Monday, June 8, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Top Ten goofiest looking Chicago athletes
Over a period of just a few, short months, Chicago sports fans have been subjected to an endless amount of buzz and excitement surrounding our beloved franchises. The Bulls and Hawks both made strides in the playoffs, the Bears finally have (gasp) a quarterback, and the Cubs and Sox are still in the hunt.
As I have absorbed the sports media coverage of the past 60 days or so, I realized something...there are some ugly dudes playing pro sports in this town!
In turn, I have compiled a list of the top ten goofiest looking characters that are currently playing professional sports in Chicago.
I truly respect Olsen as a football player and think that he can and will be a valuable asset to the Chicago Bears organization for many years to come (especially when he learns to block).
Yet, this doesn’t hide the fact that the former member of the U’s very own “7th Floor Crew” looks like a caveman. With his distinctive low brow ridge and overall Homo erectus like features, I don’t know if I should be cheering for him, or if I should be trying to have him save me a bunch of money on my car insurance.
No “goofiest looking list” would ever be complete without installing at least one ginger into the mix….enter Brian Campbell.
I don’t believe that I am alone in saying that Campbell had a pretty uneventful season and thus far, hasn’t really lived up to his eight year, $56.8 million contract.
Due to their recent success, I have to give the Chicago Fire some much needed love. They are currently 5-1-6 and sit atop the Eastern Conference of the MLS with 21 points.
As I was watching the Fire snatch a victory from Chivas U.S.A. this past Thursday, I noticed Patrick Nyarko, a native of Ghana, on the field and instantly knew he'd be a great addition to this list.
In my humble opinion, Steltz appears to be an odd combination of Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.
It’s not too often that one sees grimy, rather lengthy hair like this on an NFL player. But Steltz apparently feels that the Seattle grunge look works for him.
I’m thinking he should reconsider.
Despite a solid college career at Georgia Southern University, Adrian Peterson’s skills as a starting tailback never really translated to the NFL. Fortunately, Peterson has been a pivotal part of our special teams for several years.
His ability to both block and tackle is what makes him an excellent resource for Dave Toub and the rest of the Bears coaching staff.
I love Adrian, but how can you not look at him and think Whoopi Goldberg?
Someone needs to inform Jenks that the “grab ass era” that was once established by Nick Swisher and Toby Hall is long gone.
It’s time for him to quit dying that ridiculous goatee of his and grow up. I am aware of the fact that you look like an adult version of Eric Cartman from South Park, but take a razor to that thing already Bobby!
The first word that comes to mind when I see a picture of Alexei Ramirez is antelope.
Yes, I said it….antelope.
I am not sure exactly why, but it’s probably because of Ramirez’s slender frame and caved in face. Seriously, will somebody feed this man a cheeseburger?
Alexei needs to go on the “Bartolo Colon Diet,” and maybe then he will be able to put some meat on those bones.
After turning down the role of Spock in the recently released Star Trek prequel, Kirk admitted that he was still holding out for the starring role in the Keebler Elf biopic.
All jokes aside, I am an advocate of Kirk Hinrich being a part of the Bulls plans heading into the upcoming 2009-10 season. I don’t want to delve into this topic too much (because I could write three pages about this), but his versatility and leadership are something that will be missed once it’s gone.
Carlos, Carlos, Carlos……. for whatever reason, MOST Cubs fans still love you to death (except for when you play in the WBC) and continue to put their faith in you.
But let’s face it my man, you aren’t going to be walking down a runway anytime soon.
I don’t know if it’s the Obama ears or what, but more often than not, you seem to leave me with a feeling of uneasiness when you approach the mound these days. Get your control back and throw the ball over the plate, son!
Yes, I have anointed Joakim Noah (a.k.a. “Sideshow Bob”) the goofiest looking character in Chicago sports, but I think that many Bulls fans would concur that he earned our respect during the Celtics playoff series.
And afterward he could hold his head high knowing that with Brian Scalabrine (a.k.a. Jackie Moon) on the court, he'd look like David Beckham in comparison.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Top Ten Chicago sports scandals
It's not the first time the city has been home to one of sport's most salacious scandals. No surprise when you take into account the long histories of its franchises.
So without further ado, here are the Top Ten Chicago sports scandals.
Have inflatable dolls ever created this big of a controversy?
The Sox were in the midst of a miserable road trip, playing up in Toronto, when the team needed a slump buster.
The solution? A pair of rubber dolls surrounded by strategically placed bats with a sigm that read 'You've Got to Push' hanging around one of their necks.
Think Ozzie Guillen had anything to do with that?
Former Bears defensive lineman Tank Johnson was arrested by federal agents in 2006 after they searched his home and found a weapons cache that would make Rambo blush and marijuana. And that's just a taste of this guys laundry list of offenses during his stay in the Chi.
Before Belle brought his muscle bound persona to the South Side, he was involved in what has to be considered one of the strangest tales in league history.
During a game against the Sox in 1994, then skipper Gene LaMont requested the umpires check Belle's bat for signs of tampering. Nothing was found, but the bat was confiscated and was to be sent to league offices for further investigation.
Belle's teammate Jason Grimsley decided to hoist himself up into an overhead crawlspace in the visitor locker room, shimmy through a narrow passage and lower himself into the adjacent umpire's locker room. There he switched Belle's bat with one of teammate Paul Sorrento's bats, only to have the umpires notice the change.
In his 2002 book, former Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel noted that they had to use Sorrento's bat because 'all of Albert's bats were corked'.
This one is going back a ways and has probably slipped from the memories of those old enough to remember it.
But on New Years Eve in 1964, an assortment of Chicago Bears players gathered at a bowling alley owned by the one and only, Mike Ditka. At some point in the night, a fight ensued between Bears players and patrons of the alley, resulting in the death of former Redskin Tony Parilli.
This yarn combines the two attributes Chicago is notorious for: the Cubs and shady politics.
Blago's exploits have also been well documented and the feds are still trying to sort through the details. But according to the federal complaint, in a tapped phone conversation, Blago said that in order for the Cubs to secure IFA financing for the sale of Wrigley Field, they needed to "fire all those (expletive) people, get 'em the (expletive) out of there, and get us some editorial support."
For years getting a ticket to Wrigley has progressively become more and more of an arduous challenge. And when you find out that the Cubs were running a shady ticket scheme, it should be no surprise the fans went absolutely balistic.
The Cubs had ownership in Wrigley Field Premium Tickets; an outfit provided with face-value Cubs tickets that they in turn, sold for a higher price to the fans.
Only in Chicago.
The night before a playoff game against the New York Knicks in 1993, Jordan created a media firestorm by being spotted at an Atlantic City casino. That alone wouldn't have been so bad until you combined it with the fact Jordan admitted to dropping $57,000 on gambling debts earlier that same season.
The curious case of Sammy Sosa and the source of his power at the plate came more into focus on a June day in 2002 when he was caught using a corked bat against the Rays.
He claimed to only have the bat in his possession for batting practice to give the fans a show but nobody bought it.
This is so fresh in the minds of Chicago sports fans that I won't rehash the stories of alleged cheating on the SAT or grade fixing.
But the truth is, regardless of what else comes from this scandal, the perception of Rose won't change much. He's a professional athelte now and a hired gun when he was in Memphis. This entire situation is more indicative of the serious issues surrounding NCAA basketball that nobody wants to acknowledge exist.
Might not be that way for much longer.
The Black Sox are perhaps the most notorious team in the history of baseball for all the wrong reasons. Shoeless Joe Jackson and the rest of the pale hose cohorts fixed the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
They're responsible for the biggest black eye this city has ever had to endure and will remain the first reference anyone makes when the topic of gambling in sports arises.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Top Ten Chicago sports figures we'd like to see on Man vs. Wild
An epic adventure for sure.
So it got us to thinking, what Chicago athletes would we like to see on the show? Here are the Top Ten we came up with...
Cruel?
Yes. But oh, so worth it.
As much as I’d like to see this happen, I just don’t think Kevin Garnett would ever come back.
You’d probably find him a year later living amongst a pack of wolves, making some young pup cry using his patented death stare for not boxing out.
With that scraggly playoff beard he was sporting by the time reached the Hawks reached the Eastern Conference finals, Kane sure looked the part of someone stranded on a deserted island.
But then again, he also looked like he just walked off the stage at his high school graduation.
Chicago's former golden boy wouldn't last a second in the wild. Unfortunately for him, Mother Nature doesn't have an injured reserve.
I'm not sure if anyone from Chicago is more suited to be featured on this show than Mark Buehrle. He's just backwoods enough that I think he'd actually enjoy it and you know he'd wouldn't slow up Bear at all.
His quick smells like burnt toast.
I can see the previews now:
This is Joakim Noah, and we doing it big, all day, all night out in Siberia this Tuesday on Man vs. Wild.
Our boy D-Hest, aka The Windy City Flyer, would be even more lost than little old Virginia out in the elements.
Thank goodness he's fast, or, at least he used to be. Paul Konerko, on the other hand, would be straight meat for anything faster than a snapping turtle.
It would be interesting to see who Bradley would blame when the only person around him would be himself.
No reporters to bash, no umpires to criticize and nobody else to point a finger at.
What would he do then?
'What can I say? We'll eat some bugs in the morning, and then we'll see.'
Classic Lou. It'd be a peek into what Lou looks like on holiday in the offseason. I'm picturing a limitless supply of Tommy Bahama shirts and some dark sunglasses so he can check out the 'scenery'.
Envisioning Da Coach roaming around the middle of nowhere out in Africa has to put a smile on your face.
While I’m not sure if he’d don the vintage 80’s Bears sweater vest, I know his stache alone could keep a horde of tribesmen warm for months at a time.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Top Ten Most Disappointing Chicago Rookie of the Years
Only 27 athletes have won the Rookie of the Year honors in a Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls or Blackhawks uniform, and actually that's not true. I'm factoring in the immortal Terry Dischinger, who was the 1962-63 ROY for the NBA's Chicago Zephyrs.
But over the last 12 months, three players -- Patrick Kane, Geovany Soto and Derrick Rose -- won the award. That's unprecedented in these parts, but if form holds at least one of them will be a bust. And I think Cubs fans fear who it's going to be.
Don't forget to check out our new home over at ChicagoNow.
10. Ken Hubbs
Beyond Ken Hubbs, the rest of this list consists of players who had disappointing careers by virtue of how their careers in Chicago played out. With Hubbs, who died in a 1964 plane crash after his sophomore season, it's disappointment over what he and all of baseball missed out on.
9. Geovany Soto
Too soon? Not if you're a Cubs fan and you're wondering if we've got another Rick Wilkins on our hands. One homer and a .216 average in June after a season hitting .285 with 23 homers and 86 RBIs is plenty to be nervous about.
8. Tommie Agee
Had a very nice career after hitting 22 homers and 86 RBIs for the White Sox in 1966...yet none of it with the White Sox. His numbers dropped from .273, 22 homers and 86 RBIs to .234, 14 and 52 his second year, after which he was traded to the Mets. Two years later, he hit 26 homers for the Amazin' Mets.
7. Anthony Thomas
Nice enough player who won the award in what must have been a very down year in the NFL.
Thomas gained 1,183 yards on 278 carries and scored seven touchdowns, which all proved to be career-highs. He last played in the NFL in 2007 with Buffalo.The 1973 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year had some good years after winning the award, just not enough. He was off to Tampa Bay by 1978 and out of football a year later.
Yes, I know Smith wasn't the 1989 NL Rookie of the Year. But I couldn't find ten legitimate disappointments and Smith should have been ROY ahead of Jerome Walton. Smith hit for a better average, had more homers, RBIs, fewer strikeouts and more WALKS than Walton (more on him later).
But after that stellar rookie year he never became a starter in the Major Leagues, and despite rebounding to hit. 300 in 1993, he was nothing more than a bit player on some crappy Cubs teams.Honestly, I don't have the energy to relive this. Wood was great in 1998, then he was never close to being great again, though he was sometimes very good. And now he's gone.
He went to the Pro Bowl two years in a row after winning the 1990 Defensive ROY award but that was a classic case of getting by on reputation. He led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 1990 but over the next six seasons he totaled 10 picks despite missing only a handful of games and he never came close to the 122 tackles his rookie year.
You say teams wouldn't throw his way? Bull. Great players find a way to make great plays and Carrier, though he was a leader on the field, never lived up to his great rookie year.Sure, Kittle hit 32 homers in his second year but he never came close to the 100 RBIs he hit during his 1983 rookie year, plus his average dropped to .215, .230 and .218 in the three years following it.
Kittle's bummer of a career is even sadder when you consider what a legend he could have become with his blue-collar background and winning personality.
What happened? Walton won the 1989 NL ROY and hit .364 in the NL playoffs but then saw his steals drop from 24 to 14 to 7 to 1. His average dropped from .293 to .263 to .219 to a mind-blowing .127 in 1992, his last year with the Cubs.
So what happened? The Cubs happened.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Top Ten Michael Jordan low-lights
But every once in awhile, it's not a bad thing to take a trip down memory lane and that's what we're doing here today. Please understand that I worship at the altar of M. Jeff and this list isn't intended to try and tarnish the legacy he created.
So with that out of the way, here are the Top Ten Michael Jordan low-lights.
Jordan left the game with compound fractures in both ankles thanks to a fresh faced Iverson straight out of Georgetown.
M. Jeff was one of the league's best defenders, but even he couldn't slow down the Answer.
Morrison was a scoring machine for Gonzaga and seemed to be destined for great things in the Association. He's never fulfilled that prophecy and has spent more time in the trainer's room than the court.
The man who made a name for himself with high flying, tongue wagging dunks couldn't throw one down on a breakaway at the 2002 All Star game. This was during the comeback years, making it a little more understandable.
But I think we all knew that it was over after this.
Jordan nearly severed his finger shortly after the Bulls took home the 1998 title. Some feel that this was the final straw before he retired from the game for a second time.
It's no secret anymore that Jordan loved to gamble.
Every one in awhile someone will bring up that rumor that goes something like, Jordan didn't actually retire from basketball in 1993, he was actually suspended for gambling.
There's no evidence to support that claim, but I wouldn't be so shocked if it was true.
Come on Mike.
Steve Kerr?
But you've got to give Kerr credit for not backing down because Mike was yoked at the time.
The city of Chicago stunned when they heard Mike was coming back to the NBA, but in Wizards uniform. All eyes were upon the Wizards with Mike in the lineup, but it was easy to see fairly early on that he wasn't the same.
I usually tend to try and forget those years.
You just won your third consecutive title. You were the greatest player and the most famous person on the planet.
Why leave?
This thing had disaster written all over it from the word go.
Jordan just wasn't meant to be a baseball player and everyone knew it. But the people came out in droves to watch him play and it's not everyday you get to see the man, the myth, the legend whiffing on a high heater.
Lesson learned: don't quit your day job.
Let's just put it out there and get it over with: Michael Jordan isn't cut out to be a general manager in the NBA.
At this point, you could make a very strong argument that Kwame Brown is the biggest bust ever to be selected first overall in the NBA Draft.
Jordan couldn't resist the tremendous upside potential of the high school star and paid dearly for it. Brown has jumped from team to team and Jordan will always have this one hanging over his head.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Top Ten players we DON'T want the Bulls to draft
The Chicago Bulls have the 16th and 26th picks and after falling in a gut-wrenching seven game series against the Boston Celtics, fans have high hopes for the upcoming year. This draft is crucial to the team's plans for the remainder of the off-season.
So we decided to give new general manager Gar Forman a little help with the Top Ten players we DON'T want the Bulls to draft.
10. Terrence Williams - Louisville
There's just too many question marks surrounding Williams for the Bulls to risk a first round pick on him.
Depending on which mock draft you look at, Holiday is either a lottery or top 25 pick. With such a wide margin of differing opinions, you can't have much confidence in a kid who many feel came out too early.
The Bulls aren't in the position to take on a project and that's exactly what you'd be getting in Holiday.
The Bulls have failed miserably at drafting international players (outside of a certain Croatian) and taking a stab at this Israeli export is the worst mistake they could possibly make.
There's no possible chance the Bulls would take Mills at 16, but if Lawson and Flynn are off the board and Mills is available at 26, watch out. Mills may be the choice.
He's undersized, from a small program and too much of a shoot first PG that would remind us too much of Ben Gordon.
Simply because Dick Vitale has a unspeakable man-crush on you does not mean that you're destined for great things in the NBA. But Lawson did show some mettle while toughing it out in the NCAA Tournament, so we will give him props for that.
But as for whether or not he'd be a solid complimentary player to Derrick Rose, we'll lean towards negative.
At best, Henderson will enter the NBA and eventually become a poor man's version of Richard Jefferson. His athleticism cannot be questioned, but please do not confuse that with NBA potential.
There were plenty of opportunities for Henderson to excel with Duke when they were in desperate need of a consistent scoring threat and he failed to deliver. But I will say that there's an excellent chance Henderson enters the Slam Dunk contest this season and wrestles away the title from Nate Robinson.
It's very easy to fall in love with size and the Bulls certainly are a perfect example of just that. The Jerry Krause dream of having twin towers in Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler backfired louder than your uncle's old El Camino.
Mullens is nothing special and never will be. He failed to really dominate in either high school or the collegiate ranks and just fits the bill of being a monumental bust.
The local media was all abuzz when it was revealed the Bulls brought Flynn in for a private workout. Some were puzzled, including Flynn himself, about why the Bulls would do such a thing
considering the fact he's a potential lottery pick and the Bulls are way up at the 16th overall pick.
First and foremost, I truly hope the Bulls aren't considering moving up to get Flynn. But if he falls to them at 16, why waste two consecutive first round picks on a point guard when you've had a quagmire at the position for a couple years now?
The thought of Chase Budinger in a Chicago Bulls uniform is too much for me to stand. But it makes so much sense from a Paxson point of view that it keeps me up at night.
There's nothing to like about this converted volleyball player out of Arizona. Sure, he can jump out of the gym but just ask Harold Miner how well that worked out for him.
Unfair comparison sure, but Budinger is not what this team needs and it's a very rare occasion when you should honestly consider taking a Wildcat in the draft.
I'll resist the temptation of comparing Hansbrough to Mark Madsen like so many often do. What frightens me is that he fits the mold of what the Bulls have consistently looked for in the draft since John Paxson took over.
He's got the big time program pedigree, a motor that supposedly never quits and the team first mentality Paxson drools over. With new GM Gar Forman at the helm, hopefully this team can stray from its M.O. and do something different.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Top Ten Chicago wildcards
So with that in mind, here are the Top Ten Chicago wildcards.
And don't forget to check out our new home at ChicagoNow.
The oft injured Bears defensive tackle is always capable of delivering a colorful quote inside the locker room. After attending the Brian Urlacher school of contempt for the media, the student has officially surpassed the teacher.
Chicago's very own version of Rocky at the Icecapades.
But Burish is no joke when it comes to dropping the gloves and squaring off guys twice his size. He's the lone bruiser for the Hawks despite not fitting the mold in any single way.
Squaring up on Fred Miller is something not too many sane individuals would attempt. But Kreutz is literally eight different kinds of crazy and has the respect and fear of teammates and foes alike.
Jenks solidified his position on this list after publicly admitting that he intentionally threw behind Texas Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler on a recent road trip.
If you do some digging, you'll find that Jenks certainly possesses quite the colorful past. Wildcard is definitely a moniker that suits him.
Ty-Riser really started to sell his brand of crazy to the fans of Chicago this past season. He was always quick to commit an out of control foul once frustration set in against an opponent.
I have a feeling Tyrus has only scratched the surface in this regard.
AJ seems to invite trouble wherever he goes. But the Sox love him for it and so too do the fans. Who could ever forget the time he got sucker punched by Michael Barrett or his dropped third strike miracle during their World Series run.
The North Side skipper is legendary for his temper tantrums on and off the field. Whether he's tossing second base into the outfield or kicking dirt on an ornery umpire, Sweet Lou is always good for some unintentional comedy during the season.
We've already chronicled some of Ozzie's most epic rants here at TTCS. But Ozzie hasn't slowed down much in recent years and I'm sure by the end of his run we'll have plenty of ammo for a second go around.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I present to you Exhibit A.
Note to Milton: If you really want us to believe you're not crazy, stop acting like it. You can't come to Chicago, proclaim your misunderstood sense of sanity, and proceed to act like a raving lunatic.
For more on Bradley, check out our Top Ten Milton Bradley Meltdowns, Moments and Quotes.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Top Ten Blackhawks who need to step up tonight
TAKE ME THERE NOW!
Now that that's taken care of, onto today's list.
Tonight could be the last game of the season for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Despite the fact that they've exceeded every expectation, this city demands the Hawks win up in Detroit tonight against the Red Wings.
But in order to do so, they'll need some top notch performances from their best players.
Here are the Top Ten Blackhawks who need to step up tonight.
10. Martin Havlat
After logging only eight minutes of ice time in Game 4, it'd be unfair for us to expect too much from Havlat tonight.
He redeemed himself this season after being labeled injury prone by fans and media alike since he signed with the Hawks. But a vicious hit like the one he took in Game 4 would do damage to anyone and the fact that Havlat can still find the arena is enough to prove his toughness.
The man who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He's not very flashy and doesn't really do any one thing better than most. But Ladd has been a crucial piece of this playoff puzzle and they'll need a solid outing from him to slow down the Red Wings.
This guy needs to take his head out of his you-know-what and stop putting the Hawks in horrific positions with the stupid penalties he's been committing as of late.
Somehow, some way, Quenneville will need to get his young team ready for a game that carries enormous pressure on each of their shoulders.
Throw in the fact that they're playing up in the Joe and Quenneville certainly has his work cut out for him. Hopefully that little $10,000 rampage he went on about the referees plays to our advantage.
The 27-year-old right winger has always come up big when the Hawks need it most in the playoffs thus far. No reason why that trend shouldn't continue tonight in the biggest game of the season.
Kane has flat out disappeared against the Red Wings and it's time the little man stepped up to the plate and delivered a performance like his hat-trick against the Canucks.
If he can just understand that not every pass has to be perfect and just play like he can, Kane could be the key to the Hawks making a comeback in this series.
Big Bad Buff needs to wreak havoc in front of the very mediocre Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood tonight.
He needs to frustrate, anger, tempt, twist, pull, prod and take up space so that his linemates can get quality shots on goal.
As Campbell goes, so too do the Hawks.
If he's effective bringing up the puck for the Hawks without losing control, this team has proved how dangerous they can be. But if Campbell looks hesitant and gives up the puck inside the neutral zone tonight, get ready for a very ugly end to the season.
Toews goal in Game 4 was the lone bright spot for the Hawks on Sunday, but he still finished -1 overall.
The young captain needs to find the back of the net early to take the pressure off of this team and set the tone.
Whether it's fair or not, Huet could very well end up being the man people blame for the Hawks demise in the Western Conference Finals.
Being charged with the task of stopping one of the most efficient offenses in the NHL is something that should not be ignored. But I'm not here to defend Huet and I'm sure he probably wouldn't want me to.
For the Hawks to have ANY chance against the Wings tonight, Huet is going to have to stand on his head while humming along to Chelsea Dagger.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Top Ten reasons we're joining ChicagoNow
TAKE ME THERE NOW!
But if you want to know why we've decided to make the big move, check out the list below.
Our new bosses actually have rules for us to follow.
Who knew that yanking photos from other blogs doesn’t make it okay for you to use them on your blog?
This move is the equivalent of joining a blog version of Facebook.
Though we probably won’t post naked or embarrassing photos of ourselves.
Now you’ll actually get to see our ugly mugs.
You poor, poor souls.
You’ll have to take our word for it, but the new site is something that needs to be seen to be believed.
Ha!
Not so much.
You can’t put two sports fans in a room and expect them to agree on everything unless they’re of the, “I regurgitate every opinion ESPN tells me to” variety.
So that’s what we want over at our new home with ChicagoNow.
If you got something to say, if you disagree, if you agree, if you think we’re idiots, TELL US! We’ll respond to as many comments as possible.
Combining credibility and blogs together in a sentence usually results in rounds of laughter or Buzz Bissinger foaming at the mouth while spewing obscenities.
ChicagoNow henchman Jimmy Greenfield has been on us like a madman trying to make sure we’re apart of this thing.
Jimmy, let’s just say I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy who can give you a great price on a hair piece.
See what I’m saying?
It all comes down to dollars and cents my friends.
And while it’s definitely a lot more cents than dollars, getting paid to blog is definitely something we’re interested in.
With blogs from infamous Chicago personalities like ‘Blackjack’ McDowell, Len Kasper and Bob Brenly, ChicagoNow is the place for any Chi-Town sports nut.
And the perfect new home for Top Ten Chicago Sports.
Click here to visit the new site.
Click here to read the Top Ten reasons why Cubs fans shouldn't panic.
Top Ten reasons why Cubs fans shouldn’t panic
But so far, Hendry’s busy offseason hasn’t gone according to plan. While you can’t lay all the blame on him, considering how bad the Cubs’ hitting has been and all the injuries they’ve had to deal with, he deserves his fair share.
With all that said though, it’s only May 26. There’s plenty of time to turn things around. Cubs fans might be panicking right now, but here are 10 reasons why they shouldn’t be.
10. 2007 season
On June 2nd of that year, the Cubs’ record was 22-31. The team was a mess, Lou Piniella was wondering just what he had gotten himself into, and everyone pretty much wrote them off. This Cubs team is a lot better than the ’07 one. It’s a veteran group that understands divisions aren’t decided in April/May.
9. Return of Aramis Ramirez
Who knows when Ramirez will come back, but boy have the Cubs missed his bat in the lineup. At the beginning of the year, Cubs fans knew the one guy they could ill afford to lose for an extended period of time was Ramirez. When he does return, hopefully sometime around the All-Star break, it’s not likely you’ll see the Cubs go through another six-game stretch where they score a total of five runs, like they did this past week.
8. A little adversity might not be a bad thing
Last season, on their way to 97 wins, the Cubs faced no real adversity from April to September. They led the division from early May on, and had only three losing streaks of three games or more. The pressure of going into the playoffs as heavy favorites clearly got to the Cubs, and we saw what happened against the Dodgers.. Being tested this early in the season and having to fight through the dreaded “underachievers” label in May might not turn out to be a bad thing in the end.
7. Lou Piniella
Other than his three years in Tampa Bay, where he was put into an impossible situation, Piniella has won everywhere he has been. He won’t panic or get too worked up about one bad stretch in May, because he knows he’s got a veteran team that is accustomed to dealing with high expectations. But at the same time, Piniella won’t be afraid to start getting on guys who aren’t producing. I just have a hard time seeing a pretty talented team managed by one of the game’s best not figuring things out eventually.
6. Derrek Lee, Milton Bradley and Geovany Soto should all start to hit
If they don’t, well, then the Cubs are in real trouble. Lee has picked it up of late, raising his batting average over .50 points in the last two weeks. Soto, who came into spring training way out of shape, doesn’t figure to keep struggling when you consider that he hit .285 with 23 home runs and 86 RBI last year. As far as Bradley, I hated the signing at the time, so you can imagine what my feelings are right now. Still, Bradley won’t keep hitting under .200 all season. And don’t forget about Mike Fontenot. He showed last season, albeit in a utility role, that he is a solid hitter, so his .208 average should start to rise.
5. Starting pitching
Before last night’s disaster, Cubs starters had the sixth best ERA in the National League at 4.11. While Ryan Dempster hasn’t been nearly as good as last year, he’s still been solid (with the exception of last night), as has Ted Lilly and Sean Marshall. Randy Wells has also had three great starts. The key will be if Carlos Zambrano can start pitching like he did for the first four months of last season. It might not be one of the league’s top rotations anymore, but it’s still good enough for the Cubs to stay in contention all summer.
4. No dominant team in the NL Central
This is shaping up to be a three-team race between the Cardinals, Brewers and Cubs (the Reds don’t have much staying power). The Cardinals and Brewers both have some major flaws, just like the Cubs. Outside of Yovani Gallardo, the Brewers starting pitching is very weak, and Rickie Weeks is out for the year with a wrist injury. The Cardinals are a solid team, better than the Brewers, but their lineup after Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick is questionable, and Chris Carpenter is more unreliable than Zambrano or Rich Harden. It will take more than the 85 wins with which the Cubs won the division with in ’07, but it’s not like the teams in front of the Cubs are clearly superior.
3. Everything that could go wrong has already gone wrong
Even when the Cubs were 21-14 before their road trip from hell, they weren’t playing very good baseball. You figured that the baseball gods wouldn’t be as kind to them this year, and they haven’t been. Ramirez, Zambrano, Lee, Harden and Bradley have all missed time due to injury. Breaks that the Cubs got last year haven’t gone their way so far this season (the Cubs are 2-7 in one-run games). The lineup has been a mess, with Fukudome the only regular hitting over .300. And yet where do the Cubs sit this morning? One game below .500, five games out of first. Not bad when you consider all that has gone wrong.
2. The hitters should come around eventually
Like Lou Piniella said after last Saturday’s game when asked about the team’s offensive struggles: “We’ll get out of this. We’ve done it before. Are we the best offensive team in the National League? Absolutely not. Are we down at the absolute bottom? No. We’ve got to basically find our medium somewhere, and we will. It’s just a question of when and how soon.” After leading the National League in runs scored, batting average and on-base percentage last season, the Cubs rank in the bottom five in the NL in all those categories this year.
1. Who cares?
Didn’t we learn our lesson last fall? Cubs fans put their heart and soul into the team for six months, only to have it all end in four days in October. What’s the point of ever again getting too high or too low during the regular season if you’re a Cubs fan? You know the team is just going to disappoint you in the end anyway. Panic if Jay Cutler fails to meet expectations or if Derrick Rose tears his ACL playing in a pickup game over the summer. But don’t waste time and energy worrying about the state of the Cubs. It’s just not worth it.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Top Ten reasons soccer will not succeed in the US
Alright. So here is attempt number two in informing readers a little more about soccer. The first try, “Top Ten Chicago athletes that should have been soccer players” was liked by an astounding one person (my Mom). But with the European Cup, the Winter Olympics of soccer, kicking off this weekend and the rest of the TTCS group lacking any soccer knowledge that runs deeper than the most recent version of “FIFA” on PS3, it is only fitting to write about the one thing the rest of the World loves, and the US hates. Below are ten reasons why US soccer will never succeed.
Courtesy of: http://evilvince.com/wp-images/Donovan&BeasleyBlog.jpg
10. No big-name American stars
One would think that with all the time and money we've spent making this game as popular as it is for youths that one of these kids could actually figure out how to beat the average European. There's no one that deserves any mentioning on a top 50 players in the world list, maybe even top 100. Other than goalie Tim Howard, who has played well in England, I would have to give Arlington Heights native Brian McBride honors as most successful American thus far. He's a forward who scored 40 goals in four-and-a-half years for England’s Fulham. Not bad, but a forward’s job is to score. Cristiano Ronaldo had those numbers in this season alone. Freddy Adu is a bust and Landon Donovan, who is probably the most recognized American in MLS, cried himself to sleep every night in his two brief stints with a German club.
9. Politics
Unlike any other sport where true talent typically prevails, (pending personal issues like run-ins with the law) soccer is a game often based on politics. While this is a difficult topic to discuss without stepping on toes, we see plenty examples at all levels. Colleges have the same clubs always represented among their recruits. While that may speak volumes for the club, these colleges have kids from “C” and “D” teams even going to respectable soccer schools, while many top-talent players on lesser-known club teams are going to less-than-average college programs. The worst part about this is that the squad with this lesser-known talent may be the state's best. But since the club he plays for is not premiere, in the scout’s eye, neither is the player.
Courtesy of:http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/writers/jonah_freedman/06/06/usa.summer/p1_us_mexico_0606.jpg
8. Few big international games
US soccer has to qualify for the World Cup in a group that contains quite possibly the weakest international squads. (CONCACAF) Mexico is the only real opponent they face. Because they have racked up so many wins, the US has gone into the last two World Cups with very high rankings on the world’s list, (Top 15 in 2002, Top 10 in 2006) adding to the mockery when they are destroyed by the likes of the Czech and Ghana in the previous WC. But with Mexico being the biggest rivalry, and America in general not having any problem what so ever with the country, it is difficult to truly make a rivalry out of the two. Soccer fans that hate the Mexican national team remind me of parents of U-10 teams that hate a particular area of Illinois because their son cannot beat the local team. It's so petty it sounds ridiculous.
7. The game is too slow
Soccer is like watching two teams in hockey play shorthanded on a power play, at the same time. Defense is the key aspect, offense is rarely existent, and scoring is abysmal. The only way to make the game more exciting would be to do one or more of the following: a. Put less players on the field. b. Shrink the area they play on. c. Make the goals bigger. None of these can be done because it takes away from the games’ tradition. Tradition will be the downfall to anything that could possibly make the game more exciting or interesting in Americas eyes. If these rules were changed, foreigners would not come to play in America and those from the US would not stick around. While some may find that dumb, we are the ones with the problem. The World has been playing this game for more than a century without any significant rule changes and they love the way it’s played.
Courtesy of:http://njmg.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/04/landon_donovan_the_associated_press.jpg
6. MLS is a joke
Major League Soccer is in a better position than it was five years ago, but even at its peak, (right now,) it is a mockery of the beautiful game. The league is so infatuated with drawing crowds, it doesn’t realize how demeaning it is to bring in an English powerhouse to play its’ all star game. Think about it, a league vs. a team (one). What's embarrassing about this other than the obvious is that often these large European teams do not play their stars, the team they play is not in season and is often out of shape. Futhermore, the MLS allstars don’t look any better than their opponent. The MLS has won all three games against the world teams but in the last two against Celtic and Chelsea, they looked awful. The MLS has even become less of a feeder for the national team. The US National Team took on England last week in a friendly (exhibition) in England. Only one member of the starting lineup currently plays in the US, Rico Clark. Clark also committed the foul that led to John Terry’s header-goal off a free kick.
5. Too much structure
While in the majority of sports, structure is the key to a successful player. But in the states, it is all we see. While structure is good, when it is added to someone's raw ability, typically we take away from his creativity. People appreciate the sport so much in other countries because it can be played anywhere, anytime, by whomever. We do not see kids getting together to play sports like our parents and grandparents did 30, 40, 50 years ago. Instead, we see soccer moms taking their son or daughter to practice. From there the team breaks up into drill groups and switch from station-to-station every ten minutes until the two hours are up. By no means is that wrong, but you won’t get the creativity out of a structured practice that you would be getting at the park with friends, something that is so common in Europe or South America.
Courtesy of: http://www.sunrisefl.gov/images/upload/SoccerComplexAerial_MH2.jpg
4. Athletes head to other sports
This was the main topic of the last soccer post, and in reality, this is what will make or break the sport in America. An athlete overseas plays soccer because he does not really have a choice. Soccer is what they do. The US has baseball and football, which our grandparents were raised on. Basketball is the American version of a game that can be played whenever and wherever. Hockey is back, which will surely attract some kids to the sport. The immersion of lacrosse and even Nascar becoming America‘s most viewed sport is just killing the soccer talent pool. America could be much better represented if athlete’s first choice was soccer.
3. Most important moment?
US soccer’s most defining moment was when Brandi Chastain ripped off her jersey after hitting the game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women’s World Cup final. No matter how much evolution, sports will remain a “guy’s thing.” But if this is so, then how can the male-dominated hobby known as “sports” allow a woman’s doing to remain the biggest event in one of “their” things? The answer: they can’t. The typical male sports fan will not allow soccer in his life until at the very least, a man can top Chastain’s doing. Not to worry though women, at work we discussed what sporting event we would go back in time to see. Our very own Fred Church said he would have chosen this game. "Not for the game, but for the girl takin' her shirt off." That's Freddy bein' Freddy.
courtesy of: http://web.syr.edu/~jdott/kid.jpg
2. Soccer’s a thinking game
In a country where scoring is key, speed is everything and action is a must, to the typical American, soccer just does not cut the mustard. What people don't realize is that soccer is all of that and often better, we just have to look at the game in a different way. But here in lies the problem; the American is too dumb to comprehend good soccer. Every pass has a purpose. Every movement made is done for a reason. But we don’t see that. Nevermind football, soccer is the ultimate chess match. Scoring a goal is like knocking out the queen. It does not happen often, but that one move is so important that it changes the entire pace of a game. Euros see that. We cannot, because we would rather watch all the action that happens before the knockout. American sport's fans would rather watch the eight-year-old kid who is just learning how to play, taking out whatever pieces he can with reckless abandon, not having any idea as to what the repercussions could be for the particular move.
1. Because we don’t need it to
As stated earlier, all Europe and South America have is soccer. Sure, there are the rare basketball exceptions, but that has been very recent in the evolution of sports. The States on the other hand, do not need another sport. It is clear; we would rather watch cars go around an oval than watch people kick a ball. And the numbers aren't even close. While this should not be a sign for soccer as a whole to give up in the US, this is just a gesture to maybe not be so offended when Jim Rome refers to Demarcus Beasley as a “field fairy” or when soccer gets a 30-second clip on SportsCenter on an hour-long show. The soccer-ites in America needs to realize it is not a piece of the puzzle, and never will be because of this: American soccer is a vicious cycle of good players not playing in the States because no one is watching and fans not watching because there are no good players... This is the ultimate downfall.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Top Ten Chicago baseball mid-season acquisitions
When the White Sox acquired these two relief pitchers - along with four other minor leaguers - in July 1997 as part of the White Flag Trade, it was seen as a weak return for what the team gave up (Wilson Alvarez, Danny Darwin and Roberto Hernandez). But in 2000, when the Sox went on to win the division, Foulke and Howry were the team’s two best relievers, throwing a combined 159 innings and saving 41 games.
Known more for his time in the bullpen with Oakland, Eckersley was a key starter for the 1984 division winning Cubs. He won 10 games for the team after being traded from Boston in June of that season. The man the Cubs sent to the Red Sox? None other than Fenway-legend Bill Buckner.
While Garcia wasn’t great with the White Sox, his presence on the 2005 World Series team made it worth it for the team to deal Jeremy Reed and Miguel Olivo to Seattle in June 2004. Garcia was 14-8 in the ’05 regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs before being dealt to Philadelphia after the following season.
The acquisition of the former All-Star shortstop at the 2004 trade deadline was supposed to elevate the Cubs to World Series contender. Instead, the team that dealt him - Boston - wound up winning the title that season. Garciaparra’s Cubs career was filled with injury, and the best player the team got out of that deal was probably outfielder Matt Murton.
5. Rich Harden
The Cubs response to Milwaukee’s trade for CC Sabathia turned out to be a good move. Harden was 5-1 with 1.77 ERA down the stretch for the 2008 Cubs, helping them to a division title. The Cubs didn’t even give up that much, sending Sean Gallagher and Murton to the A’s for the starting pitcher.
White Sox GM Kenny Williams thought Everett was so nice he traded for him twice. The first time was in July of 2003, and then after leaving as a free agent to the Expos, again in July of ’04. Everett was a key hitter for Sox in 2005, driving in 87 runs that season for the eventual champions.
The Kid wasn’t great on the South Side, but almost anytime a squad can bring in a guy who’ll one day have a plaque in Cooperstown, it’s a good deal. Brought in on at the 2008 trade deadline, Griffey hit only three homers for the Sox, but made an impact in the one-game AL Central playoff, throwing out a runner at home plate to preserve the 1-0 Chicago win.
The Cubs acquired a 25-year old and future All-Star third basemen, as well as the best leadoff hitter of the generation, for the steep price of...Jose Hernandez and Bobby Hill. In July of 2003, GM Jim Hendry pulled off the heist of the decade, helping the Cubs on their way to their first division title in 14 years. Ramirez has fulfilled all expectations during his time with the Cubs, while Lofton was a key player in the ’03 playoff run.
It would be tough to argue that any player in baseball season has been a better mid-season pickup than the Red Baron. Acquired from the Indians in June of 1984, Sutcliffe went 16-1 that year with an ERA of 2.69, winning the NL Cy Young Award and leading the Cubs to the post-season. He went on to pitch seven more years on the North Side, though none came as close to being as dominant as his ’84 campaign.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Top Ten summertime sports in Chicago
They're loading up on brats and burgers, chips and dip, beer and ice...the perfect fixings for any backyard BBQ.
But in between eating food and soaking up the sun, there's plenty of summertime sports the city of Chicago will play to fill in the gaps.
Following on the coat tails of dodgeball's remarkable comeback, kickball is creeping back into the consciousness of Chicagoans.
Chances are, you haven't laced 'em up for a kickball game since middle school. The rules remain the same so all you have to do is bring a strong boot and the rest will take care of itself.
I'm sure roller hockey is going to be even more popular this year due to the success of the Chicago Blackhawks as of late.
Bocce Ball has enjoyed a steady comeback in recent years. For some time in the late it was getting trounced by lawn darts in sales.
But after a handful of unfortunate incidents, lawn darts perished while bocce ball hung tough.
Just like bags, we're not really sure what the official name is for this game. But you're definitely going to need some room and you're definitely going to need some practice.Finding a watering hole or buddy who's got a horseshoe pit at their disposal is a rarity these days.
Tossing shoes is a national pastime and won't ever lose its place amongst the best sports of the summertime.
Washers definitely falls under the much tougher than it looks category of rec sports. You wouldn't think tossing a metal washer in a box would be much of a challenge.
But they're ultra portable and you you'll find sets of washers at backyard BBQ's all over the city.
Everyone has their own version of this driveway basketball classic. Unlimited tips, three tips and you're out, tipped on zero and you're out, etc. Games can turn into epic battles that last for hours.
I've definitely rolled my fair share of ankles cherry picking down low while some poor sap takes ball.
Three words: North Avenue Beach.
Summertime in the city at its absolute best. There's a stretch of sand volleyball courts filled to the brim with players throughout the season. What better way to enjoy a hot Saturday than playing some volleyball in the sun and taking a dive in the lake immediately afterward. Not to mention the great 'scenery' all around.
Good times.
The perfect summertime sport. I swear that if they made this an Olympic event, I'd try out in a heartbeat.
Casual enough where you can easily sip on a cold one and talk some trash to your opponent at the same time, bags is equal parts skill and strategy.
The TTCS crew will take on any challenger.
Sixteen-inch softball is practically a religion in Chicago.
The lake front has been witness to some of the great softball sluggers and squads of all time. And standing in the outfield on gamenight is an experience that everyone should have at least once.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Top Ten Bears under the most pressure
On paper, the Bears look a lot better than last year’s 9-7 team. But there are still a lot of questions marks, questions that will need answers if the Bears want to have the kind of season that people are anticipating. With the first day of organized team activities starting today, here are 10 guys who are under the most pressure to perform.
10. Adewale Ogunleye
The Bears had only 28 sacks last year, which tied for 22nd in the league. Ogunleye had a career low five sacks, and there were too many games where he hardly got within five feet of opposing quarterbacks. There’s a reason why the majority of experts say that a pass rushing defensive end is the most critical component in a top defense. Having a great pass rusher makes it a lot easier for your secondary, and it doesn’t require you to blitz your linebackers and safeties as much. With Mark Anderson having fallen off the map, and Alex Brown never being known as a pass rusher, Ogunleye needs to produce for the Bears’ defense to get back to the level they once were at.9. Whoever plays free safety
With Mike Brown gone, someone from a pool of Craig Steltz, Josh Bullocks and Danieal Manning needs to fill his shoes at the free safety position. That’s hardly an intimidating trio, and when you consider that starting strong safety Kevin Payne is still very much unproven, the Bears better hope that letting Brown go, not drafting a safety until the sixth round, and trading away Chris Harris two years ago don’t all come back to haunt them.
8. Chris Williams
The Bears need to find out what they have in Williams, their first-round pick from a year ago who missed most of last season with a back injury. They apparently felt confident enough in him to not re-sign John St. Clair and to not lose sleep over John Tait’s retirement. Williams doesn’t need to be a star, just a consistent performer at right tackle.
7. Jerry Angelo
Yes, Angelo finally broke free from his ultra-conservative approach and acquired the franchise quarterback that the Bears had been missing since, well ever. No matter how Jay Cutler turns out, Angelo needs to be commended for giving the Bears a chance to become an elite team and giving the city something to get excited about. And signing Orlando Pace, who Scout.com ranks as the league’s 7th best offensive tackle (when healthy), was a great move as well.
But what about the receiving position? Does Angelo really feel confident going into next season with Earl Bennett, who has zero career catches, as his number two receiver? Torry Holt would have fit in perfectly with the team, but Angelo didn’t show much interest in him. Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards, and Plaxico Burress are all available in a trade, but again Angelo doesn’t appear to be intrigued by any of them.
6. Nathan Vasher
5. Devin Hester
Remember back in training camp last year when Hester held out for two days, not happy with his $445,000 salary? It scared Bears fans to think what life would be like without Hester returning kickoffs and punts, after he had taken back 13 kicks for scores his first two years in the league. Now, after watching Hester look totally lost last year on his returns and eventually being replaced on kickoff duties by Manning, Bears fans are more concerned with whether Hester can develop into that number one receiver Cutler desperately needs. He showed signs last season, but on every other team in the league, Hester would be no better than a number two, and on more than half the teams, a number three.
4. Tommie Harris
After Jay Cutler, you could make a reasonable argument that Harris is more important to the Bears than any other player. When he was playing at an all-pro level in 05’ and 06’, the Bears were the best defense in the league. Although Harris has a combined 13 sacks these last two years, his impact has been minimal at best. It’s time for Harris to prove that he can stay healthy for an entire season and justify his $40 million dollar contract. If he can regain the form that once had people touting him as one of the game’s most dominant defensive players, it would take a lot of pressure off the rest of the defense.
3. Lovie Smith
This offseason, Smith has axed defensive coaches like Donald Trump has fired people on The Apprentice. Now, with Smith taking over the play-calling duties on defense, we will find out how much Bob Babich really was to blame for the unit’s performance the last two years. People quickly forget that Smith is a combined 42-26 these last four years despite having so much instability at the quarterback position. With very high expectations this season, anything less than a division championship may not be enough to save Smith’s job.
2. Brian Urlacher
It’s pretty simple really for Urlacher: make plays. Last season, Urlacher had zero sacks, a career-low 93 tackles, zero forced fumbles and two interceptions. That won’t cut it from a guy who has better than a 50/50 shot of making it to Canton. It’s probably unrealistic to expect Urlacher to get back to his NFL Defensive Player of the Year award level from 2005. But as a point of reference, compare him to Ray Lewis, who is four years older. Lewis found his fountain of youth last season, and proved that even at 34 he is still one of the game’s best middle linebackers. Urlacher needs to follow a similar path.
1. Jay Cutler
Expect Cutler to face more pressure in this town than any athlete since Michael Jordan. How will Cutler handle the scrutiny that comes with that? We won’t know for a while, but you know how Bears fans are: a couple bad games from Cutler early in the season and the Rick Mirer comparisons will begin. Cutler makes everyone around him better: Matt Forte won’t be seeing nine guys in the box anymore, Hester and Greg Olsen should both make more big plays downfield, and the defense will get more rest, when you consider that the Bears had the third-highest percentage of three-and-outs in the league last year.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Top Ten Chicago photo-ops
10. Hester's kick return
http://www.fulcrumgallery.com/
Yes, the Bears lost. Yes, they didn't look good. But for about 10 seconds, the Super Bowl was looking good for Chicago, as Devin Hester did the unthinkable (the usual), and took one to the house on the opening kick.
9. Sosa celebrates McGwire's 62nd home run
http://www.mlb.com/
I am more than aware that this is more Mark McGwire's "moment" than Sosa's. However, that summer was the most captivating year of baseball that there has been in a long time. While steroids will now shame us for ever getting excited about what those two "accomplished," there was no reason to not be swept away by what they were doing at the time.
8. Perry's spike in end zone
http://www.si.com
This was the icing on the cake for what many called the greatest football team of all-time. It is funny to think that William Perry actually has more Super Bowl touchdowns than Walter Payton.
7. Shot on Ehlo
www.nba.com
While many feel he was a standout before this, "The Shot" is what put Jordan on the map as we know him today. Colleague Eli told me an interesting story he heard about this game a few days ago. Many do not realize Ehlo had had the game of his life, scoring 25+ points. Before the inbound the announcer said something along the lines of "regardless of the outcome to this game, Craig Ehlo is going to remember this game for the rest of his life." He certainly is.
6. Jordan crying with trophy
http://sports.espn.go.com
After winning their third straight NBA title, Jordan sheds tears after thinking about his Dad.
5. Barrett punching AJ
http://www.crosstownclassic.com/
Without a doubt, when Michael Barrett jacked AJ Pierzynski in the face after a play at the plate, it marked the highlight of the 14-year interleague rivalry between the Sox and the Cubs. Northside fans (and the rest of baseball for that matter) rejoiced after witnessing something that many had wanted to do before.
4. Payton's goal line dive
This isn't necessarily a particular moment, but more of a signature way Sweetness found the endzone when they were within the two.
3. White Sox World Series celebration
To some, this concluded the greatest sports day of his or her life, as Chicago witnessed its first title since 1998. Reinsdorf would call this win the greatest of his seven championships.
2. Alou vs. Bartman
www.georgehernandez.com
Who would have thought that a lazy tailing foul ball would lead to what it did. Steve Bartman is folklore and the Cubs still don't have a World Series within the century. While Alou would later admit he never would have been able to actually get the ball, there is no denying that Bartman will forever be the cities' most hated headphones and glasses-wearing Cubs fan to date.
1. Jordan's last shot
http://blacksportsonline.com
The last shot of the greatest basketball player to ever touch a ball. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise.