^
"That's probably the most fun I've ever had playing baseball, that series. That series was even better than the World Series. I know the fans here don't like to hear that, but it was fun for us on that side of the field."
That was the just-traded Derrek Lee talking about the Marlins coming back to beat the Cubs in the 2003 NLCS.
Which, by the way, goes down as the single most memorable sporting event I covered during my 16 years in Chicago.
^
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Thome to Ozzie: This bomb's for you!
^
The List
Three reasons why Minnesotans are happy they aren't Illinoisians these days:
3. While You Know Who is coming back to QB the Vikings, Jay Cutler is only a wannabe until he proves otherwise.
2. The Twins have Jim Thome. And, thanks to Ozzie Guillen's preference for bunters over bombers, the White Sox don't.
1. Minnesota's governor often is mentioned as the possible 2012 Republican nominee for the U.S. presidency. Illinois' last three governors: one jailed felon, one freshly convicted felon and one guy who is in so far over his head that his business card should have a picture of a shovel on it.
The Bald Truth
Well, at least Ozzie isn't stuck with that one-dimensional, lumbering lug Thome clogging up the basepaths and keeping Mark Kotsay from playing DH.
The Balder Truth
Jon Garland is still making Cubbie fans cringe. But hey, he's no Matt Karchner.
THE BALDEST TRUTH
As most of you know, I'm moving to North Carolina. I've been warned by a few locals there that some of their politicians are corrupt.
After nearly 16 years in Illinois, I could offer only this response:
"Some? Only some? Jeesh, what a bunch of lightweights!"
The List
Three reasons why Minnesotans are happy they aren't Illinoisians these days:
3. While You Know Who is coming back to QB the Vikings, Jay Cutler is only a wannabe until he proves otherwise.
2. The Twins have Jim Thome. And, thanks to Ozzie Guillen's preference for bunters over bombers, the White Sox don't.
1. Minnesota's governor often is mentioned as the possible 2012 Republican nominee for the U.S. presidency. Illinois' last three governors: one jailed felon, one freshly convicted felon and one guy who is in so far over his head that his business card should have a picture of a shovel on it.
The Bald Truth
Well, at least Ozzie isn't stuck with that one-dimensional, lumbering lug Thome clogging up the basepaths and keeping Mark Kotsay from playing DH.
The Balder Truth
Jon Garland is still making Cubbie fans cringe. But hey, he's no Matt Karchner.
THE BALDEST TRUTH
As most of you know, I'm moving to North Carolina. I've been warned by a few locals there that some of their politicians are corrupt.
After nearly 16 years in Illinois, I could offer only this response:
"Some? Only some? Jeesh, what a bunch of lightweights!"
Monday, August 16, 2010
Know where the bunkers are, and don't ground that club!
^
The Bald Truth
You have to be a heartless scoundrel who eats little children and drowns puppies to not feel at least a little sorry for what Dustin Johnson went through at the PGA Championship. Then again ...
The rule exists. So does the bunker - as according to the rulebook, anyway.
It sucks to lose a chance at a championship because of a seemingly foolish rule. It's kind of like being penalized because of the silly, outdated regulations pertaining to signing one's scorecard ... but if the rule is there, one has to abide by it.
That, or find a sport without such goofy rules.
The Balder Truth
As for Whistling Straits ... sure, I'd take a free round there if somebody offered. (Nobody has.) But it doesn't look like a very fun course for any high- to mid-handicapper.
A links course masquerading as a target course. Or vice versa. I'd be much happier playing one or the other. (Not that anybody asked.)
THE BALDEST TRUTH
Did the White Sox really battle all the way back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit this season only to piss it all away with one bad August stretch?
They'll get a good chance to answer that question, one way or another, this week at Target Field.
The good news for them (and bad news for the Twins) is that at least Freddy Garcia won't pitch in the series.
The Bald Truth
You have to be a heartless scoundrel who eats little children and drowns puppies to not feel at least a little sorry for what Dustin Johnson went through at the PGA Championship. Then again ...
The rule exists. So does the bunker - as according to the rulebook, anyway.
It sucks to lose a chance at a championship because of a seemingly foolish rule. It's kind of like being penalized because of the silly, outdated regulations pertaining to signing one's scorecard ... but if the rule is there, one has to abide by it.
That, or find a sport without such goofy rules.
The Balder Truth
As for Whistling Straits ... sure, I'd take a free round there if somebody offered. (Nobody has.) But it doesn't look like a very fun course for any high- to mid-handicapper.
A links course masquerading as a target course. Or vice versa. I'd be much happier playing one or the other. (Not that anybody asked.)
THE BALDEST TRUTH
Did the White Sox really battle all the way back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit this season only to piss it all away with one bad August stretch?
They'll get a good chance to answer that question, one way or another, this week at Target Field.
The good news for them (and bad news for the Twins) is that at least Freddy Garcia won't pitch in the series.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tiger's new math is a tad too average
^
Tiger Woods just wanted to break par. The TNT yakkers at the PGA Championship spent most of Thursday afternoon praising him for playing smart and accepting the occasional bogey. The media generally gave him high marks for his 1-under 71.
The consensus, including from the man himself: Tiger's not anywhere near back to being The Greatest Ever, but at least he isn't that impostor who had been showing up and playing as if he were John Daly on a bender.
That's all well and good, but if Tiger isn't Tiger, why should we all be so obsessed with Tiger?
Because he's Tiger, that's why!
But enough of this 1-under stuff, you know? Either go wild, get on a record pace and make the rest of the field cower in your presence ... or get wild, lose every other shot in the deep hay, throw a few clubs (preferably at Jim Gray), and make last week's performance seem like the good ol' days.
I don't want to have to get used to Tiger Woods just showing up and playing like any of about 100 other golfers.
^
Tiger Woods just wanted to break par. The TNT yakkers at the PGA Championship spent most of Thursday afternoon praising him for playing smart and accepting the occasional bogey. The media generally gave him high marks for his 1-under 71.
The consensus, including from the man himself: Tiger's not anywhere near back to being The Greatest Ever, but at least he isn't that impostor who had been showing up and playing as if he were John Daly on a bender.
That's all well and good, but if Tiger isn't Tiger, why should we all be so obsessed with Tiger?
Because he's Tiger, that's why!
But enough of this 1-under stuff, you know? Either go wild, get on a record pace and make the rest of the field cower in your presence ... or get wild, lose every other shot in the deep hay, throw a few clubs (preferably at Jim Gray), and make last week's performance seem like the good ol' days.
I don't want to have to get used to Tiger Woods just showing up and playing like any of about 100 other golfers.
^
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Littlest Lovable Loser gains stature
^
Sad day for my wife: The Cubbies traded her favorite player.
Roberta's been a big fan of Mike Fontenot because he's so little. Yep ... he's just about the only major leaguer my 5-foot-3-ish wife can look in the eye.
Fitting, then, that "Little Lord" - as my wife calls him (Little Lord Fauntleroy, get it?) - got dealt to none other than the Giants.
Come to think of it, maybe Little Lord asked for the trade when he heard that his only fan soon would be moving away from Chicago!
Sad day for my wife: The Cubbies traded her favorite player.
Roberta's been a big fan of Mike Fontenot because he's so little. Yep ... he's just about the only major leaguer my 5-foot-3-ish wife can look in the eye.
Fitting, then, that "Little Lord" - as my wife calls him (Little Lord Fauntleroy, get it?) - got dealt to none other than the Giants.
Come to think of it, maybe Little Lord asked for the trade when he heard that his only fan soon would be moving away from Chicago!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Not the best way to earn respect
^
Brandon Phillips acts a fool. A brawl ensues between his Reds and the Cardinals. Then the guy Phillips instigated, Yadier Molina, hits a homer ... and the Cards are rolling to another decisive win over Dusty's yet-to-prove-they're-real dudes from Cinci.
Meanwhile, on the South Side, Ozzie whines about his White Sox not getting enough respect. And then, after losing 3 of 4 in Baltimore, they go out and get waxed by the Twins to fall out of first place.
Who knew Tuesday was Just Desserts Day at the Red Lobster?
Brandon Phillips acts a fool. A brawl ensues between his Reds and the Cardinals. Then the guy Phillips instigated, Yadier Molina, hits a homer ... and the Cards are rolling to another decisive win over Dusty's yet-to-prove-they're-real dudes from Cinci.
Meanwhile, on the South Side, Ozzie whines about his White Sox not getting enough respect. And then, after losing 3 of 4 in Baltimore, they go out and get waxed by the Twins to fall out of first place.
Who knew Tuesday was Just Desserts Day at the Red Lobster?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Today's High 5
^
1. Since taking over the Orioles, Buck Showalter is 5-1 with a lineup that includes Corey Patterson and Felix Pie.
Talk about already staking a claim for Manager of the Year!
2. I covered Saturday's Cubs-Reds game and watched some of the other two games this weekend, and I couldn't believe how completely Dusty Baker outmanaged Lou Piniella. Really.
Here's hoping nobody wakes up Lou and tells him.
3. The Cubs lost 7 straight, beat Milwaukee 15-3 and followed up by scoring in 3 out of 27 innings against the Reds.
Can you say, "Mailing it in?" I knew you could.
4. It would be poetic if Jim Thome turned out to be the difference in the AL Central race.
5. "Shooting 18-over par is not fun," Tiger Woods says.
I don't know what he's talking about. I shot 18 over just the other day and had a great time.
1. Since taking over the Orioles, Buck Showalter is 5-1 with a lineup that includes Corey Patterson and Felix Pie.
Talk about already staking a claim for Manager of the Year!
2. I covered Saturday's Cubs-Reds game and watched some of the other two games this weekend, and I couldn't believe how completely Dusty Baker outmanaged Lou Piniella. Really.
Here's hoping nobody wakes up Lou and tells him.
3. The Cubs lost 7 straight, beat Milwaukee 15-3 and followed up by scoring in 3 out of 27 innings against the Reds.
Can you say, "Mailing it in?" I knew you could.
4. It would be poetic if Jim Thome turned out to be the difference in the AL Central race.
5. "Shooting 18-over par is not fun," Tiger Woods says.
I don't know what he's talking about. I shot 18 over just the other day and had a great time.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Approaching life sans Chicago sports
^
I already can tell that once I make the move down south, one of the strangest things for me will be not caring a lick about the Chicago teams.
Those who know me know that I never have "cared" in the same sense fans do. Whether the Cubs, Bears, White Sox, Bulls or Blackhawks win or lose never has mattered to me and never will. It wasn't my job to cheer them on or to wish them ill. When they did well, I tended to make nice. When they sucked, I was less kind.
Three decades plus in this business, and I've never understood how journalists could get close to the teams they cover. That's always seemed wrong to me.
Having said that, I have followed those Chicago teams - as well as the Illini and, to some degree, Notre Dame and Northwestern - very closely. They have been a big part of my life.
Even after the fine folks at GateHouse liberated me from full-time employment and helped me learn 100 new ways to prepare Little Friskies - I suggest a splash of white wine and a dash of coriander - I kept following the teams because, well, because I was in Chicago and I was still covering games and it was the right thing to do.
But when I'm 800 miles away and there's nary a Paulie nor Kaner in sight, how will I react? Will I still check out the Cubs-Cards box scores online? Will I be especially interested when the Bulls are on ESPN? Will I wake up in a cold sweat still hearing Bruce Weber's unmistakable screech?
Or will those teams I followed for so many years quickly fade from my realm of thought? (Literally, out of sight, out of mind?) Sixteen years of memories becoming just that: a mere memory?
As Vinny Del Zzzzzz used to say - repeatedly - it will be a process. It will take until Thanksgiving or New Year's Day or maybe even Purim ... but soon enough, I'm pretty sure I'll be forever cleansed of A.J. and Kenny and Oz (oh my).
Does that make me feel happy or sad or something in between?
Well, I'll let you know when it happens.
I already can tell that once I make the move down south, one of the strangest things for me will be not caring a lick about the Chicago teams.
Those who know me know that I never have "cared" in the same sense fans do. Whether the Cubs, Bears, White Sox, Bulls or Blackhawks win or lose never has mattered to me and never will. It wasn't my job to cheer them on or to wish them ill. When they did well, I tended to make nice. When they sucked, I was less kind.
Three decades plus in this business, and I've never understood how journalists could get close to the teams they cover. That's always seemed wrong to me.
Having said that, I have followed those Chicago teams - as well as the Illini and, to some degree, Notre Dame and Northwestern - very closely. They have been a big part of my life.
Even after the fine folks at GateHouse liberated me from full-time employment and helped me learn 100 new ways to prepare Little Friskies - I suggest a splash of white wine and a dash of coriander - I kept following the teams because, well, because I was in Chicago and I was still covering games and it was the right thing to do.
But when I'm 800 miles away and there's nary a Paulie nor Kaner in sight, how will I react? Will I still check out the Cubs-Cards box scores online? Will I be especially interested when the Bulls are on ESPN? Will I wake up in a cold sweat still hearing Bruce Weber's unmistakable screech?
Or will those teams I followed for so many years quickly fade from my realm of thought? (Literally, out of sight, out of mind?) Sixteen years of memories becoming just that: a mere memory?
As Vinny Del Zzzzzz used to say - repeatedly - it will be a process. It will take until Thanksgiving or New Year's Day or maybe even Purim ... but soon enough, I'm pretty sure I'll be forever cleansed of A.J. and Kenny and Oz (oh my).
Does that make me feel happy or sad or something in between?
Well, I'll let you know when it happens.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Carolina in my mind
^
In a few weeks, I'll be an ex-Chicagoan.
My wife has accepted a job in Charlotte. And since she's my Sugar Mama, I'll be joining her in the land of BBQ, NASCAR and Tyrus Thomas.
We've had 16 fun years in Chicago, where we raised a great family and made too many friends to count. And now, we're very excited to start a new life adventure.
After covering Tuesday's Cubs-Brewers game for AP - read what I wrote HERE - I have six more Cubs games and two more White Sox games left before I go.
Then ... well ... I have absolutely no idea what I'll be doing. It probably won't involve newspaper journalism because of the paucity of jobs in that field. Then again, maybe it will. Who knows? That's one of the cool things about the entire endeavor: Anything can happen, and the slate is beautifully blank.
I do know that I hope to do some work with non-profit organizations I admire - be it professionally, as a volunteer or some combination of both. That's right: As if I haven't messed up my own kids enough, maybe I can shape the lives of some others out there.
As for The Baldest Truth, I think I'll still do some blogging after I land in North Carolina ... but I sure won't be writing much about Cra-Z or Ozzie or The Zooker. There's a whole world out there that has nothing to do with sports, and I plan to both inhabit it and revel in it.
Of course, I'll still be around for most of August, so expect to read about some of my favorite Chicago moments, sports and otherwise, in the coming weeks.
In a few weeks, I'll be an ex-Chicagoan.
My wife has accepted a job in Charlotte. And since she's my Sugar Mama, I'll be joining her in the land of BBQ, NASCAR and Tyrus Thomas.
We've had 16 fun years in Chicago, where we raised a great family and made too many friends to count. And now, we're very excited to start a new life adventure.
After covering Tuesday's Cubs-Brewers game for AP - read what I wrote HERE - I have six more Cubs games and two more White Sox games left before I go.
Then ... well ... I have absolutely no idea what I'll be doing. It probably won't involve newspaper journalism because of the paucity of jobs in that field. Then again, maybe it will. Who knows? That's one of the cool things about the entire endeavor: Anything can happen, and the slate is beautifully blank.
I do know that I hope to do some work with non-profit organizations I admire - be it professionally, as a volunteer or some combination of both. That's right: As if I haven't messed up my own kids enough, maybe I can shape the lives of some others out there.
As for The Baldest Truth, I think I'll still do some blogging after I land in North Carolina ... but I sure won't be writing much about Cra-Z or Ozzie or The Zooker. There's a whole world out there that has nothing to do with sports, and I plan to both inhabit it and revel in it.
Of course, I'll still be around for most of August, so expect to read about some of my favorite Chicago moments, sports and otherwise, in the coming weeks.
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