Cubby-Blue

Does a Bear poop in the woods? Or just on the football field?

Took this photo in a cab in New York.
I knew it would come in handy some day.
Like today, when all I can think about is how bad the Bears stunk last night.
I watched with a friend at a bar, and at the beginning all the Bear fans were angry, yelling at the big screens.
By halfway thru the 3rd quarter, it was a laugh riot.
Mean spirited jokes were flying as much as the 49ers' defensive line.
Just the worst performance ever.
And either they were exposed as complete pretenders or just... they literally didn't show up.
Because I'm a loyal fan (and optimistic knucklehead), I'm choosing to think the latter. That maybe it's an okay time in the season to take such a giant dump.
Maybe they can sort of rebuild after this disaster, win 4 more games and get some steam going into the playoffs.
Otherwise, with no hockey and the Bulls just getting by...there's not alot to look forward to this winter.

By accident the other night I found an old black and white replay of a Blackhawks/Leafs game from '79 (I think). Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito... just super cool to watch. It was on Comcast sports. 
They should do that all the time.

Anyway, the Vikes are next.
In Chicago.
Probably Cutler's back, wouldn't you think?
Lets see what happens.

Lastly, I totally photoshopped that car freshener. But it wouldn't be anything if it just said, "lilac" or whatever, right?


 

Ditka to Stroke: Who you crappin'?

This ain't nothin but a get well card to Coach Mike Ditka, who had a minor stroke yesterday.
I read that he said it's "no big deal" and I sure hope that's true.
On my own little Altar of Sports, he's right up at the top.
He follows nobody's path but his own.
Even if that sometimes means getting a perm.

Get better Ditka.

Okay, college ball.
I've always said that while I don't necessarily like Notre Dame, I feel unusual when they suck.
Remember when Northwestern beat The Irish to open the '95 season?
I was SO happy, but after that every year it just felt weird that they were so lost and terrible.
So I was actually kinda happy that they were doing well this year.
Until yesterday.
When Oregon and Kansas State lost.
Because now I'm afraid ND will be the top ranked team in the country, and that's just wrong.

And if you read here a couple weeks ago about the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and their 8-game winning streak well, once again it's me just proving out loud what a miserable jinx I am.
They lost the next 2.

Lastly, the Cubs paid $1.75 mil for a 28 year old back-up catcher from the Yankees, Rays, Reds, and Dodgers twice, Dioner Navarro.
And somewhere Steve Clevenger said, "Ahhhhh crap."

Lastly lastly, if you listen to the Score on Thursday when they do their "Who you crappin" weekly segment, usually by far the funniest thing you'll hear is Ditka himself saying "Who you crappin?" during the open.

Think positive Ditka thoughts you guys.

UPDATE: He left the hospital. Will resume radio show on Tuesday.

Bud Selig looks at the Marlins/Blue Jays trade NFL style: it's "under review".

Like about every time somebody makes a great catch in an NFL game, this trade is under review.
Right now Bud Selig is looking at the instant replay of this trade to figure out if it's: 
A) One big bait and switch that fleeced every taxpayer who helped pay for Marlin owner Jeffrey Loria's new ballpark or
B) Just a shrewd move by Loria to dump salary and get prospects.

If I'm Tom Ricketts though, I really hate this trade.
If I'm any owner in any sport who is thinking about asking for public help to finance renovations or building a new park or stadium, I really hate this trade.
It's just a bad example of what an asshole owner might do once he's had his way with you.

On the other hand, if you own something you ought to be able to do with it what you want.

But...in the best interest of baseball?
Isn't that something the commish has some say in?

 

 

 

Matt Garza had his elbow scanned. All good.

Matt Garza had his elbow scanned earlier in the week.
Or I guess it's just that area near his elbow where he had that stress thingy that cut his season short last year.
And it's looking good, he's been cleared to resume workouts at least.
When I did this illustration, the scan hadn't happened yet.
I saw a little thing at ESPN that said this scan was just a routine thing, no big deal.
But of course I started to think about exactly how much of a big deal it really is.
So I'm SO HAPPY it turned out well.
Whether he pitches for the Cubs or gets traded, this is all just good news.

 

Just who is Scott Baker anyway?

I got an email from Sutter saying, "Lets get together and toast Scott Baker."
I turned to Oif.
"Who's Scott Baker?"
He had earphones in and didn't hear.
I assumed it was another general having an affair and went on with my day.
Later, I googled him.
Oh.
If you answered yes to the above questions, you were right.
Because Scott Baker is all of those guys.
Yesterday, I did something I didn't want to do just on principle, but I did it anyway.
I paid for an online news service.
Baseball Prospectus is an unbelievably expensive subscription at almost 40 bucks.
FORTY DOLLARS for a year of words on a screen.
But maybe now I'll be less idiotic some of the time.
Like now.
(Okay, I already admitted idiocy with my little story. So it goes.)
Those guys think he's a decent pickup like Paul Maholm was a decent pickup.
He's coming off Tommy John last April, and they say that's usually a year to get better so calendar math says he'll juuuuust be getting ready about next spring.

And that all sounds about right for the kind of guy we should be expecting to be added for 2013.

Baker was a Twin, by the way.
I looked that up on Baseball Prospectus too.
Did you know there was a baseball team in Minnesota?
It's true!
I just read about it.