Monday morning roundup
...because who doesn't like bullet points?
-Good thing gambling is illegal in this country, otherwise I suppose I would have lost all my money yesterday. I was angry that I was only 2-2 in the divisional round, so finishing championship week 0-2 is completely unacceptable. Though I still stand by my claim that the Chargers would make a great group of pirates. (Correction: I'm bad at math. The Pats actually didn't cover, meaning I was 1-1 yesterday, which makes me feel a little better.)
-This time last year, we were littered with countless articles about how Rex Grossman was the worst quarterback to ever start the Super Bowl. SI’s Don Banks was particularly harsh. It’ll be interesting to see how Eli Manning is treated over the next two weeks. Manning’s numbers this season are very comparable to what Grossman did in 2006, with both players throwing 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. I realize Eli has been pretty good so far in these playoffs (though he wasn’t anything special yesterday), but don’t forget that Rex was solid in playoff games against Seattle and specifically New Orleans, as well.
-Also interesting: Remember when the Bears played the Giants in Week 13, and all the talk was about which quarterback was better? It appears that answer is clear now, but I wouldn’t be set on Eli over Rex for the future just yet…
-As commenter RogersPark Kris pointed out yesterday, Tom Coughlin looked a lot like Chief Wahoo yesterday.
-As someone in our newsroom pointed out, the Bulls would be somewhat competent if they only played the Pistons and Bobcats.
-Looking for encouraging Bulls news? Check out recent play of Thabo Sefolosha and Joakim Noah, both of whom have really stared to come into their own with more playing time recently. See, that’s the weird thing about the Bulls: they blow hard, but they still have too many players. Joe Smith might be the best guy on the team, and you can make a legit argument that he shouldn’t even be the rotation. Man, this season is screwed up.
-Shameless self promotion time: Here’s a top ten list of the biggest draft busts in recently Chicago sports history, run by a bunch of really cool guys who help manage the Sun-Times’ new prep sports site. I lobbied hard for Mark Prior as the biggest draft bust, but good ole’ Cade McNown took home the top honor. I’m sure he’s proud. Speaking of McNown…
Fun Cade McNown story: Growing up, my family used to take ‘vacations’ to Platteville, Wisconsin every year to watch Bears training camp. It was basically the O’Donnell family equivalent of going to Disney World, which I partially blame for why I’m so weird now. Anyways, the best part of these so-called vacations was seeking autographs from the likes of James Allen, Steve Stenstrom, Marcus Robinson and Marty Carter. Really, what more could a nine-year old kid ask for? Well when the Bears drafted McNown, he immediately became the must-have autograph for all the kids (not for me, I wanted them to take McNabb). One problem: Cade happened to be the surliest dude of all-time, literally doing whatever he could to avoid writing his name on a football card. McNown was so crafty that he used to take a golf cart to and from the practice field, and drive around the back of the campus to get there. He outsmarted seemingly everyone, well except for my little brother, who figured out Cade’s grand scheme and staked out where Cade used to park his ride, with Sharpie in hand. So Cade pulls up to practice the next day all by himself, and the only person in the parking lot is young Danny, probably all of seven years old at the time. But for whatever reason, McClown still wouldn’t sign the poor kid’s trading card, forever damaging him until our Dad took us to see Men in Black later that evening.
In conclusion, Cade McNown deserved every bit of success he experienced in pro football.
Comments
Ricky....are you "Rickhouse" on that Tremendous Upside Potential blog? I was just browsing it.....pretty good stuff, especially the pictures.....I wish it was easier to put up pictures on Fire Jay Mariotti. Send us an e-mail at firejaymariotti@gmail.com if you guys want to have a "be in each other's blog network" arrangement.
L@L @ Chief Wahoo.......
Posted by: Noles | January 21, 2008 12:03 PM
Gotta love the NFL point spread. It's a win, win (sometimes)you can bet AGAINST your Team, win money and still your Team wins the game. Gotta love it!
BTW, the Pats haven't covered the spread in eight of their last nine. 13 1/2 point faves against the Gints. Somehow I think they are going to cover this time.
Posted by: kman | January 21, 2008 01:15 PM
People are already talking about how the Pats have flaws and how they will make a game of it considering how they did the last game of the season.
Think of it another way, the Giants are the Chargers (without LT) except their secondary is not as good as the Chargers. Eliminate the bad weather (probably) and you have a 17 point Pats win in the SB (close in the first half and the Pats blow it open in the second).
Posted by: Tommy | January 21, 2008 01:40 PM
Less non-Chicago sports. More Chicago sports please.
Posted by: stuckinwisconsin | January 21, 2008 07:44 PM
Let me get this straight Ricky:
You picked the Chargers to beat the 17 / 0 Pats at home in sub zero temps, after having traveled three time zones, and with their top three players hobbled due to injury?
Sorry, but I don't think I'll be putting you in charge of the family trust fund any time soon. (nothing personal)
But if you'd like to hook me up with the guy that's selling whatever it is that you're smoking ...
Ricky responds: Um, I picked the Chargers against the spread, and they covered. See, if you add 14 points (also known as 'the spread') to the Chargers score, they would have won the game. Nothing personal, but any moron could pick winners straight up.
Posted by: Mark Villano | January 21, 2008 07:49 PM
Ricky sez: "In conclusion, Cade McNown deserved every bit of success he experienced in pro football."
Reading that Cade McNown died penniless, in a flop-house of a drug overdose would put a smile on my face.
Posted by: Mark Villano | January 21, 2008 07:55 PM
Nice job Ricky! I picked the Chargers as well, and it paid off hansomely. I agree it doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to make picks straight up.
Posted by: kman | January 22, 2008 04:28 AM
Monday Evening Roundup...
Was that the "thud" of the Bulls demoralizing season hitting the toilet bowl last night that I heard?
Posted by: Seedy Backslash | January 22, 2008 09:09 AM
Monday Evening Roundup...
Was that the "thud" of the Bulls demoralizing season hitting the toilet bowl last night that I heard?
Posted by: Seedy Backslash | January 22, 2008 09:09 AM
Re: Bulls
After yesterday's game, why is there still talk about Pao Gasol?
He's NOT what the Bulls need right now.
They need offense.
But Wallace to the Lakers for Kwame Brown's expiring contact of $9 million and Vladimir Radmanovic?
Let's do that NOW.
Eat Wallace's money and do whatever about Radmanovic,
but Ben Wallace is an offensive liability.
Posted by: Joe | January 22, 2008 10:04 AM
Joe - send Wallace to LA for Kwame Brown does two things:
1. Sends the Lakers to the finals.
2. Causes Paxson to receive death threats.
Maaaaan I am crakin UPPPP! Kwame BROWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | January 22, 2008 11:42 AM
Seedy; I think that happened along time ago. Now they need to keep losing to get a good Lottery pick.
Posted by: kman | January 22, 2008 12:41 PM
Joe - send Wallace to LA for Kwame Brown does two things:
1. Sends the Lakers to the finals - only if Ben buys them all tickets.
2. Causes Paxson to receive death threats - no...it causes Pax to say "I made a mistake signing this bum to the big money"
Posted by: JT | January 22, 2008 01:55 PM
Im with Stuck...
if i wanted to read some inane babble I would have just read Quick Hits...
Oh...and...
Does Brian Hanley write every sports article now in the actually ST print version?
I was home over weekend for my Bach party and i grabbed a couple copies.....It should be called the Hanley Times!
Posted by: bculz | January 22, 2008 07:22 PM
Congrats Culzie! Now you have really peaked my interest. You're just getting married? Did you watch the breakup?
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | January 23, 2008 07:05 AM
Hey,bculz,why so harsh? I agree with stuckin too, but he didn't resort to invective.I did like Rick's Rex/Manning comparisons, but Eli has not had the defense behind him that Rex enjoyed last year. I'm still wondering how the draft will go. At least my alma mater ( Indiana University )is making waves in basketball again. I root for them and Northwestern.
Posted by: Paul Manter | January 23, 2008 09:03 AM
Paul:
Bculz is suffering. The older you get, the longer hangovers stay with you. Since he recently had his bach party -- and it's only Wednesday -- he is still suffering.
Posted by: Seedy Backslash | January 23, 2008 01:21 PM
Ricky...if this turns into a Cade thread...I hope Roman goes to your desk and pulls your hair
Posted by: Hitman | January 23, 2008 01:47 PM
Hitman I never read the Cade part of the post. You MADE me go back! Was a good story though!
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | January 23, 2008 04:27 PM
YOU think my last post was a hangover...u shoulda seen the post that got CENSORED!
Posted by: bculz | January 23, 2008 09:48 PM
NOT IN MY COUNTY...
Special-event liquor license for strip club rejected
Carrie Watters
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 24, 2008 10:03 AM
A former NFL linebacker's attempt to turn a Glendale cabaret into a Super Bowl party spot got squelched by Glendale City Council on Wednesday.
Adrian Ross, who spent six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, planned to hold nine days of parties at the Pink Cabaret to raise money for his organization that mentors children with football and literacy camps.
Pink Cabaret, the city's only strip club at 6789 W. Northern Ave., had agreed to give a portion of the proceeds to Ross's Maddbackers Foundation.
Before embossing the invites, Ross's group requested a special event liquor license to attract party-goers, including current and former NFL players.
The club currently does not serve liquor. State regulation bans alcohol at nude dance clubs, but permits it at topless clubs.
Mayor Elaine Scruggs called the request "a twist of logic" since the dancers would have had to put clothes on - changing what lured the party to Pink's in the first place.
Posted by: bculz | January 24, 2008 07:28 PM
Come on!?!?!? Where's the good old days? When we were talking about how Ozzie Guillen was a god in baseball, and the Cubs would lose for another 100 years? All while we were betting our shirts for the Bears to repeat as Super Bowl entrants, and the Bulls were once again going to be in their rightful place as the NBA Eastern Conference Champions? Can we all just say that Chicago sports teams just plain BLOW!!?? Oh, we cannot forget about the Blackhawks. The only good thing going here in Chicago, now that JudgeandDolph Wirtz is in the big hockey rink in the sky. Peter Wirtz has finally jumped into the 21st century, Savard is an excellent coach who should have been hired for the spot when he retired from hockey? They finally have some terrific kids coming up and working hard, and in 5 years the Cup will be back in the Chicago!
Posted by: Allan Sprehe | January 27, 2008 03:48 PM