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Friday May 23, 2008
Friday May 23, 2008
Leading Off With Controversy
Chicago Bears 2008 NFL Draft Review
the plate, when leading off. This seems to carry some merit, as he flailed at breaking ball after breaking ball in the NLDS last year against Arizona. Others believe that hen Alfonso Soriano returned while he publicly states that he doesn’t care to the Cubs’ lineup on May 1, as where he bats; privately or behind closed they host division rival Milwaudoors, he might feel under-appreciated when kee in the rubber game of a three game set, he is shuffled lower in the lineup. To his it won’t be without heavy controversy and credit, Soriano has quietly done whatever the skepticism. Along with his now infamous “hop”, Soriano’s return also brings legitimate team has asked of him, without complaint. The question, however, shouldn’t be what questions about Lou Piniella’s decision to is best for Alfonso Soriano. It should be put him back in the lead-off spot. Since what is best for the Chicago Cubs. The duo landing on the DL on April 15th, the Cubs’ of Reed Johnson, with an OBP of .379, and offense has been clicking fairly consistently, Ryan Theriot, with an OBP of .396, has been evidenced by a 19-run onslaught. In fact, during that stretch, they have been at or near potent, giving Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Kosuke Fukudome plenty of opportunithe top of most NL offensive stats, includties to knock in runs. Soriano’s current OBP ing runs scored, batting average, on-base is .298, which logically translates into less percentage, and pitches seen per base-runners for the middle at-bat. The Cubs have displayed patience and discipline at the Eye Candy of the lineup. Soriano will hit some lead-off home-runs, but plate not seen since before • Please see does that outweigh the benefit the Dusty Baker era, which is page x for phoof a significantly higher amount where the controversy lies. tos from recent of RBI opportunities for the Everybody knows that Cubs games. power hitters? Another asset Alfonso Soriano’s offensive Soriano previously had was his approach is more fitting for a ability to steal a base, to put middle of the line-up hitter, him in scoring position. With rather than a table-setter at the leg injuries over the past two seasons, the top. At times, he can make Angels’ slugger Cubs are not nearly as willing to risk their Vladimir Guerrero look like a patient slapinvestment by giving him the green light, hitter. The obvious upside, however, is his effectively eliminating this prior benefit. tremendous power and his ability to put the There is no question that Soriano’s return team ahead on the first pitch of the game. is a welcomed boost to the team. Besides This is why the Cubs made him the highhis offensive abilities, he has a deadly arm in est paid player in club history, earning $14 left field and instantly upgrades the defense. million this season. Soriano is a dynamic, DeRosa can now slide back into his more game-changing type player, who should be familiar second base position. But, if Sopaid top dollars. But, are the Cubs more riano continues to struggle when he returns, worried about getting their money’s worth Piniella will be dealing with a firm-storm of and justifying his contract, than winning the questions regarding the line-up. And nobody World Series? likes to deal with an angry Lou Piniella, Soriano has proven on several occasions which may be the only certain thing in this that he is a far more productive hitter in controversy. the lead-off role than anywhere else in the line-up. Nobody seems to agree on why this is, but a possible explanation may simply be that he sees more first pitch fastballs, over by
Dennis Hobein
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CSR
photo by
Warren Wimmer
Alfonso Soriano throws a ball during spring training pre-game warm ups at Cashman Field in Las Vegas.
etnies announces 2008 “Girls Get on Board” action sports clinic series LAKE FOREST, Calif. – etnies announces the 3rd Annual etnies Girls Get on Board (GGOB) clinic, a nation-wide series of female-only action sports instructional programs committed to inspiring girls to participate in action sports and encouraging them to remain active to lead a healthy lifestyle. For this year’s program, etnies has again partnered with the Girls Riders Organization (GRO), a nonprofit group with a mission to inspire, educate and support girls in action sports, to present a tour of GGOB clinics and special events. Other partners in the event series include skateboarding label Cool Girls Decks, the Boarding For Breast Cancer foundation (B4BC) and the HB Wahine All Girl Surf School. Beginning this month etnies’ professional team riders, serving as ambassadors for the GGOB program, will travel to some of the 40 cities across the nation to mentor and coach females of all ages in the action sports categories of Skate, BMX, Surf and Motocross. The clinics consist of on-site demonstrations and hands-on training in a fun and safe environment including one-on-one interaction with top professional female athletes. Girls come away from the program with the basic skills of each sport and build their confidence in action sports. “The team riders are excited to once again participate in the etnies Girls Get on Board clinic and show our support for the program. It’s important to show that action sports are fun and safe for girls and empower more young women to participate,” says Lauren Perkins, etnies skate team rider. “Whether it be for recreation, exercise or to pursue pro-
fessional careers, it is great for us to see how many more girls are learning these sports each year.” “We are really glad to partner with the etnies GGOB program again this year,” says Courtney Payne, founder of GRO. “This partnership combines the team riders and momentum of etnies GGOB program with GRO’s experienced instructors and the close interaction with local communities across the country.” The etnies Girls Get on Board program, along with GRO, will host 40 free clinics for girls as it embarks on its way around the country, including a stop at the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest, Calif., before culminating in November in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The next all-girls skate clinic is on May 10 at Journey’s Backyard BBQ in Dallas, Texas. For a complete list of clinics across the country, a detailed schedule of events and to sign up, please visit etniesfirl.com/extra/onboard. Any persons under the age of 18 years, must complete a waiver which can be found online at etniesfirl.com/extra/onboard/waiver etnies launched its Girls Get on Board (GGOB) initiative in Spring 2006 to encourage and empower females to learn about and participate in action sports. The program shows etnies on-going commitment to encouraging girls in action sports and fostering relationships with the best athletes in the world, such as etnies team riders Lauren Perkins and Evelien Bouillart.
Publisher, lead photographer & Editor in Chief Warren Wimmer Contributing Writers Andrea Beaver Dustin Beutin Bert Beiswanger Jesse Brasher Jerome Cusson Charlie Danoff Creighton Hart Dennis Hobein Eli Kaberon Jon Kerr David Lister Brian Livingston Phil Meyers Anthony Ray Nick Shears D.K Wilson
Contributing Photographers Dennis Wierzbicki Michael DiNovo PUBLISHED BY: The Chicago Sports Review The Chicago Sports Review is published biweekly and can be found at Chicagoland White Hens & 7-Elevens The Chicago Sports Review is not responsible for display advertisement, advertising articles and their contents. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. For questions or comments contact: THE CHICAGO SPORTS REVIEW 13520 St. Mary Circle, Orland Park, IL 60462 708.403.3285 office | 708.774.4464 cell | 708.460.8949 fax To read more great sports articles visit chicagosportsreview.net
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Angelo hauls in a mixed bag by
Anthony Ray
The Chicago Bears brass had to sleep well Sunday night after the NFL Draft. GM Jerry Angelo had not kept it a secret that he wanted to improve the Bears anemic offense. The Bears finished the 2007 season with the 27th ranked offense. Their running game was particularly bad, averaging around three yards per carry. That was very disconcerting for Coach Lovie Smith, who has repeatedly stated that the Bears “come off the bus running the football”. There were a lot of reasons for the bad offensive performance last year but the Bears seemed convinced that it started with mediocre line play. What was not revealed, until after the draft, was their displeasure with RB Cedric Benson. Angelo told reporters after the draft that he was not please with the performance of his running backs. Understanding their needs clearly, Angelo sought to shore up the team and return them to Super Bowl form. Looking at the Bears 2008 draft, the picks are assessed as follows: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt First Round, 14th Overall: Williams is the prototypical left tackle. He has excellent feet and uses his hands well. He was considered by most experts to be one of the top three tackles in this draft. He will be expected to step in and start on the left side from day one. This selection improves two positions because it will allow John Tait to move to the right side. Although the Bears could have considered RB Rashard Mendenhall with this pick, the RB class was much deeper in the OL. This was a perfect situation where need meets talent available. Matt Forte, RB, Tulane Second Round, 44th Overall: Forte was the second leading rusher in the nation last season. He gained 1,375 yards as a senior while averaging 6.7 yards per carry, scoring 23 touchdowns on the ground. Forte is also an able receiver out of the backfield. He had 48 catches and 5 touchdowns in his final 2 years. The Bears may have gotten the guy they wanted, but they missed on this pick. Forte is very similar to Benson, so he is seen as a replacement not a complement. Angelo could have had Forte, or RB Jamaal Charles, in the third round. This was a pick that the Bears should have used for a QB. With QBs Chad Henne and Brian Brohm available, it makes no sense to overdraft Forte. Earl Bennett, WR, Tulane Third Round, 70th Overall: Jerry Angelo compared the SEC’s all-time leading receiver to Hines Ward, also from the SEC. If that is true, then Bennett will be the steal of the entire draft. Comparisons notwithstanding, Bennett is a very good talent. He runs great routes and has exceptional hands. He ran a 4.46 at the combine and has consistently separated at the college level. He should compete for the third WR spot immediately. This was an excellent value pick for the Bears. Bennett accomplish-
CSR photo by Warren Wimmer Chris Williams, the first round draft choice of the Chicago Bears, poses with Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Monday April 28, 2008.
ments can’t be understated. He played for a Vanderbilt team that didn’t make it to a bowl game. He also played with mediocre QBs (except the one season with Jay Cutler) most of his career, while playing in the toughest conference in the nation. Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas Third Round, 90th Overalll: Harrison is a 1st round talent, but injuries and off the field issues dropped him to the third round. Many believe he is a bigger, stronger version of Pro Bowler Tommie Harris. At 6’6” 310 lbs, Coach Smith believes he can play the nose tackle position, as well as spell Harris as the under tackle. There is an obvious risk with this pick because Harrison is coming off a serious knee injury. Also, he was arrested for drug possession in the off-season. The case is still very much in the air. Players with strikes like these rarely succeed once they become rich NFL players. It is admirable for the Bears to take a risk, but not in the third
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round. These players are expected to make significant contributions to your team. If they would have taken Henne in the second round, they could have taken a RB here. Craig Stetlz, S, LSU Fourth Round, 120th Overall: How can you ignore a guy who started 20 games for the National Champion LSU Tigers? Stetlz is one of those guys that plays well but does it with very little flair. He is considered a top character guy, tough guy, and tackling machine. Stetlz is not a blazer at safety, but neither was Mike Brown when he came out of Nebraska. He has made the alignment calls for the secondary at LSU and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (given to the nation’s top defensive back). He will be an insurance policy if Brown goes down again and he may even start next to Brown very soon. Zackary Bowman, CB, Nebraska Fifth Round, 142nd Overall: All risks are not created equal. This is one of the four injury risks that the Bears took in this draft. Bowman was considered the nation’s top cornerback just two seasons ago. Two knee injuries later, he is drafted in the fifth round. This is a moderate risk for the Bears. Bowman may not play much, except special teams, in 2008. With CBs Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman, and Truman McBride ahead of him, the Bears may “red-shirt” him and allow him to get healthy. Even if he never returns to his full ability, he could still be a third or fourth CB for this team. If not, it was a 5th round pick.
Kellen Davis, TE, Michigan State Fifth Round, 158th Overall: This choice is a risk of a different variety. Davis did have an off the field incident at Michigan State. He was involved in a bar fight, but the incident is not considered major. What is of more concern is his questionable work ethic and effort on the field. Davis has been inconsistent until his senior year. He has been a three year starter for Michigan State. In his career, he has had 60 catches for 9 TDs, average 7.2 yards per carry, and registered 2 sacks. At 6’7” 262lbs and 4.59 speed, he is a supreme athlete. When a player has those types of measurable and falls to the 5th round that should be a major red flag. This is an unwise risk because the Bears are loaded at TE and they would have been better trying to develop QBs Andre Woodson, Josh Johnson, or Matt Flynn. Ervin Baldwin, DE, Michigan State Seventh Round, 208th Overall: Baldwin is a junior college transfer who made an immediate impact on the Michigan State defense. He was honorable mentioned All-Big Ten in 2007. He started all 25 games and recorded 93 career tackles), with 25 resulting in losses including 12.5 sacks. Baldwin is a typical Tampa-2 DE and should fit into the rotation. Did the Bears need another DE though? RB Allen Patrick would have been a nice choice here. Chester Adams, OG, Georgia Seventh Round, 222nd Overall: This may turn out Please see Ray continued on Page 5
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Friday May 23, 2008
Friday May 23, 2008
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RAY: Bears’ draft class shores up offensive line Continued From Page 3
to be a true sleeper pick for the Bears. OL Adams played tackle at Georgia, but is considered a guard at the pro level. At 6’4” 331lbs, he is a pile mover who fits perfectly in a power running scheme. He played both guard and tackle in college. He has a legitimate opportunity to replace departed OG Ruben Brown.
Photo
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Richard Wolowicz/Icon SMI
JANUARY 5 2008: Carey Price (31) of the Montreal Canadiens makes a save during overtime play against the Washington Capitals in this Jan. 5, 2008 file photo.
Price Joins Roy And Dryden In Montreal Rookie Lore by
Charlie Danoff
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ookie Carey Price won his first playoff start against the Boston Bruins. In almost every other circumstance this would be a feat worthy of the highest praise, but for Les Canadiens, it is merely par for the course. During this playoff run, Price will need to equal or surpass the accomplishments of two former rookies who now share a total of eight Veznia and five Conn Smythe trophies, to earn even the softest of pats on the back. “He rushed from law class at McGill to hockey practice with the Montreal Voyageurs, the Canadiens’ farm team in the American Hockey League. On road trips, while other players occupied themselves with paperback novels, Dryden read heavy material like the Civil Codes of Quebec. It was, to say the least, no easy schedule to follow, but then Ken Dryden was no average athlete-scholar.”
Ken Dryden
Following a extraordinary career at Cornell University where he was a three time first team All-American, and where he only endured five losses [one of which he was not in net for] during his Ithaca tenure, he began his professional career in the 1970-71 season. He impressed Canadiens brass, enough that he was called up late in the season from their minor league affiliate the Montreal Voyageurs. He only started six regular season games that year, but he won all six, allowing only nine goals, for a sizzling 1.65 GAA. The stellar stretch earned the nod to be the Habs’ number one goalie for the 1971 playoffs. They opened as the underdog against the defending Champion Boston Bruins, and the teams traded blows like prize fighters, win for win, over the first six games. Game seven was in Massachusetts at the Garden, but nevertheless, Montreal prevailed over Bobby Orr and the Bruins. In a 1971 Sports Illustrated article, Mark
Mulvoy indicates what the difference was in the series. “Esposito, Public Enemy No. 1 to goaltenders, having scored the criminal total of 76 goals during the season, stared at Dryden, cursed him—’You thieving giraffe!’—and then slammed his curved stick against the glass behind the goal. ‘I looked at the faces of the Bruins,’ Dryden said later, ‘and I could see it all so clearly. They all looked defeated.’” It continued to be a tough ride for Montreal as they beat Minnesota in six and were again stretched to a game seven on the road against the Blackhawks in the Cup Finals. Despite starting his 20th game in just over a month and visiting law libraries between games, the 23 year old with essentially no pro experience, played like an immortal sage as he led the Habs’ to the Stanley Cup, and ultimately the Conn Smythe Trophy. As a historical foot note, he is the only player ever to win the Conn Smythe before the Calder. His six regular season 1971 games did not qualify him to be nominated for the Calder that year. He won it in 1972 and went to become a lawyer, politician, and writer.
Patrick Roy
“Patrick Roy, about four feet in front of his net, crouches and stares at his goal posts. Every game it’s the same - a private word with one, then the other, then he springs toward his net veering away at the last instant into the corner to his left, then circles back, and settles into his crease. He is ready. The gods all satisfied, they are all ready.” – from Home Game, by Roy MacGregor & Ken Dryden Mr. Roy did not have the most auspicious of beginnings to his career, especially for a future Hall of Famer. In the 1984-85 regular season playing for the Granby Bisons of the QMJHL, his GAA was, to put it mildly, a pathetic 5.55. Needless to say, his squad missed the invitation to the postseason dance. The Canadiens’ management thought enough of their prospect to send him over
to the team’s AHL affiliate for their playoff run. With the flowers blooming outside, his perfomance improved, and that spring he led the Sherbrooke Canadiens to the Calder Cup, posting a 2.89 GAA in 13 games. That run was good enough for a invitation to training camp, where he carved out a spot on the big league roster. His regular season struggles returned, however, and his rookie season numbers were average at best: a 3.35 GAA and a .875 save percentage. By March, though, he had solidified his spot as the number one goalie over Doug Soetaert and Steve Penny, in time for the playoff run. Again, something clicked for him in the spring; maybe he just needed the pressure and the bigger stage to wake up. The second season kicked off with a five game Division Semifinal series against the Boston Bruins. The Canadiens easily put them out of their misery, sweeping them in three games, with Roy only allowing a total of six goals. The Division Finals proved to be their toughest test as teams traded wins back and forth over the first six, setting up a climactic seventh game in Montreal on April 29th. Three periods were not enough to decide it, and in sudden death overtime, Roy stood tall, refusing to yield. The Habs’ ended up winning, and Patrick finished the series with a 1.85 GAA. They breezed past the Rangers in the Conference Finals and squared off against the Calgary Flames for the Cup. A critic might have assumed the typical rookie would finally start to buckle under such enormous pressure, especially after carrying the squad through the first three rounds. Following game one, that critic would have had plenty of ammunition as Roy let in five Calgary goals in a losing effort. Although Roy stumbled, he had not fallen, and the next night stood tall in net, outlasting his Calgary counterpart in sudden death, as the Habs’ won 3 to 2 in overtime. They won game three at home easily five to three, and in game four, when Calgary had a chance to tie the series and re-take home ice
advantage with three games remaining, Roy had his finest playoff hour, shutting out the Flames in a one to zilch win that gave the team a 3-1 series lead. By the time the Habs’ were hitting the golf course, they had won yet another Cup, Roy was officially the youngest player ever to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, and St. Patrick had officially been born. His pre-game ritual was now forever entwined into the fabric and myth of Canadian hockey lore.
Carey Price
Selected 5th overall in 2005 entry draft, Price was a far higher pick than either Dryden or Roy. Similarly, though, he proved his mettle prior to joining the NHL. And, like the other two, he is a home-grown Canadian playing for his country’s proudest franchise. In the 2007 AHL playoffs, he led the Hamilton Bulldogs to the Calder Cup, winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP in the process, after posting a 2.06 GAA and a .936 save percentage on the Bulldogs’ Cup run. He was the youngest ever to win the Butterfield, one of the few trophies missing in Roy’s collection. That summer, representing Canada in the IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, he again led his team to the ultimate victory. The Canadian team won their third straight gold medal, and Price was named Tournament MVP. By that point he had shown enough to the powers that be to join the NHL team heading into the 2007-08 season. It was not an entirely smooth ride; however, and Price was sent back down to the Bulldogs in Janurary. His October through December 2.85 GAA and .911 save percentage certainly warranted the move. Price composed himself in his time away from the Forum, and returned by early February, where he posted a 2.11 GAA and a .924 save percentage in the season’s second month. Please see Danoff continued on Page 5
had performed at a high level, despite bad QB play, until a serious knee injury ended his senior season. He ranks third in school history with 138 receptions and 2,151 yards receiving. He holds the school record with 27 touchdown grabs. If he can return to form, this pick will be a coup for the Bears.
The Bears were able to fulfill most of their needs in this draft. The on the offensive line have Eye Candy holes Joey LaRoque, LB, Oregon been plugged and a challenger State Seventh Round, 243rd for the starting RB is on board. • Please see Overall: With his speed, LaAngelo has picked some very page 6 for phoRoque will have to play inside good prospects, such as Bentos from the linebacker in the NFL. The nett and Stetlz, but he also took Chicago Bears OSU defender again started all some solid risks (Bowman and rookie miniseason at weak-side linebacker Monk). These players will make camp. in 2007. He posted 86 tackles, or break this draft. Williams collected three sacks with 10 will be solid, but if the Bears stops for losses and also recovered a fumble. hit on those players, it will be successful. The He intercepted two passes, returning one three big negatives for this draft are the over for a touchdown. He will be a special teams drafting of RB Forte, the unnecessary risk of player. drafting DT Harrison, and the non-selection of a QB. They could have taken a QB in Kirk Barton, OT, Ohio State Seventh the second round, then take a RB in the third. Round, 247th Overall: He was the second These detractions are the reason that this of the Bears three compensatory picks in the seventh round. At 6’5” 310lbs, he has the draft was not a home run for Jerry Angelo and the Chicago Bears. Final Grade: Bsize that teams like in an OT. However, he Anthony Ray is a free-lancer writer from lacks the foot speed and athleticism to be Chicago. He has written articles about labor, a left tackle. Barton suffered some injuries politics, religion, and sports for a variety of in the last few years and is seen as a risk for publications. that reason. Barton is a good developmental prospect. Marcus Monk, WR, Arkansas Seventh Round, 248th Overall: If the Bears were nothing else in this draft, they were consistent. They consistently drafted injury risk player who were high performers at one point. Marcus Monk was one of types. He
Bears first round draft pick, left tackle Chris Williams, meets the media after the first day of rookie mini-camp at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest, Ill., Friday May 2, 2008. CSR
photo by
Warren Wimmer
Bears sign Gould to five-year extension LAKE FOREST, IL — The Chicago Bears signed kicker Robbie Gould to a fiveyear contract extension today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gould’s new contract runs through the 2013 season. Gould is the Bears all-time field goal percentage leader among kickers with at least 50 attempts, connecting on 84.8 percent of his kicks (84 of 99). He has also been successful on 99 of 100 PATs for 351 career points. In 2007 Gould hit 31 of 36 field goal attempts (86.1 percent), adding 33 PATs for 126 points. A year earlier, Gould reached the Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All Pro for Chicago after finishing second overall in the NFL in scoring and first among kickers with 143 points, converting 32 of 36 (88.9 percent) field goal attempts and all 47 PATs. For his career, Gould has fought through the harsh conditions of Soldier Field to connect on 39 of his 45 attempts (86.7 percent), highest accuracy all-time among NFL kickers with at least 20 attempts at the stadium. Gould has hit five game-winning field goals in his NFL career including a 49-yard field goal in overtime of the 2006 NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Seattle on Jan. 14, 2007.. Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State by New England in 2005, Gould also spent time with Baltimore before joining the Bears in October of that same year. Gould is one of just six NFL kickers all-time (seven occurrences) with backto-back seasons of 125 points or more. He is also the ninth kicker all-time (accomplished 10 times) with back-to-back seasons of 30 or more field goals made. Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould takes a breather during pre-game warm ups before play against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field in Chicago Dec. 30, 3007. CSR photo by Warren Wimmer
Danoff: Storied Candiens trusted goal to rookie, traded starter Continued From Page 3
GM Bob Gainey had enough confidence in the ‘rook to ship Cristobal Huet to the Capitals in a much criticized deal. Huet had been one of the league’s better goalies up to that point, and subsequently led the Caps to the Eastern Conference third seed. Sure, Price is good the fans waned, but are you really going to trust one of hockey’s best teams to a rookie? Clearly, those were the younger Habs fans complaining, who had no sense of their franchise’s rich history. Price repaid Gainey’s faith down the stretch, posting a 2.23 GAA and a very impressive .934 save percentage in March and April. He was named Rookie of the Month for March, and the NHL’s first star in the final week of the season. Obviously, however, such trifles are meaningless. The only thing that matters is how Price plays from here on out. He is battling not only against opposing forwards, but against the ghosts of goalies past. He has inherited a role, that has some of the sport’s weightiest expectations bestowed upon it. Anything but a Cup would have to be considered a failure, regardless of the kid’s age or experience. One thing he has going on his side are a series of coincidences. Obviously there is the rookie angle, then both his squad (Kostitsyn] and Dryden’s [Maholvich] had a strong pair of brothers, and if you were really paying attention, you would have noticed all three opened their first playoff run with series against Boston. So, now lining up with the rest of history should be a piece of cake.
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Friday May 23, 2008
Friday May 23, 2008
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Commission to Linebrink launches program for wounded veterans discuss reforms for NCAA rules violations
Bears
Ervin Baldwin, a defensive end from Michigan State, participates in the second day of the Chicago Bears rookie mini-camp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Saturday May 3, 2008.
of the
Future CSR photos by Warren Wimmer
Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith meets with the media after the first day of the Chicago Bears rookie mini-camp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Friday May 2, 2008.
Matt Forte, right, a running back from Tulane, runs with the football while participating in the second day of the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall, Lake Forest, Ill., Saturday May 2, 2008.
Kellen Davis, tight end from Michigan State (left) and Craig Steltz, safety from LSU (right) take part in drills during the first day rookie mini-camp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Friday May 2, 2008.
The NCAA recently announced that 218 teams at 123 institutions will be sanctioned for failing to meet minimum academic benchmarks established as part of the Academic Performance Program. In 2001, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics advocated that teams be ineligible for postseason competition if they failed to graduate at least 50 percent of their athletes. Although the current benchmarks are lower than those advocated by the Commission, it has supported the full implementation of the NCAA’s program since its adoption in 2004. During this meeting, the Knight Commission will receive a report on the program’s administration and impact. Of particular interest to the Commission is the process that allowed nearly 70 percent of teams with scores under the minimum benchmark to avoid penalties. Also, the Commission will consider academic enhancement proposals from a group of basketball coaches and administrators. The Commission will also hear a report from current members of the Division I Committee on Infractions on trends in major rules violations and possible changes to the penalty structure. The Knight Commission will welcome three new members at this meeting. Sarah Lowe graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Florida in May 2006. Lowe was a leader on the women’s basketball team serving as team captain three of her four years. Following her graduation, she studied in Costa Rica as a Fulbright Scholar. She received numerous awards for her academic and athletics excellence including the Arthur Ashe, Jr. 2006 Female Sport Scholar of the Year. Sonja Steptoe serves as client development manager at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, an international law firm based in Los Angeles. Prior to joining O’Melveny in 2007, Steptoe served as a senior correspondent and deputy news director for Time Magazine for five years following a successful career in sports journalism. Steptoe reported and wrote for CNNSI sports network, HBO’s RealSports with Bryant Gumbel and Sports Illustrated. Her investigation of East Germany’s systematic doping of Olympic athletes earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Journalism. Steptoe earned degrees in economics and journalism at the University of Missouri. She received a law degree from Duke University. Christopher Zorich was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. A two-time All-American at Notre Dame in 1989 and 1990, Zorich played in the NFL for seven seasons. Zorich received his bachelor of arts in American Studies from Notre Dame in 1991 and his law degree from Notre Dame Law School in May 2002. He is chairman of the Christopher Zorich Foundation, which provides scholarships and other financial assistance to students and families in the Chicago area. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, he was the first student-athlete in Notre Dame’s history to fund a scholarship at his alma mater. The meeting sessions will be accessible via podcast on the website after the conclusion of the event. The Commission will meet again in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Oct. 27, 2008. The Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics was formed by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in October 1989 in response to more than a decade of highly visible scandals in college sports. The goal of the commission was to promote a reform agenda that emphasized academic values in a climate in which commercialization of college sports often overshadowed the underlying goals of higher education.
CHICAGO – On Thursday, May 22, Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Scott Linebrink will host military veterans at the game vs. Cleveland at 7:11 p.m. The veterans are invited to the game as part of Linebrink’s new partnership with Wounded Heroes. The program, “Scott’s Heroes,” will allow for two members of the United States Armed Forces to receive VIP treatment at one home game each month. Thursday’s guests are Corporal James Vepley of the United States Marine Corps and James Wright of the National Guard. Vepley, who lives in Chicago, suffered hearing loss and injuries to his neck, back and shoulder as the result of a roadside bomb in Fallujah, Iraq. Wright, a native of Gurnee, Ill., served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Iraq in 1990-91. Linebrink will meet with Vepley and Wright on the field prior to batting practice, which the two veterans will attend. Linebrink also will provide them with five tickets to the game, a gift bag and a specially designed “Scott’s Heroes” t-shirt. Wounded Heroes Foundation Inc. is a non-profit corporation founded to provide needed support to the men and women of this great nation who sacrifice their lives for the good of their country. CSR
photo by
Warren Wimmer
White Sox pitcher Scott Linebrin founded Wounded Heroes Foundation Inc.
Evans scholarships awarded to 231 students GOLF, IL – The Evans Scholars Foundation has awarded 231 full tuition and housing college scholarships to deserving caddies throughout the United States for the 200809 academic year. Evans Scholars are golf caddies who were selected based on four criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. The scholarships are renewable for up to four years, and most students will attend one of the 14 universities where the Foundation owns and operates a Scholarship House. Recipients were chosen after individual interviews at selection meetings held throughout the country by the Western Golf Association. The Evans Scholarship Program has been administered by the WGA, headquartered in Golf, Illinois, since its inception in 1930. It is the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship program. Additional candidate interviews will
occur this summer, with more deserving caddies expected to earn scholarships for fall 2008. A full list of the 2008 Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship recipients, along with their states, ometowns and colleges to attend, can be found online at www.wgaesf.com. “This scholarship is the culmination of years of hard work both on the golf course and in the classroom,” said Don Johnson, president and CEO of the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation. “We welcome these outstanding young leaders to the Evans Scholars family.” “The Evans Scholarship is truly a lifechanging opportunity for the deserving young men and women who may not otherwise have been able to realize their dream of earning a college education,” said Jeffrey Harrison, vice president of education for the Evans Scholars Foundation. Currently, 835 caddies are enrolled in college as Evans Scholars. More than 8,600 cad-
dies have graduated since the program was founded by Charles “Chick” Evans Jr., famed Chicago amateur golfer and winner of the 1916 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur. The program has a college graduation rate of over 90 percent and an overall GPA for current Evans Scholars above a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship funds come mostly from ontributions by more than 500 member clubs, 37,000 WGA Par Club members and 100,000 golfers in the WGA Bag Tag Program. Evans Scholar Alumni donate over $3 million annually. The program is also supported by 23 affiliated golf associations and by proceeds from the BMW Championship, the third of four PGA TOUR Playoff events in the PGA TOUR’s 2008 FedExCup competition. The BMW Championship will be held Sept. 1-7 at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.
Matt Allen General Manager of Chambers Bay
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash., - KemperSports announced Matt Allen as general manager of Chambers Bay, the award-winning links golf course opened in June 2007 just outside of Tacoma in University Place, Wash. In this role, Allen will oversee facility operations of Chambers Bay, awarded the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open Championships by the United States Golf Association in February. Allen attended the Honors College at the University of Oregon on an Evans Scholarship before launching his career in the golf industry with the Oregon Golf Association. He joined KemperSports nearly a decade ago
as golf operations manager at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on Oregon’s southern coast. During his tenure, he played a key role in the evolution of the resort’s three award-winning golf courses (Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes and Bandon Trails), several retail shops, multiple restaurants and more than 200 overnight accommodations. In his most recent position as assistant general manager, Allen oversaw all day-to-day resort operations in addition to successfully guiding the resort team through numerous top-tier events, including the Curtis Cup and U.S. Mid-Amateur, a pair of back-to-back USGA championships in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
“Matt is well prepared for this assignment,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “His experience at Bandon Dunes, involvement with its successful growth and relationships within the golf industry and the Pacific Northwest will be invaluable to our staff at Chambers Bay and to the preparations for and subsequent operations of the upcoming USGA championships.” Situated just outside of Tacoma and less than an hour south of Seattle, Chambers Bay offers one of the most unique recreational opportunities on the West Coast, highlighted by panoramic views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Pieces of McCarran airfield recycled into LVMS parking lot LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Motor Speedway and McCarran International Airport are working together to improve the speedway’s parking areas. The speedway is paving 40 acres, roughly 30 percent, of its dirt and gravel parking areas with “mill chips” that were collected recently when parts of the airfield at McCarran International Airport were replaced. “This is a prime example of two major entities in the community working together,”
said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. “We are appreciative that our friends at McCarran have allowed us to claim some of the discarded pavement from the improvement projects at the airport. This will provide for much-improved dust-free parking for race fans who come to events here at the speedway.” McCarran is in the midst of a ramp rehabilitation project at its B Gates. The discarded material from this project is being used at
LVMS. “After years of supporting aircraft that carried millions of travelers through McCarran, we’re pleased that our recycled paving material can continue to serve visitors and local race fans alike,” said Randall H. Walker, director of the Clark County Department of Aviation. “We welcome these opportunities to recycle and commend Las Vegas Motor Speedway for its efforts to put this material to good use and keep it out of our landfills.”
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Friday May 23, 2008
Page 9
Chicago Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome lays down bunt while advance Aramis Ramirez who later scored during play against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field in Chicago Sunday May 11, 2008
Cubbies keep
Cub skipper Lou Piniella talks with Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Michael Wuertz during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday May 11, 2008.
it going CSR photos by Warren Wimmer
Chicago Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome attempts a catch during play against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field in Chicago Thursday May 15, 2008.
An unidentified fan makes his way over the wall and drops to the playing field, while delaying play during the seventh inning of play at Wrigley Field in Chicago Sunday May 11, 2008.
A unidentified fan sprints across left field while trying to evade security interrupting play at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois Sunday May 11, 2008
A shirtless Chicago Cubs center fielder Jim Edmonds fan catches a ball thrown his way by Edmonds at Wrigley Field in Chicago Thursday May 15, 2008.
Chris Young of the Arizona Diamondbacks watches a fan sprint across the field after dropped over the right center field wall during 7th inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago Sunday May 11, 2008.
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Friday May 23, 2008
Friday May 23, 2008
Bulls entertained playoff dreams in January by
for any of the Bulls was that of Ben Gordon. The third overall pick in the 2004 Draft turned down a big contract extension before the season and then proceeded to show he’s not yet a complete enough player to be a starter for a championship-caliber team. Oops.
David Lister
Dec. 26 - The firing of Scott Skiles was met with mixed reaction in Chicago. Once again the Bulls started off slowly under Skiles, only this time they weren’t showing signs of turning it around. He was also reluctant to play youngsters Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, and while both players showed a lack of maturity at times this season, they are both also top 10 draft picks and an important part of the Bulls future. At the same time, it’s hard to blame Skiles for Ben Wallace and Kirk Hinrich’s disappointing seasons or Luol Deng’s injury problems. Skiles had shown in the past that his teams could rebound from poor starts and he was undoubtedly the best coach for this team this year (as Jim Boylan would later show). Charlie Danoff wasn’t thrilled with Skiles’ dismissal, as many experts were arguing that the Bulls players had ‘tuned out’ their coach. In a prophetic statement, Danoff argued this would end badly for Chicago: The team is flawed. They have been, despite their success over the past few seasons. A small backcourt with no inside scoring is a bad model in any basketball textbook. Despite all that, Scott Skiles figured out a way to make it work with what he had. They were struggling this year, but that was nothing new for this group. They figured it out in the past, turned things around, and were stronger because of it. They had faith in each other in past years when things started poorly, and were rewarded once they hit their groove. They trusted each other and played better. Respect is built when teammates stick together through the lowest of times - it is shattered when a leader gets stabbed in the back in the middle of a mild storm that the ship’s owner does not have the stomach to endure. Now, that trust will never come back. Paxson chose to put the blame squarely on Skiles, removing accountability from the players and
Bulls Season In Review: Part 3
Icon SMI
photo
Jim Boylan, shown in a game against Houston, took over as head coach of the Chicago in late December 2007.
himself. Instead of grinding with the only coach they have ever known together - and eventually realizing it’s really quite easy to make the playoffs in the East - Paxson panicked and lost the trust. I hope this galvanizes the team and makes everything better. I doubt it will. Dec. 30 - The Bulls would start off 2-1 under interim head coach Jim Boylan, a noted ‘player’s coach’. With their record at 1117 the team was still in the playoff picture in the miserable Eastern Conference. Charlie elected to put aside his feelings about the Skiles firing to proflile the new coach and even let a little hope show: At the end of the day, he seems a fine choice
to be the interim head man of the Bulls. His Heathcote pedigree and championship experience are pluses, and despite the poor performance of the NBA teams he has been with, he has been working in the league over 16 years and deserved a shot. I have no choice but to be optimistic about him turning around the Bulls, otherwise this writing gig could get really depressing. Boylan himself better be damn excited. Even if it’s only 50 games, almost no one gets the chance to be a head coach in the NBA. It is an amazing opportunity for him - lets just hope he wins a few more games than he did in his previous head-coaching gigs. Jan. 8 - Possibly the most interesting year
Gordon still had a nice season, averaging a team-high 18.6 ppg. On Dec. 28 he scored 19 points in the fourth quarter of the Bulls 103-99 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, causing Michael Redd to drop the ‘Mr. Fourth Quarter’ nickname of Gordon. Charlie Danoff decided to look at the numbers and see if the nickname is appropriate: So, then - is Gordon deserving of the nickname or not? Certainly it seemed appropriate in his first two seasons, but not as much in his third. So far this season he has largely lived up to the lofty title, especially since he has resumed his - dare I say - proper role of sixth man. If the Bulls are to have any hope of making this year’s postseason dance, Gordon will have to find a way to continue to elevate his clutch performance. A good start would be getting more of those points they give away for ‘free.’ Jan. 11 - A win against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight puts the Bulls at 14-20, the closest they will get the .500 the rest of the season. You will begin to notice a trend in CSR’s stories, as for the next month or so we will implore the Bulls to begin makin trades. After all, the firing of Scott Skiles was essentially the waving of a white flag, right? So, what’s to do? Trade everyone, save: Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Aaron Gray and Duhon can stay, because they barely make anything and are worth more than their salaries. Gordon could stay, though he is less of a priority than the first three. Everyone else? Dump ‘em. Move them right now. Maybe a Ben Wallace trade to the LA Lakers for Kwame Brown’s expiring contract? How about Hinrich to the Heat for Jason Williams and Ricky Davis? Both of their deals come off the cap next year. I realize moving players Paxson has put so much faith and effort into will be difficult. The hardest thing for anyone to do is admit they have made the wrong choices in the past, and realize it is time to cut their losses and move in a different direction. The only thing harder is continuing down that wrong path. Of course the big trade would come, but you have to come back next week for the conclusion of our Bulls review. Until then, try to enjoy the NBA Playoffs Bulls fans.
Mediocre January leads to another lineup change by
David Lister
Jan. 15 - A 102-88 loss tonight to Orlando will drop the Bulls to 14-22, but still not out of the playoffs. The team is a very average 5-6 since Jim Boylan took over, so really nothing has changed. And you know what that means, another plea for a lineup change here at CSR: As this season painfully drags on, one has to hope against hope Boylan will see the light and play his talented trio of young big men more. They are really the team’s best hope for future success. Playing Smith and Wallace extended minutes may earn the team a trip to the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed, but is a first round exit really what this team needs? The only explanation that makes sense for playing these old dudes so much is that Paxson is trying to market them for trades. If that is the case it is acceptable. Just get a move on Pax. Start the fire, otherwise all your young plants may die before they even get the chance to bloom. If only the Bulls could get rid of Wallace
and Smith in one trade… Jan. 21 - An inexplicable loss to the Memphis Grizzlies puts the Bulls at 16-24. Despite all the hoopla about Boylan being the opposite of Scott Skiles, Chicago doesn’t look like that different of a team. They still have a wildly inconsistent rotation to go with their wildly inconsistent play. Charlie Danoff has another fix for the Bulls, this time a call for the running of the Bulls: While a switch of philosophies would not necessarily improve their defense, it would vastly improve their poor offense. Even if this current group of players will never be the Phoenix Sunds, they are definitely capable of better offensive output than they have shown so far this year. At the end of the day, in spite of everything that has gone wrong this season, the team still
has hope. Currently, the Bulls remain only a game-and-a-half out of playoff position. There really is no reason they can’t work their way into the top six in the East, maybe even up to number five. If the Bulls are going to make a playoff run, however, it has to start with some on-court running. The Bulls would have a couple of offensive outbursts over the rest of the season, most notably a 135point outing Feb. 22 against the Nuggets and the ridiculous 151point outburst April 14 against the Bucks. Jan. 26 - Lost in a team fully of disappointments was the development - or lack thereof - by second-year guard Thabo Sefolosha. Sefolosha appears to be the perfect fit for the Bulls, a big two-guard that can defend the guys Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gor-
Bulls Season In Review: Part 4
don can’t. He can even provide some offense, though it seems apparent he will never be a good offensive player in the NBA. Up until this point, Thabo wasn’t playing much at all under Skiles and though he had seen a boost in minutes with Boylan as coach, he still hadn’t cracked the started lineup consistently. We hoped that would change: It is time for Sefolosha to replace Paxson’s favorite mistake, Kirk Hinrich, in the starting lineup. He turns the point guard position, which has been a matchup weakness for the Bulls, into a chance to use matchups in the team’s favor. If nothing else, perhaps moving Kirk to the bench can motivate him the same way it did Gordon. Don’t be a fool and ignore destiny, John. There are powers at work here you couldn’t even begin to understand. Thabo played decent when he got the chance. In February, he averaged 31.6 minutes, 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. In 22 starts this season, he Please see Lister continued on Page 11
Page 11
Ranking Bulls players, trading Ben Wallace and finishing 40-42 by
David Lister
Feb. 13 - At 20-31 the Bulls are still playing uninspired basketball, but they’re also still on the verge of being a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. Thabo Sefolosha and Chris Duhon are, temporarily, starting at guard for the Bulls and that has produced mixed results. And while Joakim Noah is starting to see more consistent playing time, Jim Boylan apparently doesn’t like Tyrus Thomas any more than Scott Skiles did. Because it would be pointless to once again talk about the lack of any real rotation or how massively disappointing any number of players on this team have been, Charlie Danoff spent this week’s column on evaluating the Bulls less than two weeks before the trade deadline. Now that all the pre-season dreams of contending for a conference title have long since been unmercifully crushed, I thought it’d be appropriate to do a re-evaluation of the Bulls current roster. I will look at each player, taking into account their age and salary and determine their current worth TODAY. I will forget what we though about them heading into the year, because that no longer matters. This column is not about who should be traded, or what rotation should be used, it’s about honestly ranking the assets the Bulls currently possess… Asset Rank: 1 - Tyrus Thomas - Younger than Deng, extension not coming up, and while Deng has proved he cannot be the best, or second best player on a top team, Tyrus still has that chance. 2 - Luol Deng - Our best current player, hurt by contract status and injury woes. 3 - Joakim Noah - Like the two above, future is very unknown, but already proven he belongs in the NBA, and could one-day win the Defensive Player of the Year Award. I mean, Ben Wallace did … four times. 4 - Andres Nocioni - Above-average player, paid appropriately. 5 - Kirk Hinrich - Above-average player, paid inappropriately. 6 - Ben Gordon - Bulls’ best scorer, also hurt by uncertain contract status. 7 - Thabo Sefolosha - Gaining very, very quickly with each game. 8 - Joe Smith - Mr. Consistent, paid commensurate with what he brings to the court. 9 - Aaron Gray - Realistically could be an NBA starter. I mean, Mikki Moore and Mark Blount have started whole seasons for teams. 10 - Chris Duhon - Tough to put him this low, but below Gray because he’ll be a free agent at the end of the year and Gray is only making the minimum. 11 - Adrian Griffin - It’s Adrian Griffin. … 100 - Ben Wallace I would argue that Deng will definitely be a better player than Thomas, but Danoff ’s point about his potential is a good one. Still, anytime your top three assets are Deng, Thomas and Joakim Noah, you know you’re in for a rough year. Feb. 16 - Even though there was still almost a week left until the NBA trade deadline, two future Hall of Famers - Shaquille O’Neal and Jason Kidd - and two All-Stars -
Shawn Marion and Pau Gasol - had already been traded. In Chicago no moves had been made though. There were rumors of Ben Wallace going to New York (why??!?), but that’s not where I thought Big Ben should go: The Spurs don’t have anything to give the Bulls except for expiring contracts, but the Bulls shouldn’t mind. At this point, Wallace is doing nothing but hurting the development of Noah and Thomas. He’s not the veteran leader the team sorely lacks and even if he was still a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, the Bulls aren’t winning anything this year. It would also allow the Bulls to be a player in a free agent market this year that will include a plethora of stars. Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and Jacque Vaughn account for almost $10 million in expiring contracts, and the Spurs wouldn’t miss any of them. Add Robert Horry’s $3.6 million expiring contract and you have a deal. The Spurs need another big man, they admitted as much when they started Barry at power forward earlier this year. The 37-year-old Horry is no longer a consistent option at power forward, and Greg Popovich doesn’t seem to trust either Fabricio Oberto or Francisco Elson at the center position. Matt Bonner may be okay for 15 minutes a game, but nothing more. The Spurs instead traded for Kurt Thomas. I’m still convinced that even at his diminished skill level Wallace would have been a perfect fit for this year’s Spurs. He doesn’t have to be a leader, something he struggled with in Chicago, and he’s still an above-average help defender and would work perfectly (defensively) with Tim Duncan. But as I also alluded to, the Spurs haven’t gotten where they are by taking on contracts like Wallace’s. But don’t worry about the Bulls, as it turns out they had found another taker for Big Ben’s contra….. urr, services. Feb. 21 - The final trade of a wild trade deadline period was the biggest. The Bulls said goodbye to Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Adrian Griffin and a second-round draft pick in an 11-player trade, getting Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden in return. There was once again hope in Chicago. Feb. 25 - In his column this week, Charlie Danoff decided to take a look at the newest Bulls - Hughes, Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown: Thursday’s deadline three-way trade by John Paxson may well go down one day as the move that saved his legacy as GM of the Chicago Bulls. Doing the impossible and trading what is easily one of the NBA’s worst current contracts allows Paxson to finally move on from the most egregious error of his tenure. As many have said, losing Wallace is addition by subtraction, and so long as the Bulls didn’t get Vin Baker back in a trade for him they would instantly become a better team as soon as he left. Well, I for one thought the Bulls would be a lot better. But the team boasted a .396 winning percentage with Wallace (21-32) and a .414 winning percentage without him (1217). Just enough to half-heartedly stay in the playoff race without really threatening. March 6 - In hindsight, Wallace might have been unfairly blamed for the Bulls season. Sure, he was a disaster, but so was the rest of the team. When he did leave, just about everyone thought Chicago would turn into the 49-win team from a year ago, including
Bulls
Season In Review: Part 5
Lister: General Manager John Paxson needs to take Bulls to next level through good free agency transactions Continued From Page 10
averaged 11.9 points and 5.7 rebounds a game. Not spectacular numbers, but not bad for a 23-year-old. Feb. 6 - I’m open about my love for the Phoenix Suns. Part of the beauty of living in Chicago, is that no matter how bad it’s going for Phoenix it’s always looking worse for the Bulls. After the Suns traded All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks for Shaquille O’Neal, I was on suicide watch. Of course, at least my team was making moves.: As good as Paxson has been at drafting, he’s shown no ability to take the Bulls to the next level through free agency or trades. His biggest signings have been bringing
Scottie Pippen back to town (which failed miserably) and over-paying Ben Wallace. In four-plus years he’s traded away Jamal Crawford, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry for players that are no longer with the team. His only positive trade was stealing Luol Deng on draft day from my Phoenix Suns because our owner didn’t want to pay the luxury tax. Now the trade deadline is two weeks away and it appears the Bulls are going to stand pat once again, hoping that if they can turn things around next year with this group of safe, low-ceiling players, they can once again be a middle-of-the-pack Eastern Conference team. Of course I was dead wrong about the Bulls standing pat, but we’ll get to that in our final installment of the Bulls season in review.
Charlie Danoff: Looking over the schedule as a whole then, I predict the Bulls will win seven of their easy games, six of the 50/50 ones (including a sweep of the Cavs) and three of the games they should lose. That means a 16-6 record over their last 22. Leaving their regular season record at 40-42. Given they’ve only managed to win 24 out of their first 60 games, you could say I’m letting my heart get in the way of my head, and you’d have a point. Yet, being as objective as I can possibly be, I really feel the Bulls are a much better team than when they started 2-11. Hughes and Gooden are an upgrade over Wallace and Smith, plus Hinrich, Gordon and Deng are all playing light years ahead of where they were then. Thabo and Joakim have also emerged as consistent above-average players since then. The Bulls had other plans, though, and they finished the year a pitiful 9-13. It’s important to point out the Charlie’s viewpoint was pretty common in Chicago, even after struggling all year long most fans thought they would eventually snap out of it. They just never did. March 10 - If you’re going to look for someone to blame for this year’s 33-49 team, you really can’t go wrong with anyone. One of the bigger problems was Tyrus Thomas failing to develop into any thing more than a wildly inconsistent, immature youngster. It is important to have perspective, though: Yes, he is immature and far too sensitive, but how many young people aren’t? With time and a little faith from the Bulls brass Tyrus will grow out of these character faults and evolve into the player Paxson thought he could become when he drafted him. Whether it is in a Bulls uniform or not, by the end of his career, no one will think the Bulls lost on that draft day deal. Then again, he could go down as a draft day flop similar to fellow LSU alum, Stromile Swift. It depends on which Tyrus he chooses to be, the one who skips practices, or the one who worked his way up from nothing to college stardom. The potential is there, but as Thomas himself said shortly after the draft: “ You have to maximize your skills and ability. Potential is just a smokescreen. You have to prove you’re real in order to earn all the praise.” To finish in truly unoriginal fashion, I will end with a cliche. Mr. Thomas, you have shown you can talk the talk… now, can you walk the walk? Thomas had a decent April, averaging 28 minutes, 12.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.56 blocks per game. Unfortunately in today’s NBA, next year looks like it may be the last chance Thomas will have to prove he can be a star - at least in a Bulls uniform.
Page 10
Friday May 23, 2008
Friday May 23, 2008
Firing
Page 11
Justin Mapp wins the battle for the ball during play at Toyota Parkin in Bridgeview, Ill., Saturday April 26, 2008. The Chicago Fire defeated the Colorado Rapids by a score of 2-1.
on all cylinders Fire 2 • Rapids 1 April 26, 2008
CSR photos by Scott Wysoglad
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Friday May 23, 2008
Edmonds envy no more for Chicago Cubs fans by Jon
Kerr
I
admit I have developed a respectful disdain for Jim Edmonds over the years. He was everything the Cubs always needed but never had - a left-handed, power hitting centerfielder who catches everything in the outfield, and, oh by the way, hits for average too. Over the years, for the St. Louis Cardinals. And playing in two World Series. So when I heard the Cubs were interested in signing Edmonds, I knew what was coming. My inner Cub predictably reared its ugly head and uttered the following words“Not Edmonds. This guy killed us for years. He’s not a Cub. We shouldn’t sign him.” But over the past few seasons, I have learned to suppress this instinctive response. The desire to win supersedes this childish, whimsical allegiance. It’s sort of like when I saw a box of Ding-Dongs at the bagel shop the other day. The instant gratification is not worth the long term suffering. Harnessing my counterintuitive powers has become one of the true joys of adulthood. So what if Edmonds reminds me of what the Cubs have lacked over the years? He can help us win now. This is what matters. Another left-handed hitter in the lineup gives manager Lou Pinella much more flexibility. He can play center against righties. Who would you rather have facing Roy Oswalt or Ben Sheets? A guy who has been in the division for almost a decade, or Felix Pie? If Joe Girardi was managing this team
and development of players was the priority, Pie would have time to work out his hitting problems. But not now. Not as long as we have Pinella. Not as long as we have Lee, Ramirez, Fukudome and Soriano (speaking of Soriano, the guy can play a bit, can’t he?) No one would argue Edmonds is not the player he was as recent as 4 years ago, when he hit 42 homers. The discussion of his moody clubhouse manner is valid. But Steve Traschel he is not. Traschel’s negative personality did little damage to Cub team chemistry last year, mainly because veterans like Derrick Lee minimized the impact. Edmonds can be surly to just about anyone he comes in contact with, but as long as this team continues to win, it won’t matter. The Cubs are signing him to catch and hit, not raise money for stadium improvements. Maybe another trip to the minors will bring Felix Pie one step closer to becoming the all-around centerfielder we all want him to be. Maybe he will channel the patience of a certain Japanese teammate and learn to take a pitch. Sure, and Roger Clemens is a family guy who won all those games in his 40’s by spiking his Gatorade with Red Bull. But this isn’t about Pie. This isn’t about what may happen in 2010. The future is now. So if this is true, and Edmonds becomes a Cub, I will embrace it. I mean, he has to be better than Corey Patterson right?
“... Edmonds was consistently producing .300 hitting, 30 home runs, and 100 RBI seasons ...”
photo by
John Pyle/Icon SMI
Veteran outfielder Jim Edmonds has joined the Cubs.
Sammy Kershaw to headline Miller Lite Rock N’ Racing concert BROOKLYN, Mich. — Michigan International Speedway has partnered with its official beer sponsor and its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race sponsor to host the Miller Lite Rock N’ Racing Concert presented by Cool City Customs, featuring a postrace performance by country music sensation Sammy Kershaw on Saturday, June 14. The concert will take place after the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Cool City Customs 200, which is slated to begin at 3 p.m. Local recording artist ‘3D’ from Detroit will open for Kershaw. “Michigan International Speedway, Miller Lite and Cool City Customs believe
in delivering fun to all of our fans and that means more than just great racing,” track President Roger Curtis said. “The concert has always been one of the many highlights that make NASCAR races at MIS more than just ‘events.’ Sammy Kershaw is one of country music’s great performers and we’re glad he’ll be here to help us kick off our 40th season.” Fans that have purchased tickets to the Cool City Customs 200, which will feature many of today’s hottest drivers such as Kyle Busch, Johnny Benson and Todd Bodine, can use their ticket stub for admission to the concert and witness one of country music’s greatest performers outside of Turns 1 and 2.
Tickets are available for $40 each with children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at MISpeedway.com or calling 800-354-1010. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to perform at Michigan International Speedway in front of some of the greatest NASCAR fans in the country,” Kershaw said. “I appreciate Miller and Cool City Customs for giving me this opportunity. I guarantee it will be a fun show for everyone.” Since his debut on the music scene in the early 90’s, Kershaw has remained one of the most consistent power hitters in country music — both with a chain of major hit records
and sell-out touring schedules. Kershaw’s current album “Honkytonk Boots,” was released in 2006 on Category 5. For the newest Kershaw project, the singer’s soulful sound and Cajun vocal kick has teamed back-up with the genius of producer Buddy Cannon, whose efforts, like Sammy’s, have lined his walls with platinum. Often referred to as the heir apparent to the legendary “voice” George Jones, Kershaw helped make the ‘90s a shining decade for country music. It’s a comparison not lost on Sammy, who grew up in the Cajun country of Louisiana on a diet of crawfish and country music.
Chicago Rush clinch Central Division with 72-28 victory by Jerome
Cusson
The Chicago Rush accomplished a great deal in their 72-28 victory over the Los Angeles Avengers. They clinched the Central Division with five weeks to go, clinched a bye and home playoff game, set three team records, broke out new uniforms which they should consider never taking off and proved that the best team in the Arena Football League may be in the American Conference. In what Coach Mike Hohensee described as the most complete game of the year, the Rush dominated the Avengers in all three phases of the game. The 44-point margin of victory eclipses a 43-point victory back in 2004 over the Orlando Predators as the largest margin of victory in team history. The best effort may have come from the defense, which allowed just four touchdowns for the entire game. They also set another team record by forcing the Avengers to commit two safeties in one half. That is not only
a team record, but an AFL record for most safeties in a half. Dennison Robinson was the player of the game defensively. Robinson set the final team record as he had three interceptions, one of which went for a touchdown. Robinson was quick to make sure his teammates took some of the credit. “We have the best pass rush in the league,” Robinson said, “This game was an all-around team effort.” Considering what this game meant and a national television audience watching, one might think the Rush were sending a message. Robinson doesn’t think so. “We try to win big every week,” Robinson said, “This is not a statement game.” Indeed this was a team effort. James Baron and Khreem Smith caused all sorts of havoc on the front line. With John Moyer playing Mac linebacker, both Avengers quarterbacks seemed to have Rush pass rushers in their face the entire game. And when they did manage to escape, they had to deal with the ballhawk-
ing defensive backs. Jeremy Unertl, Jonathon Ordway, and John Moyer each broke up two passes, while the team ended up with 10 total for the game. Coach Hohensee pointed out the effort of his offense as well, specifically quarterback Russ Michna, the offensive player of the game. “He made some phenomenal throws,” Hohensee said, “and it’s something we’ve come to expect from Russ.” Receivers Travis LeTendresse and Donovan Morgan continued to see their stock rise both on the team and perhaps within the league by combining for almost 200 yards of receptions. With the Avengers keying in on AFL legend Damian Harrell, LeTendresse in particular seemed to be able to get himself wide open the entire game. What helped the cause of the quarterback and the receivers was the early running of fullback Dan Alexander. He had a hardearned bulldozing 13-yard run to get the scoring party started and then caught another
touchdown ball to give the team an early two touchdown lead. In referring to Alexander, Coach Hohensee said, “We wanted to soften them up and made sure they realized they had something else to worry about.” Dan Alexander later said in response, “I love that coach knows how to soften defenses up.” Coach Hohensee, barely even done winning a division championship for the fourth time, quickly shifted focus to the 2-10 Utah Blaze. Despite a pious record, the Blaze are still in the playoff race. With a short week and a long trip to Salt Lake combined with a high-powered offense, Coach Hohensee sees cause for concern. No doubt the Rush will have to contend with a great offense and the second game of a three game in 12 days stretch, but Alexander may have said it best. “Any offense is at a disadvantage because of our defense.”