SoxFest, Selig, Welker’s Fiancee and More

As part of SoxFest 2012, commissioner Bud Selig was in Chicago on Friday.

He presented the 2011 Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence to Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf at SoxFest at the Palmer House Hilton.

Selig praised the Sox for “making Chicago a better place to live.” With the possible exception being last season for their fans (and in all fairness, a similar situation existed for Cubs fans as well).

Some more video from SoxFest (with more to follow later in the week):

The Chicago Bears have hired Phil Emery to be their general manager. His first task will be dealing with the responsibility of overseeing the draft. OK, that’s gonna be his second task. The first will be dealing with the reality that coach Lovie Smith has more authority on the football side of the operation. Of course, that observation mat be pure conjecture. But the reality is fans will know when Emery runs the football side when he fires Smith (hint: don’t hold your breath).

Wes Welker has made another good catch. The New England Patriots receiver recently became engaged to Anna Burns, a former Miss Hooters International 2005. That’s the story coming out of Boston. Which means any photos and/or videos of the future Mrs. Welker are anything but gratuitous.

Speaking of Welker, you can find him among some Super Bowl prop bets, courtesy of Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv; Twitter: @BovadaLV). Ingenious how this all ties together, isn’t it? OK, maybe not, but here are some numbers anyway:

A photo of Bud Selig or of Anna Burns? Decisions, decisions.

Tom Brady 13/10
Eli Manning 9/4
Rob Gronkowski 8/1
Victor Cruz 12/1
Hakeem Nicks 14/1
Aaron Hernandez 15/1
Wes Welker 15/1
Ahmad Bradshaw 22/1
BenJarvus Green-Ellis 22/1
Jason Pierre-Paul 30/1
Brandon Jacobs 35/1
Deion Branch 35/1
Mario Manningham 35/1
Antrel Rolle 75/1
Justin Tuck 75/1
Chad Ochocinco 100/1
Danny Woodhead 100/1
Devin McCourty 100/1
Jake Ballard 100/1
Jerod Mayo 100/1
Kyle Arrington 100/1
Lawrence Tynes 100/1
Osi Umenyiora 100/1
Stephen Gostkowski 100/1
Vince Wilfork 100/1
Field 18/1

Rob Gronkowski (NE) TE 11/2
Aaron Hernandez (NE) TE 15/2
Victor Cruz (NYG) WR 15/2
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE) RB 15/2
Wes Welker (NE) WR 15/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) WR 17/2
Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG) RB 17/2
Bandon Jacobs (NYG) RB 12/1
Deion Branch (NE) WR 14/1
Mario Manningham (NYG) WR 14/1
Danny Woodhead (NE) RB 20/1
Jake Ballard (NYG) TE 20/1
Chad Ochocinco (NE) WR 25/1
Stevan Ridley (NE) RB 25/1
Tom Brady (NE) QB 25/1
Travis Beckum (NYG) TE 35/1
Julian Edelman (NE) WR 35/1
Eli Manning (NYG) QB 35/1
Bear Pascoe (NYG) TE 40/1
DJ. Ware (NYG) RB 50/1
Field 15/2

Over/under on length of Kelly Clarkson’s national anthem: 1 minute, 34 seconWill Kelly Clarkson forget or omit at least 1 word of the official US National Anthem? Yes: 5/2.
Will Kelly Clarkson’s bare belly be showing when she sings the National Anthem? Yes: 3/1.