Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni. ✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions. ✶
Happy Halloweekend to all of you out in Internetvania. Your hometown Chicago Bears are clashing with the laughingstock of the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. And I just wanted to get a few things out of the way before we dive into the Footballic Ramblings "Trick or Treats" report. First off: The Browns run defense is absolutely awful, if the Bears (I'm looking at you: Forte!) can't get their ground game going this week cross yourself, fans, cuz the rest of the season's gonna be bumpy. Secondly: The Browns passing defense isn't much better than their run defense, so expect Jay-Bot 5000 and his motley crew of receivers to pick apart the Browns and find the endzone . . . mmm, let's say . . . 2 times? Derek Anderson is the starting "quarterback" for the Browns and the Browns passing game is averaging 143.6 yards per game and has already given up 18!!! sacks this season. So yeah, Bears have no excuses in not dismembering the living dead that collectively the Browns are, on Dia de Los Muertos!
Onward to Tricks and Treats of the NFL season thus far!
TRICKS!
Tennessee Titans
Wow! Spooky, eerie things are occurring in Nashville, how else do you explain a team that went 13-3 last season stumbling to an 0-6 start and the promotion of that wacky Vince Young to starting QB? No matter the cause or reason (let's face it, the Titans weren't going to win 13 games this year, but this?) an 0-6 start and an absolutely atrocious defense is a trick for fans and haters alike.
Just a quick reminder that registration for the St. Charles/Campton ChiCrossCup race closes tonight and right now, there are only a few spots available in the Men's 4A and about 20 available in the 4B. The weather promises some rain Friday and Saturday, which means that the course will likely be a tacky slog come Sunday.
If you raced Bartlett you know full well how tough it can be to roll through wet, thick grass. St. Charles promises some terrain and lots of climbing, so it could be another hard course worth coughing up lungchunks for.
The Chicago Bulls start their 2009-10 season tonight, live from the United Center against the Tim Duncan-led San Antonio Spurs. Thanks to a case of the flu, this humble Bulls scribe is a little under the weather for a whole "preview," but, here's a decent highlight reel from the Bulls epic first round playoff series with Boston from last spring. Oh and here's a link to Ball Don't Lie's 2009-10 Bulls preview by the always informative and entertaining JE Skeets.
If you knowleged of Negro League baseball pretty much begins and ends with Satchel Paige, there's a new way to learn more about the game without having open a book.
An article by the Sun-Times Dave Hoekstra has a great profile of Carol Stream resident Scott Simkus who's created a Strat-o-Matic version of Negro League All-Stars (You GOTTA remember Strat-o-Matic baseballdoncha?). The board game is the result of 10 years of years of research by Simkus and includes stats for 103 Negro League players. Included in the game info are such "statistical" gems as the fact that Chicago American Giants pitcher Dave "Lefty" Brown spent 13 years avoiding the authorities after killing a man in New York City.
He was an integral part of the Bulls championship dynasty but doesn't get nearly the acclaim of Michal Jordan, Scottie Pippen or even Dennis Rodman. Yet, their legendary run might have been a lot harder without B.J. Armstrong bringing the ball upcourt.
You can meet the Chicago sports legend when he helps HP computers promoter their new product line featuring Windows 7 this Saturday, 1-3 p.m., at the Best Buy at 1000 W. North Ave. Armstrong will be available to sign autographs and take photos.
Oh, and while you there, you may also want to ask him about what it's like to work with Derrick Rose, since Armstrong is representing Rose in his role as an agent with the Wasserman Media Group.
This past April, the Bears and the Denver Broncos consummated the biggest trade of the off-season by shipping the talented and discontented Jay Cutler east to Chicago for Bears qb/neck beard sporting/whiskey drankin', Kyle Orton, and a first round pick in the 2009 and 2010 drafts. At the time Footballic Ramblings wholly endorsed the move, six months later and halfway thru the 2009 NFL season? We still stand by that notion, oh, but there are caveats. Lord, are there caveats! Onward!
When the trade went down most of Chicago's pundits, journos, bloggers (and yes, we're lumping ourselves in this pile of Cutler-love), tweeters, men on the street, were sporting orange and blue-shaded glasses, lauding the trade and stamping the Bears ticket for, at the very least, the playoffs, blissfully ignoring the fact that Chicago's NFL team still had major issues. Issues such as: a very old defense, a piecemeal-ed offensive line, no clear-cut "star" receiver and, oh yes, an enfeebled defensive secondary. Conversely, the Broncos were a team that for the first 3/4 of the 2008 NFL season had looked like a potential darkhorse Super Bowl contender out of the wooly and wild AFC West.
Join the SAMFund for Young Adult Survivors of Cancer in their inaugural Chicago event "Cornhole for Cancer Survivors Tournament." The event will be held at Joe's Bar on Weed Street on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 7pm to 10pm.
The SAMFund supports young adults as they transition back into the "real world" after cancer treatment. With over 70,000 young adult cancer survivors, The SAMFund awards grants and scholarships to assist with education, cost-of-living, medical expenses, and more.
Tickets to participate can be purchased for $35 in advance, otherwise $40 at the door. Price includes an open bar and one entry into the tourney. Don't want to play cornhole? That's okay, come participate in a silent auction, raffles, and to socialize! Visit the SAMFund event page for tickets.
The stench still lingers, like a skunk in the middle of the road after losing a battle with a semi. A day after their embarrassing 45-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bears may still be trying to wash the stench of this one out of their clothes.
Post-game reports might have you believe that this debacle was primarily the work of the grudge-holding running back Cedric Benson and, true, the former Bears back with the substantial chip on his shoulder did his share of damage to the Bears, rushing for 189 yards and a touchdown. And other accounts will point to name-chameleon Chad Ochocinqo, who looked as if he were playing a game of catch with quarterback Carson Palmer en route to 118 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
But in truth, the blame for this game belonged squarely on the shoulders of the Bears, who failed at every aspect of the game. They couldn't seem to be bothered to cover a receiver or make a tackle on defense, or block and separate themselves from the Bengal secondary on offense.
And the coaching staff, who created that dog of a gameplan? Said head coach Lovie Smith: "I didn't have my team ready to go this week." Words to be fired by.
The Bears face the Cleveland Browns next Sunday at Soldier Field. If they don't want to go 0-for-Ohio, they'll come up with a better plan of attack that the one they utilized this past Sunday. Sometimes that smell is difficult to get rid of. (Chicago Tribune Photo)
Where else can you throw a ball into a potential employers face? OK, actually this dodgeball league is a no-contact-to-the-face league, but still who doesn't love dodgeball?
Although two weeks of play are finished, this league is still open to theatre companies, actors/actresses, directors, writers, artists, and heck anyone else in the business who wants to join in the fun -- socialize, mingle, drink, and network.
This is a co-ed league, so all teams must have six players each (four males max / two females min) plus at least two alternates. Games are every Monday 8-10pm from Oct. 12 until the Dec. 14 championships.
For more information on how to participate, contact Brian Bon Durant at brian@spotchicago.com.
Being the only major league team in Chicago to make the playoffs this fall, the Fire certainly ended on a good note. With a 1-0 win over Chivas USA last night, the Fire have clinched a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the 11th time in 12 years.
With less than ideal conditions--constant cold rain and heavy winds--the players found footing the ball difficult and sharp cuts were even harder to manage. Despite these problems, Chicago dominated most of the first half, with three consecutive corner kicks in the 15th minute. Seven minutes later, the Fire shot three shots after a fourth corner kick, but none reached the back of the net. The game entered halftime with neither team scoring.
Tonight, the Fire have one last chance to clinch a playoff spot. If they succeed, they will have secured a position for the 11th time in 12 seasons. All they have to do is win...or tie.
Chivas USA faces Chicago at Toyota Park tonight at 7 p.m.. Chivas has already made the playoffs, which presents less pressure for them to pull off a win. However, they are still a tough team, and the Fire need to play as if there is no tomorrow...because there may not be.
These two teams have faced each other nine times in the past and come up with an even record of 4-4-1. While they may have won their first meeting with Chivas back in May, Chicago had to battle for that game and will probably need to do it again tonight. Another factor working against the Fire: They have been winless in the last six matches, posting three losses and three ties. Chicago hopes to add a game to the win column with this final matchup and, ultimately, take themselves into the postseason.
First things first, the big topic out of last night's 3-2 Blackhawks loss to Vancouver was the devastating hit that knocked Hawks captain Jonathon Toews out of the game, and the subsequent momentum shift that saw the Canucks get a pair of goals and a victory in a game the Hawks already deserved to lose.
It's a brutal blow, but a clean hit where Toews got caught with his head down. As of this writing, no news on his condition, but he did miss practice today. If Toews were to miss any lenghty amount of time, the Hawks could be in real trouble down the middle, as Dave Bolland's back is making him a shadow of last year, and there's little center depth behind him. While John Madden's been off to a great start, his forte is in the defensive zone and can't be expected to shoulder a heavy offensive load at this stage. Here's hoping Toews is able to shake off the cobwebs quickly, or the Hawks will be worrying about a lot more than a fledgling goaltending controversy. (Note, Antti Niemi played well last night, making a number of huge saves in the first two periods, which will only inflame that battle)
Cedric Benson, the justifiably maligned former Bears running back, is back in a big way this season. Currently the heretofore crap-tacular Bears bust is second in the AFC and third in all of the NFL in rushing behind only Chris Johnson of Tennessee --quite literally the only bright spot for the Titans following the 59-0 bloodening they suffered at the hands of a now functioning and operational New England offense-- and the indomitable Adrian Peterson of Minnesota --heads up, Mr All Day has a dinged up ankle, just sayin' fantasy owners. But we digress. Benson is third in the NFL in rushing, I'm sorry, but does Hell have icicles now, too? Have pigs sprouted wings and now passenger jets need to worry about swines in the jet turbines? [Hamburgers are now eating people? -Ed.] Benson being good at professional football, the mind, it boggles and folds under the own pressures and illogical forces it's struggling to comprehend.
Becoming an amateur bike racer in Chicago is easy with the progression from casual rider to racer a natural one. You go on some group rides and learn the ropes on how to ride in a pack at which time you'll experience the emotional and physical crush of being dropped. Then you train harder and start leading the ride. Then someone tells you should consider racing at which point you shave your legs, buy a USAC license, and join a team.
Well, all this is easy if you're a guy. Bike races and competitive group rides in Chicago often experience male/female ratios of 5:1, if not more. It's not that cycling's a sport with an entrenched macho culture; it's that the sport can be very intimidating and obtuse for those those not willing to dive deep into it. It's also not very forgiving. The difference in intensity from fitness riding to competitive racing, even at a low Cat. 4/5 level, is astounding. And for whatever reasons, those included, the numbers of women lining up to race pale in comparison to the men. Take for example the ChiCrossCup races -- the men's 4A and 4B categories fill-up to the brim of 75 racers each with a waitlist of 10-20 more. The women's 4 category is usually at most 30-40 riders.
Aiming to get more women into the sport, Half Acre Cycling is hosting a Chicagoland Women Bike Racers' Night at the Half Acre Brewery facility (4257 N. Lincoln) on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. Gather to talk about racing and training in a social setting, sans-lycra, with representatives from many of the Chicago-area teams with strong women squads. Half Acre is providing copious amounts of their delicious brews and Specialized is bringing some of their women-specific products, such as bikes and saddles, to demonstrate and give away as door prizes. "Podium men" are promised.
Coming up this weekend is the fifth ChiCrossCup race at Bartlett, hosted by Athletes By Design. As before, register early and register often. Now's the time to start doubling-up if you can. The strategies of racing twice in a day are hard to suss out -- does one attack the first race with everything and use the second as an extra workout? Or does one save a little in the first to give it everything with the second?
Our Official Favorite Blackhawk Player of Tailgate (Ok, maybe just my favorite player), Adam Burish, isn't letting a little thing like an ACL tear in his right knee keep him out of action. Sure, he's sidelined for the next six months or so, but he was wiling to step out on thin ice the other night when he joined the cast of Second City for a benefit performance in Northbrook. While comedy is obviously not his forte, from reports he seemed to aquit himself well, portraying a caveman in one skit and even singing in another. We've reported on Burish's comedic talents before, so his foray into on-stage improv doesn't seem all that surprising.
You may not have previously connected competitive running with copious amounts of chocolate, but if you're harbored a secret desire to chow down on Hersey's candy, hot cocoa and chocolate fondue after running a 15K you're going to want to be at Montrose Harbor on Sunday, Nov. 1
RAM (Running Away Multisport) Racing and the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute are teaming up to present The Hot Chocolate 15K/5K race Nov. 1, 8 a.m., at the harbor, 601 W. Montrose at Lake Shore Drive. In addition to the usual runner's swag like a running jacket, wicking fleece running hat and draw string backpack, partcipants and viewers can indulge themselves in "200,000 pieces of Hershey's candy, over 140 gallons of warm chocolate fondue from chocolate fountains and nearly 800 gallons of hot chocolate."
The race is as benefit for Global Brigade, "the world's largest student-led international relief organization that helps empower volunteers to provide communities in developing countries with the tools to improve the quality of life." For registration information, check out their website.
So in case you get stiffed on Halloween, well, you've got a place to recoup your losses.
The season may have been a wash for the White Sox postseason-wise, but at least one player has something to smile about after cleaning out his locker. Third baseman Gordon Beckham has been named Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News.
The award, voted on by a panel of 338 other players, went to the Atlanta native for a standout inaugural season in which the 22-year-old batted.270 with 28 doubles, 14 home runs and 63 RBIs in 103 games. He's the ninth rookie in team history to be tabbed by TSN and the first since current manager Ozzie Guillen was awarded the prize 1985. Here's the modest Beckham speaking on his hopes for a decent season and perhaps a "couple of good games".
During his time as an NFL running back for the Chicago Bears (1965-1971), Gale Sayers broke records and collected numerous awards and achievements. Rookie of the Year (1965), All Star Game MVP (1967, 1968, 1970), to name a few. Now he can add one more achievement to the list: Humanitarian of the Year Award.
The Abraham Lincoln Centre (ALC) will honor Sayers for his outstanding commitment to helping children and youth. After he retired from football, Sayers founded Crest Computer Supply Company in 1984, and built it into a world-class provider of technology products. Sayers, along with his wife, also became an active philanthropist in Chicago. He supports the Cradle Foundation--an adoption organization in Evanston. More recently he founded the Gale Sayers Center in the neighborhood of Austin, which serves as an after-school program for children ages 8-12 from Chicago's west side and focuses on leadership, tutoring, and mentoring.
Gale Sayers has become a role model for children thanks to his successful NFL career, his professional achievements, and his work in the community. ALC believes his work greatly reflects its goals and commitment to provide promising futures for children and families in Chicago.
The Annual Dinner for Sayers will be held this Friday, October 23, at the Fairmont Hotel (200 N. Columbus Dr.)
Want some good news, Bears fans? Pisa Tinoisamoa, you know, the guy who forced a fumble against Atlanta on Sunday night and had four tackles? His knee a'sploded in the game last night and . . .gulp. . . might have significant cartilage damage in that crucial joint known as the knee. From the Trib's Bears blog "Huddle Up":
Tinoisamoa left the game with 10 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Falcons. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI Monday afternoon after having severe swelling and soreness in the knee.
Great, just great! The Bears triage is filling up faster every week and rumors out of Halas Hall have Lovie and crew checking out scout videos of Air Bud. (rimshot!)
Congrats, Bears! I don't know how you did it, but you've somehow managed to crap the bed in successive seasons, against the same team, in the same stadium, yet in utterly disparate ways. This sort of artistic expression in the name of losing is commendable if not misguided, to wit:
(starting around the 2:18 mark:) "The plain-faced existential anguish is so evident in this second fumble in as many plays at the goal line. It's reminiscent of Munch's finer works while not being derivative, my hat off to the artiste, Matt Forte."
Throw in Forte's anemic 1.5 yards per carry average and his 60 yards of total offense and you truly have a "piece de resistance" of offensive ineptitude. Yet, Monsieur Forte was not alone in his creative expression of failure. No, even the mighty Jay-Bot 5000 got in the on the arts and crafts at football's expense extravaganza, too. [He is a competitor, after all-Ed.] Cutler, seeing Forte's ineptitude in the running game, decided to raise his running back a pair of interceptions (two beautiful and hand-crafted dying quails that the Atlanta secondary just had to have).
Meanwhile, the post-Modern secondary of the Bears continued their assault on good taste and bourgeois notions of "defending the other team's receivers" by affording the willing Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez to score touchdowns of 40 and 10 yards, respectively.
It's hunting without the hours of sitting in the cold or the messy carcass stripping. The popular barroom and home video game "Big Buck Hunter Safari" got a serious upgrade over the weekend when a national champion was crowned at District Bar on Ontario Street. The tournament winner, Jerad Berg of Blaine, Minnesota, took home $10,000 for killing deer comprised of computer code and pixels. But lest you think he's all talk and no stalk, Berg also hunts the real thing.
One more chance. That's all the Fire have left in the regular season to clinch a playoff spot. On October 22, in their finale match against Chivas USA, the Fire will attempt to make the playoffs with either a win or a tie.
Chicago fought hard against New England last night and successfully held the Revolution to a shutout with a 0-0 tie. While the Fire would have preferred a win, the opportunity for post season play is still alive. However, if the Fire fall to Chivas this week, the team will be forced to sweat it out until the weekend results are posted to see if they have made the playoffs.
So come cheer on the Fire as they fight to stay alive against Chivas USA on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at Toyota Park.
The Fire has made the playoffs in 10 of their 11 seasons. They plan to continue that tradition tonight. And if they do not win, they have to rely on others to lose. That's a lot of pressure.
The Fire travel to New England to play at Gillette Stadium to face the Revolution for the second time this year. In their first meeting in the SuperLiga 2009 final, the Fire defeated New England 2-1. Last season, the Fire went 3-0-0 against the Revolution, with two of those wins coming on the road. This past record gives the Fire an emotional edge over the Revolution, but anything can happen. There is no guarantee for the Fire.
If the Fire win, they will be in the playoffs. If they happen to tie, then D.C. United, FC Dallas, and Real Salt Lake need to lose. If the Fire lose tonight, then D.C. United, FC Dallas need to lose, and Real Salt Lake needs to fall to New York or Toronto needs to lose to Salt Lake.
But let's just hope the Fire do not need to count on any other team to win but themselves.
Tampa Bay defensive end Gaines Adams was traded to the Chicago Bears tonight for a second-round draft choice in next spring's NFL draft. It was not immediately clear if Adams would start on Sunday night in Atlanta, however the Bears will have to waive someone from the 53 man roster to make room for the 6'5" Clemson product.
Chicago, charitably, has been struck with the injury bug [Injury hammer? -Ed.] this season and have been inserting different lineman in jury-rigged alignments to compensate for their depleted ranks. For the Bears, who have been connected all week to rumors that would send Terrell Owens to the Second City, the move is almost necessity considering the triage-esque state their d-line is in: Israel Idonije, Anthony Adams and Tommie Harris are all questionable for Sunday's game (knee injuries), while Alex Brown was nursing a wonky and sprained ankle earlier this season.
Sunday night the Bears and Falcons collide in the marquee matchup of Week 6 in the NFL. Both teams come into the collision with matching 3-1 records and a "solid" second place standing in their divisions. Footballic Ramblings has already gone over their offensive similarities . Today, let's study how each defense will slow down the very capable offenses that the 2009 editions of the Bears and Falcons are sporting:
When the ATL has the ball...
Expect the laser-guided Matt Ryan to supply the flame for the Bears reliably "burny, hot, fire-ready" secondary with steady deep passes to the big target, Michael Jenkins, the BIG target, Tony Gonzalez and speedster/"embarasserer" of your secondary, Roddy White who is coming off a 210 yard, 2 TD explosion against the 49ers last weekend.
We know the Bears' secondary is as stable as a ceasefire between warring tribes of goatherders in Afghanistatn and about as safe a bet as: your life in a game of Russian Roulette. So, really, the best-case scenario? The Bears front seven brings the ruckus in a big way and disrupts the unflappable Ryan and slows Michael Turner on running plays, forcing Ryan into errant throws that the safeties and cornerbacks of Chicago can bat down like a kitten with a moth.
Cheer up, Cubs fans, there's now proof that it has to end SOME time.
For 90 years, LaSalle-Peru High School in western Illinois has played Geneseo High School in football. And lost every single time. For 90 years, beginning in 1919. To put it in perspective, in 1919 Prohibition has just started, Mussolini formed the Fascist Party in Italy, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke and some sort of kerfuffle involving the White Sox and the World Series occured.
Yeah, like we said, a long time ago.
So you can imagine the scene last Friday when LaSalle-Peru eked out a 38-36 victory over Geneseo ending 90 years of frustration. The victory came on a field goal with 7.4 seconds left. The expected unbridled jubilation ensued.
They've got one of the hottest quarterbacks around in Jay Cutler and are sitting very nicely in the NFC North with a 3-1 record. But there's nothing that says the Bears can use a little of that Blackhawks mojo.
Aligning themselves with the young up-and-coming Hawks, the Bears have cut a series of commercials with the city's NHL franchise designed to boost the profile of both teams. In the sports, expected to air in a few weeks, five Bears players (Cutler, Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, Robbie Gouls and Lance Briggs are paired, respectively, with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Brian Campbell, Patrick Sharp and Brent Seabrook (Ed. Note: Surprisingly, they somehow manged to leave off our favorite and most animated Hawk, Adam Burish though his being out of action for about six months may have something to do with it).
Actually, it was the Blackhawks who approached the Bears with the idea of the commercial collaboration to raise their profile, even though the Blackhawks are probably garnering more magazine covers and video game boxes than the Bears. At least for right now.
The first really chilly day of the season hit last Sunday just in time for the Dan Ryan 'Cross race hosted by Beverly Bike-Vee Pak. The toboggan hill run-up shredded fields apart, but lots of flat power sections allowed riders to glom back together and fight their own small battles inside the now-massive fields. Results are here. Remember: don't eat the BBQ until after you're done with your race.
Elsewhere in the region, a large number of 'crossers went down to Ohio and Northern Kentucky for the OVCX triple-race weekend. Scott McLaughlin of the SRAM Factory Team and Greg Heck of xXx-Athletico made the long drive to race Friday and Saturday, returning to the Windy City to romp the Men's 1/2/3. Ben Popper of HRS/Rock Lobster came and put in a crushin' against the Pros such as Jeremy Powers and Ryan Trebon. A whole passel of Half Acre represented well in Ohio, passing out their namesake beverage to all manner of pros and race fans.
The action heats up this weekend in the northwest suburb of Carpentersville. As in years past, this is a fast going course with lots of furniture to clamber over, including a hill, sandpit, creek, and ditch. Those with the ability to bunny-hop and lift the front wheel off the ground will have a distinct advantage of those who, well, can't. The ability to also ride really hard and fast will prove helpful, too, but that goes without saying.
And can I reiterate the importance of pre-registration? You save money, you ensure a spot on the line, and you make the officials' job easier. It's win-win.
The Bears may have been off last week but Jerry Azumah was busy dissecting their bye week and looking ahead to this Sunday's game with the Atlanta Falcons. You can hear the former Bears cornerback observations on Vocalo, the listener-content-fueled radio station. They also discuss the lack of Bears cheerleaders on the sidelines. Like we said, it was a bye week.
Before Monday's miracle comeback, the storyline entering tonight's game was going to be the return of netminder Nicolai Khabibulin to the United Center.
Now, with the news that Antti Niemi is getting the start over Cristobal Huet, the Hawks goaltending situation is an equally compelling narrative.
While coach Joel Quenneville made sure to mention that Huet and his $5.6 million salary is still the starter and will be in net for tomorrow's trip to Nashville, the next two games will be highly-eyed by Hawks fans.
A matchup of Khabibulin, who wasn't resigned over the summer despite being the Hawks' starter during the postseason, and Huet, who was ostensibly set to replace Khabi a year ago before the position evolved into a timeshare, would have become the marquee matchup tonight in a game where Huet needs to perform extremely well. Switching to Niemi is a way to deflate the expectations and focus on getting a win, while giving Huet a breather and a chance to regroup against a less talented Nashville team. However, it also demonstrates both how bad Baby Huey's been to start the year and questions the amount of confidence in him by team management already (though, in the interest of fairness, the Hawks as a whole looked abysmal in the 12 minutes Huet played Monday night).
If Niemi puts on a strong performance and Huet struggles again, calls for a switch will only resonate louder than they already are from the disgruntled fanbase. It may seem premature to some, but remember, this is the team that fired coach Denis Savard after only 4 games last season.
Granted, Khabibulin hasn't been stellar in Edmonton either, as his 3.13 goals against average and 89% save percentage attest, but he's also helped the Oilers jump out to a 3-1-1 start. Chicagoans are looking at another deep postseason run, and are starting to understand that Huet in net may be the biggest obstacle to that "one goal."
Whether Niemi's an answer or another question remains to be seen, but if Huet doesn't find a way to turn it around as the season wears on (repeat, it's only October, it's only October), the Hawks will be stuck with a multi-million dollar bench warmer.
Football's equivalent to crystal meth* ["Not even once" is the anti-meth slogan for a reason-Ed.], T.O. is rumored to be potentially heading to the Second City for the remainder of the season for too much money and not enough performance. Now, for the sheer sake of entertainment value, do I want this to happen? Hell and Yeah! However, if you're a fan of the Bears: NO, NO, NO, NO. Lions, Packers, Vikings fans? YES, YES, YES!
No T.O. Because ...drumroll please...
Bears Do Not Need Dramz: Johnny Knox, Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, Jay Cutler, et al, all have such a nice working rapport. Cutler throws the ball to them and they catch it. Do you really want a prima donna, 36!!! year-old wideout, whose best years were five seasons ago?
That's Right T.O. is 36 and still behaves like he's 15: Honestly, the Bills signed him this season to what? sell tickets? catch touchdowns? improve the team? Who really knows. Buffalo fired their offensive coordinator days before the season started and their offense is offensive [Zing! -Ed.]; Trent Edwards is a shell-shocked husk of a man begging for death's sweet release, the o-line is in shambles and they scored all of 3 points in a 6-3 loss to a Cleveland in a game so awful that 70% of the viewers stabbed their own eyes out** last weekend.
"O, we've got trouble, right here in River City, with a capital-T that stands for Terrell": Owens is officially a pariah of Marburyian levels. He's left locker rooms across the NFL (San Francisco, Philly, Dallas, Buffalo) with Geiger readings off-the-charts, he's that radioactive. Asbestos causes fewer cases of cancer in the locker room than T.O. Bears fans, you do not want T.O.
*Because he makes you grind your teeth to the point that you resemble a meth head and you feel the urge to take everything apart to avoid watching his "alligator arms"during a game; the euphoric energy and sensation of invulnerability, not so much.
What do the Chicago Fire and Best Buy have in common? They both love soccer. Maybe in different forms, but that won't really matter come next Monday when they both help in hosting the North American launch of EA Sports FIFA Soccer 10.
FIFA Soccer 10 will be available in retail stores on Tuesday, October 20, but 32 lucky fans will have the chance to play the video game next Monday during an in-store Xbox 360 tournament during the launch. The preliminary and quarterfinal round will be held during the party, while the semifinal and final rounds will be held on Actober 22 at Toyota Park before the Fire's final regular season match against Chivas USA. The winner will receive a 42-inch Panasonic 1080P Viera HDTV from Best Buy.
Next Monday, the Fire and Best Buy will combine and launch one of the most popular video games to date. Make sure to come check it out.
Your 3-1 Chicago Bears are headed down that lonely road into the land of chicken-fried steak, cheese grits and Ludacris this weekend for a Sunday night tilt with the, thus far, impressive Atlanta Falcons. Both squads are sitting pretty with 3-1 records and in second place in their respective divisions behind regional kingpins, Minnesota and N'awlins; and both teams will likely be there at the end spitting and grappling (along with the Philadelphia Eagles) for a wildcard bid. To say that winning this game is important is, yes, hyperbolic, but also damn true and something of an understatement.
Last season the Bears went down to ATL and duked it out with the Dirty Birds for a full 59+ minutes as Kyle Orton orchestrated a brilliant 2-minute drill to put the Bears up 20-19 with 11 seconds left in the game, only to have the Falcons kick the game-winning field goal after a pooched kick gave the Birds a terribly short field to work with. You guys remember, I'm sure:
Redneck language check, NSFW so make sure the headphones are on!
After an absolutely brutal opening 10 minutes that saw Hawks goalie Cristobal Huet give up 3 goals in 53 seconds on only 5 shots, and backup Antti Niemi not fare much better in letting in 2 more, it'd be easy to write off last night's Blackhawks game as a lost cause.
But just when you think you've seen it all, here come the Hawks to match the largest comeback in NHL history with 5 goals of their own, before defenseman Brent Seabrook capped off the charge with the game-winner 26 seconds into overtime.
Check out full game highlights here but in the meantime...wow. After a first period that was absolutely maddening, the Madhouse on Madison lived up to its moniker Monday night.
The WCR All-Stars have been enjoying a stellar season thus far: After defeating the Charm City Roller Girls 117-98 in August, and placing first in the WFTDA regional tournament in St. Paul, the gals are officially taking no prisoners.
Catch them at full speed during their next home bout against Portland's Rose City Rollers on Saturday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m., at the UIC Pavilion (525 S. Racine). Take a look-see here for more information and tickets.
It's Chicago Marathon weekend, which usually places the locals in three categories: those who are in it, those who watch it and those who are annoyed by it ("Dang, I just wanted to get to Home Depot and I run into THIS?").
If you're in it, there's a good chance you took part in Thursday night's pre-race pep rally at Niketown that featured a number of elite runners and a Chicago Bear thrown in for good measure (wide receiver Johnny Knox, not a bad runner himself). U.S. marathon legend Joan Benoit Samuelson and other U.S. running stars took part in a Q-and-A session and led runners on a short run just to keep those marathon juices flowing.
Chicago Public Radio's Justin Kaufmann notes that the entire Illinois congressional delegation submitted a bill on July 31 honoring White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle for his perfect game -- but it never made it out of committee. Seriously? We paid them for this? I'm all for honoring Buehrle for his achievement -- in fact, I was at the game when he was honored by the Sox -- but wasting time on this sort of thing is exactly the sort of thing that gives government a bad name.
As noted here earlier, former Blackhawk fan favorite and hometown guy Chris Chelios was reportedly contemplating a return to Chicago as a professional hockey player - not wearing the red,white and black of the Hawks but the maroon and gold of the Chicago Wolves.
That possibility moved a step closer to reality when it was announced today that Chelios will skate with the Wolves on Monday as a possible precursor to signing a contract with the American Hockey League team, though Chelli has expressed a desire to remain in the NHL.
At 47, Chelios has played in more NHL games (1,645) than any other American-born player.
The hoop-obsessed Ball Don't Lie was all over this earlier today.
The Bulls as part of their preseason tour competed on Tuesday in London, England at the spectacular O2 Arena (the venue that Michael Jackson's final tour was planned for) and the ever-polite Brits were doing their best, but, well, uhh, their parlance and lingo was a bit off. The Bulls won the game on a buzzer-beating jumper by rookie James Johnson.
This Sunday, the third race of the ChiCrossCup goes off at Dan Ryan Woods in the southside Ashburn area of town. Besides Jackson Park and Montrose, this looks to be the closest race to the city center.
Registration is still pretty open for most of the categories, but don't be lulled into complacency -- these will be filled-up by tomorrow. Last week a number of folks who drove all the way out to DeKalb for the Hopkins Park race were turned away from registration for the Men's 4 races because there was simply no room. You don't want to be in that club.
Speaking of DeKalb, the dripping wet skies on Saturday promised mud, but Sunday's race course was fast and dry. Every race featured a showdown and heckling action the likes of which only 'cross brings out. Avi Neurohr of the Chicago Cuttin' Crew was crowned the State Unofficial Official Singlespeed Champion, adding another notch to the CCC's palmares this season.
Occasionally Tailgate takes a look at the Chicago Bears plethora of tweeters and the ridiculous, inane, humorous and weird things they say, this week: Alex Brown eats lunch with his wife, Matt Forte has an awesome looking puppy, Jay Cutler goes to Nashville and more...
Starting things off this week is Bears defensive lineman and Tailgate favorite, Alex Brown. Dude loves his wife and according to his tweets grabs lunch or dinner with her just about every day [cue "awwww" from studio-audience-Ed.]
Brown's tweet of the week is modestly LOLish:
"Headed home from work. Meeting up with my wide for lunch but not sure where to go."
...and the update to that, thanks to a few hawk-eyed followers...
"Headed home from work now and meeting up with my "wife" for lunch! Thanks for letting me know lol that could have been really bad."
Ok, so we may not have the 2016 Olympics to crow about. But who needs 'em? Fine, Rio, have a ball, knock yourselves out. We didn't really want the stinky ol' Olympics anyway.
Sour grapes aside, this weekend's 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is still a pretty good international showcase for the city, combining some of the excitement of the Games with a chance to show off the beauty and culture of the city to the world. An international field will ensure that more than a few nations will be focusing on the race, and the fact that average Chicagoans will also be taking part alongside the elite runners gives it enough of a local twist that the rest of us may be compelled to tune it to the telecast.
That is, if we aren't actually on the street cheering on the runners. We may curse the traffic delays and reroutes but there's something a little electric about seeing thousands of runners culminate months of training by running right past your (theoretical) front door.
Looking ahead to the most anticipated season for the Blackhawks in a long time (Yes, the Hawks are actually 2 games into the season after taking 3 of 4 points from Florida in Finland, but it's hard to consider that games that start at 11 a.m. count, especially when I'm driving through New England and can't watch them.), it's hard not to talk about the tumultuous offseason. But let's not, because at this point, it only matters what happens going forward. It may be easy to lay blame for a lackluster season on this summer, but 6 months and 82 games is a long time, and this Hawks team is just too talented to miss the playoffs entirely. What happens from that point on is anyone's guess, but only the most myopic would blame a postseason failure on events from a midsummer nightmare.
So that said, where can the Hawks end up this year after last season's magical conference final run? A deep run in the postseason is certainly a possibility, and for the first time in a long time, mention of the Stanley Cup isn't a cruel joke. However, the Hawks are still a very young team, and part of the magic last season was the chemistry and cohesiveness they displayed as the year went on. With only a few major roster swaps (Marian Hossa for Martin Havlat and Nicolai Khabibulin's departure), the core from last season is still intact, along with a few new key parts in John Madden and Tomas Kopecky. If coach Joel Quenneville and his Q-stache can continue to instill a team first focus on the Hawks, they stand to reap the rewards of a fruitful season.
It's hard to believe it's been 12 years. The Chicago Fire are almost into their early teen years, and the club has certainly matured quickly.
The Fire was founded on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire on October 8, 1997. In the inaugural season, the Fire won the MLS cup and the U.S. Open Cup, known as the coveted "Domestic Double." Since that first season, the team has claimed the U.S. Cup three more times.
To celebrate the team's inception, the supporter club, Section 8, is throwing a party this Thursday, October 8 at Toyota Park. And everyone's invited. The event will include food, music, games, and various other activities for fans to participate in, as well as an opportunity to meet the players and staff of the Fire.
Tickets are $15 in advance through the Section 8 website, or $20 at the door. The tickets include price of admission and all food and drink at the party.
So come out and celebrate the teams final year as a pre-teen, and help support them in their efforts to take over first place in the Eastern Conference.
With the Bears holed up in their own Fortress of Solitude (Halas Hall, natch) until their tilt in the ATL with the Falcons, Footballic Ramblings decided to have a looksie at some other goings on in the NFL and its Internet-spawned stepchild, Fantasy Football. Walk with us...
So Who's Good So Far?
Both the New York Giants and Jets appear to be more gully, but you knew that already.
The Jets? Yes, the Jets! Two mild shockers: the defense (which for the past few years has been extremely pedestrian) is most like a nature documentary where the Jets are a rock python and [insert team] is a baby gazelle; particularly against the pass but especially against the run. The other surprise? Mark Sanchez the rookie from Southern Cal has surpassed all expectations in leading the offense, however, time will tell if young Jedi can keep cool or if he'll spaz out (see, the New Orleans game) in pressure situations.
The Giants have been a juggernaut inside the trenches on both sides of the ball the past few seasons and that's no different this year. Additionally, Eli Manning is packing a full bag of steady and breezy fresh with his receivers, consistently taking his time in the pocket (thanks to the O-line), finding the open receiver and then delivering a perfect pass to the receiver's waiting hands. And the whole "missing Plaxico Burress" thing? Not so much, Plax may have had a freak's capabilities and height, but, the Giants appear to have an entire fleet of receivers capable of running great routes and beating their man. Meanwhile, the running game keeps on chewing up yardage to a humming yards-per-carry of 4.2 and an average of 145 yards per game. The Giants at this point are rolling along like a Panzer tank through the Polish calvary. [A W.W.II reference? Really? -Ed.]
"Welcome to the party, Matt Forte. It took you a while to get here but I'm glad to see you were finally able to figure it out. Were the directions too complicated? No matter, I'm glad to see you finally joined the 2009 NFL regular season."
121 yards on 12 carries, along with one touchdown goes a long way in helping fans of the Bears forget about Forte's cringe-worthy opening three weeks. Consider the mere fact that Forte's longest run of the day --a 61 yard gallop to set up a Jay Cutler touchdown-- was a higher rushing output than he had total in games against Green Bay (55 yards), Pittsburgh (29) and merely five yards short of his rushing total against Seattle (66). Suffice it to say, Forte's performance against the Lions was a welcome return to form for the sophomore running back. Throw in another ridiculously efficient day by Jay-Bot 5000 (2 TDs on 18/28, 141 yards passing and a rushing TD) along with a defense that forced the Lions into five punting situations along with picking off an errant Matt Stafford pass and pouncing on a Stafford fumble and special teams that gave the Bears a distinct advantage in field position throughout the day and you've got a complete team effort, ladies and gents!
OK, Chicago has admittedly had its troubles in Europe lately (The Blackhawks lost something called the Victoria Cup to Zurich in Switzerland and the first game of their two-game series to the Florida Panthers, although they managed to salvage some dignity for our town with their 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers Sunday). But that hasn't stopped the Bulls from trying to save face for the Windy City on the other side of the pond.
The Bulls are the next Chicago sports entity to try and flaunt their muscle in Europe, in their case taking on the Utah Jazz in London's O2 Arena Tuesday night. The game will be the first live NBA game televised on the UK's version of ESPN.
It'll be a homecoming game for one Bull, forward Luol Deng who grew up in the Brixton section of the city. Center Joakim Noah's name also carries some cachet with the Europeans who are very familiar with his father, former French tennis star Yannick Noah.
Man, Europe has been pretty rough on Chicago in the past 24 hours. As you may have heard, the International Olympic Committee gave the big heave-ho to the city's bid for the 2016 Games, treating us like a steak at a vegan dinner. How bad did it look to the rest of the country that Chicago got bounced out in the first round of voting in Copenhagen? Even New York City is feeling sorry for us (although an editorial still managed to turn their sympathy into a tweak at Chi-Town resident President Obama's expense). Normally, after a loss like that we'd come back with a "wait'll next year", but unfortunately that doesn't apply.
And not long after that, our next best hope for a victory on European soil fell short as well as the Blackhawks dropped a 4-3 shootout to the Florida Panthers in Finland. Their 55 shots on goal were made null and void by a shootout goal by Florida's Ville Koistinen (a native of Finland, naturally). The two teams meet again today in Finland and you can watch the game on an outdoor screen at the Country Music Festival in Grant Park beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Look, maybe we should give this European thing a rest for a bit after this. Is "See American First" still a valid slogan?
Aw, c'mon, wipe away those Olympic-sized tears. So we didn't get the Ganes, Man up (or woman up) and let's get back to what matters most right now: Bears football.
It's Jay Cutler and the boys taking on the Detroit Lions this Sunday at Soldier Field and you can start the party early at the taping of the next installment of "The Chicago Huddle", the weekly Bears pre-game show taping today (and every Friday of the season) at 4 p.m. at ESPN Zone, 43 E. Ohio St. This week, host Ryan Chiaverini and co-host Desmond Clark will be joined by Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett. Live music from Chicago's Lee DeWyze Band and analysis by ESPN 1000 Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson highlight the free taping of the show, which will air on ABC-7 Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.
Half a world away in Helsinki Finland, the Blackhawks start their 2009-10 campaign at 11 a.m. this morning against the Florida Panthers, with a return engagement the next morning - same time, same channel (Comcast SportsNet).
The team returns to the U.S. for a game at Detroit next Thursday, before a belated home opener Saturday, Oct. 10 against the Colorado Avalanche.
Following a too-short yet tumultuous offseason after last season's playoff success, the Hawks had only a four-game preseason before jetting to Europe for a pair of exhibition games against HC Davos and ZSC Lions Zurich earlier this week. While the team took 28 players to Europe, their final roster cuts down to 23 will have been made by the time the puck is dropped this morning. The most intruiging roster selection will come down to the backup goalie battle between Corey Crawford and Antti Niemi.
Already missing free agent signee Marian Hossa due to shoulder surgery, the Blackhawks also need to find a replacement for Adam Burish, whose torn ACL in his first exhibition game will have him missing 6 months of the season. Other players suffered the normal bumps and bruises of preseason practice, but are expected to be ready to go for the regular season.
Check back this week for a full season preview of what may be the most anticipated Blackhawks season in at least 15 years.
OK, Chicago sports personalities, the vote for the host city for the 2016 Olympics is a few hours away. Show of hands: who's in favor of the games being held in Our Fair City? Lou Piniella? Check. Ozzie Guillen? Check. Derrick Rose? Gotcha. Jay Cutler and the rest of the Bears? Duly noted. Morten Anderson?....Wait, Morten Anderson? Um, okay. Michael Jordan? Yes, with an asterisk.
The vote will be announced on Friday just before noon and you're invited to hear the official announcement at a rally at Daley Center Plaza. We'll see then if those guys have any international sway. In the meantime, take a look at the possible things to come:
![rock python and [insert team] is a baby gazelle](http://www.arkive.org/media/A2/A299AC39-9B4A-4292-9DD5-239E24273EC8/Presentation.Large/photo.jpg){kind=link}