Fire Thu Sep 02 2010
It was a tough week to be a week-long Fire fan. Suffering a devastating loss in stoppage time, and losing our DP for next week's match against the LA Galaxy isn't the way I wanted to cap my Saturday, but these are the breaks.
This was my second viewing of a televised Fire match, and I have to say that we didn't look so bad--it took some genuine heroics by Seattle's Fredy Montero to see the Sounders wrestle a respectable draw point away from us. The Montero brace had an hour between each goal, and the story of the loss was really the story of most our losses this season--shaky defense. To be fair, we were without choice centre back Wilman Conde, but the archives I've pored over of fire games this season show a sieve-like back line as a running narrative.
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— Jordan Brown /
Chicago Thu Sep 02 2010
Short Hops is Tailgate's round-up of Sports Internet nuggets of information, really it's a lot like a 10-piece McNugget order except there aren't ten items and it's waaaay lower in trans fats/chicken viscera.
- Chris Chelios Finally Retires
Chicagoan/NHL ironman Chris Chelios has finally walked away from the ice for good. The 46 year-old is a veteran of 26! NHL seasons and as recently as March of this year was mounting a comeback with the Atlanta Thrashers. The future Hall Of Famer leads all NHL players in playoff games, represented the United States in four Olympic teams and played in the fourth-most NHL games all-time (1,651).
- Is Joakim Noah High in this Video?
It's not really a secret that JoNo likes to get a little blazed from time to time, so would it shock anyone that he was in a slightly altered state in this video from the Bulls Charity Golf Outing?
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— Brian Lauvray /
Cycling Thu Sep 02 2010
Oh, goodness. Last Sunday's cyclocross relay race hosted by xXx Racing-Athletico in Jackson Park was real steamy and crazy. Hot temperatures brought on by an unrelenting sun, bikinis, and the shenanigans of the Chicago Cuttin' Crew all made for a day of massive action. Lots of photos of the day are available here. Also, registration for the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series is open. Get in on the action early and you'll maybe get a preferred start, which in cyclocross, is absolutely crucial.
Note that the cyclocross season this year is going to be a real killer with extra races and surprises. Yes, surprises! I'm privy to some details that can't be yet unleashed, but rest assured that it's going to be a good season of muddy racin'.
Also coming up on Sunday, September 12 is the Urban Assault Ride, organized by New Belgium Brewing, and hosted by Murphy's Bleachers (3655 N. Sheffield). Think of the Urban Assault Ride as a sort of alleycat/scavenger hunt/adventure with checkpoints to hit, obstacle courses to maneuver and a city to navigate. The afterparty will feature tons of New Belgium suds, food, music and other enjoyable things. The ride costs between $30 and $65 and the proceeds benefits West Town Bikes. Click here for more information.
— Zach Thomas /
Cubs Wed Sep 01 2010
After previously announcing that 2010 would be his final year as a Major League baseball manager, and subsequently his last year on the Cubs, Lou Piniella decided to take a well deserved early exit from the crumbling confines of Wrigley Field to take care of his mother. It was not a surprising move, nor was it a decision that had much consequence on the 2010 Chicago Cubs. Their season ended in the visitor's bullpen at U.S. Cellular Field on June 11th when Carlos Zambrano smashed his way through his team and some Gatorade coolers because Derrek Lee gave up that home run. The look on Lou's face during that incident said it all: "Please god, I am but an old, tired but accomplished man. Please get me the hell away from this train-wreck. I'll even go back to Tampa. What? They're good now? Well, sh*t!"
And so the Cubs' Piniella era came to an end. He was the first manager to bring the Northsiders to two consecutive playoff appearances since 1908, the last time they did that other thing. He brought the promise of intensity in a post-Dusty town. He was the Lovable Losers' lovable old codger. After a Cubs win, he was snappy and affable, drawing laughs from the media. After a Cubs loss, he was surly and quick to anger. He was the most memorable manager the Cubs had in ages and he is now gone, off to the Florida sunset so he can take care of his family and meander around his house in his old Reds jersey.
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— Rick Abplanalp /
It's all Manny most of the time here at Tailgate, and I've still got time to follow up Rick's incisive post before he plays his first game in a White Sox uniform. Tuesday in Cleveland, Ramirez was held out of the starting lineup (because getting up early is hard) and made it only as far as the on-deck circle before a three-run homer by A.J. Pierzynski eliminated the need for his pinch-hitting services in the top of the ninth.
The blast gave the Sox a three-run lead and they hung on for a 4-3 win, but they're still 4 games behind first-place Minnesota in the AL Central. Even with the arrival of one of the best hitters in baseball history, they're going to have seriously pick it up if they're going to close that gap in the season's final 5 weeks. Manny Ramirez probably is worth only about one extra win by himself.
But heck, no one wants to hear about that. Let's all bathe in the warm, glowing light of one of the most fascinating and polarizing athletes in sports.
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— Jim Reedy /
You get the idea.
(photo by Flickr user freefakesmiles)
Normally wouldn't pair bicycling and eating cupcakes, but I'm certainly not going to argue against it. Far from it. This Saturday, Sept. 4, is your chance to take your buns and your baked goods (see what I did there?) on the road for a Cupcake Bike Tour. Hosted by the gals at Cupcakes Take the Cake, the tour starts at Fritz Pastry and continues to Sweet Mandy B's and Molly's, ending at Phoebe's Cupcakes. The whole shindig kicks off at 1 p.m. and is free -- though be sure to bring cash to purchase cupcakes along the way. RSVP to participate on their site.
— Kara Luger /
As the White Sox scramble to keep their season afloat and remain in a pennant race with ESPN's new favorite Midwestern team, the Minnesota Twins, they will now have what everyone hopes will be the first real threat of the season at the designated hitter position. All summer long Ozzie was forced to juggle fading Andruw Jones, questionable Mark Kotsay, defensively useless Mark Teahan and even at one point the impressive-in-every-stat-but-power-hitting elderly statesman of the MLB, Omar Vizquel as his DH. Those days are behind the Sox, at least for the last month of the season, as they will be joined tomorrow night in Cleveland by one of the most recognizable names in the sport, one Mr. Manuel Ramirez.
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— Rick Abplanalp /
Soccer Mon Aug 30 2010
Among a whole flurry of rumors that US Men's National Team coach Bob Bradley (38-20-8) would be fired or signing on to coach Aston Villa in England - it looks like he'll just stay where he is. US Soccer announced today Bradley will coach through the end of 2014, which means he'll lead USAMNT through the 2014 World Cup in Rio.
The move took many observers by surprise. Most coaches' tenure leading national teams are short, and the 52 year old Bradley didn't exactly blow anyone away since he was hired in 2006. Making the finals of the 2009 Confederations Cup - and beating Spain en route - was definitely the highlight, but Bradley's identity is marked more by his consistency and discomfort taking any risks in the team's roster or style than it is with any particular result.
And now, despite the rumors that the former German star Jurgen Klinsmann - the man responsible for the overhaul and resurgence of the German national team - would try to overhaul US Soccer, the taciturn Bradley will get four more years. It's exactly the consistent, internal, steadfast decision you would expect from US Soccer - only time will tell if it's the correct one.
US Soccer put up some of Bradley's stats, and here are some interesting numbers on returning coaches, via Grant Wahl:
Of the 49 repeaters with the same country, 22 fared worse than the national norm, 18 fared better and 9 fared the same. (Recent results were still pretty poor, though: Only 2 of the 12 repeaters from 1994 on have fared better than their national norm: Norway's Olsen and Romania's Anghel Iordanescu in '98.)
And don't forget, USAMNT plays Poland at Soldier Field on October 9th.
— Ben Schuman-Stoler /
Cubs Mon Aug 30 2010
With the Cubs mired in fourth-place (only 18.5 games back of wild-card leader, Philly) the team has certainly seen a drop-off in terms of attendance and with Sweet Lou's departure already come and gone, the team has little left to do but play out the season. Still, those suffering from peanut allergies can (literally!) breathe easy this evening at Wrigley, as the North Siders are hosting a peanut-free game suite for sufferers of the startlingly dangerous and not-funny allergy.
For chronic sufferers of "Need A World Series Appearance and/or Title," Tailgate still suggests you become a fan of any other team in MLB...
— Brian Lauvray /
Soccer Sat Aug 28 2010
As the sports cliché goes, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish." Maybe somebody should have told the Chicago Red Stars that.
With the Red Stars' latest stumble, a 3-2 defeat to the hands (legs?) of FC Gold Pride last Sunday, the team is 1-6-1 over its past eight matches. While they are not mathematically eliminated from the postseason just yet, their chances to lock up the fourth and final playoff spot are less than stellar.
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— Raf Onak /
(The following does not represent the official views of Critical Mass or of Gaper's Block and is merely one bicyclist's perspective.)
Today is a Happy Friday and not just because it will be the weekend soon and it is still quite nice out. It's especially happy today because of Critical Mass, the bicycle movement that this city just wouldn't be the same without. Even though other cities celebrate Critical Mass, I like to think Chicago's is special because of the welcoming people that are here to enjoy it. This is the kind of thing that neighborhood kids jump up and down over. This is the same mass that people watch from their balconies, clapping and smiling. It brings a bit of joy to people in different areas of the city and what they see passing by may just be thousands of bicycles to the naked eye but symbolizes community and possibilities.
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— Kirstie Shanley /
Boy, I pick some of the least representative games to write about.
For most of the month, there's been all kinds of weeping and gnashing of teeth about the sinking fortunes of the Chicago White Sox. Sure, there were four losses in six games against AL Central rival Minnesota, but that was only part of a string of five straight series losses to such limp foes as Detroit, Baltimore and Kansas City.
Yet every time I pop up here in Tailgate, the Sox are celebrating some absolute romp of a win. Last week it was an 11-0 win in the finale at Minnesota, a rare moment of sunshine in that frustrating series. And now the Sox are breathing a sigh of relief after Edwin Jackson and the bats rolled over the visiting Orioles, winning 8-0 on Thursday to capture their first series victory in three weeks.
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— Jim Reedy /
Chicago Wed Aug 25 2010
Short Hops is here to help get you through your soul-sucking and impossibly annoying work week. Here's a timewaste you can watch with your headphones plugged in after you read these amazing tidbits of information from the Sports Interverse!
- Scottie Pippen Will Receive a Statue
So declareth the Bulls front office. The org which has already given Pip a seemingly cushy job as "team ambassador" --it's okay, Scottie, we know you've really been hard-up for cash for a long time; will, according to a report by the dirty-sounding Adam Fluck, erect a statue in number 33's likeness. So in the past month Pippen has gotten a job, been enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame and now been given a statue in his honor.
- Bears Dig Up Fossil, Put Uni On It
After backup QB, Caleb Hanie separated his shoulder and rookie prospect, Dan LeFevour, threw more interceptions than completions in a practice, the Bears have signed NFL journeyman/Methuselah, Todd Collins to a one-year contract, so that he can be closely observed by team gerontologists he can serve as a backup to Jay Cutler and help to mentor Hanie and LeFevour.
— Brian Lauvray /
Our girls from Chicago's two roller derby leagues, Chicago Outfit and the Windy City Rollers, have suffered at the hands of their opponents in recent games.
On Saturday, Aug. 14, the Outfit took on Indianapolis' Naptown Tornado Sirens. Alas, the Sirens pulled ahead in what turned out to be a close game, beating the Outfit 94-89.
On Saturday, August 21, it was the Windy City Rollers All-Stars in a home game against Denver's Rocky Mountain Roller Girls' travel team, 5280 Fight Club. The Rocky Mountain gals immediately snagged a strong lead and didn't let up the rest of the game, walloping the All-Stars 151-56.
— Kara Luger /
Cycling Tue Aug 24 2010
It's still August but the road racing season is winding down with only a few races left dotting the calendar. At this point of the year, the roadies among us have burned through social equity to spend weekends out in the hinterlands of the region, testing their mettle and legs in dozens of races. The non-cycling friends are tired of hearing "Oh, I can't go out to the bar on Friday. I've got to get to bed by 10 p.m. because we're driving to Somewhere-Far-Away-Ville for a 30 minute crit. I'm the designated leadout guy." The girlfriends/boyfriends/wives/husbands are done with the "Please, I know your birthday is tomorrow, but wouldn't you rather spend the day watching me win a pair of socks?"
The trials and tribulations of being an amateur bike racer.
Of the few races left, the closest is tomorrow's Soldier Field Criterium, the last of the summer series. Registration is here. As always, juniors race free. The location is as close as it gets -- Soldier Field. Ride there from work.
All this talk about building up social equity with your friends and partners doesn't mean they can't enjoy bike racing, too. This Sunday is the xXx Racing-Athletico Relay Cyclocross race in Jackson Park. Yes, the race is a "fun" race -- more fun than usual, I guess. Most everyone's gonna be testing their training out and gunning for the win. The catch is that you have to pick a partner to race with -- some folks are selecting teammates or other fast friends -- others (including this reporter) have roped their not-at-all-competitive friends and partners to race bikes with them. How's that for building a relationship? As it's a relay, both racers alternate laps and prizes will be bestowed arbitrarily. Rumor has it that good costumes, ridiculous crashes, and recumbents will receive something excellent. Persuade your pals to join up -- with the full cyclocross season starting soon, this may be the last chance they get to see you.
— Zach Thomas /
