Chicago -
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
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.
Posted on September 18, 2015
By David Epstein/ProPublica
Earlier this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced that it had busted 16 underground labs and seized 134,000 steroid tablets and pills, 8,200 liters of injectable steroid liquid (that’s 140 kegs worth), and 1,400 pounds of the raw powder from which steroids are made. In Arizona alone, four labs and 150,000 doses of all types were taken by DEA agents in an undercover operation that spanned 20 states and four foreign countries.
There are, clearly, a lot of steroids out in the world. Investigators suspect there are hundreds more labs churning out performance-enhancing drugs. According to the DEA, most of the material used to make steroids isn’t even in the U.S. – it’s in China. As big as it was, the DEA inquiry offers a view through the smallest of keyholes of this illicit business.
One reasonable inference from the amount of steroids seized might be: there must be a heck of a lot of athletes who are doping. And that’s true.
Posted on September 17, 2015
By Carl Mohrbacher
Primer
Hi there!
I’m Carl and this is a sports-themed column primarily focused on the Chicago Bears, one of nearly a dozen franchises that participate in the National Football League.
If you’ve read this column before, welcome back! And more importantly, what is wrong with you?
Why would you subject yourself to this nonsense a second time?
If you’re new to the BAOKAR, it’s very nice to meet you and thank you for reading.
I’d like to provide a couple of quick tips to help maximize the “fun” within our upcoming shared literary experience.
Posted on September 17, 2015
By Dan O’Shea
After the first week of the NFL season, it’s always fun to look around your fantasy league to see who panics first. A lot of things that happen in Week 1 won’t happen again – or at least to such an extreme – for the rest of the season.
Is Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN, destined to deliver duds for the rest of the year, like he did in Week 1, with 31 yards rushing and 21 yards receiving? I don’t think so, and he should start rebounding in Week 2 against a Detroit defense that gave up almost 500 yards of offense in Week 1. So, if whoever drafted Peterson in your league is panicking and puts him on the trading block, go make a deal.
Posted on September 15, 2015
By Street League Skateboarding
Street League Skateboarding on Tuesday announced that the coming SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship – the official street skateboarding world championship as recognized by the International Skateboarding Federation – will include a women’s division allowing the world’s best female street skateboarders to compete for the title of SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Champion.
This historic announcement not only opens the competitive aspect of the sport up to all the world’s best street skateboarders, but further solidifies the competition framework for skateboarding. With the fast-paced growth of skateboarding, an accurately defined and credible pathway for both male and female competitive skateboarders around the world to achieve World Championship status is imperative.
Posted on September 15, 2015
By Jim Coffman
One game does not a season make. Yeah, it was the Packers, and yeah, it was at home, but let’s work within the context of this season, shall we? This Bears season is a little more promising after Sunday’s 31-23 loss.
Believe me when I tell you that I was sorely tempted to start today’s effort with something along the lines of: “What have we done to deserve year after year of Aaron Rodgers kicking Bears ass not long after year after year of Brett Favre kicking Bears ass?”
Posted on September 14, 2015
By Marty Gangler
Um, guys, what’s going on with this bullpen?
The Week In Review: The Cubs went 4-3 for the week taking two of three from the Cards and splitting four games with the Phils. Four of seven would normally be fine, but somehow it felt worse because 1) It’s the Cubs, which makes everything feel worse, and 2) They either blew leads in all the losses or came storming back to tie it up only to lose the leads again. There is clearly no quit in this team at the plate but those were three punch-in-the face losses.
The Week in Preview: The Cubbies get a day off Monday before heading to Pittsburgh for four against the Buccos and then three back home against the Cards. It’s Division Week!
Posted on September 13, 2015
By Roger Wallenstein
Ted Williams is credited with the proclamation that “the hardest single thing to do in sport is to hit a baseball,” which makes sense since Teddy Ballgame was arguably more skillful at it than anyone who has ever lived.
Most probably Williams’ comment was intended to boost his already substantial ego, although as far as anyone knows he never had to elude a charging 300-pound lineman while trying to throw a pinpoint pass to a downfield receiver. Nor did the venerable Williams ever have to sink a three-point buzzer-beater while being guarded by a 6-10 defender.
But Williams had a point. Hitting a baseball clearly is an acquired skill that few of us have mastered. The same could be said of fielding a hard-hit ground ball, as the White Sox too often demonstrate.
Posted on September 13, 2015
By Jim Coffman
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.
Posted on September 11, 2015
By Dan O’Shea
Week 1 of the fantasy football slate is upon us. Thus far, it’s all been guesswork, and we’re about to start getting some answers. So, what are the questions?
Here are a few, with my own prediction of what the answers will be:
* How long will it take second-teamer Johnny Manziel to win the starting job?
Six weeks.
* With his starting RB suspended, how many passes will Ben Roethlisberger throw?
48.
* Who will be the leading rusher in the NFL after four weeks of play?
Adrian Peterson.
Posted on September 9, 2015
