tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91252349909594298322024-03-14T13:49:12.126-05:00Chicago BullEverything from Bulls to Bullshit
<a name="9612243972"></a>Nocehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13935295064938755147noreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-51498162512910125802012-06-01T15:29:00.000-05:002012-06-01T15:29:03.201-05:00Catching Up with Dr. C<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUi91r69khI/T8kcuepb4JI/AAAAAAAABOA/xnfDVC4CbJQ/s1600/Kael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUi91r69khI/T8kcuepb4JI/AAAAAAAABOA/xnfDVC4CbJQ/s400/Kael.jpg" width="265" /></a>Well it's been a while now, hasn't it? Yes, it's your old buddy Dr. C, here. I figured I would post an update though most of you are probably long gone by now. I'm amazed the site still averages aroudn 130-150 hits per week despite the fact we stopped regularly posting a long time ago. <br /><br />Anyways, I'm not sure if you'd quite call this a comeback. I have been thinking about it for a while and figured this is the best way to get back in to the arena if I do; no promises. I will say this though; I will not be writing anymore satire because I'm fucking horrible at it. Please feel free to rip me a new asshole anytime you want on that terrible Bryant "Big Country" Reeves piece; I've earned it. I would like think some of our better pieces still exist on the site (ie ESPN Douchebag Members) and still make me laugh.<br /><br />Maybe Steg and Trunk would like to join the 2012 comeback tour.<br /><br />Anywho, since our last chat Dr. C has gotten married within the past month. I now live with my wife in Yorkville. Noce is still around; doing whatever it is he does these days. Other then that, nothing real ground breaking. I've been working at the same company for 3+ years which has been nice considering my early 20's if I made it to a year at one job I celebrated with single barrel Jack. <br /><br />As for Chicago sports, I've been somewhat out of the loop after dealing with 15K worth of wedding expenses and overall bullshit to pay for. I must say that a week in Mexico was nice though. Much like everyone else I was expecting the 2011 White Sox to return but that has not been the case so far. Adam Dunn is back to form, Rios remembered what the point of an at bat is and the Cuban Tank has been playing out of his mind. <br /><br />Obviously they're gonna come back down pretty soon. Humber pitched better in his last start against the Rays but has looked pedestrian after his perfect game. No telling if the 15 days off for Danks will help his shoulder/back. MLB trade rumors posted that Kenny will look to add soon if they can keep this up; but at what expense? You have the worst farm system in the majors; what could anyone possibly want that's going to net a player worth a 1/2 year shot at the playoffs? <br /><br />In terms of the Bears, I was pretty pleased with the Alshon Jeffery pick. Everything else, we'll see. I don't have a problem with the Bears taking Shea McClellin but I thought drafting Brandon Hardin in the 3rd round was Angelo-esque. You still had Bobby Massie available on the board if nothing else but to provide some competition to J'False start Webb. </div>
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<br />As I mentioned, if I do end up posting consistently again it will probably be a couple times a week and not everyday as before. We shall see. </div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-65073015412607153202011-01-10T10:54:00.004-06:002011-01-10T11:48:02.207-06:00I'm going to start writing moreAbout what? Only time will tell. It's been so long since I last took this writing thing seriously, I honestly do not know what to expect to produce here but I have some things cooking. <br /><br />Most of the focus will be Bulls-related obviously, and speaking of which they are doing suprisingly well given injuries, a new coach and the ever-absent but always-starting Keith Bogans.<br /><br />We'll dive into a few more things unrelated to sports, and to be honest I'm not sure what those things are just yet. It's going to get worse before it gets better, but whatever "it" turns out to be, it will be better than nothing at all.<br /><br />Game on.Nocehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13935295064938755147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-54002046293360489422010-07-28T22:44:00.007-05:002010-07-28T23:18:00.346-05:00Now For The Truth<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/TFD5xMkQeVI/AAAAAAAABNY/wUEQIsqcLG4/s1600/unemployed.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/TFD5xMkQeVI/AAAAAAAABNY/wUEQIsqcLG4/s320/unemployed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499169768601581906" /></a><br />Ok, now here's what really happened. I was released from my job in mid-September in 2008 becuase the Chicago Tribune is bankrupt. So I bounced between a couple jobs here and there until April 2009 when I got the job where I am employed to this day today. <br /><br />I doubt you really give a shit, but I think me and Noce realized that spending more then half the day either commenting on blogs or figuring out what we wanted to post about wasn't making us money as sales reps. <br /><br />Granted, I would still rather post stupid Chicago related sports bullshit then listen to what I need to rectify from my customers; but what makes more money?<br /><br />Anyways, I'm back. I've spoken with Noce, and while he seemed like he would like to bring the 'Bull back, we'll see. What I can promise is that I'm going to go back in everyday starting on Monday. While I'd like to look back on what I missed in terms of posts, I may do that, but it would be few posts and done.<br /><br />That being said, it amazes me how many people wonder what's happened to Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. We've received around 30 hits a day, and at least 50-66 percent of those searching for that talentless asshat. I guess irony directed them to my talentless attempt at humor. <br /><br />The Lord works in mysterious ways.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-89539749014713929412010-07-21T20:03:00.003-05:002010-07-21T20:19:33.752-05:00True Stories from the Graham Correctional Center...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/TEeZ3gQGnVI/AAAAAAAABNQ/jD0eOopyLHQ/s1600/GCC.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/TEeZ3gQGnVI/AAAAAAAABNQ/jD0eOopyLHQ/s320/GCC.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496531049058311506" /></a><br />It all started on a fun night back in October 2008. When you're an eight ball deep, it always seems like a great idea to steal that asshole's 1992 Mercury Cougar. I mean, fuck him; that car is a piece of shit! He should be so lucky to have me steal it and drive into lake shabbona 40 miles away. He gets the pay out on insurance! I get a good chuckle...win win. <br /><br />That was until an unmarked DeKalb County Sheriff just decided to stick his nose into a perfectly fine ride at 95 mph. What an asshat. Mind your own business. <br /><br />After a year and a half of making bones, getting boned, and eating shitty food I'm back damnit. And there's a lot I missed, apparently.<br /><br /><strong>WAY TO GO, HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</strong><br /><br />More to followAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-43117237956183211012008-09-30T22:22:00.008-05:002008-09-30T23:25:42.148-05:00Your 2008 AL Central Champs: Chicago White Sox<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SOLugQ961yI/AAAAAAAAA28/14TYIdqzyMs/s1600-h/SOX.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SOLugQ961yI/AAAAAAAAA28/14TYIdqzyMs/s320/SOX.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252022353545320226" /></a><br />It's 10:30 now here in Chicago, and I must have seen the A.J. Pierzynski tag on Michael Cuddyer at least 25 times by now, and I plan on watching it at least 25 more times tonight. <br /><br />What a prick.<br /><br />It almost seems like you can see him say to Cuddyer "you're out" after showing him the ball. And I fucking love it. <br /><br />You would be hard pressed to find a player more hated by every fan base in the Amercian League and here on the north side of town then Anthony John Pierzynski. AROD? Close, but no cigar. And it's the little things that he does that make me as a White Sox fan think of him as a complete prick but at the same time love him for what he does.<br /><br />With Cuddyer at third, Danks threw a pitch in the dirt that A.J. lost track of for a mere second, but had the baseball I.Q. to try to fake Cuddyer out as though he had lost the ball. It's the little things that A.J. has done, from running to first after the "dropped" third strike in game 2 of the ALCS, and more recently him drawing the interference call against the Rays whom they will face Thursday in Tampa.<br /><br />Looking back on the season, there's three things have have really stuck out as to how they got to the postseason:<br /><br />- The maturation of Danks and Floyd<br />- The emergence of Quentin and Ramirez<br />- The veteran leadership of Thome and Konerko<br /><br />First: Danks and Floyd. I'm not going to reiterate how they came over, because if you're a sox fan, and you're reading this blog...you should know. If you don't; put your cubs hat back on. Danks was shut down in September last year for scuffling so bad, and when the Sox traded Garcia to Floyd, you'd of thought they'd were having parades in the streets of Philly to get rid of Gavin. That just goes to show you this season what Don Cooper means to this staff. To turn Garcia, Garland, Contreras, Danks, Floyd all into pitchers whom you would rather not face when they're on.<br /><br />Second: Quentin and Ramirez. Both of these guys were nowhere near the discussion of being apart of this team heading into the season. So what did they did do once given the chance to play everyday? Combine for 58 home runs and over 175 RBI's. Before Quentin broke his wrist, he was the leading MVP candidate for the AL, and while Longoria in my mind deserves the AL ROY, the Cuban Missile made it very close in the long run. Without these two, the end up tied with the Royals for 4th place if not worse.<br /><br />Third: Thome and Konerko: Let's face it: they didn't do a whole lot when you look at he broad spectrum. HOWEVER, they made it happen when they needed to. Konerko started off decent enough until he hurt his hand and then his oblique, which made him powerless for a good two months. After he got back, he struggled mightly until the end of August when he helped J.D. get the team the AL Central lead up 2 and a half games. Thome? You saw what happened tonight.<br /><br />This was a team that nobody predicted would do shit, and the same goes to the Minnesota Twins, who in my opinion should have been the winner of the division.<br /><br />The coin flip rule is complete horse shit. The Twins were 10-8 versus the Sox, and this game should have been played in the house of horrors that is the Metrodome. I sure as shit will not complain, but if the circumstances were flipped, this is what I would bitching about.<br /><br />Twins fans, if you're pissed, I completely understand.<br /><br />That said: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!<br /><br />FUCK YOU!!!!<br /><br />I'm very excited for the playoffs starting on Thursday in another house of horrors that is the Trop, but at the same time; this is an awesome game to watch.<br /><br />One of my friends texted me after the 5th inning ended that this was the most exciting game he had ever seen (sarcasm alert for retards). I texted back that it was very similar to game 4 of the '05 series that didn't have a run scored until the top of the 8th thanks to a J.D. single that scored Willie Harris.<br /><br />Although the go ahead run was a 461-ft blast to center instead of a single to center, the end result remained the same with similar spectacular plays in the 9th.<br /><br />Instead of Juan Uribe diving into the stands to record the second out of the inning, it was Brian Anderson making a great diving catch to end the game, capping the division that seemed so far gone after the 3 game sweep less then a week before.<br /><br />I have no idea what Ozzie's pitching match-ups for the season will be, but here's my inebriated suggestion:<br /><br />Game 1: Vazquez<br />Game 2: Buehrle<br />Game 3: Floyd<br />Game 4: Danks<br />Game 5: Buehrle<br /><br />Vazquez has been pitching like a fuckface recently, but he has the freshest arm, and if you lose game 1, not a big deal. You'll still have your more consistent 3 ahead of him pitching the rest of the way. I would also have no problem with pitching Clayton Richard (aka Clay Dick) in game 1. Richard seems more likely to have a good 5 innings then Vazquez would given what we've seen lately.<br /><br />For the first time in 102 years, the Cubs and White Sox will be participating in October, and while I don't really like the Cubs, I'll be watching both teams very closely. Part of me hates the Cubs, and the other part doesn't have a problem with them because so many of my friends are die hard Cubs fans.<br /><br />I want my friends to get the feeling of winning a World Series, and the other part wants them to go to fall classic only to fall on their fucking face. It's a very fine line with the Cubs. But no matter what happens in the long run: this has been a very special summer in Chicago for the entire city.<br /><br />May the best team win...and may the White Sox prevail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-22740212248455830582008-09-19T01:07:00.006-05:002008-09-19T02:01:49.904-05:00Where The Fuck Is Mr. Brown?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SNNCSkZNqdI/AAAAAAAAA20/lUX6GfJulbw/s1600-h/Mr.+Brown.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SNNCSkZNqdI/AAAAAAAAA20/lUX6GfJulbw/s320/Mr.+Brown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247610877591267794" /></a><br />As you may or for most of you may have not noticed; we haven't been blogging. Why? (for the seven regular readers of this site) I'm currently job seeking. So how about Noce posting? Ask him (actually don't..he'll ask you what he should write about and then do nothing about it!) I will tell you this much though: I will continue to blog (how much I do, I promise I will let know what to expect), but it will not be during the work day (once again, depends..if the job sucks, fuck it!). When I came up with the idea to start this shit, it was my contention to hopefully provide similar chicagoans with a forum to spew their A: hate B: sorrows or C: relate overall discontent with how we see things and the ways we would hope as logical self-owners to deal with these problems.<br /><br />As part of my new ideals for Chicago Bull: If I was looking to read a Chicago sports blog, I would list this as the credentials for why I would want to read it; and this is what I hope we as your editor strive for:<br /><br />A: To not provide with what you already know: We the writers, expect you as the readers to already know the breaking news. You probably don't check our site for breaking news. Therefore, we should provide you with bullshit jokes. I.E.:<br /><br />-Joakim Noah has been suspended for 5 games for pot! He's hoping with this next batch of weed brownies to:<br /><br />A: sit out for another 5 in hopes to catch up with Parental Control on MTV!<br />B: Speaking of MTV: Learn how Chris Brown decorates his crib with fashionable shit so that he might be up to par in case the producers come calling like they did with Kendall Gill!<br /><br />-Where are they now? Chris Willaims: Rehabbing or sniffing coke with Gary Busey speaking about Freddic Mac? We'll give you 50-1 odds on the latter! You just never know with these Vanderbilt grads! They have some serious connections!<br /><br />In other words, we'll probably give you our assertions from time to time as to what we think will happen; but at the same time, do you really look at us for analysis? FUCK NO! WHY WOULD YOU?! Granted, we are educated (though I may not prove it with my hold on grammar). But, as my new goal for this site, it's our aim to fuck with everything and everyone. We might be serious sometimes, but when you spend most of your time at McGee's on Sheffield and Webster taking fucking jager shots, it's hard to form full sentences. <br /><br />For those that have been checking in with us, I promise to provide with above average jokes, and by that I mean 76%. At least I'm not to the point of pedding porn because I'm such a shitty writer like some people...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-4496618494063857662008-09-11T12:20:00.012-05:002008-09-11T15:01:18.742-05:00Album Review: Death Magnetic<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SMlUAsB2-RI/AAAAAAAAA2s/awxbNTP_YIg/s1600-h/Death+Magnetic.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SMlUAsB2-RI/AAAAAAAAA2s/awxbNTP_YIg/s320/Death+Magnetic.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244815611845343506" /></a><br />***LINK TO THE FULL ALBUM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST***<br /><br />Tomorrow marks the release of Metallica's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic. About a year ago, I started hearing rumors about how Metallica was going back to being "Metallica", but we all had heard that before with the last two albums. Load was a D- effort while Reload and St. Anger pathetically failed the standard. <br /><br />If you didn't already know from reading our site, Noce and I are huge Metallica fans. HUGE. The first cassette I ever owned came in the form of the Black Album Christmas of '92 when I was 8. My first CD was Master of Puppets. Metallica has always been my favorite band, and the reason I picked up a guitar 9 years ago. I don't play as much as I used to when I was a teen, but once a week or so I'll pick up my Ibanez and launch right into the Four Horsemen.<br /><br />Obviously I missed out on the glory days of old Metallica, but I'd like to think having been a fan for 16 years I know a thing or two about them. You'll have your different factions who will have their own "I was there in '81 shit", and the teenagers who think every single thing Metallica does or is is the voice of god almighty. I'd like to think I'm somewhere in between. <br /><br />I acknowledge the Lars douche factor, the fact they haven't been themselves since Master of Puppets, but doesn't everyone eventually move on to trying different things?<br /><br />Well, if the past 3 albums have been about experimenting with different shit, Death Magnetic is the tonal middle finger to those. Gone are the southern blues riffs of the Loads of shit, and the Drop C churning of the "raw" St. Anger.<br /><br />Returned is the standard-tuned triplets, the face-melting Hammett solos, and crazy tempos shifts. Death Magnetic is what you would have expected following ...And Justice for all, with their 10 songs averaging 6-7 minutes each. <br /><br />I'm not going to review every single song, but I will highlight the ones that I don't think hit the mark as well as the others.<br /><br />First off: the first single off the album, The Day that Never Comes. The first listen I gave the song a week and a half ago, I got bored with it after 3 minutes. Noce gave up after one. But I was determined to listen to it all the way through. The whole tempo change and lyrics of "love is a four-letter word"..ending with the awkward shouts of "THIS..I..SWEAR" don't really fit. But that's when the palm muted transfer comes to the uptempo ending. <br /><br />It's a song that grows on you, but it's nowhere near the likes of the blistering The Judas Kiss or the funky main riff of Beat, Broken & Scarred.<br /><br />While I now have an appreciation for The Day That Never Comes, one that will definitely take some time is The Unforgiven III. First Unforgiven? Awesome. The second one? (Spews into some small cup handed to me from Garth). The third time around is not a charm either. It starts off with a mellow piano open, and goes into a decent riff. It's long-winded in my opinion (no, really?) and the hook doesn't do much for me.<br /><br />With those two pointed out, the rest of the album is all that I could have hoped for. Any of the other 8 songs are worthy of playing on repeat for 10 times, but my personal favorites in order are:<br /><br />The Judas Kiss<br />Beat, Broken & Scarred<br />All Nightmare Long<br /><br />In all, I would have to give the album an 92% for an low A. I think The Day That Never Comes could have been improved shortened a bit and some lyrics changed, and the Unforgiven III should have been made with a better hook. But outside these nitpicking thoughts, the album is fucking solid. It seems like having Robert Trujillo come in helped, as well as enlisting Rick Rubin to do the album instead of Bob Rock.<br /><br />While the wait to get the album finally ends tomorrow, a new wait for me will begin. Tickets the upcoming tour go on sale this Saturday morning at 10am. I will be on ticketmaster.com at 9:30 waiting to pounce. Once I have the tickets, it feel like an eternity again before they arrive in Chicago on Monday, January 26th and Tuesday the 27th at the Allstate Arena. <br /><br />Thank you Metallica for finding yourselves again.<br /><br />Here is the <a href="http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=601231"><strong><u>entire album</u></strong></a> so you can start the bleeding of your ear drums:<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-66639455370331147322008-09-10T15:18:00.005-05:002008-09-10T15:46:14.975-05:00We're Screwed<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SMgrvM5mq2I/AAAAAAAAA2k/wQm_VRNptSY/s1600-h/Konerko+Hurt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SMgrvM5mq2I/AAAAAAAAA2k/wQm_VRNptSY/s320/Konerko+Hurt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244489855989623650" /></a><br />It was bad enough losing Quentin. The frail, single game lead that the Sox hold heading into tonight's game is as strong as Paulie's twisted knee. What a fucking turn of events this year has been for the White Sox. Starting the year out with low expectations from everyone outside of the clubhouse, to claiming first place in May and fighting back and forth with the Twins for the past month. <br /><br />"No...not like this." I believe those were the words of switch as she watched Apok (aka Quentin) suddenly dropped by Cypher in the Matrix. She, like Paulie fell immediately thereafter. The problem is this isn't the Matrix (or is it???)<br /><br />No, it's not. We don't have a Nemo. We have Clay fucking Dick pitching. I just realized I spent the last 5 minutes staring at the screen thinking about the season. The Blow-Up Doll incident. The Cuban Missile starting a crisis around the league. The trade for the old man in center. The game in Detroit where JD hit the go ahead run in the 9th. Yelling at Swish from bleachers in center. <br /><br />It's been a fun ride this season to watch the Sox materialize out of nowhere. But to have abruptly taken away just like that is what really sucks. If they played themselves out of it, I would have still been pissed but at least they had the components that got them there. <br /><br />Now? Fuck, even Chris Getz just broke his wrist. This team couldn't stay out of harms way right now even if it tried. Next to go will be Dye from a slip in the shower, followed by Thome who gets his nuts shattered by a slider that runs in on him. <br /><br />Sure, they could still possibly hang on (no, not really) and win the central division. But who fucking cares about central title? Congrats kid, here's a fucking Chinese finger trap for all these shitty tickets you spent 20 dollars to get. <br /><br />It's worthless. What mattered was they had the firepower offensive to make up for a shitty start from Vazquez in an ALDS game, or a blown hold from Dotel in a pivotal game seven. They had the fight this year that wasn't even evident at the start of the '07 season. Swisher and Cabrera gave this team the boost it needed to get somewhere, and for the most part they did that. While I would have liked to seen Swisher hit for better average, he's had a decent BABIP. <br /><br />Cabrera despite all his bitching about the official scoring of his errors/hits played a great shortstop. He, like Swisher, started off very slowly at the plate, but managed to use July and August to boost his batting average. <br /><br />And the pitching. Danks. Floyd. Linebrink (before the issues). Everyone contributed to make the staff turn it around, and the bullpen was and has been one of the best in the league.<br /><br />While I will still continue to watch every game until the end of the season, my excitement is deflated, defeated and de..fuck it. <br /><br />Sunday feels like a long way away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-71358474575375562222008-09-05T08:54:00.005-05:002008-09-05T13:08:16.838-05:00So...Anyone Want The A.L. Central?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SME61YLEX6I/AAAAAAAAA2c/LoUB49Ta0oY/s1600-h/ozzie-guillen-choke.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SME61YLEX6I/AAAAAAAAA2c/LoUB49Ta0oY/s320/ozzie-guillen-choke.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242536129932320674" /></a><br />With the Twins losing 9 of their last 12 (including last night's sweep by the Jays), and the Sox having lost 5 of their last 7, you have to wonder which of these two bumbling front runners is actually going to come away with the division title. <br /><br />The Sox are starting a 10 game homestand with the Halos, followed by the Blue Jays in for 4, then Detroit for a weekend series. After that, it's 10 on the road, with the final 3 in what will most likely be the decisive 3 game series in Minnesota that decides the title. <br /><br />While I'm glad the Sox have a game and half lead at this point, I get the general feeling from other Sox fans I've talked to that we all suspect no October baseball for the Pale Hose, and here's why:<br /><br /><strong><u>CARLOS QUENTIN'S WRIST IS HURT:</u></strong> Of all the things bad that could/may happen, this is up there. Quentin is 2-14 in his past four games in which he played with no homers or RBI's. Granted a four game stretch of such numbers is not all that cautionary, but it may be an indicator of his wrist pain. Paul Konerko had a hand injury in May, and went 24 games before hitting a long one again. <br /><br />Dye has been having a sensational year, Thome has been Thome, and Paulie is back to hitting again, but this team has been all Quentin all year, and can't afford to lose him for a long stretch during this 24-game period.<br /><br /><strong><u>DANKS' TANK IS RUNNING LOW:</u></strong> My fear documented <a href="http://chicagobull.blogspot.com/2008/08/danger-john-danks-danger.html"><strong><u>here</u></strong></a>.<br /><br /><strong><u>THE SOX DON'T DO WELL AGAINST CONTENDERS THIS YEAR:</u></strong> Good point by whitesox.com beat writer <a href="http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080904&content_id=3419944&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws"><strong><u>Scott Merkin</u></strong></a>:<br /><br /><em>Since June 20 - the start of a three-game Cubs Interleague sweep at Wrigley Field - the White Sox have a 1-4-1 series record in matchups against current playoff-bound teams. <br /><br />They followed the Wrigley sweep with a three-game whitewash of their own at U.S. Cellular Field of the National League Central leaders. There also were three losses in four games at the Metrodome, from July 28-31, a home loss to the Rays and a loss at Fenway Park last weekend. The Red Sox and the White Sox split a four-game set in Chicago from Aug. 8-11.</em>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com139tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-2930683823317821462008-09-04T09:32:00.007-05:002008-09-04T09:53:59.028-05:00Happy 1st Birthday<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SL_zQWTMA8I/AAAAAAAAA2U/8asjVuL7gRE/s1600-h/Juan+and+Jen.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SL_zQWTMA8I/AAAAAAAAA2U/8asjVuL7gRE/s320/Juan+and+Jen.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242175953472062402" /></a><br />My, how time flies when you're either drunk or pissed off at Juan Uribe. Today is <a href="http://chicagobull.blogspot.com"><u>Chicago Bulls'</u></a> first birthday, and I couldn't think of anyone better to toast to it other than the official woman of the 'Bull, and the only person to have have his own sidetab for a couple months which we sometimes kept up with (notice he's staring at the cake. That was not by accident). <br /><br />We already gave our blogger circle jerk to everyone when we recently hit 50,000, so no need for that. Thanks to all who read this site, and try to understand my terrible use of grammar. So with that said, enjoy Modern Love by David Bowie.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vF3SBrLrgmE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vF3SBrLrgmE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-25002994122829931462008-09-03T08:12:00.011-05:002008-09-03T09:32:52.806-05:00The City of Big Shoulders and Tired Arms<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SL6PWxqIt_I/AAAAAAAAA2E/eaSSyOe1Ah8/s1600-h/Z.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SL6PWxqIt_I/AAAAAAAAA2E/eaSSyOe1Ah8/s320/Z.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241784637755799538" /></a><br /><em>HOG Butcher for the World,<br />Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,<br />Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;<br />Stormy, husky, brawling,<br />City of the Big Shoulders:</em><br /><br />These were the words penned by Carl Sandberg in the poem "Chicago" 92 years ago. If they were reflecting the current state of Chicago today, it might read something more like this:<br /><br />Owner of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz8fTbLjo9c"><strong><u>Moo and Oink,</u></strong></a><br />Tool Maker, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH95UTtbmr8"><strong><u>Stacker of Old Autos,</u></strong></a><br />Players with <a href="http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080902-chicago-white-sox-cleveland-indians,1,6068160.story"><strong><u>nagging injuries</u></strong></a> and <a href="http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080902-chicago-cubs-houston-astros,1,6935531.story"><strong><u>sore arms;</u></strong></a><br />Stormy, husky, brawling, (and whatever other adjectives that the <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/index.html"><strong><u>Sun-Times</u></strong></a> likes to describe the weather on any particular day. Today? WAN)<br />City of Big Shoulders..which might need further examining.<br /><br />Despite both teams leading or owning a piece of their Central division leads, it's ominous times on both the north and south side. Zambrano heading to the othropedist today. Quentin sitting out with a sore hand. Harden capable of breaking at any moment. Danks looking like Big Brown down the stretch at the Belmont. <br /><br />Yes, it's not looking good right now. While the Sox have "something missing" according to Ozzie on a cut this morning on Mully and Hanley, the Cubs aren't looking that much better. Sure, they have the best record in the MLB thus far, but that doesn't mean they couldn't have an epic choke like the Mets last year, holding a 7 game lead over the Phillies on September 12th before not making the play-offs.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SL6elYk-WsI/AAAAAAAAA2M/sjFDHkZ7nuI/s1600-h/142420.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SL6elYk-WsI/AAAAAAAAA2M/sjFDHkZ7nuI/s320/142420.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241801381395716802" /></a><br /><br />As we look ahead to the final 3 weeks of the season, the White Sox will have 13 games at home, and 11 on the road if you include today. Their second to last series of the year will be a 3-game set in Minnesota which the Sox do not want to be the <a href="http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080902-ozzie-guillen-chicago-white-sox,1,258647.story"><strong><u>deciding factor</u></strong></a>.<br /><br />The Cubs will spend 16 of their final 23 on the road, two more 3 games sets against Milwaukee (1 in Chicago, other in Milwaukee). <br /><br />The city with big shoulders and tired arms is accompanied with nervous thoughts, habitual chain smoking and lots of muttered cursing today.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-25118508410511407302008-08-29T11:33:00.004-05:002008-08-29T11:40:27.392-05:00What About Ben?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLglE_js_VI/AAAAAAAAA18/iTPO0fmIscY/s1600-h/ben-gordon.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLglE_js_VI/AAAAAAAAA18/iTPO0fmIscY/s320/ben-gordon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239978934156459346" /></a><br />By StalkingEA<br /><br />Here we are, a little more than a month from the start of training camp, and there is still no resolution in sight for Ben Gordon. In case you've been under a rock this off-season, Ben is a restricted free agent, which means the Bulls have the right to match any tender offer that another team signs him to. No other teams have offered him a contract.<br /><br />Gordon wants to be the highest-paid Bull, since he is the led the Bulls in scoring over the last three seasons. That would put him in the $13 million range. The Bulls have $8 million in cap space, and have offered him a <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/marty_burns/08/04/gordon.bulls/index.html"><strong><u>1 year qualifying offer</u></strong></a> of about $6.4 million, which he won't even consider. <br /><br />So now what? Ben is obviously not happy with the way the Bulls are handling this, but what leverage does he have? Does he go play in Europe, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3501488"><strong><u>like Josh Childress did</u></strong>?</a> OK, but that might help the Bulls by clearing part of the log jam at guard, and keeping some cap space free. Does he sit out a season? Not likely, as that would lower what he could get in a contract in the highly competitive NBA. Do the Bulls work out a sign and trade? Now you're talking!<br /><br />OK, so they sign Ben to a contract he's happy with and then trade him to a team that can afford to pay him. Great! But wait, there's a reason that hasn't happened yet. Who's going to take him and give the Bulls some value in return? Memphis can afford to pay Ben, but what do they have that the Bulls want? Marc Gasol? Not gonna happen. On to <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_10320530"><strong><u>the next possibility</u></strong></a>:<br /><br /><em>Andrei Kirilenko is Utah's most logical bargaining chip, and Chicago might be interested in him, although he plays a lot like Deng and Nocioni. It's possible the Bulls might feel they were duplicating talent by adding Kirilenko.</em><br /><br />This is a pretty interesting article. The writer goes on to say that both teams would probably have to add more pieces to make a deal work, but I don't think the Bulls want to get into a major trade here. Besides, he's right, AK-47 plays the same position as Deng and Nocioni, and Coach Vinny already has a juggling act at guard. <br /><br />What the Bulls need is to find a team with a big man, a center. The problem is, they just aren't out there. Zach Randolph is available from the Knicks, but his contract is enormous and he doesn't play defense. The previously mentioned Grizzlies have Darko Milicic, but they'd have to package more with him. I just don't see any deals out there that the Bulls would make.<br /><br />I see Gordon signing maybe a 2 or 3 year deal for around $7.5 - 8 million per, just because he doesn't have another option. This will be a significant raise, but not enough to keep him happy. Look for the Bulls to then try to trade him during the season, when some other team realizes they need a scoring punch. I like Ben, he's been a quality player for the Bulls. I just wish there was a good way to keep him happy. I'll root for him as long as he plays here, and I'll wish him well if he goes. Just not if he plays against the Bulls.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-80169873219644928162008-08-29T08:36:00.004-05:002008-08-29T08:43:40.141-05:00Do Yourself A Favor: Fill Up Your Gas Tanks ASAP<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLf7dIIVjgI/AAAAAAAAA10/f9ZBvuVF8TA/s1600-h/222.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLf7dIIVjgI/AAAAAAAAA10/f9ZBvuVF8TA/s320/222.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239933169286090242" /></a><br />If you enjoyed paying $4.20 in the suburbs, and close to $5 a gallon in the city, go ahead and wait til Wednesday when Hurricane Gustav fucks up most of the US refineries to fill up your car. If you perfer to pay $3.85/$4.40-50, then my prescription for you today other then get drunk is fill up your gas tank as soon as you get the chance. It looks as though Gustav will get to around a category 3 or 4 when it makes landfall, and while there will be a spike in gas prices, I just watched a report on CNN Money that says the oil rigs in the Gulf are now better prepared to handle stronger winds then before. Even still, I'm saving you some money so trust me! <br /><br />In other programming notes, Noce will have a preview in the case of Sox v. Sox, and I'll follow that up with your usual weekend send off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-52243386618094561822008-08-28T10:32:00.009-05:002008-08-28T11:40:01.252-05:00The MLB Is Starting To Catch Onto This Whole Blogging Thing<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLbFHI6B5iI/AAAAAAAAA1s/OubhdPBLLGg/s1600-h/blogging_monkeys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239591942932784674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLbFHI6B5iI/AAAAAAAAA1s/OubhdPBLLGg/s320/blogging_monkeys.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MLB</span> is unveiling their new <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/business/media/28adco.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Tim+Arango&st=nyt&oref=slogin"><strong><u>postseason ad campaign</u></strong></a> today, notes Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Arango</span> of the NY Times.<br /><br />One of the first commercials aired? The Lovable Losers' 100 years of ineptitude boiled down to 30 seconds. Look, Cubs fans! More about your personal anguish that you didn't already know! The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MLB</span> is not fooling around with one of sports' biggest <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fan bases</span> and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">story lines</span> unfolding, as Bud Selig and cronies dish out $65 million for this year, the largest amount spent ads thus far in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">MLB</span> history.<br /><br />I guess with the nightmare that both the Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sox</span> and the Yankees potentially not in the playoffs, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">MLB</span> better start hyping what they got up right away.<br /><br />And to whom are they hyping October baseball? Why, those pesky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bloggers</span>!:<br /><br /><em>This year M.L.B. and its playoff and World Series broadcast partners, Fox and TBS, decided to showcase a different aspect of life on the Internet: blogging, which will be a common thread in the 20 or so advertisements.<br /><br />“Blogging is kind of the high currency in the interactive space right now" said Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Brosnan</span>, the league’s executive vice president for business.”</em><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ok</span>, so let's start off with the good news: NO MORE DANE COOK!<br /><br />{starts the happy dance}<br /><br />And the bad news? Lots and Lots of Frank <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Caliendo</span>, Bill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Engvall</span>, and other Fox/TBS stars.<br /><br />{sits back down, smile quickly fades}<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">MLB</span> will be the first of the major sports to tailor specifically to the growing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">blogfrica</span> sphere, and I think it will be interesting to see what David Stern and Roger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Goodell</span> do in the coming future with their advertising. I would imagine the NBA stepping up to do something similar to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">MLB</span> before the NFL would. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Goodell</span> could get Gilbert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Godfried</span> in a rat suit and say playoffs start Saturday, and the ad would probably be considered a classic.<br /><br />The ad campaign in my opinion sounds pretty interesting, as they will fit the ads to what happens in September.<br /><br />Way to go, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">MLB</span>! Thanks for acknowledging us out on your lawn. I can't wait to blog about your blogging commercials while sipping hot coco in mom's basement.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-7738224403964488732008-08-28T08:20:00.003-05:002008-08-28T09:03:09.305-05:00Danger John Danks! Danger!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLanbEz7zYI/AAAAAAAAA1k/uPr7shxBfbg/s1600-h/Danks.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLanbEz7zYI/AAAAAAAAA1k/uPr7shxBfbg/s320/Danks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239559300082027906" /></a><br />After watching John Danks last night struggle to <a href="http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-080827-chicago-white-sox-baltimore-orioles,1,3906621.story"><strong><u>hit 91</u></strong></a> on the gun last night while throwing the ball anywhere other then A.J. wanted, my personal Sox terror level elevated somewhere to in between <a href="http://fascistpsychlaws.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/a136_terror_alert_system_2050081722-16697.jpg"><strong><u>guarded and elevated</u></strong></a>. <br /><br />With his 27th game started last night (one more then last year), the big concern that popped into my head was this: is Danks starting wear down? Mark Gonzalez apparently was thinking the same after the game and asked Danks the same thing:<br /><br /><em>"Danks insisted his left arm feels fine after throwing a professional-high 1602/3 innings..."My breaking stuff wasn't there. It just wasn't there. My changeup was up. I was just flat-out bad."</em><br /><br />I would believe him at this point; everyone has off nights. But to play Devil's advocate do you really think he would admit to having a tired arm to a beat writer? Yeah Mark, my arm is complete jello right now. I've been working with Coop on how to throw a vaseline ball just like Harris in Major League. I've been wiping my nose but apparently that's not going to work.<br /><br />The same can be wondered at this point for Gavin Floyd as well. Floyd has also pitched 160 innings to this point, but with far less innings pitched in a season then Danks (70 IP last yr). Despite going 3-0 for August, his ERA over the month (4.97) was a run higher then his previous high water mark this year. <br /><br />Danks and Floyd have combined for a 24-13 record on the year with a combined ERA of 3.50 which is far beyond I would have imagined heading into the season at this point as well as many other Sox fans I assume as well. But with 5 weeks left in the season, and 5 more starts for each pitcher, their great accomplishments this year will not be remembered if they start to wear down with the "Piranyas" nipping at the Sox heels. <br /><br />The Sox need Danks and Floyd now more then ever to keep the breathing room they have on not only the Twins, but the Red Sox and Rays for a playoff birth. Let's hope there's still enough fuel in the tank for these two keep it going. The Sox certainly don't need more Clayton Richard's up here running around.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-39345652670615054402008-08-26T15:43:00.004-05:002008-08-26T16:32:57.728-05:00Tight Pennant Race? More Booze For Ozzie, Please<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLRr41X_-II/AAAAAAAAA1c/8r0qxzX5b_A/s1600-h/ozzieguillen.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SLRr41X_-II/AAAAAAAAA1c/8r0qxzX5b_A/s320/ozzieguillen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238930890683316354" /></a><br />I can identify with Ozzie Guillen for many reasons other then just being the manager of the White Sox. He likes to speak his mind, and does so with lots of profanity just like me...Hmm, on the other hand Ozzie is Venezulean, married, has kids, played in the majors and makes millions. I'm white, single, no kids (that I know of), played little league and make thousands. Maybe that's the only thing. Oh wait, we also share the need to kick back with a copious amount of booze to unwind from a stressful day at work.<br /><br />Whether it's fitting in with others:<br /><em><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/whitesox/2006-02-23-guillen-cover_x.htm"><u>"I am their friend. If they don't buy me a beer, they disrespect me.</u></a>"</em><br /><br />Making a decision on tough issues:<br /><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/1081073,CST-SPT-soxnt30.article"><u>"I don't know," Guillen said. "I need to get drunk and think about it.</u></a>"<br /><br />Or celebrating:<br /><em>"<a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/1126454,CST-SPT-sox26.article">The only thing I remember is the base hit [Alexei] Ramirez got yesterday to right field to win the game," Guillen said of the Sox' thrilling victory Sunday over the Tampa Bay Rays -- the AL East's new first-place team. "There was a lot of vodka between that game and today, believe me</a>."</em><br /><br />Ozzie and Dr. C agree that there's nothing like a good stiff drink. But what I'm being to wonder: <br /><br />Do you think Ozzie has ever been <a href="http://www.new-low.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/nowitzki_drunk.jpg"><u>drunk</u></a> while coaching? Baseball would be the easiest sport to get hammered and not really have anyone notice. You've got 9 innings to sober if you get drunk before hand, and with a couple mints you'd be good to go for postgame interviews. <br /><br />And besides, Ozzie's so fucking crazy who would even be able to tell if was half in the bag?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-79081170958735809972008-08-22T15:37:00.005-05:002008-08-22T16:14:13.907-05:00Weekend Send-Off: New Metallica<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-UNfNpjWz-Y&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-UNfNpjWz-Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm literally counting down the days to September 12th when Death Magnetic hits the stores. This is the new single called "The Day That Never Comes" and it just came out today. The quality is kinda shitty, but if you want the good version, <a href="http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=601119"><strong><u>here's a link</u></strong></a> I have a feeling it will be better then everything since the Black album, but they'll never be 80's Metallica again. They don't know those drunk kids anymore.<br /><br />ADDED BONUS: Noce wanted some CCR, and since I'm a nice guy I decided to throw it in for him. <br /><br />"How about a Gene pick?" <br /><br />Gene's trash! <br /><br />"I'm Gene."<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IC4tpeN6pj4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IC4tpeN6pj4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-5943733069205863692008-08-21T14:39:00.010-05:002008-08-21T16:17:52.095-05:00Bears vs. Themselves vs. 49ers Tonight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PzdNQ7c7zvrw2KrafgoF61IBuP4lRG9xYuneCgmEAIc0LKdMLoXO7Sxk59jBUUTLM4iE2eogKyJ813okULwpKdKGD5LL2N1L0_jThCXCh06jUrqb99kxUejUJidOVF7hHbD5ur0lWbTD/s1600-h/bears_main.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237065922399752722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PzdNQ7c7zvrw2KrafgoF61IBuP4lRG9xYuneCgmEAIc0LKdMLoXO7Sxk59jBUUTLM4iE2eogKyJ813okULwpKdKGD5LL2N1L0_jThCXCh06jUrqb99kxUejUJidOVF7hHbD5ur0lWbTD/s400/bears_main.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have to be honest, I haven't been paying much attention to the Bears this year. And I've been a whole lot happier because of it.<br /><br />I have probably watched 10 minutes of Bear football this year and I think in those 10 minutes I uttered somewhere around 75 "fucks!", "assholes!", "holy shits!" and "what the fuck are you doing you fucking assholes?".<br /><br />I just cannot comprehend some of the decisions that the coaches make on a play-by-play basis - and this is pretty much just talking about the offensive side of the ball.<br /><br />I understand that getting upset about the Bears' offense is about as productive as an <a href="http://www.computercloset.org/Apple_II.jpg"><u>Apple II</u></a>, but I just can't seem to wrap my brain around the idea that it's ok for a PROFESSIONAL NFL OFFENSE to suck more balls than <a href="http://www.gay.com/images/metro/losangelespride2_600.jpg"><u>John Amaechi</u></a>. It's like we're hypnotized to believe that the offense can produce jack shit and if the team wins, everything is fine.<br /><br />I guess I shouldn't expect much from the Bears fanbase when it comes to football knowlege and realistic expectations. Hell, at least half of the fan base accounts for Cubs fans and we all know how smart and professional they are up in Wrigleyville.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVy-9oh_PKYqG9_aeKIHXblIUzGKveV3Cwk3G9gSzt3O535kp3O73CBuDp2CJ5EtTjUi-Sg3PYsO7U33mQ8PYH19W0JXanArj_1PErvbrjFlI8pWt7EkkC2Owg0a-k8MOT0FNF5nCtO-K/s1600-h/stupidCubFan1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237072775718432066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVy-9oh_PKYqG9_aeKIHXblIUzGKveV3Cwk3G9gSzt3O535kp3O73CBuDp2CJ5EtTjUi-Sg3PYsO7U33mQ8PYH19W0JXanArj_1PErvbrjFlI8pWt7EkkC2Owg0a-k8MOT0FNF5nCtO-K/s320/stupidCubFan1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm not totally absolving the Bears fans who support the Sox either, because we know they have had their fair share of <a href="http://www.umpbump.com/press/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/thugs.jpg"><u>incidents</u></a> as well (I was actually at that game). Sox fans have managed to at least appear informed about their team though, something that seems to elude those Old Style swilling yuppies on the North side.<br /><br />Regardless of the baseball allegiances, there is one NFL team in Chicago and it's fucking unbelievable that we fans allow them to march out guys who wouldn't make the practice squads on some NFL teams and think it's okay for a QB rating of 75.2. These guys are supposed to be pros people!<br /><br />If anyone has the opportunity - go down to Indianapolis and watch how they operate. Think their fans go into the stadium talking about how their key is to win the battle for "field position"? Fuck no. Think Colts fans are excited when the team gets their first 1st down in the waning minutes of the 2nd quarter? Think that has even happened since Peyton Manning took over? (I really don't know so if you wanna look that up - be my guest, but I'd put money on no)<br /><br />Granted they have a HOF quarterback in Manning but they still have players around him that compete at an NFL level day-in and day-out, which is something the Bears simply cannot say. Digging up old has-beens and never-weres off the scrap heap (Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd) and trotting out an offensive line with more holes than Augusta National doesn't cut it Lovie.<br /><br />And if it's not Lovie's fault (he is supposed to be a defensive guy after all) then what the fuck is Ron Turner still doing with a job? This guy has been as bad or worse than the guy whose favorite 3rd down play was the draw (see: John Shoop). Not only that, every year we have to hear about how Turner is "installing his system", which immediately makes me think of a <a href="http://images.livescience.com/images/070706_panda_zoo_02.jpg"><u>panda bear taking a gigantic dump on a pack of fire ants</u></a>.<br /><br />I would like to challenge any Bears beat writer to sit next to Turner in the booth and just take notes of what he does during the games. I'm willing to bet that half the time he spends "calling plays" is really just him playing Battleship against himself.<br /><br />God, I fucking hate Ron Turner.<br /><br />See - even thinking about the Bears makes me angry. What the hell was this post about again? Oh yea - fucking stupid Bears and their shitty offense. I hope the whole offense (minus Kreutz - I can't stay mad at him) gets lost on the way to the game tonight and they're forced to play the defensive players on offense (there will be no difference) just to see what happens.<br /><br />The Sox better make the damn playoffs because I'm going to need something to keep me from poking out my own eyes in a fit of rage.Nocehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13935295064938755147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-90555775957920446332008-08-21T08:56:00.006-05:002008-08-21T13:05:53.978-05:00A Look At Some ESPN Member DouchebagsIt has been far too long since we delved into the immense stupidity that resides within ESPN.com's commenting world. The problem that myself and Noce run into is it's hard to find some of these special specimens of jackassery that deserved to be examined and explained. There's plenty of your regular run of the mill douches, but they're not worthy of my time. Look at their profile, say douche, and move on. For those of you new to this bit, it's pretty simple. Find an ESPN member who is a band-waggoning fuckface and let him/her have it. I have been semi-actively searching for someone who I could lay into recently, and this morning I stumbled today's participant/contestant/laborer: <a href="http://sportsnation.espn.go.com/fans/wesley%20collins"><strong><u>Wesley Collins</u></strong></a> <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SK13nJCBT8I/AAAAAAAAA1U/-7jlyq539rA/s1600-h/ESPNMEMBER.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SK13nJCBT8I/AAAAAAAAA1U/-7jlyq539rA/s320/ESPNMEMBER.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236973456024752066" /></a><br /><br />As you can see, ESPN has changed up the format of their commenter MySpace page since we last lit into the tools. I think the new set-up sucks. Oh well. If you were to ask me to picture a 44-year old male living south of Pittsburgh who works in the Transportation industry, you could not have painted a better picture here. Wesley is the type of guy who:<br /><br />- Appeals to the makers of <a href="http://users.ntplx.net/~glauer/bandchat/pics/vault4.jpg"><strong><u>Vault soda</u></strong></a> as their target market<br />- Tries to get <a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/CaptnBob/3014a.jpg"><strong><u>pussy</u></strong></a> at the local bowling alley<br />- Has been to at least 7 Ronnie James Dio <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d6ZwUlXpPU"><strong><u>concerts</u></strong></a><br />- Once declared <a href="http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/72285200.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193875DCB1DD8387ABBBE238F446C608BB0A40A659CEC4C8CB6"><strong><u>Ron Tugnutt</u></strong></a> as the only guy he'd be cool with if he slept with his <a href="http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/java1078/111007_ugly_woman_shirt.jpg"><strong><u>ex-wife</u></strong></a><br />- Once did a <a href="http://www.lvhrd.org/wp-content/images/575x350/20080403_030207.jpg"><strong><u>line of coke</u></strong></a> at 2:30 at a Denny's while waiting for his <a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/ten15saturdaynight/onion_news2053.jpg"><strong><u>Moons Over My Hammy</u></strong></a><br /><br />Let's take a look at Wesley's teams he backs: <strong>Pirates, Cubs, Mets Steelers, Celtics, Penguins, Bruins, Red Sox, Michigan, Pitt, USC, Orioles</strong><br /><br />As usual, I will not hold all his area teams against him. But are you fucking serious you coked-out tire lifter? USC? UNIVERSITY OF SUCK COCK FOR COKE? Ok, I'll give you that Vincent Vega. Michigan? Fuck yourself in the face with a glowing hot aluminum bat. Every Boston minus the Pats? Grab a box cutter and cut your taint open. The Cubs, Mets, and Orioles? I pity your existance as a human being. <br /><br />For his one liner at the top of the page? <strong>"Want to be heard? say nothing"</strong><br /><br />Or in Wesley's case, grab a pair of bono shades at moms house and give a look to the camera like you do to those 7th graders at the arcade when you tell him them you don't care if you lost, you're playing again.<br /><br />Wesley's greatest sports moment? A bunch of broken fucking sentences that he wrote after his latest 8-ball. <br /><br />In closing, ESPN Members have a chance to tell you what they're thinking. Anything they want. With this opportunity, Wesley informs us:<br /><br /><strong>college football ,it doesnt get any better than that,pitt will make noise,penn st. there all in jail.GA.,OHIO ST.,LSU,TEXAS,USC,CLEMSON,WILL RATTLE THE CAGES THIS YR.............LAST ONE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INJURIES WILL BE THE KINGSwe all know when the yankees loose its a good day in america.</strong><br /><br />Will rattle the cages this yr? What in the fucking name of thought process and conversation did you huff upon typing this slanderous pig latin? Sure, I too like it when the yankees loose. But there is no good day in America with you out on the roads of your transporation job, Wesley. You fucking Pennsylvania male Amy Winehouse.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-59963667012138364882008-08-20T08:05:00.009-05:002008-08-20T10:24:59.129-05:00Previewing The NFC North: This Could Be A Long Season For Los Osos<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKwjDhUNplI/AAAAAAAAA1E/GdyNFJRhtUc/s1600-h/BearCub.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKwjDhUNplI/AAAAAAAAA1E/GdyNFJRhtUc/s320/BearCub.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236599010114774610" /></a><br />For the past three seasons, it's been nice knowing that going into the upcoming season, the Bears should be pretty damn good, and that it should be a good year. The roller coaster it appears however, has finally peaked. The pendulum swings back into horrific once again as we witnessed a team that went to the Super Bowl just two years ago finish below .500 last year. This is not an apparition akin to the 2007 White Sox. No, this seems to be much worse. The settled but yet malevolent quarterback situation which has lasted many years, the defense getting older and looking like it, the receiving corp which couldn't compete for a SICA West title, and worse of all...the freshmen B-team offensive line going up against varsity. Slaughter. So bad that Fred Miller and Ruben Brown are getting more calls from Ron Turner then Lindsay Lohan is getting from GLADD to join next year's parade in Boys Town. <br /><br />Yes, that bad.<br /><br />So with that in mind, I unveil my predictions for the 2008 final standings of the NFC North.<br /><br /><strong>1. FUDGEPACKERS (11-5)</strong> Now that he who shall not be named because I'm fucking sick of him is gone, it will be the Aaron Rodgers show in Green Bay. And you know what? I really feel bad for the guy. He didn't bitch about playing time, didn't bitch about backing up arguably the best quarterback in the history of the game. He kept his mouth shut, put on a PR performance worthy of an award and waited patiently for a chance. As soon as he got the pay off, the fucking cheeseheads blame him for it, and have their 6 year olds telling him he sucks. Lovely fan base. <br /><br />From what Rodgers has shown, a 13-3 team from last year will still be set offensively, and their defense is very good (though their corners are getting old). I would expect Rodgers to lose them a couple games due to his inexperience and the rigors of a playing a full season, but they're still the team to beat. With their hardest games of the year at home (Dallas week 3, Indy week 7), the rest of their schedule isn't bad. <br /><br /><strong>2. VIQUEENS (10-6)</strong> Hey, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/writers/dr_z/archive/"><strong><u>Dr. Z</u></strong>.</a> Yeah, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/thenetwork/bios/images/zimmerman.jpg"><strong><u>you ya old penis-headed fuck</u></strong></a>. I normally fuck up many a prediction, but you my friend have taken the cake. Seriously? <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/dr_z/06/20/vikings/index.html"><strong><u>The Viqueens for the Super Bowl</u></strong></a>? Can't wait for you to fuck this one up. Are they a Super Bowl caliber defense. Absolutely. Just because they beat the Giants last 41-17 doesn't mean shit. The Giants were only down one when Elisha threw a pick 6 to choke. Tavaris Jackson straight up sucks, and is the equivalent of Kyle Orton with some scramble (and less Jack Daniels in his veins). If they were to lose Adrian Peterson to serious injury, they're a .500 team. They're defense is good enough to give them a few get me bys, which to me reeks of Wild Card birth, and out. Have a nice season fuckfaces.<br /><br /><strong>3. BEARS (6-10)</strong> I was leaning toward 5-11, but what the hell I'm feeling generous. As I listed in my intro, I'll bullet out who sucks the most.<br /><br />- The Offensive Line<br />- Dr. Jerkyl and Dr. Jerkyl (Rex and Orton)<br />- Trumaine McBride (Get Fucked, burn victim)<br />- The Receivers<br />- Roberto Garza (you get your own bullet, amigo)<br />- Defense<br />- Brad Maynard<br /><br />Do I really need to say more? 6 wins, and we'll all be back to Bulls Basketball (except Noce who will be glued to every sweat gland that Nocioni has from the end of October on).<br /><br /><strong>LIONS: 5-11</strong> I think this picture is worth my 1,000 words:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKwy4Q4bSBI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ne4fRzCW1Pc/s1600-h/LionsSuck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKwy4Q4bSBI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ne4fRzCW1Pc/s320/LionsSuck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236616408910743570" /></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-13874706690701517752008-08-18T15:14:00.005-05:002008-08-18T15:57:37.431-05:00It's Official: The 'Beard Is Our Quarterback<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKnYivFHFVI/AAAAAAAAA08/gCLp9EZHMDo/s1600-h/1111.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKnYivFHFVI/AAAAAAAAA08/gCLp9EZHMDo/s320/1111.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235954133059966290" /></a><br />Chicago Tribune Bears beat writer Vaughn McClure has just Blackberry'd the news that <a href="http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/2008/08/mondays-bears-p.html"><strong><u>Kyle Orton will be the starter</u></strong></a> for the first game of the season on Sunday night when the Bears head to Indianapolis to face the Manningless Colts. <br /><br />It appears that Orton didn't win the job with his play as much as Grossman just looked inept out there in his two preseason performances thus far. Here's the breakdown in numbers from <a href="http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=5015"><strong><u>chicagobears.com writer Larry Mayer</u></strong></a>:<br /><br /><em>Orton slightly outperformed Grossman in two preseason games, compiling a better completion percentage (63.2-56.5), yards per attempt average (5.21-5.13) and passer rating (76.4-66.9) while connecting on 12 of 19 passes for 99 yards. Grossman has completed 13 of 23 passes for 118 yards.</em><br /><br />Effciency. That's what it's going to come down to with what could quite possibly the shittiest offensive line in the NFL. Orton may be more tentative so far, but he's moving the ball, and that's all the Bears can ask at this point.<br /><br />The Rex Grossman era has officially concluded in Chicago. What was your favorite moment? <br /><br />Oh, and if you're wondering, the facebook group titled <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31059051476&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Fn%3D-1%26k%3D200000010%26init%3Ds%253Agroup%26q%3DCaleb%2BHanie">"<strong><u>Start Caleb Hanie Committee</u></strong>"</a> is already over 100 members strong.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-75457645986501424302008-08-15T08:29:00.010-05:002008-08-15T09:32:10.177-05:00Thanks For Winning, Don't Let The Door Hit You In The Ass On Your Way Out<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKWKsCxGl-I/AAAAAAAAA00/HHb7DtzqY6I/s1600-h/AAA.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKWKsCxGl-I/AAAAAAAAA00/HHb7DtzqY6I/s320/AAA.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234742631149770722" /></a><br />Did anyone else flash back to Office Space like I just did when I heard the news about Lance Broadway being <a href="http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080814-chicago-white-sox-kansas-city-royals,1,5834742.story"><strong><u>sent back down to AAA</u></strong></a> after getting the win yesterday? <br /><br /><em>Michael Bolton: Peter, you're in deep shit. You were supposed to come in on Saturday. What were you doing? <br />Peter Gibbons: Michael, I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be.<br />Michael Bolton: Yeah well if you keep that up your ass is going be fired.</em><br /><br />That's right. Clayton Richard (0-2, 10.38 ERA, 2.23 WHIP) appears to be heading back for an encore on the South Side despite doing his best not earn the promotion (at least for now). <br /><br />Broadway's numbers from yesterday? 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 1.24 WHIP). In Richard's three starts, he has:<br /><br />A. Not gotten past the 5th inning.<br />B. Not given up less then 4 earned.<br />C. Given up at least 7 hits.<br /><br />Broadway did better then him in all three of the listed Alpha above. <br /><br /><em>"He did a good job, a tremendous job," Guillen said. "Better than we expected. He threw strikes. He came up big in tough situations. He ate up innings. He got the win. What could be better than that? I think this game was big, and he stepped it up and did his job."<br /><br />So why is he leaving?<br /><br />"Right now we're in a situation where I have a problem with the bullpen the next few days," Guillen said.</em><br /><br />So to correct this problem, you get the worst fucking arm possible? Richard would not be up here if Boonie was so fucked in the head right now, and I would have to believe that Richard will be sent back to Charlotte after the 3 games series to bring Broadway back for what would be his next on Tuesday in Seattle.<br /><br />Let's hope so. Because this move makes about as much as sense as promoting Peter Gibbons for his fine work. <br /><br />Back up in your ass with the resurrection.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-23913669177011619812008-08-13T11:34:00.003-05:002008-08-13T11:51:10.357-05:00For Some Reason, The 08-09 Blackhawks Slogan Bothers Me<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKMNeREXO-I/AAAAAAAAA0g/0KEJDJPBT-8/s1600-h/McDonough.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RGV3aOix-qI/SKMNeREXO-I/AAAAAAAAA0g/0KEJDJPBT-8/s320/McDonough.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234042005563587554" /></a><br />One Goal. <br /><br />Granted, I think it's pretty good. It's a statement that shows management is finally committed to returning Lord Stanley's cup to where it belongs. With everything that Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough have been doing, it's very fitting. My problem lays within the new radio ad campaign I've been hearing 670 the Score. It goes something like this with the voices of Johnny Toews and Adam Burrish:<br /><br />"I want to score so many goals this year, the crowd needs sunlights. So many goals, that the light burns out..."<br /><br />I think you catch my drift. So what do you follow all of that talk up with? Blackhawks hockey. One goal.<br /><br />I just fucking heard a myriad of goal statements, but all they're going to score in their fucking home opener on Monday, Oct. 13th is one goal? <br /><br />How about the talk of what that one fucking goal is? Hoisting the trophy for first time since '61?<br /><br />Your casual 'Hawks fan (and I use the word casual very lightly here) still doesn't know the team, or give a shit about this mostly forgotten franchise. I know there's more buzz about the team for this upcoming season then there has been '93, but please, for the love of fuck start thinking about how your putting this slogan together.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-23660681008541668212008-08-12T08:51:00.023-05:002008-08-13T15:22:25.266-05:00The 2008 Nickname Olympics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOobRi_9L90CFNwtruqWFxJfObSPjZSLcrnAunUkv59QgIo-9G6FbO4BxaT47lxtD27xFRrH7Ub81m17SJiaq7z1Un3biJtRBq9EbhUYSm4obf1ksIe7wWChWH9p1UkOHkKzCB1e5yawY/s1600-h/rings.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233637687987308610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOobRi_9L90CFNwtruqWFxJfObSPjZSLcrnAunUkv59QgIo-9G6FbO4BxaT47lxtD27xFRrH7Ub81m17SJiaq7z1Un3biJtRBq9EbhUYSm4obf1ksIe7wWChWH9p1UkOHkKzCB1e5yawY/s400/rings.bmp" border="0" /></a><br />In the spirit of the 29th Summer Olympiad, I have decided to award medals to athletes based not on their ability, performance or difficulty, but rather on a more indefinable characteristic: their nicknames.<br /><br />And in an effort to be non-discriminant, we're including athletes from all sports, not just those lucky enough to be named as 'Olympic sports'.<br /><br />When it comes to nicknames, the possibilities are basically endless. Nicknames can be based on anything from physical characteristics (<em>El Gordo</em>) to stupid announcer epithets (<em>Big Bad Bobby Jenks</em>) .<br /><br />If you've ever sat through a White Sox television broadcast (I not only feel your pain), you've definitely heard good ole' boy <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ken_Harrelson"><u>Ken Harrleson's numerous nicknames</u></a> for everyone from White Sox players to the hot dog vendors and of course his #1 best manfriend: <a href="http://static.baseballtoaster.com/blogs/u/cardboardgods/2007/1029/0001/Carl_Yastrzemski_78_1080.jpg"><u>Carl 'Yaz' Yastrzemski</u></a>.<br /><br />The awards for the best nicknames will be determined by the appropriateness of the nickname in relation to the athlete, overall <em>badassness </em>of the name, and/or if it's funny enough to make me laugh out loud. We will award gold, silver and bronze medals to multiple nicknames depending on the sport.<br />Since there are thousands of nicknames for athletes out there I decided to pick two for each medal and then some honorable mentions just for good measure. Don't like it? Get your own fuckin' blog you pukes.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">AND HERE WE GO</span><br /><br /><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233710293482257650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO0VNdg7lUrXrvg6Kh8wb-xqpE17ziottdI3dQNrh21RADxo3o2jzTa6__VJ7H_AbvyOFhchba8vS1MSk7AXQ6C2BQOgO4QSVjWhH-8EcXZZ7uUhzHxGANH0vRKBHtivOQ2wHjHj4DS_w/s200/namath.jpg" border="0" /> <ul><li><u>'Broadway' Joe Namath</u> - Gets credit for the mustache alone, the man did once receive $10,000 to shave it for a Remington razor commercial. Also guaranteed a Super Bowl and actually delivered (here's looking at you Matt Hasselbeck). Namath was also a fucking great quarterback who was the 1st QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a 14 game season. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Namath#Facial_hair"><u>Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh</u></a> stated that Namath was "the most beautiful, accurate, stylish passer with the quickest release I've ever seen." Finally, without Joe's crazy Italian swagger and olive oily charm, there wouldn't be a need for a pretty <a href="http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/"><u>funny and popular blog</u></a> named after one of his infamous antics. </li></ul><br /><p></p><ul><br /><li><u>Julius 'Dr. J' Irving</u> - Star of the ABA and one of the pioneers of the 'above the rim' style of play, Dr. J earned the nickname in high school for his precise method of play. I'm sure he also played 'doctor' with somewhere around 512 young co-eds. </li></ul><br /><p><strong>Bronze Medal Winners:</strong></p><br /><ul><br /><li><u>Curtis 'Cujo' Joseph</u> - A pretty damn good goalie in his day, <em>Cujo</em> derived his nickname from the 1st two letters of his first and last name and paired them with the vicious dog from the Steven King novel. Little does anyone know, <em>Cujo's</em> real name was Curtis Munro, changed to Joseph in 1989. <em>Cumu just </em>doesn't have quite the same ring to it does it? It certainly wouldn't have made him able to wear such a <a href="http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/pear622/cujomask.jpg"><u>badass goalie mask</u></a>. </li></ul><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGw4OWPlsFwinqsjNiK5LPxtIkbYbFg6YcJ1LacdP_xRUFzTMi8tgeIxFW2Pz9RBqZ6orSOt_3s0bZI9zUG00V2LdRaVMHcdWc_JDdgpUtlZVGNp3AAJH7rKrDX1Ds5UbjHBsyz3ah74C/s1600-h/joe+jackson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233719405937646850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGw4OWPlsFwinqsjNiK5LPxtIkbYbFg6YcJ1LacdP_xRUFzTMi8tgeIxFW2Pz9RBqZ6orSOt_3s0bZI9zUG00V2LdRaVMHcdWc_JDdgpUtlZVGNp3AAJH7rKrDX1Ds5UbjHBsyz3ah74C/s200/joe+jackson.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><ul><br /><li><u>'Shoeless' Joe Jackson</u> - It just wouldn't be a Chicago Bull post without something about the White Sox would it? (Just wait for more down below it gets better). According to Jackson, he got his nickname during a game against the Brandon Mill team. Jackson suffered from a <a title="Blister" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blister">blister</a> on his foot from a new pair of <a title="Cleat (shoe)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleat_%28shoe%29">cleats</a>. They hurt so much that he had to take his shoes off before an <a title="At bat" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_bat">at bat</a>. Once he was on base, a fan started yelling inappropriate and vulgar comments at him. One of the things Jackson was called was a "Shoeless son of a gun." The name stuck with him throughout the remainder of his life. (Thanks Wikipedia!)<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoeless_Joe_Jackson#cite_note-joebio-8">[9]</a><br /></li></ul><p><strong>Silver Medal Winners:</strong></p><ul><br /><li><u>Wayne 'The Great One' Gretzky</u> - The man was so good, after he retired he was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Back when hockey was cool and before a young man by the name of Eldrick Woods ever picked up a golf club, Gretzky was the best player in sports, and that's including MJ.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSMngc2kAyDmIY32F28zD116u3506SZXVag7VByo7y0mK2vmavLkSC_2a_BdkAh_hkTJBHsIaGRj_52MW4nzgeg33mebSOwptRh0MQZX9-mDuyPY_UuP12yAMdqjnuPk4aeJLD05I9lCU/s1600-h/Walter_Payton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233724095750991426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSMngc2kAyDmIY32F28zD116u3506SZXVag7VByo7y0mK2vmavLkSC_2a_BdkAh_hkTJBHsIaGRj_52MW4nzgeg33mebSOwptRh0MQZX9-mDuyPY_UuP12yAMdqjnuPk4aeJLD05I9lCU/s200/Walter_Payton.jpg" border="0" /></a></li><br /><li><u>Walter 'Sweetness' Payton</u> - Look, us Bears fans rarely have anything to cheer about ok? So when a player like Sweetness comes around and fucking dominates everyone with his prolific 'stutter-step' move and his amazing speed, we sure as shit are going to give him an awesome nickname. The name also has to do with Walter Payton the man - even though it could just as easily be used to describe his play - because Payton was such an inspiring person on and off the field. It's a shame that many people our age never got to see him play, and I always look for the old-timers at Bears games wearing the #34 amongst the sea of #54 and #91.<br /></li></ul><strong>Gold Medal Winners:</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmoXZduMNuATOukZKGv9g8W-bpG5fJni_VGKOnaitllHmOQBTCTh4Pva4oQONp7PLX2ZyPMLrynjH7pOzz9HjpisiFme9Wqyq8l-k8mj1seLsQmanc7pQC5s-qSvxPRPcrZbholOAk9-E/s1600-h/williams000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234039849129443346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmoXZduMNuATOukZKGv9g8W-bpG5fJni_VGKOnaitllHmOQBTCTh4Pva4oQONp7PLX2ZyPMLrynjH7pOzz9HjpisiFme9Wqyq8l-k8mj1seLsQmanc7pQC5s-qSvxPRPcrZbholOAk9-E/s320/williams000.jpg" border="0" /></a> <ul><li><u>Ted 'Teddy Ballgame' Williams</u> - As much as it pains me to give any credit to a Boston player, <em>Teddy Ballgame </em>is my favorite nickname in all of sports and the reason why I sat down at my office today to write this post. Arguably the best left-handed hitter ever, Williams literally <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Science-Hitting-Ted-Williams/dp/0671621033"><u>wrote the book</u></a> on how to hit a baseball. In 1941, he entered the last day of the season with a batting average of .399. This would have been rounded up to .400, making him the first man to hit .400 since Bill Terry in 1930.<br /><br />Manager Joe Cronin left the decision whether to play up to him. Williams opted to play in both games of the day's doubleheader and risk losing his record. He got 6 hits in 8 at bats, raising his season average to .406. Williams also hit .400 in 1952 and .407 in 1953, both partial seasons; nobody has hit over .400 in a season since Williams.<br /></li><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJpoKMD5PcQOJeHxtvKRpp6jWnFn9KQ3YgmxFYYBuWV1Pps86BylWsm4fELKZfb1dSkJNUspK-WKx0x_iYOljB52c99RCokz9QLVLLp7QmaSnCEuRoMX6dyH_k_HnrfgfGF9QueOBIeDW/s1600-h/Ao2charlieHustle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234021685406766322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJpoKMD5PcQOJeHxtvKRpp6jWnFn9KQ3YgmxFYYBuWV1Pps86BylWsm4fELKZfb1dSkJNUspK-WKx0x_iYOljB52c99RCokz9QLVLLp7QmaSnCEuRoMX6dyH_k_HnrfgfGF9QueOBIeDW/s200/Ao2charlieHustle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><li><u>Pete 'Charlie Hustle' Rose</u> - All cheating scandals aside, the motherfucker sure could play baseball. And play it he did. Rose played the game mean, running spikes-up into 2nd basemen to break up double plays, charging over catchers at home and rubbing dirt on every wound. Rose's nickname, "Charlie Hustle", was given to him for his play beyond the "call of duty" while on the field.<br /><br />Even when being walked, Rose would sprint to first base, instead of the traditional trot to the base. Rose was known for sliding headfirst into a base, his signature move. This method is now used almost exclusively by stealing base runners today, and has been ever since the late 70's. There's also that 44-game hitting streak that is still the longest ever in the National League.</li></ul><br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Nocehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13935295064938755147noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125234990959429832.post-80319624175544914252008-08-11T09:14:00.005-05:002008-08-11T09:20:12.012-05:00In Gload We Trust<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T6eIRUDRra0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T6eIRUDRra0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Apparently this play happened last week, but a co-worker just told about this play last week that Ross Gload made. In comes in at the 40 second mark, but do watch the opening story of the lady who trips one of two burgulars running out of a store. That's pretty funny, but the heads up play that Gload makes is awesome. I don't think I've ever seen a ball roll along the tops of a fence until now.<br /><br /><a onclick="location.href='http://ballhype.com/post/url/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title);return false;" href="http://ballhype.com/post/"><img height="15" alt="BallHype: hype it up!" src="http://images.ballhype.com/img/hype/ballhype_80x15.gif" width="80" /></a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><script>article_url = '<data:post.url>';article_title = '<data:post.title>';</script><br /><script src="http://www.rootzoo.com/pulse_button.php"></script><img title="" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogger.com/" width="1" link=" + data:post.url + " />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0