Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Football…already?
I’m watching the Chicago Bears play their fourth preseason game tonight. During a commercial break, I switched over to ESPN and saw a college football game being played. Seems like football starts earlier and earlier every season. Actually, I remember some college games beginning in late August, but it just seems like it’s earlier this year!
There’s some genuine excitement in Chicago this year with the Jay Cutler trade with Denver. The Bears actually have a real quarterback this season. Hopefully they can play like a real team.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Cubs vs. Sox
It’s that time of year again in Chicago where the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox do battle in what is called the “Crosstown Series.” This year, both teams are in first place in their respective divisions so the games take on a little more importance. The games have always been important to the fans of both teams, but there is a chance – no matter how slight – that this six-game series is a precursor to the Fall Classic.
Around my house, battle lines are clearly drawn. I’m a White Sox fan and Lisa and Kevin are Cubs fans.
They had the last laugh Friday when Aramis Ramirez (above in this Chicago Tribune photo) hit a walk-off home run to beat the Sox 4 – 3. The series concludes with two more games at Wrigley Field and then moves to U.S. Cellular Field next weekend.
Update: The Cubs won Saturday’s game too so I’m really hearing it!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Brackets!
Like a lot of people, I enjoy putting together brackets for the NCAA basketball tournament. I don't follow college basketball as much as I did when I was younger...and certainly not as closely as college football. I do enjoy seeing how my picks come in. This year I'm participating in two Yahoo! groups -- one at work and one within my family. As of early Thursday evening, I'm 8 for 8 at work and 5 for 8 at home. I went out on a limb for my family bracket, but so far none of the upsets have come in!
I have North Carolina, Georgetown, Texas and UConn in the Final Four at work with North Carolina winning it all. At home, I have Duke instead of UConn with North Carolina still winning it all.
I'll see how good I am in a couple of weeks.
Update: UConn's already gone!!!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Cory Lidle
On my way home from work this afternoon, I heard the sad news that Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was killed in the Manhattan plane crash. Since I've been home, all I've heard is how sad the situation is and how terrible it is for the family. This is all true, but I can't help but think that the outpouring from the media would be lessened if Lidle play for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays or any other team not located in New York. Apparently Major League Baseball was considering canceling this evening's playoff games.
Interesting how a player's "worth" and fame is related to where he plays.
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Baseball and steroids
It will be interesting to see over the next few days and weeks and player's names get leaked out to the press and what reaction, if any, Bud Selig and the player's union have to this latest controversy. It's apparent to this observer that organized baseball would prefer to sweep this whole steroid issue under the rug. I really do hope Congress introduces legislation to force baseball to clean up its act!
Monday, May 15, 2006
Baseball thoughts
It's mid-May already and I haven't chimed in yet on the state of baseball in Chicago. I'm sure most of the free world knows the Chicago White Sox won the World Series last year for the first time since 1917. The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, have not won the World Series since 1908 (at the time it was their second in a row!) and therein lies the problem. The Boston Red Sox [1914] and the White Sox [1917} are two-thirds of the trilogy of futility. The Cubs seem to be holding on to their part of the futility by continuing to play poor baseball.
The White Sox, as of this writing, have the best record in baseball at 25-12 and are one game ahead of the surprising Detroit Tigers. The Cubs are 15-22 and are 8 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals (they are 5 1/2 games ahead of last-place Pittsburgh).
This weekend, the Sox and Cubs play each other in their annual city series. The first three games are at U.S. Cellular Field with the final three games played in late June-early July at Wrigley Field. Most of the Cub fans I know are not even acknowledging the upcoming series. Usually it's a chaotic weekend at the Cornelius household with most of my family favoring the North Side team, but hardly a peep so far!