By Jim Coffman

The core four led the Hawks to history.
And this team now stands alone both at the pinnacle of hockey and right near the top in the annals of Chicago sports.
Various forwards made multifaceted contributions as the playoffs went on and on for about two postseason months of hockey. They chipped in as the Hawks defeated Nashville in six, blitzed Minnesota in four and used a spectacular finishing skate to somehow find a way past the Ducks in seven. Then it was Tampa Bay and five games and 55 minutes worth of hockey in which neither team ever led by more than a single goal.
The wingers and centermen did great work but the only reason this team prevailed was the performance of defensemen Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya.

Read More

Posted on June 16, 2015

By Roger Wallenstein

It was just a pop foul that eluded catcher Tyler Flowers in front of the visitors’ dugout last Tuesday evening. A tough play because the ball was spinning away from him while first baseman Jose Abreu was playing too deep to offer any chance of making the play.
What was a tad surprising – the play came with no one on in a scoreless game – is that many in the crowd of 18,439 chimed in with a chorus of boos once the ball bounded away from Flowers. Poor Tyler. He had made an honest effort on a ball few catchers would have corralled, yet all he got was the disapproval from fans who have expected so much more from this team thus far.
Were they booing Flowers, a .205 hitter, personally? Or was this simply frustration over a perceived defensive flub that characterizes most Sox games? Probably some of both.

Read More

Posted on June 15, 2015

By Marty Gangler

I have to admit it’s tough to come up with much about the Cubs right now with the Blackhawks on the verge of winning their third Stanley Cup since I’ve been alive.
And really, is it worth even mentioning the Cups they won way back when there were only six teams? C’mon. That barely counts. Six teams?! This championship run is the only one that has mattered in franchise history. And all you old-timers, don’t break your hip trying to argue. I mean geez, they didn’t even have curved sticks in 1961.
But it would sure be nice to think that the Cubs are putting together a “Hawks-like” movement by bringing in young high draft picks and then surrounding them with skilled veteran talent. And you know, maybe that is happening, but the Cubs haven’t won squat yet, so no, it’s not happening. Because lots of teams stink for a while, get good draft picks and then continue to stink – just pick your sport. But some teams, actually very few teams, stink for a long time while getting high draft picks and then win three championships in a short period of time.

Read More

Posted on June 15, 2015

By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes

No. Plus: Downstate Warriors; Canada’s House of Plastic; The White Sox Are Still Playing; The Cubs’ Buzzy Bullpen; Cappy & Pokey; and The U.S. Men’s Soccer Team Has Best Week In History.

Read More

Posted on June 12, 2015

By Thomas Chambers

Triple Crown champion American Pharoah wasted no time in galloping on out of Elmont, New York, and was on the road well before noon Sunday to get back to his home base, Churchill Downs.
Looking every bit the returning hero, ‘Pharoah landed back in Louisville to greet a group of reporters.
After watching ‘Pharoah’s run-out after the wire in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, it wasn’t very surprising to hear trainer Bob Baffert talk of ‘Pharoah’s recovery from the race.
“He’s a little tired, but we’re probably more tired,” Baffert said with a grin. “He’s so tough, a couple days and he’ll be back to normal.

Read More

Posted on June 11, 2015

By Jim Coffman

Hawk hangovers suck.
And a sizable portion of the fandom has a big one this morning.
I’ll leave it up to the local TV “news” cheerleaders to tell the fans it’s OK, this series Is still far from over, the Hawks trailed 2-1 against the Ducks too and look what happened there. Tune into any local newscast in the 24 hours after a Hawks loss these days and you can feel the raw determination to reassure the populace: All is not lost!
And all is not lost of course. But the Hawks lost a game they shouldn’t have in large part because they failed to cash in on enough of their scoring chances in the first period.

Read More

Posted on June 9, 2015

By Roger Wallenstein

Mediocrity. Five lifeless syllables leaving a residue of emptiness. Ten emotionless letters that connote neither high nor low, good nor bad, elation nor sadness.
A mediocre movie review of two stars elicits no buzz, but, hey, if the theater is close by on a nondescript Monday night, maybe you’ll check it out. Two-and-a-half stars on a Yelp restaurant critique won’t create a half-hour wait. And telling your spouse that his or her spaghetti sauce is “just OK” might land you in the guest bedroom for the night.
Mediocrity is not something to be admired. We don’t strive to be mediocre. We want to be skillful, successful and confident about a job well done. Mediocrity is better than failure, but it’s close.

Read More

Posted on June 7, 2015

By Marty Gangler

I am having a hard time remembering a season like this one for the Cubs. Sure, they’ve never had these types of young guys before, but it’s still different beyond that. And while there is no doubt that the Cubs certainly have not had too many winning seasons moving into the second week of June, they’ve had a handful over the years. I think it has to be the fact that this roster is so fluid. From day to day the only thing you can bank on is Rizzo at first and Fowler in center. And even then you aren’t sure where Rizzo will bat in the order.
There’s a second baseman who didn’t start the year at second and could be the starting shortstop, and a third baseman who looks great but could easily be moved to the outfield for the rest of the year by next week – not to mention a shortstop who could be traded, and a handful of outfielders who could be out of baseball next week, or starting every game the rest of the season. It’s kind of madness.
And now with a handful of interleague games on the way, they could bring up someone completely different from the minors to play. I’ve mentioned a flawed and unfinished roster in the past, but maybe this is just what happens with a manager like Joe Maddon? I don’t even know. Not to mention the closer role is up for grabs now. Is there even a 6th, 7th or 8th inning guy now? Does Joe even know? Is this by design? I don’t know, but I do know that this isn’t even close to the end of what is going to happen. It’s really been an interesting season.

Read More

Posted on June 7, 2015

By Thomas Chambers

I have learned that you are not really prepared for this.
Able to process it, understand the moment. Inured over 37 years that it will not happen. Armored against it, the disappointment. Smarty Jones did that to me.
Then it happened.
American Pharoah took a highly entertaining two minutes, 26 and three-fifths seconds to win a race, and to chisel his name on the tablets of history.

Read More

Posted on June 7, 2015

By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes

All the drama is on the ice. Plus: Extensive Bulls Coaching Search Turns Up Fred Hoiberg; Most Boring Manager In World Manages Most Boring Team; Cubs Make Kind Of Play They Never Make; How The Triple Crown Is Like The Cubs; and Get Sepp!

Read More

Posted on June 5, 2015