Vinny del negro out of bounds play

does he shake a magic eight ball or consult a genie for these out of bounds plays to win a game?

Party like it's 1996

The Blackhawks are in the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

For those keeping track, I was 10 the last time that happened. It was against the same Calgary Flames with a Hawks roster consisting of Roenick, Daze, Chelios and Belfour. After 13 seasons, the Hawks have entered the second round again. Going forward, here are some things I have noticed:

1. The Hawks are FAST.

Anyone who watched the last two games of the series might have thought the Flames were moving in slow motion. I was at game 5 on Saturday night and repeatedly witnessed Hawks defenseman take pucks the length of the ice with little obstructions. It was a blur of red jerseys around the Flames. The speed of the Hawks is obvious and will be a key to their success moving forward against the Canucks.

2. The Bulin Wall still exhists.

Nikolai Khabibulin answered the call in Game 6. The young Hawks team is going to need leadership and stable goaltending moving forward and Habi can give them both. He went on a huge hot streak for the 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Lightning. If he can reproduce that run, the Hawks will be in every game and could go very far. Goaltending will be a hot topic of the next series with Canuck's goaltender Roberto Luongo being as hot as any goalie out there. 

3. Joel Quenneville can coach, plain and simple.

Did you notice every time Jarome Iginla and Oli Jokinen were on the ice, so were Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith? That was not by accident and it was a key to the series. Iginla is one the most prolific scorers in the league and was held to 2 power-play goals and 1 empty net goal for the series. Not one 5-on-5 goal. Coach Quinneville put his team in positions to succeed the entire series. Look for this same strategy with Canucks' scoring Sedin tandem (Daniel and Henrik). 

4. Cam Barker and Dustin Byfuglien are here to stay

Both players have spent the past few years jumping between the AHL and the NHL. Byfuglien was rumored to be heading back after the acquisition of Paulsson. Barker has been overshadowed by Keith and Seabrook. But both were integral pieces to the first round win. Barker had 3 goals, 3 assists and tied Patrick Sharp for the most shots (17). Big Buff had a goal, 3 assists and had 7 hits in each of the first two games. These two guys were the X factors in the Calgary series. Who will it be against Vancouver?

5. Chicago Hockey is Back!

With 14 players younger than 25 years old, the Hawks are the youngest team in the league. They are clearly also one of the most talented. This team has rejuvenated a fan base and inspired a city and will be a presence for a while. I have never heard the United Center louder than during the national anthem on Saturday.  This is an exciting time for a Hawk's fan!

Bring on the Canucks! (More O' Canada....)

Love hate relationship

Yes, the Bulls won today and evened the first round series with the Celtics at two games a piece. Yes, heading back to Boston, these upstart Bulls have the chance to steal another road win and come home with the series on the line. Yes, I feel like my heart is going to explode watching any given minute of the game.

It's an exciting time for a Bulls fan who thought a 30 win season to be a lofty goal. That being said, today's game was yet another example in the ongoing saga of the icy hot nature of these baby Bulls. Call it inexperience (a rookie star, a rookie coach, anything Tyrus), but it's hard to watch games in which you have no idea what is going to happen on a given possession. On the other hand, it does keep things interesting not knowing whether Ben Gordon is going to drain a game-tying three or dribble the ball off his knee and out of bounds. Vinny continues to amaze me as he lets Tyrus Thomas be a crucial part of the offense in the last two minutes of the game even though Tyrus/John Salmons/Brad Miller provide as much consistency as Ada during an IRAT (for any non-med school nerds out there that is a weak inside joke and should be replaced with "as much consistency as Lindsay Lohan's sexuality"). The Bulls are an enigma as Derrick Rose came within one assist of a triple double tonight despite having 7 turnovers and Ben Gordon (typically lights out from the line) missed a game tying free throw before housing the three ball. You honestly have no idea what is going to happen with any player on the court at any point in the game as Derrick could drive and lay it in with majestic body control or Tyrus could decide not to pass to an open guard and hold onto the ball so that he could go to the free throw line (where he promptly missed the first one).

I have always been one of the biggest proponents of dealing Ben Gordon and getting anything of value in return for a ball-hogging, no-defense-playing, bad-shot-hoisting, frustrating human being who causes complete cardiac arrest every time he elevates. And yet I still can't do anything but applaud his ridiculous three (and subsequent crotch grab, priceless if you didn't see it) or 42 point effort in Game 2.

The Bulls have guaranteed a sixth game back in Chicago for this series and if they play with intensity and poise in Game 5, letting Derrick continue to attack the basket, that game could be for a trip to the second round. Or it could be a reminder why this team only won 41 games, still hasn't learned how to play defense and an early exit from the playoffs. Either way, I care about this series, and it lets me avoid thinking about the pitiful play by the Cubs for at least another week. Go Hawks.

The Art of Boxing Out

Earlier in the year, I wrote a post about the inability of the Bulls to play defense and pointed the blame solely upon Vinny Del Negro's slicked back hair. Well, nothing has really changed, as the Bulls do not win unless they score 110-120 points. Nevertheless, they have been winning because the scoring has been there. But after sitting and watching this version of the "Baby Bulls,"  (Can we please stop calling them that? Nobody says the Baby Hawks and they are younger), blow a 4th quarter lead to a beleagred Celtics team, I am going to rant about another deficiency. Can anyone box out?!? The game is 5 vs. 5, so when a shot goes up, that means each player has to turn around and push the guy he is guarding away from the basket. In high school we would do a drill in which the ball had to hit the ground before a defensive player could grab the rebound. It is a basic concept you learn in 3rd grade! But when the Celtics take a shot (most notably with 24 seconds left), everyone just turns around and hopes the ball will bounce toward them. We got out hustled by a team that is a decade older and injured. Please box someone out!!!!

Now, on a positive note, the Bulls are in the drivers seat of the series. They have shown that they are going to give the Celtics a game every night and have stolen home court advantage away from the defending champs. I was not expecting to sweep the Celtics, but we should have won tonight and that is why I am upset. Now off to watch the Hawks.... I LOVE THIS CITY!!

I love this city

4 teams...4 wins. I love this city

The UIC Special...

The shirts edged the skins last Friday, 116-104 in what was some of the best basketball of the season. Max Fitzgerald did his parents (Will Perdue and Luc Longley) proud by scoring 18 for the shirts and pulling down 6 boards. "You know, I went into today's game focused on the task at hand. I knew that we needed this win and just did everything I could to help this team get there. I also want to the thank the lord for allowing us to win this one today," said Fitzgerald after the game.

The shirts have won three straight and 6 of 7 at home. They also retain a half-game edge on the idle tank top team for the seventh playoff spot in the UIC Conference.

Shirts coach Jared Wallen had this to say when interviewed after the game, "You know, sometimes we have to grind it out, we have to find ways to win. It's not always going to be our defense, sometimes it's your offense that brings home the W."

Ryan Smith scored 28 to lead the skins, Matt Weeks added 8 and had 3 assists (showing off his patented shot fake and drive move many times), and Dimitrios Papaiganoidjsofknwoei scored 10 and had 7 dimes.

Papagio had the play of the game though when he jumped from the half court stripe, flew in mid air for 6.49 second, did a somersault, then passed the ball behind his head to Jay "Mr. Clean" Christensen for the two handed flush.

The second quarter was an interesting one for the shirts as Jeremy Alland had an easy break away lay up that he botched, then missed the tip, then missed another opportunity at the tip, then missed another tip opportunity before Fitzgerald pulled down the board and put it home. The shirt's Ryan Steinberg started strong, burying his first two 3 pointers before airballing his next 6. Yikes.

Notes:
Ryan Freedman was a late scratch for the shirts from the line up due to left knee pain... Greg Olmsted (skins) DNP due to anxiety resulting in a girl talking to him for the first time in months... John Ebersole set a new record today by saying the least on the court for the 43rd consecutive game... Joel Campbell was placed on IR after the game with chaffed nipples...The skins' Elie Schwartz won the pregame 3-pt contest, but went on to miss his next 39 shots before burying a runner in garbage time.

Let's Lay Off Our Guys for more than 2 games, ok?

Listening to sports radio this afternoon, I was bombarded with a slew of hate calls against Kosuke Fukudome and Dwayne Wise.

It's been 2 games people, relax.

I don't understand. After 2 games, Justin Morneau was 0-8. Cody Ross who had a great spring was 0-8. Manny had 1 hit. It's 2 games!!!!

What did Fukudome do tonight???

4-5, HR, 4 runs.

What will Dwayne Wise do tomorrow??? Probably 0-4 but at least he's trying!!!!

Just kidding. I'm fairly confident he will get off the schnide and get his first hit this year.

All I'm saying is that you shouldn't boo some guy because he has had a bad couple of games. Maybe some positive reinforcement with help with his psyche...just a thought

Bleed Cubbie Blue, 2009

CHICAGO CUBS PREVIEW

The 3 Burning Questions

1. Can the Cubs do something they haven't done since 1908?

No, NOT WIN A WORLD SERIES. Actually, the Cubs are going for their 3rd straight playoff appearance, the first time since 1908 when Frank Chance was a player-coach. I don't see Sweet Lou picking up a bat anytime soon, but the Cubs are primed for another playoff run. They are also going for their 3rd consecutive division title, something the Cubs have never done since the league was split into divisions. The NL Central is brutal (and that is being nice), so the Cubs should walk to a title and the playoffs.

2. What is the deal in center field?

The real question becomes, which Kosuke Fukudome is going to show up? The one who started the season hot and started in right field for the National League All-Star team? Or, the one who spun himself into the ground trying to hit pitches in different zip codes than the strike zone? Fukudome was a great hitter in Japan and appears more confident this spring, but he has something to prove. Especially with the gritty, fan-favorite Reed Johnson as his competition. Reed plays hard, does the little things and has weird facial hair. Whoever produces will patrol the land between Soriano and Bradley.

3. Can everyone stay healthy?

With the majority of the core returning from last year and with the current state of the NL Central, the Cubs are in great position to make it three straight post-season trips. That is, if everyone stays healthy. Soriano and Bradley have both shown injury problems in the past and Derrek Lee/Aramis Ramirez are not getting any younger. We all know about Rich Harden's past. If everyone can stay healthy, the Cubs will be in good shape.

X-FACTOR: Geovany Soto
Can the catching phenom avoid the sophomore slump? Soto quickly erased the memories of Todd Hundley and Jason Kendall last year as he took the Rookie of the Year and became the first ever rookie catcher to start for the National League All-Star team. If Geo can keep producing, the Cubs lineup will be as potent as any in the league.

BREAK OUT YEAR: Mike Fontenot
The LSU Tigers starting double-play combo from the 2000 National Championship team has been reunited. Fontenot has always been the better hitter than Theriot, setting a Freshman record with 17 home runs at LSU on his way to Freshman of the Year in the nation. He has produced when called upon for the Cubs in the past, and with DeRosa gone, it is his time to show what he can do. Beware of the under 5'9" combo.

PREDICTION: 100-62, 1st NL Central
The NL central is bad. The Brewers, the best team from 2008, lost all of its pitching. The rest of the league is hurting. The 2nd best team might be the Cincinatti Reds!! Dusty Baker anyone? The Cubs should coast to a division championship and the fact that teams play within in the division so often, I see 100 wins as very attainable. If everyone stays healthy, this should be a good year for the Northsiders.

Cutler...the morning after

Having had a full night to digest yesterday's monumental move to bring Jay Cutler to Chicago, I would like to set a few things straight for Bears fans. To start, this move is a huge sign from the front office that we are willing to make big transactions to help this team win (I bet Donovan is shaking his head in Philly asking why the Bears could get a quarterback before he got a receiver). But it may also be a move to sweep our weaknesses under a rug for the time being. While I love the signing of Orlando Pace, Kevin Shaffer, and Frank Omiyale to add depth and experience to the o-line, we still don't have many proven weapons for the playmaking Jay Cutler to exploit. I do believe that a strong-armed (and slightly more accurate quarterback) will make Devin Hester a real deep threat in the NFL and give Greg Olsen the opportunity to showcase his immense athleticism (see Tony Scheffler). But at the same time, we don't have a big receiver to catch balls over the middle of the field. I like that Earl Bennett, Cutler's college teammate and top target at Vanderbilt, is developing as a nice slot option, but he is not a number 1 receiver. As well, in the apocalypse scenario that Forte doesn't stay healthy all season, we should probably have a backup running back who cares about the game of football. Kevin Jones was recovering from an ACL tear last year, but it wasn't his health that kept him off the field in the middle of the season, it was his attitude. The last thing the Bears need from Cutler is a guy who mopes around if things aren't going his way, we've got plenty of that already.

And for the biggest sleight of hand associated with this trade...we still haven't done anything for our defense. It's nice to think that we are going to score more points consistently now that we have a Pro Bowl qb, but who's to say that we aren't going to give up a few more. Last year, we couldn't stop anyone from passing on us (Brian Griese threw for over 400 yards against us...and yes I said Brian Griese), and we had an even harder time getting off the field on third down. Bob "Blitzin" Babich is no longer in charge of playcalling and Rod Marinelli might bring some pride back to our d-line, but we still don't have confidence in the secondary, nor do we dominate up the middle (Tommie Harris hasn't shown the same spark since the Super Bowl loss, Urlacher is getting older, and Mike Brown is gone). For a city built on toughness, I don't think that adding a glitzy quarterback will suddenly mask the fact that we are letting up 30 points a game...at home. And though my friend the Witch Doctor aka the Psychiatrist aka Sir Bricks a lot of Layups (more on that in a later post, but it has to do with pick up basketball) is absolutely correct in saying that this is more than just a trade, I think in some ways, fans should not lose sight of the fact that the best offenses in football lose the Super Bowl to superior defenses. Look at the past three years as examples. Arizona, as cute as they were in their red uniforms and heart-warming offensive show, came into the Super Bowl and lost to an aggressive Steelers defense. Tom Brady's high-scoring Patriots, undefeated until the Super Bowl, lost to Michael Strahan's gritty and tenacious defense. And finally, Peyton Manning led the Colts to a Super Bowl win over our Chicago Bears three winters ago, but if you look back at that game, it was the Colts' defense that won (and our lack thereof). So before fans go annointing Cutler as our savior, keep in mind that Lovie Smith needs to focus on reestablishing a dominant defenisve squad.

I know that Chicago has had a real problem with getting a quarterback, and maybe this kid from Indiana, who grew up rooting for da Bears, is the answer to our woes, but until the team functions as a complete unit, solid on offense, defense, and special teams, Cutler may be nothing more than a pretty band aid...but lest you think this move has actually instilled pessimism in me, Super Bowl XLIV, here we come!

More than just a trade...

If you haven't heard yet, Jay Cutler is a Chicago Bear! Chicago fans rejoice! The Bears traded Kyle Orton, 2009 first round and third round picks, and a 2010 first round pick for the 25-year old Pro-Bowl Quarterback. After watching all of the coverage on ESPN and SI.com this afternoon, it is easy to see that this trade is contraversial. Fans love that we finally have a quarterback here in Chicago. And why not? We haven't had a Pro-Bowl quarterback since Jim McMahon in 1985. We haven't had a 25 TD passer since Eric Kramer in 1996. We have NEVER had a 4,000 yard passer. Cutler did all of that just last year! But on the other side of things, we gave up a LOT for Cutler. Kyle Orton is a good quarterback and a great teammate. Add the three draft picks and we put a lot of weight into what Cutler brings to a team. Who knows if it's going to work out? I certainly don't and neither does Trent Dilf-weed or Mark Schlereth (who spent all day ripping the trade from the Bears perspective). They have no clue how this is going to workout. Cutler could be the next John Elway and the Broncos might end up with David Terrell and Cade McNown with their first round picks. NO ONE KNOWS!

But here is what I do know. This trade, all statistics aside, showed me, as a Bear's fan, that they want to win and they want to win now. You can't underestimate what that does for a team. Please look at the Blackhawks anytime before last year and tell me that the front office making moves does not play a role in winning. The Bears made a bold move today and I LOVE IT! I can't wait to see what the offense looks like next year with Cutler and Forte in the backfield. The trade today was more than a trade. It was a message to the city of Chicago that the Bears were not going to stand around and watch other teams improve. Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith put their necks out there and it might come back to haunt them, but it could also bring a super bowl trophy to a team that still bleeds for Mike Ditka and a team from nearly 25 years ago. So whether Jay Cutler leads us to a Super Bowl or turns into Jim Miller, I am going to go to bed ecstatic tonight because the Chicago Bears showed balls.

Good Guys Wear Black, 2009

WHITE SOX PREVIEW


The 3 Burning Questions

1. Who's on First? What's on Second? I don't know, Third Base!

Anyone who is familiar with the famous Abbott and Costello skit can laugh along with the comedians, but for the White Sox, it is sort of a reality. The starters have been announced, but realistically there are a lot of question marks in the lineup. It is starts with 2nd base, where Chris Getz won the job over hot prospect Gordon Beckham. Move to 3rd base and Josh Fields is the incumbant starter, but Ozzie has never had a taste for Fields and the two biggest acquisitions the Sox made this off-season are third basemen (Dayan Viciedo and Wilson Betemit). Whoever hits will keep the 3rd base job because none of them will fill the defensive presence of Joe Crede. Then there is the Centerfield spot. Three guys had a chance to get the job, and not one of them took it. Dewayne Wise did less than either Brian Anderson and Jerry Owens to lose the job and will start. Overall, there are a lot of question marks in the field. The talent is there, but will the results?

2. Who are pitchers 4 and 5?

The answer right now appears to Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras. But who will be in 4-5 weeks if those guys can't hold up? Colon is almost 36 years old and threw only 39 innings last season. Contreras is 37 and is coming off a season with a ruptered achilles. If either guy goes down, it is Clayton Richard or Lance Broadway. The White Sox season will be defined by how the back end of the rotation shapes up.

3. Can the corner outfielders be what they were in 2008?

The White Sox had 2 MVP candidates last year in the outfield, period. Before Carlos Quentin was injured, he was as good as anyone in the league. Quentin won a silver slugger award and he missed the last month of season. But he had wrist surgery, which all hitters know that your wrists are imperative to hitting, and he also had never had a season with as much success as last year. On the other side of the outfield, Jermaine Dye finished second in league in extra base hits with 77 and was on the fringe of being an All-star (beat out by Longoria). But Dye is 35 and has shown inconsistancies in the past. These guys are hitters (Quentin had the lowest fielding percentage, .971, of any left fielder last year), and if they bring their bats this year, the Sox will be in games. If not, they are in real trouble.


X FACTOR: Carlos Quentin
Can he produce like last year? The team was not the same without the intimidating force in the 3rd spot of the lineup. Sox fans are crossing there fingers for some more TCQ this year.

BREAK OUT YEAR: Clayton Richard
My guess is Colon or Contreras get hurt or shelled early on and the former Michigan Wolverine quarterback will step in for good. With Danks and Floyd, this would make for a great young nucleus of pitching.

PREDICTION: 78-84, 3rd AL Central
I can't pick the Royals anywhere but last. And one AL central team always underacheives. My guess is 3rd place. The team is in a transition phase with really young and really old players. Young teams always compete (see Tampa Bay Rays circa 2008), and I think the Sox will grind it out for the majority of the season. But in the end, the Sox do not have enough talent to win the AL cental this year.

CUBS PREVIEW COMING TOMORROW

Tales from the 300 Level - Panic! At the Disco

In case a Hawks win wasn't important enough, here are some facts:

If the Hawks win tonight:

• They will have 93 points
• They will re-gain the 4th seed in the Playoffs (currently that's a home series against Calgary to open the season)
• They eliminate the Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers from catching them (they have already eliminated Dallas, LA, Phoenix, and Colorado)
  
• They guarantee they will finish no worse than tied for 9th with the Blues who would have to win-out while we would have to lose all remaining games
• Their magic number for clinching a playoff berth will move to 1 point against the Blues, meaning a win or overtime loss by the Hawks or a loss by the Blues (who btw are playing the Red Wings tomorrow) and they are in.
  

That being said, they will be without Dave Bolland and Troy Brouwer. As of this writing, no one has been recalled from the AHL, so expect some wacky line combinations tonight. They will have Walker back, which could help if the time off has made him think about his terrible play of late.

The Blues are on a 5 game winning streak, while the Hawks are on a two game losing streak, in which they have scored 1 goal.

The Hawks are 1-2-2 against the Blues this season

Khabibulin will be in goal tonight on Glenn Hall heritage night.

Glenn Hall ended his brilliant career with 407 Wins, 84 Shutouts, a career GAA of 2.49, and was voted to 11 All-Star Games.

Setting an NHL record that will never be broken, he once played 502 consecutive games... as a goalie in the NHL... BEFORE they wore masks. Think about that the next time you call in sick.

Go Hawks!