An Illini Miracle

With 4:02 left the Illini trailed Arizona 75-60, if you are reading this or if you are alive you probably know that they came back and won 90-89. All I have to say is best game ever. I actually had to check the ESPN play-by-play to confirm the actual numbers of the comeback. They outscored the Wildcats 20-5 in 4:00, simply unbelievable!

Off to watch the Illini advance to

the Elite 8(knocking on Wood). Damnit, probably shouldn't have typed that, oh well, too late now. Another topic I would like to dicuss in the future. Why the hatred between the Cubs fans and Sox fans. I have been a die-hard Cubs fan all my life and I don't hate the White Sox, nor their fans most of the time. My best friend is a White Sox fan, and yes we argue a lot about the teams, but seriously I would love to see a Chicago team win the World Series. Although as I am typing this, I am thinking of what those frickin White Sox fans would be like if they broke the Chicago World Series drought before the Cubs. Now I realize where all the anger comes from. Don't know if I have answered my own question but seriously I don't dislike the White Sox or their fans that much, especially not now since their team is more inept the Cubs. Iguchi could become the biggest bust in Chicago since Pamela Lee last came to town.

New Rules to be a Cubs Fan

This is a serious post. To be a true Cubs fan you have to suck it up and just enjoy the game. Especially now that you have an organization that is actually making a good-faith attempt to win. Not like the Jim Frey years. Don't blame Dusty, or Hendry, or MacPhail. Don't blame the players who bust their butts every day, 162 games is a long season. One final thing stop complaining about injuries. They will happen, but the more you complain the more bad karma you create.(that is debatable I guess) But also the more you complain the bigger loser you become and you show yourself as what year, a Fad Cubs Fan. Only certain Cubs fans have a right to complain the ones who were alive in 69. The ones who were at the series in 45 also have a right to complain. If you were lucky enough to be alive the last time the Cubs won the series, and you still have enough energy to complain go ahead. The one interesting thing is, these older fans don't complain, like the new Fad Cubs Fans do. They love the Cubs through thick and thin, from injury to injury. For example, the only thing my grandfather has complained about for the last couple years was the fact that Chip Caray was not a "hometown" announcer like Harry. That my friend is a valid complaint.

Say it ain't so Joe

Man do I feel bad for Joe Borowski. Finally made it as an established major league reliever during the 2002 season, had 33 saves and was key part of the 2003 playoff run, and since then has had nothing but tough luck injuries, including the latest injury yesterday, where he took a comebacker off his pitching hand and broke his wrist. One thing about Joe is that he is tough, and I guarantee he will back and better than ever(knocking on wood). For now we have the three-headed monster of Hawkins, Fox, and Remlinger. I will be crossing my fingers.

Second Class Team

I really feel bad for White Sox fans(my best friend is one of them). Seriously, no matter what they do they will never be bigger news than the Cubs, and they will always be overshadowed. This could have something to do with the Tribune Company, but it also has to do with fielding plain old Bad Baseball Teams. Why don't we trade one of our rising offensive stars, for a former rookie of the year who was figured out by the league in his second year. Podsednik could be the next Jerome Walton, although Jerome Walton did help a team get to the playoffs, so I don't think Podsednik is on that level. It must suck when almost half of your starting rotation is made up of overpriced pitchers that the Yankees have dumped on you. How about refusing to resign an injury prone allstar and going out and replacing him with an older injury prone allstar who has a career avg. that is 30 points less than the guy you wouldn't sign. The team has absolutely no imagination, and a real tough time getting fans to the ballpark. 1/2 price mondays, dollar-dog Thursdays, and fireworks. How about fielding a real baseball team? More on this later, could write forever.

Chemistry is what its all about.

This is not a guarantee of success, but I do believe the Cubs will be a much better "TEAM" this year. The players they acquired this offseason such as Jeremy Burnitz, Jerry Hairston Jr., Chad Fox, Henry Blanco, etc. are all guys who know how to work and put the team ahead of their own interests. The guys who remain are all quieter, except for Latroy. The recent "injuries" to Prior and Wood are a good thing, because they have already lowered expectations, which in Cub Nation should never be that high. The offseason moves could be characterized as addition by subtraction, on paper the losses seem like they will hurt, here are some reasons why you can't only judge the players on statistcs. The guys they got rid of, such as Sosa, Alou, Mercker, etc. were not the best fit for what you would want in a team. Sosa, before he became a diva, was a hard-working player, don't know if what was the team or fame that motivated him but up until the last couple years he played to win. Ever since being hit in the head by a Solomon Torres fast ball, he has not been the same. Corking his bat, standing a mile away from the plate, he reverted back to the "Sam-me" of old. Alou, who I really believe is a great player, just could not stop complaining, mainly about the umpires. It may have been his frustration with the way the team was playing down the stretch, but still just keep your mouth shut, and let your bat do the talking. Kent Mercker was just a moron, who worried to much about the press coverage, and not enough about placing his pitches somewhere other than the heart of the plate. Enough negativity, this years Cubs, knock on Wood, are a group of guys who put the team ahead of their interests, and except of Latroy Hawkins, are very good at dealing with the press and avoiding unneccesary distractions. Peter Gammons seems to agree with me, if you are an ESPN Insider, check the article out here.

State of the Sport's Nation

Is there a problem in the wide world of sports today? There might be, if things keep going the way they are going. At least there will be a problem for those of us who have actually played or understand what sports are really about. The Espnization of sports today is one problem. It is all around us, instead of making the routine play, players are continually going for the spectacular play that lands them on an ESPN highlight reel. The whole problem boils down to money and making sports more appealing. The athletes and the die-hard sports fans who actually understand the games they watch are going to watch and attend these games no matter what. However, Joe Schmoe and his average family, who are not avid sports fans with an understanding for the sport they may be attending, they need to be drawn to the game. One such way is through the spectacular play they saw on the six o'clock news last night. This isn't necessarily the problem, and I am not saying there is anything wrong with this type of fan. The main thing to remember is there needs to be a balance, and lately the balance seems to be shifting to the spectacular highlight reel play, rather than the true beauty of team play and just simply being a role player on a great team. More coverage to come.

This is just ridiculous!

This steroid congressional hearing is totally ridiculous for a number of reasons. How can you have this hearing without Barry Bonds? (if you are really interested in delving into the steroid "problem") If you want the political side of this story check out what is posted on my politics blog. For the sports side. Here is a brief history of anabolic steroids. Invented in the 193o's and they were not even outlawed until 1991. A lot of people are calling for asterisks next to every persons name that may be found to have used steroids when setting a record. There was no testing during the period between the 1930-1991, so who is to say if any other records were set while people were on steroids. Who can say whether or not any records were set when anyone was using a performance enhancing drug. Whether you like it or not, performance enhancing drugs have been around and been used since sport was created. Some were illegal when used and some became illegal after being used for awhile. In certain sports such as most track and field events, swimming, and other sports in which there is not much hand eye coordination, or hand foot coordination, these drugs may have a huge effect. However in baseball there is a negligible effect on performance. With or without steroids Barry Bonds is one of the greatest baseball players ever. With or without steroids the Mcgwire/Sosa homerun chase of 1998 was one of the greatest years ever for baseball. Every homerun that these guys hit is not because of extra muscle its because they put the bat on the ball. Their homeruns were not bloop homeruns, maybe instead of travelling 450 ft, they would have travelled 400 ft. This is why from a sports sense this a ridiculous question, just watch and enjoy and stop trying to tear down what is great.

How about those Cubs

I just realized I have not posted anything about my favorite team in the entire world, The Chicago Cubs. Since I am very superstitious with regards to my teams, especially the Cubs, I am going to hold off on any predictions. However, I am pleased with the offseason moves and look forward to watching an actual team this year. Sammy was not to blame for all the problems the team had last year. It's tough to win when two of your best starters are injured and were only able to pitch a total of 43 games between the two. Not to mention Mark Prior had no Spring Training so he was not even in game shape when he did pitch. Enough excuses though, they played well considering the circumstances and were still in position to make a playoff run, until Victor Diaz's HR heard around cub nation. Anyways, can't wait for this season to begin, first preseason game today, should be fun!

This Could Get Real Interesting

This may be one of the few posts about hockey that you will ever see, then again if the proposed offer goes through, I might become a fan. That would mean that the deplorable Bill Wirtz will no longer be the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks. I will keep my fingers crossed, at the least it should be interesting.

AU Tennis Update

As some of you may know the American University tennis program is set to be eliminated at the end of the year. My brother transferred to the school for tennis and academics last year. The announcement was made in the middle of another successful season and was made without warning and without allowing any of the players a chance to fundraise or present ideas on how to keep the program ongoing. The Tennis.com blog highlights the situation a little better and if you have any ideas or would like to help by writing an email, here are some contacts: Al Checcio Vice President of University Relations American University 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 ac@american.edu (202)885-3462 Ms. Joni Comstock Athletic Director American University 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 comstock@american.edu (202)885-3190 Mr. Benjamin Ladner Office of the President American University 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 president@american.edu (202)885-2121

It's alright, one crappy game is allowed!

I guess I jinxed them after the long post yesterday on age limits, anyways the Bulls played one of their worst games and Houston played pretty damn good. The result was ugly but it's still only one game, and throughout an 82 game season I'll allow for a few games like that. Let's try to make this the last one though.