DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Bulls Central
HTML https://chicagobullscentral.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Chicago Bulls Central
*****************************************************
#Post#: 244--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: December 8, 2011, 9:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Mark Buehrle, Marlins agree to deal
ESPN.com news services
December 8, 2011, 11:21 AM ET
The Miami Marlins plucked another free agent prize Wednesday,
reaching a deal with four-time All-Star pitcher Mark Buehrle for
$58 million over four years.
Manager Ozzie Guillen praised Buehrle over and over at
baseball's winter meetings. They were together on the Chicago
White Sox this season, and Guillen was eager to have the
left-hander on his side next year.
"This kid is special," Guillen said. "He pitched in the big
scenarios, big moments, very tough city to pitch. When people
love you in Chicago, that means something."
Buehrle's deal is subject to a physical, which the sides were
arranging.
The 32-year-old Buehrle has been one of the majors' most durable
and effective pitchers for more than a decade. He has reached
double figures in victories and thrown over 200 innings in each
of the last 11 seasons, all with the White Sox.
Buehrle was 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA this year and won his third
straight Gold Glove.
Buehrle is among the fastest workers in the big leagues. It
works for him -- he's thrown two no-hitters while going 161-119
in the majors, including a perfect game against Tampa Bay in
2009.
A workhorse for the White Sox, he helped them win the 2005 World
Series when he even made a relief appearance. Chicago offered
him salary arbitration last month, but he decided to find a new
home after a visit to Miami, where the Marlins will move into a
new ballpark next season.
"Him moving from the American League to the National League,
it's a big step for us," Guillen said.
"I think he's comfortable because I know what I'm going to get
from him, and he knows what's going to come from us, and I think
that helps," he said.
White Sox GM Kenny Williams was disappointed to lose Buehrle,
but wished him well.
"Like I said, he will be missed," Williams told ESPNChicago.com.
"I just told the Marlins owner he has one great pitcher but a
better person. I'm happy for (Buehrle) but we have to move
forward. I wish he and the Marlins well."
Hanley Ramirez's representative talked to the Marlins on
Wednesday and asked for a restructured deal after the shortstop
was asked to move to third base with the signing of Jose Reyes.
The Marlins, upset with this, now are looking to trade Ramirez,
the sources said.
However, two high-ranking Marlins officials denied that the
Marlins were looking to trade Ramirez.
"We're not trading Hanley," one team official told Stark.
"Everything is fine. We're not mad at him, and we're not trading
him."
Ramirez tried to shoot down speculation of a possible trade or
refusal to switch positions.
"Crazy stuff going around," he wrote on Twitter. "Im just
relaxing with my family and getting mentally and physically
strong and ready for next season."
If the Marlins can clear the payroll, they will pursue Milwaukee
Brewers free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder.
"Of the top guys out there, we signed (closer Heath) Bell, we
signed Buehrle and we signed Reyes," Guillen said. "That means
we're showing people that they want to play for us, and for me."
One source said the Marlins told Pujols' camp if the team
reached a deal Wednesday with one of their pitching targets, it
would end their pursuit of Pujols. With Buehrle agreeing,
Miami's 10-year offer to Pujols, that sources say would pay him
more than $200 million and include provisions that would link
Pujols to the Marlins beyond his playing career, was pulled off
the table.
#Post#: 249--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: December 20, 2011, 7:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Report: Woman arrested for choking daughter over Packers’ loss
Chicago Sun-Times
December 20, 2011 3:30PM
A drunken Wisconsin woman reportedly took out her frustration
over the Packers’ first loss of the season on her daughter and
husband.
Police say the 36-year-old Grand Chute woman choked her
11-year-old daughter and attempted to punch her husband in the
face when she became angered with the Packers’ 19-14 loss to the
Chiefs, the Appleton Post Crescent reports.
The woman was charged with felony child abuse and misdemeanor
counts of bail jumping and disorderly conduct, the report
stated.
#Post#: 250--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: December 20, 2011, 7:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Lovie has Three Stooges-like choice at QB vs. Packers
Rick Morrissey/rmorrissey@suntimes.com
December 19, 2011 10:40PM
I asked Lovie Smith who his starting quarterback would be Sunday
in Green Bay, and he wouldn’t offer a definitive answer. That’s
my mistake.
This is Lovie Zipperlips, a distant cousin of Edward
Scissorhands. I was expecting what from the evasive Bears coach,
epic poetry about Josh McCown’s throwing ability?
There were any number of probing questions I could have asked
Smith on Monday that would have made me feel a whole lot better
about myself. Such as:
McCown, Caleb Hanie and Nathan Enderle — this is some sort of
joke, right?
Or .  .  .
Where’s the Candid Camera?
Or .  .  .
Is there a quiet room nearby where I can ram a screwdriver
through my forehead?
The day before, Hanie had been exposed for the fourth game in a
row, this time by two pick-sixes in a blowout loss to the
Seahawks at Soldier Field. McCown, who had been signed soon
after Jay Cutler went down with a broken thumb, completed two
passes — one to his team and one to the Seahawks.
So the notion of Lovie announcing who his quarterback would be
Sunday? No, sir. A wily coach sits on that kind of strategic
advantage. You want the 13-1 Packers to marinate in the mystery
of which signal-caller they will have to deal with on Christmas.
Something tells me the Packers aren’t too worried. If they are,
I suggest they break down film of the Three Stooges to get an
idea of what they might be up against.
I know Hanie is Moe, I’m pretty sure McCown is Larry and I’m
guessing Enderle will end up being Curly, based on general
manager Jerry Angelo’s track record. You think I’m being unfair
to Enderle, a rookie? I think I’m being unfair
to Curly.
I almost — almost — felt sorry for Smith during his news
conference. He was left to talk about an impossible situation.
He has Hanie, a quarterback in his fourth season with the Bears,
who has proved in the last four games — all losses — that he
can’t lead the team. He has McCown, who last started a game in
2007 and has thrown eight passes since 2008, waiting (lurking?)
in the wings. And he has fifth-round pick Enderle, who is like
every would-be TV series — in development.
Smith’s choices:
Start Hanie in the last two games and send this season into the
deepest reaches of hell, where it belongs.
Start McCown, who is older, more experienced and not at all
good.
Start Enderle and risk destroying a kid who hasn’t had proper
time to work on his game. (And start him in a nationally
televised game against the best team in football.)
Or find Angelo, the architect of this farce, and administer
immediate corporal punishment.
In the last four games, the Bears have looked as though they
were caught completely off-guard by the reality that
quarterbacks sometimes get hurt in the NFL and that a decent
backup is a necessity.
There is no reason for Cutler to rush back from injury; in fact,
it would be foolish for the Bears to let him. You don’t risk
your biggest investment for two games that have the thinnest
degree of meaning. And running back Matt Forte would be silly to
come back and risk further injury to his knee when he has no
long-term contract guarantees.
So there you have it, a forecast with a 99 percent chance of
rain.
Smith did tell reporters, ‘‘Right now, Caleb Hanie is our
starting quarterback.’’ That either could mean, ‘‘By Wednesday,
this guy will be so far from the starting job he’ll need
binoculars to see it,’’ or, ‘‘Caleb Hanie is our starting
quarterback, and here are some buckets in case any of you are
feeling nauseous.’’
Of the possibility of playing Enderle, Smith said: ‘‘This isn’t
a tryout period, either. We’re trying to win a football game.’’
The Bears have a slight chance to make the playoffs, and it’s
likely the chance will be gone by the time they kick off Sunday.
If it is, then it would make sense to play McCown against the
Packers and Enderle in the season finale against the Vikings in
Minnesota, where the spotlight won’t be as bright and the
frothing of the enemy won’t be as pronounced.
The Bears would be in a better place right now if they had
figured out awhile ago that Hanie can’t play. That better place
is called ‘‘the playoffs.’’ Right now, they’re playing for the
season to be over. It can’t come soon enough.
#Post#: 262--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: AndyMacFAIL Date: January 6, 2012, 3:47 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5XxjSQgxTPk/S-zGfEsloYI/AAAAAAAAALE/mmPrT7DByh4/s1600/Starlin+Castro.jpg
Assault charge against Castro could rock Cubs
The new Cubs regime, headed by Theo Epstein, has been confronted
with its first crisis.
WBBM-AM/780 is reporting this morning that Starlin Castro has
been accused of sexually assaulting a woman last fall. Criminal
charges have not been filed, but the report says police want to
question the star shortstop, who lives in the Dominican
Republic.
It is dangerous to speculate about these kinds of situations.
But anything related to sexual assault is extremely serious, and
these stories usually explode in magnitude.
Read more:
HTML http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120106/BLOGS04/120109880/assault-charge-against-castro-could-rock-cubs#ixzz1ii3cGaIC
HTML http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120106/BLOGS04/120109880/assault-charge-against-castro-could-rock-cubs#ixzz1ii3cGaIC
#Post#: 263--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: January 6, 2012, 4:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Damn the Cubs won't have anything to put on the field this year!
Cheapskates.....
#Post#: 269--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Joshpr Date: January 29, 2012, 7:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Hey but they have Theo.......
#Post#: 271--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: January 30, 2012, 10:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Hey Josh! How's it going! I hope Theo can hit and pitch
because I don't see the Cubs doing either well this season.
#Post#: 283--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: February 11, 2012, 12:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Report: Steelers parting ways with Ward
Tribune News Services
12:00 p.m. CST, February 11, 2012
After 14 seasons, three Super Bowl appearances and two titles,
wide receiver Hines Ward reportedly will not be retained by the
Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sources told the NFL Network the Steelers had decided not to
pick up the roster bonus for Ward, who was moved out of the
starting lineup last season for the first time since he was a
rookie.
Ward played in 15 games, but started nine, catching 46 passes
for an 8.3 yard per catch average and two touchdowns.
He was reportedly on tap to receive $4 million in the last two
years of his contract, but has said he would be willing to take
less.
Last week in Indianapolis during Super Bowl week, Ward, who has
1,000 career receptions and 85 touchdowns, said he expected to
be back with the only team for which he's played in the NFL.
“I plan on playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and going from
there,” he told reporters.
The four-time Pro Bowler who turns 36 next month has caught at
least 94 passes in a season four times in his career.
#Post#: 284--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: February 14, 2012, 3:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
A Second NFL Team Could Be Chicago’s ‘Super’ Solution
Dave Wischnowsky/CBS Chicago
February 13, 2012 9:12 AM
By playing host to the spectacle that was Super Bowl XLVI, the
city of Indianapolis pumped perhaps as much as $400 million into
its local economy, basked in the glory of national media
attention and reveled in the giddiness of a week-long,
star-studded party.
Meanwhile, up here in Chicago, we twiddled our thumbs and
watched on TV as Indianapolis hosted Super Bowl XLVI, pumped
perhaps as much as $400 million into its local economy, basked
in the glory of national media attention and reveled in the
giddiness of a week-long, star-studded party.
Sigh…
On the day of the big game, Chicago Tribune business columnist
Phil Rosenthal reported from Indy how residents of the Windy
City “know what’s been going on just three hours away by car
here in Indiana’s capital, home to Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI, so
close, so valuable and yet so out of reach to Chicago for so
many reasons.”
Reasons such as Chicago’s brain trust deciding a decade ago to
foolishly build the NFL’s smallest stadium (capacity: 61,500) in
the NFL’s second largest market (9.46 million metro area
population).
And reasons such as the city’s failure to equip said stadium
with a retractable roof, despite its location along a bitterly
cold Midwestern lakefront.
And also how that pesky detail renders Chicago’s largest event
facility essentially useless during the winter and spring months
when other towns are using their covered NFL arenas to host such
financial bonanzas as Super Bowls (Indy), Final Fours (New
Orleans this year and Indy numerous times in the past) and Big
Ten Football Championship Games (Indy again).
You can guarantee that if Indianapolis was awarded a Super Bowl
and, jeez, Detroit was awarded a Super Bowl, Chicago – the
Midwest’s biggest and best city – would absolutely be awarded
one.
You know, if it could realistically be awarded one.
Chicago can’t host the Super Bowl – or any other
revenue-generating cold-weather extravaganza – because it’s
locked in to the logistical boondoggle that is Soldier Field and
the financial fiasco of its bond payments through 2032.
The reality is, there’s no fixing the Soldier Field situation
for Chicago. Not any time soon. But what if that didn’t matter
and there was a work-around option that gave Chicago a
legitimate excuse to build a new retractable-roof facility
that’s suited to host Super Bowls, Final Fours and any other
coveted wintertime event?
What if there was an option that, while extremely complicated,
may offer a shockingly simple solution to the city’s stadium
woes?
What if – and brace yourself, Bears fans – Chicago recruited a
second NFL franchise?
Now, before you blow a gasket over that idea, first ponder these
details: On the Thursday night before the Super Bowl, NFL
commissioner Roger Goodell talked shop with Bob Costas on NBC
Sports Network and said that if the NFL puts a team back in Los
Angeles, it’s likely that the league would expand to 34
franchises.
“We probably don’t want to go to 33,” Goodell told Costas, while
explaining that he also doesn’t want to move an existing team to
L.A. from another city.
The next day, during his annual pre-Super Bowl news conference,
Goodell backtracked and claimed that the NFL has not considered
expansion, nor does it have immediate plans to do so. But don’t
believe that. If the league wasn’t considering it, he wouldn’t
have discussed it just the day before.
“We would like to be back in Los Angeles if we can do it
correctly,” Goodell admitted, explaining that there are several
issues that must be resolved with L.A., most significantly which
of the city’s two current stadium proposals is best.
Goodell didn’t name any timetable for the NFL making its return
to Southern California, nor did he address the curious
speculation that has recently swirled about how L.A.’s new
stadium could actually house not one, but two NFL expansion
franchises.
Now, considering how both the Rams and Raiders have fled L.A., I
find that idea preposterous. Los Angeles barely needs – or wants
– one NFL team. It certainly doesn’t deserve to have two.
But does Chicago?
What if instead of giving two franchises to the nation’s second
largest media market (L.A.), which doesn’t seem to much care
about pro football, the NFL put a second franchise in the
nation’s third largest media market (Chicago), which lives and
breathes the sport?
Now, of course, the immediate question among Chicagoans is if
there is a crying demand in Chicago for a second NFL team. I’d
say, clearly there isn’t. Fans might be frustrated with Bears
management and ownership, but the team itself is beloved.
However, the pressure applied by a second team might whip the
Bears’ brass into shape.
Beyond all that, though, the more pressing issue is, could
Chicago actually support a second franchise? And I suspect that
over time, yes, it probably could.
After all, once upon a time – and for a long time – the city did
have two NFL teams, you know. From 1920 to 1959, the Chicago
Cardinals called the Windy City home, playing their games on the
South Side, primarily at Comiskey Park, while the Bears tore up
the turf at Wrigley Field on the North Side.
You know, just like the city’s two baseball teams.
In an editorial published in the Chicago Tribune on Feb. 3 and
entitled, “A Chicago Super Bowl! Oh … wait … sorry …,” the
newspaper recounted how in 2001, the Landmarks Preservation
Council of Illinois – in the hopes of protecting Soldier Field
from desecration – proposed the construction of an 80,000-seat
domed stadium on 23 acres of public land across 35th Street from
what’s now U.S. Cellular Field. If that had been done, the Bears
would have effectively become a “South Side” team that was
embraced by the entire city.
Chicago has already proven that its territorial passions are
diverse and powerful enough to support two Major League Baseball
teams (admittedly, one of them better than the other).
So, my question is what if the city was to play off that
regional pride and found a location similar to the 35th Street
site for a new state-of-the-art, multi-purpose indoor facility?
Over time – perhaps a entire generation – I could imagine that
ultimately leading to a second NFL franchise being embraced as
the city’s “South Side” team.
Now, I write about sports, not business. So, I have no clever
suggestions on how any such new facility could be paid for by
Chicago, especially without further burdening taxpayers who are
already on the hook for the next 20 years on any shortfalls on
Soldier Field’s interest payments.
But I do know this, if Goodell would seriously consider putting
two teams in L.A., I have to imagine that he’d have some
interest in instead putting two in Chicago. And I’m quite
certain that Chicago would love to host the lucrative sporting
events that an enclosed football arena would surely attract.
Earlier this month, BleacherNation.com proposed a handful
options for placing an NFL expansion team. Besides L.A., the
website suggested Toronto, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and
Portland.
All fine cities, but I’m not sure that any of them would have
the same passion for pro football that Chicago already enjoys.
Nor do I think they have a need a retractable-roof facility in
the same ways that the Windy City does.
Now, you can go ahead and call my second-NFL-team-in-Chicago
idea crazy, if you like. But it just might be crazy like a fox.
#Post#: 288--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bears, Cubs, Sox, & Other Sports
By: Phill23 Date: February 16, 2012, 1:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Vikings to play 2012 season at Metrodome
Tribune News Services
3:10 p.m. CST, February 15, 2012
The Minnesota Vikings announced they would not file an “intent
to relocate” with the NFL by Wednesday's deadline and will play
the 2012 season at the Metrodome.
The team continues to push for a new stadium in the area, but
could be a candidate to eventually move to Los Angeles if a
solution isn't found now that the Metrodome lease is up.
“We feel we're making good progress toward a solution,” Vikings
VP/Stadium Operations & Public Affairs Lester Bagley said, per
the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Team officials have never threatened to leave the Minneapolis
area, despite a drawn-out and often contentious process of
settling on a location and stadium proposal.
*****************************************************
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page