Sox Respond to Guillen's Tirade with Victory

It's a good thing the White Sox have a manager like Ozzie Guillen. He's not about to let his team get complacent after winning the World Series last year.

After an extra-inning loss on Saturday in which the Sox had 14 hits, left 13 men on base and scored only two runs, Guillen erupted after the game with some harsh words for his team. The feisty manager described the Sox effort as "pathetic." "We're much better than this," he added.

The Sox responded today with a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5. As strong as Guillen's words were, they were necessary. Since the beginning of the season, the Sox at times have looked lackluster. One of the hallmarks of the '05 team was their intensity and aggressiveness on the field, the desire to play each game as if it was the seventh game of the World Series. I haven't seen as much of this intensity this season. The team seems content to sit back and wait for the breaks to come to them, rather than make their own breaks.

Guillen is often criticized for his outspokenness, but I give him credit for choosing his timing wisely. It helps that Saturday's loss coupled with another Tigers victory put the Sox back 3 1/2 games in the AL Central. That, I think, would be enough to raise any manager's ire.

Every now and then you have to come out and say what needs to be said for the good of the team. Ozzie was simply being Ozzie, and doing it well. He needed to jump-start this team NOW before they got too complacent and lag too far behind the Tigers.

I wonder if their recent homestand in which they played six emotional games -- three with the Cubs and a sweep of the Oakland As and former Sox slugger Frank Thomas -- took a lot out of this team, so they had nothing left for this road trip. With nine series coming up against teams either in first place or with better than .500 records, the Sox will need to play their best baseball in the coming weeks, and they will need to bring as much emotional intensity and aggressiveness as they can muster. That's when you're grateful to have a manager like Ozzie Guillen who can create that spark better than any manager in the major leagues.

Bonds Smashes Homer #715

Bonds finally did it. After much suspense and fanfare, he hit home run number 715 to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time major league home run list. Bonds is all alone in second behind Hank Aaron.

Bonds must have heard that ESPN is putting his reality show "Bonds on Bonds" on hiatus indefinitely. The network announced that after two more episodes, it will discontinue the programdue to lack of fan interest. Only if Bonds suddenly gets hot and start swinging the way Albert Pujols has been will it resurrect the show.

You win some, you lose some.

A.J.’s Latest Honor

Speaking of Pierzinski, did you read about his latest honor? Earlier this week, in a Sports Illustrated readers poll of 470 MLB players, he was named as “the player other players would like to see hit by a pitch.”

Ozzie Guillen explains that he’s the player you want to have on your team. He has a way of shaking things up and getting under the opponent’s skin. When he played for the Twins, the Sox players hated him. Now that he’s on our team, players and fans love him.

People are still talking about last weekend’s duel between Sox catcher A.J. Pierzinski and Cubs catcher Michael Barret. At a family funeral I attended earlier this week, do you think we were reminiscing about our deceased aunt? Yes, but only some of the time. The rest of the time, we couldn’t help but relive the now-famous “base-brawl.”

When Pierzinski was introduced as a pinch hitter during Monday night’s game against the Oakland As, the crowd stood and cheered. Pierzinski is the only player I know who has ever received a standing ovation for taking a sucker punch.

Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit that he makes the game interesting

Barrett Suspended, Pierzinski Fined for Base-brawl

Cubs catcher Michael Barrett is suspended for 10 games while Sox outfielder Brian Anderson is out for five games after last Saturday's bench-clearing brawl at U.S. Cellular Field. Sox third-base coach Joey Cora was suspended two games -- I'm not clear why -- and A. J. Pierzinski was fined, but not suspended.

In all my years of watching the two Chicago baseball teams play each other, I have never seen anything like this. Usually the brawls happen in the crowd among Cubs and Sox fans. It'll be fun to see what happens betweent these two teams when they face each other in a rematch at the end of June.

More on this story

Barbaro's Recovery Looking Good

I would be remiss if I didn't give you an updated report on Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, who shattered his leg at the Preakness two weeks later. The day after the Preakness, Barbaro underwent surgery where doctors inserted a plate and 27 screws. Most horses would not have survived such a horrendous injury. But Barbaro is quite a feisty animal and he is fighting every step of the way.

While he's not out of the woods yet, he is getting stronger every day, regaining his appetitie and showing an interest in mares. Those are healthy signs. His racing career may be over, but doctors and his trainer, Michael Matz, think Barbaro can have a new life as a stallion if his recovery continues.

Frank Thomas Returns to South Side

It's been a hectic week, so my apologies if some of my postings today seem a bit dated.

Former Sox slugger Frank Thomas probably had no idea what awaited him at U.S. Cellular Field earlier this week when he and his current team, the Oakland Athletics, faced the White Sox. At the top of the second inning, before Thomas was scheduled to hit, a video tribute played on the outfield screen. A crowd of more than 39,000 watched and applauded, and when Big Frank stepped to the plate to face Jon Garland, he received a lengthy standing ovation. Thomas tipped his cap, then proceeded to blast a home run into the left field seats. He followed that homer with another home run and a base hit, showing his former team that he still had some power left in him.

So much for a warm welcome.

It was a strange night. It was strange to see Frank Thomas in the green and gold uniform of the Oakland As after he spent 16 seasons with the White Sox.

It was strange to see manager Ozzie Guillen get thrown out of the game in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes.

And the strangest sight of all -- a five-minute game delay while grounds crew members tried to capture a squirrel on the field.

A Girl's Guide to NASCAR

Cars and I don’t mix, so I’ve never become a fan of NASCAR. In fact, I don’t even have a driver’s license.

I look at the sport with a mixture of awe and puzzlement. While I admire the drivers’ abilities to maneuver a car at top speeds, I have a hard time seeing racing as an athletic sport.

In any case, whether you follow NASCAR religiously or are simply curious about it, here’s a book that might interest you. “A Girl’s Guide to NASCAR,” written by Liz Allison, provides tidbits of information about the sport. The book covers topics such as the race car and safety issues, a history of the sports top families and listings for hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and hospitals near NASCAR tracks.

Allison was married to driver Davey Allison from 1989 to 1993 when he was killed in a helicopter crash. She now covers the sport for different racing publications and hosts a weekly radio show in Nashville. This is Allison’s fourth book about racing.

Food for thought: Tigers' Roar Won't Last

The Detroit Tigers are off to their best start in years under new manager Jim Leyland. They’re currently in first place in the American League Central, one game over the second-place Chicago White Sox.

This is probably the best baseball the Tigers will play this season. As well as they’re playing, they’re not likely to improve over and beyond this, and they certainly cannot continue to win at this pace for the remainder of this season. At some point, probably July, maybe sooner, they’ll cool off and come back down to earth.

As well as the White Sox have played so far, they aren’t playing their best baseball yet. They’ve shown glimpses of their superior play and dominance (the first two games against the Cubs last weekend, for example), but they’re still working out the kinks in their bullpen and their starting rotation has been shaky at times. Still, the Sox are only one game out of first place. Their best baseball is yet to come.

White Sox Win Round One of Crosstown Showdown

In the first inter-league match of the 2006 season, the White Sox took two out of three from their crosstown rivals, the Chicago Cubs. In the first two games of the series, the Cubs were clearly outmatched by the Sox, who overall have stronger hitting, pitching and defense.

Sox pitching was the star of the show this weekend. Mark Buerle returned to his old efficient self on Friday with a 6-1 gem (the one run was unearned), and Freddie Garcia seems to have the Cubs' number. In eight innings of work on Saturday, he allowed eight hits and no runs. In four inter-league meetings, he is 4-0 against the Cubs with an ERA well under 1.00. Jose Contreras looked sharp in his first start since coming off the DL. Even though he did not get a decision, his effectiveness bodes well for the team.

Today's victory by the Cubs was a gift. If it wasn't for a missed double play by the Sox -- a play they normally make 99.9 percent of the time -- the Sox would have escaped the eighth inning with their 4-2 lead still in tact. Instead, the Sox could only get one out, and that allowed the Cubs to score four runs to take the lead 6-4. The Cubs added another run in the top of the ninth, and won the game 7-4.

But the highlight of the series will forever be the bench-clearing brawl in the second inning of Saturday's game after Sox catcher A.J. Pierzinski collided with Michael Barrett at the plate. Pierzinski slapped his hand on home plate to score the Sox first run of the game, then got up to retrieve his helmet. He ran into Barrett, the two exchanged words, and Barrett punched him in the face. Scott Podsednik, who was about to bat next, tackled Barrett to the ground to keep him away from Pierzinski. Both benches cleared. Brian Anderson mixed it up with John Mabry, who suffered bruised ribs. Four players were ejected -- Pierzinski, Barrett, Anderson and Mabry.

In all my years of watching these two teams during inter-league play, I've never seen a brawl. They's usually reserved for the fans in the stands. But leave it to A.J. to mix things up and get under the Cubs' skin -- Barrett on Saturday and Carlos Zambrano today.

Round two of the season series will be at Wrigley Field starting June 30th.

Derby Winner's Life in Jeopardy

Two weeks after running away to win the Kentucky Derby, Barbaro is facing his toughest test. In yesterday's Preakness, in which the Derby winner was the heavy favorite, Barbaro pulled up lame shortly after the race started.

Doctors at the track said Barbaro suffered two fractures, one above and one below the ankle. His racing career is over, and with surgery today, doctors hope to save his life.

It is one of the saddest moments I have seen in TV sports coverage. From the replays, it looks like a freak incident. There was no collision with the other horses. It's hard to believe that just two weeks ago, the world was celebrating Barbaro's victory at the Kentucky Derby. He was unbeaten going into the Preakness. It goes to show just how quickly one's fortunes can turn on a dime.

Bonds Hits 714

Barry Bonds finally hit home run #714 last night to tie Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list.

It's a milestone to be sure, but I have to wonder how many people outside the Bay area really care about what Bonds has accomplished.

Chicago Sky Opens Season with Victory

Chicago's new WNBA team, the Sky, won their first regular season game last night, 83-82 over the Charlotte Sting. Nice start, but can they succeed in a city with so many other competing sports interests? Can they make a difference on the city's sports scene?

You would think as popular as basketball is in this town, a WNBA team would be a shoo-in for long-term success. But the team has a lot of competition with two major league baseball teams, soccer, women's softball, and numerous minor-league baseball teams. It's easy to get buried under all that competition. I've always believed there was room for a women's basketball team in Chicago.

Part of the problem is that the primary audience for the Sky is women, but most women are reluctant to commit to purchasing season tickets. They have to check their calendars -- the kids have soccer practice one day, there's a doctor appointment on another, and so on. They don't think to get the tickets, then find someone else to take them if they can't make the game. Guys don't have that problem. They'll buy season tickets first, then check their calendars second.

It will take a strong winning performance by the Sky, and some creative marketing ideas to get people to go to their games. Here's hoping that last night's victory will spark an interest in this team for the remainder of this season and for many seasons to come.

The Sky will face the defending champion Sacramento in the team's home opener Tuesday at the UIC Pavillion.

Hingis Continues Comeback With Italian Open Win

Swiss tennis diva Martina Hingis is on the comeback trail.

She was the number one player in the world several years ago. I always admired her wicked slashing backhand that would fire the ball just inside the foul line and freeze her opponents who could never reach the ball in time. I once tried to mimic her shot during a tennis class once, except my shot landed in foul territory.

Foot and ankle injuries forced Hingis into early retirement three years ago. She began her comeback in January, and today she returned to championship form by winning the Italian Open over 16th-seeded Dinara Safina. The Italian Open is an important tune-up for Hingis before the French Open, which begins May 28th. The French Open is the only grand slam tournament that Hinis has never won. With this victory, Hingis is also expected to break the top 15 in world rankings.

It's nice to see Hingis' return to pro tennis. She adds a spark and a charisma that many of the younger players lack, except perhaps Maria Sharapova. It may be worth tuning into the upcoming grand slam tournaments to see Hingis play again.

Thumbs Up for Interleague Play

This weekend begins baseball inter-league play. Fans either love it or hate it. I love it because I am lucky to live in a city with two baseball teams that face each other every year for two three-game series, one in each of their respective ball parks. It’s one of the few times this city seems to come to a standstill.

I especially love it this season because the World Champion White Sox will face their World Series foes, the Houston Astros, as well as the foes most fans wanted them to face in the fall classic, the St. Louis Cardinals. Both series will be at the Cell. The Sox also play against the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road.

The series with St. Louis should be especially enticing. Imagine Jim Thome vs. Albert Pujols. There’s a match-up worth drooling over.

The Cubs go on the road to face the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome, where they have never played before. Detroit and Kansas City make visits to Wrigley Field.

Ex-Bear QB Retires

Several weeks ago, I wrote about athletes who are facing decisions about retirement. Here’s one more athlete to add to the list of retirees: Doug Flutie.

The 43-year-old Flutie finally realized he had come to the end of a long and industrious football career, even though his passion for the game still runs deep. At 5 feet 10 inches, Flutie was considered by many to be too short to play quarterback in the NFL. But after 21 years in the pros (including eight years in the CFL), his career lasted longer than many other QBs with more talent and height.

I remember when Flutie played for the Chicago Bears for two brief seasons in 1986 and 1987. His addition to the team sparked a quarterback controversy among many fans and players who were very loyal the Jim McMahon. I want to say Flutie was Mike McCaskey’s pet project that ultimately did not work out for the team. Eventually, the Bears let Flutie go, and he joined the New England Patriots for several seasons.

Flutie will be a college football analyst for ABC as well as an analyst for ESPN.

Beijing Visit Reaffirms Mayor’s Pursuit of Olympic Games

Mayor Daley’s quest to bring the Summer Olympic Games to Chicago has moved one step forward. On his visit this week to Beijing, the mayor toured the city and studied their preparations for the 2008 Olympics. The mayor also formed a committee whose task is to evaluate the economic pros and cons of hosting the event in Chicago.

Cost is the obvious stumbling block. But the mayor feels that Chicago has a stronger infrastructure than Beijing, so costs would not be nearly as high. The challenge for the major is garnering support from local business leaders, city planners, and corporations who may not be willing to embark on the project with the city. The mayor and his committee also need to have a clear plan about how newly-built facilities, athletes’ housing and a new Olympic stadium (because supposedly Soldier Field is too small) will be used when the Olympics end.

As a lifelong Chicagoan, I appreciate the mayor’s efforts to bring the Olympics to Chicago. I have always believed that Chicago was large enough and sophisticated enough to handle an event of this magnitude. We have a solid public transportation system, plenty of hotel space and many venues for the various sporting events. But Daley and his committee do have their work cut out for them and they have strong competition from four American cities – Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los Angeles – as well as Tokyo, which has already put in its bid to host the Olympics.

NU's Soccer Team Under Investigation

Northwestern University’s women’s soccer team is under investigation for an alleged hazing incident. Photos of the alleged hazing appeared Monday on Badjocks.com, an internet site that claims to expose athletes' bad behavior. While the incident is under investigation by school officials, the girls’ soccer team is barred from participating in any activities.

When the story broke earlier this week, my initial reaction was one of surprise and shock. What disturbed me most about the photos is that they are of female athletes. You simply do not expect to see that kind of behavior by young women, especially those attending a top level school such as Northwestern. “Why are they doing this?” I asked. “Where is their common sense? Why don’t they just stand up and say no, or just walk away.”

Even former members of the women's soccer team reportedly were upset by the photos. In a Sun-Times article, former players Gina Napoli and Katie Hertz said such incidents did not occur when they were on the team.

Sometimes team spirit has a stronger hold on a young athlete than personal integrity.

However, as I hear more about the alleged incident from the NU players as well as sports writers and fans, I’ve changed my perspective. I was once a college student, and I remember I did some stupid, crazy stuff too. And I wasn’t a college jock by any means.

Campus parties and social events are part of college life, and often take the pressure off of studying and competition. It's the social life that makes college fun and exciting for many students. Hazing, or initiation rituals, are common on college campuses.

The danger in hazing occurs when students are physically injured. A case in point, 14 members of a fraternity at Southern Arkansas University who were charged with hazing recently settled a lawsuit alleging they beat a pledge so badly that he spent 11 days in a hospital, had to have kidney dialysis and required skin graft surgery. Now that's going too far.

While most hazing incidents do not result in serious injury, it can happen. Fortunately, no one was physically injured in this incident. What will likely receive the most damage is the university’s reputation.

Unsung Heroes and a Triple Play

You know when things are going well for you when you complete a triple play.

It was fun to watch the White Sox turn in a triple play last night against the Minnesota Twins. Better yet, the play ended what could have been a big inning for the Twins.

To make matters worse for the Twins, Scott Podsednik and backup catcher Chris Widger both hit their first home runs of the year in today's Sox victory. Pods hasn't hit a home run in the regular season since late September 2004 when he was with the Brewers. Rob Machowiak added three hits. So the Sox got their offensive power from three guys you least expect -- a nice change of pace.

Scottie is now batting .300. Not bad considering he was hitting .039 about a month ago.

Yes, things are going well for the Sox. Party on....

Minor League Team Introduces "Bud Squealig"

My good friend Amy lives in St. Paul, Minn. On several previous visits to her town, she has tried to persuade me to go to a minor league baseball game featuring the St. Paul Saints. She says the games are fun because of their quirky promotions and gags.

After reading about the renaming of their team mascot, which happens to be a pig, now I understand why.

Moms and Sports

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm neither a mom or an athlete (just a weekend warrior), but I think one of the most underrated roles in sports is that of an athlete's mom. they're the ones who make the most sacrifices to help their kids succeed in sports. For example, in an interview with Comcast Sports Net recently, Jon Garland of the White Sox, for example, credits his mom for introducing him to baseball and helping him practice his pitching.

But I think a role that may even be tougher is a woman who is both an athlete and a mom. The have to strive for balance in their lives. How do you train for your sport while also taking care of your child?

Jo-Ann Burleigh of Vancouver, BC, was an assistant coach with the Canadian Women's Paralympic Basketball team. In 2000, she gave birth to her daughter Rylie. In an interview with the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity, Burleigh says, "There is absolutely no reason to lose sight of your dreams when a child comes into the picture. If anything, it's more of a reason to accomplish your dreams so you can share it with the ones you love."

So to all the female athletes who are also moms, I wish you Happy Mother's Day.

On a related note, congratulations to Chicago Bandits pitcher and former Olympian Jennie Finch on the birth of her first child earlier this month. Also Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders gave birth to her first child in April.

Jennie Finch

Kerry Wood Rejoins Cub Rotation

Admidst the Chicago Cubs dismal record in the past two weeks, there is one glimmer of hope. Kerry Wood will make his first start of the year on Thursday against the Washington Nationals.

Wood has pitched well in two minor-league starts, and Cub Nation is hopeful that he can continue that performance level when he rejoins the club this week. If Wood has any success, let's hope that it's contagious, and the rest of the team can pick up the momentum.

Aaron Rowand, Meet Mr. Fence

Before being traded to the Phillies in the off season, former Sox outfielder Aaron Rowand had developed a reputation as a player who could make great catches even while crashing into the outfield wall. Sox fans loved his playing style, how he could give it his all and punish his body in the process.

Last night, Philly fans saw the Aaron Rowand that we know and love. After Rowand made an amazing over-the-shoulder catch for the third out in the first inning, he crashed into the outfield fence. He fell to the ground and lifted his glove in the air to show he had made the catch.

For his effort, Rowand got lacerations around his eye, a broken nose, and a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd.

Cubs Continue to Sink (Or Is It Stink)?

I know I haven't written a lot about the Chicago Cubs since starting my blog. There's not a whole lot I can say about a team that is trying to find its identity, let alone a victory or two.

The Cubs lost again today by a score of 10-5 to the San Diego Padres. They looked sloppy and disjointed. They have no offense, no pitching, and after today's game, not much defense either. They've only won once in their last 10 games.

You wonder if Jim Hendry and Dusty Baker even have a plan to put together a winning team and get to the postseason. Granted, they lost Derrek Lee to an injury until at least July, and their starting pitching rotation has three rookies. So you're probably not going to win many games.

At the beginning of this season, I was hopeful that the Cubs off-season moves would improve the team. I like the addition of Juan Pierre, Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre. For the first few weeks, the Cubs did generate some excitement and were playing better baseball. But with Lee's injury, it seems the air has gone out of this team, and you wonder how they will get it back.

What's troubling is that none of the Cub players has stepped forward, either on the field or in the clubhouse. And Baker seems at a loss what to do. The sign of a good manager is being able to motivate a team when they are not at their best or are without some of their best players. So you wonder if Baker is the manager the Cubs hoped he would be.

A sign of a good baseball team is one that is still able to compete even when they lose one or two players. You would think the way the Cubs have been playing that Derrek Lee was a team of one. But a team's success depends on contributions from all the players, not just one person. Where is the rest of the team on this Cub team?

McCarthy to Return to Starting Role

You knew this would happen sooner or later.

The White Sox reported today that McCarthy will likely start next Tuesday's opener against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Sox should have started McCarthy last night against the Angels. Instead they brought up a young knuckleballer, Charlie Haeger, who proved he was not quite ready for prime time. He was erratic and walked six batters in four innings. When he left the game, the Sox were losing 6-0.

Enter McCarthy who was brilliant in four innings of work. He shut down the Angels, which allowed the White Sox to get back into the game. The score was 6-5 going into the ninth inning. Alas, the Sox bullpen imploded again for the second time in a week, and the Sox lost 12-5.

For Haeger's fine effort, the Sox sent him back down to Triple A today.

Barry Bonds Homerun Watch

I know the Cubs had a difficult West Coast road trip, going 1-8. But there's one thing they did manage to accomplish. Their pitchers did not give up a home run to Barry Bonds.

Bonds is still at 713 homeruns, one shy of Babe Ruth on the all-time homerun list.

I don't know about you, but I am having a hard time getting excited about Bonds' chase to baseball immortality. True, it is a remarkable accomplishment. But two other players have already accomplished this feat before him, and others may follow somewhere down the line.

(I remember watching Hank Aaron's 715th homerun which surpassed Babe Ruth, but I was too young to understand its significance in baseball history.) As each record falls by the wayside, there will be less fanfare.

Bonds has always been a controversial player. The cloud of suspicion hanging over him regarding steroids usage doesn't help. It makes me wonder how much of his success was achieved by dishonest means.

All-Star Balloting Underway

It's never too early to begin voting for your favorite players for the All-Star game on July 11, 2006, in Pittsburgh. By winning the World Series, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen will manage the American League team. Once all the fans and players have had their say, Guillen will get to choose six players to fill out his roster. So if Thome, Konerko, Crede, Dye or Contreras don't make the team by voting fans and players, you can bet Guillen will select them. Count on it.

It will be interesting to see how fans and players will vote on the White Sox players and if being World Series champions will change their luck. Historically, the Sox have been overlooked at All-Star time in favor of the Yankee or Red Sox players du jour. I would hope the visibility and success from last season would create more votes for the World Champs.

You can vote on MLB.com or any of your favorite team's web site.

Think Pink

If you plan to see a major league baseball game this Mother's Day, you might see an unusual sight during the game -- pink baseball bats.

About 400 pink bats are being produced especially for this Sunday's games as a way to commemorate breast cancer awareness. Many of the top hitters have said they will use them, including David Ortiz, Jim Edmonds and Derek Jeter.

It's a novel idea. Between the pink bats and the Strikeout Challenge that the league is also sponsoring in partnership with the Komen Foundation, major league baseball is showing its softer side and a lot of class. Breast cancer affects everyone -- male and female. It affects sons and daughters, husbands, friends and coworkers. It affects families, and baseball is a family-friendly sport. By supporting a health issue that primarily affects women, the league is recognizing how important women are in our society -- as moms and as baseball fans.

Contreras Lands on Disabled List

When the story broke last night that Jose Contreras may have to go on the 15-day disabled list, it came as a surprise. If Contreras was hurting, he hid it well. But with a sore hip and back, the White Sox are taking no chances with the best pitcher in baseball. Contreras will rest his back and be ready for the series against the Cubs beginning May 19th.

I'm not worried. With our pitching depth, the Sox should continue to play well and win ball games. As I watch the Sox battle the Angels tonight, I can't help but feel that regardless how well they have played so far this season, this team has not even begun to hit its stride. There are still a few pitching issues that the team needs to work out, especially in the bullpen. And there are some concerns about Brian Anderson's offensive woes. But these are not bad problems to have.

If the Sox feel any pressure after winning the World Series last year, they are not showing it. They seem relaxed and loose, both on and off the field. It's hard to imagine them losing their edge this season.

Iran Reverses Decision about Women

I knew it was too good to be true.

Recently I reported in this blog that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he would allow women to attend soccer matches. But in a sudden reversal today, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei overruled the move and now Iranian women will not be allowed to attend soccer games. Under the Islamic Republic's constitution, Iran's supreme leader has the final say.

One step forward, two steps back.....

Barbaro Wins the Kentucky Derby

I don't usually follow horse racing, but I will tune into the Kentucky Derby. I love to watch the horses run; they're such beautiful animals and so dignified and graceful. I'd love to go the the Kentucky Derby someday, if anything to sip a mint julep or two.

Barbaro won the 132nd run for the roses yesterday, in a field of strong contenders. He was not among the horses I had picked to finish in the top three. But he proved to be so outstanding -- he won the race by nearly seven lengths.

The most impressive and inspiring story, though, is that of his trainer, Michael Matz. During the NBC telecast, the network ran a feature on Matz, a victim of the plane that crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1989. He ran into the fiery plane wreckage and save three children who had been on the plane on their way to visit their grandmother. Those three children met Matz yesterday for the first time since the crash and witnessed Barbaro's triumphant victory.

Matz is also a three-time Olympian in equestrian riding. He carried the American flag in the closing ceremonies at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

I'm a sucker for these feel-good stories about triumph over tragedy. What an inspiration to us all.

MLB Strike Out Breast Cancer Campaign Begins Today

A few weeks ago, I wrote that Major League Baseball and The Komen Foundation were teaming up for the Strikeout Challenge to raise money for breast cancer. The campaign begins today and runs through next Sunday, Mother's Day.

Fans and players can go to MLB.com to make a pledge on the number of strikeouts that will be recorded in games played during this week-long program. Or you can make a donation directly to the Komen Foundation. Details can be found on both web sites.

I plan to make a pledge and hope you will too.

Bulls Can't Take the Heat

The Bulls season came to an anti-climactic end Thursday night. While I was impressed that the Bulls made such a strong run at the end of the regular season to make the playoffs, I was disappointed that they did not perform as well as they could have in their series against the Heat. Especially after the way they played in games 3 and 4 at the United Center, I really hoped that those games had turned the series in the Bulls' favor. But the experience of Shaq, Wade and company proved to be too much. I think I am more disappointed in the way they played in games 5 and 6 rather than the fact they were eliminated.

If anything, the Bulls gained more playoff experience. They're still learning and growing together as a team. I think they're just one or two players away from being a very good team.

Arakawa to Turn Pro

In an expected announcment, women's figure skating Olympic gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa is quitting competitive skating. Arakawa is the first ever Asian to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.

After winning the gold medal in Turin, Arakawa did not compete at the World Championships in Calgary in March. She plans to perform in ice shows in Japan and the U.S.

There is still some speculation about whether Michelle Kwan will retire. She has said that she wants to remain Olympic eligible. Earlier this spring, Sasha Cohen said she would remain in competitive skating and go for the gold in Vancouver in 2010.

Who is the Best Pitcher in Chicago?

After today's White Sox victory over the Seattle Mariners, Jose Contreras has now 5-0 this season with a 1.42 ERA. He has won 13 straight regular season games going back to last August. He was name the AL Pitcher of the Month for April, an honor he also won last September -- two regular season months in a row.

Greg Maddux of the Cubs is no slouch either. Although he did lose the game last night against the Diamondbacks, he has won four games this season and, at times, seems unhittable. He has never had such a strong start to the season. What amazes me about Mad Dog is that he is able to stay healthy almost his entire career, thanks to his conditioning and preparation. Other pitchers could take a few lessons from him, such as his teammates Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. He certainly does not look like a pitcher that is ready to retire at the end of this season.

Who is the best pitcher in Chicago at this time? I give the nod to Contreras. The Yankees must look at his record and wonder why he never pitched this way when he was with their team.

In any case, I would not be surprised if both Maddux and Contreras made it to the All-Star game this year. For Contreras, it would be a proper reward for all his hard work and talents. For Maddux, it would be a fitting conclusion to a proflific career.

U. S. Olympic Committee to Visit Chicago Next Week

For years, Mayor Daley has expressed his desire to bring the summer Olympic games to Chicago. Apparently, he's getting very serious about his intentions for the 2016 games.

Next week, members of the United States Olympic Committee will be visiting Chicago to discuss the bidding process. Competition to host the 2016 games is expected to be fierce as the USOC will also visit Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

As a native Chicagoan, I think it would be neat to bring the games so close to home. We have the basic infrastructures in place -- plenty of hotel space, good public transportation system, some solid venues like the United Center and Soldier Field. We probably need to build a swimming and diving venue and could tap into nearby communities, Northwest Indiana and even Milwaukee for other event venues.

Last week, Tokyo submitted their bid to host the 2016 games.

Baseball Month in Review

The first month of the baseball season is in the books, and based on the performance of the Cubs and White Sox so far, I would say 2006 is a mirror image to 2005.

The Cubs have started out strong and are an improved team over last year -- a 13-10 record in April compared with 12-11 last year. But they were in second place a year ago and fourth place this year. At times, the Cubs have played brilliantly and other times, shaky and inconsistent.

I like the additions of Juan Pierre, Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre. Pierre gives them the lead off spark they need, similar to what Scott Podsednik has done for the Southsiders. But the Cubs have also lost Derrek Lee for three months, so the other starters must step up offensively. As of tonight, three rookie pitchers are starting for the team -- Angel Guzman, Rich Hill and Shaun Marshall. With any luck, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior will return to the team in June, and hopefully that will spark the team. It's up to the rest of the team to stay afloat until then. My grade for the month of April: B

As for the World Champs, after a slow start the first week of the season, they have gradually improved to a 17-7 record for April, matching their record in 2005. They're in first place, one and a half games ahead of Detroit. Ditto for 2005, except the second place team was Minnesota.
Jim Thome has made an immediate impact, and his presence in the lineup is helping the other hitters. Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye and Joe Crede usually start out slow, but all three players are hitting above or near .300. Podsednik had a very slow start, at one point hitting .039. Before tonight's game, Scottie is hitting .250 and he has hit safely in 12 of 13 games. The Sox also finished strong in April, and looked impressive in a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the first time they've swept the Angels in California since 1992. On paper, the Sox are an improved ball club, and they are playing up to their potential so far. If they stay healthy, like they did in 2005, the Sox should continue to play well. My grade: A-