Carmelo to Bulls? Warming Up to Cool Idea

June 23, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: Carmelo Anthony is a step closer to becoming a member of the Chicago Bulls. OK, maybe merely closer to stepping away from the New York Knicks. He has told the Knicks he will opt out of the last year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. Chicago’s appeal? Perhaps center Joakim Noah. Or guard Derrick Rose. Or coach Tom Thibodeau. Or maybe he misses the winter weather he enjoyed when he was in college at Syracuse.

Russian model Irina Shayk is the girlfriend of Portugal soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.

* The Chicago Cubs lost Sunday at Wrigley Field 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Oh, look, Kris Bryant hit a home run for Class AAA Iowa.

* Where were we? The Cubs losing. Gee, something different. On the bright (?) side, Cubs starter Jason Hammel pitched well. Meaning he could be a trade candidate. Because this season is all about developing players. To be trade candidates.

* Also on the bright (well, at least not dim) side for the Cubs, their bullpen provided two innings of scoreless relief. And the Cubs rallied for a run in the ninth inning. And they played hard. And that’s noteworthy? Because playing hard isn’t part of the job description? Huh?

* The White Sox lost 6-5 to the host Minnesota Twins, who swept the four-game series to leave the Sox in last place in the American League Central. Sox starter John Danks allowed 10 hits, four walks and six runs in five innings as his earned-run average rose to 4.34. On the bright (?) side, the Sox bullpen provided three scoreless innings.

* The WNBA Chicago Sky lost in overtime 105-99 to the visiting Tulsa Shock, which had been 0-6 on the road. On the bright (?) side, center Sylvia Fowles may return from surgery in the next week or so. Which would be helpful because 2013 rookie of the year Elena Delle Donne remains sidelined by Lyme disease, and the Sky (6-7) is to embark on a five-game road trip beginning Wednesday. A healthy Sky team would be a formidable force in the postseason. Well, provided that the Sky can figure a way to advance to them.

* Speaking of the Sky, the team could have used Fowles or Delle Donne to provide an inside presence against Shock guard Skylar Diggins, who scored a career-high 33 points. If there’s a sophomore of the year award in the WNBA, the former Notre Dame star just might deserve it (despite seven turnovers vs. the Sky). Or most improved player after entering the league to much hype but unimpressive performance.

* Ex-Cubs player of the day: Minnesota center fielder Sam Fuld went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, a run driven in and a stolen base. Bonus points for doing it against the Sox.

Irina Shayk and Cristiano Ronaldo.

* For those of us still not following the World Cup closely, the United States tied Portugal 2-2 when the American team allowed a goal with about 30 seconds left in the game. The reaction on social media spoke of depression at the result. Some folks made insulting comments (after all, that is why Twitter and Facebook exist, right?) about Portugal. The reality is that the United States is not the only team or country to have miraculous comebacks. Hey, enjoy the game, if not the results, and appreciate things for what they are (best able to accomplish that by stepping back from any nationalistic or jingoistic perspective).

* Speaking of the World Cup, Russia lost to Belgium. Which can mean one of two things: Either Russia’s president Vladimir Putin will be issuing orders for invading Belgium shortly or the Russian players will be heading to Siberia shortly (OK, maybe not till winter).

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