Fighting The Suburbs

Mac Leaves Mac, Jurko and Harry Show on ESPN 1000 AM

When I test new cars I listen to a lot of talk radio. Why? Because if I blast music too loudly I might miss road noise levels, squeaks, engine sounds etc. Talk radio leaves lots of open air to hear all these things. Plus, I usually get informed on something. I spend many hours listening to sports radio and Mac, Jurko and Harry for the afternoon commute was a good listen. My father-in law isn’t a fan, but I enjoyed it.

Well, it seems the Mac part, Dan McNeil, has been pulled off the show. The testy personality didn’t get his contract picked up and the radio station escorted him out of the station on Friday. Really? They physically removed him? Wow. Guess they didn’t want him spouting off on the radio as he’s known to do. He also made $600K a year. Say what? Man, I’m in the wrong media I guess even though radio has been dying for years. That’s insane money for a guy who just talks for a living, for a few hours a day at that.

Anyway, the station website was quick to update with The Afternoon Saloon page now featuring Carmen DeFalco in McNeil’s place. I really liked the Carmen and Silvy show as they were two guys my age talking about sports and didn’t sound like the old guys at the bar yammering incessantly. They argued like my coworkers and I argue about sports. Maybe the youth will help the show.

Vedder's Cubs Tribute: We were there.

Seems lots of folks are hitting my little blog here because WXRT is playing a live version of "All The Way" by Eddie Vedder recorded at the two night stand we attended at the Auditorium theater. According to their own site they played it during the 8 and 10 oclock hour tonight.

Thanks for the links folks!

Update: Eddie is selling the digital single online so go get it here.

Arena Football Review: The Rush Rule, Really?

We were a tad surprised to get a pair of free tickets to a recent Chicago Rush game. A family member won them in a silent auction. I was probably the most excited out of the group of four to actually see the game, but I was a bit jarred from the difference in seeing the sport live than from TV.

Before we hit Allstate Arena the four of us stopped by Gibson’s for some hamburgers. Sounds funny, but for a pre-game meal a burger at Gibson’s is terrific.

A quick drive over to the game and we parked easily for $13 and headed inside. There were tons of families and kids. The low ticket prices, they start at $12, must be why. We had good seats in a row in the upper deck at about midfield. It was the perfect place to see the action. Unfortunately, the action turned out to be about two minutes of football, a score, then five minutes of TV timeouts. There were penalties and more stoppages of play. It had to be the longest live sporting event I’ve ever attended.

The antics between play was pretty fun with kicking contests and the like. However, as amusing as they were after the fifth or sixth time in the first half we were all getting a bit bored. There was one solid hit into and over the wall which was pretty cool and I liked the fact that fans got to keep errantly thrown footballs. But for a guy who is planning his fantasy football draft now, there wasn’t enough football for me. 

Cubs: You know where to send the clubhouse booze

We don’t understand the whole drinking in the clubhouse thing. The last thing we would want to do after hours of playing in the hot sun in the dirt and grass is to chug back a few. But, after the recent drunk driving accident of a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher baseball teams are banning alcohol in clubhouse and the Cubs announced yesterday they’ll be doing the same. The question is was there some much needed alcohol after losing to the Pirates last night in 15 innings or was the rule already in effect?

We “guess” we’re applauding the Cubs although every player on the squad can sure afford a cab. If they need a place to dump the extra drinks send them here:

Bulls Locker Room
United Center
1901 W. Madison St.

Cubs Weekend

On Saturday we went to our first Cubs game of the season. Our friend Steve got us amazing seats in the almost-on-the-field seats they put in a few years ago. We were right next to the Washington Nationals' dugout and we had some practiced hecklers around us. Cubs won and we got to see a homerun and one heck of a wild throw. Good game.

Go Bulls, Bears

First, I’m hoping everyone watched the Bulls make the Miami Heat look like the geriatric home their locker room truly is. Wow. I’ve never seen a less intense opponent in any playoff matchup in professional sports. Never. The Pistons won’t be so easy but what a great matchup that will be.

As for the Bears: I was obviously wrong on Friday. I’ll admit it. The blue chipper Olsen fell right to them at 31. Amazing. After that…things were OK. The big mistake was picking Garrett Wolfe in the third. How they passed on Michael Bush from Louisville or Antonio Pittman from OSU I don’t know.  They should be fine, but I’m surprised they didn’t move Briggs.

As for my Dolphins…sigh. Ted Ginn? He dropped the Jr. by the way. I don’t mind missing Brady Quinn but we could’ve gotten the top DT or CB instead. I don’t mind John Beck at all, and supposedly he can start right away. And no Trent Green.

Bears Draft Day: They Need to Trade

One way or another, the Bears need to make a trade before draft day. I’m not talking strictly about Lance Briggs either. With the 31st pick they’re gonna get nada. The best they can hope for is a lesser WR like Dwayne Jarrett or a decent guard like Ben Grubbs.

If they moved up to the teens they could get the best tight end since Vernon Davis in Olsen from Miami or a top WR like Ginn Jr., Meachum or Bowe, all better than Jarrett.

Now how do they do this and how did they get here.

Briggs and Bears are Both Idiots

First of all I don’t like football players who hold out. You’re getting over $7 million ot play a year than its worth a risk of injury in my book. Despite Lance Briggs’ idiotic way of thinking, the Bears are idiots if they turn down the deal orchestrated by Briggs’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

If indeed the reported 6th overall pick for Briggs and the 31st overall pick is indeed true the Bears would be complete morons to pass on it. Briggs isn’t going to play a full season, and if he does he certainly won’t be in camp. So, you’re going to have to pay him at least 6 games worth of salary if he does hold out and not have a linebacker to rely on. Here’s an idea, don’t flush that money down the drain and take the deal.

Yeah it sucks that you were bullied into it, but if you really thought Briggs was that great you’d give him a big money deal that he will get elsewhere. You didn’t. Move on.

You could take THE top defensive tackle at the spot, top DB, 2nd best WR. Or trade down to the teens to get a WR, DB etc.

Oh pictured above, from left: Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye (Bears could get him!), California running back Marshawn Lynch, Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams, Miami tight end Greg Olsen (trade down for him), Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson (no he won’t drop but they’d be able to nab Bowe, Meachum, Ginn Jr. et al if they make this deal and then move down a few spots), Michigan cornerback Leon Hall, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. You never know who will drop especially if Quinn is fought for in the top 5.

Bears Moves: Quit Complaining You Babies

I am a huge NFL fan. As some or most of you know I still love the Miami Dolphins. I grew up in South Florida, moved to Chicago in 2002 and have embraced all of the native teams save the Bears. I just can't give up on the Fins. Anyway, with all the recent off-season activity I keep hearing complaints from the media about Thomas Jones being traded, Ron Rivera  leaving and blah blah blah.

Shut up already. I had to listen to a few hours of Salisbury and Rosenbloom today with no Salisbury, which normally wouldn't be a bad thing since the show is a complete mess -possibly the worst thing to happen to sports radio in years, but Rosenbloom wouldn't shut up about the Thomas Jones deal. Look, Jones had one year left. What happens to players with one year left on their deal? They turn into Lance Briggs and look how that's working out for you.

Plus, umm…you have Cedric Benson in the wings who you've already invested millions and a top draft pick in. And, he showed splashes of brilliance last year. And Peterson is solid as a backup.

Before I go any further, let me ask anyone who is a fan of the NFC Champs who is complaining this:

Money Hungry Cubs Sell Soul, Don't Sign Zambrano

First off, the Cubs need to sign Carlos Zambrano to a big stinking contract. The fact that they haven't yet is unspeakable. He deserves more than "Zitto Money" as everyone keeps saying.

Second: Now that they've sold the outfield doors to Under Armour for an undisclosed sum to "stay competitive" and all the revenue will go to payroll, they really better sign Zambrano.

The sign deal is ludicrous. I didn't grow up in Chicago, but I've been to baseball stadiums all over the country and can tell you the reason Wrigley is so special is because of the lack of blatant commercialism on every square inch.

They raise ticket prices EVERY year. They sell a ton of merchandise. They make a lot of money off of TV. They sold the bleachers to Budweiser. Where will it end? Not with Under Armour that's for sure. I've never seen a sport franchise try to antagonize its fans (the most loyal I've witnessed in any sport) so much. It's really crazy.