Latest News
Panic is a four-letter word. OK, actually it’s five, but you get the idea — even if you are as mathematically challenged as some of us who are typing these words might be. Particularly in the world of sports, the very idea of admitting to such a thought is obscene — regardless of whether the FCC deems such utterances among its forbidden words.
Model Catinel Menghia is always welcome around here -- with or without bunny ears.
All that said, some Chicago sports fans might be wondering whether it is too soon — or too late — to exhibit a sense of panic. In the case of the Chicago Cubs, who allowed five runs in the eighth inning to blow a late lead and suffer a 7-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, it might be slightly premature.
White Sox fans — who surely can be surly at times — should have had their minds eased with the team’s 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers to provide visiting manager Robin Ventura with his first big-league triumph. Ozzie who?
Oh. Ozzie Guillen, who has moved on to the Miami Marlins. And who still knows how to remain in the spotlight.
Guillen told Time magazine he loves Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and respects him for staying in power so long. Not exactly what many Miamians — especially those whose families fled Castro’s regime — want to hear. So Guillen changed courses — and words — Saturday.
“I will apologize if I hurt somebody’s feelings, or I hurt somebody’s thought,” he said. “I want them to know I’m against everything 100 percent — I repeat it again — the way this man [been] treating people for the last 60 years.”
Maybe there’s part of Guillen that wished he had such dictatorial authority — in which case he still would be managing the Sox.
The Marlins released a statement: “There is nothing to respect about Fidel Castro. He is a brutal dictator who has caused unthinkable pain for more than 50 years. We live in a community filled with victims of this dictatorship, and the people in Cuba continue to suffer today.”
Meanwhile back to the Cubs.
There's no question that model Kate Upton is a good egg. Video below.
Just a quick guess, but they are not as bad as their record: 0-2. And guessing just as quickly, they will not go 0-162. Plus, at some point, relievers Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol will be able to retire batters. Which wasn’t the case Saturday for Marmol. He issued a walk and allowed two hits before being lifted. Wood, who walked three batters to force in the winning run Friday, did not walk any Saturday. He recorded two outs before yielding a home run and two subsequent single before being relieved by Marmol.
It would seem the good news for Cubs fans is Wood and Marmol have nowhere to go but up. Mainly because out is not an option. Neither pitcher is about to be sent to Iowa or traded or released or anything else. Certainly not this early in the season, as rookie manager Dale Sveum awaits his first victory with the Cubs.
“It’s been two games,” Marmol said. “You can’t be frustrated.”
You can’t? That might come as news to some Cubs fans.
For those among the Cub faithful who would like to remain in a state of melancholy, we offer the Steve Goodman classic:
For those who want something upbeat and something yet to be heard after a Cubs victory this season, we offer this:
For those seeking a new tune to help offset any Cubs swoon, try this:
Where were we? Something about panic, if I recall correctly — and that actually does occur on rare occasions.
If the shoe fits ... the new Derrick Rose postseason adidas shoe.
For Bulls fans, the word is reigning MVP Derrick Rose just might return to the court for the game Sunday against the Knicks in New York. Is he healthy? Is there enough time to have the Bulls playing like a championship caliber team in time for the postseason? Will the superstar guard be able to stay healthy? If not, what will the team do?
Questions, questions, questions.
No real answers until the moment arrives. Or moments arrive. Without Rose, the Bulls can beat bad, mediocre and even occasionally good to excellent teams — during the regular season. Whether the same would hold true in the postseason is less of a certainty.
“I think it’s up to me if I want to play a certain amount of minutes,” Rose said after practice Saturday. “I know that if it’s a close game, no matter how many minutes they allow me to play, I know that I’m going to want to go out there, probably fight somebody to go out there. But I should be all right.”
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said whether Rose — who has missed 12 consecutive contests with a groin injury — will play is a game-time decision. Something Thibodeau has been saying for what seems like months.
In terms of Rose being ready for the postseason, he is — as far as a Rose shoe from adidas is concerned. Which is not necessarily an area that is of concern to Bulls fans looking for the franchise to capture a seventh NBA title.
Assuming Rose is healthy enough to suit up for the postseason, he will wear a new version of the adizero Rose 2.5 when the playoffs start. According to reliable sources (and the press info from adidas), the shoe “features grey patent leather, tumbled nubuck and red accents to pay homage to the Bulls’ playoff tradition of wearing black shoes throughout the NBA Playoffs whether home or away.” The shoe ($100) is available at Foot Locker, Eastbay and adidas.com.
Whether any or all of that translates into health and/or postseason success is another story for another day.
As far as Bulls fans panicking, it is way too early. And way too late. So the simple solution to all that: Don’t. Enjoy the ride as far as it goes and however it goes.
Nothing says Easter quite like a video with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue cover model Kate Upton:
Advertising opportunities are available on elliottharris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris/com.