Oh, I also started writing the Sox Report at the Beachwood Reporter. Check out the Sox season Preview.
10. Jalen Rose
Chicago hadn't seen a "star" since Jordan, and they thought they were going to get it out of this former Fab-Five standout. They sent Ron Artest, Brad Miller and Ron Mercer to Indy in exchange for the then 29-year-old. And with the last 30 games of 2002 through the whole 2003 season, Rose averaged more than 22 points per. Overall, things didn't work out though and he was shipped to Toronto a season later.
9. Freddy Garcia
Ozzie typically gets the guys he wants. When it went public that Garcia was available, it didn't take long for Kenny Williams to get his manager's family member (they're somehow related). While it was a little difficult to see Jeremy Reed and Miguel Olivo go, getting a pitcher to play second-fiddle to Mark B. will always help out a team. And his 2.5 seasons in the Windy City were nothing short of outstanding.
8. Patrick Kane
It's not often we get a Hawk on a list, but there is no way we could leave Kane off this one. The first pick of the 2007 draft, Kane made an instant impact, scoring 21 goals and helping out on another 51, good enough for Rookie of the Year honors. And this year he continued his solid play this year, having currently netted 24 goals. While his career is young, seeing his name in the rafters in 20 years is not out of the question.
7. Adewale Ogunleye
Chicago fans went ecstatic in 2004 when a story broke that O-Gun had been traded to the Bears in exchange for an aging Marty Booker (he was old then). Ogunleye had been a Pro Bowler in 2003, the year he led the league with 15 sacks. Turns out the Bears got the better of that deal, as it took five years for Adewale to start to start to break down, as he did last season. He even earned himself a trip to Hawaii in 2006.
6. Bartolo Colon
The Sox had just gotten over the "David Wells Era" and were desperately looking for a solid ace. They gave up virtually nothing for him (Rocky Biddle, Jeff Leifer, Antonio Osuna and a minor leaguer). While his numbers weren't entirely what they were looking for out of a Number 1, his 15 wins, 3.87 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP were not anything to get upset about. However, they Sox granted him free agency after the season because they didn't want to him upwards to the $11 million the Angels paid him to play the next year.
5. Kosuke Fukudome
The whole Japanese import situation seemed to happen to every big market except for the Second City. New York signed Matsui. Boston signed Dice-K. Seattle started the whole concept with Ichiro. Chicago was not going be left out in the Winter of 2008. The Sox were the next-highest bidder for Fuku, but when the Cubs offered a 4 year/$48 million deal, it was obvious he would call Wrigley home. Though it's early, I think Sox fans are pleased this was one battle they didn't win.
4. Ben Wallace
Nobody ruins a salary cap like Ben Wallace ruins a salary cap. In 2006, the Bulls paid Big Ben $52 million for four years to be the missing piece. Well Chicago did make the playoffs, and actually got out of the first round, but it had little to do with Wallace's performance (though he did size up well with Shaq). But this was a team that was favored by many, including Sports Illustrated, to win the East with Ben being the big body. A half season later he was dealt to Cleveland, where he gets minimal time.
3. Alfonso Soriano
Soriano's 2006 season in Washington was simply incredible. He became just the fourth member of the 40/40 club (And as Eli would like to point out, the only one not associated with steroids), in a contract year none the less. When the Cubs finished last in the NL with only 66 wins in '06, it was obvious they had to somehow make a splash. And boy did they, making Alfonso the 5th-highest paid player in baseball history. While you can't call his last few years a total disappointment, one could assume they were expecting a little more than 30 homers/75 RBI/120 games a year. Regardless, hope had initally be instilled in the fans.
2. Jay Cutler
While he has yet to throw a pass, many feel that he will own every single-season passing record in Bear's history before we celebrate the year 2010. It has been a while since a Chicago sports story has owned ESPN News for a long as the Cutler story was. It is difficult put in words how excited the city is.
1. Derrick Rose
The Bulls were picked by most to win the division in 2007-08. So when the failed to make the playoffs, there was no coach, no stars and no direction. Not only did they only have a 1.9% chance of obtaining the first pick, but the year was such disgrace, they didn't deserve it. Regardless of the 1/50 shot, the lottery balls came up with a combination giving Chicago the #1 pick. And they didn't disappoint, selecting the home-grown talent Rose.
3 comments:
Any reason you cannot add Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee to your list?
Ben Wallace was a total bust, one of the worst moves ever. Surrounded by Rasheed Wallce, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups makes you a pretty damn good center, but when you are surrounded by the 2007 bulls, guess what happens. I think Cutler will be solid, but the Bears gave up a lot to get him. They could have used those picks to get some receivers I've actually heard of. This is a really great top ten list, anyone can post their own list to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.
The Aramis move was more publicized because of what little the Cubs gave up to get him, Lofton and Simon. Derrek Lee was traded for Hee-Sop Choi. It was actually Choi who received bigger hype for coming a year earlier.
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