double barreled bullpen action.

Shaun Pruitt was not selected in the NBA Draft on Thursday night, but the West Aurora alumnus confirmed via text message that he will play summer league ball with the New Orleans Hornets.

The summer league runs from on July 11-20 in Las Vegas.

The Hornets, led by point guard Chris Paul, are fresh off a trip to the Western Conference semi-finals. Last year, former Bull Tyson Chandler and Harvey native & Thornton alumnus Melvin Ely were among seven post players listed at 6-9 or taller.

Heading into the free agent period, bigs Chris Andersen and Ryan Bowen are unrestricted free agents while Ely has a player option.

BREAKING NEWS: West Aurora alumnus and current Eastern Illinois University assistant track coach JaRod Tobler hit on a long jump of 8.16 meters (26 feet, 7 inches) in tonight's qualifying round at the US Olympic Trials at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore.

The jump sends Tobler to the finals, meaning he is one step away from making the US Olympic team. (To read more on Tobler, click here)

Tobler, a member of the 99-00 state championship basketball team at West, entered the competition with the 14th longest jump in the nation. But on his second attempt Friday night, he nailed it.

The 25-year-old will compete in the finals on Sunday at 5:30 pm CT. He will have to be one of the top three finishers in order to make the Olympic team.

To read more on Tobler, as well as Rosary alumnae Mary DeScenza's bid to make the US Olympic team, check out Sunday's Beacon News.

or make it six....or a 12-pack...

you gotta love John Daly - for all kinds of reasons - so here's another:

somehow I don't think this was the first time he's done this. But odds are it might be the first time he's attempted it without draining a few of those cans prior to...

The great part about golf is that there is always a back nine, so if you somehow didn't get your fill on the front side - there's always more to be had after the turn. That's what this part of the Beacon News' weekly golf coverage will do for you

The U.S. Women's Open is this weekend, and I'm sure you'll get as much out of it as you did with Tiger v. Rocco on Father's Day + 1.
In fact, you may get more out of it - most amateur players (women and men) play a similar game to the LPGA stars...so take a closer look this week...

Our pro's - Chad Johansen at Blackberry Oaks and Emily Barkoozis of Cantigny Golf - break it down for you...

in the south suburbs...

i try to get around to as many chicagoland golf courses as i can, and i'd like to think i've heard almost every place (public or private)....

which leads me to today...when I accompanied some friends out to Evergreen Golf Club on 91st and Western Ave. in Evergreen Park.

I've heard of the place, but today was the first time i teed it up there. Talk about a gem!

Unfortunately it's not as kept up as it should be, it's a treat to play. You can tell it was built in 1921, as the teeboxes are uncomfortably close to greens, but it's a great, alternately tough/forgiving layout.

the clubhouse is run down, but you don't see places like that any more - it's cash only and the wood register has those heavy metal keys. the sit-down area is unreal - it's like a 50's diner + neighborhood bar.

Because there is no rough the course isnt as difficult as its designed to be, but it's a treat and a challenge nonetheless. Make sure to bring your putting stroke, because the greens are what's going to get you.

Even the scorecards are old school, with separate boxes for match play scoring and reminders that "buying or selling golf balls on the course is positively forbidden."

"Boss?"

"Yeah, well, um, I can't come to work today because my car wouldn't start. I had to call a guy and get it towed over to the other guy and well, I'm stuck today"

Guess what excuse Cedric Benson can't use next time he's late for a minicamp or OTA...

now, drinking while driving, or driving after drinking, or boating while drinking - those are not good things that should be taken lightly.

But, i don't do those things, and when someone else does and then has to blow before you start, i get to make fun of it. What an idiot.

and it got me thinking - can't we do this for other athletes? I think only good things would come from it....

like ... Paul Konerko has to hit 3 of 10 pitches shot out of the tail pipe before he can get in the car to drive to the ball park...

Carlos Zambrano must be tested for Gatorade, H20, or any other type of (legal) hydration prior to pitching in the summer...

Rex Grossman must throw three balls through the open passenger side window from 25 yards out before the doors unlock....

Joakim Noah...well....Joakim needs all kind of help...

And rest in peace George Carlin - one of my personal favorites. I've heard him called "essential listening for multiple generations" ... I couldn't agree more. Unfotunately, I can't just give you some Carlin right here due to his um, tone :-), but go find some video or audio and check it out, if you haven't already.

check out AM 560 WIND on Sunday from 7-8 am for the Golf Chicago Radio Show, which was taped Thursday night at TopGolf in Wood Dale.

I was a guest, as was Golfweek's outstanding columnist, Jeff Rude, and Traditions at Chevy Chase Golf Operations Manager Greg Falkiner..

now that Tiger is out for the year... Fights in Golf.

First, Retief Goosen says Tiger was faking it during the Open - woopsie!

Then, Vijay Singh rips every English player on this side of the pond, which naturally led to crackers being spit into tea....

good, good stuff...

hey - you gotta get people to pay attention somehow, right?

As for The Goose - perhaps this line here says it all about why he hasn't done a damn thing in the game since June of 2004...
"I believe if he was really injured, he would not have played."

Well Retief - perhaps that's why Tiger's won 8 times, including 2 majors, since injuring himself last July. The guy is a competitor and a winner.

I literally just sat down to do this, and I was thinking to myself - "Self, what do I think?"
I didnt really have much to offer by way of the Sox/Cubs game (Sox can't hit, etc etc), Bulls (God, when is this draft already?!) or Bears (Forte on verge of holdout)... and then, as is usually the case, the world of sports does not disappoint...

I find this.

There's a lot about sports that you shouldn't give a rats ass about, but this has got to be right up there with dumbest things we've read this year...

this sentence alone is ridiculous:
"Forensic scientists say champion Australian gelding Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning, solving a mystery that has intrigued the horse racing world for more than 75 years."

then this little gem: "Phar Lap's mounted hide is on display at the Melbourne Museum, while his heart is kept at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra."

Wha? Huh?
Hey, what's Barbaro up to?
You know, I think Eight Belles took a dive mysteriously!
Dig 'em up, slice 'em up, freeze their heads, rah rah rah....
And ya know, I think we need to re-examine how Kartoum bit the dust as well...I'm not sure the initial diagnosis was correct..

to hear moi on the Golf Chicago Show, which taped tonight at TopGolf in Wood Dale...

Let me tell you - this was the first time i've been the facility - and I was extremely impressed.

It's a great way to practice - and it's a lot of fun. It's like bowling + Wii + golf ... with a full service bar and restaurant to boot...Good stuff..

the radio show taped tonight, and airs Sundays on 560AM WIND from 7-8 a.m. Make sure to check it out!

The great part about golf is that there is always a back nine, so if you somehow didn't get your fill on the front side - there's always more to be had after the turn. That's what this part of the Beacon News' weekly golf coverage will do for you

Read on for a closer look at how Rocco Mediate managed his moment - taking Tiger Woods to the limit in the US Open, some information from Orchard Valley Golf Course and Edgebrook Golf Course and an enlightening evening at Bolingbrook Golf Club ...

That's to the people who have still held on to the belief that golf is not a sport, and that you don't have to be an athlete to be an elite level player....

Tiger Woods is out for the rest of the '08 golf season with a torn ACL... (and the Golf Channel is freaking out by the way - these guys have no idea what to do or what to talk about...)

Guess what - this isn't new to the sports fan because well, athletes tear their ACL's all the time. Athletes get stress fractures. Hearing an athlete is going to miss an entire season, or part of their season, due to an injury is "part of the game" and while it sucks, we take it in stride and usually forget about said guy until he's back....

Which leads me back to Golf Channel and why these people are going crazy - their whole network exists because of that man. And, they never really have to report on stuff like this. You'd think a torn ACL is the end of the world.

Sh#%, I had a torn ACL. I just wonder if Tiger gets to pick the cadaver he gets his new one out of...I have a feeling that mine is from some horrid 37-handicapper that chicken-winged-duck-snorted-dead-pulled-headedup-insideoutsliced his way to a dirt nap because honestly, that's the only logical reason I can think of as to why I still suck at this game...

The temptation, upon hearing Hank Steinbrenner whine about Chien-Ming Wang injuring his foot running the bases in inter-league play in Houston, is to tell the Yankee co-chairman to take his ball and go home.

"The National League needs to join the 21st Century," Steinbrenner cried, insinuating the senior circuit should employ the designated hitter rule the AL has had in place since 1973.

Waaaaaa! Poor baby.

That's the reaction many had, largely because it was Steinbrenner and the "evil empire" Yanks. Plus, it's just hard to feel sorry for a pampered professional athlete who needs to be protected from running the bases because he's only used to running in straight lines. If one of his pitchers is injured fielding a bunt, will Steinbrenner next call for designated fielders?

Upon further review, he does have a point. Whether you're pro or con on the DH question, the fact is, both Major Leagues should play by the same rules. It's not fair to AL teams to play all year with the DH then have to go without during the post-season.

Curious, but the NL's minor league teams use the DH.

Yes or no? Just choose.

It's simple common sense. Something MLB has lacked for about 35 years now.

why would ESPN go with this as their teaser on their home page...

Yanks' Wang out at least 6 weeks with injured foot

and then go with this when you click the link:
Foot injury to sideline Wang at least six weeks

I think someone has a sense of humor...

Due to some severe technical difficulties, I couldn't access the log in for this thing from remote locations...

so, all of the witty things I had to say for the better part of a week have now been forgotten...

but, after watching Tiger Woods' 18th hole celebration last night after forcing the playoff with Rocco Mediate, I determined that it was his best celebration ever. ... it trumped any fist pump and even the hat throw at Bay Hill earlier this year....

now, the emotional release following his British Open victory (his first major after his dad passed) was special, but in terms of just outright celebrating, yesterday's was the one.

Then, came the moment I was truly waiting for - the high five with caddie Steve Williams...

Despite being together for 9 years, these two always have the most awkward high 5's after a huge putt or chip in...it always looks like they've never done it before - and that Tiger is about to break his hand....

Here is yesterday's birdie putt and then his famous chip-in at Augusta - so they're worth watching again - but this time, keep an eye out for the weird high 5s with Stevie....

The great part about golf is that there is always a back nine, so if you somehow didn't get your fill on the front side - there's always more to be had after the turn. That's what this part of the Beacon News' weekly golf coverage will do for you

It's US Open week, so we take a look at Chicago's best chance for another Open - a renovated Dubsdread at Cog Hill. Read on for more from owner Frank Jemsek and other useful Open material....

for some reason, i thought that new Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro was not really Vinny Del Negro....

as i was watching his hire unfold over the last 48 hours, culminating in the presser today, i honestly thought that this guy....

was actually this guy...

who are clearly not the same weirdly named and oddly dressed players I vaguely remember from my Hoops cards

a few buddies and I decided to walk up to the Sox game on Saturday night and got some tickets in the upper tank - third base side, second row from oblivion.

anyway, the rain started coming down pretty hard in the first inning, prompting the umpires to put the game in delay.

Boos rang out across the stadium, which was ironic because the people were booing as they themselves were running for cover!!

.... then an observation....

we're watching Delmon Young of the Twins sprint in from left field. My buddy says "that must suck every inning, running in from the outfield."

Then I reminded him - it never sucked when you knew you were going to bat the following half inning. Who hasn't sprinted in as fast as they could to make sure you got the "good helmet"??

... a final observation....
you see some weird things that Sox games, without question, but this one was something the camera phone couldn't pass up... wow.

in Chicago sports....

first, Ced decides to (allegedly) drink a few sasparilla's, and then hit the road...

John Paxson still hasn't made up his mind on a coach, which makes me wonder - does the NBA draft have a clock, like the NFL does - and if so, would that mean Pax would tighten up so hard that he would miss out on making the 1st pick.,..the 2nd pick...all the way to No. 9 where it seemed he was most comfortable?

and finally...
a list that's actually worth putting together and reading about. (although i disagree that my Iggles only make the honorable mention list)

Johnny B Baker embracing the yoots!? Dusty Trusty the kids? no way...but so says this story which includes this rather interesting quote: "I always yearned for a team full of young kids so I could teach them how to play."

huh? Here's the thing - you can only believe what you see, and we saw in Chicago was a manager unafraid of burning up young pitching, but "yearning to teach the game to young hitters?" Sorry dude....that toothpick doesn't stick in the Chi...

to wit: 2003 - the oldest starting pitcher was 30-year-old Shawn Estes, yet Corey Patterson and Aramis Ramirez were the only regulars under the age of 25 - and ARam came over midseason in a trade and Patterson got hurt before the allstar break.

That year, Cubs frans were treated to Kenny Lofton (36 y.o.a, 208 at bats); Paul Bako (31; 188), Troy O'Leary (33 ;174), Tom Goodwin (34;171) and Lenny Harris (38; 131)

How bout '04?:Greg Maddux was the only starter over 30; despite 4 regular position players under 30 - Cubs fans saw a whole helluva lot of Mark Grudzielanek (34 y.o.a.); Jose Macias (32); Todd Hollandsworth (31) and some more Goodwin (35)....

so, '05 - Maddux and Glendon Rusch were the only starters at an age that begins with the number "3" ; but the everday lineup featured (ugh) 32-year-olds Neifi Perez, Todd Walker, Hollandsworth & 36-year-old Jeromy Burnitz. also, 33-year-old Macias got a ton of playing time...

finally, in Baker's last year of '06, Maddux was the only starter over 29 - and even though some younger players were on the team, old guys like John Mabry, Neifi, Walker, Phil Nevin and Jacque Jones saw significant playing time.

Sorry - that crap may fly in Cincy now, but everyone in Chicago knows there was no "yearning" on Dusty's part when it came to young hitters...

and kudos to the USGA for putting world 1-2-3 Tiger Woods, Philly Mick and Adam Scott together on Thursday and Friday.
people have craved phil/tiger matchups for the better part of a decade, and unfortunately the two can't ever seem to do it themselves on weekends.

I was there for the PGA Champ. at Medinah in 2006 when the defending Masters (Phil) and British Open (Tiger) champs teamed up with US Open champ Geoff Ogilvy for 2 rounds. it was great - Phil folded, Tiger went on to a dominating victory...

and good for USGA director of rules and competitions Mike Davis: "Why not put them in the same wave? The heck with what TV wants. Let's do what we want for the championship."

one other US Open note - good luck to Winfield native and Black Sheep touring pro Kevin Streelman, who qualified his way in to his first major. Good luck!

apparently, "Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham was selected eighth by the White Sox."

Beckham is hitting .397 with 24 home runs 65 RBI this season. He's stolen 17 bases in 18 attempts....

I wonder if this move had a lot to do with Alexi Ramirez's decent play at second base this year...as a college junior, i'd imagine he wont spend too much time in the minors, if he's as good as everyone says he is.
Could we be seeing an infield of Fields-Beckham-Ramirez-Swisher in the very near future? wouldn't be the worst thing in the world...

here's some video of Beckham...

as you've undoubtedly noticed, i "missed" a few days here in june...making the "daily dose" sort of well, a lie...

I'd say "can you blame me?" but i won't, because you can. the weather's been relatively good lately, meaning i've spent time destroying beautiful golf courses with what i believe is a theory of an actual golf swing...

so, in honor of june 4, i'll pass on my compliments to Waubonsee Community College and its scholarships outing at Edgebrook Golf Club in Sandwich. Its the first time I've played the 30+ year old layout, and it was a treat. .. WCC put on a great event, and I hope they raked in the dough for their scholarships...

The great part about golf is that there is always a back nine, so if you somehow didn't get your fill on the front side - there's always more to be had after the turn. That's what this part of the Beacon News' weekly golf coverage will do for you

This week we're taking a look at how keeping some simple stats during your rounds can help you pinpoint your trouble areas and improve not only your practice habits, but your scoring.
Keith Pike, teaching pro at Orchard Valley helps us understand how to do that.

you guessed it - The Fire and The Passion?

I almost spit my cheerios over the table when I heard a meathead call up the talk radio show I was listening to and actually said...

"If Kenny had The Fire and The Passion that Ozzie has..."

now, i couldn't really tell if he spoke with the proper capitalization, but let's assume he did....was it wrong to question K-Will's Fire and Passion?

And what of Ozzies?

and do either compare to The Fire and The Passion we all know and love??

is that even possible? i dont think so.

in other news, Nick Swisher's Google ranking of fire and passion has dropped off considerably while Aaron Rowand's Fire continues to grow on its own, like some sort of alien globule.that cannot be contained by anything on this planet...

is not how golf should be played....granted, the nature of the game is slow, but today's final round of the Bank of America Open felt painfully slow....

the final round went off on split tees and threesomes (rather than the usual final round twosomes all off No. 1) and the day seemed to drag a bit....

and the players felt it too...

Glen "The Human Rain Delay" Day was one of the notable perpetrators, taking nearly a full minute or longer to set up for shots and putts.....it got the point where his playing partners were walking to the next tee box before he even got a third of the way through his pre-putt routine....

But, it was a great day for golf and to walk the grounds of The Glen Club, highlighted by Kris Blanks' first ever Nationwide Tour victory and resurgence of Bob May....