Not Just Sports - A Blog for Everyone (who thinks about stuff I do)

"We do not have time for this kind of silliness" said the President

2011-04-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

Will the "Birthers" now ... for lack of a better phrase ... SHUT THE FUCK UP!

With issues of much more import hanging in the balance, the President of the United States of America had to schedule a news conference to release his actual Birth Certificate of Hawaii. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy sucking-ass, gas prices almost the same as minimum wage -- and he's at the podium talking about Donald Trump & The Birthers ...

"We're not going to be able to do it if we just make stuff up and pretend that facts are not facts. We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers.

We live in a serious time right now and we have the potential to deal with the issues that we confront in a way that will make our kids and our grandkids and our great grandkids proud. And I have every confidence that America in the 21st century is going to be able to come out on top just like we always have. But we're going to have to get serious do do it.

I know that there's going to be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest. But I'm speaking to the vast majority of the American people, as well as to the press. We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do. I've got better stuff to do. We've got big problems to solve. And I'm confident we can solve them, but we're going to have to focus on them - not this."

Full Transcript

It's over, Birthers, now get back to reality, where the rest of us have been waiting for your return.

But wait ... Donald Trump is now taking credit for the release.

"I'm proud of myself, because I've accomplished something no one else was able to do," Trump said humbly.

What a hairbag! He's just pissed that Obama stole the one bullet he had in his gun - now what's Trump going to campaign on? Bankruptcy? Divorce? Bad head? Bye-bye, Donald.

Bear Down on the Draft

2011-04-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

Rather than prove all the experts wrong with my own Mock Draft, I took the easy way out and have compiled - FOR YOU - some mock drafts from around the web!

Because that's how we roll, our emphasis will be on the Chicago Bears!

History hasn't been kind to the Men from Chicago. Since 2001, when Jerry Angelo started making selections for the Bears ... umm, the results haven't been great ... with only 3 of those guys having any kind of meaningful impact on the organization. Bears fans hope to see more Tommie Harris type talent, and less Benson/Colombo/Haynes types.

Tommie Harris, #14 in 2005

2010 - No pick due to Cutler trade

2009 - No pick due to Cutler trade

2008 - #14 Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt

2007 - #31 Greg Olsen, TE, Miami

2006 - Traded out of 1st round

2005 - #4 Cedric Benson, RB, Texas

2004 - #14 Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma

2003 - #14 Michael Haynes, DE, Penn State

2002 - #29 Marc Colombo, OT, Boston College

2001 - #8 David Terrell, WR, Michigan

Here's what the Football Nostradamus' are seeing for the Monsters of the Midway with the 29th pick in Thursday's NFL Draft:

Pro Football Weekly - Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald made the pick, taking Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

Chicago Tribune columnist Dan McNeil - The WSCR Chicago Host says it will be status quo at Halas Hall, with Jerry Angelo trading out of the 1st round

Derek Sherrod, OT, Misssissippi St.

ESPN Chicago - Jeff Dickerson believes the Bears go OL with Derek Sherrod of Mississippi State

Also at ESPN Chicago - Michael C. Wright thinks it will be Baylor G Danny Watkins

Sports Illustrated - CNN.com - Don Banks says the Bears will land Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

CBS Sportsline - Bears select Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

Huffington Post - predicts the Bears will land Danny Watkins, OL Baylor

DraftCountdown.com - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

Corey Liuget, Illinois, DT

MockingTheDraft - Bears go defense with Illinois DT Corey Liuget

Football's Future - Chicago gets Wisconson OT Gabe Carimi

Fox Sports - Adam Caplan thinks the Bears take Baylor DT Phil Taylor

Draft King - has a different take, with the Bears grabbing Penn State OT/G Stefan Wisniewski

FF Toolbox - Bears draft Baylor OL Danny Watkins

Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi

Bleacher Report - predicts the Bears will send #29 and #62 overall to the Dolphins in order to move up to #15 in the 1st round to get OT Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin

Peter King - says the Bears will end up with Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod

Walter Football - Bears bring in OT from Mississippi State, Derek Sherrod

Mock Draft HQ - thinks the Bears go a different route, selecting Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State

WR Torrey Smith, Maryland

Draft Empire - the Bears go offense with Maryland WR Torrey Smith

Sports-Central - Bears get OL Mike Pouncey out of Florida

KFFL - Cory J. Bonini predicts the Bears land their man, OL Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin

National Football Post - Wes Bunting thinks the Bears either trade out of the 1st round (he thinks with Oakland), or go with Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

Draft King - Lou Pickney says the Bears land Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi

Draft Season - Eric Falk says Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod

Baylor OT Danny Watkins

Draft Season - Matt Falk sees the Bears taking Coloardo OT Nate Solder

Draft Season - Nik Edlund has the Bears selecting Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

Draft Breakdown - Ryan Lownes thinks the Bears opt for Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

Draft Breakdown - Will Spencer and Aaron Aloysius disagree with Ryan, going with Illinois DT Corey Liuget

ARE YOU A DRAFTNIK? ADD YOUR THOUGHTS - MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS BELOW!

Who will rise to the occasion and wear the green shorts and pantyhose?

2011-04-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

To reach and win the NBA Finals, a team can't just have one guy. Michael Jordan was title-less until Scottie Pippen arrived. Is it plausible to think the Bulls can win a championship with Derrick Rose as Superman? I don't see it happening unless one of these guys comes up HUGE!

Who do you think is most critical to the Bulls' success? Luol Deng? Carlos Boozer? Kyle Korver? Keith Bogans?

Mark Schanowski on Comcast just said Bogans is the X-factor. When he scores 6 or more points, the Bulls have almost a perfect record. Interesting.

Or does it matter one way or the other? Do the Bulls not have what it takes - or does Derrick drive the bus and the Bulls win it all?

PACERS KEEP HITTING HIM - ROSE DOESN'T WILT

2011-04-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

HEIR APPARENT?

ATHLETICISM

Bulls: First off, it's been said a million times this season, but DAMN! Derrick Rose is a MAN among boys. The kid – and I say that with the most affection possible – has the killer instinct, the drive to come out on top and the fearlessness of a warrior. OK, I may be exaggerating on the warrior front – but c'mon! When asked after the game by Comcast SportsNet Chicago's sideline reporter if the hard fouls were getting to be too much, Rose responded matter-of-factly, "It's only gonna get worse!" He went on to say that he's prepared for this – and this kind of punishment in the paint is what drives him to keep his body strong and continue lifting weights.

Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, clearly frustrated after a Game 2 loss to the Bulls, had some lofty praise for #1, saying he has ...

"Allen Iverson's quickness, Jason Kidd's vision, Chauncey Billups' shooting touch and Micheal Jordan's athleticism."

VISION

TOUCH

QUICKNESS

I don't know if Rose is up to any of those levels – but he's certainly climbing the latter pretty quickly. His humility, hard work, dedication, team-play and leadership are all great – but it's his killer instinct, the "eye of the tiger" if you will – or maybe it's tiger blood – that makes him so dangerous. He doesn't get frazzled. There's no worry on his face. Just that look of "I'm gonna get you, sucka!" And there's nothing anyone in the NBA has been able to do about it this year.

Blackhawks: How about that Corey Crawford! After getting shelled in the first 3 games versus Vancouver, the Hawks offense has provided 12 goals in 2 games, and Crawford has been stellar. Crawford stopped all 36 shots he faced in Game 5, and allowed only 2 lamp-lighters in Game 4, when he had 21 saves. The Hawks will try and even the series on Sunday at the United Center. Given up for dead just a couple of days ago, it's good to see the Hawks showing some life – and pride – as they attempt to defend their Stanley Cup Championship short-handed.

White Sox: Congratulations to fans of the White Sox, as the Southside Hitmen got off the schneid – snapping a 7-game losing streak with a 9-2 win over the Rays. As much as folks wanna talk about youth and how that's the ticket to winning. It wasn't last night for the Sox, as Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko had 2 RBI's apiece – an average age of 35 years old – with Omar on the high end at 43 and Quentin at 28. Doing it "old school."

Bears: The NFL draft is creeping upon us – maybe. What are your thoughts on the Bears draft? Should they go offensive line? Wide receiver? Defensive back? Take a peak at a recent post about the Bears 2011 Draft and what direction they might go - http://bit.ly/faXx6n

BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS – WE ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!

Why Wake a Sleeping Giant?

2011-04-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

There were 3 minutes and 48 seconds remaining in an amazingly boring playoff game. The #8th seeded Pacers have just extended a lead they've held since the opening tip to 95-88. The advantage was stretched to 7 on a face-up jumper from the left side by Tyler Hansbrough over Carlos Boozer - who should have been playing much tighter defense!

That was the story for the Bulls most of the afternoon, trading buckets with a significantly less talented Indiana squad - and playing uninterested on the defensive end. Seriously, how the hell does this Indiana squad shoot over 50% for most of the game? Danny Granger (24 points) and Hansbrough (22 points) were killing the Bulls - often times with open shots!

But at 3:48 remaining, Hansbrough hit that jumper over Boozer and turned into a bird, flapping his arms like a parrot - bumping chests with teammates and mocking the crowd. Hansbrough was also mocking Luol Deng, who just a few minutes prior waved his hands to get the crowd moving, following an emotional play in which Derrick Rose was hacked - again.

It was almost as if the Bulls weren't awake - that this Noon start didn't give them enough time to shake the cowbwebs. But once things got emotional - with Deng leading the way, and then Hansbrough fanning the flames - the Bulls were back to looking like the team that won 62 regular season games.

Following Hansbrough's jumper - the Bulls went on a 16-1 run, including 10-0 to close the game! I never understand why - on the road - you'd give the home squad and their fans ANYTHING to get excited about. Wait until the game's over. It reminds me of Reggie Bush taunting Brian Urlacher in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field in January 2007 (http://bit.ly/gPDFVk).

Derrick Rose - unquestionably the league's best player this year - led all scorers with 39, scoring at will. He added 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks and a steal. Deng had 18, Kyle Korver 13 and Boozer 12.

If the Bulls want to avoid being only the second #1 seed to lose to an 8-seed, they'd better bottle up some of that emotion and BRING IT for the rest of this postseason.

Four Horsemen are Rested - and Ready to Ride Again

2011-04-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

The announcement that Notre Dame and Northwestern are renewing their football series has me feeling good today. It just might be the sign that I’ve been waiting for 10 years to see.

The end of the Lou Holtz era was creeping up, Notre Dame had 8 consecutive winning seasons and would go on to win 9 games in the 1995 campaign. But it didn’t start well, with a 17-15 loss to Northwestern – who at the time were, let’s just say … not highly regarded. Going into that game - Notre Dame and Northwestern had played 46 times – with the Irish doing the Victory March 37 times, versus only 7 losses and 2 ties.

Their fortunes would change as Gary Barnett took the Wildcats on some wild rides, including a trip to the Rose Bowl later that season - a new experience for the Cats. The NU squad was led by LB Pat Fitzgerald, currently the Head Coach in Evanston. (Ironically enough, the week after they beat the Irish, Northwestern played future Head Coach Randy Walker and his Miami of Ohio squad).

I was there – crying in my Irish Coffee – as the 28-point underdogs came into South Bend and shocked the world! Let’s just say – when I arrived at the Soldier Field Press Box the next day for the Bears season opener with the Vikings, there were more than a few NU grads happy to rub my face in it (SEE: Henry Henderson and Julie Sweica of WSCR). Even those who didn’t back either team felt fine with talking all kinds of smack – and I deserved it. To that point, my experiences with ND Football were pretty damn good.

Just one year prior, I watched as Ron Powlus made his Irish debut – throwing 4 TD’s against Northwestern in a 42-15 thrashing at Soldier Field. I was expecting much of the same in 1995. Instead, it was the beginning of the end of the Notre Dame team I grew up watching – and adoring. That seemed to be the slippery slope that Notre Dame Football is attempting to recover from – more than 10 years and 78 losses later. Perspective: Notre Dame’s football program has only 280 regular season losses in its history – spanning 123 years.

Perfect Timing

The Irish appeared ready to jump back into the National Championship picture on a yearly basis with the arrival of Ty Whillingham. Then again with Charlie Weis. Both of those were fool’s gold. But with Brian Kelly at the helm, ND closed out a season with victories – over USC and Miami even! Now comes the announcement that Northwestern is back on the schedule, which means redemption is in the air. Is this an omen for the return of the glory days in South Bend?

Derrick Rose Named MVP !!!

2011-04-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

For awhile there, Derrick Rose was everyone's pick for Most Valuable Player. Then the media - and some players - started to shift towards LeBron James and Dwight Howard. Cases can be made for all of them, granted, but I'm not sure anyone can move Rose from the top spot.

His numbers are ridiculous. He's a great leader. He demands respect. He schools defenders regularly. His scoring and shooting have improved by leaps and bounds. And, if that weren't enough, he's led the Bulls to 60 wins - the first time that's happened post-Jordan.

ESPN.com gave out their awards today - and #1 from the Bulls is #1 in MVP voting. Do you agree? Does Rose add MVP to his Rookie of the Year? Does LBJ repeat? Or someone else?

Vote in the poll (to the left) and then comment below!

ESPN Article: http://es.pn/fijb8D

It's Like Arguing with Your Wife - You Just Can't Win

2011-04-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

As a Notre Dame fan, you learn to live with the hypocrisy others heave upon the Football program in South Bend. Shaking your head at the "I like anyone who plays against Notre Dame" crowd is commonplace. Just as there are outlets that back the Irish with regularity, it seems as though there's been an addition lately to the crowd that convicts the Irish for every perceived slight.

Everyone who knows anything about Notre Dame Football knows that Residence Life (Res Life) has been strict in the past. They've doled out punishment to ND students and football players alike, that almost seemed Draconian. Suspending a kid (student or player) for a semester for underage drinking is akin to – is like throwing your 10-year old out of the house for saying something inappropriate. It's almost inevitable that it's going to happen, so why react in such an over-the-top manner.

WR Michael Floyd was standing in front of Res Life this week, waiting on a sentence that could have ended his Notre Dame playing career prematurely; prior to his Senior campaign. But what happened shocked most, if not all, Irish backers. Res Life handed down what amounts to "probation" under the ND penal code. Floyd will have to perform community service. That doesn't mean the hammer can't/won't fall from Head Coach Brian Kelly, who lists Floyd as "suspended."

Kelly was quoted in Brian Hamilton's piece in the Chicago Tribune (http://bit.ly/evjvi3), "I don't know if it's simply about a football relationship," Kelly said Saturday when asked what the Floyd decision said about Res Life and his program. "We're all educators here at Notre Dame. I can't look into decisions that were made in the past. I can only live in the present. And I'm pleased he's going to get a chance to finish his degree. The football stuff? If it works out, fine."

Hamilton's article – the latest in a series of Tribune pieces blasting Notre Dame – has little to no merit whatsoever. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.

The most bothersome thing to me – and this isn't so much to do with Hamilton or the Tribune in particular – is the feeling that whatever happens in South Bend, just isn't good enough. If Notre Dame wins 8 games; they should have won 9. Floyd gets a "break" - but to hear the critics – he should have been sentenced to Death Row.

Where are the pundits when Florida players are being arrested for the umpteenth time? What about when Auburn players are being paid? Has Reggie Bush even been punished for his pay-to-play (other than having to give back his trophy)? What about Cam Newton?

And in this case, when punishment is handed down – and almost assuredly more strict than 99% of the schools in the country – it still won't be good enough for those who love to grab the headlines by bashing ND.

I wonder, prior to the National Championship Game, if the same writers / broadcasters who regularly bash Notre Dame's handling of everything - were clamouring for the suspension of the 5 Ohio State football players who committed a slew of NCAA violations.

I guess those of us who enjoy ND Football will have just have to ignore the "I like anyone who plays against Notre Dame" crowd one more time. And then probably again tomorrow. Oh well. I guess it goes with the territory.

Sittin on the dock of the bay ... watching #iStrategy

2011-04-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

San Francisco - I'm sitting in a conference room at the InterContinental Hotel, enjoying the latest presentation at the iStrategy Conference http://bit.ly/h13JFo. Social Media people from Heineken, Lionsgate, Radio Shack, the LA Raiders, Century 21 and more are here to share and learn about how to utilize social media to drive engagements with customers and/or prospects.

Have you ever heard someone say, "don't mistake activity for achievement?" That's one of the primary tenents of this conference. It's all about engagement. Having 1,000 followers or 1,000 people viewing your blog every day is fantastic, but if they don't find value and either share or comment on your content - it's worth is questionable. This has me kicking myself in the arse.

I've been writing this blog for a couple of months now - the regularity of eyeballs on the site is improving, but I'm still having a tough time getting that "engagement" piece going. Many of you read the posts, some of you share the posts on Facebook - but most often any engagement happens back on Facebook. Ugh.

What am I doing wrong? Other than interesting posts - which I hope to be creating, what would you like to see from this blog that would increase your engagement?

Don't let this movie get "buried" on your to-do list

2011-03-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

Have you had a chance to pickup "Buried" from the RedBox? If you haven't, ummm ... what the hell are you waiting for?

Intense is a great word to describe this flick! From the opening scene to the final moments - my heart was beating out of my chest! Honestly, I almost didn't make it past the first 5 minutes - unreal!

Ryan Reynolds was dead-on in his portrayal of a guy going through so many emotions all at once. He is totally believable. It's cliche, but you almost forget it's a movie - he was that good! I can't even imagine filming this movie, let alone being in this situation.

I would definitely recommend!

Rose wears red, Others wearing Green

2011-03-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is the center of many conversations this week. The favorite for NBA MVP has taken the league by storm, has his Bulls over 50 wins for the first time since the Jordan-era and has some asking if he's the best finisher in the league.

Ric Bucher of ESPN The Magazine has a great piece on D-Rose and his childhood in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. His humble nature is no accident, with 4 older brothers not giving him any slack and a Mom who insisted Derrick be tough - he's grown into a superstar. http://es.pn/fO0B0U

Then you have the haters - this clown Daniel Barber at Yahoo. He calls himself the "Hotnuke," so take his opinions for what they're worth. A Heat lover, Mr. Barber says Rose is the worst MVP front-runner ... EVER! http://yhoo.it/fDSMDa

Who do you think should be MVP? Does D-Rose have it locked-up?

Why Can't I Be MVP?

2011-03-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Derrick Rose might be the MVP of this season - and he called it in before the campaign began when he asked, "Why not me? Why can't I be MVP?"

Check out this great video ...

NCAA Tournament ... Memories ...

2011-03-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

What's your favorite memory of the NCAA Tournament? This can be a good or not-so-good situation. I'll start with two ...

1) Sophomore year in college at Northern Illinois University and friends offered a $75 session pass. I opted not to go, instead saving up my cash for partying that weekend. Missed out on a Cal and Jason Kidd pitching the upset over Duke at the Rosemont Horizon.

2) The Laettner Shot. I watched it in the dorms at Illinois State University, where I was visiting a friend from high school. Little did I know that while I was watching Duke win, both girls were changing behind me! Dammit!

Your turn ... leave your memories below in the COMMENTS section

Protect the Passer - Or Give Him Another Weapon?

2011-03-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin T Gabe Carimi

The Chicago Bears fell in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers. The Bears were 8 points from reaching their second Super Bowl in 5 years. While that sounds good on the surface, Bears fans know there are weaknesses – some that were patched during the 2^nd half of the season. The areas most will say that need improvement are Offensive Line, Wide Receiver, Cornerback – and now with the release of Tommie Harris – Defensive Tackle.

Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin

The Bears face an interesting dilemma at the bottom of the 1^st round. They guys most draftniks think will be available that are most interesting to the Bears seem to be Wisconsin Tackle Gabe Carimi, Florida Guard Mike Pouncey, and Pitt Wideout Jonathan Baldwin. Do they start to re-build an offensive line that allowed franchise QB Jay Cutler to be sacked 52 times (56 sacks allowed in total) – or do they give Cutler a receiving weapon?

Florida G Mike Pouncey

I say you go offensive line. The receivers will get better as Cutler has more time to throw the ball. The Bears have been waiting my entire lifetime for a franchise QB. Say what you want about Jim McMahon, but his durability prevented him from being a franchise guy. The Bears have one now – and need to do whatever it takes to protect him. Games are won in the trenches. With a defensive front and linebacking corp many teams would love to have – the Bears are OK on that side for now. Protect Cutler. Protect your future.

REALGM.com writer Jason Risdon recently produced a Mock Draft for 2011. http://football.realgm.com/src_feature/392/20110302/2011_nfl_mock_draft_version_80_(post_combine)/

WHAT SHOULD THE BEARS DO? LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW ...

Repeat of 1991 NBA Finals Possible?

2011-03-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

Over on ESPN they're touting the Hollinger Power Rankings. The favorites to reach the Finals representing the Western Conference are no surprise - 21.3% likelihood that the Lakers rep the West, while 10.2% chance it's the Spurs.

In the Eastern Conference ... the Bulls are the favorite with a 21% chance, while the Heat come in at 12.3% and the Celtics have a 8.9% chance of reaching the Finals.

Check out the rest of the rankings - http://es.pn/iiAPU7

Binti Jua - Daughter of Sunshine - Still a Hero

2011-03-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

Binti Jua – the Gorilla Hero of Brookfield Zoo in suburban Chicago – had a physical this week. Vets at the Zoo put her under anesthesia while they conducted a battery of tests – which is done every other year.

Binti Jua’s reputation preceeds her, having saved a 4-year old boy back in 1996.

On August 16, 1996, Binti was in her enclosure when a 4-year old boy fell 18-feet onto a concrete area separating the Gorillas from zoo visitors. The unconscious child lay on the ground – while spectators screamed in horror – sure the Gorilla would kill the boy.

Instead, like the Mother she’d just become, Binti scooped up the child, patted him on the back and then took him an entrance where Zoo personnel could collect the child.

He spent 4 days in the hospital and was released. And Binti became a national treasure.

Binti Jua's name means "Daughter of Sunshine" in Swahili.

Binti Jua – Animal Hero: http://bit.ly/f1EF5l
Binti Jua Checkup: http://bit.ly/gG8pA4

Video of Binti Jua at her home in Brookield Zoo:

Bulls Celebrate 1st of 6 NBA Championships

2011-03-11T09:19:00.000-08:00

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a special time for a kid growing up in Chicago. The only championship season I’d experienced came in the ’85-’86 NFL season when the Bears dominated all and took no prisoners. It wasn’t quite that easy for the Bulls, but the ride was a great one!

Who will ever forget Michael Jordan’s layup against the Lakers in the Finals – when he drove down the lane, put the ball up to the right – and then swooped back to the left – all while in mid-air. Classic!

The 20th anniversary of the Chicago Bulls 1st title will be celebrated this weekend at the United Center. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and the crew will be on-hand. Three key pieces will be absent; Phil Jackson will be coaching the Lakers, Bill Cartwright is an assistant with the Suns - and oddly enough, but not surprising, Jerry Krause will miss the event. Krause is busy scouting baseball.

Chicago Tribune's coverage of Saturday's celebration:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-03-10/sports/ct-spt-0311-bulls-91-champs-chicago--20110310_1_trust-factor-phil-jackson-bulls

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF THE 1991 SEASON?

Gingrich "Newt" the Kinda Guy You Can Trust

2011-03-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

To quote a Facebook friend, “His Momma didn’t name him after a lizard for nothing!”

Presidential hopeful, Newt Gingrich is a piece of work. The man who led the charge to impeach former President Bill Clinton – is now at the center of John Edwards type saga.

Like John Edwards, Gingrich ditched his 1^st wife – while she too was recovering from Cancer. But he took Edward’s bet – and raised him a sick wife! Gingrich left his 2^nd wife while she was recovering from illness too. But the kicker – he had #2 in the bag before leaving #1, and did the same with #2, having already locked up #3 before breaking off his second marriage.

In typical Republican form – Gingrich just goes on as if nothing happened. I wish Democrats would take this tact more often, instead of tucking their tales and running at the first sign of personal issues. Gingrich has taken it to a whole new level, though. While we thought he was just a scumbag, it turns out he was doing it for us – he was “getting oral because it didn’t count as sex” – and doing it because, “There's no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.”

Here’s more on Gingrich and has cheating ways:

Newt Gingrich's Second Wife Dishes Hard To Esquire: His Money Woes, His Philandering, His Meltdown
http://bit.ly/hoPOzz

Newt Gingrich Seems To Blame Past Personal Lapses On Patriotism
http://n.pr/i95nhu

Wikipedia on Gingrich's Personal Life:
Gingrich has been married three times. In 1962, he married Jackie Battley, his former high school geometry teacher, when he was 19 years old and she was 26. They had two daughters. In the spring of 1980, Gingrich left Battley after having an affair with Marianne Ginther. According to Battley, Gingrich visited her while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery to discuss the details of their divorce. However, Gingrich disputes the account. Six months after the divorce was final, Gingrich wed Ginther in 1981.

In the mid-1990s, Gingrich began an affair with House of Representatives staffer Callista Bisek, who is 23 years his junior; they continued their affair during the Lewinsky scandal. In 2000, Gingrich married Bisek shortly after his divorce from second wife Ginther. He and Callista currently live in McLean, Virginia.

Gingrich has two daughters from his first marriage. Kathy Gingrich Lubbers is president of Gingrich Communications, and Jackie Gingrich Cushman is an author, whose books include 5 Principles for a Successful Life, co-authored with Newt Gingrich.

Leave Old "Sweater Vest" Alone!

2011-03-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Why was Jim Tressell punished?

Why did Ohio State suspend their coach for 2 games next season?

He didn’t do anything wrong – or any more wrong than the example set by the almighty NCAA themselves.

This whole Ohio State situation is almost as whacky as Charlie Sheen! What in the hell is going on in Columbus? Why are they suspending Tressell?

I know. He was wrong. He knew about his players selling memorabilia to a local tattoo shop owner – a violation of NCAA rules. And he knew about it in April – 9 months before the story went public. Again, he was 100% wrong in not divulging this information to someone – a Compliance Officer, University attorney, the Athletic Director. But knowing what we know now … what did he do that the NCAA didn’t do as well?

After all, even after the NCAA found out that 5 Ohio State football players - Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Terrelle Pryor and Solomon Thomas – had violated rules – all 5 were allowed to participate in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas. The Buckeyes went on to win the game. So … in order to cash in on a sold-out event … both Ohio State and the NCAA sold-out their own integrity. Shouldn’t those players have been suspended immediately?

So, Tressell knew – and waited and withheld information. Then the NCAA waits – and withholds punishment in lieu of cash. So they’re even, right?

Nope. Now Tressell gets to walk the plank. Ohio State doled-out a self-imposed 2-game suspension and $250k fine – and they hope the NCAA doesn’t pile on and add more penalties or extend the suspension. This is a recommendation – and could change once the NCAA interviews Tressell.

And then to Ohio State – if you’re going to attempt to minimize the damage by imposing your own punishment, why make it so weak? If the players got 5 games – shouldn’t the guy in charge of the program, the guy who’s supposed to make sure rules are followed, the guy who is supposed to set an example – shouldn’t he get just as much, if not more?

While we're on the subject of honesty - maybe the NCAA and Ohio State should do the same!

They're not interested in the integrity of the game, they're interested in cash - the same thing the players wanted for their memorabilia. Kinda ironic, isn't it?

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Rose & Company Wilted in Atlanta Heat

2011-03-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

What was it we saw last night from the Chicago Bulls? Was it a case of reading one’s own clippings and feeling just a little too good? Was it a team that lacked the killer instinct to progress in the NBA playoffs? Or was it just an off night where turnovers and missed shots were more prevalent than rebounds and defense?

The Bulls blew a 17-point halftime lead after dominating Atlanta in the 1^st half – falling 83-80. It was clearly the tale of two teams. The first 2 quarters were indicative of a team that is aiming for 50 wins. One where defense was the lifeline to a 50-point half, where hustle was the key and energy was not lacking. Everything changed in the 2^nd half, as the Bulls appeared to let their proverbial foot off the neck of the Hawks, who could barely breathe at the time.

The Bulls settled for jumpers. Where was the low-post game? Was Carlos Boozer on the floor? Can they run an offensive set around Noah and/or Omar Asik and/or Boozer?

"I think the effort was there, I just think we came out too loose in the second half," Bulls center Joakim Noah said.

We haven’t seen many nights like this from Rose, who finished with 6 of the Bulls’ 16 turnovers (other 4 starters accounted for 6 turnovers as well). He was a paltry 5-of-21 from the field, including 0-for-6 behind the 3-point line. The worse part of Rose’s line: only 3 free throws! That’s right! The guy who isn’t afraid to get hammered by Dwight Howard, managed only 3 free throws in 37 minutes.

"I made some careless passes where they led to fast breaks. This game was definitely on me, but I think I'm definitely going to learn from it and get better for it."

The killer instinct they displayed against Washington a few nights ago was not evident in Atlanta – but it had better re-appear if the Bulls want to continue what has been a great season … so far.

The Bulls allegedly have an advantage over their Eastern Conference counterparts due to size and depth. Where was that advantage in Atlanta? And if that wasn’t working – why didn’t we see Rose and Luol Deng attacking the basket and collecting fouls – a recipe for winning basketball all season?

I’m a big fan of Tom Thibodueau. Derrick Rose is likely the MVP. But in order for this team to advance in the playoffs, they’ll have to learn from a game like this. In the NBA, there a seldom easy wins – you can’t take anything for granted. Teams like the Spurs and Celtics can grab a 17-point lead and they have the know-how to ride out the rest of the game for a “W” – but the Bulls aren’t there … yet.

Language is very powerful ...

2011-02-24T12:24:00.000-08:00

Since this blog is called "NotJustSports" ... let's get away from the seriousness for a minute ...

Duerson's Death Raises Many Questions

2011-02-23T14:40:00.000-08:00

The death of Dave Duerson, former Chicago Bear, New York Giant and Notre Dame alum, originally sounded like the tragic passing of a 50-year old man. Then came the news that Duerson took his own life by shooting himself in the chest in his Florida home. He had started to see the affects of football and apparently it hit him hard. Many former NFL players complain of absent mindedness, walking into a room and forgetting why – or not being able to put simple words together to form a sentence. This was true for Duerson too.

One of Duerson’s final actions was to text his family. What was so important just moments before he’d take his own life? He wanted to make sure that his family donated his brain to research. Duerson may have believed he was a victim of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy – a degenerative brain disease that’s been found in 20 retired players. The disease has been linked to depression and cognitive impairment – and sometimes suicide. Alan Schwarz of the New York Times has a great article on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/sports/football/23duerson.html - and James Fegan of ChicagoNow discusses the renewed focus on concussions - http://chicagonow.com/KbU2

As the parent of an 8-year old boy – one who has played 2 seasons of football already – it’s a tough position to be in. I’m struggling with whether or not to allow my boy to play again. How would I feel if my son were going through these same symptoms? Would it be my fault for allowing him to play? Am I overreacting?

As coaches we watch very carefully. We monitor the kids to make sure they’re healthy and not suffering from injuries caused by football. But the mentality of football is – as evidenced most recently by the criticism of Jay Cutler – that you’re a tough guy, that you never quit and that you can play through pain. If you don’t think kids feel those same pressures, you’re not paying attention. The best athletes are always put on a pedestal – even for 8-year olds.

I also want to pass along something that has been bothering me. In January, CBS-2 Chicago’s Mike Parker, reported on former Bears QB Jim McMahon, and his battle with what’s believed to be TCE. Parker’s report centered on football - http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/13/mcmahon-on-concussion-dangers-you-think-nothing-can-bother-you/ - when in fact, the report he credits lists football as “one of” the more dangerous sports – in the top 3 with Girl’s Field Hockey and Basketball. Everyone wants to focus on football, but it’s not the only sport putting our youth in danger – just the most popular, I guess.

More Reading:

Boston University study on CTE - http://www.bu.edu/bostonia/web/concussions/

I’d love to know what you think … go to the COMMENTS section below and post your thoughts – and don’t forget to vote in the poll to the left.

Bulls could add 2 to Pro Basketball Hall of Fame

2011-02-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

Two former Bulls – both members of the Jordan-era Championship squads – Dennis Rodman and Tex Winter are among 12 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Rodman was a stud – and had plenty of them pierced throughout his body. His flamboyant nature was at sometimes annoying and distracting, but you can’t argue with his effectiveness at getting under the skin of his opponents, while periodically losing his own cool. Though the positives outweighed the negatives in Chicago, where Rodman earned 3 rings.

Winter – the architect of the Triangle Offense the Bulls ran in the 90’s and the currently run by the Lakers – spent 57 years in the game. Kobe Bryant chimed in on Winter’s HOF candidacy:

"I don't know how he's not in the Hall of Fame. That's just disgraceful. He should have been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago."

I was doing some research and found that Winter’s resume is shockingly good:

Head Coach at Marquette in 1952 – the youngest coach in major college basketball at the time.
Head Coach at Kansas State for 15 years compiling a 261-118 record with 8 league titles and 2 trips to the Final Four.
UPI Coach of the Year in 1958 after knocking off Oscar Robertson’s Cincinnati club in 2-OT to reach the Final Four.
Head Coach at University of Washington, Northwestern University and Long Beach State, as well.
Head Coach of the Houston Rockets for 2 years.
And of course – Assistant with the Bulls and Lakers under Phil Jackson, where he’s collected 9 Championship rings alongside Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

I think Kobe’s right – Tex to the Hall should be a lock!

Joining Rodman and Winter as finalists are Jamaal Wilkes, Chris Mullin, Maurice Cheeks, Ralph Sampson, 5-time Olympian Teresa Edwards, Stanford women’s coach Tara VaDerveer, former NBA coach Dick Motta, Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee, college referee Hank Nichols, and Al Attles, current VP and Assistant GM of the Warriors.

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The Bulls currently have 5 players, 2 coaches and 1 contributor who played a part in their franchise in the Hall of Fame:

Nate Thurmond ’74-‘76

George Gervin ‘85’-86

Robert Parish ’96-‘97

Michael Jordan ’84-’93 and ’94-‘98

Scottie Pippen ’87-’98 and ’03-‘04

Phil Jackson ’87-’98 (Assistant and Head Coach)

Jerry Sloan ’79-‘82

Jerry Colangelo ’66-‘68

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Dave Duerson ... 1960-2011

2011-02-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

I’m sure my point of view is skewed – the man is a legend in the city of Chicago – but I think the football world lost a pretty damn good guy today. Dave Duerson, a member of Super Bowl Champions twice - ’85 Chicago Bears and ’90 New York Giants – passed on Thursday night at the age of 50. He was found unresponsive in his Miami apartment.

Those who knew him – either personally or via the media – fondly referred to him as “Double-D.” He was one of those guys who despite donning two Super Bowl rings and maybe more importantly to him – his Notre Dame ring – would stop and talk with anyone. I had the chance to get to know him while at ESPN 1000, where he was part of the Bears coverage for the station. From the first moment, we hit it off - discussing Notre Dame Football, the Bears - or just life in general. Never did he make me feel as though he were better - and always he was attentive and involved. He was a gentleman, a scholar (degree in Economics) and a great football player.

You will be missed, Double-D.

Moreland to replace Santo in Cubs Radio Booth

2011-02-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

The Cubs radio booth will have a new sound this season - the dulcet tones of good ole #6. He roamed the Wrigley outfiield from 1982-1987 - half of his 12-year Major League career. Now he transitions to the microphone full-time, after having spelled Ron Santo at times during last season.

Santo, of course, lost his long battle with health issues this December, when he passed. His enthusiasm will be hard to match, but Moreland should be able to make up for it with better analysis and a better feeling for modern-day ballplayers.

He joins longtime play-by-play - and funny man - Pat Hughes in the WGN booth. Moreland gives up doing football and baeball for the Texas Longhorns to move back to Chicago.

Moreland knows about winning baseball - something the Cubs would like to be more familiar with - having played for the '84 Cubs and the 1980 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

For more on Moreland's hiring - check out ESPN 1000 Chicago
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6127784