Today's Links

• Illinois absolutely wrecks the Hoosiers. No matter how Illinois does this year (looks like they will be pretty good), it's going to be fun to watch how horribly shitty Indiana is.
• Marinelli gets hired as D-Line coach of the Bears. Can they please just give him Babich's job?
• Is Kenny Williams about to make a crazy desperation move? Probably.
  
• Matt over at Blog-a-Bull seems to be reaching here, but I think he's implying the possibility of a Nocioni for Bosh trade...seems unlikely.
• Want to watch a video of Michael Jordan's mom? Well here you go.
  
• The NFL Playoffs this year have been awesome. So much for home field advantage mattering much.
• Is a lack of leadership to blame for the Bulls overtime loss to OKC? Hinrich will be back Thursday, so that might help. At least they beat the Wizards Friday.
• Did you see the Blago-Burris sketch on SNL? The Burris part cracked me up, the Blago part was so-so.
  
• The Hawks downed the Predators, so that little 2-game skid is gone. Oh, and I'm going to the Hawks game on Wednesday, should I bring binoculars? Or just not know what's going on 90% of the time because the puck is too small?

White Sox Fans Have a Lot in Common With Helen Keller When It Comes to Ozzie

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate the Sox. In fact I like them a lot. There are players on the team I have always liked and I will be the first to admit that the Cell is a fun place to see a ballgame (far different than Wrigley, but still fun). Either way, Sox fans seem to be blind and deaf when it comes to Ozzie.

Ok ok, I know the guy won a World Series in 2005, but is it possible that was a fluke? Is it possible that their pitching just got hot at the right time and that Kenny Williams neurotic trigger pulling on deals luckily hit for one season, like a slot machine?

Well White Sox fans refuse to accept those possibilities (extremely likely possibilities). They all want to point to Ozzie Guillen as the reason for the World Series, and have blamed all subsequent choking and underperforming on the players and to a lesser extent Kenny Williams. (And a quick shout-out to "grinderball", which Sox fans seem to think is the answer to all their problems. They must have forgotten that the team in 2005 was one of the worst offensive teams to win a World Series EVER and that it was pitching that got them where they were, not "grinderball". Honestly there is nothing more retarded than "grinderball". I better save this rant for another post)

What evidence do I have that Ozzie is a terrible manager (and person for that matter)? Well besides the terrible performances by one of the highest paid teams in baseball the past 3 years, the constant meltdowns in front of the media, the intolerance for difference, and the berating and embarassing of players publicly, there is another thing that just seems to keep happening with Ozzie. It seems that everytime a player leaves the Sox, he bashes Ozzie. Everyone knows Ozzie is a bully since the days when he hazed the rookies in the early 90s so hard that they ended up hating him (e.g. Frank Thomas). His players are obviously scared to say anything against him while they are on the team, but the truth comes out afterwards. Just in the last month alone, there have been three examples:

1) Orlando Cabrera's well-documented feud with Ozzie.

2) Nick Swisher's feud with Ozzie after he was traded.

3) And just in yesterday...Javier Vazquez seems to think the atmosphere in the clubhouse was not great:

“The negativity is never good," Vazquez said at his news conference in Atlanta. "I’ve always been a big believer in being positive, especially in professional leagues. You’ve got a lot of negative things going on, so you always try to be positive."

Those are just in the last month! That doesn't include Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, and others in past years.

And before you Sox fans run your mouths about how those guys all suck, think about how that plays into my argument exactly. You are all being blind and deaf. I am writing this because I want the Sox to do well, and Ozzie Guillen is tearing this team apart. Ship him out.

**Disclaimer: Since I am not a big Sox fan, I can't truly comprehend how much a WS ring can blind a fan, so I'm assuming you're all just so enamored with the 'ship that you can't see the truth that is right in front of you.

Today's Links--StevieY19's Computer is Broken Edition

• The Mets may have soured on trying to get K-Rod, but are they looking to make a deal with Kenny for Big Bobby Jenks instead?
• Albert Pujols won the NL MVP, though by his logic he should be conceding it to Ryan Howard any day now.
• A few pre-circus trip notes from Matt at BaB. This is the first time since the Jordan era ended (1998) that the Bulls have had at least 5 wins going into the circus trip by the way.
• Yup, the Cubbies are playing the first 2 games in the new Yankee Stadium. They will be exhibition games played right before the start of the season.
• Bye bye Demetrius Nichols.
• Kegger at the Dong is speechless about the Bears game. Gepetto is not. Both are angry. So am I.
  

Today's Links

• Here's what you've been asking for Ethan. Cubs contract situations in spreadsheet form for the next few years. Enjoy.
• Bulls preseason game against the Mavs last night. Bulls lost, but D. Rose looked pretty good after getting off to a slow start.
• Top Ten Cubs moments this year. Decent list.
  
• Shysterball explains why the regular season is so much better than the playoffs in Baseball. I'm not sure I agree with him, but it's an interesting read.
• Don't sell Orton short. WCG isn't.
• Are the Cubs pursuing Orlando Hudson?
• Kenny Williams will be making the decisions this offseason, but thanks for the ridiculous/unrealistic trade ideas stupid fans. Oh and something about "grinders". Big surprise.
  

Today's Links

• Zambrano hits, pitches, cracks molar, eats baby, and wins. Cubs have won 7 straight series. Wow.
• Apparently Kenny Williams "knew" the Sox would make a run this year. Ummm...good prediction I guess.
• Cubs reactions to the new MLB instant replay rule.
• Soriano apologizes for being a bitch, but does it again anyways? What is this guys deal?
• Good analysis of the Bears game last night by position. What happened to the defense?
  

Today's Links

• Lebron to Greece, not so far-fetched
  
• Who don't Cubs fans beat up?
• Fire Joe Morgan rips Kenny Williams for the Griffey deal and Mike Downey for loving the deal. I guess FJM disagrees with Top Ten Nominee, huh?
• Crrrrrrrraaaaaaaccccccckkk!....Griffey sure has a sweet swing in Sox debut.
• Yeah, I heard Grossman is winning the battle, but what about the Bearded One?
  

Griffey to the ChiSox: Deal or No Deal

Now that the White Sox have made their deadline deal for a big-name, over-the-hill, former superstar it is time for speculation. You probably haven't been following Jr. that closely this year. I know I wasn't. When I saw his numbers(.245, 15 homers, 53 RBIs) I have to admit I was disappointed. His hitting has declined, he can't play center like he used to and who knows what kind of affect he will have on the clubhouse chemistry.

But this is a deal that Kenny Williams had to make. He got Griffey Jr. and his 600+ career home runs for for last week's SI and a 6 pack of Old Style(AKA the underachieving Nick Masset and the un-needed Danny Richar). You make that deal 10 times out of 10. It is a no lose situation. If he is terrible or gets hurt, no harm no foul. More likely he will be motivated by a chance to go deep in the playoffs, along with the chance to play in a hitter's park sandwiched by solid hitting.

He may not pay immediate dividends, or even be responsible for that many more wins. But in a division race and a possible playoff run, this is one aging slugger your gonna be happy to have on your side. And, Man, is that swing gonna look pretty in White Sox Uniform.