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Midweek musings: Chicago Blackhawks fans — not to mention coach Joel Quenneville and the Hawks players — are upset that Marian Hossa was recipient of what sure looked like a cheap shot by Phoenix’s Raffi Torres in their first-round playoff series Tuesday night (April 17) at the United Center. After a 3-2 overtime loss, Quenneville called the officiating a disgrace. Can’t wait to see who receives harsher punishment: Torres for his actions or Quenneville for his words. Given the erratic nature of NHL penalty czar Brendan Shanahan, you never know.
A photo of Ashley Kaltwasser or one of Brian Urlacher. You have to be kidding.
* Speaking of suspensions, Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen returned from a five-game, team-imposed exile for praising Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. The Marlins won 5-2 vs. the Chicago Cubs. A bigger challenge for the Marlins will be winning back fans who might have been turned off by Guillen’s remarks. Judging by the crowd Tuesday night (24,544 — a little less than two-thirds of the ballpark’s capacity in Miami) against an opponent that generally draws fans to the park, the Marlins might want to import baseball fans from Castro’s country.
* Speaking of the Cubs, right-hander Ryan Dempster continues to pitch well. He allowed two unearned runs in six innings against Miami. He is winless in 12 starts since Aug. 16. His earned-run average this season is 1.33. Dempster’s throwing error led to the Marlins’ first two runs. “I wish I could have thrown the ball better to first base,” he said. “The results would have probably been different.” Then again … The Cubs have The Cubs have totaled four runs in his three starts.
* Speaking of Dempster and luck, the Dempster Family Foundation will hold its third annual Casino Night on May 9 at the Palmer House Hilton. Persons purchasing tickets through April 20 will be entered for a drawing to an upgrade to a VIP party with Dempster before the event. Newly announced musical additions for the event are “American Idol” Season 9 runner-up Crystal Bowersox and Chicago favorite John Vincent, who normally can be heard crooning at Ditka’s downtown Tuesdays-Saturdays. Tickets and information are available by clicking here.
* The Cubs pitching staff could use a shot in the arm — although not of the cortisone variety that reliever Kerry Wood apparently returned to Chicago to have.
* The White Sox — who lost to the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 — did so in front of a crowd of 11,267 at U.S. Cellular Field. That’s 27.7 of capcity. Maybe the fans were staying away to watch the Blachawks?
* Speaking of crowds, Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck — assuming the Colts take the Stanford QB with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft — opens the regular season against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. There should be a capacity crowd for that. Meaning in the stands and in the Colts backfield with Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and other members of the Bears defense harassing Luck.
Formidable figures: The Rock Star Bikini 2012 contest finalsts.
And now, the last of the Rock Star Bikini videos from the annual contest in Columbus, Ohio. The winner chosen March 1, 2012, at the event was Ashley Kaltwasser, who would go on to capture the amateur overall bikini title at the Arnold Sports Festival.
This is what some of us like to think of as work. If the decibel level seems high, the reason is that it was. You have no idea the sacrifices some of us endure to bring you comprehensive coverage of such terrific topics as bikini competitions.
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