Final Thoughts on Chicago Sports

First Van Lier, now Kerr

Arguably the two most popular pre-Jordan Bulls, guys who bleed red and black and have spent the majority of their lives in service to the Bulls, are gone.  What a sad day for Chicago.  First Norm Van Lier died at age 61, and now Johny "Red" Kerr has died on the very same day.  Kerr wasn't doing so well, and this isn't unexpected.  They recently moved up his statue dedication because of his cancer.  Van Lier was a shock, though.  He still worked every pre and post game show on Comcast, and he seemed to be in decent health. 

I never saw Van Lier play.  Before Jordan came along, he was widely regarded as the 2nd best player in Bulls history, after Jerry Sloan, and he probably should have his number retired.  Sloan left to be a great head coach in Utah, though, but Van Lier stayed back in Chicago to work for the team.   I always enjoyed him on the broadcasts, with Norm's Keys and his smoothe, easy cadence.  He always seemed like a Morgan Freeman type, though in a fedora and talking like a 50s hipster.   I also loved how he wasn't afraid to criticize the team when they were playing poorly.  And that has been quite frequent in recent years.  He was also an entertaining guest on the local sports radio shows.  He'll be missed.

Kerr is a Bulls legend.  He was a hall of fame caliber player, though he's unfortunately not in the hall yet.  After retiring, he became the first head coach of the Bulls.  In his first season, he led them to the playoffs and won coach of the year.  But what I remember him for was his announcing.  How many great memories do I have of Michael Jordan with Johnny Red Kerr screaming in the background?  OH YES!  THE BULLS WIN!  THE BULLS WIN! Him and Jim Durham, him and Dore, him and Larrivee - all the teams were top notch because of Kerr. 

It's going to be weird without those two.

Cubs Spring Training 2009 Preview

The Cubs are heavy favorites to win their third straight Central Division crown, and I firmly believe that all they have to do to make the playoffs is merely stay healthy.  They avoid injury, and they should find themselves playing in October.  What happens when they get there is a long way off, and I'm not going to address that in this post.  I'm trying to stay positive.

What I am going to address is the questions of Spring Training.  Despite the lofy predictions, they do have a few questions to answer.

Who's starting at Second and Center?

At this point, its slated to be a platoon between Miles and Fontenot at second; Johnson and Fukudome in Center.  In a perfect world, Fontenot would continue to hit like he did in a part time role last year, and Miles would be relegated to the bench.  Also in that perfect world, Fukudome would sieze the Center Field job and live up to his contract.  Those two things happen, and there'll be nothing wrong with the lineup.  As it stands now, though, they have a severe lack of right-handedness on the bench.  When Johnson and Miles start, the entire bench will be lefty.  That's not good.  Further, who backs up Ramirez?  What happens if Soriano or Bradley go down for an extended time?  Sure would be nice to have a guy like Mark DeRosa around.  I'm just saying.

Who's the fifth starter?  For that matter, who's fourth when Harden's on the shelf?

The candidates are Marshall, Heilman, Samardzija, and Gaudin.  Marshall is solid, though I wouldn't exactly be excited to see him in the rotation all season.  He's better as a swing man.  Start a few, relieve a few.  Heilman's former top prospect, and he's had success in the pen.  He might be worth a flyer in the rotation as I believe he has more upside than Marshall.  From what I've seen, the Shark's repetoire isn't very deep; he seems better suited for the pen.  And Gaudin is pretty much just filler for when disaster strikes.  So I'd go with Heilman to start the season; Marshall to fill in when Harden inevitably gets injured.  (And pray that Z's current shoulder problem isn't serious.) 

What's the lineup?

Here's what I'd do:

Fontenot/Johnson
Lee
Bradley
Ramirez
Soriano
Soto
Fukudome/Miles
Theriot

You'd have a high OBP guy up top, an overgrown singles hitter second; alternating lefties and righties; and some OBP guys at the bottom to turn the lineup over.  I like it.  I like it a lot.  Here's what Lou will probably do, though.

Soriano
Theriot
Lee
Bradley
Ramirez
Soto
Fukudome
Fontenot

I don't really like it.  Other than Bradley, its pretty much the same lineup that hasn't hit in October the last two years.  You've GOT to get Soriano out of that leadoff spot.  If he's not hot, he's a strikeout machine.  And that just kills you in a short series.  I can't talk about this any more.  I'm getting pissed off.

Go, Cubs.  Just go.

Bulls overhaul roster; and I like it

No, they didn't get much closer to a 2009 championship with these moves, but they got a little better and freed some cap down the road.

What's Old is New Again

The Bulls brought back Brad Miller and Tim Thomas.  I always liked Miller, I thought the Bulls were dumb for trading him and Ron Artest seven years ago for Jalen Rose.  Both were young, talented and getting better every day.  Miller since has gone on to be a two-time All-Star and a solid second-tier Center in the NBA.  Had he stayed in Chicago seven years ago, they would have had that low post presence they needed in the '05-'07 playoff runs.  They still wouldn't have won a championship, but they might have gotten past the 2nd round and they definitely wouldn't have had to bet the farm on Ben Wallace.  And his signing was the beginning of the end of the post-MJ Baby Bulls.

Tim Thomas coming back is a bit perplexing.  I mean, he left on very sour terms.  He never was a bad player, though.  Just a bit of an underachiever.  I guess all you need to know about him coming back is you how bad it must have been with Larry Hughes.

A Nice Return

John Salmon is a pretty solid player in his own right.  Can score a little, can play a little D.  I like a lineup of Rose, Salmon, Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Miller.  Then have Gordon, Hinrich, Tim Thomas and Noah as your main guys off the bench.  This is probably enough to get the Bulls into the playoffs, though still not enough to get out of the first round.  The real key is the cap space acquired for 2010.  They're inching closer to having the ability to throw a full boat or two at the top players of the game next summer.  It probably won't work, but at least they'll have the cash to try.

That's a Keeper

I'm actually happy that they kept Tyrus Thomas.  He's been playing much better over the past month or so.  And while he's still FAR from a being a sure future star, I've seen enough so that I would only be happy losing him if they acquired Bosh or Stoudamire AND signed them to an extension.  I'm starting to believe Tyrus' potential might actually be worth more than a year-and-a-half of Stoudamire.  Who'd have thunk it?

He Gone

Gone from the Bulls are Nocioni, Gooden, Sefolosha, and Hughes (and a few others not worth mentioning.)  I liked Noce, but he was always too wild and eratic.  I won't miss him.  Gooden was a gamer but literally a dime a dozen.  Sefolosha showed flashes of potential but little more, and frankly I'm surprised they even got a low first rounder for him.  I'd have been happy with a 2nd rounder.  And Hughes, well, so long.

Booker, Brown and Tait

It was announced recently that a few guys who played a lot of games for the Bears won't be around next season. 

Marty Booker:  Booker didn't do much in his second stint for the Bears, but his release was still somewhat surprising because the Bears still have nada in terms of experience at the position.  I like Marty.  He was injured a lot this year, and ended up with only 14 catches; but he did have a pair of memorable plays.  First was a 51-yard TD sprint against the Vikings and the other was the miracle one-handed catch against the Lions.  I wish him luck. 

Mike Brown:  Brown's been on the Bears since 2000, and after the first four years it appeared that he would go down as one of the greatest Bears safeties of all time.  But then he got hurt.  And he got hurt again.  And again.  And again.  And finally, again.  He missed something ridiculous like 55 of his last 80 games in a Bears uniform.  He was the Kerry Wood of the Bears.  It was out of sheer respect that he lasted that long.  I don't blame the Bears for cutting him, but his departure does make me kind of sad.  He was the heart and soul of the Bears defense, and had he (and Tommie Harris) been healthy for Super Bowl XLI, I strongly feel that the Bears would have won that game.  Despite Grossman.* 

*Grossman is leaving, too.  You won't hear much of a eulogy from me, though.  I'm tired of writing about Rex.

But anyways, back to Brown.  He just had a nose for the ball and constantly played with reckless abandon.  It's no wonder he was a fan favorite.  Oh well.  Good luck, Brownie.

John Tait:  I don't know if its official yet, but it has been reported that Tait is going to retire.  This is a shocker.  No, Tait's not a Pro Bowler or anything, but he was very solid and started a lot of games here.  The former 8th overall selection by Kansas City was one of the Bears first big-time free agents that actually worked out, and was a rock on the Bears for five years. 

So how are the Bears going to replace Tait?  Well, first off I'd say free agent John St. Clair just gained a whole lot of leverage.  With Tait retiring a Chris Williams completely unproven, you've got to maintain some sort of stability to the line, and St. Clair is exactly that.  Stable.  Not a Pro Bowler.  Not even "better than average".  But mediocrity is the minimum when it comes to the O-line.  The line is only as good as its weakest member, and you can win with average.  I also think Angelo will be forced to draft a tackle somewhere in the first two rounds to protect himself from the potential mega-bust that is Williams (aka Baby Huey). 

Till next time...Bear down.

Why A-Rod didn't ruin baseball for me

The MAJOR story over the last few days is the revelation that Alex Rodriguez failed the "anonymous" drug test back in 2003.  Setting aside the fact that it was supposed to be anonymous, and also ignoring his emmy-worthy apology; let's answer the most important question.  How does it affect me? 

Truth is, it doesn't affect me much at all.  I'm a little disappointed that the best, most talented, and a supposedly clean player in the game was found to have been juicing; but its not going to reduce my love for the game one iota.  He tested positive before the current testing policy was in place, and anyone that tested positive before that was merely acting on behalf of their own self-interests.  He's juicing.  He's making millions.  He's not paying for it.  Why shouldn't I?  If half the people were doing it, its no worse than speeding on the expressway.  Just know that if you get caught, you have to pay the price.  If he's willing to gamble, so be it.

And what is the price?  If you ask me, it should start and stop with public humiliation.  Like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens before him, everybody now knows that he cheated.  Everybody knows that any records set were dubious at best.  They've all been humiliated.  Were all three of those guys Hall of Famers before they cheated?  Absolutely.  First ballot even.  Should we wipe their records or asterisk their plaques (should the writers vote them in)?  Hell no.  The 1990s should be regarded as just another era of baseball.  The opposite of the deadball era, if you will.  Put an exhibit in the museum about baseball from 1994-2003.  Show the good times.  Braves dominance.  Marlins-Indians game 7.  Yankees titles.  Luis Gonzalez.  Then show the bad.  Loop a video of players testifying before congress.  Print out all 600 pages of the Mitchell Report.  Show McGwire and Sosa alternately loved and then scorned.  Put in Barry's ball with the branded asterisk on it.  Luis Gonzalez. 

Then when you're in the Hall itself, when people see Barry's plaque, they'll see his late career cartoonish numbers that made a mockery of the record books.  People will remember.  They'll picture in their minds who the real record holders should be.  That's fine. 

Let's move on with life and get on with Spring Training.  Hate the player if you will, but love the game.  I'm telling you, there's plenty more to get upset over than whether or not a baseball hero took performance enhancing drugs.  The war.  The economy.  A team that hasn't won in a century winning 97 games in the regular season before getting swept out of the first round.  Now that's pain.

Cubs send Hill, Weurtz packing

Hendry's makeover of the team that got swept in consecutive division series continues.  Today, Rich Hill and Mike Wuertz were traded to Baltimore and Oakland, respectively.  I said it before and I'll say it again.  I like Hendry's thinking.  Standing pat never works.  I'm just not overly enamored by what he's been getting back in return for his former prized possessions. 

Let's put it this way, what do you think Hendry could have gotten for Hill and Pie exactly one year ago today?  Johan Santana maybe?  Brian Roberts for sure.  The young Cubs were thought of that highly.

Hill was a maddening prospect, but he really seemed to figure things out in the second half of 2006.  In 2007, he was even better.  A 26-year-old lefty with a 119 ERA+ and 8.5 Ks per 9 innings?  Not to mention a devastating curveball that made scouts drool.  He was looking like a solid #2 for the next decade.  Too bad he went all Steve Blass in 2008.  Dude just stopped throwing strikes.  Spent the year in the minors and the winter in Mexico and never had an outing with less than a walk per inning.  That's not going to get it done in the majors.  Hill said after the season that his back was the problem, not his head.  I'm not sure if I believe him, but who the hell am I?  I'm not in his head (or his back).  I just know that his fragile psyche wasn't going to play well in Lou Piniella's clubhouse. 

Hill's stock has fallen so far that all they could get for him is a PTBNL.  I'm guessing its not Roberts.

Wuertz was a solid middle reliever for five years and had the occasional stretch of dominance.  I kind of felt he was underappreciated around here and one look at his numbers would suggest as much.  Five years of good to very good numbers.  Still, he's not exactly Marmol and two years down the road we won't exactly be lamenting the loss of Michael Wuertz.  The Cubs got two mediocre propects from Oakland who's stars have faded somewhat.  Rich Robnett and Justin Sellers.  Note those names because you'll probably never hear from them again, though you never know.

Oh, and did I mention the Cubs signed Paul Bako the other day?  Yeah.  It's a "meh" move if there ever was one.

Till next time...pitchers and catchers...pitchers and catchers.

Quick Thoughts on SB.43

Great game.  I was a little sad that the Cards lost, but really I was rooting for a good game more than anything and that's what I got.  Some thoughts:

• Warner was mostly great.  Clearly outplayed Roethlisberger, but was done in by a myriad of penalties and his offensive line.  (Hi, Mike Gandy!)  When Warner had time, he was fine.  I'm kind of torn on the whole "Warner is a HOFer" thing, though.  He only has five full seasons under his belt, but he won two MVPs and a Super Bowl MVP while playing in two others.  But then I look at his time in New York and his first few years in Arizona and think he's more of a right place at the right time type of guy.  I mean, give Kyle Orton weapons like Bruce, Holt and Faulk and then Fitzgerald, Boldin and Breaston and see how well he does.  Maybe that's a bad example.  But give McNabb those guys and I bet he wins more than one Championship game, right?
• Fitzgerald is a beast.  Those TDs were sublime.  I couldn't imagine having a WR like that in Chicago.  Or Boldin even, despite his disturbing me-first attitude.  Hell, Santonio Holmes was mighty impressive tonight, too, in winning the MVP.  If only the Bears listened to me.
• Springsteen was solid, if cheesy.  (A referree throwing a flag, really?)  I figured out what's holding me back on being a huge Boss fan, by the way.  It's the sax man, Clarence Clemens.  He's just a big cheeseball and the sax has no place in rock n' roll.  Every time I see him, I think of Danny DeVito in the Billy Ocean video coming out and doing a sax solo with sunglasses on.  Yes, kids, this passed as cool in the 80s. I will say, though, that I'm glad I watched the telecast in HD.  Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of seeing Bruce's crotch fly in my face so vividly.  I'm glad I took off my 3D glasses in time or I'd be scheduling a therapy appointment pronto.
• Speaking of, what's up with the commercials?  Five or ten years ago, there used to be a good half dozen commercials that were genuinely entertaining, and you'd want to talk about them the next day.  Now?  It's been two hours and I can't recall a one that didn't have GoDaddy girls in it.  The commercials you see now are no better than your typical football Sunday in September, and the Super Bowl is supposed to be better than that, right?  And really, Budweiser...Clydesdales?  Come on.  It's 2009.

And that's that.  Another football season is in the books.  It was a fun season, but I'm already counting down the days till the draft.  (That's 84 days, for what its worth.)

Bear down.