Bleacher Report - Articles by Joe Huber

Jerry Angelo Looks To Complete 2005 Dream Team in Chicago (Satire)

Joe Huber — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:08:24 -0500

Jerry Angelo is at again this season, adding another piece to a franchise that seems to be just a few years late.

Cato June became the newest member of the Chicago Bears on Tuesday.

June has not played a single down this regular season after being placed on injured reserve in August while with the Houston Texans. They reached an injury settlement in early September, making June a free agent.

Angelo has made several questionable acquisitions (and non-acquisitions) during the 2009 Bears campaign. Having already signed Orlando Pace, a member of the 1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets championship squad, Angelo defended the signings at a press conference.

"I really think this is a great idea", said Angelo, "I mean, these guys were awesome in 2005, what can really change in four years?"

The Bears are in desperate need of defensive help, and June just so happens to be a former All-Pro.

Angelo also said, "Don't think we're done here either. We sorely need more talent. That's why I've already put calls into John Lynch, Deltha O'Neal, and Brian Urlacher."

When someone in the crowd reminded him that Urlacher was in fact still on the team, Angelo replied, "Yeah, we know he's hurt and everything, but we called him and told him to play like '2005 Brian' next season."

June was unresponsive to interviews, simply making one statement, "Please get out of my bathroom."

June was signed to a one year deal, and the Bears placed Pisa Tinoisamoa on Injured Reserve to make room for June.

The 5 Free Agents I Want In Red Sox Nation

Joe Huber — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:38:33 -0500

I remember being about five or six years old and writing a letter to Santa every year around Thanksgiving. I would grab a sheet of the paper with the HUGE lines, and write a list as long as I could, with the smallest chicken scratch handwriting I could muster. It would include all things Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, or Darkwing Duck. And I would never get everything I wanted, but if I had gotten just one or two of the items on my list, I would always be exceptionally happy. I expect this list to have a similar effect. I'm writing it to Theo Epstein, who I know will never read this, but if he gets one, maybe two, of these free agents, I'll be just as happy as the time I got the Technodrome. That's right. Be jealous.

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Not Fooled: BCS Dream Still Not Ideal

Joe Huber — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:45:08 -0500

Ever since 1998—or 1999, for the perfectionists—fans all over the country have loathed the way the national championship was decided.

I know, alums across America have hated it for longer than that, but in 1998, the NCAA put the fate of intercollegiate football in the hands—er, mouse—of a computer.

The Bowl Championship Series, or BCS, has "gotten so many championship teams wrong it makes me sick," according to every Texas Longhorn last season, and they'd be right.

Every year it seems like someone who doesn't belong gets into a BCS game (Hawaii in 2007), and someone who shouldn't belong raises questions about the validity of said system (Boise State in 2006).

It also seems that every year there is controversy as to who gets to play for that crystal football. Just last year it was Texas, in 2003 it was Southern California, and 2004 was the year of three snubs (Auburn, Boise State, and Utah).

The fact of the matter is that parity is now prominent in college football, and you can't compete every single year if only two teams are playing for the title.

Ohio State is going to have shorter dry spells, but they're still going to have them.

Notre Dame isn't going to contend for a national title every single year.

Heck, even Florida is going to have to face the fact that in three years they might not be a perennial powerhouse (ask Miami (FL)).

The worst part about all this is that teams like Boise State, who are enjoying their best years, are not going to be able to vie for the title because it's near impossible to break into the top two for a school their size.

This year, at least, there will be no questions as to who should be playing in this backwards system: Texas vs. Alabama/Florida—but don't count me fooled.

I understand that this is the system in place right now, but what the NCAA needs to recognize is that it's harming the very students it's designed to help.

Even a plus one system is better than what we have now.

I'm sure Bill Hancock (Executive Director of the BCS) is rooting for Texas and Florida or Alabama to stay undefeated so he can flaunt how righteous the BCS system is.

No matter what your thoughts of Boise State or Texas Christian, they shouldn't be playing for a national title in this current system unless one of the teams ahead should falter. But they should have the chance to play.

The national title will mean everything to the players playing for it, but fans everywhere, especially students in Boise, Idaho and Fort Worth, TX, can agree that something needs to change.

This isn't to take away from Alabama, Florida, or Texas. Those kids are playing their hearts out and deserve a chance to play for the national championship.

This is to say that the kids from Cincinnati, TCU, or Boise State deserve that same right—or at least one of those schools does.

Just because the BCS is likely going to get the best two teams this year doesn't mean we should accept it, because the fact is they've gotten it wrong way more often than they've gotten it right.

Chris Johnson Stays Underrated Despite Another 150 Yard Performance

Joe Huber — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:01:30 -0500

In 1997, Barry Sanders, arguably the greatest running back of all time, rushed for 150-plus yards five times through 16 games.

Through 10 games in 2009, Adrian Peterson (of Minnesota), arguably the best running back of this era, has rushed for 150-plus yards once. Peterson did it three times in 2008.

Chris Johnson, of the Tennessee Titans, has rushed for 150-plus yards three times through 10 games so far in 2009, and only did it once in 2008.

Let me make this clear, Peterson is the better running back of the two. Johnson is unquestionably having the better season.

I won't make the mistake of saying that defenses don't know Johnson or that they aren't aware of his presence. The scheme of "eight men in the box" frequently proves that.

Johnson deserves to be talked about in the MVP conversation, but you really don't hear much about him on national radio. Granted, on ESPN radio this morning, Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg both talked about how good Johnson is, but that also had the prerequisite of a 151 yard performance on a Monday night game.

This isn't about whether or not Johnson is better than any other player in the league, in large part because he's played in a whopping 25 NFL games.

This is about a player being in the midst of a phenomenal season. Johnson's already rushed for more yards in 2009 than he had in 2008.

Johnson should be more than just discussed when it comes to the MVP talks as well.

Behind the bad offensive line that resides in Nashville, Johnson has rushed for 1,242 yards (that's more than 200 yards between him and second place), has scored eight rushing touchdowns so far, and played exceptionally well even when the defenses he was facing were focusing on him alone.

He has even helped play a vital role in the passing game, giving Kerry Collins an outlet when he was playing terrible, and allowing Vince Young a check-down option who just needs the ball to make something happen.

With 30 receptions so far this season, he has more catches than Laveranues Coles, Lee Evans, Braylon Edwards, and Roy Williams (of Dallas). He has 262 receiving yards, which isn't great, but averages at 8.7 yards per catch.

That's just higher than Peterson with 8.6. It's also higher than LaDanian Tomlinson (4.4).

Johnson has played his team out from the abyss of an 0-6 start, to the glimmer of hope that they have now. 4-6 is not a good record, but it's a step in the right direction.

I won't pretend like Vince Young isn't a big reason the Titans are clawing their way back into the playoff picture, but Johnson was the only thing the fans in Tennessee were smiling when they lost 59-0 to New England.

Think about this, in a 59-0 game Johnson rushed for 128 yards. In a game where the Titans were throwing for the large part, he rushed for 128 yards.

That was on 17 carries.

Johnson isn't going to win the MVP though, not this season. Not with a 4-6 record, not with the media darlings in Peyton Manning and Brett Favre playing better than good football (Manning actually deserving of the award).

So instead of dwelling on who should win a trophy for being awesome at the end of the season, I urge you to start watching Chris Johnson be awesome the rest of the season.

Satire: Jay Cutler Intercepted On Drive Home

Joe Huber — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:18:12 -0500

It was an abysmal night for Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears, suffering a 24-20 heart breaker against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cutler threw yet another game ending pick while the Bears offense was driving the field.

Unfortunately for Cutler, it wasn't the only time he was picked off.

On the drive home Cutler was speeding through a suburban side road, and blew through a stop sign. The officer that pulled him over was baffled because Cutler knew that several cops covered the area.

"I couldn't believe that he thought he could get past us. I mean, there's always 2-3 cars sitting there", said the officer that wrote the ticket, and asked to remain anonymous.

Cutler declined to comment, but Carol Townsend watched from her front lawn.

"I didn't like his body language as the officer was writing the ticket. He looked like he was going to do it again the next time he drove by here," said Townsend, "I think I heard him on the phone with Ron Turner who said he would re-route him with less stop signs."

When questioned, Lovie Smith said that next time Cutler should take the bus, and to get off of it running, as to avoid any further contact with anyone not named Greg Olsen.

This is Cutler's 18th traffic ticket in 2009.

The Seven Athletes I'm Tired of Hearing About

Joe Huber — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:51:13 -0500

It's a weird number, but who cares, because you KNOW Chad Ochocinco is making the list (even if he is awesome). I heard a story today about a famous athlete getting into trouble yet again for the fact that he got into yet another scuffle. Some athletes entertain beyond the field of play, and sometimes their act becomes old. These are their stories.

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Will Jay Cutler's Honeymoon Ever End? Bears QB Carries Equal Blame

Joe Huber — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:22:37 -0500

I want to start out with one clarification: Jay Cutler is a good, young quarterback and better suited to lead the Chicago Bears to victory.

I don't think these Bears would have a better record with Kyle Orton under center.

I was actually going to write this article Monday after another dismal performance by the Bears against the Arizona Cardinals, but I wanted to gauge the response from the media and the fans.

Again, the finger was pointing everywhere except Cutler.

Up until last night, you can argue whether Cutler has cost the Bears one or two games in Green Bay or Atlanta, but against the San Francisco 49ers, there is no debate.

If Orton were still here and the Bears were at the 4-5 mark, and he had thrown 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, he would be getting slaughtered.

I listened in to Waddle & Silvy, a Chicago-based radio show featuring former Bears receiver Tom Waddle and radio host Marc Silverman, just to see the temperature of their Cutler fever. It's still high, but they at least have the right response.

Jay Cutler lost last night's game, and he is not yet the Messiah the Bears have been longing for.

Again, in several years Cutler should develop into a very nice signal caller, but right now, he's not even an average quarterback.

He is everything Rex Grossman was: a big-armed hurler that doesn't have time to progress through his reads.

The difference between he and Grossman is that he understands that he can't continue on this path.

Granted, Senor Six has no protection, and all the mistakes that he is making now are correctable for the future. (Waddle JUST said the same thing, so you know I'm right.)

I still want to ask the question about Orton though. If Orton is playing in these games, he's getting the finger pointed at him after the Packers game.

From week one all the way through, Orton would be feeling the heat, but it takes a five-interception game to get Bears fans thinking that Cutler might be part of the problem this season.

Seventeen picks thus far this season, and just now the media is starting to see that Sweet Baby Jay isn't quite performing like he did in Denver.

In Denver he had Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, a running game, and an offensive line.

Your team does not have the components to offer the same amount of success he felt while he was a Bronco. Period.

Does he deserve the entire blame? Absolutely not.

Should he be in the conversation of a long list of Bears woes? Absolutely.

Cutler has underperformed a lot of the season, and nobody should care about what he says in a press conference either. He understands he was terrible. He gets it.

This season, at least for the past nine games, Cutler deserves as much blame for the five losses as he does praise for the four wins.

Cutler is in fact the quarterback of the future in Chicago, but face the facts, Chicago: This team is mediocre at best right now, and Cutler is as much to blame as the five guys lining up in front of him.

Back To the Future: The Andy Pettitte-Pedro Martinez Showdown

Joe Huber — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:27:42 -0500

Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez will face each other to decide if the World Series will go to seven games.

Brett Favre is coming off a four touchdown performance.

Miami (FL) is in the Top 25 and making noise on a national level.

Ball State is in the midst of a disappointing season.

I'm way overusing one liners to make a point.

I feel like I've died and gone back to 2003.

The whole point of what I'm about to write is that two of the better stories in baseball are going toe to toe tomorrow night in what has been, thus far, an entertaining series.

More people have tuned in to watch than last year, but last year set a mark in low ratings. Greg the Bunny might have had more viewers.

November 4th (yeah, November), will have one of the most intriguing pitching matchups of our time.

'Ro vs. Andy will be decided in the Supreme Court of baseball. The New Yankee Stadium.

As they take the mound, it will be the strategy and grit they dig deep to find that will interest me more than anything.

How effective can Pettitte be on three days rest? How many times will Martinez get away with an 86 mph fastball?

Both have already pitched in the series. Both went six innings. Martinez gave up one less run (three). Petite has one more win.

But, now they face each other. In the Bronx.

The edge has to go to Pettitte, but crazier things have happened in the world series.

Like a small second baseman blasting five home runs.

Which brings the next point for Mr. Pettitte to answer. Will he pitch to Chase Utley?

Will Pedro give Mark Teixeira the fastball he's been missing the last five games of the series?

Too many questions, I know, but that's what I'm thinking of right now. The game is less than 24 hours away, and it's very excited to see what unravels.

So with this blast from the past style pitching matchup heading our way, I suggest you grab your popcorn, beer, or whatever you can because both of these pitchers have a little legacy, and a lot of pride, left on the line.

Quite a Gamble: Keep Pete Rose Out of the Hall

Joe Huber — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:00:54 -0400

As much as you or anyone else might scratch their head as to why I'm writing this, it just so happens to be the 20th anniversary of the day Pete Rose was handed a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball.

There are the those that scream and yell from their high horses about how he ruined the integrity of the game. And there are those that shout from the mountain tops down on the rest of us lowly peons that can't grasp that he did no harm and always played to win.

I obviously care that he played to win, but that does NOT cover up the deceit and lies he left behind as his new legacy.

His legitimacy as a player was and never will be in question, and he is one of the greats of all time. His hits record speaks to that. He is in Cooperstown by virtue of the fact that they do indeed have articles from the game where he broke the record, left the record, his 300th hit. They have jerseys and hats, cleats and bats. But he, should not be inducted into the Hall.

Here is my argument, and I am willing to wager, it's pretty air tight.

MLB Rule 21(d): "BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in
connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared
ineligible for one year.

Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible."

So as you can see, whether or not you disagree, you are wrong.

Pete Rose as a manager was in a position to change the outcome of the game. Did he? I don't think so, but I also don't care.

He had the chance to come clean and be the first big player to skirt the issue when the story first broke, but it didn't matter. He lied about it.

He was questioned by the outgoing and incoming commissioners, and he lied. He lied when the Dowd report came out. And then when he was asked again if he lied and that there might be some leniency if he came clean, he lied again.

When the gift horse was looking him in the mouth, he turned away.

There was a time at which I believed he should not only have been eligible for the Hall, but I also felt passionate that he be inducted in unanimously!

He was one of the greatest hitters of all time. More hits than the Splendid Splinter, more base knocks than the Great Bambi(no), more slaps than Ichiro.

But he broke a rule that clearly defines the crime he committed, and the punishment that is handed down for said crime.

The other philosophy is that he should be inducted as a player and not as a manager.

My question is how do you separate the two? Would you vote Joe Torre in as a manager and not a player? The short answer is yes, theoretically, but you can't do it.

He's one man. There was not a player Pete Rose and a manager Peter Rose. If you vote in someone for one, they will go in with the other.

Granted, the acumen won't be the same, but it will mention on either his plaque or elsewhere that the man managed the Cincinnati Reds, and that's not acceptable.

Rose is one of the greats, and deserves to have memorabilia donning the walls, but the idea of seeing his head hanging in bronze doesn't make me sick, but it sure makes me wonder about a lot of people.

Rules are rules, and I don't think they were meant to be broken.

Retire The Notion: Vikings Better Off With Favre

Joe Huber — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:23:13 -0400

I'm going to take my shots at Brett Favre, and they might be a little unfair, but you'll get over it. I'm going to give the "old man" a little opinionated analysis on how he'll fit in with the Minnesota Vikings.

I'll be the first to say, I'm a jilted Packers fan and that he instantly makes the Vikings better (in theory).

So, I wanted to take a day to digest what happened, and make sure I still wasn't shocked by it at all; and I can honestly say there was no doubt that the No. 4 on the Vikings roster was an ass, not a Booty.

At his last stop in New York, I still claim that Favre lost the team in the waning portion of the season. I fear (for his sake) that the same could happen in Minnesota.

The difference?

Adrian Peterson is already the leader.

Favre doesn't have to step in and take over an NFL roster. He doesn't have to command the attention of an offensive corps or create all the spark with the ball. The spark will be supplied by his arm. Throw in the fact, that Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian are two receivers with speed to burn. That had to be enticing.

Now, one of the greatest QB's of all time is set up to run all his favorite plays. Pitch-n-catch, streak, and maybe a button hook here and there. This team is actually near perfect for the Mississippi (drama) queen.

The quarterback needs to have some control over the huddle, and Favre will not be given quite the "General" status he had in New York; but that does not mean he will be exempt from leading the team with 2:00 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

Regardless of how little he will command the team's respect or where he showers, he'll still have the ability to put the ball down field more accurately than Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels.

That makes the Vikings better and NFC North favorites.

I like how the move really hurts Minnesota in the broad scheme of things; since this is a one year solution; but it scares me as a Packers fan how much the move really helps them this year.

The Vikings may have a trophy case devoid of any Lombardi Trophies, and that might remain the case after this season. But the fact remains that they've got the ammo for No. 4.

The fireworks are in place for Favre in Minnesota, but that doesn't mean this is just one big dud of a finale.

End of an Error: John Smoltz Officially Released

Joe Huber — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:05:16 -0400

I wasn't the least bit surprised that as I was searching for a photograph of John Smoltz, there were two or three of him handing the ball to Terry Francona.

That's the kind of season he had in Boston—one you'd like to soon forget.

This isn't about Smoltz being terrible or awful or a bad person. He's not.

He's still a major league pitcher, just not in the American League, and definitely not in the AL East.

When he signs on with a National League club on the major-league circuit, I have a feeling his numbers will improve. But his fastball is not going to work on Alex Rodriguez, and walking Carl Crawford is not acceptable.

His command is off right now, and his junk pitches are far from where they were even two years ago.

Smoltz's best days are behind him, and he knows that.

But there is also hope for the 42-year-old right-hander out of Michigan.

The Cubs are rumored to have made an inquiry to Smoltz and his agents, and really, no team is a better fit for him.

The Cubs are a young team that needs a closer, something John Smoltz knows a little about with 154 career saves. He would also bring his experience and professionalism to the table.

Read: Maybe he can help Carlos "Big (Cray-) Z" Zambrano settle into his own.

Smoltz might not end up on the Northside of Chicago, but if he does land with another MLB team, it will probably be in the National League.

Now settle down all you NL junkies who are starting to scream about how you have Albert Pujols and that it's "real" baseball because there is no DH. No matter how hard your allegiance lies with the NL, you can't dispute that it is tougher pitching in the American League, let alone in the explosive AL East.

He wasn't built for the Red Sox rotation anymore. Because in the AL East, you need either power or nasty junk, neither of which Smoltz posseses anymore.

Theo Epstein made a good gamble by throwing the $1 million contract his way, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Oh well, best of luck to you Johnny boy, wherever you may land.

And if Boston fans are lucky, it just might be Tampa Bay.

Sweat the Small Stuff: Cubs Excitement More Than Warranted

Joe Huber — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:56:41 -0400

I woke up this morning to find out that the Chicago Cubs had crawled into first place after looking up at the St. Louis Cardinals from two games back only a week ago.

I couldn't believe how high the excitement was. The Cubs are in first! The Cubs are on their way to their third National League Central title!

The mere fact that they play in the NL Central makes it mean that much less impressive.

But that's when a favorite old adage crept back into my mind. One I hold very high amongst all sports cliches.

You can only play the games on your schedule.

I think it makes the most sense outside of the college game, and when the Cubs don't get to select who is not only on their schedule, much less their division, you can't help but understand the excitement pouring from Wrigley Field.

I'm not declaring the boys in blue Central champs, and I'm not naming them the greatest club in baseball right now. I'm not that stupid.

Jim Hendry didn't buy the Astros and drive them into the ground. Lou Pinella didn't call in a few favors to have the Brewers plagues with injuries. Dusty Baker didn't defect to conspire against the Reds.

The fact that the Cubs have a good chance at looking back up at the Cardinals by the time I hit the publish button isn't really the point. The point is that baseball season is, by definition, a marathon, and we as fans have every right to be excited about the most minute of events.

Like a Manny Ramierez strike out to end a 6-2 win for the Cardinals by Franklin.

That just happened!

Whether it's a perfect game for a franchise debating the question "buyer or seller" at the break, or the jump from second to first, baseball fans get excited for many small reasons to keep interested during a 162 (and sometimes longer) season.

The little blurbs of excitement during a typical ballgame are exactly the way people feel about the baseball season. The long fly ball, or the sweep of a rival. The big 27th out, or the big 1,458th out (assuming only nine innings of 162 games are played...), every fan needs to get excited at intermittent parts of the season.

The game of baseball is different than any other game, and I might be the only baseball fan to admit it, but not every play is exciting. Not every strikeout is electric. And Cubs fans know, not every fly ball is a homer.

But regardless of when you get excited, my whole point is to get excited. It's a long season that has specific points that get us all pumped up. Spring training, the All-Star break, the trade deadline... All of these are points in the season that seem to draw the average fan more to the avid fans side of the baseline.

So get excited that it flies Cubs, Cards, Astros, Brewers, Reds, Pirates. Get excited when Milton Bradley has clearly dropped his shoulder too far, and get excited when Alfonso Soriano swings through ball four, because it's too long of a season to not get excited over the little things.

Just so you know, the game went final on an Alfonso Soriano grand slam. Get excited about that Soriano swing Cubs fans!

Outsiders Insider: Root For The Other Guy... Just This Once

Joe Huber — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:01:09 -0400

The standings?

Chicago White Sox: 5 1/2 games back of the first place Detroit Tigers, with the Minnesota Twins in the way.

Chicago Cubs: 2 1/2 games back of the first place Milwaukee Brewers, with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds in the way.

Neither team playing particularly well. Neither team utilizing their starting pitching.

But, neither team is really out of it.

As a fan of neither one of these teams, my voice is likely to be lost amongst the fold.

"You can't root for the White Sox and the Cubs." "No true Chicagoan would ever root for the (north/south) siders. They are such idiots."

But here's the real deal. If you root against your city rival starting tomorrow: You're the idiot.

The White Sox take on the team the Cubbie boys are chasing in the form of the Brew Crew. The Cubbie boys themselves? The team in the immediate sights of the Sox: Minnesota.

I will never understand why the Cubs and Sox can't root for each other, because both fans are from Chicago, but I accept it. Just like I accept that other Red Sox fans like Fever Pitch.

OK. I've stalled long enough. Out with the question.

WHY WOULD YOU EVER ROOT AGAINST THE OTHER SIDE WHEN YOUR DIVISION RIVAL IS PLAYING THEM?

What is more important? Winning your awful, terrible, horrendous division? Or having bragging rights because the team across didn't win against a team that wasn't your favorite team growing up?

You're right...meaningless bragging rights mean so much.

That's the thing about a Chicago baseball fan. Some people hate the other team more than they like their own team.

On the radio today, I hear the afternoon Saloon on a certain sports talk station today, and one of the main hosts stated that he "had no rooting interest in what happens at Wrigley Field." Which begs the question: WHY NOT?!?!?!

Your horrible team is only 5 1/2 games out of first, and the team directly in front of you is playing a team that can leap frog you into second with a sweep.

Your awful team is only 2 1/2 games back, and the team that leads your division can be a half game ahead if the opposite city team sweeps and yours does the same...

I can see your reluctance to root for the cross city rival.

I know I'd hate it if the New York Yankees were eight games out and they swept the Tampa Bay Rays to give the Boston Red Sox first place, because hatred for another team totally trumps the love of your favorite team.

Does the sarcasm drip?

Why does it have to be a hatred across the city? It casts such a dark shadow from 35th to Addison. I sincerely hate wearing non-Cubs gear during the season. Granted it's a "B" instead of the interlocking "Sox", but I still feel the glares.

The real question isn't about whether or not you want your cross town teams to collide in October, and in this year, November.

It's whether or not you'll be rooting for the north or south siders every day this season, it's whether you'll be scoreboard watching this weekend.

Where does your allegiance/intelligence lie?

Sore Live The King: LeBron Is Setting A Poor Example

Joe Huber — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:24:15 -0400

Professional athletes shouldn't be the role model in a child's life. At least not when it comes to sportsmanship.

When an athlete acts in a way that would have embarrassed many of the 12-year-olds I umpired for, there needs to be something said. Nobody may care, but I promise I will still say it.

So what am I going to say?

LeBron James, you've disappointed me.

There are 14 million-plus reasons why he doesn't care what anyone has to say. He shouldn't care what anyone says. However, that doesn't mean he should've skipped the now infamous handshake entirely.

Just because you're a competitor doesn't mean you can't shake someone else's hand. Just because you're a winner doesn't mean you have to say good game and congratulate the victor.

Appearance is everything.

Do you think Bill Belichick walked up and said, "Nice game. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" after the Giants game?

He probably simply said good game. He spent about one second with that grasp at the middle of the field.

But that's just it, James didn't even give the opposition the courtesy of a brief handshake at mid-court. He didn't answer a single question in the post game to the press, and not a single word in the locker room.

That's not a king. That's not even the jester.

I'm a huge fan of James. I even want him to eventually be as big as Michael Jordan. We all know he can't eclipse him entirely, so let's not start that debate.

But let's talk about how somebody used to take him seriously, but can't after what followed that display on the court. It was the aftershock that got me more.

Walking off the court was bush league and childish, but what was worse than all of that? Defending his actions more than 24 hours later.

Let's just go ahead and pretend we're professional athletes. Put yourself in that position. I think most would be able to find it deep within to shake at least one hand.

My head might be too small to wrap it around the idea of accepting such a poor sportsmanship, but next time James and whatever team he plays for loses the big series, here's one man who hopes he can find it within himself to shake some hands.

Big No More: Is The Swagger Gone?

Joe Huber — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:28:21 -0400

Through 154 at-bats, David Ortiz has as many triples as he does home runs. Uno, one, un, or uno again.

Ortiz hasn't been big thus far in the 2009 Boston Red Sox campaign, and since it's officially after Memorial Day, it's no longer "too early" to pose the question: Is David "Big Papi" Ortiz done?

In short, no. Big Papi will hit at least 20 home runs this season.

But even I would be mad if that was the entirety of the article.

Have you ever had a nagging injury that made it a little harder to do your job? Maybe a sprained ankle or jammed finger? Well, I think that last year's wrist injury is still bugging him.

Now, a lot of people will talk until they're blue in the face that it's something you can just tough out, but with a power hitter, the legs and wrists are instrumental to him blasting balls toward the lone red seat in right field.

Even if this is entirely speculative, and trust me, it is, it's still a valid point. Anyone who has ever hit a baseball can tell you that when your wrist is not up to par, your hitting is not up to par. The reverberation from the bat up to his elbow could be bugging him, causing him to try to hit the ball with only the sweet spot on the bat.

Which leads to the next reason why he will hit at least 20 home runs this season. He's overthinking.

Again, many people will disagree that Big Papi is probably not even thinking while he's up there (look at some of the pitches he's swinging at...), but it's entirely plausible that he's looking at every single pitch and determining how exactly the ball an be crushed at Pesky's pole.

However, by the time he's figured all that out, the 99 mph fastball is by him or the 12-6 curve has already had the bottom drop out.

It will take Papi some time to readjust to get back into his old ways, but there is no reason why he won't be able to swing for the fences, and connect 19 more times this year.

One more reason why he can still return to form, Terry Francona. There is not a better player's manager in this business. He understands what it takes to succeed, and the best way to succeed in baseball? Have your players succeed.

Francona will find the proper way to get Papi his at bats, and to also find the right amount of days to rest him and have him return to Big Papi status.

Ortiz might be slumping now, but with the Red Sox back atop first in the division, it's entirely possible that the pressure comes off, and Papi starts back into form.

If nothing more, these are the ways I've shrouded myself into believing he is on his way back to top of his game. Go Red Sox.

The Ballhawking Hobby: Is It Fair to Sell Back a Milestone Ball?

Joe Huber — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:01:39 -0400

I will start with the recent news that Chris Coghlan of the Florida Marlins might not be so happy he hit his first home run.

He has had a run in with a self-proclaimed ball hawker Nick Yohanek.

According to a story on ESPN.com, Yohanek caught the rookies first homer at a Marlins-Brewers game in Milwaukee and held the ball for "ransom."

I'm not going to really dwell on this story in particular, since I found it to be only slightly interesting, and I'm more interested in seeing how others felt about the act of catching a milestone ball.

So I pose the following question: What do you do after you catch that ball?

Barry Bonds slammed home run number 756 and it ended up in the hands of a man that wasn't even planning to be at the game. Marc Ecko bought it at auction for $752,467 and held a vote on whether to donate the ball intact to Cooperstown, send it to the Hall branded with an asterisk, or to launch it into space.

But what if the Matt Murphy, a Mets fan, had just handed the ball over to Bonds for a signed bat? Was that the "right" thing to do?

I personally loved what Ecko did with the ball. I voted to send it in with the branding on it.

Bonds was not so hot on the idea.

Does it make a difference when the player is nice?

Let's say that someone as clean and courteous as Derek Jeter slammed number 763 into the Monsters seats, what would you do as a Red Sox fan.

(I just want to make clear that I understand this won't happen. I also understand that you might hate him because he's a Yankee, but admit it, you want your kid to grow up to be just like him.)

His winning smile wouldn't be enough to get the ball back, but would the traditional signed bat do the trick?

I've given it some pretty deep thought, and I like to think I'd send a big time ball into the hall. In exchange for some Red Sox tickets, of course. But then I also thought, if it was worth $750,000? I'd take the money.

Now hear this, a rookies first home run is not worth $1,000 let alone $750,000, but I think that trying to get the most you can out of a ball you caught is the American way.

To illustrate my point, I'll use the following ridiculous analogy: Let's say KFC throws their recipe in the trash and Ronald McDonald picks it up. He's not going to just hand it back over. He's going to find out exactly how much that recipe is really worth.

It might be a shame, but our society is all about exposing other peoples vanity for their own financial gain. If Britney Spears doesn't want the nip slip on TMZ, she could just buy the photos from the paparazzi herself. It's just not that important to her.

Apparently the first home run ball hit by Coghlan was worth putting up with someone that was indignant enough to ask for a signed bat from Hanley Ramierez as well, having the initial offer rejected, and then granting his request for free tickets to an upcoming Brewers-Marlins series in Florida.

I'm not saying there is a right or wrong to the situation, but what would you do in that situation? I'd get what I could. Like I said, I'd love to tell you I'd send it first class to Cooperstown, but I'm not going to lie about it.

As for Coghlan, you might not want to hit one out when Yohanek comes to your park in July. He might just ask for another signed bat.

A-Rod Looks To Give Yankees Shot in The Arm

Joe Huber — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:06:22 -0400

Get the headline? I know, I'm hilarious.

As for the idea that Alex Rodriguez could turn the Yankees season around, as a Red Sox fan, it's no laughing matter.

I don't care what he's done in the post-season, how many steroids he's taken over the years, or that he just had hip surgery.

He's still Alex Rodriguez.

Unlike Bucky "Bleeping" Dent or Aaron "Bleeping" Boone, A-Rod has done little to earn a swear as a middle name, but that's not to say he doesn't have time.

Rodriguez is a looming figure for the not only the rest of the league, but seems to also have that effect on the rest of his teammates as well. However, he still hits home runs at will, and any pitcher worth his jock strap shouldn't start lobbing first pitch fastballs because they don't think he still has power.

Let me break the news now. He does.

I'm not afraid of the Yankees to a terrible extent since the Sawks have mopped the floor with them thus far this season, but that's just it. Thus far.

C.C. Sabathia will right his big fat ship, Chien-Ming Wang is coming back, and Robinson Cano is tearing the ball up.

There is no need for a panic in Red Sox nation, but there is a cause to make sure we are checking that rear view mirror that is the standings.

The Yankees have never simply died, in large part because they are like a virus. It's impossible to rid yourself of them entirely until they've just run their course and puttered themselves out.

Alex Rodriguez coming back opens doors for Yankees skipper Joe Girardi as well. He no longer has to worry about who is batting clean up and now has someone to protect Mark Teixiera.

The Yankees get a lot better with Alex Rodriguez. Heck, any team gets better with Rodriguez.

His ability to juice up a team can also have a cause and effect that is detrimental to the rest of the A.L. East's dreams of a divisional title.

Granted, his juice comes from a teams hatred for one man rather than their affinity for him and his leadership. Juice is juice.

Just ask A-Rod.

Back in the Swing of Things

Joe Huber — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:06:30 -0400

Welcome back baseball season.

Officially.

I'm not saying that the first month of the season isn't exciting or incredible. I'm just saying it's much nicer when the super casual fans start to dissipate.

Granted they'll be back again when it gets even nicer out, but whenever you can take the day off to catch a game when people are watching the pitch count more than counting their beers, it's bliss.

Even when the person sitting next to you isn't a fan of the team, when they love baseball, it's tough to beat a day at the ballpark.

Last year, I went to two separate Cubs games. One at which I sat with my friends in the 100 level behind first base, and it was one of the most pleasurable games I've been to.

The people around us were not only friendly, but wanted to watch the game. It was great. We talked about Paul Bako's tenure with a few of the friendly confines finest, and when a reference was made to ole' Ron Santo, people knew he was more than just the lovable broadcaster.

Then there was the game were I sat in the bleachers...

I'm not saying don't sit there—it's something you have to do if you get the chance. But the amount of beer spilled on me was unbelievable. It came from all directions too, with someone managing to spill backwards and up, a truly spectacular feat.

The difference? One game was in May, one was in July.

This year I sat at U.S. Cellular field during opening week and saw so many people in the 100 level concourse stumbling more than John Madden during a Monday night broadcast.

The bar scene is affected too.

You can spot the real fans, donning their teams colors from head to toe. The Red Sox hat, jersey, baseball seam bracelet, and flip flops in my case. And you can spot the casual fan.

"Who are we playing today?" or, "That Zack Greinke, he's no good."

Baseball thrives on the warmer weather waiting around the corner, but it's kind of nice when the ball field is about 50-60 degrees and there is a chance for rain. It keeps those that just want to catch a tan away. We'd rather catch foul balls—or at least try.

I don't want to see the park devoid of the casual fan either. The casual fan can be great. It's the person that shouts louder that he's had his 15th beer in the park than when the ball is crushed off his teams bat to deep left.

The fact that summer is starting to warm up will undoubtedly bring out the fan that still thinks Nomar is wearing a "B" on his hat, but that shouldn't stop the rest of us from reveling in the race for October.

Brett Favre Unretires To Announce Retirement (Satire)

Joe Huber — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:02:07 -0400

It officially happened, according to several unnamed sources.

Brett Favre is back.

Or at least he was.

According to Person X, Favre signed a deal with the Vikings, and upon crossing his T's, he immediately looked directly into the eyes of Minnesota Vikings' General Manager Rick Spielman and said, "I'd like to be released now."

"I was in utter shock," said Spielman. "Not even one training camp before he retires?"

Spielman wasn't as shocked as Ted Thompson, who claimed that his cell phone rang while he was still recovering from a drugging that took place when he was kidnapped during the draft.

"I was blown away. He said all he wants to do is sign a one-day deal so he could retire a Packer. I was all about it. But then he kind of caught me off guard when he also asked to be hired as my personal landscaper."

When asked about the call to Thompson, Favre replied, "I only called Ted because I need the money and I just started my landscaping company. How sweet would it be to have a big-name client already."

He has not reached a deal yet with the Packers, reportedly, but it's been said that he's called the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions brass to sign a contract.

"It's not like I'm hurting anyone, and I know it's a weird hobby. What can I say? I love signing contracts."

With the news coming down that Favre was coming back, John Madden immediately announced he was coming back to join Al Michaels in the broadcasting booth.

Madden was quoted by the Associated Press as having said, "HUiuasbfaiab.... BRETT FAVRE! Uhasbnfebwq."

But the sports world wasn't the only place celebrating.

Disney World gave the new retiree a new job watching over the drunk who plays Goofy in Disney World Hattiesburgh.

"I know, I just wanted to ride my tractor, but this job is pretty great. All I have to do is make sure he drinks less than 12 beers a day, and I coast. Plus it gets my mind off of football."

Favre has since stated that he would not be playing football again, but during a question-and-answer session in which he was modeling some Wrangler jeans, someone received a text that Favre had called Tim Ruskell, the GM for the Seattle Seahawks.

"Well, yeah, I called him. How sweet would it be to make Matt Hasselbeck my backup again. I gotta run guys. Me and Mad Dog are going to get in 18 before I sign a deal and retire. But this time it's for good."

Chicago's Top Five Sports Radio Personalities

Joe Huber — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:02:36 -0400

Chicago fans are a rare breed. They have a civil war in the summer and put their differences aside every Autumn as they bear down and prepare for the arduous 16 game schedule ahead. But when the person delivering the lines is exceptional, it makes it that much easier to listen to the radio and let the soothing (or loud and brash) voice wash over you and carry you down the Edens all the way home.

Begin Slideshow

Outsiders Insider: Best Baseball Fans in Chicago

Joe Huber — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:20:53 -0400

Alright. I'm sick of the talk back and forth from south siders living on the north side to north siders riding from Addison to 35th.

Let me state here that regardless of which Chicagoan you encounter, if they're a sports fan, it's not really fair to give advantage to either side. We're talking about a fan BASE here.

Both teams have great fans sprinkled throughout their ranks, and I've seen grown men cry because a dude wearing earphones did what anyone else would do when a foul ball was coming our way.

But it's not about one person, it's about the groups collectively.

I'm going to settle this once and for all, and since my bias resides out east, it means just a little bit more... Or not.

Attendance

Alright, first subject up, and it's much closer than you think.

The Cubbies have one of the longest season ticket waiting lists among all professional sports teams, and it's not because they win titles.

So you might think this point goes to the north siders right off because they average 10,000 more people per game than the go go boys do.

Even in 2006, when the White Sox were reigning champs, the Sox averaged 3,000 less people per game than the Cubs. Let that sink in for a second.

Most other major franchises wouldn't be able to keep tickets in stock, but the White Sox couldn't fill their stadium.

So where does that leave us?

Well we have a crew on the north that buys tickets more for the experience than the play of the field and about 30 minutes away via the Red Line you have a group that doesn't sell out a world champion.

How is a Cubs fan going to say they have "the best fans in the world" either when, and I'm ball parking this, about 85 percent of the people in the stands hear E2 and only think of Caesar. Too close to Dennis Miller?

At least 80 percent of the 30,000 or so fans at "The Cell", or Comiskey from here on, have a passion and lust for the game that can't be satisfied. But Wrigley still draws more fans to their doors, so that means that they HAVE to take the attendance down.

ADVANTAGE: Cubs (Barely)

Passion

The Cubs fan base as a whole is flawed in their passion. A solid 70 percent couldn't name eight players on the club. I think more people own Cubs hats than there are fans.

The passion is misguided, and almost juvenile in the way a 13-year-old girl (or boy, who am I to judge) loves Zac Effron.

It's not just root root root for the Cubbies, it's "hey, we're in the bleachers, now let's get hammered!" The passion north of the Maison-Wacker line is watered down at best.

Now on the south side? It's disgusting. There are literally babies that come out cursing Justin Morneau. Is their passion just as misguided though because it's steeped in hatred?

Absolutely not.

A lot Red Sox and Yankees fans will tell you that it's a-ok.

The swelling pride from 2005 is still worn on the faces of someone riding the el in their Sox hat that's been faded since 1996. It's that pride that the fan base as a whole carries with them that allows them to squeak through this round.

ADVANTAGE: White Sox (You can putitontheboarrrrrrrd... YES!)

Press coverage

This one isn't even close.

The Cubs win big because of WGN. Hello dollar sign, dollar sign.

Even in Chicago newspapers, and Sox fans will tell you if you listen, that the coverage at Wrigley makes the Sox fans feel like the runt of the litter. "Even the Chicago Fire get more coverage," lament some White Sox fans.

The radio is no different with the Cubs on 720, and the White Sox moving from ESPN 1000 to WSCR 670, this makes the gap widen even more.

And while listening to those games on the radio, which is far more important than watching on TV, the play-by-play of Pat Hughes is top notch. Ron Santo really doesn't add a whole lot, unless it's about Brer Rabbit or wooly bully. Or to say "Oh No."

They make a good enough team to take down the arrogant Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson. If you listen to Farmio, you'd think he was the only person to win the Cy Young award every season he played. And Darrin Jackson pretty much thinks every batter should get chin music.

While you might think that this has nothing to do with the fans, think again.

The fan needs to be able to get the news on their team, and a fan with these tools to know about the goings on will be better off. It's not the fans' fault necessarily, but it's the baggage they must deal with.

ADVANTAGE: Cubs (....BRER RABBIT!)

Reaction to wins

Whenever I hear about a Chicago win, no matter the team, it's usually met with the same fervor that would take place after many teams win their respective championship. However, when the White Sox win, it's just another day at the office.

There's excitement, sure, but it's not over the top. It's not in your face, and it's like it's happened before.

When the Cubs win it's like the curse has been broken, they not only let you know they won, they let you know it was a smearing. 4-3 sounds like 12-0.

It's okay to get excited, but when it's game 32, it's just really not that exciting. Great games are excluded from this however, such as winning 8-6 after being down 5-1 and going ahead on a slam. Alright, you got me.

I'll go ahead and pro rate playoff wins too, and the edge again goes to the White Sox, in large part because they've had more.

They've got the ring now, and on top of that, the one-game playoff last year against Minnesota had all the makings of mayhem on 35th. But they reacted in a completely level headed way. The fans were great.

When a win is celebrated to the perfect extent, it's that much better to deal with.

ADVANTAGE: White Sox (Chicago's proud of you)

Reaction to losses

Crying in the stadium after a loss is a perfectly acceptable form of anguish when your team loses in game 7 in the NLCS.

I won't use that as a measuring stick, but I will use Ron Santo as an example. Ronnie is the quintessential Cub fan. He loves his team no matter what. Thick and thin.

But he also lets a loss affect him a little more than he probably should.

"Oh no. Awwwww geez..." Those words are pretty much this man's catch phrase.

Now I'm not saying that a loss shouldn't hurt, but again it's the regular season losses that concern me.

Unless it's the string of losses that ends your season, it's not that bad. Or the loss that sends you from first to second or third...

Sox fans again just view the bigger picture and roll with the punches. To me, it's their non reaction that gives them a slight edge.

ADVANTAGE: White Sox (I really mean slight)

Knowledge of the game

How important is knowing your team?

It's the most important. Whoever wins this category should just be handed "Better Fan Base" status.

On one hand, you have the White Sox fans who can still name their 1959 line up and rattle off stats from the Black Sox scandal of 1919.

On the other hand, you have Cubs fans that can lay it down when it comes to a rowdy 1908 squad that took the MLB by storm.

Both crews know their stuff. Then again, Chicago fans arguably are the most knowledgeable fans there are.

Don't believe me? Run over to Casey Morans or the Bullpen and start spouting off statistics. Someone will sit you down and spell it out for you.

Now, the base as a whole for the Cubs would probably be bogged down because so many fans are 24-year-old women who can't watch baseball because it's too boring, but they bought that "cute pink hat with a 'C' on it, because I was in Chicago!"

Or the football player who got his 1914 Cubs hat because the Bear on it was sweet.

While Cubs fans clearly have more dead weight, I believe they make up for it with the rest of the population from Kansas that have nothing better to do than watch baseball, and WGN just so happens to come in everywhere.

White Sox fans don't have the dead weight, just fewer people.

Which brings us to...

ADVANTAGE: Draw (I know, I'm mad too...If only I could change it...)

Loyalty

Well, this isn't going to be a surprise ending.

You can see it in the attendance records for the White Sox, and that's not the only estimation, but it's a really good indicator.

White Sox fans back off easier and more often than Cub fans. In large part because Cub fans don't back off.

At all. Ever.

It's been 100 years. It's been 100 years. It's been 100 years since the Cubs have won a World Series, and yes that was on purpose.

Yet every season there are the real fans that sit next to the Ivy spilling their beer because the bleachers are packed tighter than the Olde Style cans they send to the recycling plant. The faith they have rivals pre-2005 Red Sox fans.

It's awe-inspiring sometimes...

ADVANTAGE: Cubs (HEY HEY!)

Conclusion

In the end it's really a draw. Honestly it is.

When it comes to a better fan base, there is no loser. Both fans love their teams, and it's easy to see on their faces.

Jump on the red line at Howard and ride it to 95th or vice versa and watch the jersey colors change like leaves in Autumn.

Look at the face of the 75-year-old woman who got to watch her Sox bring home the trophy or the little boy who's clearly on his way to his first trip to Wrigley.

You'll see pride. You'll see love for the game. You'll see a fan.

Delivery Men: New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox Rivalry Games Entertain

Joe Huber — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:03:48 -0400

So many people complain about the coverage given to Tiger Woods at a golf outing, but there's a reason he is placed at the front of the television coverage.

He makes people watch. But that's not what I want to talk about. I want to talk Red Sox-Yankees. Yankees-Red Sox.

Pinstripes and clean shaven versus pure white and scraggly beards.

Yankees Universe and Red Sox Nation.

Evil Empire and the slightly-less-Evil Empire.

The nod to Tiger was because what he does to the sport of golf, THE rivalry does for the sport of baseball. New York and Boston draw more ratings than Cubs-Cardinals, more viewers than Twins-White Sox-Indians (although it is interesting the hatred triangle these teams have), and that's why whenever they play a series it's usually on TV.

I'm not here to say that they have the best rivalry in all of sports, that distinction belongs to Ohio State-Michigan, but I am here to say that when it comes to summer, and baseball, nothing is more entertaining than the Yankees and Red Sox. Nothing.

In years past it's been all Yankees really. Bucky "bleeping" Dent. Aaron "bleeping" Boone. We Red Sox fans are just generally looking for a reason to curse.

But the curse was lifted, and now it's the Sawks chance to turn in the great performances.

It started in 2004 with the greatest comeback in sports history. Last year it was the improbable 6-7 comeback win.

Then this series comes along. This three game series to cap a wicked long home stand.

It was Friday night when Kevin Youkilis hitting a walk off homer in the 11th. And on Saturday it was a shoot out that had the Yankees up 6-0 and losing 11-16. When these teams meet, fans win.

And when Jacoby Ellsbury steals home, straight up, we all watched. If not Sunday night, then Monday morning at work you surely watched Ellsbury swipe the last possible bag.

And maybe you were the one saying "why is it always those Eastern seaboard teams?"

This series was the reason why they're always on.

The players always step up and manage to deliver.

So next time you're sitting around and the Yankees are taking on the Red Sox, and you're wondering why that Nationals-Rockies game isn't on, go watch Ellsbury steal home again.

For The Dogs: Michael Vick's Bailout Plan Rejected

Joe Huber — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:51:20 -0400

I can understand that Michael Vick wants to play football again. I can understand that someone in the NFL will take the chance. What I don't understand is why he thinks that it's plausible to play for 10 more years in the NFL.

Michael Vick spent about three hours in court on April 4 outlining his plan of action to escape from the jaws of bankruptcy. That plan included working for a construction company.

Vick's bankruptcy plan included many head scratchers, including keeping two very large and expensive homes, and three cars. My favorite report from this debacle was when it was reported that he would be a salesman for a home remodeling company.

Like you would let him into your home—with tools.

It's now stated by Vick that he would work a $10 an hour construction job while he awaits reinstatement by Roger Goodell.

Since this is a sports blog, I should probably write about something related to sports.

If my team were to pick up Vick, I wouldn't know what to do.

Now, Green Bay has their quarterback and a history of requiring the athletes to have character while with the team—threw that in there for Mark Chmura—so once again, no worries.

Now I believe in second chances, and he's served his time, so if he can play, then by all means, let him suit up. But I just wouldn't want him on my team.

I want to know what other people are thinking about as he gets closer and closer to attempting a comeback. Do you want to see him doing what only Vick could do for your team, or would you just as soon never see him in pads and a uniform ever again?

How much of a leash would you give him? Pun intended.

Vick seemingly has turned the corner and sounds genuine in his words. But the skeptic in me just can't ever believe it entirely.

I always liked him because he entertains with his play on the field, and prior to some dog fighting charges, he stayed relatively clean.

Vick should be reinstated by Goodell and should be allowed the opportunity to play in the NFL. That said, I just hope it's never in Green Bay.

Be Careful What You Wish For: Jay Cutler Lands in Chicago

Joe Huber — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:32:44 -0400

It's said that he is actually a really good teammate. It's been said that he is actually a nice guy. It's been said that he stands up for his beliefs, then again, he apparently believes it's normal to request a trade and then becomes shocked when he gets what he wants.

That's right. He is Jay Cutler.

The tale that has been weaved the past couple months has been an interesting one at the very least. Tales of betrayal from the owner to the coach and stories of misunderstanding between the ranks have made for constant plot lines in an intricate disaster that now leaves the headlines from Denver.

The first warning of careful wishing was that Cutler shouted scandal when the Denver Broncos placed him on the trading block—a pedestal he didn't ask for according to Cutler.

But Cutler has been the least credible source throughout this entire ordeal, and I remember thinking about whether or not I would want him on my team during the debacle. I decided I would definitely want him on my team, because I think that he is just acting immature at the moment.

It's really not fair since I am a Packers fan because I'd rather have Aaron Rodgers (he has character rather than acting like one). But then when the trade was announced I thought about which quarterback I would rather have.

And it was Kyle Orton.

Now, the only reason I would say that is because Orton was such a well-liked guy and known leader in that locker room.

Cutler is someone that demanded a trade, and then was shocked when they put him on the block.

Is there something we don't know about you, Jay? Any recent medical problems, like a concussion or amnesia?

Then he goes on to say that the Denver brass never spoke with him personally. I believe that he never spoke with him, but that's only because I believe that when they called, he hung up the phone.

Nobody, as far as fans go, will ever know for sure what went on with those parties, and no one will care anymore, but what makes me wary for the fans of these Chicago Bears is that you've now got a real quarterback. What are you going to do?

Are you going to allow him to act like this when he gets here? Would you let him make up stories or contradict everything that Lovie Smith or Jerry Angelo says?

The city of Chicago has been very tolerant of circus acts in the past when the team is winning (re: Dennis Rodman), but can you take it if the team remains mediocre?

I wouldn't be too worried about that since you are getting a Pro Bowl quarterback from the AFC, the conference that had Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and a few other big-name quarterbacks playing in it last year.

What will the reception be at Halas Hall on Friday? It's bound to be a media circus, but I'm really curious to see how the media responds. He might have been able to text and talk in Denver, but when you're in a city that's considerably larger and a true national city, texting won't fly.

We all know that Cutler will be welcomed with open arms by the fans, and already has a statue being carved out of one of the coliseum colonnades.

The chances of him having another blowup like this again are slim, but then again, I wonder what they said the first time about Terrell Owens.

Call For the College Basketball Upset: Cinderella Comes Before My Bracket

Joe Huber — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:42:31 -0400

I'm the one cheering when everyone else is groaning.

I'm the one screaming "No!" while the rest of the country is rejoicing.

I'm the one cheering for 16 seeds to upset the No. 1's.

While there are probably a lot of people out there that want to see Cinderella dance, I want to see the upsets even if it comes at the expense of my bracket.

I have Connecticut going all the way, but if they had lost in round 1 to UT-Chattanooga, I would have been thrilled. I had Wake Forest in the final four, and when they lost to Cleveland State, I was hoping to see shades of a George Mason run.

But alas, there will be no pumpkin coaches in the Final Four. Only giants and power houses are in the elite eight, and with only one, two, and three seeds left in the tournament, it's certainly not a let down. I just feel a little empty...

After No. 12 Arizona's clock struck the proverbial midnight, there were no Cinderella teams left. Even Arizona was a stretch as a "Cinderella." Though they carried the burden of a 12 seed, they deserved a much better position than that. But I digress...

I guess it never made sense to me, why you would consistently root for the Duke's and UConn's of the world (unless you went to Duke or UConn). It's the parity of Men's Basketball that has always been the draw for me.

Cinderella has always been a boy too, until the Ball State Lady Cardinals knocked off the defending champion Tennessee Volunteers. Shout out to my Alma mater.

I hear so many people complain about upsets because "it busted my bracket," but isn't that the whole draw to the tournament?

I had Xavier beating Pittsburgh in one bracket, and when it looked like the Muskies were going to upset the Panthers, I was ready to brag. My family has a long history of XU grads, so it wasn't entirely based on knowledge.

Who wants to watch four No. 1 seeds battle it out for the crown? That's boring. But that brings me to my point. What's more important to you: An exciting tourney, or the perfect bracket?

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that if my bracket was perfect I wouldn't be thrilled, but I will say that I'd rather lose every game if it meant a pair of 16's cutting down the nets.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Joe Huber — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:17:48 -0400

Spring fever and Spring arms. Spring fever breeds March Madness.

Baseball ending and crisp air. Baseball ending and football beginning.

There are many questions in this life, many of which won't ever be answered. One of these questions? What is the best season for sports?

I know it's not summer. Even as a huge Red Sox fan, I get that it just doesn't have enough going on and it's not winter because the only championship that's really going on is the Superbowl, but is that really enough to carry a season?

I used to be a die hard fall person, in large part because the baseball playoffs were going on and football season really starts to heat up. The fact I love autumn in and of itself was also taken into consideration.

However, since the World Baseball Classic showed up, I find myself awaiting spring days just as bad as I was aching for the breaks in 100 degree heat.

Spring also has some tremendous cases to be considered as the top season for sports, number being this little dance between 64 collegiate athletes.

March Madness is by far the greatest playoff system in all of sports, and here is why. There are 64 teams for starters. That is such an astronomical number for a sports related playoff.

It's exciting, anyone can win a game (except for a No. 16 seed), and I don't think you follow Western Kentuck or Dayton for 11 months and 2 weeks out of the year, but right now, there's someone out there that had Illinois in the Sweet 16 that is rueing the day the Hilltoppers won the Sun Belt conference title.

Or maybe there is someone out there running around their office telling everyone that "they told you so" because they remember WKU in last year's Sweet 16.

Then there is spring training. There is no preseason more worthwhile than baseball. I'm not saying that preseason NFL games don't matter, but preseason NFL games don't matter.

I've never heard of anyone taking off a week to go watch the Lakers play a few preseason games or to go trek up to Edmonton to watch the Oilers get ready to take on the Blackhawks for a little preseason action.

Yet every year people flock to Fort Myers or Arizona to catch a break from the cold, kick back a few brews, and snag a few innings of baseball.

Enter the World Baseball Classic.

So many people hate it, and I understand why, yet I love it. Maybe it's because I have friends internationally and love to go back and forth with them in good fun, but it makes me feel great watching these guys.

I'm not worried about anybody getting hurt, but that's because I believe it's bigger than an MLB season. This is like the World Cup or the Olympics, a stage for your country to put out its best product.

They aren't getting paid as much, though, and that's why I understand people not playing. That said, I still love it.

So I figure this, fall can be best two out of three years, but when World Baseball Classic year runs around, I'm all about the spring.

"Not My Man": Brett Favre Is No Leader

Joe Huber — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:42:17 -0500

Excuse the use of the slogan coined by liberal Hoosiers during the last election for governor, but it works just as well in this situation.

I can hear it now: "You're just a dejected Packers fan. Why are you bagging on Brett? He isn't even your teams quarterback anymore!"

I'm here to say: "I don't care anymore."

The man I idolized for 17 years, the man for whom I nearly cried when he officially retired from the sport of football, is no longer the man I thought he was.

Brett Favre is no longer a team leader. Favre is a fraud.

The problem is that he now thinks of himself above everyone else. Separate dressing rooms, rifts with teammates, and the constant cries for attention add up to one dysfunctional locker room.

Everyone has probably heard Thomas Jones' quotes in which he voiced his opinion that Favre should have been benched after throwing interceptions in the Jets' late season outings—but it's more than that. It's the fact that he lost his team in a single season.

It's a problem when your teammates call you out for throwing picks and it's even more of a problem when you head back to the locker room, and aren't even in the same room. There's no cohesion with him at the helm. I'm really curious to talk with Jets fans about No. 4 to see how they feel.

The saga continues again this offseason, with Favre once again taking his time deciding his future. The drama he attracts when the season ends is literally a soap opera that nobody can really get a handle on. The Packers and Jets have tried to keep everything hush hush—the PR can be brutal.

I'm not calling Favre overrated. I still think he's the best quarterback to play the game. However, I'm glad he's not in Green Bay anymore.

Maybe I am just a dejected fan, but I honestly believe that the Jets should reevaluate whether or not they want him leading the way.

Hey, Mike Tannenbaum, I hear that Nate Davis is pretty sick. Maybe you should draft him and declare him the starter. That is, unless Favre decides early that he is coming back.

But look on the bright side, the Jets should know by next August whether or not he's coming back.

The Biggest Mistake: Nate Davis Enters NFL Draft

Joe Huber — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:49:10 -0500

Ball State Cardinals football is having a pretty rough time these days. Losing head coach Brady Hoke to San Diego State University, plus the three assistants that followed suit, and now the best quarterback ever to grace the University is making an exit too.

Nate Davis has declared for the NFL draft.

Now a month or so ago, I would have said there is nothing better that he could do than to declare. Davis was a first day projection and would have made enough money to support himself and his family easily. Today, I'm not certain he even makes it until the sixth or seventh round.

The MAC Championship against Buffalo cost Davis, but there was still time to make up his draft position. He played with the flu, and I think scouts took that into consideration. However, he suffered the same problems with ball control in the GMAC Bowl against Tulsa, fumbling twice.

Davis did NOT lose the game for BSU. The team just didn't play well. End of story.

Davis might have fumbled twice, and the interception doesn't really count. It hit a BSU receiver and fell into the welcome hands of a Tulsa defensive back. Our defense didn't get on the bus to Mobile, either.

Still, the trend with fumbles was unsettling. I sincerely hope that he winds up in the third round, laughing about how stupid anyone was to think that just because he fumbled a few times.

He has a great delivery and awesome arm power, but the ball control is a problem. Scouts don't like that he throws with a glove, and without the laces. He has positives and negatives just like Matt Stafford of Georgia; it just so happens that Stafford's negatives are more minor.

Honestly, and this is without my Cardinals at heart, the best thing Nate Davis could do for himself and his family is go back to Ball State for one more year, tear it up, and give NFL scouts one more look.

He can make more money that way by adding more experience and proving his ball control skills. He's not bad with the ball normally.

I wish him all the best in the NFL, and I'll be rooting hard for him to succeed, but I don't think it's the right call.

Farewell Nasty Nate—here's to you getting drafted on April 25.

Indisputable: Michael Phelps Is THE Sportsman of 2008

Joe Huber — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:41:50 -0500

Too bad Tiger Woods, winning a major on a hobbled knee wasn’t enough. Feeling for you Francisco Rodriguez, setting the record for saves in a single season didn’t do it. I’m chapped for you Chad Pennington, turning the Dolphins from worst to first wasn’t the most incredible thing in 2008. It was the creature from the Baltimore lagoon, Michael Phelps.

So what if the nickname isn’t catchy, I'm talking about Michael Phelps here! Phelps not only set a record that many people thought would never be broken, but he did it in a sport where you only get a shot at said record every four years. If that wasn't enough, he did it taking on the competition of not just a single nation, but the best athletes in the world.

Oh yeah, there was the pressure of representing his entire country too.

Phelps didn't win all these medals alone, and here is a great story making a case for his teammate Jason Lezak, but let's be realistic here. Phelps turned millions of people to the TV to watch swimming. There will be swimmers that will argue swimming and diving are "AWESOME televised events", but there is a reason you don't go to the local pool and just watch people swim. It's just not that interesting.

That was of course before Phelps hit the water a little more than four years ago.

Phelps didn't just make cheering for the U.S.A. exciting, he made the entire sport exciting. Phelps didn't make you just watch the events, he made you pay attention.

So many people will be upset with whatever athlete you choose, but you have to understand that this was a down year for many athletes, and such an up year for Phelps. Even if the other athletes had great years, Phelps broke nine records at the Olympics. Just looking at the other athletes 2008 makes it even more clear that he deserves it like nobody else.

Woods gets year after year, event after event, and Sunday after Sunday to awe you. Phelps has less than a month every four years. He even had more wins than Tiger in 2008.

Rodriguez plays in the sport that plays the largest amount of games with major records seemingly falling every year. Phelps broke a record widely considered untouchable in his second shot at the Olympics. K-Rod also needs help to get to those records while Phelps won five medals alone.

Chad Pennington plays in a league of parity, where any team can rise to greatness or fall into obscurity in a seasons time. Phelps has three, maybe four total times he can actually stay competitive in Olympic events. Pennington will get to play four seasons in what will essentially be one Olympic season for Phelps.

I don't want to seem like I'm putting down the other athletes, I just want to give Phelps his due. I don't care how many times we see his big goofy smile at Disney world, you can't pay homage enough to the accomplishments he made in 2008.

Phelps not only won his eight golds in Beijing, he or his team broke the world record in every single event except the 100m Butterfly, he only set an Olympic record there. Far less impressive...Still better than the one I never set, so I guess I'll feign awe.

I don't think you can stress enough that he only has once every four years to make a real mark in his sport. World Championships are great, but the Olympics are really all that matters to the world as far as swimming goes.

The mere fact that Phelps jumped into the water cube in China and flailed his awkwardly long arms and legs to the most impressive Olympic games by a single athlete ever was amazing. Even though 2009 is here, Phelps' efforts were more than great enough to earn him the distinction of 2008's Sportsmen of the Year.

Another Instant Classic? Bears Season on the Line Against Packers

Joe Huber — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:53:01 -0500

There is always a meaning to the Green Bay vs. Chicago matchup, but normally it’s not this crystal clear.

If the Packers win, the Bears’ season is over. Simple and to the point.

I’m juiced because I always want there to be something on the line. Earlier in the season it was a share of first place, and Green Bay was the team that needed the victory far more. Now with the near miracle of four underdogs winning yesterday to keep the Bears' slim hopes alive, tonight’s game means more to Chicago than it does to their neighbors to the north.

The anticipation for this one is building because Green Bay isn’t as bad as their disappointing 5-9 record indicates. They have dropped the last four games, and lost the last three with a margin only as wide as four points. The Pack has been creative, but they’ve been finding ways to hand the game away.

The Bears on the other hand have been the less disappointing team this season, to many fans' surprise. Now anyone in Chicago will complain about the record and offense (I hear it every day…), but a realist would tell you that the fact that there is an outside shot for the team to make it to the postseason is incredible.

The Bears changed quarterbacks, moved their dynamic returner into essentially a rookie wide receiver, have not played to their billing as a great defense, and still managed to win eight games so far, with two left in the season. Chicago has played well.

The most intriguing thing tonight is going to be whether or not Aaron Rodgers comes out with the fire and intensity he had against da Bears at Lambeau over a month ago when the playoff chances seemed great. Will Ryan Grant run as hard as he did, racking up 145 yards en route to that 37-3 victory? I’m guessing, and hoping, they look at this as an opportunity to make a real impact this season and play hard tonight.

You know Chicago is coming to play tonight. The season is on the line, for crying out loud, I hope they come to play for my friends’ sanity's sake. More realistically though, they have a very good chance to make the playoffs if they win tonight. Minnesota plays the New York Giants next Sunday, Chicago plays Houston. If the Vikings lose, and Chicago wins, the North is once again won by either Green Bay or Chicago. If the Vikings win, the Bears still have a shot at the wild card slot with some help.

This game means something serious again, and it makes it great for both Packer and Bears fans, and heck, even Vikings fans are a little happy. Everyone wins before kickoff on this matchup, but once the game is over, there are going to be fans somewhere upset with the outcome. Here’s hoping it’s Chicagoans' tears freezing in the frigid weather off Lake Shore drive.