEC Championship game.

I can't see West Virginia or Boise State or Wisconsin or LSU leap-frogging the Irish if the above scenarios play themselves out. However, Ohio State could sneek into the BCS championship game even if they lose a close game to Michigan, and I can't see the Irish leap-frogging the Wolverines if Michigan loses solely because of their bad loss to Michigan early in the season.

So light a candle at your local parish, light a match, light a gosh-dang bonfire for chrissake! And keep your fingers crossed for Old Notre Dame. We just could be singing the fight song in praise of a national championship once again come January 8th.

Rakes of Mallow thinks it's much simpler than that.

Talk About Lonely

2006-11-14T14:05:00.000-06:00

If you think Devin Hester of the Bears has it bad, try being a Chicago Blackhawk. Or a Blackhawk fan for that matter.

As my friend Soxually Repressed likes to say, "If a post falls in the forest, and nobody comments on it..."

Well, if a team at the United Center actually has a winning streak and nobody sees it, does it really happen? Well, guess what folks. Chicagoans got a rare treat as a home Blackhawks game was televised Friday night. So maybe someone who wasn't at the UC actually saw the game. When I was flipping channels, I did a double take when I saw the big Blackhawk symbol in the middle of the ice. I'll say this much for the game, it stopped my ADD-afflicted channel surfing for a few moments.

The Blackhawks are on a win streak. And in the last three games, they've accumulated five points all while being hurt. They've even lost young gun Rene Borque for 2-6 weeks and still managed to win. Chalk up the win streak to hot goaltending. On Sunday, Brian Boucher shut out Columbus, 1-0. And on Friday Sebastien Caron stopped the St. Louis Blues, 3-1. The two games prior to the win streak had very decent goaltending as well: a 2-1 shoot out loss in New Jersey and a 2-1 loss at home to the Red Wings.

Losing big time scoring means the defense has to step it up, and at least the goaltending has produced. Now as soon as Martin Havlat returns, maybe someone will hear the tree fall in the forest, I mean, the Blackhawks win a game again.

Fleece & Flog's NFL Top Five: Week 10

2006-11-14T13:00:00.000-06:00

Now doesn't that feel a little better, Bears fans? A week later and another 108 yard return of a missed field goal, and all is right in Beardom.

The life of a kick/punt returner must be a difficult one. Who do you bond with? Sure a quarterback can throw an interception and be a scapegoat, but his lineman bleed for him. A cornerback can feel alone on an island from time to time, but usually a defense will take mistakes on their shoulders as a whole unit even if it's an individual's fault. The return and coverage units are usually manned by the same personnel, the exception being the returners which in the case of the Bears have different guy on the kick-offs and punts. About the only guy as lonely as a returner must be the kicker, and even he has a punter, holder, long snapper and third string quarterback to keep him company. What self-respecting punt returner wants to be seen with those guys?

Who are Devin Hester's friends on the Bears? The equipment boy? The training staff? The receptionist at Halas Hall? The Bears aren't exactly loaded with guys from Miami University, so he can't exactly posse up with guys from The U. In fact, with the plethora of University of Florida Gators residing on the Bears' roster, one would have to imagine quite a bit of jawing going on between Hester and those from the Swamp at Gainsville.

For now, Hester is back in the good graces of his teammates. He did a marvelous job selling the non-return and then bolting for the sideline, and no muffs make for a lot of friends for Devin on Mondays. Heck, maybe he and Nathan Vasher are now good buddies as they both own the record for longest play in NFL history.

Onto the Top Five---------------------------------------------

Indianapolis Colts (9-0): The breaks go the good teams' way, and Indy caught a huge one this past weekend. Denizens of Buffalo must be going mad right now hearing the words, "Wide Right!" Rian Lindell awoke the echoes of Superbowl failures for Bills. That damn lucky Peyton Manning.
Da Bears (8-1): A tight, see-saw affair looked like a blow out in the final score. Rex Grossman found his moxy in the second half, and the Giants found grandma's old cough medicine. A clearly hurting Bears defense stepped it up in the second half. Alex Brown was my game MVP.
San Diego Chargers (7-2): What a week for barn burners. Down at least three touchdowns to Cincinatti, Philip Rivers and LaDanian Tomlinson rallied the Chargers to a win scoring 42 points in the second half alone! I said it before, I'll say it again. Come playoff time, Indy better be scared of this team. This team can score some points in a hurry.
Denver Broncos (7-2): If Denver isn't playing Oakland, they lose this week's game. Despite three interceptions by Jake Plummer, the defense holds off the Raiders, and the Broncos have their Chi-Az game for the season.
Baltimore Ravens (7-2): Like the Chargers, the Ravens were down big. Unlike the Chargers, it was to the Titans. Steve McNair could be co-MVP again with Peyton Manning. What a quiet 7-2 this team has, and they don't have the toughest schedule down the stretch. It's gonna be a race for home-field advantage and a first round bye between 3, 4 and 5.

Add the somewhat reeling New England Patriots to the mix and the balance of power is clearly in the AFC. They have some powerhouses running things over there. As for the NFC, the Giants, Saints and Falcons all lose leaving those divisions wide open for the taking. Seattle has a two game win streak and is about to get Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselback back, and the Cardinals have fallen off the map. Is the AFC better than the NFC? They have a 21-17 edge in head-to-head matchups thru ten weeks which isn't that wide a lead. I guess we'll see come Superbowl time when the Bears will be whopping the Chargers' asses for the title.

White Sox Blogger Roundtable Part 3: The Conclusion

2006-11-13T16:04:00.000-06:00

Yay! Cheat dropped the last of our three part roundtable discussion about the White Sox into the mailbox last night, and since I have precious few minutes to sit at the computer today, this will have to suffice for posts. There is so much to get to too. But thanks again to Cheat for asking and all the other participants for making it fun. (Check out their blogs sometime if you get the chance: South Side Sox, Sox Machine, Exile in Wrigleyville, ChiSox Blog, Foul Balls and Ron Karkovice Fan Club.) Until next time...

The final episode of our Trilogy: Kenny's quest for more rings

I linked to the Elias Sports Bureau's Free Agent Compensation Ratings last week, but I didn't even think to look at where Alomar and Riske ranked. I just assumed that they were worthless and wouldn't be offered arbitration. That's not the case, however, as Keith pointed out in the comments section, Riske is a Type A free agent. My question to you: What should the Sox do with Riske?

Tom: You can find a pitcher just like Riske for less than $2.5 million. Sure, it's not much, but it's $2.5 million that can go towards Joe Crede's salary.

Keith: I'd offer him arbitration. Afterall, Wayne Krivsky could always use another reliever, right? He'll willingly throw 2 years, $4 million at Riske...

But seriously, I think that offering Riske arbitration is a pretty small risk (no pun intended). If he accepts, it'd be easy to trade him as he'd be making what, $2.5 million? And, you might get lucky and have a team sign him. The Sox could always use an extra high draft pick.

Jeeves: I agree. Worst case scenario we get stuck with an OK arm in the 'pen. Unless we make some extravagant move, we shouldn't have the need to pinch pennies, so paying him $2.5 mil won't be that big of a deal.

James: But $2.5 million for a non-closer/ non-setup guy? Yeah, my budget screams for that. Then again, I think his salary will decline if he accepts the arbitration, and how often does that happen? (I read that note at MLB Trade Rumors that a lot of teams are offering two and three year deals to relievers not titled closer more often, and in the fickle and fragile world of middle relief -- anyone that's not a closer -- I'm not sure why that's a smart thing.)

Do you play russian roulette here hoping that another team signs him and take the salary hit if they don't? I didn't realize the MLB was governed by NASDAQ and CBOE rules of trade? Or maybe I'm just naive.

(To read the rest of this post, click the Read More link below.)

Criminal Appeal: I agree that it makes no sense to spend big money on relievers, especially one's who pitch limited innings in generally low-leverage situations. Having said that, if the Sox could turn Riske into a draft pick I'd just about wet myself with excitement. I guess it's a risk/reqrd analysis. Is the market for middle relievers strong enough that you trust someone else to pay to take Riske off our hands in this scenario? It may be with all the talk about the Jamie Walkers and Justin Speiers of the world.

Jim: I'm amazed that David F. Riske has produced the toughest question so far. Everybody has good points.

If the way he ended the season was any indication (only three of his last 10 outings were scoreless), I wouldn't offer it to him, unless the Sox had a strong feeling he'd reject it.

$2.5 million doesn't mean a lot for position players, but it can make a difference in a bullpen. A difference-maker Riske ain't. I'd keep that money stored away for the deadline next year, when the Sox are only buying half a season of relief if they're in need of bullpen help.

Cheat: I'm glad you guys came up with the $2.5M number on your own. When I originally wrote the question, I sort of answered it myself using $2.5M as my guesstimated arbitration award. Either we're all really smart, or well, let's not talk about the alternative.

As for what I would do: I'd offer him arbitration. If for no other reason than some team will be willing to guarantee him multiple years on the free agent market. He's not going to get that here. So from Riske's point of view, he'd be deciding between 2.5 for a year on the southside or something like 4-5M over two years somewhere else. Most players will take the latter.

Trades: Name your three biggest targets, and try to come up with three trades you can see the Sox making. (those don't necessarily have to be for your three top targets.)

Criminal Appeal: As has been mentioned, Kenny Williams tends to come at the trade block from unforeseen directions. Plus, there is always far more smoke than fire in trade rumors. Still, the Sox need to add a left fielder, and probably a short stop or center fielder, so that they're not lugging around dead weight at more than one position next season. My guess is that they'll shop for value on the free agent market at one position, trade to fill one position, and let the kids battle it out at one position (or let Uribe sit tight if the remaining position is SS). So, where might that trade fit in? I think three of the most intriguing names are Michael Young, Carl Crawford and Coco Crisp (I'm considering A-Rod a pipe dream and hoping to be shocked at this point).

Young is coming off a season in which his on-base percentage was over .350, he hit 14 homeruns, and he played an outstanding defensive shortstop. The defense is an improvement for him, but the other numbers were right around Baseball Prospectus's projection for him. Plus, he's 29 years old. So, he seems like a safe bet to repeat his established production for the next few years.

Crawford hit 18 homeruns this season and posted an on-base percentage just under .350. He plays a below average defense in left field. He outperformed his mean projection in somewhere in the range of the 75th to 90th percentile. Right now Young is the better player, but Crawford is 24 and getting better.

Crisp is the most interesting case because of his injury problems this year. He was limited to about 100 games and his on-base percentage dipped to .317. Offensively, Crisp under-performed his 10th percentile projection this year. He's an average CF, and played excellent defense in LF in 2005, when he was out there regularly. In all likelihood, he is both undervalued, and going to bounce back if healthy. He's 26, which means he's probably full developed and will never be much better than he was in 2005. But a .350 on-base percentage, 15 home runs and great LF defense would be a welcome addition.

I guess that of these three guys, my first preference would be Young. However, if the Sox can get Crisp at a discount because of his struggles in 2006, then that's an opportunity that I wouldn't pass on. Whoever the Sox acquire, we know the bargaining chips: a starting pitcher (Garcia or Buehrle) plus a prospect (hopefully not Fields). I'd give up those two assets for any of the above.

Jim:

Coco Crisp. I think the Sox really admire his game, and he's the typical Sox target. Very good defensive left fielder, likes to run -- and while his OBP dropped as he battled nagging injuries, he stole 22 of 26 bases, by far the best percentage of his career.
Who they'd give up: Freddy Garcia. Though I'd hope to get some sort of prospect back as well, given the situation Boston's in.
Chone Figgins. He seems like he's going to be pushed out eventually with this new wave of players coming in. He has the speed Ozzie likes, and can play a few positions decently.
Who they'd give up: I have no clue. The Angels could use some high-OBP guys, and the Sox don't have a wealth of those in the minors.
Jeff DaVanon: My thinking is: If Brady Clark, why not DaVanon? DaVanon's cheaper, younger, more versatile, and just as likely to be pushed out of the AZ outfield picture. I'm not sure how much he'll cost -- from what I can tell, he'll be in the $900,000 - $1,000,000 range. He's coming off ankle surgery, which could depress his value. AZ may not want to part with him since Eric Byrnes needs to get out first, but I'd try for DaVanon before thinking about Clark.
Who they'd give up: Arizona could use pitching. Heath Phillips-caliber plus another body?

Vince: I don't know if this is the least bit likely, but I want to throw the idea out if we're talking about huge, smack-your-forehead trades that Kenny Williams could make. Vernon Wells. The Jays are interested in moving him because he doesn't want to stay in Toronto beyond the end of his contract, which ends in 2007. Wells will be eligible for free agency after the upcoming season.

The upsides are that Wells is a tremendous player on both sides of the ball, a replacement for Podsednik (albeit, one who would play center field) and a huge addition to the offense that offsets regression from players such as Dye and Crede or, in the case of Crede, if he gets traded. Another upside is that it allows the Sox to let Brian Anderson and Ryan Sweeney split left field.

The risks are that the Sox would have to give up a lot of talent to get Wells with the uncertainty of whether they would have him for more than one year, and another potential long-term contract if the Sox were able to re-sign him.

I agree that the Sox are targeting Michael Young. I think they will be better off without Young, unless they somehow convinced him to play second base. I worry about Young's defense, although I think he scored better on Chris Dial's Zone Rating-related metric this year.

A third big trade target? I highly, highly doubt it, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like the deal, but I'll say ... Dontrelle Willis.

Keith: I'm sorry to Vince, but I'm going to have to snatch his idea in my trade thoughts.

The first trade I see is the obvious move of a starting pitcher. With Contreras' no trade clause, moving Garcia makes the most sense. I've been preaching it for the past two months, so why stop now? Garcia + Cintron (completing the Mets' secondbase platoon) for Aaron Heilman + Lastings Milledge.

The Sox then send a package centered around Milledge to Toronto for Vernon Wells. Since question six seems geared towards these hypothetical trades, I'll say Milledge + Fields + Broadway for Wells. The Sox would empty out the farm system, but, as in most cases (/aside: damn Vazquez/Young trade), Williams gets back the best player. Wells is in his prime, and if he comes close to matching his production from last season, is a top twenty player in all of baseball.

It doesn't solve the "problem" of not having a leadoff hitter, but you could easily slip Wells into the two spot and slide Iguchi to leadoff.

BTW -- I think Terrero will end up as the 4th OFer, for better or for worse.

James: Will the Sox try the Milwaukee well again and pursue a very cheap Brady Clark? Or how about former trading partner Arizona and Gold Glover Orlando Hudson? Would KW try and justify the pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow, A-Rod? Or will Michael Young be shipped our way for the enigma that is Freddy Garcia?

Let me ask this: was Jim Thome on any of our radars last off-season? Well, he wasn't on mine; that trade was a complete shock. But the Javy Vazquez trade wasn't as much of a shock cuz KW had made no secret of his desire for him. The point is...expect something from KW. He's never been shy about trading youth for talent or potential for experience. And yet we all heard about him casing Mark Prior last year. What is certain is that KW has an eye for underappreciated and undervalued talent, and he will bring someone in.

This question, though, was about specific trades, and I have to pose at least one serious scenario, so here it is...

The big trade, if it happens, will be trading from a position of strength (starting pitching). Either Garcia, McCarthy or Vazquez will be traded (Buehrle is the only lefty starter the Sox will count on) along with either Sweeney, Fields, Broadway or Owens for Ichiro (doubtful but intriguing), Mike Cameron (a decent fit) or Coco Crisp (if healthy). I really think KW's focus is lead-off hitter/left fielder with OBP and defense in mind.

Tom: Of the names I've heard thrown around the one that really makes my mouth water is easily Michael Young. I would LOVE to see that guy in a White Sox uniform. He can field, he can hit, and he's as clutch as anybody in the Majors in big situations.

Carl Crawford is another guy who I like, my only question is how much we would have to give up for him. The price would be high to get him, and how much we would have to pay him to get him to stay here would be large so I fear it may cost us somebody else.

I don't really like Coco Crisp that much. He tends to kill the White Sox, and suck against everybody else. So if he was on the Sox he would suck full time.

I will make it clear that I do NOT want A-Rod. It's nothing against his ability as a baseball player, I just hate the guy, and would feel horrible if I had to root for him.

I wouldn't mind seeing Mike Cameron back in a White Sox uniform either.

Jeeves: Most of the trades I've heard about and mulled over have been said already, so there's no point in me repeating them, but I did come across a trade proposal by some blogger (I can't remember from where)as I was surfing the net a couple weeks ago... Freddy Garcia to the Padres for Scott Linebrink and Mike Cameron. I'm not quite familiar enough with the Padres to comment on whether or not they would be likely to make such a trade, but it would plug up two holes for us.

Cheat: Elsewhere I had proposed a swap of Scott Podsednik for Yorvit Torrealba based on the rumors that the Rockies were interested in Dave Roberts and Sarge Jr. But just now after looking through the '06 Rockies roster, I discovered that they've already got a bunch of crappy light-hitting speed guys who play CF poorly. They don't need Podsednik when they've got Cory Sullivan, Choo Freeman, and Ryan Spilborghs. They've probably got a Nook Logan in there somewhere too.

Come to think of it, didn't Logan end the year with the Nationals, who are about to lose one outfielder to free agency? The Nationals don't have much of anything in their minor league system, and Bowden's not the sharpest tool in the shed; maybe he'll part with Ryan Church, whose respectability has been wasted by spending far too much time in New Orleans. Church would fit perfectly into the role that Rob Mackowiak was forced into last season. That doesn't fix our problem hitting lefties, and probably means Rob is our full-time LFer or on his way out of town via trade.

Before even reading Keith's response, I had the same idea with the exception of targeting Carl Crawford instead of Wells. I have bad memories of trading for Blue Jays named Wells, even if we did "win" that trade.

I think the conundrum then becomes which would you prefer; Garcia for Crisp, or the package for Garcia plus some of our top prospects flipped for Wells/Crawford?

I wasn't really able to find a fit for Podsednik, who I think we all acknowledge will be gone, but I suspect he's coveted by a few teams supposedly in the market for a leadoff hitter. Can you guys come up with anything that will work for both sides?

This concludes the White Sox Bloggers of the Roundtable. I'd like to thank the other Sox bloggers -- and Keith -- for their participation.

White Sox Blogger Roundtable: Part 2

2006-11-10T14:35:00.000-06:00

A week or so ago, the administrator of the best White Sox blog around, Cheat from SouthSideSox.com, invited a few dedicated bloggers (and CWSKeith) to participate in a White Sox roundtable discussion. Due to my stint at Jeeves' ChiSox Blog, I (along with Jeeves) was one of the lucky few invited. (All of these bloggers are linked in my sidebar. Vince and his Exile in Wrigleyville have recently joined Jim's Sox Machine.) What follows is Part 2 of a Q & A about the White Sox hot stove issues. Fornelli and his Foul Balls and Criminal Appeal of Ron Karkovice Fan Club are here too. Cheat, of course, is the host...

Cheat: Part 2 of 64......

My input in MLBTradeRumors top 50 free agents list resulted in the Sox being shut out in their predictions. I couldn't see the Sox being the top bidder for anyone on that list. Is there anyone on that list who you think the Sox will be pursuing heavily?

Criminal Appeal: I could see, and would definately like to see, the Sox take a serious run at Dave Roberts. He can play an adequate CF, or above average LF, gets on base, and should come cheaper than some other options. I think he'd be a great fit.

Jeeves: I could definitely see us going after Dave Roberts. He'll be affordable (a plus in KW's eyes) and he's speedy and can steal bases (a plus in Ozzie's eye). He won't be the solution for the foreseeable future, but he's an upgrade over our current situation.

Keith: Dave Roberts: I don't think Kenny Williams really wants Pierre or Matthews, but I'd also bet that Ozzie is pressuring him to get some type of "speedster" in here to leadoff. Roberts is acceptable in that he won't get the money that Pierre or Matthews will get, but he can be a nice one or two year stop gap. Then again, it goes against Kenny's MO to just go for the stop-gap and not necessarily the best solution out there, which is why I have absolutely no idea who will be the White Sox' starting left-fielder in 2007.

Who I think the Sox will pursue differs heavily from who I want the Sox to pursue: Moises Alou. The guy will be 40 next season, but he can still rake. The reason I really want Alou is because of his numbers vs lefties. Over his career, his OPS against lefties (.952) is almost 100 points higher than his OPS vs righties. Albeit in a fairly small sample size (~175 ABs), his OPS the past two seasons vs lefties is north of 1.100. I also like Alou because I think you can get him at a pretty good price for one year, allowing Sweeney to develop and take over in 2008. I know that signing Alou wouldn't solve the leadoff hitter problem, but frankly, I don't really care. I'll take the 35+ homers that a healthy Alou could provide over the 40 stolen bases from the typical leadoff hitter.

(To check out the rest of this post, click the "Read More" link below.)

Vince: I think a good reason not to sign Alou is defense. He was pretty poor playing right field last year (-12 runs/150 games according to Chris Dial's version of Zone Rating). Another good reason is that he adds another old player to the roster, and old players bring injury risks.

James:Unfortunately, Alou is the kinda guy KW just might pursue if his first, second and third choices are unavailable especially cuz he'll essentially be a rental player for one season until Sweeney is ready.

This will mean more leadoff for Iguchi and possibly BA, and those are ideas I can't live with. Don't be surprised to see Pods back for one more season if KW can't get his man to replace him.

Cheat: Iguchi leading off: I think that was Keith's point. He has a skill set better equipped for the lead off spot than any other player on the Sox 40-man roster. He works deep counts, is fast enough, and gets on base at a reasonable clip. I also don't understand the rush to get a sub-20 HR guy into an "rbi slot" in the lineup.

Jeeves: I think we'll make a run at Gary Matthews Jr, but ultimately he'll be priced out of the range we're willing to pay.

Personally, I think this is a good thing. I'm really unsure as to whether or not he'll put up such good numbers again next year. His numbers, across the board, are significantly better, and I don't know if it's a one year aberration or a sign of things to come. Plus, he's somehow parlayed his leaping, wall scaling catch into a reputation as a great fielder. He's decent, but not earth-shatteringly good. Zone rating actually has ranked him pretty low; he's ranked as one of the lowest of regular center fielders. And as Keith said, we need to keep a good D behind our pitchers to give them the best possible shot at rebounding.

James: I, too, think Matthews will price himself out of the White Sox price range which means Soriano will be somewhere near Mars when it comes to the Sox and money. And that's too bad; Soriano has an offensive skill set every team would die for. I'm not really that sold on Matthews, anyways. He's in his 30's already, and he's just had his career year. Regression will happen, and while left field would seem a better fit for his defensive skill set, I'm not sure he'd be willing to move.

Lets remember that Kenny Williams likes to pick up under the radar FA's with less value and more upside, so I can see him pursing a David Dellucci (I can't believe he's 32 already). I have a feeling that Dave Roberts may be a Pods-clone in the making with the weak arm and an uncertain CFer (will BA be okay?) Would you want Roberts patrolling CF?

I don't think there'll be much FA hunting from KW, instead I expect him to more actively pursue trades to fix his position holes.

Tom: I think Juan Pierre and Dave Roberts are two very distinct possibilities.

Jim: This looks to be a trade year for KW, though you could say that about every year. Given the shape and state of the market, I don't think the "big" names like Carlos Lee are going to get what they're looking for, but I think the mid-level guys are going to get a nice boost.

If David Dellucci were right-handed, he'd be ideal. Same with Frank Catalanotto. I think Dave Roberts is pushing harder for the Sox than the other way around -- it's a team that'd make him look good, even if he declines.

If only the Sox could commit to the idea of Ross Gload as a left fielder and give him playing time there in winter and spring, Craig Wilson would be a hell of an idea. He plays a decent first, a bad outfield (like Carl Everett, from what I've seen), and can crush lefties.

It'd be a great move in MVP 2005, anyway.

I probably should have asked this prior to the Free Agent question... KW and the local Sox beat reporters have been very quiet on the Sox budget for '07. I know one national online columnists keeps writing that the Sox are looking to drop payroll, which I think we all can agree is bunk. But the question is Where does the 2007 budget wind up? Is Kenny being quiet because they're ready to really step to the next level of spending thanks to a boatload of sellouts, creative marketing deals, and a new section of high price seating, or is Jerry looking to line the pockets of the investors with their newfound revenue streams? I guess what I'm really asking is Kenny going to surprise us with a big free agent signing or blockbuster trade?

Jeeves: I don't see the Sox making a big splash in the free agency markert. Zito, Soriano, CLee, and Matsuzaka are all going to cost far too much money. Outside of them, there aren't really any desireable, young free agents for us to pick up, and Kenny isn't the type to spend money just for the sake of spending money.

It's conceivable that KW would pick someone up via trade but I can't think of anyone with such a large salary that it would be an issue. We've all heard the A-Rod rumors, but I think it's doubtful that we'll get him.

Keith: I think that Kenny will be allowed to spend a number right around $105 million. I would like to think that the "cap" is a little closer to $110, but $105 is plenty. Whether or not Kenny decides to use that or not is the obvious question, and honestly, I have no idea what to expect this winter.

My strongest convictions this winter are that Freddy Garcia will be traded, and that Juan Uribe will be our starting SS.

James: I really don't see a change in organizational philosophy, i.e., spending low for FA's, splash big with trades, coming anytime soon. KW's recent big spending has been more to retain his own FA's, not sign new ones.

That being said, in order to remain even at the status quo in on-the-field performance the payroll will almost certainly increase, and if Cashman were to ask the right price, KW would take A-Rod in a heartbeat.

The White Sox revenue pool will continue to grow next season so expect the Sox to remain in the thick of things. (If the Sox are competitive next season, expect a much more active KW around the trade deadline.)

So, yes, expect the salary budget to increase this season but mostly thru trades and resigning our own (Joe Crede extension after arbitration, maybe Mark Buehrle?) FA's.

Tom: I don't think we'll increase the payroll too much, if at all.

I don't expect any kind of big name free agent signing, but I'm fully expecting KW to make some kind of trade. Whether it's a blockbuster or not, I don't know. I assume it would be large, cuz if KW has showed us anything it's that he likes to make the big move in the offseason rather than in July.

Criminal Appeal: Anyone have a copy of Baseball Between the Numbers lying around? My recollection is that the financial windfall from a World Series win lingers for five years or so, which would indicate that the Sox should be able to keep spending among the upper tier of teams. This organization has always been willing to use a fair portion of its resources to put the best possible product on the field. The decisions aren't always perfect, but the commitment has been there.

Jim: I don't see what Kenny or the Sox have to gain by disclosing the budget this year, no matter what happens. Last year, given that the Sox were going to re-sign Paul Konerko for a big deal and had arbitration for Jon Garland, it was a given that payroll was going to shoot up. I don't think they were hurting negotiation leverage any.

Crede's the only incumbent question mark in terms of this year's payroll, so they're better off saying less. Still, with the amount of roster spots up for grabs in 2008, they have to be really careful about what they do this year, for a team not needing any real face lift. I don't see any drastic changes with regards to money, maybe $105-110M.

Vince: I think the budget will go up a bit more. I think that the 2006 budget, effectively, was about $95 million or so, counting the money the Sox received as part of the Thome and Vázquez trades. I haven't heard anything to suggest that season-ticket renewals fell off. I agree with the point above that the Reinsdorf ownership group has generally been willing to use revenue increases to boost payroll. I think $105 million, if the Sox find players worth spending it on, is about right.

Cheat: I was really trying to get somebody to drop the name Mark Mulder.

He's a local boy, grew up a Sox fan.
His reduced effectiveness the last two seasons can be traced directly to the injury in his throwing shoulder for which he underwent surgery in September. The injury altered his throwing motion and resulted in a decrease in velocity.
He's expressed interest in working with "a great pitching coach," though he was referring to Leo Mazzone when he said that.
Mulder fits Kenny's recent acquisitions of (possibly) undervalued above-average starters. (see: Garcia, Contreras, Vazquez, and even Hernandez)
Most importantly, he's not represented by Scott Boras.

I haven't seen the Sox connected to Mulder, but I think they're in the mix. The only question is will one of the other 8 teams who've expressed early interest go crazy with a long-term guaranteed deal.

Jim: After Javier Vazquez, could the Sox afford to take another so-so NL pitcher as a reclamation project?

I like Mulder -- he and Buehrle were awesome in 2003, when they pitched three sub-two-hour games. If this were 2004 or '05, he'd be great. 2007? Pass.

Cheat: I don't have a good handle on what Mulder will command in this market given his current status. I'd offer him 2/$15M guaranteed (structured $5M in '07, 10M in '08), with a $15M third-year option. That'd be the Sox standard 3/$30M deal, though a little more creative because of the circumstances. But will there be a team out there willing to top that offer? Probably.

Only 17 more parts remaining. Stay tuned for the exciting discussion of the Detrimental Perez Theory....

Still more to come when Cheat decides to dole out the rest of our thoughts piecemail.

The Great Sports Coaster

2006-11-10T12:06:00.000-06:00

The White Sox Blogger Roundtable I posted yesterday was quite the long and involved read, so I left off posting anything else yesterday. And I was away from the computer for much of yesterday too. So I was unable to get to the Links of the Week feature I normally post on Thursdays. The week has been a little nutty with the Bears losing, two football teams falling from the ranks of the undefeated in college (since the last Sports Coaster post), the Bulls showing their growing pains and my softball season finally coming to a close for 2006. We've had record days here at Fleece & Flog for posts in a day, and now we'd like to once again share with you some of our favorite reads from the past week.

Onto the links--------------------------------------

Fornelli over at Foul Balls and I are in agreement that the Bears loss, while disappointing, wasn't as detrimental to people's health as certain contrarians would have you believe. (Foul Balls)
After a short hiatus due to health issues unknown Column is back up and running full steam. And here's his ultra-quick look at the local college basketball teams. (Unknown Column)
Where would we be without the columnist watchdog that is Jay the Joke? Here the Joke notes how quick the douchebag jumps off the Bears' bandwagon. We don't need him there anyways. (Jay the Joke)
Matt at Blog-a-Bull is another fan of Thabo Sefolosha and even gives him a nickname. (Blog-a-Bull)
WCG and many of the SB Nation writers gave out their NFL mid-season awards. (Windy City Gridiron)
Jeeves has some input on the Freddy Garcia to the Mets rumors. (ChiSox Blog)
If Darryl Strawberry is getting paid to tell these stories, where do I sign up? (Deadspin)
Would anyone actually buy something that looked like this? Not even the Queer Eye guys would find this remotely appealing. (With Leather)
I read SI.com all the time. I guess I'm the only one. (The Big Lead)
Bethlehem Shoals and FreeDarko.com are fast becoming one of the best reads on the interweb thingy. Here he tells us what Bulls fans already knew about Jalen Rose. (FreeDarko)
This is by far the most indepth Illini basketball preview I've read. (Big Ten Wonk)
And your non-sports post of the week comes from Frank the Tank. He delivers his personal state of political affairs after Tuesday's elections, and I've never seen a more readable piece concerning libertarian or moderates ever. (Frank the Tank's Slant)

Interesting times in an interesting week. And remember what Gary Gnu always says, "No gnus is good gnews!"

Sports, Sports and More Sports

2006-11-10T09:45:00.000-06:00

Last night's sports happenings in Chicago and from around the world (or what I think really matters)...

LeBron pranced around like primadonna, Drew Gooden dropped shots like Adrian Dantley, Ben Gordon couldn't find the bucket if he were a special guest of KFC's Colonel and Tyrus Thomas looked like the second coming of Marcus Fizer. With a record of 2-3, ask me if I'm worried about the Bulls yet. Nope. If there are any ledge jumpers after five games, they're in serious need of a life. Ask me if I disappointed they lost. Yes. Giving LeBron and Co., any sort of a mental edge will work against the Bulls down the road. And Drew Gooden is making a nice complementary piece to the Cleveland Cavalier puzzle.
When is a loss not a loss? Try when the Blackhawks (yes, they've registered as a blip on my radar screen again) actually gain a point. The final score says 2-1(so) New Jersey Devils, but by virtue of making it to overtime and then into a shoot out, the Blackhawks were awarded their first point in eight games. Sure it says loss in the standings, but a point is a point, and after the slump the Blackhawks have been in lately they'll take a whole bunch of shoot out losses. Tuomo Ruutu scored the lone regulation goal for the 'Hawks. I guess kudos to Brian Boucher who stop 27 shots before the shoot out. Shoot out, shut out, home game t.v. black out, Havlat & Khabibulin out, Wirtz still not out...it sure does make me wanna pout.
First no Gold Glove and now no knife work for Joe Crede; he's elected to stablize and strengthen his ailing back with an intense 6-8 week rehab program. The arbitration eligible 3rd baseman will trust in the award-winning hands of Herm Schneider and crew to cure what ails the object of many Sox fans affections. Here's hoping Hermy's fingers know the "resign with the White Sox long term" subliminal messaging when he's touching Joe's back , legs or whatever part of his body he has to touch.
In other White Sox news, Bobby Jenks is consulting a nutritionist. Really? Will the nutrionalist keep Bobby from driving past Jewel and getting the shakes? If I could ever wish anorexia or bulemia on someone, it would be Bobby Jenks.
It's been less than a week after the Bears one loss and already the vultures are out in force, but somehow I don't see any point in the crowing the New York Giants are making. The back-up runningback for the Giants, Brandon Jacobs, says he can't wait to put a big hit on Superman, I mean, Brian Urlacher, and Plaxico Burress is ripping the Bears' cornerbacks. It's one thing when an All-Pro like Jason Taylor talks about not being -- he can back it up and did. It's quite another when a back-up and a nincompoop open their chops. It's easy to beat a man when he's down, but when he gets back up...Burress and Jacobs better have their heads on a swivel Sunday night.
Notre Dame's BCS Championship hopes just got a boost and they didn't even play a game. Undefeated Rutgers beat until-last-night, undefeated and #3 ranked Louisville 28-25. I'm happy for Rutgers, as dormant a football program as Northwestern used to be, but answer me this: why aren't they being touted for the National Championship game? And how far up the rankings will Rutgers jump after this weekend? They were previously ranked #15. Can they be taken seriously? If they beat West Virginia in their season-ending game, I say yes. But I hope they lose one more game, for ND's sake.
And finally...the Cubs resigned Wade Miller. Who cares.