NOTHING BUT SPORTS

HELLO AGAIN EVERYBODY! I can't see the top of my desk so let's get busy clearing it off.

First off, congratulations to the KENTUCKY WILDCATS for winning the NCAA basketball tournament. They took advantage of the weakest regional in 30 years and injuries to key opposition players over their last 3 games but as I've always said....We don't make the schedule but we do have to play it. 

I'm so glad that baseball got their collective heads out of dark orifices and realized that it was a public relations nightmare to have a lockout or go on strike. After what America went through the last 2 years, listening to billionaires and millionaires complaining about money and benefits was not sitting well with the fans but we're on with the season!

If you're standing, please sit down and hang on to the chair. For the first time in three decades, I made a bet ON THE CHICAGO CUBS! I know, I know......I have problems just typing those words. It's a simple bet. If the Cubs win 75 games, I cash my ticket and if they don't, it makes me hate them even more so it's win-win for me.

The BULLS are in the playoffs ! But not for long as they play the defending world champions in the first round. Let's hope the Bulls can avoid a sweep.

The BLACKHAWKS are a disaster. They traded away most of the core group from the championship years and both TOEWS and KANE are in their 30's which means they will be the next to go if the organization is serious about the rebuild. Kane has tremendous trade value but not so much for Toews who has not been the same since that mysterious illness that affected both his muscles and his respiratory abilities. But man, did the Hawks have a great six years.

The WHITE SOX are already in first place after winning their first three series but they also play in a bad division. If they ever get healthy, they will be unstoppable. 

INCONSISTENT is always a word that drives me crazy in professional sports and I think one of the poster children is YOAN MONCADA. Look for Moncada to be traded. He has wonderful tools but his power numbers are sporadic, he is oft injured and has yet to play a full season. As a matter of fact, he has yet to step on the field this season!  Defensively, he's very good at third but you can't make plays sitting in the hot tub. Finishing with a snarky comment, he doesn't seem to have any problems making music videos and seems to move just fine during the dance version. Just sayin'............

Newcomer SELYA SUZUKI has made quite an impression for the Cubs during the first ten days of the season. Four home runs and a .400 batting average. Just get the club to 75 wins, son.

The CHICAGO BEARS are going to absolutely SUCK this season. No players, no first round draft choice and they are currently choked by the salary cap. They've signed a bunch of players to one year contracts to play out the string because next year, the Bears will have the fifth most money to spend in the league BUT this year, they play the Packers and Minnesota twice along with single games against Buffalo, New England, Miami, San Francisco and Dallas. And just how many wins do you see in those nine games?

A VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT TO BLACKHAWKS ANNOUNCER PAT FOLEY, who delighted us for 39 years with his great calls and sense of excitement. What Hawk fan will ever forget BANNNNNNNNNNNNNN-ERRRRRR-MAN! when he stopped a breakaway. (catch it on u-tube for a treat) Enjoy the golf courses, Pat.

CLAYTON KERSHAW gets pulled after pitching 7 perfect innings. I totally agree. The man has had a recent history of injuries and it's best to save him. Dodgers won which is what it's all about.

KYRIE IRVING repeatedly flips off the crowd in Boston. Fining a gazillionaire makes no sense but try suspending him for the next playoff game and see if his ghetto thuggery goes away . No class.

I can see part of my desk! More later.