Bulls Big In Overtime!!

The Chicago Bulls have pulled out another stunning overtime victory, this time against the Houston Rockets. After coming off of two pretty important losses to the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, the Bulls needed to get back on track and get a victory at home. The Bulls played bad basketball against the 2 top teams in the East and needed to redeem themselves. Those games, although early in the season, are important because 9 times out of 10 you will see these very team in the playoffs. We saw the failure on Wednesday night when Dwight Howard and the Magic came to Chicago and executed their game plan. This came with Joakim Noah not collecting a single rebound when he is averaging 12.2 rpg, second in the league. Friday night came and you would think the Bulls would have came out with more energy after a big loss at home against a team they have to be able to compete with. Instead they came out flat and did not look like the same defensive team we saw on the Circus Trip. Boston beat the Bulls with simple pick and roll basketball that involved a lot of layups, and wide open shots. Derrick Rose was not attacking the basket enough, and when he doesn't attack, the offense doesn't have the same flow. With Boozer only playing his second game of the season, going through him in that particular game was not the answer, so they continued to struggle and go on to lose the contest. Saturday night arrives, Bulls are at home coming off of two disappointing losses, it's time to end this losing streak. Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer played a great game tonight, and I think the chemistry between all the guys is starting to gel. Boozer seemed to find a flow early in the game by getting to the free throw line and being aggressive. Boozer who scored 25pts, and 9 rebounds did find himself in early foul trouble but was able to show discipline and stay in the game. Joakim Noah has had a tough two games going against some of the leagues best big men in D. Howard, Shaq, and KG. Noah had another big defensive responsibility tonight having to keep an eye on Luis Scola and veteran Brad Miller, and did a fairly good job while grabbing 13 rebounds with 4 blocks. Foul trouble found it's way to the Bulls big man with him fouling out with 1:04 left in OT. But the story of the night has to be D. Rose putting up 30 pts, 11ast, 7reb, 5stl, and 1 block, first time since Scottie Pippen did it in 1994, a Bulls player had at least 30 pts and 10 ast in a game. With under 10 seconds left in the game Rose is the guy to save the day by hitting a 3 point buzzer beater to tie it up 109-109 and send it into overtime. Rose continued his brilliant play through OT and the rest of the team was definitely on board as the Bulls pulled out a 118-116 much needed victory. Next game is against the Oklahoma City Thunder which is another tough team in the West. Once the Bulls get into the flow of their offense, and the bench becomes more solidified, this is going to be a serious contender in the Eastern playoff picture. Listen into the show for more Bulls talk today December 5, from 10-12 on www.sportstownchicago.com

It's Been A While

Sorry for being away for so long, but we're back baby! What has happened since the last time we've talked? Well a lot and there is no way to cover it all in one blog, so let's have a quick recap. The Chicago Bears are hot right now with a leading NFC North record of 8-3 and they are starting to put it together on both sides of the ball. The defense is sound, making plays around the ball with Julius Peppers making his way into Defensive Player of the Year conversations, not by stats but by making his presence felt all over the field. Jay Cutler just recently won Offensive player of the week after his stunning 4 TD game against Michael Vick and the Eagles. The Blackhawks have continued their winning ways by carrying on a record of 14-10-2. Doesn't sound like a very good Championship team, but trust me in this long 82 game season, the Hawks look a lot better then most thought just because of how different the team looks. The Hawks are coming off a high scoring 7-5 win over St. Louis and look to move forward Friday night against Vancouver. The Chicago Bulls have blown the minds of many with the way they have played recently. At this point in the season the Bulls would normally be trying to find ways to pick themselves up after a long 14 day 7 game annual "Circus Trip". But this year it's completely different. The Chi-Bulls went a remarkable 4-3 on this trip which the first time they've had a winning record on this trip since MJ was here in 1998, so for any Bulls fan this is big. Derrick Rose who averaged a show stopping 30.5 ppg led the team in just about all 7 games to a close margin win or defeat, no blowout games like we've seen in the past. In all honesty, the Bulls could have easily gone 5-2 on this road trip had Rose played in the game which resulted in a 2 point loss to the Denver Nuggets, not saying nothing, but I'm just saying. Unfortunately for the Bulls, the first game back home was against the SE Division leading Orlando Magic, who looks just awesome right now. With Boozer making his season debut in this matchup, the Magic were just too much for the Bulls to handle. Tom Thibodeau and his defensive stance has made the Bulls 10 times better on that end of the floor, but after last night, you can tell this is still a team in the learning process. Baseball is in the offseason, but means absolutely nothing because apparently, the Baltimore Orioles have made an offer to the Southsiders Paul "Pauly" Konerko, and "Alexi Ramirez has opted out of his deal. On the Northside, the Cubbies have looked to the future and began the rebuilding process by hiring former interim head coach Mike Quade. Oh, Northwestern and Illinois played a conference game on the infamous Wrigley Field, and to celebrate after such a good success, Todd Ricketts, Cubs Owner, played a little football himself with his staff. Let's just say, we should be glad the savvy left hander was good with business.

Bear Down

What's that, the Chicago Bears are 4-1, the Green Bay Packers are 3-2 and the Minnesota Vikings are 1-3. Anyone who thinks they know football probably feels like a complete idiot after the first 5 weeks of the season. The Chicago Bears have proven week in and week out that they can win football games, it hasn't been the prettiest of victories, but none the less they are victories. The game against the Carolina Panthers showed that the running backs we have are good, and when the line does there job, the running game works. Matt Forte carried the ball 22 times for 166 yards and Chester Taylor had 18 carries for 43 yards. By default, the Bears had to run the ball because Cutler was out and it only took Todd Collins a little under 3 minutes in the first quarter to throw his first of four interceptions, in the redzone. Martz tried to give Collins the benefit of the doubt by starting him over Calib Hanie, but throwing 4 picks shows me and hopefully Lovie Smith, they might have been better off with Hanie taking the reigns. Both TD's the Bears scored were rushing touchdowns, and the only two on the season so far. Maybe this will be the start of something, the running is alive again.
2nd on Depth Chart: Should the performance of Todd Collins move him to the 3rd QB spot on the depth chart? Hanie, only attempted 3 passes and completed 2 of those, but can he do any worse then 4 turnovers is really how this should be judged.
Offensiv Line Changes: Chicago also has questions on the offensive line with J'Marcus Webb and Edwin Williams taking the starting jobs yesterday at right guard and right tackle. They did a fairly good job keeping up with the pace of the game, and this may be a good combination for a running game as well.
Defense: The Bears defense is ranked 6th in the league so far, 4th in the running game and 17 in the passing game. They have a total of 9 sacks on the season and 7 interceptions. They have been very good at stopping the run and progressively are improving on stopping the pass. This defense is led by Brian Urlacher (34 tackles, 1 sack, 1int) and Lance Briggs (33 tackles, 1 sack, 1 int), it looks very promising right now.

Offensive Line Not Playing Well...Get Rid Of A Defensive Lineman...Hmmm

So where do we start? Sunday night, the New York Giants hosted the Chicago Bears and it was probably one of the ugliest games in a long time. The first half alone the Bears gave up 9 sacks, and got their QB, Jay Cutler, knocked out of the game. He was apparently diagnosed with a concussion, but let's not get it twisted. We all know that Cutler was getting his brains beat in and we could probably say the coaches felt it not the right move to insert him back into the game. So we move on to the second half, and here comes Todd Collins, and there goes Todd Collins. He was then knocked out of the game not before he threw his first interception since 1997. So it's obvious that the O line is, in the words of former Bears receiver Tom Waddle, hot garbage! This is something that needs to be addressed, and after coach Lovie Smith showed that he is no longer afraid to bench players who are not performing up to par, you would think this would be addressed. It wasn't, and instead, the Bears decided to get rid of a Defensive lineman, Mark Anderson, who in his rookie season recorded 12.0 sacks, and has only had 9.5 since then (4 years later). Ok, so I can see why you would release Anderson, but at this point in time, you need an O lineman, why would you pick up another defensive lineman in Charles Grant who was last playing in the UFL for just a short stint. This problem with the offensive line needs to be rectified if Jay Cutler wants to see the end of the season. He will not be playing this upcoming Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Todd Collins will be taking the reigns.

Match Ups To Watch IN Week 4 For The NFC

This is the week where the match ups begin to really mean something. The Chicago Bears are the only team in the NFC that are 3-0, so now they have to prove themselves worthy of the record. Most analyst don't believe in the Bears, they have them down as one of those teams that are not for real. The upcoming schedule for Chicago reads as follows: @ NYG, @ CAR, SEA, then WAS. It is very much possible the Bears can look to go anywhere from 7-0 to 5-2, this game against the Giants will be another test. Elsewhere in the NFC, you have Washington vs Philadelphia, and they are playing in Philly. Donovan McNabb is coming back to the place he called home for 11 years, how will the crowd react to him returning? Will they boo, will they cheer, and will their reaction affect the way McNabb plays on Sunday. More importantly, what about Michael Vick? This is his first game starting back in Philly, and he's going against the guy who for the most part brought him back into the National Football League. This game has a great story behind it, and the outcome of this game is far more then important to both sides. This will proves Vick's worth at the QB position, or it will give Washington some breathing room after a couple of tough losses. At this point in the season, teams should begin to separate themselves from elite, to average, to maybe next year.

Monday Night Preview...

It has been too long since the last Bears and Packers match up, but not to worry, there is a Monday Night Football game where the Bears host the Packers and it's going to be a doozie!! Aaron Rodgers vs Jay Cutler, Clay Matthews vs Lance Briggs, Cullen Jenkins vs Julius Peppers, this is going to be a fairly good match up. Defensively, both teams are going to be solid based on what we've seen in the past two weeks. Clay Matthews has exploded for 6 sacks total in two games, and 12 solo tackles so I think it's safe to say he is playing out of his mind. The Packers as a defensive unit has allowed on average 136 rushing yards so far this year, where the Bears have only allowed 28 rushing yards. But when you look at the passing game Chicago has let the opposing QB air the ball out a little bit too much. The Bears are giving up about 261 yards in the air, and the Packers, only 116 yards passing. This may be an issue because Aaron Rodgers has been great for Green Bay since he took over the starting job. Rodgers so far has thrown for 443 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, pretty good numbers especially going against a defense who is ranked 27th in opposing teams passing yards. On the offensive side for the Bears, they are ranked 3rd in passing and 29th in rushing, they have got to find a way to move the ball between the tackles. With Martz's pass heavy offense, the run game hasn't been able to really get it going and that I think will be one of the key's to winning this game. Cutler is off to a great start with 649 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and only 1 interception, oh yeah he also has the highest passer rating in the NFL right now with a 121.2. Wait a minute, there is a guy by the name of Brian Urlacher that is 100% healthy and seems to be having a lot of fun on the football field, he's flying around the field, he and Briggs teamed up for a total of 14 tackles last game, yes the poses a problem for the Packers. If you double team one, then the other is going to reek havoc. Go Bears!! Hey, I'm still a fan!

Braylon Edwards Gets DWI....C'Mon Man!!

Ok for the life of me I can't understand why professional athletes just don't get it, specifically NFL players. Is because they are constantly getting hit? Or is it because they feel the money puts them in a different category then everyone else? I think it may be a little bit of both. Edwards starts the night off at a fundraiser for another teammates organization, great that looks good especially after a big win against the Patriots. Then the next place he ends up is probably the spot where he did most of his partying, have some fun, it's ok you just had a pretty awesome game with a stat line that read 5 catches for 45 yards and a touchdown, plus a 2pt conversion catch. Feeling good, well you should. But wait this is where things get interesting, Edwards and apparently two teammates, tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and defensive end Vernon Gholston were in the car as well when Edwards got pulled over. 5:15 in the morning he's stopped for having tints on his window that are past the legal limit, then once the arresting officers see Edwards eyes were blood shot red and he reeked of alcohol, matters just got worse. Braylon then tried to talk his way out of the DWI by suggesting he just leave the car where it was and take a cab, but that wasn't enough for the police. They administered a breathalyzer test, and this is where he blew a 0.156, then later at the station blew a 0.164, yeah he was drunk. So that's just part of the story, the NFL has this program where players who have had a couple of drinks while hanging out can call a number where an armed guard, (off duty officers or retired), will come pick you up and take you home, this is called The Player Protect Program. This is not just a cab ride, these vehicles are top notch, and the best part about it is that you DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE!! I don't understand it, why is it that so many of these guys have issues with DUI's Or DWI's in this case, there should be none at all. Now, this is where "believing you're above everybody else" comes into play. Going out spending cash then driving off into the night in your new "whip", this is what they think it's all about, not making the right decision is the case for them anymore. Now the league says due to certain rules that are in place from the collective bargaining agreement, the Jets can not deactivate a players for certain offenses and this happens to fall under one of them. Living above the law it seems like these are doing, ok so he might catch a charge from the law, but we all know what hurts athletes the most, take away what they love to do most. We will talk more about this on Sunday at http://www.sportstownchicago.com/ from 2-4 on Chi-Town Shop Talk.

Bears vs. Lions

Where do we begin, hmmm. The Chicago Bears took on the Detroit Lions for the season opener yesterday and the outcome on paper looks just great. But, if like me, you sat and watched the actual game, you would be a little disappointed with the way the Bears played that game. Offensively coming out of the gates the Bears were firing, making the first drive look very good. They only came away with 3 points, but it gave fans a little confidence in their team. Then the Bears of old that we all know so well showed up and did what they do a little too often, penalties, fumbles, and interception, yeah the usual. So with 1:33 left on the clock, the Lions scored off a Javid Best 4 yard TD, which could have gone either way, not sure if the ball broke the plain. Now it's 13-3 and their backs are up against the wall, but they figured it out and Jay Cutler threw a pass to Matt Forte for a 89 yard TD. 14-10 with only 1:03 on the clock, all you have to do is hold on to the lead, let's go defense. Matthew Stafford drops back and who is coming from behind, the 90 million dollar man, Julius Peppers with the big sack and forced fumble recovered by Tommie Harris, which led to a Bears 31 yard field goal by Robbie Gould. Some life has been brought back into Soldier Field only being down 14-13 going into halftime. Then right back to where they started, mistake after mistake. The bright spot throughout the game has been the defense, led by Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs who combined for 17 tackles. Finally after all the horrible play from both teams offensively, the Bears found another spark when Cutler hooked up with Forte for a 28 yard TD catch. Just hold onto the lead, the defense needs to continue the play they've had all game, but no the big play is here with an apparent TD catch by Calvin Johnson, a.k.a Megatron. But wait, did Johnson not hold onto the ball all the way through in the endzone, c'mon man you have to know that rule. As a fan we've seen this many times throughout different games and it is clear that you must maintain possession through the whole process of the catch. Don't celebrate until you see the official signal TOUCHDOWN!! Here is the official rule: If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete. Clear as day, there it is. So did the Bears win that game, yes they did but it just wasn't pretty. Defensively, the Bears need to be aware of the big play in game winning situations, be able to hold. Next week the Bears take on the Cowboys, let's hope they will make all the necessary adjustments needed to come out with a better win.

Don't Do It Bulls!!

All of a sudden the Chicago Bulls are in talks again with another franchise, in a possible trade move to get a great player in the league today, Carmelo Anthony. I know, I know, it sounds great, looks even better on paper, and it's an awesome opportunity. Of course there is a catch to this wonderful endeavor, they would have to give up Joakim Noah. Don't do it please!!! I have enough confidence in the Bulls front office to say, they will stay away from that deal because it's just simply not smart. He may not be an All Star yet, but he is definitely the emotional leader of this team. Yes, D. Rose is the ultimate leader of this team, but vocally, it's all Noah. Not to mention, you take Joakim away, then that leaves you without a Center, then we might as well just move to Utah. Boozer needs that good young Center to back him up so he won't have to play out of position. Getting Carmelo Anthony would be a great piece to counter what happened in Miami this summer, but they should really look for another way to pick him up. Try to work another trade, give up a Taj Gibson and James Johnson and a draft pick for Melo'. It sounds like a lot, but the overall outcome would be worth it. The other team that Anthony is considering is the New York Knicks, which once again I believe would be a mistake for him, still not enough to go around him it's just Amare Stoudemire. I believe if John Paxson puts his mind in the right place, he can make this workout for Chicago and do big things.

Are The Bears Ready For The Season Opener

The Chicago Bears have less than one week of practice left before the season opener against the Detroit Lions, and from what we saw as fans during preseason, it's going to be a scary season. With the talks of such a great coaching staff, and Peppers joining in alongside Chester Taylor, and Brandon Manumaleuna, we were excited to see this new look team in action. Well, things didn't seem that way through all four games in the preseason in this 2010 season. The offensive line looked the same as they always do, with Jay Cutler getting hit and sacked way too much. In this complicated offense, if they want to be successful, then they must give Cutler more time to throw the ball. To be honest, the problem that everyone thought was going to be the biggest issue hasn't been so bad, the Bears receiving core. With bright spots in Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashadeau, this seems to be the least of their problems. Defensively, the main issue seems to be in the secondary. The D line has new life with Julius Peppers leading them, and the linebackers need to find a way to remain healthy. Overall, if the offense is what worries me the most due to the fact that we didn't see much improvement unless the genius, Mike Martz, has something up his sleeve and won't unveil it until Sunday. Will this be the greatest show on sod? Or is this going to be another disappointing, long drawn out season?

Chi-Town Welcomes Manny

On Monday August 30, 2010 the Chicago White Sox made it official, Manny Ramirez, they want you on the south side. It was probably the most unorthodox way to be introduced to a new team, seeing as how Manny has been in the league for 17 years, you would think he wouldn't need a translator because he's never used one before. So what does this say about his time that will be spent in Chicago? Is this Manny being Manny already, on the first day of being a member of the Sox ball club this is what you get. The White Sox trying not to think about the off the field issues with Manny, but are focusing on how to catch up to the Minnesota Twins. Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said in an interview that Manny was willing to play on Tuesday night if needed, but didn't necessarily like his answer to the point where he felt the Sox are not desperate for a bat, and they'll use him only if needed. Well it turns out that they ended up needing Ramirez, or at least his presence was needed. In the top of the ninth the ChiSox were down 3-1, and with 2 men on base and A.J. Pierzynski was up to bat with Manny Ramirez in the on deck circle. All of a sudden Pierzynski gets a good pitch and bye bye ball. Did he get that pitch because he saw the person that he may face next, that is a major possibility. This is how Manny will help this club, because opposing pitchers will see this and begin to throw better pitches to the man in front of him. In his debut, Ramirez went 1-3 with a base hit after being hit by a pitch from his former team. Even Manny believes he is rusty, but that isn't going to stop him from being Manny. We'll have to wait and see how this new found Chi-Town love for Manny Ramirez will last.

The Big Hurt's Even Bigger Move....

August 29, 2010, the Chicago White Sox retired the jersey of Frank Thomas #35. After 19 years in baseball, Thomas has reached a point where he calls it the proudest day of his life. A career batting average of .301, 521 HR's, and 1,704 RBI's, the two time AL MVP was accompanied by Carlton Fisk, Jermaine Dye, Billy Pierce, Minnie Minoso and former Manager, who definitely got booed, Terry Bevington. Frank Thomas was a vital part of this franchise for many years, and the Sox made it a point to have an image of Thomas with his number 35 put up on the wall in left center field. After 16 years with the organization, there was a bitter taste left over in 2006 when Thomas spoke against the organization for making him look like a "damaged player". In a separate interview, Sox GM Kenny Williams responded to it by calling him "an idiot", and things went south from there. But, in the last month the Chicago White Sox made things right by hiring him as an Ambassador. In his 16 year stint, the Big Hurt made his mark on the franchise with 448 HR's, and 1,465 RBI's. With a great career now behind him, the next question is how long will it take Frank Thomas to reach the Hall Of Fame?

Team USA Is At It Again....

It's 2010 and team USA is back overseas doing what they do best in a little game of round ball, dominating. In their final tune up game against Greece, USA showed why they took the gold medal in the Olympics 2 years ago. Offensively, they need a little more time to fine tune some things, but as long as they stay on the same page they will be fine. I'm sure most of the arsenal wasn't pulled out in these first few exhibition games because of the simple fact that most of the teams they played, just may be back in some of the later rounds. On the defensive side of the ball, it's all about their confidence. Communication is the key to success on defense, and they do a mighty good job with talking to each other so everyone knows whats happening on the floor. Kevin Durant has been the one we expect to lead the team in scoring, but I say watch out for Rudy Gay, Andre Igoudala, and Derrick Rose to help out in that department. Our guard play is going to be key in these games Coach Mike Kryzewski, (Duke), had it right by using the bigger framed guards to help with the physical play, very smart move. Things look good for now, and you can believe we will talking about this on the show to keep you updated.

Bears vs. Raiders....A Better Look

Saturday night we had another chance to look at the Bears a little closer then last week. How did they look, well not so bad, but they definitely needs more work. Jay Cutler was sacked 5 times in the first half of play. This is the offensive line that Lovie, Tice and Martz have put a lot of faith in. I can say this though, Frank Omiyale wasn't the source of the sacks for the most part. Chris Williams did not do the best job in keeping Kamerion Wimbley on his side of the ball. Wimbley recorded 4 sacks alone in Chicago's loss to the Raiders on Saturday night. The Bears came out somewhat sluggish in the first quarter, but seemed to turn things around on both sides of the ball in the 2nd. Matt Forte had a breakout game rushing for 109 yards off of 5 carries and a TD. So it seems the offensive lines main problem is pass blocking, luckily for us, Cutler did a great job outside of the pocket. Jay went 7-15 for 99yds. and a touchdown, not bad for someone who took 5 sacks and didn't throw a interception. As for the defense, there was a couple of scary moments in the game where LB Brian Urlacher came out of the game with a calf injury, don't think it was major, it just seemed to be more of a precaution. Then in one play we saw both JuliusPeppers and Tommie Harris go down. Harris was able to stay in the game, while Peppers came out for a couple of plays, looks like he was hit in the eye on the play. Once all that was done, the Bears did a great job in stopping the run, but the secondary didn't look so hot. Jason Campbell torched the Bears going 10-20 for 170 yards and an interception. No, he didn't throw a TD, but he threw for 170 yards in the first half of play, no bueno mi amigo. With 2 preseason games left, they still have time to get things together, and iron out the wrinkles on both sides of the ball. Let's just hope the injury bug will stay away from Chicago this year.

A Couple Of Good Guys With A String Of Bad Luck

There is a couple of guys in the NFL who have a lot of talent, but just can't seem to stay healthy. Stafon Johnson about a year ago might have had one of the worst experiences that you can possibly think of in the weight room. With big weights falling on his neck, you can just imagine what it did to him, nearly killed the kid. His road to recovery wasn't easy I'm sure, especially because it was his last year at USC. Did he let that bring him down, NO! He kept moving forward landing him a spot on the Tennessee Titans roster, well almost. Johnson, because he was undrafted, had to fight for that spot in the rotation which he was willing to do. First game of the preseason Johnson ended up dislocating his ankle, and finding out later he broke his fibula and also had a high ankle sprain to go with it. So it's safe to say the kids season is over, but he says "why would I quit now", and he will continue to move forward in his career. Now over in Vikings camp you have a pretty talented guy by the name of Percy Harvin, who can't seem to get rid of these migraine headaches. Harvin who got these same migraines last year during the season didn't seem to let them slow him down. This past Thursday, Harvin was at practice when he was bothered by a migraine and ended up having to be hospitalized. Fortunately for Harvin, he was released and back at practice not to participate, but on the sideline watching. He is scheduled to see a specialist within the next week or so, now maybe Harvin and the Vikings can get some answers. Will this be classified like the concussion problem in the NFL? Maybe it should simply because it seems to be serious whatever it may be. It hasn't been said how long he will be out if any time at all, but he is another one who keeps his spirits up. Both of these young guys could have a bright future in front of them if health doesn't continue to be an issue. How long will they last in the league, only time will tell.

Bears Lose: A Familiar Headline, I Hope Not

On Saturday night, the Chicago Bears took on the San Diego Chargers for the first game against someone not on the same team. There was plenty of excitement in the air for Chicago fans, just anticipating what would happen. It finally begins, the Bears get the ball first and now we all get to see a small sample of this Mike Martz offense at work. For the first series of this game everything seemed to work pretty well, the offensive line looked ok, and Cutler looked pretty confident, especially when he was throwing to Johnny Knox. Cutler ended up 2/2 for 47 and both passes were to new favorite receiver Knox. Cutler played only one series and then his time was up, so let's now look at who's on the cusp of making the roster. Calib Hanie looked really impressive on Saturday night going 10-17 throwing for 148 yards and a touchdown, but ended up going out with a shoulder injury. The receiver we all talked about at the end of the season last year was wideout Devin Aromashodu who also had a good night with 4 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. He's a big target in the redzone, runs great routes, and has good hands, he needs to have more reps with the first string. On the defensive side of the ball, there is still some work to be done but there was a definite bright spot, Major Wright. Wright ended up with 6 tackles, and all of them were what a coach loves to see, form tackles. He seemed to cover the field pretty well, and is what I think ready to play at this level. Next game is against the Raiders, and the starters should get more minutes, so we'll have a better feel for how they look thus far.

Scottie!!!

Scottie Pippen has made it into the Basketball Hall Of Fame with a pretty good class of 2010. The long time Chicago Bull was just about a sure bet to make into the Hall Of Fame, the question was just, when? In his career averaging 16.1 pts, 6.4 reb, and 5.2 ast, those are huge numbers, but the impact he had on the game with his defense and just overall smarts helped him over the hump. Pippen was named to the NBA all Defensive First Team 8 times, had a pretty important role in the six championship brought to Chicago in the 90's and was part of that record breaking 72 win team. Mr. Pipp was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history during the 96-97 season. Pippen is also the only person to win a NBA championship and Olympic Gold Medal in the same year twice. Who would've thought the 6ft 1in, at the time, would be able to walk on to a small school in Central Arkansas where he started as a team manager, to begin his college career. In 1987, Pippen averaged 23.6 pts, and 60% shooting which earned him all American honors. Once he reached the NBA in the summer of 1987, the transformation of the Bulls began, and yes Scottie was a big part of that. Although Scottie was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics, he was eventually traded to the Bulls for 6ft 11in center Olden Polynice. He quickly left his mark on the league as he and Michael Jordan were determined to win NBA championships. Ranked 6th on the list all time in steals, and being able the be so versatile in the ever so complicated triangle offense, Pippen was surely a lock to the Hall Of Fame. Congratulations to Scottie Pippen and his family on such a great accomplishment, and we here in Chicago are happy to have him as an ambassador to the Chicago Bulls organization.

Isiah Thomas, A Part Of The New York Franchise...Again

Why oh why is this happening again? Did the first time not make any sense to the Knicks? The New York Knicks have made yet another bad decision that makes absolutely no sense. Isiah Thomas is back in with the Knicks but this time as a Consultant. If I can remember correctly, the last time Thomas was involved with the Knicks, the ending wasn't so pretty. It was a horrible team where Thomas found himself talking trash to the opposing teams where he got fined, and a sexual harassment suit thrown in there as well. So, what is it that he did for the franchise where they would ask him to come back. Let's not forget that Isiah is also the head coach for the Florida International Men's College basketball team, so does this move put him as a part time head coach, realistically this can't be good for the University. After only winning 7 games last year, you would think Thomas would have his focus 100% on his team, but taking on other responsibilities he felt was a good opportunity. This has bad idea written all over it, the man who almost single handily ran that franchise into the ground is now a Consultant to that very team, the New York Knicks. Apparently, Thomas has an idea of what he's doing, so maybe this will work for him, but in all honesty, it seems as if it will probably blow in the worst way possible.

From The Big Witness To The Big Shamrock...

The 18 year veteran has packed his bags and is beginning his move to Boston. The Celtics have probably become one of the oldest teams in the league with the newest signing of Shaq. Although theoretically, they got older by numbers, this may give them a bit of an edge to get back to that Eastern Conference champion spot. I know all the talk is about Miami right now and what they will do, but Boston has been in the thick of the playoffs for the past 3 years. Many people don't think the "Big Witness" has nothing much to offer, but, the bottom line is that he is still in the league playing competitively. Not to mention, I still don't know of anyone in the NBA that can stick him. With Kendrick Perkins being out until almost February, they needed a couple of big bodies to fill in the space. With the signing of Jermaine O'Neal, the thought of Shaq coming to Bean-Town just didn't seem right. But, because the Celtics need the help rebounding and on the defensive end, this was probably a great pick up for them, simply because he's just going to take up so much space. So, yes this also means our segment on "Shaq Watch" is coming to an end, but there are still a couple of guys out there still looking for a job like A.I., T. Mac, Jerry Stackhouse, we can possibly start on one of them instead

It Begins....

On Thursday, July 30, 2010, the Chicago Bears headed down to begin training at a facility in Bourbonnais, IL. The first few days, different aspects of the team seemed to look pretty good. But, unfortunately for some Bears, injuries is a factor. Chris Harris, went down with minor back pain which kept him out, but you can't really let that sum up the camp so far although it seems to so familiar. Desmond Clark has shined pretty bright early on, and he's fighting as the 3rd TE on the roster. Brandon Manumaleuna, who is probably the most comfortable person in this new system, sees a lot of bright spots with the younger guys picking it up so fast. They also brought in Isaac Bruce, former St. Louis Ram in the Mike Martz system, to help out with the receiving core. There is still some question with Frank Omiyale on the offensive line, but now that he has moved back to his natural position, Tackle, he should be much improved. Defensively the Bears want to be able to put more points on the board. Under coach Lovie Smith, the Chicago Bears have 200 takeaways, and hold a record of 10-0, so maybe this is a good idea. Ok, so it's only been a couple of days since camp started, but so far things seem to be coming along nicely.

Is This A Cry For Rebuild?

OK Cubs fans, is it time to let go of any inspiration of getting better this season go, yeah, I think it's done. Although this particular move wasn't big on behalf of the organization. This is just the realization of this team not being able to bring themselves out of a whole this size. Yes Ted Lilly was a key piece to the pitching staff, although if yo look at his numbers this year, it doesn't seem like that pitcher we all know. Without run support, Lilly can only do but so much, so it was smart to trade him now while his stock was up. As for Ryan Theriot, I am a tad bit surprised that after the season he's had, the Cubs were able to move him. The the whole Carlos Zambrano story was just something to put the icing on the cake. It is time for this team to be dismantled, and starting fresh with a nucleus of upcoming stars is the way to go. This team has been together for some time now, and they haven't been able to figure it out. With all these young kids coming up and playing great baseball, it's only right to build around them. Starlin Castro has been very good this season, along with Tyler Colvin who seems to be about business and business only. Derek Lee has put up his no trade clause and will be in the Chi at least until the end of the season. This has been a pretty unproductive year for the Cubbies to say the least, but I believe they are headed in the right direction, forward....

Ochocinco + TO = 4,000 Yards For Carson...

The Cinncinati Bengals had a fairly good offensive scheme last year. Cedric Benson lead the rushing game with 1,251 yards, while on the receiving end Ochocinco carried the load with 1,047 yds and 9 TD's. Carson Palmer threw for 3,094 yds, 21 TD's, and 13 interceptions, not too bad. But now, you add another small piece to the recipe in Terrell Owens. Owens has been known to be that guy in the locker room to stir up trouble, we saw it in San Francisco, Philly, and Dallas. Not much happened in Buffalo last year, so maybe, just maybe he is beginning to understand why exactly he is in the NFL, to catch passes. Don't forget the Bengals also added 8 year vet Antonio Bryant to the mix, so their receiving core has been beefed up a lot. Can all of these guys co-exist on the same field? Are the ego's going to be too much to handle? Truthfully, we won't know this until the season actually starts in September, but, I think they will compliment each other just fine. This does not mean that you can put them in the Super Bowl, or even in the post season. What this does mean is that Carson Palmer will most likely be passing for 4,000 plus yards. It's really not a surprise that the Bengals gave TO a chance to join the team seeing as how they like to give "troublemakers" a chance in the NFL. It's going to be something to watch, sort of like a reality show.....

Kenny Williams....Batting or Pitching Before Trade Deadline?

The white hot White Sox are still in first place in the AL Central, but in order for this team to get back to where they were in 2005, there is a piece or two missing. Many seem to believe it's a pitcher needed to complete the roster. For the most part, the Sox starters and bullpen have done a descent job this season, had a bit of a slow start, but have pick up quite nicely. After losing Peavy to injury, it would seem that a pitcher would be the smarter way to go. I personally feel that a left handed bat is what they need to continue on in the postseason. With choices such as Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn, or maybe Miguel Tejada. Any of the 3 would be a great pick up for the southsiders. I'm sure the first choice would be Fielder because we all know what the man can do with the bat. Believe it or not, his weight is still a question mark for some people, but the bottom line is that Prince has been playing baseball all his life as a big man, averaging this year .264, with 46RBI, 60R, and 24HR. Next you have the 12 year veteran in Adam Dunn who is batting at an average of .279, 62 RBI, 56 R, and 23 HR. Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen have a lot to think about before the trade deadline which is right around the corner.

Lou Pinella Says Goodbye, But Who's Up Next?

Although his time with the Chicago Cubs was not long, Lou Pinella was a MLB Manager for 23 seasons, winning one World Series, and 3 Manager Of The Year Awards, but he's now saying farewell to the game. Yes, Lou is one of the better managers in the majors, it's now time to move on to the next one. So who is it would you look at if you were Jim Hendry? The choice I'm sure most of the fans would make is Ryne Sandberg. For 15 years he was a Chicago Cub, and for the last 4 years, Sandberg has managed for the Triple-A Iowa team under the Cubs, and he now feels as if he's ready. I like Sandberg, but I can't say if he's ready to "win ball games at the Major League level" as he put it. Then you have Alan Trammel, which would make some since seeing as how Trammel is the bench coach for the Cubbies. Trammel did have an opportunity to coach in the MLB from 2003-05 with the Detroit Tigers. It might have given him the experience in the league, but it was more like an experiment that went bad with a record of 186-300, so maybe the choice needs to go a little deeper. What about Bob Brenley, nah, keep him in the booth. So let's get down to the real candidates in Joe Torre, and Joe Girardi. We know what they have done with the Yankees, so who's to say, they can't do the same with the Cubs. New owners, equals a new way of thinking, and playing the game. Torre is close to the same age as Pinella, so he may be soon thinking retirement as well. With the problems Chicago is having with their lineup now, it's going to take some time to dig out of this cluster. So that leaves Girardi, it would be nice to get a Manager here that has the experience that he has, and his youth. Coming off a World Series win in 2009, he's probably near the peak in his career. With Hendry still in the role to take command of this operation, will he be able to make up for some of the bad Lebronesque decisions he's made in the past.

Mayweather VS Pacquiao

So there was supposed talks for a fight to take place on November 13th, between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Or at least it was said there were talks between the camps. A deadline was set for Saturday, July 17 and 3am for a decision to be made on behalf of the Mayweather camp. It was not me, but then one of Floyd's top and closest advisers, Leonard Ellerbe, is denying any talks about a deal being struck for a fight. This is turning out to be a huge disappointment for boxing, the sport is already suffering. This could be the main event that brings boxing back to where it once was. The two fighters are on top of their weight class, and they need to fight the best of the best to take ownership of the best in the sport. What's the hold up? First it was Pacquiao who didn't want to take the Olympic style drug testing, and now it's Mayweather and his camp saying they haven't had these alleged talks. Sounds like neither one, wants to lose what they worked so hard to get, but that is pointless in this sport. How long do the people have to wait for the bout? I'll put my money on Pacquiao!

MJ To LBJ..."I Was Trying To Beat Those Guys"

So what is the easiest way to tell Lebron James that he will never be in the same conversation as Michael Jordan? I know, let Mike say it himself in an interview, I think he'll get the picture that way. In a recent interview at a celebrity golf outing in Nevada, MJ was asked about the decision and he said "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry, called up Magic, and said, Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team, but that's...things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys." That there shows you the difference between the two, the competitive spirit. Mike wanted to beat the guys that held the keys to the rings, not play alongside them. But, he didn't say that it was a bad choice for Lebron, maybe us as fans have held him to a higher standard then where we should have had him. Despite his athletic ability, and his hunger to win, I just don't think he is as competitive as MJ, or even Kobe. Is this the real reason LBJ changed his number to "6", because he didn't want to disrespect His Airness. Yes all the greats had others to help them to win championships, nobody did by themselves. The difference is the caliber of these guys on one team makes a huge difference. So the next closest thing to MJ would have to be KB, oh yeah, he did just win ring number 5.

Tennessee.....Pay The Man!

Chris Johnson is arguably the best running back in the NFL, next to Adrian Peterson. Last year the Titans did not have a very good season but, trying to keep his team afloat, Johnson rushed for 2,006 yards on 358 carries. He also averaged 5.6 yards a carrie, with 14 TD's and 125.4 yards a game. Pretty impressive if you ask me. The year before wasn't as spectacular as his last but he ran for over 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns, and I believe he was splitting carries with one LenDale White. The major question you have to ask is, why won't Tennessee pay the man? There is absolutely nothing you can say that is going to make me think that the reasoning for not paying him right now makes sense. Will this stir up bad blood between player and franchise? When you have and outstanding season the way Chris Johnson did, the front office has to look at that right away and find a way to keep the number one back happy. He could have easily laid down and hung up his cleats for the rest of the season, but instead took matters into his own hands and inspiring his team to follow behind what he's doing by putting 110% effort into this losing season and figure out a way to turn it around. Pay the man! Hopefully, these talks between Johnson and the Titans will come to an end and a decision will be made by the time camp starts.

The Decision A.K.A. The Disappointment....

Thursday night July 8, 2010 one of the biggest moves in basketball free agency had been made. Three of the leagues biggest stars have landed on a team together in Miami. D. Wade, Chris Bosh, and the one that everyone was waiting for, the two time back to back MVP, Lebron James. Many didn't see this coming, as a matter of fact, the fans in Cleavland are extremely hurt and disappointed in how this all went down. There shows a lack of class from Lebron by not telling his former team his decision before announcing it to the world on national TV, as long as he has been with the organization, they at least deserved that. I can't fault James for leaving because the bottom line is that he wanted to win and the Cav's front office couldn't provide the right pieces around him to get to the next level. I for one saw him leaving, and knew it would be between Chicago and possibly Miami. To be honest I don't think Lebron would receive so much criticism from everyone if he had chosen to go somewhere else, but now people are looking at the situation as if he's "piggie backing" Wade to get his ring. So now, the conversation of MJ and LBJ can be put to rest, the next closest to the greatest to ever play the game is Kobe. Where is the challenge now that you are playing with such great stars, the pressure is on you twice as much now, because of what you have already promised the fans in South Beach, "multiple championships." They just better make sure they live up to the hype, because if not, it will get worse for James. His fan base has already gone down due to "The Decision", fans in Cleavland were burning his jersey afterwards and now are taking down the huge mural of Lebron off the office building that has become so famous. For them to do that, it's something pretty big because he was the King out there, and now his return to the fair city is going to be unwelcome.

Only One More To Go...

After a long week of this free agency frenzy, almost all the pieces are in place to continue into the 2010-11 season. Joe Johnson stays in Atlanta because he couldn't see pass the money they offered. Amare Stoudemire is now a New York Knick, reunited with former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. Rudy Gay got big bucks from Memphis, and soon the 2nd tier free agents will soon follow suit. Today it was announced that Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade will be playing together in South Beach and yes the city of Chicago was devastated. But then, the Bulls put themselves in a much better position by adding P/F Carlos Boozer to the roster. So now what? Oh yeah, there is that other guy that hasn't made up his mind yet. Lebron James is going to announce his decision tomorrow night on ESPN for the whole world to watch. Of course the speculation around the decision is still at large. Is he gonna stay in Cleavland, is he gonna go to NY, oh he's going to Miami with Wade and Bosh, but the Bulls have Boozer now and they played together so, is he going to Chicago. You would think that after majority of the free agents found there respective homes for the next few seasons, that this frenzy would be close to being finished. Well we have at least one more day until this is over, (for the most part). I know I'll be tuning in tomorrow to see how this will unfolds.

LBJ, D.Wade, Bosh....What's Your Move?

Free Agency started on July 1, 2010 at 12:01 am eastern time, and only minor moves have been seen so far. Byron Scott was introduced as the Cav's new head coach, Phil Jackson is coming back as well as Doc Rivers, Rudy Gay is going to get a nice deal, same with Joe Johnson. The problem is, we want to know where 3 guys are gonna be next season, and they have yet to make a decision. Lebron has met with all possible team scenarios except for Chicago and Cleavland. Things look good for the Bulls especially when his last two meetings are going to with his home town and the team that everyone is predicting him to go to. TheChicago Bulls need to make sure they leave a lasting impression on James and be ready to make the best pitch they can possibly make. Bosh had his meetings with all teams and is now finished, he just needs to make a decision. D. Wade is another prospect that had meetings this week, and it seemed to take a turn that no one saw coming. Wade out of all free agents has been the most determined to stay with his current team, but early in this free agency period Wade has met with his "hometown" team in Chicago twice. Hmmm, this is the same guy that was pretty much talking trash about the front office of the Bulls, and now it's rumored that he is leaning toward them more, now. All these developments only have one thing in common, it is all speculation and we won't know anything until sometime next week. Decisions, decisions, decisions, how will everything turn out? Is this all just smoke screens to whats really gonna happen, is everybody gonna stay with their current teams with exception of the 2nd tier free agents. Stay tuned.....

Cubs vs. Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano has been put on restriction as far as the Cubs are concerned. After his tirade on Friday June 25, 2010 a decision was made and I think the Cubs front office got it right. It all started with a couple of questionable plays from the infield during the crosstown classic on Friday afternoon. Zambrano did not like the way his teammates were playing and the lack of hustle they showed, but the problem is when you are giving up so much so early in the game can you really go at anyone else on the team. Some reports say Big Z was trying to fire his team up by showing emotion, but it didn't come off that way to anybody else in the dugout. First baseman Derek Lee, who is not having the best season either, was the one to step up and in so many words told Zambrano to knock it off. As the starting pitcher, that early in the game, you can't let your emotions get the best of you, and that's what happened with Zambrano. The Cubs front office suspended Big Z at least until after the all star break, and he is getting what seems like professional help. I personally think it is almost time that Carlos Zambrano be shipped out of town. He has not been productive for the money he's getting for the past two seasons. No answers will be given until after the break, so we gotta wait around and see how it unfolds.

So What's The Next Move?

The talk around Chicago is all about free agency. The Chicago Bulls have definitely made it clear what their intentions are for this 2010 off-season, we want at least 2 of them! The Bulls have a great core of players to start the building of a great Dynasty with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson. We knew that either Kirk Hinrich, or Loul Deng would not be around to see this rebuilding, and unfortunately for Hinrich he was packaged in a deal with the 17th first round pick to go to Washington, possibly. Now this move opened up a lot of salary cap room to bring in not one, but two free agents, now it's time to capitalize. So what now? With LeBron James being the ring leader in free agency, do you wait for him to make a decision on what move he will make, or do you start after another piece to make it more intriguing. Either way, the Bulls have put themselves in an excellent position to make some noise this summer. This doesn't mean that this move alone says anything is guaranteed, Miami, New York, and New Jersey are all after the same thing. It's time to really get aggressive and make power moves, the objective is to be a contender in the East and get a championship. If James decides on somewhere else besides Chicago, then hope is still alive with this free agency class being so deep. July couldn't come around any faster as we are anticipating this to be a very exciting summer!

USA...USA...USA...

No one really thought that Team USA would make it to the next round of play, after all soccer isn't even our sport right? Well do be so quick to judge, there is a lot of potential on that team, and they have a great talent in Landon Donovan. It started with England, the outcome didn't seem to good, then it happened. A slip up by the goalie, and now it's tied. Yes the goal should not have happened, but Team USA was able to tie it up and finish the game. On to Slovenia, the next opponent. Once again the U.S. started off slow in the first half, then in the 2nd, they were able to wake up and realize they are in the World Cup. It looked better then the England match, first strike for Team USA was by Donovan, then Michael Bradley scores in the 82nd minute. We are tied at two a piece, and the "Phantom Call" was made by referee Koman Coulibaly. The outcome was a lot different then what it should have been, so it made the next game played a must win. The pressure is on and you know to advance, you need to win this game, so they did in the 91st minute by none other than Landon Donovan. Anybody who is not interested in this story should be, after all the drama that has come from it. Will there still be doubters in this country, of course, but the opportunity has presented itself, and Team USA has done a great job in taking advantage. Next game is against Ghana on Saturday June 26, 2010, this will be entertaining to watch.

HAWKS WIN HAWKS WIN HAWKS WIN!!!

The Chicago Blackhawks are the new Stanley Cup Champions!! For the first time since 1961, Lord Stanley's Cup is back in it's rightful place with one of the original six teams. We've been through the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations, and it's finally time to be able to sit back and enjoy it. Game 6 was probably the best game I've seen this post season, not only because it was game 6, but both teams left it all out on the ice and in result of that the better team won. It wasn't an extremely high scoring game, not to mention, it went into overtime. What better way to win a championship game then taking it in OT, and in the other teams house. Yeah, we all would have loved to see them win at home, but, the fact that it's over and every single guy who had on a Hawks jersey in this post season run just makes it that much better. The 22 year old captain, Jonathan Toews was well deserved of winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, and has handled the role better than anyone I've seen, especially at his age. Patrick Kane, what is there to say about the man with the mullet, the "Kaner", absolutely the best game winning goal in an elimination game ever. The puck moved so fast, the only person who saw it was the person that shot it, and yes it was good. It is a spectacular story and a great end to a phenomenal season, congratulations to the Blackhawks and let's do it all over again in 2011

Phil Jackson: The Best Ever?

It's almost a unanimous vote when you ask who the best coach is, to coach in the NBA, most of the answers you get should be Phil Jackson. Jackson has won over 1,000 regular season games and taken all of his teams to the post season, that is 19 seasons of coaching in the NBA. Yes, he has always had a superstar on his team in Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, but you can't take away from what he has done as the head coach of those teams. It's all about getting into the heads of his players, which is one of Jackson's main techniques, and it seems to work pretty well. As a head coach, to have a record of 47-0 in the playoffs after winning game one of a series is almost unheard of. The numbers don't lie!! Not only that, but the man runs one of the most complex offenses in the league, with mixing in some Eastern Philosophy, and Native American spiritual practices. How often do you see Phil yelling and jumping up and down off the bench to scream at his players or officials, why, because it's unnecessary for him to have to do those things. He is able to coach his team from a deficit without having to call a timeout, and he smiles when a bad call has been made by the officials. Ten championships speaks for itself, so if you weren't a fan of Phil Jackson before, then you should be now. By the way, this series will be done in 7....

Jim Joyce, I Think Has Started Something....

On the night of June 2, 2010 it was beginning to look a lot like another perfect game was just underway as Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was feeling very good about his chances of making history. Then all of a sudden a ground ball was hit toward first base and Galarraga gets to the bag in time and here is the throw, "safe" is the call! But after the fans and players all looked at the replay, and even seeing it in fast motion, the call was obviously blown. Joyce has been a Umpire for over 20 years in the majors and his name will forever be known for the guy to blow the perfect game in Detroit. Joyce has, since the incident, apologized to Galarraga and MLB, but that is not going to be enough to overturn the call and give the starting pitcher his perfect game. So I guess the question now is should instant replay being inserted into the majors now? In short the answer is yes, absolutely yes, without a question yes. Will it slow the game down, not that much, and baseball is already a slow enough game to the point were it won't effect it. Bud Selig I believe got it right simply because changing the call after the fact is just not the right thing to do. But, that in no way shape or form says that the eye of the Umpire is perfect, we need instant replay. As long as it is implemented properly, there is no doubt in my mind that it will work. People didn't think it was a good idea in football when they first did it, but it worked and it essentially made the game better. The only way to right this particular wrong is to add in the replay feature, if Joyce, a veteran official can say right after the game that he made a mistake, then it's safe to say that this means it's time for instant replay to become a part of MLB.

Boston v Orlando....

The Boston Celtics came into this series with a lot of momentum, pride, and seemed to be at their healthiest. They took the Eastern Conference Finals series against the Orlando Magic by storm with a 3-0 lead until they ran into a really aggressive Dwight Howard, and Jameer Nelson. The Celtics, who were coming off a dominating performance against the Cavaliers, seemed to get shell shocked during Game 4 once it went into overtime. The Magic came out on top in that one. Dwight Howard had a total of 32pts, and 16 rebs, and Nelson chipping in with 23pts, and 9ast. This is what the Magic have to do in order to compete with the Cetics and make it a series. This is the challenge the Magic didn't have in the first and second round, a team that is able to execute on both ends of the floor. So now it's 3-1 in the series, and it goes back to Orlando, with just a small portion on momentum. Game 5 took place on Wednesday night, and the Celtics were looking to close it out with a win in Orlando, but the Magic had other plans. The Magic took control of the game from the tip, this was a different team then what we saw the first 3 games. This is the team that swept their way into the Eastern Conference Finals and the team in green did not have an answer. Howard had another dominating performance with 21pts, 10rebs, and 5 blks, and Nelson won the match up between him and Rondo with 24pts, 5rebs, and ast. J.J. Redick and Rashard Lewis both chipped in with 14pts a piece which helped lift Orlando to a huge 21 point victory. The Celtics got into foul trouble early, and just couldn't find a way to get it done. Glenn Davis went down with an injury tonight with a blow to the face by Dwight Howard, not intentional, and Marquis Daniels went down soon after, both with concussions. Rasheed Wallace did his part to try to keep the Celtics in the game by adding 21pts and 3-5 from behind the arc, but it just wasn't enough. Now the balance of power seems to be shifting in favor of the Magic, but can they work their magic to keep it going and force a game 7, we have to wait and see on Friday night back in Boston.

Blackhawks v. Flyers....

Ok ladies and gentlemen, we have our match up for Lord Stanley's cup, Blackhawks and Flyers. It's been way too long for both teams as they prepare to go out on Saturday and begin a long awaited series. So you have a number 2 seed in the west going up against a number 7 seed in the east. I know what you're thinking, if you go by the numbers, you're looking at a one sided series. Well think again, the Flyers have come back from a 0-3 deficit in a series against the Boston Bruins where they came back to win 4-3 overall. Each game they play, the healthier they get. Simon Gagne seems to have been the key for the Flyers after he came back from his injury the chemistry of the team is that much better. Then Jeff Carter was the next one to come back, and injured goal tender Brian Boucher was replaced by Michael Leighton who has been outstanding with a record of 6-1 in the playoffs, with 3 shutouts in the last series against the Canadiens. It's almost like they were telling their teammates, if you could just hold on a little longer everything will be ok. This injury prone team has been able to overcome so much in the postseason, it makes for a great story. But the problem is there is another team that has worked extremely hard to get where they are, the Blackhawks! This team was well put together in hopes of winning a championship, like every team in the league, but they are making it happen. With a captain that is so young, there was a lot doubt that Jonathan Toews would be able to handle such a position, well "Captain Serious" has done a wonderful job if you ask me. Toews is not the only piece of the puzzle, Byfuglien, Sharp, Kane, Hossa, and pretty much anyone else you can think of has been able to contribute in the success of the Hawks. The one that is doing big things for them this postseason is Antti Niemi. There is only one word for this kid and it's unstoppable!! Between a highly skilled team and a team who seems to have "fate" on their I think this should shape up to be a very good and entertaining series.
(Go Hawks!!)

NBA Ref Joe Derosa Suspended For One Game...

In game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, at the half, a NBA official had a small altercation with a fan that led to him throwing a basketball at that particular fan. I know what you're thinking, what was a fan and official doing so close to each other in the first place. Well, 53 year old, Joe DeRosa was approaching the scores table to retrieve the warm-ups for him and the other two officials, when a fan began heckling him. Normally, the refs are pretty good with keeping their composure when it comes to fans being foolish. Well I guess DeRosa, felt enough was enough! He decided to take the ball he had in his hands and instead of just placing it down and walking away, he tossed the ball at the fan. DeRosa wanted the fan tossed from the game, but they just moved his seat somewhere else, not to mention, DeRosa started the altercation by tossing the ball at said fan in the first place. Now the toss wasn't reckless or endangering in any way, but the fact still remains, there was a line that was crossed. DeRosa will be suspended for the next game he was scheduled to work without pay. Is this a big deal, well, maybe. This particular event was not violent, it was more to shut the fan up, but if a player had done the same thing, then what would the consequences be? Officials need to be held to the same standard as players on all levels of discipline. I can guarantee you if Garnett, Pierce or Rondo had done the same thing in the same demeanor, they would have been fined and suspended, for one maybe two games.

LBJ In The Shadow Of MJ?

Will he stay or will he go, and if he goes will it be to the Windy City? A lot of talk about Lebron James has been stirring up after the game 6 loss to the Celtics on Thursday night. Most of the talk is about Lebron coming to Chicago or New York. Chicago out of all scenarios is the best simply because this team is the closest to being championship ready out of all teams that he can possibly go to. The main issue that people are bringing up is the fact the Lebron might not want to play in the shadow of Michael Jordan. The bottom line is that every time Lebron, Kobe, or D. Wade step on the court, they will always be compared to the greatest to ever play the game, and if you ask me, that is not necessarily a bad thing. To be compared to Mike means that you are doing something right. Not only that, but look at the players he would have to play with, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson. That nucleus is young, smart, and experienced, and I believe ready for the next level, but they are just missing a couple of pieces. New York, the city of bright lights on the other hand has just that to offer him, no team is assembled partially for him to get a championship with. If I was looking to make a run at the NBA Finals, then the team to go with would have to be the Bulls. Will LBJ see it the same way?.....

Where Is Baseball In Chicago?

It's May and baseball season has been going on for some time now. The question is, where is baseball in Chicago? The White Sox and Cubs were huge disappointments last year, and this year it doesn't seem to be any better. The Cubs have a record of 15-22 right now and the Sox are no better with a record of 15-21. Now although these are two different teams, it is amazing how the problems they have seem to be so similar. The bats are no where to be found and the pitching is just average. The starting pitching is at least getting quality starts, it's more so the relief pitching that will come and give the game away. The problem only grows worse when you can't get any run support for the job the starter has done, so 9 times out of 10 that will result in a loss. We as fans all know that it is only May, so yes it's still early, but the road that these two teams are traveling down seems to be a little bumpy. Luckily with baseball there are so many games to be played, the time they have to turn things around is the only positive thing they have going for them. With the Cubs only 6 games back, and the Sox 7 games back, this early season fiasco can and I think will be turned around.

Bulls Coaching Job Still Vacant....

Where is the front office with this particular issue? Have they made any moves toward the future? These plus many more questions are being asked by fans and media because it seems as if they are just sitting still on the topic. The 76ers have already began the interview process as far as coaching goes, and one of the best looking sports markets, Chicago of course, has yet to make a move, publicly at least. Where do they go from here? Are they waiting to see what possible 2010 free agent they will land? The problem with that is, it will be a lot harder to bring in one of those big names, if there is no good coach already in place. The name Phil Jackson has been thrown around the past week or so, but in all honesty, Phil is not leaving sunny California, to come back to cold Chicago, plus he won't get the money he wants. Coach Cal out of Kentucky was another name, but the college level is totally different from the professional level, it seems to never work in just about any sport. Then Just recently the name Lawrence Frank, former coach of the New Jersey Nets has been tossed in the hat, wait did I say the Nets....nuff said. Let's hope the Bulls front office has something up their sleeves other then the names we have just mentioned, if not we are looking at another season of a sub-par .500 season.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Chi-Town Shop Talk blog with Rob Riley and Chris Loughlin. We plan on analyzing the latest in Chicago sports and maybe, every once in a while go with some national stories as well. We also want to encourage you to listen to us every sunday from 2pm to 4pm on http://www.sportstownchicago.com/ where we will be hosting our own internet radio show starting in a couple weeks, Chi-Town Shop Talk. Our blog will feature a poll question, and some of the latest Chicago sports video highlights. So check us out on the internet radio station, http://www.sportstownchicago.com/ or follow us on our blog Chi-Town Shop Talk!!