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Thursday thoughts (or what passes for thinking around the editorial offices at elliottharris.com): Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher sidestepped questions Wednesday (Aug. 22) about whether he went to Germany during the offseason to have treatment on his left knee. It was the most nimble he has been recently, even if it was figuratively. “Ich bin ein Bear,” he told the media. OK, he didn’t, but he should have.
Luvabulls co-captain Kafi is ready for another audition.
* Bears coach Lovie Smith was asked about Urlacher’s reported trip to Germany. “You tell me,” he told the media. Sorry, Lovie. The media are there in some instances merely to take dictation. So if Smith wants to act like a dictator, it’s only natural.
* Left-hander Chris Sale struck out 13 batters in 7 2/3 innings as the Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Yankees 2-1 to sweep the three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field. The Sox took the season series 5-2. Something says, given the choice, they would rather capture any postseason series this year.
* Speaking of strikeouts, Adam Dunn struck out once to set a Sox season record with 178. He had 177 last season. Reaching 200 should be a breeze — not to be confused with the wafting air his strikeouts produce.
* Speaking of sweeps, the Milwaukee Brewers swept their three-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs with a 3-2 victory. Bryan LaHair hit his first homer since July 4 for the Cubs. IN defense of his offense, his playing time has been diminished — as have Cubs fans’ hopes for any time soon.
* Speaking of strikeouts, Cubs rookie Brett Jackson had three in four at-bats. That gives him 29 in 55 at-bats. That’s a 52.7 percent frequency for striking out. The career leader in that distinction (for 1,000 at-bats or more) is Rob Deer at 36.3. Jackson would appear well on his way to shattering that mark — well, provided that he can last 1,000 at-bats in the big leagues.
About 200 women will audition Saturday (Aug. 25) for berths on the 25-person Luvabulls for the 2012-13 season. Which should assure there will be sufficient reason for your humble correspondent to show up at the Chicago Bulls’ home games. Which also should assure another video of a Luvabulls from the 2011-12 season. You can view the one for Kafi, a co-captain on last season’s squad, by clicking here. Of course, all this means the accompanying photo of Kafi is not gratuitous. As if the editorial department around here worries about such things.
The choice was a photograph of Bulls guard Derrick Rose or one of Luvabulls dancer Brittany. Gee, that was tough.
Elsewhere in the world of the Bulls, guard Derrick Rose has his first video as part of a documentary series from adidas of his recuperation from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. It is titled “The Return of D Rose Episode 1: Belief.”
Here is the transcript of Rose speaking:
“I was injured basically almost the whole year so I’m thinking like in the playoffs; I’m, like I’m good. First game in the playoffs, get injured. The next game is back at home and I got to take the ball out to center court, in my home town.
“When I tore my ACL I didn’t think that it was nothing big so the whole time I’m in the MRI machine, I’m just praying and crying and stuff, hoping that it wasn’t torn. Think of your most down day, and times that by 100. There ain’t enough to describe how I felt at that time.
“I waited a couple of weeks because they call it pre-rehab where they try to strengthen it as much as possible. I was almost walking regular. You have some people that have ACL tears and they go a whole year without getting surgery so I went a couple weeks, I had to get surgery.
“I’m back at zero again and starting back over. I never had a base – working on my upper body strength, working on my balance, working on my core. It has definitely been tough but I’ll be alright. I know it’s going to help me in the long run.
“Nobody believed in me in the beginning, just me and my friends, that’s all I needed — just me, my friends, my city and my fans.
“I want to be great. I’m going to be great. There is no doubt about it.”
Or, for those who prefer video, here you go:
Speaking of NBA dance teams, here’s some video of the New Orleans Hornets':
Pilar Lastra always is welcome around here.
If it’s Thursday (and the statistical department at elliottharris.com says there is close to 100 percent certainty that it is, based on such flimsy evidence as yesterday was Wednesday and tomorrow is Friday), then it’s time for the latest edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris.
The program will be broadcast at noon Chicago time on talkzone.com with the guests being Playboy Playmate and fantasy football expert Pilar Lastra and former American League president Dr. Bobby Brown.
The show is must viewing (well, it is in the Spada and Harris households) and will be available later on podcast. To show what lengths the “Sports & Torts” crew will go, your humble correspondent traveled to Los Angeles to conduct an in-person interview. No sacrifice is too great for the good of the program.
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