END OF JUNE THOUGHTS

WELCOME BACK JONATHAN TOEWS!! After a long year of recovering from an immune system virus, "Captain Serious" is ready to play hockey again for the Blackhawks. Good stuff!

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Someone please explain this to me. As much as I love the White Sox, how can YASMANI GRANDAL, a guy hitting .175, be a finalist for the all-star team? Yoan Moncada is ok because he's a fine third baseman and hits around .300 but Jose Abreu is only hitting .240 and doesn't deserve to be on the team either.

On the other side of town, Kris Bryant & Anthony Rizzo deserve a reserve nod but Javy Baez at .226 ???? Absolutely not.   And the same answer applies to super hot dog Willson Contreras at .229. How about spending the break in a batting cage?

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And speaking of the Cubs................

As the 2021 sun begins to set at Addison & Clark and they prove over & over that they can't play with the big boys, you can hear an audible sigh of relief from the Cubs front office because now they can continue their housecleaning that began last winter.

Who needs KYLE SCHWARBER & YU DARVISH? 

Let's review the current situation: 

**** indicates free agent at the end of the year and if you don't trade him by July 31, you run the risk of having him walk away and sign with another team and then you only get a draft choice in return.

****Early in the season when KRIS BRYANT, 29, (currently 19 million per year) was hitting .325 and the cubs were in first place, the front office was screwed because they didn't dare trade him but the oft-injured Bryant batted .114 for the month of June and is currently hitting .261 and sitting out their biggest series of the year with a 'sore side.' He's had some great years but all good things come to an end. Trade him now.

****Flash in the pan JAVY BAEZ, 28, (11 per year) almost caught Bryant in the ineptitude contest by stroking .150 during the month of June and for the year, has struck out at an alarming rate of almost 40%! A wizard with the glove, he has rejected all coaching regarding learning the strike zone and like many Caribbean players, he is all about swinging for the fences and hitting a home run. This experiment should also be over. Trade him.

****ANTHONY RIZZO, 31, (16 million) has also fallen into the abyss known as the Cubs offense and after a .229 June, sits at .246 for the year and might be beginning to lose the race to father time. Another defensive wizard, his likeability and baseball smarts will keep him on the north side for another 5 years.

WILLSON CONTRERAS, 29, is another north side dumpster fire who is sitting at .229 for the year and has one year left BUT he only makes 6 million a year which fits perfectly into the budget of TOM RICKETTS so if he doesn't get greedy at contract time next year, he should also be a cub for a long time.

CRAIG KIMBRELL, 33, is one of the better relievers in baseball but he already makes 16 million so when his contract runs out next year, his asking price will be 20+ for three more years and there is NO WAY the cubs pay that. So with the way team will look in two years, it's like hiring a maitre d for Burger King. You just won't need him. Trade him now for maximum return.

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Do you think JOSH DONALDSON of the Twins is asking for trouble when he hits a homer and yells out "No more sticky stuff" as he crosses home plate? He did it earlier against the Yankees and then again last night against the White Sox. Tony LaRussa might be senile but he's still old school. Do I hear chin music in Donaldson's very near future.

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Hooray for the court system for finally allowing college athletes the right to profit from their own images, such as autographs, jerseys, bobbleheads. personal appearances, etc. This decision was wayyyyyyyyy overdue. Make a buck while you can.

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Professional soccer in Chicago, simply put, sucks. A terrible product for numerous years and getting worse. The men's team is terrible and the women non-competitive.

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Think one player can make a difference in basketball? CANDACE PARKER returns home to play with the Sky and they win the first two before Parker misses the next 7 due to injury, all losses. Then Parker returns and they win 7 in a row. Discuss.......

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The Bulls go belly up in the lotto drawing and now don't have a first round choice. Maybe Candace Parker is available?

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THAT'S IT FOR NOW. HAVE A SAFE & FUN HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!

For you locals, Mchenry has moved their fireworks show at Peterson Park to Saturday, July 11th in conjunction with Fiesta Days. 

Fireworks PROMPTLY at 9:30.

 Ten bucks a car and plenty of parking and every parking spot has an excellent view of the show. Don't get spooked by the tall trees! Get there early and tailgate in the field but no grills.   Enjoy! .

PARENTAL ADVICE

NO, NO NO!   Is that direct enough? That's the answer you should be practicing for when your kid asks you if he or she can go to any establishment or event in the inner city of Chicago. Now, all kids are basically idiots who think they're invulnerable to wrong doing and bad things happening ( "Oh mom, nothings going to happen") but the cesspool known as Chicago and THE JUNGLE will send them to the emergency room or the morgue in a split second.

So until they straighten things out in the jungle......NO, NO, NO to  Grant Park, The Bean, White Sox Park, all the museums and like facilities, Navy Pier, Lollapalooza, street festivals and any other activity south of Wrigley Field. 

Yes, I said it. I think you're ok going for a DAYTIME ball game at Wrigley but then IMMEDIATELY head back home because armed robberies are up after dark in the Lakeview neighborhood.

 It's a shame it has to be this way but HOMICIDES in the jungle are up 10% over last year when the final total was 777 and that's why it's absolutely insane to let your child go to the jungle. As a matter of fact, YOU should also avoid the jungle because bullets don't discriminate.

And when the kids say, "oh, it's not that bad", make this simple challenge to them. If they can pick up a current sun-times or tribune any day during the summer and not find a Chicago homicide, then they can go. Trust me, you're safe on this one.

CAR JACKINGS.......4 P.M. FATAL STABBINGS IN THE LOOP.....ROAD RAGE......SNATCH AND GRAB THEFTS........RANDOM SHOOTINGS THAT CLAIM INNOCENT BYSTANDERS......UBER DRIVERS KILLED...do you need more? Keep your kids around the neighborhood. The movies, bowling alleys, arcades, shopping centers and many other places have re-opened. Avoid the city. Please.

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The other shoe fell today for DEREK CHAUVIN when he was sentenced to 22..5

 years for the murder of GEORGE FLOYD. Chauvin will be eligible for parole in 15 years when he is 60 years old. Chauvin also is facing the possibility of federal civil rights violations but with the severity of the sentence in Minnesota, those charges may never come to trial. I said it before but this is a righteous charge and the sentence seems fair to me.

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Doddering attorney RUDY GIULIANI was suspended by the New York Appellate Division for repeatedly stating mistruths about the presidential election and making false claims that Pennsylvania allowed 30,000 dead people to vote, when in fact, there were none substantiated. The court issued a scathing 33 page document citing numerous violations and also stating that lawyers "can't intentionally and repeatedly make false and misleading statements which jeopardize the public trust." Giuliani has 60 days to appeal.

In a related story, Giuliani is being sued for 1.3 billion dollars for defamation by Dominion Voting Systems  who Giuliani accused of 'rigging the ballots' and also stating they had been thrown out of many countries for screwing up their elections. Wrong again Rudy. 

Dominion has an impeccable record in every country in which they handled the ballots without ONE verified complaint. Giuliani failed to show up for a hearing regarding the suit after being suspended.

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You don't get everything you want. Leave LAKE SHORE DRIVE....LAKE SHORE DRIVE. Find another street for Mr. DuSable.

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Anytime you think you have things under control, check out what MOTHER NATURE did at 11:03 p.m. Sunday night in five different southwest suburbs. In just under 30 seconds, almost 500 homes were damaged by the tornado and unfortunately, one fatality occurred when a woman 7 months pregnant was injured by a falling tree which caused the loss of her unborn child. 

 An incredible amount of damage and about 40 people injured which is a very small amount but if it had happened six hours earlier when people were still out and about enjoying the weekend, the loss of human life would have been catastrophic.  Take a breath and count your blessings. Things are just that.....things...... and you can replace most of them but life? not so much.

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Chicago Mayor LORI LIGHTFOOT is rapidly losing strength among her constituents as her bullying tactics have soured former supporters and her lack of regard for ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER have shocked long time members of the city council. "You can't do whatever you want and ignore the rules. We have those rules for a reason," said 20th ward alderman Jeanette Taylor. Lightfoot called a meeting 'over' and dashed from the podium to confront Taylor who had voted against the mayor on a certain hire. More to come, I'm sure.

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500 Chicago police officers have announced their retirement and FOP president John Catanzara said, "This is just the beginning. It might get to a thousand by the end of the year because the guys on the street have lost faith in the Mayor. And how does she react to the retirements? She blames the department for not doing a better job of recruitment. She doesn't have a clue as to what goes on."

The average class size at the police academy appears to be around 75 and it takes 6 months to complete so 2 classes a year means 150 rookie officers, all on probation for another year. HOW DOES THE CITY CATCH UP?

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Finally, some late breaking news .....the trump organization will have criminal charges filed against it next week in New York. Defending trump will be Rudy Giu.........oh, scratch that. 😁😁

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

SPORTS GIBBERISH

To date, we've played the same amount of games that we played all last year and there are a few surprises in MLB. The American League sees the MINNESOTA TWINS and the NEW YORK YANKEES both headed in the wrong direction regarding the post season but the BOSTON RED SOX have risen from the dead and are just a game out of first. But Yankee haters shouldn't start celebrating yet because like many teams, the bombers have been torn apart by injuries.

The National League east has flip-flopped from last year with the METS & PHILLIES at the top with the BRAVES and WASHINGTON bobbing in the water. The other two divisions feature the usual suspects but SAN FRANCISCO is the feel good story so far out west but I think they will fade into the sunset. 

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The CUBS are the real surprise, playing like they have a real good team but that all ends next month when they have to decide about ANTHONY RIZZO, BAEZ and KRIS BRYANT.  Do you trade them or risk having them walk away for nothing at the end of the season? Bryant, by far, is the best player on that team but I don't see any way that he doesn't move west in free agency so the Cubs have to trade him. I picked the Cubs to finish 4th and I'm going to stick with it.

Baez is the second best shortstop......in Chicago...........and probably ranks 8th or 9th overall in MLB and #1 in mustard. He is a great defensive player but do you want HIM at the plate in the 9th inning of game seven? If Bryant walks away, then Javy has bargaining chips. If they make a trade, the Cubs will get a basket full of players/prospects and Baez' position is weakened. I still think Bryant would look nice in Dodger Blue. Third baseman Justin Turner is 36 and coming to the end. Just sayin'.

Rizzo is an all around great human being and a gold glover. It would be a public relations nightmare if the Cubs don't re-sign him.

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I just heard that pitchers in MLB are cheating! NO WAY! MLB finally decided that fans don't like 15 strikeouts a game and have made the move to eliminate substances that make the baseball move like a whiffle ball. 

They are also experimenting in the minors with larger bases, moving the mound back (both good ideas) and making the pitcher step off the rubber before trying a pickoff. I don't understand that one but so be it. I think the 10th inning runner is good because it saves the bullpen even if TONY LaRUSSA doesn't understand the rule. I also like the 7 inning doubleheader rule and I thing the DH will be universal soon. PLAY ON!!!

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Like many teams, The WHITE SOX are battling the injury bug but still remain in first place. Losing their starting outfield from last year to injuries cost them 70 home runs and 210 rbi and they can't seem to catch a break. JIMENEZ, ROBERT, MADRIGAL, KOPECH, and ADAM ENGEL have all missed substantial time and the first three are probably done for the year. TIM ANDERSON also fought a hammy and ABREU is fighting a bad ankle and finger. Imagine this team at full strength.

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Exactly how do you miss touching home plate after hitting a homer? YOU DON'T! But the umpire ruled that minor leaguer BOBBY WITT JR. missed the dish and with no review in the minors, the call stands even though tv replay clearly shows him touching the plate.

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FOOTBALL is back!   MITCH TRUBISKY looks "great" in summer practice in Buffalo. Sound familiar?

                                                               

The new guessing game in town.......In what regular season game does JUSTIN FIELDS get his first start?

I know everyone is very excited about the 2021 Bears team but please remember that village idiot MATT NAGY is still the coach.

                                                                

Speaking of injuries, former Bear KYLE LONG suffered a new knee injury while practicing with the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. Long is another good guy but beset with injuries throughout his career, playing less than 50% of his games in Chicago.

                                                         

The GREEN BAY PACKERS just signed their FIFTH quarterback to the roster. I'm thinking that they're thinking that AARON RODGERS thinks he's playing somewhere else this year. I think. What a shame.

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Enough for now. Stay cool!