By Roger Wallenstein

My friend Roger Zanarini had been after me for a few years to join him in Omaha for the College World Series, so last weekend we finally made the trip to see four games and all eight teams in two days. I’m glad I did.
Zanarini isn’t exactly a stranger in Omaha. In the past 41 years, the only CWS he’s missed was last year when his home in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota – about 100 miles north of Omaha – took on 39 inches of water thanks to the swollen Missouri River. Okay, it’s a flimsy excuse for missing out on the big four-oh, but I can forgive him. He’s the same guy who’s played golf in all 50 states, so streaks and records obviously carry some weight with Roger.
Play continues in Omaha all this week as the national champion will be crowned next Monday or Tuesday.

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Posted on June 18, 2012

By Thomas Chambers

Occupied by other activities, I was fairly relieved to learn midday Friday that I’ll Have Another had been scratched from Saturday’s Belmont Stakes and his attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years.
I wouldn’t have been, and wasn’t, able to watch the race live. I knew the odds would take a beating with a lot more bettors getting on Union Rags and Paynter and I wouldn’t be around to keep up with the tote board.
And my thoughts from a week ago haven’t changed. So I was glad to be spared the angst of processing this Triple Crown winner. He of the slimy owner and cheating trainer.

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Posted on June 15, 2012

A Beachwood Exclusive

“The Chicago Bulls announced overnight Wednesday that they are moving their practice facility from suburban Deerfield to downtown Chicago,” the Tribune reports.
Beachwood Sports can exclusively report what’s behind the move:
* Rahm promised luxury tax breaks.
* What good is it to have a Lamborghini just to get stuck on the Kennedy?
* If they wanted to live and practice in the suburbs, they would have signed with Orlando.

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Posted on June 14, 2012

By Dan O’Shea

The trade deadline is more than a month-and-a-half away, but as the Cubs lurch inexorably toward a 100-loss season, there is plenty of buzz about who will be moved and when.
Beyond Starlin Castro, the Cubs really don’t have any players you would consider every day starters on fantasy rosters – and it’s highly unlike Castro will be moved. Other Cubs do see fantasy ownership, but they are more like bench filler for lineups and pitching staffs
Having said that, the fantasy fortunes of some Cubs could change if they do get traded sometime between now and July 31:

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Posted on June 13, 2012

By Jim Coffman

You’ll be rooting for the Thunder, right? Or should we say against the Heat?
When the NBA finals begin this evening at 8 p.m. on ABC, the vast majority of the viewing audience tuning in from outside of South Florida will be pulling for the exciting, precocious team representing one of the smallest municipalities in the country to have a major pro team.

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Posted on June 12, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

“Rising from the rubble of an old industrial site, the 20,000-seat Toyota Park was supposed to put a small suburb on the map,” the Tribune reported over the weekend.
“Yet the soccer stadium also has become a model of what can go wrong when a little town takes massive development gambles in a state with loose borrowing and ethics laws: Politicians and insiders benefit, while taxpayers are stuck covering budget-busting losses.
“The blue-collar suburb of Bridgeview now suffers under the highest rate of debt in the Chicago region, a Tribune analysis of thousands of pages of state and local records found.”

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Posted on June 11, 2012

By Marty Gangler

Um, what? After enduring yet another horrible week of Cubs baseball I am left with a question. What is this? Sure, the answer is “a rebuilding year.” But there is so little to build with here. It’s like trying to build a skyscraper with some pipe cleaners and Elmer’s glue.
That’s just not going to hold up. Yes my friends, this is rock bottom. Whodathunkit?
Well, everyone kinda thunk it this year I guess, but now that we are here, it’s friggin tough to deal with. Which makes me think of the alternative.

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Posted on June 11, 2012

By Roger Wallenstein

If you lower the price, they will come.
In an attempt to counter the lukewarm response to the White Sox’s early-season success, the team’s dynamic pricing strategy offered $5 seats last week for the Toronto series. Lo and behold, people showed up.

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Posted on June 11, 2012

By Thomas Chambers

UPDATE 11:49 A.M.: I’ll Have Another, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner who was aiming to become the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown, was scratched Friday from Saturday’s Belmont Stakes because of a leg injury, the New York Times reports.
–
Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist. – George Carlin
For any fan of Thoroughbred horse racing, and horseplayers too, Saturday will be the ultimate day. I’ll Have Another has a tremendous opportunity to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed capped off the great 1970s with his epic Belmont Stakes victory over archrival Alydar.
And yet.

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Posted on June 8, 2012

A Recap

“Fire players Dan Gargan and Gonzalo Segares showcase their work with other artists at May’s Art of Futbol event held at Society Art Gallery.”

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Posted on June 7, 2012