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Weekend wondering: The Chicago Cubs and White Sox are making offseason headlines. Something says they would prefer to have them for naming a manager (Cubs) or player acquisitions (both teams) rather than pitcher Nick Blount (Sox) or shortstop Elliot Soto (Cubs) being suspended for 50 games for violating the minor league drug program. Wondering whether by the time they finish their suspensions if the Cubs or Sox still will be in contention. OK, not really. Actually wondering how far out each team will be.
Wondering whether movie director Spike Lee’s highlight of the night Thursday at the Knicks-Bulls game was posing with the Luvabulls. Actually, not wondering at all. It had to be.
* Speaking of the Cubs’ managerial search, former big-league catcher Brad Ausmus is the latest to inverview for the vacancy. He never has managed. As if that matters. Neither had another former major leaguer, catcher Mike Matheny. All he did was go to the World Series this season. Wondering whether having talented players might factor into any success. Ya think?
* Speaking of managerial openings, wondering how long Ozzie Guillen can handle not being back in the dugout. And anyone thinking the Cubs would offer him their job or whether he would consider taking the job, you have to realize any such move would have to include a clause in his contract that allows for his own Wrigley Field rat exterminator.
* If the NBA playoffs started today, the Miami Heat would not be around to go for a three-peat. Wondering, of course, if the NBA playoffs started after only three games, whether their record might be better than 1-2 (with the only victory coming in the season opener vs. the Chicago Bulls). Something says the Heat would be 3-0.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose hits the game-winner against the Knicks on Oct. 31, 2013, at the United center. Credit: John “Nunu” Zomot
* Speaking of the Heat, Miami’s loss to the host Brooklyn Nets on Friday means the Bulls (1-1) have a better record than Miami. Probably not a sentence that will be typed too often this season — unless Miami has adopted the San Antonio Spurs approach to the regular season of making sure their players are healthy and rested for the postseason. Wondering what the minutes-played statistic will look in a few months for Luol Deng, Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose. Not to mention Joakim Noah.
* Wondering whether Bulls fans would be OK with Rose continuing to struggle scoring but the team having the best record in the Eastern conference.
* Thank you to all the faithful folks (and even to those not particularly faithful) who visited ElliottHarris.com in October. The site had 958,357 hits for the month with a daily average of 30,914. Of course, I have no idea what those numbers actually mean, but I will imagine that are of some significance until otherwise informed — and even should that occur, I still will think those digits are an indication that there’s some people (and possibly aliens) out there who stop by to read the daily postings. Or at least to look at photos and/or video.
* Speaking of months, the research team around here has determined that it is November. Which means it is time to vote for your favorite sports podcast. OK, my favorite sports podcast. And David Spada’s, too. Namely “Sports & Torts,” which airs Thursdays at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. The program — coincidentally co-hosted by David Spada and Elliott Harris — is in the top 10 final for best sports podcast. We are asking for your support. All you have to do is go to podcastawards.com and vote. And thank you in advance for your vote or votes. As with any election involving anything Chicago-related, you are encouraged to vote early and often. The main difference between this and an actual Chicago election is multiple votes from a person (presumably still living) is permitted for the Podcast Awards. You are allowed to vote once a day. After you vote you will receive an email confirming your vote. Your vote will not count unless you respond to the email. To vote, click here. Among our competition are sites from ESPN and CBS, so we need to battle the behemoths and we feel good about doing so. Stay tuned. And thank you.
Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com that do not know the meaning of the word “weekend” and quite possibly “gratuitous”):
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