Beachwood Sports Archive
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TrackNotes: Burning Down The House
Illinois Racing Board Commissioner Alan Henry said it best.
Citing its extermination of Hollywood Park and Calder Race Course, Henry said the demise of Arlington International Race Course "would be another bloody stain on the hands of [Churchill Downs Inc.]."
CDI CEO William Carstanjen started as a lawyer. He later became an in-house counsel in two different divisions of General Electric. He has also had stints with the old Tropical Park in Miami, United Tote Co. and Churchill Downs Simulcast Productions LLC. He was heavily involved with the acquisition by CDI of betting platforms YouBet.com and AmericaTab.
Carstanjen made $10.5 million in compensation in 2020: $1.4 million in salary, a $2 million-plus bonus and more than $7 million in stock. He owns more than 500,000 shares of CDI stock for a 1.4% share of the company, worth $115 million.
Inside Sports
Online Gambling Market Study 2021-2026: Football Betting Holds Prominent Share, North America Remains Fastest Growing Region
The COVID-19 pandemic positively impacted the market, as consumers turned more toward the online platform to bridge their financial, social, and psychological crisis during lockdowns.
The White Sox Report
Grateful Gambling
The surest bet is that in the next five years all the aspiring wiseguys will be able to wager at pari-mutuel windows in our city's major sports venues. Ironically, the one place where this has been true for almost 100 years, Arlington Park, will have been reduced to rubble.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #374: Bears Blown Up, Sir
Bengals better, too. Including: Matt Renteria; Ex-Bear Factor; The Waiting Is The White Sox's Hardest Part; Cubs Coulda Been; Blackhawks Burying Bodies; College Football Wasteland; Sky Out Of The Mystic; Thorns In Red Stars' Pride; and We Didn't Start The Chicago Fire.
The White Sox Report
In Park
Lot C and home field advantage.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #373: Bears Bummer Begins
Let's face it, this team is going nowhere - and not even fast. Plus: Waiting On The White Sox; Fake Cubs; Lauri's Leap; Bielosa; Wading In; Red Stars Dashing; USMNT Qualifies; Fire Doesn't; Teenage Riot; and Ongoing Arlington Awfulness.
Longhorns' "Eyes Of Texas" Now Subject Of Civil Rights Complaint
The complaint argues in part that the university's decision to create a separate marching band for students who do not want to play "The Eyes of Texas" violates equal protections afforded under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The White Sox Report
Counting The Minutes
40,320 to be exact.
Your COVID Game Plan: Are Stadiums Safe?
Not really.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #372: Lyin' Ryan Pace Pumped
It's neat! Plus: This Is The Way It Ends For The White Sox; Jedhunting; Illinois Husks Corn; Markannen Moved; Sky News; Red Stars At Night; and Fire Wire.
Chicago's "BB Cues" Win Ladies 8-Ball Championship
The teammates are members of the local APA League in Chicago where they play pool regularly.
The White Sox Report
Pitch Switch
Dallas Keuchel and Reynaldo Lopez going in oddly opposite directions.
U.S. Open Begins Under Match-Fixing Shadow
The International Tennis Federation, the governing body of the sport, is under pressure to maintain the game's integrity following numerous cases of suspected or confirmed match-fixing going back years.
TrackNotes: Bite A Nose
They call it savaging the other horse.
TrackNotes: Blue Skies, James Brown & Lucky Charms
It's as good a day of racing as America has, featuring "The Summer Derby." Rivaling the Breeders' Cup, a modest upgrade from Belmont Day and half a length past Derby Day.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #371: Baseball Is So Fun Right Now
Unless you're a Cubs fan. Including: Fields of Dreams; The Week In White Sox; Cubs Scrubs Flubs; Bears Bullshit; All In On New Mexico State; Bulls/Blackhawks; Dreams, Storms; Red Stars' Road; and Chicago Fire Pyre.
Dalton vs. Andy Dalton
One takes out the trash. The other is the trash.
The White Sox Report
A New Complaint
Is Yoan Moncada actually the team's best player?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #370: Help Still Wanted
Frills, please. Plus: Whine Sox; Scrubs Sequel; LOL OL; Sky Hook; Red Whine; OK, Swiss; and more!
The White Sox Report
Baseball Fever
Catch it.
TrackNotes: No Thanks A Million
The Art of the Sellout.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #369: MLB Has A Catch
D'yersville Mak'er. Plus: In The Sox's Sights; Cubs Cupboard Historically Bare; Fields Notes; Ball Game?; Tony O; The Altlympics; and Sky, Red Stars & Fire.
Hapless Hoyer
Too little, too late.
The White Sox Report
The Pitching Plan
Starters, starters, starters,
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #368: Ex-Cubs Fan Now Only Fan Of Ex-Cubs
The Crosstown Classic? Not in the mood. Plus: Craig Kimbrel Curiosity; Sox Scuffle; MAF A Go; Training Camp Treacle; Dreamish Teams; Red Stars Ready; Sky Soon; and Chicago Zeros.
The Triumph And Tragedy Of The Olympic Refugee Team
Unfortunately, the population represented by the team just keeps growing.
Canadian Women Rule
Canadian women are owning the podium at the Tokyo Olympics. But why?
The White Sox Report
And So It Goes
History repeats itself by crushing schoolchildren everywhere except New York and LA.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #367: The Unlovable Losers
Theo era officially a failure. Plus: Ayo A Bull Now; Marc-Andre Mystery; Organizational Indictment; Andy Dalton Is Going Great!; World Learns About The Twisties; Red Star; and Fire Them.
Revealing The Long But Hidden History Of Queer Women In Sport
Along with evening curfews and "no dating" policies, the league's brass sought to reassure male spectators that white female players were, or appeared to be, heterosexually available - and thus worth watching.
The White Sox Report
Gambling At The Grate
As PointsBet buries the message, call 1-800-GAMBLER if problems arise.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #366: P.S. The White Sox
Now that the Cubs are officially irrelevant . . . Plus: The Cleveland Traffic Cops; Deer District; Our Olympians; Vax Lax; Yermination; TLR LOL; Q Anon; Unfolding Ugliness; Kofi Stays; Sky Notes; Sunday, Sunday, Sunday; and Just When We Let The Fire Back Into Our Show . . .
Big Leagues Balk At Endorsing Vaccination
Sports teams' lack of leadership on the issue is a crucial miss for those pushing for greater vaccination rates, and it may also depress the chances of success within their own locker rooms.
TrackNotes: The Baffert Stakes
Baffert is a serial cheat and oh, by the way, he also kills horses.
The White Sox Report
That Was Fun - But Not Necessary
A must-win series? Hardly.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #365: Wobbly Cubs Change Climate
Front-office fail. Plus: White Sox Begin Ceremonial Second Half; Party Time Italian-Style; Dunkin' Keith; Party Time Bobby Portis-Style; Scottie Gonna Pippen; Bears OLs Catch Up With Cutler; Candace's Cover; Red Stars Pwn Dash; On Wisconsin; and more!
When You Win, You're English. When You Lose, You're Black.
"Their perceived Britishness is provisional, dependent upon their ability to kick a ball."
England's Management Lesson
Coaching as a team sport.
The Billionaire Playbook: How Sports Owners Use Their Teams To Avoid Millions In Taxes
Billionaire owners are consistently paying lower tax rates than their millionaire players - and often lower even than the rates paid by the workers who staff their stadiums. The massive reductions on personal tax bills that owners glean from their teams come on top of the much-criticized subsidies the teams get from local governments for new stadiums and further deplete federal coffers that fund everything from the military to medical research to food stamps and other safety net programs.
The White Sox Report
Here Comes October
Red flag: The Sox have pummeled teams with losing records this season to the tune of 38-11. They're 16-24 against the clubs with winning ledgers.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #364: Christmas In July
Expecting a cardiac event this weekend. Plus: White Sox Have Won Their Division; Cubs Open To-Go Window; Unsteady Eddie; NBA Finals Features Dreary Interior Cities; The New Boston; Eurotrash; The COVID Olympics; Sky Lark; Red Stars Dine 'n' Dash; and Chicago Fire On Fire.
The White Sox Report
Yerminated
It was a joyous month, but chances are we'll never see Yermín Mercedes around these parts again.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #363: June Swoons
Cubs suck, Sox survive. Including: Thermo-Bat!; The Captain's Mystery Illness; Who Knew What When?; Former Bulls On Parade; Illinois Exodus; NIL Mill; Wade Grade A; Red Stars Short A Star; Fire Doused; and The Euro.
Arlington Heights 6th-Grader Invents Thermo-Bat!
"When playing baseball or softball, it is hard to improve your swing when you can't tell where on the bat you hit the ball," she says. "My invention changes color in the spot that you hit the ball."
Dear Sportswriters: Ditch The Clown Questions
Ask about facts, not feelings.
The White Sox Report
Santiago Sunday & The Sox
So between the Sox dinky attack, the Santiago affair, Abreu's injury, and Hendriks giving up the game-winner, we did something Sunday that we haven't done in years.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #362: Cubs Bull Pen
We are not amused. Plus: BenZo; The YerMIAnator; Whole Lotto Nothing; Coach [Hearts] NBA Playoffs; Les Inhabitants; and Sky, Red Stars & Fire.
Why Carl Nassib Coming Out Is Such A Big Deal
Gay athletes have come out before, but this is a landmark moment.
Squirrel Strikes
Scores first Hell Tour win of 2021 at LaSalle.
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Look out for the squirrel.
The White Sox Report
Forget Houston
Tony's troops still holding it down.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #361: Sticky Tactics
Gripping agents and griping fakers. Including: White Sox No Longer Best Team In MLB; Cubs Bull & Pen; Go, Bears, Go!; Sky Hot; Red Stars, Fire & USMNT; and more!
Kids Who Get Hit In The Head Playing Football Show Brain Changes
The research team gathered biomechanical data of linear and rotational head accelerations of head impacts from the football group during all practice and games via the Riddell Head Impact Telemetry System in the helmets. That information was transmitted in real time to a sideline data collection field unit for later analysis.
The White Sox Report
Next Team Up
The wins have piled up right along with the injuries.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #360: Cubs Screwing Front Office - And Themselves
Anti-vax clubhouse eminently despicable. Including: Anthony Rizzo No Longer Likable; Where These Cubs Came From; Next Manager Up, Please; Thibs Tout; Coby White Has A Shoulder; Justin Trubisky; Sky Trade; and The World Of Soccer.
'The Most Important League In The City'
"All children deserve to experience the most beautiful sport in the world, the only sport played on a diamond."
The White Sox Report
Hero For A Day
Did anyone mention that La Russa's 2,388 losses also are second only to Mack's 3,948? That's what longevity can do.
TrackNotes: Savor The Baffertless Belmont
Messing with the betting is the mortal sin in racing.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #359: Measuring Stick Month
June will tell the tale. Including: Unlike Cheers, Not Everybody Knows These Cubs' Names; White Sox Still Overcoming Manager; They Call Him Mr. Thibs; Putin's Plan Is Working; Blackhawks Lose Lottery; Sky Nothing Without Parker; Red Stars, Fire Should Move; and Is David Montgomery Really Faster?
Who (Literally) Are These Guys?
Cubs winning with players many of us have never heard of.
The White Sox Report
Bunt Grunt
Trying to decipher Tony La Russa's much-reviled old-school tactic.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #358: How Can The Cubs Not Re-Sign El Mago Now?
And Bryant and Rizzo. Advancing the narrative. Plus: Tony La Russa's Diversions; Bulls-Adjacent; Blackhawks-Adjacent; The Sky, An Alderman And A Law School; and The World Of Chicago Soccer.
No One Wants To Host The Olympics Anymore
No longer worth the trouble or, more importantly, the cost.
How Is This Legal?
Bots, "speculative ticketing" and all manner of sheer greed have created an exclusive secondary market that all but shuts out the vast majority of fans.
The White Sox Report
The Stats Behind The Slump
Over a short span the club can get hot, but reality tends to prevail during a 162-game marathon.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #357: Was Tony La Russa Right?
Sort of. But one thing is for sure: The media was wrong. Plus: Cubs Conspiracists; Sky Opens; Red Stars Thorned; Fire Woman; and a bunch of various tangents therein.
The White Sox Report
Tony La Russa's Inflection Point
This might sound panicky and an overreaction, but the events of the past two nights have made today's game pivotal to the this season's journey.
The White Sox Report
The White Sox Report: Ticket Stubs, Vendors & Zip Ties
The new fan experience so far.
TrackNotes: Rombauer Does America A Favor
Not this year, Bob. Not this year.
TrackNotes: The Spirit Of The Preakness
Unfortunately, both of Bob Baffert's horses figure strongly in this one.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #356: White Sox Beating Their Manager
Tony La Russa remains the White Sox's biggest threat. Plus: Cubs Starters Are Perfect Subs; Weirdest Backup Catcher Trajectory Ever?; Bulls Pre-Post-Mortem; Blackhawks Post-Mortem; Sky Opening; Red Stars Opening; and Fire Continue To Be Terrible.
TrackNotes: Bob Baffert's Boulders
The face of racing carries the sport on his despicable shoulders.
The White Sox Report
He Gets On Base
Yasmani Grandal's abysmal batting average is only part of the story.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #355: The La Russa Rules
Don't go near him! Plus: Cubs Might Be Forced To Keep Kris Bryant; The Rest Of The Bears Draft Not So Great; and more!
Fantasy Sports Market To Pass $2 Billion In Revenue By 2026
"The thin line of difference between fantasy sports and betting is differentiated as a game of skill versus a game of chance; this topic is a highly debatable one."
The White Sox Report
Judging Tony
Let's just say that the criticism aimed at La Russa has been overly severe while few can argue that La Russa is the same manager he was at Oakland and St. Louis.
TrackNotes: Evil & Earworms
I was expecting NBC's coverage to be rote and lazy. It was, but it was also even worse.
TrackNotes: Punditry As A Handicapping Tool
Seriously, I was betting against the desk, at good prices.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #354: Bears Turn The Beat Around
After miracle move, Matt Nagy now on the clock. Plus: Tony La Russa's Apology Tour; Cubs' Giggly Garbage; Thank You, Andrew Shaw; Blackhawks, Bulls Going Out With Whimpers; Loyola's Leavers; Ramblers Women Score First Tourney Goal; Red Stars Lose Challenge; Fire May Or May Not Have Played Since Last Time We Talked; Broadcast Blues; and Aiding And Abetting.
Why We Hated Ali - And Then Loved Him
It is an illusion that newspaper newsrooms in those days were bastions of free-thinking liberals. They weren't.
Superleague Failure Good For The Women's Game
Dodged a bullet.
The White Sox Report
Catching Fire
Nicky Two Strikes, Yaz and the Yerminator.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #353: Cubs And Sox Are Different Kinds Of .500
Same record, different journeys. Plus: Zachless Bulls; Blackhawks' Splitting Headache; Cam Pro; Red Stars Finally Score A Goal; Superleague Relegated To Dustbin; Fire Season All Downhill From Here; and Draft Memo To Ryan Pace.
Where Quarterbacks Don't Die
Jim McMahon's graveyard is both literally and figuratively false.
The White Sox Report
A Box Of No-Hitters
Some are perfectos, and others are like Edwin Jackson's.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #352: Chicago 0-5
Our teams suck. Including: Rodon vs. Godzilla; COVIDY Crappy Clueless Cubs: Bulls Shit; Blackhawks Shit; Sky's Blue Sky; Red Stars Stuck; Down Fire Up; CeeYa CeePee; Underwood's Portal; and Leaving Lovie.
The White Sox Report
Not To Worry, White Sox Fans
This is not complicated.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #351: Vaccine Villains
Jock idiocy in the city's locker rooms. Plus: SOS - Same Old Scrubs; Tony & Stoney; DePaul's Stumblefield; Bulls Rebound; Bowman's Borgstrom; McCaskey Mystery; Goofy Georgi; Red Stars Return, and more!
The NFL's COVID Warning For Baseball
The NFL's decision to allow fans at games enabled us to examine the potential influence that large sports events can have on local viral transmission. Although we could not definitively assess cause and effect, the results were striking.
The White Sox Report
The Yerminator Has Landed
From the Pecos League to the record books.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #350: Opening Deja Vu
Meet the new Cubs, same as the old Cubs. Plus: White Sox Lose Less Than Cubs; Neo Theo; Boog & Beau; Loyola Will Always Have Illinois; Deja Vucevic; and Bloom Also Off Blackhawks.
The White Sox Report
The Eloy Canal
Most of the talk revolves around tamping down his exuberance and who will replace him until fall. Both of those discussions are misplaced.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #349: New Bulls Regime Had Seen Enough
Didn't need a full season to evaluate the mess GarPax left behind. Plus: Cubs Trade Looking Slightly Better; Ramblin' Men; Wildcat Women; Blackhawks Back; Cubs Going Backwards; and Bears Sign Backups.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #348: Pace De Resistance
If anyone thinks they know what the Bears are doing, can you share it with the rest of us? Plus: Illinois Madness; Leitao Out; Bulls' New Lineup; Bullish On Blackhawks; Catching The White Sox; and Crappy Cubs.
Wilson Unveils New Official Game Ball Ahead Of WNBA's 25th Season
Made of 100% composite leather, the official WNBA game ball integrates Wilson's Evo NXT construction featuring an enhanced grip and a soft moisture-minimalizing feel.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #347: Slow Jamming The Bears News
How their QB search is like a CNN breaking news event. Plus: Spring Training Fever; Colliton Can Coach; Billy's Bulls; and Whining Illini.
How Mark Giangreco Blew Himself Up
This is mostly a test reaffirming how much trouble telling the truth can cause for media chatterboxes with no sense or decorum.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #346: Breaking Brent Seabrook
A fond farewell to one of the core four. Plus: Breaking Blackhawks; Bulls Losing More Professionally; Illini Still Fighting; Chicago Baseball Beer Pong; Kopech; Sogard, and more!
The White Sox Report
Worst White Sox Trade Ever?
Surely in the 120-year history of the South Side franchise no front office made such a grievous error. However, investigation and hindsight are required..
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #345: Ryan Pace's Place At The Table
If you don't know who the sucker is . . . Plus: Cubs Continue To Go Back In Time; Worst White Sox Trade Ever?; Bulls And Blackhawks Have A Lot In Common; Arlington's Amber Alert; Red Stars Get The Gist; and The State Of Basketball.
TrackNotes: Arlington's Amber Alert
The higher purpose: Cheap-shit condos and another Starbucks.
The White Sox Report
MLB Cuts Out The Heart Of America
In an age where a small-market team like San Diego makes a splash with a $340 million deal for Fernando Tatis, Jr., the owners claim they simply can't continue to stock the rosters of 160 minor league teams, paying many players less than minimum wage.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #344: QBnon
The biggest sports news in the city is the Bears not having a quarterback. When they get one, that will be the biggest news too. Plus: The White Sox Padres/Cubs/Cleveland Report; Too Soon, Cubs?; Banged-Up Bulls; Beautiful Blackhawks; and Basketball State.
Special Olympics Dragon Unveiled
Meet Zilant.
For Bears QB Conundrum, A Magic Solution
How Ryan Pace can stumble into solving a problem of his own making.
Valpo Picked Wrong Genocides To Honor
Doesn't VU have a history department?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #343: LIV-i-n
Super Bowl recap. Plus: Bears QB Epiphany; Bill Pecota's Predictions; Building Blackhawks Better; Zach's Lack; and State Of Basketball.
Karma Finally Bites Boston
Owners who refuse to sign their homegrown superstars should sell their teams, not their players.
Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet Post-Mortem
He also found some clever and entertaining ways to get around the fact that half the audience was made out of cardboard.
The 13th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Mr. Weeknd?
With all due respect to Mr. The Weeknd, this feels like the half-time show equivalent of sweatpants on a Zoom call.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #342: Prop Drop
Malarkey, hooey, Barrington and Bowling Brook. Including: Propping Up The Super Bowl; Quarterback Carousel; The Right Side Of The Rivalry; White Sox-Adjacent Twins Have Nice Week; They Call Him Mr. Thibs; Blackhawks Almost On Fire; Roundball Roundup, and more!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #341: Deshaun Not Coming To Dinner
We'll be haunted by Ryan Pace's 2017 draft for the rest of our lives. Plus: Rueing Rodgers; Pat Fitzgerald Unavailable To Coach Bears Until 2031; Lovie Smith Parlays Embarrassing Illinois Failure Into NFL Job; So Cub Again; When Not Bad Is Good Enough You're The Blackhawks; No Bulls; Sky Jacked; Roundball Roundtable, and more!
When Not Bad Is Good Enough
Sometimes excuses are valid.
TrackNotes: The Phantom Zone
A diminished Pegasus opens the new horse racing season amidst a giant orange background.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #340: Bringing The Hammer Down
Attention, white people. Plus: Rags!; Comedy QBs; Kris Bryant Beefs; Does Zach LaVine Wear A Cape Or No?; Blackhawks Blackout; Evanston vs. Champaign, and more!
The $10 Million Wang
Theo protege's penis pride cost him dearly.
Post-Paxson, Post-Boylen, Pre-Winning
The Bulls aren't going to win the NBA title in the coming summer, but believe me when I tell you they are moving in the right direction just about as quickly as is humanly possible.
It Takes A Volunteer Village To Be This Bad
In something of a unique ascendance of insipidity, Tennessee thus hired 10 men to coach its football team to total incompetence - and cheated to do it. The "team" that coached the team was even incompetent.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #339: The Four Horsemen Of Halas Hall
Awesome culture not even able to pull off a press conference. Plus: Holy Shit, White Sox; The Bad, Bad, Bad Blackhawks; The Less Bad Bulls; Evanston vs. Champaign; and more!
The White Sox Report
MLB's Sticky Situation
An amusing little scandal.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #338: Halas Hell
No-man's land. Plus: Bye Bye Bam-Bam; As The Crow Retires; Zach LaVine Stuffs Stat Sheet; and Evanston vs. Champaign. Go Padres and Red Stars!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #337: Bears Back Into Nonsense
The prism of snagging a COVIDY playoff spot doesn't change the reality of the Bears' performance. Plus: Breaking Up With Jed Hoyer; Bulls No Longer Totally Sucking; Jonathan Toews' Mystery Illness; Evanston vs. Champaign; Citrus Pat; and Red Stars Blockbuster.
Meet The First U.S. Collegiate Athlete To Capitalize On Name, Image And Likeness Rights
NAIA beats NCAA to the punch.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #336: All That's Left For The Bears Is The Rare Measuring Stick Lid-Closer
Only the Packers can tell us what's real now. Including: Is Matt Nagy All Growns Up?; Trubinsky; Jets Sweep. Plus: Bullskill, Blackhawks Camping, and Evanston vs. Champaign.
China's Repression And The Winter Olympics
Human Rights Watch has extensively documented serious human rights abuses in China, and that the human rights environment has deteriorated significantly since the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The White Sox Report
Counting The Negro Leagues
Not as easy - or valiant - as you may think.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #335: Bears Bumming Us Out
From winning ugly to winning wrong. Including: Lazor Tag; Jennings A Joke; Low Bar, Everybody Down; Miller Lite Matt and more! Plus: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Fitzmas; Bulls Time; Zippy Cubs, and more!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #334: Bearnesia
Jesus Christ, people. The previous six-plus years still happened. Plus: Lovie Claus Fired; The White Sox Have Some Good News And Some Bad; Remembering Jimmy Collins; Go Spiders!; and Illini Men vs. DePaul Women.
The White Sox Report
You Don't Have To Like Adam Eaton
If he comes anywhere close to the numbers he produced in his first stint on the South Side, the critics will have to direct their displeasure elsewhere.
I Achieved My Wildest Dreams. Then Depression Hit.
I'd spent my life training for the Olympics, but I wasn't prepared for what came next.
Breakdancing Just The Latest Wacky Olympic Sport
Cannon firing, fishing, pigeon racing, firefighting, hot air ballooning, kite flying, and five categories of art.
No Fitzmas For Bears, Please
Mr. Smoke meet Mr. Mirrors.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #333: Area Family Holding Football Team Hostage
It's Next McCaskey Up. Plus: No Joy In Cubrock.
Exclusive! The Real Reasons Why Len Kasper Left The Cubs For The Sox
Could no longer resist the siren call of Guaranteed Rate Field.
Class, Race And Paying College Athletes
Will COVID be the tipping point?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #332: Losing Ugly
Outschemed, outsmarted, outeverythinged. Plus: Northwestern Also A Lie; The Fighting Five; The Honeymooners; and Bryant's Socks.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #331: Northworstern Now Northbestern
Not your father's punch line. Plus: Artie's Bulls; Bears Backups; and Theo Not All That.
Georgia Senator David Perdue Privately Pushed For A Tax Break For Rich Team Owners
If the regulation had been altered as Perdue wanted, it would have been a boon for some of his largest donors. Perdue has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the owners of professional sports clubs, including now-fellow Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who co-owns Atlanta's WNBA team, the Dream.
New Mexico Basketball Teams Flee To Texas COVID Hotspots
Evading guidelines meant to save lives because for some reason the games must go on.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #330: Nick Folds
Bears buffoonery. Plus: Epstein Exits, Unsatisfyingly; Masters Class; Northwestern Football Is Good This Year; and Mo Better Bulls.
Formula One's Dirty Saudi Deal
Country on a sportswashing spree.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #329: Halas Hall Total Landscaping
Bears fraud abetted by Matt's miserable math. Plus: Out Of Lovie; Bulls Ball Game; Blackhawks' New Enforcer; Chicago Fire Playoff Hopes Snuffed Out.
SportsMonday: Concessions
Like Donald Trump, Matt Nagy should concede - the play-calling.
TrackNotes: Keeneland's Climax
Ladies, land and just a little journalism.
TrackNotes: Environmental Contamination On Fantasy Island
Can Bob Baffert put another one over?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #328: Matt Ugly
In four weeks the Bears will be the worst 5-7 team in the league. Plus: Tony La Russia. And: The Red Stars vs. The Men In Red.
Jack Nicklaus, Jay Cutler, Tony La Russa And Bob Baffert Walk Into A Bar . . .
And they ruin it for everyone.
The White Sox Report
South Side Sticks Faces In Pans Of Hot Oil
You'd have thought Blago had just announced he's running for governor again. Or maybe Paul Anka is getting a primetime special. The White Sox need a DH. Why not Harold Baines?
Do Not Shorten, Abbreviate Or Otherwise Misuse The Name Of Rawlings' New Team Defense Award
Will honor the Best Defensive Team in both the American® and National® Leagues.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #327: Raise The Bears' Taxes
Someone told you so. Plus: Door Matt; Running By A Committee Of One; Meet Sam Mustipher!; Honey, They Shrunk Allen Robinson; Demetrius Harris vs. Kamala Harris; Ginn Din; Nick Foles Plays To The Level Of His Colleagues; DerpFENSE; The Notorious RRH; Biggs Time; and Run Less.
The White Sox Report
The Season In Verse | We Watched Them Rehearse
Ten games above .500, we'll take it, I suppose. But the first round of playoffs, was as far as it goes.
Hulu To Sinclair: Drop Dead
Just the latest kick in the nuts for right-wing broadcast monsters.
The 2000 Sydney Paralympics Changed The Games
The day pass, a national education program and sport-specific training.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #326: Fire Matt Nagy
If his title was offensive coordinator, that's exactly what everyone would be saying right now. Plus: Stop Lying, Rick Hahn; A Just World Series; Sick Saad World; and Chicago Fire Locking It Down!
The White Sox Report
Neither La Russa Nor Hinch
There's someone else out there who Rick Hahn should hire as next White Sox manager.
MLB's First Commissioner Was A Racist Enabled By White Sportswriters
Gentleman's agreement kept Blacks out.
The Clever Reason He Wants Matt Nagy To Use The Hurry-Up Offense
Hint: To save us from all these damn commercials.
100 People Who Would Be A Better Choice Than Tony La Russa To Manage The White Sox
Including the real Chairman of the Board; that dude and his dad; and that chick who was the Italian Sausage.
A To B To C With The Reinsdorfs
There's no guarantee.
The White Sox Report
Rickey Rentamanager's Lease Not Renewed
Like his boys, Rickey Renteria does not quit. He was fired. By Rick Hahn. Don't let the screen door hit you in your analytics-adverse ass on the way out.
The St. Louis Flat-Earthers
It's Ronald McDonald With The Big Red Shoes meets Holocaust Denial.
Cinderella On Steroids
An unorthodox manager, little-known players, a small payroll, not a whole lot of home runs, and just three wins away from the World Series.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #325: Bears In Never-Never Land
Enter Metallica. Plus: Crow. And: Go Blue!
Joliet's Route 66 Raceway Left Off NHRA's 2021 Drag Racing Schedule
NHRA's 70th anniversary year.
Don't Blame Trubisky. Blame Bears' Schulz.
AKA, Virginia McCaskey, keeper of the genetic code.
Black Colleges Join eSports Bandwagon
Video games are lucrative - and not just for the players.
Bears Bust
The offense sucks, for sure. The defense? Jury out.
The End Of A Baseball Era That Passed Chicago By
Drive south of I-80's boundary to the other world, and test how many people worry about either team.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #324: The Core Is Rotten
Theo can build a team, but he can't really hold a team. Plus: Rickey Rentamanager's Lease Will Be Renewed; Central Sucking Time; Nick McCown; Red Stars & Fire.
The White Sox Report
They Go, He Goes
The players make the manager.
Tweeting Foles
Geez, if the Bears had named Nick Foles the starter at the beginning of the season, they might be undefeated!
Easton's Iconic Green Bat Is Back
A game-changer - again!
The White Sox Report
Playoff Panic
Obviously the White Sox need to turn the page. The last 10 games have been distressing.
The Dreadful Cowboy
This sonuvabitch, who is nothing but a grandstanding maniacal egotist and says he loves horses, absolutely cannot love horses, if he knows anything about horses.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #323: Slumpsville
All our teams are winning and nobody's happy. Including: The Return Of Rickey Rentamanager; Same Old New Cubs; Gale's Song; Bears Extend Part-Time Player Instead Of All-Pro; Mitch Cutler & The Kings Of The Tomato Cans; The Bulls Are All Growns Up; Killer College Football; Red Stars Align; and The Dynamo Stinks.
The Big Ten's Blood Money
There is no appropriate compensation paid for the risks assumed by the student-athletes.
Notre Dame's Deadly Game
All the decisions are designed to guarantee the games proceed and income accumulates, not that players are safe. Only one value at a time can be the top priority.
Notre Dame's Deception
Shouldn't someone ask if lives are being placed jeopardy?
The White Sox Report
Hail To The Placeholders
They set the table.
SportsMonday: A Message For Mopey Mitch
Enjoy the mediocre moment!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #322: The Bears' Bad Day
Karma chameleons. Plus: Colin Kaepernick Still Screwed; White Sox vs. Dodgers; Cubs Somehow Still In First Place; Assisting Courtney; Red Stars Return To The Geek; and Lionel Messi Not Signing With The Fire.
The White Sox Report
Home Field Hankering
Surely the chance to witness a big league ballgame in person doesn't even make the Top 100 of issues that need solving. But that's just it. What we have always taken for granted has been robbed from us.
SportsMonday: Bears Outluck Lions
Karma chameleons.
Dak Prescott Is The Hero Skip Bayless Will Never Be
John Edward "Skip" Bayless II owns decades of insufferable arrogance as a sports opinionator; seldom has he seemed so clearly trapped in the wrong century.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #321: The Bears Will Not Win 8½ Games This Year
Beachwood taking the under. Plus: NFL Lifts Lid With Mitch Bowl; George And Virginia Really On It This Year; The White Sox' Superlicious Schedule; Cubs Cling To Lead Over COVIDY Cards; Sky Falling, Crying; Fire Down Below; Red Stars Restart; Breaking Baffert, and more!
The Robust Undercurrent Of The Sports Flooring Market
Rising investments in athletic and fitness facilities.
Bears Lose QB Competition
Nick Foles must have really sucked.
The White Sox Report
From One Craftsman To Another: A Tom Seaver Remembrance
The Tom Seaver folks in the Napa Valley knew switched from striking out big league hitters to growing cabernet grapes on 3½ acres of Diamond Mountain outside of Calistoga, with an equal amount of passion.
TrackNotes: Authentically Depraved
Aided and abetted by NBC Sports, Churchill Downs shape-shifted its 146th Kentucky Derby in the service of turning its back on the modern world.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #320: Premature Exuberation
There will almost certainly not be a Red Line World Series. Plus: Bears Lose QB Competition; Kiss The Sky; Soccer Wubble; Mubble; and Their Old Kentucky Home.
TrackNotes: Their Old Kentucky Home
The Derby is a palpable vestige of post-war antebellum yearnings, a gripping continuum defiantly nurtured and fiercely defended.
NBA Players Secure Use Of Stadiums For Polling Stations
"NBA players are doing more to make voting accessible than our own government."
SportsMonday: Treading Water
Breaking even on the road the rest of the way probably puts them in position to hang on to the top spot in the Central.
The White Sox Report
Running Bases
With a team that's posted 11 wins in its last 13 games and finds itself tied for first place with Cleveland, why focus on the one play that made them look downright silly on Friday night?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #319: Business As Usual Is Canceled
Made us look. Plus: The Giolito Shuffle; Cubs Hit Rough Patch - Except Financially; Bears' Broken Backfield; Crow Dough; Chicago Skyward; Fire Torch Orange & Blue; Gold Stars For Red Stars; and The NU/ND Report.
Harlem Globetrotters Release New Mobile Game
Includes cameo appearances of the Washington Generals.
Evanston's Golden Child
You can already peer over the hill and see that titanic neighborhood struggle. If Notre Dame or hometown Northwestern beats out the other for him, the loser will be depressed. The only way it would worse for the Irish is if long-hated Michigan wins the battle.
SportsMonday: Maybe The Cubs Should "Panic"
The White Sox hit so many balls into the stands over the weekend a bleacher fan could have torn his rotator cuff throwing them all back.
The White Sox Report
Crosstown Classic's Cupboard Bare
I kept wondering if A.J. Pierzynski's jaw was sore all over again for all the times I saw reruns of Michael Barrett punching him.
Thom Brennaman's Heart
Getting caught being a discriminatory jerk comes with rules. Call them cultural sentencing guidelines. You are normally required to admit fault.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #318: Crosstown Cruise
Chicago baseball is having a moment. Plus: Blackhawks Bleak; Boylen-Free Bulls Begin; Breaking News From Bears Training Camp: Everybody Looks Great!; College Football Collapse; Sky High; Fire Below; and more!
Washington Football Team Hires University Of Chicago And Northwestern Grad To Be NFL's First Black President
Upon his retirement from the gridiron, he received his MBA, graduating with high honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and building on his undergraduate studies in psychology at Northwestern University, where he was also an Academic All-American and captain of the football team.
Blackhawks Blown Out Of Bubble
And the future looks bleak.
The Real Texas Rangers Have A History Of Violence And Racism
"I just think it's impossible to talk about this particular organization and use the word 'ranger' without invoking this 200 year-old actual history of violent policing, especially against communities of color," a Loyola Chicago professor says.
The White Sox Report
Good In The Clubhouse
Bah, there have been lots and lots of guys who are not loved by their teammates who can perform better on a daily basis than most of their teammates. I'll take a clubhouse full of 'em, bad attitudes and all.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #317: Sick Sad World
Killing in the name of. Plus: Blackhawks' House Money Running Out; The Infectious Cardinals Way; More Cubs Truths Emerge; The Return Of Ricky Rentamanager; Kollege Football Kills; Bye, Bye Boylen; More Bears Truths!; Sky & Fire; and The Weight Of Gold.
The White Sox Report
Pitchers Can't Catch
Once the season begins, the other eight defenders are given instruction and practice during pre-game drills. Not so with pitchers, and it shows.
'Olympic Athletes Are Dying'
"Olympians including Michael Phelps, Apolo Anton Ohno, Jeremy Bloom, Shaun White, Lolo Jones and Sasha Cohen are opening up about their mental health struggles in a new sobering documentary about suicide and depression among the world's greatest athletes."
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #316: Blackhawks, Baseball Barely Back
Deflections and denial. Plus: David Ross Week; The White Sox Are Also Playing; Boylen Not Over; Breaking Bears Truths!; Sky & Fire; Smashville; 22-Year Temper Tantrum Approaches Endgame, and more!
TrackNotes: 22-Year Temper Tantrum Approaches Endgame
The (physical) jewel of American racing will soon become another array of condos, apartments and strip shopping that has already made Arlington Heights just so special.
Forced Sports Timeout Puts Squeeze On College Coffers, Scholarships And Towns
The reality of a fall without sports is sinking in.
Chicago Smash Help Set Team Tennis Viewership Record
You were watching live on CBS.
Cancel Culture
MLB should cancel the Marlins, Javy Baez cancels baserunners and Conor McDavid just might cancel the Blackhawks.
Why A Canadian Hockey Team's Name Recalls U.S. Civil War Destruction
Sherman's "March to the Sea" commemorated on a hockey jersey.
The White Sox Report
Remembering Baseball's Historic 2020 Season
A future grandpa tells his future grandkid what the season that ruined everything was really like.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #315: Seasons Greetings
Worst baseball season ever. Shut it down. Plus: Kubs Killers; Rickey Boylen; Chicago Vikings; Blackhawks Bubble; Eddie Goldman Opts Out; Remembering Lou Henson; Jim Boylen Is Still Here And We're Here; and Sky High, Fire Fluke.
Does Home-Field Advantage Exist Without Fans?
We are now conducting a controlled experiment to find out.
The Cubs Now Come With Trigger Alerts
Most unpleasant win ever.
The White Sox Report
Weirdness Reigns
Empty stadiums, cardboard cutouts of fans, dubious rule changes, and an outbreak that may end the season already.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #314: Red Stars, Blue Skies, Bat Cracks & COVID-19
Chicago's First 2020 Champions? Plus: The Cubs Are Back; The White Sox Are Back; Thibs Timeline; and Adam Bomb.
Worse Than Brock?
For all Theo Epstein has done in his career, he may go down as having made one of the worst trades in baseball history.
Japan's Child Abuse In Pursuit Of Olympic Medals
Athletes from more than 50 sports reported abuses that included being punched in the face, kicked, beaten with objects like bats or bamboo kendo sticks, being deprived of water, choked, whipped with whistles or racquets, and being sexually abused and harassed.
The White Sox Report
Muscled Up
Perhaps only COVID-19 can stop this team.
TrackNotes: Racing's Raging Grassfire
The coronavirus spreads through a game with no leadership in site. Plus: Bob Baffert's drugs.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #313: Opening Daze
Is this really happening? Plus: Launching College Football; Corey Crawford Is "Unfit To Play;" Don't Bank On The Chicago Marathon; Fluky Fire Singe Sounders; Red Stars vs. Reign, and more!
Launching College Football
People in charge of making life-and-death decisions about athletes are speaking with more clarity and wisdom about perilous decisions than anyone demanding a cattle call return to schools.
Gold Stars For The Red Stars
The future is (almost) here.
The White Sox Report
The Evolution, Revolution And Devolution Of Cuban Baseball
From the Sugar Kings to the South Side, Castro to Trump.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #312: Options & Futures
We're day-to-day, folks. Including: Play (COVID) Ball!; Unless Someone Dies, Part 2; Blackhawk's Life Mattered; Cubs Closer Posers; If The Pros Can't Get It Together, How Can High Schools And Colleges?; Oh, Canada; WNBA Dedicates Season To Social Justice; Red Stars Life, and more!
A Blackhawks Proposal
A way for the team to honor Black Hawk's legacy by ensuring a better future for his cultural heirs.
Blackhawk's Life Mattered
Blackhawks management and their fans are laboring under a self-enhanced delusion. Just because you stole something a long time ago does not make it yours.
Play (COVID) Ball!
Let's bust out the classics.
WNBA Dedicates Season To Social Justice
Games will honor the Black Lives Matter movement and the #SayHerName campaign.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #311: Unless Someone Dies
Sports now really a life and death proposition. Plus: The Washington Appropriators: Coach Loves The Princess Bride; Seeing Red Stars; Q-Anon; COVID Cubbie; Dash Cam; Hubba Bubbles; I'd Tap That; and Beachwood Sports Specials.
Your Move, Dan
Defund the racial slurs!
Remember The '85 Bears? Actually, No You Don't
That Super Bowl year was closer to the year Eisenhower decided to build a national highway system than 2021 will be to that game. The CD was invented in 1985.
Tip Your Cap To The Negro Leagues
The Beachwood, too, tips its collective cap.
The White Sox Report
Service Time
Altogether, approximately 500 ballplayers who appeared in a major league game served in World War II. Two didn't come back.
TrackNotes: A Tale Of Two Tracks
Each on the cusp of very different fates.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #310: Baseball Is Back! (But Is It Really?)
The virus doesn't care how much you want to watch a game. Plus: Other Sports Are Also Back Pending Death; Pandemic Baseball Sucks; Hub Bubs; Hall Of Fame Hossa; The Mystery Of Mitch's Motivation; Choking On Chalk; and It Was Unmistakably A Noose.
Dear Media: Stop With The Racist Mascots And Team Names
The continued portrayal of racialized mascots in news media directly violates fundamental tenets of professional journalism.
Safely Reopening High School Sports Is Going To Be A Lot Harder Than College And The Pros
An important point to remember is that the safety bubble of professional sports is a pipe dream for amateur sports.
SportsMonday: Ride, Sherman, Ride!
Time to teach the South another lesson - starting in Alabama.
The Mystery Of Mitch's Missing Motivation
Trubisky requires what the equally unsolvable predecessor Jay Cutler also could have used - a rewired network of mental operational connections.
TrackNotes: Single Crown
The operating BS of the majority is that if one horse wins all three of the races this year, it will be a Triple Crown. No. And. NO!
TrackNotes: Baby Belmont
When is the Belmont Stakes not a real Belmont? 2020.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #309: Life In The Fast Lane
Walls are falling. Plus: Rob Manfred Is A Cop; Wet Hot American Long Gone Summer; Bubble Life; Better At It Than Baseball; and Belmont Betting.
How To (Pretend To) Negotiate A Labor Deal
The secret is to not really negotiate at all.
SportsMonday: Pro-Millionaire
Baseball's billionaire owners are terrible people.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #308: We're All NASCAR Now
A moment when everything seems possible. Plus: MLB Draft's Dizzying Heights Of Hype; We Blame The (Lying) Owners; The Neverending Sammy Sosa Saga; and NBA & NHL Flux.
And Now, Your Hoffman Estates Bulls!
This will be a one-time situation unless it works so well that players and owners agree on having consolation tournaments for non-playoff participants at the end of future seasons. Not likely but also not impossible.
The White Sox Report
What Being A White Sox Fan Taught Me
Even today, as recently as last season, you can find a conversation on Yelp initiated by, "Is the White Sox Neighborhood Safe?"
Why Crowd Noise Matters
It heightens the excitement of the game, as well as bonding fans together to share the experience.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #307: Black Lives Finally (Might) Matter
Cancel culture. Plus: Defund Baseball; Bring On The Blackhawks; Bulls Miss Playoffs; Coffman Wish Granted; and Biggs Time.
TrackNotes: Triple Crown Tomato
Fans, and people in general, exist only to be exploited by the fewer and fewer lords who have bought, stolen and fashioned their power purely for their own malignant aims. Racing is no different.
The NFL Should Do This One Simple Thing
Well, three, really.
SportsMonday: Blinders
It isn't just that that kid could be your kid. That kid is your kid.
I've Had It
I couldn't care less whether there's a 2020 baseball season. There, I've said it.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #306: Baseball Is Blowing It
Billionaire owners cry poor. Plus: Our Hearts Ache For Minneapolis; Illinois Provides Week's Top Sports Story; Last Dance Remnants; The Blackhawks Just Undeservedly Made The Playoffs; Kaner & The Breadman; Reopening Sports; Remembering Biff Pocaroba!; Thibs Lives!; Biggs's Bag; and Chicago-Based Wilson Gets Back The NBA's Official Game Ball.
Bruins, Lightning Still Betting Favorites To Win The Stanley Cup
Meanwhile, bettors rank the Blackhawks' chances at 23rd of 24 teams.
Be Like Jerry
He became the best example in all of sports of how a coach should comport himself - displaying class and dignity every day but also flashing an ultra-deadpan sense of humor.
Chicago-Based Wilson Now The Official Game Ball Of The NBA
Sucks to be Spalding.
So Long, Jerry
I never mourn when athletic superstars fail as human beings, because I never thought of them as heroes. They had skill. Do not commingle the two. But I gave myself one exception to that cool, intellectualized appreciation. Just one.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #305: The Last Dance Has Been Danced
Bad pizza, Cheap Trick and Luc Longley. Plus: Remembering Jerry Sloan & Michael McCaskey; Matt Nagy Admits What Media Toadies Won't; The Bundesliga, NASCAR, Golf And The Pseudo-Triple Crown Are (Sorta) Back; and Steve's New iPhone And The Saga Surrounding It.
The Origin Of MLB Trade Rumors
As a huge Cubs fan, there was always more hope in the offseason than the regular season, site founder (and University of Illinois grad) Tim Dierkes explains, leading to his fascination with the Hot Stove League and transactions.
They Weren't Coming Back
The Last Dance was danced, as it should have been.
When They Broke Up The Bulls
It's abundantly clear that it didn't have to go down the way it did.
The John Oliver Coronavirus Chronicles VII: Bursting Bubble Leagues
Plans to bring sports back "all degrees of bad."
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #304: The Literary Themes Of The Last Dance
Greed, ego, pride, backstabbing, rivalry, treachery, betrayal - everything but the sex. Plus: If This Is What The Post-Lockdown Sports World Will Look Like, Let's Keep It Locked Down; The Bundesliga Is Back!; Biggs Time Is Back!; and Baseball Is Not (Quite) Back!
Michael Jordan's Regrets(?)
He would never admit it.
How Jordan Led
He cajoled, bullied, badgered, challenged, insulted, ridiculed and intimidated his teammates. It appeared to work.
Michael Jordan Off The Court In The '80s & '90s
Was he really that nice? No.
Will COVID-19 Take Down College Football?
"Professional and college sports have been shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline joins the Ground Game podcast to talk about when college teams can start gathering, practicing and competing again, as well as what might happen if a student-athlete tests positive for the virus."
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #303: The Neverending Last Dance
The Jordan fools. Plus: Kristin Cavallari Finally Meets Jay Cutler (Or Jay Cutler's Last Dance); Ryan Pace Claims He Still Believes In Mitch Trubisky Even After Declining His 5th-Year Option And Signing Nick Foles, Which Is A Good Way To Show How Much Confidence He Has In The Guy He (Badly) Maneuvered For So He Could Pick Him To Second Overall In The NFL Draft; The KBO On ESPN!; and The Ex-Cub Factor.
The Ex-Cub Factor
From Manny Ramirez to Mel Rojas.
The Bears' Last Dance Was Their Only One
The Bears' best-ever team could only win one championship. The Bulls won three in a row - twice.
Women's Collegiate Flag Football On The Way
"Football is for everyone."
TrackNotes: Virtual Stupidity
NBC pretended one or two or three people in a single household were having Derby parties with one lady's hat and four tablespoons of sugar ruining good bourbon for the two guys.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #302: In Which We Actually Defend Ryan Pace
We like the Nick Foles deal just fine, despite the brush fire that broke out this week. Here's why. Plus: Dennis Rodman's Last Dance; Relive Sammy Sosa Next; Danny Wirtz and Michael Reinsdorf Assert Themselves; and Good Riddance, Kentucky Derby.
TrackNotes: Celebrating Oaklawn's Hijacking
When this is over, one of the good memories will be how Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, rolled with the punches and singularly crafted American Thoroughbred horse racing on a festival level when horseplayers and even other gamblers appreciated it most.
TrackNotes: Zombie Churchill
Like the monster's claw arising from the hardpan, Churchill Downs Inc. is now awake, fully poised to wreak its consistent, insidious greed upon Thoroughbred horse racing and sports in general.
Authentic Bulls Fan
It's not about merch.
Dennis Rodman Breaks Down The Bulls' Vaunted Triangle Offense
"This potent offense is a variation of the renowned triple post attack and a continuity offense."
TrackNotes: Hot Times In Hot Springs
I couldn't be happier.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #301: Ryan Pace's Last Dance
A draft about nothing. Plus: The Latest Last Dance; Cubs Mailbag; The Minnesota Blackhawks; Sky Watch; GRONK!; and the World's Greatest Race Car Driver.
Is The Wonderlic Worthless?
An examination between an NFL quarterback's success and his Wonderlic test score yields a surprising - to some - answer.
For Godsakes, Don't Draft For Need!
That's what free agency is for. Always draft the best player available.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #300: Here's Why Sports Is Not Coming Back This Year
Players aren't going to wear masks and only fans in Red America are stupid enough to attend games anyway. Plus: Michael Jordan Was Singularly Awesome And Also Was (And Remains) A Terrible Person - Just Like Jerry Krause (Though Krause Is Dead Now So He's Only A 'Was' Not A 'Remains'); Time For Wrigleyville To Panic Over Cubs' Bad Start?; The Great Karnak's New Bulls; Our Hapless Athletic Careers; Bears To Sit Out First, Third And Fourth Rounds Of Draft, and more!
Only Science Will Bring Back Sports
Those gripped by the psychotic break of hallucinogenic spasms even put dates on the return. Safer to aim for Easter. Next Easter, that is. As for Major League Baseball, Opening Day and the Fall Classic can both occur on the same weekend. How about Halloween?
The Solace Of Playing Golf In The Navajo Nation Amid The Pandemic
Rez golf is embedding itself in the Navajo sports culture, one course at a time. There are at least three rez golf courses on the nation's 27,425 square miles spanning swaths of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The gritty courses, set amid red and gray sands and wind-sculpted cliffs, share the landscape with livestock, coyotes and rabbits. They hold special meaning to many Navajo golfers because they wind through clumps of sagebrush, a plant thought to have physical and spiritual healing power.
My Shitty Athletic Career
One of my primary memories is of bawling my eyes as it became clear our team was going to lose a big game.
A World Without Sports
The current sports stoppage is unprecedented. It touches every level of every game, in every country in the world, from the Olympics down to pick-up basketball.
TrackNotes: Racing In A Time Of Coronavirus
Thoroughbreds run on - and the betting window is open.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #299: Bulls Get Their (White) Man
GarPax is dead. We think. Plus: Q Life; Baseball Isn't Coming Back This Year, Folks; Bear Crazy; and Transfer Window.
FIFA (Allegedly) Still Super Corrupt
"Prosecutors revealed new details of alleged bribes paid to FIFA executive committee members to gain their votes for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup and charged a pair of former 21st Century Fox executives with making illegal payments to win broadcast rights for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments."
Not Quite Monsters
The real trials of being a Bears fan.
The White Sox Report
The Farmer Files
I can recall barking at my car radio asking him to at least tell me the score. But at least he lived his dreams.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #298: With All Due Respect, Ed Farmer Was An Awful Announcer
The job of the journalist is to tell the truth, not be a clubby insider. Plus: Q Life; Les Grobstein Still Employed - Others Not So Lucky; If You Love Chicago So Much Why Don't You Live There?; Bears Bargain Basement; Dippy DePaul; Ex-Cub Jhonny Pereda Makes Coronavirus History; and How Coffman Denied His Lineage To Become A Cubs Fan.
How Surfers Saved Trestles
"With Surfrider and their strong coalition of grassroots organizations, they fought together against big money, big government, and almost impossible odds to protect one of the world's most iconic waves."
How I Chose The Cubs Over The White Sox
In the offseason, Richie Zisk signed with another team and then so did Oscar Gamble, and we weren't thrilled by the attempted compensatory signing of Bobby Bonds. My White Sox affinity died right there.
Sim Game: Blackhawks vs Oilers
"It looked like we were headed to overtime, but a late face-off win and a beautiful set play clinched the win for the . . . "
TrackNotes: Dastardly Derby Drama
Times like these open the curtain on who or what people really are.
Unused Rental Cars Parked At Baseball Stadiums
Thursday was supposed to be opening day for Major League Baseball, but stadiums are empty, with the season postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Instead, parking lots are being used to store unused rental vehicles.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #297: The Opening Day That Wasn't
A visit to Ernie Banks' grave instead. Plus: Curly Neal Made Life Better; Tokyo Drift; The McCaskeys Absolutely Did Not 'Step Up;' Ryan Pace's Pathetic Record Just Got Worse; Bears Re-Sign Tyler Bray!; Biggs Time; Cubs, White Sox Minor Transactions; and UIC Screws Steve McClain.
The White Sox Report
An Opening Day Requiem
Someday there will be another one, and when it arrives, the emotions, joy and hopes will burst forth possibly like never before. May we all be here to add it to our Opening Day memories.
Missing Chicago's Game
Sure, the Bears are Chicago's team, but if basketball wasn't number one in Chicago before the '90s, the glorious run of Michael Jordan's six-time champ Bulls made it so.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #296: Foles Gold
Least bad move. Plus: Alternate Sports Programming; Thank You (Again), NFL!; Tom Brady Is A Buccaneer; Bears Transactions; Bowman (& Co.) Will Be Back; Gar Forman On Way Out Again; UICUL8R; Elk Grove Village Bails On Bahamas Bowl; Cubs, White Sox DNP.
TrackNotes: Indictment Of An Industry
A dark story with more than enough stink on a lot of people.
SportsMonday: Thank You, NFL
With everything else essentially shut down in world sports other than Mexican and Russian professional soccer, I would like to express my humble thanks for the ongoing football offseason.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #295: The Day The Sports Died
Cancel culture. Plus: March Sadness; Summer Training; NBA & NHL Lose Their Christmas; Do Draft Day Digitally; Baffling Bears; Blackhawks Go Out On A High Note; Bulls Go Out On A High Note; Michael Kopech A Little Geeked; Deja Cub; Illinois Hoops Nation; Fire Singe Revolution; Can Gambling Juice Fandom For Women's Sports?; and The Ex-Cub Factor.
Can Gambling Juice Fandom For Women's Sports?
The numbers are promising.
Chicago (Men) Can't Dance
Last hope extinguished.
The White Sox Report
Coronavirus Spring: Mesa vs. Coachella
What a difference 250 miles made!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #294: White Sox Signings vs. Cubs Whinings
Yoan Moncada vs. Pedro Strop. Plus: The Daily Dallas Keuchel; Big Data Darvish; Why David Ross May Bring Back The Intentional Loss; Streaking Blackhawks On Life Support; Brad Biggs Talks Football With You; Bulls Finally Testing Paxson's Argument; Chicago Fire Home Opener; and Illinois Hoops Nation.
The Ex-Cub Factor
"Should the [luxury] tax really be a concern for the deep-pocketed Cubs? Arguably not."
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #293: Fire Stan Bowman?
Malcolm Subban is not the future. Plus: The White Sox Have A (Heads-First) Running Game: The Cubs' Unreckoning; The Tony LaRussa Rule; Fire Ryan Pace But What Else Is New; Meet The New Chicago Fire . . . ; Bulls Might Not Win Another Game This Season; and The Glorious Women (And Some Men) Of Illinois Hoops Nation.
SportsMonday: Fire Try Not To Suck
Meet the new Fire, same as the old Fire.
The White Sox Report
Head First
Robert (& Co.) is gonna run.
Girls Are Reaching New Heights In Basketball, But Huge Pay Gaps Await Them As Professionals
The WNBA generates about $60 million in revenue, just a tiny fraction of 1% of the NBA's $7.4 billion revenue.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #292: Alert Cooperstown, We Have An Idea
Cleaning up Manfred's mess. Plus: The Unprecedented Nature Of Kris Bryant; Baseball's New Freaky Rules; Marquee Media Moves; End Of The World According To GarPax?; Bulloney; Ben & Eddy; We're Confused Too, Breadman; Derek Carr's Eyelashes vs. Casey Urlacher's (Alleged) Offshore Gambling Ring; Illinois Hoops Nation Update, and more!
The Ex-Cub Factor
Featuring Tuffy Rhodes, perhaps the most emblematic ex-Cub of all-time.
SportsMonday: Blackhawks Barrel Jumping
They just can't get over the hump.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #291: Derrick Rose Wishes He Was A Dentist & Other Strange Stories Of The Week
Rich basketball player jealous of teeth-pullers. Plus: Joe Maddon Is A Liar And Clever Things To Say About The Buffalo Sabres, The Houston Asterisks, John Henry, Charles Barkley, The Chicago Bulls, The Chicago Blackhawks, Adderall & eSports; Bobby Knight; Jason Kipnis, Spring Training, PECOTA, Kenny Williams and Illinois' Basketball Nation.
Kris Bryant's Future Bar Trick
The Cubs have met the enemy - and it is them.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #290: Jane Byrne, Kris Bryant, Mookie Betts & Baseball's Discontents
Why men great then they gotta be traded? Plus: Chief Chiefs; The Bulls' Neverending Implosions; Like Chicago Police, Blackhawks Accruing Too Much OT; Lincoln Park Lyins; Illinois Hoops Roundup; and Olympic Surf's Up.
Surfing To Debut As Olympic Sport In Tokyo
"It would definitely be rad to medal."
SportsMonday: Props And Queso
Oh, and I should also note that my wife's spinach dip was quite popular. Way to go honey!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #289: In The Wake Of Sports
Kobe Bryant's Brand. Plus: The Kris Bryant Boondoggle; In The Wake Of The Tribune; Coach Getting Wobbly On The 49ers; Goodnight Sweet Bears Prince; Baker's Baloney: Cubs Not Following Rhodes' Offseason Blueprint At All; Coach Went To A Bulls Game; Illinois Women's Basketball Teams Kicking Ass All Over The Place; The Bobby Shuttleworth Era Begins!; and AAU's Pullman Play.
Same Old NFL: League Abuses Trademark To Shut Down New York Jets Parody Store
Seriously? The NFL - and Shopify - should be ashamed of themselves.
The 12th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Shakira & JLo Edition
Look, we've all got bigger fish to fry right now and we can do it over the embers of a once-promising democracy, but dammit, JLo got screwed.
Baseball Furies
The sport of indie rock - and the team that was once its darling.
TrackNotes: Mucho Despicable
If it's Barbie's I Married A Wiseguy Racetrack Fun Set, perfect.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #288: Comical Cons
Rickey and Ricketts. Plus: The Houston Asterisks; The Green Bay Packers Are Not In The Super Bowl; The Byzantine Bears; The Blackhawks Might Be Back!; Is Zach LaVine An All-Star?; Bulls Attendance Finally Rightsizing; Illinois Hoops It Up!; and TrackNotes: Death, Destruction & The Pegasus.
TrackNotes: Death, Destruction & The Pegasus
New year, old remnants.
Mansplaining To A Millionaire
Tom Ricketts is irritating not because he's rich, but because he's greedy.
SportsMonday: The Blackhawks Might Be Back!
They have pulled within three points of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Is that all, you say? Well, it is a lot better than where they were when they started their current five-game win streak.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #287: The Houston Asterisks
The rules were clear. Plus: Pathetic Playoff Picks; Louisiana State's Universe; Bye Bye Bourbonnais; Is Jonathan Toews Back?; Bulls Midseason Report: It's The Underachieving That Stands Out; Red Star Rachel; Klopas Is Back; and Illinois Starts To Hoop It Up.
Olympics Warns Athletes That Kneeling, Fist-Raising And Other Political Actions Will Be Banned At The Tokyo 2020 Games
The International Olympic Committee - long a swirling cesspool of corruption, censorship, and reputation-laundering for repressive regimes - has attained a new low.
Tech In, Garbage Out
The suffocating irony of this latest scandal is that the information was relayed to the hitter via banging on cans, which have been around for years.
SportsMondayTuesday: The Rules Were Clear
And the Astros are now facing the consequences.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #286: 'Yotes & Notes
News, views and blues. Including: It's Already Too Late For The Cubs; The Bullhawks; Coach Likes That; The Vegas Bowl; The Ryan Pace Bowl; Sox's Steves; Repulsive Rickettses; Red Star Fiancee; and The Disastrous Chicago Fire.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro reunited - on our site - again. Throw in a little Arismendy Alacantara and we're feeling nostalgic.
SportsMonday: Liking That
Every once in a while, the guy who has been the butt of jokes bounces back in a big way.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #285: We Found The Bears' Turds
They're in the front office. Plus: Ravens Over Saints; Don Hahn; Maddon's Post Deleted; Bulls Still Suck; Blackhawks Still Suck; Bears Beat Beard In Bowl; DePaul Dropped By The Hall; Loyola Vexes Valpo; and The Illini Who Couldn't Shoot Straight.
Nothing (Wrong) From The Head Up
The only thing worse than these Bears crybaby excuse cooks are the fans who swallow it.
SportsMonday: Not Even
The only thing the Bears offense is close to is being a unit unable to beat a division rival's back-ups.
The White Sox Report
Edwin A Win
Despite what one veteran Chicago baseball writer seems to think, the Encarnacion signing is a smart one.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #284: Rooting For Bears Clarity
Is that it for Trubisky, Pace? Plus: Has It Ever Been This Bad?; White Sox Making Moves, Starting Grooves; The Cubs Reckoning That Wasn't; Brent Seabrook Is The Kyle Long Of The Blackhawks; Patrick Kane Apparently 11th Best Player Of The Decade; The Bulls Still Suck; The Redbox Bowl Is Still On For Monday; and DePaul Is Still Our Last Hope.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #283: The Winter Of Chicago Sports Discontent
It's grim and we're bereft. Including: Bears Now Within Hail Mary's Of Being Within Two-Point Plays Of Winning Games; Grievance Grievance; Every Bulls Worst Loss Yet Is Worse Than The Last Worst Loss Yet; Lovie's Beard Has One Game Left This Year; Paul Reed Still The Man; and St. Edward High School's Racist Taunts.
The Unique Concussions Of Female Athletes
More likely - and more severe - than their male counterparts.
SportsMondayTuesday: Mitch More Jacoby Than Drew
It's not even close.
Trump Rule Could Let Banks Classify Stadium Investments As Aid To Poor, Qualifying For Significant Tax Break
Jerry Reinsdorf would be one beneficiary.
TrackNotes: Listen To Big Hank
Such a nice galoot. All he wanted was a chance.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #282: What The Hell Is Theo Doing?
Cubs call the wahmbulance. Plus: The Bears Are Back - To Playing On Sundays; Noah Not Happy About Nomar; Hawk Harrelson's Hall Of Shame; Bulls Fans Finally Bailing; Blackhawks Getting Boring Before January; Lovie's Beard Confirmed For Redbox Bowl; and DePaul Defeated.
The Ex-Cub Factor
We once wished upon a Starlin.
Running: Not So Much A Liberating Hobby As A Cult
I investigated what really motivates people to torture themselves by running hundreds of painful miles in their spare time, no matter the weather. What I found paints a disturbing picture.
SportsMonday: Audition Time For The Bears
No, the Bears aren't gonna make the playoffs. Time to see the kids.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #281: The Bears Are (Not) Back, Baby!
But we get to dream for another week. Plus: The Blackhawks Just Made Fools Of Us; A Farewell To Mick McCall; Fire Lovie Smith!; Club DubPaul; Boylen vs. LaVine; Cole Hamels Will Be Missed; and Zack Wheeler Chooses Phillies Over Guaranteed Rate.
The Ex-Cub Factor
The String Bean Stringer is missed. The others not so much.
SportsMonday: Mitch Trubisky Won Thursday, But Ryan Pace Lost Sunday
Another painful reminder of the draft that will live in infamy.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #280: Bears Make .500 Look Unrespectable
3-4 felt like 1-6. Now they're 3-9. Plus: BoyGarPax; Buy The Blackhawks?; Looks Like Northwestern University!; and DePaul Is The New Loyola.
SportsMonday: Another Bears Turkey
A kickoff out of bounds. A botched two-point conversion. A missed (48-yard!) extra point. Two interceptions. And a 95-yard drive given up to the Giants, including a 4th-and-18 conversion. Yeesh.
The White Sox Report
Grading Grandal
His spray chart looks like a severe case of chicken pox.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #279: The White Sox Win The Week
Give fans a cookie - with a virtue-signalling cherry on top. Plus: ZachLaVine Shakes It Up; Shout Out To Our Very Own Roger Wallenstein; Boylen Boilin'; Blackhawks Also A Bust; Chicago's Crappy College Of Coaches; DePaul On Our Bubble; At This Time Next Week The Bears Could Be .500; and Chicago Dumpster Fire.
Studies: For Certain Sports, Concussion Rates Are Higher In Female Athletes Than Males
The researchers conclude their findings demonstrate a need for further interventions to reduce concussion rates, such as the required use of protective head equipment in women's sports, the adoption of neck-strengthening exercises and other prevention training, and greater enforcement of rules to decrease levels of contact in men's sports.
The Female Passion Report: A Deep Dive Into Female Interest And Engagement In Soccer
The report is based on findings from the seventh annual study of soccer fandom in United States.
SportsMonday: The Important Thing Here Is That There's No Quarterback Controversy
We already know that neither Chase Daniel nor Tyler Bray is the answer. So all is calm!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #278: Ryan Pace's Major Malfunction
And now Mitch Trubisky is holding us hostage. Plus: Matty Renteria; Sign Kaepernick!; The Next Man Is Inherently Up On Every Team In Every League!; Brad Biggs' Mailbox Talks Football With You; All Signs Point To Yu; Bulls Still In It!; The Blackhawks Are Back!; Lovie Smith And His Beard Are Going Bowling; Chicago Didn't Know What It Had In Sam Kerr; and Fire Coach Fired.
Chicago Didn't Know What It Had In Sam Kerr
Elite - and now expensive.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Even though it's the offseason, ex-Cubs are on the move.
SportsMonday: Most Unsatisfying Win Ever?
Again, we must ask: What the hell was that?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #277: Ball Of Bears Confusion
Earmuffs, tunnel vision, TVs and The Temptations. Plus: Yolmer Sanchez Changes First Line Of His Obituary; Yu Darvish Is Really Funny When He's Not Sucking; Blackhawks Also Ball Of Confusion; Bulls Still In It!; and How Cubs Ticket Prices Are Like Crime Rates.
I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike
"Mary Cain's male coaches were convinced she had to get 'thinner, and thinner, and thinner.' Then her body started breaking down."
Status Check: Chicago Sports
What exactly is the self-delusional mental construction that allows everyone - actually demands - to be wrong about the same question?
What Really Causes Home Field Advantage - And Why It's On The Decline
It's not about crowd noise. But what, then?
SportsMonday: The Bears Tie That Should Still Bind
We were promised by the local sporting press corp that Ryan Pace would absolutely be tethered to his beloved young quarterback. If Mitch didn't make it, Pace wouldn't either. Yet, the untethering has begun.
TrackNotes: The Specter Of Death
The impossible quest for virtue in the face of murderous greed.
TrackNotes: Somebody Is Lying Here
The philosophy of IIWII claws its tentacles into skulduggery, the fix, corruption and shame in racing as ethically situational decisions are made in its behalf.
The Modern World Series
Fans in the cities where the Series is played are as enthusiastic and feverish as ever, but the emotion tends to stall at the city limits.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #276: Bears On The Spot
The spot-on Bears. Plus: Zooless Cubs Clubhouse Is Broken; They're Bad, They're Nationalwide; Who's Next, Joe, Chris Bosio?; Castellanos vs. Merrifield; Guarded Bulls Optimism Now Unguarded Pessimism; Seabrook's Ghost; Rehire Lovie Smith Again!; Too Much Courage For Red Stars; and CPS Sports Struck.
NCAA Approves Compensation For Image, Likeness
One of the biggest beneficiaries: Women.
How A Tax Break To Help The Poor Went To Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert
After a lobbying effort, Dan Gilbert, billionaire founder of Quicken Loans, won special tax status for wealthy areas of downtown Detroit where he owns billions worth of property.
A Union Of Women's Hockey Players Looking For A League Of Its Own
The sustainability of high caliber women's hockey talent depends upon having the opportunity to earn a living while playing the game.
SportsMonday: Is Matt Nagy An Idiot After All?
Sources say Yes!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #275: Brad Biggs' Mailbag Talks Football With You
And like the road, it goes on forever. Plus: Bears' Doom Spiral; David Ross Chosen To Open Next Wrigleyville Restaurant; Kris Bryant's Last Laugh As A Cub?; Bring It Home, Red Stars!; Jim Boylen's Fred Hoiberg Bulls; Saadaissance; and Rehire Lovie Smith!
Nutritionists Fuel World Series Teams
"Talent wins games and sports RDNs fuel greatness."
Challenging Shaq Over Ring
Ring spokesman Shaquille O'Neal should cancel his appearance at a party hosted by the company at the upcoming International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago on October 27.
Lake Zurich Company Named The Official/Exclusive Outdoor Power Equipment Of Minor League Baseball®
Key components of the partnership include official and exclusive designations, ballpark activations, in-park ECHO product demonstrations and integration, and a sweepstakes.
SportsMonday: Overreaction Monday Is Hereby Canceled
Dear Coach Nagy: What the hell is the matter with you?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #274: Run, Mitchell, Run
Trubisky's legs are the only competitive advantage he has. Plus: The Only News In Football That Really Matters; The Bears Have More Tight Ends Than The Pence Family; Where Is Your Offensive Line Coach God Now; Letter Of The Week; Saints Marching Line; Boss Ross Or New Joe; The Blackhawks' Weird Goalie Sitch; Thank You, Luol Deng; Fire Lovie Smith Watch; and The Red Stars Semifinal vs. the Portland Thorns.
Could Helmetless Tackling Training Reduce Football Head Injuries?
Based on risk compensation theory, rugby players tackle with their shoulders not only because they were taught that way, but because their heads are not protected with a helmet.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #273: Grandpa Vs. The Field
Meanwhile, Maddon might have choices. Plus: The Non-Mystery Of Why Virtually No One Is Calling Ozzie Guillen; The Bears Have Become The Cubs; I Figured Out How To Fix The Cubs, AMA; The Self-Impeaching Steve Stone Has Lost His Mind; There Is A Chance The Blackhawks Aren't As Bad As They Were In Their Home Opener; The NBA, China, The Score & You; The Lovie Smith Experiment Isn't Working; Thank You, Basti; It's A Red Stars Semi; and Congrats To An Old Favorite.
The NBA, China, The Score & You
Bernstein & McKnight shrug off China's dystopian authoritarianism because, hey, we're all guilty.
'I Just Couldn't Be a Sellout' | Why Rihanna Turned Down The Super Bowl Halftime Show
"There's things within [the NFL] that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way."
SportsMonday: Club Dumb
Jon Gruden dances on Bears' grave.
Jerry Reinsdorf Isn't In It For The Money (LOL)
In public, he says he just wants to bring joy to the fans who really own his teams. In private, he says finishing second is the best business model because it keeps fans hungry and hopeful.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #272: Dear Cubs: Say It Ain't Joe
Joe Girardi unchecks all the boxes. Plus: Bears Over London, Bears Over Chicago; Blackhawks Lift Lid On Sloppy Stew; Boylen's Blah Bulls; The Playoff-Bound Red Stars; the Fire, the Sky and more!
World's Most Famous Track Coach Is Banned For 4 Years For Doping Violations
The news came as his athletes are dominating running's premier events. Two have set world records this year; others have already won gold at this week's World Championships or are set to race later in the week; still others will vie for the win in the Chicago Marathon in two weeks.
The White Sox Report
The Season In Verse | A Second-Half Curse
Believe it or not, Anderson was the top batter. But the number of errors was a completely different matter.
SportsMondayTuesday: Don't Hire Grandpa
It would just be so Cutesy Cubbie.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #271: Someone Told You So, Repeatedly. It Might Have Been Us.
What the Cubs and Trubisky have in common. Including: Maddon's Post; Fixing The Unclutch (Another Word You Could Use Is 'Chokey') Cubs; The White Sox Core Is No Joke; Run, Mitchell, Run; Blackhawks Czech Line: Wendell Carter Jr.'s Rule-Breaking Strip Club Visit; In Other Words, The Fire Have No Shot At The Playoffs; and Red Star Sam Kerr Is A Star.
What If College Athletes Got Paid? 3 Questions Answered
It's not just that the colleges are making money off of the student athlete. Players are also prevented from generating any kind of compensation around their image or likeness while they're in college, which - for many of them - is going to be the only time when their likeness or their image has any economic value at all.
SportsMonday: Dunk Tank
Was the Cubs' method an unnecessary trade-off?
The White Sox Report
Hahn's Hits & Misses
It's entirely understandable at this juncture why Hahn isn't being hailed as a genius when it comes to evaluating and signing free agent talent.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #270: Mitch Impossible
The autumn of our discontent. Including: Mitch Falsbisky; Only Person In Chicago More Unpopular Than Mitch Trubisky Is Craig Kimbrel; Cubs Lab; The Undertaker; These Cards Will Run!; The Amazin' A's & Yankees; The White Sox Are Still Playing; Chicago Joe Fire; The Sky Is Crying; and The Red Stars Try To Lock Down A Playoff Spot This Weekend.
SportsMonday: The Unbalanced, Obsessive-Compulsive Matt Nagy
Paging Andy Reid.
The White Sox Report
Start Now!
Finish strong.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #269: Dead Team(s) Walking
Winter is here. Plus: After Over 70 Years, The Cubs On WGN Is Coming To An End; Tim Anderson Chases Obsolete Award; I AM SO SICK OF MITCH TRUBISKY; Ryan Pace Had One Job This Offseason And He Failed At It Miserably; 'Scuse Us While We Kiss The Sky; Blackhawks Open Training Camp Again!; A Chicago Bull Is Dominating The World Cup; Really Good Chicago Fire News Broke While We Were Recording This; and Chicago Red Stars Rolling.
Black Athletes Have A Trump Card They Are Not Using Enough
What would happen if they wielded their economic and cultural power collectively?
Founder Of Positive Coaching Alliance Passes Torch
The organization has grown to a national presence of 18 local chapters, a staff of 70 and nearly 200 trainers creating a positive, character-building youth sports environment for millions of youth athletes.
SportsMonday: Glorious Fall Goes Dark
The Cubs are done. The Bears?
The White Sox Report
Reasons To Keep Watching
Despite gang of nine and general lack of ability.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #268: Double Zoinks
Bears not who we thought they were. But who are they? Plus: Chicago Predicts Bears Season; Cubs Suddenly Better Than Bears; Like Theo Before Him, Rick Hahn Is A Stone-Cold Liar, and more!
The Truth About The New Halas Hall
(Hint: It's absurd.)
Chicago Predicts The Bears Season
The best, most comprehensive list anywhere.
Tru Time
In college, Pat Mahomes threw more passes in a month's worth of games at Texas Tech than Mitch Trubisky threw in his entire career.
Everything You Need To Play Baseball Is Made In China - And Getting Hit By Trump's Tariffs
Golf, lacrosse, basketball and other sports will feel the pinch, too.
Chicago's Apocalypsticks Won The 2019 APA Ladies 8-Ball Championship
A $10,000 payday for the Cary's Lounge squad.
Sinclair Rampage Continues: Acquires 20% Interest In YES Network
"With this investment, we will have 23 RSN brands, including Marquee with the iconic Chicago Cubs, and 21 RSN brands acquired from the Walt Disney Company."
The White Sox Report
Patience And Payment
Finishing what they've started.
TrackNotes: This Is Why We Can't Have Arlington Park Anymore
There's a place in hell for Bill Carstanjen and Dick Duchossois and spokesshill Howard Sudberry. Truth scares them.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #267: Bipolar Cubs Now In Manic Phase
Hungry Nick and the dinosaurs. Plus: Steve Albini, Master Of Sparks; How Yu Darvish, Jose Quintana and Lucas Giolito Turned It Around; Chili Stew; This Would Be The Perfect Ending To The Bears' Kicking Circus And Give The City A New Hero To Replace Alligator Robb; and more!
Sinclair Completes Acquisition Of Regional Sports Networks From Disney
Byron Allen has agreed to become a co-conspirator.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Look who's doing it for the Mets . . .
The White Sox Report
Arrow Up, Folks
Look no further than the past week if you question whether the White Sox are a vastly improved aggregation than the dismal product of the past two rebuilding seasons.
SportsMonday: Nats Envy
The contrast with the Cubs this weekend could hardly have been starker.
TrackNotes: Codes Of Honor
Equine and human.
TrackNotes: Season's Greetings, Suckers
In racing analytics, it's SSS. Still summer, STUPID!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #266: The Cubs' Double Bipolarity
Splitsville. Plus: Nick The Stick; Bullpenmanship; Dave Roberts Abused Brandon Morrow, Then Joe Maddon Finished Him; Ben Press; Cards > Brewers; Luke Box; Rickey Rentamanager; and The Kick And The Dead.
The Ex-Cub Factor
From the Shark to the Snake.
SportsMonday: Tom Brady No Mitch Trubisky
Bears QB has apparently been so good in practice that he doesn't need any preseason snaps, unlike, say, the defending Super Bowl champ or the reigning MVP.
The White Sox Report
Let Rickey Be
Losing never is easy, and the first target is the man in charge. Despite the criticism, Renteria appears even-keeled. There have been no temper tantrums or ragging on players or unhappy fans. He remains positive and good-natured. These qualities don't necessarily translate to a winning ballclub, but at least let's wait until the guy can put a legitimate major league lineup on the field.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #265: It's The Cubs' Dutch Oven, We're Just Living In It
Philadephia Phreakout. Plus: White Sox Almost Sweep Astros and Bears Kick Camp.
SportsMonday: Sky Dogs
It's August, and the winnin' ain't easy.
The White Sox Report
Field Of Reality Checks
Maybe I needn't be such a sourpuss. This game will make lots of people curious, engaged, and gleeful. But just who will get to see it, and for how much?
U.S. Gold Medalists Raise Fists, Take Knees
Responding to "a president who spreads hate."
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #264: Measuring Maddon's Managing
He doesn't suck, but he does seem to grind up bullpens and talk a lot of shit. Plus: Cubs Media Meatheads Set The Tone; Cubs Hunger Games; Time For Theo To Move on?; Rickey Bunteria; Missing Trubisky; Boynton Beach Bingo; and Schweinsteiger!
TrackNotes: Finding The Arlington Million
Game, Prevailed.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Jake Fox's fashion line, Brett Anderson's revenge, Crimson Tide's Scotty and more!
Superstar Athletes Popularize Unproven Stem Cell Procedures
"These are the richest, most highly paid athletes around. So anything you can think of, they're getting. But I wouldn't use them as a role model for how to treat injuries."
SportsMonday: Home Cubs > Road Cubs
At least away they've avoided sweeps.
The White Sox Report
Walking And Crawling
And bobbleheading.
TrackNotes: Punching Up
I'm not saying fixed, just probable.
TrackNotes: Casino Crazy & Whitney Day
Ignorance is one thing, but stupidity is what comedy is made of, unless it's really happening.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #263: House Of Theo Crumbling
This is his mess. Plus: Trade Shade; Cubs Narratives We Can Put To Bed; Kimbrel Is Killing Us; Missing Maldonado; Cubs Farm System Still Sucks; Here Come The Brewers; Evil Sports Programming Network; The Ex-Cub Factor; Rickey Ventura; Seeing (Soccer) Stars; and Trubisky Continues To Be . . .
The Ex-Cub Factor
Accolades and anger management.
SportsMondayTuesday: House Of Cards
The Cubs and Cardinals have been rivals for a long time, but a rivalry doesn't really mean anything when one of the teams sucks and sucks and sucks. That would describe the Cubs of the '50s, '60s and '70s and really for most of the '80s and '90s and at least the first halves of the '00s and teens.
The White Sox Report
Super Heroes, Surveys & Service
Feats and feet-shooting.
TrackNotes: A (Good) Day At The Races
When it's all about the running - and horses remind us they are better than people.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #262: Cubs Counternarrative
Ten games from now, they'll be in the same position they are in today. (It will still be fun, though.) Plus: Giant Flop; Addison Russell Sent Down To Learn The Signs; Boy Scout Kris Bryant Piling Up Merit Badges; Mea Culpa: Maybe Maddon Was Right About The Happ-Almora Platoon; Pedro Strop Is Carl Edwards Jr. Jr.; Robel Garcia Is Not Totally The Answer; Daddy BenZo Speaks; Road Woes; Darvish Delusions; Roadish Games; White Sox Suck; What's Really Behind The Home Run Surge; The Only Real News From Training Camp, Ever; Andrew Shaw's Crab House; and DePaul Finally Trying To Win.
What's Really Behind Baseball's Home Run Surge?
Recent changes to the ball, climate change and advanced analytics.
NCAA Dings DePaul's Code Of Silence
Men's basketball coach Dave Leitao suspended; program put on probation.
SportsMonday: Rolling Cubs Hit Tough Road
Now is the time the team confronts its major weaknesses: road games and a missing bat.
The White Sox Report
Streaky White Sox Right On Schedule
It's the Cubs and Astros all over again!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #261: Cubs As They Are
Just see the team in front of you, please. Plus: The Candy Man, Where Will Willy Play, Theo's Trades & Bad Baserunning; Rested White Sox Wither; Bears Angry At Video Game Ratings; Mark Potash vs. Stan Bowman; and Best Offseason Ever?
Catching Heat
Willson Contreras is not a championship catcher.
The White Sox Report
Coin Is The Lord Of The Realm
Don't pity the White Sox.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #260: Cubs Sweep Problems Under Rug
Reality check! Plus: Player Notes (Alzolay to Zagunis). And: Hate The Grate.
Budweiser Becomes First Official Beer Sponsor Of The National Women's Soccer League
Yay! But also, gross.
The White Sox Report
It's All Happening
The pipeline is producing.
SportsMonday: Yo, Joe!
Let's talk about the lineup.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #259: Even Theo Is A Meathead Now
PECOTA comes home to roost. Plus: White Sox Ovah The Hump; Bulls Surprisingly Sign Serviceable Players; Blackhawks Surprisingly Sign Serviceable Players; Soccer's Super Sunday; and The Fire Are Back!
Chicago's Only Girls Baseball Camp
Baseball For All is leveling the playing field for girls across America.
Why It Matters That More Athletes Are Talking About Their Mental Health
And an early advocate for speaking out about players' mental health, former Bull Metta World Peace - who changed his name from Ron Artest in 2011 - notes that when he first talked about his struggles, the media thought he was "crazy."
PointsBet Partners With Hawthorne
The agreement will include a first-class retail sportsbook at the center of the famed property, as well as statewide mobile betting and a PointsBet presence at off-track betting locations.
SportsMonday: A Modest Cubs Proposal
A change whose time has come.
The White Sox Report
Ovah The Hump
The season now is right at its halfway point, and the Sox, standing at 39-42, are a far different ballclub than a year ago when they were 28-53 on their way to 100 losses. Sox faithful, those days are ovah!
TrackNotes: Double Trouble
You either suppress the reality of the game and go along merrily, enjoying all the horses of their different colors. Or you catch the Emerald City parade and then look behind the wizards' curtains and see and understand the chicanery, hypocrisy and outright deceit. Either way, it is very stressful, I will attest.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #258: Craptastic Cubs
Cubs continuing conundrums. Plus: Cubs To Be Well Represented In All-Star Game If You Include Alumni; The Unprecedented Nature Of Kris Bryant; The NL Central Actually Sucks; All-Star Catcher Willson Contreras Is Actually Worse Than We Thought; Tim Anderson's Got An Ankle; Yonder DFAlonso; I'm Going To A White Sox Game; Stan Bowman Rolls Draft Dice; and Rapinoe, France & Eric Trump's Spitter.
SportsMondayTuesday: Rapinoe Kicks Out Spain
Team USA may face the toughest match of the Women's World Cup on Friday. Or it may have already played it on Monday.
The Inaugural Winners Of The American Gambling Awards Are Here!
Chicago's Rush Street Interactive a big winner.
The White Sox Report
Open Letter
It boils down to this, Mr. Chairman.
For Many NBA Players, Finding A Better High School Was Critical To Success
All of the athletes in my study spoke about how beneficial it was when they left their troubled neighborhood schools in order to join teams or participate in athletic programs at better-resourced and safer schools in more affluent areas.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #257: Bulls Luck Out, Get Their Teen Man
Pace and space - too late. Plus: Cy Alzolay; Confounding Contreras And His Balls; Cubs Lineup Limits; Who Hurt Hendricks?: Don't Sleep On The Reds; Questioning Cardinals; Here Comes Kimbrel; White Sox Pledge Nets; The Bears Did Have A Bad Offseason, and USWNT Manages Not To Embarrass Us This Week.
Highlights | The Premier Lacrosse League's Week 3 In Chicago
Well, Bridgeview. Still.
SportsMondayTuesday: Cubs Look To Get Well Against Sox
An easier stretch at home before facing the torrid Braves.
The White Sox Report
How Lucas Giolito Changed Up His Career
Credit a coach and a catcher.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #256: The Cubs Are Not In First Place
Wait, what? Plus: White Sox Finally Reach Mediocrity; Bears Continue Contest Between Kickers Who Won't Be On Opening Day Roster; USNWT's Excessive Celebration; Raptors Beat Wrecked Warriors; and Zombie Blues Rise From Dead.
Afghan Cricket Team A Sentimental World Cup Favorite
See you at Old Trafford.
SportsMonday: It's Up To Yu, Now
Can he keep this feeling going?
The White Sox Report
Russian Interference
"You may not believe this, but they're having an election right now to see who gets to play in what they call the All-Star Game . . . "
TrackNotes: Not Upset At All
Horse racing nearly always exists in circular logic, no pun there to be pardoned.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #255: The Craig Kimbrel Signing Is So Cub
Go get an elite player in push for World Series - but do so under an artificial budget imposed by Tom Ricketts that depended on a player unexpectedly getting waylaid by a divorce. Plus: Joe Sheehan Sucks; CarGo, We Go?; How Pedro Strop Is Like Cheap Trick; Freezing Cold Takes; The White Sox Could Have Easily Afforded Keuchel; The Chicago Media Got The Tim Anderson Imbroglio Exactly Wrong; Bears B.S.; The Raptors Could Actually Win This Thing; and The Blues Could Actually Win This Thing.
Toronto's Multicultural Raptors: Teamwork And Individualism
Raptor Morality in a superior city.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Now appearing on Triple-A clubs across the nation.
SportsMondayTuesday: The Cubs' Crucial Couple
And it's not Bryzzo.
The White Sox Report
Rethinking Run Differential
When it doesn't add up.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #254: Netgate
Excuses exhausted. Plus: Patrick Mannelly Great Ever; The St. Louis Bores; Astros Series Asinine; Defining Darvish Down; Contreras Can't Catch; The Dooche; Justin Verlander Reminds Us He Wanted To Be A Cub; The Cubs' Bill Buckner; White Sox Wild?; Burton's Boo-Boo; Stanley Cup Finals Moves To Nation's Most Boring City; and Why You Should Both Love Steve Kerr And Root For The Raptors.
Stan Mikita Hockey School For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Back For 46th Year
The school does not charge fees for athletes to attend its hockey school, all expenses incurred by the team or players (ice, time, lodging, equipment, etc.) are paid by the organization.
SportsMondayTuesday: Beautiful Bill Buckner
He was a great Cub and had a great, great career in baseball. Full stop.
The White Sox Report
The Rebuild Not Taken
Envying the Twins' way.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #253: Memorial Day Weekend State Of The Cubs, White Sox & Bears
Tales of regress, progress and egress. Including: Jim Coffman Not Here For Ben Zobrist's Divorce; Addy Is Baddy; Another Sullivan Special; Old School Cubs Lack Velocity; How Albert Almora Jr. Turned His Season Around; Salt's Sinker; So You're Saying The White Sox Have A Chance; and Bears Carousel.
Let's Play In The World's Largest Street Hockey Tournament
Seriously, HMU.
Sinclair's Cubs Network Names Complicit GM
Former St. Louis Blues and Milwaukee Bucks exec joins Evil Empire.
Chicago's Best 8-Ball Player?
Nazario Aguilar does good in Vegas.
The White Sox Report
Extend Abreu
If and when that happens, we can stomach a few more games of TBD pitching for the White Sox.
SportsMonday: Cutesy Cubs Cruise
The lovable losers, the supposed curse, all that garbage started to drive me crazy especially after the Cubs blew it in 2003. And now it is all wrapped up in a musical. Great.
TrackNotes: A War Of Wills
Like a twisted stage mother whose tarted-up six-year-old daughter was DQ'd from the Little Miss Pageant down at the Holiday Inn for traces of amphetamines, owner Gary West took his Maximum Security for extended pouting exile at Monmouth, over by Springsteen's Shore . . .
TrackNotes: The Immutable Constant
Lord knows he's tried, but the honest man knows he'll never truly control the horse.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #252: Bulls Crap Out
Praying for luck is not a strategy. Plus: Fear The Deer?; St. Louis Sucks; Tommy La Stella Is Doing Mike Trout-Like Things; Missing Ben Zobrist; The Unprecedented Nature Of Kris Bryant; and White Sox Still Better Than You Think.
Bulls Win Right To Draft The 7th-Best College Basketball Player In The Country!
It could've been worse. Barely.
The White Sox Report
Tone Down The Future
Maybe it's time we all backed off a bit and simply let the kids play.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #251: The Problem With The Cubs Fan Ban
Joe Ricketts remains. Plus: Roger's Suspicious Cuba Trip; Fuck Yu; Addison Russell's Return; Stats Cast; Are The White Sox A Wild-Card Contender?; and Derby Stewards Show More Courage Than Congress.
Sunny Garcia's Suicide Attempt Shakes Surf World
"Depression is no joke waking up feeling like your ready to take on the world then a couple hours later feeling down on life and wondering what's wrong with you well I know I'm not alone and I'm not sure what's wrong with me because I have no reason to feel the way I do and it's been happening for about two years and would love to hear from any of you who suffer these feelings so I can figure out what I should do #fuckdepression #needhelp #whatswrongwithme."
TrackNotes: Derby Stewards Show Courage In Trump's Lawless America
If only House Dems would do the same.
SportsMonday: Cubs Currently Kicking More Ass Than Bears
Taylor Davis vs. Chris Blewitt.
The White Sox Report
Playing The Game Right Now
Bat flips and dugout celebrations only go so far. Winning is what keeps bringing us back.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #250: Ryan Pace Is A Draft Disaster
The anti-Belichick can't win at this game. Plus: Cubs Progress To The Mean; White Sox Suddenly Not As Bad As You Think They Are; Sixers-Warriors; The NHL's Deadly Denial; Wrigleyville Literally The Worst; and Dragging The Derby.
TrackNotes: Dragging The Derby
In the early handicapping, we had all kinds of news: good, bad and part-of-the-game. And once again, a professional and spiritual letdown by humans, a wolf named Wolf and a man named Smith.
The NHL's Deadly Denial
Doctors insisted Blues enforcer Todd Ewen didn't have CTE. He did. And then he killed himself.
Let's Get Real With College Athletes About Their Chances Of Going Pro
Fewer than 2% of college athletes ever play professional sports at any level for any amount of time.
SportsMonday: Cubs Dessert In The Desert
Cheese, crackers and a cherry on top.
The White Sox Report
Soul-Sapping Innings Eaters
Long list of losers.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #249: Bears Having Killer Draft
And not because Khalil Mack was their first-round selection. Plus: Why The Raiders and Giants Ought To Use This Coping Mechanism That Some People With Depression Use; We See You, Cardinals; The Return Of Robbie Gould Journesia; Dan Bernstein In Thrall To Ryan Pace's Execufuck Of The Year Award; The Cubs Are Back - To .500!; Here's To You, John Hancock; Pedro Strop Is So Cub; TIL: Addison Russell Has Three Children Under The Age Of Four With Three Women From Pensacola; and Tim Anderson And El Mago Both Had Themselves A Week.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Big Z is back.
SportsMonday: Baez, Bote Reset Cubs
And Tyler Chatwood continues string of strong Cubs starts.
The White Sox Report
Tick, Tick, Tick
For the present-day White Sox, a challenge of immense magnitude.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #248: Cubs Season Already Exhausting
Pleasure greatly exceeded by pressure, urgency, payroll, bullpen, Bryzzo. Plus: Most Dramatic Week Of White Sox Season Already Over; TWIB Notes; Tiger Woods Is No Ben Hogan, Muhammad Ali Or Rick Allen; Third-Choice Porter Moser Lays Down A Marker; and Bears Skipping First Day Of Draft.
Whistleblower Spurned By Players For Exposing Tennis Crooks
A tennis whistleblower says he is paying a heavy price for exposing wrongdoing in the sport. Marco Trungelliti tells the AP other players have ostracized him since he gave evidence of match fixing.
White Coaches Pick The Wrong Side When They Talk Down To Their Black Athletes
Whether coaches acknowledge it, the power differentials that exist between white people and everyone else are on steroids in collegiate basketball.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Someone's about to earn this column's first moratorium.
SportsMonday: Tiger No Ben Hogan!
Goodness gracious, people.
The White Sox Report
What About Coop?
It's time to take a hard look at the longtime pitching guru.
TrackNotes: Storming Oaklawn
Arkansas Derby sets up Mike Smith's choice and the Kentucky Derby.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #247: Cy Darvish
Greatness unappreciated by all except media, Maddon. Plus: Yu Darvish Is Even Annoying His Neighbors; The White Sox Are Also 3-8; Sale Sucks, Rays Rock; The Fight To Pay Minor Leaguers; The Circuitous Route of Wauconda's Matt Mooney; Now The Bulls Pray To The Lottery Gods; Lottery Gods Smile On Blackhawks; "Q" Now Florida Man; Chicago Fired; DePaul Demons Officially Nation's 103rd Best Team; and Co-Ed Swim Team Launches.
The Fight To Pay Minor League Baseball Players
"Depending on the level, you're making $45 a game, $60 a game, $70 a game."
Co-Ed Swim League Launches
World's first gender-balanced sports league.
SportsMondayTuesday: Players Win National Championship
The local angle: Wauconda's Matt Mooney.
The White Sox Report
Appreciating April
If Tim Anderson gets just one hit in his next 24 at-bats, he'll still be hitting over .300. The Cubs have the worst ERA in baseball. And we now know who Ramon Laureano is.
TrackNotes: Svengoolie To Santa Monica
The Road to the Roses.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #246: Cubs Panic Is Exceeding The Pleasure
Panic! At The Wrigleyville Disco. Plus: Yoan Machado; Enough About The White Sox, Let's Talk More About The Cubs; Don't Sleep On The Rays; Texas Technology; Good Riddance, Chicago Fire; and Blackhawks, Bulls, Blue Demons Still Playing.
The Trump Administration's Attempts To Defund The Special Olympics Explained
This is the third year in a row that President Trump has tried - and failed - to zero out the federal government's relatively meager share of the popular program's funding.
The Ex-Cub Factor
It's over for the Hammer. Not quite for the Grimmer.
SportsMonday: Panic Room
Breaking: Joe Maddon not giving up on season two games in.
The White Sox Report
Opening Salvo
You have to start somewhere.
Calculating The Future Of Sports Through Analytics
The Cubs' Jason McLeod keynotes an event exploring the escalating value of data and technology to teams, athletes and fans.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #245: Opening Day Overreactions!
Cubs rule, Sox suck. Plus: Howard's End; Chalk Talk; Hoops!; Bulls Still Shit; Blackhawks Still In It; DePaul Still In Running For 102nd Best Team In Nation: Fire Still In It; and Price Of Brace Brings Soccer Player To His Knees.
Hoops
'An exhibition presents outdoor images of basketball courts and hoops that celebrate the sport and reveal both its global importance and enduring appeal. Hauntingly devoid of people, the images are nonetheless remarkable neighborhood and community portraits.'
Price Of A Brace Brings Soccer Player To His Knees
It's not even clear he needed it, but this tiny example once again illustrates how health care in America works.
SportsMonday: The Not-So-Sweet 16
Rock chalk.
The White Sox Report
The Eloy Miracle
His defense got fixed overnight last week.
What If March Madness Was About Equity Instead Of Sports?
Another national championship for UCF!
TrackNotes: Santa Anita's Sirens
As sick as they sound.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #244: As Good (And Bad) As The NCAA Gets
It was the best of sports, it was the worst of sports. Plus: When The Water Polo Coach Is Corrupt . . . ; Eloy!; Ricketts' Still Out Of Money; The Ex-Cub Factor; Punter Stays Pat; So You're Saying The Blackhawks Still Have A Shot; Bulls Blowing Tank; and We Don't Start The Fire.
As Good As The NCAA Gets
Amidst the greatest fraud in American history, the best kind of madness.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Hello, Cleveland!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #243: Bears Make Big Little Moves; Cubs Building A Mystery
Defense to get more aggressive, incur more penalties. Plus: The Cubs Did Not Respect 90 Last Year And No One Was Held Accountable; Budget Bullpen Breaks; New Rules, Fools!; Sister Jean Has Down Year; College Admissions' Side Doors; Duncan Keith, Biohacker; Alma Otter!; Puck Drop; and Schweinsteiger!
College Admission Scandal Grew Out Of A System Already Rigged With 'Side Doors'
Those ensnared in the current criminal case - which alleges that they paid for their children to get spots on the sports teams of big-name schools - couldn't have succeeded if the college admissions process wasn't already biased toward wealthier families.
TrackNotes: Diagnosing Death
In the corporate sense, Santa Anita has put on a performance that would bring tears of joy to a damage control specialist.
Manfred's Folly
Change clearly is not unknown to the Great Game. However, it's not the rules which require visitation, but rather certain trends and practices that could use investigation.
SportsMondayTuesday: One Last Blackhawks Gasp
Back at almost being in it.
World Cup 2022 Plan To Expand To 48 Countries Exposes Regional Fault Lines
The corruption of the Qatar bid comes full circle.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #242: Every White Sox Story Is Really About The Cubs
Baseball is back in all its dysfunction and glory. Plus: Bears Relatively Needless - Except The One Position They Refuse To Spend More Money On To Fix; Trestman Train At Last Stop; Blackhawks Dream Over; Bulls Fantasy Beginning; and Schweinsteiger!
Go Joe Becht!
"It's not glamorous," Downers Grove South product says of the California Winter League, "but you get to play ball."
SportsMonday: Cubs Will Not Finish Last
This team won 95 games last year. It won 95 with its best hitter missing 60 and struggling with the after-effects of an injured shoulder for half of the rest of them. It won 95 with an absolute ace pitcher sidelined virtually throughout. There might be something I'm missing, but I don't think so.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #241: Che Bryant
Cubs radicalized their MVP. Plus: The Ricketts' Very Bad Election Night; Kenny Williams Twists Knife In Back Of White Sox Fans; Blackhawks Blow Pathetic Chance To Make Playoffs; Don't Let The Upright Hit You In The Ass On The Way Out; and Tank Wank.
The White Sox Report
Maybe Andy's Boys Quit
Or maybe the White Sox could have offered Manny Machado a dollar more than the Padres.
SportsMonday: Blackhawks + Bulls = Baseball
Time to move on.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #240: Thanks For Playing, White Sox!
Sign wrong brother-in-law, get outbid by a dollar, lose Manny Machado. Plus: Cubs Still Unlikable; Javy Baez Red Alert; The Ex-Cub Factor; Defenseless Blackhawks; and Bobby Portis Is Pissed.
TrackNotes: Prep Walk
You can't jump on a bandwagon that doesn't leave the station for another 76 days.
SportsMonday: Surging Hawks' Huge Hole
The primary problem is that this team simply doesn't have a No. 1 defenseman. A guy becomes a No. 2 defenseman by effectively doing whatever the No. 1 guy needs him to do in a team's top pairing and the Blackhawks don't have that guy either.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #239: Good Ship Cubs Runs Aground
Go Brew Crew! Plus: Surging Blackhawks Still In Last Place; Accidental White Sox Segment; Bulls Have 12.5 Percent Chance Of Righting Their Ship; Ramblers Puttering Toward Valley Tournament; It's The DePaul Blue Demons And The Duke Blue Devils; and Jones Prep 17-Year-Old Signs With Chicago Fire.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Minor-league contracts, a foreign Hall of Fame and an amazing comeback attempt.
SportsMonday: Here Come The Hawks?
They're surging, my friend.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #238: The NFL Offseason Is On!
Will be the boringest for Bears fans ever. Plus: The Cubs Have Become More Unlikable By The Day Since Winning That World Series. You Might Say It's Been A Curse!; Baseball Discussing Ways To Ruin The Game; Coffman Welcomes Otto Porter To Chicago; Blackhawks Respond To Coffman's Challenge; So You're Saying Loyola And DePaul Still Have A Chance; and more!
Joe Ricketts, Racist
Today's Worst Family in Chicago, Omaha and America.
SportsMonday: Blackhawks Bowl
A Blackhawks tank is unlikely - and getting unlikelier.
Postscript: The 11th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Maroon 5 Edition
Adam Levine wavered between soulless, shitless and witless before finally settling on shirtless.
5 Uncomfortable Super Bowl Truths
Budweiser is not an American beer. Walter Payton was a selfish dick. Janet Jackson got what she deserved. And the game is part of a racist, militaristic enterprise that exploits our troops and screws our taxpayers.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #237: Bill Belichick Presents The Super Bowl
Coach ascends to legendary status despite general dickishness. Plus: Roger Goodell Is An Evil, Bumbling Bore; Patriots Hate; For Some Reason Super Bowl Commercials Are Now Released The Week Before The Game; The 11th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Maroon 5 Edition; and The Rams Will Also Reportedly Be At The Game. And: Silent Collusion Is Still Collusion; The Ex-Cub Factor; Bulls Tank Already Accomplished Thanks To New Lottery Rules; and Polar Vortex Game Is Event Of Loyola's Season.
The 11th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Maroon 5 Edition
Have you listened to a Maroon 5 song lately? No one in that band is remotely interested in the sounds they are making.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Big flops and big guns.
SportsMonday: Tanking Ranking
NBA teams no longer have to be the worst to get an equal shot at the best.
TrackNotes: A Sunny Place For Shady People
America's dangling wang wants what it wants and will lie and cheat, steal and kill, and displace with extraordinary cruelty to get it. It will also ring the bell well after post-time if that's what it takes to make some special people very happy.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #236: Opponent Set For Annual Patriots Bowl
Bill Belichick's Brady Bunch BOAT. Plus: The Bears' Pro-Am Bowl; George McCaskey And His Family Are Still Incompetent Nincompoops Whose Ownership Of The Bears Has Been A Stinking Disaster; Fans Will Have To Wait 'Til Next Year To See Manny Machado And Bryce Harper At SoxFest; Cubs Go Old; Dyin' For Zion; Bleakhawks; Where's Your Sister Jean Now?; Better Call DePaul; and Horses With Wings.
TrackNotes: Here We Go Again
God Almighty, and I'm not a religious person in the base human organizational sense, a horse will tell you how difficult it is to carry a person two miles at top speed. But he'll do it again any time you ask him!
SportsMonday: The Nuclear (Non-) Call
And helmet first, for goodness sake!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #235: Bears, Cubs Hangovers
Both teams and their fans suffering, but in very different ways. Including: There Is No There There; So, A Chiefs-Saints Super Bowl!; Manny Mania; Wrong Way Ricketts Wrecking Ball; Boiberg; and Bleak Blackhawks.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Two White Socks, one retiree and the Yankee who is the unsung one who got away.
The White Sox Report
Get Manny!
Given all the factors, if the Sox don't land Machado, they simply just don't have the glamour and pizzazz to attract a player of his caliber.
SportsMonday: Parkey & Pace
Like his kicker, the Bears GM has been the most hit-and-miss at his job that we've ever seen in these parts.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #234: Double Doinkage
Worst Chicago sports loss ever? Including: What We Still Don't Know About Cody Parkey's Double Doink; Hero Or Heel?; Hawk Bearelsons; The Other 59:50 Of That Game; The Vic Vacancy; Another Inside Story Of The Bears Blowing It By Drafting Trubisky Instead Of Mahomes; The Meaning Of Mediocre; and Rewriting Robbie Gould! Plus: White Sox Making Moves!; Dear Cubs Fans: Your Favorite Baseball Team Can Afford Any Free Agent It Wants; Jim Boylen Sucks, What More Do You Need To Know?; Don't Believe The Blackhawks Hype (Apparently There's Blackhawks Hype); and The Four-Part Recipe For The Oily Stew Of Dysfunction That Ousted Tom Thibodeau.
Sports Betting Should Come With A Health Warning
Luckily there are two tips that gamblers can do to keep their losses within reasonable limits.
SportsMonday: Gut-Punch
A number of folks are eligible for scapegoat status.
Parsing Parkey Pique
What are these emotions we're feeling?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #233: Bear Raid
Legion of Boom. Plus: The NFL Season In Review & Playoffs In Preview; Managers-In-Waiting; White Sox Sweepstakes; Bulls(hit) On Parade; and Blackhawks Actually Irrelevant.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #232: Sports Evildoers Rinse, Repeat
Of greed, fanboys and the lack of accountability. Plus: The Bears Are Who They Are, So Just Let Them Be That and The Cubs Are The Most Question-Marky 95-Win Team Ever!
The Ex-Cub Factor
Of Crime Dogs, Black Dogs and just dogs.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #231: The Ryan Pace Narrative That Must End
Plus: Charles Leno's Racist Fiancee; When Domestic Abuse Comes To Work; Are The Cubs The Next Blackhawks?; The Ricketts' Are One Of America's Worst Families; Jim Boilin'; and Rock Bottom: Population Blackhawks.
It's Not Club Dub, Bub
The Bears are not winning because of chemistry.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #230: Bears Go For Cherry In John Hancock Bowl
It's gonna really suck if they blow this game. Plus: Bulls' Boylen Bonkers; The Bulls Aren't Even The Worst Team In Town; One Of Us Is Dreaming Of A White Sox Christmas; Harold Gets Into Hall The Chicago Way; The Baseball Hall Of Fame Isn't Even The Worst Hall Of Fame; Cubsland; and Is The Loyola Dream Over?
TrackNotes: Mom
My mother was not a small factor in me loving the ponies and the fun of handicapping.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Including Miggy, Chili and Luis.
The White Sox Report
Good For Harold
Bill Veeck was right - again.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #229: Bears > Cubs
One loathsome family suddenly trying harder to win than the other. Plus: Remembering Luis Valbuena; The Biggest Cubs News Of The Week Happened In St. Louis; White Sox To The Rescue?; The Maddons Are Outta Here!; Holiday Bowling; Boca Raton Bowling; Bulls, Blackhawks Stinks; Stevie Sunshine Hit & Ran; and These Things About Fred Hoiberg Can All Be True At The Same Time.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Dodgers now Ex-Cubs West.
SportsMonday: Thanks, Bears
This Bears team is seriously fun.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #228: Lame Ducks, Big Bucks And Who Sucks
Including: Steve's ER Adventure; Say It Ain't So, Theo; Retaining Russell; Joe Maddon Is A Lame Lame Duck; Loving Lovie Too Long; The White Sox Did Something; Bear Trap; Bullshit On Parade; Post-Q: So Far, So Bad; A Decade Of Greatness In DeKalb; Ramblers Not Quite Rambling Yet; Pitch By Pitch Betting?; and Schweinsteiger!
Exclusive! The Real Reasons Why Lovie Smith Was Extended Instead Of Fired
For one, Professor Smith may not being doing well on the field, but his English lit students love him.
SportsMonday: Loving Lovie Too Long
The thing that saves the Illinois AD here is that so few people care.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #227: First Place Problems
Chasing the dream. Plus: Northwestern Way Better At Football Than Illinois, Which Is Really Weird When You Think About It; Joe Cowley's Premature Evaluation; Blackhawks Bummer; and Cubs Cookie Continues To Crumble.
SportsMonday: Cody Parkey Is Back!
There was no wind to mess with his head and his kicks went where he kicked them.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #226: To The CodyCopter™!
Aka Cody Clang. Plus: Local TV Misses Worse Than Cody Parkey; Money League Baseball; We All Owe Bob Nightengale An Apology; Don't Rewrite History; Cutting Robbie Gould Was The Right Thing To Do; The Kris Bryant Trade Scenario Isn't Hard To Figure Out; Blackhawks Hunk Gets First Win; NHL In Chintzy Tentative Concussion Settlement: Not Our Fault; Fire Thibs; Wild ATS; and Sister Jean Is So Last Year.
NHL In Chintzy Tentative Concussion Settlement: Not Our Fault
"What this tells you is that it's athlete beware. The message from professional sports is: You're on your own. Once you've left the team, it doesn't matter if you're a legend, once things go south for you, you and your family are on your own."
SportsMonday: Catching Bears Fever
The improvement in receivers for the Bears from last year to this year has to rival the improvement of any position group on any team in the NFL.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #225: Drama-Free Bears Suddenly More Stable Than Chaotic Cubs, Broken Blackhawks
Theo in a gorilla suit while Nagy sets the playoff table. Plus: Why Trubisky Polarizes; Unified Grand Cubs Theory; Coach Coffman, Coach Q And Coach Colliton; This Is No Time For Bulls Hot Takes; and Secret Agent Hahn.
Bizarro Chicago Sports World | Quenneville Fired, Maddon Lameducked, Renteria Extended
Who will do our Binny's ads?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #224: Bears Turner Overdrive
Is merely taking care of business enough? Plus: Taking Care Of Bulls Shit; Blackhawks Turner Underdrive; Boston Turner Overserved; Cubs Bringing Back Camels; NIU vs. NU; and Crushing Oprah, Eddie Olczyk, The Breeders' Cup & The Soul Of Racing.
TrackNotes: Oprah, Olczyk & The Soul Of Racing
A lot at stake this weekend.
Honored | Chicago's "Doctor Of Wrestling"
From the mats of a St. Sabina youth wrestling club to Beat the Streets Chicago.
Segregation Snapshot: One Saturday Afternoon On The South Side
Black people on one side, whites on the other. Both on the field and in the stands.
SportsMonday: TCB
The bottom line I suppose, and I will admit I am stretching, is that whatever negative impression may have been created by this game, it was at least matched by a positive.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #223: Bears Breakdown
It's special teams, stupid. Plus: Blame Ryan Pace For Setting An Impossible Standard Mitch Trubisky Will Never Meet; Check Back On The Bulls Around Christmas; Corey Crawford Is The Khalil Mack Of The Blackhawks; The Boston Red Sox Are Ridiculous; and Gold Glove Finalists Of Interest.
Ten Cent Beer Night Was A Total Disaster
What transpired was a night full of nudity, violence and total chaos.
SportsMonday: Sunday's Real Bears Goat
Not named Nagy, Fangio, Trubisky or Mack.
TrackNotes: Crushing The Breeders' Cup
Now we wait.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #222: Fins, Pats & The Cult Of Vic Fangio
State of the Bears. Plus: Bulls Season Peaks In First Quarter Of Opener; What's Up With Corey Crawford And Brandon Saad?; and AL Rules.
Chicago vs. Michigan, 1903
"The premature blizzard which descended on Chicago yesterday made it anything but an ideal football day, but that driving snow storm was gentleness itself compared to what was in store for Chicago's two football elevens."
SportsMonday: Come On, Vic!
This one is on the defense.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #221: Are The Blackhawks Back?
Sort of, but not really. Plus: Chili Cook-Off; MLB's Final Four; Non-Jew Tarik Cohen And The Bears Taking Their Talents To South Florida; Jimmy Hollywood vs. Toledo Thibs; 2018 Bulls Should Get Sponsorship From Elon Musk's Boring Company; and Golf At The Grate.
It's Naive To Think College Athletes Have Time For School
The NCAA claims that student-athlete balance is not only possible, but that most Division I players achieve it. The NCAA is wrong.
Did The Jackson Park Community Football Team Just Play Its Last Homecoming?
"I want the Obama Center, and the new field in Jackson Park, but I also want a CBA ordinance to make sure our youth participants don't get pushed out of the neighborhood."
SportsMonday: The Plan
So what should the Cubs do now? I have some thoughts.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #220: Worst 95-Win Team Ever!
Offense cold as The Freeze. Plus: Judging Joe; Back To The Future; Joe's Job (In)security; Jason Benetti's Awesome Statcast; The 2018 Cubs Lacked Killer Instincts; Dr. Theo & Mr. Epstein; Bring Cole Hamels Back; White Sox Season In Verse; State Of The Bears; Blackhawks Should Get Used To Winning Ugly; Bulls Set To Open Most Boring Season Yet; There Is Nothing To Say About College Football; TrackNotes, Racing Luck; Ugly Light-Up Christmas Sweaters Now With Audio!; and Tempered Expectations For 2019 Cubs.
New NFL Bluetooth® Ugly Christmas Sweater Has Fans Dancing Into The Holiday Spirit
"Last season we introduced the light-up sweater and it was a huge success. This year we had to up the ante, and the only way to do that was to add a sound feature. Now your sweater can literally play any sound you want it to, whether it's a touchdown celebration dance or the team's theme song."
SportsMonday: Trumagic
Okay, let's try to calm down a bit. Oh, let's not.
The White Sox Report
The Season In Verse | Has The Rebuild Burst?
You gotta love Yolmer, he's a delight for the fans. But let's face it, folks, he's more of a utility man.
TrackNotes: Racing Luck
Any bettor who doesn't feel at least some luck after a nice win is lying. Granted, your wonderful race-picking know-how is massaged, but there's always a big exhale. Woo-hoo.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #219: Cubs Abyss, Bears Brink
Theo, Jed > Maddon. Plus: Joe Maddon's Take On The Addison Russell Investigation Quite Senate Republicanlike; Magic Mack vs. Fitzmagic; and Seal vs. Kayaker - Why We're Not Vegetarians.
The Ex-Cub Factor
John Lackey now lovable.
The White Sox Report
A Classic Day At The Crosstown Classic
Previously I had not been aware of the inebriating effects of Bud Light. Obviously volume begins to play a role.
SportsMonday: We Will Now Be Subject To Another Week Of Mitch Trubisky Analysis
So many local sports commentators spent the entire preseason telling us how smart Nagy is and how much potential Trubisky has that it isn't surprising expectations are way out of whack.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #218: Maybe Joe Maddon Will Get Fired After All
The truth comes out about Brandon Morrow, the latest reliever the Cubs manager has ruined. Plus: Addison Russell Placed On Administrative Leave; Confounding Cubs; Mitch Trubinsky; NU & The Zips; and Post-Thibodeau Stress Disorder.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Including Tony Campana and the Chicago A's.
SportsMondayTuesday: Bears Fun Again
How cool is this?
The White Sox Report
Hawk Harrelson Goes Out As Awfully As He Broadcasted
The ultimate homer directs a lovefest as ridiculous and far from the truth as his broadcasts.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #217: Bears Hold Joe Maddon's Beer
One of the game's best managers turns in perhaps the worst managed game in history. Plus: Call Crane Kenney A Wahmbulance; Matt Maddon's Chicago Bears; Hawk's Doc; Thibodeau Putting Bulls Back Together; NU Worse Than Duke; Elena Delle Donne's Mystics Get Swept in Finals.
Green Bay Packers Fans Love That Their Team Doesn't Have An Owner. Just Don't Call It 'Communism.'
It doesn't take Marx, apparently, to see what's wrong with the owner-laborer, bourgeois-proletariat relation. Just look at the NFL.
SportsMonday: Identifying The Culprits
Vic Fangio deserves far more scorn than Mitch Trubisky.
The White Sox Report
Kopech, Schmopech
There have been other setbacks and tragedies. Ahem.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #216: Mack Trade Exposes Bears Narrative
Ryan Pace in his fourth year of trying to win now. Plus: This Year's Surprise Team In The NFL Will Be A Surprise; We Don't Care About College Football Yet; Cubs A Total Mindfuck; Eloy Jimenez And Dylan Cease Working On Defense In Their Backyards; and Onto The Mystics.
The Ex-Cub Factor
One of 'em's kinda being a dick!
SportsMondayTuesday: Bears Rewrite Season's Narrative Arc: Playoffs Or Bust
A trade like this hadn't been made in the NFL in almost a decade - since the Bears made a trade like this.
The White Sox Report
He Hits Dingers
We're not talking about a five-tool player here. More like one tool.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #215: Maddon Madness & Magic
He's not going anywhere but the playoffs. Plus: Hot White Sox Screwing Eloy; Fake Bears Finish Fake Pre-Season With Fake Hopes; and NU's Ridiculous Football Palace On The Lake.
Beto O'Rourke's NFL Comments Have Gone Viral
U.S. Senate candidate challenging Ted Cruz makes national Dems swoon, but how does he play in his home state of Texas? (Increasingly well!)
SportsMonday: Bears Owe Fans An Apology
Saturday's game was a sham, sold under false pretenses.
The White Sox Report
Mt. Pleasant's Michael Kopech
His homophobic, racist tweets are not the lone blemish on his ledger. He received a 50-game suspension for a banned stimulant in 2015, and a year later he punched a teammate in spring training, breaking his hand.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #214: The Cubs Are El Mago
Strap it down for a rough - but possibly glorious - ride. Plus: Daniel Murphy Does Not Agree With The Homosexual Lifestyle; Michael KKKopech; Bears Media Talking About Practice; and Fire Fires Fans.
The White Sox Report
Why Kopech Now?
You have to wonder what Rick Hahn's philosophy is in terms of the ripe moment to promote these youngsters. Consistency seems to be absent.
SportsMonday: Are The Cubs Okay?
The standings don't lie and the standings say the Cubs are a losing streak away from not just falling out of the division lead but falling out of a projected playoff spot.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Transaction Jackson!
The White Sox Report
Keep 'Em Down On The Farm
Why we (rightly) got Ryan LaMarre instead of Eloy Jiminez.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #213: Bears Fail Audition
First play says it all. Plus: Our Internet Doppelgangers; Stan Mikita's Legacy - Including The Donuts; Confirmed: The Cubs Are Weird; Pundits Renew Bryce Harper Takes; David Bote McBoteface; Authentic White Sox Fans; Roquan Smith Stalemate; Chicago Fire Tease; and Dan Bernstein's Native Ads.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Two Diamondbacks, two A's, two Royals, a Red and a Rockie.
Stan Mikita's Legacy - Including The Donuts
A wondrously talented innovator who changed himself - and the game.
NBA Gambles With MGM
The partnership is the NBA's first with a sports betting operator in the U.S. and is the first of its kind between MGM Resorts and a major professional sports league.
The White Sox Report
At Home With Nancy Faust
She has a Hammond B-3 with a Leslie speaker in her den.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #212: The Cubs Are Weird
Win big, lose ugly. Plus: It's Time, White Sox. And: Hall Of Bears Mirrors.
The Ex-Cub Factor
What the trade deadline wrought.
SportsMondayTuesday: Roquan Is Wrong
Stalemates are lame.
The Rulification Of Penalty Kicks - And A Reform Proposal
Bridging the gap between rules people and judgement people.
The White Sox Report
Drama Over
Assuming Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia will still be playing on the South Side on Wednesday as July turns into August, we now see the team that will carry Sox colors for the last two months of the season. Can you feel the excitement?
TrackNotes: Unjustified
His usefulness has been determined to be to make exponentially more money for a sickly large number of greedy people.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #211: Microcosmic Cubs, Bewildering Bears
Theo settles for Cole Hamels. Plus: Rodon!; The Biggest Underreported Story In Chicago Sports; and We're Talking About (Bears) Practice.
The White Sox Report
Cash Advance?
A strategy Ricky Renteria should consider when it comes to Reynaldo Lopez.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #210: Jabari Parker Already Grinding Coach Coffman's Gears
Someone get the young man some help. Plus: Viva La World Cup!; Rarity: Home Run Derby > All-Star Game; The Good/Bad News Cubs; White Sox Reportedly Still Playing; There Is A Thing Called The Chicago Pro Hockey League, And Jonathan Toews Is Playing In It; Coach Coffman Couldn't Be More Excited About Bears Training Camp!; and Schweinsteiger!
France: Worthy Winners. But Here's What The Statistics Say About Who's Best In World Cup History
Teams for the ages.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Trades that rippled!
The White Sox Report
Small Type
Baseball's glorious minutiae.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #209: Best World Cup Ever?
Full of surprises. Plus: Cub Factors; The Return Of Rodon!; Matt Nagy Married His High School Sweetheart, Therefore He's A Great Guy Who Will Lead The Bears To Glory; Beasting Up The Summer League; 7-Player Trade!; and Schweinsteiger!
SportsMondayWednesday: On The Road To The All-Star Game
Who would have thought it would be Javy Baez and Willson Contreras representing the Cubs at the midsummer classic instead of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo?
As States Legalize Sports Betting, Will Sports Media Go All In?
When I was a reporter and editor for the Associated Press, I saw firsthand how traditional media outlets were slow to adapt to the Internet, much to their detriment. Now, with sports gambling, editors and reporters will ideally adjust appropriately, attracting more readers and subscribers by providing information that's useful to bettors. A potentially disastrous outcome would be if already cash-strapped media outlets are reluctant to change, and are slow to meet readers' needs.
The White Sox Report
Grateful Dead
The next two weeks will be among the season's most comforting basically because the Sox won't be playing very often.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #208: Local TV News Is Hurting America
The continuing problem no one talks about anymore. Plus: I Predicted The World Cup's Final Four; Mr. Cowley; The Blackhawks Signed Some Free Agents; White Sox Waiting Game Sucks; Land Of Boz; and Cubs Factors.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Whoa, Dexter Fowler and Carlos Zambrano.
The White Sox Report
How To Win
Can learning it be taught?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #207: Finally, The World Cup Moves On
Knockout round couldn't come fast enough after hot start to tourney stepped in mud
Demolition Derby In Joliet Rules So Hard
It comes with almost every ingredient you could wish for when it comes to having a good time: beer, rock 'n' roll, friends, gambling, summer, a cornfield, and cars smashing into each other. What's not to like?!
Chicago's Ill Will Brooks Grinds Out PFL 2 Win
Hands still hurt from brick wall of opponent's face.
The White Sox Report
Respecting 90 - Or So
This is how to play the game the right way. Well, not exactly.
Steve Albini Is A World Series Of Poker Champion
Albini, 55, a recording engineer from Chicago, pulled off an unusual double at the final table.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #206: Bulls Draft Safe And Sound
Not the right year for sexy. Plus: Neymar Is Back!; Super Eagles vs. Our Boys; New Three Favorites; Cubs' Blue Wave; The Ex-Cub Factor; Ricky's Boys Don't Quit Clowning; Joe Maddon Is A Lousy Art Critic; and Schweinsteiger!
The Ex-Cub Factor
We have a Rafael Palmeiro sighting!
Coffman: Ronaldo Is The King Of The World
Messi and Neymar not so much.
World Cup VAR: Technology Is Transforming The Beautiful Game
And already causing controversy.
The White Sox Report
Real Prospects
Not the ones we thought they were.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #205: Did The Cubs Keep The Right Guys?
Not sayin', just sayin'! Plus: International House of Soccer; The White Sox Are Still Playing - And Not Totally Badly; And With The 7th Pick, The Bulls Select . . . ; and Schweinsteiger!
World Cup Politics: Fixed Matches, Fascism & FIFA
A dirty history of the beautiful game.
SportsMonday: Bullpen Beware, Maddon At Work
Is Brandon Morrow the next victim?
The White Sox Report
Ricky's Boys Run
The modern day Go-Go Sox.
TrackNotes: Justified
It was a perfect storm of breeding, training and riding.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #204: George McClownsky And His Media Acolytes
That's a clown column, bro. Plus: Crazy Uncle Joe's Overmanaging Like It's Going Out Of Style; The Capitals' Blackhawk; Warriors Came Out To Play; White Sox Tips; TrackNotes Tips; The Unbelievable Money In eSports; Bet Delaware; Schweinsteiger! and The Minnesota Lynx Dunk On Donald Trump.
TrackNotes: Justify? Justify.
For the second time in three years, there's a real chance the church ladies will have to add another square to the quilt, number 13.
Full-Scale Sports Betting Arrives in Delaware
The state now has legal wagering within driving distance of three major East Coast cities.
Video Gamers May Soon Be Paid More Than Top Pro Athletes
As a spectator sport, video games generate viewership at least on par with professional leagues.
Which Side Are You On? | Donald Trump And The NFL's Rich White Owners Vs. Colin Kaepernick, African Americans And People Against Unjustified Police Killings
While the master of diversion is using attacks on black athletes to pump up his white base of support for the midterms and diverting attention from the Mueller investigation, we must keep our focus on the indiscriminate police killing of our young black people and the issue of racial justice.
The White Sox Report
Tips For Watching The Rest Of The Season
No. 1: Be not disappointed if Ricky's Boys do, in fact, Quit, or at the very least get outscored by a bunch of runs.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #203: Done With Joe Maddon
Exposed as a deceptively high-strung, arrogant, patronizing bullshitter. Plus: National Boner Association; Hit Me On The Burner, Prepaid Wireless; The NHL's Medieval Times On Ice; Bears OTAs: Over The Adoration; James Shields Is An Asset, Lucas Giolito Is A Disappointment And Michael Kopech Is In The Major League Witness Protection Program Or Something; and Schweinsteiger!
Free At Last | A Century Later, The First Black Heavyweight Champion Of The World Is Pardoned Posthumously
After Obama declined to pardon him, Jack Johnson's family in Chicago lost hope.
SportsMondayTuesday: Memorial Cubs
Now the umps need to step up.
The White Sox Report
He Got Caught
The apology I'd like to hear, but never will.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #202: Is Joe Maddon Okay?
Overmanaging, defensiveness and arrogance at all-time high. Plus: Honoring Hossa; Golden Knight Moves; Bulls Blew Bell; Golden State's Non-Indigenous Warriors; The Boston Irish; This Is Why They Kneel; Chicago Bears (And Their Toadying Media) Offensive To Bears; Say It Ain't So, Welington Castillo; and Schweinsteiger!
Olympian Alleges USA Swimming Of Abuse Cover-Up
'Ariana Kukors Smith said in the lawsuit that USA Swimming officials looked the other way because Sean Hutchison delivered Olympic-level athletes.'
SportsMonday: Joe And Javy Do It Their Way
And it drives us nuts.
The White Sox Report
Some Fans Don't Quit
Was it the "Ricky's Boys Don't Quit" t-shirts? Or the opportunity to see if the Sox could break out of their slump at home where their record was 3-15?
TrackNotes: Two Down For Justify. One To Go?
Tom's Magic Eight Ball sez . . .
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #201: Much Ado About Machado
Meanwhile, Mad Joe Maddon is driving us mad. Plus: Bulls: We Stanks; Captain Kane; Ryan Pace Still Sucks; Last Year Was Supposed To Be Rock Bottom; Mike Trout, GOAT?; C'mon, Ricky, More Nicky!; and Schweinsteiger!
Supreme Court Delivers For Sports Bettors. Now States Need To Scramble
Essentially, it boils down to this: Who gets a cut?
The White Sox Report
WOAT
We hear how Ricky's Boys Don't Quit, but even quitters might have been able to eke a few more wins than these guys have at this juncture.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #200: Is Chicago A Great Sports Town? Was Val Kilmer The Greatest Doc Holliday Of All Time? Is Tom Ricketts The Best Chicago Owner Ever? An All-Star Special Edition.
Featuring: Veeck As In Wreck; Ricketts As In Wrecketts; One Last Thing About The Cubs; A Very Special Schweinsteiger! And Much, Much More.
The Ex-Cub Factor
Look who's mashing now!
SportsMondayTuesday: The Cubs, Captain Obvious & Contreras
Coffman on the porch with his radio.
Hillside Resident Wins National Pool Championship
Joe Gotch comes home $15,000 richer.
The White Sox Report
Young Guns
Testing the waters with the future five.
TrackNotes: NBC's Derby Day Septic Tank
I really don't like to use profanity in TrackNotes. But rest assured the bad words were bouncing off the big screen like Bulls jump shots.
TrackNotes: Derby Testament
The race is so aberrational. Just a stampede at a distance many of them won't handle at a steroidal facility run by a corporation that just makes the skin crawl.
The Beachwood Radio Hour #199: Panic! At Wrigley Field
What Up With Youth? Plus: Spammy Sosa; White Sox Stuff; Bears Breakdown; Schweinsteiger!; Chicago's Pearl; and Meet The Chicago Wildfire.
Chicago Wildfire Game Highlights
Pretty awesome!
Meet Pearl Gonzalez: From The Mean Streets Of Chicago To The MMA
From Cook County Jail to the Invicta FC cage.
States Getting Ready For U.S. Supreme Court To Legalize Sports Gambling
But if they think they'll get a tax windfall for schools and roads, they could be sorely mistaken - especially if the leagues end up getting a cut.
The White Sox Report
Roof Shots
Don't tell me how hard you hit it, tell me how often you hit it.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #198: Ryan Pace Still Sucks
He got the Bears' first-round pick right Thursday night, but he only filled a hole of his own making. Plus: The Cubs Are Cohering; The White Sox Aren't Worth Watching Yet Like We Thought They'd Be: and Men In Red Over Red Bulls.
The One Guy Ryan Pace Better Not Take In The First Round Of Tonight's NFL Draft
If he does, it'll be time to grab pitchforks and march on Lake Forest.
The Ex-Cub Factor
No one should regret the trade that sent Gleyber Torres to the Yankees, but that doesn't mean his impending stardom doesn't hurt. Plus: Here comes Christian Villanueva. And: Jorge Soler?
The White Sox Report
Welcome To The Regression
We've been offered the Kool-Aid by the Sox PR gurus. Like most fans, I very much want to drink the Kool-Aid, but I've never been fond of the lemon-lime that they're offering. I like the red kind. The cherry. Once it's an option, give me a pint.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #197: On The Baseball Beat With The Cubs Conundrum And The White Sox Slog
Herky-jerky season finally coming into focus, sorta. Plus: The Bread Man!; Bumbling Bears; and Seat Geek Stadium.
Martysaurus Rex: A Creative Life More Important Than Football
A maker of family-driven content.
SportsMonday: The NBA Saves The Day
An antidote for baseball's weather woes.
The White Sox Report
Cold-Cocked
I've yet to get my arms around the rationale that spending $50 on a ticket to risk frostbite promotes enjoyment. We have the NFL for that.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #196: Are The Cubs Bad? (Yes Maybe)
Alarmingly so. Some might say "fragile." Time to panic. Plus: Coffman In Vegas; The Cam Meredith Debacle; The White Sox Are The 2014 Cubs; Patrick Sharp, Thank You For Your Service; Lottery Bulls; and Schweinsteiger!
Meet The First (And Only) African-American Woman To Own A NASCAR Team
"Melissa Harville-Lebron, a 47-year-old single mother raising her three biological children as well as her siblings' four kids, started her career in the entertainment industry as an intern at Sony Music . . . "
The White Sox Report
Cold Truth
It's still a rebuild.
TrackNotes: Pricelining To Churchill Downs
A golden opportunity to get acquainted with many of the Derby players.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #195: Ramblers Wrap, Baseball Begins
Candlesticks always make a nice gift. Plus: White Snox, Bulls Stank, Scrubs, Shohei Goodman, Blackhawks Bigwigs Back, and just a little Schweinsteiger.
Ramblers Notebook No. 1: What Have You Done For Us Lately?
Next year has already begun.
Welcome, Sportsbooks!
It's inevitable, right?
SportsMonday: Monumentally Cool
Yes, Chicago played in the Final Four and, yes, the local baseball teams made their 2018 debuts (hey Cubs, you need to do better than that, sheesh), but this past weekend was also about women's basketball and, wait for it, MLS soccer.
The White Sox Report
Mighty Matt Davidson
Acquired from the Diamondbacks for Addison Reed, he seemed a bust - until Thursday.
TrackNotes: Exclamation Point
Oh what a race it was.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #194: Chicago Accountant Upstages Loyola, Cubs, White Sox
Scott Foster Is The Emergency Backup Goalie We Need. Plus: Cubs Opener A Perfect Preview Of The Season To Come; White Sox Opener A Perfect Preview Of The Season To Come; and So You're Saying Loyola Has A Chance?
The White Sox Report
The Rebuild Returns
We know this is working. At least we think it is.
SportsMonday: And Now We Wait
What the heck are we supposed to do for the next five days?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #193: The Suddenly Charming Loyola Brand
But don't expect a campus windfall no matter what ill-informed journos tell you. Plus: Cubs Camp Breaking Badass; Gee Oh Lito!; Fox Spox; Don't Even Think About It, Ryan Pace; and Schweinsteiger.
Take Loyola
The Ramblers have been underrated all season; the Wolfpack are missing their point guard.
Snoop Youth Football
More than a decade in, Snoop talks about the impact that ex-gang members have on the youth that they coach on and off the field.
Windy City Rollers Season Opener Approaches!
Facing their greatest opponent yet.
SportsMonday: Sweet Seeds
Don't think this is as far as Loyola can go - the brackets are breaking their way.
The Man Who Made March Madness A Monster Moneymaker
And the ubiquitous phrase he used to do it.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #192: Let's Go Hobos!
Starring Jonah Hill as Bo Rambler. Plus: New Bears Free Agent Haul Replaces Old Bears Free Agent Haul; Score Card; Grimm Reaper; White Sox Boo-Boos; Fire Fail; Tick-Tock, Blackhawks Clock; and Diva Delle Donne.
TrackNotes: Pointing Toward The Derby
I don't even try for the Academy Awards, but for the Derby, it's not only more enjoyable but kind of mandatory, wagering and all, to have seen all of the 20 entries before the big day. Saturday was a big day for that.
SportsMonday: Loyola Living The Dream
RIP, Hi-Tops.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #191: Points Of Origin | Your Loyola Ramblers
Repping Chicago. Plus: Embarrables; Qbit; Schweinsteiger!; Kyle Fuller Is Transitionally It; The White Sox' $26 Million Man; The Happster; and a Cubs Web Special.
Exclusive! Inside The Bears' New Downtown Office
Including The Mitch Trubisky Chapel, where employees are invited to pray daily.
How To Shoot The Perfect Free Throw
Should the shooter aim towards the front of the hoop or the back? Does it depend on whether the shooter is short or tall? Launch angle? Spins?
SportsMonday: Ramblers 'R' Us
One of the best things about this team is its players' points of origin.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #190: More Bat Flips
Pace of play pablum. Plus: Flaming Fastballs & Exploding Bats; Spring Cubs; The Ex-Cub Factor; The White Sox Are Also Participating In Spring Training; The Bulls Are The New White Sox Who Are The New Cubs; Blackhawks Even Sadder This Week Than Last Week; The Bears' Deja Rebuild; and Arch Madness!
TrackNotes: The New Math
Horseplayers don't have inconsequential mock drafts, it's cash on the barrelhead, one minute to post. Whodoya like? And you'll have your answer in about two minutes. No combines or mandatory voluntaries. Yes, it's a lot of pressure. It's made me wonder if I really do have a problem.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #189: Stevie Sunshine's Gold
Bullyproofing racists. Plus: Olympic Gold; The Collapse Of College Basketball?; The Cubs Are Set!; Bulls Tank You Very Much; Sad Blackhawks Season Gets Sadder; and Sitton Spin.
Black Chicago Blackhawk Reacts To Racist Blackhawks Fans
"If they're Blackhawks fans, they would know there is a black hockey player on the team."
SportsMonday: Radio Days
Spring training is here.
The Beachwood Radio Hour #188: "No Competent Society Allows This To Happen"
A shitty week grinds Coach Coffman's gears. Plus: Cubs Win Winter; White Sox Battery & Assault; The Winter Olympics Are Disordered; Big If True; Ramblers On A Roll; Blackhawks Bad To Worse; and Marginal Bulls News.
A Long History Of Protest For Black Athletes
"Today's black athletes are part of a tradition of the intertwining of race, sports and society in America. From boxer Jack Johnson to Serena Williams, each generation has had to reckon with their era's racial climate to help move the U.S. forward."
The Winter Olympics' Growing Pains
As larger cities further away from the mountains host the Winter Olympics instead of charming little ski resorts, the games feel more disjointed for both athletes and spectators.
Who Will Win The Ivy King Cup?
Don't miss the biggest night in Chicago roller derby!
SportsMonday: Darvish Signing Exposes Cubs Problem
Augmenting your homegrown core with free agents is delightful. Making free agents your core? Less so.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #187: Olympic Narratives Open For Business
But even Shani Davis can't make all his dreams come true. Plus: Coach Coffman's Epic Super Bowl Wrap-Up; The Mirotic Trade Looks Even Better After Seeing The Rest Of The League's Deadline Deals This Week; Derrick Rose Not Welcome In Minnesota; The Blackhawks Are So Sad We Don't Even Want To Talk About Them; PECOTA PESCHMOTA; and Help Us, Loyola, You're Our Only Hope.
The White Sox Report
Instant Replay Radio
This has happened before. Maybe not quite like today, but the White Sox found themselves scrambling to find a radio outlet during the winter 47 years ago too, which is exactly what's going on right now.
SportsMonday: The Foles Factor
When it comes to quarterbacks, the NFL has no clue.
Super Tweets
Anti-capitalist hero of non-violence goes unheeded.
Talent Doesn't Explain The Success Of The Patriots And Eagles
Because talent goes only so far, it's important to evaluate a team's structure and mindset to determine its true strength.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #186: The Super Bowl Is Trolling Us
Zip lines, fedoras and Justin Timberlake. Plus: The Mirotic Miracle; Sad Saad; Oscar Gamble Was More Than Just The Game's Greatest Afro; Willson Contreras To Catch Every Game; Being Mark Appel; Foxy Friend Rips Ryan; Ramble Off; and Testify!
The 10th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Justin Timberlake Edition
What better way to vanquish the sublime memory of last year's Lady Gaga tour-de-force than with the weaselly little fucker who ripped off Janet Jackson's bra cup? Time's up, #MeToo!
The White Sox Report
Oscar Gamble Was More Than Just A Great Head Of Hair
The guy could flat out hit.
Mishandled Decision To Drop Cleveland Indians' Racist Logo Doesn't Go Far Enough
Rob Manfred's statement implies that previous decades of use of the caricature were "appropriate for on-field use" - and leaves the offensive nickname intact.
TrackNotes: Gun Runner, Gulfstream & Geroux
I know a conspiracy when I see one.
TrackNotes: Cryotherapy
Last season was so crummy . . .
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #185: The Right Way For Owners To Get Richer
Lower prices, more revenue, better food, shorter lines. Plus: The Bears' Front Office Is Injured; I Am Obsessed With Who Will Be The Cubs' Backup Catcher; The Blackhawks Have Been Secretly Rebuilding; The Bulls' Tank Is Over; NFL's Two Worst Fan Bases To Meet In Super Bowl; Schweinsteiger!; and There Is No White Sox News.
Does Spending Big In The Transfer Window Work?
Or is it better to change managers?
SportsMonday: Tank The Tank
The fact is, no true NBA contender, let alone champion, has been built through even a one-year tank, let alone the sort of multi-year job that would probably be required to make it work.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #184: Bell & Bulls, Vic & Vikes, Corey's Confusion
Shifting narratives all over the landscape. Plus: The Duensing Principle, and Schweinsteiger!
Olympian: 'Red Flags' Ignored In Nassar Abuse
"Nearly 100 women and girls who say they were sexually assaulted by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar testified about his behavior and 'veiled sexual abuse' during a four-day sentencing hearing this week in Michigan."
Willie O'Ree's Little-Known Journey To Break The NHL's Color Barrier
In Chicago, a Blackhawks forward called him a nigger.
SportsMondayTuesday: The Bulls Are For Real
The sample size is no longer small.
Does Defense Actually Win Championships?
Yes. And so does offense!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #183: What's Nagging About Nagy
(It's mostly the media.) Plus: There Is No Longer Any Doubt That Ted Phillips Is The Theo Epstein Of The Chicago Bears; The Truth About Nagy's Press Conference; Cubs Stove Still Cold; Rick Hahn Off The Chain; Blackhawks Season Increasingly Looks Lost; Loving Lauri; Saban's Tide; Illinois Still Sucks; and Schweinsteiger!
Can The Winter Olympics Save The World?
This may be a global shadow puppet show, or it might help thaw the frozen relations between North and South Korea. It's possible to hold both positions as the complex elements of the long, tragic history of the division of Korea and its exploitation by global superpowers merge and collide.
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Championship Game Preview
Third-place game to determine the best team this side of Central Florida.
SportsMonday: Blackhawks Treading Ice
There is nothing wrong with the Blackhawks that a four- or five-game winning streak won't fix. There is nothing wrong with the Blackhawks that a four- or five-game winning streak won't fix. There is nothing wrong with the Blackhawks that a four- or five-game winning streak won't fix.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #182: Bears Coaching Search Already A Failure
Ryan Pace hire, too. Plus: Get Bill!; Cubs' Stove Goes Cold; Say It Ain't So, Niko; Q-Less?; Congratulations To The University Of Central Florida, National Champs!; Local College Basketball Teams Still Suck; Rick Hahn Continues His Unleashed! Tour; and Schweinsteiger Is Back!
Olympic Athletes Struggle To Balance Their Sports With College
Their stories illustrate how, for older students, getting a degree is like skating uphill.
SportsMondayTuesday: Ryan's "Rebuild"
The Bears' division rivals are reloading through the draft, while Pace has squandered his picks.
The Gilded Hamster Wheel That Is The Chicago Bears
Not a results-based business for the McCaskeys.
Fox & Friends
Somehow it appears Ryan Pace will survive - as will team president Ted Phillips and team chairman George McCaskey. None should ever be allowed to utter the word "accountability" again.
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Game Preview Part 7
Always one for a seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time last round, the bird was last seen late-night downing Don Julios with Gentamicin chasers.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #181: Vegas Is Always Right
Whales, hookers, blow and food poisoning. Plus: We Miss The Beef O'Brady Bowl; Our Hypothetical Gambling Habits; Too Early For College Basketball; All About Niko; Don't Tell Me The Cubs Couldn't Afford Wade Davis; and The Bears, Ugh.
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Game Preview Part 6
"One of the few remnants of Red Terror appears ingloriously as the name of the school's gameday bus service."
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Game Preview Part 5
Introducing The Fourth Down Stupidity Index, starring Northern Illinois University. Oh, Huskies!
Vikings Film Room: The Bears' Offense
Mitch Trubisky's growing pains and shitty passing personnel vs. Jordan Howard's proficiency in the zone running game.
Amid State Cuts, A Texas High School Football Coach Got A $20,000 Raise. His District Says He's Earned It.
Carthage High head football coach and athletic director Scott Surratt received a $21,400 raise this year, while the district faced a nearly $7 million shortfall. School officials say Surratt paid for his own raise by bumping ticket sales and earning championship prize money.
Bears Prove They Are Better Than The Browns On At Least One Given Sunday
"Wow, Cleveland is bad. The Bears aren't a whole lot better."
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Game Preview Part 4
Overlapping with the NFL schedule this weekend provides a gift to bettors: putting action on pro/bowl teasers.
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Game Preview Part 3
In this world of uncertainty, the Potato Bowl remains our rock
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #180: Are The Bulls, Um, Good?
Is this really happening? Plus: Are The Blackhawks, Um, Good?; The Cubs Are Having An Interesting Offseason!; Can Loyola Ramble Into The Dance?; and The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Preview.
Can Weed Save Football?
Former New Orleans Saints All-Pro Kyle Turley says pot saved his life - and could save the game.
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Game Preview Part 2
Executives at Cheribundi no doubt would have preferred a more competitive game. Having signed on as the bowl sponsor until 2019, Cheribundi needed the contest to attract at least some marginal attention to bolster the awareness of its tart cherry beverages nationwide.
John Fox Going Down Fighting For Irrelevant Field Position
Let's not cut Ryan Pace a break either - he's presided over this mess.
SportsMonday: Hit-Averse Hawks Hot
Taking non-physical hockey to the next level.
The World's Greatest College Football Report's Bowl Game Preview Part 1
College football fans may be among the few Americans not ready for the year to end.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #179: The Ryan Pace Narratives Drive Us Nuts
Willful ignorance. Plus: Devin Hester Retires Ridiculous And So Should Zach Miller; Schwarbs Shapes Up; Maddon's Song Remains The Same; Manny Madness; Real Chicago Blackhawks; and Niko Is Back.
Illinois Coach Banned From USA Gymnastics Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct
Sudden retirement apparently explained.
SportsMonday: The Blackhawks Smell A Little
But they don't stink.
All Is Not Forgiven, John Fox & Co.
Convenient competing narratives.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #178: Bears At Peak McCaskey
John Fox still coach, Ryan Pace still MIA, undeserving mediocre family still in charge. Plus: Cubs Stove League; The Loyola Ramblers Exist!; Coming Soon: The Niko Mirotic Story; Blackhawks Flat As A Pancake; Mystery Soccer Stadium; and Music City, Schmusic City Bowl.
'Taking A Knee' In Trump Country
A protest of racial injustice highlights divisions in Robeson County, North Carolina, the most diverse rural county in America, where voters also helped Donald Trump win the county and the White House.
Banning Russia
Not unprecedented, but unique: expressly because of its lack of sporting integrity.
SportsMonday: Bears Bereft
As has been pointed out in this space more than a few times, firing the coach will not be enough. Surely that is more and more obvious. The 3-9 Bears don't even have as much talent as the bereft 2-10 49ers. I understand that teams need stability, but general manager Ryan Pace is the wrong guy to stabilize around.
Call 911 - Bears Twitter Is On Fire
The only thing that could make the Bears worse at this point is if Ryan Pace directed John Fox to make contact with the Russians.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #177: 'Til Death Do The Bears Part
With all due respect, there seems to be just one way the McCaskeys will do the right thing. Plus: Cat Trick!; Acknowledging The Bulls' Existence; The Derrick Rose Non-Tragedy; and Should We Be Paying More Attention To Northwestern Football?
SportsMonday: Bears, Bowling, Bulls, Bell
As far as sheer embarrassment goes, this might have been the worst weekend in Chicago sports history.
The Connor Barf Game
Cue the Price Is Right horn.
SportsMonday: Pace Pivot
It's his roster.
The White Sox Report
The Rest Of The Jim Rivera Story
What the obits omitted.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #176: Broken Bears; Cubs' Seven-Year Itch
Browns West. Plus: Davey Martinez Came Cheap; White Sox Acquire Fireballer; Blackhawks Circus Trip Lives!; and Bulls Circus Lives.
Opioids In The Iditarod
Who slipped tramadol to the dogs?
SportsMonday: Peak Bears
In the end, it comes back to the one, true problem yet again - the team is run by legacy owners who have never accomplished anything independently in their privileged lives and have no clue how to build a successful organization.
Peak John Fox
Inexcusable. Flop. Messy. Undisciplined. Ugly. Outcoached. Again.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #175: Bears Trap Door Game
Don't sleep on Brett Hundley! Plus: The NFL's Tomato Cans; Martellus Bennett Is Bigger Than The Game, Y'All; Canadian GOAT: Marc Trestman; Cubs Hot Stove Burns; Dear Rick Hahn: Stay The Course!; An Analytics Story; Blackhawks Baffle; and Bobby Tortoise's Chicago Bulls.
In Scandal After Scandal, NCAA Takes Fall For Complicit Colleges
Rules approved by the NCAA in 2016 state that colleges should set their own academic integrity standards, with the NCAA intervening only when those internal rules are violated.
SportsMonday: The Rebuild Is Over
Just because the Cubs tanked three seasons and the Astros really tanked three seasons doesn't mean the White Sox should.
TrackNotes: Glory And Grit
These networks are such toadies to the moldy story lines they make up in a two-weeks-ago production meeting.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #174: A Different Kind Of Cubs World Series Hangover
A sense of unease. Plus: World Series Wrap; Davey Martinez and Goliath; Look Who's Coming To The Cubs!; Trubisky Gets Over; Is Youth Football Past Its Prime?; Fangio For Fox?; The Bulls . . . Stink; Quenneville On The Clock?; and TrackNotes: Out Of Kilter.
TrackNotes: Out Of Kilter
The very nature of the Thoroughbred breed must be questioned.
Is Youth Football Past Its Prime?
The decline in football participation is real.
SportsMonday: Zach Miller's Injury Now Overshadows Bears' Season
Even if it was a fluke, the NFL is getting harder and harder to take.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #173: Theo Maddonizes Cubs
Cubs purge coaches. Plus: Monsters Of The Middling; Raining On Bulls' Parade; Blackhawks Rain On Own Parade; and Schweinsteiger!
TrackNotes: Slumlords And Slot Hustlers
It's been a lousy racing season, and in recent weeks, it's snowballed into an ice boulder of bad news, including sadistic greed, disturbing trends, defection and even death. Prioritize any way you want.
Until Youth Soccer Is Fixed, U.S. Men's National Team Destined To Fail
Too many American kids play soccer in high-tech cleats on manicured suburban fields, where they stand around quietly until an adult (often paid) runs them through repetitive drills - all to prepare for an expensive tournament three states away.
SportsMonday: Action Jackson
Putting the double-whammy on the Panthers.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #172: Worn Cubs' Panic Exceeds The Pleasure
Bullpen bullshit. Plus: Bears Media Loves Development Of Quarterback Team Won't Let Throw; Chicago Bulls Shit; Blackhawks Playoffs Not Here Yet; Fire Playoffs Not Here Yet.
SportsMonday: Oblivion
Cubs headed that way; Bears already there.
SportsMondayTuesday: Ryan's Hope
To all the geniuses who tell me that if Trubisky is good, the trade details won't matter, do us all a favor and zip it.
The Season In Verse | They Needed A Nurse
David Ross retired to dance/Clark the Cub still has no pants.
SportsMonday: Lester & Co.
A helluva playoff roster, with balance and flexibility.
The White Sox Report
The Season In Verse | It Could Have Been Worse
The first year of The Rebuild/Is now in the past/But it wasn't so awful/The Sox didn't finish last.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #171: It's Not About Trubisky!
All narrative roads lead to Ryan Pace. Plus: The President Of The United States Is Pro-Brain Damage; The Best Part Of The Cubs' Week; White Sox Making Believers; Blackhawks Backup Goalie Sitch; Wade Era vs. Glennon Era; Millennials Killing Football; Rick Pitino Was Just The Worst; and Schweinsteiger!
Black Athletes Can Teach Us About More Than Just Sports
Racism and bullying are best defeated as a team.
Battle Of The Sexes - Then And Now
The challenges from today's bigmouths are being served up with irritating spin.
SportsMonday: Cooper's Blooper Not As Bad As You Think
And neither was Charles Leno's false start.
The White Sox Report
He's A Believer
This ballclub is a far cry from Robin Ventura's White Sox.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #170: Joe Maddon's Magical Mystery Tour
Pulling Strings, Pushing Tin. Plus: Maddon's Musical Chairs; The White Sox Are Still Playing - Some Of Them Well!; Extend The Freakin' Nets Already; The Blackhawks' Very Short Preseason Is Underway And Almost Over; Hey, Doug Collins Is Back; Schweinsteiger!; Bears Barf; and Aaron Hernandez, 12-Year-Olds & CTE.
Study: Youth Football Linked To Adult Problems
Participation in youth football before age 12 increased the risk of problems with behavioral regulation, apathy and executive functioning by two-fold and increased the risk of clinically elevated depression scores by three-fold.
Youth Football Team (8-Year-Olds) Take Knees In Belleville
The kids asked, and the coach agreed.
Martin Truex Jr. Wins Chicagoland Tales Of The Turtles 400
First race of the playoffs in the books.
The CTE Diaries: The Life And Death Of A High School Football Player Killed By Concussions
Football killed Zac Easter.
SportsMonday: The Best Part Of The Bears Game
For all intents and purposes it was over by the time the Cubs contest started further down the dial.
The White Sox Report
Ending Up
The future is arriving.
TrackNotes: The Immortal Penny Chenery
She seen her duty and she done it.
Bears: From Moral Victory To Immoral Loss
The clock restarts on Johnny Foxhole and Ryan Waste.
Dem Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Sarah Huckabee Sanders For Calling On ESPN To Fire Jemele Hill
18 U.S. Code § 227 makes it a federal crime - punishable by a fine or up to 15 years in prison - for an employee in Sanders' role to influence or threaten to influence a private employment decision.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #169: Joe Maddon Doesn't Need No Stinkin' Meetings
Inside the Cubs' volatile stretch run. Plus: Bears Strangely Competent; White Sox' Future . . . Here?; Blackhawks' Future . . . Here?; South Parking Lot Saga; Tampa Test; Stupid CFL; Amateur Doping; and Schweinsteiger!
Amateur Doping
Performance-enhancing drugs aren't just for elite athletes.
The White Sox Report
Streaks
A record-setting week.
SportsMonday: Bears Don't Totally Suck
But try to remain calm.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #168: Johnny Foxhole's Brutal Bears
Blowouts begin. Plus: CTE Season Preview; Johnny Foxhole; The No Fun League Loosens Up; Confounding Cubs; Something About The White Sox; and Schweinsteiger!
SportsMondayTuesday: The Coming Bears Fiasco
The problem is it is most probable the Bears will be below average at running back, receiver, quarterback, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks., especially in the event of just one injury.
The White Sox Report
Colon & The Kids
Were they watching?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #167: Bears 'A Clusterbomb Of Ridiculousness'
The Bears are who we told you they were. Plus: 'The Cubs Are Ready To Go'; Concussion Report; Rick Hahn's Best Season; and The Fire Go Up In Smoke.
Tackle Rings?
"Coaches with the Southeast Polk Youth Football League in Des Moines said recent findings on brain damage linked to player-on-player hits have hurt numbers out here on the turf."
The White Sox Report
An Ugly, Reachable Goal
Convoluted, but not unreasonable.
SportsMonday: Does That Bears Game Matter?
The "It Just Doesn't Matter" preseason mantra is always true, even after a game in which two Bears quarterbacks performed well. Two!
TrackNotes: It's All Happening
In this year's Travers Stakes, we will have, for the first time since 1982, the winners of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes squaring off.
Your Turn: Colin Kaepernick's Protest
"The rich white men who own the teams of the NFL aren't half the man he is."
Chicago International Table Tennis
A table tennis festival - a fun-filled weekend with music, cheerleaders, dancers, magician, games and raffles."
The White Sox Report
The Plot Against America - And Me
If this is what terrorism looks like, then I'm affected.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #166: Bears Psychosis Grips City
Apparently all is forgiven. Plus: This Just Does Not Seem Like The Cubs' Year; Kenny, Ozzie, Jerry & Ricky; Chicago's Best Sports Columnist Somehow Under The Radar After Long, Distinguished Career; and Schweinsteiger!
Why Colin Kaepernick Matters
At age 29, his blacklisting may well amount to a life sentence, for no crime other than having a social conscience.
TrackNotes: The Meaning Of The Million
Just because it's Arlington's biggest day doesn't mean it's big in the grand scheme of American racing.
SportsMonday: The Kid Is In The Picture
The most important thing that happened at practice Sunday is that Mark Sanchez (what the hell is he still doing around here?) apparently suffered a very convenient injury and didn't take any practice reps.
The White Sox Report
South Side 'Stros
Before the Cubs, there were the 'Stros.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #165: Cubs' Mojo Missing, South Side Tank Job & Mitch Madness!
No more Maddon magic. Plus: Cardiac Cutler & Schweinsteiger!
SportsMonday: The Cubs Are Back - To Shaky
So Joe Maddon busts out the motorcycle vests, ugh.
The White Sox Report
Exit Velocity
Kids really do it have it tough these days.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #164: Cubdumb, Sock Bottom & Peak Bears
Steve Bartman, Crane Kenney and Dusty Baker - the gang's all here! Plus: White Sox Suckage On Schedule; and Bizarro Bears.
Letting Our Boys Onto The Football Field Is A Losing Play
I really want to be a great father to my son - so I can't pass on the parenting lessons I received from sports.
Leveling The Playing Field For Women
Elite sportswomen who gain public visibility and acceptance tend to embody a femininity that appeals to white, male heterosexual audiences (and TV producers). This means that women and girls can be subjects of unparalleled achievements in sport, but at the same time, they will be looked at as sex objects - and often applauded for their commitment to heterosexual domestic mothering roles.
Dan Jiggetts Is Right About CTE
Plus: Martellus Bennett, LOL.
SportsMonday: Cubs Fortify
The Dodgers and Nationals loom - large.
The White Sox Report
Keeping Moncada Company
It would be nice if he had someone to share the spotlight with.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #163: EmBearAssing
The media even more so than the team. Plus: Football Scrambles Brains; Crosstown Cubs; and Schweinsteiger!
Study: CTE Affects Football Players At All Levels
"There's no more debate about whether this is a problem in football."
TrackNotes: Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Dog Days
Four big things happened on four different ovals. Two of them should have and two of them shouldn't have.
The White Sox Report
Times Change
This is what progress looks like.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #162: The White Sox Are Not The Cubs
Unlike the North Siders, the South Siders haven't revamped their whole organization - and Kenny Williams still lurks. Plus: Are The Cubs Back?; Hahn's Stockpile; The Ignominous Return Of Jay Cutler; and Schweinsteiger!
Made In Chicago: Roller Derby Inspires World Celebration
Once drew 50,000 to Comiskey Park.
The White Sox Report
Meet 2020
The starting lineup.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #161: Trade Wins
A rarity: Two Chicago front offices pull brilliant move - at the same time. Plus: Return To Bulls Mountain; Return To Blackhawks Mountain; Schweinsteiger!; and Bustville.
Rainbow PUSH Coalition Sports Award Banquet
NBA Hall of Famers and other legends to be honored.
SportsMonday: Cubs Embarrassing Again
And here come the Cardinals.
The White Sox Report
This Is Your Brain On White Sox
What's nice about this week is that the Sox don't play until Friday when the Mariners come to town for three games. We could use a break. Our overwrought anterior cingulate cortexes need a rest.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #160: Highway To Cubs Hell
Hangover City. Plus: The White Sox Are The Cleveland Browns; The Bulls Got Ripped Off, Man!; Meet Your 2019 Stanley Cup Champions!; Greatest Bears Game Ever Coming This Christmas Eve!; and Schweinsteiger!
The White Sox Report
Walking And Leading Off
Is it not clear that Frazier is a markedly better hitter early in the game with no one on base in addition to his ability to draw bases on balls?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #159: The Cubs Are Team Trump Now
Hell Week exposes this franchise for what it's become. Plus: The White Sox Rebuild Is Not Going As Well As You Think.
Pro Flag Football Is Now A Thing - Starring Famous Former NFL Players!
Just stretch before you come off the couch to play, Terrell Owens warns.
Few Players Screened For Concussions In Last World Cup
Researchers only saw medical professionals examine players for concussions for just 15 percent of the head collisions seen on the field.
The White Sox Report
Todd Frazier Should Lead Off. Seriously.
He's been a disaster with men on base his whole career, yet Ricky Renteria insists on batting him fourth or fifth.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #158: Bulls To Bears: Hold My Beer
Trade for Trubisky suddenly not the worst by a Chicago team this year. Plus: 2017 Cubs Get Even Weirder; Are The White Sox The Next Cubs?; and Schweinsteiger!
On Joe Louis, Race And How Society Treats Its Sports Heroes
Studying sports heroes in their context can offer insights into a nation, culture or society at the time - but the comparison with today's sports stars also reveals surprising continuities between the past and present.
Driven: The Story Of The First African American Inducted Into The NASCAR Hall Of Fame
Wendell Scott was to NASCAR what Jackie Robinson was to baseball. The difference was that Robinson played in liberal Brooklyn and had the backing of Branch Rickey, and Scott raced in the segregated South and had . . . nobody."
The White Sox Report
Pelfrey's Proof
Motivating Mike - and Matt.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #157: The Cubs Are Officially In Trouble
And help may not be on the way. Plus: On Hahn; The Human Journey Of Scott Darling; Bears Look Good Against The Bears!; Dwyane Wade's Fake News; What Kevin Durant Has Done; The Pens & P.K.; and Schweinsteiger!
Throwing Injuries In Young Baseball Players: Is There Something We Are Not Considering?
There is an unaccounted workload factor right in front of us.
SportsMonday: Mired In Mediocrity
I understand that we are in the "Three True Outcomes" Era, which is all about walks, strikeouts and home runs, but this is ridiculous.
The White Sox Report
Mediocre Minors
Something special not brewing after all.
TrackNotes: Tapped Out
If these three-year-olds do anything remarkable for the rest of the year, it will be remarkable.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #156: About Addison Russell
Theo takes honest tack. Plus: Grandpa Heyward; Cubs Still Mediocre; White Sox Now Officially The Worst; The NBA's Defenseless Finals; Pens Looking To Join Kings, Blackhawks In Decade's Pantheon; Butler Bullshit; and Schweinstieger!
TrackNotes: Holy Bull And The Belmont
If Thoroughbred horse racing had a mirror today and through this weekend, its gaze would reveal a diminished opacity, ghostly, with the demonic horseflies of fan discontent, ill-bred horses, greedy track companies, oversaturation and perverted priorities dancing about its head, without so much as a Thoroughbred's tail to swat them away.
High School Boys Fear Looking 'Weak' If They Report Concussions
Boys are anywhere from four to 11 times less likely than girls to report concussions for reasons having to do with how they were perceived by peers and coaches.
The White Sox Report
Hawking Hawk
You do the math. How can a 75-year-old man have been in baseball for 80 years?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #155: What's Wrong With The Cubs
A lot of things, it turns out. Plus: The Good News And The Bad News About Hawk Harrelson; MLB Standings Review; Ryan Pace, Secret Agent; The Patrick Sharp Dominoes; Pens Up; Warriors Golden; and Schweinsteiger!
Injury Rates In Young Female Athletes May Be Underestimated
"Most studies define injury as time loss from participation, whereas many athletes with overuse injuries continue to participate despite pain and reduced performance. When time-loss definitions are used, about 90 percent of overuse injuries appear to be missed."
Are eSports The Next Major League Sport?
A championship event in Chicago drew 12 million more viewers than the NBA Finals last year.
SportsMondayTuesday: Cubs Unanchored
Joe Burgundy messed with a streak.
The White Sox Report
Let's Play Two, Like We Used To!
The factory worker, cab drivers and the people flipping burgers at McDonald's in many cases have been priced out of the market. Catering to those folks ended long ago.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #154: Dear Cubs: Make It Stop
Please, no more cereal, no more themed road trips, no more hero worship of mundane acts. Plus: The Quintana Question; John Fox Is The Sean Spicer Of The Bears; Preds-Pens; and Schweinsteiger!
TrackNotes: Clouds Over The Preakness
Cloud computing's convenience is the nicotine of the digital age.
Championship Bowling! Lou Campi vs. Joe Norris
Make that Wrong Foot Louie vs. The Fireball Kid.
SportsMonday: The Cubs Are Ridiculous
If the rotation stays healthy, the Cubs will contend for everything again.
The White Sox Report
The Ghost Of Dayan Viciedo
Quit the hyperbole and just let the kids take their time.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #153: Is Something Still Wrong With The Cubs?
Or is the narrative the problem? Plus: Coming Soon: The White Sox' Most Interesting Time Of The Year; Blacks In Baseball; Preaching The Preakness; The Bulls & Butler; NBA Putting Us Through Needless Conference Finals'; No Mitigation For Blackhawks; and Schweinsteiger!
TrackNotes: Preaching The Preakness
Subliminal or spoken there's a Derby hangover, you get so worked up. I admit I feel it too; we got another game in two weeks. But for me, just how good is the Derby winner? That is a really fun question. Don't ever think Triple Crown, that's greedy. Prices, a new mix of horses, a track they'll never see again, just two weeks from the last race. Sounds like a tasty racing cocktail to me.
Chicagoan Wins 8-Ball Classic, Advances To National Finals
Atlanta, Illinoisan also advances, as does Carbondale woman.
The White Sox Report
Alarming Weirdness
On Saturday, more than 29,000 fans jammed the park for a chance to see these two developing ballclubs. Well, that's not really true. The giveaway of a Hawk Harrelson alarm clocks was the real draw.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #152: Are The Cubs The 1985 Bears?
World Series hangover. Plus: White Sox Back To Rebuilding; Ronnie Woo-Woo Banned From Wrigley Field Along With Other Nonpaying Customers; The Problem With Mitch Trubisky's Honda Accord; and Bastian Schweinsteiger Already Fed Up With Quality Of MLS - Just Two Months After His Move From Manchester United.
Women + Sports Chicago
Femininity, physicality and the pressure to be pretty.
SportsMonday: Return To Wrigley
The tanking years had driven me away, and I never regained my drive to attend games in person and give my money to the billionaire, conservative owners.
The White Sox Report
Rebuilding And Racists
The nights will be cold. The crowds will be sparse. Spending $9.75 for a Modelo Especial is excessive. The drama won't come from the fans. No, it will be all about whether this ballclub can maintain respectability as the rebuild continues. Just the way it should be.
TrackNotes: Always Dreaming Cranks Derby
Any horseplayer will tell you finding the horse is only one thing. Crafting the bet is the Louvre.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #151: Pace Still Pantsed
In retrospect, the Bears' draft still sucks. Plus: Trump-Lover Jay Cutler Joins Fox Sports; Pax & Garfield; The Cubs & Castro; The White Sox Way; and Schweinsteiger!
TrackNotes: No Gambling!
These days, baseball games are taken out of the hands of the best pitchers and players, making handicapping impossible. Football is an inhuman, militaristic industry and not a game or a sport, civilian casualties be damned. And basketball is too painful to watch even with a wager down. But we do have Thoroughbred horse racing.
Anti-Immigrant Hysteria Harming Churchill Downs
In the Trump era, the immigrants who make up much of the track's workforce are unwelcome.
The Unbearable Whiteness Of Cycling
In Chicago in particular, it seems black cyclists have been targeted by the police for unfair treatment.
SportsMonday: The Bears' Dysfunctional Draft
Ryan Pace missed a key lesson at general managers school.
The White Sox Report
Outperforming April
Firing on all cylinders - except catching the ball.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #150: Pace Pantsed
Makes statement pick that is neither bold nor courageous. Plus: Rondo vs. Wade; Hey Hey JHey!; Avi!; Sacrificial Hawks; and Schweinsteiger: Nein!
More Teen Knowledge About Concussion May Not Increase Reporting
The underreporting of concussions is estimated to be high, and the No. 1 reason athletes do not report a concussion is because they do not want to lose playing time
SportsMonday: The Indecent Bulls
And their indecent coach.
The White Sox Report
Hitless Wonders
There has been virtually no criticism of hitting coach Todd Steverson. We'll see how long that lasts.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #149: Blackhawks Blackout
Window half-closed or half-open? Plus: Unlike Blackhawks, Bulls Still In Playoffs; Is Something Wrong With The Cubs Or No?; Cracks Showing On South Side; Draft Fever; and Schweinsteiger!
Canadian Youth Hockey Injuries Cut In Half After National Policy Change
And concussions were reduced by almost two-thirds.
The White Sox Report
Not Irrelevant
Not yet, anyway.
SportsMonday: Sports Are Weird
What the heck just happened?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #148: Playoff Thrill And Chill
The Blackhawks and Bulls enthusiasm gap. Plus: Cubs Got Cool-Ass Rings; South Side Rumors; The Lessons Of Cameron Lee; Delle Donne Is Out; Schweinsteiger Is In; and Weekend Advice From The Coach.
The White Sox Report
What About Avi?
The next David Ortiz or the next Thad Bosley?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #147: The (New) Cubs Are Still The (New) Cubs
Coach is excited. Plus: Bulls Screwing Up In Reverse; The D League; Drama-Free Blackhawks Almost Forgotten; Awful Shooting, Awful Reffing In Awful Venue; and Schweinsteiger!
SportsMonday: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Finally, a reason to feel reasonably okay about Chicago sports.
The White Sox Report
Unlovable Losers
There's nothing cute or lovable about a bad ballclub on the South Side.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #146: Chicago Mirages
Don't believe the March Mirotic. Plus: The Bullshit Bears; Something About The Blackhawks' Gas Pedal; The Cubs' Smug Factor; White Sox Not Even Good At Being Secondary; The Chicago Fire Now World Cup Contenders; and NCAA Tourney Notes.
The 2017 Fantasy Fix Draft Guide, Pt. 4: 76-100!
And a White Sock who probably won't be one for much longer.
Better Locker Rooms: It's Not Just A Transgender Thing
Consider the case of a high school in Palatine.
TrackNotes: On Saturday, We Saw 'The Greatest Horse Since Secretariat'
Arrogate just ran the race of a lifetime - our lifetime.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #145: The Butt Fumble Bears
Lake Forest, Loserville. Plus: The Butt Fumble Bulls; Jerry Krause Was Right; Blackhawks Grinding Against Bad Teams; The Charmed Life Of Clean-Living Kris Bryant; Cubs Playing Match Game With Starters; Joe Maddon's World Series Managing Even Worse Than We Thought; Contracting Tim Anderson; Fire Get Schweinsteiger; A Team To Root For; and UIC's Tiny Dance.
The 2017 Fantasy Fix Draft Guide, Pt. 3: The Professor!
Guess who's No. 59?!
SportsMonday: Hawks Hot As An Avalanche
Plus: Power Tourney.
The White Sox Report
Renteria's Record
The right man for the job.
TrackNotes: Out Of Hibernation
Gigolo Nation.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #144: Northwestern Still Sucks
Hard to root for from this precinct. Plus: Directionless Bulls Now Also Wadeless; Bears Sign More Guys; Joe Trump?; Blackhawks Still Blackhawks; Chicago Fire On Fire; and The White Sox Are Still Boring No Matter What Coffman Says.
SportsMonday: Snubbed
There is only one obvious conclusion: this sucker is rigged to ensure power conference teams populate all the spots in the Final Four year after year after year.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #143: An Incompetent, Money-Grubbing Shitshow
The Bear are ridiculous, and not in a Devin Hester kind of way. Plus: Blackhawks Playoff-Ready; Bulls Irrelevant; Solving Sammy Sosa; Maddon Wearing Thin; and Something About The Chicago Fire.
The 2017 Fantasy Fix Draft Guide, Pt. 2: Schwarbs!
A most unexpected ranking.
The White Sox Report
The Pace Of The Game
Maybe it's time that MLB sheds its inferiority complex and celebrates the three hours that folks can spend at the ballpark with friends and family, watching a ballgame, eating a hot dog, and drinking a beer.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #142: Ungolden Bulls
Big win signifies nothing. Plus: How Oduya?; Follow The Bears' Money; Don't Sleep On Illinois; and Putting The Spring In Spring Training.
The White Sox Report
Putting The Spring In Spring Training
This is a world of athletes with optimistic hopes of reaching the next level amid blue skies, warm temperatures and encouragement from coaches, fans, and teammates. And it can't be rushed.
SportsMonday: Hot Hawks Getting Schmaltzy
Success follows Jonathan Toews' unusual public plea.
The 2017 Fantasy Fix Draft Guide, Pt. 1: Bryzzo!
Neither is No. 1, but . . .
Cheerleading's Peculiar Path To Olympic Sport
Follow the money.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #141: The Idea Of Trading Jimmy Butler Really Grinds Coach's Gears
Butler or Bust? Plus: Blackhawks Bye, Blame Barnwell, Joe Maddoning, and Coach Is Only Half-In On The White Sox Rebuild, Too.
Brain Damage In Former Players Fuels Soccer 'Heading' Fears
Some professional soccer players might risk the same long-term cognitive problems suffered by boxers and some American football players.
SportsMonday: Now It's Northwestern's Turn
Leicester, Cleveland, the Cubs . . .
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #140: Jimmy Football
Get Garoppolo. Plus: Super Bowl Scenery Chewing; #BearsBoycott; ACL U; As The Bulls Turn, Turn, Turn; The Toewster Is Back; Brain Disease Strikes Mike Adamle; and Baseball's Worst Idea Since Using The All-Star Game To Determine Home Field For The World Series.
Many Kids Still Don't Report Concussion Symptoms. How Can We Change That?
Young athletes face a "culture of resistance" to reporting injuries.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #139: Super Bowl Swoon
We are not amused. Plus: Garoppalooza; Mrs. Coach And Boy Coach At The Super Bowl!; The Super Bowl Is A Weird Animal; The NFL's Legacy Ownership Problem; Peak Jimmy Butler; Not Wild About The Blackhawks; We're Sad About Elena Delle Donne; Zigs And Zags; Cubs Stockpiling Broken-Down 35-Year-Old Pitchers; and National Everything That's Wrong With College Football Day.
The 9th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Lady Gaga Edition
If you're into excruciating awkwardness and the prospect of truth chickens coming home to roost all over power, this may truly be your Super Bowl.
'If The NFL Had A Mom, It'd Steal Money From Her Purse While She Was Sleeping'
There are two things the billionaires who run the NFL love: money and rules that make no sense.
Cubs World Series Bobbleheads Unveiled
One of them is the only officially licensed Cubs' bobblehead ever made featuring a goat, and will likely be the last!
Youth Football Finally Listening To Coach Coffman
Say goodbye to three-point stances.
TrackNotes Postscript: A Farewell To 'Chrome
I will remember his entire career and not just these last two losses. He ran his heart out every time, nothing less.
SportsMonday: Dwyane Wade Talking About Practice
Young Bulls vs. Magic Johnson.
TrackNotes: Pegging The Pegasus
It's going to be very difficult for California Chrome to win this race. If he does, I promise you it will be a performance for the ages.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #138: Madhouse On Madison
Wherein Gar Forman comes out the biggest loser and Rajon Rondo is the least bad guy. Plus: Fred Hoiberg's Tie; Jets Outfly Hawks; Pay The Woman, Sky; and Coffman All In On The Patriots.
Russia Walks Back Doping Admission
"We want to underline that RUSADA does not have and could not have the authority to admit or deny such a fact (of an institutional conspiracy)," RUSADA said.
SportsMonday: See Ya Seabrook
If the Blackhawks want to make a trade that will give their top two lines a real boost, they'll almost certainly have to move a very good player. That and the fact they have a surplus of defensemen means . . .
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #137: Is Glencoe Slickster Our New Skip Bayless?
Annoying start for The Score's new host. Plus: Setting The Super Bowl Table; The Sad Sack Exchange; Bears Drafting Too High!; Cubs' Neverending Caravan; Hall Of Fame Shame; Bulls On Verge Of . . . Something; and Concern Trolling The Blackhawks.
Name Dan Bernstein's New Partner!
Bob Woodward, for example.
U.S. High School Soccer Concussions On The Rise
Meanwhile, non-concussion injury rates are falling.
SportsMonday: Respectable Bulls On The Verge?
I am not of the mind that it is such a horror for a team to find itself "in the middle," especially in the NBA.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #136: Charged Up
Lightning strikes in California - and it really grinds Coach's gears. Plus: Playoff Possibilities; Draft Deshaun?; Cubs Con; Score Heads; Bulls World Turning Again; and Wherefore Arty Though?
Breakfast In America: Sentiment Analysis
Making The English Premier League Great Again.
USA Gymnastics Named In New Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Larry Nassar, once a team doctor for the Olympians and a former employee at Michigan State University, has been in federal custody since December on child pornography charges. He also faces separate charges in Michigan for sexual abuse of a minor, who was neither an athlete nor a patient when police say she was abused from ages 6 to 12.
Yabba Dabo Do
Final Three Games of the World Series Maddon-esque.
Clemson Confetti
Whoever that dude is making snow angels on the field, he's our favorite.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #135: Bears Mess Conference, Toast To Terry & Opening The Score's Door
George McCaskey is not a patient man - except when it comes to his family's ownership and management of the Bears. Then his patience is infinite. Plus: Wake Me Up When Rondo Go-Goes; Arty On Top; and Toasting Terry While Opening The Score's Door.
U.S. Supreme Court Ends Fight Over $1 Billion NFL Concussion Deal
Under the settlement, the NFL does not admit guilt.
SportsMonday: Get To Work, Bears
You are all lucky to have your jobs, even you McCaskeys!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour's 2016 In Review: The Cubbie Effect
Everybody's new (misunderstood) model. Including: White Sox Salvage Arrow; The Rebuild-A-Bears Narrative; Bulls Blow Up; and We Love Coach Q Deja Vu.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Skinned Alive
The Bears: Only 16 impact players away.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #133: Yes, Virginia, It's Your Fault
Making End-Times Christians of all of us. Featuring: Bears Fuller Shit; Fred's Funhouse; Q's Kids; and The Old College Try.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Cre'Von LeBleep
The Bears forgot one of the tenets of football and life in general: Always do things whole-assed.
SportsMonday: Bears Loss A Win-Win
Still competing, still losing. Perfect.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #132: Bulls Shit
Team Hoiberg falls of the cliff. Plus: RealFeeling The Bears and Joe Maddon Fails To Embrace The Target Of Accountability.
TrackNotes: What's He To You?
When I heard about the passing early this week of former jockey, former great, Garrett Gomez, the sadness simmered along with the memories and the question: What does this really mean to me?
Michael Jordan Wins Trademark Case In China
The Chinese characters for Jordan's name read as "Qiaodan" in basketball-mad China.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Yo, You Holding?
Mouse, house, box, Fox.
Doping Probe: 'Unprecedented' Russian Corruption
More than 1,000 Russian Olympic athletes are now linked to cheating scandal.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #131: Rebuild City
The Hot Stove League is scorching. Including: White Sox Ditch Drake LaRoche Fan Club; Cubs Always Closing; Dusty Maddon; John Fox Is Officially A Clown; Hoiberg vs. Thibodeau vs. Popovich; and Marian Hossa, MVP.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Slurpee-esque
You want to get to the playoffs, you gotta go through Disappointment City.
The White Sox Report
Sale, All Smiles, Sold
Ready to leave throwback uniforms and children in the clubhouse in arrears.
Why People Delude Themselves With Sports Rituals & Superstitions
The illusion of control.
SportsMonday: Barkley Buoys Bears
The accidental quarterback makes his case.
Fantasy Fix: Barkley The Bear
I'm not entirely convinced he wasn't mascot understudy to Staley when this season began.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: The Case For Pace
If you're rooting for a top pick in the 2017 draft, this is your Super Bowl.
SportsMonday: Nothing To See Here
Forget the Bears.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #129: Sick Of The Bearratives
Jay Cutler, John Fox, the McCaskeys, 1985, Soldier Field, Halas, Butkus, Urlacher, OB, Joniak, Hub . . . sick of it all. Also: The Circus - And The Soap Opera - Has Left Town; Blackhawks Can't Help It If They're Lucky; Oh, The Pageantry!; Dex Knows; Chapman Doesn't; and Selling Sale.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Half In The Bag
A metric fuck-ton of bad luck and poor decision-making has created gaping roster holes.
Fantasy Fix: The Pope's Nose Awards 2016!
It's time for the annual awarding of a greasy, fatty turkey anus to the worst fantasy football performers of the season.
Giants Mic'd Up Vs. Bears
"You only get one shot at this once a week . . . tomorrow's not promised and yesterday's an afterthought."
Conflict Of Interest For NFL Doctors To Report To Teams: Harvard Study
The NFL called the recommendations "untenable and impractical."
SportsMonday: Butler Buoys Bulls
Blowing away expectations.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #128: Clarity
Love the art, not the artist. Including: The "P" In MVP Stands For "Player," Not "Person"; Peak Jay Cutler (Again); Grandpa Wade; and Corey Crawford Standing On Head.
Fantasy Fix: The Last Fantasy-Relevant Bear
And even he may end up sitting this week after a mystery injury last week.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Serenity Now
Next time, try performance-enhancing hypnotherapy, Alshon.
Breakfast In America: EPL Shines Light On Trump
Into a dystopian darkness.
SportsMonday: Don't Let Trump Supporter Steal Our Sundays Anymore
Let us resolve that Sunday become Funday once again.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #127: Trumped Up
Who we are. Including: Trump Ruined The Cubs' World Series Championship; Tweeting Trump; Wait 'Til This Year; Guaranteed Grate; and Back To Breeders'.
Letter From Kentucky: I Hated Harry Caray And Other Observations On The Cubs Bandwagon
"What's my opinion of Kingman's performance? What the fuck do you think is my opinion of it? I think it was fucking fuck. Put that in, I don't fuck."
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: The Audacity Of Playoff Hope
Despite their best efforts, the Bears aren't dead.
Post-Cubs Chicago
Nothing can top this, but it doesn't make Rahm any more likable.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #126: It Was Real, And It's Over
Shut it down. We did it. Including: Thank God It Didn't Get Away; Rally Caps; Kris Bryant's Greatest (And Most Telling) Moment; Baseball's Most Famous Rain Delay; Most Memorable Game Ever; and The Cubs 'Mystique' Was Real.
TrackNotes: Streaks
There will be plenty of compelling story lines at the Breeders' Cup, and the two feature races, the Distaff Friday and the Classic Saturday, both bring together enough stars to force you to pull out the GPS to find a value wager.
The Cub Factor
Yada Yada
It's all Cubbie Blue gravy now.
World Series Notebook 7: The Chapman Series
Joe Maddon has absolutely lost his mind.
Bearnesia
They aren't suddenly a good team, Jay Cutler or no. They're just a 2-6 team instead of the 1-7 team we all expected.
Breakfast In America: Premier League Presidential Endorsements
A week from now, it will all be over. And when I say "it," I don't mean Sunderland's chances to avoid relegation.
World Series Notebook 6: Stayin' Alive
Disrespecting 90.
The Cub Factor
Scary Spice
We help the Cubs celebrate Halloween.
World Series Notebook 5: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Cleveland is the best team in baseball right now, and it looks like they made the best mid-season acquisition.
World Series Notebook 4: Deja Vu All Over Again
What, us worry?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #125: Historic World Series Edition!
First Beachwood World Series podcast since 1945. Including: Coffman Returns To Cubs Fold!; Wrigleyville Security State; Corey Kluber Introduces Self To Nation; Bam Bam Is Back!; Matchup Mania!; Schwarber, Schwarber, Schwarber!; Jay Cutler Blah Blah Blah; Coach Qalm Down; and Bulls Opener Actually Compelling.
Fantasy Fix: Cutler?
Nah.
World Series Notebook 3: Crisis Averted!
Look, we sort of don't know how to behave going this deep into the playoffs
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: America's Next Top QB
Do whatever feels right - as long as whatever you're drinking is strong because this game has very little intrigue as a standalone product.
World Series Notebook 2: Choke Job
Lester set the tone, Maddon set the lineup, Schwarber set something.
World Series Notebook 1: Bam Bam Is Back
But should he be? Plus: The case for Heyward.
SportsMonday: Prelude To A Cubs World Series
I'm one of the guys who the camera lingered on the next night when we all knew the team was going down again.
The Cub Factor
All-Star Curse
A Kansas City Royal hit a home run in a pretend game three months ago to spoil the Cubs' storybook ending.
TrackNotes: Woof
Dog days, a cat and the Breeders' Cup.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #124: Cubs - And Us - On The Brink
Bringing it all back home. Including: The Bunt Is Back!; Keys To Kyle Vs. Clayton; Players Performing Playoffy; Problematic Pitching Problems; Jay Cutler's Thumb Vs. Johnny Manziel's Drinking Problem, and; Your World Champion LA Sparks.
Cubs Retweet: Bringing It All Back Home
Here we go.
Tweeting The Bears | QB 911
"Matt Barkley is the closest thing the Bears have to a developmental QB on the roster. Verdict: Keep looking."
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Nip Slip
What if I told you . . .
Fantasy Fix: Hoyer Plays Well (Again), May Lose Job
Brian Hoyer threw for 300-plus yards for the fourth straight game, but was somehow a disappointment.
Cubs Retweet: Panic! At The Disco
For the mighty Jason Heyward, pinch-hitting for Addison Russell, struck out.
Breakfast In America: Chill Out, People
For once, English football is calmer than the U.S. populace. Some advice.
Tweeting The Bears | Not So Foxy
When you go from savior to irritant to punch line, you're generally on your way out the door.
The Cub Factor
The Cub Factor: Joe Blows!
Is the magic man with the Midas touch managing tight?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #123: The Cubs Are Ridiculous
Happy Yom Cub-pur. Plus: Dodger Dogs, The Dusty Baker Show, L.A.'s Leftorium, The Suddenly Crowded Grandpa Rossy Bandwagon, The Bears Are Connor Barth's Team Now, The Derrick Rose Trial Gets Uglier And Uglier, Meet The Bulls' New Folk Hero, And Blackhawks Blues.
Fantasy Fix: Brian Hoyer, Fantasy Darling
Jay Cutler sinks further into fantasy irrelevance.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Cap & Trade
Ah, doin' it with the ex. Feels icky at first, but they know what you like.
Cubs Retweet: The Going Gets Weirder
In a battle of bullpens, one team's fix held while the other's did not.
Cubs Retweet: Pitching The Offense
Rizzo freezing, Maddon loses Midas touch.
Tweeting The Bears | Ken Bone For QB
Stop pining for the Hail Alshon.
The Cub Factor
Fugoataboutit
The universe has a will, and it is not to be fucked with.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #122: Cubs Turn Weird
Dear America: Meet Javy Baez. Plus: Coffman Gives In To Grandpa Ross; Joe Midas; QB Kontroversy; Bulls New Old Vibe; Blackhawks' New Faces; The Sky; The Fire; and Oh, Lovie.
Top 10 Ways The Cubs Will Blow It
Brant Brown, Michael Ferro, Donald Trump . . .
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Dance Like Nobody's Watching, Chicago
If we keep up this torrid one-home-victory-per-calendar-year pace, the Cubs may lay claim to a World Series title before the Bears win another game at Soldier Field, so savor every victory as much as you can.
Breakfast In America: Old Wives And Walking Sticks
Our mission is to talk EPL football. Because we are American fans, we will accidentally ruin it.
The Cub Factor
Do It For Grandpa
Who has the balls to ruin the David Ross farewell tour? Who has those balls?!?
The Real Bears QB Controversy
Neither Brian Hoyer nor Jay Cutler should even be here.
The White Sox Report
The Season In Verse | Back Up The Hearse
It actually got worse.
TrackNotes: 'Chrome Is King
Just enjoy it, race fans. This is fun.
Worst Place To Be On Planet This Thursday Night Announced
Chicago's Party Headquarters.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #121: Cubs Spring Fling
Pre-playoff exhibition games rankle. Plus: Theo Epstein Finally Gets Edwin Jackson Money; Robin's Return?!; Bears Still Not As Bad As White Sox; Blackhawks & Bulls Go Camping; Chicago Sky, Chicago Fire, NIU And The Tribune's Endorsement Of Gary Johnson Bring Up The Rear.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Fifty Percent Of The Time, It Fails Every Time
Another week, another effort that was half passable and half ass-able.
Fantasy Fix: Trust No One . . . Except Zach Miller And Jordan Howard?
Rewriting the Bears' script.
The NFL Joins The Data Revolution
Catching up with baseball and basketball through chips in footballs and shoulder pads.
Tweeting The Bears | A Reason To Watch
Still better than Arcade Fire.
SportsMonday: Grandpa Rossy vs. Grandpa Bears
Admit it: You changed channels too.
The Cub Factor
Grandpa Rossy vs. Hank White
I had to double-check this just to be correct, but he's only been a Cub since 2015. That's last year.
The White Sox Report
Venerating Vin
He rooted for baseball, not the Dodgers.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #120: Bears Narratives Have Exhausted Themselves
Franchise's greatest quarterback also its greatest millstone. Plus: Bill Freakin' Belichick, Jesus Christ, Really?; What We Have Here Is A Failure To Develop A Quarterback; Cubs Play Cards Right; Derrick Rose Doesn't Understand Consent Or Manhood; Abreu And Frazier Put Up Huge Meaningless Numbers; The Blackhawks Are (Almost) Back; Delle Donne's Got A Thumb Too; Chicago Fire Lost In Time; and Lovie, Wesleyan And Duke.
TrackNotes: Road To Breeders'
As with any great destination, getting there will be just as much fun.
Fantasy Fix: Early Elimination
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to take a WR in the first round . . .
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Awwwwww Inspiring Performance
Well, Jason Heyward had a nice homer in the eighth.
SportsWednesday: Cutler Conundrum Kills Bears
Cutler was better last year with Gase at the helm but oftentimes even at his best he was just good enough to lose.
New Research Shows How Native American Mascots Reinforce Stereotypes
People living in cities with Native American mascots - like Chicago - were more likely to think of Native Americans as warlike.
Tweeting The Bears | Paging Pernell From State Farm
Highlights, lowlights, notes and observations from the Bears disaster on the lakefront before a national Monday Night Football audience.
Downers Grove Native Named Co-Captain Of Clarkson Women's Hockey Team
A highly skilled offensive defenseman entering her junior season.
The Cub Factor
Time/Life Of Your Life
That sucker is already brimming.
The White Sox Report
Reload
The only "rebuild" this team needs is in the manager's office and the bullpen.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #119: Cubs Crapshoot
Pedal to the metal. Plus: Exclusive! The Bears Have Only Played One Game; Chicago Sky Again Picks Up Slack Without Delle Donne; Consider The Chicago Fire Source!; White Sox Mandated To Continue Playing Games.
Fantasy Fix: The Kap Factor
I'd like to see what happens when some of the NFL's bigger stars take a knee.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: The Halves And The Half Not
Another three hours of my life wasted you worthless (gurgling noise) . . . you're just like your goddam mother!
My Cubs (I'm Not Betting Against . . . )
Don't be shocked when you hear the cheers in Hazel Crest.
Breakfast In America: Our Ann Coulter
We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to soccer fans.
SportsMonday: The Play Action's The Thing
Dak Prescott and Will Fuller vs. Jay Cutler and Kevin White.
The Cub Factor
Throat Punchers
Meaningless answers to ridiculous questions.
The White Sox Report
Ask About The Curve
Interested fans can learn all kinds of information at Sox games.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #118: Bearly .500
And that's an unlikely best-case scenario. Plus: Gone Gould; Wisconsin Sends Us An Angel; Leonard "Stink" Floyd; Ryan Pace Is Now On The Clock; Secret Bears Under Wrap?; A Lot Of Pundits Love The Packers; Coffman Can't Take The Patriots Anymore; There Are Many Ways To Be Smart, Even For Dipshits; and The NFL Is Concussed.
A Brief History Of The Paralympic Games: From Post-WWII Rehabilitation To Mega Sporting Event
The Games have evolved from an event for only athletes who used wheelchairs to now welcoming 10 different impairment types.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: We And Connor McRib Are Back
It's been eight long months and the only thing left on Earth that can hold people's attention for seven hours at a time has returned to television!
SportsMondayTuesday: Bears Upgrade To 5-Win Potential
The Packers are now, perhaps, a tiny bit less way better than the Bears heading into this season.
The Cub Factor
Boot 'n Scoot
A beer league invite for Tommy La Stella.
Don't Be Surprised If Colin Kaepernick Prompts More Schoolchildren To Sit For The Pledge Of Allegiance
The state of schooling for children of color is ripe for protest.
The White Sox Report
Fly The Coop
If you listen to Hawk Harrelson, Don Cooper is one of the game's elite pitching coaches . . .
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #117: That's Cubs Entertainment!
Highlight reel heroes - daily. Plus: About Tommy La Stella; Hawk Harrelson Still Allowed On Air; White Sox' One Direction: Down; The Chicago Bear Sox; The Case Against Derrick Rose; and College Football's Kickass Kickoff.
The 2016 Fantasy Fix Football Draft Guide Pt. 5: King Gronk
Oh, Bears.
Teen Concussion Rate Rising Significantly
Increased participation in sports or increased awareness?
Breakfast In America: The Guaranteed Rate EPL
Taking the White Sox approach overseas.
SportsMonday: Bearly There
Not ready.
The Cub Factor
Onesies & Wine Cork
Jumping the shark at the best time of the season.
The White Sox Report
Chili Sell-Off
The team's new direction: online mortgages.
TrackNotes: Touting The Travers
Many fine horses have been beaten here - most notably, Man o' War, by Upset. It was so monumental, the word upset became part of the sporting lexicon.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #116: Guaranteed Grate
White Sox do the impossible: become even more unlikable. Plus: Cubs vs. the Calendar; Bears Lower Bar; Blackhawks Miss Target; and our Rio 2016 Roundup.
Rio 2016: The Beachwood Roundup
Doping, misogyny and greed.
The 2016 Fantasy Fix Football Draft Guide Pt. 4: Throwing Deep
Just missed.
Guaranteed Rate Field Is Already A Laughingstock
The $25 million alleged loan diversion scheme is my favorite part.
Sports Betting Spotlight: Chicago Bears
Tip: Always bet John Fox against the spread on the road.
With Skateboarding's Inclusion In Tokyo 2020, A Once-Marginalized Subculture Enters The Spotlight
The Olympic ideal in the DNA of skateboarding culture.
The Cub Factor
Marty's Hate List
Hey Hey, Heyward.
The White Sox Report
Rick's Picks
Have any of his deals really worked out?
TrackNotes: Turf Meets Surf, Borel's Back & Inverted Arlington
With deep sadness, I have to say the main track looked like the shit it's partially made of.
Sexism In Olympics Coverage
Words to describe men include fastest and strongest. For women, related words reference their ages or marital status.
The 2016 Fantasy Fix Football Draft Guide Pt. 3: Embrace The Targets
One Jet vs. two Bears.
How The IOC Effectively Maintains A Gag Order On Nonsponsors Of The Olympics
Whether on television or the Internet, the vast majority of businesses are blocked from nearly any mention of the 2016 Olympic Games - whether in conjunction with promoting their own products or even just saluting their national teams.
When USA Gymnastics Turned A Blind Eye To Sexual Abuse
USA Gymnastics' policy was to dismiss allegations of sexual abuse as hearsay unless they came directly from a victim or a victim's parents.
Four Faces Of Premier League Management
These charismatic box-office managers will dominate headings this season - and one will lift the Premier League trophy in May 2017.
Breakfast In America: My Aunt's Nuts
If the season ended today . . .
The Cub Factor
Jason Heyward Even Worse Than Bullpen
It's time for Joe Maddon to pick his spots.
The White Sox Report
Clown Show
Another creative way to lose a ballgame.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #115: Coghlan's Army (Or, Tommy La Who?)
Winning Weird: Everything's Coming Up Cub; Grandpa!; Tommy La Stella's Search For Purpose; Jason Heyward Is A Remarkably Bad Hitter Right Now; Funky Drumming Bullpen; All Addison Russell Does Is Hit With Runners In Scoring Position. Plus: MLB Forces White Sox To Finish Season; Tickets Will Actually Be Sold. Call Team For More Information. And: We Miss Matt Slauson, And So Too, Apparently, Do The Bears; Denver's Wildcat; This Is It, John Fox; We're Already Tired Of You Going 6-10 Every Year. Finally: Amazing Feats Of Human Endeavor (Rio 2016 So Far).
How Do Archers Resist Firing Arrows At Everyone In The Spectator Gallery?
"Years of training allow Olympic archer Sarah Voegel to somehow resist shooting arrows at fans, stadium ushers, or birds flying overhead."
TrackNotes: Jim Dandy, Frosted & The Pizza Man
The passwords: Wow, Dammit, Splash, and Delicious.
The 2016 Fantasy Fix Football Draft Guide Pt. 2: Year Of The Zero RB
Hey look, Matt Forte!
How Do Olympic Athletes Pay The Electric Bill?
Fifty percent of track athletes who rank in the top 10 in the U.S. in their event earn less than $15,000 annually from the sport.
Breakfast In America: Race To The Bottom
In the EPL, it's far more exciting than the race to the top.
The Cub Factor
All Guessed Out
I've never just shook my head in disbelief this much in as long as I can remember.
The White Sox Report
Abreu Awakens
It's not much, but it's all we have.
The Surprising Places The 5 New Olympic Sports Announced For Tokyo 2020 Could Lead Us
Why the next U.S. Olympics might include American football.
Chicago 2016 Spokesman, Now With USOC, Assures Us That Multimillion Dollar Donation From Scandal-Tainted Businessman Had Nothing To Do With Exclusive Rio Ticketing Contract
A lot of refusals to comment on this completely innocent arrangement.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #114: It's A Mad, Mad, Maddon World
He's a magic man, mama. Plus: Oh, Puig; The Bennett Brothers Vs. Everyone; Elena Delle Donne Is Gay, Engaged And In Rio; and The I Told You So Olympics.
On Eve Of Olympics, Top Investigator Details Secret Efforts To Undermine Russian Doping Probe
'The Russian Anti-Doping Agency would literally schedule the times to test athletes around their doping cycles.'
U.S. Ping Pong Prodigy Ready For Rio
Kanak Jha is the first American born in the 2000s to qualify for the Olympics.
The Cub Factor
Joe's Army Knife
Cubs manager has all the gadgets working on his Cub army knife - even the tweezers and saw blade.
SportsMonday: We All Blacked Out, Jon
Maddon the Magician is the Best Show on Earth.
The White Sox Report
It's Tilson Time!
In a lost season, why not?
TrackNotes: At The Top Of A Supremely Tasty Pipe
A Banzai, East and West.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #113: Aroldis Chapman Already Putting The K Back In The Kubs
Epic PR fail reminiscent of bad old days. Plus: Tommy Boy LaStella To Sell His Brake Pads In Des Moines; The Adam Warren Commission; Chris The Tank Engine; The Bears Are Already Grinding Coach Coffman's Gears; and Olympic Gamesmanship.
Does Practice Make An Olympian? No.
Practice only accounts for an average of 18 percent of sports performance variance.
The 2016 Fantasy Fix Football Draft Guide Pt. 1: New World Order - The Top 20
Ex-Bears abound.
A Plea: Make Jousting An Olympic Sport
Riders in steel armor with 12-foot poles. What's not to like?
Breakfast In America: Aboard The Dethloon Express
Would somebody talk a little trash, please? A journey into the heart of Minnesota Nice.
The Cub Factor
No Longer Lovable
Lovable losers are gone. So too, now, are lovable winners. Now it's just about winning.
SportsMonday: Bears Skies Cloudy All Day
At least the backup quarterback is "established."
The White Sox Report
Sale's Scissors
Had Sale been handed the shorts and knee socks, there's no telling what degree of devastation might have ensued.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #112: Trade Bait
Grinding Coach Coffman's Gears! Plus: The Harry Caray Death Cult; Asset Sale; The Sad Sack Sox!; Derrick Rose Still Dim; In The Olympic Swim; and Dennis Green Crowned Their Ass.
Fantasy Fix: Replacing Clayton Kershaw
You can't replace Clayton Kershaw.
The White Sox Report
Fire Sale
Tank time.
The Cub Factor
Cub Scouts
Is a little grit too much to ask for?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #111: All-Star Weak
Jake the Snake. Plus: Breaking: Cubs Not Only Team With Great Players!; The Plan! The Plan!; White Sox (Sort Of) Winning; and Chicago Baseball Is Now Chew-Free.
Chicago Baseball Becomes Tobacco-Free Today
City joins San Francisco, New York, Boston and Los Angeles.
The Momentum Of Baseball Cards
A new study finds that the market for baseball cards shows some of the same kinds of anomalies, or factors, as the stock market.
Breakfast In America: Recruitment Do's And Don'ts
Don't ask your target to attend a meeting at a hotel convention space to learn your real estate secrets.
The Cub Factor
A New Kind Of Losing
Distressed caps for everyone!
SportsMonday: The Cubs Need Help
It has now been more than two months since the Cubs put together a sustained stretch of over .500 baseball.
The White Sox Report
All-Star Laments
If Robin Ventura were the most interesting manager in baseball, he might proclaim, "We don't often lose, but when we do, we prefer to be shut out."
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #110: The Bulls' Glorious Pending Disaster
Stealing the summer headlines. Plus: Defending Kevin Durant; There Are No Mediocre Players In The NBA; Jordin Tootoo Is Not An Eskimo; The White Sox Are Winning Series'; The Cubs Turned Into A .500 Team Months Ago And Everybody Missed It.
Fantasy Fix: Fantasy All-Stars
Are all those Cubs All-Stars deserving? Let's be honest: No.
SportsMonday: The Contemptibulls
Every minute Rondo plays in a Bulls jersey will be embarrassing.
The Cub Factor
Weekend At Mr. Met's
You did things you aren't proud of.
The White Sox Report
Dead And Alive
Schrodinger's baseball team.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #109: Phil Jackson Doesn't Have A TV
Chief Triangle now pigeon. Plus: The Blackhawks Are Making Me Dizzy; The White Sox Are Regressing To Mediocre; Remembering Da Co-Coach; and The Cubs Are A Crumbling Prison.
Breakfast In America: Lowest Common Denominator™
Iceland's rise in soccer vs. A Swedish fart.
The Cub Factor
Hell Week
Partied like 2009.
The White Sox Report
Robin Lives
Changing managers mid-stream rarely works anyway.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #108: Bullsology
The (Relatively) Sad Saga of Derrick Rose. Plus: The Jimmy Butler Trade That Wasn't (Yet); Breakfast In America; The Vincible Cubs; White Sox Are Red Sox Hot!; and The Mundanity Of Modern Mascots.
Tweeting The Derrick Rose Trade
Mostly a variation on the same theme.
Fantasy Fix: The Injuries Market
Even the next Babe Ruth is a trade candidate.
The Cub Factor
The L
He shall so be nicknamed.
Breakfast In America: Know Your Terminology
For example, much of Illinois' politics is run from the Back Room.
SportsMonday: One Epic Losing Streak Left
The trend is clear.
The White Sox Report
Circus Trip
Put a tent over it.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #107: Summer Rituals
Milkshakes at the Tastee Freez to soothe another painful Blackhawks departure. Plus: It's Silver's Series Now; Hollywood Butler Going Minnesota?; The Welcome Willson Wagon; #FreeRickHahn; and KOPA Kabana.
SportsMondayTuesday: It's Silver's Series Now
If the Cavaliers go home and force a Game 7, then it gets a bit dicey.
Breakfast In America: Which EPL Team Are You?
It depends on which U.S. presidential candidate you support.
The Cub Factor
Get On Board, Son
Baseball finally on Cub Factor kid's radar.
The White Sox Report
The Unsavior Is Here
One thing's for sure: the Sox can't be any worse with Tim Anderson.
TrackNotes: The Test Of Champions | UPDATED WITH RACE RECAP!
Kent Desormeaux has a lot to prove - and he's here on a weekend pass from alcohol rehab. But he's got the right horse.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #106: Transaction City
The White Sox are or aren't like the Cubs. Plus: Groupthink is Poopthink!; Warriors Will Win Wonderfully; Sharks On Ice; COPA!; About Alshon; and Sammy & The Donald Sittin' In A Tree.
Fantasy Fix: Youth Movement
The new prospects are here - or coming.
Competitive Climbing Could Reach Olympic Level
Skateboarding and surfing also under consideration in bid to attract a younger audience.
Sammy Sosa & Donald Trump (& Hillary Clinton): A History
"Sammy Sosa is orchestrating a Clinton vs. Trump election because that will give him the power over the United States government.
SportsMonday: Illinois Pride, Bulls Shame
How cool would it be to see the NBA Finals MVP go to a player from our state for the second consecutive year?
The Cub Factor
Nerds & Track Suits
I'm wearing them now.
The White Sox Report
Big Game James Neither
Unless there is an abrupt turnaround, James Shields will find himself frequently pitching in pressure situations where giving up three or four runs will be too much for his teammates to overcome.
The Contradictions Of Muhammad Ali
Perhaps no single person embodied the ethic of protest and intersected with so many lives, ordinary and extraordinary. He also endorsed Reagan and Bush.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #105: Quantum Baseball
Higgs to Boson to Chance. Plus: The Cubs Are The Best Baseball Team On Earth; Fat Albers; The State Of The Standings; The Pride Of Peoria Could Be The NBA Finals MVP; ICYMI, The Stanley Cup Finals Are Happening Right Now; Elena Delle Donne's Silent Supremacy; and The Chicago Fire Did Not Do Anything This Week.
This Week In Concussions: Another Enforcer Down
And: Former NFL star and movie actor Bubba Smith also diagnosed.
Fantasy Fix: The Paternity Test
Plus: Valuing the pure hitter.
SportsMondayTuesday: Respecting The Streak
If you believe you're playing well because you're getting laid, or because you're not getting laid, or because you wear women's underwear, then you are!
The Cub Factor
Naperville vs. Rickettsville
Wrigley Field still has a nostalgic "it" factor, but sheesh, I'm waiting for the troughs to have a sponsor.
The White Sox Report
Here Are The Ugly Facts
Don "D.B." Cooper is conspicuously MIA.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #104: Triggering Chicago's Panic Meter
Warranted on the other side of town. Plus: Save The Intentional Walk!; Bulls In Quicksand; Golden Slumbers; Blackhawks Sign A Bunch Of Guys We Don't Care About; Bad Man Still Owns Chicago Fire; Chicago Sky Falling Already; Illinois Finally Tops Baylor; and The NFL Is Its Own Organized Crime Family.
Fantasy Fix: Chicago Keepers
One on each side of town.
NFL Tried To Fix Concussion Study
At least a half-dozen top NFL health officials waged an improper, behind-the-scenes campaign last year to influence a major U.S. government research study on football and brain disease.
SportsMonday: A Kick In The Balls
It all goes back to the SuperSonics.
The Cub Factor
Slump Busters
We have some ideas.
The White Sox Report
Video Vexation
Stay home - or go to Wrigley - for best results.
TrackNotes: Post-Preakness
Yeah, the angle for Exaggerator was the mud, but he won this race. He won it.
TrackNotes: Dumb Asses
Nobody ever learns from history. Churchill Downs, abetted by the media, has positioned the Derby way too high as a singular race, if you're talking about the greatness of a horse.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #103: Chicago's Fevered Baseball Dream Is Over
Cubs, White Sox spiraling into oblivion. Plus: Cy Sale And The Rubs; Bulls Offseason Going Great!; Bears 1st-Round Draft Pick Leonard Floyd Is Stuffing His Face Right Now; Absent Alshon; The Olympic Way; and The Nerds Who Are Ruining Horse Racing.
Are Nerds Ruining Horse Racing?
Backed by enormous budgets, quants use state-of-the-art software that takes into account more than 100 variables which describe even the tiniest details about the horses, jockeys, tracks and so on when predicting a race's outcome.
IOC: Sochi Doping Allegations Could Show 'Unprecedented Criminality'
Russia is at the heart of the biggest doping scandal in sport.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics Beset By Corruption Investigations
Japanese officials have said hinky payments were legitimate consultant's fees.
Who The Hell Are The Chicago Clovers?
New team, new league, really bad basketball.
SportsMonday: Ban Beanball
The game doesn't need this garbage.
The White Sox Report
Losing The Plot
Not the formula that propelled the Sox to a five-game lead in the American League Central as the week began.
The Cub Factor
There Goes The Sun
Jorge Soler shining about as bright as Dusty Baker.
The Beachwood Radio Hour #102: Bring On The Red Line Series
Can this be real? Plus: Arrieta Already On Way Out; The Trials of George Sun; Gonzo Hawk Harrelson, Doctor of Journalism; and Biggs Time.
New Chicago Hotel To Offer Rooms Specifically For Visiting Athletes Like With Really Big Beds And Stuff
Is that all you got, Conrad?
How To Beat The Casino
Combining card counting and basic strategy can help a player convert the (long-term) house edge from 2.7% in favor of the casino to about a 1% advantage to the player.
Fantasy Fix: Often Running
SBs in a post-Dee Gordon world.
Syrian Whose Plight Went Viral Finds Refuge In Spanish Soccer
War-torn family's love of the game brings them solace.
SportsMonday: Maddon Moves In Mysterious Ways
It's almost creepy.
The Cub Factor
Busting Dusty
Bologna has a first name, D-U-S-T-Y. Bologna has a second name, B-A-K-E-R.
The White Sox Report
The Color Of Money
A dollar bill is worth a dollar no matter what color hands give it to you.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #101: Chicago Baseball Is The One Dog
Cubs can pick any eight players and put 'em at any position and they'll win. Plus: Crane Kenney, Still Employed By Cubs, Strikes Again; Rahm Emanuel Is The Crane Kenney Of Mayors; Dusty Cannot Be Trustied; Rogers!; Ding Dong Danks; Leicester vs. Lester, and much, much more!
TrackNotes: This Year's Derby A Value Proposition
Horseplayers look at the Derby as a wagering opportunity. Usually just that. But we do like success by a single horse. We really do.
Fantasy Fix: Home Run Help
If your squad is suffering from a power outage, you still have waiver-wire options.
Five Things You Need To Know About Leicester
Leicester's motto Semper Eadem means "always the same," and for many years the city has had a safe, slightly dull reputation. As many people said during the recent excitement around the success of the football team, this sort of thing isn't supposed to happen in Leicester.
Wrestling Hall Of Fame Evicts Hastert
He wasn't even the best coach at Yorkville.
More Bad Concussion News For Young Football Players - And The Playground
From the playground to the playing field.
The Cub Factor
Crushing The Copycats
The Plan has another helpful subplot playing out.
The White Sox Report
Eating Up The AL
Three squares a day.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #100: The Gas Mask Draft
L-I-V-I-N. Plus: Leonard "Pink" Floyd; Johnny Oduya, MVP: No Danks You; Cubs Have Owies; Jake Arrieta vs. Dee Gordon; and The Everton Minute.
Attention NFL Draftees: Be Like Israel Idonije
During his last few years in the league, when Idonjie was making the veteran's minimum salary, he was actually bringing in more cash via his side gig.
Fantasy Fix: Pitching Help
Get 'em while they're hot.
SportsMondayTuesday: Just Wait 'Til Next Year
And now, a well-deserved rest.
The Cub Factor
Laughably Historic
The last time the Cubs were this good we were still at World War 0.
The White Sox Report
Gifted
We would be remiss if we didn't point out the generosity of the fellows providing the opposition.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #(19)99: Prince, Kane & Jake
Game-winners and no-hitters. Plus: The Secret History Of Tiger Woods; The Who Sox; Blame Butler; Timberwolves Land Tom Thibodeau For Phil Jackson Money; Loyola Investigating Sheryl Swoopes After Mass Transfers; and Everton Board Rumored To Hold Emergency Meeting.
Fantasy Fix: Marathon Men
Primary offenders.
The Fallacy Of How The Cubs Were Built
It wasn't through the draft.
SportsMonday: Q & Kane
A big-time botch.
The Cub Factor
Scar Tissue
If the rest of the season keeps going like this, how can any fan hold on to that anger of the past?
The White Sox Report
Hitless Wonders
Near-perfect pitching, upgrade in smarts propels team to strong start.
The Beachwood Radio Sport Hour #98: Disco Cubs Embrace The Target
Ready to party on the Lido Deck. Plus: Same Old Sox!; Shhh! The Blackhawks Are In The Playoffs!; Chicago BullsShit; Big Trade In Draft Town: Chicago Racing Loses A Gem; and The Everton Minute.
TrackNotes: Derby Field Muddy, Bye-Bye Bo-Rail & Chicago Racing Loses A Gem
Amid all of the hot air of the forums, there was one constant: Janine's the best.
Fantasy Fix: Early Risers
Every baseball season has its share of surprising, fantasy-relevant performers in the early going, but they always come tagged with the difficult question, "Is this guy for real?"
Exclusive! What's Really Inside The Cubs' New Clubhouse
Including a tax shelter, a World Series-ring sizing room and bunk beds for Rizzo and Bryant.
SportsMondayTuesday: Coffman Concedes On Cubs!
When people yammered at me about Theo Epstein's glorious "Plan," I always pointed out that a big part of it was Ricky Renteria.
The Cub Factor
Home Opener Limericks
There once was a fielder named Schwarber.
The White Sox Report
Big League Flushers
No attention is paid to plumbing, bathrooms or sewage. No big deal. This is baseball, and they love their team.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #97: Cubs On The Run
Brizzo on the basepaths. Plus: Latos To The Party; Blackhawks Blues; Bulls Go Out With A Whimpering Screech; Mock Draft Mockery 2.0; Iverson, Shaq and Swoopes!; and The Everton Minute: Nani!
Four Reasons To Watch ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS
The pressure that comes with being Ben Askren is felt each time "Funky" steps inside the cage.
Villanova Makes Michael Jordan Really Cry
Buzzer-beater sends America to Meme Town.
SportsMonday: Harshing The Cubs' Buzz
Mets still have a superior rotation.
The White Sox Report
Mustard, Lemonade & Red Bull
By far the hardest sport to play at a high level.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #96: Everyone Is Vine Line Now
MAKE. FANBOY. CUBS. MEDIA. STOP. Plus: Our World Series Predictions, In Which Neither Of Us Pick The Cubs; As The Blackhawks Suddenly Turn; The Magnetic Derrick Rose; Bears Sign More No-Name Linemen; Media Mistakes Activity For Genius; Let She Who Generates More Revenue Earn More Money; Cheaters Prosper!; and The Everton Minute.
Courtney Conlogue Triumphs With Massive Bells Win
Dangerous dream realized.
Why So Many Baseball Experts Whiffed With Last Year's Predictions
Free agents are overrated.
Fantasy Fix: Is Jimmy Rollins For Real?
Arguably the best-performing shortstop in the Cactus League this spring, he's likely your Opening Day starter on the South Side, and there's reason to believe he will hold some decent fantasy value this summer.
Exclusive: Joe Maddon's 2016 Entrances
Maddon will arrive to the series opener here against the Phillies in May in an electric car powered by his own urine.
SportsMonday: Blue Demons Blackout; Blackhawks Back
The best basketball team in the state - by far - goes quietly.
DePaul's Sweet 16 Comeback Falls Short
The Blue Demons finished their season in the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the program's history and second time in the last three years.
TrackNotes: The Return Of America's Muscle Horse
With 'Pharoah gone, 'Chrome has a chance to dazzle America, capture hearts at low prices all over again.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #95: Bulls Dragging Blackhawks Down To Their Level
United Center curse. Plus: Reminder: Ricky Renteria Is The White Sox Bench Coach; The Joe Maddon Show Has Jumped The Shark; Illinois Team Secretly Makes Sweet 16; Triton Lays An Egg; Finding Value In Vegas, Baby; The Everton Minute; and The New York Times Smokes Out The NFL.
Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: Revisiting The Rankings
The Cardinals have themselves some outfielders too.
Trump's Cubs
All game film produced by Leni Riefenstahl's closest living relative.
Triton's Women's Basketball Team Enjoys Resurgent Season
Led by conference Coach of the Year Kellee Robertson.
SportsMonday: Illinois Team Secretly Makes Sweet 16
Maybe the team will win again and you'll have another chance to celebrate a triumph by Chicago's most accomplished basketball team - by far - this season.
The White Sox Report
The Real Heroes At The Cell
Hint: They're not on the field.
No. 1 Triton Falls In National Championship Game
The hopes of a storybook ending and the team's first ever national title were dashed by the Eagles as the Trojans' historic season ended with an 83-76 loss.
No. 1 Triton Plays For National Championship Tonight
Triton has now won 30 consecutive games, improving to 34-2 overall.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #94: The Amazingly Immature And Idiotic Adam LaRoche Affair
Plenty of children in the White Sox locker room, it turns out. And they all have lockers. Plus: We Will Miss Martellus Bennett; The Bulls Are Just Boring Now; The Blackhawks (Temporarily) Stink; March Madness Moolah - Who Gets It; Triton Advance To Final Four; and The Everton Minute: Next Six Matches Crucial!
Trojans Defense Shuts Down Parkland To Earn Spot In Final Four
Triton (33-2) has now won an unprecedented 29 games in a row and will next take on Region IV rival, South Suburban College in the semifinals Friday at 8 p.m. in Danville.
The White Sox Report
Adios, Adam
The conversation may have gone like this.
Triton Advances To Elite Eight In Little Big Dance!
Strong second half sparks Trojans to NJCAA opening round victory.
Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: Closers!
Hector Rondon vs. David Robertson.
March Madness Means Money - It's Time To Talk About Who's Getting Paid
To review, if Kentucky wins the national title, its coach gets $650,000 in bonus money. Its players get nothing.
SportsMonday: The Bounce-Back Bears
Rebuilding smartly on the fly without pulling a Cubs-style tank job.
The Rise And Fall Of Ultimate Fighting (And Why Boxing Is Now So Passé)
MMA is essentially a media sport developed to appeal to mass audiences and deliver profit to the organizations behind it.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #93: The Bears Are Pox's Team Now
Pace, Fox make their moves. Plus: Fighting Lovie; Jimmy Butler And Derrick Rose Finally On Same Page!: Shout To The New Blackhawks Guys!; Dear Cubs: Enough With The Brotherhood. Geez; White Sox: Borrrrring; Bryce Harper Wants to Bring Pimping To MLB. So Do We; Triton Top Seed In Little Big Dance; and The Everton Minute.
Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: Catchers!
There is only one truly safe bet for high-level fantasy production at this position.
World Surf Tour Opening On Australia's Gold Coast As Bodhi Waits For His Set
He could never live in a cage, man.
No. 1 Triton Seeded No. 1 In Juco Dance
To face MCC-Penn Valley in the opener.
No. 1 Triton Men Advance To Juco Dance
The 31-2 Trojans have won 27 straight.
SportsMonday: The Return Of Lovie Smith
Keep it simple Illinois fans: Lovie Smith is a way, way better coach than you could have ever dreamed would be on the Illini sideline next fall.
Behind The Unpredictable Premier League Year That Put Leicester Top Of The Pile
More money, fewer Englishmen and more Billy Beane.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #92: The Many Fetishizations Of Media Fanboys
No detail too mundane, every lame joke an instant classic. Plus: The White Sox Are Also Holding Spring Training But Let's Talk About Other Stuff; Memo To Maddon: Up Your Game; Ivy League Not So Smart: Brandi's Brain; Boring Bears Banishing Bennett; I Don't Want To See Athletes' Smelly Naked Dicks; Blackhawks Babble; Bulls Babble; Go Trojans; and The Everton Minute.
Triton Men's Basketball Team No. 1 For First Time
26 wins in a row, 30-2 overall.
Lady Triton Trojans Reach First Regional Title Game Since 1994
Third seed in the nation.
The White Sox Report
Eddie Einhorn's Anti-Veeckian Legacy
Einhorn behaved as though he was unaware that Veeck may have been the most beloved owner in Chicago sports history.
SportsMondayTuesday: Bulls Resting Themselves Right Out Of The Playoffs
Enabling Derrick Rose is now way to run a professional basketball team.
Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: Starting Pitchers
Jake Arrieta vs. Chris Sale; Jon Lester vs. Carlos Rodon.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #91: Cubundant™
The only fans sadder than the ones in Baltimore today are the ones on the South Side, because Cubs. Plus: Blackhawks Deal Tops Cubs Deal; Follow The Bouncing Bulls; Mocking The Bears; and Up The Toffees!
Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: OF
Cubundant.
Kobe Bryant's Fatuous Farewell Tour
What ever happened to dignity?
SportsMonday: Blackhawks Chill
Back to our regularly scheduled hockey games.
The White Sox Report
The (Shortstop) Solution
The importance of having a shortstop who can pick up the ball and throw it accurately can't be overstated.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #90: Up The Toffees!
The Blues, The School of Science, The People's Club. Plus: The Bread Man & Barack; Secord Still Sucks; Bulloney, Pitchers, Catchers, Cynics Report; and Jim's Last Chicago Fire Comment Ever.
Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: Middle Infield
Addison Russell vs. Starlin Castro!
FIFA's Radio Deals: Rigged?
"It's all closed doors. You never see contracts. Even if you want to go for the rights, you are basically told the deals have already been done," said one radio network executive familiar with bidding for soccer broadcast rights.
What We Can Learn From Liverpool Fans
Naturally, when the club rolled out the new pricing structure, the headline figures pointed to its more favorable offerings.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #89: Bears Befuddle
Matt Forte sent on his way. Plus: Krausening Peyton Manning; Maybe The Bulls Suck After All; Chicago Is Now NHL Draft Town, Too; Marian Hossa vs. Dennis Rodman; Surprising White Sox Savvy; and Livin' La Vida Liverpool.
Why The Best Sports Stories Are Beyond The Field
The biggest headlines are won by investigative stories, from accusations of cheating in professional sports to high school hazing.
The Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: First And Third
If you're a Chicago baseball fan, there's a lot to like in this year's pre-season fantasy rankings for first base and third base, including my sizable but calculated gamble to rank one of the local boys as the top fantasy find at his position.
Slam Stan: The Best Super Bowl Commercial Most Of America Didn't See
Besides the axe murderer and an HVAC-shilling Mike Tyson.
SportsMonday: Going Out Intact
Given the physical punishment dished out in some sports - and I'm always surprised to hear people condemn football and not at least mention hockey - my view has changed.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #88: Dez Clark Super Bowl Edition
Quarterbacks? It's all about the tight ends.
Jilted NFL Cities Stuck With Stadium Debt
Across the country, cities have gotten stuck with substantial costs after sports teams leave or even move across town. Often, local governments must pay bonds, maintenance costs, or demolition fees after a team is gone.
Warlord Patron Company To Continue As 'The Official Tire Of The NFL'
The tragic truth about football's tire company.
The NFL, Packed With Christian Players, Falls Short In Welcoming Faith
Faith Equality Index score reveals work to be done.
The Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: The (Tied At The) Top 40
Jake Arrieta, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo vs. Chris Sale, Jose Abreu.
The 8th Annual (More Or Less) Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Coldplay Edition
To gauge exactly how ill-suited this particular band is to this particular sporting event, ask yourself: Would Cam Newton dab to Coldplay? He would not, because he would look like he was having a stroke.
Who's Behind The "Tennis Racket?"
Leaked files show that 16 tennis players (who at some point have been ranked in the top 50) have been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit for suspicions they have thrown matches or arranged for their opponent to lose.
SportsMonday: The NHL's Karmic Comeuppance
The All-Star MVP the league didn't want there.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #87: Blackhawks Gellin' Like A Felon
Exceeding expectations, even if Captain Serious stands accused of not being serious. Plus: Bulls Losing Meaningless Games Against Crappy Teams In Dead Of Winter Just Like We Wanted Them To; White Sox Convention Opens At Southwest Suburban Motel 6; and John Fox's Former Teams Meeting In The Super Bowl.
Match-Fixing Allegations Now Hit Wrestling
Olympic silver medalist offered money at a world championship.
SportsMonday: Blackhawks Defense Broncos-Like
A six-pack they can count on.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #86: Like Bon Jovi, Bulls Halfway There
Also livin' on a prayer. Plus: Blackhawks Have Only Won 12 Of Last 13; Riverboat Ron Has Last Laugh; and John Baker Way Better Than Dusty Baker.
Streif: One Hell Of A Ride
It's ended careers, it's ended dreams, it's crushed people.
The Jay Williams Story: Broken Dreams, Shattered Leg, Oprah & ESPN
After a decade spent recovering from his injuries - the rehabilitations, the comeback attempts, the professional forays into the seedy underside of sports agenting - Williams recounts with a rare honesty his hard-fought path to college basketball stardom and the painful lessons he's learned while reconstructing his fractured adulthood.
SportsMondayTuesday: Rose In, Noah Out, Bulls Win
Team transitioning on the fly.
Game, Set, Match-Fixing
At the upper level of world tennis - including Wimbledon.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #85: Why Is Everyone So Mad At The Bulls?
So much anger for a 23-15 team. Plus: Giving It Up For The Q Man. Giggity; Cutesy Cubs Convention Convenes; and Put Jason Benetti On The Board, Yes!
The White Sox Report
Put Jason Benetti On The Board, Yes!
Either by dumb luck or savvy judgement, the Sox have hired a young guy who wasn't a former player ready and willing to regale fans with frequently embellished stories about his athletic past.
St. Louis Fans Rammed - Again
City can't keep a football team.
SportsMondayTuesday: Bears' Hire A Short Joke
It's still all about Jay.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #84: This Chicago Mayor Had A Good Week
So did his butler. Plus: Crow and the Breadman; Jay Cutler's Minivan Is Back; White Sox Whiff; and The Chicago Fire Are About To Do Something.
Dead College Football Player Leaves Clues Of Concussions' Toll On Brain
He suffered more than 10 concussions, all while playing football, the first occurring at age eight.
SportsMonday: Out With A Whimper, In With A Bang
Bears easily eclipsed by Bulls, Blackhawks.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #83: Our Chicago Player Of The Year
A 2015/2016 review/preview. Including: Being The Blackhawks; Cartoon Cubs; As The Bulls Turn; Not Bowled Over By John Fox; Let's Talk About The White Sox Cubs; The City's Most Inconsequential Franchise; and Party Of The Year.
TrackNotes: Party Of The Year
Thanks for the invite.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: The 2015 Koolie Awards!
Including the Technical Koolies!
Bears Media Mesmerized By Shirtless Matt Slauson
A tweetstream illuminating local fanboy media.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Paper Pancake
It's gonna take a whole hell of a lot of something alcoholic - or something with a whole lot of nudity - to keep me to seated in front of this game for three hours.
SportsMonday: Bears Grandly Pronounce Themselves
New, improved Bears same as old, lousy Bears.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #82: Robin Ventura Still Killing White Sox Buzz
Can Rick Hahn's rescue mission overcome the lameness of his manager? Plus: We Have Jason Heyward, Can We Ditch The Onesies Now?; Everyone Still Upset That The Bulls Are Winning So Much; and Corey Crawford Hotter Than Cory Matthews.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Bear Goonies
Those Smokin' Jay memes aren't gonna Photoshop themselves.
The White Sox Report
Rick's Rescue
Theo Epstein is still Best in Show in this city, but the White Sox GM just put the South Siders back in the conversation.
SportsMonday: Jay Cutler No Bill Murray
And Groundhog Day was a much better movie than Bears 2015.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #81: Cubs Set Us Up For Epicest Heartbreak Yet
Now World Series favorite. Plus: Hey White Sox, How You Doin'?; Bulls Spiting Selves; Bears Good As Mold; and Patrick Kane's Fraudulent Point Streak.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Hype Machine, Not Engaged
I guess the takeaway is that I equate the Washington Redskins to a woman screaming something vile in a black guy's face mid-coitus.
Fantasy Fix: Season Of Hurt
The player who ruined the most people's seasons? It's a tie.
SportsMonday: Bereft Bears Blow It
Blame game: Cutler, Jeffery, Gould, Gase.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #80: Bears Still Under .500
Trap game ahead. Plus: Everyone Mad Bulls Just 11-5; Patrick Kane, All-American; We Were Promised David Price; and The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Magic Wand Time
The credible threat San Francisco brings to the table is essentially that every member of the 53-man roster will be angry that they play for the 49ers.
Wendell Phillips: The School, The Historic Football Team, The Person
And The Sideburns.
SportsMondayTuesday: Same Old Bulls
In a good way.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #79: Bears Beat Starr, Favre, Rodgers
It's clear that coaching is occurring. Plus: Blackhawks Bounce Back; Bulls Find More Ways To Win; and Warm Stove League.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Confidence Picks
Things have changed.
Fantasy Fix: The Pope's Nose 2015
Tough choices for biggest turkeys.
SportsMonday: Meatball Mania
You can hear their distinctive cry across Chicago today.
Beachwood Radio Special Edition: The Unbearable White Maleness Of Sports Media
Progress has been grudging - and it shows.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #78: Grenver Brackers Week
Bears face Brock Osweiler and Aaron Rodgers in two-game, five-day stretch. Plus: The NFL Stinks; The Slausonator; Osweiler Better Than Clausen, Fales; Packers Doom Spiral; Bulls Holding Serve; Blackhawks Gellin' Like Thornton Melon; and Cubs Hat Trick.
Harlem Globetrotters Bring It All Back Home
An epic 90th anniversary tour hits Chicago.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Adjusting Yourself In Public
When asked about the key to his run of consistent play, Cutler just responded "been listening to a lot of early Danzig" before putting out a cigarette on his wrist and exiting a press conference.
Fantasy Fix: Cutler's Revenge
More Bears crow.
Dear Football: I'm Breaking Up With You
You've gotten too fat, you worry too much about money, and we don't agree on how to raise kids.
SportsMonday: Bearsmentum
Now that was a victory; Bears finally distinguish themselves from their horrible opponents.
The Incestuous World Of Daily Fantasy Sports
This is journalism, people, and the ultimate takedown.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #77: Narrating The Bears
Kill fanboy groupthink! Plus: Fight The Bulls Narratives!; Partisan Sports-Watching; Blackhawks Still Trying To Find A Narrative!; and The Hottish Stove League.
Fantasy Fix: Always Awesome Alshon
Mea culpa.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Voodoo, Dr. Death & Mrs. Wifey
Bottoms up.
How Russia Hid Its Doping In Plain Sight
Athletes simply needed cash and a culture that rewarded a no-holds-barred drive for champions.
SportsMondayTuesday: Bears Win Backup Battle
Being wiped out by injuries is now the norm in the NFL.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #76: Jay Cutler, Derrick Rose & Patrick Kane Are Back (?)
Media narratives are not your friend. Plus: The Bears Stay The Course; Cubs At Peak Betting Value; Dusty Hoiberg; Patrick Kane Not Vindicated; Kane D.A. Shows Caveman Colors; Blackhawks Blues; and Wearing Kane's Jersey.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: 10 Reasons To Watch
"But Carl," you say . . .
Fantasy Fix: Bears Week
Who knew Bears rookie RB Jeremy Langford would prove to have at least some short-term fantasy value this year?
SportsMonday: All Bears Must Go
Let the fire sale begin.
TrackNotes Extra: American Pharoah Goes Out Grandly
I'm going to guess that, in retirement, they'll actually have to train him not to run.
TrackNotes: Breeders' Classic No Longer In Eye Of Beholder
American Pharoah's race to win - at a crappy price.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #75: Black Cloud Moves From Bulls To Bears
Team hid Jeremiah Ratliff's mass murder threat in latest cover-up. Plus: A Cubs Post Post-Mortem: Not Yet Royal; Dominican Republic Dominates; Bulls' Black Cloud Lifts; and Wait 'Til Next Year For The Blackhawks?
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: A Certain Level Of Cool Indifference
For the first time in over a year, Chicago will have to figure out a way to contain Adrian Peterson as well as the NFL did.
The Cub Factor
The Season In Limerick
And Hammel shit the bed.
Primetime Live 1989: Wait 'Til This Year
Deja vu all over again.
The Allure Of Cage Fighting
Thrown author here to explain.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #74: The Cubs' Confusing Conclusion
2016 or bust - the honeymoon is finally over. Plus: Back to the Future Was An Awful Movie And Huey Lewis Sucks; Jeremiah Ratliff's Bye-Bye Week; When It Comes To Aggrieved White Sox Fans, Cubs Fans Should Feel Fine About Gloating; Duncan Keith's Sudden Surgery; and Derrick & Joakim.
TrackNotes: Keeneland > Wrigley
The Lexington, Kentucky, a venue that will out-mecca the one on the North Side any day, especially now that the Ricketts' have their mitts on the "ballpark."
Fantasy Fix: Best Defenses
Scoring machines.
The Cub Factor
Where's Your Plan Now?!
Daniel Murphy vs. Christopher Coghlan, c'mon!
SportsMonday: The Bears' 10-Second Saga
I'm going to argue it isn't even a legitimate beef.
F The Goat
This club's been like a ship on the ocean; the Titanic with a fanbase full of hope and devotion.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #73: Cubbin' It
Postseason Paradise. Including: Metropolitans vs. Cubopolitans; Ron Coomer Is An Awful Announcer; Chasing Utley; No Flipping?; Bears Try To Save Season With Must-Win Game!; and Hoiberg Hooey.
Mets Mania Shows Area Men, Pols & Local TV Newsfolk Are Idiots Everywhere
A Hollywood ending.
Fantasy Fix: Always Absent Alshon
The biggest mystery in fantasyland.
Kool-Aid
Chief Relief; Lion Down On The Job
Boy that's a crappy looking team they got over there in the mitten.
Song Of The Moment: Go, Cubs, Go!
I've actually always liked this song, which I admitted to my friends earlier this season. I'm not sick of it at all.
Upping The Cubs' Nickname Game
George Sun, Charles Schwarb.
The Cub Factor
The Truth About Joe Maddon
Actually not a magic man, mama.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #72: Joe Cub
Manager of the Forever. Plus: Playoff-Bound Bears 10-Point Underdogs; Enough About The Bears, Let's Talk About The Cubs; The Bears' Plan; Blackhawks Belabor Banner-Raising; Enough About The Blackhawks, Let's Talk About The Cubs; and Beer Talk.
Cute Kiddie Cubs Pass Playoff Audition, Cuddle With Champagne, Complicate Feelings
Like many, I have a complex relationship with the Cubs.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Yeezus Christ You Guys
Hurry up with the damn croissants.
If Joe Maddon Were Mayor . . .
Taxes become voluntary, but for some reason you'll want to pay.
SportsMonday: Forte Not Jay
Little noted: Forte is second in the league in rushing - and only five yards behind leader Adrian Peterson.
The Cub Factor
What If?
That loudmouth White Sox fan you work with . . . would still be a loudmouth White Sox fan. Let's be real.
The White Sox Report
The Season In Verse | Could Hardly Be Worse
But Robin will return/The Chairman rewards loyalty. But how in the world/Is his manager still royalty?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #71: Kiddie Kubs Get Playoff Audition
Invited to cute play-in game. Plus: Inside Coach Coffman's Castle; The Immorality Of Daily Fantasy And Their Native Radio Announcer Advertising Tools; Jerry Reinsdorf's Pet Cemetery; The Ridiculous Resurrection Of Jay Cutler; The Bulls Are Back Dragging D-Rose's Baggage Around; and the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Fury Road
Congratulations on your exciting day of yardwork, tax prep, abortion, or any of the other activities more entertaining than watching the Bears.
Derrick Rose's Week So Far: Money, Sex And Surgery
An elbow to the face may have been the best thing that could have happened to him.
Fantasy Fix: Get Used To It, Chicago
Opposing players popular picks.
Yogi Berra Was A World-Class Shill
Human widget.
SportsMonday: Please, Seahawks, Don't Hurt Us
John Fox tries to hold down the margin of defeat to less than four touchdowns.
The Cub Factor
Back To Meaningless Baseball
Let's all take this week to relax, maybe step away for the team for a few games and enjoy life a little.
The White Sox Report
Berra, Berra Bad Memories
What's most impressive about Yogi Berra is that he made contact 19 out of every 20 plate appearances.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #70: The Blackhawks & Their Barbarous Fanbase
An opportunity for heroism missed. Plus: The Score's Finest Hour; The Psychology Of Bases & Fandom; The Devil's Manager; Seahawks Game-Planning A Slaughter; 'Night, Sky; Chicago Fire Fired; and The Chicago White Sox Are Still Playing For Some Reason.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Jay Cutler's Dog Days
Daughter an instant punchline.
Fantasy Fix: Bad Luck vs. No Luck
Still buying.
The Beachwood Radio Hour #68: The Media Is Blowing The Patrick Kane Story
Anonymous sources, reckless rumors and uninformed speculation. Plus: My Only Japonais Story; United Airlines Has Finally Gone Too Far; Steve Reads The New York Post; and Steve Looks At Tinder.
They Just Held A World Triathlon In Chicago
U.S. men suck, but Minnesota's Gwen Jorgensen "has morphed into the Triathlon Terminator."
SportsMonday: Bears Not The Cubs
The (new) Cubs don't make critical mistakes at critical times time after time after time after time after time, sorry.
The Cub Factor
Coming Soon: Instant Cup-O-Game Seven
But where to watch?
The White Sox Report
Time For Jerry To Go
In 29 of Jerry Reinsdorf's 34 years owning the White Sox, they've failed to reach the postseason.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #69: The Bloom Is Off The Blackhawks' Rose
Worst press conference in Chicago sports history. Plus: John McDonough Is Tone-Deaf; Dueling Settlement Sources; City Psyched Bears Now Losing The Right Way; The Curious Case Of The Cubs; Chicago's MVP; The White Sox Did Something This Week; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; The Waco Brothers Did Something This Week; We Don't Care About Illinois And Northwestern Football.
Everyone's Juicing
Amazingly enough, world-class athletes are merely the fine layer of frost atop the iceberg's tip when it comes to the steroid economy.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Örange Kool-Aid Report: Dancin' In The Ruins
I don't know what you call that drink, but a bottle of Bacardi and a gallon of Arizona Iced Tea costs a total of $14 at the Walgreens by my house, so I'll just call the savings "delicious."
Fantasy Fix: Don't Panic
It's just one week, people.
Street League Skateboarding Adds Women To World Championships In Chicago Next Month
The women's division at the Super Crown World Championship in Chicago on October 4th will bring together the world's most accomplished female skateboarders to battle it out for the title of World Champion.
SportsMonday: Bears Not Totally Awful
Congratulations, Bears, on not being totally embarrassed this time around but of course a loss is just a loss.
The Cub Factor
Division Week
Like Packers Week, only with a chance of winning.
The White Sox Report
Olt Days
Slim pickings.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #68: The Bears' Grim March To Hell Begins
Including: The Coming Meatball Explosion. Plus: The Normalization Of The Cubs; White Sox Reportedly Still Playing; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; The Chicago Sky Head To The Playoffs.
SportsMondayTuesday: Good Job, Bears Fans
Not fooled again.
The Cub Factor
Joltin' Joe
Greatest Cubs manager ever?
The White Sox Report
Life After Death
So this is what it was supposed to look like.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #67: The Cubs Have Issues!
Infield, outfield, starting pitching, relief pitching. Plus: I Hate John Fox; The Secret Seven-TE Spread; Fangio's Folly; Rappin' Roger Goodell; Rah! Rah! Sis-Boom-Bah Humbug; The White Sox, Fire And Sky Did Things This Week.
Sony Softened Concussion To Placate NFL
A top Sony lawyer took "most of the bite" out of the film.
Fantasy Fix: Snap Up The Backup
A potentially fearsome threesome.
The Chinese Guide To The Fighting Illini
Ni dui zhe ci quan zhan de jieshu, xia. What's the over and under on this dog show?
The 'Beautiful Game' Turns Ugly: New Mob Museum Display Explores Corruption Of FIFA
Ripped from today's headlines.
The Cub Factor
Led Cubs
No-hitter covers over the reality of a bad West Coast trip.
The White Sox Report
Sox Gonna Sox
In parts of six seasons with the Red Sox, Junichi Tazawa had been called upon to save 22 games. He had blown 19 of them.
TrackNotes: Don't Go, American Pharoah
We need to see him run again. We really do.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #66: Fall Guys And Rape Culture
The entitled Derrick Rose. Plus: UniCubs and Lollipops; Insane Clown Bullpen; The Team Without Jade; The Quality Fifth Start; 0-16; The White Sox Have A Core Four!; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; So Did The Chicago Sky.
Fantasy Fix 2015 Football Draft Guide: TEs
Martellus Bennett vs. Greg Olsen.
SportsMonday: Slow Your Roll, Bears Fans
Everyone needs to try harder to avoid drawing too many conclusions based on pretend games.
The Cub Factor
Schwarber'll Be Selling Cars Soon
Why let Rizzo have all the fun?
The White Sox Report
The Problem With Robin
He's no Joe Maddon, but is he Ned Yost?
Man Of The Year Michael Jordan Tipped 20 Percent!
Ask yourself: Have you ever tipped that much?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #65: Only The Cubs' Light Shines In Chicago
Maddon for Mayor. Plus: Babe "Bam Bam" Schwarber, Ace Arrieta & Cogsy; The Chicago White Sox Did Something This Week; Chasing David Haugh; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; Vic Fangio Does Not Walk On Water; Two-Minute Mess; and The Erik Kramer Story Once Again Raises The Question: Should You Let Your Kids Play Football?
Why It's So Hard To Catch Track & Field Cheaters
"Drug testing has a public reputation that far exceeds its capabilities."
Fantasy Fix 2015 Football Draft Guide: WRs
Paging Alshon Jeffery.
The Cub Factor
It's Poppa Joe's Wagon Now
Joe's got this; let's just see what happens.
The White Sox Report
Camp Crosstown
Even from Wisconsin, the differences between the Cubs and Sox were easy to see.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #64: Babe Schwarber's Chicago Cubs
Takes the baton from Kris Bryant. Plus: Bad News Bears And Their Pussy Press Corps, and Frickin' Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Is Hosting The PGA Championship.
TrackNotes: Arlington Truce
You miss the grandeur of Arlington Park. But like an Easter egg, the pretty shell can't hide the goings on inside.
International Blind And Visually Impaired Sailors Coming To Race In Chicago!
Chicago Yacht Club Hosting 2015 Blind World & International Championship.
Fantasy Fix 2015 Football Draft Guide: RBs
Paging Matt Forte.
Which Is The Bigger Joke, Sports Mockery Or DNAinfo Chicago?
Pick 'em.
The Cub Factor
Waiting For The Goat
Something still just doesn't sit right with me.
The White Sox Report
Royally Schooled
Isn't this a case for trading Chris Sale?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #63: Maddon's Mojo
Cubs manager moves in mysterious ways. Plus: Mediocre Media Moralizers; White Sox SNAFU; Bears' Foxhole; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; Jimmy Butler > Derrick Rose; The Return Of Epiphanny Prince; A Beer Note; and We Already Miss You, Junior Lake.
We Already Miss You, Junior Lake
We here at the Beachwood loved Junior Lake; he provided multiple moments of happiness and made our lives better because of it.
Fantasy Fix 2015 Football Draft Guide: QBs
In an increasingly pass-happy league, the depth chart for fantasy QBs looks deeper than ever.
The Cub Factor
Pope Theo
He's infallible - to our local sports-hack fanboys.
The White Sox Report
If Only We Had Billy Pierce
Damn Yankees.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #62: Neither A Buyer Nor A Seller Be
Post-trade deadline edition. Plus: The Starlin Castro Saga; Len Kasper, Company Man; Bill Veeck, TV Bartender; The Journesia Of Training Camp Narratives; The Chicago Fire Continue To Disgust Us; and Eleane Delle Donne Emerges As The Face Of The WNBA.
TrackNotes: The Good, Bad, Sad And Suspicious Return Of American Pharoah
Monmouth's mad money.
In California League, Computer Calls Balls And Strikes
Next: Sending those calls to your smartwatch.
Fantasy Fix: Your 2015 NFL Top 20!
Matt Forte over Aaron Rodgers? Yes.
MLB's Next International Market: China
The Orioles strike first.
The White Sox Report
Play Out The String
So here we are once again, four games below .500, five games from a wild-card berth with five teams to leapfrog to get there and 66 games to do it.
The Cub Factor
Designated For Assignment
1. Make a shoebox diorama of the bullpen.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #61: Cold Stove League
Seasonal baseball disorder in reverse. Plus: The Same Old New Jay Cutler; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; Chicago Sky Still Rolling; and Duck, North Carolina.
Fantasy Fix: Adrian Peterson vs. Martellus Bennett
Value fluctuating - or is it?
Jockeys Ride Elephants Through Chicago!
"A one-furlong race, if the road stands up to it."
Badass BMX
Sick shit, y'all.
The White Sox Report
Once (Or Twice) Is Not Enough
Delusional thinking debunked.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #60: Talkin' Baseball
Damn Cardinals. Plus: Duncan Keith In The Pantheon; Blackhawks South; Elena Delle Donne, Superstar; and The Chicago Fire Actually Did Do Something This Week.
TrackNotes: True Justice For Arlington Park, California Chrome
There is no way in hell the track deserved to have a horse of his stature run there.
Fantasy Fix: Second-Half Surprises
Jonathan Herrera vs. Carlos Rodon.
The Cub Factor
Bot Day
All we know is pain.
The White Sox Report
Remain Calm
They ain't goin' nowhere.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #59: What Cubs Kids?
One is not a wave. Plus: The Crushingly Boring Crosstown Classic; Jeff Samardzija Vu; Patrick Sharp Is Still No Longer A Blackhawk; World Cup Carli; and Elena Delle Donne Deserves More Stardom.
The Cub Factor
The Real Big 3
How the Cubs are really winning.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #58: The Real Cubs Story
It's not what you think. Plus: The White Sox Meet Their Past; Old White Men vs. Soccer; Bulls Media Madness.
The White Sox Report
Present vs. Past
Should've just scheduled the Braves.
The Cub Factor
Vote White Sox!
All-Star balloting to win.
The White Sox Report
A Failure To Communicate
Paging Anthony Bourdain.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #57: Bobby Bill Clinton Portis The Bull
Just call him Portishead. Plus: Jon Lesster, Chris Not For Sale, Breaking China, Elene Della The Dream Donne, The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week, and Here Comes Chrome.
TrackNotes: Here Comes California Chrome
Former America's Horse on the way to the White Palace.
Fantasy Fix: Shopping The DL
Can Jorge Soler deliver?
The Cub Factor
Special Moments In Starlin Castro
Ritalin, please.
The White Sox Report
One Cliché At A Time
The games will be played between the lines, though not particularly well.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #56: Dynasty Schmynasty
Better than the '85 Bears? Plus: Fire Robin Ventura Already; Kyle Kub; U.S. Women's Soccer's Nostalgia Trip; The Sky's New Dynamic Duo; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; Springfield's Very Own NBA Finals MVP; and The Cell Is Supposedly Fun.
Coffman: Blackhawks Supercede Bears
Billion dollar babies.
The White Sox Report
We Should Know Better
Why wouldn't you have felt a twinge of optimism?
The Cub Factor
Hawks-Like?
So let's just say that one could "see" the Cubs laying a Blackhawks-like foundation, but stranger things have happened, like the last 100+ years.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #55: Do The Blackhawks Suck?
No. Plus: Downstate Warriors; Canada's House of Plastic; The White Sox Are Still Playing; The Cubs' Buzzy Bullpen; Cappy & Pokey; and The U.S. Men's Soccer Team Has Best Week In History.
TrackNotes: American Pharoah's Long Strange Trip
As many horses have since the turn of the century, American Pharoah defied current common wisdom.
Coffman: It's Not OK, Blackhawks Fans
Reassurance is not the proper response.
The White Sox Report
Try The Whitefish
Barely (not even) mediocre.
The Cub Factor
Left Out
Weak links.
TrackNotes: American Pharoah Thrills And Chills
I just hope we see him run again.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #54: The Exquisitely Boring Blackhawks
All the drama is on the ice. Plus: Extensive Bulls Coaching Search Turns Up Fred Hoiberg; Most Boring Manager In World Manages Most Boring Team; Cubs Make Kind Of Play They Never Make; How The Triple Crown Is Like The Cubs; and Get Sepp!
TrackNotes: Beatable & Bettable
That 12th furlong Saturday will turn American Pharoah's legs to pudding and demand the champion's proof.
SportsMondayWednesday: Stanley Cup Preview
Only one question matters: How do players react to the all-encompassing pressure when the series is on the line?
Fantasy Fix: Year Of The Rookie
Kris Bryant is no slam dunk for NL Rookie of the Year.
The Cub Factor
The Year Of Maybe
Will the Cubs finally put Starlin Castro on Ritalin? Maybe!
The White Sox Report
Somehow Hanging On
Total breakdown averted.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #53: Tough Thibodeau Talk
Rhodes vs. Coffman! Plus: How The Pundits Get The Ray McDonald Story Wrong; The White Sox Are Boring And We're Done With Them; The Cubs Are Still A Bit Clownish; and The Blackhawks Are Still Playing!
Fantasy Fix: Value Among The Viagra Set
Not dead yet.
SportsMondayTuesday: Don't Blame Bickell
Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen was the worst player on the ice Monday night, and the Blackhawks still couldn't win.
The Cub Factor
Lorde vs. Winger
A season teeters on a fulcrum!
The White Sox Report
We Miss Paulie More Than He Misses Us
Taking out the garbage.
TrackNotes: The Problem With American Pharoah
We'll never know how great he could've been.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #52: The Blackhawks' Biggest Problem
It's the opposite of what everyone is talking about. Plus: The Bulls Stink; The Point After; Robin Ventura Sucks Again; The Chicago Fire Did(n't) Do Something This Week; and The Cubs Make Big Moves!
Fantasy Fix: The Bryce Is Right
Most improved - and most valuable.
Exclusive! The Real Reasons That Dude Was Banned From Wrigley
Wearing a Jeff Baker jersey just too lame.
SportsMonday: What, Hawks Worry?
The boys looked awfully good for a 4-1 loss.
The White Sox Report
Streak City
These are not your fortnight's Sox.
The Cub Factor
Blowable
This season officially means something.
Audio TrackNotes: Peak Preakness
The Cavs fatten up the bankroll; six horses to look at. Plus: The Streets of Baltimore.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #51: Bulloney
WTF was that? Plus: Here Come The Mighty Ducks; The Mighty Cubs; The Mighty Ramblers; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; and The Mighty Ramblers.
Exclusive! A Guide To The New Wrigley Bleachers
Ronnie Woo Woo is out. Ronnie Woodfield III Woodfield III, Princeton '95, is in.
SportsMonday: A Bulls Nugget
The center must hold.
The White Sox Report
Stirring The Drink
This team finally has a theme.
The Cub Factor
Think Of The Bus People!
The team's hottest hitter is a shortstop who bats ninth and plays second. The team's best pitcher is a catcher.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #50: Vinny Del Thibodeau
Irresistible front office meets immovable coach. Plus: Back To Blackhawks; The White Sox' Most Unforgivable Sin; Cubs Still Have That New Car Smell; and A Chicago-Area School Will Win The National Men's Volleyball Championship.
Fantasy Fix: Run, Rizzo, Run
Chris Sale not so much.
The Cub Factor
That New Car Smell
Oh, and your garage doesn't have a roof and is under construction.
The White Sox Report
Ugliest Week Ever?
The bottom line is that for the third straight season this team does not execute the fundamentals.
SportsMonday: Blackhawks Late Bloomers
Multiple overtimes, late starts and a plan coming together.
TrackNotes: Worst Derby Field Ever?
Our money's on Dortmund to win and Mr. Z to lose.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #49: Winston vs. White
Crab legs vs. Claire's. Plus: Daft Town; Publix Enemy Number One: Kevin White Is Right; Bulls Got Next; Blackhawks Go Wild; Sox Suck; and Maddon's Magic.
North Shore Baptist vs. The NFL
Closing streets and feeding the homeless.
Fantasy Fix: Slow Starters
A Cub & Co. try our patience.
SportsMondayTuesday: Bulls Unraveling?
Not necessarily.
The Cub Factor
Shawshanked
It's like I've crawled through that sewage pipe in Shawshank Redemption and come out the other side, basking in the rain as prospects pour down on my smiling Cub-fan face. But there's still a dingleberry.
The White Sox Report
Fight Club
Was it the ninth-inning heroics on Monday or the macho face-off on Thursday that shook the team out of its doldrums?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #48: Bulls vs. Blackhawks
Shifting fortunes. Plus: The Network Hockey League; Shark Tank; Cubs Make A Shit Ton Of Money; Jackie Robinson Left; and Mock Draft 5.0!
Chris Rock On The Disappearance Of Blacks In Baseball
One problem: Venerating a past when blacks were slaves.
Fantasy Fix: Russell vs. Rodon
vs. Jon Lester?
SportsMonday: Not So Darling
Let us now take some time to praise a guy who will go down as one of the 10 best athletes to ever call Chicago home.
The White Sox Report
North Side Story, South Side Struggle
I can't recall when Robin Ventura has ever looked as indecisive and impotent as he did last Friday.
The Cub Factor
The Most Interesting Prospect In The World
He can turn Budweiser into Old Style.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #47: The Kris Bryant Coincidence
Fanboy media endorses Theo's lies. Plus: Blackhawks In Typical Thrilling Playoff Mode; Bulls Get Bucks; Mock Journalism; The Other Baseball Team In Town; Tribute To Mark Grace.
Fantasy Fix: Good Betts And Bad Bets
Trend spotting when it's still too early to tell.
SportsMonday: Controlling Kris Bryant
If the Cubs have to assert control over Bryant in 2021, they will have blown it.
The Cub Factor
Spicoli And The Robot
Once we actually win the whole thing people will think it was funny that they peed on themselves.
The White Sox Report
Not Yet Royal
In Kansas City, the White Sox saw what it takes to be a superior ballclub.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #46: Wither Chicago Sports
Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox all in trouble. Plus: The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week. Also: Wither College Basketball.
The Cubs' Opening Week On Deadspin
#Urinegate, a rainout without rain, Curt Schilling's sexual mediocrity and ABC 7's inability to spell.
Fantasy Fix: Deep Sleepers
The second Cub, a new face in Chicago, surprised me a little more.
The White Sox Report
We're Here, They're Gone
Players come and go; in a sense, they are incidental in comparison to core fans.
SportsMonday: All Jumbotron, No Cattle
The giant screen isn't nearly as fun when there are no highlights.
TrackNotes: Dubai Diary
As Bugsy asked, "Did you think I wouldn't see that? Do you think I wouldn't notice?"
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #45: The Kris Byrant Pundit Trap
Either Theo is lying or the Chicago sports media is getting the story horribly wrong. Plus: The Easier, Cheaper, Better White Sox; Deja Derrick Rose, Who Could Learn From Patrick Kane; Sports Economics For Dummies; We Thank Roberto Garza For His Service; Go Sparty! Fuck 'Em Bucky!; and Chicago Fire Averaging A Goal A Week!
SportsMonday: Drop It, DePaul
Who could have imagined that the sentimental choice would have been 100 times better than what DePaul is actually doing.
The 2015 Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide Pt. 5: Catchers & Closers
The most thankless and boring of all fantasy rankings.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #44: Alice In Cubsland
Where Javy Baez stays up and Kris Bryant goes down. Plus: Coach in Vegas; Our Elite Neighbors; We Hate Christian Laettner; McDonald McPunditry; Daft Town Chicago; Bulls' Secret Plan Coming To Fruition; Blackhawks' Secret Plan Not Coming To Fruition; DePaul's Third Strike; and The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week.
The White Sox Report
Enter Courtney Hawkins
Of course, this all is practice. Any correlation to reality is pure conjecture.
SportsMonday: Cinderella Spoilers
The fat cat bureaucrats at the National Collegiate Athletic Association and its selection committee who dictate how the tournament will be structured pretend to value the underdogs.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #43: Kris Bryant Has Ricketts
Kubs still Klass Klowns. Plus: Shout Outs to Tony Snell, Russell Wilson.
The 2015 Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide Pt. 4: Starting Pitchers
Sale vs. Lester, Samardzija vs. Arrieta.
SportsMonday: Illinois Is In - And Out - Of The Dance
Inconceivable.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #42: Like The Honey Badger, Derrick Rose Don't Care
Bigger jerk than Cutler? Plus: NFL Free Agency Gone Wild; The Bears' Trinity; Blackhawks Stand On Heads; Illinois Basketball FAIL; and The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week.
The 2015 Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide Pt. 3: OFs Offer A Clear No. 1
Jorge Soler vs. Avisail Garcia.
SportsMonday: Let The Cutler Countdown Begin
One more jerk move from a guy who many people believe specializes in them?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #41: Bears Get Boring
Clearing the drama decks. Plus: Who The Hell Is E'Twaun Moore?; The Big Boy Blackhawks; Tony, Oh!; Joe Maddon Is A Madman; The Mesmerizing Minnie Minoso; and The Chicago Fire Do Some Stuff.
The 2015 Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide Pt. 2: The Middle Men
Baez vs. Alcantara vs. Ramirez vs. Castro.
They Called Him Minnie
The re-acquaintance of Ernie and Minnie Minoso is a global and heavenly celebration. We miss both of them already
SportsMonday: The Big-Time Blackhawks
The Hawks have figured out something about prospects that Oakland Athletics' general manager Billy Beane determined long, long ago.
The White Sox Report
The Mesmerizing Minnie Minoso
While Minnie often repeated that baseball was very, very good to him, the larger truth is that he was very, very good to us.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #40: West Side Stories
Soap opera switches teams. Bulls Window Re-Opened! Blackhawks Window Slams Shut! And: Post-Combine Bears; What Kris Bryant's Status Will Tell Us; White Sox Infield By Committee; Dismembering Ricky Renteria; and The Legend Of Theo.
Palm Desert Dispatch: The Hot Stove Luncheon
No pepper, too many strikeouts.
The 2015 Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide Pt. 1: The Corner Men
Abreu vs. Rizzo vs. LaRoche vs. Bryant.
TrackNotes: A Lo-Res Horizontal Squeeze
I don't really pay much attention to two-year-olds, and betting them in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile is more like pub darts. But once they turn the corner into the new year, you start looking in.
The White Sox Report
Speed The Plow
Baseball leads all other forms of entertainment when it comes to paranoia.
SportsMonday: Chicago's Real Draft Kings
Look west, not north.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #39: Rahm's Lips Are Moving
Pols pander; Ponce punts. The Jackie Robinson West charade continues. Plus: Let The Combine Begin! And: Blackhawks Sit Tight While Rest Of The NBA Goes Trade Crazy; A Pall Over The Blackhawks; Baseball Players Report To Work; and Illini Golf Beats The Cold To Lead The Nation.
SportsMondayTuesday: Let The Combine Begin
Twenty-six analysts providing four dozen hours of live coverage over six days for an almost totally worthless exercise.
Fantasy Fix: How I Won My League
A tummy ache. Marshawn Lynch has a fucking tummy ache. This is how my fantasy football season ends?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #38: What Pundits Are Getting Wrong About Jackie Robinson West
Almost everything. Plus: Bulls Take Midterm: Blackhawks Slackhawks; The Cubs Are Still A Last-Place Team Until Further Notice; Blue Demons Down; Illinois Up; and Loyola Rambles On.
Tribune's Lead Sports Columnist Says We Should Be Grateful To Shut Down Congress For The NFL And Deliver Blue M&Ms To Roger Goodell
I'm not sure I've ever seen a sportswriter from a major metropolitan newspaper suck dick harder than this.
SportsMonday: Bulls Take Midterm This Week
Trap game and marquee match-up will tell us where this team is.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #37: The Big Gloom
The Post-Super Bowl, pre-baseball depression. Plus: The Gloomy Bulls; The Sunny Blackhawks; Bears Draft Mockery; Mocking The NFL Draft; and Joe Maddon vs. Kris Bryant.
SportsMonday: The Game Is Still The Thing
Despite its problems, the NFL still has one, ultimate trump card: Spectacularly compelling competition.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #36: This Year's Super Bowl Is Peak NFL
Beyond the Square Pool: The Game, The Bets & The Depravity. Plus: As The Bulls Turn & Finally Appreciating Ernie Banks.
The College Football Report: The Season Is Over But Beanies Are Forever
Free advice for the Big Ten.
Ernie Banks Was Not A Wind-Up Toy Part 2
In this revealing interview, Ernie Banks describes feeling more comfortable in the Negro Leagues than the Major Leagues, and how he lived a life separate from his white teammates.
Mr. Cub's Last Stand: Ernie Banks, 1986
Chatting it up before getting some measure of revenge against the Mets.
It's Back! The Beachwood Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bet: Katy Perry Edition
Four-year-old girls adore Katy Perry because Katy Perry is a computer program designed to appeal to four-year-old girls.
SportsMonday: Deflating Deflategate
Is Tom Brady a cheater? Tom Brady does not think so.
The Beachwood Radio Hour #41: Ernie Banks Was Not Just A Bobblehead
Let's not reduce him to a wind-up toy. Plus: Do We Really Need More Police Officers? Neither Side Wants You To Know; The Many Problems Of Political Polls; and Rahm Vs. The Field.
The Legacy Of Ernie Banks
Of course, none of us shared his most private of moments. Was he ever despondent, disillusioned, or downcast? We'll probably never know. As far as we can tell, he greeted each day with optimism and hope.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #35: Feeling Deflated
Tom Brady's balls. Plus: Bears Dream Team; Bulls' Weird-Ass Week; and Blue Demons Try To Justify New Arena.
SportsMonday: John Fox's First Lesson
Be the Seahawks, not the Bears.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #34: Bears Hire The Fixer
The Fox is in. Plus: Trouble In Bulls Paradise; The Blackhawks Remain A Delight; Super Bowl Bound; Coach On Kogan; and Our Man On The Line.
SportsMonday: League Blames Cutler
Marc Trestman getting a handful of OC interviews can mean only one thing.
SportsMonday: Considering Cutler
A simple litmus test for GM and coaching candidates.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #32: The Bears Have Already Blown It
George and Ted's excellent adventure. Plus: Bucks, Ducks And College Programs Giving No Fucks; The True Story Of Costa Rica's Weird-Ass Bullfights; Wild Card Weakend. And: The Upcoming Hero of 2015.
The College Football Report Bowl Preview Pt. 5: Katy Perry Still No. 1
Nice try, though, Buckeyes.
The College Football Report Bowl Preview Pt. 4: Winner, Winner, Cricket Dinner
Our Pick: The Horned Frogs (-3.5) and the chile rub.
Browns' Andrew Hawkins Explains Why He Wore A 'Justice For Tamir Rice And John Crawford' T-Shirt
So a call for justice shouldn't offend or disrespect anybody. A call for justice shouldn't warrant an apology.
The College Football Report Bowl Preview Pt. 3: Koozies For Floozies
What's this, a bowl featuring two ranked teams? Forsooth! Verily have we entered the Realm of Intriguing Games.
SportsMonday: Son Of Buddy Next?
The Bears better at least try to talk to Rex Ryan.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #31: Sweet Action! A Special Report On Sports Gambling
For entertainment purposes only.
Kool-Aid
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Year Of The Yuck
All joking aside, watching NFL Football was something that made made me legitimately happy, and the these Bears took that away from me.
The College Football Report Bowl Preview Pt. 2: Porn, Chicken & Bitcoins
Nothing says more about the world we live in than a cryptocurrency sponsoring a college football bowl game.
SportsMonday: Jimmy Pickles Proves A Point - About Jay Cutler
We now know definitively what we have in Jay Cutler, and it's not good.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #30: The Must-See Bears!
Weirdest, Worst, Wackiest Bears Team Ever. Plus: Duncan Keith, MVP; We [Heart] Pau; and Theo Forgets The Cole Slaw.
The College Football Report Bowl Preview Pt. 1: Cheap Trick, Gold Toes & Loaded Potatoes
If there's one thing a Miner needs to win, it's comfortable feet.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Go Fightin' Clausens!
The weird turn pro.
A Very Angry Bears Fan Christmas
Including "Cutler The Would-Be QB."
SportsMondayTuesday: Fire Away
Earth to idiots: We watch the games!
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #29: Bears Remorse
Coach-killer Cutler kills Kromer. Plus: Professional Baseball Comes To Chicago! And: Blackhawks Bungle.
The White Sox Report
South Side Hope
If the White Sox bullpen converted at David Robertson's rate last year, they would have finished 87-75 instead of 73-89.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: The Drugs Begin To Take Hold
It's going to be tough to make things interesting from here on out, even with a mighty assist from our old friend Alcohol, but I've got some ideas.
Fantasy Fix: Johnny Fantasy Football
I'll take Luck.
SportsMondayTuesday: If Only Kirk Hinrich Couldn't Breathe
What real progress would've looked like.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #28: Deja Bears
Team has an identity after all. Plus: The Bulls Make The Regular Season Like Lovin' - Fun; Blackhawks Are Like Carlos Santana With Rob Thomas - So Smooth; Adam, Ricky and the Duke; and Cubs Get Their Man!
The College Football Report: A Color-Coded Pile Of Kernels
This is where we miss the BCS and the cold-hearted algorithms of the BCS HAL 9000.
Jay Cutler For MVP?
This discussion actually took place last July.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: In The Hunt?
It's like I always tell my kid: Atlanta, you definitely weren't supposed to happen.
Fantasy Fix: Playoff Push Possibilities
There's still time to get help.
SportsMonday: Hire Harbaugh Or Go Home
The McCaskeys' last stand.
The College Football Report: Eggs, Hooks, Frogs & Stingers
Tchotchkes, trinkets, and gewgaws.
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Having Contraction
Lick it up.
Fantasy Fix: So Many Turkeys, So Little Time
Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and the Pope's Nose.
The College Football Report Top Ten: Burt Reynolds, The Statue Of Liberty & Lost Rainbows
'Merica.
SportsMonday: Trestman Outruns Lovie In Ugly Bowl
Cutler no longer allowed to throw.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #27: The Bears Are Like Butter
On a roll. Plus: The Game Chicago Going Under; The Ultimate Theo-Era Cubs Headline; Still Okay To Take Blackhawks For Granted; and Jimmy The Butler.
The College Football Report: Yada, Yada, Sooie
A trademark weekend of Directional Creampuffs and pigs.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: To The Bearmobile!
Kromer cracks the code.
SportsMonday: Bears Make A Statement
They will not just stand idly by and let Minnesota take control of third place in the NFC North.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #26: Paging Professor Trestman
The Bartman Bears. Plus: Derrick Rose Is Not A Fully Formed Human; The Blackhawks In The Cover 2; and Outlawing Sports Gambling Is Un-American, And We're Not Going To Sit Here And Listen To You Badmouth The United States Of America.
The College Football Report: Steel Panthers X Doritos = BOLD!
From Moscow to the San Jose Civic Center.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Home On The Rage
We're getting dangerously close to the time of year when mascot Barry The Bear retires to sleep in his cave beneath the parking lot.
Fantasy Fix: Buttfumbler Bargain
Who knew?
The College Football Report Top Ten: From Haters To Infinity
Sometimes you gotta say, WTF.
SportsMonday: The Meatballs Were Right
And when you look back at the last couple years, they have been right about everything all along.
TrackNotes: A Show About Nothing
A mugging, a theft and a horse race that nobody saw.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #25: Kickstarting The Bears
Bench Shea, Hurt Rodgers. Plus: College Football's Iron Lotus; Derrick Rosebud; Joe Maddon Facts; and Kickstart The Blackhawks!
The College Football Report: John The Baptist's Separation Saturday
Catch it.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: A Path To The Playoffs
Hint: It starts with Shea McClellin.
SportsMonday: In Lieu Of The Bears
A smorgasbord of sports.
The College Football Report Top Ten: Florida Folk Hero Rises To #1
Wins game, bags groceries.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #24: The Maddoning Is Happening
Cubs could still screw this up. Plus: As The Bulls Turn; Go Ahead, Sleep On The Blackhawks; and The Phil & Marc Show.
The College Football Report: Huffing Paint And The HAL 9000
We came to resent and distrust thee and could never figure out your math, but we felt certain there was some internal logic to the process.
TrackNotes: Bacchanalia To Binge On
For wiseguys only.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Bye-Curious Activities
Yada, yada, yada, the world is your oyster.
Fantasy Fix: Forecasting Is Dead
And Kyle Orton is very much alive.
The College Football Report Top Ten: Army Training, Sir!
With girl-on-girl action.
SportsMonday: Bye-Bye Bears
Hey Phil Emery, you're compiling a list of potential replacements as we speak, right?
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #23: It's All Cutler's Fault
No more equivocation. Plus: Dennis Rodman Was Drunk All The Time; Worst World Series Ever; Joakim Knee-Ah; Taking The Blackhawks For Granted; Little Big Ten; and Cubs Prepare To Block Their Own Views.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: You Just Kick The Ball
Brandon Marshall's milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.
Fantasy Fix: My All-Futures Team Is A Mockery
At least Forte has delivered.
Bears Edge Patriots In Epic Ending!
All types of yardage from Alshon Jeffery and the re-emergence of Marquess Wilson help team overcome Tim Jennings' big helmet and Jay Cutler's picks.
SportsMonday: Brandon Marshall Is Unacceptable
Right message, wrong messenger.
The College Football Report: Area Police Top Poll
Congratulations, Morgantown First Responders.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #22: The Giants Are A Better Story Than The Royals
And Brian Sabean is the game's best (and most underrated) GM. Plus: Cubs Entering "Competitive Phase" - For Fourth Place. Why The NCAA's Best Athletes Should Drop Out Of School. Miami Is A Trap Game! Coach Q vs. Tom Thibodeau. The Chicago Fire Make A Great Father's Day Gift.
The College Football Report: Jameis State
Incidentally speaking.
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Mojitos Over Miami
You need a straw-ready beverage when your plans include skeptically eyeballing things at the other end of the room.
Fantasy Fix: A World Of Pain
Infirmary central.
SportsMondayTuesday: Todd Gurley vs. The NCAA
Getting suspended is the best thing that could ever happen to him.
Bears Fans Are Who They Are
And so is everybody else.
The College Football Report Top Ten: Mississippi vs. America
Colonel Reb vs. Admiral Ackbar.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #21: The Chicago Bears Have Become Drama Queens
Mercurial and mysterious. Plus: No One In The Shootout's Got Swagger Like Kane; No One On The Bulls' Got Swagger Like Dougie McBuckets; and Theo Epstein's Latest Under-The-Radar FAIL.
The College Football Report: Condi's Kegs 'N' Eggs, The Cowbell Compromise & The Golden Hat
The Nerfing of America continues.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: The Team Of Misfit Toys
Even the bobbleheads are wack.
TrackNotes: The Soul Of Cigar
Famously "unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable."
Fantasy Fix: A Case Of Bad Reception
Why Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan are must-starts.
SportsMonday: Jay Is As Jay Does
Unlike a box of chocolates, you always know what you're gonna get.
The College Football Report: Katy Perry, Butt Chugging & Bud
Mississippi up for grabs; Tennessee leading from behind.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #20: The NFL Is Decadent And Depraved
And it's really grinding Coach's gears. Plus: Pondering The Packers, Panthers Prognosis, Jerry's Kids, All About Jay, Being The Blackhawks, and Bulls Rolling In The Deep.
The College Football Report: Scooby Snacks & Rat Packs
Time is a flat circle.
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Tales From The Crypt
After last week, it's going to be a little tough to jump back on the bandwagon.
Fantasy Fix: Running Scared
Role reversals in NFL backfields.
The White Sox Report
Ode To 2014
The problems are many, the holes need filling. Start with the bullpen - their 4.38 ERA is chilling.
The College Football Report Top Ten: From Army To Amway
Multi-level marketing at its best.
The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #19: Rodgers Playing At Cutler-Like Level
R-e-l-a-x. L-i-v-i-n. Plus: Mel's Bells! It's Tucker Time. Jared Allen Is Not MIA. A Case Of The Mundys. Keeping Forte Fresh! Is Jay Cutler Bored? Leave The Black Unicorn Alone. The Verdict On Ventura. Wrigley Wrecking Ball.
The College Football Report: The Fighting Costanzi!
Doing the opposite on a boogie-woogie weekend.
TrackNotes: Tarnished Chrome, Not So Super Saturday & Game Off For Dude
Handsome ain't enough.
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Welcome Back To Point "A"
Unfortunately, I don't think leaving the ball in Aaron Rodgers' hands during the last possession leads to an overthrow in the end zone like it does with Geno Smith.
Fantasy Fix: Kiddie Quarterbacks
And their Cousins.
SportsMondayTuesday: In Tresty We Trusty, With A Dash Of Lovie
Cutler managed the game and the defense did the rest.