Big deals and Otherwise: Urlacher Out With Injury

Thursday thoughts (or as close to thinking as there generally is with the editorial staff of elliottharris.com): Although Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher will miss the team’s visit to play Minnesota Sunday (Dec. 9) and could be out considerably longer, he could be ready for the Super Bowl. Well, to watch along with all the other NFL players whose teams aren’t in the game.

Victoria’s Secret model Candice Swanepoel always is welcome around here.

* The Chicago Cubs reportedly have agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with free-agent outfielder Nate Schierholtz. He is expected to be the right fielder, possibly in a platoon, with David DeJesus moving to be the center fielder. Is it too early to start waiting till 2014? Or beyond even that?

* Speaking of the Cubs, Robin Yount accidentally shot Cubs manager Dale Sveum during an offseason quail-hunting excursion. No serious damage to Sveum, although the quail were not so fortunate. Then again, the quail probably did not have to watch the 2012 Cubs and definitely won’t have to watch the 2013 Cubs.

* Still speaking of the Cubs, reports have them talking to pitcher Ryan Dempster about re-signing after trading him to Texas last season. Either that or about appearing as a Harry Caray impersonator at Cubs Convention.

* If Jeff Keppinger is the answer for the Chicago White Sox, then what exactly was the question? The free-agent infielder reportedly agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal. He doesn’t strike out much or hit home runs much (a career-high nine last season with Tampa Bay in 418 at-bats). His career high in runs batted in? Try 59 in 2010 in 575 at-bats with Houston. Of course, playing at U.S. Cellular Field could increase his power numbers to possibly 12-15. Which would be satisfactory — unless he happens to be your everyday third baseman.

Run a photo of Payal Patel or of Bob Rosenberg? Payal looks like a winner.

If this is Thursday (reliable sources say that it is — based on yesterday being Wednesday — provided that you are reading this on Dev. 6 or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time once again for “Sports & Torts” on talkzone.com at noon Chicago time with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris.

The highly acclaimed (well, it certainly is in the Spada and Harris households as well as reportedly elsewhere) interview program features two guests this week: Chicago Soul FC director of media and public relations Payal Patel and longtime official scorer Bob Rosenberg.

A Marquette graduate, Payal has worked in radio and television in Milwaukee. She no doubt will chat about the Soul’s home opener set for Friday (Dec. 7) at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Bob, who has worked more than 2,000 games for each the Chicago Bulls and White Sox (and has worked for other teams, including the Bears, Blackhawks and soccer’s Fire and Sting) will chat about a career that began more than 50 years ago.

As promised, here are more Victoria’s Secret videos. Around here, we like to think of providing such content as a public service (then again, there are folks around here — and elsewhere — who like to think of us as delusional):

There’s always room for bikinis around here — even in a foreign language:

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