By JERRY RILES

Penalties, turnovers, and injuries.

That was the formula for yet another Bears defeat on Thursday night.

But woe and behold these mucks had a chance to pull it out to win it 13-10 on a last drive of the game.. And boy what an ugly, sloppy, nasty drive.

Unfortunately, it ended just like it started for starting Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. With an interception. The final 10-6 49ers over the Bears.

San Francisco’s Michael Lewis picked off Cutler’s final pass of the game in the end zone to seal the victory.

“I think we are a better football team,” Head Coach Lovie Smith said after the game. “We need to just finish a game and get a win.”

The Bears were penalized 10 times for 75 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.

Just before the 2-minute warning at the end of regulation, Bears offensive lineman Chris Williams was a bit overzealous and was called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty that pretty much ended the Bears chances in a 10-6 loss.

Cutler threw 5 interceptions on the night. His 17th of the season after just nine games. The first 5 pick game of his career. He finished with 29 completions, 52 attempts, for 307 yards on the night.

“Jay realize what that did for the team. There’s still a lot of football to go,” Smith said. “This one hurt but we’ll comeback.”

A year ago at this time, he had thrown just 10 picks after the 10th week of the season with the Denver Broncos. The difference though, between this season and last, is that he has already been sacked 19 times.

The last Bears QB to throw 4-interceptions in one game twice in one season was Billy Wade back in 1962.
Cutler recorded his first 4-INT game of the season in week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.

Is Cutler trying to force too many of his throws in trying to make something happen? Is the offensive line that bad and aren’t giving the pro-bowl QB enough time? Are the Bears poorly coached or are they just simply bad?

The Niners defensive line did an impressive job of taking away the run game of the Bears and putting pressure on the O-line while forcing Cutler to make mistakes.

The last time the Bears defeated the Niners in San Francisco was way back in 1986 when the great late Walter Payton was running the rock. Mike Ditka’s Monsters beat the west coast squad 26-10 in week 6.

Tight end Desmond Clark left the game after injuring his neck.

After suffering a tough loss against the Arizona Cardinals last week and now this humiliating defeat the Bears and Smith will have time to prepare for Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles a week from Sunday at Soldier Field.

The Bears fall to 4-5 on the season.

(Jerry Riles is a bi-weekly 5on5 contributor featured every other Tuesday in the RedEye)

By JERRY RILES

0.3

That was the most important number between the Chicago Bulls staying undefeated at the United Center or picking up their first loss at home.

Close but no cigar for the Bulls. Very close! I mean it.

The Denver Nuggets defeated Vinny Del Negro’s young squad by a final of 90-89. They fall to 4-3 on the regular season thus far.

But that’s not the story.

Joakim Noah pumped in 12 points and a career high 21 rebounds in the loss, but Brad Miller was the story down the stretch.

After being inserted into the game following a Bulls :20 second timeout, trailing by one just before the end of regulation, it was Miller-time.

The big man took in the inbound pass from teammate Kirk Hinrich, heaved up a desperation shot just inside the three point circle behind the free throw ring, and nailed a jumper as time expired in regulation.

“I thought it was good initially,” the second year coach said. “You can catch it but you have to get it off really quick.”

Miller appeared to do that, and the officials agreed. But after reviewing the tape, they changed their minds and ruled the shot no good.

Del Negro agreed that instant replay is needed and that TV cameras should be there to help decide the outcome of games. He said you definitely want to get the call right.

Like the NFL, the video was inconclusive which means unless it’s an obvious mistake or bad call, the decision should stand, unfortunately, the refs reversed it after reviewing the play anyway. It was too questionable to make a definitive decision. Shame on the refs.

Former NBA star and current Comcast analyst, Kendall Gill said, in the league, officials usually favor the home team on close calls like the Miller play. “The rule of thumb is you have to let it stand just on principle.”

League rules indicate that if there’s less than 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock a basket is ruled good only if the ball is around the cylinder on the inbounds pass. The shooter cannot grab, pivot, and shoot in that amount of time and have the basket count.

In this case the ball wasn’t near the rim, but all the replay video indicated that Miller got the ball off just as the clock hit zero and the horn sounded. The red light came on as the ball left his finger tips.

My question is whatever happened to home court advantage or the tie goes to the runner? Usually on a bang-bang play the offensive player gets the nod. The game officials later said it was a judgment call.

Were the officials wrong in changing their call at the end of the game? Should instant replay decide the outcome of an NBA game? Can the Bulls bounce back from this disappointing defeat?

I think this only enhances their hunger to succeed and thrive in the Eastern Conference.

They take on Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors up in Canada on Wednesday night. Bosh becomes a free agent at the end of the 2009-2010 season.

The Bulls need to continue to play hard and stay hungry if they want to get Bosh or any of the other free agents coming out at the end of the season.

It was close but why over rule a call made on the court? The play could go anyway and it certainly did.

Let’s just hope the Bulls can light that cigar at the end of one of these seasons very, very soon. It should only take 0.3 seconds to do it. Maybe!

(Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

By JERRY RILES

Losing ugly.

Better yet, it was an old fashion butt kicking.

The Arizona Cardinals kicked the Bears all over their home field beating the so-called Monsters of the Midway 41-21, dropping them to 4-4 on the season.

Defensive end Alex Brown, in his post game comments, said it’s not easy for him to put a loss like this behind him.

Believe me it’s not easy for the Bear fans either.

Brown stepped up by admitting that he needed to play a better game defensively. He collected 2-sacks and a forced fumble in the Bears fourth loss.

Unfortunately, Brown and the Bears could not stop Kurt Warner and that Cards offense. Arizona moved the ball successfully producing an impressive 18 first downs against the home team in the first half.

They were so good, the squad from out West converted all five of their third downs against the Bears defense. Warner threw five TDs on the day.

It all started going downhill very early. Thanks to 3-time pro-bowler defensive tackle Tommy Harris.

At the 13:42 mark in the first quarter, on just the fourth play of the game, Harris’ frustration level exceeded its limit. The defenseman punched Card’s right guard Deuce Lutui in the face as he lay on the turf of Soldier Field. The refs saw it and tossed him out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Bears were also hit with a 15-yard penalty.

Talk about a lack of discipline. Talk about a stupid penalty. Does this come down to coaching? The game just started. How could a player in the eighth game of the season lose control on just the fourth play?

Is Head Coach Lovie Smith to blame? Fans are calling for his firing. Should he be fired? Have the players given up on the coaching staff? It appears there’s no imagination on either side of the ball.

Harris gets ejected. Charles Tillman is escorted off the field and into the tunnel after injuring his shoulder. He would be done for the day, and linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer gets rattled as well.

This Bears team appears to be going in the wrong direction. DOWN!

Smith believes the Bears can fix the problems they have. That’s nice to know, but unfortunately, they won’t have much time to work on getting things righted.

It’s a short week. Very short. They take on the 49ers in San Francisco on Thursday night. It’ll be a quick turn around for them for sure.

The Bears have talked about executing a lot. Good luck. They couldn’t even do it against visiting Arizona at Soldier Field. And, the Cards did it without star receiver Anquan Boldin who is nursing an injury.

Tight end Gregg Olsen feels the Bears can bounce back from the terrible defeat. The only problem is they’ll be taking on Mike Singletary’s Niners, and he won’t be feeling too sorry.

Olsen would have three touchdowns on the day in a losing effort. QB Jay Cutler who found his tight end would finish the day 29 of 47 for 369 yards including the three strikes and an interception.

Samauri Mike is very aware of this Bears team demeanor. Can Lovie’s team get back on track Thursday night? In Singletary’s words “Can’t do it.”

They are riddled with injuries, have very limited talent, and lack depth at the safety position. It sure would be nice to have Mike Brown back there playing center field.

And the scary thing is, the schedule only gets tougher. So if you thought the Bengals, Browns, and Cardinals games were ugly, just wait, there’s more to come.

A .500 record might not be too bad by the end of December. Ugly, yes!

By JERRY RILES

The New York Yankees are the Champions of the World.

They defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win the 2009 World Series for the 27th time in franchise history. Call it money, call it high priced talent, call it the greedy, but whatever the case, the boys in pinstripes made it happen again.

7-3 was the final from the new Yankee Stadium.

Alex Rodriguez collects his first. Derek Jeter latches on to another. Johnny Damon picks up one with his second team. The Yankee magic continues in the Bronx.

The goal and the mission was to win the entire thing after the Steinbrenner family invested and built a $1-billion modern day Yankee Stadium. They acquired a smart, disciplined, and intellectual manager in Joe Girardi. They sought out and convinced C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira to sign on with a team of stars and they all made it happen.

Even pitcher Andy Pettitte, after all the steroid controversy, can finally smile up to the baseball gods and say thank you.

Are the Yankees deserving of the championship? Did they simply pay for the darn thing? Do you hate New York? Maybe yes to all or some, maybe no to all or some. But one thing for sure the drought is finally over in the Big Apple.

After nine years the Bronx-bombers once again bring home the World Series title and they win it in front of the hometown crowd. Even those fortunate enough to spend more than $1,000 for a seat per game during the regular season. How sweet it is. Even former White Sox nutty guy Nick Swisher gets a ring.

29 homers during the season and most of them on the road. What a great teammate and quite an acquisition by the organization.

And son Hal the new GM of the team, was so elated after the victory, that he shouted out to daddy George Steinbrenner during the post game celebration who was watching from home, and said “Dad this one’s for you.”

The Boss gets his wish. Another title!

A-Rod finally had the opportunity to hoist the trophy as a World Series Champion after an incredible post-season performance including six homeruns while also being binged three times.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Yankees do it the right way. They pay, they play, they win.

Hideki Matsui was named the game’s MVP after killing the Phils pitching, including Game 6 hurler Pedro Martinez. Godzilla belted in six runs in leading the Yanks to the 4-2 series victory over the defending champs.

What a night in New York. Lady Liberty certainly is standing proud sitting in the Hudson River just outside the city that never sleeps.

The captain Jeter once again held the trophy in the house that HE built, and super closer Mariano Rivera was so ecstatic that he predicted that he would return to play for the squad for another 5 more years.

And just think, it all started in spring training. These guys just seem to play the game the right way, and when that happens, everyone can now see what the results are.

The White Sox tasted that magic in 2005. Let’s hope the Cubs can share in the experience come 2010. The Ricketts, new owners of the organization, made a prediction after paying $850-million for the team, that there would be a World Series victory on the north side. The only question not answered was when.

Hopefully, the new family will be able to tell their fans very, very soon, “This one’s for you.” Congrats to the 2009 World Series Champions. The New York Yankees.

By JERRY RILES

Three turnovers, nine penalties, and a loss once again to the hosting Atlanta Falcons down in the Georgia Dome was not what Lovie Smith and his Chicago Bears were looking for, but it’s what they got.

The Bears beat themselves 21-14 falling to the Falcons for the second straight year. Last year it was a Matt Ryan deep pass coupled with a Jason Elam game winning field goal.

On Sunday night, it was a combination of coaching, poor execution and just bad judgment.
Running back Matt Forte fumbled the ball twice inside the red zone with the Bears knocking on the door.

That should not have happened. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner should have called a Jay Cutler dive at the one for the touchdown instead of handing to Forte. The running game wasn’t clicking based on the play selection.

Did the Bears drop this contest because of the lack of creative play calling by Turner? Did Lovie and his coaching staff fumble the ball in game planning? Was it Cutler trying to do too much, or was the offensive line just bad?

Smith admitted during the post game comments that the blame for the lost starts with him. He’s absolutely right. It starts with the top man. The coaching staff should’ve been prepared. Turner wasn’t.

Cutler was indeed too cocky. When you try to thread the needle between three defenders down the middle of the field to get the ball to the tight-end, that’s simply being too cocky. Play smart. I’m not against taking chances, but do it intelligently.

The play of the offensive line was not up to standard as well. Future Hall Of Famer Orlando Pace was called for a false start on fourth and one during the Bears last drive.

Defensively, rookie middle linebacker Nick Roach, filling in for the injured Brian Urlacher and Hunter Hillenmeyer, got brunt several times simply because he has very limited experience.

Defensive coordinator Smith and sideline guy Urlacher should’ve assisted the Northwestern grad in recognizing some of the Falcons lineups and formations.

They didn’t and Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzales hooked up for a 10 yard touchdown strike in the back of the end zone.

Now the Bears are tied for second in the NFC North with rival Green Bay. Both at 3-2 with Minnesota leading the division with a 6-0 slate.

Next up, former teammate Cedric Benson and the Cincinnati Bengals in Ohio. Benson will be ready. He had a disappointing game against the Texans rushing for 44 yards on 16 carries. Let the games begin.

It’s time to regroup fellas.

By JERRY RILES

Here come the Hawks. Man, here come the Hawks.
What a tremendous performance by Coach Joel Quenneville’s bunch. The Blackhawks skated to a 6-5 come from behind victory over the Calgary Flames over at the United Center.

The comeback, as you’ve heard by now, was for the record books. Trailing 5-zip in the first period, the sluggish boyz ripped off six unanswered goals in the next 45-minutes to knock off the Flames in front of a spirited UC crowd of 20,000.

Brent Seabrook scored the game winner :26 into the overtime period. OVERTIME! This was the second time in two games the Hawks needed extra time to win.

Saturday it took a club record nine-round shootout against Colorado to claim that amazing 4-3 victory off an Andrew Ladd goal. It would be the longest shootout in team history.

Last night’s overwhelming win would be the Hawks biggest comeback in the team’s history as well.
Some hockey experts around town believe the guys on skates have a better and more exciting game than the guys on the hardwood. What do you think? Back-to-back history making performances supports their argument.

The Bulls are still trying to figure things out without their star player and second year head coach Vinny Del Negro.

Derrick Rose has yet to lace them up this early preseason due to a bad wheel. If you ask me, both the NHL and the NBA are pretty good and exciting. Could they both improve…of course?

Jonathan Toews believes if the Hawks stay the course and reach their short term goals throughout the season the bigger picture of advancing to the Stanley Cup will happen for sure.

“To win our division or make the playoffs, even, is going to be a tough task,” the captain explained.

“We have to not try to bite off more that what we can chew at any given time. If we keep everything short-term and worry about that, the long-term goals will take care of themselves.”

With Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith and the rest of the boyz it should make for a fun and exciting season.

Don’t count the Bulls out either.

By JERRY RILES

Hey, Miguel Cabrera you can try to blame it on the alcohol as Jamie Foxx would say. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll get off that easy.
I don’t mind if you have a nice cold one or two after work with co-workers and/or friends, but to hang out with the team who’s chasing you in the division and attempting to help eliminate the Detroit Tigers from the playoffs, man that’s cold.
To make matters worse, you get to the house at about 5am in the morning and began to get into it with your wife. If she’s upset with you for staying out all night long and then coming home intoxicated, the only thing you needed to do was man up.
“I said I was sorry for what I did,” said Cabrera, who sat in front of his locker with a contrite look.

That’s it? All this commotion as the team makes a playoff run and you can just say to them I’m sorry? I don’t think skipper Jim Leyland is going to accept that kind of apology sitting down. You guys have to play 163 games this season to get into the playoffs. Talk about selfish. Despite a 2-run blast off the end of your bat, the Tigers are going home and the Twins will face the New York Yankees in the first round of the ALDS. Talk about timing. You got caught with the three Ds. Drunk, Domestic, Defeat. What a tough week.
I must commend your wife Rosangel. She did not put up with your crap. How dare you begin yelling and fighting with her after staying out all night with a White Sox player in a Birmingham (Detroit suburb) hotel? She had every right to scold and kick you out of the house.
Now, you were the only two in the house, so I don’t know if she hit and attacked you or not, but police felt they had to remove you from the residence to prevent any further confrontation.
I don’t condone hitting women. Just be a man and step away. I know in your state it must have been somewhat difficult.

By JERRY RILES

Cubs fans said goodbye to another year of not reaching the ultimate goal. Another season of saying “wait ‘til next year”. The 101st time the franchise will look toward another season of trying to get that monkey off their backs.

In one of his final press conferences of the season, Cub manager Lou Piniella told reporters that injuries were the main reason the Northsiders struggled in ‘09. It had nothing to do with a lack of production regarding pitching or hitting.

So, I ask the question, why was hitting coach Von Joshua brought in to boost the team’s offense? He replaced Gerald Perry midway through the season in hopes of lighting a fire under a group of so called sluggers who could barely hit the side of a barn.

The only real bright spot for the Cubs offensively was second baseman Ryan Theriot. At one point during the first half of the season, the little spark plug had cranked out something like four homers in a five game span.

That all slowed down after a local writer simply asked the innocent question about rather or not The-riot was under the influence. The influence of possibly engaging in performance enhancing drugs.

Of course Theriot isn’t engaging, we believe, but the newspaper article appeared to have some type of effect on him. He began to struggle at the plate along with the rest of his teammates.

By JERRY RILES

Heads or tails?
It can go either way.
My feelings about the 2016 Olympics here in Chicago that is.
I love the Olympics, sports, winning and definitely the City of Chicago. But I also love life and love my fellow brethren, although some of my close friends and family members may differ at times.
All in all, the life that God has given us is very precious and we should all cherish each and every day that we breathe the air and walk on this glorious planet we call home.

Unfortunately, there are too many young African American teens and young adults on the city’s South and West Sides that no longer have that chance to enjoy life anymore. They are no longer with us because someone felt that their lives weren’t important enough.
Derrion Albert became the fourth Chicago public School student to have his life snuffed out by violence this 2009 school year. Corey McClaurin, senior at Simeon High School on the city’s South Side, lost his life just five days before Albert fell victim to a senseless and brutal attack.
Mayor Richard Daley and the Chicago 2016 Olympic supporters are in Copenhagen this week in hopes of convincing the IOC to vote in favor of awarding the City of Chicago the bid. I think the city winning the bin would be an incredible honor. My question is at what expense? Better yet, at whose expense? The lives of young African American teens living on the South and West Sides? I hope not.
Chicago and the United States are being represented very well, and by very high profile and prominent African American supporters.
The list includes, Pres. Barack Obama and his lovely wife Michelle, Oprah Winfrey, an endorsement from Michael Jordan, Gold Medalists Jackie Joyner-Kersee, sprinter Michael Johnson, triple-jumper Michael Conley Sr. just to name a few.

By JERRY RILES

Stud pitcher Carlos Zambrano and just plain stud Milton Bradley.

No question these two players are the most fiery on this disappointing Cubs team this season.
Bradley was brought in to improve the outfield play and to solidify the left-handed spot in the team‘s batting order. Something the Cubs were missing from a year ago after they were swept by the L.A. Dodgers in three straight playoff contests.

The argument was the Cubs went down in the first round of the playoffs because they lacked hitting from the left-side of the plate.

GM Jim Hendry went out and acquired the volatile outfielder who was known for his outburst and violent temper. Hendry felt he could manage Bradley’s demeanor and that he was one of the missing pieces the Cubs needed to go deep into the playoffs if not all the way to the World series and winning it.

Heck, he had already dealt with the fiery personality of big Carlos Zambrano who the organization signed to a hefty $90-plus-million-dollar deal. This was supposed to be an easy task.

Hillenmeyer Takes Over At Middle Linebacker

By JERRY RILES

The Bears and Lovie Smith should be able to survive without the services of middle linebacker Brian Urlacher after it was announced on Monday that the 10 year veteran will miss the remainder of the season because of a broken wrist.

While Urlacher has been a serviceable player on the defensive side of the ball, he hasn’t been overwhelming in that position.
He is a great physical specimen and a pretty decent athlete, but to think the Bears defense will falter because he’s not in the starting lineup is kind of stretching it. I like Brian, but I think he’s a tad bit overrated.
The question was asked, could the Bears continue to make a run toward the Super Bowl, after it was revealed that Urlacher’s season was over, or were they done?
There are four individuals who can answer that question, or more importantly, must answer that question. They are GM Jerry Angelo, Head Coach Smith, Defensive Line Coach Rod Marinelli, and Quarterback Jay Cutler.
There lies the answer to the million dollar question. It’s not the receivers, the corners, or special teams.

SWEET HOME CHICAGO
AFRICAN AMERICAN WEEK CHICAGO STYLE

By JERRY RILES

It’s ALL about being number one!
Or should I say JUST about being #1?
It, or they, come in the form of Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Pres. Barack Obama.
What a week of #1s making a national splash in the swimming pool of America/Chicago to closeout the Labor Day weekend.

Talk about these African Americans who have labored for years to gain the prestigious honor of being called number one in the respective fields they represent.
And believe me you can’t forget the Chicago/African American honorable mentions this week. How about, Jennifer Hudson, Jay-Z, and Serena Williams. Did I mention Pres. Barack Obama?
In a nutshell, the incredible impact of these extraordinary individuals making a powerful impression upon this city and the nation this week was impeccable.
Oprah blocked off the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue to host her 24th Anniversary broadcast in front of an estimated crowd of more than 40,000 Chicagoans. A feat never accomplished before in one of the greatest cities in the world.
Pres. Obama addressed the nation’s students on their first day back to school to encourage them to work hard, set goals, and to go for it. That was on Tuesday of this week. The next day, on Wednesday of this week, 09/09/09, the president went after the big boys and pretty much told them and the country in a nationally televised speech that his Health Care Plan was going to work here in these United States.
Yes “you” can, Mr. President!

By JERRY RILES

I thought Mount Ozzie was Ready To Erupt…REALLY!

After the White Sox were embarrassed by the Yankees in New York 10-0 on Saturday afternoon, committing more errors than hits, the manager of the Southside club I thought, was ready to blow a gasket.

Following the Saturday butt whuppin’, Ozzie undressed his beleaguered bunch during the post game press conference.

“I’m embarrassed, and everybody in that room should be embarrassed. If they’re not embarrassed they got the wrong job and they’re stealing money from baseball,” Guillen said after the Sox dropped their fifth game in six tries on this East Coast road trip.

After the Sox were swept by the Yankees, Guillen didn’t blast off, he simply implied that his ballplayers just enjoyed the hotel stay in New York and really had a great time admiring the new Yankee Stadium digs.

Next stop for the White Sox, the Metro-dome in Minnesota. Game 1 of the final series against the Twins turned out to be just like the last 15 of 17 games in that dreaded place. Another “L” for the Sox and Guillen. Believe me they are thankful the Big Hefty-bag is being dumped at the end of the season.

By JERRY RILES

The playoff race for the Cubs this season is pretty much done, but another form of race has surfaced putting the Northsiders and their fans in the lead regarding controversy.

Milton Bradley, the right fielder, earlier this week accused the Cubs fans at Wrigley Field of tossing racial slurs toward him. Unfortunately, the $10 million dollar a year ballplayer did not go into detail as to what names the fans hurled at him.

That’s the problem. Bradley has yet to back up the allegations.

Could he be right? Are Cubs fans unruly and down right nasty when either their team is losing or an opposing player is having a good game? One would have to say of course.

Remember just a couple of weeks ago when Johnny Macchione, a modern day bleacher bum, threw his nice ice cold beer on the head of Philadelphia Phillies centerfield Shane Victorino as he was attempting to catch a Jake Fox fly ball in the Cubs 12-5 loss at Wrigley?

Not too good for the National image of Cubs fans.

Now, I understand that the Friendly Confines average attendance during 81 scheduled home games throughout the summer holds steady around the 40,000 mark, and the alcohol sales are astronomical, along with the bar-like atmosphere, but for Bradley to make a statement like this, it needs to definitely be supported.

WILLIAMS RIPS INTO SOX POOR PERFORMANCE

By JERRY RILES

The gloves are off. It's go time.

White Sox GM Ken Williams unleashed a rant during a rain delay at the Cell on Monday evening regarding his displeasure with the team's performance, or lack there of.

"We deserve what we've got. I'm not happy with a lot of what I see. We're underachievers," Williams said after the Sox returned home from a 3-3 road trip against the Seattle Mariners and Ken Griffey Jr. and the Oakland A's.

Williams bit into the team saying, "We lost two games we should have won, which [would have put] us a half-game out of first place," Williams said. "We've thrown away a dozen games that way this year, which [has cost] us where I thought we would be, in first place and in a good position.

He's right. They lost a 14-inning affair to the Mariners after Junior collected a game winning RBI single in the rubber match of the series. Then they failed to sweep the lowly A's in the final game of the series when closer Bobby Jenks gives up a solo homer in the ninth. The Sox blew a 2-run lead in that contest.

Were Williams fiery words aimed at Manager Ozzie Guillen, hitting coach Greg Walker, pitching coach Don Cooper, the players themselves or all of the above?

By JERRY RILES

CUTLER NEEDS RECEIVERS TO CATCH ON…QUICK!

“Devin is really a go-get-it guy; he’s not really a jump-up-and-get-it guy.”

Those were the words of Bears newly acquired signal caller Jay Cutler referring to his primary receiver Devin Hester.

Cutler made this comment during his post game press conference after the Bears loss to the Buffalo Bills 27-20 in their first preseason game of 2009.

And the Pro-Bowl quarterback is absolutely right. The Bears receiving corp. need to understand and learn how to make catches and not just catch the football.

Cutler was 5 of 10 for 64 yards and 1 interception in the defeat, but it was the play or lack there of by his number one go to guy, Hester.

On that interception, unfortunately, Cutler did throw off the back foot, but Hester did nothing to shield off Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin. One thing a receiver knows and understands is that he must protect or cover up the mistakes made by his quarterback. Use your body to fend off the defense. Don’t allow a pick.

Hester also appeared to be somewhat confused on the play himself. If you can’t make the play make sure your opponent doesn’t make a play on the ball either.

This is a story that evokes a lot of emotions in people. I understand both sides of the coin. But I also find it very hypocritical that we have a system that punishes people for their crimes and supposedly rehabilitates them for their crimes; but when they are released back into society we hold their past crimes against them. Thus, blocking any attempt at personal or professional growth. I understand some crimes are just so vicious – they are deemed unforgiveable. But I think there is a difference between forgiving and forgetting.

THEY GRABBED THE WRONG GUY!

By JERRY RILES

During the 5th inning of the Cubs 12-5 butt kicking by Philadelphia over at the Friendly Confines Wednesday night a bleacher bum got rowdy and tossed a beer on the head of center-fielder Shane Victorino as he was reeling in a Jake Fox fly ball.

I’m not one for name calling, but what an idiot.

That’s not the worst part of it though. The idiot somehow got away from Cubs security. They grabbed the wrong guy. The television replay clearly showed that the chubby Cubbie fan being hauled away was not the goof who tossed the beer.

He’s MIA.

What surprises me is that Cub security missed this guy. You can’t even leave your seat at Wrigley to go to the bathroom without security frisking you down for your ticket. They’ve seen you at least a half dozen times sitting in the section they’re guarding and still feel the need to pat you down for that darn ticket when you decide to leave your seat.

I understand they’re trying to keep order but lighten up a little bit. Most fans are there to enjoy the game and hopefully watch the Cubs win. It’s unfortunate that you have some boneheads like the jerk tossing the beer onto the field in attendance as well.

White Sox fans would say all Cubs fans are idiots, but that’s not fair or right. Every crowd has a few screwballs in it no matter what park you visit. But Cubs fans are beginning to develop a reputation for violent behavior.

Last year up in Milwaukee after Carlos Zambrano pitched his no hitter, a Brewer fan was brutally beaten by a couple of Cubs fans after an altercation in Miller Park ’s parking lot. The poor guy had a couple of teeth knocked out.

Back in April of this season during a Cubs-Cards series at the Friendly Confines, fans had to be separated in the Terrace Reserve section along the right-field corner after fist-i-cuffs and beer began flying all over the place. Security had to step in.

In May of 2004 Frankie Hernandez was shot and killed outside the Cubbie Bear restaurant on the corner of Clark and Addison after leaving a Cubs game. An altercation ensued after Hernandez and a driver of an SUV got into a dispute. The passenger of the vehicle opened fire shooting Hernandez in the upper abdomen killing him.

Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell and her son were harassed outside of Wrigley following a Cubs game a few years ago. Mitchell alleges that fans taunted her by shouting racial slurs and yelling out Aunt Jemima.

KANE VERSUS ROSE!

By JERRY RILES

Hang on here for a minute.

After being arrested for allegedly beating a Buffalo, New York cab driver and stealing the fare, the attorney for Blackhawks' Patrick Kane is now saying it wasn’t that serious.

What?

Paul Cambria, a noted defense attorney in Buffalo, said that the young star “committed no crime.”

That’s almost as bad as Anthony Abbates’ attorney saying the young lady working at a North side Chicago bar tossed the off-duty police officer around like a “rag doll” during his drunken assault against her a year ago.

Abbate did no time for the act that was caught on tape which clearly showed the 250 pound plus brute attempting to demolish the poor 115 pound woman’s face.

What saved her was his drunken demeanor.

The attorney for the cabbie, Jan Radecki, also indicated that the incident was “blown out of proportion.”

Hang on here. If the whole thing was just a misunderstanding and the media is simply exploiting the situation, then why is it in the news in the first place?

By JERRY RILES

Here come the Hawks, or better yet, there go the Hawks, again!

The most surprising sports franchise of late in the city of Chicago continues to make news during the off-season. The latest news coming out of Buffalo, New York early Sunday morning.

The Blackhawk's young and talented phenom Patrick Kane was arrested, along with a relative, after they allegedly pummeled a cab driver who apparently did not have twenty cents change for their $13.80 fare.

Kane and his 21 year old relative James, are accused of beating, choking, breaking the glasses of the cab-driver, and taking their fare of less than $15 back from the gentleman at approximately 5:00a (EST).

The two were charged with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, and fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors, and were taken to the Erie County Holding Center.

Kane allegedly told the driver "you don't know who I am" as he and the relative pinned the poor helpless guy down and smacked him around like he was a playoff opponent.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

I believe this latest incident regarding the Hawks is a true reflection of the organization's arrogant, non-caring, it's our way or the highway, entitlement approach toward resurrecting this franchise and regaining some respectability.

I think it smells of the arrogance of team President John McDonough. It's the win at any cost mentality that's being implemented throughout this organization from top to bottom.

McDonough's ego has gotten totally out of whack and now it's trickling down to the young stars on the team.

Lollapalooza Hits Chicago, Wheeling!

By JERRY RILES

The BARBALOOTS Open Up Wheeling, Illinois!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGdFoJDHbW0

Barbaloots in Wheeling at 2pm on Saturday. Checkout Facebook, YouTube!

Checkout the lineup for this weekend at Lollapalooza.Day 1

Depeche Mode
Tool
The Killers
Jane's Addiction
Kings of Leon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Lou Reed
Ben Harper and Relentless7
Thievery Corporation
Snoop Dogg
Rise Against
Andrew Bird
TV on the Radio
Vampire Weekend
The Decemberists
Neko Case
STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
Animal Collective
Band of Horses
Of Montreal
Arctic Monkeys
Coheed and Cambria
Ben Folds
Fleet Foxes
Silversun Pickups
Kaiser Chiefs
Crystal Castles
Bon Iver
Santigold
Atmosphere
Dan Auerbach
Cold War Kids
Deerhunter
Lykke Li
Robert Earl Keen
Peter Bjorn and John
Heartless Bastards

JAKE PEAVY WAIVES NO-TRADE TO PLAY FOR SOX

By JERRY RILES

The White Sox push toward the playoffs and World Series inched a little closer on the final day of trades as GM Kenny Williams landed Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres hours before deadline.
The South-Siders acquired the All-Star pitcher in exchange for four players. Those players included Clayton Richards, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter, and Adam Russell.
Peavy has been on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his right ankle since June 13th, but he is expected to begin rehab. Dr. Steve Copp gave the right-hander a clean bill of health on Thursday and the protective boot he was wearing has been removed.
The Cy Young Award winner is expected back in action by late August just in time for a playoff push. He will certainly be tested at that time because the Sox will be on the east coast to face Boston and the Yankees to close out the month.
They then head to Minnesota to begin the month of September, and the Twins have owned the Sox in the Metrodome this season.
With a 6-6 record in 13 starts this season, Peavy has an ERA of 3.97 with 92 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched for San Diego.

BEARS, TRAINING CAMP, AND CONTROVERSY!

By JERRY RILES

2009 BEARS TAKE A HISTORY LESSON

The Chicago Bears training camp is just one day away from getting underway down in Bourbonnais.

And as usual, controversy surrounds the Monsters of The Midway before things even get started.

Former Bears wide receiver Bobby Wade, currently with the Vikings, told a local Minnesota radio station this week that Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher called newly acquired and star quarterback Jay Cutler a P^$@! Wow!

But Bear fans, don’t get alarmed. Isn’t this exactly what you want? Aren’t these the ingredients needed to winning a Super Bowl?

A defensive player blasting an offensive player that plays on the same team? My, what is this world coming to? A quarterback going against his linebacker? Say it ain’t so!

Leave it to the Bears, there always has to be some type of quarterback controversy even when there isn’t. That’s just Bears football.

But seriously, relax gridiron stud fans. This is healthy.

BEARS SHOULD MAKE A RUN FOR MICHAEL VICK

By JERRY RILES

Michael Vick is a free man…to play in the NFL this season.
Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated the talented quarterback after he served 18-months in prison on dog fighting charges.
Vick was convicted for supplying money to a dog fighting operation that took place on his home property in Virginia.
Speaking of Virginia, it would be great for the Bears to make a run for the fleet footed signal caller, but unfortunately, the matriarch of the franchise, momma Halas, says no way.
The daughter of the late Papa Bear George Halas has emphatically stated that the Bears have no interest in Michael Vick. She’s a strong supporter and lover of dogs.
So am I, but this is not about dogs anymore. This is about winning and getting back to the Super Bowl. To win it all. Can Vick make this happen if he’s in a Bear uniform? I say yes!
Don’t jump the gun. I know Jay Cutler is the future QB for the Blue and Orange, but the big issue surrounding the Bears and this upcoming season is at wide receiver. Is Vick the answer?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=37b8fc5e-397a-4dd0-b66b-a2ead449fd67&src=front

LEFT-HANDER THROWS A PERFECT GAME AGAINST RAYS!

By JERRY RILES

July 23, 2009
That’s the date that will be etched in White Sox history. Mark Buehrle secured that spot after tossing a perfect game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on a Thursday afternoon in Chi-town.
The lefty retired all 27 batters he faced, including a deep drive to left-centerfield in the ninth inning off the bat of Gabe Kapler. But teammate Dwayne Wise, playing centerfield, made a sensational catch to rob Kap of a homerun to help preserve the milestone. Incredible.
Buehrle is the first Sox pitcher to throw a perfect game since Charlie Robertson did it back in April of 1922. A 2-0 win over Detroit.

Randy Johnson was the last pitcher to throw a perfect game in the modern era back in 2004 with Arizona.
Buehrle is now the only Chicago pitcher to toss a perfect game, no-hitter, and own a World Series ring. Does this make him the best pitcher in Chicago history? (Thanks to my buds at RedEye Sports for this one). He’s also the second Sox pitcher to throw two no-hitters for the Sox as well.
He truly has staked a claim for it. It has only happened 18 times in baseball history and 16 of them occurred after 1900.The unfortunate thing for him is that detractors may hint that he is not the best because of his low key style and demeanor. I think they would be wrong if that’s their reasoning. Mark’s just a great and real likeable guy.

FEMALE SPORTS REPORTER VIOLATED

By JERRY RILES

If you haven't heard by now ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was a victim of voyeurism after someone recorded her every move through a peephole while she was in a hotel room, nude.

The incident allegedly happened down in Omaha while she was covering the College Baseball World Series for ESPN.

The video quickly spread across the internet, but Andrews, ESPN, and her attorney just as quickly, had most of the footage removed from many of the sites that was circulating it and threatened to take legal action if it aired.

This truly is a pathetic, despicable act and is clearly unacceptable. How could someone stoop so low as to secretly video tape a woman in the privacy of her own hotel room and then post it on the internet for millions to see? What satisfaction can one gain by this heinous act?

I don't get it.

The sad thing this individual doesn't understand is what if this sort of incident happened to their sister, wife, daughter, girlfriend, or even their mother, how would they feel? Probably violated and pissed as hell.

That right there should've been enough for them to refrain from engaging in such an act. Unfortunately, the creep appears not to have a conscience or a brain. Talk about a cowardly act.

Sure she's a very attractive woman, great at what she does, and has a magnetic personality, but to catch her undressed without consent and knowledge is just simply wrong. Posting it for the world to see is even worse.

SAM-JACK HOLDS IT DOWN FOR ESPN!

By JERRY RILES

Samuel L. Jackson was F#%$!&' funny hosting The ESPYS on ESPN Sunday night. I thought he stole the show.

In the opening monologue, he told swimming history-maker Olympian Michael Phelps that it was great for him to be back in the water because now we could once again see him "smoke" the competition.

That certainly happened on this Sunday evening.

He used Twitter throughout the show and was very funny when he kept referencing Chad "Ocho-Cinco" Johnson outside the theatre unable to get into the awards ceremony. That was funny.

He also did a skit as a volatile African American sports announcer anchoring sports on ESPN and even a network down in Peoria, Illinois. He cussed everybody while delivering the sportscast. That was hilarious.

Murray Harbaugh (played by Eugene Levy) was his agent. He called Jackson the most electrifying man in sports. Murray said Sam broke the mode. He was an electrifying performer. He had a spark. It seemed everyone in the business was afraid of him.

Sam Jackson was on ESPN SportsCenter. Then he went to WZVT in Peoria. Rumor has it that the bleep button was created because of Jackson. What a skit. It was very funny. Especially, the Michael Jordan-Sam Bowie deal.

It was awesome to see the world's greatest athletes all in one place with a comedian who captivated the live audience and the television viewer. ESPN really outdid itself this time.

It was great.

Then to have Stevie Wonder announce that he was leaving the keyboard to quarterback in the NFL and/or play point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers was Mother-F*^@K!&' hysterical.

WATSON COMES UP SHORT AT THE BRITISH OPEN

By JERRY RILES

No Country For Old Men could have been the theme for this weekend's British Open.

A 59-year old by the name of Tom Watson nearly shocked the golf world on Sunday by becoming the oldest player to win the prestigious event in Turnberry, Scotland.

The first obstacle was to eliminate the best golfer in the world, that of course being Tiger Woods, who bailed out on Friday after missing the cut by one stroke. Half the battle won.

The battle would eventually lead to a playoff round that would unfortunately have the old man looking for what seemed like a rocker, blanket, and a nice smooth cocktail to snuggle with while sitting next to a warm cozy fire place for a snooze.

Watson seemed to poop out down the stretch. And what a stretch.

Stewart Cink would win the 138th British Open, but it was clearly Watson who became the fan favorite.

Watson shot a 5-under 65 in the opening round to be among the leaders. Just 1-stroke behind leader Miguel Angel Jimenez. Many thought it was simply a mirage.

It was just a couple weeks ago that the legend said he wanted to compete against the kids and he certainly did that. Nearly all the way to the finish. It was those final four playoff holes that caught up to him.

Actually, it was the 18th hole of the final round that the 5-time British Open champ played closer to his age than any other time throughout the tourney.

He used an eight-iron instead of a 9-iron which rolled his second shot past the flag and off the greens. Then, he used his putter instead of a pitching wedge that rolled once again past the hole. He would blow it.

Cink would take home the Claret Jug, but it was Watson who stole the crowd's heart. He gave baby-boomers a reason to hope once again in this age of computers, Iphones, texting, Facebook, and Twitter.

BARACK SHOWS LOYALTY TO SOX, CHI-TOWN

By JERRY RILES

"Always bet on Black"

Those were the words of actor Wesley Snipes in the old school movie classic Passenger 57.

They apparently still ring true today. Pres. Barack Obama kept them alive on Tuesday night as he became only the fourth president in history to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to open up the All-Star game.

The 44th president threw a near strike toward homeplate, to home town favorite St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Albert Pujols, to begin the 80th Mid-season Classic festivities down in new Busch Stadium.

There was mixed reaction to seeing the left-handed president toss out the white rat in front of Cardinal greats including Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Bruce Sutter and Ozzie Smith.

Amisdt of roaring cheers and some smattered boos, Mr. Obama trotted out to the pitchers mound and promptly lobbed an overhand curve ball to Pujols who caught the pitch just above the ground.

Oh, the reason for some of the boos? The president was sporting a White Sox black jacket with silver trim down the sides. Nice! It was also cool seeing him in jeans and gym shoes as well.

A true Chicagoan.

I'm only guessing here, but I suspect some of the boos were because he wore Sox attire in a National League ballpark. This probably upset a few folks, 1). Because it was the Sox (An American League team). 2). Because he's from Chicago (Cardinal fans hate Chicagoans). and 3). Some of the town folk were Republicans.

Whatever the case, if you are an American League supporter, once again you have the bragging rights heading into the Fall Classic.

The American League defeated the National League 4-3 thanks to the bats of Yankees Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, along with the glove of Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford who made an outstanding homerun saving catch in the 7th inning to preserve the victory. He would be named the game's MVP.

THEY'RE AT IT AGAIN. THE HOT-SEAT SHUFFLE

By JERRY RILES

It was just a matter of time, but the other shoe (or should I say skate) has dropped over on West Madison.

Dale Tallon is out as the Blackhawks General Manager. He was fired after building a team that advanced to the Western Conference Finals this past season.

He follows long-time Hawk favorite Denis Savard who was let go by the top brass just at the start of the season. He would be replaced by Coach Joel Quenneville.

Specualtion is that Tallon had an ongoing feud with President John McDonough for the past few months, and supposedly, the former GM's late mailing of the team's qualifying offers to their restricted free agents ended up costing the Hawks millinos of dollars to keep them, including sensational rookie Kris Versteeg. He sent the offers out by mail instead of fax, and that was why some believe the axe finally fell. The NHLPA filed a grievance saying the offers were delivered late. Ooooops!

The writing was on the wall four games into the season when McDonough chopped Savard. Most in the hockey cirlce knew it was a matter of time before Tallon would be ousted.

This now makes room for McDonough to line his boys up even more so. After brining in dad Scotty Bowman, now son has the new role of building the new young Hawks. Tallon's assistant 36-year old Stan steps in.

Was this move needed to elevate the Hawks to the Stanley Cup next season? Is McDonough on a power trip in an attempt to put his stamp on this rejuvenated franchise? And, was the firing of both Savard and Tallon a business decision or just a "bush-league" move for power?

KONERKO BANGS OUT 3, DRIVES IN 7 IN SOX WIN

By JERRY RILES

A solo shot, a 2-run jack, and a grand salami.

It was Paul Konerko night at the Cell on Tuesday as the White Sox first baseman drove in seven runs to help lead the Southsiders to a 10-6 victory over the visiting Cleveland Indians. His first career three homer game.

P.K. simply single-handedly KO-ed the Tribe with the hot bat after the Sox trailed early in the contest.

Bing-bang-boom, or Badda-bing-badda-bang. Whatever the case, Paulie connected not once, not twice, but three times. What a way to begin closing out the first half of the season.

Konerko in his post game comments on Comcast Sports said if the Sox continue to hit this way or better the rest of the season they can win it. At this rate I think they can win it all if the Pinstripe Pounders can continue to drive the white rat deep.

Is Paulie right? Can the Sox clinch the division and go for another World Series title? Is GM Ken Williams done wheeling and dealing? Who should join Buehrle in the classic?

Earlier Tuesday the Sox dealt a minor leaguer to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tony Pena. Pena is expected to bolster the bullpen and help in setting the stage for closer Bobby Jenks. And that's perfectly fine with manager Ozzie Guillen.

Konerko said he felt good and made good decisions during his at bats. It's unfortunate, that the veteran is not going to the All-Star game after this performance. Winning pitcher Mark Beuhrle is the only Sox representative playing in the Mid-season Classic.

THE FOUR TOPS.....

By JERRY RILES

Are you kiddin' me?

What a final four at this year's 2009 Wimbledon Finals.

Federer versus Roddick. Williams versus Williams.

Should there be a 2nd place finisher? A loser? I think not.

Roger Federer held of challenger Andy Roddick to win his 15th Grand Slam to set an all-time record with super tennis stud Pete Sampras looking on. Wow!

Roddick battled hard at Wimbledon before succumbing to Federer 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14.

It was very difficult to watch Roddick address the prestigious Wimbledon fan base after falling in the Finals to the new legend.

He acknowledged the assembly and paid his kudos to the reigning champion as he accepted the second place trophy. What a classy guy. A regular guy in my opinion.

The sisters? What can you say. Serena or Venus? Take your pick. Out of the last 10-Finals one of the two has claimed the crown eight times during that span. Impressive!

Serena dethrones her sister on Saturday to capture her third title. Venus has already collected five. Talk about dominance.

Serena beat her sister Venus 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Saturday for her third title and 11th Grand Slam championship.

The Williams sisters are holding it down. Will there ever be a sister tandem that puts a strangle hold on womens' tennis? African American non the less?

You tell me?

HIGHEST DRAFTED BLACK QB FOUND SLAIN

By JERRY RILES

News about the shocking death of a former quarterback spread quickly throughout the NFL community as well as the country on the afternoon of July 4th.

Steve McNair was found dead at the age of 36 after suffering a fatal gunshot wound to the head at the home of a female friend in Nashville, Tennessee. The woman was also found slain along with the 13 year veteran.

A close friend of the one-time MVP discovered the bodies of the 3-time Pro Bowl quarterback and his female companion. The two were found in a condo allegedly owned by McNair and the 20-year old woman.

It's alleged the young woman, an employee of Dave & Buster, may have shot the NFL quarterback mulitple times, including a single gunshot wound to the head, and then turned the gun on herself.

McNair was found on a sofa in the living room of the condo. The female victim was found nearby with a handgun close to her body.

McNair first was introduced to the football world as a star quarterback with Alcorn State back in 1995 where he ran a spread offense. Many critics questioned if the young African American QB could succeed in the NFL because he was never really tested.

The former Titan leader was the third overall pick in the draft coming out of college.

The shocking thing is that once gain, guns have played a role in the downfall of another NFL player. Will the climate ever change in the world of the NFL?

Are guns, professional athletes, and money an instant recipe for disaster? What do you think?

Either way, the sports world has experienced another tragedy. When will it end? Only time will tell.

McNair leaves behind a wife, Mechelle, and four sons.

(Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

LEE DRIVES IN 7 IN CUBS 9-5 VICTORY

By JERRY RILES

The Cubs are back to the .500 mark thanks to the hot bat of first baseman Derrick Lee and they now stand 2 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

D-Lee banged out a couple of homers, driving in 7 runs including a grand slam, his 14th dinger of the season, in the Northsiders' 9-5 win over the Brew-crew at the Friendly Confines.

It was Lee's 10th grand slam of his career. He's the first Cub to hit two homers and drive in 7 runs since "Mr. Let's Play 2", Ernie Banks did it back in 1969. The Cubs beat San Diego 19-0. Unfortunately, we all know what happened at the end of that season.

Let's hope this isn't an omen Cub Fans.

The Cubs could find themselves in the driver's seat by the end of this holiday Fourth of July weekend if they can clinch the series against their rivals from the North.

Home cooking is always a great remedy for solving a 3-7 mark in their last 10 outings, prior to this homestand, especially when being away from the Confines.

This is what the Cubs need. Hot bats and consistency. Manager Lou Piniella has to find a way to get each player on this team to produce every given game, every given series from here until the end of the season.

As the old cliche' goes, it's a marathon not a sprint and now is the time to begin to make your move in the division. Perfect positioning for the Cubs.

CUB DROUGHT COULD END IN OCTOBER!

By JERRY RILES

They trail Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, in the NL Central. They are 3 1/2 games out of first place with a 36-37 record as of Tuesday. They are expected to get their star third baseman back sometime next week, and they recently promoted their Triple-A hitting coach to the majors.
The Cubs should win the division and possibly the World Series.
There, I said it. The Northsiders can win the World Series in 2009 and end that long drought.

Put aside the goat, the black cat, Bartman, and even Babe Ruth pointing toward the bleachers. This team of confused misfits will find a way to get into the Fall Classic. Will they win it? That remains to be seen, but they can definitely make it.
It all starts at the top though. That means manager Lou Piniella must manage and control his feisty bunch the rest of the regular season.
No more water cooler outbursts. No more helmet throwing tirades in the dugout. No more heaving balls out toward the bleachers after being tossed from a game.
If any of these antics are going to take place on the Northside let it be from the man in charge. Piniella. He already acted on it when he told his rightfielder, Milton Bradley to take off his uniform and go home during the Cubs-Sox series after a blowup.

PINIELLA PUTS BRADLEY IN HIS PLACE (OR OUT)!

By JERRY RILES

Milton Bradley has left the building.

It was actually the Cell, U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago's south side after a heated exchange with manager Lou Piniella during Game 1 of the Crosstown Classic between the Cubs and the White Sox.

The heat was on, but it wasn't between the heated rivals Northsiders versus the Southsiders. It was ALL on the northside, and the featured attraction was of course Bradley and surprisingly enough, Piniella.

The last time the Cubs scuffled at the Cell was a couple of years back when catcher Michael Barrett sucker-punched Sox catcher A. J Pierzynski after a slight collision at home plate. Barrett would later clash with ace pitcher Carlos Zambrano and in the words of announcer Hawk Harrelson "He Gone"!!!

Piniella's post game comments emphatically stated, "he's done" with Bradley's antics. The heat was on...in the Cubs dugout...during the game...for everyone to witness. At least most of those who were on the field, including the Sox.

Jackson vs. Jordan

By Jerry Riles

The Michaels square off. Jackson versus Jordan.

Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan squared off on the hardwood. First the King taught the King how to move on the basketball court and then the other King taught the other how to move on the court.

"It Aint Too Hard For Me To Jam" is the video the two mega super stars put together that touched the industries of Athletics and Music. The Arts! Entertainment! The Kings united the world in their works.

Check out the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcWTT91wUJ0

Mike we'll miss you. JAM! May God Bless You! Please don't forget Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, and legendary John Calloway.

Pres. Barack Obama represents change and change is coming. Special thanks goes out to Barry Gordie and Quincy Jones, and the entire Jackson family.

Michael you've stopped the world! Thank you!

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

By JERRY RILES
Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Miguel Tejada. What an All-Star group of talented major leaguers.

With this squad a team(s) is bound to win, or at least get some national attention during any given summer. Name recognition will always draw the attention one is looking for.

All these players have something in common. All have been connected to steroid or performance enhancing drug use. Hence, the steroid era.

One name missing from this list is one that had tremendous influence in not only America’s favorite pastime, but in the entire country itself.

That name is George W. Bush. The 43rd president of these United States of America.

Now, stay with me on this, don’t jump off the Juneteenth Mountain quite yet. It won’t take me two (2) years to free you from that shackled mentality you’ve been enslaved with.

Bush was the co-owner of the Texas Rangers beginning in 1989 when he purchased a share of the major league franchise. An $800,000 investment would land him a $15-million windfall in 1998 after moving on. What an investment.

Believe me it's not the first time Bush has been ensnarled in controversial matters.

DONALD FEHR-HE'S GONE!

By JERRY RILES
Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Donald Fehr has decided to step down as the players' union chief.
26 years as the president of the players' union, Fehr is calling it quits, handing the position over to some 47 year old.

The question to ask is why are you stepping down now Donald? Is it me or is it just ironic that Fehr stepped down just a week after former Cub slugger Sammy Sosa's named surfaced among those major leaguers mentioned on the list of suspected performance enhancing drugs/steroid users?
Fehr said his reason for stepping down from the high post is because it's the right time.
It's been long suspected that Fehr and MLB Commish Bud Selig were co-conspirators behind the whole steroid use and controversy. There are those who believe these two master-minds looked the other way and kept their traps shut when players began to bulk up like the Incredible Hulk.
These two men publicly said they each had respect for one another once Fehr made his announcement.
This is the first time Sosa's name has really surfaced since the Senate hearings. My guess is things are starting to heat up and somewhere down the road more than just players names will begin to come up.
Jose Canseco, the one who started all of this mess, indicated in a recent interview on ESPN Radio that baseball will finally get it right when someone is arrested due to the massive steroid use throughout the major and minor leagues.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

By JERRY RILES

From my Dad who I miss so graciously, to the great late Walter Payton, the late Earl Woods, the late James Jordan, the late Norm Van Lier, the late Johnny "Red" Kerr, the late Larry Gross and Richard Pegue, to John Hathy and the late Officer Alejandro Valadez.

To Muhammad Ali, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Denzel Washington, Harold Baines, Steve Farber, Dan Jiggetts, Jeff Schwartz, David Schuster, Roland Burris, Richard Daley, Howard Brookins, Todd Stroger, Ben Jarovsky, Michael Conley, Les Grobstein, Jesse Rogers, Judd Sirott, Barry Rozner, Bill Wennington, Mike Madigan, Jesse Jackson Jr., Dan McNeil, Jim Rose, Sonny Means, George Bliss, and Henry Hackney Jr.

Ozzie Guillen, Frank Robinson, Garrard McClendon, my brothers and nephews, to Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Oh, and of course the First Father of our country, Pres. Barack Obama. Happy Father's Day to one and all.

There are too many names for me to mention, but there are so many more I would love to add. So, to all those fathers that were not mentioned, you are always mentioned and forever appreciated. This is your day. It is a very special honor. Cherish it! Enjoy and have a fantastic day.

Happy Father's Day

WHOA! DERRICK LEE'S ON FIRE

By JERRY RILES

What the heck is going on with Cubs first baseman Derrick Lee? A 16 game hitting streak? Two homers in a 8-7 win over the Cleveland Indians in a 10 inning rally at Wrigley? Whoa!

Lee smacked out two homers to help lead the North siders to their second straight victory to keep his hitting streak alive. The second was a game tying homer when it counted.

It came off of former Cub closer Kerry Wood in the 9th to tie it up at 7-a piece.

Cubs fans, you wanted Michael Hauffpaur to start at first base before the season even started, what about now? D-Lee is on fire.

He went 3 for 5 with 2RBI on the day while scoring a couple of times in the victory.

Do you thank GM Jim Hendry for getting rid of relief pitcher Wood to the Indians who Lee knew how to take deep to help win the game? Do you thank manager Lou Piniella for staying with his veteran first baseman despite the criticism early in the season? Or do you just thank D-Lee for being D-Lee despite the loud cries because of his early season struggles?

Everyone knows Lee starts the season slow regarding his hitting. It's said the brothers heat up when the weather heats up. Wrigley was hot on the field, following a rain delay, but game-wise it was blistering for number 25."

[Now] we'll see what this team is capable of doing when we swing the bats a little more consistently," Derrek Lee said.

As usual, Cubs fans, even before the season got underway, you were ready to bench this veteran if not retire him. What are you thinking now?

SORIANO LEADING OFF PAYS OFF FOR CUBBIES

By JERRY RILES

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella hinted at changing his lineup around prior to Thursday's game against the White Sox over at Wrigley Field, but was probably glad he didn't tinker with it too much.

Lead-off man Alfonzo Soriano was very elated his skipper didn't drop him in the order like many fans were hoping as well.

With new hitting coach Von Joshua looking on from the dugout, Fonzie as he's called by those in Cubville, slapped a ducksnort single over the head of Sox second baseman Chris Getz to short right-center field to drive in Reed Johnson for the winning run and a 6-5 Cubs victory.

It would be the second hit of the game for Soriano after he went 0-3 in his first three plate appearances. He also collected a single in the Cubs four run eighth inning finishing 2-5 on the day.

Joshua appears to be making an immediate impact already for the North siders. The top six hitters in the order collected a total of eight hits on the day including two by Milton Bradley, who has been struggling at the plate, as well as Soriano's two late inning singles.

ANGELO NEEDS TO END CUTLER PARTY TRAIN

By JERRY RILES
Hang on here for a second. Back in April Bears GM Jerry Angelo said he didn’t have a problem with his star quarterback Jay Cutler going out on the town. Really?
Is this the same guy who got rid of his big defensive stud Tank Johnson and prized running back Cedric Benson after they had run-ins with alcohol and the law?

Cutler has been seen around town, at many late night establishments along with tightend Greg Olsen, carousing with the bar folks. Drink in hand, sometimes not, but still out partying like he’s on a college campus.
The point is, that’s when trouble can and usually happens. At the club, late at night , when alcohol, women, and loud music are involved.
All you need is for one guy to have a bit too much liquid courage and the next thing you know your star player’s mug shot is on the front page of the morning paper and all over the television news programs.
I thought Jerry would have learned his lesson from the Johnson incident in which the tackle’s longtime childhood friend was gunned down inside a near north side bar a couple of years ago.
Benson was on his boat down in Texas when he got belligerent with the coast guard and was physically forced off, handcuffed, and hauled away to jail. According to reports he was allegedly inebriated.

SOSA TESTED POSITIVE IN 2003

By JERRY RILES

Did Sammy hit a home run and did the Cubs win today was the question many fans asked each other during the 1998 baseball season.

That year Sosa and St. Louis Cardinals star slugger Mark McGwire both chased Roger Maris’s single season home run record of 61. That run resurrected the sport due to the baseball strike.
How the mighty have fallen. One by one it appears all these MLB sluggers are dropping like flies from McGwire to Raphael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens. The steroid issue will continue to hang over their heads and will so for years to come.
Performance enhancing drugs. That’s what Sosa reportedly tested positive for back in 2003 according to a New York Times article.
Does Sosa deserve to be in the Hall Of Fame? Should the Cubs retire Sosa’s number 21 jersey currently being worn by right-fielder Milton Bradley? Should it fly along the outfield foul-pole in rightfield similar to Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ryne Sandberg?
I say yes. For all that Sammy has done for the organization and all the national exposure he not only brought to the Cubs during his stay in Chicago, but for all the attention he and McGwire brought back to the game of baseball across the country, he should be celebrated.
Even the Atlanta Braves’ Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux were curious about all the attention the right field slugger was receiving back then. They starred in their own television commercial bellowing out “the chicks dig the long ball.”
Maybe there needs to be an asterisk near all of these players’ names, but unfortunately, I think it will be very difficult to get them into the Hall. To me it’s baseball’s fault that the game is in this state. Bud Selig and Donald Fehr. How did this happen under their watch?
I truly believe the owners conspired to find a way to revitalize the sport. Fans had been losing interest since the strike in ’94 and the owners needed a way to get them back. It was the long ball.
I believe Bonds became jealous of the attention and money both Sosa and McGwire were receiving during that time and four years later decided I’m better than both these guys and promptly banged out 73 dingers to surpass Mac’s 70.
Some think these players will never be inducted into the Hall, others believe there should be a separate wing for them. Whatever the case they cannot be ignored.
It’s not looking pretty but the games will go on. Thanks to Sammy for bringing so much excitement and entertainement to the city for all those years.
Hopefully, when the smoke clears, Sosa will be able to share that famous home run hop when his name is called in Cooperstown in 2013.

IS GUILLEN RIGHT ABOUT THE FRIENDLY CONFINES?

By JERRY RILES

"I puke every time I go there. I'm just being honest," are the words used by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on Sunday morning regarding Wrigley Field in anticipation of the Cubs/Sox three-game series scheduled to get underway tonight.

The boisterous skipper went on to say if Cubs fans, reacting to his remarks, wanted to hate him that's perfectly fine. "They don’t feed my kids. If they hate me, that’s cool."

Aside from who made the comment, is it an accurate statement? Is Wrigley Field past it's prime? Many believe that it is, but purest feel it's taboo to mess with tradition.

Visiting teams have every right to feel this way about the Friendly Confines. The clubhouse location is closer to the corner of Sheffield and Addison than it is to the playing field. And the cramp quarters make it almost impossible to move around freely especially when the media comes inside.

Managers have to conduct their interviews inside a tiny office with much of the media standing outside the door listening to the comments. And the walk from the clubhouse to the dugout seems like a mile away. The steep stairwell, the narrow winding hallway with a maze like adventure makes the journey quite interesting for the visiting teams.

Granted the organization has done a tremendous job in renovating the old girl, but how much more plaster, paint, and concrete can you put on an aging structure like Wrigley Field? It's only a matter of time before the old thing starts to crumble and fall to the ground.

As a true Chicagoan, I love the joint, but let's face it, as my old friend President Barack Obama stated in his campaign pledge "Yes We Can". Cubs fans that's the chant that should be ringing from the rafters in hopes the new owners will make serious considerations in erecting a new Wrigley Field on the North side.

The playing field itself is fabulous. The ivy, the lights, the scoreboard, and the new look bleachers are awesome attractions. But the basket overhanging the outfield wall should probably NOT be a part of the new look Wrigley Field.

As in the hit movie Field of Dreams, build it and they will come because Cubs fans surely will.

So if the Ricketts or whoever decides to buy the Cubs, let that be one of the priorities on the agenda. Build a new Wrigley Field.

I wouldn't want Ozzie to puke the next time the Sox play on the North side. And please don't hate the man for having an opinion about the place, remember he still has to feed his kids.

PERRY THE FALL GUY FOR CUBS WOES

By JERRY RILES

The firing of hitting coach Gerald Perry over the weekend by the Cubs show signs of panic by the Northsiders in my opinion.

The Cubs are only 2 and a half games out of first place in the National League Central division race. They just ended a four game losing skid and now return home for a six-game homestand.

I think the move was a little premature. I certainly understand the team has not hit the ball well of late, but to make a move like this appears to be somewhat of a knee jerk reaction.

This is the same coach that help lead the team to back-to-back division titles. He helped them to a 97 game win season last year, and the Cubs led the league in runs scored and walks in 2008 while compiling a team batting average of .278. The first time they did that in 71 years. So why give up on a coach with a proven record?

In 2007 the White Sox were one of the worst teams in the majors after winning a World Series title two years prior. Their hitting was atrocious, yet Ozzie Guillen and Kenny Williams stuck by their guns and kept hitting coach Greg Walker on the staff despite all the negative heat they were getting because of a struggling offense. They were division champs the next season.

I certainly understand their need to shake things up on the North side, but firing Perry may not have been the answer at this time. The Cubs are playing .500 ball heading into their three game set against the White Sox starting on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

They have been without injured third baseman Aramis Ramirez which is a big reason they have not been scoring runs. Prior to his 13-game hitting streak, Derrick Lee was a question mark. And lead-off man Alfonzo Soriano simply should not be in that slot. It should be Ryan Theriot. Kosuke Fukudome continues to struggle. Milton Bradley has been a big disappointment thus far. At some point the players need to take responsibility for their actions (or lack of).

Manager Lou Piniella needs to make some lineup changes to rattle this club. I know Soriano does not want to bat lower than lead-off, but if you're only batting .229 with 66 strikeouts, a player must be benched or moved to a lower spot in the order.

Von Joshua is a great replacement for the Cubs. He spent three seasons with the Sox. He also has worked with the younger guys on the team including Theriot, Geovany Soto, and Micah Hoffpauir. Hopefully, this will get the bats going.

Let's just hope GM Jim Hendry and Piniella are done hitting the panic button. I would hate to see the panic move by the brass in mid August if the club is just a game and a half out of first. Hopefully, the panic is over. But again, we are talking about the Cubs.

NORTH, WIFE SCAMMED!!!!

By JERRY RILES

I was a little surprised, but not shocked to hear Saturday morning that Mike and BeBe North were fired by Dave Hernandez the financial backer of the start-up internet radio sports outlet Chicago Webio or whatever it's been called over the past few months.
Hernandez allegedly did not pay any of his bills.
North, in a SunTimes piece, indicated that as many as 30 checks from Hernandez's company bounced last week. That may be true.
But a Crain's Chicago Business blog earlier this week quoted Hernandez as talking about expansion into broadcast radio and insisting the Web site already was making money.
"I know what my overhead expenses vs. revenues are," Hernandez told Crain's. "We're absolutely in a profit."
The question is, how did Mike and Bebe get scammed by someone who allegedly was under investigation by the FBI in the past? How did the Norths get duped? Keep in mind, this duo teammed up to convince "The Score" Sports Radio 670AM and CBS to sign them to a 5 year $1.5 million dollar per year deal a few years ago. How could the Norths miss this alleged con? I'm not sure.
Maybe it was greed, maybe it was the gambling edge of competition, I don't know, but whatever the case the Norths got hit.
Mike is classic in putting a spin on any and everything that comes his way. That's how he has survived all these years. The problem is, Mike has always believed that he was bigger than the business in my opinion.
The unfortunate thing is North not only damaged his reputation, but that of the dedicated and talented individuals that left their former employers to follow him to Webio.
Don't get me wrong, internet radio is a great concept, but everybody and their mothers believe they can start-up a station on the web as well. A buddy of mine started up Fearless Radio years ago.
Many in the industry and the market believe this is exactly what the Norths deserve. They finally get a taste of their own medicine. The medicine that they have dished out for all of these years.
Mike has made great money over the years he spent with the Score. But if he's so wise and clever, one must ask the question, how did this happen to the Norths?
I'm not too concerned with the longtime couple. My concern is with the producers, talent, and camera people who gambled their careers on what I call the greed of the Norths. Some executives in the market called it "broadcast suicide". That's pretty strong in my opinion, but appears to be true.
Let's hope their families aren't as surprised as I was when they received the news on Saturday morning. Oh, I'm sorry, the shock probably already hit them when they didn't get those checks!
I guess it's simply called "Settling The Score". Go get 'em Mike!!!!

IT'S ALL IN THE HOOD

By JERRY RILES
He's the NBA Rookie of the Year and a first round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls. He's not Al Capone, Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, and his name isn't Knuckles.
Derrick Rose is a product of the South Side and the Englewood area. He is the one that made it out of the hood. He is making something of himself in a big way. Get off the kid's case. And I say kid because he isn't even 21 years of age yet.

Okay, he was seen in a picture, during a party, flashing gang signs. Believe me I am not condoning this type of behavior, but for those of you who may not know, D-Rose comes from another type of hood than many of you I suppose.
In the hood, kids, teens, and even adults act and behave a certain way compared to someone growing up on the North side of the city or some of the surrounding suburbs. Jeans pulled down to your butt, gym shoes or Timberland boots, baseball caps cocked to the side, and bling is a part of the hood culture. People wear their hats to the side and aren't even affiliated with any gang. It's the style in the hood. Oh sure, some of them among their friends will playfully flash the signs and yell GD (Gangster Disciple), but in all actuality they will be the first ones to steer away from the real gangbangers.
Would it have been more acceptable if Rose was flipping someone the bird in that picture as opposed to flashing the gang signs? I wonder. It worked for Coach Mike Ditka.

SAY WHAT!!!!

By JERRY RILES
As one of the producers on "Garrard McClendon Live" I could not help but respond to this blog posted by the host of the show, Garrard. I truly believe students graduating from high school and looking to further their education should be able to apply to the school of their choice if they meet all the criteria. But realistically, if you can gain advantage over another student when it comes to getting accepted to that particular university, in most cases the student and parents will do so. I don't really have a problem with it. The University of Illinois accepts nearly 85 percent of the state's students who apply for enrollment. My son currently attends The Ohio State University just completing his sophomore year. State was his selection. U of I was on his short list. As a parent, I was in a position to actually talk with a few individuals who would have assisted us in supporting his education financially if my son had decided to attend the U of I. Academically he qualified, but had he been boarder line, his mom and I would've had a way to get him enrolled. (Mom is a U of I alum). As in many cases in our society and in the world it's not "what you know, but who you know." If Johnny gets into the university because his dad golfs with Ron Guenther, the schools AD, kudos to the kid and his family. That's just how it is. No system is 100 percent perfect. I believe the best should get selected, but college is a life experience not just a classroom experience. Diversity is always needed no matter if you're rich, poor, black or white. If it comes down to a Stevenson grad and a Simeon grad, if the inner-city student knows a state rep or senator, why not use the trump card? And remember, nearly 85 percent of the state's graduating seniors who apply to the school are getting in anyway. We're talking less than possbily 2-3 percent who aren't. Time for some parents to simply start searching for a new golfing buddy if you ask me.

IT'S WHO YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU KNOW!

By Jerry Riles
What's all this noise about students getting into the University of Illinois because of who they know as opposed to what they know? Isn't that the American way? Isn't that what we've been taught and what we're expected to teach the next generation?

This is nothing when you compare college athletics and the NCAA. Many athletes are accepted to schools and programs BECAUSE they know someone or has connections. Quite frankly, some of them might be the students being mentioned who eeked out another student despite not meeting all of the requirements and qualifications. They might be the ones Gov. Pat Quinn is talking about. The ones who beat out say someone from Stevenson High School in Buffalo Grove because they were an athlete and had connections.
To me that's the bigger issue and problem. Universities across the country are exploiting these athletes making millions of dollars off of them. Why is that okay and acceptable? Whatever happened to sports being an extracurricular activity? Chancellors, presidents and athletic directors understand the importance of athletics and what it means to the universities and programs. Sports on major college campuses has grown to multi-million dollar status. In some cases billions of dollars.

WILL LEFT-HANDER GIVE SOX BACK-TO-BACK WINS?

By JERRY RILES

They hit, they pitch, they win.
That's the formula White Sox fans are hoping their struggling ballclub will continue to use to turn around this dismal homestand.
Starting pitcher Jose Contreras led the White Sox and Ozzie Guillen to a 6-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers to split a day-night doubleheader at the Cell yesterday. It would be Contreas first win of the season. Talk about timing.
Can Mark Buehrle keep the wins coming with a victory tonight?

Based on his past performances the lefty should be able to accommodate his teammates and hopefully get back to the winning ways.
Having dropped seven of their last eight, Contreras pitched a gem to stop the bleeding, and the guys responded with their bats by hammering out 10 hits on the night.

OZZIE: “THE SOX ARE HORSE-$@#T”

By JERRY RILES
They have now dropped six of their last seven games. They were batting .189 at home in their last seven games going into a double dip against the division leading Detroit Tigers at the Cell.
Following their 5-4 loss to Jim Leyland’s squad in the opener this afternoon, manager Ozzie Guillen post game tirade consisted of numerous expletives to describe his struggling ballclub.
The frustration is starting to show. They have lost 6 of 8 on this home stand.
The bright spot is the Sox were able to collect 9 hits in the first game, but what hurt them were the 3 errors committed in the game more notably by Josh Fields in the ninth inning that led to the winning run for the Tigers.
How does GM Kenny Williams turn this club around? Can he turn it around? Is it still too early for Williams to start making moves or should he wait until the 1st of July?
Many are expecting Ozzie to go off. Calling his players performance “horse-s@#t” is one indication that it’s just a matter of time before the fiery skip really blows his gasket.
The Wizard of Oz is beside himself. The Sox need to grab a win in the nightcap of the double header clash against the team they’re chasing in the division.
Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko both contributed to the offense, but more of the younger guys must step-up in-order to right t his ship.
More to come after the Game 2 showdown. Let’s hope the Sox can bounce back and spare us another Ozzie tirade filled with expletives such as “horse-s@#t”. Let’s go Sox!

CONGRATS TO KOBE, PHIL, & L.A.

By JERRY RILES
Let me be the first to say congratulations to Coach Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers on winning the 2009 NBA Championship.

I know the Finals are not over yet, but it's just a matter of time before it's all said and done. The Lakers will win the title. They lead the best of seven series 2-0. They are simply better. Better coaches, players, and organization.

Kobe will finally collect his fourth NBA title which will be his first without Shaquille O'Neal. So the question comes to mind, is Jackson the reason #24 will win number four and is he the reason Michael Jordan won six?

Can Phil win without a superstar? Shaq won under Pat Riley in Miami along with Dwayne Wade, yet the Zen Master couldn't win after Jordan left the game for two seasons.

Did Phil make Michael or Michael make Phil?

I think Jordan would have won a title with any team in the NBA because of his drive and determination. Phil probably would have won one maybe two because of his success in the CBA, but I don't think Kobe would even have one without the master of the triangle offense.

So Kobe when you hoist up the Larry O'Brien trophy after clinching the title this season please remember to thank Coach Phil and his staff, your teammates and the organization, and last but not least the best of all time. The one who truly made you.

WHO’S (LOU’S) TO BLAME?

By JERRY RILES

What the heck happened to the Cubs last night?
How did they blow a 5-0 lead only to fall to the Braves 6-5 in 12-innings down at Turner Field in Atlanta? This surely was the worst managed game by skipper Lou Piniella.
The only bright spot you can say was from the arm of starting rookie pitcher Randy Wells who threw seven innings while allowing only 2 runs off of 2 hits and striking out four Braves having only thrown 83 pitches.
What was Lou thinking to pull this kid after a night of great work? I thought the unwritten rule was to allow pitchers to throw 100 pitches before lifting them. Maybe I’m wrong but if the youngster has given up only two hits all game let him keep going.
So the question is who is to blame for the Northsiders worst loss of the season thus far? Is it
A) Piniella
B) 1st baseman Derrek Lee who committed his first error of the season which may have triggered the Braves comeback
C) The lack of bullpen production by both Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg who gave up the lead in the 8th and 9th innings

D) Piniella for pitching to Chipper Jones in the 12th inning who singled in the game winning run or
E) All of the above
(E)ither one works for me. This was indeed a team effort minus the pitching performance of Wells who lowered his ERA to 1.69.

JAMES NOT A GOOD SPORT

By JERRY RILES

Cleveland is called the “mistake by the lake” for a reason.

The most recent mistake coming out of the Ohio City is that of their star NBA performer LeBron James, better known as King James.

The league’s MVP was anything but royal. After his Cavaliers were eliminated from the playoffs by Dwight Howard and the Orland Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, James stormed off the court without congratulating his opponents and refused to address the media.

Around these parts we call that bush-league. It’s simply called “Sportsmanship”. Win or lose the politically correct thing to do is to shake your opponents hand and congratulate them.

It starts at the pop-Warner level. When you are beaten by a better team you show them respect by acknowledging that. You don’t run off the field or court and go home pouting. You don’t take your ball and go home if you don’t get your way, LeBron.

Unfortunately for you, in this case, you are going home, but without the ball. Is James a spoiled, selfish, egotistical, arrogant athlete who only cares about himself and winning? I would like to think not, but this latest act may be hard to defend.

In fairness to James, this is not the first time a player in the NBA has done this sort of thing. Isaiah Thomas and the Bad-Boys of Detroit did it back in the day when Michael Jordan and the Bulls knocked them out of the playoffs. Zeke was crucified for this unthinkable act.

Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics did the same thing to Thomas and his Pistons when the late Chuck Daly’s gang was on their quest to win a championship. It happens, but it’s not right!

The NHL does it the right way. Even in the playoffs, when a team is eliminated from competition both sides skate down the middle of the ice congratulating each other for their great play and sportsmanship. You hear that LeBron. SPORTSMANSHIP!

It’s not life or death. It’s a game. Simply a game in which you are paid handsomely to play.

NFL players get it as well. After every game both teams meet in the middle of the field and exchange pleasantries and shake hands while the loser congratulates the winner. Some even kneel down on the logo at the 50-yard line and pray together after playing such a fierce and competitive contest.

Boxers beat each other up for several rounds. Once the fight has ended they hug, shake hands, and congratulate each other and their corners.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand you’re not supposed to like the other guy you’re playing against, but that’s while the clock is running. Once the horn sounds and the clock reads zero, it’s back to being a regular human being with feelings and compassion. The game is over.

Be grateful and thankful, not selfish and inconsiderate. Despite what Charles Barkley says, you are a role model and young people look up to you. Is this the way to show future leaders how to act when they lose? I don’t think so.

So, congratulations to Superman and the Magic on advancing to the NBA Finals to face Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers for the title.

Let’s just hope Howard and company don’t have to face another selfish, egotistical, arrogant, high-paid superstar who walks off the court after losing a series. That would be another big “mistake”.

It could happen though!

SOMETHING HERE DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT!!!!!

By JERRY RILES

This smells of John Calipari from beginning to end. The odor is “hot stinking garbage” that somehow found its way back to the Windy City and it is blowing all over the place.

For someone to throw Chicago Bulls star guard Derrick Rose under the bus for allegedly having an individual take the SAT for him as a student at Neil F. Simeon and change his grade, is ludicrous.

Once again, the player becomes the scapegoat. Unfortunately, the player, as usual, is an African American athlete from the inner city. All fingers pointing toward Rose, who led Simeon to back-to-back state titles in 2006 and 2007.

According to reports and his agent, Rose has cooperated fully with the University of Memphis investigation which uncovered no wrongdoing -on his part. And that makes perfect sense.

How can a 17 or 18 year-old high school student athlete pull something like this off? He or she couldn’t. An adult would have had to been involved to make sure everything went through the process without detection.

My guess is that someone connected to the high school may have found an unsuspected envelope on the floor near their desk right before the test was administered, or perhaps something in the mailbox or on the windshield of their car.

It’s called “Friends of The Program”, and if you or someone you know has gained national attention due to exceptional athletic ability, you can bet believe family members and close acquaintances will be introduced to the new “friends” real soon.

Rose’s former collegiate coach belonged to a great program that had many friends.

Calipari isn’t new to controversy either. Back in 1996 as the coach of UMass, the slick, silky smooth operator, car salesman type recruiter, had another African American star player involved in some shenanigans.

Marcus Camby was accused of accepting $28,000 from two agents during his time as a Minuteman under Coach Cal. Camby repaid the university, but the program was still stripped of its Final Four banner and forfeited games and revenue generated during that time.

So the question is, who leaked this information? Why at this time and why target the NBA Rookie of the Year?

Perhaps Chicago is an easy target due to all the political controversy that has made it to center stage all around the country for months now. Nevertheless it’s still unfair to Rose and his family.

I think the answers point squarely in the direction of Mr. Calipari. In order to be the best college basketball recruiter in the country you must have some skills. And coach has got some skills. Just ask the Memphis faithful who were dumbfounded when the $1000 suit wearing stud bolted for Kentucky .

My guess is someone in the department felt betrayed, spilled the beans, and now wants to watch how Calipari squirm his way out of this one. The spotlight is on the Wildcats now and that’s a BRIGHT light shining on the biggest basketball program in the nation.

Now that the Bulls are vacationing for the summer, after being eliminated from the NBA playoffs in the first round by the Boston Celtics, this negative blemish involving Rose should blow away by the start of next season.

Believe me Rose is not the first player under the gun for improprieties regarding college sports and student-athletes. Practically every major university has had some type of scandal aimed at one of their programs at one time or another.

In most cases the illegal wrongdoing is pushed under the rug until either a championship has been won, a coach is fired, hired or JUMPS to another school, or someone in the administration is pissed off.

In this case all of the above may apply. It’s just unfortunate that Rose and his family have to endure such scrutiny after having such a successful start to his long NBA career.

Let’s just hope in time this smelly cloud of garbage blows over here in Chi-town and begins to head in the direction it was meant to be, and that of course is the Blue-grass state of Kentucky .

Hey, Calipari watch out…I smell a storm coming!!!!!!!!!

NOT THIS SEASON...THE WAIT CONTINUES

By JERRY RILES
Carlos Zambrano’s blow up in the 7th inning of Wednesday afternoon’s game is one major reason the Cubs will not win the World Series this season. 101 years and counting!
The 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates was great for the Northsiders as they put together a two game win streak following an eight game losing skid, but Big Z’s big meltdown wasn’t good in my opinion.

Why, because this type of behavior is not an ingredient that mixes well with a championship caliber team. Champions walk the walk and talk the talk, along with hitting, pitching and defense.
Of course the Cubs have made the playoffs the past two seasons only to be bounced out in the first round after winning a total of zero games combined. And that shouldn’t change this season. They should make the playoffs, and should win a few games this time around.
The problem is the big right-hander may and could be the down fall of the team, along with powder keg Milton Bradley who has already been suspended for one game this season after being tossed out for arguing balls and strikes.
These two short fused TNT bombs are primed for a major explosion come September and October when the race and playoffs really heats up.
We witnessed something similar in Moises Alou during the Bartman incident. Alou went ballistic which carried over to the rest of the team and that was all she wrote for the Northsiders. And just think, Alou is probably the mildest of the three.
Right now I say Zambrano is leading the charge!!!!!!
Bumping an umpire, yelling in his face, throwing a baseball into the outfield, firing your glove toward the team’s dugout, and beating up on a helpless Gatorade dispenser is not something you want from your star pitcher.
It’s called composure. It’s still May and the ace of the staff is going nuts like this already? Just think about late September and early October when the NL Central race is going down to the wire where the Cubs are facing a red hot Cardinal team down in St. Louis, or a Milwaukee Brewer team positioning themselves for a post season run and the two kegs collide.
Just think if these two had a disagreement in the clubhouse. Talk about fireworks. The Fourth of July AND New Years Eve would have nothing on this extravaganza.
Zambrano has seen a therapist for his outbursts in the past following his brawl with Michael Barrett a few seasons back, but I’m not sure if he’s still checking in. If not, the Cubs really need to consider getting him back on the couch.
It just looks bad and this is not the type of behavior you want to have this early in the season especially from the Z-man.
Big brother also will be watching Bradley to see if and when he drops anymore game pieces.
There is a lot of pressure and tense situations that go along with winning a World Series and for the Cubs to make a run for it they must be clicking on all cylinders.
Manager Lou Piniella has done a pretty good job of handling his players, but even he got a little feisty last season when the media began asking him questions about dealing with all the pressures of bringing a championship to the north side.
It’s going to be a long hot summer, let’s just hope bombs won’t be bursting in air over or in Wrigley following another playoff disaster.

THE GREATEST OF ALL-TIME

By JERRY RILES

Every decade or so generation of sports fans boast about their guy being the best player of all-time. That player usually represents the era in which the fan lives in. Who is the greatest at that time and are they better than the previous greats of generations past?
I didn’t really believe this term until the man many of us watched over two decades decided to hang ‘em up for good, but I can truly say “There will never be another Michael Jordan.” Or even a player of his caliber and magnitude.
Sure there’s been the “Big-O” Oscar Robertson, Wilt the “Stilt” Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jerry West, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving and now even Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. But none of them, and I do mean none of them, will ever match the magnitude of M.J.

Numbers-wise, sure the ones posted by Jordan may, can, and will be surpassed over the years, but when you compare the eras none thus far measure up to the 80s and 90s. True basketball fans know it and believe it!
Initially, I felt and thought King James would be the one to dethrone Air Jordan as possibly the greatest player of all time because of his upside. He has yet to reach his prime and already is controlling and dominating games.
Unfortunately though, in these playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic, James and company are one game away from elimination. The current number 23 had a golden opportunity to tie the series up at two-games apiece but missed a buzzer beater jumper in overtime to fall to Dwight Howard’s gang 116-114.

This one moment here is why no other player in the NBA in my opinion will match Jordan’s greatness. The former 23 would have drained it.
Michael made his mark against the Cavs twice during his illustrious career. Once over Craig Ehlo and another time over Gerald Wilkins. Both dramatic game winning jumpers to elevate his team to victory. That is the mark of a true champion and a great player.
Those long bombs LeBron made on 60-minutes and other television programs are certainly unbelievable, but when the games on the line, that’s when they really must count. And in Game 4 he simply couldn’t produce.
Kobe is playing some of the best basketball of his career, and with three championships under his belt looks to possibly surpass Mike as the best of all-time, but what did Shaq say last summer? And I’m paraphrasing here….Kobe can’t win a ring without me!
Jordan did it 6-times without a true big man, coupled with a band of misfits each season, with the exception of Scotty Pippen, Horace Grant, and John Paxson.
He nearly beat the Boston Celtics back in 1986 single handedly, in the Garden. And that team was full of All-Stars including Bird, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, the late Dennis Johnson, and Robert Parish. Jordan pumped in 63 points in the 135-131 double overtime loss.
None of the aforementioned stars experienced the type of defensive pressure Jordan endured throughout his career, including getting body slammed on numerous occasions by the Bad Boys of Detroit during that era.
Kobe would be unable to sustain brutal contact like that physically, and LeBron mentally would be unable to handle it.
Add the death of his father and the time off from the game, plus the gambling and media scrutiny he had to deal with, I don’t think any other player could stand up to it over a long extended period of time.

So from Oscar to LeBron, Wilt to Kobe, all of these athletes were and are indeed incredible. But there is only one and there will always be just THAT one because he’s in a league all his own. The MJL!!!
No matter what era!

Chicago Teams Mix It Up!!!!!!
By Jerry Riles

Chicago sports fans are probably having mixed feelings about their professional teams today.
The Blackhawks are on the brink of elimination in the Western Conference Finals trailing the Detroit Red Wings three games to one in the best of seven series, following their 6-1 loss in Game 4 at the United Center.
Despite the struggles of these young Hawks during this rough and tough series, fans around town can still be proud of the overall play that the guys have put together throughout the playoffs as well as the regular season.
After losing 11 of 14 during a very tough stretch of the month in May, The White Sox have now won five of their last seven contests.
The Jake Peavy rumor may have stirred things up in the Southsider’s clubhouse because Clayton Richard, who was said to be part of the deal for the Padres’ ace, struck out eight Pirates over six innings to lead the Sox to a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
They put up 17 runs against the Angels out in Anaheim to start a six-game road trip while only giving up three runs in the opener out West, but they still sport a below .500 record sitting at 20-24.
The Cubs, meanwhile, have no clue as to what hit them. Or maybe they do. The Pirates who were in town to face the Sox over the Memorial Holiday Day weekend switched over to the North side and promptly handed Lou Pinella’s confused bunch a 10-8 defeat. Their eighth loss in a row. OUCH!
The lack of hitting has been the major problem for the Cubs, although they were able to muster up 10 on Monday night before Neal Cotts allowed the Buc-o’s to shut the door on them.
Pinella is even telling outfielder Milton Bradley to pipe down about the strike zone and just play some baseball. The vocal Bradley responded with a 4-RBI night including a 2-run homer in the fourth inning.
So, as a sports fan in Chicago, if you’ve been feeling kind of weird on the day after Memorial Day, don’t blame it on the three day weekend. Simply look at our professional teams for your awkward state.
Both baseball teams are back in action this evening, the Sox in hopes of continuing their run production and winning ways, the Cubs in hopes of ending their losing ways.
The Blackhawks will be looking to rebound on Wednesday night from the beating they took in Game 4 at the United Center.
Let’s hope by that time fans around the city can have a positive feeling about their sports teams.

By JERRY RILES

THE KING AND I

The King was in the House to watch the Blackhawks defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime of Game 3 of the best of seven series in the Western Conference Finals.

The King was in the House when, who many are calling his heir apparent, “King” James made a game winner three-point buzzer beater to knock off the Orland Magic 96-95 and avoid going down two-games to none in that best of seven series of the Eastern Conference Finals.

And the King that I’m actually referring to is none other than Michael Jeffery Jordan. The House he was actually viewing these incredible performances during this Memorial Day Holiday weekend was the United Center.

M.J. was on hand to see Patrick Sharp slap one past a slow reacting Chris Osgood 1:52 into the OT period to witness the victory.

At which he was also able to observe LeBron James’ three point field goal as time expired to beat the Magic. This was all from the luxury of a U.C. Skybox. What a night of sports for the King.

And what a way to cap off the evening than to go to your own restaurant just east of the “House That Jordan” built and have a few libations with close friends and some of the mingling folks hanging around “One Sixty Blue” over on Randolph Street.

By JERRY RILES

PEAVY SHUNS THE PALE-HOSE!!!!!
In the words of White Sox announcer Hawk Harellson, “He Gone”!!!!
Actually he was never here, but the sensational pitcher Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres decided the California sunshine and the sandy beaches were a little bit better attractions for he and his family as oppose to the Mag-mile and the lakefront of Chicago.
Peavy nixed the deal to come to the Sox and play in the American League. He wants to stay in the N.L. and that spells good news for the Cubs and Jim Hendry.

Even before the regular season started Hendry and the Cubbies were front-runners along with the Dodgers and Braves to acquire Peavy’s services.
Don’t expect L.A. to factor in his decision before the deadline approaches because they play in the same division as the Pads and I don’t think they’re going to just hand the stud righty over to them.
The Braves appear to have fallen to the wayside in this Peavy derby, so that means, as of now, all indicators point toward the Northsiders.
Give G.M. Kenny Williams and the Sox credit for going after the 27 year-old Cy Young Award winner. Seems like the Padres and Sox were trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Peavy and his agent Barry Axelrod but neither one of them was falling for it.
I think someone in the San Diego organization should have at least spoken to Peavy and his agent before agreeing to make a deal with the White Sox. It never really should have gotten to this stage unless everyone involved was serious about making a move.
Let’s just hope if the Cubs find themselves in the same shoes as the Sox come July, that all parties involved are serious and truly trying to make the deal work.

PEAVY TO CHICAG0???? SOUTH SIDE??? WAIT AND SEE!!!!!!!

By JERRY RILES

The rumor heard all day long Thursday throughout baseball was that former Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy was headed to Chicago pending his approval of a trade.
The team in Chicago would be the South-siders NOT the Cubs on the North-side who have been rumored since the start of the year to be the front runner in the Peavy derby.
Everyone in the baseball world seems to be waiting for the Ace right-hander to decide, along with his wife, where’s the best place for the Peavy’s to reside for the next few years. Will it be Chicago, California, or another location?

White Sox general manager Kenny Williams is at it again, and if he is successful in pulling off this blockbuster deal, this definitely puts the 2005 World Series champs in position to lockdown the A.L. Central and more importantly a chance to own the city’s baseball bragging rights for sure.
What a slap in the face to the Cubbies and G.M. Jim Hendry who have been wooing Peavy since forever it seems in hopes of landing him by the Mid-season Classic in July. Wow what a blow.
For now though everyone is sitting by their radios, televisions, computers, iphones, and laptops to find out if the Peavy’s will accept the Sox offer.
Barry Axelrod is not crossing the “T’s” and dotting the “I’s” as of yet though. The agent for the righty is sticking by his guns saying that Peavy is not too keen about pitching in the American League, pitching at U.S. Cellular, and pitching for Ozzie Guillen.
Could it be true? Certainly, but many of the experts around the game believe like everything else in the world it all comes down to money. $22-million for the option year to be exact. Talk about playing possum.

BEARS HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS

By JERRY RILES

71-days until training camp and counting.
Wednesday marks the first day of OTAs for the Chicago Bears up at Halas Hall. The first organized team activity of the year has the spot light shining brightly on general manager Jerry Angelo’s biggest off-season acquisition.
That of course is stud quarterback Jay Cutler.

Will the question be answered? Do the Bears need a high caliber go to receiver, or will the crew of Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, and veteran Rashied Davis be enough to get them back to the playoffs and a run toward the Super Bowl?
I say roll the dice and go for it. Cutler has proven with the Denver Broncos that he definitely can get the ball to his receivers.
With speed from Hester, veteran leadership from Davis, and the upside of Bennett, this indicates to me that these guys can become household names by mid-season.
The key to their success though lies not in the hands of Cutler, but in those of tightend Greg Olsen (54-recp, 574-yds, 5-TDs) and runningback Matt Forte(64-recp, 484-yds, 4-TDs).

If they can produce similar numbers of a year ago that will give this receiving corp more chances down field which proves to be the Pro-Bowl QB’s deadliest weapon. Extending the field.
Hester’s ready to breakout, Davis is ready to rebound, and Bennett is ready to prove himself.

“IT’S QUENNEVILLE TIME”

By JERRY RILES

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this is the moment we all have been waiting for. Or at least all of Chicago’s hockey fans.
This is what general manager Dale Tallon, senior advisor of hockey operations Scotty Bowman, and the Blackhawk brass have all been waiting for. The chance to play the best and beat the best.
Can Coach Joel Quenneville’s young, inexperience, but scrappy hockey club take on and dethrone the defending world champion Detroit Red Wings in the best of seven series in the Western Conference Finals?

Only time will tell. And if Game 1 is any indication of time, it won’t be long before the Hawks are on their way back home and possibly watching the Stanley Cup finals from the comfort of their lazyboy recliners.
Quenneville is the X-factor in this series.
“Our challenge will be on-going. We’ve all got to be at our best,” the first year coach was quoted as saying following the Hawks 5-2 stumble to open the series.
And that includes Coach Q!
Wings coach Mike Babcock mentioned the Hawks are a determined group, and they are. But can that relentless style of determination overcome a group of hard fighting, aggressive, physical, speedy veterans who obviously know how to play the game?

KENNY, OZZIE, JERRY...LIGHT THE FIRE NOW!!!!!!
"START 'ER UP"

By JERRY RILES

The object of playing competitive sports is to WIN. Right now I’m not sure Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox are trying to accomplish that style of play.

I think they’re trying a different approach. And that approach is called losing, with a capital “L”.

They have now dropped 10 of their last 14 contest and I’m not sure who’s to blame at this time.

Should the blame go to general manager Ken Williams for trying to blend a group of young and inexperience players with a almost over the hill group of veterans, who like that old Desoto, takes a few minutes to start up before it’s ready to hit the road?

The owners of this Desoto have yet to put the key into the ignition it appears.

Or maybe it’s the driver, in skipper Guillen, who has a great looking car, but no engine underneath the hood?

Perhaps the players are just bad. You be the judge.

Shortstop phenom Alexi Ramirez was benched for poor play. The pitching rotation has struggled with the exception of lefty Mark Buehrle. The bats and run production are too inconsistent, and Guillen himself seems clueless at times as well.

Is it time for an overhaul or are Sox fans just pushing the panic button too soon?

EVENING THE SCORE:

By JERRY RILES

I have to say this is irresistible. The flavor of Chicago. It’s the streets, sounds and sights of the Windy City that EVERYONE loves to be a part of.
Is this the BADDEST city on the planet? A native Chicagoan or not, you gotta say Yessir!!!!!!
Let’s set the record straight though. Many guys who talk about Chicago being the greatest city around believe everything unique and wonderful about the town is North of 35th Street and East of Damn Avenue.
Chicago is NOT the Cubs, Rush Street, and Lake Michigan. The character of the city also includes the World Champion White Sox, the CTA El-train which runs north, south, downtown and west side, but also out to the greatest airport around, O’Hare. Not to mention Bronzeville.
Get with it you HOT-DOGS out there!!!!!!
Remember, there’s more than just the Irish and Italians living in this wonderful city we all call home. This is the most diversified city in the country and it belongs to all of us. From African Americans, to Hispanics, Asians, Indians, and the likes, this is our town.
There’s Hyde Park home to the first ever African American president this country has ever witnessed. And the dining there is impeccable too.
One of the best eating joints this part of town is Dixie Kitchen. Believe me, that southern style cookin’ of cornbread, red beans and rice with a side of collard greens and a nice cold one to wash it down is “off the hook”. For you Northsiders, that means it’s good. Don’t be afraid to venture out you may discover another side of the city.

BLACKHAWKS AWAIT WINNER OF DUCKS-RED WINGS SERIES!!!!!

By JERRY RILES

How ‘bout them Blackhawks!

Joel Quenneville’s feisty bunch has accomplished the unthinkable. The youngsters have advanced to the Western Conference Finals and await the winner of the Anaheim/Detroit series.

And from the chants being shouted from the rafters of the United Center, Hawks fans believe the match-up of match-ups, the road to Lord’s Stanley Cup goes through Mo-town. The Motor-City, and ALL of the city appears to be ready for the highly anticipated fisticuffs.

Can the kids shock the hockey world?

Congratulations to General Manager Dale Tallon for acquiring the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews who combined for 5 goals to help lead the Hawks to a 7-5 victory over the Vancouver Canucks to move on to the conference championship.

The Detroit Red Wings lead the best of seven series 3 games to 2 and can wrap things up tonight with a victory over the Ducks in Game 6.

Hawks Are One Game Away From Conference Finals!!!

By JERRY RILES

How many of you out there thought the Blackhawks would be one game away from advancing to the Western Conference finals?
Honestly, did you even think the Hawks would make the playoffs before the season started? Be honest!
I certainly didn’t and would bet neither did you. But hats off to new president John McDonough, chairman Rocky Wirtz, and general manager Dale Tallon for pulling off one of the best moves of the year in Chicago sports.
That move of course was canning Denis Savard and jump starting the head spot with long time veteran coach Joel Quenneville. His leadership and stubbornness has place the South side hockey club in a great position to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 1995.
Keep in mind we can’t overlook the importance of Senior Advisor Scotty Bowman who helped orchestrate the changing of the guard. At the time of the move four games into the season, Bowman told Hawks fans that veteran coaching experience was the key to success and Quennville would provide it.
He certainly has.
This young and vibrant group of scrappers has responded well to the first year coach and now with the Vancouver Canucks on the ropes can KO their confused and stunned opponent.
Another brilliant move made on west Madison was to keep both goaltenders of Cristobal Huet and Nikolai Khabibulan. Both netters have been standing on their heads all season long and in the playoffs Khabibulan has been stellar.

Has Tiger Woods Hit The Wall?????

BY JERRY RILES

Is Tiger Woods still a TIGER or has he been reduced to simply a Puddy Cat?
After 18 holes of the second round in The Players Championship golf tournament played in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida this weekend, the once most intimidating being on a golf course has been relegated to a tie for 26th place shooting a 1-under 71 for the second round.
This is Tiger’s fifth tournament since coming off of ACL knee surgery and he has only won one of them thus far. That was the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Master Card on the last weekend in March.
Just this past weekend he finished fourth in the Quail Hollow Championship. He battled for a 6th place tie in the Masters, a tie for 9th in the World Championships, and a 17th place finish in the Accenture Match Play Championship.
Not the Tiger of old that’s for sure.
He and rival Phil “Lefty” Mickelson were neck and neck down the back nine during fourth round action of the Masters, before they both fell off on the 18th with bogeys. Tiger bogeyed the 17th as well, finishing one shot behind Lefty.
Has Tiger hit the WALL? The wall that haunts most men. Marriage and children. The FAMILY WALL?

With the birth of his second child, son Charlie Axel and of course the love of his life after wife Elin, daughter Sam Alexis, the most dominating golfer in the world appears to have lost some of his killer-instinct.
Many thought his putting game would be incredible since that’s the only thing he could really work on during the time off rehabbing the knee. Not to be. He’s just okay!!!!

Is Man-Ram GUILTY of Banned Substance use OR Eating Too Much?

JERRY RILES

There some meat on that bone!

The million dollar question remains (or should I say closer to $8-million question), is Manny Ramirez guilty of taking steroids?

The All-Star outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers tested positive for a banned substance and now Major League Baseball has suspended Man-Ram for 50 games.
Agent Scott Boras and Ramirez have agreed NOT to appeal the suspension that was handed down on Thursday.

Ramirez stands by his claim that a doctor prescribed medication for him to treat a personal problem. I’m going to give the multi-million dollar slugger the benefit of the doubt and say I believe him.

What player in his right mind would continue to take steroids, a performance enhancing drug, or a banned substance knowing that baseball and the world is keeping a close watch? Manny just recently agreed to a whopping two year $45-million deal to stay in the Bay area to play for skipper Joe Torre and the Dodger Blue. The suspension will cost him a third of his $25-million salary this season.

So why would a player want to jeopardize his relationship with his new bosses and undergo such scrutiny?

My answer is he wouldn’t. Manny is innocent of knowing he was putting something illegal into his system. I believe Manny was treated for a personal problem, and I believe his doctor prescribed him with a medication to control his illness.

I believe that illness that Man-Ram is struggling with is high cholesterol. Let’s face it, the power hitting machine who has posted incredible numbers (533 homers, 1745 RBI, and a .594 slugging percentage for his career) is from the Dominican Republic which means he loves to eat.

Chicago Teams "Blow" Cinco de Mayo Fun!!!!!!

JERRY RILES

Chicago may be known as the Windy City around the country, but on the first Tuesday of the month in May, our Sports teams simply Blew!!!!
Which team had the worst performance of the day? Was it the Cubs in their 6-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants over at Wrigley? How about the Blackhawks 3-1 playoff loss in front of a sold-out electrifying crowd over at the United Center, or possibly the White Sox blowing a 5-1 lead to the first place Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in extra-innings?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!!!!
My vote goes to Ozzie Guillen’s South-side “can’t pitch or hit-men”. (Cubs fans this is NOT a time to bash the Sox. Remember, they DO have a World Series under their belts. It wasn’t too friendly at the confines either).
After Josh Fields and Jermaine Dye each homered in the third inning and Carlos Quentin collected an RBI single in the fourth to give the Sox that 5-1 lead, everything just seemed to go south. And I don’t mean the team preparing to head home for a five game homestand at the Cell.
I mean the Sox left 13 men on base eight of them in scoring position. They out hit the Royals 16-11. So how could they fall 8-7 in 11 innings? Simply put. Pitching. This team is in disarray right now and skipper Ozzie knows it.
Sure it’s still early and the Sox bats are expected to heat up as the temperature does, but for the pitching staff to struggle on the mound as they have of late is not a good sign.

SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE GO??????

BY JERRY RILES

What does the 2008-2009 NBA Rookie of the Year have in common with the likes of say Isiah Thomas, Allen Iverson, a John Stockton, Steve Nash, Tony Parker….need I continue?

In my opinion, he’s the building block to a championship team. With the exception of Iverson, whose 76ers advanced to the Finals, the others have led their squads to NBA titles, and with the right chemistry Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will do the same.

Granted, he’ll have to eventually get past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the East, but the King himself was able to advance his team to the Finals only to fall to the Spurs early in his career so that’s not an impossible feat.

The question remains, should the Bulls and John Paxson pursue hot scoring guard Ben Gordon? My answer is no. His name is Gordon NOT JORDAN.

A 20-point scorer during the regular season sure, but what you see in Ben, you’ll continue to get from Ben. And that is, a lack of team play.

In order to continue to develop Rose and this young hot team, Coach Vinny Del Negro (which that’s another story in itself) needs more of a team concept as oppose to a one man band, and that’s what Gordon brings to the Bulls.

ARE THE BULLS ON THEIR WAY?

By Jerry Riles

Well the Chicago Bulls playoff run has come to an end after the Boston Celtics eliminated them 4-3 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round action.

My question is did this series catapult the young Bulls to the next level toward reaching championship status? And are you happy with first year coach Vinnie Del Negro’s handling of the team in game situations? Can he lead them to the top of the east?

Many critics questioned Del Negro’s use of, or lack there of, timeouts throughout the series. Of course a young coach will have some questionable decisions to make in the heat of competition, but Del Negro at times appeared not to know when or exactly what to do at crucial times during the games.

I like Vinnie, but just as when John Paxson, the Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations hired the former San Antonio Spur guard, I was surprised and somewhat shocked at the selection. To me, Vinnie just didn’t seem to fit the mode. But with assistants Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris on his staff, it eased the pain a little.

SATURDAY SPORTS-GASM

By Jerry Riles

Wives, girlfriends, lovers, friends with benefits, casual acquaintances, neighbors and pets, move out of the way the Chicago fanatic is about to have a SPORTS-GASM.

As the late, great former Cubs announcer Pat Piper would say: "Fans get out your pencils and scorecards for today's starting line-up" Actually the line-up is for Saturday and if you love sports what a day that's on tap for you. These are the no miss events you DEFINITELY want to see. And the key to your successful SPORTS-GASM will be to have multiple monitors.

First off, you can begin your day by getting the Northsiders on the big plasma screen TV beginning at 12:05pm for the Cubs Marlins clash. Then at 2pm watch Tiger Woods tee it up in the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. Remember ALL times are local. The next stop is at 3pm with the Kentucky Derby. Mint juleps anyone? By this time you may want to take a little break and get the steaks going on the grill. Remember throughout the afternoon you want to make sure to have your dogs, brats, and burgers going. The steaks are for the BIG-BANG later in the evening.