Sweet Home Sports

Sampson Should Have Called Indiana -- On The Clue Phone

2008-02-26T13:52:00.005-06:00

In a way, Indiana got exactly what it wanted out of Kelvin Sampson.In fact, it got that in a lot of ways. Hoosier Nation got highly sought-after recruits, such as Eric Gordon. They got a return to national prominence, with a Top 20 ranking throughout the season and a serious chance at a Big Ten championship. They got -- eventually -- the coach many of them really wanted, Dan Dakich, after Sampson

Sports Notes, 2/10/08: Brief Break From Hibernation Edition

2008-02-10T11:25:00.000-06:00

-- Pitchers and catchers report on Thursday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, which is fitting since that's a day that's always been made for -- ahem -- pitchers and catchers.-- But all kidding aside, baseball is huge because we're at a serious lull in the Chicago sports scene. The Blackhawks and Bulls are losing regularly, I'm getting sick of talking about Illinois' lack of senior leadership and

Barack The Vote

2008-02-04T12:11:00.000-06:00

I’m not going to make a point of veering off into politics in the space very often. But the presidential race is more important than any athletic contest, and we do have two Democratic candidates with strong ties to Chicago, and our local teams certainly aren’t giving me anything to write about, and the Illinois primary is on Tuesday, so here goes.My vote goes to Barack Obama, and around here I’m

Super Bowl XLII: N.Y. Giants 17, New England Patriots 14

2008-02-04T11:53:00.001-06:00

That was the second-awesomest loss by the Patriots in Super Bowl history, because now the all-time greatest team in the NFL is still your beloved 1985 Chicago BEARS!

Commit To Keeping Your Mouth Shut

2008-02-04T11:52:00.001-06:00

The Blackhawks may have dodged a bullet last week when they briefly considered -- and wisely rejected -- the slogan “Commit to the Indian”, a reference to an off-the-cuff remark by head coach Dennis Savard during a postgame tirade that followed a lackluster loss.Many Native American mascots and images -- most notably, in these parts, Chief Illiniwek -- are being retired in a wave of cultural

Sports Notes, 1/20/08: I'm Moving To Somewhere Warm Edition

2008-01-20T10:36:00.001-06:00

Short list this week, as Chicago's sports scene is almost as cold as its weather right now ...-- Welcome back, Jon Leiber. Were you really the Cubs’ last 20-game winner?-- I mean, I can believe it’s been since 2001 since they’ve had one, considering that the leader in each of the playoff seasons since then has been 18 (Mark Prior, 2003, and Carlos Zambrano, 2007). It’s just that sometimes I

Don't Just Say No To Noah

2008-01-17T11:10:00.000-06:00

So this Joakim Noah thing has gotten out of hand to the point that I feel I must somehow acknowledge it, albeit a couple days late. I seriously do not follow the Bulls closely enough to be at all knowledgeable, but with that said …I will take Sam Smith’s word for it that whatever kind of tantrum Noah threw in practice was worth a suspension. From the coach, that is. It may have been worth two

Sports Notes, 1/6/08: People Were At My Home Until 5 A.M. Edition

2008-01-06T21:46:00.001-06:00

-- Y'know, on second thought, Illinois-Hawaii and USC-Georgia would've been more compelling matchups.-- Switching to basketball, Illinois really, really, really, like seriously really needed to pull out that home game against Penn State that they lost 68-64. Five of the Illini's next seven games are on the road against teams better than them.-- Then again, this Illini team was destined to play a

A Little Love For Illinois, Please?

2008-01-01T12:22:00.000-06:00

OK, so I've been watching Rose Bowl pregame shows all morning, and I am totally sick of hearing about how Illinois is overmatched against USC.Don't get me wrong. I think that USC will win. I think there's a good chance they will cover the two-touchdown spread, despite my initial prediction of a 31-20 final score.But it's not like it's a foregone conclusion. There ARE ways that Illinois could win

That Creaking Sound You Hear Is Me Going Out On A Limb

2007-12-31T19:13:00.000-06:00

I'm just full of new SHS traditions! Here's the latest: My first annual end-of-the-year Big Ten basketball predictions. (And yes, I know that it's logistically impossible to be the first annual anything. I'm being whimsical; relax.) Here's my predicted order of finish, just days before the conference season starts.Michigan State: Not only will this team win the Big Ten, but they could go very

BEARS 33, Saints 25: Whoop-De-Freakin'-Doo

2007-12-31T19:10:00.000-06:00

When two teams combine for five fourth-down conversion attempts, you know you're watching the last game of the season between two sub-.500 teams.And when Adrian Peterson is flinging touchdown passes in the ugliest trick play ever seen (or at least the ugliest successful trick play ever seen), you know you're watching the last game of the season between two sub-.500 teams.And when one team starts

A New Tradition

2007-12-30T10:37:00.000-06:00

It's always a good time to institute a new tradition. I've arbitrarily decided that the deal for Sweet Home Sports will be to name a Chicago Sports Scene Person Of The Year each year. And because it's on Sunday morning that I finally got around to knocking this out, I hearby declare that the SHSCSSPOTY Award will be given out on the last Sunday morning of every year.First, some ground rules: I

Sports Notes, 12/30/07: Holiday Edition

2007-12-30T10:35:00.000-06:00

OK, this is two years in a row that the holidays have prevented me from writing a recap of a late-season BEARS-Packers game. Looks like now we're even, Tim. Maybe my real end-of-the-year tradition should be to declare this blog on vacation the last two weeks of the year.That said ...* Congrats to Ron Zook on his well-deserved Coach of the Year Award. It won't mean much on Tuesday, but it's always

Sports Notes, 12/23/07: I've Got A Cold And I Feel Like Complaining Edition

2007-12-23T11:19:00.001-06:00

-- So, I like to joke about how the Illini are going to land in the NIT. But seriously, you do have to be above .500 to get in, which is not at all a certainty when you start losing at home to mid-level MAC teams.-- Even if you upset Missouri two nights later.-- In fact, especially if you upset Missouri two nights later, ya inconsistent bastards.-- But things will get better for Illinois. Coach

Shout Out To Dicke V

2007-12-18T15:59:00.000-06:00

Some things just transcend the local sports scene.As you’ve probably heard by now, decades of breathlessly screaming into a microphone have taken a physical toll on ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale, who had to undergo surgery for ulcers on his vocal chord.Apparently the surgery was a success, although Dickie V will be in recovery mode until February. Of course, for the hard-working Vitale, who tends

Vikings 20, BEARS 13, To The Best Of My Recollection

2007-12-18T10:51:00.000-06:00

So, here’s the story, sports fans. Seeing as how the BEARS were out of it even before last night’s game, and seeing as how I had some friends celebrating their birthdays, I ended up watching the game in a bar with no sound, instead of in my normal position of prone on my couch, paradoxically in rapt attention. (I did TiVo the game to catch up on the details, but then I thought … nah.)Anyway, here

Sports Notes, 12/16/07: Change In Personnel Edition

2007-12-16T13:51:00.001-06:00

-- Say it with me now, Cubs fans: "Aww, Fuk!"-- Or -- hopefully -- "Fukin'-A!"-- Seriously, though, I thought the Fuk-U-Dome was Mayor Daley's, shall we say, creative interpretation of Soldier Field.-- Brace yourselves, BEARS fan, because this is not a pretty thought. If the Patriots are 18-0 going into the Super Bowl, and a win would mean no one could ever again argue that the 1985 BEARS are the

Prior Bad Acts?

2007-12-13T11:40:00.001-06:00

This is a short post to slide in a quick prediction before 1 p.m. CST:I'm guessing the Cubs' abrupt release of Mark Prior will make a lot more sense when we see MLB's Mitchell Report on steroid abuse.Check the time stamp! That's all for now.

Sports Notes, 12/9/07: What A Drag It Is Getting Old Edition

2007-12-09T11:32:00.000-06:00

-- Wow. Michigan can’t possibly be used to getting turned down by one coaching candidate in a week, let alone two. The cosmic revenge for driving out Lloyd Carr has begun.-- Speaking of the Fighting Helmets, Appalachian State will get a chance to beat another team with that nonsensical design on their brain buckets when they play Delaware (at right; photo swiped from Mark Campbell off the

Arizona 78, Illinois 72, OT: I-L-L, N-I-T

2007-12-09T11:23:00.000-06:00

Going into Saturday’s game, I wasn’t expecting Illinois to beat Arizona. But to have the game in your back pocket for 39 minutes and give it away is a hell of a way to lose.In a game that will probably turn out to have been a must-win for Illinois’ NCAA tournament hopes, the Illini kept Arizona scoreless for the first five full minutes with stifling defense, then maintained a double-digit lead

Redskins 24, BEARS 16: BEARS Suck, Therefore They Lose

2007-12-09T11:21:00.001-06:00

What more can I say about the BEARS? They played poorly in almost every facet of the game Thursday night.The offense failed to convert deep in the red zone on several occasions. Brian Griese was ineffective in place of the injured Rex Grossman. The running game, despite Adrian Peterson’s heart, managed a mere 60 yards. Bernard Berrian and Greg Olsen made couple of acrobatic catches on one

Stop! Do I Smell ... Roses???

2007-12-03T15:03:00.000-06:00

The last time Illinois played in the Rose Bowl, Sam and Diane were on the throes of a passionate love/hate affair; early adapters were listening to their music on the new-fangled compact disc; nobody had yet heard of Mikail Gorbachev, who’s since been largely forgotten; nobody had yet heard of the Internet, which has not quite been forgotten; and I was a seventh-grader watching Linda DiBennidetto

Giants 21, BEARS 16: No One Ever Is To Blame

2007-12-03T11:06:00.001-06:00

How do you lose a game like that?No, seriously, I’m asking: How did the BEARS manage to lose a game in which they largely outplayed the Giants and won the turnover battle by four? That’s just not supposed to happen.You can’t blame Rex Grossman for the 21-16 loss to the Giants. He had 296 yards with no interceptions and no fumbles lost.You can’t blame the running game. It was certainly no worse

Sports Notes, 12/2/07:

2007-12-02T10:32:00.000-06:00

-- First, a shout-out to my favorite Washington Redskins fan, Scott Rowan, after the tragic death of Sean Taylor. Scott’s probably not the only Redskins fan who also graduated from Virginia Tech, making it a double-whammy of senseless gun violence this year for a lot of people.-- Of course, just four days from now I have to turn around and root against him when the BEARS and Redskins meet on

What I Learned In ACC-Big Ten School

2007-11-28T22:34:00.000-06:00

I was right; it could have been worse than my 7-4 ACC prediction. Unfortunately I did not get the chance to watch any of Tuesday’s action in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, but after picking up as much as possible via osmosis and the Internet, here’s what I know after three days of basketball:-- Illinois might not be a tournament team. The Illini are not going to beat Missouri, because Missouri beat

Achilles' Heel Hurts His Ankle

2007-11-28T07:57:00.000-06:00

Hey, Cedric, don’t let the door slam that gimpy ankle on your way out.Yes, my favorite target of ire, BEARS running back Cedric Benson, is out for the season, undone by an ankle injury at the end of a 21-yeard run against the Broncos on Sunday. His 3.4 yards per carry this year will now be replaced by Adrian Peterson’s 3.6 yards per carry.Coach Lovie Smith had an interesting take on the situation

BEARS 37, Denver 34, OT: That Was Unexpected

2007-11-26T00:02:00.000-06:00

“Miracle” doesn’t really cover it.“Oh, you lucky bastards” is much more accurate.True, the BEARS overtime win against Denver on Sunday was pretty impressive, coming as it did with the BEARS down two touchdowns with slightly more than 5 minutes left. But let’s not forget that for 54 minutes this was a picture of a franchise imploding on itself.The team struggled on offense, rolling up a meager 160

This Feels Like March Madness, Alright

2007-11-25T23:51:00.001-06:00

Someone once told me that the definition of "insanity" is "to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."Maybe I need to get some happy pills, because I keep looking forward to the ACC-Big Ten Challenge even though my beloved Big Ten has yet to win one heading into this week's ninth installment. Technically, though, I'm not expecting the Big Ten to prevail in this

Sports Notes, 11/25/07

2007-11-25T10:31:00.000-06:00

-- I THINK that Missouri beating Kansas last night was the best thing that could have happened to Ohio State. But then again, who the hell knows?-- They certainly don’t deserve it, but the BEARS can climb back into legitimate playoff contention with a win today against the Denver Broncos.-- Apparently some people in the media are upset that Brian Urlacher has turned to giving terse answers at

Lloyd Carr, We Hardly Deigned To Know Ye

2007-11-25T10:24:00.000-06:00

Are there actually Michigan alums out there who are pretending to be sad to see Lloyd Carr go?Don’t get me wrong; they should be. The guy won a national championship, fer cryin’ out loud. But for the fans to have us believe they feel bad about Carr resigning is laughable. Wolverine Nation’s relationship with this guy was always tepid at best.Now, I personally don’t care one way or another what

Seahawks 30, BEARS 23: Just In Time For Thanksgiving, This Turkey's Cooked

2007-11-23T09:43:00.000-06:00

So, it’s not just Rex Grossman that the BEARS need. It’s also a healthy defense.The depleted secondary got torched for 322 net passing yards on Sunday as the Seahawks’ Matt Hasselback moved the ball at will. The defense gave up 425 yards overall, making it a little too easy for the Seahawks to overcome the BEARS’ early 10-0 lead.Grossman actually had a decent day, going 24 of 37 for 266 yards and

Sports Notes, 11/18/07

2007-11-18T08:43:00.001-06:00

-- The Seahawks may be diminished this year. But if the BEARS want people to start thinking about them as a playoff contender again, they would do well to win today's matchup of the last two NFC champions.-- I don’t care what their record is. For the Clippers to lose by 20 at home to a Bulls team that just doesn’t seem to care proves that they will always be the Clippers.-- From the file of “

BEARS 17, Raiders 6: Turns Out We Do Need Grossman

2007-11-12T23:32:00.001-06:00

It was just like BEARS fans had wanted all season long. The backup came storming in off the bench and pulled his team ahead to victory.Except it wasn’t quite what the fans wanted, because they wanted it to happen when Brian Griese was the backup. Instead, when Griese was injured in the second quarter of Sunday’s game, Grossman reclaimed his old job and, with the BEARS trailing 6-3 in the fourth

Illinois 28, No. 1 Ohio State 21: Dude, WTF?!?

2007-11-12T23:31:00.000-06:00

Now, I know if I post a blog article about my beloved Illini upsetting No. 1 Ohio State, everyone who’s reading closely will accuse me of only posting when my teams do something good. But since I really do that anyway, and since I can count on no hands how many of you are reading me closely (or at all), it doesn’t bother me that much.I myself am still in shock. I have watched the Illini live

I'm Back, Bitches

2007-11-12T23:30:00.000-06:00

So, you thought that my blog was as dead as Dollar Bill Wirtz. I can’t blame you; I did too. I never meant to stop posting; it’s just that I was down to about two readers, and I had to focus on stuff that actually had a chance to make me money.I do regret that I was down for so long, and I know I passed on many big stories, not the least of which is the Cubs in the playoffs. (Upshot: I’m a lot

Sports Notes, 8/19/07, Carlos Zambrano edition

2007-08-19T10:21:00.000-05:00

-- Let’s see … $91 million dollars … 83 cents for an original glazed from Krispy Kreme … that buys … wow, a lot of doughnuts.-- So, it turns out that Carlos Zambrano is worth $3.7 million a year more than Aramis Ramirez. Who would’ve thunk it?-- Actually, it’s easy to make fun, but that number might be right on the money. This year Ramirez has been worth at least as much to the team as Zambrano,

Sports Notes, 8/12/07

2007-08-12T16:56:00.000-05:00

-- So, while the Brewers are getting swept at Colorado, the Cubs can’t even sniff victory in Houston, but then the Brewers go into Houston and can’t lose, and the Cubs go to Colorado and beat up on the Rockies, at least until the Cubs start losing to the Rockies, at which point the Brewers give up a four-run eighth and lose in Houston. What if we just sent out Derrek Lee and Prince Fielder to

Alfonso Sore-iano

2007-08-06T18:35:00.001-05:00

Alfonso Soriano has been an enigma all year. Now we find out how important he really is to the Cubs.He leads the team in home runs, but they’ve all come from the leadoff spot; in the three-hole, he hit a mere .179 with one RBI in 28 at-bats. He doesn’t seem to hit in clutch situations, as evidenced by his .234 average with runners on and two outs; but 14 of his 42 RBI – in only 64 at-bats – have

Jeers For Cheers

2007-08-06T07:54:00.000-05:00

Cubs fans, you showed your class by applauding Tom Glavine on Sunday night. Now try to show some loyalty.I understand the applause when Glavine left the game with the lead in the seventh inning en route to his 300th career win. After all, seeing someone’s 300th win is something to tell your grandkids about. I also understand the franchise sending out a message of congratulations on the scoreboard

Sports Notes, 8/5/07

2007-08-05T11:08:00.000-05:00

-- Congratulations, Barry. Go, A-Rod.-- You can credit Ryan Theriot for Saturday’s win over the Mets. With two outs and runners on the corners in the third inning, Theriot beat out a slow grounder to drive in the first run of the game and keep the inning alive. All in all, six runs scored – more than they would need and all that they would get.-- Or you can credit the umpire, as replays showed

Well ... Maybe It Really Could Happen

2007-08-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

Tuesday night’s 7-3 win over Philadelphia was very telling for this Cubs team. On the heels of a loss, this team came out with the mental strength it’s shown since the blowups of early June and fought back one of its many wild-card rivals.The loss on Monday could have been a big blow. With a chance to move into a tie for first place, on a day when the Cubs were making up one of the games-in-hand

Sports Notes, 7/30/07

2007-07-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

OK, so it’s a day late. Still, three postings last week and now a notes column? It’s almost like I’m running a blog or something …-- To all you White Sox fans out there, hope you enjoyed Steve Stone.-- It would be easy to pick on Lance Briggs, who just signed a one-year, $7.2 million contract for recanting on his pledge not to play for the Bears this year. Easy, but shortsighted -- the fact of

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Barry, Uh ...

2007-07-24T08:18:00.000-05:00

So I went 90 miles north on Saturday to watch the Brewers host the Giants, courtesy of my good friend Jeff Ponczak. Toward the end of the game, while listening to the sellout crowd roundly boo Barry Bounds for the fourth time, Ponz commented that the only real reason he doesn’t want to see Bonds break the all-time home run record is that Bonds is such a prick.I told him I couldn’t agree more.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Due Process

2007-07-24T08:17:00.000-05:00

There’s a rumor out there that there’s still a chance Barry Bonds could get indicted, convicted, thrown in jail and have his career ended. This is a nice little dream, but there’s two problems: It’s really nothing more than a rumor, and there’s no way it could happen before Bonds breaks Henry Aaron’s record of 755 career home runs.But here’s the thing: Baseball doesn’t have to wait.Due process

Payback is a Bitch

2007-07-24T08:15:00.001-05:00

Seems like I’m talking a lot about the vices in sports these days, but seeing as how I understand gambling on a deep and personal level, I can shed some light on the Tim Donaghy situation for you.Let’s say you’re an NBA referee, and like most people, you like to bet on sports. You could fly to Vegas or bet online, but you know some people who are willing to book your bets and will let you settle

Cubs Finally Show Some Fight

2007-06-01T16:59:00.000-05:00

I am not going to be the only guy to say this, so I’m going to try to be among the first: Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett fighting in the dugout during today’s embarrassing loss to the Braves was a GOOD thing for the Cubs.Despite what the pansies on TV are saying, this fight was a refreshing breeze of emotion on a team of multi-millionaires who usually look too bored to do much more than sit

Hey Look, I'm Posting During the Week! And Complaining, Of Course

2007-05-11T07:33:00.000-05:00

On TV and in the movies, whenever people have mirages it always seems to come while the sun is beating down on them in the middle of the desert. So it’s no surprise that the mirage of the Cubs season would come during their purported hot streak.Yes, it’s true that the Cubs have gone 9-3 to claw their way back to .500 and the possibility of contending for a playoff spot. Hoo-doggie, better wake

Sports Notes, 5/5/07

2007-05-05T13:02:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know it’s Saturday, not Sunday, but so much has happened while I’ve been working! So try to look at this posting a day early instead of six weeks late … -- Your move, Lance Briggs.-- Dude! Lou Pinella had his blowup before I could even throw together a “When Will Lou Pinella Have His Blowup” pool!-- Four straight over the defending NBA

Mayweather vs. De La Hoya: I Got I Don’t Give A Hobo’s Crap

2007-05-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

So I hear that two guys are going to try to pummel each other into unconsciousness on Saturday night in what some are seeing as the last-ditch, hope-against-hope attempt to save what’s left of the noble pursuit of pummelling others into unconsciousness.As you’ve probably surmized by now, I never really got into boxing. But the point of this post is, it’s clear now that I’m not the only one.I saw

Sports Notes, 3/25/07

2007-03-25T08:36:00.000-05:00

-- Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are already flirting with the disabled list. In other news, the sun rose in the east this morning, this year’s Christmas celebration will be on Dec. 25, and Generalisimo Francisco Franco is still dead.-- Don’t tell anyone I told you this, but Mike Conley Jr. has been more valuable to Ohio State’s run at the championship than Greg Oden has.-- Of course, if ANYONE the

Sports Notes, 3/18/07

2007-03-18T09:56:00.000-05:00

-- That silence you’re hearing is the sound of all the points Illinois has still scored since the 4:28 mark Friday night.-- What I’m about to say, I mean purely in the figurative sense, and I do feel that I have to clarify with this team: The best way to describe what happened Friday night is that Illinois was cruising along the highway, and then fell asleep at the wheel.-- The worst part about

Illinois' Intriguing NCAA Draw

2007-03-11T23:17:00.000-05:00

Illinois vs. Virginia Tech is a very interesting game in its own right for several reasons. And we’ll get to that in a moment. But what’s even more eye-catching is what waits down the road.The winner of the Illinois-Va Tech game will likely get Southern Illinois, which will be a grudge match in any case. The Hokies would be looking for revenge against the Salukis, who beat them by 5 earlier this

Big Ten Tournament Preview

2007-03-08T07:44:00.000-06:00

So we’re at the 10th Big Ten tournament. An event that was met with heavy suspicion when it started is now one of the highlights of the year for Big Ten fans.Remember back in the day, when you could reasonably expect Illinois to have a chance to win the whole thing, just like you could reasonably expect the tournament to be in Chicago most of the time? Well, neither of those things is on the

Sports Notes, 3/4/07

2007-03-04T11:20:00.000-06:00

Yep, I’m back, sort of. I have to quit working so much.-- Sorry, Santo, but when your greatest statistic is Number Of Fans Who Love You, you’re not qualified for the Baseball Hall of Fame. I just wish there were a People Hall of Fame; you would be a first-ballot lock.-- The fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena yesterday were chanting “I-L-L … D-U-I” during the Iowa-Illinios game. Cute. Of course, I don’t

Super Bowl Recap: Yeah, I Know, It's Been A While

2007-02-18T22:22:00.000-06:00

The worst part is, they did it to themselves.Yes, the Super Bowl lie-down is starting to fade into a yellowing memory, like a years-old coffee stain and just as bitter . And no, I haven’t been purposefully avoiding it just because I don’t like to talk of Chicago sports failures. Dude, I’ve been seriously, seriously busy.But my BEARS were in the Super Bowl, and I cannot let this moment pass. Even

So Long, Chief -- And Don't Come Back, Now

2007-02-18T22:21:00.000-06:00

It’s about damn time.The University of Illinois had to drop Chief Illiniwek sooner or later, ever since the debate was first raised on campus, which happened at least as long ago as 1989. At an institution of higher learning, a race-based debate is going to continue raging until the objects or behaviors that are deemed offensive are put to an end.That end will come on Wednesday, when Chief

The Latest Illini Basketball Mess

2007-02-18T22:19:00.000-06:00

It was great to see Brian Carlwell sitting on the bench for the Illini on Sunday, less than a week after lying in a hospital bed in critical condition with a concussion. Though he was reported earlier in the week to be on his way to a full recovery, this was a tangible sign that he was alright.Just don’t expect to see Jamar Smith on that bench. Ever again.Officially, Smith, the driver of the car

Sports Notes, 2/4/07 -- Super Bowl Edition

2007-02-04T10:25:00.000-06:00

It would be easy to knock out a dry recitation of why the BEARS – or the Colts – will win this game.The BEARS could establish the run and keep the ball out of Peyton Manning’s hands; Manning could exploit an injury-depleted secondary for four touchdowns; Devin Hester could make a pale mockery of Indy’s porous kick coverage; Rex Grossman could throw an interception on every play from scrimmage;

Sports Notes, 1/28/07

2007-01-28T10:28:00.000-06:00

-- Much was made, in the days just after the BEARS-Colts Super Bowl was set, of the fact the teams’ home states were also squaring off in basketball at the pro and college level. This would once and for all settle the athletic border war from now until the end of time!, they all said. Except for the fact that after the two-week lag no one will still give a crap.-- With the signing of Cliff Floyd,

BEARS 39, Saints 14: Now I Can Exhale

2007-01-23T07:44:00.000-06:00

Right on schedule.Like a CTA train after midnight, you can count on the BEARS to show up at the NFL Championship station about once every 20 years.They did it this time by dispatching of the feel-good New Orleans Saints. They did it with a run-heavy offense, a return of the marauding defense, and just enough good Rex when it mattered.They did it in BEAR weather, with chilly, slippery conditions

Sports Notes, 1/21/07

2007-01-21T08:21:00.000-06:00

-- Kudos to the Oglala Sioux tribe for asking the University of Illinois to return its Chief Illiniwek attire. Perhaps this will finally end the laughably embarrassing “tradition” down at my alma mater.-- Hey, Mike Ditka: You weren’t fooling anyone. We can understand if you don't want to say nice things about Michael McCaskey, but anyone who watches your playoff commentary on ESPN knows that not

BEARS 27, Seahawks 24, OT: We're Doing This The Fun Way, Not The Easy Way

2007-01-15T10:19:00.001-06:00

The win is all that matters.So what if the BEARS once had a seemingly Secretariat-like lead over the rest of the NFC that has now shrunk down to just a nose. There’s one length left in this race, and only one horse left to hold off.I really don’t care if the BEARS rush the ball 55 times in the NFC championship and win 4-3 on two safeties. I also don’t care if they have to win it on an overtime

Sports Notes, 1/14/067

2007-01-14T10:18:00.000-06:00

-- You know that Michigan fans have already figured out a way to secretly believe that they truly deserve a shot at Florida.-- Nice win for UIC on Wednesday, 73-67 over No. 12 Butler. It’s a good thing Illinois already beat the Flames, or the Illini might not be able to claim they’re the best college basketball team in the state.-- Then again, considering that Northwestern took Wisconsin to the

Sports Notes, 1/7/07

2007-01-07T09:09:00.001-06:00

-- Watching the Seahawks’ fight their way back into the lead last night, it was clear that this team plans to play with the intensity of a defending conference champion until someone knocks them off their perch. You know, like the BEARS next week at Solider Field.-- I think I finally figured out how Tony Romo got the third quarterback spot on the NFC All Pro team. It has to be for his stellar

Gosh Darn It All, It's Called The "Hook And LADDER" Play Already

2007-01-06T09:58:00.000-06:00

When I was a kid, there used to be a play in football called the “hook and ladder” play.When I reached adulthood … there was still a play in football called the “hook and ladder” play. As far as I can tell, for decades before I arrived in this crazy world there was a play in football called the “hook and ladder”. At yet for some reason this year, for the very first time, prompted by the use of

Packers 26, BEARS 7: Moving Right Along ...

2007-01-03T22:00:00.000-06:00

Whew. That was a crazy New Year’s Eve party. I’m just now getting around to catching up on the final BEARS debacle … er, game.And my feeling is, big whoop. So Rex Grossman had a non-existent passer rating. So the BEARS got embarassed at home again. I’m not worried. And here’s why …HANDICAPPING THE NFC PLAYOFFSWe’ll go in inverse order of the favorites, according to the odds at Bodog.com, because

Sports Notes, 12/31/06

2006-12-31T09:26:00.000-06:00

It kinda feels like I haven’t been snarky in a while …-- So it turns out that the Packers, despite the Giants win last night, still have a mathematical shot at the playoffs, if the results of virtually every other game involving an NFC team (and a couple that don’t) break their way. Even after all the years of Brett Farve completely bitch-ify-ing the BEARS, I would still be impressed if Farve, at

Sports Notes, 12/24/06

2006-12-23T23:25:00.001-06:00

Very interesting sentence for Tank Johnson: He’s under home confinement, he’s only allowed to leave for work, and he must get court permission to leave the state even for work purposes. It’s a well-known fact, almost certainly known to any judge who serves in the Chicago area, that after Johnson serves his team suspension this week against the Lions the next road game the BEARS could possibly

BEARS 34, Buccaneers 31, OT: I Am Not Amused

2006-12-18T15:55:00.000-06:00

Not funny, guys. Not cute, not impish, not daring. Blowing a three-touchdown lead against a woeful team while trying to tune up for a Super Bowl run is nothing but alarming.In fact, the need for overtime to finally dispatch of the 3-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite second-half leads of 21-3 and 31-17 belies a disturbing trend in which the BEARS defense lets up after the team builds a

Sports Notes, 12/17/06

2006-12-17T09:57:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I know, there were no notes last week. I was really busy; don’t yell at me.-- I had a line all picked out to make fun of Tank Johnson and the gun charges against him. But after his friend/bodygaurd was shot to death Friday night, it didn’t seem funny anymore. Johnson is now forced to stare down the dark side of a gun obsession, which is that guns are the only weapon manufactured strictly

BEARS 42, Rams 27: These Guys Must Really Love Rex

2006-12-12T11:04:00.000-06:00

This may have been the most total team effort of the season for the BEARS.On a night when the defense was considerably less than perfect, Rex Grossman’s backfield and receivers refused to let him lose -- the game or his starting job -- and special teams came up big as well.Bernard Berrian made a nice run after a catch for the first offensive touchdown. Cedric Bensen set it up with a couple

BEARS 23, Vikings 13: Griese Pool Heats Up

2006-12-04T21:19:00.000-06:00

It seems like I’ve written this game recap before. Let’s see -- defense is Super Bowl caliber, team will go only so far as Rex Grossman can … yeah, we’ve definitely been here before.So it’s true that at one point in the third quarter, Grossman had as many interceptions as completions, with three of each. So it’s true that BEARS receivers had only two more catches (six) than did BEARS defenders (

Sports Notes, 12/3/06

2006-12-03T10:17:00.000-06:00

Some things just aren’t important enough to get around to until now …-- Can I call ’em, or can I call ’em? Loyal readers might remember that I predicted only three Big Ten teams would be favored in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge: Wisconsin, Michigan, and maybe Purdue. Well, here’s the list of favoreds: Wisconsin, Michigan, Purdue (by a scant 1.5 points!) and my beloved University of Illinois Fighting

Hawks Spinning Themselves Deeper Into Hole

2006-11-29T16:16:00.000-06:00

There he is, whirling into the revolving door on the Blackhawks’ head coach’s office, ol’ Spin-O-Rama himself.I don’t want to hate this pick. I really, really don’t. And of course I wish him all the luck, and hope he makes the Hawks a contender. But I just can’t get behind the choice of Denis Savard as the new Blackhawks head coach, starting with tonight’s game against Dallas.Savard is, after all

Patriots 17, BEARS 13: I Guess I Didn't Miss Much

2006-11-27T16:04:00.000-06:00

OK, this one’s going to be brief. I was fighting a cold all weekend, and for much of the BEARS game I could have gotten flagged for unintentional napping.But I saw the important stuff. And nothing was bigger than the BEARS’ last play from scrimmage. After the marauding defense went out and got the ball back on a forced fumble with 1:52 left, Rex Grossman – throwing off his back foot – heaved his

My Illini Weekend

2006-11-26T14:03:00.000-06:00

For a team that has little talent, even less size and virtually no offense, Illinois sure doesn’t look like it should be 7-0 right now.But playing on gutty defense, Bruce Weber’s boys are undefeated and the champions of the inaugural Chicago Invitational Challenge, in which they had to actually get past a real team – Bradley – to claim the championship Saturday night. Illinois won 75-71 in a

Sports Notes, 11/26/06

2006-11-26T10:23:00.000-06:00

-- Tony Romo sure has made a mess out of my prediction in this space that the Cowboys will finish 5-11 under his stewardship. What a jerk.-- Since I reported on the Blackhawks’ mini win-type streak, they lost their next three games, scoring one goal in each. I told you not to look!-- Are the Bulls NBA champions yet?-- Don’t look now, but former Illini Deron Williams is leading the Utah Jazz to

Reader Request Hour: College Football Playoff

2006-11-25T16:44:00.000-06:00

I got a request from a loyal reader humbly asking if we might discuss a college football playoff in this space, even though he wondered if it’s a bit out of scope.Well, I’m not so sure it’s out of scope. After all, this year it directly effects the Big Ten, which is clearly in the scope of this blog. And he did ask nicely. And besides, I’m trying to heavily encourage reader interaction right now,

BEARS 10, Jets 0: Screw Soriano; It’s Football Season

2006-11-20T09:56:00.000-06:00

You know what’s even more difficult to do while staying awake than watching that BEARS game today? That would be writing about it.I got to the end of that game and felt like I was still waiting for it to begin. There were no statements, no season-defining moments, just a sprinking of pivotal plays, and they all happened to go the BEARS’ way.One of them came on the Jets’ most impressive drive,

Sports Notes, 11/19/06 (formerly KotH notes)

2006-11-19T10:55:00.000-06:00

Before we begin, my sincere condolences go out to all the Michigan faithful on the loss of Bo Schembechler. No matter what you think of the program he built, I can imagine what it would be like for Illini fans to lose Lou Henson, and I can empathize. My sentiments go out in particular to Pam, who graciously took her share of abuse in the KotH notes that spawned this site, and Lori, who is never

Big Day in the Big Ten

2006-11-16T15:33:00.000-06:00

Big Ten fans have been waiting for this day all season long. It’s always been a heated rivalry, but now it’s for the ultimate position within the conference. That’s right. It’s almost time for … Illinois at Northwestern. OK, so the ultimate position this one will determine is last place, not first. And

Rematch? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Rematch!

2006-11-16T15:22:00.000-06:00

There’s been a lot of talk for the last month or so – mainly from Michigan fans who sense that they’re going to lose on Saturday – that Ohio State and Michigan should meet again for the national collegiate football championship. I’m going to explore this controversy in two parts: whether it should happen, and whether it will happen. Should: There is

Illinois vs. Northwestern: The Toilet Bowl

2006-11-16T15:18:00.000-06:00

First, it should be noted that Illini Nation has already turned the calendar to the “Basketball Season” page and stapled it open right there. And Northwestern fans have gone back to, like, the library, or wherever it is Northwestern fans go. As far as football goes, it’s been a disappointing season for both teams. But there’s one last game on the

BEARS 38, Giants 20: A Playoff-Quality Win

2006-11-13T13:10:00.000-06:00

Is it just me, or did Eli Manning look like the quarterback the Giants were hoping Rex Grossman would be? Now, those of you who know me, know that I’m neutral at best on the subject of Rex Grossman. Heck, I’m the instigator who dreamt up the Brian Griese pool, with people betting on when No. 14 would supplant Rex as the starter. Still, fair is fair,

Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Illinois' Season Opener

2006-11-11T12:31:00.001-06:00

Don’t look now, Illinois basketball fans, but the Illini are not ranked in either preseason Top 25. Illinois picked up a measly 31 votes in the AP poll, which is exactly 100 fewer than Southern Illinois, and 52 votes in the coaches’ poll. The good news is that Illinois opens Nov. 13 with Austin Peay and doesn’t have anything that will resemble a

And While We're Talking Illini ...

2006-11-11T12:31:00.000-06:00

Forty-two points, Ron Zook? Your lone bright spot in this latest train wreck of an Illinois football season was supposed to be that the defense is at least competent and you gave up 42 points to freaking Purdue?I don't know all the details -- I had to do a showing Saturday afternoon, and when I came back to my car half an hour later I learned that the score changed from 23-14 Illinois to 42-23

Miami 31, BEARS 13: An unexpected result.

2006-11-10T17:21:00.000-06:00

Well, that was definitely disappointing. I wasn’t expecting the BEARS to really run the table – in fact, I said as much when Mike Brown went down. But I didn’t expect the extra loss to come against a team like Miami, a team that came in 1-6 and lost to a Green Bay team the BEARS shut out in Lambeau. And I didn’t expect it to come at home, where the

A Blackhawks Entry, In Case Anyone's Interested

2006-11-04T21:18:00.000-06:00

If you’re wondering why it took me so long to develop this post on the Blackhawks offense, well, maybe I was simply trying to emulate the Blackhawks offense. Yes, it was many days ago that I pledged to finally watch a Hawks games in full this year and report back on the scoring woes. At that point, the Hawks had gone scoreless for 10 straight

KotH Week 9 Notes

2006-11-04T20:34:00.000-06:00

-- Illinois turned in an impressive performance yesterday, making Ohio State work for its 17-10 victory the whole way through the game. Still, the moral victory felt a little empty – not just because the Illinois program is so starved for wins, but also because it felt like Illinois might have won if the game had been, say, 75 minutes instead of 60. Watching Illinois in the second half (which,

Dr. Skiles and Mr. Bulls

2006-11-02T09:03:00.000-06:00

So, the Bulls followed up their dominating, 42-point win over the defending NBA champions with a clunker in Orlando. As effortlessly competent as they looked in Miami on Tuesday night, that’s how inept they were on Wednesday. In Miami, the Bulls built a lead with strong defense, efficient offense and solid fundamentals all the way around. In Orlando

Hey ... Hawks?

2006-10-30T22:47:00.000-06:00

I might be the only person who cares, but the Blackhawks, after a promising start, have lost five games in a row and have not scored in the last 10 periods. The latest embarassment was a 3-0 setback to the Philadelphia Flyers, who picked up only their third win of the year and who started the season losing seven of eight, causing the axe to fall on the GM and head coach. That game was over with 1:02 left in the first quarter, when the BEARS scored their third touchdown of the game. They went on to tie their franchise record for points, held San Francisco to two first downs, and didn’t allow the 49ers across midfield until three minutes remained. Late in the season, possibly through injury, possibly through personnel moves, the BEARS find themselves with an open roster spot. They offer it to a specific former NFL running back. As the new 53rd man, he

KotH Week 7 Notes

2006-10-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

-- Dude! I can't believe I forgot to tack this line onto the Monday night email. When I was preparing the notes in my head at the bar, it was my favorite one! And now the window of comedy might be closed on it forever. But, just in case it still gets a chuckle from someone, I'm going to throw it out there anyway: So, do you think Matt Leinart and Brian Urlacher hung around after the game and

The Very First Entry: '06 vs. '85 BEARS!

2006-10-20T15:50:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!As you probably know, this is a spot devoted to my thoughts on Chicago sports. (For our purposes, "Chicago sports" will include Big Ten football and basketball, because I went to Illinois, and Notre Dame football, because my high school was affiliated with Notre Dame. Deal with it.) This grew out of a weekly email I send out for a football pool that I run. I send out a bunch of notes