Cutest Costume Ever

I didn't watch the Sunday night game between the Steelers and Saints at all because it had no effect on any of my fantasy teams, and that whole World Series thing was going on.  Thanks to Mocksession, I was still able to see what, judging by the box score and tweets, had to be the best part of the game anyway.

Blogpoll Ballot: Week 10

Cam F. Newton

Auburn may have lost the top spot in the BCS poll this week, but that doesn't mean they're moving anywhere on my ballot.  Of course, they were fourth in my ballot last week, so I guess that isn't much to be happy about.

Truth be told, there's no movement at all in my top five and I still heart the little guy.  See how the ballot shakes out after the jump.

Well, Now We Know Why The Cubs Bullpen Is So Terrible

By the time they get warmed up and ready to enter the game, they've likely got a contact high to end all contact highs.

The team's bullpen catcher was busted in Nebraska last weekend with a whole hell of a lot of weed in his car.  Like, a lot of weed.

Can Kenny Williams Call The Marlins Back?

By now I'm sure you've heard about or read Chris DeLuca's article in the Chicago Sun-Times that basically says the White Sox were very close to trading Ozzie Guillen to the Florida Marlins for outfielder Mike Stanton.  If you haven't read it, go ahead and read it here, but I'm not going to wait for you, so catch up.

I first read this last night before I went to bed, and since I was a bit busy most of today, I haven't had a chance to write about it until now.

Obviously, when I first read it, I was quite surprised.  There was a while where I was convinced that Ozzie was going to be leaving for the Marlins this winter, but the idea that the White Sox would actually trade him, and for a player like Mike Stanton astounded me.

Oh, and I was kind of pissed off that the deal didn't go through.

Marian Hossa Could Be Out 'A Couple Weeks'

The Blackhawks haven't been playing to the level we grew accustomed to seeing them at last season while they were on the way to a Stanley Cup, and that was to be somewhat expected considering all the new parts the team had to work in.

While I wasn't a fan of losing some of the players the Hawks had to let go thanks to the salary cap, there was one benefit I saw that could emerge from it.  Marian Hossa was going to have to take more of a role on offense this season, which made me happy because as awesome as Hossa was for the Hawks last season, we never really got to see the full extent of what the man can do with the puc.

Damn The Schedule Makers

You know, it doesn't really seem fair.  The Bulls begin their season tonight, and I haven't been this excited about a Bulls team since Derrick Rose was first drafted three years ago.  I've been looking forward to tonight's game for a while because I didn't watch a single second of preseason basketball.

Sorry, I just can't do it.  I have a hard enough time getting through regular season NBA games, so watching preseason contests, it's just too much.  Still, even if Carlos Boozer isn't playing, I really want to see what this new Bulls roster looks like, and see how much Derrick Rose has improved going into his third season.

Notre Dame's Seniors Give Me Hope

Find out why over at CBS.

Brian Kelly Isn't Suspending Kerry Neal

Earlier today at the College Football Blog I posted a video of Notre Dame linebacker Kerry Neal stomping on the midsection of Navy's John Howell during the latest embarrassing Irish loss last weekend.   Now, while I have to take my fan hat off at CBS, that doesn't mean I wasn't being sincere when I called for Neal to be suspended for at least a game for the actions.

I don't give a crap about the tradition of Notre Dame, or how it makes the school look.  I'll save that for the sycophantic fans who still believe this team is relevant on the football field.  No, I want Neal to be suspended because what he did was a bullshit, classless move. 

I don't care what team he plays on.

He Came From The Planet Soy

 

 This has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but Panger sent me this video and now I'm ready to go beat the crap out of all the non-soy sauce condiments currently in the fridge.

Kikkoman!!

Ozzie Wants You To Think He'd Hire Ryne Sandberg

Ozzie Guillen says a lot of stuff.  Some of it's hilarious, some of it is ingenious, and some of it is just plain stupid.  Sometimes he even manages to accomplish all three in one sentence.  Most of the time, though, you can take what Ozzie says with a grain of salt.

Something he says just to say it because he either doesn't have an actual answer to the question he's being asked.  I believe he had one of those moments this morning on the Mully & Hanley Show on The Score.

Five Years Ago Today

It feels so much longer than that.

Jay Cutler Must Go

If you look back objectively at relationships gone bad, you realize you knew from the very beginning not only that it was going to end but why.

The meaningless first complaint tossed out by the hot new boyfriend about how unfair the world is… that last class he needs for his degree never quite finished... all the jerks who keep him from achieving his true potential...

Of course, you stubbornly reject the warning signs, those giant red flags frantically waved by your overwrought left brain.

Even Mike Pereira Is Piling On Lovie Smith

If you aren't familiar with who Mike Pereira is, he's the man that was the NFL's vice president of officiating for six years before stepping down last season.  Now you know him as the guy who explains reviews during games on Fox on Sunday.

Well, every week Pereira writes a column at Fox Sports explaining some of the bigger calls of the week.  Guess which one he led with this week?   Yep, that one.

What did Pereira have to say?  Well, basically the same thing you screamed at your television while watching the game, only without screaming and a lot less swearing.

The Most Interception-Prone Quarterback In The World

Courtesy of Silvio, who found it on Marc Silverman's Facebook page.

A Letter From Rex Grossman

Hey, Chicago.  How is everybody?  It was really nice being back in town this weekend with my new team, the Washington Redskins.  I always loved the city, and it was nice to get back to see some old friends, and hear some of those familiar boos.

You know what really made my weekend, though?  You know what got the Rex juices really flowing?  Oh, I bet you do.  After all, your Bears fans, and you're pretty smart.

Beating the Bears.

Now, I'm not the type of guy to hold grudges or anything, I usually just let things roll off my back, but I can't lie.  It felt real good to see the team that thought I wasn't good enough after leading them to a Super Bowl get beat the way it did on Sunday.

And I had a great view from the sideline.

Ozzie Guillen Will Be Joining Fox For The World Series Again

The World Series already has a bit of a White Sox feel to it this year with Juan Uribe and Aaron Rowand both playing for the San Francisco Giants, but just in case you need more reason than that to tune in, Fox has you covered.

Ozzie Guillen will be joining the network for the World Series for the second straight year.

While working both the pregame and postgame shows, Ozzie will be working the first five innings of the game for Fox Deportes as an in-game analyst.  He'll also be spending the last few innings of each game as an analyst with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver to talk strategy.

Which should be interesting.  Who knows?  Ozzie really let me down last season when he went the whole World Series without dropping an F-bomb.  Maybe he'll make it up to us all this year by calling Joe Buck an asshole.

Blogpoll Ballot: Week 9

They may not be number one in the new BCS rankings that just came out, but if you ask me, there's no better team in the country than the Oregon Ducks right now.  See where everyone else falls on my ballot after the jump.

Meet the Machine

Fox's Chris Rose was interviewing Giants closer Brian Wilson following San Francisco's NLCS-clinching win on Saturday night when Wilson began talking about "The Machine" and Rose recoiled in horror, basically begging him not to go any further.  Even Joe Buck and Tim McCarver mentioned "The Machine" and couldn't stifle the laughter, saying it was an inside joke.

Which made me wonder, "What the hell is this Machine?"  Well, thanks to SB Nation, I now know.  And it's one of the greatest television moments of all time.

Ron Washington Is Happy

Rick Hahn Won't Be Leaving The White Sox

There had been some concern over the last week or so that Kenny Williams' bestest friend, and White Sox stat nerd Rick Hahn could be leaving the organization.  The assistant general manager had an interview with the New York Mets last week for their open general manager position.

Well, Kenny can rest easily tonight.

Just In Case You Don't Get Over To The CBS Blog

I mentioned what UCLA's offense reminded me of last night, and it inspired me this morning.  I just couldn't risk the chance you'd miss it over at CBS, so I figured I'd post it here.

After all, my art belongs to the world.

Joakim Noah Wants You To Grow Some Hemp

He's like George Washington that way.





Seriously, it's not as if I've ever had much doubt that Joakim Noah is the type of dude who likes to dabble in the world of hemp, but it's nice that he was kind enough to confirm it to ESPN.  The good news for Joakim is that now that he's signed that contract extension, he can afford to grow a lot of hemp.

No wonder he needs those "igniter shots."

Hat tip: Blog-A-Bull

God Help Us, America

My mom has always had a unique fashion sense

That's who sang "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch in San Francisco tonight.  Yep.

Much Respect

Flipping back and forth between the NLCS and the game between Oregon and UCLA tonight.  That guy is far and away the best thing about the football game so far. 

UCLA proclaims that it runs the Pistol offense, but it looks more like a chimpanzee flinging shit to me.

Anyway, credit to Mock Session for the picture.  I really need to figure out how to do that myself.  If any of you know how to do that on a Macbook, please, do tell.

Cristobal Huet Enjoys Being At Home But Would Rather Be In The NHL

I don't miss Cristobal Huet.  Let's make that clear.  The man was not my favorite Blackhawks goalie as I was one of the many crying for more playing time for Antti Niemi at the beginning of last season.  Though, at the same time, I didn't think he was treated all that fairly either.

Did he play well enough to justify his contract?  No, but it's not like Huet held a gun to the Blackhawks head and forced them to give it to him.

I don't feel sorry for him, either, because even though he's no longer with the Hawks and has been banished back to the Swiss League from whence he came, he's still getting paid every penny of that contract.

Everybody Say 'Awwww'

One of my favorite parts of going to a Blackhawks game is when the throw the kids out there to play a hockey game during the first intermission.  They just amuse the hell out of me, and I even get pissed off from time to time over it.

For instance, I went to the Hawks game last Wednesday against Nashville, and I wasn't nearly as upset with Nick Boynton when his late penalty cost the Hawks a game as I was with the dude from Orange County Choppers.  I don't watch the show, but the dad from the show had made a Blackhawks bike and during the first intermission they brought it out on the ice.  He then stumbled his way through some long and stupid speech, and when he was done, they brought out the kids.

Who only had time to skate around the rink before being shuttled off the playing surface.

This pissed me off pretty good, but thankfully this video from Puck Daddy has tempered that rage just a bit.

Berkman Loves The Slip and Slide

Weeeeee!!

Thanks, as always, to Mock Session.

Melo To The Bulls Talk Isn't Dead Yet

When the Bulls signed Joakim Noah to a contract extension, it basically put any of the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors to a rest in Chicago.  After all, Noah was one of the main pieces Denver wanted in return for Anthony, and the extension was an indication that the Bulls had no plans on moving him.

Well, turns out that the Anthony trade rumors aren't done just yet.  The Knicks are reportedly back in contention to land Anthony, but they're not alone.  Apparently the Bulls are still in the picture as well.

Hendry Would Welcome Ryno Back To Iowa

You're Ryne Sandberg.  You spent the last few years of your life riding around no an uncomfortable bus managing in the minor leagues because your former team told you that once you had some managerial experience, they'd consider letting you manage the team you once played for.

There were no guarantees, but you thought you had a good shot.  Then the moment came when the man you were waiting on, Lou Piniella, finally retired and opened the door for your glorious return to Chicago.

Then they hired the third base coach.

Now, understandably, if you were Ryne Sandberg and this happened to you, you'd likely be a little upset about it.  In fact, you just might be really pissed off.  Especially when you had to hear from the media that you weren't getting the job, and the Cubs hadn't given you any indication about whether or not they'd even accept you back to manage at Iowa.

Brian Urlacher Isn't Fond Of The NFL's New Hit Policy

I understand where the NFL is coming from in its latest decision to start fining and suspending players for illegal hits, I really do.  I mean, how exactly can one argue against keeping players safe?  Still, I do wonder if this is just a bit too reactionary of a decision by the NFL.  These hits are a spilled milkshake, and the NFL is Don Draper.

While I would have no problem with James Harrison being suspended for the hit he put on Josh Cribbs over the weekend, the idea that Dunta Robinson is being fined for his hit is ridiculous to me.  There's intent, and then there's circumstance.

Robinson wasn't trying to destroy Desean Jackson, it was just a hit that is bound to happen from time to time in a sport as violent as football.  I fear that if the NFL turns these type of plays into a strictly black and white issue that it will hurt the league in the long run.

This Guy Seems Pretty Cool

via @bubbaprog

Now complete with fun gif after the jump.

Got A Half Million Dollars? Want To Buy Michael Jordan's Mercedes?

Opulence.  Some of us has it, others wants it.  It's easier said than done, as I'd love to buy my own tiny giraffe one day, but for the moment, I just don't have the funds.  But, for argument's sake, let's just pretend I did.

Let's pretend that I had so much money that the idea of dropping $500,000 wouldn't even cause me to bat a gold-encrusted eyelid.  So if I went to eBay and saw one of Michael Jordan's old Mercedes up for sale, you're damn right I'd bid on it.  I'd bet I could drive 100 in that thing.

Jake Peavy Is Taking It Slow

I don't think there's much question that the turning point of the White Sox season came on July 6.  It was that day that the White Sox beat the Angels, yet turned out to be one of the worst losses of the season -- and there were plenty.  That was the day that Jake Peavy's latissimus dorsi decided it'd had enough of being attached to Peavy's shoulder, and tore itself away.

It was a dark day, for sure.  Since that midsummer night's nightmare, the two have reconciled thanks to a couple of doctors.  Which is good news for Peavy, and for the White Sox, as having Peavy back healthy for 2011 will play a large role in any success the team hopes to have.

Derrick Rose's New Adidas Commercial

You know, ever since I first saw Ken Jeong in The Hangover, I liked him.  Now that he's on Community, I still like him.

Oddly enough, ever since I saw Derrick Rose play basketball at Memphis, I liked him as well.  After he joined the Bulls?  Well, you guessed it.  Love him now.  So I'm happy to see the two of them doing a commercial for Rose's new shoe, Adidas' adiZero Rose, together.  Though I wouldn't want a pool filled with caviar as much as a pool filled with money like Scrooge McDuck had on Ducktales.

Yeah, diving into it would probably hurt like hell, but with all that money I could just pay people to do it for me and laugh at their pain instead.

Anyway, see the commercial after the jump.

What If Ryno Heads North?

Following the news of the Cubs hiring Mike Quade this morning, I found myself in a discussion with Cubs fan and CBS cohort Adam Jacobi.  The main part of our discussion was not our opinion of Quade, as neither of us are against the hiring, as much as any potential fall out amongst Cubs fans for not choosing Ryne Sandberg.

To which I then went on a rant about how I'm tired of Cubs fans pulling the "this is the last straw" card and threatening to never root for the Cubs again.  It seems like there are at least two or three of these moments every year, and they never actually amount to anything.

As I told Adam, if 100 years of losing haven't been enough to get Cubs fans to stop being Cubs fans, than nothing is ever going to.  I then said that those fans who are angry will be ticked off for two weeks before they get over it and just move on.

Jacobi then said they'd be angry until two weeks after Sandberg takes a job somewhere else, and that's when it hit me.  What if there really is a Cubs fandom doomsday scenario?

Mike Quade Is Your New Cubs Manager

So much for all the theories that the Cubs were holding out for the Yankees Joe Girardi, or that Ryne Sandberg was being groomed to take over the job.  Turns out it's the guy who coached at third base under Lou Piniella, and took over the reins for the final six weeks of the season.

Mike Quade is your new Chicago Cubs manager.  This according to a press release the Cubs released on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bears Didn't Run The Football Because The Bears Can't Run The Football

There's been a lot of hand-wringing about the Bears this Monday morning, and understandably so.  They played like ass on Sunday and were dominated by a mediocre team for 60 minutes.  Once again Jay Cutler played the role of tackling dummy as he repeatedly dropped back to pass, and Seattle defenders repeatedly teed off on him.

Blackhawks Send Down Leddy Leaving Some Statues In His Place

I can't really disagree with the Blackhawks decision to send Nick Leddy down to Rockford too much.  Yes, the kid scored a goal against Buffalo and has blocked 10 shots so far this season, and he has the potential to be a solid defenseman in the NHL, but 19-year old prospect is just not ready yet.

I've seen him get pushed around while battling for the puck, and turn it over when he does have it enough to realize that this is the case.  Still, I'm absolutely terrified by what the Blackhawks are still sending out there and calling defenseman.

Nick Boynton?  When he's not busy costing the Hawks games -- thanks for that last minute penalty against Nashville, dumbass -- he's spending his time getting his girlfriend fired.  Still, even as bad as Boynton is -- and can still be! -- he's better than John Scott.

BlogPoll Ballot: Week 8

Or as I like to call it, HOW THE BCS SHOULD LOOK.  Check my ballot after the jump.

The Bears Are Who I Thought They Were

Listen, while I've been pleased that the Bears were off to such a nice start record wise this season, at no point did I ever fool myself into thinking that this was a good Bears team.  You can't be a good team when you have an offensive line that protects a quarterback just as well as the French defended their border in World War II.

Michael Jordan Is As Humble As Ever

There is no question that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever grace a basketball court.  There's also no doubt that he has one of the biggest egos to ever inhabit this planet.  For further proof, just check out his Hall of Fame induction speech.

So I can't say I was all that surprised to hear Jordan's reaction to being asked how things would be if he were playing in today's NBA.

"It's less physical and the rules have changed, obviously," said Jordan, who was promoting NBA 2K11 video game. "Based on these rules, if I had to play with my style of play, I'm pretty sure I would have fouled out or I would have been at the free throw line pretty often and I could have scored 100 points."

Trust me, even in today's NBA, Jordan would rarely foul out.  While they may have changed all the hand-checking rules since his day, allowing point guards to become the single-most important player in the game today, but there is one rule they haven't changed.

Superstars don't foul.  Ever.

This Just About Sums Up Game 1 Of The ALCS

Jelly Awaits His Fate

While it was very nice to see the Blackhawks get on the board with their first win on Monday night, there was definitely a scary moment during the first period.  Niklas Hjalmarsson received a major boarding penalty and a game misconduct, missing the rest of the game following a blind side check on Buffalo's Jason Pominville.

Week 7 Blogpoll Ballot

Tom Fornelli Ballot - Week 7

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio St. Buckeyes	2
2	Oregon Ducks	--
3	Boise St. Broncos	1
4	TCU Horned Frogs	1
5	Alabama Crimson Tide	-4
6	Nebraska Cornhuskers	4
7	Auburn Tigers	-1
8	LSU Tigers	3
9	Oklahoma Sooners	--
10	South Carolina Gamecocks	15
11	Utah Utes	-3
12	Michigan St. Spartans	--
13	Stanford Cardinal	5
14	Florida St. Seminoles	9
15	Arkansas Razorbacks	-1
16	Oklahoma St. Cowboys	1
17	Iowa Hawkeyes	-4
18	Missouri Tigers	2
19	Nevada Wolf Pack	--
20	Arizona Wildcats	-13
21	Wisconsin Badgers	3
22	Air Force Falcons	--
23	N.C. State Wolfpack	--
24	Michigan Wolverines	-9
25	West Virginia Mountaineers	--
Dropouts: Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes, Northwestern Wildcats

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