Rumor has it that they are on the verge of locking up Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith to long term extensions.

For the life of me, I can't remember this happening in Chicago since the dawn of free agency - in any sport.

Perhaps we could point to the Bulls in the late 80s or early 90s when Jordan and Pippen signed extensions off their original rookie deals...but I could be off on that.
It hasn't happened with either baseball team.
The Bears have been good at extending core players in the Jerry Angelo-Lovie Smith era, but there was never a comparable group that signed together.

Hugunin is among a select group of players who are eligible to be selected as a national Red Zone Player of the Year.

According to the press release:
Old Spice is recognizing high school football players who go above and beyond the call of duty, particularly in the Red Zone. The program honors athletes who are able to elevate their play and step up when the heat is really on. These athletes embody leadership, performance and desire, and serve as examples to their teammates on and off the field.

Hugunin is also eligible to be named one of 50 national Players of the Year.The top 50 players nationwide will be named Red Zone Players of the Year and will receive a plaque and other awards.

On the year, Hugunin finished with 72 tackles (26 solo), 1 sack, two pass breakups, three blocked kicks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Why you ask?

Because Chicago, City of Meatballs, has people here that believed LeBron never would havew come here because he couldn't wear 23.

You snicker, but you are nodding because you know it's true.

On that note, one of my favorite quotes put this out there regarding LeBron's decision and subsequent request to all other NBA-ers wearing 23...

It's a nice gesture, but he (Jordan) is not Jackie Robinson. Baseball did it because it had historical significance

this will get Bulls fans riled up..
I'm just not one of those guys who thinks unquestionably that he (Jordan) was the best player of all time. I don't buy that.

And finally...
Michael was a great player, and if the NBA wants to decide that every other team in the league has to worship him, then that's up to them. Would I be for that? No.

Well met.

Enough said.

Can you imagine what that type of thing would look like if a local paper/web site did one of those for the times Jay Cutler was pressured/chased/hurried/face planted/ran over/sacked/bloodied/hit/tossed/rolled over?

Let's see how the key components of the last three drafts have helped the Bears. And when I say key components, I mean rounds 1 through 4. This is where you find your stars and your starters. This is where you replenish your team when age and free agency take their toll...

2007:
DRAFT
Greg Olsen, TE (1) - a below average 1st round pick.
Dan Bazuin, DL (2) - out of football
Garrett Wolfe, RB (3) - special teams player only
Michael Okwo, LB (3) - out of football
Josh Beekman, OL (4) - a serviceable lineman who started in 2008 and is now starting again in 2009. The heir apparent to Olin Kreutz...perhaps as soon as 2010.

FREE AGENCY
Anthony Adams, DT

TRADE
Adam Archuleta, S

2008:
DRAFT
Chris Williams, OL (1) - hurt all of 2008, which they knew about before picking him, and below average at RT in 2009.
Matt Forte, RB (2) - Great rookie year but as a 2nd year player feeling effects of 379 touches in 2008, victim of poor o-line play.
Earl Bennett, WR (3) - sat out all of 2008 because the Bears said he couldn't grasp the offense. Serviceable in 09 but easily replaceable.
Marcus Harrison, DL (3) - showed flashes of talent in 2008, showed up in 2009 fat and is barely heard of
Craig Steltz, S (4) - special teams player only

FREE AGENCY
Marty Booker, WR
Brandon Lloyd, WR
Lance Briggs, LB

EXTENSIONS
Brian Urlacher, LB
Tommie Harris, DL
Robbie Gould, K
Desmond Clark, TE
Alex Brown, DE
Kyle Orton, QB
Rex Grossman, QB

2009:
DRAFT
Jarron Gilbert, DT (3) - has not played
Juaquin Iglesias, WR (3) - has not played
Henry Melton, DE (4) - has not played
D.J. Moore, DB (4) - has not played

FREE AGENCY
Orland Pace, OL
Michael Gaines, TE
Pisa Tinoisamoa, LB
Kevin Shaffer, OL
Frank Omiyale, OL
Josh Bullocks, S

TRADE
Jay Cutler, QB

oh - it's that time of year - Aurora's Michael Bowden is going to be mentioned in every trade rumor from now until spring training...

Octavio Dotel also was classified as a Type A free agent...so the Sox could pull in two top choices by losing two old, bad players.

True - the MLB draft is not like the NFL/NBA and it's clearly more hit-and-miss...but with the way the Sox have drafted recently and the big money they've taken on (Peavy, Rios) and will have to dole out (Danks, Quentin) those picks will be very valuable to Ken Williams.

I love Peyton Manning the football player and I'm secure enough to say I've got a man crush on the guy when it comes to his commercials (and skits). They make me laugh. And I'm guessing they make you laugh too.

So here are a few of my favorites.

Why - why? - would the Sox be interested in a 36-year-old outfielder who can't throw and whose one plus skill (speed) is rapidly declining? (especially when they want to re-resign a 33-year-old outfielder who can't throw and whose one plus skill [speed] is declining).
Unless they can get him for 1 year and like $2 million, it's not worth not. Especially not for multiple years and many multiple millions of dollars.

I understand Damon has some value, but this isn't the late 90s/early 2000s anymore. Guys don't have career years in their late 30s anymore. Now players Damon's age are going to do what they did back in the pre-steroid era: break down and be bad.

Yes, the need for a leadoff hitter is great, and Damon might be worth it if the price is right...but if those contract numbers are somewhat accurate - no thanks.

means you'll see more of this

As an Eagles fan, I really don't think Jay Cutler will be under center when my beloved Iggles venture into Soldier Field on Nov. 22...there's no way he will continue to get up from the pounding he is taking. He'll either be concussed, have broken ribs, or a separated shoulder by the time the Bears have finished playing the Cardinals and the 49ers.

Which is sad for Bears fans - they finally have a franchise QB but the franchise did such a terrible job in getting him an offensive line, they may well be looking for a QB to direct them for first half of the 2010 season while Cutler rehabs....

Kaneland basketball player David Dudzinski, a 6-foot-9 center/forward, is close to making a decision on his college commitment.

Naperville North's Matt Hasse, a 6-9 center, has committed to Austin Peay.

The two leading candidates for Dudzinski's services are Loyola of Chicago and Holy Cross of Worcester, Mass.

Holy Cross, with just 2,700 students, is a NCAA Division I program and member of the Patriot League.