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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Promise to mom can wait
Where in the world is Matt Miller? Good question. For the time being, he's back home in Aurora, doing work as an athletic trainer and organizing a summer basketball camp at the Fox Valley Park District's Eola Center. Usually, though, it's wise to have an atlas and a globe handy to find him. In the nine years since he earned Beacon-News All-Area Basketball honors as a senior point guard for coach David Saurbaugh at Waubonsie Valley High School, Miller has been here, there and, well, darn near everywhere. England, Spain, Germany, Bosnia, Romania, Ethiopia and Rwanda are just some of the stamps on the well-worn passports of this professional player.
Night Ice Fishing set for Shabbona Lake
Dr. Robert Weil: The week before an intrepid band of enthusiastic Shabbona Lake supporters descended on the 318-acre reservoir, Shabbona Lake Sportsmens' Club president Rich McElligott predicted another successful lake improvement project.
Panthers learn through adversity
Oswego coach Kevin Schnable had a message to deliver to one of his players.
It was Friday afternoon, school was letting out, and the Panthers had to dress and get on a bus for Plainfield Central where they were playing the Wildcats that night.
The message to freshman point guard Miles Simelton: you're starting.
Beacon-News Basketball Diaries: Double dip
Winning weeks are much more fun than losing weeks!
This week we played Michigan and Indiana, both at home, and we came away with two victories. Wins just make everything more fun.
Heading into the Michigan game on Tuesday, we were a little down after seeing our conference record dip to 3-6, but we had a renewed focus.
Beacon-News Basketball Diaries: Boiling point
Hey fans! I'm writing you on the bus home from Purdue.
It would have been nice to report that we won the game, but unfortunately we didn't pull it out.
In my opinion, there were lots of questionable calls throughout the game, especially the last possession, but that's how life is sometimes.
Area roundup: Somonauk girls win
Somonauk 32, Earlville-Leland 23 -- The Bobcats (12-15) got balanced scoring from Lauren Brummel (seven points, six rebounds, four steals), Karrah KuyKendall (seven points, eight rebounds), Jordan Smith (seven points, eight rebounds) and Audrey Weismiller (six points) in their victory at the Serena Regional.
Night Ice Fishing Feb. 13 at Shabbona Lake
The week before an intrepid band of enthusiastic Shabbona Lake supporters descended on the 318-acre reservoir, Shabbona Lake Sportsmens' Club president Rich McElligott predicted another successful lake improvement project.
Martz's offense must keep Bears' defense off field
Neil Hayes: Forgive Lovie Smith for allowing the search for Ron Turner's
replacement to drag on, but this was a critical hire not only because
the new offensive coordinator will be in charge of Jay Cutler's
development. With all due respect to Rod Marinelli, who was promoted to defensive
coordinator Friday, the new offensive coordinator could be the person
who makes the biggest impact on the defense next season.
Peyton's place takes hit
Rick Morrissey: -Peyton Manning got set up. Almost immediately after the Colts won the
AFC Championship Game, the discussion in the media turned to his
legacy. If he won a second Super Bowl, the thinking went, he would be
considered among the best quarterbacks ever. But damn if the fluff wasn't used to hang him after the Saints upset the Colts on Sunday night.
Thomas' Bulls time likely about finished
John Jackson: Forget his profanity-laced tirade at Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro after
the game on Friday in Atlanta for a moment. The biggest sign that Tyrus
Thomas is utterly clueless was that he chose that game -- one of his
worst with the team -- to explode and whine about playing time.
Cubs and Sox pack their bags for spring training
The Cubs and the White Sox packed up for spring training in Arizona on Monday. The Cubs will travel to Mesa and the Sox will make the trip to Glendale. Here's a list of what the Cubs will be trucking out to their training facility, what's already on site and the workout schedules for both teams.
Goal tenders' assembly line
Cristobal Huet still might be the Blackhawks' No. 1 goalie, but coach Joel Quenneville seems to be giving Antti Niemi every opportunity to win the job.
SPORTS WIRE: Vizquel gets Aparicio's No. 11
The White Sox are taking Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio's No. 11 out of retirement for newly acquired 11-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel. Vizquel said he will wear the number as a tribute to his Venezuelan countryman.
Well worth the risk for Hawks Olympians
The concerns are obvious for those NHL teams with players participating in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver later this month. There are the additional risks of injury and fears that players might tire down the stretch.
Monday, February 8, 2010
4 reasons for Lance Robinson's success
One look at Lance Robinson and you think -- linebacker. At 6-foot-3 and carrying arms that would force a longshoreman to blush, he fits the part. Plus, Robinson was an all-state tight end while playing for Danville (Ind.) Community High School.
New Orleans' Super Bowl win is big.. easy? No way
Sean Jensen: He strode to the makeshift news-conference table, the sly smile on his
face, the Lombardi Trophy in his arms, and New Orleans Saints coach
Sean Payton passed on the vacant chair. The coach with deep Illinois roots had just elevated himself among the elite NFL coaches of all time
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Rough night at the office
The second quarter wasn't kind to the two area teams at Saturday's Batavia Night of Hoops. West Aurora was held scoreless in that period of its 51-33 loss to Simeon and had a scoring drought of 11 minutes, seven seconds that started in the first quarter. Host Batavia, in its 61-42 loss to St. Joseph-Westchester, was limited to just one field goal in the period. Host Batavia, in its 61-42 loss to St. Joseph-Westchester, was limited to just one field goal in the period, when the Chargers extended their 16-11 first-quarter lead to 33-15 at intermission.
Chargers have plenty of things to celebrate
For the diehard Aurora Central Catholic supporters, it was an evening that simply had everything.
Former Chargers football coach Mike Curry, who led Central to seven IHSA football playoff appearances, was inducted in the school's Hall of Fame and the boys basketball team ran out to a 72-56 win over Immaculate Conception.
East Aurora Tomcats too much for Royals
East Aurora missed injured all-everything junior Ryan Boatright on Saturday afternoon less than Larkin missed a handful of players with somewhat less impressive basketball resumes.
What happened? Examining the 3-year fall at Halas Hall
After the Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI in
February 2007, they vowed to return. And while not many were betting on
it, they had the right to dream big. They were good, young and signed. What happened to the Bears?
Dudzinski carries Kaneland offense
If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.
That was -- and remains -- the mantra for the Western Sun Conference rivalry between Kaneland and Sycamore.
The host Knights used a variety of second chances to stay ahead of Sycamore and ultimately relied on 6-9 Dave Dudzinski's broad shoulders and game-high 27 points to carry them to a 47-42 senior day victory on Saturday.
Payton among top Naperville sports elite
In the last three months, athletes from Naperville have won a World Series, an MLS Cup and advanced to the Super Bowl.
If Sean Payton's New Orleans Saints make good against the Indianapolis Colts on the NFL's biggest stage tonight in Florida, it will solidify him as the most famous Naperville sportsman of them all. That's saying something. There are as many qualified candidates as previous names for Sun Life Stadium.
Vikings come back from 15 points down
Being down 15 points is unusual for the Geneva girls basketball team.
But for a Vikings program that entered Saturday night's game against Bartlett as winners of 52 consecutive regular season games, including an unblemished 25-0 record this season, the lead wasn't exactly insurmountable.
Final challenge for H-BR seniors: Win a second straight title
Sitting in the bleachers during a late-game timeout at Serena High School during the 2008 sectional final between Newark and Hinckley-Big Rock, I remember making a note next to the H-BR roster: dynasty. The entire team was sophomores and juniors.
Blackhawks turn in best performance
After finishing seventh at the DuPage Valley Conference tournament last week, West Aurora wrestling coach Mike DiNovo put a challenge to his team in the practice room all week heading into Saturday's Class 3A West Aurora Regional.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Vikings fall at buzzer
Jake Jouris is quickly turning into Mr. Clutch for the DeKalb High School basketball team. With first place in the Western Sun Conference on the line, the 6-foot-4 junior made a 3-pointer that beat the buzzer Friday night and lifted the Barbs to a dramatic 55-52 come-from-behind victory over Geneva.
Defense sparks West's offense
Days after watching a game slip away due to a lack of offense, West Aurora captured its ninth victory Friday night by putting up 70 points on DuPage Valley Conference rival Wheaton North in Aurora.
Free throws, defense carry Warriors
Earlier in the year, Waubonsie Valley girls basketball coach Kim Connell said of her team's free throw shooting, "I send up a prayer and hope they make 50 percent."
Raiders pull shocker at Batavia
It was a game that was as surprising as any. Batavia, one of the top teams in the Western Sun, went up against a Glenbard South team it had beaten by 17 points earlier this year.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Community pride
Glory days.
For longtime Batavia mayor Jeff Schielke, he has to look no further than the picture of the 1965-66 Bulldog boys basketball team that hangs on a wall in his office to bring back fond memories.
"I wasn't athletically attuned, I guess you'd say," Schielke said. "I wasn't even on the team."
Nonetheless, it remains a point of pride for a man who has been mayor of his hometown for 29 years now.
"That was during one of the glory eras for this town," said Schielke, noting that the picture includes three former classmates.
East-Neuqua game to be televised live
One week from tonight it will be "showtime" again for the East Aurora basketball team when the Tomcats travel to Naperville to meet one-loss Neuqua Valley for what likely will be a battle for the Upstate Eight Conference title.
Royals claw back from 10-point deficit
Needing a win to stay in second place in the Suburban Catholic Blue and hoping to send its seniors off in grand fashion, Rosary stumbled badly coming out of the gate on Thursday.
Newark turns back IC's upset bid
Who is that kid anyway?
That's what Newark coach Rick Tollefson had to be muttering to himself early in the fourth quarter as his Norsemen struggled to rally from a five-point deficit against Indian Creek in the opening semifinal of the 91st Little Ten Conference Tournament.
Local briefs: Curry to enter ACC Hall of Fame
Former Aurora Central Catholic football coach Mike Curry will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday night. The induction will take place at 7:15, prior to the boys varsity basketball game against Immaculate Conception.
The 50 best Bears of all time
No longer the scourge of the National Football League, the Bears still maintain an unmatched legacy of players who have made a profound and unique impact on the league. George Halas was a founding father whose innovations pointed the rest of the league in the right direction. Red Grange legitimized and popularized the NFL with a 1925 barnstorming tour. Sid Luckman ushered in the modern passing era.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Aurora area athletes make college choices
The Geneva Vikings have played some of the most remarkably consistent football in the state the last several seasons, compiling a 44-6 record the last four seasons including a Class 7A runner-up finish in 2008. Not surprisingly, the program has sent several players to high profile college programs in that time, and linebacker Bret Shannon can now be added to that list.
Huskies place emphasis on speed
Speed kills on the football field.
Northern Illinois University coach Jerry Kill knew that before his team's 27-3 loss to a faster South Florida team in the International Bowl on Jan. 3. It only reinforced it.
West's Venecia looking to take next step
Before the season started, West Aurora junior wrestler Miguel Venecia weighed in at 125 pounds. But the plan all along was for him to gradually cut down to 119 pounds by the middle of the season. And the transition has gone very well.
Warriors 'D' clamps down
Joliet's Steelwomen (6-16) were a hard-luck squad coming into Waubonsie Valley on Wednesday, having already lost to nine ranked teams this season.
The hard luck continued as they ran into another of the area's excellent teams, and left with a sound 59-27 beating at the hands of the Warriors, now 20-2.
Ice-cold shooting dooms Chargers
If you were to wake up and tell Aurora Central Catholic boys basketball coach Nathan Drye that his perimeter-oriented team would go 2 for 27 from 3-point land, he'd probably just laugh it off.
Briefs: I-8 holds Coaches vs. Cancer games
On Friday, the Interstate Eight Conference will be holding "Coaches vs. Cancer" games throughout the conference. The conference schools will be raising money to benefit cancer research. T-shirts for $10 will be sold at the athletic office at Sandwich High School all week and at Friday's home game against Westmont, which tips off at 7 p.m.
It's still the big dance
Sean Jensen: Former Bears Mike Singletary and Jim McMahon have an impressive collection of titles, awards and records between them. But much to their chagrin, neither can escape the inevitable and invariable inquiries about ''The Super Bowl Shuffle.''
Hawks cool off at home
The Blackhawks followed the Bulls' bad example Wednesday. They also found the first game back after a successful road trip frustrating. Both teams left the United Center when an ice show took over the building for two weeks.
Noah quick recovery
Before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night at the Wachovia Center, Derrick Rose said he was happy the Bulls were playing so quickly after squandering their recent momentum with a flat home performance. ''I'm glad we have a back-to-back, so we can get right back out there,'' Rose said.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Players ready for signing day in Aurora area
His commitment is firm, which should make Northern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill very happy this morning. That's when the signed national letter of intent from Geneva's Frank Boenzi will arrive, via fax, on his desk. "I'm not one of those guys," said the Geneva defensive tackle and 2009 Beacon-News Player of the Year. "Those guys get me going. I'm still signing with Northern." Boenzi was referring to two suburban players who had verbally committed to Northern earlier in the recruiting process but recently de-committed and went with other schools.
Blackhawks can't buy a basket late
Truth can be stranger than fiction.
How else do you explain Naperville North's 34-31 DuPage Valley Conference victory Tuesday at West Aurora?
Neither team had a scorer reach double figures. The home team didn't shoot a free throw and didn't score the final five minutes and 24 seconds.
Spartans keep winning streak going
Adversity must be met with resolve. Aurora University did exactly that Tuesday night during an 87-70 victory over visiting Milwaukee School of Engineering in a key Northern Athletics Conference South Division game.
Defense saves Red Ramblers
The final stats may not look like those of a winning team, but Mooseheart's boys basketball team will certainly take the win after Tuesday's wild Northeastern Athletic Conference game against IMSA. The Red Ramblers escaped with a 55-49 win on senior night.
Area roundup: Newark 78, LaMoille 31
Kyle Anderson scored 23 points and Brett Anderson added 17 for the Norsemen (17-2), who led 26-2 after one quarter and coasted to the win at the Little Ten Tournament.
Oswego edges West Aurora
Write out the best script you can to finish out a star senior's high school career and it will look something like the night Oswego guard Samiya Wright had Tuesday as Oswego defeated West Aurora 55-53.
Warner offers advice to Cutler
Sean Jensen: Kurt Warner knows about riding the Mike Martz roller coaster better than anybody else. Warner warned Bears quarterback Jay Cutler to buckle up but added that—with faith—the ride can be positive and enlightening.
Lovie's new Bears staff: Three men and a maybe
Mike Mulligan: The joke about Lovie Smith's first Bears staff in 2004 was that it was the team's least-experienced group of NFL coaches since George Halas assembled his first staff during the formation of professional football. Virtually everyone involved was either newly promoted or new to the NFL.
There's no 'I' in Peyton
Rick Telander: How do you stop this guy? Well, pretty much you don't. Peyton Manning is a boulder rolling down a hill, slowed by a twig here or there, but basically relentless in his path to greatness. Some, though not Manning himself, would say he's already there. ''Your question had a lot of 'I's' phrased in it,'' Manning replied to an early questioner on Media Day.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Avoid the hype -- most players uncommitted
In case you haven't noticed -- which means all of your television consumption consists of "Jersey Shore" reruns -- football signing day is Wednesday. ESPN has cranked up the hype machine to a pitch level only they can. Here's a reality check for that sport -- a wide majority of student-athletes from the 2010 class will not commit Wednesday.
Timberwolves keep streak alive
The Indian Creek boys basketball team kicked off the 91st annual Little Ten Conference Tournament with a 53-43 win over Paw Paw Monday night in Somonauk.
Area gymnastics teams ready for regionals
Beginning with Monday's Geneva Regional, local high school gymnasts will flip, somersault and leap through the air gracefully, all while trying to charm their way into the hearts of the IHSA judges and earn a trip to sectionals. Host Geneva will be led by Emily Ott, who won the Independent Conference All-Around and Floor titles Saturday at Oswego. Ott's performance paced the Vikings to a second-place finish behind host Oswego.
Martz promises Bears will have revamped offense
If history and the testimony of a Super Bowl-winning coach is any
indication, the Bears' offense improved dramatically when Mike Martz
was named offensive coordinator Monday. ''I would stake my entire reputation on their offense improving when he
takes over,'' former Eagles and Rams coach Dick Vermeil said.
Brees heeded call of storm-ravaged New Orleans
Rick Telander: Saints quarterback Drew Brees is familiar with storms. So the near-torrential rain Monday in South Florida didn't much faze him. ''Hey, it is what it is,'' he said philosophically after his team had
been bused 30 miles north from its outdoor practice field at the
University of Miami in Coral Gables to the Dolphins' indoor facility in
this suburb southwest of Fort Lauderdale. ''Weather the storm.''
More points = more wins for Bulls
If you search long enough, chances are you can find a statistic to support almost any position on any subject. Still, there's no disputing this simple statistical fact: The Bulls are winning more games because they are scoring more points. It's almost as if coach Vinny Del Negro received a Christmas gift of a better offense.
For Hawks, it's about finding silver lining
For Blackhawks fans who enjoy playing around with different line
combinations, the imminent return of center Dave Bolland should keep
them quite busy. Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said over the weekend that Bolland could
return ''maybe Wednesday'' against the St. Louis Blues, the game the
center was targeting.
SPORTS WIRE: Ex-Sox SS Cabrera signs with Reds
The Cincinnati Reds made a couple of roster moves Monday, signing former White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a one-year, $3.02 million contract with an option for 2011 and trading outfielder Willy Taveras to the Oakland Athletics as part of a four-player deal.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Jersey boy
P.J. Fleck had to admit, when he headed to Piscataway to interview with Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano for his new job as wide receivers coach at the Big East Conference school, he didn't know a whole lot about New Jersey.
The meat and potatoes of AU's recruiting
There is no doubt that Wednesday is a monumental day for the blue chippers. For all the other chips, it is just another day. By
definition, blue chippers are those athletes deemed so talented that
NCAA Division I coaches can't wait to see their signatures on a
scholarship offer, giving that athlete an opportunity for fame and
possible fortune and the parents a big boost to their savings accounts.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tomcats could use more balance
Jim Owczarski: Looking at the calendar, it says we are just games away from the Class 4A seeding of the Neuqua Valley Sectional. I know, it's coming fast.
Unfortunately for East Aurora, Feb. 11 may be approaching too quickly. The Tomcats are in the middle of the pack and could find themselves with a difficult path to just a regional title.
Lyons pulls away from Waubonsie late
With undefeated and highly-rated Lyons Township visiting on Saturday, a mismatch seemed to be the order of the day at Waubonsie Valley.
The Warriors battled the athletic Lions well for three quarters, however, before Lyons (18-0) pulled away late for a 62-35 win.
Cadets find their shooting touch
Marmion senior forward Mark Peters did all he could to give his Cadets' teammates time to find their legs and their strokes on the road against Aurora Christian.
A night after a physical win over Chicago Christian, Peters scored 19 of his game-high 30 points in the first half against the Eagles, and senior Greg Askwith hit three of Marmion's five third-quarter 3s to create the separation in a 68-55 win.
Injuries catch up with Vikings
With St. Charles East squaring off against Geneva on an evening when three former Geneva athletes and coaches were being honored, it was supposed to be a magical evening for the hosts.
Instead, the Saints used a 20-6 run to open the game and mixed in an array of defenses as they ran out 39-34 winners against the Vikings.
Panthers finish third in state
Entering this weekend's state tournament, Oswego boys bowling coach Linda Keely was hoping to bring home some hardware.
Her Panthers didn't disappoint, as they finished third in the state with 12,334 pins Saturday at St. Clair Bowl in downstate O'Fallon.
Spartans play a 'perfect half'
Aurora University, behind the outside bombing of Shane Roland and Dusty Magee, bolted to a 30-point (51-21) bulge at the break and coasted to an 84-57 victory over Marian University.
Bears' Devin Aromashodu ready to lend a helping hand
Bears receiver Devin Aromashodu ''arrived'' in the colloquial sense when he caught seven
passes for 150 yards, including the 39-yard game-winner, on ''Monday
Night Football'' against the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings. But at least in his mind, Aromashodu arrived in the formal sense
Saturday, when he hosted his first football camp at Miami Springs High,
where he starred for longtime coach Buddy Goins.
Hawks end 8-game road trip on losing note
The game Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes would be ''a
different challenge mentally'' and ''a good test'' for the Blackhawks. Those were the prophetic words of Hawks coach Joel Quenneville hours before the teams played at the RBC Center. The Hurricanes scored twice in the third period and got a stellar
39-save effort by Cam Ward to post a 4-2 victory against the Hawks.
Streaking Bulls find right formula
After 13 days, eight flights, seven games, three time zones and a host
of bus rides, the Bulls finally arrived home early Saturday. Forward
Luol Deng no doubt summed up the feelings of everyone in the team's
traveling party. ''I haven't missed home as much as I have this trip,'' Deng said. ''I
don't know why, but I'm just looking forward to going home.''
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Three-point play sinks West
Patience is a virtue. And, in Naperville Central's Friday night victory over visiting West Aurora, the creed was as true as ever.
Matt Neufeld had a three-point play on a tip-in with nine seconds left to lift the host Redhawks.
Short-handed Tomcats find way to win
Even without two of their noteworthy starters, East Aurora still showcased its talent in a 71-60 Upstate Eight Conference win over Elgin on Friday night. The Tomcats were without junior guard Ryan Boatright and senior forward Tramell Weathersby.
Bulls net fifth straight win
NEW ORLEANS -- Luol Deng scored 26 points, including a putback with 0.2 left in regulation to force overtime, and the Chicago Bulls outlasted the New Orleans Hornets 108-106 on Friday night.
Panthers stay unbeaten in SPC
With an overflow crowd spilling into whatever vantage point they could find in the Oswego gym Friday night, Oswego East's Jourdan Jackson fidgeted, probably the only person uncomfortable with sitting down.
Vikings defense overwhelms Foxes
The hallmark of Geneva's girls basketball team and its perfect start to the season is its pressure defense. After absorbing a 55-13 Western Sun Conference loss Friday, Yorkville coach Tim Peters put that defense into perspective.
Team chemistry helping Hawks on long trip
Momentum. It can be the end-all, be-all of a hockey game.
The Blackhawks had it early in Thursday night's matchup against the San Jose Sharks, and then lost it as their equally as talented hosts came roaring back from an early 3-0 deficit to tie it.
Ex-Warrior Edmondson enjoys homecoming
Sean Marcus Edmondson had a memorable homecoming at Waubonsie Valley in more ways than one. Not
only did the former Warriors standout (class of 1989) get a chance to
coach his current team, Huron out of Ann Arbor, Mich., Edmondson got to
see his two Waubonsie nephews Alex and Tyler play.
Overrated? Not a chance
Uh, memo to the Oswego High School student section: You showed great enthusiasm during Friday's Southwest Prairie Conference showdown with Oswego East as part of the standing-room only crowd, but you might want to rethink that one cheer. You know, the one directed at Wolves' senior guard Jay Harris.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Family reunion
What's in a name? You can call him Sean or you can call him Marcus. No matter which, this Edmondson, who will always be remembered at Waubonsie Valley High School as a very good basketball player, will answer. Sean Marcus Edmondson (class of 1989) went by his first name in high school and at Division II Hillsdale College in Michigan before going on to play professionally in South and Central America for two seasons. There, they called him by his middle name, Marcus, which he still uses.
First place at stake as Panthers meet Wolves
Here we go again.
A share of first place will be on the line tonight when Oswego East travels across town to meet Oswego in a Southwest Prairie Conference showdown. If it goes anything like the last meeting, Dec. 5, the packed house will be in for a barnburner and the fire department might want to have extra men on call.
Batavia wrestlers see positive in loss to SCE
Batavia wrestling coach Tom Arlis knew it would be an uphill battle Thursday, facing off against a formidable non-conference foe in St. Charles East and having to absorb a forfeit at 215 pounds.
Despite the 34-27 loss, the Bulldogs did manage to win more matches on the mat (7-6) and feel good heading into next week's Class 3A regional.
West can't complete comeback
Juniors A.K. Feltes and Lauren Graham poured in 12 points each as
Wheaton North outlasted the visiting West Aurora Blackhawks 48-44 in a
heart-pounding affair Thursday night.
Royals' pressure too much for Knights
Rosary met Chicago Christian at the bus with its fullcourt press on Thursday and caused the Knights to turn the ball over 13 times in the first quarter.
The Royals had little to show for it. When Katie Eckberg scored on an offensive rebound, they held only a slim 9-5 lead after one.
Chiefs lose to Morton in final seconds
It was a defeat snared from the jaws of victory.
Oh, Vernold Posey's basket with 4.5 seconds remaining will go down as the game-winner in Morton College's 65-64 victory over Waubonsee Community College Thursday night, but it should not have mattered.
Pro Bowl takes Bears rookie Knox beyond his goal
Like any receiver, Bears rookie Johnny Knox established 1,000 yards as a preseason goal. But the fifth-round pick didn't imagine the Pro Bowl was a possibility. ''I had a lot of goals set before the season,'' Knox said, ''but, honestly, this was not one that I set. Not for my rookie year. But I'm glad it worked out for me.''
'Selfish' Rose all about the team
Carol Slezak: The light has turned on for Derrick Rose. He has developed a selfish streak. And, no coincidence, the Bulls are in the midst of their best stretch in what feels like forever. This is the Rose we have been waiting for -- perhaps too impatiently. He is, after all, still a 21-year-old kid, in just his second pro season.
Waubonsie-Metea places 4th at UEC meet
The Waubonsie Valley-Metea Valley Co-op endured a rough start to its Upstate Eight Conference girls gymnastics meet Friday at Lake Park and finished fourth among the six teams with 141.15 points.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Bulldogs survive close call
A few weeks ago, Batavia's girls basketball team stood at 5-8 and the team was at a crossroads.
"We as a team have come together and said, 'All right, it's the second time around (in conference play), it's a new start, we're going to re-focus,'" senior Kelsey Stone said.
That new attitude has manifested itself in the form of six wins in seven games since that point, including Wednesday's 36-35 double overtime, Western Sun Conference win over DeKalb.
Youngsters step up for Chargers
On Wednesday night, Aurora Central Catholic coach Mark Fitzgerald almost had a heart attack after seeing the way his team started its game against Indian Creek.
Thankfully for the Chargers, they rebounded nicely en route to a 41-35 victory over the visiting Timberwolves as a slew of youngsters led the way.
Freshman Rachel Rahn calmly sank four free throws in the final minute to a secure a victory that means a lot to the upstart program, according to Fitzgerald.
Robinson's clutch shot seals victory
With Aurora University leading visiting Wisconsin Lutheran 77-75 with 30 seconds left on the game clock and four remaining on the shot clock, Lance Robinson found himself with the ball just beyond the 3-point arc.
He let fly, found nothing but the bottom of the net, and the Spartans clinched a hectic 80-75 victory.
Boys bowling: Panthers aiming for state hardware
Oswego has had a boys bowling program for just two years, but the Panthers have qualified for the state meet both times.
Last year, the Panthers placed seventh overall. This year, their potential may take them to an ever higher finish Friday and Saturday at St. Clair Bowl in O'Fallon.
Briefs: N. Aurora Baseball sign up
The North Aurora Baseball Association has opened 2010 player registration. The league offers organized instruction for children ages 4-18, including traveling and tournament teams for ages 8-18.
Hawks' problem: Where's tough-guy image?
Rick Morrissey: Most of us can tell the  difference between a professional hockey player and a choirboy. I don't actually know any choirboys, but I'm guessing the vast majority of them are in possession of all of their teeth and many of their brain cells.
Bulls reach .500 mark
The Oklahoma City Thunder slowed the Bulls' momentum once this season; the Bulls weren't about to let it happen again. They reached the .500 mark for the first time since Nov. 22 with a 96-86 victory Wednesday over the Thunder at the Ford Center.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
IHSA: No positive tests for steroids
Apparently where there's smoke, there isn't always fire. The
Illinois High School Association announced Tuesday that its
Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing Program had produced no positive
test results among the 141 athletes it tested this fall in three sports
(girls swimming and diving, boys soccer and football).
Winning streak ends for Bulldogs
Meaningful games bring out the best in teams and Tuesday's Western Sun Conference matchup was no exception.
Batavia and host DeKalb battled down to the wire and then went an extra four minutes before the Barbs pulled out a 68-65 overtime decision to maintain their hold on first place in the league standings.
Rosary getting back on track
After a humbling loss to Montini over the weekend, Rosary coach Dave Beebe was anxious to see how his team would respond with a quick turnaround Tuesday at Aurora Christian. Early on, the Royals appeared to have a hangover from the Montini loss, as the Eagles were within four points early in the second quarter. But after a timeout in which Beebe let his thoughts be known in no uncertain terms, Rosary was back on track. The Royals cruised to a 66-37 Suburban Christian Conference win to improve to 17-5 and help recover from the tough Montini loss.
Batavia finishes with kick
The tone of the girls basketball game between Batavia and host Oswego
East Tuesday night had already reversed several times before reaching
the fourth quarter with the Wolves holding a precarious seven-point
lead.
Former Cougar at peace with decision
On Saturday, Nov. 21, former Kane County Cougars outfielder Grant Desme took the field for Phoenix in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, a league designed for the game's top prospects to show off their skills for a month in the desert sun.
Drug testing in regular season remains on hold
They're waiting.
Mike Gaspari, athletic director and varsity football coach at Batavia High School, said he had read with interest the IHSA announcement that it had zero positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs Tuesday, but that he "had not heard anything" officially about the expanded testing as yet.
Area roundup: Mooseheart tops Kirkland Hiawatha
Girls basketball: Mooseheart 49, Kirkland Hiawatha 34 -- Cayana Samuelson scored 18
points to lead the Red Ramblers (9-9). Katie Stryker chipped in with 15
points and Santana Sanchez added 11.
Geneva's success is no surprise
Did you hear? The Geneva girls basketball team is pretty good. Shocking, isn't it?
With just a few short weeks left in the regular season, the Vikings are once again enjoying an undefeated campaign after going 27-0 last year before finishing 32-2 overall and taking fourth the Class 4A state finals.
Losing out to Cable guy
Rick Morrissey: The Raiders. The Oakland  Raiders. The Raiders who finished 5-11 last season and had one of the worst offenses in the NFL. The Raiders who still haven't announced whether their coach will be back in 2010 for the last year of his contract.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Anatomy of a comeback
Lifeless for most of the game, the Marmion Academy Cadets were looking for a spark.
Down 43-30 against rival Aurora Central Catholic with 4:08 left, no one inside the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates believed what they were about to witness.
Beacon-News Basketball Diaries: Nick Fruendt
Much like last week, we lost the mid-week game and came back with a big home win on Saturday.
On Tuesday, we played at Ohio State. They basically have a pro arena, so the atmosphere is a little different than Welsh-Ryan.
Anyway, we laid an egg in the game against Ohio State. They pounced on us and we couldn't come back like we did at Michigan.
Beacon-News Basketball Diaries: Teah Gant
Hey fans! I hope you guys have had a great week. I have been very busy this week even with the weekend off. I'll first give you an update on the basketball side of things. We had a game on Thursday against Penn State, and unfortunately we didn't get the win.
In previous blogs, I've expressed how well we work together as a team in order to win games. The aspect of playing together was missing during this game.
IHSA drug tests find no violations
The Illinois High School Association has compiled the results of its
Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing Program for the fall of 2009. There were zero positive test results among the 141 tests conducted
by the IHSA during the fall sports seasons, which included girls
swimming and diving, boys soccer, and football.
Indians get in on upsets at I-8 tourney
Three of the top four seeds were knocked off in the first round Saturday at the Interstate Eight Conference Tournament.
Previously unbeaten Dwight, the top seed, fell to 8th-seeded Lisle 35-34. Lisle had knocked off No. 9 Plano on Friday in the play-in round of the 12-team event and had lost to Dwight earlier in the season.
Area roundup: IMSA girl bowlers fall to DGN
Katie Kunstman rolled a team-high 600 series while teammates Siana Aspy
and Laura Leigh Heffner contributed series of 498 and 458 respectively
to lead IMSA in a match at Fox Bowl at Wheaton.
Martz solid O-coordinator, but Bears aren't calling
Neil Hayes: The buzz surrounding the Bears at the Senior Bowl relates to Mike Martz
and his candidacy for the vacant offensive coordinator position, if
he's a candidate at all. Martz, who
has said he's interested in coaching Jay Cutler in Chicago, and the Bears
seem like such a great fit for so many reasons, yet his dusty phone
never rings.
Thome doesn't get call to return to Sox
Ozzie Guillen had to make the final decision on veteran slugger Jim
Thome, and on Monday he finally did. The Thome chapter is over on the
South Side.
“It came down to getting enough at-bats,’’ Guillen explained. ''I don't want a season where Jim sits three or four days in a row and
the media comes up to him and asks, 'You're not playing?' This thing
will become a soap opera. It's about at-bats.
Flip side to Hawks' success
Carol Slezak: You can't see it, but you know it's there. The Blackhawks are wearing a
big target on their backs. They've become the hunted. Every other NHL
squad wants to prove itself against them now -- on the scoreboard and
otherwise. This is what it's like to be on top.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saints down Vikings in OT for first Super Bowl trip
Sean Jensen: Who dat in the Super Bowl? That would be the New Orleans Saints. With a remarkable 31-28 overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings,
the Saints figuratively removed the paper bag many fans sported during
the franchise's dark days.
Chiefs' O'Leary has got plan in place
You could probably count the number of college sophomores with a plan for the future on the fingers of one hand and have a couple left over. Future plans for the majority of all college students involve what to do that night. A few have etched out the next two years in stone.
Season will put Williams-Guillen relationship to the test
They’ve described their relationship as “two brothers.’’ Not the norm as far as major-league general manager and manager are concerned. Especially a GM and manager whose big personalities are only overshadowed by their even bigger egos.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Cadet comeback zaps Chargers
It does not really matter where Aurora Central Catholic and Marmion play because it usually results in a tightly-contested matchup. The latest installment didn't disappoint. The Aurora rivals got together for the 68th time on Saturday night and the Cadets staged a furious fourth-quarter rally to score a 54-47 victory in the second game of the 13th annual High School Hoops Showdown at Sears Centre. Marmion outscored ACC 24-4 during the final 5 minutes, 52 seconds to earn the victory.
Phoenix denies Tomcats' upset bid
The upset was there for the taking, but East Aurora couldn't close it out against North Lawndale Saturday night in the inaugural Tomcat Hoopsfest.
After Ryan Boatright converted a Letrell "Snoop" Viser steal with a dunk with 3:26 remaining, the Tomcats were sitting pretty with a 72-64 lead over North Lawndale. But Paul Bunch and equally impressive 6-4
senior forward Jermaine Winfield held East scoreless the rest of the
way and eked out a 76-72 victory.
Neuqua stops West Aurora in overtime
It is a shame there were only a handful of fans left in the Sears
Centre to see the conclusion to the West Aurora-Neuqua Valley contest
-- because it needed an extra four minutes to be settled.
Blackhawks' defense zones in on win
Good defense always makes a coach smile, so it was no surprise that West Aurora girls' basketball coach Connie Siljendahl was beaming Saturday after the effort her Blackhawks gave in the second half against Naperville North.
Trailing by four points (32-28) at the break, the Blackhawks stretched out a 2-3 zone to protect against the Huskies' 3-point shooters. The result was West allowed just 18 second-half points and pulled away to a 58-50 win in DuPage Valley Conference play.
Panthers slow start doesn't hurt them
Do Panthers hibernate? Maybe not to the fullest extent of the word, but
that didn't stop the Oswego girls' basketball team from sneaking nearly
a quarter of nap time into the beginning of Saturday's game against
Sandwich.
Foxes upend Sycamore for title
Yorkville's wrestling team lost to Sycamore early in the season in a dual meet.
So heading into Saturday's Western Sun Conference meet at Yorkville, it was clear that the Foxes and Spartans would once again be battling for supremacy.
This time, Yorkville wound up on top.
Waubonsie grabs UEC wrestling title
When they day began, Lake Park wrestling coach Todd Raymond had a good feeling heading into the Upstate Eight Conference wrestling championships.
His feelings turned in to utter happiness as his Lancers came out victorious for the first time in 25 years of the competition.
Women's pro soccer likes home cooking
Earlier this month the Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) drafted Neuqua Valley's Michele Weissenhofer out of Notre Dame and Geneva High School's Jackie Santacaterina out of Illinois, it harkened to a trend of professional sports franchises working the coming-home story.
Childress ready for another title game
Rick Armstrong: Brad Childress has coached in three Rose Bowls, four NFC title games and one Super Bowl in a career that has spanned 20 college and 11 professional seasons.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Wolves complete dazzling comeback
It was the mother of all comebacks for Oswego East basketball.
Considering the relatively short history of the school ± this is just the fourth varsity season for the Wolves -- you might think that's not saying much. You would be wrong, very, very wrong.
Royals win their fourth title in a row
In the game of basketball, they say that any game can't be won in the first quarter. While that is certainly true, it can be lost. And Dale Skelton and his Newark girls basketball team found out the hard way against Hinckley-Big Rock in the Little Ten Conference Championship on Friday night.
Blocked shot saves the day
West Aurora guard D.J. Vaughn was backpedaling quickly with 40 seconds left in Friday's game against visiting Wheaton Warrenville South, the lone defender against a 2-on-1 Tigers' break.
Answering a different call
Every baseball player hopes to some day receive "the call" -- the moment their dream of reaching the majors has been fulfilled.
Grant Desme -- a highly touted Oakland A's prospect who played 69 games with the Kane County Cougars in 2009 -- was well on his way to reaching that plateau.
Top-ranked Broncos too much for Royals
Rosary's girls basketball team knew it was coming -- Montini, the No. 1
team ranked in Class 3A and the leader in the Suburban Christian Blue
Conference.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Cougars player quitting baseball to become priest
Former Kane County Cougars star Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to enter the priesthood. Desme was recently selected the 2009 Arizona Fall League MVP and considered a top prospect in the Oakland farm system.
Longtime friends on opposite sides in rivalry
Joey Guth and Mark Peters were best of friends and basketball teammates in grade school at Annunciation on Aurora's northeast side.
"We hung out pretty much all the time, every day after school all through grade school," Guth said.
Boatright wills Tomcats to victory
Everyone in the building knew what Ryan Boatright was going to do. Attack the basket.
Stopping him was another matter.
South Elgin gave the East Aurora standout and his teammates everything they could handle Thursday night but the junior guard willed his team to victory.
Waubonsie left searching for answers
After seeing his team's performance in Thursday's 46-35 Upstate Eight Conference loss to Lake Park, Waubonsie Valley boys basketball coach Steve Weemer was nearly at a loss for words.
Del Negro cancels practice after frustrating loss
PHOENIX -- Following another frustrating loss late Wednesday night -- this one a 104-97 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers -- the Bulls have much to work on, but coach Vinny Del Negro decided the best way to get his team back on track was a day of rest on Thursday.
Warriors left searching for answers
ROSELLE -- After seeing his team's performance in Thursday's 46-35 Upstate Eight Conference loss to Lake Park, Waubonsie Valley boys basketball coach Steve Weemer was nearly at a loss for words.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Waubonsie Valley grabs a win
Wins have been difficult to come by this season for Neuqua Valley, so coach Mike Williams will take them any way he can. The Wildcats made just enough plays when they needed them to knock off East Aurora by a 50-41 decision on Wednesday night in Naperville. Neuqua (6-12, 2-4 Upstate Eight Conference) scored the first 11 points and held East Aurora (14-11, 3-3) without a point for the first six minutes, but the Tomcats rallied and eventually took a 29-22 lead midway through the third quarter.
Askwith's career high lifts Cadets
Marmion basketball coach Rashon Burno says that senior guard Greg Askwith is his team's best defender.
Well, Wednesday in a Suburban Christian Conference crossover game against Immaculate Conception, Askwith was able to contribute in a different way.
Askwith set a new career high by scoring 25 points in a 67-46 rout of the Knights.
Big stage awaits ACC, Marmion, West
Rick Armstrong: The big stage beckons -- yet again -- this weekend for several area basketball teams. The 13th annual High School Hoops Showdown, a tripleheader at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, will include three local teams.
Bad Rex: Grossman sells condo for $700K loss
Former Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman has never had this costly of a turnover: He just sold a condo in Chicago's Trump International Hotel & Tower for a nearly $700,000 loss.
Briefs: Amateur boxing show planned
The Jesse "The Law" Torres Boxing Club will host the New Year's
Battle Amateur Boxing Show featuring Aurora youth and residents this
Saturday from 4-9 p.m.
New position becoming second nature for Beckham
Beckham had been out and about one afternoon when he noticed a text message from White Sox teammate and good friend Chris Getz: ''There are rumors that I'm getting traded.'' ''I read it, and I was like, 'What? C'mon,''' Beckham recalled this week. ''I was thinking it was just another one of those wild baseball rumors, so I sent a text back to Chris and told him, 'Don't worry. No way that's happening. You're too valuable.''' Getz was traded to the Kansas City Royals on Nov. 6.
What Super Bowl matchup does America want?
Jim O'Donnell: Who does America love? In a season of restoked TV ratings for the NFL, which of the four possible pairings for Super Bowl XLIV will most gas the meters for CBS on Feb. 7? Does it include the team from the north country, led by its nature-defying new Norse god?
Late rally not enough for Bulls
This time, the Bulls brought their focus and intensity, but apparently forgot their shooting touch for a good portion of the game Wednesday night. The result was another road loss as a spirited late rally fell short in a 104-97 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. ''Our guys fought,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said.
Quenneville gives nod to Niemi
For those in favor of promoting backup goaltender Antti Niemi, the Blackhawks' 4-1 loss Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators only fueled their fire. Starter Cristobal Huet allowed four goals on 18 shots against the Senators, and coach Joel Quenneville characterized the outing as ''OK'' after the game.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Defending state champs enjoying the ride
There are certain things that change when you defend a state championship.
That is a position no team in the history of Hinckley-Big Rock has ever had to contend with, so the Royals' girls basketball team is learning that on the fly this season.
That Class 1A crown earned them an invitation to the prestigious McDonald's Shootout at Willowbrook Saturday, and the Royals treated it just like any other game.
Bulldogs flip the switch
Trailing after one quarter against Kaneland's girls basketball team Tuesday, Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker scrapped his team's zone defense and decided to man up.
That change flipped the switch for the Bulldogs in the second quarter, propelling them to a convincing 46-22 Western Sun Conference victory.
Mooseheart tops H-BR
If you blinked during Tuesday's game between Mooseheart and visiting Hinckley-Big Rock, you were likely to miss either team's jersey No. 12 scoring a bucket.
But it was Mooseheart senior Munir Smith's versatility that paved the way for the Ramblers' dominating 71-34 victory.
Fast start carries Chiefs
Building blocks come in all sizes and shapes.
For the Waubonsee Community College basketball team it came in the shape of an 86-68 victory over visiting Moraine Valley Tuesday night.
'Sleepy' Hawks fall
By being one of the best, the Blackhawks can expect the best from their opponents. It just comes with the territory. The Hawks would be the first to tell you that they weren't at their best Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators.
Flu bug putting Bulls to the test
John Jackson: To put it mildly, the start of the Bulls' two-week road trip hasn't gone as well as anyone hoped. There was the 17-point loss to the undermanned Golden State Warriors in the opener on Monday, plus steady downpours and periods of heavy rain in both the Bay Area and here, with more rain scheduled for the next stop in Phoenix.
Little-known freshmen fuel Boilers
Something had to give when Illinois tried to run its record at Assembly Hall to 11-0 on Tuesday against No. 13 Purdue. The Boilermakers were determined to end a surprising three-game Big Ten losing streak that had left coach Matt Painter questioning his team's toughness. Purdue won this battle of wills 84-78.
Cubs face big gap in arbitration road
The Cubs remained as much as $800,000 away from a contract agreement with shortstop Ryan Theriot and nearly that much with closer Carlos Marmol as the deadline for filing salary-arbitration figures passed Tuesday without deals for the team's top two eligible players.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Nightmare game for Tomcats
The Martin Luther King Dream Classic Monday at Whitney Young High School was the stage and Curie was the matchup.
The 64-51 setback was more like a nightmare for Ryan Boatright and his East Aurora teammates.
The standout junior guard, hampered by foul trouble, was held scoreless in the first half.
Harris pours in 36
The Oswego East Wolves cruised to a 75-53 win, senior Jay Harris wound up with a career-high 36 points and he finished the game as the Wolves' all-time leader in points scored with 912 and counting.
Change in defenses does the trick
Above the Rim | Jon Kerr: At practice earlier this past week, West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman made a decision.
The showdown with East Aurora was Saturday, and he knew he was outmanned at the guard position. He knew there was no defense he could draw up to stop Ryan Boatright completely, but he might be able to slow down the Tomcats guard.
Basketball Diaries: The Boiling Point
The Purdue game was incredible. Our students really came out to support us and the atmosphere is what college basketball is all about.
Before the game I had a little flashback to grade school and thought it was so crazy how far I've come in basketball.
Basketball Diaries: Home movies
What's up fans? I hope everyone is doing well. A lot of good things have happened since my last blog including two more big wins for us.
Sox counting on Rios to rebound after rough 2009
Five swings. That's all it took for Greg Walker to take a deep sigh of relief and realize that the enigma looked to be back to an All-Star. No holes. No mechanical flaws. No signs of a player who was carrying the weight of the South Side on his shoulders. And now the White Sox hitting coach is only looking ahead. 'This was the first I had seen him,'' Walker described of the three-day hitting session last week with Alex Rios in Miami. 'But to be honest, it took the first five swings in the cage to show me that he had passed the eye test."
Athletes' heart problems can be tricky to diagnose
Two renowned heart specialists warned about jumping to conclusions
after the death of Bears defensive end Gaines Adams and lamented the
cruel statistics surrounding sudden cardiac death. ''It's tragic. But shocking? It's not infrequent that the first
manifestation is sudden death, and that's the tragedy -- that at times
we never had a chance to diagnose it,'' said Dr. John Beshai.
Goalie rotation shouldn't deter Hawks fans' joyride
Carol Slezak: The Blackhawks are playing so well, it's tough to find any weaknesses
in this team. But this is Chicago, where fans have learned never to
take anything for granted. There must be something to worry
about, right? The Hawks are leading the league in wins, but the prevailing fear is
that they can't win the Stanley Cup with Cristobal Huet in goal.
Flat Bulls miss prime opportunity against Warriors
The Bulls are on the road the next two weeks because ''Disney on Ice''
has taken over the United Center, but the opener of the seven-game road
swing had a circus-trip feel. The Bulls certainly were clownish Monday in dropping a 114-97 decision
to a Golden State Warriors team playing with only eight players.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Spartans face tough road ahead
If it is really true that the road traveled is filled with fewer potholes than the one yet to travel, then a backhoe might be the order of the day. And, if the Aurora University men's basketball team wants to remain in the running for the Northern Athletics Conference championship it better find one with heavy-duty tires.
Heart attack claims Bears DE Gaines Adams, 26
Shock and disbelief met news that Bears defensive end Gaines Adams died
Sunday morning after going into cardiac arrest because of an enlarged
heart, according to the Greenwood (S.C.) County deputy coroner Marcia
Kelley-Clark. Adams, 26, went into cardiac arrest at his family's Greenwood home. He died at 7:21 Chicago time.
Niemi outstanding in goal as Hawks edge Detroit
Goalie Antti Niemi made another case for more ice time Sunday, winning
a heart-stopping duel with fellow rookie Jimmy Howard as the Blackhawks
took a 4-3 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Niemi stopped 35 shots to Howard's 26 as the Hawks improved to 2-0 on their eight-game road trip.
Waubonsie's Christy knows what it takes
To excel in the sport of gymnastics, an athlete must be agile, display nerves of steel and learn how to pick themselves up off the ground, if needed, and get back up on the apparatus to complete the performance.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Bears defensive end Gaines Adams dead at 26
Bears’ defensive end Gaines Adams, 26, died this morning of an enlarged heart, a Greenwood County deputy coroner said. He’d been taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, S.C., and died at 7:20 a.m. Chicago time. An autopsy showed he died of cardiac arrest caused by an enlarged heart, and the death was ruled natural, Deputy Coroner Marcia Kelley-Hays said.
West pulls off shocker; Johnson off team
Just when you think you've got it figured ... crazy things continue to happen in the rivalry known simply in this town as East-West. It did again Saturday when unsung and seemingly short-handed West High got a spark from unheralded junior guard Brandon Hayes and shocked East 72-66.
Wolves pick Raiders apart
Oswego East shooting guard Jay Harris needed this game from his teammates.
With the East Peoria defense keying on the senior early, employing a box-and-1 strategy, Harris watched as his teammates found the soft spots in the zone to contribute their own offense. The Wolves won 72-54 on Saturday afternoon.
Blackhawks beat Red Winds 4-3 in shootout
Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp scored in the shootout to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Troy Brouwer had a goal and an assist and Patrick Kane and Sharp also had goals for Chicago. Antti Niemi stopped 35 shots.
Benet goes old school on Oswego in old gym
On a night when Benet was remembering the past, the Redwings gave the 1,200 fans packed into old Alumni Gym something to cheer even louder about. The Redwings rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to score a 40-34 victory against the Panthers on Saturday.
West wanted it more than East
What exactly happened here?
Looking up at the Convocation Center scoreboard on the campus of Northern Illinois University, it reads West Aurora Blackhawks 72, East Aurora Tomcats 66.
I'll be honest -- I'm not really sure.
Royals shine on big stage
The Hinckley-Big Rock Royals shell-shocked the Oregon-Davis Bobcats with a strong offense on Saturday, defeating them 65-38.
Defense carries Rosary to a rugged SCC win
Coming into a Suburban Christian Conference tilt against an Immaculate Conception team whose only two losses are to state powerhouse Montini, Rosary's girls basketball team knew it would have its hands full Saturday afternoon.
But the Royals responded to the challenge, holding the Knights to seven first-half points en route to a rugged, 38-32 win.
Waubonsie falls despite Lippman's big game
Ryan Lippman provided the much-needed spark the Waubonsie Valley boys basketball team needed off the bench. The 6-foot-3 senior led all scorers with 20 points — including five 3-pointers — but it was not enough as Proviso East beat the Warriors 55-51 at Downers Grove North's M&M Winter Classic Saturday.
Magee scores 28 in AU victory
First, Dusty Magee had the career record. Then he didn't.
Then, for just a hot minute or two, Magee was the career 3-point field goals made record holder at Aurora University.
Ultimately, he wasn't.
What Magee came to AU to do was win basketball games and his game-high 28 points keyed an 82-74 victory over young, but talented, Lakeland College Saturday at Thornton Gym.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Tomcats don't fall into trap
East Aurora boys basketball coach Wendell Jeffries hoped his Tomcats would not overlook Upstate Eight Conference opponent St. Charles North on Friday on the eve of his team facing its crosstown rival, West Aurora.
Warriors can't keep pace with Wildcats
Turnover, loose ball out of bounds, blocked shot. Throw in a couple of missed shots, and it was easy to see why Waubonsie Valley fell behind 10-2 to Neuqua Valley on Friday night in Aurora. The end result, a 68-35 Wildcats victory.
Sluggish start dooms Blackhawks
LOMBARD - "Bad beginning" seems terribly inadequate in explaining what West Aurora's basketball team experienced in the opening four minutes of Friday's 66-52 setback at Glenbard East.
Vikings starting to click
Geneva senior guard Kat Yelle said that her team is finally starting to click now, really getting used to the new starters and where they are on the court.
Their stars are rising
Nodding his head to music on the far side of the court, Ryan Boatright waits his turn in the East Aurora layup line. It's been three years since he verbally committed to play college basketball at the University of Southern California, and he's grown quite a bit. Long weightlifting sessions have made him stronger, but his warmups still sag off him like a boy trying on his father's suit.
Eagles suffer lopsided defeat
Aurora Christian boys basketball coach Steve Hanson has already seen way too many lopsided losses this season, but Friday's game against Suburban Christian Conference foe Wheaton Academy topped them all.
Blackhawks rally past Columbus in 6-5 win
Jonathan Toews scored twice in the third period and added an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks rallied to sweep a home-and-home series against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 6-5 victory on Saturday.
Andrew Ladd, Marian Hossa and Troy Brower each had a goal and an assist, and Ben Eager also scored for Chicago, which blew a 3-1 lead and trailed 4-3 heading into the third period.
Bulls guard finally stabs in winner in 2nd overtime
Showing that there's no place like home, Derrick Rose poured in a
career-high 37 points in the Bulls' final home game of January, and
they needed every one of them. Rose, who had nine rebounds and six assists, hit the game-winner with
5.4 seconds to play in the second overtime as the Bulls edged the
Washington Wizards 121-119 before 20,304 on Friday night at the United
Center.
Michigan State breezes past Illinois
Kalin Lucas shook off a slow start and scored 20 points, leading No. 7 Michigan State to a 73-63 victory over Illinois on Saturday.
The Spartans (15-3, 5-0 Big Ten) broke a first-place tie in the conference.
Demetri McCamey scored 15 points for the Fighting Illini (12-6, 4-1) and didn't get much help.
Fans show '84 Cubs love after 25 years
If the members of the 1984 Chicago Cubs had hit as many out of the park as they did during their banter Thursday night, they'd certainly have made it to that long-elusive World Series. The line of fans stretching out the door of The Baseball Card King showed Jody Davis, Bob Dernier, Jay Johnstone, Keith Moreland and Steve Trout that they're still loved 26 years later.
Friday, January 15, 2010
East-West crowd sure to top average NIU home game
Rick Armstrong: One thousand twenty-four, 825, 704 and 3,064.
What are those, you ask, the number of times Mark McGwire injected steroids into his butt during his best home run hitting years?
Uh, no.
Those are attendance figures for four of the seven home games the Northern Illinois men's basketball team has played this year.
Chicago landlord suing former Cub Milton Bradley
Add his landlord to the list of people who don’t like former Cubs rightfielder Milton Bradley, dumped by the team last month. Bradley signed a lease for a luxury Magnificent Mile condo just as the
baseball season was starting, but his landlord says he walked out on
the $15,000-a-month lease in the fall.
Oswego East's Harris heads parade of big plays
Jay Harris, who entered the night as the Beacon-News circulation area's second-leading scorer with a 24.3 average behind East Aurora's Ryan Boatright (28.2), dropped 35 points on visiting Plainfield East Thursday to lead the Wolves to a 78-72 victory.
Royals take over in third quarter
Hinckley roared to a 16-3 third quarter and never looked back as the Royals pulled away for a 46-30 victory. After scoring only 15 points in the first half, the Royals surpassed that in the first six minutes of the third quarter to secure the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament.
Passion for the game
He keeps going and going and going.
Even knee replacement surgery this past spring hasn't slowed West High basketball coach Gordie Kerkman.
Peavy gives Sox an ace lift
Sun-Times exclusive: There was a time when Jake Peavy thought he wanted to be a Cub. More than a few witnesses saw him singing ''Go, Cubs, Go'' during the 2008 winter meetings in Las Vegas. There was a time when Peavy felt like he wanted to stay a Padre. After all, he exercised his no-trade clause in rejecting a deal last May that would've sent him from San Diego to the South Side. But Peavy acknowledged that the Cubs and Padres were more like temporary urges.
Gold Rush: Ditka worth his weight
Carol Slezak: Mike Ditka is 70 years old now, but he can still command an audience. His piercing eyes, fiery personality and passion were all on display Thursday when he was introduced as a member of the Chicago Rush ownership group.
Bears hire Mike Tice as offensive line coach
The Bears apparently are stockpiling former NFC North head coaches. Mike Tice was hired Friday, giving the Bears’ beleaguered offensive and
defensive lines the distinction of being coached by former head coaches
in the division. The former Minnesota Vikings head coach will oversee the offensive line
while former Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli, the assistant head
coach, is slated to coach the defensive line.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Warriors turn back Panthers rally
Waubonsie Valley junior wrestler Andy Myrna has spent most of the season shuffling between the varsity and junior varsity squads for the Warriors. Presented with an opportunity to wrestle with the varsity at 119 pounds in Wednesday's non-conference dual meet at Oswego, Myrna made the most of his chance.
Offseason grind paying off for Geneva's Ward
Sometimes a wrestler builds up such a reputation in the offseason that by the time the season rolls around, he is already near the top of the rankings.
In the case of Geneva senior 189-pounder Ryan Ward, his ascent this season couldn't have been more different.
Resolve to reconnect with the outdoors
Bob Maciulius: I was sorting through bits and pieces that have collected on my desk,
trying to pull together the peremptory column detailing my list of
resolutions for the coming new year.
Spartans fall victim to upset
Quickness is a great equalizer. It can also be deadly.
It was to Aurora University's basketball team Wednesday night.
Struggling with a 3-9 record coming in, Dominican University used its athleticism and quickness to build a 16-point lead then held on for a stunning 77-75 upset of the Spartans.
Piniella's winning formula: Addition by subtraction
No Roy Halladay? No Chone Figgins? No fill-in-the-blank-check slugger for the middle of the order? No problem, Cubs fans. The Cubs might not have added much to their second-place team this winter, but manager Lou Piniella and the boys bring a new math to the 2010 equation, heavy on subtraction and with an emphasis on chemistry.
Bears still seeking but not yet finding
Mike Tice will begin his two-day interview with Lovie Smith today, the day after Ken Zampese ended his, as the revolving door at Halas Hall continued to spin on the ninth day of the Bears' search for assistant coaches.
Against ailing Celtics, Bulls hope for road health
The Bulls don't leave for their longest road trip of the season -- a seven-game trek through three time zones -- until Sunday, but the game tonight in Boston begins a brutal stretch of 10 of 12 games on the road. Normally, beginning such a stretch at TD Garden would virtually ensure a rough start, but the Bulls might be facing the Celtics at just the right time.
Brouwer prospers on high-profile line
Imagine you are Blackhawks winger Troy Brouwer. The player who centers your line is one of the youngest captains in the NHL. The winger opposite you leads your team in points and is considered the face of USA Hockey. That's life -- at least on the ice -- for Brouwer, the third part of a very productive first line.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Vikings impose their will
A fast start and the ability to close proved to be the difference Tuesday for host Geneva in a 61-51 Western Sun Conference victory over Kaneland.
"They make you do what they want you to do. They punish you," said Knights coach Brian Johnson, whose club won the second half 30-24 but could not overcome a 16-point (37-21) halftime deficit.
Eagles hold on in second half
Given the blazing first quarter Aurora Christian put up on Walther Lutheran Tuesday in their non-conference matchup, it looked like the Eagles were ready to cruise to a big win.
It didn't work out that way.
Instead the Broncos put up a furious fight in the second half before Aurora Christian was able to close the game out and pick up the 79-73 win to improve to 6-9 on the season.
Dykes pours in career-high 30 for WCC
For the better part of two years, Waubonsee coach David Heiss has been waiting for Eddie Dykes to arrive. That time came Tuesday night. Dykes, a 6-5 sophomore from Chicago, poured in 30 points in leading the Chiefs to a 81-69 victory over the College of Lake County at Erickson Hall.
Wildcats get the best of their district rivals
The Neuqua Valley boys swimming team showed Tuesday why they have won three consecutive state trophies. The Wildcats once again proved to be the supreme team in District 204 as they topped both Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley in an Upstate Eight Conference meet.
Martz could be Bears' fall-back guy
Mike Mulligan: To hear some tell it, the Bears need to unfurl an ''Abandon All Hope'' banner in front of Halas Hall these days as welcome/caution for visiting coaching candidates. Media-driven skepticism seems to have everyone in the NFL closing ranks around one predestined fact: whoever the Bears hire as their offensive coordinator will be a fallback failure, while the new defensive coordinator will be an ineffectual puppet.
102 seasons and counting for Cubs fans
Carol Slezak: It's Cubs Caravan time, which means the fan convention is just a few days away, which means hopes for the upcoming season soon will reach a fever pitch. Ah, tradition. Cubs ownership finally might have changed hands, but the Ricketts family seems to be in no hurry to break with the past.
McCamey's there from start to finish
After coming off the bench for just two games, Demetri McCamey is scrapping his plan to be Sixth Man of the Year. ''That sixth man is probably over with,'' Illinois' star-crossed star said Tuesday after leading the Illini past Penn State in a 54-53 nail-biter.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Opportunity Through Baseball Dinner is Jan. 31
John Kerr: When the caller mentioned that he felt "bad" about calling, I had to suppress a laugh. Robin Renner should never, ever, feel anything but good vibes about asking for a little help in promoting his Opportunity Through Baseball Dinner and Auction (4-8:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Payton's Roundhouse).
Rust not a factor for Newark
Newark's basketball team hadn't played a game in 11 days but it wasn't apparent in Monday's 68-33 shellacking of an Ottawa Marquette team that entered the non-conference fray at 9-4.
Kuhn hits perfection
What's the best thing about the 300 game Kristi Kuhn bowled this week at Parkside Lanes?
At least the Aurora woman's husband can no longer hold that "perfect" label over her head. Not anymore.
Girls' knee problems are often foot-related
Hey wait a minute, not only girls, but everyone! Persistent knee pain, especially when it's not related to trauma or specific injury, is often aggravated by foot mechanics. Whether it's the youth athlete, baby boomers, or senior citizens, foot type (flat feet, high arches, etc.) affect the knees. By the way, since most foot types are inherited, it's not unusual to see generations with the same mechanical foot-related problems -- back problems included!
McGwire admitted steroid use, now it's Sosa's turn
Chris De Luca: If Mark McGwire can come clean about steroid use -- even if he's doing it just so he can be Tony La
Russa's new hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals -- it's time for Sammy
Sosa to stop pretending his outrageous home-run numbers could be tied
to nothing 1more powerful than Flintstones vitamins.
DePaul needs to get out of Allstate Arena
Rick Morrissey: The biggest problem at DePaul isn't coaching, talent or a wickedly competitive conference. The biggest problem is a building. Allstate Arena, besides having the ambience of a self-storage facility
off the interstate, sits 15 miles from DePaul's Lincoln Park campus.
That means school spirit has to hitch a ride to Rosemont. If that's not
a killer for a college basketball program, it's at least debilitating.
Bears search hits snag or 2
While they hosted their top defensive coordinator candidate on Monday,
the Bears suffered two setbacks in their search for an offensive
coordinator. The Bears, who formally interviewed former defensive backs Perry Fewell
on Monday, were also informed that USC offensive coordinator Jeremy
Bates canceled his scheduled interview for today and that the Green Bay
Packers rebuffed their request to speak to quarterbacks coach Tom
Clements.
Bulls get that groovy feeling in win over Pistons
Some folks at the United Center headed for the exits midway through
the fourth quarter -- but this time it wasn't disgust that prompted
them to try to beat the postgame traffic. The Bulls experienced their first bona fide blowout victory of the
season Monday night with a 120-87 win over the
reeling Detroit Pistons.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Cubs must fill in the blank now that Lilly is out
Marlon Byrd isn't going to make or break the Cubs' season. But Carlos Zambrano might. That was the way it was set up when the big right-hander's $91.5
million contract was drawn up in 2007, and it never has been more true
than now, with the Cubs looking at starting a potential crossroads
season with one All-Star lefty tied behind their backs.
Lovie's buddies a sure ticket to one-and-done in 2010
Rick Morrissey: We can waste a lot of time envying the swiftness with which the Seattle
Seahawks dispatched Jim Mora and ate the $12 million left on his
contract. Or we can save ourselves a lot of frustration and instead focus on the
wonderful possibility of Smith hiring his pals for the Bears' vacant
coordinator jobs.
Two sophomores work hard to build Mustangs
This year, Mike STack and Nick Pulgine, along with a handful of other swimmers from Waubonsie Valley, were moved to the brand-new freshmen and sophomore-only high school in Aurora, Metea Valley. No longer are the two just a part of a supporting cast.
Opportunity Through Baseball Dinner slated for Jan. 31
When the caller mentioned that he felt "bad" about calling, I had to suppress a laugh.
Robin Renner should never, ever, feel anything but good vibes about asking for a little help in promoting his Opportunity Through Baseball Dinner and Auction (4-8:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Payton's Roundhouse).
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