What Chicago Sports Fans Aren't Thankful For

Its been a busy year in Chicago sports in 2008.  The Cubs returned to the playoffs (and got swept again), the White Sox continued to their every other year trend of making the post season, the Bulls somehow won the NBA Draft lottery and selected their point guard of the future, and the Bears found (hopefully) their quarterback.  Every Chicago sports fan is thankful for all of that, but what are they not thankful for?

- The always pending sale of the Chicago Cubs.  Now that fan-favorite Mark Cuban is officially out, who really cares who owns the team?  Just get this thing over with!

- The entire Bulls roster minus Derrick Rose.  No General Manager in the league wants any of these role players, and after awarding Luol Deng for a sub-par season with a new $9 million annual salary, the team is now a few pennies under the salary cap.

- Another NFL Draft under Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo.  Sure, Matt Forte and Devin Hester have been second round steals the last three years, but what about Cedric Benson, Michael Haynes, Dan Bazuin and Michael Okwo?  Never heard of the last two names?  Most haven't.  Bazuin was the result of the Thomas Jones trade, another Angelo mistake.

- Being associated with Notre Dame.  Why must we all be exposed to so much coverage of a horrible football team that doesn't even play in our state?

- Trade rumors that never come to fruition.  What do Jake Peavy, Kobe Bryant, Brian Roberts, Brian Giles, Donovan McNabb, Ichiro Suzuki, Mark Teahen, Miguel Cabrera, Kevin Garnett, Coco Crisp, Jeremy Hermida, Al Harrington, Willy Taveras and Howie Kendrick all have in common?  All were supposed to be playing in Chicago the past two years, yet none of them ever did (or likely will).

- Joakim Noah's post moves.  Please don't watch while you are eating.

- Kyle Orton's neck beard.  Never has a chunk of hair been so popular yet so ugly.

- Three more years of Kosuke Fukudome.  Is he seriously making $12 million a year?

- Lovie Smith's post game news conference.  Has he ever raised his voice?  Ever?  Does anything upset this man?  It seems even if his house were on fire the man would still have the same, "life is good" facial expression.

- The circus trip that takes place at the United Center.  The annual trip forces the Bulls and Blackhawks to flea the city for weeks, usually resulting in the beginning of the end for both teams.

- Local college basketball.  DePaul and Illinois continue to fall in respectability, and Northwestern has yet to get there.

- The coaching "hot seat" debate.  Every Chicago manager or coach seems to find himself on it at least once every year.  Ozzie Guillen, Bob Babich, Scott Skiles (victim), Greg Walker, Denis Savard (victim), Larry Rothschild, Bruce Weber, etc.

- The Bears defense.  With arguably two of the best linebackers (Lance Briggs and Urlacher) and one of the best defensive tackles (Tommie Harris) in the NFL, 2006 finally does feel like three years ago.

- Former Bears wide recievers excelling on other teams.  Who knew Mark Bradley, Bobby Wade and Justin Gage just needed a change of scenery to be good?

- Any words out of Ozzie Guillen's mouth.  We might not understand what he is saying, but at least we know most of it should be edited.

- Derrek Lee hitting into double plays.  At least one Cubs hitter was consistently doing something.

- And finally...Another winter of snow storms and traffic delays while trying to accomplish the one thing that keeps us sane: watching our Chicago sports teams.