By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

St. Charles East and Bartlett held up their ends of the bargain, but the other nine teams in the Upstate Eight Conference all lost Friday night.

Here's a look at how the UEC stacked up during Week 1 against two neighboring conferences, the DuPage Valley Conference and against the Fox Valley Conference.

UEC VS. DVC
(1-3)
Bartlett 28, Glenbard North 21
Naperville North 41, Neuqua Valley 19
Naperville Central 24, Waubonsie Valley 14
West Aurora 46, East Aurora 0

UEC VS. FVC
(0-3)
Cary-Grove 24, St. Charles North 21
McHenry 18, Larkin 7
Crystal Lake Central 32, Streamwood 6

It looks like the DVC and FVC are still king in the western and northwestern suburbs.

A 2-9 showing isn't exactly the way to build up a positive reputation going forward, but the UEC will try to change its fortunes next week when the battle of the conferences continues.

Here's a look at next week's lineup.

UEC vs. DVC
West Aurora at Elgin
Lake Park at Naperville Central

UEC vs. FVC
Waubonsie Valley at Prairie Ridge
Larkin at Jacobs
St. Charles North at McHenry
Dundee-Crown at Streamwood

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

St. Edward proved Friday that a little hard work can go a long way.

For three years, coach Mike Rolando and his players stuck with the program through thick and thin, and anyone familiar with the area football scene knows it was almost always thin.

However, the Green Wave instantly gained respectability with its hard fought 15-7 win at Hampshire.

The difference between the teams wasn't great. However, there was little doubt that St. Edward had the edge in size, strength and depth. After the game, Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said his team was simply beat up front on both sides of the ball.

That was certainly a welcome sight for Wave fans, who patiently waited for Rolando to get the program up and running. Those fans filled up the stands behind St. Edward's bench and voiced their approval throughout the night.

Friday's win was as much for the current players as it was for the players who took the field undermanned and undersized the past three years. One of those players, 2008 graduate Matt Ardiente, delivered a speech to his former teammates. The message apparently hit home.

Naysayers will think St. Edward caught Hampshire in a down year. I beg to differ. The Whip-Purs will be in the mix for a playoff spot as usual. The bottom line is the Wave was the better team Friday.

The biggest difference for St. Edward this year might be its depth. When senior Moises Quiroga went down with a left knee injury in the first half, junior Jordan Torres stepped in and the team didn't miss a beat.

If junior defensive end Shane Finnane - who recovered a key fumble early in the third quarter and was a beast all night - and fellow linemen Jim Waclawik, Daniel Duffy and Ryan Eigenhauser keep up their strong play, expect the Wave to be in the mix more often than not.

With Week 1 in the books, here's a quick run down of my initial reactions.

MOST IMPRESSIVE WIN
While St. Edward's accomplishment is noteworthy, Bartlett finally got over the hump and beat Glenbard North for the first time in 10 tries.

Playing with heightened expectations as the favorite to win the Upstate Eight Conference, the Hawks lived up to the hype by beating the Class 8A state runner-up. With this win in the bag, Bartlett might just be looking at eight or nine victories during the regular season.

SURPRISE OF THE NIGHT
I didn't foresee Jacobs going on the road and beating Moline, but the Golden Eagles turned in a gutsy effort and beat the Maroons 31-30 in triple overtime. With a lot of talent lost from last year, this appears to be a strong team effort for coach Dean Schlueter's team.

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

With the high school football season ready to kick off Friday, here's a look at my preseason top five area teams.

1. BARTLETT
An Upstate Eight Conference title could be in the cards for the Hawks. But with significant talent returning on both sides of the ball, bigger things could be in store for Bartlett as it goes after its ninth straight playoff appearance.

2. ST. CHARLES EAST
Wes Allen is back at tailback and the Saints should be tough once again this year. A challenging schedule could prove daunting, but expect East to be around come playoff time for the fourth straight year.

3. ST. CHARLES NORTH
The North Stars could be a surprise team this year. With depth and talent on both sides of the ball, don't be surprised if coach Mark Gould's team not only makes the playoffs for the seventh straight year, but sticks around a while once there.

4. GENOA-KINGSTON
It will be tough for the Cogs to match last year's success, but coach Bill McCarty will find a way to carry the momentum into the 2008 season. Expect G-K to contend in the Big Northern West once again.

5. HAMPSHIRE
A talented senior class is focused on returning to the playoffs after being denied in 2007 despite having a 5-4 record. The Whip-Purs have a tough schedule but should be in the mix for the Big Northern East title.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

Former White Sox reliever Bobby Thigpen's MLB record of 57 saves in a season is in serious jeopardy after the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 50th of the season on Sunday.

The Angels don't so much have their sights set on making the playoffs so much as they do on what they're going to do once they get there. That means I wouldn't be surprised to see them rest Rodriguez down the stretch more than if they were in a tight race. But Rodriguez is now so close, I think he can't help but shatter Thigpen's mark. Rodriguez made to 50 faster than anyone else ever, and by a big margin.

Here are the other guys on the single-season list and the number of saves each guy collected by the end of the day on Aug. 24. Take note of the two Cubs on the list.

By Andy Rohr
Staff Writer

Here are my picks for the top contenders, dark horses and looming disappointments on the women's side at this year's U.S. Open.

Top 4 Contenders
Serena Williams (4th seed) - Call it a hunch. After opening the year on a 17-match win streak in which she won three WTA titles, Serena cooled off. She lost the Wimbledon final to her sister Venus and is in danger of being shutout in this year's Grand Slam-cycle. Because of that disappointing loss to Venus at Wimbledon and a U.S. Open title drought dating back to 2002, I'm picking Serena to win her first Grand Slam title since the Aussie Open of 2007. Of course, she'll have to get by Venus in the quarterfinals to do it.

Jelena Jankovic (2nd seed) - This might be a bit a of stretch considering her recent form and her disappointing one-week stint at the top of the WTA rankings two weeks ago but it gets easier to like Jankovic's chances when you take a look at the draw. A round-of-16 match-up against red-hot Caroline Wozniacki could prove to be a slipping point but Jankovic rests on the easier side of the women's bracket - away from the Williamses, Ana Invanovic and Dinara Safina.

Venus Williams (7th seed) - Venus enters the Open as a top challenger but has been dogged in recent years by inconsistent play (i.e. her loss to Li Na in the Olympics) that has kept her ranking from climbing close to the top. Her Wimbledon title recalls that she's practically unstoppable when at her best, but she struggles to find her top form. Seeking her first Open title since 2001, she's likely to meet Serena in the quarters.

Elena Dementieva (5th seed) - Puts herself in the top four after she cashed in on a gold medal during her oft-impressive run at the Olympics - including wins over Serena Williams and Safina. Won a title in Dubai earlier in the year and has had a fairly successful run at the Slams this year. She also hasn't lost a match to an unranked opponent since January. A round-of-16 match against Anna Chakvetadze could be tough.

Dark Horses
Caroline Wozniacki (21st seed) - Comes in as the winner of 10-straight matches in which she won two titles, including the Pilot Pen on Saturday. Wins over Chakvetadze, Alize Cornet, Marion Bartoli and Agnieszka Radwanska during the streak are also impressive. Might be poised for a breakthrough.

Alize Cornet (17th seed) - Experiencing all the inconsistency most would expect out of a 18-year old. Wins over Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Chakvetadze and Daniela Hantuchova do look good but Cornet has also lost six times in the first round this year. If she can survive the first round against fellow Frenchwoman Camille Pin. Might face Safina in the round-of-16.

Others to watch: Amelie Mauresmo, Anna Chakvetadze, Lindsay Davenport

Looming Disappointments
Ana Ivanovic (1st seed) - If I'm not putting her as a top contender then I guess I must have her tabbed as a disappointment. Although she's the no. 1 player in the world, she's played poorly in her last two WTA events. It could by early curtains in the third round against Mauresmo.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (3rd seed) - The 2004 Open champion maintains a high ranking by keeping her schedule clogged with WTA events but hasn't had a strong year and has yet to win a title. She's lucky that Safina - who has beaten her in two of her last three events - resides on the other side of the bracket. Has a fairly easy quarter but hasn't been at her best.

Enjoy the Open.

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

It wasn't easy, but the United States held off a serious challenge from Spain to capture the gold medal moments ago. Although it's great to see the U.S. win the big prize, this game only reinforces the fact that America's dominance in the sport isn't what it used to be.

Unlike some recent international competitions, there was no doubt that the Redeem Team was the best collection of players the U.S. had to offer. However, a deep and talented Spanish team was able pester the Americans and on several occasions was only a possession or two away from taking the lead and changing the entire complexion of the game.

The reality is that without Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, the U.S. probably loses this game. Gone are the days when the Americans have the three or four best players on the floor. The very best the U.S. has to offer is now only a player or two better than the next best team, and gold medals won't be forgone conclusions for the U.S. in future Olympics as long as players like Spain's Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro are on the floor.

Bryant certainly rose to the occasion late in the game, but his play was rightfully called into question by TV analyst Doug Collins on several occasions as Bryant took foolish shots and played suspect defense at times. Bryant's amazing talent made up for these shortcomings, but I'd have much rather seen the ball go through James and Dwayne Wade on every possession as those two consistently showed they have the poise and floor smarts to make wise decisions in crunch time.

While I'm analyzing the play of American players, I'll also give some props to former Illinois star Deron Williams, who should have a bright Olympic future after showing he can step up in key moments during his brief time on the floor during the second half against Spain.

Now it's time for goose bumps as the medal ceremony is about to begin.

By Andy Rohr
Staff Writer

Each draw contains a slew of top contenders, dark horses and looming disappointments. Here are my picks in the men's draw at the U.S. Open.

Top 4 Contenders
Novak Djokovic (3rd seed) - After winning the Australian Open in grand style back in January, "The Djoker" has had a relatively quiet year. He's been blanked this summer and after falling to Nadal in the gold-medal match in Beijing, has lost to the Spaniard four times since May. The up-and-coming Andy Murray has also beaten him twice leading up the Open. So why am I picking Djokovic? Because Nadal and Murray reside on the other side of the bracket and neither possesses a successful run in New York like Djokovic had last year, when he lost to Federer in the final. That, and Djokovic hasn't lost a five-setter on hard courts this season.

Rafael Nadal (1st seed) - "Six titles, two majors and a gold medal do make for a great year, no?" Nadal didn't actually say that but he certainly could have. The man has been rolling along and after his triumph at the Olympics, many are picking Rafa to take another title. But not me. Nadal has undoubtedly improved his hard-court game the last couple of years but has not yet put up a lengthy run at the Open (his best a quarterfinal appearance in 2006) and often succumbs to injury on the unforgiving hard courts due to the ridiculous pace that he plays at. A quarterfinal match with James Blake could be something special.

Roger Federer (2nd seed) - Things have definitely changed when Federer can only clock in as the third-best contender at the Open. The 12-time grand slam champion has only totaled two titles this year and has been off his usual game (you know, of flat out destroying people) to getting beaten 11 times on the ATP circuit this season. One could argue that Federer has lost to the eventual champion at all three Grand Slams but then again, he hasn't had a win over a top-tier player since he beat Blake at the Australian quarterfinals. A semifinal with Djokovic could await.

Andy Murray (6th seed) - Aside from his disastrous first-round Olympic loss, Murray has been at the top of his game this summer. Murray captured his first-career Master Series title in Cincinnati earlier this month has finally displayed that tenacity that had so many tennis insiders excited the last couple of years. A difficult round-of-16 match-up with 10th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka probably awaits but Murray is still the favorite to make the semis considering the slump that the fourth-seeded David Ferrer has been in. If Nadal is waiting for him in the semifinals, it's probably curtains for young Andy. He's 0-3 against Rafa since Wimbledon.

Dark Horses
Juan Martin Del Potro (17th seed) - Everybody's pick as the tournament dark horse after reeling off 19 straight wins and capturing four titles this season. Aside from wins over Andy Roddick and Richard Gasquet however, there isn't a lot of to hoot and holler about. A third-round match-up with fellow up-and-comer Gilles Simon awaits.

James Blake (9th seed) - After having his trip to Beijing end in a no-medal disappointment, Blake will look to bounce back at an event where he's reached the semis to other times. Although Blake has struggled in long matches and against his fellow ranked opponents, I still see him making the quarters to take on Nadal. Then, who knows?

Others to watch: Stanislas Wawrinka, Mardy Fish, Viktor Troicki, Radek Stepanek, Marin Cilic

Looming Disappointments
David Ferrer (4th seed) - A semifinalist a year ago, Ferrer closed out 2007 on fire. 2008 has been another story.

David Nalbandian (7th seed) - The one-time "best player without a Grand Slam title" has come on hard times. It's probably all downhill from here.

Andy Roddick (8th seed) - Maybe I can work the reverse jinx here. Like many American fans, I've been waiting and waiting for Roddick to make another run at the top. While that time has certainly passed, there's still time left for Roddick to make a run at another Grand Slam title. But it is running out and his recent form and shoulder injury are bad signs.

By Andy Rohr
Staff Writer

It's time to head back to Arthur Ashe Court.

The U.S. Open begins on Monday and the changes from a year ago in both the men's and women's draws couldn't be more evident

Last year's women's champion Justin Henin, quit the sport in May and left the women's rankings muddled at the top. 2006 champion Maria Sharapova is also out of the draw with a right shoulder injury.

On the men's side, Roger Federer has had a nightmarish year (for him, anyway) and most are skeptical that he can capture his fifth-straight title at Flushing Meadows. After 160 weeks at the top, Federer relinquished his no. 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal, who has emerged as the new king of tennis and has the opportunity to become the first man since Rod Laver did it in 1969 to capture the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open crowns in the same year.

Dramatic night matches, roaring crowds. There's only one U.S. Open.

Because tennis rarely gets the limelight and because I just don't know when to say when, posts previewing both the men and women will be posted over the next two nights.

For now, enjoy the musings of SI's Jon Wertheim, the best tennis writer out there and check out the brackets at the U.S. Open website.

By Andy Rohr
Staff Writer

I write this smack dab in the middle of the Bears shootout with the 49ers on Thursday. Currently, the Kyle Orton-Rashied Davis duo has combined for a pair of scores and probably will encourage some fools out there to spend $60 on a replica Bears jersey with an 18 on the back. I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid. Spurred on by the predictions of Erik Jacobsen, here are my game-by-game predictions.

Sun 9/7 at Indianapolis
L 31-17

Sun 9/14 at Carolina
L 23-19

Sun 9/21 vs. Tampa Bay
W 24-10

Sun 9/28 vs. Philadelphia
L 20-17

Sun 10/5 at Detroit
L 34-20

Sun 10/12 at Atlanta
W 13-10

Sun 10/19 vs. Minnesota
L 24-13

bye

Sun 11/2 vs. Detroit
W 24-17

Sun 11/9 vs. Tennessee
W 23-21

Sun 11/16 at Green Bay
L 38-13

Sun 11/23 at St. Louis
L 19-14

Sun 11/30 at Minnesota
L 35-27

Sun 12/7 vs. Jacksonville
L 34-19

Thu 12/11 vs. New Orleans
L 26-24

Mon 12/22 vs. Green Bay
W 27-17

Sun 12/28 at Houston
L 13-9

Final Record: 5-11

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

Now that we know who will be quarterbacking the Bears, I feel confident in making my prediction for how the season will go. There's reason to believe the defense will be back on top of its game this year, but the offense is a long way from resembling an efficient NFL unit, and Kyle Orton and the gang will be exposed against the league's better teams. The schedule isn't too challenging this year, but it's hard to see this team mustering any better than a 6-10 record.

Sun 9/7 at Indianapolis
L 31-14

Sun 9/14 at Carolina
W 16-10

Sun 9/21 vs. Tampa Bay
L 20-9

Sun 9/28 vs. Philadelphia
L 24-20

Sun 10/5 at Detroit
L 31-6

Sun 10/12 at Atlanta
W 19-14

Sun 10/19 vs. Minnesota
L 42-14

bye

Sun 11/2 vs. Detroit
W 13-6

Sun 11/9 vs. Tennessee
W 28-13

Sun 11/16 at Green Bay
L 24-16

Sun 11/23 at St. Louis
W 16-13

Sun 11/30 at Minnesota
L 48-3

Sun 12/7 vs. Jacksonville
L 27-10

Thu 12/11 vs. New Orleans
L 17-7

Mon 12/22 vs. Green Bay
W 23-21

Sun 12/28 at Houston
L 19-17

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

I've been watching Michael Phelps dominate the Beijing Olympic games one night after another, and yet I'm still left with a sense that something is missing.

Is it impressive that this guy goes out and wins one day after another? Sure, we don't come across unbeatable athletes too often in sports.

However, some of my hesitation over Phelps was clarified after reading a pair of articles by writers at papers in the Chicago area.

First, Phillip Hersch's article in this morning's Chicago Tribune laid out that Phelps is being anointed an Olympic great too quickly. I completely agree with his point that Phelps will have to continue success at the next two Olympic games to show his true worth. Staying power is what makes athletes like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong and those great Olympians that Hersch mentions in his piece so special.

Later, I read an article by Brad Spencer in the Wednesday Journal that made a great point that swimming just isn't something that many sports fans generally get overly excited about. He didn't say it directly, but Spencer hints that swimming is a sport we only pay attention to every four years when the Summer Olympics roll around. He goes on to say that the fact that Phelps is breaking every world record in the book doesn't seem that interesting considering the ways technology is changing the sport.

The way I see it, and I think Spencer would agree, is that a lot of the Phelps hype is just a way for NBC to drive its ratings. As Spencer points out, the other night when Jason Lezak's late push lifted the U.S. to its 4 x 100-meter relay victory, it was Phelps who got the most attention from the press, not the real hero Lezak.

I guess the moral of the story is that we need to chill out on Phelps mania. He's a great athlete who is accomplishing extraordinary tasks, but his extraordinary tasks are no greater than those accomplished by MVP's in every sports league year in and year out.

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

With a successful AAU season in the books, Jacobs basketball standout Conrad Krutwig is in the middle of narrowing down his college prospects.

Krutwig said he's fielding phone calls from college coaches every day. He added that he'll be making an official visit to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn., over Labor Day weekend, with the hope of making his decision shortly thereafter. Other Division-I schools showing interest in Krutwig include Murray State, Ohio, Evansville, Loyola, Vermont and Eastern Illinois.

The 6-foot-5 forward/center endured quite a scare last month when he injured his knee while playing for the Illinois Wolves AAU squad. Krutwig said the pain wasn't significant at the time, but after waking up from a nap later in the day the knee was so swollen that one trainer feared he may have torn ligaments in the knee.

Luckily for Krutwig the pain subsided the next day, and he went on to help lead the Wolves to a second-place finish at the Duel in the Desert in Phoenix in late July. Krutwig posted double-digit scoring figures in a number of games at the tournament.

A four-year varsity member, Krutwig averaged 15.4 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Golden Eagles last season.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

SI.com is reporting that former White Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia is going to the Tigers on a minor-league deal.

I know the radar readings are down for Garcia, and that likely scared some teams away, but I'm still surprised Garcia didn't get a richer major league contract for two years. Teams have done it before. Jon Lieber's deal with the Yankees after elbow surgery a few years back comes to mind.

Part of me is disappointed the Sox didn't make a harder push for Garcia, especially after Jose Contreras' season-ending injury. While Garcia could be frustrating to watch labor at times, they called him Big Game Freddy for a reason. Game 5 of the 2005 of the World Series, and his one-hit loss to Johan Santana were just two of my favorite Garcia performances.

We'll have to see what Garcia has to give a team the rest of this season.

By the way, aren't the Tigers out of it yet?

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

...White Sox left fielder Carlos Quentin, at least up to this point according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.

Stark runs the numbers, and leaning heavily on OPS (on-base percentage and slugging) favors Quentin over Texas' Josh Hamilton, viewing those two sluggers as the main contenders.

I'll add to the equation this: Quentin is fourth in the AL in OPS, but has also played more games than any of the guys ahead of him. (Milton Bradley, Alex Rodriguez and J.D. Drew).

A 3-part series focusing on the major changes taking place within public golf in Elgin.

(I apologize for the cumbersome use of pdfs, but these are the only copies of the text I have.)

PART I: AMBITION ABOUNDS
A look at the vision driving the current changes to golf in Elgin and the challenges that accompany that vision.
Ambition_Abounds_front.pdf
Ambition_Abounds_jump.pdf

PART II: FINISHING THE JOB
With the final phase nearly complete, a look at the past, present and future of golf at The Highlands of Elgin.
Finishing_The_Job_front.pdf
Finishing_The_Job_jump.pdf

PART III: A NEW FRONTIER
An exclusive look at Bowes Creek Country Club and what local golfers can expect from the new facility.
Final_Frontier_front.pdf
final_frontier_jump.pdf

By Andy Rohr
Staff Writer

I guess it's starting early this year. The near-annual ritual of Bears first-round picks turning out to be busts gained some steam on Wednesday when Chris Williams underwent back surgery that threatens to keep him out for the entire season.

What's most puzzling and frustrating about all of this, is news that other teams had Williams sliding down their draft boards because of concerns over his ailing back. Forget about this season, some are wondering if Williams will ever bounce back to have much of a career after the surgery.

Glad Jerry Angelo and the rest of the Bears brain trust looked past that. Now, the Bears are left to ponder bringing back the disaster that was Fred Miller to an already dreadful offensive line.

Was Williams so much better - playing for perennial SEC welcome mat Vanderbilt - than all the other available lineman, that the Bears could look past the injury? And with the line already in shambles after last season, was it a pick that they could afford to gamble on?

The Bears felt as though the o-line needed so much repair that they didn't select another one until late in the seventh round with Kirk Barton. Nice going.

Being negative about the Bears offense right now is inescapable. When a quarterback duo of Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton seems to have more value than the teams receiving corps, you know how bad its gotten.

And who knows what to expect out of running back and second-round pick Matt Forte. Do you think he realizes yet that he's joined the NFL's top-rated 3-and-out offense?

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention that the Bears could have had former Illini star Rashard Mendenhall in their backfield. Mendenhall already has the Steelers pushing Willie Parker into the background and while he wouldn't have given the Bears the o-lineman they'd wanted, it'd at least have given them a burgeoning star and oh yeah, someone who'll actually be in uniform for the bulk of this season.

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

Everyone has their favorite sports weekends of the year. Some love the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, others love the opening weekend of the NFL and some really get excited about Daytona 500 weekend.

Although this isn't traditionally thought of as a great sports weekend, for those of us in Chicago it certainly deserves a look this year. Simply put, there's something for every sports fan over the next three days.

On the local front, Chicago's two first-place baseball teams are both at home in a pair of high-profile series. The Cubs host arch-rival St. Louis with a chance to bury the Cardinals' hopes in the NL Central. Meanwhile, the defending champion Red Sox are paying a visit to U.S Cellular, where the White Sox will try to prove they have what it takes to make a lengthy run in October.

The excitement extends well beyond Chicago, though, as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and others are vying to win golf's final major of the season at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in Michigan.

As if that isn't enough, the Beijing Olympics are also starting up on the other side of the world. NBC will be providing sports nuts with around-the-clock coverage, so there will never be a moment when you can't catch come some action. Who's up for some air rifle Saturday morning?

Throw in Saturday's Arlington Million at Arlington Race Track, the continuing NASCAR Nextel Cup chase and the building excitement over NFL training camp and it's clear there's plenty to keep an eye on this weekend. So find your favorite spot on the couch and make yourself comfortable because it doesn't get much better than this.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

I love baseball's Aug. 31 trade deadline. It doesn't provide the rampant speculation the July 31 non-waiver deadline does, but I think it's much more interesting because of the waiver process.

Teams put almost all of their players on waivers, both to gauge interest from other teams and to sometimes slip guys through under a smokescreen of names. But the claiming team has to be careful, because if they're not they could be awarded a player and his bloated contract.

The best example I can think of is when the Blue Jays unloaded former Cubs closer Randy Myers on the Padres in 1998. The Pads put in a claim to make sure the Braves wouldn't get the lefty. The Jays, after giving him an ill-advised deal the previous offseason, said "Go ahead and have him."

For less than 15 crappy innings of work from Myers, the Padres ended up having to pay more than $14 million.

So teams think twice before putting in claims, and that's why the Cubs were able to squeeze a decent relief prospect out of the Phillies for Scott Eyre. While Eyre's price tag wasn't nearly as high as Myers' was, it was high enough to keep other teams from blocking the trade.

With paychecks in baseball now bigger than ever, I expect a couple more big contracts to change hands this month.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

Brad Biggs has already reported that the Bears aren't interested in newly released Jets QB Chad Pennington, and the feeling is likely mutual.

Biggs is in agreement that he's a bad fit with the Bears, but strikes a contrarian chord by comparing Pennington's career completion percentage (65.6) with Rex Grossman's (54.3) and Kyle Orton's (52.0). Obviously Pennington would be an upgrade in that stat, but I don't think completion percentage tells the whole story.

Don't believe me? Well, Brian Griese's career rate is 62.9. That didn't seem to help him or the Bears last season.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

I've said it before, and Mike Mulligan at the Sun-Times hit the nail on the head again today. The Bears' blocking could be brutal. So brutal that it might make the battle for the starting quarterback job meaningless.

At this point, there isn't much the Bears can do to fix the problem -- outside of hoping Chris Williams is the real deal and that another guy can step up. Coach Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo will have to hope there are enough scapegoats at the end of the year to insulate themselves from the fire that would be ignited by a dismal season.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

If the White Sox beat the Tigers tonight, does it put an end to Detroit's season? The Tigers would be 9.5 games back and chasing two teams. I think it does.

In 2005, the Indians were 13 games behind the Sox at the end of the day on Aug. 7. As we remember, the Tribe almost caught up, coming as close as 1.5 games with less than two weeks left in the season.

So while it's not impossible for a team to get hot and storm back into the race, I feel comfortable writing off the Tigers. Besides being behind the Sox AND the Twins, this team isn't clicking on all cylinders like the Indians were a few years ago. In fact, Detroit will be the loser of seven straight if they can't avoid a sweep tonight. The pitching just isn't there for the Tigers in the rotation or the bullpen.

Now if only the Twins can take a similar nosedive.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

Lots of things come around full circle, and maybe the Jets trading for Brett Favre is one of them.

To me, this seems too much like when the Jets traded their own legendary quarterback -- Joe Namath -- to the Rams. By that time Namath was bruised, battered and just plain worn out. Broadway Joe mananged only four games for L.A. before coach Chuck Knox had the good sense to pull the plug.

Make no mistake, Favre is in much better physical shape than Namath was at the time. But he's still going to turn 39 this year. And there's undoubtedly questions regarding Favre's mental reddiness to return to the gridiron.

For years the Packers have fostered an environment geared toward making Favre as comfortable as possible. They dealt with yearly flirtations with retirment. When head coach Mike McCarthy came aboard, they made efforts to keep the offense Favre friendly. And of course there are the adoring cheeseheads.

None of those things are going to follow Favre to New York.

Not only is Favre's level of comittment open to questions, but he'll have to fit in with a new team. He'll have to learn a new offense weeks into training camp. And there will be more boos than cheers emanating from the stands should Favre turn in a season like he did in 2005 or 2006.

So while this might not be as ugly as the end of Namath's career, it's hard to imagine it being better than if Favre had simply called it quits and meant it.

By Tim Masmar
Staff Writer

Warning: The kids were napping and I had some time to kill. Besides, Chris "blogger" Pummer needed a break.

What if Green Bay sabotages Brett Favre's physical? Can't play, sorry. Maybe you should go home now. Please? I'll give you money.

Maybe Aaron Rodgers will be the one that gets traded.

Does anybody know the Web Site for Green Bay's practice webcam?

Brett Favre to the Minnesota Vikings by the end of the week -- 60% chance.

Let's just say Manny Ramirez hits 10-15 homers and drives in 30 runs the remaining two months with his new team, my beloved Los Angeles Dodgers. Without a clear-cut NL MVP standing out right now, could he win the league's award if he leads the Dodgers to the playoffs?

I have no doubt the Dodgers would have just been swept by the Diamondbacks without his acquisition (the steal of the century). In three games, he's already saved OUR season.

You can keep the hair Manny! It works!

I would have said Philly's Chase Utley (.292, 28 HR, 77 RBIs) until recently, but he's just too streaky (trust me, I have him on my fantasy team). Manny's current stats (combined AL/NL) -- .310, 22, 73.

In my book, Josh Hamilton (.308, 26, 106) is the front-runner for the AL MVP regardless of how crappy the Rangers are. I have a feeling Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria (.279, 21, 67), the clear-cut ROY, also will deserve some consideration when it's all said and done, especially if the surprising Rays win the division. This could be the year a starting pitcher wins the MVP, in either league. What about K-Rod (45 saves)?

Wouldn't a Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Boston Red Sox World Series be interesting?

That two-run slide at home plate the other night by the Astros involving Mark Loretta and Hunter Pence, the trailing runner, was awesome!

Can we just name Ron Gardenhire and Tony LaRussa the Managers of the Year every season?

I love it. Crazy Ozzie when talking about beanball: "I wonder why the guy thought we're going to hit the guy with the bases loaded, with a pitch in on the hands. I'm not going to bring in a guy who throws 85 mph to hit somebody. I will bring [Octavio] Dotel, I'll bring [Matt] Thornton. Then I will tell them to hit 'em. That's the way I do business."

Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent after Sunday's victory: "I didn't know whether or not to give Manny a high-five after he struck out in the seventh, because they were cheering him pretty good out there. That just puts it in perspective. There is a lot of excitement going on right now with the fans."

Hey, R.J.: "I'm going to need Aug. 12th off (Madden '08 release date)."

R.I.P. Skip Caray. Unfortunately I had to listen to your funny voice a bunch of times growing up (TBS), but I grew to like you.

I'm going to start this by saying I'm a Vikings fan. So as an outsider looking in at the Chicago Bears I feel sorry for the devoted fans who are holding out hope that this team will ever win more than six games this season, and that will be in large part to defensive scores and Devin Hester.

A quarterback "battle" between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton (who I once covered as a senior at Altoona High School in Iowa) is laughable and downright disgusting.

Fans of this storied franchise deserve better options than what this team is running out there, particularly with a championship-worthy defense -- and Devin Hester. Bottom line, when your kicker is your best offensive threat, outside a bomb to Devin Hester, or a diving catch in the back of the end zone by Mary Booker (lol), you've got some serious problems.

The way I look at it, it's Kyle's job to lose. How depressing is that?

Then again, I am a Vikings fan. I know you could say the same thing about Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte, but at least Jackson has some upside. As for Frerotte, I'd still take him over Rex and Kyle, or Kyle and Rex, depending on the day.

Cris Carter (1,101 rec., 13,899 yards, 130 TDs) should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He was better than Art Monk (940, 12,721, 68). I have to say I was a little miffed about Carter getting slighted. He is one of the greats.

That's it. The monitor is flashing. Somebody's up from their nap.

By Erik Jacobsen
Staff Writer

Cubs fans might be somewhat gleeful over the news that the White Sox fell out of first place with their ugly loss to the Royals on Sunday. But I suggest that fans on both sides of town pull hard for both teams to reach the postseason.

It's time for Chicago baseball fans to put aside their differences for a few months and look out for the best interests of both teams. In my opinion, the two squads would without a doubt benefit from having their crosstown rival in the playoffs.

The way I see it, instead of having the intense media focus on just one team, it would take pressure off both teams if playoff baseball were being played on both the South Side and North Side. Instead of hysterical headlines about one squad's rise or demise, the teams would have to share Chicago's consciousness, which probably wouldn't be a bad thing as the first round or two of the postseason could have a business-as-usual atmosphere.

Of course, the Sox didn't need the Cubs around three years ago when they won the World Series. But for a Cubs franchise 100 years removed from its last title, any little advantage could help, and having the Sox around come October might just ease the mind of the team's players and fans.

With those practical rationales aside, who in their right mind could argue against having both teams in the playoffs, simply based on the sheer spectacle such a situation would provide. And who knows, maybe the competitive juices would make both teams refuse to lose for fear of letting down their fan bases, setting up the dream scenario of a meeting between the Cubs and Sox in the Fall Classic.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

The defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings are used to having the last laugh against the Blackhawks. This time the Hawks are at least stealing a chuckle. The NHL's all-time winningest Scotty Bowman is leaving the Wings to join the Hawks.

Bowman's body of work speaks for itself. At least it speaks better than Bob Pulford's resume does.

This still doesn't make up for having to see Chris Chelios in a Red Wings sweater, but the Hawks are still going in the right direction.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

The Carolina Panthers need some team counseling. That became apparent after Steve Smith decided to re-arrange Ken Lucas' face.

And here I thought the fighting was limited to the team's cheerleaders. I guess I was wrong.

By Chris Pummer
Staff Writer

I could rip Ken Griffey Jr.'s defense in center field, but that's already happening all over the internet here and here.

Unless you think Rob Mackowiak did just fine playing CF in 2006, you have to be concerned about Griffey patrolling the biggest part of the ballpark.

Griffey might only have two MLB games at first base under his belt, and on-the-job training during a pennant race is never ideal. But it's still probably the best place to hide his glove.