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OK, so the Chicago White Sox’ “Take Jake” campaign fell short of sending pitcher Jake Peavy to Kansas City, Mo., for baseball’s All-Star Game on July 10. You can’t say the Sox didn’t try. They even enlisted second baseman Gordon Beckham to impersonate Peavy.
Nicole Duncan and Alicia Harris instead of baseball players any day.
If Beckham was as good on the field as he was doing a Peavy impression, he likely would be headed to the Hall of Fame — or at the very least be on the AL squad.
The American League winner in voting for the last spot on the team was Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish. Others up for the honor were Peavy, Baltimore’s Jason Hammel, Kansas City’s Jonathan Broxton and Los Angeles’ Ernesto Frieri.
“Do I still think I’m worthy or not?” Darvish said through a team translator. “Personally, I voted for Peavy.”
“It just wasn’t meant to be,” Peavy said. “Obviously, we knew it’s hard to outvote a country [Japan].”
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese won the National League berth over Arizona’s Aaron Hill, Atlanta’s Michael Bourn and Washington’s Bryce Harper.
“I feel very good,” said Darvish, who is in his first season in America. “I know the way I got selected was vote by the fans, so I appreciate all the fans who voted for me. So I’m looking forward to it.”
The voting gives White Sox fans another reason to have a chip on their shoulder. Which certainly is their pterogative and frequently their inclination. Before any of them demand a recount or for stricter voter registration among the electorate, Sox fans might want to take a moment to survery the overall situation.
The So are in first place in the AL Central and they completed a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers, who will have eight players in the Midsummer Classic.
If that’s not sufficient reason to make Sox fans smile, well … Well, here is something that should:
Beckham as Peavy:
Peavy as Peavy:
And Peavy as singer/musician:
A photo of Laura Eilers or Yu Darvish? No contest.
Speaking of contests, the Ms. United States 2012 will be crowned on Sunday (July 8).
Jake Peavy won’t win that either (all part of a conspsiracy against the Sox?). Meaning Laura Eilers’ reign as Ms. United States 2011 is about to end.
For those wondering what sports like there is to any of this, let the record show Laura is a former cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams (though not simultaneously).
Plus the competition includes a swimsuit segment. And swimsuits always work around here, as do cheerleaders, dancers — OK, females in general (in case you haven’t noticed).
Maybe somehow we can enlist Laura to help bring back the Honey Bears to cheer for the Chicago Bears.
The last time the Honey Bears were in existence was the 1985 season, which turned out to be the only season that the Bears won the Super Bowl.
Coincidence? I think not.
Here is Laura from her visit to Chicago in June for the Going Pro Entertainment Expo at HiFi Fitness:
Here is Laura from winning her title:
And more from the Going Pro Entertainment Expos. Say hello to Rebecca Girard:
Fitness pro Nicole Duncan (a former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader) and figure pro Alicia Harris also were part of the Expo, and both will be competing at the Olympia in September in Las Vegas:
And here is Wynne Lacey, who helped run the Going Pro Entertainment Expo and has been in charge of the Chicago Blackhawks Ice Crew:
The July 5 edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris is available on podcast at talkzone.com. The program featured interviews with football great Jim Brown and softball icon Jennie Finch. To view/listen to the program, you can click here.
The Finch interview came when she was in Chicago in June to have her No. 27 Chicago Bandits jersey retired at the Ballpark in Rosemont. Other media members attending the session (and to whom your correspondent is grateful for asking the good questions) were Lydia Rypcinski, Alison Moran and Caitlin Swieca.
For those looking for something to take their minds off the warm weather (and even for those who are not), here is some video that somebody might like:
As long as we’re using Australia-themed video, here’s another one:
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