Opening Day

 

 

Spring is in the air, well sort of. When you think about Baseball you think about hot dogs, bratwurst and maybe a cold beer on a hot summer day. Well not in Chicago, not in April. In April you think about hot chocolate and a warm pair of gloves.

 But hey, the season always starts off cold but by mid – summer you won’t even remember it. Opening day marks the next few months of checking box scores and updating my fantasy Baseball roster. Opening day also allows me to plan a trip, a trip to US Cellular Field home of the Chicago White Sox. I love planning these trips. I love to show up several hours early, get a good parking spot and do some old fashioned tailgating. I always have to make a very hard decision before going tailgating. What should I put on the grill? Hot dogs, brats, burgers or maybe even some pork chops. What kind of chips should we eat ?  What should I fill up the cooler with? Some  people want pop,  beer or even a cold bottle of water. These questions are never easy to answer. I always get it  figured out, then I pack up the tables and chairs and head down to the ball park.  

Today was opening day in Chicago for the Chicago White Sox. It was suppose to take place yesterday (like everyone else), but instead we received a nice spring snow storm. The storm dumped about two or three inches in the area and the temperatures were in the 30’s. (that doesn’t feel like Baseball weather) So the game was rescheduled for today at 1:o5.  Today was cold and windy again but the game went on. The White Sox had a 4-2 Opening Day victory over the Royals before 37,449 at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox took the lead in the 8th inning after “Mr. Incredible” Jim Thome hit a 400ft. homerun to center field. Then it was up to Bobby Jenks to close out the game as he always does. I hope this is just one victory of many for the Sox. The Sox have cut payroll alot, moved some older players to get younger and if all goes well, will be facing the Cubs in the World Series in October. Ha!!! Did I say the Cubs in the World Series? I better not jump too far ahead. They need to start by winning at least one playoff game.

My take on the Chicago Bears

How many days until spring training?

Well the Chicago Bears season is over and I really don’t know if I even want to watch the playoffs. I think I may be a little bitter. The Bears were handed a playoff spot and they blew it. They needed a Vikings loss and a Bears win to get to the playoffs. The only other way they could reach the Playoffs is with a Bears win and then the Bucs and Cowboys would both have to lose. Everything fell into place except the Bears LOST!

This team under performed all year. One week they looked like a Super Bowl team and the next week they looked like a pee wee football team.

Who’s to blame? Everyone! I don’t think the coaches had a very good game plan all season. The players looked like they were playing for themselves, with the exception of guys like Matt Forte,Lance Briggs and Alex Brown.

So what’s next for the Bears?

Are you happy with Kyle Orton? The first half of his season was great. The second half was not very good. Its the same trouble Rex Grossman had. If you look at their stats over their first 30 NFL starts they are basically the same. I believe Kyle has more leadership ability and he is way better in the two minute drill, but is that enough? Do the Bears need to try to get another QB? I think so. They need to get a QB in the first round of the draft or through free agency.

They also need to focus on a wide reiciever.  Devin Hester is not a #1 reciever, but he is improving. Marty Booker is not what he was five years ago. The only thing they really have going for them is the tight ends, Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark.

D-fense, D- fense.

Who do you blame for this problem? Guys like Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman and Tommie Harris not performing like they are paid to do. Is the problem the play calling?  Bob Babich was very inconsistent this season. He is a first time defensive coordinator that has some learning to do. But the real problem is while he is learning or defense is getting older.

All in all, I guess a 9-7 record is not all that bad. It is what I predicted it would be. We could have been alot worse like 0-16 or something. But what team could be that bad. Oh wait the Detroit Lions ! I think the Chicago Bears, Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith will have a very busy off season. Lets hope for a better season next year.

Stereotypical male sports fan

               I am a sports junky. I love almost every sport and I’m learning more about them everyday. That also means I listen to a lot of sports radio. Over the past few days I have been paying extra attention to the commercials. Why? I don’t know I’m weird Anyways, I thought the commercials are suppose to appeal to the people listening. Do they? I am sure that 90% or more of the listeners are male but is this what the stereotypical guy is or what he’s into? Below I am going to list the top 7 commercials in no specific order. Why 7 ? Because I’m odd.

#1.Beer commercials- I’m not really a big fan of beer. Do I like to have one ever once in a while? Sure but I don’t need it.
#2.Gentleman’s clubs- at least that’s what they say. Never been to one and don’t plan on it. I don’t really think you will find many gentleman at a strip club.

#3. Erectile disfunction- ummm, no. Doctors or pills call this #. No thanks.

#4. Nascar- People driving in a huge circle only taking left turns at 200mph. Not a big to me. If you put guns and missiles on the cars then I’m in.

#5.lower your cholesterol- If you take these pills it goes down. Eating right and exercise sounds like it would work too. I don’t need the radio to help me figure that out.

#6. A dating web site for married people- I’m not going to mention the site but its like match.com but for married people. They promise it is discrete, until you get someone else’s wife pregnant.

#7. Public service announcements- most psa’s are about slowing down when driving and being a good father. The driving one I can understand. Some people drive to fast and don’t pay any attention to what they are doing. The one that tells you to have an active role in your child’s life, a father does not have to be told that.

So is that what people really think about guys?

To sum it all up, guys that like Sports radio are unhealthy,cheating, beer drinking, Nascar watching, strip club attending gentlemen that have E.D, drive too fast and don’t play a role in their kids lives.

Is that who the stereotypical male sports fan is? Does that describe you? You can change that. I know I’m not that guy and I don’t want to be.

A change of heart.

Sometimes I think the NFL is like the Mob. You may not anything to do with it, but they pull you back in.

I was not interested in football yet because I was still in baseball mode. But now I’ve had a change of heart. I am still following baseball because my White Sox are still battling for a playoff spot. They have been in a tight race all year. The Bears have made me a little excited. Their first game was great against the Colts the second game was awesome until the 3rd quarter against the Panthers. With that being said, the excitement of the NFL has pulled me in. I am sad that I didn’t play fantasy football but I am also glad because I would have taken Tom Brady as QB like I did last year.

I am not excited about the cold weather coming our way but to relax after Church on a Sunday in my flannel pants and do nothing besides watch football, sounds like a great day.

Friday’s Rant- not today

On Friday’s I usually rant about a random topic. Today I don’t feel like it. Sometimes these rants can seem negative and I don’t feel like being negative like that. I have had a tough week so today I will talk about something in my life……..

 How many people do you know that have been effected by Cancer?  It seems like everyone knows someone that has had it. My wife’s grandparents died from it, I already lost one grandfather to it and now my other grandfather has it. It’s scary to think that more and more people get it every year.

According to the American Cancer Society

About 559,650 Americans are expected to die of cancer this year, that’s more than 1500 a day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease.

Does cancer run in your family? Have you been screened for Cancer?  Here is a list of the top 13 most common forms of Cancer.

1. Nonmelanoma: (skin cancer) more than 1 million estimated new case
2. Lung cancer: over 215,000 new cases
3. Prostate cancer: over 186,000 new cases
4. Breast cancer (female): over 182,000 new cases
5. Colon and rectal cancers: nearly 149,000 new cases
6. Bladder cancer: nearly 69,000 new cases
7. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: over 66,000 new cases
8. Melanoma: over 62,000 new cases
9. Kidney (Renal Cell) cancer: over 46,000 new cases
10. Leukemia: over 44,000 new cases
11. Endometrial cancer: over 40,000 new cases
12. Pancreatic cancer: over 37,600 new cases
13. Thyroid cancer: over 37,000 new cases

You need to be tested for cancer, the earlier you catch it the greater the chances of survival. We all need to get involved. Donate time, money, resources anything you have. Maybe one day they will find a cure. Don’t take this blog as a negative, make it a learning experience and a positive one.

If you will take a moment and watch this video. It is a video of Jimmy Valvano’s speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards. Jimmy Valvano was a great NCAA Basketball coach from 1968-1990. please watch this inspirational video.

Are you ready for some football?

Are you ready for some football?

I can honestly say, I am not. I know I sound like a crazy man but here is why………………….

 

#1) Baseball- Baseball is good in Chicago right now. I am having fun watching the battle in the American League Central between the Sox and the Twins. Both teams keep flip flopping between first and second place every other day. I keep an eye on the Cubs because most of my friends are Cubs fans and I want to see a Crosstown World Series. I hope the Sox would win of course.

 

 #2) Da Bears! Another year goes by with no good QB. I don’t know if the Bears will ever have a good QB. The Bears rookie left tackle Chris Williams the Bears #1 pick (14 overall) is out indefinitely after having back surgery. He was suppose to be the difference maker as the left tackle but that is not going to happen.  

 

 #3) When it’s football season it gets really cold and snowy in Chicago. I love the summer, I don’t want to see it leave. If you have never been in Chicago during the winter you have no clue, what I’m talking about.

              

#4) Did I mention snow? And lots of it.

#5) Then we have the rush of Christmas. I love Christmas because it gives us time to be with family, give to people and of course Jesus. But the things people do for presents and the lines they stand in.

I know once Baseball is over and the NFL regular season starts, I will get into football more. I am just not ready for it yet. I love summer. I love to grill out and be outside. I don’t want it to leave. Think about the smell of hotdogs when you walk into a ball park. The smell of steaks on the grill and the taste of a nice cold beer on a very hot summer day. It will be over in a few more months so enjoy it while you can.

 

Don’t forget today is random act of kindness Monday. Do something nice for someone. Today I saw a Army Soldier in uniform and I thanked him for his service to this country. I don’t tell you that to brag I tell you that to show you how easy it is.

Lord bless you all, Bob-

Baseball in Chicago is great!

 

Extra, Extra read all about it. The Sox and Cubs are still in first place.

 

It’s true people are excited about Chicago baseball. To start I must tell you I am a die hard White Sox fan. Hey Cubs fans don’t leave. I am also a die hard baseball fan so I can be fair. The Sox and the Cubs have their most important series of the season, starting today.

The Sox are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Twins in the A.L. Central and the Cubs are 1 game ahead of the Brewers in the N.L. Central. Starting today the Cubs will take on the second place Brewers and the Sox will take on the second place Twins. Both teams will play a four game series. Will the Sox or Cubs sweep the other team? Who will be in first place by Thursday night? I don’t know but it is getting interesting. Ok so you may be a Cubs fan or a Sox fan yelling and screaming why your team is better this year. Lets just compare some stats.

                             Cubs                                       Sox

record             61-44                              59-44

Home              39-14                              35-16

road                22-30                              24-28

avg.                 .278                                .265

HR                   120                                  143

rbi                   520                                  507

ERA                 3.86                                 3.73

Alot of these stats are close. Some are a little different than others but on paper it looks like a great match up.If you remember inner league play this year the Cubs swept the Sox . Then the Sox swept the Cubs. As you can see I have been very fair. I wanted to bring this to more people attention.

Can this be the year of an all Chicago, World Series?  Will the Crosstown rivalry come to an end? I guess we will have to wait for October.