Federer just better-er
Roger Federer hoisted the winner's trophy and celebrated making Grand Slam history, a year after an epic five-set loss to Rafael Nadal sent him away from Wimbledon with his title ripped away and his aura of invincibility shattered. Federer waged another five-set marathon Sunday and this time left as the holder of the most prestigious record in tennis.
Lilly's sights set higher
The result gave the Cubs an even more important series victory. They took three of four in the first series of an 11-game homestand. Lilly improved to 5-1 with a 1.96 ERA at Wrigley Field.
''He's pitched exceedingly well at home, and his home ERA is outstanding,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''We told him before the game [of his All-Star selection], and he went out and pitched like an All-Star.''
Not-so-great divide
Bartolo Colon suddenly has become like Bigfoot to Ozzie Guillen: The White Sox manager is guessing that his veteran pitcher is out there somewhere, but he just isn't sure where. After a 6-3 loss to Kansas City on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium, the Sox might want to start tracking him down.
NHL won't take action on Hawks
The Blackhawks claim they made no mistakes in tendering qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, but they found themselves in an awkward situation regarding their business practices -- and it isn't over yet. On Sunday, the NHL concluded a brief investigation of the Hawks without taking any action, but the NHL Players Association announced that it ''is continuing our investigation of this matter.''
Youth sports roundup
The Oswegoland Park District Otters swim team is 1-1 at the season's halfway point.
Local briefs: H-BR girls hoops camp
Hinckley-Big Rock High School will host a girls basketball camp for elementary- and middle-schoolers from July 13 to 17.
Police rule McNair's death a homicide
Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair's shooting death was a homicide,
police said Sunday, but authorities stopped short of saying it was a
murder-suicide committed by the 20-year-old girlfriend found dead by
his side.
Dancin' in Plainfield
After 25 years, Plainfield's Dale Coyne finally knows what it's like to win a race. After
a quarter-century of trying as both an owner and a driver -- 558
entries in all -- Justin Wilson gave him that breakthrough victory
Sunday with a dominant performance at Watkins Glen International.
Tiger Woods made it a hat trick of victories in tournaments hosted by PGA Tour stars, this one the most meaningful of all because it was his own.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Mark Buehrle, Ted Lilly picked for All-Star team
A pair of lefties will represent Chicago at the 80th All-Star Game.
Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly and White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle were the only representatives for their respective teams announced among the 32 players on each league's 33-man roster for the 2009 All-Star Game that will be played July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
'Crazy idea' pays off
Wouldn't it have been easier to just buy the kids a pony? "Exactly," Janeth O'Toole said with a chuckle.
The Batavia woman knows better, though. Her husband, Steven, doesn't do things halfway. He goes whole hog. Oops, wrong animal.
WIMBLEDON, England -- Roger Federer won his record 15th Grand Slam title Sunday, outlasting Andy Roddick for his sixth Wimbledon championship in a marathon match that went to 16-14 in the fifth set.
WIMBLEDON, England -- Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another opponent in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title.
WIMBLEDON, England -- A year ago, plenty of people were feeling sorry for Roger Federer.
Cubs are simply out of order
Time will tell if the lineup changes Cubs manager Lou Piniella made Saturday -- and the roster changes coming in the next two days -- will have a positive impact. ''You have to give it more than one day to see how things work out,'' Piniella said of dropping Alfonso Soriano from the leadoff spot -- a move that was immaterial in the Milwaukee Brewers' 11-2 pounding, mostly at the hands of starter Rich Harden (5-5).
Sox pull disappearing act
It wasn't the kind of game the White Sox envisioned Saturday, building a lead against the scuffling Kansas City Royals before it inexplicably disappeared within two innings. But considering the season-high seven-game winning streak the Sox had been on, they weren't going to be sitting at their lockers, heads down and moping after the 6-4 loss. Especially not with the MLB Network replaying a 1985 Sox-Yankees game with Ozzie Guillen, Greg Walker and Harold Baines all playing in it.
Throwing up zeroes
For Andrew Bailey, success is all about just being himself.
The 25-year-old right-hander, who pitched for the Kane County Cougars in 2007, has quickly moved up the Oakland Athletics' organizational ladder and in his first year in the big leagues has taken on the role as the A's closer.
Local Briefs: H-BR girls basketball camp
Hinckley-Big Rock High School will host a girls basketball camp for
elementary- and middle-schoolers from July 13 to 17.
Woods, Kim tied for lead at Congressional
Tournament host Tiger Woods and defending champion Anthony Kim set the stage Saturday for a showdown everyone wanted at the AT&T National, with some expected company on a suddenly crowded leaderboard at Congressional.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Cougars fans turn out in droves for Ramirez
It's hard to determine which event was more celebrated Friday night
when Kane County hosted Peoria -- the patriotic displays of color from
both teams for Independence Day or the return of Cubs' third baseman
Aramis Ramirez from injury.
Sox finally whack Zack
After Greinke dominated the Sox in his first two outings against them this season, a no-decision last month at least showed the Sox they could make the Cy Young candidate bleed. In their fourth crack at the right-hander, they showed they could beat him. In handing Greinke only his fourth loss of the year in the 5-0 blanking at Kauffman Stadium, the Sox also remained the hottest team in the American League, winning their seventh in a row to stay in second place in the Central Division.
Cubs walk past Brewers 2-1 in 10 innings
Pitching and defense win games, as the Cubs proved Friday in a 2-1 walk-off victory in 10 innings, their second straight win to open a crucial series against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. But manager Lou Piniella is tired of missing the hitting.
Federer nears 15th slam
Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer channeled Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash. And now, after years of chasing Sampras, Federer is poised to surpass him.
Hawks taking it from the top
It might seem like the Blackhawks did a lot in these early days of the free-agent signing period. Getting winger Marian Hossa was a huge deal, one that could push the team a step closer to the Stanley Cup. ''We made a long-term [12 years] commitment to a great athlete,'' Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said. ''It's going to be fun.''
Friday, July 3, 2009
East Aurora's Boatright got game, not USC
East Aurora's Ryan Boatright can remember watching "He Got Game" while
growing up and fantasizing what it would be like to be Jesus
Shuttlesworth, a recruit every college sought. Unfortunately for Boatright, he never had that opportunity. Just after
finishing eighth grade, Boatright jumped at his first college offer and
committed to the University of Southern California and coach Tim Floyd
in summer 2007.
Kane loses game, Elfstrom gains Cub
There have been many superstars at Elfstrom Stadium over the years, but
the biggest one so far this year is coming to Geneva tomorrow. The Chicago Cubs' Aramis Ramirez is scheduled to start a minor league
rehab assignment today with the Peoria Chiefs, the Cubs' Class A
affiliate.
Bulls staring at task of replacing Gordon's 20 ppg John Jackson: Whether you consider Ben Gordon's departure from the Bulls unfortunate or necessary -- or a combination of the two -- nearly everyone can agree on at least this much: Replacing Gordon's 20 points a game will be a challenge during the upcoming season. Sure, Gordon was one-dimensional and no better than mediocre at any aspect of the game other than scoring.
Prospective Solheim players start making case Chris Sosa: Throughout the next month, Americans on the LPGA Tour will battle fiercely over four tournaments in pursuit of a coveted spot on the Solheim Cup team. Laura Diaz has competed in the last four Solheim Cups and desperately wants to play for her country again when the event comes to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove from Aug. 21 to 23.
Career night for D-Lee as Cubs blitz Brewers 9-5
Benched leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano had the best seat in the house for Derrek Lee's monster game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night as Lee drove in a career-high seven runs with a grand slam and three-run homer in the Cubs' 9-5 victory.
Cubs slugger playing in Kane County
A turning point in this bizarre Cubs season could come tonight in
Geneva, some 48 miles away from Wrigley Field. Third baseman Aramis
Ramirez, recovering from a dislocated left shoulder, is expected to
begin a three-game rehab assignment with the Peoria Chiefs.
Local briefs: H-BR girls basketball camp
Hinckley-Big Rock High School will host a girls basketball camp for
elementary- and middle-schoolers from July 13 to 17. Girls entering
grades 3 to 8 in the fall are invited.
No regrets for Havlat, Khabibulin, now former Hawks
Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin had voiced their desire to remain with the Blackhawks. However, general manager Dale Tallon didn't retain either when the NHL's free-agent signing period opened, and both stars were quick to express satisfaction with their new teams Thursday.
Fourth of July spectacle: Manny's return to Dodgers
Manny Ramirez will be back in big leagues on Friday night after a
50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. His return
should be nothing short of a spectacle.
Shaq Show: O'Neal wants a ring for the King
Shaquille O'Neal and his oversized persona debuted in Cleveland on
Thursday with a stated goal for next season. His friend LeBron James
craves a championship, and O'Neal is here to serve. "My motto is very
simple," O'Neal said. " 'Win a Ring for the King.' "
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Murray closes in on coveted role
With the closer's role up for grabs for the Kane County Cougars,
Justin Murray showed Wednesday he has one of the qualities needed to
fill the position: a short memory. Called on in the ninth inning
with his team holding a one-run lead against Peoria, Murray came on and
retired the side to pick up his third save of the season as the Cougars
made it 2-for-2 in the series with a 3-2 win.
The Chicago Cubs have acquired infielder Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies for minor league right-handed pitcher Al Alburquerque and designated infielder Ryan Freel for assignment.
Ben Gordon agrees to five-year deal with Pistons
The courtship was short. The contract was sweet. Ben Gordon's whirlwind trip to Detroit on Wednesday ended with the now former Bulls star verbally agreeing to a five-year, $55 million deal with the Pistons. Gordon, who led the Bulls in scoring each of the last four seasons, was wooed by Pistons president Joe Dumars when the two met throughout the day at the team's practice facility in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Success under his belt
Just over a year ago, Kevin Streelman was trying to get his feet under
him as a first-year professional on the PGA Tour. Trying to balance
travel, the media and countless endorsement opportunities was almost a
full-time job in itself, let alone trying to play.
Hossa keeps his eyes on the prize Neil Hayes: He was being pushed around the ice, the Memorial Cup balanced on his lap, his left knee throbbing. That's how much the moment meant to him. That's how much he meant to his teammates. It happened 11 years ago when Marian Hossa was playing for the Portland (Ore.) Winter Hawks in the Western Hockey League.
Briefs: Relieved Roddick earns trip to semis
This one meant so much to Andy Roddick . Because of the stakes: a return to Wimbledon's semifinals. Because of the opponent: 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt
. And because of the circumstances: a five-set grind that began under a
bright sun and concluded in shadows, 3 hours, 50 minutes later.
White Sox beat Indians 6-2, sweep series
Just under two weeks ago, manager Ozzie Guillen gathered his team for a quick meeting, delivering a very simple, but honest, message. ''I told them, 'Hey man, play whatever games we have left [before the All-Star break] like champs, because I don't want the general manager [Ken Williams] to break this team apart because we think we don't have a chance to win the division,' '' Guillen confessed, hours before the 6-2 win over Cleveland on Wednesday.
Orchard Valley sees season's third hole-in-one
The third hole-in-one of the season at Orchard Valley was recorded June
27, when Garrett Hunt used a 9-iron to ace the 160-yard sixth hole on
the Aurora course. Jim Hunt witnessed the eagle.
Sam Fuld fills in, sparks 4-1 win over Pirates
How might history have changed if Wally Pipp had a $136 million contract? We'll probably never know. Meanwhile, rookie Sam Fuld filled in for slumping leadoff hitter/left fielder Alfonso Soriano by reaching base three times, making a sliding catch to end the fourth and throwing out a runner at the plate to end Pittsburgh's last scoring threat in the fifth as the Cubs beat the Pirates 4-1 for just their second road series win in two months.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Swap meet begins
Since the Kane County Cougars wrapped up the first-half Midwest League
Western Division title and embarked on the All-Star break early last
week, the team has taken on a brand-new look.
Cubs' Guzman impressive in rehab start
After throwing his first rehab inning for Class A Peoria on Tuesday after going on the disabled list June 21 with soreness in his right triceps, Cubs reliever Angel Guzman proclaimed himself "100 percent back again."
Hawks sign Hossa, lose Khabibulin to the Oilers
The Blackhawks confirmed they have signed Marian Hossa, the veteran forward who scored 40 goals for the Detroit Red Wings last season. Canada's TSN reported that Hossa signed a 12-year contract that will pay him $5.2 million per season. The Hawks also signed Red Wings free agent Tomas Kopecky, a 27-year-old center, to a two-year contract.
Silver Cross Field site for baseball dreamers
Silver Cross Field will be the site of a unique fall baseball camp.
Super Independent Baseball will run a tryout camp for 88 college players from Sept. 20 to Oct. 11.
The Herald News previously reported arrangements were being made to possibly hold the event in Joliet, and the plans have since been finalized.
Chicago managers claim dubious poll honors
As if Chicago's baseball legacy hasn't been battered enough, here comes the latest indignity.
Sports Illustrated asked 380 major league players this question: Which manager do you least want to play for? Their answers were a front-and-then-backhanded slap to the faces of Chicago's resident big-league managers, with Lou Piniella winning -- losing? -- with 26 percent of the vote and Ozzie Guillen second with 21 percent.
A Gordon balancing act
After months of positioning and planning, teams will begin to find out today whether their hopes can be turned into reality, and players will discover exactly what their worth is on the open market. The NBA's free-agent period started at midnight, and now teams can begin negotiating with players whose contracts have expired. The deals struck in the coming days and weeks could affect the balance of power for the upcoming season.
Briefs: Spartans land in national rankings
The Aurora University football program received national recognition entering the 2009 football season by earning a national ranking in the annual Lindy's preseason publication, currently on newsstands.
WIMBLEDON, England -- Her 19th consecutive victory at the All England Club already wrapped up, Venus Williams grabbed a seat and watched younger sister Serena win easily to reach the semifinals, too.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Johnson adds many positives to Bulls' framework
Chicago, meet your James Johnson. His pedigree is more sociologically exotic than street. He appears more mobile than menacing. It is his feet of fury rather than his fists that interest the Rose-rage Bulls and their re-energized fandom now.
Solheim Cup to pump up the volume
When Jerry Rich got word from the LPGA several years ago that his Rich
Harvest Farms course had been chosen from among three finalists to host
the 2009 Solheim Cup, he said it felt "like reaching the top of Mount
Everest."
Floyd, White Sox look for real
Ozzie Guillen was already fooled once this season. After weeks of managing what he suspected was a dead baseball team, he thought he'd found water in late May after the White Sox went on a 10-3 run. It was nothing more than a mirage before the Sox fell back into their old ways.
Harden steers Cubs back on track with win over Pirates
The Cubs finally discovered the missing piece to their wayward season: Pittsburgh. Having already traveled to St. Louis and Milwaukee twice each and Houston three times, the Cubs opened their first series of the season in Pittsburgh against a team they've spent the last five years thrashing. They almost casually beat the Pirates 3-1 on Monday night at PNC Park behind Rich Harden's best performance of the season.
Blackhawks' focus turns to free agency
Making selections in the NHL entry draft that concluded Saturday was an easy task for Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon compared to what awaits him in the next few days. Martin Havlat, Nikolai Khabibulin, Sammy Pahlsson and Matt Walker are unrestricted free agents. They're free to sign with any other team when the free-agent signing period begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Who to gets to play at Solheim?
The rosters for the U.S. and European teams will be unveiled by the
captains (Beth Daniel and Alison Nicholas, respectively) Aug. 2,
immediately after the Women's British Open concludes.
Hands off: Protecting yourself from poison ivy Outdoors: Someday, a high-end restaurant will overlook the Fox River below
the Glen Palmer Dam in downtown Yorkville. Its huge open-air deck will
hang over the hiking and biking path, which will follow the river in
either direction, an endless seam connecting towns along the river.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Geneva pole vaulter ponders Olympic push
Sarah Landau raised the bar and went out in style as an All-American. But is she done? It's hard to say. "It was an awesome performance to end the season in front of almost
6,000 people, to (set a personal record) and get All-America," the
University of Arkansas senior said after she cleared a personal best 13
feet, 9 1/4 inches to place eighth in the NCAA Division I Championships
two weeks ago in her home stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.
Danks fills in the blanks
More often than not, the crosstown series has been a crossroads series in the seasons of the Cubs and White Sox. The direction each takes now after another clash Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field could be as important as the Sox' 3-2 edge in the '09 series, with one game still remaining Sept. 3 at Wrigley Field.
Cubs off the Mark again
As if Cubs teammates and fans weren't still mourning last winter's trade of Mark DeRosa to Cleveland, now they'll have to beat the popular run producer if they want to win the National League Central again -- this after passing on a chance to reacquire him earlier this month.
Danks calls it 'baseball' when he nails Freel
Of the 110 pitches starter John Danks threw Sunday in the White Sox' 6-0 victory against the Cubs, one stood out in particular. The Sox were up five runs in the seventh inning -- the game all but over -- when Danks pelted Cubs third baseman Ryan Freel with a pitch. Just call it a response to a wild sixth inning in which Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano plunked Dewayne Wise after Chris Getz stole home on a suicide-squeeze play.
AU lacrosse coach used to winning Bill Kindt: Two weeks ago, the AU athletic department announced the hiring of Brendan Dawson to coach its fledgling men's lacrosse program and, because he has no head-coaching experience, he seems a perfect fit for a program barely in the planning stage.
Rain makes victor of teen
There were questions about the judgment of team owner Joe Gibbs when
he decided to replace departing two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart
with a 19-year-old rookie this season.
Youth softball, baseball roundup
Dreyer Foote & Streit 25-18, Johno's 8-7 -- In the first game of
the doubleheader, Tori Hunger struck out nine batters in four innings
while Jessica Vargas was 2-for-4 with two doubles.
Brazil's second-half blitz buries U.S.
Brazil's "Beautiful Game" came alive in the second half Sunday with
three comeback goals in a 3-2 win over the United States in the
Confederations Cup final.
Perry sets record in Travelers win
Kenny Perry has set a goal of winning 20 times before he leaves the PGA Tour. The 48-year-old earned No. 14 on Sunday at the Travelers Championship,
shooting a 63 to finish with a tournament-record 258, three strokes
better than Paul Goydos and David Toms, two other 40-something golfers.
Suit settled in player's death
The family of a former Rice University football player who died during
a workout has settled its lawsuit with the school and the NCAA.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Danks, White Sox shut down Cubs in series finale WHITE SOX 6, CUBS 0 | John Danks pitched seven shutout innings, Chris Getz stole home against Carlos Zambrano and the White Sox got another run on a bases-loaded infield fly rule Sunday to beat the Cubs 6-0. Danks (6-6) allowed four hits and reliever Scott Linebrink completed the shutout as the White Sox won two of three before sellout crowds at U.S. Cellular Field. The teams split two games at Wrigley Field last week and still have a makeup game to play from a rainout in that earlier series.
Marmion's Milroy is Baseball Player of the Year
A high school player's season shouldn't necessarily be defined by
how Major League Baseball scouts look at him. But in Matt Milroy's
case, it can only help to illustrate how special 2009 was for the
senior pitcher and center fielder.
Was this Geneva man once the fastest in the world?
Groaning against the brake, the giant steel Chicago & North Western
Railway engine from Geneva docked into Union Station. Arch Richards
exited a passenger car and traded change for a newspaper before heading
off to LaSalle Street. The commute was routine at this point for the young bond trader in the summer of 1912.
Youth league honors greats
When Jerry Renner found out he was inducted into the Aurora Boys
Baseball Hall of Fame, he was sitting in his golf cart at home in
Arizona. Renner, who played youth baseball in Aurora in the 1950s, was one of 24
men inducted in a ceremony that took place Saturday at Dolan Field in
Garfield Park in Aurora.
Sox get win to pie for
Sometimes it's all about redemption. For the White Sox on Saturday, that meant not only coming back with an 8-7 victory against the Cubs, it meant Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez bouncing back, too.
Cougars' Kleen finds newfound perspective
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun. It is that way for former Cougars' first baseman Steve Kleen. After
missing the entire 2008 season with a torn labrum in his right
(throwing) shoulder, the 26-year-old came back to earn a starting nod
in Tuesday's Midwest League All-Star game in Clinton.
Ozzie has Lou's back in Bradley brouhaha
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had no problem with the way Cubs manager Lou Piniella handled the Milton Bradley drama Friday. As a matter of fact, he applauded it. Guillen's problem? There should have been 24 others who policed it beforehand, rather than it escalating to the point it did with the Cubs' skipper.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Area players try to impress at 7-on-7 camp
As you pull into the parking lot at Oswego East High school on a
steamy early summer morning, you hear the sounds of cleats on pavement, hands on leather and screaming football coaches. "Get to the football, son!" "You're not paying attention...read the coverages!"
Going, going, gone
The talk that Cubs manager Lou Piniella had lost his fire can go up in smoke now.
Suggestions for cleaning up drug use in sports The Sports Doctor: In January, 2008, I wrote that the "Link between drugs & sports
runs deep." (Go to sportsdoctorradio.com and click on newspaper
articles." In the 18 months since, it's been amazing what we've seen:
Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez, etc.
The Blackhawks stuck with their No. 28 position in Friday's first round of the NHL draft, using the pick to choose defenseman Dylan Olsen who played for Camrose in Canada Junior A League last season.
First-round forwards wake-up call for Tyrus?
A day after the draft, the consensus was the Bulls did well with their two first-round picks, choosing Wake Forest forward James Johnson and USC forward Taj Gibson. Others saw the Bulls trying to rectify the damage done in 2006 draft, in which they took LaMarcus Aldridge with the second overall pick and traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa.
Local Briefs: Bulls basketball camp
The Chicago Bulls Basketball Schools invite children ages 6 to 14 to
become a part of the organization's effort to bring championship
instruction to young players.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Czech mate for local softball squad
Dolan & Murphy's fastpitch softball team is getting a lot of help from an unlikely location this season -- across the pond. Ales Jetmar, a 34-year-old pitcher who is a member of the Czech Republic national team, joined the Shamrocks this season and has been all that manager Robin Reder could have asked for.
Kabba's plans changed in the blink of an eye
On Monday, when Batavia graduate Bai Kabba signed his letter of intent to run track at the University of Illinois, his stepfather recalled Kabba's first track meet in elementary school.
"He asked me how he should train for it," Gary Strandlund said. "So you know what he did? He ran around the house about 10 times in a row and he came back and said, 'I guess I'm ready.' I think there will be a little more structure at U of I."
City pride merely a side note this time
Lou Piniella said all the right things on the eve of another Cubs-White Sox showdown. But deep down, you could tell his heart just wasn't in it.
"I enjoy the series with the White Sox, I really do," Piniella said with all the enthusiasm usually reserved for a traveler resigned to a flight delay. "It's fun. The fans are really into it. It's a big deal back in Chicago. And it gets a little crazy at times, but that's OK."
Youth sports
Turner's Club 3, UAW 2 -- Greg Jacquez (1-1) pitched a complete game for Turner's Club, scattering three hits and eight walks.
Waubonsie junior takes fifth at AJGA event
It may not have been one of his better rounds but Thomas O'Bryan still had one of his better tournaments.
The Waubonsie Valley junior entered Thursday's final round of the 40th annual State Junior Amateur Championship with a one-stroke lead at even-par 142 after 36 holes.
White Sox bounce NL's top team again
No Carlos Quentin for the last month and counting, a bunch of youngsters trying just to survive at the big-league level, a defense that can betray its pitcher and an offense that only seems to show up on the road. But there were the White Sox after a 6-5, 13-inning victory Thursday over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best team in the National League, with the first-place Detroit Tigers still in their sight at six games back.
Wins, not foes, perk up Lou Chris De Luca: Lou Piniella said all the right things on the eve of another Cubs-White Sox showdown. But deep down, you could tell his heart just wasn't in it. ''I enjoy the series with the White Sox, I really do,'' Piniella said with all the enthusiasm usually reserved for a traveler resigned to a flight delay. ''It's fun. The fans are really into it. It's a big deal back in Chicago. And it gets a little crazy at times, but that's OK.''
DETROIT -- Turns out, manager Lou Piniella didn't pull the names out of a hat when deciding the Cubs' lineup Thursday against the Detroit Tigers. He put plenty of thought into the matter -- starting with the benching of right fielder Milton Bradley.
Cubs catcher Geovany Soto sorry about pot 'mistake'
Cubs catcher Geovany Soto has known since April he tested positive for marijuana during the World Baseball Classic in March, and the knowledge that this would become public had caused many sleepless nights for the reigning National League rookie of the year who got off to a horrible start this season. ''He would never make excuses, that's the kind of guy he is,'' Cubs assistant general manager Randy Bush said, ''but I think it has been bothering him.''
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jordan's son quits Illini hoops
Maybe the acorn falls farther from the tree than we think. What was surprising about the announcement Wednesday that Jeff Jordan won't return to an on-the-rise Illinois basketball program was that Michael Jordan's oldest son seemingly had proved himself last season.
West's Becker is Softball Player of the Year
It all adds up for West Aurora pitching standout Stephanie Becker. Although some statistics can be manipulated to prove a point, the
numbers she put up this season do not lie. Those facts and figures are
why she is The Beacon News Softball Player of the Year for the second
time in three years. Her 12-8 record for the 17-17 Blackhawks was not overwhelming, but it should be noted the team's offense was not a juggernaut.
Jackson's mock NBA draft
Normally, there are about four or five picks in an NBA draft that are givens. They're a godsend to anyone compiling a mock draft because at least you can't look like a complete idiot with a few correct selections. There's no such safety net this year. The only given in the draft is Blake Griffin at No. 1. After that, things could get muddled very quickly starting with the second pick.
Bulls can build around Rose
Derrick Rose will never be a superstar the way Michael Jordan was or the way LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant are.
Red Eleven make it look easy
Wednesday night's W-League game pitted a team with playoff fever
against a team with the namesake "Fever." Beyond that coincidence, the teams shared few similarities. Forward Michelle O'Brien scored in the fourth minute for the only goal the Chicago Red Eleven needed in their easy 3-0 home victory over the Ft. Wayne Fever.
West's Blackmond to play for Iowa school
It's a package deal that originated on the west side of Aurora. Defensive whiz Jamal Blackmond, a 6-foot guard and recent West
graduate, will join former Blackhawks standout Reggie Shipp this fall
at Iowa Wesleyan University. Blackmond averaged just under 10 points and 4.0 rebounds, as well as
3.0 assists and 3.0 steals last season for coach Gordie Kerkman's
20-win team.
A road swing & miss as Tigers beat Cubs 5-3
fter an unusually long wait, manager Lou Piniella, who would later pull a page out of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's book, allowed reporters into the Cubs' clubhouse Wednesday night to discuss a frustrating 5-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers. As the crowd formed around his desk, Piniella looked at a Detroit radio reporter who got under his skin the night before.
Briefs: Sharapova ousted in second round
In the final game, a desperate Maria Sharapova lunged to hit one shot left-handed, and twice challenged calls but lost. Then she lost the match as well.
2 great getaways
As I stood on the tee box of the 14th hole of The General course at
Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa in Galena, I honestly couldn't believe that
I was still in this state. Standing 180 feet above the fairway, I could
see Iowa and Wisconsin, not to mention the tops of all the beautiful
trees and rock walls across the resort.
White Sox crack 6 HRs in 10-7 pounding of Dodgers
Considering the way Josh Fields put it, finding a solution to the White Sox’ woes at home seemed simple enough. ‘‘Hitting,’’ Fields said before Wednesday night’s game. ‘‘For some reason, I don’t know what it is, if it’s mental blocks or something. We go on the road and play amazing, come back here and struggle."
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Midwest League All-Star Game Smalley looks sharp
Kenny Smalley has come a long way in a short time.
After starting the season in the bullpen manning long relief, the Kane County Cougars' right-hander moved into the starting rotation on May 8, and Tuesday was the starter for the Western Division squad in the Midwest League All-Star Game at Alliant Energy Field.
Cougars face power outage in HR derby
Though the Kane County Cougars led the Midwest League in home runs with
57 for the first half of the season, a quartet of players pretty much
came up empty during the home run derby Monday night during festivities
for the 45th Midwest League All-Star Game.
Bulls looking to strengthen bench in NBA Draft
Unlike like a year ago, when the Bulls had the No. 1 pick and selected
point guard Derrick Rose, the NBA draft Thursday doesn't figure to be a
defining moment in the team's rebuilding process.
Numbers game
The Marmion Academy Cadets will drop to Class 2A and 3A, respectively in sports divided into three
classes (track) and four classes (baseball, basketball) for the coming
school year.
Cubs feeling the pinch
Cubs closer Kevin Gregg sat in front of his locker, face buried in his hands, rewinding in his mind the final pitch he threw Tuesday. ''Geez, I could have hit that ball out of the park,'' Gregg said of pinch hitter Ryan Raburn's walk-off, two-run home run with one out in the ninth inning that gave the Detroit Tigers a 5-4 victory. ''That slipped out of my hand. Kind of one of those ones you just hope he pops it up. He popped it up right over the fence. It sucks.''
Guillen ejected as Dodgers dominate inoffensive Sox
The White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are spring-training neighbors, sharing a new facility in Glendale, Ariz. Sox manager Ozzie Guillen liked what he saw even then. ''To me, the main thing about this Dodgers ballclub is they're pretty good athletes,'' Guillen said. ''Good pitching and good defense give you a chance to win as many games as you can, and they do that.''
Bulls have some options in 'pretty deep' draft
Unlike like a year ago, when the Bulls had the No. 1 pick and selected point guard Derrick Rose, the NBA draft Thursday doesn't figure to be a defining moment in the team's rebuilding process. With two picks in the second half of the first round (Nos. 16 and 26), it's unlikely there will be any franchise centerpieces on the board when the Bulls' turn comes up roughly an hour and a half into the proceedings.
The best and worst Bulls' draft picks
The Berto Center was as alive as any windowless gym on a beautiful summer morning could be Monday. New Bulls general manager Gar Forman was conducting his final media briefing before the 2009 NBA draft. His team is scheduled to have the 16th and 26th picks in the first round Thursday night. Patti Blagojevich preparing more tropical-bug souffles in Central America might command a more engaged audience. Forman was wide-eyed and well-spoken.
Five points into her opening match at Wimbledon, Venus Williams slipped and went sprawling on the grass she loves. The five-time champion recovered from her stumble at the start Tuesday and defeated Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Illini win sprint for Kabba's services
When Batavia graduate Bai Kabba tried to convince his mother, Bridgette Jones, to let him play football as a kid, she had only one concern.
"I said, 'What about your studies, Junior?,'" Jones said. "He told me they would not suffer, that he would get an education. And so far, he's lived up to it."
From empty to overflowing
The first Solheim Cup practice for prospective members of the United
States team at Rich Harvest Farms took place June 15, hours after many
of the eight players finished competing in the LPGA Tour's second major
of the year.
Fox River needs help to remain healthy
There are many ways we can be stewards of our natural resources.
Simply picking up trash along your favorite bike trail is stewardship. So is monitoring water quality on a creek providing the data to the state Department of Natural Resources.
Cubs' road woes persist
Maybe it's the trials and endless miles of the road that has made this season so hard, so far, for these Cubs. Maybe it's the hotel food or bumpy plane rides or lumpy pillows. Or maybe that's just what it seems like in comparison all that seems right with the comforts of home for this team.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Lucas Glover steadied his hands for a 3-foot par putt on the 18th hole, an anticlimactic finish to five dreary days at a U.S. Open filled with more delays than drama.
Sox rookie Beckham makes strides, not waves
On one side of the couch in the Reds' visiting clubhouse sat Josh Fields, who was supposed to replace Joe Crede at third base. Just next to him sat Gordon Beckham, who has replaced Fields. Talking, laughing -- not one sign of animosity in what should be the most uncomfortable situation in the clubhouse.
Who gets to play
The rosters for the U.S. and European teams will be unveiled by the
captains (Beth Daniel and Alison Nicholas, respectively) Aug. 2,
immediately after the Women's British Open concludes.
U.S. points
Here's a roundup of U.S. player points and ranking.
European points
A listing of European player points and rankings.
Raw Clark heads mediocre group
Though there is talent available at the position, it wouldn't be a surprise if the first half of the draft passed without a small forward being selected. Earl Clark of Louisville is widely considered the best prospect, but some insiders believe his stock is slipping a bit. A hamstring injury -- which caused him to pull out of his scheduled workout with the Bulls over the weekend -- doesn't help, either.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Lucas Glover outlasts Mickelson, wins U.S. Open
Phil Mickelson made a valiant charge on Championship Monday at the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, but in the end, Lucas Glover had just enough game to win a tough day on a tough course for his first Open title.
Kane Cougars wrap up first-half division title Kane Co. Cougars: Coming into their first season with former big-leaguer Steve Scarsone as their manager, the Kane County Cougars kept their goals for the first half of the season simple. As the Cougars wrapped up the Midwest League Western Division first-half title with a 6-0 win over Wisconsin on Sunday, the team's consistency was exemplified. "From the very beginning, our goal was to win the division for the first half," pitcher Shawn Haviland said.
Kahne's win bolsters Petty team Auto racing: Kasey Kahne gave struggling Richard Petty Motorsports a much-needed
boost Sunday, holding off Tony Stewart at Infineon Raceway to snap a
37-race winless streak.
Tiger, Phil have roar left in them Tim Dahlberg: The 6:25 p.m. tee time was running late, which wasn't all that
surprising seeing as nothing has happened according to plan in this
U.S. Open. The thousands who lined the fairway of the dogleg-right
first hole didn't seem to mind, though, because Tiger Woods was
approaching in Sunday red.
'Iowa Cubs' come through in 6-2 win over Indians
The sight of Randy Wells getting soaked with beer and shaving cream Sunday after his first major-league victory was a long time coming. But as the Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 6-2 victory, manager Lou Piniella was savoring another sight that could become a key for his team: Jake Fox in the lineup. Wells has been proving himself since being recalled from Class AAA Iowa on May 8, when Carlos Zambrano was put on the disabled list.
Buehrle gets 7th win as Sox beat Reds 4-1
At some point, a decision will have to be made -- maybe the toughest decision the duo of general manager Ken Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen have had to make since making the White Sox relevant again. And while Sunday's 4-1 victory over Cincinnati plays into the decision-making process -- every win does -- it inevitably will come down to one thing: ''Your heart and your gut feeling will tell you exactly what kind of ballclub you have,'' Guillen said.
Emotions run deep for Federer Tennis: Roger Federer is building something of a reputation as an on-court
crier, and he remembers well the first time he wept after winning a
match. It was July 2, 2001, at Wimbledon, the tournament that means more to
him than any other. Federer was 19, up-and-coming and making his Centre
Court debut in the fourth round when he stunned Pete Sampras, who was
29, seeded No. 1 and seeking an eighth Wimbledon title.
Briefs: Bulls basketball camp coming to town
The Chicago Bulls Basketball Schools invite children ages 6 to 14 to
become a part of the organization's effort to bring championship
instruction to young players.
Youth baseball roundup
UAW Local #145 9-6, Kirhofer's Sports 5-1 -- UAW Local #145 took charge
in the first game of a doubleheader with a seven-run fifth inning,
providing the team a lead it would not relinquish to Kirhofer's Sports.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Waubonsie's DiBernardo is Player of the Year Girls soccer: For the third straight season, DiBernardo led the loaded Warriors in
scoring with 16 goals and now has 56 in her career. Both players have
been named all-Upstate Eight Conference, All-State and All-American at
some point while with the Warriors. And the junior is The Beacon News' Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
Cougars punch ticket to postseason with split Kane Co. Cougars: The Kane County Cougars knew that if they could split their Saturday
doubleheader against Wisconsin, they would earn a playoff berth. But after winning the second game 2-0, and after Cedar Rapids fell to
Clinton 6-0, the Cougars could be in store for more celebrating after
today's first-half finale.
Long-shot Barnes shoots record score U.S. Open: Ricky Barnes, who took six years to reach the big leagues, is now in
the record book with the lowest 36-hole score in the 109 years of the
U.S. Open. He knocked in a 45-foot birdie putt on his 17th hole
Saturday, completed a bogey-free 65 in his second round and reached the
tournament's halfway point at 8-under 132.
Bergstrom credits award to whole program Girls soccer: Fresh off her college career as a goalkeeper at Northern Illinois
University at the turn of the century, Julie Bergstrom took over as
Waubonsie Valley's girls soccer coach. What has transpired in the ensuing nine years has been nothing short of
remarkable. With state titles in 2007 and 2008 and a career record of
166-43-14, Bergstrom has made the most of her chance.
Wood's wild pitch gives Cubs 6-5 win over Indians
Maybe there was no way Cleveland Indians closer Kerry Wood could put into words what happened to him Saturday at Wrigley Field -- again. After all, the Cubs' three walk-off victories in the last three days have left a lot of people speechless. Wood had nothing to say after being victimized for a second consecutive day by a Cubs comeback. The Cubs scored twice against him in the 13th inning, with the winning run in their 6-5 victory crossing the plate on his wild pitch.
White Sox hit 4 home runs to rally past Reds 10-8
Hours before slipping into the powder-blue 1964 replica uniform for the Civil Rights Game, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was shaking hands with Bill Cosby and Muhammad Ali and listening to speakers Hank Aaron and Bill Clinton at the MLB Beacon Awards luncheon.
Jerry Rich, the man behind the myth
An inventor and an athlete. A perfectionist of impressive intelligence and wealth whose last name defines his financial status but does little to reveal the private family guy. Jerry Rich is also a man of mystery -- aware of some, but not all, of the many myths that swirl about him.
Midwest League All-Star Game Highlights Kane Co. Cougars: Trevor Cahill gave up just four hits and no earned runs in 5 1/3
innings as Oakland topped the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 on Wednesday.
Cahill is 4-5 on the season and has given up two earned runs or fewer
in five of his last six starts. Andrew Bailey came on to pick up his sixth save of the season.
Back in the driver's seat Kane Co. Cougars: As the Midwest League's first half comes to a close today, the Kane
County Cougars are in the hunt for one of the two Western Division
playoff spots up for grabs for the postseason, which begins in
September.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A sport on the rise Skateboarding: From the classic scene in Back to the Future to the beginning of every
episode of The Simpsons, skateboarding has been portrayed as a means of
transportation for young kids. But, originating in the 1950s,
skateboarding has evolved into a worldwide sport.
Scores lower as course dries out U.S. Open: Phil Mickelson lumbered along the rain-softened turf of Bethpage Black
for 29 holes. Lucas Glover had it even worse, taking nine hours to play
31 holes Friday in a U.S. Open that felt like a marathon. Their only regret was they couldn't play more. Sunshine made a cameo on Long Island, enough to dry the fairways and keep the greens as soft as a sponge.
Post-Cubs letdown? White Sox fall 4-3 to Reds
White Sox captain Paul Konerko spoke of it last season: the hangover that can affect a team staggering out of the Sox-Cubs series. ''You've seen it where one team has kind of taken off and used the momentum to do good things, and you've seen the flip side where one team has had kind of an emotional letdown that carries over,'' Konerko said then.
Lee sizzles as Cubs roar back to beat Indians 8-7
Those dark clouds that hung over the Cubs only a week ago? Replaced now by a sunny clubhouse and a team that's starting to believe it can believe in itself again. Only the storm clouds above Wrigley Field on Friday dampened the surroundings after another celebration over a walkoff victory that came in the 10th against the Cleveland Indians -- the third walkoff win in a week and second in two days.
Yankees bench slumping A-Rod for two games National briefs: Alex Rodriguez's homecoming will have to wait a little longer. Following a tumultuous month at the plate, the slumping third baseman
was benched Friday for two games by the New York Yankees for what he
and the team called "fatigue."
High ceiling for Oswego's Wollenberg
As a 5-foot-6-inch sophomore, Oswego boys volleyball standout Jake Wollenberg had no idea he'd wind up his high school career the way he did.
Finally hitting a growth spurt before his junior year that helped him get to his current 6-2, Wollenberg burst on the scene the last two years on the varsity team and parlayed his success into a scholarship at Hannibal-LaGrange College, an NAIA school in Missouri.
Council rolls out red carpet for Kabba
Bai Kabba doesn't hear the crowds in the stands when he's in the starting blocks.
"I generally don't hear the cheering until after the race. It was amazing how people were cheering for everyone competing at the state meet," Kabba said. "You clear all thoughts out of your head and let the gun pull you out."
The plan is for the Bears to have everyone ready for training camp, which begins six weeks from today. But five months removed from reconstructive shoulder surgery, cornerback Charles Tillman didn't close out the offseason program Wednesday.
Rick Dudley, a former Buffalo Sabres player and coach, resigned Thursday as Blackhawks assistant general manager.
Sox headed down seller's path
A group of fans -- it looked like a family of about 10 decked out in gaudy Cubs gear -- gathered on the field during batting prac tice Thursday and flashed smiles for the camera. The famous scoreboard at Wrigley Field served as the perfect backdrop.
Briefs: Tillman's shoulder key to Bears secondary
LAKE FOREST -- The plan is for the Bears to have everyone ready for training camp, which begins six weeks from today. But five months removed from reconstructive shoulder surgery, cornerback Charles Tillman did not close out the offseason program Wednesday.
First-day leader: Rainfall
Already played on a long course, the U.S. Open suddenly turned into a long week. Tiger Woods began his title defense Thursday on soggy Bethpage Black by having his caddie hold an umbrella until it was time to hit his opening drive. Facing a 15-foot birdie putt on the second hole, Woods stepped away so workers could mop up the green with a squeegee.
Group hands down practice guidelines
In hopes of preventing future heat-related fatalities, the National Athletic Trainers' Association released new preseason training guidelines for high school athletes Thursday.
While the announcement did not single out any sports, most of the new guidelines deal with conditions involving football.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Crosstown Comeback: Soriano lifts Cubs past Sox CUBS 6 | WHITE SOX 5 Alfonso Soriano's day was looking like a stinker. He had beer spilled on him by the left-field bleacher bums wearing Cubs and White Sox jerseys and boos aimed at him from all directions by the time he stepped from the dugout for a ninth-inning at-bat with the score tied Thursday.
Pony League duo hits coaching milestone
For as long as Jay Wyeth has called the shots as manager of his Platt Electric baseball team in the Aurora Pony League, he has had the support of his longtime friend and fellow coach, Jesse Vargas. The duo has been a winning combination for a long time. And on June 8 Platt Electric won 14-8 to mark the 500th victory in the career of the two coaches.
Score one big moment for normal-sized guys Rick Telander: This seems like a perfect time to celebrate small ball. In the wake of the Sammy Sosa failed-drug-test news and lingering, dubious images of monstrous home runs hit by monstrous people, we have normal-sized Scott Podsednik and normal-sized Chris Getz providing us with fine drama in the White Sox 4-1 win over the Cubs.
Crowds get behind Mickelson
The U.S. Open might have one tough act to follow.
Tiger Woods was pure theater at Torrey Pines last year, playing on a left leg so badly injured that the U.S. Open turned out to be his last event of the year. He made two eagles on the final six holes in prime time Saturday to take the lead, forced a playoff with a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday, then battled Rocco Mediate over 19 holes to capture his 14th career major.
It is time to celebrate use of small ball
This seems like a perfect time to celebrate small ball.
In the wake of the Sammy Sosa failed-drug-test news and lingering, dubious images of monstrous home runs hit by monstrous people, we have normal-sized Scott Podsednik and normal-sized Chris Getz providing us with fine drama in the White Sox 4-1 win over the Cubs.
Many ways to enjoy the game of golf
The handful of LPGA Tour players that played Rich Harvest Farms Monday
for an informal United States team practice were asked essentially the
same question over and again by the awaiting media -- was the layout a
good one for match play?
Unfriendly confines Neil Hayes: The way it's perched on a catwalk above the concourse where hot dogs and souvenirs are hawked makes it seem more like a treehouse than a clubhouse. Players making their first trip to Wrigley Field might believe they're getting close to the visitors' dugout when they reach the bottom step. Veterans know better.
Youth needs to serve Sox
A.J. Pierzynski offered some perspective after the White Sox' 4-1 victory Wednesday over the Cubs.
''I mean, at this time last year, (rookie Gordon) Beckham was playing in Omaha for the College Baseball World Series, and now he's in Wrigley Field,'' the White Sox catcher said. ''I told him once you play here in this series, you're officially a big-leaguer.''
Sammy gets my vote Chris De Luca: Mark me down as never being a fan of Sammy Sosa. It was nauseating to watch him ham for the WGN dugout cameras after all those home runs, listen to his ear-splitting music in the clubhouse and see his me-first circus play out 24-7. Sosa seemed to forget there were 24 other Cubs on the team during his reign.
Cutler at front of Bears' changes, receiver question open
Third-round draft pick Juaquin Iglesias ran under a bomb from Caleb Hanie in the two-minute drill to score a touchdown on the final play of the Bears' offseason training activities Wednesday at Halas Hall. There might not have been a more fitting conclusion to the voluntary offseason program for a team that has remade itself since stumbling at Houston last season, a loss that prevented it from reaching the playoffs for the second straight year.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Report: Sammy Sosa failed drug test in 2003
Sammy Sosa returned to center stage Tuesday at Wrigley Field as two of his former teams waited out a rain delay. This time, Sosa was in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. And in the wake of a New York Times report revealing Sosa tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in the same controversial 2003 survey that netted superstar Alex Rodriguez before spring training, Chicago's outspoken managers agreed on one thing: It's time to unveil all 104 names on that list that was supposed to remain a secret.
Sammy enters the Hall of Shame
Welcome to the Hall of Shame, Sammy!
I guess we all pretty much knew you'd be arriving in the darkened confines sooner or later, though your recent arrogance when you said you'd ''calmly wait for my induction into'' the real Hall of Fame -- the one in Cooperstown, not Doofusville -- might have hurried matters along.
W. Aurora assistant gets Kaneland job
Brian Johnson, assistant to Gordie Kerkman at West Aurora High School last season, will become the new boys varsity basketball coach at Kaneland High School, The Beacon News has learned.
Briefs: NFL receiver Stallworth gets 30 days in jail
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Florida, a punishment made possible by his cooperation with investigators and the fervent wish by the victim's family to put the matter behind them.
Local Briefs
Jakked Gym in Montgomery will host the PowerCorps Challenge, a strongman competition, at noon Saturday at 12 noon. It is a North American Strongman Society event and will include competitors from all over the Midwest.
Sosa goes from hero to zero after testing positive Rick Telander: In the rain-soaked visitor's dugout at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen shook his head as he pondered the report from the New York Times stating that former Cubs star Sosa (once a White Sox, too) tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug back in 2003.
Sosa's ex-teammates sad but not surprised
Former Cubs teammates of Sammy Sosa are unanimous about one thing when it comes to Tuesday's revelations about the former slugger's positive juice test in 2003. ''I'll tell you what I wasn't: I wasn't surprised. I wasn't shocked,'' said former Cubs outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, now a Comcast analyst. ''There's always been speculation around him.''
Sox' Carlos Quentin cautious about rushing back from injury
Carlos Quentin is walking a finer line than most think. Opening up about his left-foot injury Tuesday, the White Sox outfielder said that in addition to suffering from plantar fasciitis, he is concerned that he is one bad step away from rupturing the tendon in his foot even further. And if that happens? ''If that happens, well, then you'll have to talk to me next year,'' Quentin said.
Tirade transparent, but so is firing Cubs' hitting coach
They never peeled the tarp off the diamond at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, but the craziness that comes with any White Sox-Cubs gathering still played on through the rain. As players stayed dry in their cramped clubhouses, talk soon turned to Sammy Sosa, the disgraced slugger who called the North and South Sides home during his power-hitting career.
Tiger faces long test in quest to repeat
Defending champion Tiger Woods began his final practice round for the U.S. Open by hitting a 5-wood for his second shot on a par-4, which is rare for someone with his power. Stranger still was that it wasn't enough club to reach the 10th green.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Too quiet on Cub-Sox front Chris De Luca: Clutch hitting, solid pitching and thrilling victories before a long-awaited day off. Life is good for the White Sox and Cubs as they open Round 1 of the city showdown tonight at Wrigley Field. Life is good, that is, as long as your memory stretches only to the weekend. The annual civic war is missing the requisite talk of a potential Sox-Cubs World Series rematch 103 years in the making.
Book takes a look at Chicago baseball
The best of us never get over our first baseball game. We never escape
the compulsion to fill out a scorecard and never stop breaking in our
glove. We still remember our first autograph and know way too much
information about our favorite player.
A new conference is born
Yorkville athletic director Seth Schoonover expressed hope Monday that his school has found a permanent home in the newly-created Northern Illinois Big 12.
Rich Harvest provides test for the Solheim Cub
Just over two months away from the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms, prospective members of the 12-player U.S. team -- along with captain Beth Daniel and assistant captains Meg Mallon and Kelly Robbins -- played a practice round at the private venue on Monday afternoon. Eight of the top 11 point-getters teed up at the Sugar Grove course.
Lewis, Romeoville hopes to lure Bears
Romeoville Mayor John Noak is part of a contingent headed to Halas Hall Tuesday morning to talk to Bears officials about moving the football team's
training camp from Bourbonnais to Romeoville.
Cutler responds well to critics
Jay Cutler spent time at La Rabida Children's Hospital on Saturday,
brightening the lives of kids. He held a question and answer session,
shook hands and signed autographs. So what do you know? Maybe Cutler
isn't the immature young man that some would have you believe. I'll bet
even Cutler's harshest critics would have trouble putting a negative
spin on this story.
Local Briefs
East Aurora High School will host this league for grade- and
middle-schoolers on Sundays, June 21 to Aug. 2 (skipping July 5).
Debate on Dam Safety Law heats up
The dam debate first focused on the removal of dams throughout the
course of the Fox and other rivers in Illinois. The intention was to
restore their health.
Former White Sox star Frank Thomas gave Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley a vote of support Monday and predicted Cubs hitters might ''take a step backward before they move forward'' with new hitting coach Von Joshua, who was Thomas' hitting coach for four seasons on the South Side.
Agent says Burress could play in 2009
Plaxico Burress didn't move any closer to resolving his court case Monday, but his agent ramped up efforts to land a job for the free-agent wide receiver. Burress' trial on gun possession charges was adjourned until Sept. 23, and attorney Benjamin Brafman called it ''inconceivable'' his client could stand trial before 2010, meaning he could be able to play football this season. But the unknown remains how the NFL will handle Burress' case.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tennis: Break pays off for Oswego's McWethy Boys Tennis Player of the Year: Last summer, Oswego senior Collin McWethy made a tough decision. Nursing a sore wrist and burned out from constant tennis, McWethy took six months off prior to his senior season with the Panthers. The rest did McWethy wonders as he went 30-2 and earned Beacon News Boys Tennis Player of the Year honors.
East-West showdown packing its bags? Rick Armstrong: It may have been summertime, but the winter game -- basketball -- was front and center Friday at West Aurora. There was action aplenty as 40 teams converged for the 2009 Hoops Mountain Shootout with 40-minute games on seven courts every hour for eight straight hours.
Presto! Lakers clinch 15th title NBA Finals: Kobe Bryant has the NBA title he needed most -- the one without Shaq. Bryant's seven-year chase of a coveted championship is over. He's got his fourth, and Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson his record 10th, a ring for each finger. One year after failing in the finals, Bryant and the Lakers have redemption, and all the rewards that go with it.
Bouncing around the Shootout Rick Armstrong: Other sights seen during our four-hour tour of the Hoop Mountain Shootout at West Aurora on Friday?
Lee's play in ninth helps Cubs end four-game skid
Last season, the Cubs took first place in the National League Central on May 11 and never gave it up. But even during their best season in decades, general manager Jim Hendry made a significant midseason trade, acquiring starting pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics.
Buehrle, Richard contribute homer, winning run
Mark it down as one of those ''whatever it takes'' victories. If that meant getting the lone home run of the day off the bat of starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, so be it. If that meant using Clayton Richard as a pinch runner and having the left-handed starter represent the game-winning run in the ninth inning, who cares?
Chemistry key subject on Jay's rapport card Mike Mulligan: There's no way for the Bears to simulate game conditions in offseason practices. Nonetheless, the team is doing what it can to hasten a rapport between Jay Cutler and his assortment of offensive weapons. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner says at least two of the Bears' top four receivers are on the field every time Cutler throws a pass.
Fuel conservation saves Martin in Michigan NASCAR: The most surprised person to find Mark Martin in Victory Lane at Michigan International Speedway was the driver himself. The 50-year-old NASCAR star has run well but has had to deal with considerable bad luck this season. It looked like more of the same Sunday when the battery in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet began to fail before the halfway mark in the LifeLock 400 Sprint Cup race.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Badminton: West Aurora duo aims high Prep badminton: When she was a freshman, West Aurora badminton player Karina Diaz set a
goal to play in the state tournament -- and be named Beacon News Player
of the Year. "It is something I actually wanted," she said. "It was a goal."
Teammate Alexis Fox had similar aspirations.
Former Oswego East hoops star goes D-I Recruiting: Lionell Holmes figures it was worth the wait. The career scoring leader (890 points) in the short history of the Oswego East basketball program scored another first this spring when he signed a national letter of intent to play basketball this upcoming season at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
A player of action Kane Co. Cougars: Dusty Coleman isn't a very vocal guy, in fact, he'd rather lead by his actions rather than his words. That is just fine for the Kane County Cougars, as the 22-year-old
shortstop is doing a pretty good job of leading the team to its
first-place perch at the top of the Midwest League's Western Division
standings.
Just like old times
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen knew he would see Jose Contreras again this season. Guillen just didn't think he would see the Contreras who dominated major-league hitters back in the second half of 2005 and the first half of '06 again. Ever. That's why Guillen only can call what's going on with his right-hander ''special.''
No 'ffense for Cubs
If only Cubs manager Lou Piniella could keep the conversation centered on pitching. So many good things could be said about that subject, including a fine return from the disabled list Saturday by Rich Harden (4-3), who allowed two runs and five hits and struck out nine in six innings. But another shutout loss can make good pitching a painful subject, too, knowing the effort has gone for naught.
Another title within their reach NBA Finals: Like any couple, they've had their fair share of ups and downs. They've
feuded publicly and fought privately. They separated for a year and
reunited with an understanding that it was best for both of their
careers. They've grown older together.
Cougars can't hold advantage National briefs: During their four-game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers,
the Kane County Cougars scored first three times and lost each of those
games.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Judo prospect guts out her Olympic dream Olympics: Less than 12 months ago, Jessica Irons could have been just considered
lucky. A talented judo competitor, the soon-to-be Yorkville High School
freshman was asked to prep Olympic hopeful Carrie Chandler in
Chandler's bid to make the 2008 United States team that traveled to
Beijing, China.
'Mad Max' laughs last Stanley Cup Finals: Max Talbot is the jokester in the Pittsburgh Penguins' dressing room, a
low-round draft pick on a team filled with first-round big names who
doesn't complain when he's shifted to the fourth line or asked to take
on a difficult role. How's this one for an assignment of a little-noticed career: The man
asked to win Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals for a team that looked to
be out of playoff contention four months ago?
No surprise, Falcons release 'upbeat' Vick NFL: Less than five years after the Atlanta Falcons signed Michael Vick to a
$130 million contract, the suspended quarterback was released in a
98-word statement.
Bullpen costs White Sox in 7-2 loss to Brewers
With a 7-2 loss to the Brewers at sold-out Miller Park on Friday night, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is no longer sure what to believe about the makeup of his team. "A lot of people say, 'Do you know your ballclub?'" Guillen said. ''I say, 'I don't even know my ballclub yet because it's so up and down.' One day we play good, one day we play bad. We play a great week, and all of the sudden a week later we're back playing really terrible baseball.''
Bradley brings bloopers in Cubs' 7-4 loss to Twins
Milton Bradley might never again have as awkward a game as he did Friday -- at least that's the hope for the Cubs and their star-crossed free agent. Was he upset about losing a seventh-inning fly ball in the glaring sun in right field? Yes. Was he embarrassed about catching a fly ball the next inning and tossing it into the bleachers when there was still an out to go and a runner was on base? Definitely.
Rodriguez, Gaul are all-Americans Local briefs: Five girls soccer players from Illinois made the 2009 Parade
All-America Soccer Team, a list officially scheduled for release on
Sunday.
May's HR lifts Bandits to victory Chicago Bandits: A trio of timely home runs and a gutty performance in the pitching
circle spearheaded the Chicago Bandits' thrilling 4-3 victory in nine
innings over the USSSA Pride on Friday night at Judson University.
Vikings prepare to assess Favre National briefs: The Minnesota Vikings are planning to send a trainer and a coach to Mississippi to work with Brett Favre, ESPN reported Friday.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tourney to showcase softball talent
The center of girls softball tournament action will be in Aurora this weekend.
Starting today, Aurora Fastpitch Softball Association will hold its City of Lights tournament at three venues in Aurora.
Another chance may be all that Grossman needs
Write a mathematical equation on a chalkboard and most will see a
jumble of letters and numbers while a gifted few see a solution appear
almost magically.
Red Sox fit fine for Marmion's Milroy
Matt Milroy admitted he watched 1,067 consecutive picks of Major League
Baseball's three-day amateur draft before finally taking a breather. He
was able to do so when the Boston Red Sox called him to tell him his
name would pop up on the computer at No. 1,068, in the 35th round
Thursday afternoon.
40 hoops squads shoot for summit at West
Nine schools from the Beacon News coverage area will be included in the
40-team field today and Saturday at the fifth annual Hoops Mountain
Midwest Shootout at West Aurora.
Local briefs: Tomcat Basketball League
East Aurora High School will host this league for grade- and
middle-schoolers on Sundays, June 21 to Aug. 2 (skipping July 5). Games
will start after 3 p.m.
'It's not that hard,' Piniella howls as Cubs lose 2-1
So much for that soft landing Houston looked ready to provide for the Cubs and their sickly lineup. Their road trip that refused to die finally expired in a sea of zeroes against one of the worst pitching staffs in the National League. The Cubs hope they've hit bottom the last two days in Houston, where the languishing lineup went scoreless in 19 of its final 20 innings of an eight-game trip.
4-3 win can't disguise White Sox' homely homestand
Despite a thrilling 4-3 victory Thursday over the Central Division-leading Detroit Tigers, the White Sox' 12-game homestand can only be categorized as an abysmal failure. At 4-8, the Sox blew a big opportunity to make a move.
It's rare when a professional athlete walks away from the game on his own terms, with concerns over playing time or nagging injuries an afterthought to simply finding a different path in life.
Winning the Recruiting war
No coach, no matter the level, can be a success without talented athletes. At the college level, recruiting those young men and women is a full-time job with no pay for overtime. Before an athlete joins a program, coaches must first do their homework by watching the prospect either in person or on tape and, if there is interest, find out if it is mutual. That's the easy part. Next comes the all important academic check. This is especially important at the Division III level, where athletes are expected to be students first and jocks second. Finally, when all the information is gathered, a battle begins. A given athlete may be bombarded by dozens of coaches looking for him or her to enroll for the fall semester.
Solheim could use Wie bit of star power
Make a stop at McDonald's each of the next four days, and come with a healthy appetite. The LPGA Tour's second major of the year -- the McDonald's LPGA Championship -- kicks off today in Maryland and area golf fans should pay attention not only because you'll see some great golf, but because you should want Michelle Wie to break through with her first victory.
Tillman among Bears impressed with Cutler
It's one thing to see Jay Cutler's powerful arm from the sidelines and
quite another to match up against it. Just ask Bears cornerback Charles
Tillman, who took part in his second consecutive organized team
activity practice on Wednesday after missing all of the previous
offseason workouts following mid-January surgery on his right shoulder.
Wisconsin's walk-off homer tips Cougars
The Kane County Cougars saw leads of 3-0 and 4-2 slip from their grasp Wednesday night against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Cubs' Zambrano's strong; hitters aren't
Carlos Zambrano definitely didn't retire yet. But the Cubs' hitters might have, the way their bats turtled again the day after it looked like they might be ready to finally start stretching their offensive production. ''We've just got to score runs. What can I say?'' manager Lou Piniella said, exasperated again by lack of hitting after a 2-1 loss in Houston on Wednesday night.
White flag time for Sox?
Sox general manager Ken Williams always has a plan. But in the midst of eight losses through the first 11 games in June, some people might not like the latest one. If the downward trend continues -- as it did Wednesday in 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers
If you've always wanted to see a Bears training-camp practice in Bourbonnais, you'd better not put the trip off much longer.
It's never too early to worry Mike Mulligan: It's one thing to see Jay Cutler's powerful arm from the sidelines and quite another to match up against it. Just ask Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, who took part in his second consecutive organized team activity practice Wednesday after missing all of the previous offseason workouts following mid-January surgery on his right shoulder.
Cubs make dream come true for Sheppard
Wrigley Field was the first thing to come to Dan Sheppard's mind when
he saw he was selected Wednesday in Day 2 of baseball's amateur draft.
Don't be in a rush to see the Rush or AFL
CHICAGO -- Former Rush ironman linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo didn't believe Arena Football League owners last December when they announced they were suspending the 2009 season because economic problems and would resume operations for the 2010 season after developing a long-term plan to improve its economic model.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Aurora and Batavia teams compete in softball showcase
The weather was cool, but the atmosphere was warm Tuesday night at the Stuart Sports Complex.
That's where the Aurora Fastpitch Softball Association held its annual showcase event, with 10 girls teams making up the Aurora Raiders program participating along with a pair of teams from Batavia.
With Floyd out, Boatright ponders next step
Ryan Boatright was shooting hoops in his driveway Tuesday when a
relative called -- turn on ESPN. The 2008-09 Beacon News Boys
Basketball Player of the Year then saw the news that University of
Southern California men's coach Tim Floyd was resigning in the wake of
alleged recruiting violations surrounding former Trojan and current
Minnesota Timberwolves guard O.J. Mayo.
Magic disappears
Oswego's magical postseason ride ended not once, but twice Tuesday on the warning track of Augustana College's Bruner Field at Swanson Stadium. With the Panthers trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Cory Johnson's one-out blast to left was hauled in by LaSalle-Peru's Scott McNamara for the second out. After Ryan Tackitt's single to right-center gave Oswego runners at first and second, it was Ryan Prinzing's shot to center that Ty Bernal snagged just ahead of the 375-foot sign for the clinching out.
Desme's homer caps off comeback
Grant Desme's at-bat in the bottom of the 10th inning Tuesday night was a lot like driving through a small town -- blink and you would have missed it.
Leading off the inning, the Kane County center fielder took the first pitch he saw from Peoria relief pitcher Chris Huseby (1-4) over the scoreboard in left to give the Cougars a dramatic 5-4 win before 4,920 at Elfstrom Stadium.
Paddle up: Canoe can put you in prime fishing position
Fishing hasn't really changed much over the years over the years.
I don't mean the improvement in equipment or the advantages we enjoy because of the amazing advance in technology. I mean fishing in the classic sense. The ingredients are simple.
Sox loss to Tigers in 10th features futile rally
Sometime between Ozzie Guillen already checking on return flights to Charlotte for Aaron Poreda (just in case), Josh Fields ruffling some feathers, a youth movement that is being disguised as anything but a youth movement, the amateur draft and A.J. Pierzynski almost starting a bench-clearing brawl, the White Sox managed to find time to get a baseball game in.
Cubs' bats finally come alive for easy win
This was the kind of the game the Cubs kept promising was coming from its lineup. It was also in Houston, against the woeful Astros, but a team hitting just .194 in its last 11 road games will take any soft landing it can get as it tries to right its listing offense. And it doesn't get much softer than the Astros pitching staff, especially at Minute Maid Park for the Cubs, who beat the Astros for the eighth time in nine games on the road when they pounced on Houston for 16 hits in a 7-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.
Fleury, Pens push Wings to Game 7
No clincher by the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh, not this time in Game 6. Marc-Andre Fleury wouldn't let it happen as a wildly unpredictable Stanley Cup finals is now going the distance. Third-line teammates Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy gave the Penguins a two-goal lead, and Fleury held off the defending champion Red Wings repeatedly during a frantic third period as Pittsburgh beat Detroit 2-1 on Tuesday to tie the finals at three games.
Magic shoot way back into series with 108-104 win over Lakers
Missing for two games, Orlando found its Magic touch. Making easy shots and tough ones from everywhere, the Magic won their first game in two visits to the NBA finals as Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis scored 21 points apiece in a 108-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 on Tuesday night to pull within 2-1.
Cubs staying afloat, thanks to Fukudome
By the middle of last season, Kosuke Fukudome was the only Cubs hitter in a steady, lengthy slump. By the time the season ended, the Cubs were the top offensive team in the National League, and Fukudome was their biggest disappointment -- a $48 million Japanese All-Star relegated to September bench player.
Contreras pitches gem; saves the day for White Sox
The good and bad all came out in one day for the White Sox on Monday, their split of a doubleheader with Detroit answering one question and leaving plenty of others unanswered. Are the Sox as bad fundamentally as their 5-4 loss in Game 1 made them appear to their fuming manager?
Even after a sit-down meeting with manager Ozzie Guillen, third baseman Josh Fields wants answers from the White Sox organization -- not only answers about his future, but about what he felt was bad timing by the club in calling up highly touted prospect Gordon Beckham to play at his position.
Rain on their parade
The skies cleared after Monday's pregame showers, but it wasn't
long before Cary-Grove started raining hits and doused the Batavia
baseball team's hopes of reaching the state finals. The Bulldogs'
record-setting season ended at 30-7 after the Trojans rapped 14 hits on
the way to a 10-1 win in a Class 4A Rockford Super-Sectional at Road
Ranger Stadium.
Sox will find some way to stay in race
With more than a third of the season already behind them, the White Sox remain a puzzling team. Are they in rebuilding mode, or are they capable of making another run at the division title?
Kleen sweeps up Cougars' mess
Steve Kleen had a night that could best be described as a scoreboard stuffer.
The Kane County first baseman, named a Midwest League All-Star last week, delivered with three hits -- including a double and a homer -- and four RBIs to lead the Cougars to a 5-4 win over Peoria on Monday at Elfstrom Stadium.
Batavia specializing in composure, comebacks Prep baseball: It hasn't been the smoothest road to the final eight for the Batavia
Bulldogs, with potholes all along their way to the Rockford
Super-Sectional today against Cary-Grove (30-8-1). From a regional
semifinal against West Aurora through the sectional championship
against Wheaton North, the Bulldogs have had to come back from deficits
and fend off rallies from opponents.
Contreras allows one hit in 8 innings, Sox get split
Jose Contreras allowed one hit in eight strong innings in his return to the majors Monday night, getting his first win in nearly a year as the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-1 to earn a split in their day-night doubleheader. Alexei Ramirez, Scott Podsednik and Jim Thome homered for the White Sox in the second game after Detroit won the opener 5-4 as Brandon Inge hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth.
More ways to go with the flow Local sports: Due to factors beyond the control of the event directors, it's been a
rough few years for the Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race. High waters in 2004 and bridge construction in Batavia in 2007 and 2008
put dampers on the event, pushing it to the fall in 2008 with a shorter
course than usual. But the event was back in full swing Sunday.
Panthers run belies regular-season record Prep baseball: In mid-May, Oswego coach Chris Neitzel looked out over a darkened Oswego field following a 12-6 loss to Oswego East. It might not have been the low point in the Panthers' 7-23 regular
season, but it was close. As the Panthers slowly raked the field and
tamped down the field, Neitzel looked off in the distance.
Cougars on the verge of a breakthrough Kane Co. Cougars: Coming into Sunday's 7-1 win over Peoria, Kane County Cougars
outfielder Christopher Berroa has been waiting for his professional
breakout game.
Ozzie Guillen's out of answers
It's no longer a matter of the White Sox flailing against pitchers they've never seen before. The Sox are flailing, period. And the manager is at his wits' end in search of a remedy. ''I've run out of bullets,'' Ozzie Guillen said after an 8-4 loss Sunday to the Cleveland Indians and starter David Huff (1-2), who recorded his first major-league victory. ''I started thinking from the third inning about when I come to talk to [the media]. I don't have an explanation at all. It's all so disappointing when you play like that. It takes the wind out of you right away.
Cubs embrace day off after beating Reds
The Cubs still aren't hitting much. They're still fighting too many key injuries. And their best relief pitcher still can't seem to throw a strike. But as they collapse into their day off today in Houston, following a 14-inning, 5-hour, 13-minute grinder over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, they have somehow managed to gather three wins in their last four games and seven in their last 11.
Jolly Roger: Federer finishes feat of clay
Roger Federer savored every moment with his first French Open trophy. He raised it over his head. He cradled it in the crook of his elbow. He closed his eyes and kissed it. He examined the names of the other champions etched on its base. Even in a downpour on Court Philippe Chatrier, as heavy, gray clouds blocked any shred of sunlight Sunday, that silver trophy sure seemed to glisten.
WSCR has its eye on FM dial
Within 30 days, sports-talk WSCR-AM (670) expects to be simulcasting on one of adult hits WJMK-FM's (104.3) three HD frequencies, according to CBS Radio Market Manager Rod Zimmerman.
Both WSCR, the radio home of the White Sox, and WJMK are CBS Radio properties. The simulcast means WSCR fans who have access to an HD radio receiver will be able to hear the station's programming with a much higher quality sound than that now available on the AM frequency.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Bulldogs pick each other up vs. Falcons Prep baseball: Saturday afternoon there was a celebration involving Batavia baseball, but it wasn't the kind you expect. Certainly, the happiness over a 6-4 win against top-seeded Wheaton
North in the St. Charles North Sectional Final was evident. There was
an appreciation of history as well, as the Bulldogs knew they were just
the second Batavia team to ever reach a super-sectional.
Oswego's unlikely run continues Prep baseball: Power hitting and pitching proved to be a winning formula for the upstart Oswego Panthers on Saturday. Oswego's 11-3 triumph over Burlington Central in the championship of
the Class 3A Rochelle Sectional is the latest chapter in a storybook
second season.
Cougars cut ribbon on stadium renovation Kane Co. Cougars: While the Kane County Cougars are fast approaching the midpoint of the
2009 Midwest League Season, the offseason Elfstrom Stadium expansion
received its official unveiling Saturday when Grand Opening ceremonies
took place prior to the Cougars' game with the Peoria Chiefs.
Dempster copes with baby daughter's disorder
Ryan Dempster had a bad game in Arizona in April and a rough night in Milwaukee last month. But none of it touches the heartache of being at a hospital holding his 7-pound baby girl and watching her try to cry but unable to make a sound because of the tracheotomy tube in her throat.
White Sox click early to end scoring drought
Losing is one thing. Giving in is another -- and something White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen won't tolerate. ''I know the players. I know the attitude. I know what they can do and what they can't do,'' Guillen said. ''We're going to address that. There's one thing about losing and another thing about how you lose.''
Mid-American canoe race to feature new twist Local sports: Jeff Long isn't just the Fox Valley Park District Public Relations
Manager who put together information on this year's Mid-American Canoe
and Kayak Race -- he's a co-director who used to participate in this
longtime event.
Cougars drop opener of key series vs. Chiefs
GENEVA -- Heading into Saturday night's game with Peoria, the Kane County Cougars had stood in first place in the Midwest League's Western Division for all but one of the last 43 days.
Local briefs: Big Shots Basketball Camps
The Big Shots Basketball Camp for beginners age 4 through second grade
is set for June 15 to 19 at the Aurora Turners Sports Complex. Kids age
4 through kindergarten will go from 1 to 2 p.m. and grades 1 and 2 will
go from 2 to 3 p.m.
Dominant effort has Wings flying
The Detroit Red Wings sure don't look tired now. After watching the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back home games to erase a two-game deficit in the Stanley Cup finals, the defending champion Red Wings returned to the friendly confines of Joe Louis Arena and overwhelmed the Penguins 5-0 in Game 5 on Saturday.
It's a bird who wins Belmont -- Summer Bird Horse racing: This was a Belmont for the Birds. It was Summer Bird, not Mine That Bird and jockey Calvin Borel, who came
roaring down the long stretch and won the final jewel of the Triple
Crown on Saturday.
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