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If Shea McClellin is half as good on the football field as he was at his first Chicago autograph signing, the Bears’ No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft will be a formidable force for the foreseeable future (yeah, some of us are alliteration aficionados).
Bears rookie Shea McClellin with Katie and Patti at Bleachers in Winnetka, Ill.
The defensive end/linebacker/just get him in the game from Boise State was at Bleachers — an upscale sports card, collectibles and memorabilia store in Winnetka, Ill. — on Saturday (June 2). A steady stream of customers entered the establishment to have McClellin sign autographs on photos, jerseys, helmets, etc., and pose for an occasional photo with fans young and old.
Owner Keith McDonough and his staff (including wife Patti and son Sam) saw to it that things went smoothly. For his part, McClellin interacted with the patrons and appeared to have an amazingly affable attitude (there’s that alliteration again). He took time to talk with the customers coming through line.
Shea McClellin came through his signing session unscathed.
As for McClellin’s entourage? Not a problem at all. Because there was none at all. As incredible as it may seem, there was no one else on his team. So, after his two-hour signing session was over and he had the chance to schmooze with the McDonoughs and others in the store, McClellin went off into the afternoon on his merry way for the rest of his day.
Whether McClellin can stay as humble — or at least as cordial and well-behaved — as he appeared to be is something that will play out as he plays on. There are those who see him as the successor to legendary linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Let the record show Urlacher’s first autograph signing as a Bears rookie also came at Bleachers. Bears fans can only hope on-field similarities will be there as well.
OK, let’s see if we have this correct: Chicago White Sox television broadcaster Ken “Hawk” Harrelson called umpire Mark Wegner — the object of a tirade Wednesday (May 30) that resulted in Harrelson being talked to by Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and baseball commissioner Bud Selig. Harrelson clarified to ESPN.com, which earlier had said he phoned to aologize, he did not apologize. Huh? If you’re not going to apologize, then why call? To exchange recipes?
The problem with anyone — at least from the Sox organization — trying to curb Harrelson after all these years of whining about calls (with some of the complaints justified, as they would be with any team because umpires are human and make mistakes) is the Sox have enabled him for years. So they’re going to crack down now? Highly unlikely, dadgummit!
The WNBA Chicago Sky, which avoided overtime in Friday’s home victory, need an extra session in Atlanta on Saturday to defeat the Dream 94-92.
Sky guard Epiphanny Prince hit a three-pointer to send the game into overtime and had eight of her career-high 33 points in overtime. She was the only Sky player to score in overtime.
“I just don’t like to lose and as long as there is time on the clock, we know we have a chance to win,” Prince said said. “I’m just not afraid to take those shots. If I miss, I miss, but if I don’t take them, then I would never know.”
Sylvia Fowles added 20 points with 19 rebounds for the Sky (4-1) , which had a 48-23 rebounding advantage. Swin Cash and Sonja Petrovic added 10 points apiece.
“Late in the game, I thought Epiphanny was clutch, coming off a [Friday] game and getting off to a slow start [agaonst Atlanta],” Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. “It was nice to see someone step in there,”
The Chicago Bandits, who open their National Pro Fastpich softball season Thursday (June 7) against the USSSA Pride at 7:35 p.m. at the Ballpark at Rosemont (Ill.), warmed up with an exhibition game Saturday against the Bloomington Lady Hearts with a 21-0 victory.
From tryouts earlier in the day, the Bandits added four players to their roster: outfielder Amanda Williams, catcher/infielder Brittany Cervantes, outfielder Evangelina Galindo and pitcher Chanda Bell.
“It’s really exciting, kind of nerve-racking, but when they told us, ‘Congratulations,’ it was an awesome feeling,” Cervantes said.
“There were a lot of good players out there, and I’m glad I was blessed enough to join the Bandits,” Bell said.
“I feel honored and blessed to be given this opportunity,” NPF veteran Williams said. “It was a talented group and a tough decision for the front office, but I’m excited to be a Bandits again and hopefully be a part of another championship team.”
Maria Sharapova is hardly all atwitter regarding Twitter.
For those who wonder (OK, and even for those who do not) about tennis standout Maria Sharapova and Twitter, here is what she told media in Paris where she is competing in the French Open:
“It’s just too much for me right now, writing texts and tweets. In the course of a day, I write too many messages.”
Also, she is disinclined to share her life.
“Sometimes I get bored with myself — I mean everyday routine things like, for example, eating pasta in a restaurant. I don’t think that the world should know or wants to know that I’m in a restaurant having dinner,” she said.
Speaking of football (whaddya mean we weren’t???), here is some of the scene from the Lingerie Football League’s all-fantasy game Saturday in Brisbane, Australia:
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