Latest News
Thursday thoughts: Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts threw out the possibility of the team departing Wrigley Field, if it can’t reach an agreement on improvements to the ballpark that include a sizable video board. “The fact is that if we don’t have the ability to generate revenue in our own outfield, we’ll have to take a look at moving — no question,” Ricketts said Wednesday. The likelihood of the Cubs leaving Wrigley seem on a par with the team winning the World Series this season.
Keeping abreast of “Sports & Torts” can be tough. Playboy Playmate Kristen Nicole, otherwise known as Miss May 2013, is on the May 2 show. Credit: Playboy
* If Ricketts wants to accept Rosemont mayor Brad Stephens’ offer to bring the ballclub to the suburbs, that option exists. Everyone does realize, however, that Wrigley Field ranks among the top tourist attractions in Illinois — and not because of the ballclub and its level of success (what level of success?). A facsimile in Rosemont would be that and nothing more.
* Someone out there in social-media land offered up the suggestion that if the Cubs do exit Wrigley, the White Sox should move to Wrigley. Not sure that the Illinois Sports Authority would allow that, but you have to appreciate the level of creative thought.
* Westboro Baptist Church — which is a hate group masquerading as a religious entity — says it will picket the Bulls-Brooklyn Nets game Thursday (May 2) at the United Center. All because NBA player Jason Collins came out and declared he is gay and received support from the league, players and others. Why does WBC exist? God only knows.
* Speaking of intolerance generated by a church, former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler said Wednesday a Wisconsin church canceled his July appearance because he tweeted congratulations to Collins. He did not identify the church. He tweeted Wednesday afternoon he received an apology from the church, which also thanked him for not disclosing its identity. Which certainly doesn’t sound like a church proud of what it presumably believes in. Why not step up for what you believe in — even if it seems so antiquated to so many? God only knows.
* More Butler, speaking to Green Bay Press-Gazette Media: “I speak about not bullying people and then I do a football camp. … “They [the church] asked, ‘Did you go on Twitter and congratulate some gay guy?’ I said, yeah, a basketball player who came out. They said, ‘Well, we can’t have you talk about that.’ Not that it was what I was going to talk about anyway, but I said, ‘Why not?’ And they said I had to talk to the pastor, and that’s when it got heated. I don’t know the exact Bible verse, but he was telling me that God doesn’t like homosexuals.” If Butler needs a new example of bullying, something says he has one thanks to this unidentified church.
* For those who happened to view the fourth quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder-Houston Rockets game (and for those who did not view it), the strategy to hack Rockets center (and former Bulls player) Omer Asik was worse than ill-advised — the Rockets prevailed in Game 5 of their Western Conference series to cut their deficit to 3-2 — it made for unwatchable basketball. Maybe not for the Thunder fans but for everyone else, and that means TV viewers. If the NBA doesn’t come up with a remedy for such brilliant tactics (such as award free throws and the ball to the team fouled), commissioner David Stern should be forced to watch any games that feature such strategy.
* Speaking of Asik, this from ESPN Stats & Info: Omer Asik was 11-16 on 4th-qtr FT (1.38 Pts per possession). Rockets averaged 0.53 PPP on 4th-qtr possessions that didn’t end in Asik FT. So much for the wisdom of that strategy.
Playboy Playmate Kristen Nicole has a great personality in addition to other attributes. Credit: Playboy
Yes, today is Thursday (based on yesterday being Wednesday, provided that today is May 2, 2013, or a subsequent Thursday. Which means it’s time for another “Sports & Torts” show with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris on Talkzone.com at noon Central time. The May 2 guests are Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry — who combined with quarterback Johnny Unitas for one of the great duos in NFL history — and Kristen Nicole, the May 2013 Playboy Playmate.
For those who are unable to tune in to the live broadcast, the podcast of the program will be available later in the afternoon on Talkzone. If things go as planned (and thanks to executive producer Dave Olson, they generally do), the segment with Kristen will feature video and photos.
This is the space generally reserved for non-gratuitous video. What would constitute a gratuitous video? God only knows, given the rather broad definition used by the editorial and video staffs at elliottharris.com. And because God has not contacted those departments, this is what we have come up with for today:
Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.