By Roger Wallenstein

The modern term, I suppose, is Man Cave, although I’m not as consumed with naming it as I am with using it.
Originally the space was our business office when we operated one. Now the basement in our home serves a number of functions: a location for computers, files, laundry, storage, coolness from the summer heat, and, not incidentally, a lovely, comfortable couch in front of the largest flat screen that fits.
And it’s only half subterranean. Windows filter in unneeded sunlight, giving us a weather report any time we gaze outdoors.
If I ever intimated that this was my place – my private place – to observe the White Sox, my wife, dearest Judith, would simply indicate the part of my anatomy in most imminent danger. No, this is a combined affair, watching and waiting to see if our White Sox can outlast the Tigers in this most surprising of seasons.

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Posted on September 17, 2012

By Marty Gangler

I took my 4-year-old son to his first Cub game on Sunday and I have to admit I got a little nostalgic. I remember going to the games with my dad and brothers through the years and hoped to make some memories of my own. And really, isn’t that why we are all here?
I mean, you aren’t reading this unless you are tied in to the Cubs or baseball in some way, and typically that’s through your parents, and that is even more typically your dad. So, the “history in the making” moment was all right there. And history was made. I took my son to his first game, that was part of the history, the other part was that it was my shortest game ever.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t think my 4-year-old was going to hang in there to sing that silly “Go Cubs Go” song, but I didn’t think it would be five batters into the game before he said, “Dad, I want to go home.”

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Posted on September 17, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

Mike Luce is away on a mission of national import.
Well, Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart was right: His team did not lose to Alabama (1) last week by 39 points.
They lost by 35.
Always trust the oddsmakers over the coaches – they’re more ultra-objective because their paycheck depends on it.

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Posted on September 15, 2012

#Cutler Bears The Brunt

Superior crowdsourced commentary.
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RT if you’ve sacked or intercepted Jay Cutler tonight #CHIvsGB

— NOT SportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) September 14, 2012

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Jay Cutler has seen more sacks than Kim Kardashian

— Not Brian Scalabrine (@BScalabrine24) September 14, 2012

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Posted on September 14, 2012

By Emory Hunt, The Czar Of The Playbook

You don’t want to play zone against Aaron Rodgers. The defensive line has to go eight deep. And the X-factor will be the Bears safeties.

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Posted on September 13, 2012

By Dan O’Shea

Many fantasy football draft boards had one thing in common: A complete lack of NY Jets players. With the possible exceptions of late-round picks used to nab WR Santonio Holmes, RB Shonn Greene or back-up QB/would-be miracle worker Tim Tebow, many fantasy football owners were not buying into the Rex Ryan mystique, the Tebow halo or even the hype around rookie Stephen Hill.
It was a prime example of how an already shaky team having a terrible preseason – no TDs by its first-string offense in four games – can shake any faith that fantasy drafters have in that team’s individual players.
But the Jets stunned just about everybody by tallying 48 points in an opening game win against the Buffalo Bills. True, there might be questions about Buffalo’s defense, but 48 points against anyone in the NFL suggests there must be a few Jets players with fantasy potential. It just goes to show that you can’t believe everything you see in the preseason.
Here’s my take on the fantasy value of a handful of key Jets:

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Posted on September 12, 2012

By Carl Mohrbacher

They’ve got a number one receiver, a Pro Bowl quarterback and a complete running game – now with real fullback action!
They’ve got a coaching staff that’s so experienced and prepared that they were in charge of making the trains run on time while Rahm was at the DNC*.
They’ve got an opportunistic defense that will put points on the board with a rookie safety poised to perennially man the secondary for years to come!
HEADS UP, NFC A-HOLES!!! WE’RE THE MONSTERS OF THE MIDWAY AND WE NOT ONLY LIVE UNDER YOU BED, WE BANG YO’ MAMMA THERE!!!

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Posted on September 11, 2012

By Don Best TV

The new-look Bears pummeled the worst team in the NFL. The Packers struggled against one of the best teams in the NFL. Oddsmakers who would normally have made Green Bay a seven-point home favorite kicked the line down to five. Opportunity for the savvy bettor arises.

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Posted on September 11, 2012

By Jim Coffman

Let’s hear it for starting the season with a little humility.
After all, Jay Cutler certainly bounced back well enough on Sunday. He had to after receiving a critical reminder that he is far from perfect when despite no pass-rush pressure he tossed a brutal pick in the right flat that Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman returned about 2.5 yards for a touchdown. It happened on the Bear offense’s fourth play from scrimmage.
It was an unbelievably bad start to the season, but it could have been the best thing to happen to this team if they want Cutler to carry them to a deep playoff run.

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Posted on September 10, 2012

By Roger Wallenstein

Good teams win the close ones, and neither team meeting tonight at U.S. Cellular appears to be very good.
Even though the four games this week between the White Sox and Tigers very well could determine the Central Division champion, both clubs enter the series in a fog. At this point, you have to give a tepid nod to our guys simply because Detroit had such a horrid week, going 1-5 including a three-game sweep in Anaheim over the weekend.
But yesterday’s 2-1, ten-inning loss to the Royals – a game where the Sox blew a number of chances – left Sox fans muttering, “If only . . . ”

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Posted on September 10, 2012