Chicago Sports Talk

After a victorious Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, etc, we ask our sports stars questions about what it takes to get to the pinnacle of their profession. Then we listen as they talk about being “gladiators” or “warriors” or say that a “field general” took charge. Maybe they say it was a “fight to the death” but we won in the “trenches” or it’s a real “war” out there. And of course every winning team has a “hero”. We even hear it after regular season games. A pitcher will say he “battled” through a tough spot, a running back describing his touchdown as running through a “mine field” and on and on.

I’m not usually bothered by this. Let me repeat, I’m not usually bothered by this. But today I am. We celebrate Memorial Day to honor and remember those who gave their lives for us. They made the ultimate sacrifice for us all. When I think of heroes, it’s those who slogged through mud, and disease carrying mosquitos, or sand and searing heat, or bone-numbing cold and wind all the while not knowing what lay waiting for them. Some saved others at the expense of their safety, while some were victims of long range artillery as they ate their c-rations, or shot were down in a plane, or torpedoed on an  ocean thousands of miles from home. Many were gung-ho to enlist, while others drafted into the the service of the country. They came from farms, big cities, the rich, the poor and in between. Some were brash, some were quiet, but all did what was necessary at the time.

Let’s face it, our language was hijacked a long time ago in every big city neighborhood, and common usage becomes the meaning for most of us. But for a little while can we lay off comparing sporting events to life and death situations? Stop calling ball players warriors, gladiators and heroes? It is a disservice to those we honor on Memorial Day.

What are fans like in other cities? Do Dodger fans hate the Angels? Giant fans hate the A’s? Maybe so, but I’m not so sure it isn’t just for appearances. Met fans hate the Yankees and vice-versa? Of course they do. And I’m all for it!

Here in Chi-Town I’ll bet we have it all. When you’re a little fan, say younger than the teen years you root for your guys come hell or high water. But after that reality sets in. I’m laying off the youngsters and the naive, you know chicks that don’t care but root for (or against) the team their boyfriend does, etc. Old time Cub fans only hated the Cubs. They ignored the ChiSox. When the Northsiders were winning it was all good, yet they waited for the bottom to drop out. On the other side of town it was a little different but not much. White Sox fans were a little pessimistic too, and also hated their team, but spread it around more. They hated ALL other teams.

Then came these strange, gentler, new-age fans. Some of them actually root for both teams! That was rarer than the Do-Do bird, or rarer even than Dick Butkus eats his steak. Now it’s more common, and I think those people actually DO root for both teams. Sheesh, what’s this world coming to? I suppose that’s okay if you just want to chill, have a hot dog and a beer and watch a game, but then why not just go over to Eckhart Park and not pay the ticket price?

The worst of the bunch are the “fans” that root for out of town teams like the Yanks or Bosox or Cards and they lived here all their lives! I can understand the transplants cuz they’re still loyal to hometown, but gimme a break baby, rooting for the Redlips, cuz they finally can won? Or the Yanks cuz they have more money than OPEC to pay for a team? Or for the Brewers cuz they encourage you to pee your pants?

Let’s get back to good old-fashioned fandom. You know what I mean. I like the Sox or Cubs, so I either hate or ignore the team on the other side of town. That kind of fan. That’s what I’m talking about. So Go Sox! Yankees, Bosox, Indians, etc? They all can take a bite outta my @$$! The Cubs? Who cares?

It’s April and fans are still optimistic. Both Chicago teams have winning records, as a matter of fact, they have identical records. Can they both reach the playoffs? Yes. Can they both reach the World Series? Yes. A lot has to happen, but look at how good teams do it

The recipe for winning hasn’t changed over the the years. The intangibles help, but except for good luck they’re overrated. Good cubhouse chemistry, rah-rah guys, intense personalities, are all good, if you win. The same intagibles are considered a cancer in the clubhouse if you lose. Good pitching, good defense, timely hitting and avoiding or playing through key injuries add up to championships.

Do the Cubbies have the ingredients? Starting pitching, middle relief and their new closer all look solid. Some of the pitchers are in new roles and aren’t proven. Yet. Time will tell. Defense is a little shaky at times, but can be very impressive at other times. D-Lee is great, Fukudome is solid too. Pinella is good at making a defensive move if a guy doesn’t cut it, so it might seem like someone isn’t clicking early on, but he’ll get it right in the end, guaranteed. The hitters don’t have to pound the ball like they are now, but if D-Lee is consistent, if A. Ramirez stays interested the whole year, and if Soriano goes on the DL for a long time, letting a less selfish guy play, the lineup is strong. And again, trust in Sweet Lou to get it right on offense too.

How about the Chi-Sox? Do they have what it takes? Kenny Williams did another good job in the off season. Pitching? The starters are good, and have the potential to be one of the best. Kenny’s signings of Octavio Dotel and Linebrink are excellent. And Jenks is Jenks. The infield D is one of, if not the best in the A.L.The outfield is solid too. Hitting is timely so far and the big boppers are not even rolling yet.

So let’s get World Serious, and order those World Series tickets now! And then sit back, enjoy the season and wait for the Sox-Cubs battle. We can watch the Sox sip champagne at the end of the series.

Is the excitement back? We’ll see. For me it’s too early to tell for sure, but if last night’s game was an indicator, then “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble”! The new palace, United Center, rocked like the old barn, Chicago Stadium, on Wednesday. First Ernie Banks dropped the puck, then the Blackhawks dropped the Red Wings. To any Wings fan that talks smack about the Wings having nothing to play for, the Hawks needed it more, key players are out, blah, blah, blah, I say Bullsh**. They want to keep the best record, they don’t want to lose 5 times in a season to any team, let alone the Hawks, and guys like Chelios, McCarty, Downey, Zetterberg and Cleary never want to lose. Not even against their grandma in a checkers game.

Sights seen on the tube: In the stands I still saw too many enemy jerseys, but at least their owners weren’t too happy. On the ice I saw Chelli, and Maltbie lose their cool. I saw Downey and McCarty try to stir it up. I saw Burish, and Wiz stirring the pot too. Kaner was on the receiving end of some of the rough stuff and responded big time. Add a few crushing hits from Seabrook and Big Buff and it was all good. Did anyone else see Burish pick up the octopus with his stick at the end of game? Some Wing fan tossed it on the ice. Where do you suppose the fan had that creature hidden all game? On second thought, do we want to know?

Well this year at least, the Hawks still matter with only two games to go. They end the season in Motown, and people still care? Wow! Thanks Savvy, Tallon, and Rocky. Gooooo Blackhawks!

Hey Chicago sports fans. Thanks for stopping by. I’m new at this writing stuff, so give me a shout out when I do or say something you don’t like, which might be often. If I accidentally get it right once in a while let me know that too. I don’t follow the rest of the NHL a lot, just the Hawks. The same goes for the Wolves. So if you expect to read about Crosby, Iginla, Luongo, or Ovechkin, sorry. Unless the Hawks are playing against them, or they impact the Chicago sports scene in some way, you probably won’t ever see their names in my stories. I’ll probably showcase the Hawks more than the Wolves, not because they aren’t a class act, but because I’m a bigger fan of the Hawks.

Here’s what you can expect from me. I’m an unabashed homer. I’m not dumb enough to think the Hawks or Wolves are the best teams out there. I just don’t care to give another team their props. For instance, I might have to tell you if the Red Wings outplayed the Hawks in the Western Conference finals some day, but I won’t be there to congratulate the “Dead Things” if it comes to that. Let their fans do that, not me.

Don’t expect me to provide a play by play account of games. Do expect to get my opinions and comments. I’ll boost the Blackhawks and Wolves as long they give an honest effort. I might not be happy with a losing team, but I can respect a team that might be short on talent but puts their heart into the game. Win or lose I’ll still cheer for them. I’ll probably tell you if I spot trends, like a player that seems selfish like Havlat was at times, or a player that seems to get better in crunch time, like Seabrook’s play lately. Read the rest of this entry →