Well, the Sports Beacon has done it. We are now on Twitter.
Who isn't these days?
But, as you know I love golf a little too much, but John Daly has a great promotion going on his Twitter "page" or whatever you call it - he'll give you some free stuff if you follow his "Tweets" ...
So, how much LPGA golf have you seen this year?
Don't worry if you say "not much" - no one really has. Since the season opening SBS Open at Turtle Bay on Feb. 12-14, the tour has not been on television three times and has been off four times.
That's not including this week's off week.
In all, the LPGA has 12 off weeks sprinkled into its 30-tournament schedule, including two off weeks preceding its marquee event - the Solheim Cup.
It's unreal.
For comparison's sake, the 50+ circuit on the Champions Tour has 15 off weeks during its 26-tournament schedule.
It's unfortunate that that's a good comparison for the premier women's golf tour in the world where most of the players are old enough to be the grand daughters of Champions Tour players.
The Nationwide Tour, the PGA Tour's "developmental tour" has only 9 off weeks in its 29-tournament schedule.
Then, the grand daddy of them all, the PGA Tour, has 49 tournaments in 45 weeks with no off weeks.
Former Oswego and Purdue and new Kansas City defensive lineman Alex Magee tells us how he was almost a Chicago Bear:
"The Bears traded out of the second round and weren't picking until early (Sunday). The Bills called me the first day and they ended up taking a cornerback (Jairus Byrd) instead, so I knew that the next day so I knew that the next day that the way it was looking was that I was going to go definitely. Then my agent even told me 'I don't think we'll be waiting around too much longer so make sure you're up.'"
"So I already knew so right when I got up my family was already sitting in the living room and I turned on the computer, and soon as I turned the computer on my phone rang and it was the Kansas City Chiefs and they told me they were going to take me with the 67th pick."
"And, as a matter of fact, as Kansas City was on the clock, the Bears had called my agent and they had talked about working a four year deal with me. So if the Kansas City Chiefs didn't take me I was going to be a Bear. Then Oakland was after that and I know they were interested in me. Matter of fact, there was nothing but defensive lineman picked after me for the next three our four picks, so I knew I was going to go somewhere in there."
Read on for more of Alex talking about draft day, the Chiefs and the crazy months leading up to the draft. Purdue defensive line coach Terrell Williams also checks in..and says they know Magee was going to the NFL early on in his tenure with the Boilermakers...
So says White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who said you can't have "fat boys" on skates followed by this gem:
"Can you see Uribe skating?"
where does this come from you ask? Because it was important to ask Ozzie about how well the Bulls and Blackhawks are doing, which inevitably led to the "who's a better athlete" question....
well, as Michael told me on Sunday morning, he wasn't going to stay long in the Boston Red Sox bullpen, but boy did he impress yet again.
Bowden pitched two shutout innings in the Red Sox's 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees Sunday night in front of a national audience on ESPN, which should only stoke the fires further for the young right-hander.
With such a young starting rotation already and three up-and-coming starters in Bowden, Justin Masterson and Clay Buccholz, you figure teams are going to heat up Theo Epstein's phone in the coming weeks/months about Bowden's availability.
Put it this way - the guy could be pitching right now for any number teams (including the Yankees)
In this week's Front Nine I lay it out there that 2009 will be the best season for area golf fans in the last decade.
Here is what is on tap here in '09 Solheim Cup - Rich Harvest Links BMW Championship - Cog Hill Western Amateur - Conway Farms U.S. Senior Amateur - Beverly Country Club
Don't believe me? Here is what happened locally in the last decade 2008: Bank of America Open (Nationwide Tour) 2007: BMW Championship, U.S. Amateur Public Links (USGA), LaSalle Bank Open (Nationwide Tour) 2006: PGA Championship, Western Open, LaSalle Bank Open 2005: Walker Cup (USGA), Western Open, LaSalle Bank Open 2004: Western Open, Kellogg-Keebler Classic, LaSalle Bank Open 2003: U.S. Open, Western Open, Kellogg-Keebler Classic, LaSalle Bank Open 2002: Western Open, SBC Senior Open, Kellogg-Keebler Classic, LaSalle Bank Open 2001: Western Open, U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links (USGA), SBC Senior Open 2000: U.S. Women's Open, Western Open, SBC Senior Open 1999: PGA Championship, Western Open, Ameritech Senior Open
Yes, we've seen four major championships and some great champions in the last 10 years (Tiger Woods, Karrie Webb, Jim Furyk, Trevor Immelman, Hale Irwin, Colt Knost, Candie Kung and Annika Sorenstam) but this year offers a tremendous variety of golf for fans.
What do you think?
As for our tip of the week, that comes courtesy of Aurora Country Club head pro Aaron Sabers. We had to cut it down a little bit for print, but here's the whole tip.
Playing in Windy Conditions
As the Spring winds continue to gust, many of my Members ask me tips on playing in the wind. It is important to control your shot trajectory when playing in windy conditions to reduce the impact the wind will have on your shot. We have all heard the phrase "Swing easy when it's breezy" but most of us try to overpower the conditions instead of finesse our way through them. Remember that the harder you hit a ball, the more spin you will produce, and therefore the higher the ball flight will be. Here are some tips for keeping the ball low in the wind.
1. Play the ball slightly further back in your stance.
2. Take 1 or 2 extra clubs depending upon how hard the wind is blowing.
3. Stand slightly taller and more open than you would on a normal swing.
4. Reduce your grip pressure.
5. Make a two-thirds swing.
This may seem like too many things to think about to hit a shot but 4 of the 5 tips are pre-shot thoughts. Make a pre-shot checklist for numbers 1-4 above and then focus on a two-thirds swing and tempo during your actual swing.
The last suggestion when playing in windy conditions has to due with your aim. Don't try and fight the wind or work the ball back into the wind. Instead, play the wind and let it help you. If you have a 15mph wind coming left to right, make your target the left edge of the green and let the wind carry your ball to the center of the green rather than aiming at the pin and fighting the wind.
If you follow these simple tips, I am positive you will enjoy playing in the wind and maybe even look at it as an advantage over your opponent!
Normally I would take the necessary pot shot at Detroit for making a new "fiercer" logo to somehow get them out of the crapster that is well, Detroit...
Aurora's Larry English of the NIU football team was honored Monday as the Huskies' 2009 Senior Male Athlete of the Year at the school's annual celebration for senior student-athletes.
Gymnast Jennifer Naughton (Smithville, Mo.) was the female recipient.
English is a Marmion Academy graduate and two-time winner of the Mid-American Conference's Vern Smith Leadership Award, presented by league coaches to the MAC's top player. He owns NIU records for quarterback sacks in a
single game (5), season (12) and career (31.5) and is one of only two players in Huskie history to be named first team All-MAC three times.
He's now waiting for Saturday's NFL draft, where he is projected to go in the late first round or early second. English, who earned his bachelor's degree from NIU in December 2008, could become the highest NFL draft pick in school history.
This was overheard in the timeout the Bulls just had ...great boom mic work ComcastSportsNet!
Brad Miller: Wide open!, I was wide open underneath, I had three inches on the guy, see you two were hogging the ball. Ben Gordon: Me? it Wasn't me, I never even saw the ball, (Ben to Kirk Hinrich): All you do is dribble. Kirk: I have to dribble, If I give it to you, you just shoot, your a Chucker! Ben: Oh I'm a Chucker?. Kirk: That's right every time you get the ball you shoot. Ben: I can't believe you called me a Chucker, no way I'm a Chucker, I don't chuck, never chuck, never have chucked, never will chuck, no chuck!. Kirk: You chuck! Ben: Miller, am I a Chucker?. Brad: Oh, you're a Chucker!.
* the Bulls and Blackhawks are in the playoffs for the first time together since the 1996-97 season. Wow.
that's bad.
really.
for a hint as to how long ago that actually was, Bison Dele was still alive and Denis Savard was still playing for the Hawks.
* By now you all should know former Waubonsie Valley pitcher and current Boston Red Sox farmhand Michael Bowden - dude is a stud on the mound and a genuinely nice guy.
And, he's very, very humble. But you wanna know how good this guy really is? And how quickly you'll see him in a major league uniform this year?
Check this out - not many minor leaguers have their own "rumors" page. Oh - on a purely selfish local note, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for Beacon staffers or readers to see Bowden end up in Detroit. A) he'll be pitching the day they trade for him and B) in a year he'll be in the same rotation as Kaneland's Casey Crosby. How cool would that be? Unless you're a Sox fan, like myself, at which point you'll curse the fact that two local boys are beating down your favorite team....
* I've mentioned this before, but I thought it was worth bringing up again after Angel Cabrera's Masters victory. Tiger Woods has seemingly destroyed a generation of golfers..
Think about it.
How many players do you think have won majors in the last 12 years that are say, within five years of age of Tiger?
Tiger is 33 (34 on Dec.30). He has 14 major championships since 1997.He can't win them all of course - 25 other players have won at least one major since then - but here's the thing - 11 of those guys fall within five years of Tiger - and the last four of that group are barely in that picture but I'm being generous.
Trevor Immelman is 29 (turns 30 in December) - 1 major
Ben Curtis is 31 (turns 32 in May) - 1
Geoff Ogilvy is 31 (32 in June) - 1
Zach Johnson turned 33 in February - 1
Justin Leonard is 36 (37 in June) - 1
David Duval is 37 (38 in November) - 1
Padraig Harrington is 37 (38 in August) - 3
Mike Weir is 38 (turns 39 in May) - 1
Jim Furyk is 38 (39 in May) - 1
Phil Mickelson is 38 (39 in June) - 3
Rich Beem 38 (39 in August) - 1
Where are all the golfers from 28-38? I dunno....
Here are all the old guys....
Ernie Els is 39 (40 in October) - 1
Angel Cabrera is 39 (40 in September) - 2
Paul Lawrie turned 40 in January - 1
Shaun Micheel turned 40 in January - 1
Retief Goose turned 40 in February - 2
Michael Campbell turned 40 in February - 1
Payne Stewart was 42 in 1999 - 1
David Toms turned 42 in January - 1
Jose Maria Olazabel turned 43 in February - 1
Todd Hamilton is 43 (turns 44 in October) - 1
Lee Janzen is 44 (45 in August) - 1
Davis Love III turned 45 in April - 1
Vijay Singh turned 46 in February - 3 majors
Mark O'Meara turned 52 in January - 2 majors
This is one of the great unreported stories of Tiger's dominance - that and exactly how impossible it was for him to win the 08 US Open on a torn ACL and stress fractures in his leg. People were amazed by that, but honestly, not enough of a deal was made of how incredibly superhuman that feat really was.
To me - it's the greatest athletic achievement since Ben Hogan's comeback victories (and that includes any football, basketball, baseball, hockey, rugby, cricket, tennis moments you can think of).
* Word is Oswego alumnus Alex Magee, who played four years on the D-Line at Purdue, has gone from a last minute Senior Bowl invitee to being a potential second round pick in next week's NFL draft. Wow.
In today's Front Nine golf page in the Beacon News, I talked about ways to stay around the game even if you're watching your checkbook a little more closely this golf season.
Patrick MacDonald, head pro at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club in Yorkville and Keith Pike of Orchard Valley Golf Club in Aurora both recommended calling your local club to see if they're offering any specials, but also to head to the course to practice.
Use the range and the putting green and get better with the clubs you use the most (wedges and putter) - at least that way you're getting your golf fix as well as improving your short game. Which, when you finally do get out to play 9 or 18 holes, will pay off tremendously.
i'm talking about Angel Cabrera's win at The Masters on Sunday evening.
The big Argentinian won his second major in a sudden death playoff over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell, and in the days since I've heard people kind of yawn at it.
Now, the first playoff hole wasn't good golf. All three players missed the green and Campbell missed as easy a putt as you could have on 18.
But, Cabrera hit a fantastic approach on the second playoff hole and two putted for the win.
So why am I talking about it now? Because I was at the Delta Sonic/Dunkin Donuts on Rt. 59 here in Aurora and a woman in a red minivan had congratulatory messages to "The Duck" written all over the windows.
It made me smile a bit. That's the thing American golf fans don't get - until its the Ryder Cup. If Tiger wins, Tiger wins. If Phil wins, Phil wins - there is no national pride. But Cabrera strengthened his case for the World Golf Hall of Fame as South America's greatest player, and it was nice to see his victory resonate all the way to Aurora.
I have to say that Darrin Jackson has been very good alongside Ed Farmer so far in the radio booth for The Score.
I really thought DJ offered nothing to a viewer during his stint in the TV booth, but suspicions that Ken "Hawk" Harrelson had more to do with that than anything else have been confirmed.
Next to Farmer, DJ has more of an opportunity to analyze the game objectively and let his personality come out. I have to say I've laughed out loud (LOL!) at least once in every broadcast I've heard.
today's jewel, when talking about pitch counts. DJ wonders who came up with it. Farmio replies "I first heard it from (former Cubs manager Jim) Lefebvre."
DJ: "No, I mean what clown first started counting pitches?"
Keep it up DJ.
And what doesn't surprise me? Sergio Garcia faltering again in a major championship and then when it's over, once again blaming everyone and everything but himself.
As reported here on Feb. 15th, four local teams will account for two-thirds of the teams in the 12th Annual High School Hoops Showdown, set again next year for the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.
The pairings and date for the high school basketball event were confirmed this morning by The Integrity Group of Lisle. It will be held Saturday, Jan 23. Mark your calendar now.
The marquee matchup, set to start at about 8:30 p.m. will feature Gordie Kerkman's West Aurora Blackhawks taking on Todd Sutton's Neuqua Valley Wildcats.
That game will be preceded by a new feature to the event, a rivalry matchup featuring Aurora Central and Marmion Academy (6:30 p.m.).
Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. with Glenbard East meeting Algonquin Jacobs.
Nick and Ray Muellner spent Monday at Augusta National Golf Club, the famed home of the Masters Tournament.
Nick won the tickets, along with a round of golf at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, by winning a raffle that Blackberry Oaks head professional Chad Johansen put together for golfers who took lessons at the club in 2008.
"It was spectacular, man," Nick said. "I love that place. As soon as I started walking on it I dreamt of me playing it."
Ray added: "He got going in golf eight or ten years earlier in his life than I did, and I believe him when he says he might get a chance to play here. I let him drive the rent-a-car right into Augusta. He's 16 years old and he's driving a car into Augusta's parking lot. Maybe in another year or two we could drive in again."
One element of the course that doesn't translate to television caught the Muellner's off guard though: "When we first got there, we wanted to walk one through 18, tee box to green," Nick said. "But that didn't really work out because that place is long with a lot of really big elevation (changes) so we walked in the middle of a lot of holes, but we got all of them."
And what were some of Ray's favorite moments? - "Tom Watson was putting on the practice green and I said 'Thanks Tom' and he gave me a wry smile. I saw Mike Weir on the 10th green. We saw Ben Crenshaw wandering around a little bit."
There won't be a smiliar raffle in 2009, but Johansen has started the Chad Johansen Golf Academy that includes high school academy, putting studio, group clinics, junior camps and business packages where people can entertain clients at Blackberry Oaks.
I caught White Sox marketing whiz Brooks Boyer on the news early this morning talking about the Opening Day festivities and I heard that the Southsiders were going to have Chicago native Lupe Fiasco and Matthew Santos perform prior to the game.
Way to go Sox! Good lookin' out for a local artist. Screw Elton John and Billy Joel - give me Lupe, Common, Kanye any day at the Cell.
Lupe is one of my favorite rappers, and his song Superstar (with Santos) was a hit. Here's the video
SI.com feels that Chris Getz and Josh Fields are poised for "breakout" seasons - which would be another coup for GM Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen - as well as set the Sox up for a 2nd straight Central Division title.
After all - the unexpected emergence of Carlos Quentin, Alexei (but don't call me Alexei) Ramirez, Gavin Floyd and John Denks in 2008 led to a playoff appearance.
If those 4 stay the course and Fields and Getz prove to be legit, contributing big leaguers - the Sox are in great shape for '09.
But then again - this same report says the Cubs will beat the Red Sox in the World Series. So maybe there's a chance these guys will be total bust outs is more likely.
Well, I gotta give it to Jerry Angelo and the Bears for making the biggest trade in Chicago sports history.
That's right. History. (Don't tell me about Lou Brock - I'm talking about guys coming to town).
Jerry Angelo - not a fool.
Always a fool? The meathead Bears fans I've heard today saying they overpaid for Cutler.
2 first round picks and a third round pick is not too much. Trust me. Not with this regime.
Jerry was hired in 2001 but didn't actually become the "general manager" until 2003 - remember, Dick Juaronimo was actually the GM before he was whacked - but for sake of argument lets go back to '01.
2001: David Terrell, Michigan WR selected #8 overall - BUST
2002: Marc Columbo, Boston College T selected #29 overall - BUST
2003: Michael Haynes, Penn St. DE selected #14 overall - BUST
Rex Grossman, Florida QB selected #22 overall - Swinging bunt -Sexy Rexy did take Da Bears to a Super Bowl.
2004: Tommie Harris, Oklahoma DT selected #14 overall - HR - even if his career as a dominant player is over. 4 great years is about right for most NFL players
2005: Cedric Benson, Texas RB selected #4 overall - BUST
2006: NO FIRST ROUNDER to further illustrate my point, Jerry picked up Danielle Manning, Devin Hester & Mark Anderson in this draft - all key players in the Bears' Super Bowl run!!
2007: Greg Olson, Miami TE selected #31 overall - Double, could become a HR - coming off best season with 54 catches and five TDs.
2008: Chris Williams, Vanderbilt T selected #14 overall - INC, leaning toward BUSTYes, already - missed entire rookie season with injury, and the team has showed so much confidence in him that they've signed three players who have played tackle in the NFL, including future HOFer Orlando Pace
See - dude can't draft impact players in the first round. Just can't. So now you take them away from him. This is a good thing Bears fans.
Says Lambert:
"I've always wanted to become a basketball coach at the Division I level, so I've been working towards that. I'm a student manager for the men's basketball team at Central Michigan for all five years I've been here. I really want to do that. But, with that being said, my eyes have been opened to another avenue, another route I could do."
And that avenue? Non-profit work to benefit the less fortunate.
"Over the past three years we've been able to raise over $25,000," Lambert said. "In the first year we had a free throw shooting fundraiser, we've had a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on campus, had a dodgeball tournament. We've used sport a lot as a platform to bring people together and let them have fun and at the same time they get to learn about the effects in Africa from Malaria."
And all this despite a struggling economy at home, especially in Michigan - one of the hardest hit states in the country.
"I always set lofty goals and we always have as a group to kind of push ourselves, but we're definitely kind of surprised, especially this year, to see so many people willing to (donate). We're just so, so thankful for every single person that's donated and assisted us in any of our fundraising events. It's a wonderful thing. I think the hardest part about it is getting people to connect and empathize with the problems that are going millions of miles away from us, especially when we're dealing with difficult times in our country and in our backyards now."
I've spent the better part of the last 24 hours hearing Cubs fans pine for Micah Hoffpauir.
I'm not saying Derrek Lee is the best first baseman in baseball, but the man is better than some 29-year-old rookie who hasn't done a thing in the major leagues.
Lee hasn't hit worse than .286 in the last 4 years and is good for 20+ home runs and 90+ RBI. Hoffpauir has 73 major league at-bats.
Seven. Three. I bet these people can't even spell Hoffpauir, but they're quick to giggle at their "6-4-Lee" references...
Then there are the dopes who have said that Kyle Ortman is better than Jay Cutler. And not at producing insulin - at quarterbacking in the NFL. Really. Unbelievable.
Rick Armstrong The dean of the Beacon News sports staff, Armstrong covers the boys basketball and Northern Illinois University beats along with general sports coverage.
Jim Owczarski A graduate of North Central College, Owczarski covers the high school football beat in the fall and the local golf beat year around. He also serves as the Beacon News’ main sports features/enterprise writer. He has won several national writing awards and has a weekly column that runs on Sundays.
Mike Knapp A sports writer at the Beacon News for over eight years, Knapp is the Kane County Cougars beat writer.
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About this Archive
This page is an archive of entries from April 2009 listed from newest to oldest.
Well, the Sports Beacon has done it. We are now on Twitter.
Rick Armstrong 
Jim Owczarski 
Mike Knapp 