A GM with Cantaloupe Balls

I've been obsessed with the Chicago Bulls ever since I can remember. In my 21 years on this planet, some of my most fondest memories consist of watching Jordan, Pippen, Cartwright, Harper, Rodman, Kerr, and Longley in the wonderful 90's.

But that was a long time ago during a much happier time. Nowadays I simply get sick thinking about how fast this franchise fell and I'm down right sick and tired of being sick and tired. The Bulls have been awful this season and everyone from Vinny to Acie Law are ready for this season to be euthanized.

In the month of March, the Bulls have two wins. That's right, only TWO! They were 0-5 without Derrick Rose, who sprained his left wrist against the Magic on March 11th. They lost ten straight from Feburary 27th to March 19th while Joakim Noah rested his foot that has given him problems all year long due to plantar fasciitis. During this time they are averaging 96.7 points per game while giving up 110.3. They only team they held under 100 points during this stretch was Cleveland (but let it be known that they still allowed LeBron to score 29 points).

So going into tonight against the Heat, I had a little hope considering the Bulls were on a two game winning streak. Plus the game was on national television (TNT) so I thought the guys would get up for this game with playoff implications. But in fine fashion, the Bulls decided it would be a good time to fold like Javier Vazquez in a big game, losing 103-74.

March is a time where you see the best teams play their best basketball. Cleveland lost one game in March. I know they are arguably the best team in the NBA so using them do not support my argument very well, so how about this. The Milwaukee Bucks have lost only two games in March, as did the Magic. The Heat have lost three while the Atlanta Hawks only lost four.

If that isn't good enough, the New Jersey Nets had as many wins in March as the Bulls with two.

Vinny we have a problem.

With this loss, the Bulls are now 2 1/2 games behind Toronto for the last playoff spot in the East with only 11 games left to play. So there is a decision that needs to be made, do the Bulls try and fight for that last playoff spot and get crushed by the Cav's in the first round? Or do they pull a page out of the Doc Rivers handbook and shut it down?

I wrote about this topic back in December right after the Bulls went on a 1-9 stretch and I stick with my original thought. They need to shut it down.

Chicago has a giant summer ahead of them and I don't see anything beneficial out of getting their asses kicked in the playoffs. So why not tank? TANKAPALOOZA 2010! Lose the last 11 games, it's what the NBA is known for, isn't it? Why not have a summer that consists of signing a major free agent, possibly nab a lottery pick, and let Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Derrick Rose, and whoever else heal?

They got lucky before, why not again?

Missing the playoffs makes so much sense for the Bulls. Joakim Noah needs to get his plantar fasciitis under control. After watching Carlos Quentin push it and continuously get hurt last year for the White Sox, I don't want the same for Noah (I love him too much for that to happen to him). He is way to important for the Bulls future for him to possibly create a bigger problem trying to play more minutes in the playoffs.

Derrick Rose has played a ton of minutes this season, and I just don't see what a four and out exit in the playoffs would do for either his or Noah's development.

But if the rest argument isn't enough, take a look at this years draft (I would tell Vinny to look, but he should probably spend his time looking for vacant jobs). The NBA lottery has been good to Chicago in the recent past (1.7% chance anyone?). Not only can we sign a Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carlos Boozer, or David Lee, but we could draft an Evan Turner, John Wall, Derek Favors, DeMarcus Cousins (would need the right coach for this pick to work), Ed Davis, Greg Monroe, Pat Patterson, Jan Vesely, or Ekpe Udoh. That is a loaded draft, full of guys that could come into Chicago and make an instant impact.

I know the Bucks can switch picks with the Bulls if we land an 11th pick or higher. But I'm thinking if we tank the last 11 games, the Bulls should be able to get a top ten pick. Call me crazy but I'd rather role the dice on this and maybe nab an elite college player than push for a playoff spot.

I realize any sane minded NBA fan would call me a moron, but you need to understand my train of thought. I'm sick of watching a mediocre Bulls team. I want Chicago to mean something again. I want to see the Bulls get back to the Eastern Conference Finals. I want to matter again!

I was all for cutting contracts for a prime time player, so why not try to add another rookie stud? That's all I'm saying.

Listen I'm just as competitive as the next guy, but I know this season is going nowhere fast. The Bulls are five games under .500, and to me this scenario makes so much sense for the future of this Bulls team. Sure it's risky and dangerous and no sane GM would do it because the media would rip him a new asshole faster than they did Sarah Palin. But if this were an option this move would make Chicago so much more attractive to this summer's free agents.

I would love to see a GM show giant cantaloupe balls and go along with this. I would actually respect that decision because it shows me he wants to go after it. It would show me that he doesn't just want some guy that one day could possibly become a savvy role player at best, but that he wants one of the top guys.

Don't lose respect for me, I'm just a fan that has an outlet to write. I'm a fan that was given a heavy dosage of a drug that I became hooked on instantly. After 12 years of being sober, I'm ready to relapse, I'm ready to celebrate once again-

The Honest Truth

(Picture from http://www.sportsmaven.files.wordpress.com/)

I was watching the Bulls the other night (mainly because D-Rose was finally back) and I got to thinking about a few "What If's" such as: What if Joakim Noah didn't have this foot problem? What if we kept John Salmons and played him at the small forward position he was accustomed to, instead of moving him to the shooting guard spot? What if Luol Deng actually could finish a season?

Suddenly a commercial played promoting the upcoming Chicago Cub season. Cub fans should know the one I'm talking about (if you've watched CSN at all recently). It's the one where Len Kasper calls the Walk Off Grand Slam by Alfonso Soriano.

Now as you all know (and for new readers that have yet to stumble upon this site) I am a die hard White Sox fan. But as a hopeful sports writer, I want it to be known that I'm not your typical Sox fan.

I'm not arrogant about the 2005 World Series win. I do not bring it up to the many Cub fans that walks past me on the streets of Iowa City. I do not call Cub fans derogatory names because of the gay scene around the stadium. I do think there are true baseball fans that fill up Wrigley field, not just drunken idiots that want the opportunity to "Boo" Soriano, or yell "JUICER" when Albert Pujols comes to the dish.

I like to consider myself unique.

But back to my original thoughts. After seeing this commercial the Bulls game came back on and the camera flashed to the injured Luol Deng. Luol, who is nursing a strained right calf, may be back with five games left in the season, but I'm not counting on it.

If he doesn't come back, this would mark the second straight season Luol has rode the bench through the end of the year. Not a good sign for a guy that signed a six year extension in 2008 for $71 million.

Some Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

(Picture from ESPN.com)

There are 13 days to Opening Day and we are ready to go. We have our Sox and Cardinals gear on. We have the itch to take a trip to The Field of Dreams and play a little catch. Even with one of the most competitive and exciting March Madnesses I've ever seen, I still can't stop thinking about baseball.

Though there are 13 days left until the season begins, Fantasy Baseball is in full swing. We had our Manchise draft yesterday afternoon and I must say I'm feeling pretty darn good about my team (for those of you interested in playing us in Fantasy sports, be on the look out around the NFL season to get in on it).

While the draft was going on, there were a few picks that really caught my eye as sleepers I think will have a break out season this year. So as always here are my Top Sleepers/Break Out Performers for the 2010 MLB season.

3. Rick Porcello and Wade Davis
Yes a twofer to start it off. I really like these two guys to make a giant splash this year in the MLB. Both are young, hearty pitchers that have great stuff. Starting with the 21 year old Porcello, the kid (and I can say that because I'm actually older than him) held his own last year as a 20 year old. He had 14-9 record with Detroit, which is incredible if you think about it. He had 89 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.96 as a 20 YEAR OLD! I think with the improvement and additions of more pitches, Porcello will up his strike outs and add a few more wins.