Every win by the Chicago Bulls is important, of course, but expect the real excitement of the season to come in the second half. Opening today against defending champion Miami on the road will be challenging, to say the least. It could provide an idea of how good the Bulls will be. Or it could not.
The main difference between the 2005-06 team and this year’s team is not Big Ben Wallace. It’s team depth. Quality depth. And in a long season, fresh legs, quality legs, will be the determining factor. Think how exciting it will be to see a lineup of Wallace, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha, and Kirk Hinrich in the third quarter. And even Big Ben can stay fresh with such excellent backups as Malik Allen and C/F Michael Sweetney.
Bulls bites:
Ben Wallace will more than half his free throws.
Expect an average of 15 points per game from the center position.
The shooting star of the team—Little Ben (don’t believe anyone who says the Bulls don’t have a star).
Bulls player most likely to foul out first—Tyrus Thomas.
Bulls player most likely to dunk the most—Tyrus Thomas.
Bulls you’d like taking the game-winning shot—Little Ben, Kirk, Andre Barrett, Viktor Khryapa.
Bulls player who will improve the most in the second half of the season—Sefolosha.
Bulls players that will provide solid all-around play—P.J. Brown, Luol Deng, Chris Duhon.
Broadcast announcers's worst nightmare—pronouncing Martynas Andriuskevicius.
Chicago & Illini Sports
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Have faith, Illini basketball fans. Derrick Rose will come to Illinois. First, it's the closest to Chicago of his three choices. Second, it's his state school. Third, there's a lot of Simeon High School tradition at Illinois. Fourth, he'd be the big star.
He probably does not want to share the spotlight with the De-Committer, Eric Gordon, at Indiana. If he wanted to play with Gordon, he would have made the commitment already. In fact, he's probably thinking it would be good for his NBA drafting position if he were to outplay Gordon, and he can only get those chances if he's at Illinois. He probably dropped DePaul because he wants to get out of town somewhat but still play in a major conference whose games are on TV a lot.
He probably likes Memphis, but he knows he will be more isolated from his friends. That's why he reinstated Illinois to his list. Why did he drop Kansas? I'd love to know. Saturday is the day he reveals his choice. Maybe.
According to fan message boards and published reports, the Big Ten administrators and many Big Ten coaches are not happy with the way Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson handled the Gordon situation. Some disciplinary policy should be adopted to help prevent future abuses.
He probably does not want to share the spotlight with the De-Committer, Eric Gordon, at Indiana. If he wanted to play with Gordon, he would have made the commitment already. In fact, he's probably thinking it would be good for his NBA drafting position if he were to outplay Gordon, and he can only get those chances if he's at Illinois. He probably dropped DePaul because he wants to get out of town somewhat but still play in a major conference whose games are on TV a lot.
He probably likes Memphis, but he knows he will be more isolated from his friends. That's why he reinstated Illinois to his list. Why did he drop Kansas? I'd love to know. Saturday is the day he reveals his choice. Maybe.
According to fan message boards and published reports, the Big Ten administrators and many Big Ten coaches are not happy with the way Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson handled the Gordon situation. Some disciplinary policy should be adopted to help prevent future abuses.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Chicago Bear bites
Bears, wear the orange uniforms until you lose. They sure spooked the 49ers.
It was great to see the return of Adawale Ogunleye. Now get Mark Bradley back, and then watch out!
No reason to start the shufflin’ or ticket orderin’ yet. Please note the upcoming consecutive road games against the Giants, Jets, and Patriots, all winning teams who probably have the Bears logo on their bulletin boards.
Does anyone else think that Adrian Peterson is the second best tailback on the team? Jerry Angelo, you’ve got a $16 million problem. Got a good accountant?
Rex Grossman was unsacked against the 49ers and threw three TD’s. See the connection?
Todd Johnson, Mike Brown’s replacement, made five solo tackles and forced two fumbles. Guess he wants to stay in the lineup.
Bears, wear the orange uniforms until you lose. They sure spooked the 49ers.
It was great to see the return of Adawale Ogunleye. Now get Mark Bradley back, and then watch out!
No reason to start the shufflin’ or ticket orderin’ yet. Please note the upcoming consecutive road games against the Giants, Jets, and Patriots, all winning teams who probably have the Bears logo on their bulletin boards.
Does anyone else think that Adrian Peterson is the second best tailback on the team? Jerry Angelo, you’ve got a $16 million problem. Got a good accountant?
Rex Grossman was unsacked against the 49ers and threw three TD’s. See the connection?
Todd Johnson, Mike Brown’s replacement, made five solo tackles and forced two fumbles. Guess he wants to stay in the lineup.
Keeping Up With the Cubs in the Arizona Fall League
For Cub fans who need a short fix, here’s a brief progress report on two promising prospects:
2B Eric Patterson -- Patterson, currently riding an eight-game hitting streak, continues to pound the ball. From Oct. 14 through Oct. 25, the 23-year-old infielder went 16-for-34 with six RBI’s and 11 runs scored. He recorded his best day on Oct. 24, going 3-for-6 with an RBI double, a two-run single and four runs scored. Patterson is batting .347 (17-for-49) in 12 games.
3B Scott Moore -- Moore has hit safely in four straight games. From Oct. 20 through Oct. 25, he went 5-for-16 with two RBI’s, a walk and a stolen base.
Notice the position Patterson is playing? Hmm!
On other Cub business, were you excited to see that Lester Strode was recently hired as the team’s new bullpen coach? How many of us really know what a bullpen coach does?
To answer this question, Da Blog talked to former bullpen coach Leon (The Gardener) Punchout.
Blog: Leon, why is your nickname The Gardener?
Leon: I was known throughout the bullpen gardening brotherhood for my tomato gardens in the bullpen.
Blog: Why were you growing tomatoes in the bullpen?
Leon: Sometimes the boys would get hungry, you know, when they were just sittin’ around twiddling their thumbs in the early innings. And we grew a few plants that, you know, could help the boys reach peak performance real fast, you know.
Blog: What was your main job in the early innings besides tending the garden?
Leon: My philosophy is based on lifelong learning, you know. We had a book club. Discussed the great thinkers, you know, Plato, Aristotle, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, you know, guys like that. Helped keep the relievers sharp, you know.
Blog: How else did you work with the bullpen pitchers?
Leon: We let them play games that made them think, you know, like chess, bridge, blackjack, poker, you know, games like that.
Blog: You played poker?
Leon: No, not me, couldn’t afford it, you know, some of those pitchers were real sharks. Some, you know, made more money at poker than at baseball.
Blog: Leon, what was the hardest part of being a bullpen coach?
Leon: There were a couple of things. Just staying awake, you know, and keeping the pitchers from falling asleep. Encouraged them to play jokes on each other just to keep them sharp, you know. We had a ball in the bullpen. Sometmes, you know, the pitchers got mad if they had to drop out of the card games to go into the ballgame to pitch. Yeah, lot of resentment, you know, especially if you’re on a winning streak.
Blog; That could be a problem. Sure. Any others?
Leon; The worst, for me at least, was when the telephone would ring from the dugout and the pitching coach asked me to get a pitcher or two ready to go in the game.
Blog: What was so hard about that?
Leon: Well, I don’t hear too good on the telephone, you know. Happens when you get into your 90’s, you know. Sometimes I’d warm up the wrong pitcher. Then the manager would signal for the lefty and I’d warmed up the righty, so, you know, I’d send him in. The manager got real mad at me, you know, although sometimes the wrong pitcher saved the game and the manager praised me for staying on top of the game. Called me a baseball Einstein, you know. Baseball is such a great game, you know.
For Cub fans who need a short fix, here’s a brief progress report on two promising prospects:
2B Eric Patterson -- Patterson, currently riding an eight-game hitting streak, continues to pound the ball. From Oct. 14 through Oct. 25, the 23-year-old infielder went 16-for-34 with six RBI’s and 11 runs scored. He recorded his best day on Oct. 24, going 3-for-6 with an RBI double, a two-run single and four runs scored. Patterson is batting .347 (17-for-49) in 12 games.
3B Scott Moore -- Moore has hit safely in four straight games. From Oct. 20 through Oct. 25, he went 5-for-16 with two RBI’s, a walk and a stolen base.
Notice the position Patterson is playing? Hmm!
On other Cub business, were you excited to see that Lester Strode was recently hired as the team’s new bullpen coach? How many of us really know what a bullpen coach does?
To answer this question, Da Blog talked to former bullpen coach Leon (The Gardener) Punchout.
Blog: Leon, why is your nickname The Gardener?
Leon: I was known throughout the bullpen gardening brotherhood for my tomato gardens in the bullpen.
Blog: Why were you growing tomatoes in the bullpen?
Leon: Sometimes the boys would get hungry, you know, when they were just sittin’ around twiddling their thumbs in the early innings. And we grew a few plants that, you know, could help the boys reach peak performance real fast, you know.
Blog: What was your main job in the early innings besides tending the garden?
Leon: My philosophy is based on lifelong learning, you know. We had a book club. Discussed the great thinkers, you know, Plato, Aristotle, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, you know, guys like that. Helped keep the relievers sharp, you know.
Blog: How else did you work with the bullpen pitchers?
Leon: We let them play games that made them think, you know, like chess, bridge, blackjack, poker, you know, games like that.
Blog: You played poker?
Leon: No, not me, couldn’t afford it, you know, some of those pitchers were real sharks. Some, you know, made more money at poker than at baseball.
Blog: Leon, what was the hardest part of being a bullpen coach?
Leon: There were a couple of things. Just staying awake, you know, and keeping the pitchers from falling asleep. Encouraged them to play jokes on each other just to keep them sharp, you know. We had a ball in the bullpen. Sometmes, you know, the pitchers got mad if they had to drop out of the card games to go into the ballgame to pitch. Yeah, lot of resentment, you know, especially if you’re on a winning streak.
Blog; That could be a problem. Sure. Any others?
Leon; The worst, for me at least, was when the telephone would ring from the dugout and the pitching coach asked me to get a pitcher or two ready to go in the game.
Blog: What was so hard about that?
Leon: Well, I don’t hear too good on the telephone, you know. Happens when you get into your 90’s, you know. Sometimes I’d warm up the wrong pitcher. Then the manager would signal for the lefty and I’d warmed up the righty, so, you know, I’d send him in. The manager got real mad at me, you know, although sometimes the wrong pitcher saved the game and the manager praised me for staying on top of the game. Called me a baseball Einstein, you know. Baseball is such a great game, you know.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
What a pre-Halloween treat for Chicago Bears fans. The team looked absolutely awesome today as it increased its conference-leading record to 7-0 with a 41-10 whipping of the San Francisco 49ers. If Soldier Field began the game as a haunted house for the 49ers, it ended the first half as a house of horrors. The delirious fans, many sporting their Halloween finery, gushed with delight as the Bears blasted to a 41-0 halftime score. The defense was scary the entire game and ended up with four fumble recoveries.
If there was a player who shined as the brightest star, it had to be Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. What did the coaches do to him during the bye week? Bottle it, please. Grossman went from the outhouse to the penthouse. His abysmal play almost cost the Bears a loss in the recent miracle finish against the Arizona Cardinals. His statistics in that game are X-rated and cannot be used in a family-oriented blog.
Against San Francisco, however, Grossman again quieted doubters with a sensational performance. His accuracy was uncanny. He completed 18 of 22 passes in the first half. He connected on 23 of 29 total passes for a total of 232 yards and three touchdowns. He looked poised in the pocket and spread the ball around to his backs and receivers. The attack was nicely balanced. Starting tailback Thomas Jones dodged and powered his way to another 100-plus yard game.
Undoubtedly, Bears fans, when their euphoria wears off in a day of two, will wonder what went wrong with the offense in its scoreless second half.
For now, however, let’s just say, “Welcome back, Rex.”
If there was a player who shined as the brightest star, it had to be Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. What did the coaches do to him during the bye week? Bottle it, please. Grossman went from the outhouse to the penthouse. His abysmal play almost cost the Bears a loss in the recent miracle finish against the Arizona Cardinals. His statistics in that game are X-rated and cannot be used in a family-oriented blog.
Against San Francisco, however, Grossman again quieted doubters with a sensational performance. His accuracy was uncanny. He completed 18 of 22 passes in the first half. He connected on 23 of 29 total passes for a total of 232 yards and three touchdowns. He looked poised in the pocket and spread the ball around to his backs and receivers. The attack was nicely balanced. Starting tailback Thomas Jones dodged and powered his way to another 100-plus yard game.
Undoubtedly, Bears fans, when their euphoria wears off in a day of two, will wonder what went wrong with the offense in its scoreless second half.
For now, however, let’s just say, “Welcome back, Rex.”
Harsh reality has set in for the Illini football team. Once again, it’s not going a bowling. The loss last weekend to Wisconsin eliminated Illinois from becoming bowl eligible this year. Unless there is a Sanitary Bowl in which Illinois could play Temple for college football’s Futility Cup.
In lieu of pursuing that possibility, Illinois should go another rout, er, route, one with enormous, eye-popping potential. This approach is based on an analysis of the last four Big Ten games played by Illinois. These games, shown by halftime and final outcome scoring, are:
Vs. Michigan State—Halftime, Illinois 10, MSU 3; Final, Illinois won 23-20.
Vs. Indiana—Halftime, Illinois 23, Indiana 21; Final, Indiana won 34-32.
Vs. Penn State—Halftime, Illinois 9, Penn State 3; Final, Penn State won 26-12.
Vs. Wisconsin—Halftime, Illinois 24, Wisconsin 10; Final, Wisconsin won 30-24.
See the common thread in these games? Correct. Illinois led in all four games at the half but won only one game. Does this not suggest that the young Illini flat out run out of gas in the second half? They just can’t finish. And if you can’t finish, you’re finished.
Can the Illini remedy this pathetic problem? Of course they can! Actually, the university offers the solution. Make all the players take a course in the university’s Finishing School. This course is a not-for-credit class designed for football players who run out of gas in the second half. Here’s how it works: Classes on Monday and Tuesday deal with strength and endurance training, such as squats, bench pressing, and sprints. During the next three days, the study of standard plays, such as “Death of a Salesman,” “The Crucible,” and “Hamlet,” are replaced by football plays.
Which football plays? Da! Who are the Illini hosting this weekend? Yep, No. 1 ranked Ohio State. Now stop shuddering and keep reading.
The Finishing School director calls the Big Ten office and requests from the director of sports the tapes of the second halves of all Buckeye games for a Film Study program. The Illini players and coaches then spend Wednesday through Friday memorizing (in case there is a surprise quiz) every successful OSU play and tendency in the second half. Coaches might even “borrow” some of these plays.
So this weekend in come the Cyclopses, the Goliaths, the Paul Bunyans of college football. They run into Memorial Stadium with big smirks on their faces. They’re all smug and self-satisfied with their sparkling 9-0 record. They laugh at Illinois’s sickly and anemic 2-7 record. Man, are they in for a shock.
All the world is being converted from a stage to a football field, and all the players on it, to football players. This is the game the Illini can ride to football immortality (to say nothing of salvaging a lousy season). If Illinois wins this game and OSU goes undefeated the rest of the way and wins the national championship, then, as summer follows spring and as it never rains in Camelot, cannot Illinois claim to share the spotlight as co-national champion? Of course it can.
In lieu of pursuing that possibility, Illinois should go another rout, er, route, one with enormous, eye-popping potential. This approach is based on an analysis of the last four Big Ten games played by Illinois. These games, shown by halftime and final outcome scoring, are:
Vs. Michigan State—Halftime, Illinois 10, MSU 3; Final, Illinois won 23-20.
Vs. Indiana—Halftime, Illinois 23, Indiana 21; Final, Indiana won 34-32.
Vs. Penn State—Halftime, Illinois 9, Penn State 3; Final, Penn State won 26-12.
Vs. Wisconsin—Halftime, Illinois 24, Wisconsin 10; Final, Wisconsin won 30-24.
See the common thread in these games? Correct. Illinois led in all four games at the half but won only one game. Does this not suggest that the young Illini flat out run out of gas in the second half? They just can’t finish. And if you can’t finish, you’re finished.
Can the Illini remedy this pathetic problem? Of course they can! Actually, the university offers the solution. Make all the players take a course in the university’s Finishing School. This course is a not-for-credit class designed for football players who run out of gas in the second half. Here’s how it works: Classes on Monday and Tuesday deal with strength and endurance training, such as squats, bench pressing, and sprints. During the next three days, the study of standard plays, such as “Death of a Salesman,” “The Crucible,” and “Hamlet,” are replaced by football plays.
Which football plays? Da! Who are the Illini hosting this weekend? Yep, No. 1 ranked Ohio State. Now stop shuddering and keep reading.
The Finishing School director calls the Big Ten office and requests from the director of sports the tapes of the second halves of all Buckeye games for a Film Study program. The Illini players and coaches then spend Wednesday through Friday memorizing (in case there is a surprise quiz) every successful OSU play and tendency in the second half. Coaches might even “borrow” some of these plays.
So this weekend in come the Cyclopses, the Goliaths, the Paul Bunyans of college football. They run into Memorial Stadium with big smirks on their faces. They’re all smug and self-satisfied with their sparkling 9-0 record. They laugh at Illinois’s sickly and anemic 2-7 record. Man, are they in for a shock.
All the world is being converted from a stage to a football field, and all the players on it, to football players. This is the game the Illini can ride to football immortality (to say nothing of salvaging a lousy season). If Illinois wins this game and OSU goes undefeated the rest of the way and wins the national championship, then, as summer follows spring and as it never rains in Camelot, cannot Illinois claim to share the spotlight as co-national champion? Of course it can.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
The Illini football team tried to trick Wisconsin during this Halloween period but ended up as the treats in a nail-biting 30—24 loss to the 17th ranked Badgers. The Illini masqueraded as menacing bullies in the first half and scared the bejabers out of the Badgers, grabbing a 21-3 lead. In the second half, however, the Badgers unmasked their foe, gained momentum, and marched to victory.
Losing this momentum stuff in the second half has happened to the Illini a lot this year. Could it be because Illinois’s opponents turn up the pressure against freshman quarterback Juice Williams, and he just can’t handle it?
Illini coach Ron Zook knows the name of these games is the Juice Williams Show. The Illini are going to live or…the other thing, with Williams. And that’s okay because he is one of the most exciting and electrifying players in the conference. You don’t look forward to playing against this guy in the next few seasons.
As for the Wisconsin game, there were some Illini highlights. Freshman Travon Bellamy intercepted a pass and ran it back 41 yards for a touchdown. Pierre Thomas scored two touchdowns, a 1-yard run and a 2-yard pass. The most exciting play was a 52-yard pass from Williams to sophomore wide receiver Derrick McPhearson. On defense, junior lineman Chris Norwell caused a fumble, junior linebacker J Leman added 13 more tackles to his growing list, and junior safety Kevin Mitchell got 10.
The Illini won a moral victory--their second in a row--by holding Wisconsin under its haughty average for points per game (41) and by exceeding the Badgers's average of points per game by an opponent (11 ½). And Illini fans can chuckle over the oddsmakers, who picked Wisconsin by 21. Oh forget the chuckles. Laugh a lot.
Losing this momentum stuff in the second half has happened to the Illini a lot this year. Could it be because Illinois’s opponents turn up the pressure against freshman quarterback Juice Williams, and he just can’t handle it?
Illini coach Ron Zook knows the name of these games is the Juice Williams Show. The Illini are going to live or…the other thing, with Williams. And that’s okay because he is one of the most exciting and electrifying players in the conference. You don’t look forward to playing against this guy in the next few seasons.
As for the Wisconsin game, there were some Illini highlights. Freshman Travon Bellamy intercepted a pass and ran it back 41 yards for a touchdown. Pierre Thomas scored two touchdowns, a 1-yard run and a 2-yard pass. The most exciting play was a 52-yard pass from Williams to sophomore wide receiver Derrick McPhearson. On defense, junior lineman Chris Norwell caused a fumble, junior linebacker J Leman added 13 more tackles to his growing list, and junior safety Kevin Mitchell got 10.
The Illini won a moral victory--their second in a row--by holding Wisconsin under its haughty average for points per game (41) and by exceeding the Badgers's average of points per game by an opponent (11 ½). And Illini fans can chuckle over the oddsmakers, who picked Wisconsin by 21. Oh forget the chuckles. Laugh a lot.
Lots of reports followed the scrimmage of the Illlinois hoops team last night. Interesting developments included an announcement that dynamo Derrick (yes, no, maybe) Rose will reveal to the world on November 4 which school the prep will rep for the 2007-08 season. Unless, of course, he decides to do it on another day. Rose does seem to be having a hard time making up his mind. Or maybe he just likes to travel to college campuses.
Rose and his brother/adviser/handler/spokesman/manager Reggie attended the scrimmage. Derrick wore an orange sweatshirt. Reggie sported a wide smile. The Krush chanted “Derrick, Derrick” a lot. To cover all bases, the Krush also chanted “Reggie, Reggie.” Hmmm. Wonder which other possible recruits were there and how warm and fuzzy they felt as the Krush completely ignored them? The Roses decided to stay in Champaign overnight. Does that mean they wanted to check out the campus for…whatever? Or, maybe they wanted a shorter drive to take in the football game this afternoon down the road in Bloomington, Indiana? Where Derrick can see his buddy Eric Gordon and other possible new teammates. Ouch!
Apparently the fussing and gushing in the recruiting war of the Roses was the highlight of the scrimmage. As expected, the play was inconsistent and sloppy. Looking surprisingly good (to some skeptical observers) were guards Chester Frazier, Trent Meacham, and Calvin Brock, who may benefit the most during Rich McBride’s suspension period. Brian Randle and Jamar Smith showed flashes of exciting potential. None of the bigs played big.
Rose and his brother/adviser/handler/spokesman/manager Reggie attended the scrimmage. Derrick wore an orange sweatshirt. Reggie sported a wide smile. The Krush chanted “Derrick, Derrick” a lot. To cover all bases, the Krush also chanted “Reggie, Reggie.” Hmmm. Wonder which other possible recruits were there and how warm and fuzzy they felt as the Krush completely ignored them? The Roses decided to stay in Champaign overnight. Does that mean they wanted to check out the campus for…whatever? Or, maybe they wanted a shorter drive to take in the football game this afternoon down the road in Bloomington, Indiana? Where Derrick can see his buddy Eric Gordon and other possible new teammates. Ouch!
Apparently the fussing and gushing in the recruiting war of the Roses was the highlight of the scrimmage. As expected, the play was inconsistent and sloppy. Looking surprisingly good (to some skeptical observers) were guards Chester Frazier, Trent Meacham, and Calvin Brock, who may benefit the most during Rich McBride’s suspension period. Brian Randle and Jamar Smith showed flashes of exciting potential. None of the bigs played big.
Friday, October 27, 2006
25!
No, this is not going to be one of those 25-item lists. The number refers to an amazing statistic generated by Chicago Bears linebacker extraordinaire Brian Urlacher.
It represents the number of tackles the freakishly fantastic one-man wrecking crew wreaked on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6.
Football statisticians have not yet caught up with baseball recordkeepers—and probably never will. Thus, since tackles were not tallied in the old days, we have no clear basis of comparison to evaluate Urlacher’s momentous achievement.
But we can try to create a couple of comparisons with other sports: Like 25 knockdowns in a boxing match. Or 25 rebounds in a basketball game. Or hits in 25 straight baseball games. Of course, what makes this accomplishment so astounding is that it occurred on the highest level of competition in the sport. That also makes it a stupendous record. And anoints the prodigious Urlacher as the newest Superman of Chicago sports.
Work for you?
No, this is not going to be one of those 25-item lists. The number refers to an amazing statistic generated by Chicago Bears linebacker extraordinaire Brian Urlacher.
It represents the number of tackles the freakishly fantastic one-man wrecking crew wreaked on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6.
Football statisticians have not yet caught up with baseball recordkeepers—and probably never will. Thus, since tackles were not tallied in the old days, we have no clear basis of comparison to evaluate Urlacher’s momentous achievement.
But we can try to create a couple of comparisons with other sports: Like 25 knockdowns in a boxing match. Or 25 rebounds in a basketball game. Or hits in 25 straight baseball games. Of course, what makes this accomplishment so astounding is that it occurred on the highest level of competition in the sport. That also makes it a stupendous record. And anoints the prodigious Urlacher as the newest Superman of Chicago sports.
Work for you?
Swoooooooooosh!
That’s the sound of the euphoria going out of the Chicago Bears bursting balloon following the Cardinal game. The miracle finish created a scene of Bears jumping for joy. A celebration was well deserved. The Bears never gave up and fought till the last moment. But it was a whew! type of celebration rather than a wow! type.
Crunch! Smack! Rip!
Hope the Bears will get back to generating these sounds this weekend against the 49ers.
That’s the sound of the euphoria going out of the Chicago Bears bursting balloon following the Cardinal game. The miracle finish created a scene of Bears jumping for joy. A celebration was well deserved. The Bears never gave up and fought till the last moment. But it was a whew! type of celebration rather than a wow! type.
Crunch! Smack! Rip!
Hope the Bears will get back to generating these sounds this weekend against the 49ers.
How much jerking around by high school recruits can Illini basketball fans take? First, Illinois is the solid choice of hotshot Eric Gordon, then he’s a de-committer. Meanwhile, Illinois goes off Derrick Rose’s published list, and now he’s back on. What gives?
Calling Sherlock Holmes.
“Holmes, here.”
“Thanks for resp…”
“I’ve been following Rose’s recruitment, so I know the details. Here are the main facts: Gordon wanted to play on the same team as Rose. Illinois was Gordon’s favorite. Rose came out with a list of five favorites. Illinois was not on the list. So there you are.”
“Elementary,” Mr. Holmes. “But...”
“Hey! Hold on. You don’t say ‘elementary.’ Only Holmes uses that word. Not even Mel Brooks uses the ‘E’ word. Check with the copyright office.”
“ Sorry about that, Mr. Holmes, but why…”
“Why, why, why. People always want explanations. Can’t you just accept that something good has happened and let it be?”
“But…”
“Okay, I can see that Illini fans are having a hard day’s night over this. Call Sigmund.”
“Hello, Dr, Freud. Illini fans are wondering…”
“Yes, I know the details. Get rid of the Chief already and…”
“No, Sigmund, we’re talking about a basketball puzzlement.”
“Oh. Sorry. Is okay. I know the details. You may not know the details, but I do, and now I am going to tell them to you. Derrick’s family is split over his choice. The brother likes Illinois. Other family members do not. Some friends like Illinois. Others do not. Derrick’ s cable guy likes Illinois. His cell phone guy does not. The cashier at Dominick’s likes Illinois. The pharmacist at Walgreen’s does not.
“How do I know all these details? All this input and output—and Bruce Weber’s squeaky voice—is making Derrick nuts. So he asked me to become his psychotherapist. Now I will tell you two reasons why Derrick will go to Illinois. First, I will convince him that Illinois is a great school. Even better now than when I did my undergraduate and doctoral work there.
“Second, Derrick’s girlfriend is going to Illinois. Rule No. 1 in high school recruiting: Follow the girl.”
Calling Sherlock Holmes.
“Holmes, here.”
“Thanks for resp…”
“I’ve been following Rose’s recruitment, so I know the details. Here are the main facts: Gordon wanted to play on the same team as Rose. Illinois was Gordon’s favorite. Rose came out with a list of five favorites. Illinois was not on the list. So there you are.”
“Elementary,” Mr. Holmes. “But...”
“Hey! Hold on. You don’t say ‘elementary.’ Only Holmes uses that word. Not even Mel Brooks uses the ‘E’ word. Check with the copyright office.”
“ Sorry about that, Mr. Holmes, but why…”
“Why, why, why. People always want explanations. Can’t you just accept that something good has happened and let it be?”
“But…”
“Okay, I can see that Illini fans are having a hard day’s night over this. Call Sigmund.”
“Hello, Dr, Freud. Illini fans are wondering…”
“Yes, I know the details. Get rid of the Chief already and…”
“No, Sigmund, we’re talking about a basketball puzzlement.”
“Oh. Sorry. Is okay. I know the details. You may not know the details, but I do, and now I am going to tell them to you. Derrick’s family is split over his choice. The brother likes Illinois. Other family members do not. Some friends like Illinois. Others do not. Derrick’ s cable guy likes Illinois. His cell phone guy does not. The cashier at Dominick’s likes Illinois. The pharmacist at Walgreen’s does not.
“How do I know all these details? All this input and output—and Bruce Weber’s squeaky voice—is making Derrick nuts. So he asked me to become his psychotherapist. Now I will tell you two reasons why Derrick will go to Illinois. First, I will convince him that Illinois is a great school. Even better now than when I did my undergraduate and doctoral work there.
“Second, Derrick’s girlfriend is going to Illinois. Rule No. 1 in high school recruiting: Follow the girl.”
Thursday, October 26, 2006
He’s whining again.
That’s little used millionaire Chicago Bear running back Cedric Benson publicly complaining about his lack of playing time. And the failure of coaches to tell him what his role will be in each game. If he needs work, the Bears should make him count up his $16 million earnings by $100 bills.
Benson is so frustrated he is willing to use up all the sympathy of his teammates and coaches. The reality—and pity--is that Benson and the Bears are stuck with each other until the end of the season. At that time, the Bears can consider options for a trade.
What a mess! Who would have thunk it?
It’s too bad Benson can’t understand that he is one play away from being the starter. Thomas Jones could get injured on the next play, whether he’s running or blocking or receiving. Benson is also incapable of admitting that Jones is better than he is. Jones is just as powerful a runner as Benson and is far more shiftier. All Benson has shown is that he can sometimes hit a hole and pick up three or four yards (average 3.7).
A big question is why can’t other nonstarters talk sense to Benson? Like Adrian Peterson? Who probably thinks he’s better than Benson anyway. Or Kyle Orton? How does this former Big Ten All-Star deal with his third-place position? Or Bob Griese? You know what a comparison of his stats and Rex’s stats would show. Maybe the answer to the question is: They don't want to.
The option of playing Benson more in the upcoming games against San Francisco and Miami because they are “winnable” games is nuts—and dangerous. Every game is going to be tough. Didn’t the Bears learn anything from the Arizona game? You must go with your best players every game.
It’s unfortunate if Benson becomes a moody distraction for the remainder of the season. It’s a frightful and forbidding situation. And it’s festering. This wouldn't be Benson's Halloween trick, or would it?
That’s little used millionaire Chicago Bear running back Cedric Benson publicly complaining about his lack of playing time. And the failure of coaches to tell him what his role will be in each game. If he needs work, the Bears should make him count up his $16 million earnings by $100 bills.
Benson is so frustrated he is willing to use up all the sympathy of his teammates and coaches. The reality—and pity--is that Benson and the Bears are stuck with each other until the end of the season. At that time, the Bears can consider options for a trade.
What a mess! Who would have thunk it?
It’s too bad Benson can’t understand that he is one play away from being the starter. Thomas Jones could get injured on the next play, whether he’s running or blocking or receiving. Benson is also incapable of admitting that Jones is better than he is. Jones is just as powerful a runner as Benson and is far more shiftier. All Benson has shown is that he can sometimes hit a hole and pick up three or four yards (average 3.7).
A big question is why can’t other nonstarters talk sense to Benson? Like Adrian Peterson? Who probably thinks he’s better than Benson anyway. Or Kyle Orton? How does this former Big Ten All-Star deal with his third-place position? Or Bob Griese? You know what a comparison of his stats and Rex’s stats would show. Maybe the answer to the question is: They don't want to.
The option of playing Benson more in the upcoming games against San Francisco and Miami because they are “winnable” games is nuts—and dangerous. Every game is going to be tough. Didn’t the Bears learn anything from the Arizona game? You must go with your best players every game.
It’s unfortunate if Benson becomes a moody distraction for the remainder of the season. It’s a frightful and forbidding situation. And it’s festering. This wouldn't be Benson's Halloween trick, or would it?
Early reports about the Illinois basketball team sound positive. For one thing, guard Rich McBride has been uncharacteristically upbeat. The senior was recently arrested on an alleged DUI charge and was suspended for the two exhibition games and the first four regular season games. Players report that the usually reserved McBride seems to be enjoying himself in the practice sessions and showing senior leadership.
Coach Bruce Weber also will be paying close attention to the competition at the forward position. Brian Randle and Warren Carter are considered the frontrunners for the starting positions. Randle, a 6-7, 220-pound slasher, has looked very good. He has shot well over the guards and small forwards and has penetrated past the bigger forwards. Look for a stronger Randle as well. He has impressed everyone with newly developed muscles. The junior can squat 515 pounds and bench press 330 pounds. Whew! Sounds pretty sweaty.
Carter, a 6-8 senior and always a fan favorite, is competing with 6-9 freshman Rich Semrau for playing time. Illini fans opining on the message boards already have Semrau redshirting rather than wasting time behind Carter, Marcus Arnold, and Brian Carlwell. This judgment is premature. What if Semrau shows outstanding shooting skills during practice? Stay tuned for this “problem.”
MSU coach Tom Izzo was in Champaign recently for a speaking engagement and made this comment when asked about the rash of de-commitments by high school recruits: “You end up sleeping with one eye open if you get an early commitment.” Bet Weber will sleep with two eyes open.
Coach Bruce Weber also will be paying close attention to the competition at the forward position. Brian Randle and Warren Carter are considered the frontrunners for the starting positions. Randle, a 6-7, 220-pound slasher, has looked very good. He has shot well over the guards and small forwards and has penetrated past the bigger forwards. Look for a stronger Randle as well. He has impressed everyone with newly developed muscles. The junior can squat 515 pounds and bench press 330 pounds. Whew! Sounds pretty sweaty.
Carter, a 6-8 senior and always a fan favorite, is competing with 6-9 freshman Rich Semrau for playing time. Illini fans opining on the message boards already have Semrau redshirting rather than wasting time behind Carter, Marcus Arnold, and Brian Carlwell. This judgment is premature. What if Semrau shows outstanding shooting skills during practice? Stay tuned for this “problem.”
MSU coach Tom Izzo was in Champaign recently for a speaking engagement and made this comment when asked about the rash of de-commitments by high school recruits: “You end up sleeping with one eye open if you get an early commitment.” Bet Weber will sleep with two eyes open.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
BOM (Brick-O-Meter) update following Illinois’s 26-12 loss to Penn State last weekend. Before the game, the BOM stood at 67 bricks. The BOM, which began at 100 bricks, measures football coach Ron Zook’s progress in building a foundation for the football program.
Da Blog starts on a positive note. Give the Illini 100 bricks for their passion, zeal, and enthusiasm. It was obvious that Illinois came not only to play but also to win. We’ll also give 50 bricks to Zook and the other coaches for pumping up the team’s low morale after the Ohio loss. The Illini again beat the oddsmakers (who predicted a 17-point win for PSU), so let’s add 50 brick for the insult. And, of course, it was a moral victory for the Illini as well, which is good for another 100 bricks.
For the loss, however, subtract 200 bricks. Give the Illini offense 50 bricks for moving the ball in the first half. But subtract 50 for Illinois’s inability to score TD’s in the first half instead of field goals. Put in 50 bricks for the Illini defense for blunting the PSU attack in the first half.
Subtract 100 points for the two fumbles and two interceptions. Take away another 75 bricks for allowing the on-side kick to be run in for a TD. Give back 50 bricks for the team’s general ineptness in the second half, and subtract another 50 for the horrible third-down efficiency, or inefficiency (2-14).
Sophomore tailback Rashard Mendenhall gets 50 bricks for his 161 yards rushing. Jason Reda gets 50 for his continued excellence in kicking field goals. Okay, add ‘er up.
The BOM dropped to an available supply of 42 bricks. But an upset of Wisconsin this weekend would do wonders for the meter.
Da Blog starts on a positive note. Give the Illini 100 bricks for their passion, zeal, and enthusiasm. It was obvious that Illinois came not only to play but also to win. We’ll also give 50 bricks to Zook and the other coaches for pumping up the team’s low morale after the Ohio loss. The Illini again beat the oddsmakers (who predicted a 17-point win for PSU), so let’s add 50 brick for the insult. And, of course, it was a moral victory for the Illini as well, which is good for another 100 bricks.
For the loss, however, subtract 200 bricks. Give the Illini offense 50 bricks for moving the ball in the first half. But subtract 50 for Illinois’s inability to score TD’s in the first half instead of field goals. Put in 50 bricks for the Illini defense for blunting the PSU attack in the first half.
Subtract 100 points for the two fumbles and two interceptions. Take away another 75 bricks for allowing the on-side kick to be run in for a TD. Give back 50 bricks for the team’s general ineptness in the second half, and subtract another 50 for the horrible third-down efficiency, or inefficiency (2-14).
Sophomore tailback Rashard Mendenhall gets 50 bricks for his 161 yards rushing. Jason Reda gets 50 for his continued excellence in kicking field goals. Okay, add ‘er up.
The BOM dropped to an available supply of 42 bricks. But an upset of Wisconsin this weekend would do wonders for the meter.
Chicago Bulls coach Scott Skiles loves his problem. His “problem" is choosing a starting lineup as the preseason winds down. The 2006-07 Bulls have so many weapons in their arsenal, Skiles is still experimenting with different combinations.
Let’s break down Skiles’s treasure trove.
Centers: Ben Wallace, Malik Allen.
Forwards: Andres Nocioni, P.J. Brown, Luol Deng, Viktor Khryapa, Thabo Sefolosha, Tyrus Thomas.
Guards: Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Chris Duhon, Andre Barrett.
Okay, let’s zero in on individual lineups for the treasure trove, or Terrific Twelve. (Da Blog kind of likes the Bench of Bulls, too.) Of course, the players in each lineup may not play the entire quarter in which they are listed. Other players, like Chris Duhon, will be spotted whenever good matchups are possible.
Now, who generally are the top scorers? Gordon, Hinrich, and Nocioni. You want these guys in the starting lineup, with Deng and Wallace, to get off to a good start.
Who are the second tier scorers? Brown, Deng, Thomas. You want these guys for the second quarter, with Barrett and Allen, to keep up the pressure.
Who are the high-energy players? Hinrich, Nocioni, Thomas, Sefolosha. You want these guys, with Wallace, to begin the blowout in the third quarter.
Who are the clutch shooters? Gordon, Barrett, Hinrich, Khryapa. You want these guys, with Wallace, to apply the knockout punch with a barrage of firepower.
If the Bulls charge out of the bullpen with great success, watch for the sports media to start the great debate: how many games will the Bulls win?
Let’s break down Skiles’s treasure trove.
Centers: Ben Wallace, Malik Allen.
Forwards: Andres Nocioni, P.J. Brown, Luol Deng, Viktor Khryapa, Thabo Sefolosha, Tyrus Thomas.
Guards: Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Chris Duhon, Andre Barrett.
Okay, let’s zero in on individual lineups for the treasure trove, or Terrific Twelve. (Da Blog kind of likes the Bench of Bulls, too.) Of course, the players in each lineup may not play the entire quarter in which they are listed. Other players, like Chris Duhon, will be spotted whenever good matchups are possible.
Now, who generally are the top scorers? Gordon, Hinrich, and Nocioni. You want these guys in the starting lineup, with Deng and Wallace, to get off to a good start.
Who are the second tier scorers? Brown, Deng, Thomas. You want these guys for the second quarter, with Barrett and Allen, to keep up the pressure.
Who are the high-energy players? Hinrich, Nocioni, Thomas, Sefolosha. You want these guys, with Wallace, to begin the blowout in the third quarter.
Who are the clutch shooters? Gordon, Barrett, Hinrich, Khryapa. You want these guys, with Wallace, to apply the knockout punch with a barrage of firepower.
If the Bulls charge out of the bullpen with great success, watch for the sports media to start the great debate: how many games will the Bulls win?
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Odds and ends:
Every time Da Blog sees Chicago Bears’s defensive back Ricky Manning Jr. run back an interception, we wonder why he isn’t a tailback? This guy can run.
Wasn’t Arizona coach Dennis Green’s firing of his offensive coordinator after the Bears game one of the most ridiculous decisions of the season?
How important is Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs (173 hits, 38 home runs, 119 RBI’s, .291 batting average)? Will the Cubs consider not signing him? Could happen. After all, these are the Cubs we’re talking about.
What’s the most intriguing question about the upcoming NBA season for the Chicago Bulls? How many games they will win? Nah. It’s how many games the Knicks will lose? (The Bulls have the Knick’s No.1 pick in the draft!)
Ouch! Playing in the NFL is a tough way to make a million bucks or so. Ask these latest players to go down for the season since the Bears lost Mike Brown: LaVar Arrington, Giants; Mike Doss, Colts; Gary Baxter, Browns; Matt Lepsis, Broncos; and Robert Ferguson, Packers.
If the Chicago White Sox want to unload starter Freddie Garcia, please check with the Cubs first.
Every time Da Blog sees Chicago Bears’s defensive back Ricky Manning Jr. run back an interception, we wonder why he isn’t a tailback? This guy can run.
Wasn’t Arizona coach Dennis Green’s firing of his offensive coordinator after the Bears game one of the most ridiculous decisions of the season?
How important is Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs (173 hits, 38 home runs, 119 RBI’s, .291 batting average)? Will the Cubs consider not signing him? Could happen. After all, these are the Cubs we’re talking about.
What’s the most intriguing question about the upcoming NBA season for the Chicago Bulls? How many games they will win? Nah. It’s how many games the Knicks will lose? (The Bulls have the Knick’s No.1 pick in the draft!)
Ouch! Playing in the NFL is a tough way to make a million bucks or so. Ask these latest players to go down for the season since the Bears lost Mike Brown: LaVar Arrington, Giants; Mike Doss, Colts; Gary Baxter, Browns; Matt Lepsis, Broncos; and Robert Ferguson, Packers.
If the Chicago White Sox want to unload starter Freddie Garcia, please check with the Cubs first.
Here are some interesting football statistics from the Big Ten. Recognize a common thread?
Conference leaders
Offense, scoring per game: Ohio State, 34.9 (Illinois, 19.2).
Offense, passing: Purdue, 309.6 (Illinois, 176.6).
Offense, rushing: Wisconsin, 196.2 (Illinois, 189.5).
Offense, total: Purdue, 448.5 (Illinois, 366.1).
Defense, scoring per game: Ohio State, 8.2 (lllinois, 25.6).
Defense, passing: Wisconsin, 131.1 (Illinois, 170.5).
Third down percentage per game: Ohio State, 49.5 (Illinois, 36.1).
The common thread? Illinois’s next three games are against Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Purdue.
Conference leaders
Offense, scoring per game: Ohio State, 34.9 (Illinois, 19.2).
Offense, passing: Purdue, 309.6 (Illinois, 176.6).
Offense, rushing: Wisconsin, 196.2 (Illinois, 189.5).
Offense, total: Purdue, 448.5 (Illinois, 366.1).
Defense, scoring per game: Ohio State, 8.2 (lllinois, 25.6).
Defense, passing: Wisconsin, 131.1 (Illinois, 170.5).
Third down percentage per game: Ohio State, 49.5 (Illinois, 36.1).
The common thread? Illinois’s next three games are against Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Purdue.
What is the University of Illinois thinking in regard to the recent arrest of basketball player Rich McBride for allegedly driving under the influence in Champaign County? According to news reports, McBride apologized for his bad judgment. The university’s response? McBride will be suspended for two exhibition games and the first four regular season contests. Huh?
For DUI? Is Da Blog missing something? DUI is a serious crime in most countries. Every year, the lives of thousands of people are changed forever because of car accidents involving alcohol or drugs. Many times, the DUI driver is killed. Many other times, it’s the innocent people in the accident who are killed or injured.
Penalties for DUI may include imprisonment. Often, DUI offenders must attend alcohol treatment centers. So what message is the university sending with its slap on the wrist? Certainly one that needs to be strengthened. Considering the possible disastrous consequences of a DUI accident, how about a policy of zero tolerance? And, in McBride’s case, suspension for the entire season? Bad judgment by McBride, a student, is understandable. Bad judgment by the university is unacceptable.
For DUI? Is Da Blog missing something? DUI is a serious crime in most countries. Every year, the lives of thousands of people are changed forever because of car accidents involving alcohol or drugs. Many times, the DUI driver is killed. Many other times, it’s the innocent people in the accident who are killed or injured.
Penalties for DUI may include imprisonment. Often, DUI offenders must attend alcohol treatment centers. So what message is the university sending with its slap on the wrist? Certainly one that needs to be strengthened. Considering the possible disastrous consequences of a DUI accident, how about a policy of zero tolerance? And, in McBride’s case, suspension for the entire season? Bad judgment by McBride, a student, is understandable. Bad judgment by the university is unacceptable.
Monday, October 23, 2006
He’s back!
Da Blog is referring to the incredible comeback of former Bull and Dukie Jay Williams. You may recall that Williams was severely injured in a motorcycle accident after the 2002—03 season, his first in the NBA.
His injuries were devastating. Damaged nerves in his left leg. Torn knee ligaments. A fractured pelvis. Doctors, quite a few of them, told Williams his chances of getting back to the NBA were slim and none.
Williams vowed to prove them wrong. And wouldn’t you know it, look who was in a New Jersey Nets uniform, on the court, for the first NBA preseason game of the Nets. Talk about guts and courage. Williams didn’t play much. He scored a couple of points and got a couple of rebounds. But it was him. He had made it back. A slight resemblance to the Lance Armstrong story?
Making it back onto the court, however, is only part of Williams’s dream. He also wants to become an NBA All-Star. Williams acknowledges he has a long way to go to reach that level. The quickness, the leaping ability, they’re not where they need to be.
Williams was released Sunday by the Nets. His immediate future is unclear, although basketball will still be the focus. Maybe with another NBA team as a reserve. Maybe overseas. However, one thing is clear, the sight of Williams on an NBA bench will reduce a lot of the whining and posturing in a typical game. In this sense, the NBA needs Williams more than he needs the NBA.
Da Blog is referring to the incredible comeback of former Bull and Dukie Jay Williams. You may recall that Williams was severely injured in a motorcycle accident after the 2002—03 season, his first in the NBA.
His injuries were devastating. Damaged nerves in his left leg. Torn knee ligaments. A fractured pelvis. Doctors, quite a few of them, told Williams his chances of getting back to the NBA were slim and none.
Williams vowed to prove them wrong. And wouldn’t you know it, look who was in a New Jersey Nets uniform, on the court, for the first NBA preseason game of the Nets. Talk about guts and courage. Williams didn’t play much. He scored a couple of points and got a couple of rebounds. But it was him. He had made it back. A slight resemblance to the Lance Armstrong story?
Making it back onto the court, however, is only part of Williams’s dream. He also wants to become an NBA All-Star. Williams acknowledges he has a long way to go to reach that level. The quickness, the leaping ability, they’re not where they need to be.
Williams was released Sunday by the Nets. His immediate future is unclear, although basketball will still be the focus. Maybe with another NBA team as a reserve. Maybe overseas. However, one thing is clear, the sight of Williams on an NBA bench will reduce a lot of the whining and posturing in a typical game. In this sense, the NBA needs Williams more than he needs the NBA.
Watch out for the Fighting Illini football team (1-3 Big Ten, 2-6 overall) this weekend as they take on vulnerable 17th ranked Wisconsin (4-1, 7-1) in Madison.
Sure, the Badgers are nationally ranked. But that gives the Illini even more incentive to pull the upset of the year, at least until the following week. That’s when the Illini get a chance to shock the nation again by upsetting No. 1 ranked Ohio State. Wisconsin and Ohio State back to back. Can you ask for more opportunities to build character than these two games? Okay, playing Michigan in the mix might be more, but the Wolverines cleverly got off Illinois’s schedule this season.
So far, the Illini and Badgers have had only one common opponent, Indiana. Wisconsin spanked Indiana 52-17. Illinois outplayed Indiana but lost 34-32 on a Hoosier field goal in the waning moments. The oddsmakers seem to be swayed by these results, calling it Wisconsin over Illinois by 18. Yeah. Fat chance. Have the oddsmakers considered this fact: The Illini must win all of their four remaining games to be bowl eligible. Illinois finishes up against pass-happy Purdue and unhappy Northwestern. Sounds like a lot incentive.
If the character-driven Illini just play as hard as they did against Penn State, minus the interceptions, fumbles, and sacks, of course, and do a little tweaking on offense, they could pull off the upset. What kind of tweaking? Only a little?
Okay, a lot of tweaking, a tweaking Cyclops, a Sears Tower tweaking. Tweaking with gadget plays. Bring out all the gadget plays in the Illini arsenal. Add any used successfully by other teams.
Start with the flea flickers. Juice Williams, DaJuan Warren, EB Halsey, and Rashard Mendenhall should all throw flickers. Maybe three or four each. Reverses. Use the wide receivers, tailbacks, quarterbacks, tight ends, and fullbacks. Double reverses. Same guys. Fake punts. Free up Kyle Yelton or DaJuan Warren to run or pass out of the kicking formation. Two-point plays. Er, stick to kicks for extra points. And option plays. Juice and Rashard seemed to be getting the hang of these plays against PSU.
That should do it. Can’t wait to see the surprised looks on the Badgers’s faces.
In fact, the only way the Illini can lose is if they laugh off Wisconsin and spend the week practicing against Ohio State.
Sure, the Badgers are nationally ranked. But that gives the Illini even more incentive to pull the upset of the year, at least until the following week. That’s when the Illini get a chance to shock the nation again by upsetting No. 1 ranked Ohio State. Wisconsin and Ohio State back to back. Can you ask for more opportunities to build character than these two games? Okay, playing Michigan in the mix might be more, but the Wolverines cleverly got off Illinois’s schedule this season.
So far, the Illini and Badgers have had only one common opponent, Indiana. Wisconsin spanked Indiana 52-17. Illinois outplayed Indiana but lost 34-32 on a Hoosier field goal in the waning moments. The oddsmakers seem to be swayed by these results, calling it Wisconsin over Illinois by 18. Yeah. Fat chance. Have the oddsmakers considered this fact: The Illini must win all of their four remaining games to be bowl eligible. Illinois finishes up against pass-happy Purdue and unhappy Northwestern. Sounds like a lot incentive.
If the character-driven Illini just play as hard as they did against Penn State, minus the interceptions, fumbles, and sacks, of course, and do a little tweaking on offense, they could pull off the upset. What kind of tweaking? Only a little?
Okay, a lot of tweaking, a tweaking Cyclops, a Sears Tower tweaking. Tweaking with gadget plays. Bring out all the gadget plays in the Illini arsenal. Add any used successfully by other teams.
Start with the flea flickers. Juice Williams, DaJuan Warren, EB Halsey, and Rashard Mendenhall should all throw flickers. Maybe three or four each. Reverses. Use the wide receivers, tailbacks, quarterbacks, tight ends, and fullbacks. Double reverses. Same guys. Fake punts. Free up Kyle Yelton or DaJuan Warren to run or pass out of the kicking formation. Two-point plays. Er, stick to kicks for extra points. And option plays. Juice and Rashard seemed to be getting the hang of these plays against PSU.
That should do it. Can’t wait to see the surprised looks on the Badgers’s faces.
In fact, the only way the Illini can lose is if they laugh off Wisconsin and spend the week practicing against Ohio State.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Rack up another victory for the Illini football team!
Scaring the bejabers out of Penn State yesterday before losing 26-12 earned the Illini their second moral victory of the season.
Moral victories are important because they imply some kind of virtue. They are awarded, for example, when a team beats the oddsmakers. This suggests the virtue of determination. The good kind of determination. Not the bad kind, as in Northwestern’s determination to find ways to surrender a 38-3 lead in its unbelievable 41-38 loss yesterday to Michigan State.
So then, let’s take a look at Illinois’s REAL record at this time.
Eastern Illinois—win in standings…1-0
Rutgers—loss in standings………..1-1
Syracuse—loss in standings…….. 1-2
Iowa—moral victory………………. 1-2-1
Michigan State—upset victory...... 2-2-1
Indiana—loss in standings………. 2-3-1
Ohio—loss in standings (ouch!)… 2-4-1
Penn State—moral victory………. 2-4-2
Totals: Losses in standings—4
Wins in standings and moral victories--4
Now that’s not so bad.
Scaring the bejabers out of Penn State yesterday before losing 26-12 earned the Illini their second moral victory of the season.
Moral victories are important because they imply some kind of virtue. They are awarded, for example, when a team beats the oddsmakers. This suggests the virtue of determination. The good kind of determination. Not the bad kind, as in Northwestern’s determination to find ways to surrender a 38-3 lead in its unbelievable 41-38 loss yesterday to Michigan State.
So then, let’s take a look at Illinois’s REAL record at this time.
Eastern Illinois—win in standings…1-0
Rutgers—loss in standings………..1-1
Syracuse—loss in standings…….. 1-2
Iowa—moral victory………………. 1-2-1
Michigan State—upset victory...... 2-2-1
Indiana—loss in standings………. 2-3-1
Ohio—loss in standings (ouch!)… 2-4-1
Penn State—moral victory………. 2-4-2
Totals: Losses in standings—4
Wins in standings and moral victories--4
Now that’s not so bad.
As the Chicago Bears players and fans catch their collective breath in a bye week, following a near defeat in Arizona, it’s a good time to evaluate the current team’s blessings. Since it’s almost impossible to assess upper management’s role in helping the team jump off to a sparkling 6-0 record (surely the coaches would give all the credit to the players), let’s focus on the roster.
Obviously, the Bears are loaded with exceptional talent. Here are the five players who will have the most impact on the team’s fortunes the rest of the year.
1. Linebacker Brian Urlacher, the heart and soul of the defense. He was only the soul before Mike Brown’s season-ending injury. But he seems to know how to will victory. His absence would hurt the Bears the most even though linebacker is one of the team’s strengths.
2. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, a beast against the run and enemy quarterbacks. No one fires up the line like Harris, who has set a goal of at least 10 sacks (he’s got five already).
3. Linebacker Lance Briggs, who covers the part of the field that Urlacher doesn’t. Terrorizes both running backs and quarterbacks.
4. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who gives the Bears the big play passcatcher that every successful team needs. As John Madden has said of Berrian, when he’s even, he’s leavin’. Berrian is a burner who opens the field for the entire passing game.
5. Center Olin Kreutz, the heart of the offense. Even without wiggling his fingers, Kreutz consistently opens holes for the running backs and offers maximum protection to quarterback Rex Grossman.
If any of these players suffers a serious injury, kiss the team’s chances for advancement in the playoffs goodbye.
Obviously, the Bears are loaded with exceptional talent. Here are the five players who will have the most impact on the team’s fortunes the rest of the year.
1. Linebacker Brian Urlacher, the heart and soul of the defense. He was only the soul before Mike Brown’s season-ending injury. But he seems to know how to will victory. His absence would hurt the Bears the most even though linebacker is one of the team’s strengths.
2. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, a beast against the run and enemy quarterbacks. No one fires up the line like Harris, who has set a goal of at least 10 sacks (he’s got five already).
3. Linebacker Lance Briggs, who covers the part of the field that Urlacher doesn’t. Terrorizes both running backs and quarterbacks.
4. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who gives the Bears the big play passcatcher that every successful team needs. As John Madden has said of Berrian, when he’s even, he’s leavin’. Berrian is a burner who opens the field for the entire passing game.
5. Center Olin Kreutz, the heart of the offense. Even without wiggling his fingers, Kreutz consistently opens holes for the running backs and offers maximum protection to quarterback Rex Grossman.
If any of these players suffers a serious injury, kiss the team’s chances for advancement in the playoffs goodbye.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Memo to new Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella
Drop whatever you are doing and get a hold of general manager Jim Hendry. Before he allows the Cubs to lose third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Better to see Hendry in person. That’s so you can get a hold of his neck. Then start twisting it until he agrees to re-sign Ramirez to whatever he wants.
If you don’t believe how indispensable Ramirez is, talk to Ron Santo. Or better yet, get a look at the list of Cubs third basemen since Santo (it has about 1,000 names). Also check out the tragedy surrounding the names of Lou Brock and Ernie Broglio. Do it today because, as a new hire, you’re at your peak of influence with Hendry. It starts going downhill from now. You’re still twisting his neck, right? Keep it up. And if he starts to get blue in the face, that’s okay. He’s just showing team colors.
If you don’t get his acquiescence, you’re the one who will be twisting in the wind.
Drop whatever you are doing and get a hold of general manager Jim Hendry. Before he allows the Cubs to lose third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Better to see Hendry in person. That’s so you can get a hold of his neck. Then start twisting it until he agrees to re-sign Ramirez to whatever he wants.
If you don’t believe how indispensable Ramirez is, talk to Ron Santo. Or better yet, get a look at the list of Cubs third basemen since Santo (it has about 1,000 names). Also check out the tragedy surrounding the names of Lou Brock and Ernie Broglio. Do it today because, as a new hire, you’re at your peak of influence with Hendry. It starts going downhill from now. You’re still twisting his neck, right? Keep it up. And if he starts to get blue in the face, that’s okay. He’s just showing team colors.
If you don’t get his acquiescence, you’re the one who will be twisting in the wind.
Liars! Liars!
You lying statistics.
All the sports media are reporting that Penn State defeated Illinois in college football today by a 26-12 margin in Happy Valley (wonder what they call this place when the Nittany Lions lose?). How can that be considering the following statistics?
Illinois tailback Rashard Mendenhall ran for 161 yards, including a 79-yard scamper.
Illinois had 363 total net yards, compared to PSU’s 184.
Illinois had 19 first downs, compared to PSU’s 11.
Illinois had 75 total plays, compared to PSU’s 58.
Pretty good, huh?
In addition, Illinois quarterback Juice Williams used the option very effectively and showed increasing poise by not throwing the ball when no receiver was open.
Still, in spite of all these positive statistics, the Illini lost. In fact, if it’s any consolation to Illini fans, the guys scared the bejabers out of Penn State.
So what happened to the Illini, who played with a lot of passion, zeal, and enthusiasm? Mistakes, of course. The real bad ones. Three to four key dropped passes, two interceptions, two lost fumbles, an onside kick run in for a touchdown. But the key statistic was third-down efficiency. PSU quarterback Anthony Morelli converted 6 of 16, including five or six where long yardage (eight to 10 yards) was needed. Illinois converted two of 14 third-down plays.
It’s easy to understand, then, why Illinois lost, even with all the “good” statistics. That’s why only one statistic really counts: the final score.
You lying statistics.
All the sports media are reporting that Penn State defeated Illinois in college football today by a 26-12 margin in Happy Valley (wonder what they call this place when the Nittany Lions lose?). How can that be considering the following statistics?
Illinois tailback Rashard Mendenhall ran for 161 yards, including a 79-yard scamper.
Illinois had 363 total net yards, compared to PSU’s 184.
Illinois had 19 first downs, compared to PSU’s 11.
Illinois had 75 total plays, compared to PSU’s 58.
Pretty good, huh?
In addition, Illinois quarterback Juice Williams used the option very effectively and showed increasing poise by not throwing the ball when no receiver was open.
Still, in spite of all these positive statistics, the Illini lost. In fact, if it’s any consolation to Illini fans, the guys scared the bejabers out of Penn State.
So what happened to the Illini, who played with a lot of passion, zeal, and enthusiasm? Mistakes, of course. The real bad ones. Three to four key dropped passes, two interceptions, two lost fumbles, an onside kick run in for a touchdown. But the key statistic was third-down efficiency. PSU quarterback Anthony Morelli converted 6 of 16, including five or six where long yardage (eight to 10 yards) was needed. Illinois converted two of 14 third-down plays.
It’s easy to understand, then, why Illinois lost, even with all the “good” statistics. That’s why only one statistic really counts: the final score.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Time for the Illini football team to pull off another upset? You bet (although Da Blog would not recommend betting too much). The Illini have all the intangibles this weekend against Penn State. And as mighty a bunch of intangibles as you’ll see this season. First, of course, is the Revenge Factor. The Nittany Lions were one of only two teams last year to score over 60 points against Illinois (63-10). It was the worst drubbing off the season. And you remember the other team to top 60 against us? Yep, Michigan State, who fell to the Illini recently.
Then there’s the Underdog Factor—17 ½ points. Yeah, sure! What an insult. Put that on the bulletin board. In addition, Penn State is no doubt looking past Illinois to its following game, against Purdue. And, of course, there’s the Wounded Animal Factor. The Ohio Bobcats chewed up the Illini last weekend, and now it’s the Illini who are drooling for a victory. Finally, there’s the Juice Has Another Game Behind Him Factor.
Okay, Illini, it’s payback time. Let’s turn those Lions into pussycats!
The miracle 24-23 victory of the Chicago Bears last weekend accomplished a number of positive things besides the win. For example, it put to rest--or should do so--the comparisons to the great 1985 team. Until this team gets to 12-0, the comparisons are premature.
Same thing for the wild talk about getting into the Super Bowl and, gulp, ordering hotel reservations in Miami. Da Blog pleads guilty on the wild talk part. It takes the blame for contributing to the frenzy. It takes responsibility for pumping up the Grabowskis, of which Da Blg is one.
Perhaps the best result from the Ugly Betty victory is that we don’t have to wait for the inevitable outpouring of opinions that a loss would do the Bears some good. You know, by eliminating some of their cockiness and reducing the pressure. Usually, it’s the fans and sports media—not the players--who feel the pressure the most.
So, now that the Bears have used up, or squandered, their miracle (every NFL team gets one miracle per season), they need to acknowledge the following:
The Arizona Cardinals outpassioned the Bears because a victory would have validated the trend of rebuilding their dead franchise.
Every team the Bears play are likely to outzeal the Bears to earn bragging rights.
The Bears are going to face a number of quarterbacks who are a lot better than Arizona rookie Matt Leinart.
The Bears are going to face a number of offensive lines that are better than Arizona’s.
The Bears are going to face a number of defensive lines that are better than Arizona’s.
The Bears are going to face a number of teams who still retain their miracles. Most of these teams will opt to use their miracle against the Bears.
Da Blog has seen Todd Johnson play, and, Todd, you are no Mike Brown. Clank! Clank! Clank! You are hearing the sound of Brown’s armor falling off. Todd Johnson doesn’t have an Achilles’s heel. He has an Achilles’s body. However, Achilles was a great warrior when he was in the mood.
Rex Grossman could never have a worse day. Ever. Could he?
Then there’s the Underdog Factor—17 ½ points. Yeah, sure! What an insult. Put that on the bulletin board. In addition, Penn State is no doubt looking past Illinois to its following game, against Purdue. And, of course, there’s the Wounded Animal Factor. The Ohio Bobcats chewed up the Illini last weekend, and now it’s the Illini who are drooling for a victory. Finally, there’s the Juice Has Another Game Behind Him Factor.
Okay, Illini, it’s payback time. Let’s turn those Lions into pussycats!
The miracle 24-23 victory of the Chicago Bears last weekend accomplished a number of positive things besides the win. For example, it put to rest--or should do so--the comparisons to the great 1985 team. Until this team gets to 12-0, the comparisons are premature.
Same thing for the wild talk about getting into the Super Bowl and, gulp, ordering hotel reservations in Miami. Da Blog pleads guilty on the wild talk part. It takes the blame for contributing to the frenzy. It takes responsibility for pumping up the Grabowskis, of which Da Blg is one.
Perhaps the best result from the Ugly Betty victory is that we don’t have to wait for the inevitable outpouring of opinions that a loss would do the Bears some good. You know, by eliminating some of their cockiness and reducing the pressure. Usually, it’s the fans and sports media—not the players--who feel the pressure the most.
So, now that the Bears have used up, or squandered, their miracle (every NFL team gets one miracle per season), they need to acknowledge the following:
The Arizona Cardinals outpassioned the Bears because a victory would have validated the trend of rebuilding their dead franchise.
Every team the Bears play are likely to outzeal the Bears to earn bragging rights.
The Bears are going to face a number of quarterbacks who are a lot better than Arizona rookie Matt Leinart.
The Bears are going to face a number of offensive lines that are better than Arizona’s.
The Bears are going to face a number of defensive lines that are better than Arizona’s.
The Bears are going to face a number of teams who still retain their miracles. Most of these teams will opt to use their miracle against the Bears.
Da Blog has seen Todd Johnson play, and, Todd, you are no Mike Brown. Clank! Clank! Clank! You are hearing the sound of Brown’s armor falling off. Todd Johnson doesn’t have an Achilles’s heel. He has an Achilles’s body. However, Achilles was a great warrior when he was in the mood.
Rex Grossman could never have a worse day. Ever. Could he?
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Memo to Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry regarding the pitching staff:
Good luck!
Since the Cubs finished 14th in the National League in pitching, you’ve got some, er, a lot of, work to do this offseason. Forget about any vacations. Unless you can include some scouting in Japan and Central America. In fact, you cannot leave any stone unturned (like you did with Steve Stone for the manager vacancy).
That means you will need several changes of clothing as you range around the world turning over stones. According to reports, while you are in Asia, pencil in scouting trips to Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Cyprus, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal (the guys here are very used to pitching in cold weather—perfect for April and May in Wrigley), Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Hire a guy named Stan to translate for you on your searches. Maybe you could plan a one-day side trip to cover China.
And don’t forget Europe. You know that nine countries take part in the European Baseball Championship—Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (check out the best cricket players here). Maybe you could plan a one-day side trip to cover Russia.
Since Chicago is such a cosmopolitan city, you shouldn’t have any trouble attracting players from these countries to play for the Cubs (look at what the Chicago Bulls have done with foreign recruits. But don’t go too much into the team’s history).
Filling the 2007 roster includes several problems. For openers, the Cubs need a closer. Ryan Dempster is a puzzlement. So forget about him for a while. The Cubs have one dependable starting pitcher, Carlos Zambrano. Bob Howry, Scott Eyre, and Michael Wuertz also pitch well most of the time. Rich Hill looks ready to contribute as a starter. That’s it for the good performers. So go out and get seven other hurlers. One note of caution (besides the bad roads in Asia), don’t trade any of the four M Guys (Marmol, Marshall, Mateo, and O’Malley) for at least another year. We don’t want another Dontrelle Willis on our consciences.
Good luck!
Since the Cubs finished 14th in the National League in pitching, you’ve got some, er, a lot of, work to do this offseason. Forget about any vacations. Unless you can include some scouting in Japan and Central America. In fact, you cannot leave any stone unturned (like you did with Steve Stone for the manager vacancy).
That means you will need several changes of clothing as you range around the world turning over stones. According to reports, while you are in Asia, pencil in scouting trips to Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Cyprus, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal (the guys here are very used to pitching in cold weather—perfect for April and May in Wrigley), Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Hire a guy named Stan to translate for you on your searches. Maybe you could plan a one-day side trip to cover China.
And don’t forget Europe. You know that nine countries take part in the European Baseball Championship—Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (check out the best cricket players here). Maybe you could plan a one-day side trip to cover Russia.
Since Chicago is such a cosmopolitan city, you shouldn’t have any trouble attracting players from these countries to play for the Cubs (look at what the Chicago Bulls have done with foreign recruits. But don’t go too much into the team’s history).
Filling the 2007 roster includes several problems. For openers, the Cubs need a closer. Ryan Dempster is a puzzlement. So forget about him for a while. The Cubs have one dependable starting pitcher, Carlos Zambrano. Bob Howry, Scott Eyre, and Michael Wuertz also pitch well most of the time. Rich Hill looks ready to contribute as a starter. That’s it for the good performers. So go out and get seven other hurlers. One note of caution (besides the bad roads in Asia), don’t trade any of the four M Guys (Marmol, Marshall, Mateo, and O’Malley) for at least another year. We don’t want another Dontrelle Willis on our consciences.
Has anyone noticed how much more responsible coaches and players have become? Admitting to be responsible for a whole range of normal sports activities, such as errors or losses. Like Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster telling us it was his fault the team lost as a result of a blown save? We know that. Or Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner admitting that he shares the blame with quarterback Rex Grossman for Rex’s abysmal performance against the Arizona Cardinals? We know that.
On the face of it, such declarations of wrongdoing seem laudable. Taking responsibility. That’s a good thing. Or is it? It is if there are consequences for the bad activities. Consider Arizona coach Dennis Green’s action after the Cardinals let a victory slip away partly because of an Arizona fumble. The Bears recovered the ball and ran it in for a touchdown. I’m guilty says the offensive coordinator. Right, says Green. And you’re also fired.
But was Dempster penalized for blowing a possible save? Nope. He growled, looked angry, and kept doing the laudable thing—taking responsibility for blown save after blown save.
And what about Grossman and Turner? Think they were worried about any repercussions? Like a little fine just to acknowledge their roles in the near disaster? Maybe $50,000 apiece for screwing up so badly?
Of course, we all know that punishments and penalties for errant ways, like we all got for misbehavior as kids, is generally out of the question for bigtime sports. So, until players and coaches start suffering some consequences for doing bad things, would you all please shut up!
On the face of it, such declarations of wrongdoing seem laudable. Taking responsibility. That’s a good thing. Or is it? It is if there are consequences for the bad activities. Consider Arizona coach Dennis Green’s action after the Cardinals let a victory slip away partly because of an Arizona fumble. The Bears recovered the ball and ran it in for a touchdown. I’m guilty says the offensive coordinator. Right, says Green. And you’re also fired.
But was Dempster penalized for blowing a possible save? Nope. He growled, looked angry, and kept doing the laudable thing—taking responsibility for blown save after blown save.
And what about Grossman and Turner? Think they were worried about any repercussions? Like a little fine just to acknowledge their roles in the near disaster? Maybe $50,000 apiece for screwing up so badly?
Of course, we all know that punishments and penalties for errant ways, like we all got for misbehavior as kids, is generally out of the question for bigtime sports. So, until players and coaches start suffering some consequences for doing bad things, would you all please shut up!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Memo to Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry:
Da Blog assumes you have convinced new hire Lou Piniella that the Cubs need tweaking among the position players and a massive infusion of new blood among the pitchers. So you know as well as anybody except Da Blog and all the other sports media in town just what to do. But, lucky man, not to worry. You’ll get plenty of advice from Da Blog and all the other sports media in town.
No doubt much of this advice has already started flooding in: Trade for this guy. Sign this free agent. Keep this guy. Fire this guy. Get this guy a job as a TV announcer. Make this guy a batboy. Demote this guy to the Lansing Lugnuts and set him up as a cook at a local burger joint in the offseason. Note: some of these are good suggestions.
Your mission is to identify the good ideas. To get you started in the right direction, here’s some help.
Don’t pursue A-Rod unless you’re planning to use him at shortstop. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez is excellent at the plate and on the field. He’s still young and rates as the best Cub third baseman since Ron Santo. Nix any deal that includes Ramirez.
Keep Cesar Izturis. He doesn’t hit for average, but he is solid at a difficult position.
Don’t even think about moving D-Lee. With him, Ramirez, and Izturis, the Cubs could have three gold glovers.
At second base, the Cubs could have a rising star in Ryan Theriot. He hit over .300 in a cameo appearance at the end of the season. Keep him until Da Blog provides future instructions.
The catching also is solid with Michael Barrett and Henry Blanco. Barrett had a breakout year and batted around .300 all season.
The outfield can be improved. Juan Pierre has lots of value. Try to keep him even if you have to overpay. Jacque Jones can be moved in a deal. He’s more of a reserve than a starter. Check out a possible upgrade here.
And then there’s Matt Murton. Move him to right field, if necessary. But keep him for sure. Murton has a lot to learn, but the guy is the brightest prospect from the farm in years. He led the team in hitting, flirting with the .300 mark all season. Da Blog loves this guy. Murton also proved to be a clutch hitter. At the plate, he reminds me of a young Ryne Sandberg. Another name that comes to mind is Craig Biggio. So, hands off Murton.
If no moves are made, Da Blog sees a lineup like this:
Pierre, center field
Murton, left field
D-Lee, first base
Ramirez, third base
Barrett, catcher
Jones, right field
Theriot, second base
Izturis, shortstop
What about the main needs? The pitching staff. Ouch! What a mess…or. Stay tuned.
Da Blog assumes you have convinced new hire Lou Piniella that the Cubs need tweaking among the position players and a massive infusion of new blood among the pitchers. So you know as well as anybody except Da Blog and all the other sports media in town just what to do. But, lucky man, not to worry. You’ll get plenty of advice from Da Blog and all the other sports media in town.
No doubt much of this advice has already started flooding in: Trade for this guy. Sign this free agent. Keep this guy. Fire this guy. Get this guy a job as a TV announcer. Make this guy a batboy. Demote this guy to the Lansing Lugnuts and set him up as a cook at a local burger joint in the offseason. Note: some of these are good suggestions.
Your mission is to identify the good ideas. To get you started in the right direction, here’s some help.
Don’t pursue A-Rod unless you’re planning to use him at shortstop. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez is excellent at the plate and on the field. He’s still young and rates as the best Cub third baseman since Ron Santo. Nix any deal that includes Ramirez.
Keep Cesar Izturis. He doesn’t hit for average, but he is solid at a difficult position.
Don’t even think about moving D-Lee. With him, Ramirez, and Izturis, the Cubs could have three gold glovers.
At second base, the Cubs could have a rising star in Ryan Theriot. He hit over .300 in a cameo appearance at the end of the season. Keep him until Da Blog provides future instructions.
The catching also is solid with Michael Barrett and Henry Blanco. Barrett had a breakout year and batted around .300 all season.
The outfield can be improved. Juan Pierre has lots of value. Try to keep him even if you have to overpay. Jacque Jones can be moved in a deal. He’s more of a reserve than a starter. Check out a possible upgrade here.
And then there’s Matt Murton. Move him to right field, if necessary. But keep him for sure. Murton has a lot to learn, but the guy is the brightest prospect from the farm in years. He led the team in hitting, flirting with the .300 mark all season. Da Blog loves this guy. Murton also proved to be a clutch hitter. At the plate, he reminds me of a young Ryne Sandberg. Another name that comes to mind is Craig Biggio. So, hands off Murton.
If no moves are made, Da Blog sees a lineup like this:
Pierre, center field
Murton, left field
D-Lee, first base
Ramirez, third base
Barrett, catcher
Jones, right field
Theriot, second base
Izturis, shortstop
What about the main needs? The pitching staff. Ouch! What a mess…or. Stay tuned.
BOM (Brick-O-Meter) update following the 20-17 loss (ouch!) to Ohio University last weekend. The BOM, which began at 100 bricks, measures football coach Ron Zook’s progress in building a foundation for the football program. After the loss to Indiana, the BOM stood at 517 bricks.
Begin the BOM by subtracting 500 bricks for the Bobcat debacle. This was a game that had Illinois victory written all over it and that could have been a big step toward a bowl game this season. That hope began to go south as the Illini defense surrendered two second-quarter touchdowns to fall behind 14-3. Give the Illini offense 100 bricks for picking itself off the carpet and closing the deficit to 14-10 by halftime.
Ohio bent and bent and bent (Illinois recorded 21 first downs compared to 11 by Ohio). But take away 50 bricks for Illinois’s inability to break the Bobcat defense. Give 50 bricks each to the rushing efforts of Juice Williams and Rashard Mendenhall. Add another 100 bricks for Juice’s two TD passes, the first such passes caught by Jeff Cumberland and Frank Lenti Jr.
But, alas, subract 200 bricks for the six Illini fumbles. Ugh! Ouch! Bang! The Illini lost four of them, the most devastating of which was the last one, given up by Kyle Hudson, which led to the game-winning field goal.
So, with five games to go, the BOM stands at 67 bricks. Not looking good for the foundation, Ron.
Begin the BOM by subtracting 500 bricks for the Bobcat debacle. This was a game that had Illinois victory written all over it and that could have been a big step toward a bowl game this season. That hope began to go south as the Illini defense surrendered two second-quarter touchdowns to fall behind 14-3. Give the Illini offense 100 bricks for picking itself off the carpet and closing the deficit to 14-10 by halftime.
Ohio bent and bent and bent (Illinois recorded 21 first downs compared to 11 by Ohio). But take away 50 bricks for Illinois’s inability to break the Bobcat defense. Give 50 bricks each to the rushing efforts of Juice Williams and Rashard Mendenhall. Add another 100 bricks for Juice’s two TD passes, the first such passes caught by Jeff Cumberland and Frank Lenti Jr.
But, alas, subract 200 bricks for the six Illini fumbles. Ugh! Ouch! Bang! The Illini lost four of them, the most devastating of which was the last one, given up by Kyle Hudson, which led to the game-winning field goal.
So, with five games to go, the BOM stands at 67 bricks. Not looking good for the foundation, Ron.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
What a day in the history of Chicago sports! It was show and tell. The Chicago Bears showed us how to win with a miracle 24-23 victory against the Arizona Cardinals. And the Chicago Cubs got a new manager, Lou Piniella, who told us he is a winner.
Cub General Manager Jim Hendry agreed that Piniella is a winner. But didn’t Hendry say the same thing when he hired Dusty Baker? Sweet Lou, as Piniella is called, does have a lot of statistics to back up his self-assessment. He has a career winning percentage as a manager of .517. Hmm. That’s about .500. The Cubs have played at that level numerous times. But Da Blog assumes Hendry is looking for something better. Cub fans sure are.
Piniella won a World Series with Cincinnati in 1990. And his friend Tony LaRussa and other friends and players have also assured fans that Piniella is a winner. In fact, Da Blog has not found any report quoting anyone who has said Sweet Lou is not a winner. Remarkable, huh? Did reporters check with any of the umpires? “The umpires will love to have me back,” Piniella says.
But Da Blog has this tiny concern: Can Piniella make the Cubs a winner? Or will the biggest winner be the Chicago sports media, who see the fiery fireplug as a dream come true? Piniella promises a plethora of cool soundbites. Da Blog is betting on the media. Why? Tradition. Piniella is challenged by a 98-year absence from victory in the World Series. Isn’t it in the interest of the Lovable Losers, from a marketing standpoint at least, to get a nice round number like 100? Traditions are tough things to change. Why? Because they have been around so long.
Anyways, welcome, Sweet Lou, and good luck.
Cub General Manager Jim Hendry agreed that Piniella is a winner. But didn’t Hendry say the same thing when he hired Dusty Baker? Sweet Lou, as Piniella is called, does have a lot of statistics to back up his self-assessment. He has a career winning percentage as a manager of .517. Hmm. That’s about .500. The Cubs have played at that level numerous times. But Da Blog assumes Hendry is looking for something better. Cub fans sure are.
Piniella won a World Series with Cincinnati in 1990. And his friend Tony LaRussa and other friends and players have also assured fans that Piniella is a winner. In fact, Da Blog has not found any report quoting anyone who has said Sweet Lou is not a winner. Remarkable, huh? Did reporters check with any of the umpires? “The umpires will love to have me back,” Piniella says.
But Da Blog has this tiny concern: Can Piniella make the Cubs a winner? Or will the biggest winner be the Chicago sports media, who see the fiery fireplug as a dream come true? Piniella promises a plethora of cool soundbites. Da Blog is betting on the media. Why? Tradition. Piniella is challenged by a 98-year absence from victory in the World Series. Isn’t it in the interest of the Lovable Losers, from a marketing standpoint at least, to get a nice round number like 100? Traditions are tough things to change. Why? Because they have been around so long.
Anyways, welcome, Sweet Lou, and good luck.
Whew!
Out of Sync, Almost Sink
Shock and Awe! Bear style
Leinart Outplays Grossman, but Hester Outruns Cardinals
Rackers Snatches Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
Cardinals Choke on Bears, End Up as Dessert in the Desert
Pick your favorite story line. They all end with the same surprising result: The Chicago Bears beat the upstart Arizona Cardinals 24-23 in an incredible come-from-behind thriller last night on the road. The Cards almost said bye-bye to the Bears’s five-game win streak. But instead the Bears enter their bye week 6-0 and the NFL’s only undefeated team. Brilliant!
The normally dominant Bears looked more like cubs for most of the game. Bear quarterback Rex Grossman and the offense uncharacteristically were out of sorts most of the time. The Chicago receivers were taking Bear-like, bone-crushing hits all game from an inspied Cardinal defense and could not get into any offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart was silky smooth in engineering drives down the field.
With the offense burdened by four interceptions of Grossman passes, plus two Bear fumbles, the Bears’s prospects looked dire. But in the fourth quarter, the house of Cards fell apart. With the Bears behind 23-10, cornerback Peanut Tillman scored a TD on a 40-yard fumble recovery, and punt returner Devin Hester caught a punt at the Bears’s 17 and weaved and dodged his way Gayle Sayers-like down the field. It seemed that he narrowly evaded tackles by every member of the Cardinal kicking team. Moments later the Bears took a 24-23 lead.
Arizona still had one more opportunity to pull off the upset of the season as Leinart skillfully moved the Cardinals into position for a potential game-winning 41-yard field goal. The former Illinois kicker Neil Rackers got the kick off, but it narrowly missed.
The Cardinals went off to search for their NFL souls. The Bears practiced their hoped for Super Bowl celebration. For playing so poorly, they didn’t deserve too much time for wild merrymaking. For winning, they did.
Out of Sync, Almost Sink
Shock and Awe! Bear style
Leinart Outplays Grossman, but Hester Outruns Cardinals
Rackers Snatches Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
Cardinals Choke on Bears, End Up as Dessert in the Desert
Pick your favorite story line. They all end with the same surprising result: The Chicago Bears beat the upstart Arizona Cardinals 24-23 in an incredible come-from-behind thriller last night on the road. The Cards almost said bye-bye to the Bears’s five-game win streak. But instead the Bears enter their bye week 6-0 and the NFL’s only undefeated team. Brilliant!
The normally dominant Bears looked more like cubs for most of the game. Bear quarterback Rex Grossman and the offense uncharacteristically were out of sorts most of the time. The Chicago receivers were taking Bear-like, bone-crushing hits all game from an inspied Cardinal defense and could not get into any offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart was silky smooth in engineering drives down the field.
With the offense burdened by four interceptions of Grossman passes, plus two Bear fumbles, the Bears’s prospects looked dire. But in the fourth quarter, the house of Cards fell apart. With the Bears behind 23-10, cornerback Peanut Tillman scored a TD on a 40-yard fumble recovery, and punt returner Devin Hester caught a punt at the Bears’s 17 and weaved and dodged his way Gayle Sayers-like down the field. It seemed that he narrowly evaded tackles by every member of the Cardinal kicking team. Moments later the Bears took a 24-23 lead.
Arizona still had one more opportunity to pull off the upset of the season as Leinart skillfully moved the Cardinals into position for a potential game-winning 41-yard field goal. The former Illinois kicker Neil Rackers got the kick off, but it narrowly missed.
The Cardinals went off to search for their NFL souls. The Bears practiced their hoped for Super Bowl celebration. For playing so poorly, they didn’t deserve too much time for wild merrymaking. For winning, they did.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Is there anyone else except Da Blog who is concerned about the Chicago Bears running into an ambush tonight against the Arizona Cardinals? On paper, it would appear that the little red tweety birds will get mauled by the growling bears. But they play the games anyways just to keep things honest.
Da Blog is concerned about stuff like this:
Bear quarterback Rex Grossman is so aggressive he may turn into a loose cannon.
Arizona quarterback Matt Leinhart is better than most people think even if he is a rookie.
The Bears seem fixated on shutouts rather than wins and may take some unnecessary risks.
It’s Monday night on the road, normally a lethal combo for the Bears.
Even the 1985 Bears lost a game.
Just so we don’t end on a negative note, have you noticed how shifty Thomas Jones is? Especially his hops, twists, and cutbacks when running through the tackles?
Da Blog is concerned about stuff like this:
Bear quarterback Rex Grossman is so aggressive he may turn into a loose cannon.
Arizona quarterback Matt Leinhart is better than most people think even if he is a rookie.
The Bears seem fixated on shutouts rather than wins and may take some unnecessary risks.
It’s Monday night on the road, normally a lethal combo for the Bears.
Even the 1985 Bears lost a game.
Just so we don’t end on a negative note, have you noticed how shifty Thomas Jones is? Especially his hops, twists, and cutbacks when running through the tackles?
Hey! It’s getting to be fun again watching a championship-caliber Chicago sports team.
Of course, Da Blog is referring to the Chicago Bulls.
But wouldn’t you know it, even before the regular season has started, some in the local sports media are trying to break up this magnificent collection of stallions, er, bulls.
The suggestion to trade Luol Deng, some others, and the Bulls-held, first-round draft pick of the Knicks for Jermaine O’Neal is nuts. Sure, Ben Wallace has some years on him, but he’s more likely to lead the Bulls to the NBA title this season than O’Neal would be. And Deng has tremendous upside. Can you imagine how good he’ll be in three or four years? In addition, it’s a flat out bad idea to give up a chance to get Greg Oden or Joakim Noah in the draft.
Remember when the Bulls were winning championships with Michael Jordan and his “supporting cast”? No, not the movie star Mchael Jordan and Bugs Bunny and the “Space Jam” gang. The real Michael Jordan. Well, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that Michael isn’t coming back. The good news is that a FANtastic supporting cast is. The fact is that the 2006-07 Bulls are so loaded with talent that you could call them Luke Schenscher and the supporting cast or Kirk Hinrich and the supporting cast. This year’s team is a high-energy electric machine in which players can be plugged in here, there, and anywhere without any loss of production.
Even with just two preseason games on the scoreboard, you can see tremendous new talent added to a very good nucleus. Adding veterans—good ones like Wallace and P.J. Brown—was a no-brainer in filling needs. But the two draft picks, Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha, are soooooo athletic and exciting to watch. And then there’s this big beefy guy Viktor Khryapa who stands way out there and drains clutch three pointers. Others have contributed as well. Get ready, Bulls fans, the glory days are back.
Of course, Da Blog is referring to the Chicago Bulls.
But wouldn’t you know it, even before the regular season has started, some in the local sports media are trying to break up this magnificent collection of stallions, er, bulls.
The suggestion to trade Luol Deng, some others, and the Bulls-held, first-round draft pick of the Knicks for Jermaine O’Neal is nuts. Sure, Ben Wallace has some years on him, but he’s more likely to lead the Bulls to the NBA title this season than O’Neal would be. And Deng has tremendous upside. Can you imagine how good he’ll be in three or four years? In addition, it’s a flat out bad idea to give up a chance to get Greg Oden or Joakim Noah in the draft.
Remember when the Bulls were winning championships with Michael Jordan and his “supporting cast”? No, not the movie star Mchael Jordan and Bugs Bunny and the “Space Jam” gang. The real Michael Jordan. Well, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that Michael isn’t coming back. The good news is that a FANtastic supporting cast is. The fact is that the 2006-07 Bulls are so loaded with talent that you could call them Luke Schenscher and the supporting cast or Kirk Hinrich and the supporting cast. This year’s team is a high-energy electric machine in which players can be plugged in here, there, and anywhere without any loss of production.
Even with just two preseason games on the scoreboard, you can see tremendous new talent added to a very good nucleus. Adding veterans—good ones like Wallace and P.J. Brown—was a no-brainer in filling needs. But the two draft picks, Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha, are soooooo athletic and exciting to watch. And then there’s this big beefy guy Viktor Khryapa who stands way out there and drains clutch three pointers. Others have contributed as well. Get ready, Bulls fans, the glory days are back.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Da Blog was just adjusting from the heart-breaking, last-minute 34-32 loss to Indiana last weekend when history repeated in the heart-breaking, last-minute 20-17 loss to Ohio University, which bears no resemblance to the beast, Ohio State. The Ohio Bobcats, from the Mid-American Conference, were ranked 97th in a major preseason poll (Illinois was rated 72nd). So what happened?
How about six fumbles? The Bobcats recovered four, including the last one that was yanked away from normally sure-handed receiver Kyle Hudson and was converted into the winning field goal. Ohio is surely better than expected. And Illinois is worse.
The major outcome of the loss is that the Illini are now facing a Mount Everest-type climb in their quest for at least six wins and a bowl game consideration. The remaining five games—Illinois needs to win at least four—are against Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Purdue, and Northwestern. The last two games offer the best opportunities for wins. If the Illini manage to win one of these games (for a total of three wins), they may have turned a corner. They only won two games in 2005.
How about six fumbles? The Bobcats recovered four, including the last one that was yanked away from normally sure-handed receiver Kyle Hudson and was converted into the winning field goal. Ohio is surely better than expected. And Illinois is worse.
The major outcome of the loss is that the Illini are now facing a Mount Everest-type climb in their quest for at least six wins and a bowl game consideration. The remaining five games—Illinois needs to win at least four—are against Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Purdue, and Northwestern. The last two games offer the best opportunities for wins. If the Illini manage to win one of these games (for a total of three wins), they may have turned a corner. They only won two games in 2005.
It was another tale of two cities—Bloomington, Indiana, and Champaign, Illinois. It was the best of weekends for Indiana. It was the worst of weekends for Illinois.
For Indiana, the school gained prized high school basketball recruit Eric Gordon, the De-comitter, from the Illini. And, for the second game in a row, the football team pulled an upset, this time against 15th ranked Iowa.
For Illinois, the school lost the De-Committer, which probably cost the Illini a shot at the Final Four in 2007-08. And, for the second game in a row, the football team narrowly lost to a team it was favored to beat.
What’s the best description for all this mayhem from an Illini perspective? Complete humiliation comes to mind. Too mild? Needs more reality? Okay, here are 15 more ways to describe the infamous Illini weekend.
1. Bad luck.
2. Ups and downs of life.
3. The troubles.
4. Hell on earth.
5. The curse.
6. Evil times (Da Blog especially likes this one).
7. Gathering clouds.
8. Ill-fated.
9. Calamity.
10. Hit bottom.
11. Catastrophe.
12. Fatality.
13. Hapless.
14. Dire.
15. On the ropes.
Da Blog heard about a secret meeting Friday evening between Illini Director of Athletics Ron Guenther and basketball coach Bruce Weber. The “discussion” went something like this:
Guenther: Bruce, fans think Gordon’s loss was a bad thing. Is that true?
Weber: No one knows what is truth. Folks have been discussing this question since ancient times.
Guenther: But how does Gordon’s de-committing affect the basketball team’s chances?
Weber: No one knows anything about chance.
Guenther: Huh?
Weber: Do we have free will? Or is everything determined by fate?
Guenther: Bruce, why is your voice so squeaky?
Weber: Your voice would be squeaky too if you had spent so much time recruiting the De-Committer.
Guenther: How much time was that?
Weber: A half hour on the phone every day, including weekends and school and national holidays.
Guenther: For how many months?
Weber (laughing): Months? How about the last 10 years. Don’t you remember talking to me about the high telephone bills?
Guenther: Bruce, do you think that after 10 years, Gordon decided he couldn’t listen to your annoying, squeaky voice another minute?
Weber: Interesting analysis, Ron. A little dash of determination. A pinch of free will. Man, this is bigger than I thought. Okay, I’ll reduce my calls to recruits to no more than seven years.
Guenther: Make it five.
Weber: You got it.
Guenther: Okay, now we can look forward to an easy win tomorrow over Ohio in football.
For Indiana, the school gained prized high school basketball recruit Eric Gordon, the De-comitter, from the Illini. And, for the second game in a row, the football team pulled an upset, this time against 15th ranked Iowa.
For Illinois, the school lost the De-Committer, which probably cost the Illini a shot at the Final Four in 2007-08. And, for the second game in a row, the football team narrowly lost to a team it was favored to beat.
What’s the best description for all this mayhem from an Illini perspective? Complete humiliation comes to mind. Too mild? Needs more reality? Okay, here are 15 more ways to describe the infamous Illini weekend.
1. Bad luck.
2. Ups and downs of life.
3. The troubles.
4. Hell on earth.
5. The curse.
6. Evil times (Da Blog especially likes this one).
7. Gathering clouds.
8. Ill-fated.
9. Calamity.
10. Hit bottom.
11. Catastrophe.
12. Fatality.
13. Hapless.
14. Dire.
15. On the ropes.
Da Blog heard about a secret meeting Friday evening between Illini Director of Athletics Ron Guenther and basketball coach Bruce Weber. The “discussion” went something like this:
Guenther: Bruce, fans think Gordon’s loss was a bad thing. Is that true?
Weber: No one knows what is truth. Folks have been discussing this question since ancient times.
Guenther: But how does Gordon’s de-committing affect the basketball team’s chances?
Weber: No one knows anything about chance.
Guenther: Huh?
Weber: Do we have free will? Or is everything determined by fate?
Guenther: Bruce, why is your voice so squeaky?
Weber: Your voice would be squeaky too if you had spent so much time recruiting the De-Committer.
Guenther: How much time was that?
Weber: A half hour on the phone every day, including weekends and school and national holidays.
Guenther: For how many months?
Weber (laughing): Months? How about the last 10 years. Don’t you remember talking to me about the high telephone bills?
Guenther: Bruce, do you think that after 10 years, Gordon decided he couldn’t listen to your annoying, squeaky voice another minute?
Weber: Interesting analysis, Ron. A little dash of determination. A pinch of free will. Man, this is bigger than I thought. Okay, I’ll reduce my calls to recruits to no more than seven years.
Guenther: Make it five.
Weber: You got it.
Guenther: Okay, now we can look forward to an easy win tomorrow over Ohio in football.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Da Blog is sorry, but Eric Gordon’s jilting, jolting, and jerking around the Illinois basketball program on his recruitment is bush league treatment. Not the decision itself. But the way Gordon handled it. Visiting Champaign with his family in mid-September and then passing up some 30 days in which he could have announced his change of mind. And then announcing his decision just before Midnight Madness weekend. How rude. At least Derrick Rose was upfront in rejecting the Illini. Now remember, Eric, don’t forget to add a new position to your resume: De-Committer.
Da Blog’s advance scouting report on two upcoming football games for the Illini: Purdue and Northwestern. Purdue’s 31-10 victory over NU suggests the Illini can look forward to another shootout with the Boilermakers and an easy win against the Wildcats.
Purdue, like Illinois, uses a spread offense tailored to its excellent quarterback Curtis Painter (who also has a Cannon). Don’t be surprised if the ball isn’t in the air close to 100 plays in this contest. Like Illinois, Purdue has a bevy of good receivers and can move the ball quickly down the field. And it has an effective flea flicker of its own. The Boilermakers are averaging about 35 points a game. Purdue accumulated over 500 yards of offense against NU, the third time it has reached such lofty levels. This is going to be the type of game in which the last team that has the ball will win.
Purdue’s defense is pretty good as well. Defensive end Anthony Spencer is a beast. Illinois will have to double up on him for sure. For the rushing game, Illinois should pound the middle or wherever Spencer is not. If the Illini have any advantage, it is in Juice Williams’s running ability—as long as he runs away from Spencer.
Against Northwestern, the Illini should rack up a high-scoring victory. Da Blog did not see any outstanding NU players. Like Illinois, NU uses a lot of freshmen, including its quarterback. Let’s put it this way, if Illinois is bad, Northwestern is pathetic. Hmmm! Sounds mean spirited without intending to be. Must still be steaming over the De-Committer. Okay, NU is flat out bad. Better?
Da Blog’s advance scouting report on two upcoming football games for the Illini: Purdue and Northwestern. Purdue’s 31-10 victory over NU suggests the Illini can look forward to another shootout with the Boilermakers and an easy win against the Wildcats.
Purdue, like Illinois, uses a spread offense tailored to its excellent quarterback Curtis Painter (who also has a Cannon). Don’t be surprised if the ball isn’t in the air close to 100 plays in this contest. Like Illinois, Purdue has a bevy of good receivers and can move the ball quickly down the field. And it has an effective flea flicker of its own. The Boilermakers are averaging about 35 points a game. Purdue accumulated over 500 yards of offense against NU, the third time it has reached such lofty levels. This is going to be the type of game in which the last team that has the ball will win.
Purdue’s defense is pretty good as well. Defensive end Anthony Spencer is a beast. Illinois will have to double up on him for sure. For the rushing game, Illinois should pound the middle or wherever Spencer is not. If the Illini have any advantage, it is in Juice Williams’s running ability—as long as he runs away from Spencer.
Against Northwestern, the Illini should rack up a high-scoring victory. Da Blog did not see any outstanding NU players. Like Illinois, NU uses a lot of freshmen, including its quarterback. Let’s put it this way, if Illinois is bad, Northwestern is pathetic. Hmmm! Sounds mean spirited without intending to be. Must still be steaming over the De-Committer. Okay, NU is flat out bad. Better?
Friday, October 13, 2006
What’s this, Steve Stone’s name and picture in the Chicago sports media? Does this mean his exile to the barren deserts of Arizona is ended? Reportedly, Stone is willing to return to the TV booth of the Chicago Cubs. That is, if TV announcer Bob Brenly gets the Cubs's manager job.
Hold on a minute here. If Stone’s return to the Cubs is okay with team owner Chicago Tribune, end the manager search immediately. Hire Steve Stone as manager! Every Cub fan knows that Stone has a friendly personality, engages in smart repartee, and exudes a sense of honesty and objectivity that would make Plato (the Greek guy) proud. And oh yeah, he knows baseball. Flat out (Da Blog really does not know what that term means, but it seems to fit the context).
Even if the media reports indicate Stone is not interested in the manager job, don’t believe him. He’s just being polite. Now here’s a good test for General Manager Jim Hendry. Usually, the best negotiating factor is money. Jim, figure out the highest amount you are willing to offer any of the candidates and increase it by three mil, maybe up to five mil, and wave a contract with all those mils in front of Stone. Da Blog is sure such an offer would not be a millstone for the Trib. If that’s insufficient, however, offer Stone a share of the attendance, or the concessions. Plus lifetime hair enhancement treatment. That last incentive ought to do it.
Why go to all this expense? Because of the flat out stuff. Because time after time after time, Stone would suggest a certain approach for the batter or a runner, and hey, wouldn’t you know, that’s exactly what happened! Then why hire Stone if all he knows is what any good manager knows? Aye, there’s the rub. The batter or runner—that is, the manager--would often NOT pick up on the suggestions Stone was relating to his audience. And usually bad things followed. Stone was just flat out right (that means almost all the time).
Another reason to hire Stone, besides his knowledge of most of the present team, is that he, of course, was a former pitcher. Stone flat out knows pitching. Betcha he wouldn’t set a major league record for times a pitcher was changed in a season. (The Cubs did it over 500 times this season to set the record.) And it’s the pitching staff that needs the most tweaking and TLC.
So, Jim, do us all a favor and hire Steve Stone as manager. And if you have to, grovel and beg.
Hold on a minute here. If Stone’s return to the Cubs is okay with team owner Chicago Tribune, end the manager search immediately. Hire Steve Stone as manager! Every Cub fan knows that Stone has a friendly personality, engages in smart repartee, and exudes a sense of honesty and objectivity that would make Plato (the Greek guy) proud. And oh yeah, he knows baseball. Flat out (Da Blog really does not know what that term means, but it seems to fit the context).
Even if the media reports indicate Stone is not interested in the manager job, don’t believe him. He’s just being polite. Now here’s a good test for General Manager Jim Hendry. Usually, the best negotiating factor is money. Jim, figure out the highest amount you are willing to offer any of the candidates and increase it by three mil, maybe up to five mil, and wave a contract with all those mils in front of Stone. Da Blog is sure such an offer would not be a millstone for the Trib. If that’s insufficient, however, offer Stone a share of the attendance, or the concessions. Plus lifetime hair enhancement treatment. That last incentive ought to do it.
Why go to all this expense? Because of the flat out stuff. Because time after time after time, Stone would suggest a certain approach for the batter or a runner, and hey, wouldn’t you know, that’s exactly what happened! Then why hire Stone if all he knows is what any good manager knows? Aye, there’s the rub. The batter or runner—that is, the manager--would often NOT pick up on the suggestions Stone was relating to his audience. And usually bad things followed. Stone was just flat out right (that means almost all the time).
Another reason to hire Stone, besides his knowledge of most of the present team, is that he, of course, was a former pitcher. Stone flat out knows pitching. Betcha he wouldn’t set a major league record for times a pitcher was changed in a season. (The Cubs did it over 500 times this season to set the record.) And it’s the pitching staff that needs the most tweaking and TLC.
So, Jim, do us all a favor and hire Steve Stone as manager. And if you have to, grovel and beg.
No Gordon at Illinois’s Midnight Madness! Okay, so the Illini basketball team has lost its prize recruit, Eric Gordon [link to Chicago Tribune article]. This blow follows closely on the heels of the rejection of Illinois by Chicago Simeon star Derrick Rose. But this one-two punch is hardly a knockout. A knockdown, maybe. But not a knockout. Why? First, the guy would probably have played for the Illini only one year before going into the NBA. Second, two very good big players, Bill Cole and Mike Tisdale, and a terrific gym rat, Demetri McCamey, will join Jamar Smith, Brian Carlwell, Shaun Pruitt, C. J. Jackson, Brian Randle, and others in what could be another great Illinois team.
Still, two questions now move to the forefront: Was there anything the Illini did to lose Gordon and Rose? Who is coach Bruce Weber considering as a substitute for Gordon?
Da Blog’s hunch is that there was nothing done or said by Weber that lost either player. Remember Jon Scheyer of Glenbrook North High School? This terrific player was coached by Weber’s brother in high school and played Illinois’s motion offense. A perfect recruit for the Illini, right? Wrong! Scheyer said he had wanted to play for the Dukies practically since he was a toddler, or something close to that. What’s another coach to do? Nothing, unfortunately. If Rose ends up going to Indiana, too, we’ll have our answer.
The more interesting question is what is Weber going to do with the available scholarship? We could find out pretty soon, since there must be some good players who have been waiting for the Gordon mystery to be resolved. Or, Weber might hold the offer and observe seniors who are just below the radar screen and are ready to bloom into terrific prospects.
Regardless of how it all plays out, at least the mind-numbing speculation is over, and we can start focusing on what should be another solid and entertaining Illini team. Think the Illini will be up for the games against the Hoosiers?
Still, two questions now move to the forefront: Was there anything the Illini did to lose Gordon and Rose? Who is coach Bruce Weber considering as a substitute for Gordon?
Da Blog’s hunch is that there was nothing done or said by Weber that lost either player. Remember Jon Scheyer of Glenbrook North High School? This terrific player was coached by Weber’s brother in high school and played Illinois’s motion offense. A perfect recruit for the Illini, right? Wrong! Scheyer said he had wanted to play for the Dukies practically since he was a toddler, or something close to that. What’s another coach to do? Nothing, unfortunately. If Rose ends up going to Indiana, too, we’ll have our answer.
The more interesting question is what is Weber going to do with the available scholarship? We could find out pretty soon, since there must be some good players who have been waiting for the Gordon mystery to be resolved. Or, Weber might hold the offer and observe seniors who are just below the radar screen and are ready to bloom into terrific prospects.
Regardless of how it all plays out, at least the mind-numbing speculation is over, and we can start focusing on what should be another solid and entertaining Illini team. Think the Illini will be up for the games against the Hoosiers?
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Some visitors questioned Da Blog’s sanity in proposing a starting lineup for the Illini hoopsters made up of Shaun Pruitt, Brian Carlwell, Marcus Arnold, Chester Frazier, and Jamar Smith. Where are the points going to come from, the visitor asked. Fair question.
Da Blog sees it this way. The Big Ten is a banger’s league. The play is rough and rougher. That is, it’s physical, and the tough guys usually win. Many times, 65 points will win a Big Ten game. And few Big Ten teams have more than one major scorer. So now the Illini have the Big Nasties in fast-improving 6-9, 245-pound Pruitt, 6-10, 275-pound space-eater Carlwell, and rugged 6-8, 250-pound Arnold. Frazier is a penetrator who is going to make life fun in the post for the big guys. Smith is a scoring machine.
But the points, the visitor repeats. Where do a good share of the points come from? From the rest of the team. Illinois may not have the best starting five, but it has a great 10-man rotation. Add firepower from Brian Randle, Rich McBride, Warren Carter, Calvin Brock, and Trent Meacham. Good for over 30 points, no? And who knows what the Illini will get from beefy C. J. Jackson and Richard Semrau.
Rebound like crazy and spread the floor for a fast-break offense. Sound like a plan?
Da Blog sees it this way. The Big Ten is a banger’s league. The play is rough and rougher. That is, it’s physical, and the tough guys usually win. Many times, 65 points will win a Big Ten game. And few Big Ten teams have more than one major scorer. So now the Illini have the Big Nasties in fast-improving 6-9, 245-pound Pruitt, 6-10, 275-pound space-eater Carlwell, and rugged 6-8, 250-pound Arnold. Frazier is a penetrator who is going to make life fun in the post for the big guys. Smith is a scoring machine.
But the points, the visitor repeats. Where do a good share of the points come from? From the rest of the team. Illinois may not have the best starting five, but it has a great 10-man rotation. Add firepower from Brian Randle, Rich McBride, Warren Carter, Calvin Brock, and Trent Meacham. Good for over 30 points, no? And who knows what the Illini will get from beefy C. J. Jackson and Richard Semrau.
Rebound like crazy and spread the floor for a fast-break offense. Sound like a plan?
Well Fighting Illini football fans, gotten over last weekend’s devastating 34-32 loss to Indiana? No, you’re still suffering from doubt, disbelief, and dubiousness? Still hoping you’re in a bad dream? Still trying to get home from Oz? Well, it’s true. We lost. And coach Ron Zook’s hopes of building a foundation for the football program took a disastrous hit on the Brick-O-Meter (BOM).
The BOM, which tracks the status of Zook’s plan, began with 100 bricks. After the MSU upset, it reached 967 bricks.
However, for losing to Indiana, a team Illinois was favored to beat, subtract 400 bricks. Ouch! Take away another 100 bricks for the two ill-fated attempts of two-point plays after the second and third touchdowns. That’s a no-no. Now give the offense overall 100 bricks for scoring 32 points in a single game. Hey! Hey! But on the other hand, take away 100 bricks for the defense surrendering 34 points. Ugh!
Penalize the special teams squad 50 bricks for allowing a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD. There’s something for film study during practice. And then there was that final drive to set up the winning TD. Subtract 100 bricks for that defensive meltdown. Or was it worse to give up a 25-7 lead? Worse. Cost: 150 bricks.
Yes, Da Blog recognized some notable, okay, thrilling, individual performances. But no more bricks for the defense, sorry. Let’s give Pierre Thomas 100 bricks for rushing for 126 yards and a TD. Kyle Hudson earns 100 bricks for the pile for his two TD’s. Da Blog especially liked the flea flicker from Juice Williams. Increase the pile by 50 bricks. Flea flickers are good. More of them, please.
In fact, how about trying this play: Juice gets the ball and throws it behind the line to Thomas, who throws it behind the line to EB Halsey, who throws it behind the line to DaJuan Warren, who throws the ball to Juice in the end zone. It’s easy. A natural winner. Put it in the playbook. Finally, add 50 bricks for the Warren-Jody Ellis TD and another 50 for the superlative kicking of Jason Reda.
So, a quick totaling up shows that the BOM stands at 517 bricks. And the foundation is collapsing.
The BOM, which tracks the status of Zook’s plan, began with 100 bricks. After the MSU upset, it reached 967 bricks.
However, for losing to Indiana, a team Illinois was favored to beat, subtract 400 bricks. Ouch! Take away another 100 bricks for the two ill-fated attempts of two-point plays after the second and third touchdowns. That’s a no-no. Now give the offense overall 100 bricks for scoring 32 points in a single game. Hey! Hey! But on the other hand, take away 100 bricks for the defense surrendering 34 points. Ugh!
Penalize the special teams squad 50 bricks for allowing a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD. There’s something for film study during practice. And then there was that final drive to set up the winning TD. Subtract 100 bricks for that defensive meltdown. Or was it worse to give up a 25-7 lead? Worse. Cost: 150 bricks.
Yes, Da Blog recognized some notable, okay, thrilling, individual performances. But no more bricks for the defense, sorry. Let’s give Pierre Thomas 100 bricks for rushing for 126 yards and a TD. Kyle Hudson earns 100 bricks for the pile for his two TD’s. Da Blog especially liked the flea flicker from Juice Williams. Increase the pile by 50 bricks. Flea flickers are good. More of them, please.
In fact, how about trying this play: Juice gets the ball and throws it behind the line to Thomas, who throws it behind the line to EB Halsey, who throws it behind the line to DaJuan Warren, who throws the ball to Juice in the end zone. It’s easy. A natural winner. Put it in the playbook. Finally, add 50 bricks for the Warren-Jody Ellis TD and another 50 for the superlative kicking of Jason Reda.
So, a quick totaling up shows that the BOM stands at 517 bricks. And the foundation is collapsing.
Since this weekend is the start of Midnight Madness, here's the 2006-07 Illinois Men's Basketball Schedule for your review.
Date Opponent Site Time TV
Friday, Oct. 27Orange & Blue Scrimmage Assembly Hall 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 1 Lewis (Exh.) Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 8 SIU-Edwardsville (Exh.) Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 13 Austin Peay State Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 15 Jackson State - Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17 Georgia Southern Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 19 Florida A&M Assembly Hall 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 21 Savannah State - Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 24 vs. Miami (OH) - Hoffman Estates, Ill. TBA
Saturday, Nov. 25 vs. TBA - Hoffman Estates, Ill. TBA
Tuesday, Nov. 28 Maryland Assembly Hall 6 p.m. ESPN (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
Saturday, Dec. 2 vs. Arizona Phoenix 4 p.m. ESPN (Hall of Fame Challenge)
Wednesday, Dec. 6 IUPUI Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9 vs. Illinois-Chicago Chicago TBA (Lexus December to Remember Classic)
Sunday, Dec. 17 Belmont Assembly Hall 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 vs. Missouri, St. Louis, Mo. 8 p.m. ESPN
(Busch Braggin' Rights)
Thursday, Dec. 21 Idaho State Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 29 vs. Xavier Cincinnati TBA
Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Michigan Ann Arbor. 7 p.m. ESPN+Local
Saturday, Jan. 6 Ohio State Assembly Hall 1 p.m. ESPN
Wednesday, Jan. 10 Iowa Assembly Hall 7 p.m. ESPN+Local
Sunday, Jan. 14 at Michigan State East Lansing. 12:30/3 CBS
Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Minnesota Minneapolis. 6 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Jan. 20 Wisconsin Assembly Hall 1 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Jan. 23 Indiana Assembly Hall 8 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, Jan. 27 at Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. 1:30 p.m. ESPN+Regional
Tuesday, Jan. 30 Michigan State Assembly Hall 8 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 3 Minnesota Assembly Hall 7 p.m. ESPN+Local
Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 6 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 10 at Indiana Bloomington. Noon CBS
Sunday, Feb. 18 Northwestern Assembly Hall 2 p.m. ESPN+Local
Wednesday, Feb. 21 Michigan Assembly Hall 6 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 24 at Penn State State College. 1 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, March 3 at Iowa, Iowa City. 11/1/3 CBS/ESPN/ESPN+
March 8-11 Big Ten Tournament Chicago TBA TBA
March 15-18 NCAA 1st/2nd Rounds TBA TBA CBS
March 22-25 NCAA Regionals TBA TBA CBS
March 31-April 2 NCAA Final Four TBA TBA CBS
Date Opponent Site Time TV
Friday, Oct. 27Orange & Blue Scrimmage Assembly Hall 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 1 Lewis (Exh.) Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 8 SIU-Edwardsville (Exh.) Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 13 Austin Peay State Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 15 Jackson State - Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17 Georgia Southern Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 19 Florida A&M Assembly Hall 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 21 Savannah State - Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 24 vs. Miami (OH) - Hoffman Estates, Ill. TBA
Saturday, Nov. 25 vs. TBA - Hoffman Estates, Ill. TBA
Tuesday, Nov. 28 Maryland Assembly Hall 6 p.m. ESPN (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
Saturday, Dec. 2 vs. Arizona Phoenix 4 p.m. ESPN (Hall of Fame Challenge)
Wednesday, Dec. 6 IUPUI Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9 vs. Illinois-Chicago Chicago TBA (Lexus December to Remember Classic)
Sunday, Dec. 17 Belmont Assembly Hall 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 vs. Missouri, St. Louis, Mo. 8 p.m. ESPN
(Busch Braggin' Rights)
Thursday, Dec. 21 Idaho State Assembly Hall 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 29 vs. Xavier Cincinnati TBA
Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Michigan Ann Arbor. 7 p.m. ESPN+Local
Saturday, Jan. 6 Ohio State Assembly Hall 1 p.m. ESPN
Wednesday, Jan. 10 Iowa Assembly Hall 7 p.m. ESPN+Local
Sunday, Jan. 14 at Michigan State East Lansing. 12:30/3 CBS
Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Minnesota Minneapolis. 6 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Jan. 20 Wisconsin Assembly Hall 1 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Jan. 23 Indiana Assembly Hall 8 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, Jan. 27 at Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. 1:30 p.m. ESPN+Regional
Tuesday, Jan. 30 Michigan State Assembly Hall 8 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 3 Minnesota Assembly Hall 7 p.m. ESPN+Local
Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 6 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 10 at Indiana Bloomington. Noon CBS
Sunday, Feb. 18 Northwestern Assembly Hall 2 p.m. ESPN+Local
Wednesday, Feb. 21 Michigan Assembly Hall 6 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 24 at Penn State State College. 1 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, March 3 at Iowa, Iowa City. 11/1/3 CBS/ESPN/ESPN+
March 8-11 Big Ten Tournament Chicago TBA TBA
March 15-18 NCAA 1st/2nd Rounds TBA TBA CBS
March 22-25 NCAA Regionals TBA TBA CBS
March 31-April 2 NCAA Final Four TBA TBA CBS
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Since we're in the middle--or should we say muddle?-- of the college football season, it is probably premature to be thinking about the Fighting Illini basketball team. But when you consider the prospects of the football team...let's talk hoops.
Sports media reports are speculating about the starting lineup. Warren Carter is being hyped as James Augustine's replacement. Well, let Da Blog tell you, we have seen Warren Silver, er Warren Carter, and he is no James Augustine! Some games last year he was not even Warren Carter. Granted, Carter plays hard and has rarely seen a shot he doesn't like. And occasionally he hits a key shot and snares a key rebound or two. Clearly, he's a fan favorite (including Da Blog). But a starter, no.
Right now, Da Blog sees the rotation this way:
Center--Shaun Pruitt, tall, strong, getting more comfortable with Big Ten competition. Could have a breakout year.
Power forward--Brian Carlwell, 6-10 shotblocker and rebounder, tough defender, space-eater at 275 pounds who runs the floor like Augie.
Shooting forward--Marcus Arnold, strong, good post shooter, good rebounder, starred on Big Ten summer touring team.
Point guard--Chester Frazier, good ball handler and penetrator.
Shooting guard--Jamar Smith, a scoring machine spotting up or coming off screens frrom the big guys.
Anybody ready for some basketball?
Latest on the Eric Gordon situation? Nobody knows, perhaps not even Gordon. But Da Blog's hunch is that he's coming to Champaign. Because if he's not, he would have said so by now.
Sports media reports are speculating about the starting lineup. Warren Carter is being hyped as James Augustine's replacement. Well, let Da Blog tell you, we have seen Warren Silver, er Warren Carter, and he is no James Augustine! Some games last year he was not even Warren Carter. Granted, Carter plays hard and has rarely seen a shot he doesn't like. And occasionally he hits a key shot and snares a key rebound or two. Clearly, he's a fan favorite (including Da Blog). But a starter, no.
Right now, Da Blog sees the rotation this way:
Center--Shaun Pruitt, tall, strong, getting more comfortable with Big Ten competition. Could have a breakout year.
Power forward--Brian Carlwell, 6-10 shotblocker and rebounder, tough defender, space-eater at 275 pounds who runs the floor like Augie.
Shooting forward--Marcus Arnold, strong, good post shooter, good rebounder, starred on Big Ten summer touring team.
Point guard--Chester Frazier, good ball handler and penetrator.
Shooting guard--Jamar Smith, a scoring machine spotting up or coming off screens frrom the big guys.
Anybody ready for some basketball?
Latest on the Eric Gordon situation? Nobody knows, perhaps not even Gordon. But Da Blog's hunch is that he's coming to Champaign. Because if he's not, he would have said so by now.
Uh oh! Da Blog was afraid this explanation was coming from the Chicago Bears.
It’s about the question Da Blog raised recently: Why were the defensive starters playing at the end of the game against Buffalo with the score 40-0? Da Blog hoped the Bears would not say something like shutouts are a part of this team’s goals.
But that’s exactly what they said.
Here are the lame justifications given by Bear coaches:
Shutouts are a major way to judge the team instead of the individual.
It is worth the risk of a season-ending injury to Brian Urlacher or Tommie Harris or others to go for a shutout.
The chance of such an injury occurring in one or two series is minimal.
The starters would get mad at defensive reserves who could not preserve a shutout with little time left in the game.
What kind of flawed logic is all of this? Aristotle must be turning over in his grave right about now.
Da Blog is sorry, but risking injury to go for a shutout makes no sense. The last time Da Blog looked at the standings, which was a few minutes ago, teams were ranked by the number of wins they had compiled. Funny thing, Da Blog did not see anything about shutouts. And Da Blog does not recall shutouts being a factor in tiebreakers if they come into play at the end of the season.
And the belief that no season-ending injuries occur at the end of a game? Sources please. It seems as if such injuries can happen at any time. Ask Rex Grossman.
The starters’ resentment as a factor? If that’s the case, the Bears are doomed. Da Blog won’t even address the touchy-feely issue of this factor, other than ask what ever happened to team spirit? Instead, Da Blog wonders how much gas the starters will have left in their tanks if they play the entire game for the majority of weeks? Da Blog concedes that the Bears could be pitching shutouts in the majority of their games.
Perhaps the most disturbing issue in this mess is about control. If the coaches are calling the shots, it’s bad. Stop this approach immediately and use the reserves. But if it’s the defensive starters commanding the voyage, this ship is going down.
It’s about the question Da Blog raised recently: Why were the defensive starters playing at the end of the game against Buffalo with the score 40-0? Da Blog hoped the Bears would not say something like shutouts are a part of this team’s goals.
But that’s exactly what they said.
Here are the lame justifications given by Bear coaches:
Shutouts are a major way to judge the team instead of the individual.
It is worth the risk of a season-ending injury to Brian Urlacher or Tommie Harris or others to go for a shutout.
The chance of such an injury occurring in one or two series is minimal.
The starters would get mad at defensive reserves who could not preserve a shutout with little time left in the game.
What kind of flawed logic is all of this? Aristotle must be turning over in his grave right about now.
Da Blog is sorry, but risking injury to go for a shutout makes no sense. The last time Da Blog looked at the standings, which was a few minutes ago, teams were ranked by the number of wins they had compiled. Funny thing, Da Blog did not see anything about shutouts. And Da Blog does not recall shutouts being a factor in tiebreakers if they come into play at the end of the season.
And the belief that no season-ending injuries occur at the end of a game? Sources please. It seems as if such injuries can happen at any time. Ask Rex Grossman.
The starters’ resentment as a factor? If that’s the case, the Bears are doomed. Da Blog won’t even address the touchy-feely issue of this factor, other than ask what ever happened to team spirit? Instead, Da Blog wonders how much gas the starters will have left in their tanks if they play the entire game for the majority of weeks? Da Blog concedes that the Bears could be pitching shutouts in the majority of their games.
Perhaps the most disturbing issue in this mess is about control. If the coaches are calling the shots, it’s bad. Stop this approach immediately and use the reserves. But if it’s the defensive starters commanding the voyage, this ship is going down.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Da Blog loves all the stats recorded in last weekend’s Chicago Bears’s 40-7 romp over the Buffalo Bills, but we have a favorite: Bears defensive end Mark Anderson leads all NFL rookies with 3.5 sacks. The amazing rookie got two sacks against Buffalo. Says coach Lovie Smith of the season’s fastest rising defensive star (Rex is the offensive star): “He will eventually be a good football player down the line.” Well, Da Blog would say “eventually” has arrived. Can you believe he was a fifth-round draft pick?
Other stunning stats from the Buffalo game:
Total plays—Bears 72, Bills 48.
Possession—Bears 37:32, Bills 22.29. Seems like the mean old Bears just wouldn’t let Buffalo play!
Rushing—Bills, Willis McGahee 50 yards.
Longest run 11 yards.
Remember, this guy came into the game as the LEADING rusher in the league!
Other stunning stats from the Buffalo game:
Total plays—Bears 72, Bills 48.
Possession—Bears 37:32, Bills 22.29. Seems like the mean old Bears just wouldn’t let Buffalo play!
Rushing—Bills, Willis McGahee 50 yards.
Longest run 11 yards.
Remember, this guy came into the game as the LEADING rusher in the league!
With half the regular college football season over, the Illini (2-4) need to turn up their efficiency a notch or two to finish with a respectable 2006 campaign. A victory over the Ohio Bobcats (3-3) of the Mid-American Conference Saturday evening in Memorial Stadium is crucial. This game is winnable although it might be competitive. Preseason ratings had Illinois 72nd and Ohio 97th out of 119 Division-AA teams.
The Bobcats have played two ranked teams, losing 31-6 to 19th ranked Missouri and 24-7 to 23rd ranked Rutgers. Yep, the same Rutgers team that murdered the Illini 33-0. Ohio also beat a good Northern Illinois (4-2) team 35-23. Ohio quarterback Austen Everson has thrown six TD passes and has been intercepted four times. Illini qb Juice Williams has thrown five TD passes and has had five passes picked off.
Da Blog expects the Illini to rebound from the 34-32 loss to Indiana. Pierre Thomas is due for a monster game, and this game should be the one. Juice Williams has another game under his belt. Look for him to spread the ball around more often—although he should look for Kyle Hudson first. A breakout game for Rashard Mendenhall? Da Blog is giddy about his chances against Ohio. In all respects, actually, the Illini can accomplish a lot in this game. Assuming, that is, that coach Ron Zook has abandoned his inclination to go for two-point plays after TD’s.
The Bobcats have played two ranked teams, losing 31-6 to 19th ranked Missouri and 24-7 to 23rd ranked Rutgers. Yep, the same Rutgers team that murdered the Illini 33-0. Ohio also beat a good Northern Illinois (4-2) team 35-23. Ohio quarterback Austen Everson has thrown six TD passes and has been intercepted four times. Illini qb Juice Williams has thrown five TD passes and has had five passes picked off.
Da Blog expects the Illini to rebound from the 34-32 loss to Indiana. Pierre Thomas is due for a monster game, and this game should be the one. Juice Williams has another game under his belt. Look for him to spread the ball around more often—although he should look for Kyle Hudson first. A breakout game for Rashard Mendenhall? Da Blog is giddy about his chances against Ohio. In all respects, actually, the Illini can accomplish a lot in this game. Assuming, that is, that coach Ron Zook has abandoned his inclination to go for two-point plays after TD’s.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Da Blog's confidence in Illini football coach Ron Zook took a big hit after last weekend's 34-32 loss to Indiana. The Illini chose to go for two-point plays after their second and third TD's and were stopped both times. Instead of taking a 21-7 lead, they had to settle for a 19-7 lead. Sure could have used the two sacrificed points at the end of the game.
Okay, the Illini had other missed opportunities to score points. But they sure could have used the two sacrificed points at the end of the game.
Okay, the Illini should have tackled Marcus Thigpen on his 98-yard kickoff return for a TD. But they sure could have used the two sacrificed points at the end of the game.
Zook's explanation for passing up the two extra-point kicks by Mr. Automatic Jason Reda? "Indiana was set up to block the kick."
Huh? What does that mean? Doesn't every defensive team set up in a way it thinks it can block the kick? This explanation is really lame. Sure could have used the two sacrificed points at the end of the game.
Okay, the Illini had other missed opportunities to score points. But they sure could have used the two sacrificed points at the end of the game.
Okay, the Illini should have tackled Marcus Thigpen on his 98-yard kickoff return for a TD. But they sure could have used the two sacrificed points at the end of the game.
Zook's explanation for passing up the two extra-point kicks by Mr. Automatic Jason Reda? "Indiana was set up to block the kick."
Huh? What does that mean? Doesn't every defensive team set up in a way it thinks it can block the kick? This explanation is really lame. Sure could have used the two sacrificed points at the end of the game.
After the Chicago Bears won their second game, against the Lions, Da Blog suggested that it was probably too early to start getting excited (“going looney” were the exact words) about the Bears’s chance to get to, and win, the Super Bowl. Everyone agreed that the defense was sensational, but there were still questions about the offense.
Lovie attempted to keep the defense on its toes by giving the group a pop quiz on the upcoming game against the 2-0 Vikings. Lovie then began to give the quiz before every game. As you may recall, it went like this:
Linemen, what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission, that’s our goal.
That’s good. Now linemen, with a runner or receiver on the loose, you’ll redirect him?
We’ll disconnect him.
If he attempts to make a dash?
We’ll smash and bash him.
If he looks like trouble?
We’ll turn him into rubble.
You’ll eradicate him?
We’ll terminate him.
He’ll feel fear?
He’ll disappear.
You’ll deflate him?
We’ll obliterate him.
That’s very good, linemen, very good.
Linebackers, what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission and that’s our goal.
Now, linebackers, if an opponent shows no respect?
We’ll vivisect him.
You’ll sock ‘em?
We’ll rock ‘em.
You’ll resize him?
We’ll pulverize him.
You’ll smear him?
We’ll spear him.
That’s very good, linebackers, very good.
Linebackers, what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission and that’s our goal.
Now defensive backs, if an enemy enters your area, you’ll engage him?
We’ll rearrange him.
From fore to aft?
He’ll feel a draft.
You’ll redesign him?
We’ll realign him.
You’ll separate him?
We’ll demarcate him.
You’ll open wide him?
We’ll subdivide him.
Oh my, that’s very good, defensive backs, very good.
And what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission and that’s our goal.
In recent games, the offense has caught up to the defense, creating the machine that smashed the Buffalo Bills yesterday 40-7.
Do the Bears have any weaknesses? Perhaps one. The coaches and players, while clearly enthusiastic about winning, are taking risks that might jack up statistics but possibly hurt the team in the long run. Hurt, as in injury.
Can the running game function as well without Thomas Jones? Lovie wisely took Rex out when the game was won. Why risk injury to Jones just so he could surpass the 100-yard mark?
And, similarly, why were Brian Urlacher and most of the other starters on defense still playing in the fourth quarter when the score was 40-0? Just to pitch a shutout? Does, or should, anyone care whether the team wins 40-7 or 40-0? Do the Bears think they are so good that they can be effective if injuries put down Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Alex Brown, Ricky Manning Jr., or other starters? Could happen. So let’s play smart. It’s a dangerous world out there.
Lovie attempted to keep the defense on its toes by giving the group a pop quiz on the upcoming game against the 2-0 Vikings. Lovie then began to give the quiz before every game. As you may recall, it went like this:
Linemen, what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission, that’s our goal.
That’s good. Now linemen, with a runner or receiver on the loose, you’ll redirect him?
We’ll disconnect him.
If he attempts to make a dash?
We’ll smash and bash him.
If he looks like trouble?
We’ll turn him into rubble.
You’ll eradicate him?
We’ll terminate him.
He’ll feel fear?
He’ll disappear.
You’ll deflate him?
We’ll obliterate him.
That’s very good, linemen, very good.
Linebackers, what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission and that’s our goal.
Now, linebackers, if an opponent shows no respect?
We’ll vivisect him.
You’ll sock ‘em?
We’ll rock ‘em.
You’ll resize him?
We’ll pulverize him.
You’ll smear him?
We’ll spear him.
That’s very good, linebackers, very good.
Linebackers, what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission and that’s our goal.
Now defensive backs, if an enemy enters your area, you’ll engage him?
We’ll rearrange him.
From fore to aft?
He’ll feel a draft.
You’ll redesign him?
We’ll realign him.
You’ll separate him?
We’ll demarcate him.
You’ll open wide him?
We’ll subdivide him.
Oh my, that’s very good, defensive backs, very good.
And what’s our goal?
Super Bowl, Super Bowl, that’s our mission and that’s our goal.
In recent games, the offense has caught up to the defense, creating the machine that smashed the Buffalo Bills yesterday 40-7.
Do the Bears have any weaknesses? Perhaps one. The coaches and players, while clearly enthusiastic about winning, are taking risks that might jack up statistics but possibly hurt the team in the long run. Hurt, as in injury.
Can the running game function as well without Thomas Jones? Lovie wisely took Rex out when the game was won. Why risk injury to Jones just so he could surpass the 100-yard mark?
And, similarly, why were Brian Urlacher and most of the other starters on defense still playing in the fourth quarter when the score was 40-0? Just to pitch a shutout? Does, or should, anyone care whether the team wins 40-7 or 40-0? Do the Bears think they are so good that they can be effective if injuries put down Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Alex Brown, Ricky Manning Jr., or other starters? Could happen. So let’s play smart. It’s a dangerous world out there.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Don Larsen: Baseball Legend
This year’s postseason marks the 50th anniversary of the only perfect game ever thrown in a World Series
Larsen's connection to Chicago is that he pitched for both the White Sox and Cubs, as well as the Yankees and other teams. His years in the Windy City are described in a little more detail in one of the Saturday postings below the present essay.
Don Larsen never became a consistent winning pitcher in the major leagues. He never won more than 11 games in any year. He once lost 21 games in a single season. But 50 years ago today, on Oct. 8, 1956, the New York Yankee hurler thrilled—and amazed—the baseball world. He pitched a perfect game in the World Series.
The 1956 Series between the Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers was tied at two games apiece. Larsen got the call to start the pivotal Game 5 in Yankee Stadium. He pitched magnificently and came to the mound in the ninth inning trying to protect a 2-0 Yankee lead and a no-hitter. And he did it, perfectly, walking off the mound a legend in his time. A perfect game—27 batters up and 27 batters down. No Dodger had reached base on a hit, a walk, an error, or any other way. The game also ranked as the only no-hitter in major league postseason play. It sparked the Yankees to victory in the Series in seven games. Larsen was named the Series’ Most Valuable Player.
Larsen’s career in the major leagues spanned 14 years. After his masterpiece, Larsen achieved little further success on the diamond. He ended his career in the majors with 81 wins and 91 losses. But then, there’s that perfect game. Because it occurred at the highest level of baseball competition—the World Series—experts still rate it among baseball’s greatest games.
Don James Larsen was born on Aug. 7, 1929, in Michigan City, Indiana. He grew up in San Diego, California, and began his professional baseball career with the St. Louis Browns. Larsen made his major league debut with the Browns on April 18, 1953. A big right-hander, Larsen stood 6 feet 4 inches and weighed about 225 pounds. In 1954, the Browns became the Baltimore Orioles. The 1954 season was disastrous for Larsen. He won 3 games and lost 21, leading the American League in losses. After the season, the Orioles traded Larsen to the New York Yankees in a multiplayer deal.
The 1956 Fall Classic renewed the crosstown rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees had beaten the Dodgers in the World Series in 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, and 1953. The Dodgers had defeated the Yankees in 1955 and reigned as defending world champs.
The 27-year-old Larsen entered the 1956 Series with a regular season record of 11 wins and 5 losses, the best of his career. The Dodgers won Game 1 of the Series 6-3. Yankee manager Casey Stengel named Larsen to pitch Game 2. Larsen pitched poorly, walking four men and giving up four runs in 1 2/3 innings. The Dodgers won 13-8.
The Yankees beat Brooklyn 5-3 in Game 3 and 6-2 in Game 4. With the series tied, Stengel chose Larsen to pitch Game 5. “I threw mostly fastballs, with some sliders and a few curves,” Larsen later recalled in an interview with Baseball Digest magazine. “I never had such good control in my life…. Five of my seven strikeouts were called third strikes. I was throwing the ball right on the back of the plate.”
In fact, Larsen’s control was so good that he reached a ball-three count on only one Dodger, shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the first inning. In addition, only a few batted balls came close to being hits. The first one occurred in the second inning when Dodger second baseman Jackie Robinson smashed a grounder that bounced off the glove of third baseman Andy Carey. Luckily, however, the ball ricocheted right to shortstop Gil McDougald, who snagged it and threw out Robinson at first. In the fourth inning, center fielder Duke Snider blasted a ball with home-run distance, but it went foul.
In the fifth inning, Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges launched a ball deep into left center field that looked certain to fall for extra bases. But speedy Yankee center fielder Mickey Mantle, racing with his back to the infield, made an outstretched, over-the-shoulder, backhanded catch. Yankee fans cheered wildly. But their relief was short-lived.
The next batter, left fielder Sandy Amoros, crushed a ball with home-run potential to right. The ball, however, curved at the last moment and landed foul by about a foot. In the eighth inning, Hodges got robbed again when he hit a low infield liner. Carey stabbed it inches off the ground. But the catch was so close to the ground that Carey threw to first to erase any doubt.
The Yankees led 2-0 as they took the field in the ninth inning. Mantle had hit a solo homer in the fourth, and right fielder Hank Bauer had driven in Carey with a single in the sixth. The big righty knew he was pitching a no-hitter. As the game progressed, he had noticed his teammates and coaches moving away from him in the dugout and not speaking to him. Larsen later told Michael Aubrecht in an essay for Baseball Almanac that “nobody would sit by me, nobody would talk to me—like I had the plague.”
Larsen understood they were observing a baseball superstition demanding that no one talk to, or about, a pitcher throwing a no-hitter. However, Larsen didn’t believe in the superstition. After the seventh inning, he approached Mantle and suggested the possibility of a no-hitter. Mantle refused to say anything and walked away from Larsen. It was classic baseball.
A deafening roar of applause and screaming welcomed Larsen as he walked to the mound in the ninth inning. Right-fielder Carl Furillo led off the inning. In The Perfect Yankee, a book Larsen wrote about the game with Mark Shaw, Larsen admitted he was “a nervous wreck…with sweaty palms.” He also wrote: “Throw strikes,” I reminded myself, “throw strikes. But my brain was buzzing so much, and my arms felt heavy, and I wasn’t certain whether I’d throw the first pitch five feet short of home plate or five feet over Furillo’s head.” Furillo fouled off Larsen’s first two pitches. Then he took a ball and fouled off the following two offerings. Finally, he lifted a routine fly to Bauer in right. Next, Roy Campanella, the National League’s top hitting catcher, stepped up. He smashed Larsen’s first pitch foul to left. He then poked an easy grounder to second baseman Billy Martin for the second out.
Dodger pitcher Sal Maglie was due up, but Dale Mitchell came in to pinch-hit. Mitchell, like most of the Dodgers, possessed impressive batting credentials. In 1949, with the Cleveland Indians, he led the American League in hits with 203. In about 4,000 career at bats, he had struck out only 119 times and carried a lifetime batting average of .312. In his book Perfect, James Buckley Jr. describes Larsen’s recollection of his feelings when he faced Mitchell: “I was so weak in the knees out there, I thought I was going to faint. I was so nervous, I almost fell down. My legs felt rubbery, and my fingers didn’t feel like they were on my hand. I said to myself, ‘Please help me out, somebody.’”
Larsen’s first pitch to Mitchell was a ball. The next two were strikes, the first called and the second swinging. Mitchell fouled off the fourth pitch. Then Larsen launched his 97th pitch of the game. Mitchell thought it was wide and made a half swing before holding up. Plate umpire Babe Pinelli called it strike three.
The moment, as the more than 61,000 fans in attendance would say, was magical. The only no-hitter in major league postseason play. The only perfect game in World Series history. Don Larsen had become a baseball immortal.
For further information on Larsen's World Series perfect game:
Box score and photo of ticket stub
Play-by-play sheet
Link to listen to radio broadcast (see under inning-by-inning line score)
This year’s postseason marks the 50th anniversary of the only perfect game ever thrown in a World Series
Larsen's connection to Chicago is that he pitched for both the White Sox and Cubs, as well as the Yankees and other teams. His years in the Windy City are described in a little more detail in one of the Saturday postings below the present essay.
Don Larsen never became a consistent winning pitcher in the major leagues. He never won more than 11 games in any year. He once lost 21 games in a single season. But 50 years ago today, on Oct. 8, 1956, the New York Yankee hurler thrilled—and amazed—the baseball world. He pitched a perfect game in the World Series.
The 1956 Series between the Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers was tied at two games apiece. Larsen got the call to start the pivotal Game 5 in Yankee Stadium. He pitched magnificently and came to the mound in the ninth inning trying to protect a 2-0 Yankee lead and a no-hitter. And he did it, perfectly, walking off the mound a legend in his time. A perfect game—27 batters up and 27 batters down. No Dodger had reached base on a hit, a walk, an error, or any other way. The game also ranked as the only no-hitter in major league postseason play. It sparked the Yankees to victory in the Series in seven games. Larsen was named the Series’ Most Valuable Player.
Larsen’s career in the major leagues spanned 14 years. After his masterpiece, Larsen achieved little further success on the diamond. He ended his career in the majors with 81 wins and 91 losses. But then, there’s that perfect game. Because it occurred at the highest level of baseball competition—the World Series—experts still rate it among baseball’s greatest games.
Don James Larsen was born on Aug. 7, 1929, in Michigan City, Indiana. He grew up in San Diego, California, and began his professional baseball career with the St. Louis Browns. Larsen made his major league debut with the Browns on April 18, 1953. A big right-hander, Larsen stood 6 feet 4 inches and weighed about 225 pounds. In 1954, the Browns became the Baltimore Orioles. The 1954 season was disastrous for Larsen. He won 3 games and lost 21, leading the American League in losses. After the season, the Orioles traded Larsen to the New York Yankees in a multiplayer deal.
The 1956 Fall Classic renewed the crosstown rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees had beaten the Dodgers in the World Series in 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, and 1953. The Dodgers had defeated the Yankees in 1955 and reigned as defending world champs.
The 27-year-old Larsen entered the 1956 Series with a regular season record of 11 wins and 5 losses, the best of his career. The Dodgers won Game 1 of the Series 6-3. Yankee manager Casey Stengel named Larsen to pitch Game 2. Larsen pitched poorly, walking four men and giving up four runs in 1 2/3 innings. The Dodgers won 13-8.
The Yankees beat Brooklyn 5-3 in Game 3 and 6-2 in Game 4. With the series tied, Stengel chose Larsen to pitch Game 5. “I threw mostly fastballs, with some sliders and a few curves,” Larsen later recalled in an interview with Baseball Digest magazine. “I never had such good control in my life…. Five of my seven strikeouts were called third strikes. I was throwing the ball right on the back of the plate.”
In fact, Larsen’s control was so good that he reached a ball-three count on only one Dodger, shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the first inning. In addition, only a few batted balls came close to being hits. The first one occurred in the second inning when Dodger second baseman Jackie Robinson smashed a grounder that bounced off the glove of third baseman Andy Carey. Luckily, however, the ball ricocheted right to shortstop Gil McDougald, who snagged it and threw out Robinson at first. In the fourth inning, center fielder Duke Snider blasted a ball with home-run distance, but it went foul.
In the fifth inning, Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges launched a ball deep into left center field that looked certain to fall for extra bases. But speedy Yankee center fielder Mickey Mantle, racing with his back to the infield, made an outstretched, over-the-shoulder, backhanded catch. Yankee fans cheered wildly. But their relief was short-lived.
The next batter, left fielder Sandy Amoros, crushed a ball with home-run potential to right. The ball, however, curved at the last moment and landed foul by about a foot. In the eighth inning, Hodges got robbed again when he hit a low infield liner. Carey stabbed it inches off the ground. But the catch was so close to the ground that Carey threw to first to erase any doubt.
The Yankees led 2-0 as they took the field in the ninth inning. Mantle had hit a solo homer in the fourth, and right fielder Hank Bauer had driven in Carey with a single in the sixth. The big righty knew he was pitching a no-hitter. As the game progressed, he had noticed his teammates and coaches moving away from him in the dugout and not speaking to him. Larsen later told Michael Aubrecht in an essay for Baseball Almanac that “nobody would sit by me, nobody would talk to me—like I had the plague.”
Larsen understood they were observing a baseball superstition demanding that no one talk to, or about, a pitcher throwing a no-hitter. However, Larsen didn’t believe in the superstition. After the seventh inning, he approached Mantle and suggested the possibility of a no-hitter. Mantle refused to say anything and walked away from Larsen. It was classic baseball.
A deafening roar of applause and screaming welcomed Larsen as he walked to the mound in the ninth inning. Right-fielder Carl Furillo led off the inning. In The Perfect Yankee, a book Larsen wrote about the game with Mark Shaw, Larsen admitted he was “a nervous wreck…with sweaty palms.” He also wrote: “Throw strikes,” I reminded myself, “throw strikes. But my brain was buzzing so much, and my arms felt heavy, and I wasn’t certain whether I’d throw the first pitch five feet short of home plate or five feet over Furillo’s head.” Furillo fouled off Larsen’s first two pitches. Then he took a ball and fouled off the following two offerings. Finally, he lifted a routine fly to Bauer in right. Next, Roy Campanella, the National League’s top hitting catcher, stepped up. He smashed Larsen’s first pitch foul to left. He then poked an easy grounder to second baseman Billy Martin for the second out.
Dodger pitcher Sal Maglie was due up, but Dale Mitchell came in to pinch-hit. Mitchell, like most of the Dodgers, possessed impressive batting credentials. In 1949, with the Cleveland Indians, he led the American League in hits with 203. In about 4,000 career at bats, he had struck out only 119 times and carried a lifetime batting average of .312. In his book Perfect, James Buckley Jr. describes Larsen’s recollection of his feelings when he faced Mitchell: “I was so weak in the knees out there, I thought I was going to faint. I was so nervous, I almost fell down. My legs felt rubbery, and my fingers didn’t feel like they were on my hand. I said to myself, ‘Please help me out, somebody.’”
Larsen’s first pitch to Mitchell was a ball. The next two were strikes, the first called and the second swinging. Mitchell fouled off the fourth pitch. Then Larsen launched his 97th pitch of the game. Mitchell thought it was wide and made a half swing before holding up. Plate umpire Babe Pinelli called it strike three.
The moment, as the more than 61,000 fans in attendance would say, was magical. The only no-hitter in major league postseason play. The only perfect game in World Series history. Don Larsen had become a baseball immortal.
For further information on Larsen's World Series perfect game:
Box score and photo of ticket stub
Play-by-play sheet
Link to listen to radio broadcast (see under inning-by-inning line score)
Saturday, October 07, 2006
The freshman quarterback is under the gun. His team needs a score to win. He starts a drive some 60 yards away from the opponent's goal line. There are only a few minutes remaining in the game. The Homecoming crowd is breathing heavily. The ground game picks up some yards. The passing game clicks in. The ball reaches field goal range. The clock shows less than 10 ticks left. The field goal kick is in the air. It's good! UPSET! UPSET!
Illinois wins 23-20!
Now read the same story with this ending: ....the field goal kick is in the air. It's good! Upset! Upset!
Indiana wins 34-32!
Note the differences: The lllini victory--over the Spartans--was BIG! The Illini loss to Indiana was a smaller upset. Sure Illini fans are upset with the upset. But, hey, the Illini were in the game to the end, not like in last year's 36-13 loss.
Let's look at it another way. If Illinois had the option of keeping the win over MSU and the loss to IU or replaying both games from the start, what would it do? Da Blog would say no contest: keep the UPSET and the upset.
Regarding the Illinois-Indiana game, the main question from Illini fans and everyone else in the world no doubt will be: coach Zook, what were you thinking by attempting the two-point play following two touchdowns. You know, the two that failed. Ouch!
No matter, the result is what it is. What can Illinois take away from it? First, kidnap Marcus Thigpen, he of the 4.2 speed in the 40 and author of a 98-yard kickoff return that stunned the Illini. Let's also acknowledge that the Illini defense, which bent all day, finally broke by allowing a 65-yard scoring drive to end the game.
Still, there were some stellar individual Illini performances. Pierre Thomas seems to be getting stronger, racking up 126 yards rushing. Kyle Hudson added two more TD receptions. DaJuan Warren teamed up with Jody Ellis on another neat TD pass. On defense, Alan Ball, Derek Walker, and J leman continued their admirable play.
Did someone say he saw IU coach Terry Hoeppner talking to Illini recruits?
Illinois wins 23-20!
Now read the same story with this ending: ....the field goal kick is in the air. It's good! Upset! Upset!
Indiana wins 34-32!
Note the differences: The lllini victory--over the Spartans--was BIG! The Illini loss to Indiana was a smaller upset. Sure Illini fans are upset with the upset. But, hey, the Illini were in the game to the end, not like in last year's 36-13 loss.
Let's look at it another way. If Illinois had the option of keeping the win over MSU and the loss to IU or replaying both games from the start, what would it do? Da Blog would say no contest: keep the UPSET and the upset.
Regarding the Illinois-Indiana game, the main question from Illini fans and everyone else in the world no doubt will be: coach Zook, what were you thinking by attempting the two-point play following two touchdowns. You know, the two that failed. Ouch!
No matter, the result is what it is. What can Illinois take away from it? First, kidnap Marcus Thigpen, he of the 4.2 speed in the 40 and author of a 98-yard kickoff return that stunned the Illini. Let's also acknowledge that the Illini defense, which bent all day, finally broke by allowing a 65-yard scoring drive to end the game.
Still, there were some stellar individual Illini performances. Pierre Thomas seems to be getting stronger, racking up 126 yards rushing. Kyle Hudson added two more TD receptions. DaJuan Warren teamed up with Jody Ellis on another neat TD pass. On defense, Alan Ball, Derek Walker, and J leman continued their admirable play.
Did someone say he saw IU coach Terry Hoeppner talking to Illini recruits?
Da Blog tomorrow will commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest events in baseball history. It will take a look back at the historic no-hitter pitched by New York Yankee hurler Don Larsen against the Brooklyn Dodgers on Oct. 8, 1956, in the 1956 World Series.
Larsen played for a number of teams in the majors, including both Chicago baseball teams. He was traded by Kansas City to the White Sox on June 10, l961. He pitched in 25 games for the White Sox that season, compiling a 7-2 record. He played for the San Francisco Giants the next season and then bounced around the majors. His last major league team was the Cubs, in 1967. Larsen pitched in three games for the Cubs, with no wins or losses. His final game in the majors occurred on July 7, 1967.
Larsen played for a number of teams in the majors, including both Chicago baseball teams. He was traded by Kansas City to the White Sox on June 10, l961. He pitched in 25 games for the White Sox that season, compiling a 7-2 record. He played for the San Francisco Giants the next season and then bounced around the majors. His last major league team was the Cubs, in 1967. Larsen pitched in three games for the Cubs, with no wins or losses. His final game in the majors occurred on July 7, 1967.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Seems as if there are three main choices to replace Dusty Baker as manager of the Chicago Cubs. They are fiery Lou Piniella, reserved Bob Brenly, and former Cub Joe Girardi. All three have World Series experience. But so did Baker. All three are popular with fans and players. But so was Baker. All three are in the call it as he sees it group, good or bad. But, hey, Baker was like that, too. Clearly, all three candidates know baseball. But so did Baker.
So who’s our man? Da Blog favors Piniella.
He’s a character and, as such, another reason to go to Wrigley. He won’t make the Cubs a winner. Only Zeus could do that, but reports are that he’s got his hands full keeping the other Greek gods in check.
According to published reports, Piniella has been called one of the most-ejected managers in baseball history.
He has been known to enter crazed states from time to time.
He has kicked coffee makers.
He has wrestled some of his players in the clubhouse.
He has been a frequent star of ESPN’s “When Managers Go Wild” videos.
He once ripped first base from the field and gave it a fling.
He once let his players color his hair if they won three games in a row. They did—and Piniella became a platinum blond.
And Piniella is not too patient with pitchers—hey, the Cubs just set a major league season record for changing pitchers!
Welcome to Chicago, Lou.
For pictures of Lou at some of his most "demonstrative" moments, see here, here, and here.
So who’s our man? Da Blog favors Piniella.
He’s a character and, as such, another reason to go to Wrigley. He won’t make the Cubs a winner. Only Zeus could do that, but reports are that he’s got his hands full keeping the other Greek gods in check.
According to published reports, Piniella has been called one of the most-ejected managers in baseball history.
He has been known to enter crazed states from time to time.
He has kicked coffee makers.
He has wrestled some of his players in the clubhouse.
He has been a frequent star of ESPN’s “When Managers Go Wild” videos.
He once ripped first base from the field and gave it a fling.
He once let his players color his hair if they won three games in a row. They did—and Piniella became a platinum blond.
And Piniella is not too patient with pitchers—hey, the Cubs just set a major league season record for changing pitchers!
Welcome to Chicago, Lou.
For pictures of Lou at some of his most "demonstrative" moments, see here, here, and here.
Da Blog yesterday summed up the Buffalo Bills's chance of beating the Chicago Bears this weekend as none. A little more reasoning: the Bills have one main offensive weapon--league-leading rusher Willis McGahee. But one of the Bears's strengths is stopping the run, especially in the Red Zone. The defense is drooling at the Bills's one-dimensional attack.
The Bears's strength, on the other hand, is their wide-open passing game. Buffalo cannot focus on one man the way the Bears can on McGahee. Bernard Berrian's ability to catch bombs (NFL leader with three TD receptions, four catches of 40+ yards) provides opportunities underneath for a great corps of receivers. This talented group includes Muhsin Muhammad, Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley, Desmond Clark, and John Gilmore.
Other statistics show:
Passer rating:
Rex Grossman--100.8 (4th in NFL)
J. P. Losman--90.6 (20th)
TD passes:
Grossman--8 (2nd)
Losman--3 (20th)
Passing yards:
Grossman--1,061 (5th)
Losman--797 (22nd)
Overall TD's:
Bears 11 (2 rushing, 8 passing, 1 punt return)
Bills 7 (3 rushing, 3 passing, 1 fumble recovery)
The Bears's strength, on the other hand, is their wide-open passing game. Buffalo cannot focus on one man the way the Bears can on McGahee. Bernard Berrian's ability to catch bombs (NFL leader with three TD receptions, four catches of 40+ yards) provides opportunities underneath for a great corps of receivers. This talented group includes Muhsin Muhammad, Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley, Desmond Clark, and John Gilmore.
Other statistics show:
Passer rating:
Rex Grossman--100.8 (4th in NFL)
J. P. Losman--90.6 (20th)
TD passes:
Grossman--8 (2nd)
Losman--3 (20th)
Passing yards:
Grossman--1,061 (5th)
Losman--797 (22nd)
Overall TD's:
Bears 11 (2 rushing, 8 passing, 1 punt return)
Bills 7 (3 rushing, 3 passing, 1 fumble recovery)
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Here’s how the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills, who will meet Sunday, compare statistically (conference rank in parentheses):
Bears—record 4-0 (NFC); total points scored 116 (2); total points given up 29 (1); Offense—yards gained per game (figures rounded) 358 (6); rushing 98 (11); passing 260 (10); Defense—yards against per game 257 (1); rushing against 81 (4); passing against 184 (4).
Bills—record 2-2 (AFC); total points scored 70 (8); total points given up 65 (7); Offense—yards gained per game (figures rounded) 296 (9); rushing 117 (5); passing 179 (10); Defense—yards against per game 297 (7); rushing against 103 (7); passing against 194 (7).
Overall comparison results:
The Bears score a lot of points (ranked 2nd) without racking up a lot of yards. Da Blog isn’t sure how that happens. But it sounds bad for the Bills. The Bear defense doesn’t let opponents score (ranked 1st). This is because the defense is a SWIFT (Smacking, whacking, interception, fumble team). And victory always goes to the SWIFT. This, too, sounds bad for the Bills.
Reasons to give Bills hope for a win: None.
The Illinois-Indiana football game figures to be a cliffhanger in Champaign this weekend. Both teams come in with 2-3 records. Illinois loses some of the edges it had against Michigan State. For one, the Oddsmaker Factor (Illinois by 7) seems reasonable (the Illini beat ridiculously high odds against Iowa and MSU). And the Hoosiers certainly were focusing on Illinois in practice, in comparison with Iowa and MSU, who had formidable opponents to think about after playing the low-rated Illini. So there goes the Who We Playing After Illinois Factor.
In addition, the Illini are probably laughing at the thought of Indiana losing to Division-AA Southern Illinois and weak sister Connecticut. Hope they’re not guffawing too loudly. There’s nothing like a good guffaw to pump up one’s passion. The Illini definitely do not want to give Indiana the Guffaw Pumping Factor. And the Wounded Animal Factor? That edge goes to Indiana this week.
The two combatants are fairly similar in some ways. Both are young. That is, they play a lot of freshmen. Which could mean the score will be high. But close. With lots of plays that will make you cringe. Both teams rely on freshman quarterbacks. Indiana’s Kellen Lewis was running for his life all day against Wisconsin in a 52-17 slaughter last weekend. The Badgers sacked Lewis twice and limited him to 13 completions out of 29 passes.
On the other hand, Illinois has some edges. Foremost is the always useful Revenge Factor. The Hoosiers clobbered the Illini 36-13 last season. So it’s payback time. In fact, Illinois is going to have this edge quite regularly. Also give Illinois an edge for the home field. The fans in Memorial Stadium should be into this game all the way through.
Illinois freshman qb Juice Williams used his Cannon to help lead the Illini to their 23-20 upset of MSU. He passed for 122 yards. He ran for 103 yards, too. Give Illinois the offensive edge because it has a Cannon. And the Hoosiers don’t.
The greatest edge for the Illini, however, was born and shaped in the MSU game. Call it confidence. Otherwise known as the No-Quit Factor.
Prediction: Illinois 24, Indiana 21
Bears—record 4-0 (NFC); total points scored 116 (2); total points given up 29 (1); Offense—yards gained per game (figures rounded) 358 (6); rushing 98 (11); passing 260 (10); Defense—yards against per game 257 (1); rushing against 81 (4); passing against 184 (4).
Bills—record 2-2 (AFC); total points scored 70 (8); total points given up 65 (7); Offense—yards gained per game (figures rounded) 296 (9); rushing 117 (5); passing 179 (10); Defense—yards against per game 297 (7); rushing against 103 (7); passing against 194 (7).
Overall comparison results:
The Bears score a lot of points (ranked 2nd) without racking up a lot of yards. Da Blog isn’t sure how that happens. But it sounds bad for the Bills. The Bear defense doesn’t let opponents score (ranked 1st). This is because the defense is a SWIFT (Smacking, whacking, interception, fumble team). And victory always goes to the SWIFT. This, too, sounds bad for the Bills.
Reasons to give Bills hope for a win: None.
The Illinois-Indiana football game figures to be a cliffhanger in Champaign this weekend. Both teams come in with 2-3 records. Illinois loses some of the edges it had against Michigan State. For one, the Oddsmaker Factor (Illinois by 7) seems reasonable (the Illini beat ridiculously high odds against Iowa and MSU). And the Hoosiers certainly were focusing on Illinois in practice, in comparison with Iowa and MSU, who had formidable opponents to think about after playing the low-rated Illini. So there goes the Who We Playing After Illinois Factor.
In addition, the Illini are probably laughing at the thought of Indiana losing to Division-AA Southern Illinois and weak sister Connecticut. Hope they’re not guffawing too loudly. There’s nothing like a good guffaw to pump up one’s passion. The Illini definitely do not want to give Indiana the Guffaw Pumping Factor. And the Wounded Animal Factor? That edge goes to Indiana this week.
The two combatants are fairly similar in some ways. Both are young. That is, they play a lot of freshmen. Which could mean the score will be high. But close. With lots of plays that will make you cringe. Both teams rely on freshman quarterbacks. Indiana’s Kellen Lewis was running for his life all day against Wisconsin in a 52-17 slaughter last weekend. The Badgers sacked Lewis twice and limited him to 13 completions out of 29 passes.
On the other hand, Illinois has some edges. Foremost is the always useful Revenge Factor. The Hoosiers clobbered the Illini 36-13 last season. So it’s payback time. In fact, Illinois is going to have this edge quite regularly. Also give Illinois an edge for the home field. The fans in Memorial Stadium should be into this game all the way through.
Illinois freshman qb Juice Williams used his Cannon to help lead the Illini to their 23-20 upset of MSU. He passed for 122 yards. He ran for 103 yards, too. Give Illinois the offensive edge because it has a Cannon. And the Hoosiers don’t.
The greatest edge for the Illini, however, was born and shaped in the MSU game. Call it confidence. Otherwise known as the No-Quit Factor.
Prediction: Illinois 24, Indiana 21
By Warren Silver, a lifelong resident of the Chicago area (except when he was attending college at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) and a newcomer to blogging. Comments are welcome at wsilver9735@yahoo.com.
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