Jordan's House For Sale

AP

  February 29, 2012 (HIGHLAND PARK, Ill.) -- Michael Jordan's longtime personal residence in north suburban Chicago is for sale for $29 million.

  
  The sprawling estate is in Highland Park, along Lake Michigan, and has more than 56,000 square feet of living space.
  
  That includes nine bedrooms, 15 baths and five fireplaces.
 
  There's also a three-bedroom guesthouse, pool area, outdoor tennis court and three climate-controlled multi-car garages.
  
  An indoor basketball complex features a full-size regulation court with specially cushioned hardwood flooring and competition-quality high intensity lighting. 
  
  It's also got a sound system set up to provide perfect acoustics within the court space.
  
  The property was put on the market Wednesday by Katherine Chez-Malkin of Baird & Warner Real Estate.

Derrick 'FoReal'

Starting Lineup

Live from the UC

         Rose finished with 32 points, nine assists, two boards, two blocks and three steals

7th Inning Stretch

by George

  Seeing Jeff Gordon in the Daytona 500 last night reminded me of one of the 817 things that piss me off on a daily basis.


  This particular gripe...guest 7th-inning-stretch singers at Wrigley 'Stadium.'


  I gotta say that from day one - I was 100 percent against the 'guest' singer concept.  The endless parade of so-called celebrities is ridiculous.


  I'll accept the former Cub or even other Chicago team stars.  I'll accept real American heroes, men like Sully Sullenberg.  I'll even accept the occasional celebrity if it's a real Cub fan like Bonnie Hunt.


  But, do we really need Ozzy Osbourne?


  From day one I have felt that the Cubs should invite the average fan that has supported the Cubs for their whole life, keeping in mind that there are a dwindling number of fans that ever saw the Cubs in the World Series.


  I'd much rather watch and listen to an 85-year-old lifelong Cub fan get one of the greatest thrills of his lifetime than a race-car driver that doesn't even realize that he is at WRIGLEY FIELD.


  I write the Cubs about three or four times a year making this compliant.  If you agree, do the same.


  Till next time...HEY HEY!!!

Rose came to ball, not dance

ESPN.com
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose says he can dance, but that he doesn't feel as if the All-Star Game is the right venue to showcase those skills.

Three-time NBA All Star Derrick Rose appears disgusted
in his Eastern Conference teammates introduction dances

  "I can dance," Rose said after Sunday night's All-Star Game. "But there's a time and place for that and I don't think it was right, then and there."

  Rose drew criticism from some fans around the city on Monday because he didn't dance during the pregame introductions. While Lebron James and Dwight Howard put on a little show for the fans, Rose stood stonefaced on the side and kept his cool. He's not worried about what people think of the fact he didn't dance.

  "I don't care," Rose said. "You just know that's me, man. If you would have saw me out there dancing, you would have been looking at me different. I'm just me. I can't be anybody else. I think that's what people see."

  Rose, who has repeatedly talked about how he doesn't enjoy playing in pickup games, like many other All-Stars did over the summer, admitted that he still doesn't feel comfortable playing in glorified exhibitions like the All-Star Game, even though he's been selected three years in a row.

  "Not at all," he said. "You know this is not my game at all. But I just love being out there. Just seeing guys, seeing what they do. And it's exciting when you're out there. Just seeing how guys are really professionals.  They're great at what they do; scoring the ball, rebounding, whatever they're doing. They're out there for a reason."

  When asked on Sunday afternoon who he would have liked to play with the most, if he could play with any All-Star, Rose hesitated for a second and then responded with one of the best big men of all time.

  "I would say basically all of them because it's so hard to get up to this level," Rose said. "But if I had an opportunity, I think it would be Shaquille O'Neal."

  As for which part of his game he is working on the most right now, Rose acknowledged that he's trying to fight through the fatigue that has hampered lots of NBA players during this lockout shortened season.

  "The mental part of the game," Rose said. "Right now, everybody's a little fatigued because of the season. But mentally you have to challenge yourself to go out there and play well."

Vote For Sandburg Cheerleading

by Patrick Ronald

  Voting goes until 7pm tonight.  Click the link below and vote about halfway down the page.  Beat Marist!!!

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources%2Flifestyle_community&id=8548150

  My little sister requested I post this on behalf of the Sandburg Cheerleaders.  She was a key member of the 2006 IHSA Championship squad.

  I personally think cheerleading is silly unless its a bunch of hot girls, such as the Luvabulls or Hawks Ice Girls, but show these girls some love and vote on ABC.com

  They deserve it.

NBA All Star Game

Hawks clawed back

by Patrick Ronald

  It was an ugly run and everybody noticed it.

  The radio personalities were criticizing the players.  The fans were mocking the overall sloppiness of the entire Blackhawk team.

  Dating back to the game in Nashville, which I was at, the Hawks began their nine-game slide on January 21.

  Rumors were brewing that Coach Quenneville was on the hot seat and multiple names surfaced in a proposed trade for Buffalo’s American goaltender, Ryan Miller.

  Although the Hawks looked REALLY bad that January night, the rumblings did not start immediately.

  They lost a second straight game to Nashville at the United Center before they packed their bags for an extremely long 19-day, nine-game-road-trip.

  The trip included an overtime loss to Vancouver, an embarrassing loss to Edmonton, as well as losses to Calgary, Colorado, San Jose, a shutout loss in Phoenix and yet another road loss to those pesky Predators.

  Things were bad. 

  I didn’t think they were going to win another game the way the couldn’t complete a pass, let alone score a goal.

  Then they traveled into Madison Square Garden to face the East’s best New York Rangers.

  Hawks scored four quick goals and held onto a 4-2 victory to snap the skid.  I still was not impressed since zero goals in the game’s final 50 minutes was pathetic.

  However, it was a win and those were starting to become hard to come by.

  Then we closed out the road trip with a pounding of the ‘mighty’ Blue Jackets from Columbus.

  Again, I was not impressed, but two points was two points and that’s a game Coach Q’s squad is ‘supposed to win.’

  Then they started to look like the Blackhawk’s we’ve all become accustomed to watching over the last three seasons.

  They pulled out back-to-back home victories against respectable and higher ranked division rivals, such as St. Louis and Detroit, with two exhibits of great goaltending and defense.

  Both were solid victories and suddenly the nine-game skid is in our rearview.

  Hawks are currently a six seed, but 73 points is much better than 65, which would have us on the outside looking in with a tie with Calgary for a nine seed.

  I think the storm is over now people.  The Hawks have their control back and they survived that awful tailspin that we all thought could have killed our playoff hopes for 2012.

Oops ESPN

by Patrick Ronald

Dear ESPN,

  Who thought this was a good idea?  As a journalism graduate, who actually worked in several newspaper news rooms, I think someone seriously dropped the ball.  I understand what someone was trying to say with the play on words, but this 'Chink in the Armor' is just reckless.

  Noone should lose their job since it was clearly just a mistake, but a HUGE multi-billion dollar company should be ALOT more aware of the consequences of publishing something this stupid.

  I am on the record for NOT LIKING Jeremy Lin and all the 'Linsanity' hype, which surrounds the young point guard from the New York Knicks.

  With that said - I'm starting to realize that it's probably not the fact I don't like Lin, but I'm tired of of ESPN beating dead horse continuously all the time, far too often.

  In my eyes, it's lazy journalism.  Find actual stories and report appropriately.  The talking heads and personalities on ESPN are idiots and apparently the corporation should probably invest in ethics and values headline writing classes.

  Since bursting onto scene February 4 against New Jersey Lin has averaged 24.6 ppg in the last eight games.  The Knicks were 7-0 and only recently lost their first game Friday against New Orleans.

  Lin only played 55 minutes through New York's first 23 games and he blew up with 25 points, five boards and seven assists against the Nets when he got his first opportunity with substantial playing time.

  He made his first career start against Utah on February 6.

  I'll admit - the Harvard graduate is playing well.  He's put together a string of good games, but I'm not buying the hype.

  Is it him or is it the story lines ESPN smothers us with.  It's good to see a humble guy get a chance, but enough is enough.

  I'm looking forward to the Knicks - Bulls match up when Chicago's Home Grown Rose shows the world how mediocre Lin really is.

  He played against New Jersey, Utah, Washington, the Lakers, Minnesota, Toronto, Sacramento and New Orleans.

  As of Sunday morning, the combined record of these teams is 90 - 155 and I only consider Derron Williams and Kobe Bryant as real guard competition during this span.

  With these numbers and lack of competition I would expect anyone to average 24 ppg and put together a seven game winning streak.

Best NBA player of the late-90s generation?

by Patrick Ronald

  I was watching ESPN Classic this afternoon and I was stuck as a young Tim Duncan, of Wake Forest, battled against a young Stephon Marbury, of Georgia Tech, for an ACC Conference championship in 1996.

  For many of the people in my age group – this wasn’t too long ago.

  I was in sixth grade during this game and with the exception of the Bulls and some extreme superstars – these are some of the guys that defined my childhood and into the future.

  Maybe yours too.  So, I looked into it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  1995 NBA Draft

1)          Joe Smith                       Maryland

2)          Antonio McDyess          Alabama

3)          Jerry Stackhouse            UNC

4)          Rasheed Wallace            UNC

5)          Kevin Garnett                 

  Other names of the 1995 draft include Bryant Reeves, Damon Stoudamire, Brent Barry, Theo Ratliff and Eric Snow.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  1996 NBA Draft

  1)            Allen Iverson                  Georgetown  

  2)            Marcus Camby               UMass

  3)            Shareef Abdur-Rahim     California

  4)            Stephon Marbury            Georgia Tech

  5)            Ray Allen                        UConn

  Other names of the 1996 draft include Antoine Walker, Kerry Kittles, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal, Derek Fisher and Peja Stojakovic.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1997 NBA Draft

  1)            Tim Duncan                  Wake Forest 

  2)            Keith Van Horn            Utah

  3)            Chauncey Billups         Colorado

  4)            Antonio Daniels            Bowling Green

  5)            Tony Battie                    Texas Tech

  Other names of the 1997 draft include Ron Mercer, Tracy McGrady, Jacque Vaughn, Marc Jackson, Stephen Jackson and Austin Croshere.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  1998 NBA Draft

  1)            Michael Olowokandi         Pacific

  2)            Mike Bibby                        Arizona

  3)            Raef LaFrentz                    Kansas

  4)            Antawn Jamison                 UNC

  5)            Vince Carter                       UNC

  Other names of the 1998 draft include Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Larry Hughes, Bonzi Wells, Cuttino Mobley, Rafer Alston, Al Harrington, Ricky Davis and Bryce Drew.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  My point is – as a NBA fan I recognize so many of the names on these four lists.  Either from college, NBA, great clutch and blooper moments and even video games.

  There are so many other names, too.

  My question to you is who is THE BEST PLAYER (everything included) of this four-year span.

  I have mine narrowed down to Kobe and Tim Duncan, but those are the obvious.

  Who were the biggest busts?

  Who were the biggest surprises?

  Who do y'all got?

Daring to Dream

by Patrick Ronald

  I’m a little bit nervous and it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the Bulls look like dog crap on Sunday in Boston.

  They simply didn’t play well.

  Of course it was their ninth game on their nine game road trip – they were probably just ready to go home.

  CJ Watson looked bad.  I hated when he continuously went under the perimeter screens allowing Rajon Rondo to hoist up easy, open jump shots, which were falling for him all day.

  And, what was that fall away three pointer with his foot on the line with 27 seconds left.

  Horrible presence of mind.

  Where was Luol Deng?  Apparently he’s an all-star who can only ball with Derrick Rose.

  Attention John Lucas III – just because you scored 25 points once against the mighty Washington Wizards doesn’t mean you can dribble as much as you want.

  You’re a third string point guard, so pass the ball.  Don’t dribble or shoot.

  Taj Gibson missed several point blank shots, including a rejection by a real goofy looking white boy.

  I know it’s only one loss and I don’t mean to over-react, but it was bad.

  Nothing looked good and I’m very surprised they actually kept it a game and only lost by four.

  But, I’m scared to Rose’s response to his back issues.

  “(My Back’s) been hurting the whole trip. I just played through it. It tended to get worse after every game. I was really worried about it. But I'm trying to stay positive. I don't know what the diagnosis is. I just know my back is not right."

  Although an MRI revealed no structural damage Monday, I am scared that he’s scard.  This can’t be good.

  Boston caught us on a bad day when going home was on our minds.

  I applaud the Bulls 6-3 record during their ‘Dare to Dream’ tour, but I’m disgusted with the loss’, which were against Eastern Conference contenders in the likes of Miami, Philadelphia and Boston.

  Sit Rose for awhile Coach Thibs.  It’s not what we want to see, but it needs to be done.

  Good Luck.

Best rivalry in sports

This kid, Austin Rivers, is for real. I hope he stays long enough at Duke

to get a degree. He doesn't need the money. This kid is sick.

Overall Football Season Picks

We started before week 1 of the college football season and continued throughout both, the NFL and NCAA seasons.

We predicted our winners from AT LEAST four weekend games, but usually more.  We attacked 'games of the week.'

We made preseason NCAA Championship game picks and eventually made NFL playoff picks.

After a long, long season both Ken and I ended above .500 with respectful records

Patrick 

   87-39  

   + 48

Ken

   65-56  

   + 9

Thank you to everyone for tuning in.  Jerseys, Bulls tickets and more giveaways to come.

Running With The Bulls

by Patrick Ronald

  So, it sounds like Andre Iguodala, of Philadelphia, will claim a all-star roster spot over our very own Luol Deng.

 Iguodala is well deserving.  The 76ers are clearly a very good basketball team, but how in the world does the best team in the league only send one all-star to Orlando - especially when Deng has played so well.

 Deng is averaging 16 points and seven boards night in and night out.

 We all know he's a great compliment to Bulls lone all-star, Derrick Rose.

 With that said - being the leader and lone all-star on the NBA's best team - does that kinda, sorta, automatically make Rose the MVP again?

 LeBron James is always the front runner, but there are three all-stars on the Miami squad.

 Plus, the Miami 'pity party' is out of control.

 A MVP shouldn't be a cocky, crybaby, who doesn't like scrutiny, pressure or making big, late game shots.

 What if the queen gets hurt?  Will he have more time to tweet?

 In the west,  Kevin Durant - why not.  I don't talk bad about him.  He's a stud.

 He shows up every night and dominates.

 I still think Rose should be sitting against teams like New Orleans on the road and I hope he sits against Charlotte.

 I know he's a great competitor, but a bad back needs rest.

 Keep him in the hotel and let him watch his favorite movie, 'The Notebook.'

 How did Will Farrell know that tidbit of information?

 Go Bulls and good luck.


Sent from my iPhone

New York Giants on plane celebrating

Super Bowl Party, 2012, Giants vs Patriots

The game's first drive on Patrick's movie theatre screen

Everyone getting settled in

Patrick's boy, Paulie Jazz, was repping Tom Brady hard.
Paulie eventually cried after the game.

What a finish!!!  Giants outlast Patriots, 21 - 17

What if Rose got hurt?

by Patrick Ronald

  Two problems.

  Why the hell is the ‘Booze Bag’ so inconsistent.  I defend this guy ALL THE TIME.

  He was great a Duke.  He was awesome with a bad basketball team in Utah.  He had a bad year last year.

  Then I watch these games now and he’ll pour points and boards all over opponents today and then have eight points and six boards last night.

  That isn’t cool.

  I used to say ‘no don’t give up our core for Dwight Howard,’ but now I think I’m thinking ‘hell yeah you get Dwight Howard for these scrubs called Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.’

  On another note – Bulls need to step up and start being a better second half team.

  Have they outscored anyone in the third quarter this season?  Few and far between if there’s a yes.

  Bulls were winning by 11 at halftime against New York on Thursday. 

  “They’re going to be losing or tied going to the fourth,” my buddy told me at the start of the third.  “They never win the third.”

  Although the Bulls were still up two going into the fourth in Madison Square Garden, they were outscored by nine.

  Bulls barely held on to win that game after their huge blowout defeat to Philadelphia the day before.

  Tibs needs to fix that garbage.

  Milwaukee outscored us in the second half by one on Saturday.  I know we won by 23 points, but its not acceptable.

  I’m happy with the Bulls results, but some of the small things are bothering me and bad quarters and halves against Miami, Philadelphia and New York won’t fly.

  You guys can beat up on Milwaukee, Washington and Charlotte all you want, but you better get your shit together.

  Otherwise you might start looking like the Blackhawks.

Moneyball - Cubs Style

by George

  I Recently rented the movie 'Moneyball' and gave it a thumb's up 'Siskel 'n' Ebert' style.

  But let's look at the premise of the movie as it relates to my beloved Cubs.

  First, let me say that I am a baseball fan and since ESPN gives us 24/7 Super Bowl coverage - I find my sanctuary at the 'MLB Network' and to avoid the overkill at ESPN I am watching a lot of the real sports network. 

  Anyway, yesterday I watched the show about the best 10 current leftfielders in baseball.

  Using the basic theory that the highest paid would be rated as the best I watched in absolute horror as my leftfielder, Alfonso Soriano, numero uno in compensation, didn't even crack the top ten.

  What was even worse was my feeling that if the show had been the top 20 leftfielders in baseball he might not have made that list either.

  So, how do the Cubs rate in the world of Moneyball? Probably right at the bottom of the list. Speaking of movies everyone has a favorite. My favorite baseball movie ever...The Natural.

  What's yours? Till next time HEY HEY!!!!!

Legos Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium made from Legos.

Stem-Cell Regeneration

by George

  Something personal.

  Recently ESPN's Outside the Lines did a special report on the experimental usage of stem-cell regeneration by various athletes, the most famous being Payton Manning.  As they usually do, and very well I might add, they covered both sides of the issue in a thoughtful and coherent way.

Now, for the personal part.  My brother has a condition called Sarcoidosis.  Let's just say it's a nerve thing and it attacks people in various ways.  My brother has lost much of the use of the right side of his face, causing extremely slurred speech, difficulty in eating and swallowing.  His eyesight is failing and he is now complaining that the symptoms are beginning to affect his limbs.  He's my brother, I love him, and I want him to get better.  But this is not about him, per se, but about a medical and insurance system that has virtually refused to treat him.  He has finally been accepted into an experimental program at Northwestern (go Wildcats!) and we all hope for the best.

But this is my real issue...I was born in 1947 and I had several friends that had polio.  All I can say is thank god the medical and insurance establishment didn't stop Jonas Salk from his vision of a polio vaccine.  When I talk to my brother we realize that this experimental treatment might in fact be too late for him.  We just hope and pray that it might lead to a treatment, better yet a cure, that might save his grand-daughter's life 20 years down the road.

Thanks for your patience for me about getting off the sports theme but this does have an impact in the sports world, not the glamour part but rather the injury situation.  I'm taking the Patriots in a close game...let's say 30-28.  Till next time    HEY HEY!!!!

Worst Game of the Season

by Patrick Ronald

    No rebounding on either end of the floor.

    No defense under the basket.

    Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers, pathetic shooting and more bad shot selection.

    Phila is good, but they made a season highlight reel against us.

    Stats?  The only stat I recognize is the dub smack they put on us after three.

    This was embarrassing.

The "Dare To Dream" Roadtrips

by Patrick Ronald

 What's good world?  I apologize for my sudden departure from writing.

 I've been swamped with common, everyday priorities, which we all encounter from time to time.

 However, I plan on being back for a while.

 So, due to the Disney on Ice 'Dare to Dream' show, which is scheduled at the United Center from February 1 - 12, both of the Madison Street teams will be on exceptionally long road trips.

 The Bulls began their trip Sunday in Miami and continued with a win Monday in Washington DC.

 Although they lost to LeBron and company, which appears to be their only real competition in the East, it was an incredible game.

 I think they got shaded on plenty on calls and they still almost found a way to win.

 The 'Dare to Dream' trip, which will be nine games, continues tonight in a very surprising and talented Philadelphia team.

 The 76ers are 15-6 and first in the league by only allowing 86 points a game.

 The young team is getting balanced production with seven players averaging double digits in scoring.

 The trip includes New York, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, Charlotte and Boston.

 I anticipate a 7-2 record when they return home against Sacramento on Valentines Day.

 The Blackhawks, on the other hand, who are not in first place and have not been dominating their opponents recently have a long stint on the left coast.

 Every game in the NHL is now playoff atmosphere so they can't afford to have a bad road trip and slip further behind in the standings.

 After their overtime loss to the 'Sedin Sisters' last night - the hawks have 65 points, which is only good enough for a six seed.

 However, they're within four points of the conference leading Detroit Red Wings.

 Their nine game road trip will wrap up in Columbus on Febuary 18.

 The trip includes visits to Edmonton, Calgary, Colorado, San Jose, Phoenix, Nashville, New York to see the Rangers and of course Columbus before they come back home to host St. Louis on Febuary 19.

 The shortest month of the year will appear to be the longest for both squads.

 Can we as Chicago sports fans 'dare to dream' that both teams will improve on their already impressive seasons?

 I think so.