Toews Outshines the Circus

I wonder how many of the Vancouver Canucks can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time.  On a night when a combination of physical yet smart play was the key to victory, the Canucks proved that multi-tasking isn’t their best attribute.  8 penalties resulting in 4 power play goals was all it took for the Hawks to grab a 3-1 advantage heading back to Chicago.  

Catching a Le-Fevour

(Picture courtesy of http://www.sportsillustrated.com/)

I have yet to comment on the Chicago Bears draft a few weeks ago and honestly I'm not going too.  There is no need for me to go on record with what I think about guys that I don't really care about.  Maybe once July roles around, I'll give my opinion, but figuring out who is going to be a star out of all the Bears late round draft picks is like figuring out which one of Tiger's 100-misstresses will come out with either a sex tape or a reality show on VH1.  Would I like the unformentioned rookies to become quality playmakers down the road, undoubhtably, but I'm not getting caught counting my chickens before they hatch again. 

With that said, I do want to draw upon one player who has gotten quite a bit of attention ever since he was drafted out of Central Michigan: Jonah's PS3 online dynasty signal caller, Dan LeFevour.

Niemi and Hawks Prepare for some Turbulence

“Chicago is not a better team than us. They’re not playing better than us. They are just doing a better job in front of the net on both sides.”  Hmm….They’re not playing better than us, they’re just doing better in every aspect of the game.  Kind of contradicting yourself there aren’t you Mr. Luongo???

But anyway, I’ve got better things to talk about (I think) than big words from a man who is proving to be very small in his own crease.  Game 4 is tonight at 8:30 PM Chicago time, buckle up your seat belts.  From all that I’ve read, the ‘Nucks have one goal tonight, come hard at Antti Niemi.  I’m expecting mayhem.  I will admit that the Hawks have been in constant contact with Luongo, but I can’t honestly say that I’ve seen anything with ill intentions.  Nonetheless, Vancouver is taking offense, and they are making it known that life will not be easy for Antti tonight.  

Toronto blues

(Picture Courtesy of http://www.wikimedia.com/)

After watching the Chicago White Sox play tonight with some of the tightest sphincters in this already long season, I can't help but feel as though I forced this loss. The day after I glorify Andruw Jones and Paul Konerko for the seasons they are having what happens?

Andruw Jones goes 0-3 and Paul Konerko develops a sudden neck cramp. What the hell have I done?

I committed the one cardinal sin for writers that cover their favorite team: I praised guys who are notorious for bad starts and baby injuries.

Not only do I own both of these players on my fantasy team (currently in first place due to their out of body playing), but I am completely dependent on these guys doing well. I get what I deserve for jinxing my team and I apologize. So now that we got that out of the way...

Thursday night in the first game of their home series against Toronto, the Sox started the obese Ramon Castro, the irrelevant Jason Nix, and the largest slumper on the team Mark Kotsay (in three at bats, Kotsay faced eight pitches, EIGHT!) , the team is now seven games behind those pesky Twins and digging themselves a hole not even Ozzie Guillen can talk his way out of.

Buff's got the Stuff

 

As I watched Sportscenter last night, I couldn’t help but get mixed emotions as I listened to Matthew Barnaby glorify Dustin Byfuglien for his Game 3 performance.  The first thing I felt was joy.  My Hawks had just won in convincing fashion, they were getting major media coverage, and one of my favorite players, Dustin “Big Buff” Byfuglien, was the star.  

Who would have thunk?

(Picture courtesty of http://www.wikimedia.com/)

On a night where the Blackhawks took a 2-1 series lead over the Vancouver Canucks, the White Sox fill my mind (plus I’ll continue to let the Hawk talk be held by Paulie C, what a great job so far).


On a night with NBA playoff basketball and an amazing Phoenix Suns victory over the San Antonio AARP members, I have Ozzie Guillen’s voice circling around my brain like the lyrics to Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA.

I am simply in awe of a few players on the White Sox and what they have brought to the table so far in this early season.

In particular, I want to focus on Andruw Jones and Paul Konerko. In Wednesday nights 9-2 win over the Kansas City Royals, Jones went yard for the ninth time this season, which is good enough for second on the homerun leader board behind none other than the captain, Paul Konerko.

So far Jones has made Kenny Williams look like a psychic more than a GM. It was Williams that gave Jones a chance when most teams laughed when they heard he wanted to come back. It was Ozzie that said if he performed, he will find a spot for him. It was Jones who has taken this to heart and seems to have returned to his 2001-2007 form. You know the stretch of time where Jones was a four time All-Star, a seven time Gold Glove winner, and in the top twenty for MVP voting four times. A stretch of time where he hit 251 of his 396 home runs. A stretch of time where he was healthy, strong, and one of the best players in baseball. A stretch of time where he scored 666 runs, on 1,048 hits, while tallying up 756 RBI.

Very intriguing

What do Phil Jackson, John Calipari, and Vinny Del Negro all have in common? They won’t be the coach of the Chicago Bulls next season.

It has only been one day since Vinny packed up his giant tub of gel, Coaching for Dummies books, and Dwight K. Schrute bobble head and I’m all ready salivating over possible coaches willing to take the helms of the Chicago Bulls. Though I do think Del Negro got the rough end of the stick being Gar Forman and John Paxson’s piñata, most people knew that the former player was never going to truly work out in a city like Chicago.

Minnesota or Oklahoma City sure, but in Chicago, he never had a prayer.

Hawks Talk

As I sit here anxiously awaiting the start of Game 3 tonight, numerous questions are running through my mind. Some about the Hawks, some about the other series going on, and one about the place the Canucks call home. I would like to take this opportunity to offer these questions up to our readers out there. If anyone has the answers feel free to enlighten me in the comments section below.

Food for Thought

It’s the first week of May and Hawks fans are, for the most part, right where they wanted to be. That place of course is in a second round series with a very legitimate shot to win the Cup. For some reason though, the only question running through my mind is, “How much of this success can we attribute to the brilliant minds of the Bowman family?” For me, I say little to none. In fact, I feel like our new GM and his father have caused this path to Lord Stanley to be much rockier than any Hawks fan pictured it being. Let me explain…

As a fan I’m not fully aware of the efforts being made, but my first big question is why did the Hawk’s not make a very serious push for Ilya Kovalchuk? Everyone is aware of the fact that the Hawks need to shed some salary to stay under the cap for next season. What’s the best way to do this you ask? How about a rental player? And not just any rental player, how about a former number 1 draft pick who is at his prime and also top ten in points for the past ten seasons?

Hawks Soar to Victory

    

A collective sigh of relief was heard across Hawks nation Monday night when Kris Versteeg roofed the game winner with a minute thirty left to play in regulation.  In a game which appeared to be heading towards another thrashing at the hands of the Canucks, the Hawks once again proved why they are the premiere sports franchise in the Windy City. 

Backboned by Brent Seabrook’s best performance to date, the Hawks clawed their way back into the game before eventually taking the lead for good late in the third period.  Hawks fans have to be happy with the response from their team following a lackluster performance in Game 1. 

Come Wednesday the Hawks will face the raucous crowd of the GM Place and will need to continue improving on their game.  Hopefully Versteeg’s goal tonight has ignited the secondary scoring and by the end of the week Ladd, Byfuglien, Madden, Brouwer, etc. will have scratched the score sheet.  Also, any contributions from Norris Trophy Finalist Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa would be much appreciated.

The pace of this series is picking up quickly and I think after two games we are close to reaching the intensity level we remember from last season’s matchup.  I expect lots of goals and lots of skirmishes after the whistle in Vancouver on Wednesday.  For hockey fans of any level this series is must see TV.

Taking it back, taking it all back

(Picture courtesy of fleersports.com)

That's right, after a long time away from the blogging world because of depression (due to the Chicago Bulls early exit from the playoffs and the Chicago White Sox underachieving) I am finally back with a statement of Tiger Woods proportions. I am here today to announce that I am taking back all previous comments about LeBron James.

Before any of you in the media ask any questions and before some of our readers question me as a person let me explain.

I take back all previous notions of crowning Kobe Bryant the best in the game today. I take back all previous comments about LeBron James being the Lo Bosworth to Kobe Bryant's Lauren Conrad. I take back all the late night arguments in local establishments. I take back all of my fist pumping and jaw jabbing about Kobe. Though I still would take Kobe if there was a few seconds left in the game with my team down by two, I will admit my decision is hard fought.

Buisness in the front

(Picture courtesy of Chicagoblackhawks.com)

Who would’ve ever imagined that the hopes and dreams of an entire sports City could rest on the shoulders of a guy incapable of growing facial hair?


Patrick Kane did and he planned accordingly. As the season came to a close in the early months of 2010, most Blackhawk fans were delighted to see the extra exposure being given to their team. Kane, Toews and their teammates made guest appearances on Sportscenter and the Tonight Show. They were the center of constant praise by Barry Melrose and espn.com. They were the drivers of one of the biggest band wagon’s hockey has seen in a long time. Yet with all of these appearances, one question continuously popped up in the minds of the Blackhawk faithful, “Why won’t Patrick Kane cut his hair?”

A different breed

(Picture courtesy of totalprosports.com)

Relax Cubs fans, the Chicago Blackhawks are a different breed of team.


But I will admit, after being dismantled 5-1 at the hands of the Canucks Saturday night, I’m starting to fear that my worst nightmare is coming true.

That nightmare involves having only the Cubs left to bring a championship to Chicago this year (unfortunately, another White Sox title counts for nothing in my eyes, and I assume I hold the same view with about 47,000 other fans on a daily basis).