Wimbledon Action -- On and Off the Court

As Wimbledon nears the end of the first week of competition, there seems to be as much action taking place off the court as there is on the court.

Agassi's Retirement
Before the tournament began, Andre Agassi announced he would be retiring after the U.S. Open in September. At age 36, he is the oldest player competing at Wimbledon. He has battled back problems earlier this season, but after yesterday's victory on the court, Agassi says he is feeling his best yet. It would be only fitting if he continues his strong play and makes the final rounds.

Agassi's biggest challenge may come tomorrow (Saturday) against the No. 2 seeded Rafael Nadal, who won the French Open a few weeks ago. It may prove to be one of the best matchups in the early rounds. At age 20, Nadal is the rising star in tennis, but he hasn't had as much experience on grass court. Still, it's an intriguing match up worth watching.

Fashion Police
Making a fashion statement at Wimbledon just got tougher. Before the tournament began, Wimbledon officials said they will be "cracking down on cleavage." That means no more low-cut outfits like the ones Maria Sharapova often wears. Guys will be disappointed. It's the only time they get to see two shows for the price of one.

No Serena or Lindsay
Two of the top names in ladies' tennis will be absent from competition. Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport are not competing due to injury. All eyes are on Venus Williams, who is expected to make it to the finals. Martina Hingis is still on the comeback trail and is playing well. She could surprise some people. Of course, you still have top contenders, such as Mauresmo, Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne. That should make for some great matches in the later rounds.

Wanna Bet?
Tennis officials are looking into reports of irregular betting activity surrounding a first-round match between N. 89-ranked Carlos Berlocq of Argentina who lost to Richard Bloomfield, ranked 170 places below him. British media reported that up to $546,000 of wagers were placed on Berlocq to lose the match. That's about 30 times more than had been placed on similar matches between British players and foreign opponents. Berlocq, who made his first appearance at Wimbledon, claimed he had injured his foot before the French Open, which affected his play. Bloomfield said he did not notice anything out of the ordinary during the match and felt he could win because he plays a serve-and-volley game while Berlocq is basically a baseliner. Still, officials were alarmed by the betting activity to investigate.

Pay Equity
The issue of pay equity is still a sore subject for many. Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam Tournament to not offer equal bonus money for the men's and ladies' champions. Officials take an old line stance on the issue. They argue that men play a best-of-five match while women play a best-of-three. In their minds, the current payout arrangement is fair. I say, it's time to get with the 21st century.

And to think, there is still a little more than a week to go at Wimbledon.

Much Ado About Nothing

So much is being made about Ozzie Guillen’s inappropriate remark against Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. Way too much in fact.

Mariotti is not a popular sports writer to begin with, but no one is saying much about his reputation. Believe me, he has said a lot worse in his columns than Ozzie has said to reporters. He has been fired from newspapers because he was not an easy person to get along with. He has been accused of picking fights, and knows which player or coach to go after. Ozzie Guillen happened to be the latest target. I wonder how many newspapers this latest sparring match has helped sell for the Sun-Times? Very simply, Mariotti is a jerk. Ozzie knows it and allowed the jerk to get under his skin.

Many Sox fans in this town agree that Guillen is simply being Ozzie. The White Sox organization, sports writers and fans knew what they were getting when Guillen arrived in town to manage the White Sox in November 2003. I am more concerned with Guillen’s ability to manage and help the Sox win, which he has done and done quite well. However, if his outspokenness begins to turn the Sox organization and the team against one another or begin to distract the ball club, then it will be the end of Guillen’s management days with the Sox. That would be a sad day in Chicago. Ozzie is good for baseball. He's refreshing and funny. But he does need to be more cautious and less reactive to the baiting he gets from reporters.

Look at it another way. Ozzie has been known for putting pressure on himself and keep the focus away from his team. Who is to say this is just another example of that? While all this controversy is taking place, the Sox are suddenly one of the hottest hitting clubs in the majors, having won nine games in a row until their loss last night. Guillen is simply allowing his team to focus on doing what they do best: play winning baseball.

A Tale of Three Bears

You remember the children’s story of the three bears? Now comes the sports version involving three of the Chicago Bears: RB Thomas Jones, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Nathan Vasher.

All three players have come off very good seasons and want contract extensions. But GM Jerry De Angelo has made it clear that the Bears will not renegotiate any contract for a player with less than two years professional experience. That has been the Bears policy.

I have no doubt that the “three bears” will be with the team at the start of training camp, which starts in a few weeks. They might grumble and grouse, but they’ll be there.

I’m no expert, but it seems to me that once you sign a contract, you are bound by that contract. If you really want to earn what you think you deserve or whatever the market value is, then perhaps the best tactic is to keep playing heads-up, quality football. Be consistent and show your worth on the field, not with your mouth. You gotta pay your dues. Most of the time, it takes more than one good season on the field to get what you deserve.

In this day and age, being a backup may not be such a bad deal. With so many player injuries and inadequate play from the starters, it’s possible to move back into a starting role much faster than you can say “Monday morning quarterback.” Until then, I say “shut up and play.” I’m a big believer in hard work, perseverance and patience. These qualities often do pay dividends in the end. Honor your commitments first. Show your team that you are willing to honor your commitment to them according to the terms of your contract, even if you are not happy with the deal. They, in turn, will honor their commitment to you – or at least, they should. If they don’t, then by all means, find a new home with another NFL team.

This Week’s Agenda: NBA, NHL and Interleague Play

This should be an interesting week. The NHL and NBA championships will be decided and baseball continues interleague action.

Carolina Hurricanes may have won the Stanley Cup tonight, but give the Edmonton Oilers a lot of credit. They played with heart. So many times during this series, they could have shut down and gone home, but they didn't. They get my vote for the Cinderella team of the year.

The Miami Heat took a 3-2 lead in the NBA finals last night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 101-100 in a heated (no pun intended) contest. After losing the first two games of the series, the Heat have come back, led by Dwayne Wade who is averaging 40+ points per game in the last three games. If Dallas cannot find a way to contain Wade in game 6 Tuesday night in Miami, this series will be over.

In local interleague action, the White Sox are looking good after going 6-1 on last week’s road trip, taking three out of four from the Texas Rangers and sweeping the Cincinnati Reds. The highlight of the weekend has to be pitcher Jon Garland’s first career home run in Sunday’s game against the Reds. This week, the South Siders face the St. Louis Cardinals (minus Albert Pujols) and the Houston Astros in a rematch of World Series foes.

The Cubs go on the road to face the struggling Cleveland Indians and the resurging Minnesota Twins. Maybe the Cubs will have better luck on the road.

Prior Falters in Season Debut

Speaking of losers, the Chicago Cubs continue their downward spiral. Any time now, they will likely hit the cellar of the National League Central division, overtaking perennial cellar dwellers, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

This weekend’s home series against the Detroit Tigers was a debacle. I know the Tigers are a very good team this year, but I would think hosting an American League team at Wrigley Field would have inspired the Cubs to play better baseball. Instead, the Tigers simply revealed how bad the Cubs are.

The series concluded with a poor outing by Mark Prior on Sunday, who made his season debut after recovering from a strained shoulder during spring training. While I did not expect Prior to look sharp after so much time off, I certainly didn’t think he would be this bad either.

Obviously, he is still not ready for major league action. One local broadcaster suggested Sunday that the Cubs started Prior to showcase him for a possible trade down the road. After yesterday’s poor showing, Prior would be lucky to fetch a winning lottery ticket.

But I understand where the Cubs are going with this. If there is a chance the Cubs could trade Kerry Wood or Mark Prior to pick up one or two good prospects, they should take that chance. Even in their fragile condition, Prior or Wood can help another team that is in the playoff hunt. Since the Cubs don’t seem to be going anywhere but down these days, they need to salvage something from this season. They might as well look ahead to next season, because the 2006 season ended long ago.

A Different Kind of Reality TV Show: The U.S. Open

I’m not a big fan of reality TV shows, but the events in Sunday’s U.S. Open golf tournament calls to mind two of them: "The Biggest Loser" and "Survivor."

What are the chances that we would have seen Tiger Woods not make the cut at the U.S. Open this weekend – the first time ever in his professional career – and witness the favorite Phil Mickelson self-destruct in the final holes to lose the championship? It is one of the most unlikely scenarios I have seen in sports since the Red Sox escaped elimination in the 2004 AL Championship series against the Yankees to go on to win the World Series. But I digress…

With Tiger Woods out of the picture, everyone -- including Mickelson himself -- thought the leftie had this championship in the bag. But then that’s why you play the game on the golf course, not in the newspapers or on TV talk shows.

Watching Mickelson self-destruct on national TV was painful. It happened so quickly. It shows that it’s much harder to win a championship than it is to lose one. Just when you think you're on cruise control, you hit a few speed bumps, make a few bad choices, and the silver trophy you thought would be yours is sitting in someone else’s hands.

To Mickelson’s credit, he blamed no one but himself. He was not alone either. Several other golfers on the leader board self-destructed too. It was either a very tough course, or everyone just had a bad day at the office.

Overlooked in all this was the effort of the young Australian, Geoff Ogilvy, who managed to keep pace with the leaders during the final round and overcame one or two mistakes himself to win the U.S. Open. It’s his third victory in a major tournament.

Where Phil Mickelson was the “biggest loser,” Geoff Ogilvy was the “survivor.”

The Ultimate Sports Fan: Dad

I was browsing Borders bookstore earlier this week and came across the memoirs of sports journalist Christine Brennan, "Best Seat in the House." In the book, Brennan shares stories about her father and how he influenced her love of sports and ultimately, her career.

While I have not read this book, it has reminded me of my own relationship with my father and how he influenced my love of sports. He took me to my first Blackhawks hockey game when I was 11 in the era of Tony Esposito, Stan Makita and Keith Magnuson. I would sit by the radio listening to the Stanley Cup Finals between the Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens. I have since lost interest in the sport, but I've found others to feel passionate about, namely baseball, football, basketball and figure skating.

I remember sitting with him on Sunday afternoons watching the Bears and other NFL games. Like many other families, we celebrated the Bears' Super Bowl victory, as well as all the Bulls championships in the 90s.

My father also loved baseball. He would watch the Cub games, but deep down he was a true blue Sox fan. I went to my first Sox game when I was five. I didn't stay awake long enough to see the end of the game, and my father had to carry me inside the house when we got home.

When the Sox won the World Series last October, I thought of my father, who died in 2000 and never saw the miracle on 35th street. But I know somewhere he was smiling and celebrating with the rest of us.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

Cubs' Mark Prior to Make First Start Sunday

Cub fans may be holding their breath, as Mark Prior makes his first start of the 2006 season this Sunday. Prior's last two starts in the minor leagues have been impressive, so the Cubs seem to think he's ready to make his season debut.

Cub fans may be hopeful that Prior will be the catalyst the team needs to get on the winning track. He certainly may give them a lift by his return to the starting rotation, but it may be short-lived. It will still take time for Prior to regain strength and return to his dominant pitching form from 2003, if at all.

Ultimately, the help the Cubs need must come in the form of offense. They need another power hitter, and they need smart hitters -- hitters who know how to string together base hits, make sacrifices and play as one team. It will take more than a healthy Mark Prior and Kerry Wood to turn the tide for the 2006 Chicago Cubs.

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Must-See TV: Stanley Cup Finals on NBC

NBC has been showing the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in primetime this week, which as far as I know, has never been done before, or at least not in a very long time. Makes sense to me. Most network programs are done for the year, so there is more air time to fill during the summer months. It does seem odd to watch hockey in mid-June though.

Hockey is like the unwanted child in a family of major team sports, with basketball, baseball and football receiving more airtime and attention. NBC’s move to air the Stanley Cup Finals during primetime may be just the thing the NHL needs to showcase the sport and attract new fans. It will be interesting to see what ratings the games receive.

City Considers Olympic Stadium Proposals

Only one major obstacle stands in the way of Mayor Daley’s dream of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Chicago: an Olympic Stadium.

After reviewing numerous stadium ideas, three have emerged for consideration. Each proposal has its merits.

1) Build a “collapsible” stadium between McCormick Place and Soldier Field. It would not have a lot of bells and whistles, which will keep costs down. When the Olympic Games are over, pieces of it can be sold, such as the seats and scoreboard. It appears to be the most feasible option and won’t upset lakefront preservationists.

I do wish they would come up with a better name than “collapsible.” The term conjures up images of houses we used to build as kids made of everything from toothpicks and Popsicle sticks to cardboard boxes and playing cards. One gust of wind, and I can just see that Olympic Stadium collapse, just as the name suggests.

2) Retrofit Soldier Field. The new Soldier Field, which just opened before the 2004 regular season, holds 61,500 seats. This plan calls for removing the video scoreboards at the ends of the field and putting in 20,000 temporary seats. The problem is, the field is a better fit for football than it is for track and field, and to make any adjustments to the field, the city probably would need consent from the Bears.

My question is this: Why didn’t the city rebuild the new Soldier Field as an Olympic-sized, 80,000-seat stadium to begin with? Then our city would already have a stadium in place, and we wouldn’t even have to have this discussion.

3) Tear down McCormick Place and build a new, permanent facility in its place. The mayor thinks McCormick Place East is an eyesore and wants to replace it anyway. But it is the most costly and politically volatile option.

The mayor and his aides have until March 31, 2007, to have a plan in place for an Olympic Stadium. That’s when the U.S. Olympic Committee will select a U.S. city and submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee. The 80,000 to 100,000-seat stadium would be used for track and field events and the opening and closing ceremonies.

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Former Hawk Wants to Return to Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks need help, but would they be willing to accept a former player back in the fold?

Jeremy Roenick has announced that he would like to return to the Blackhawks. At age 36, he may have a few good years left, and the Hawks can certainly use his experience to assist the younger players. The question is, do the Hawks want him back?

Roenick did not leave the team on the best of terms, and neither he nor the Blackhawks have performed well since he left in 1996.

It wouldn't be the first time that a former Chicago athlete left his original team on unpleasant terms only to rejoin the team some years later. For example, Greg Maddux left the Cubs in the early 90s, and returned a decade later and has been a strong, steady hand for many of the young pitchers on the staff.

In an informal vote on the Chicago Tribune's Web site, 87 percent of fans say they would like to see Roenick back with the Hawks. It's an intriguing thought, and one worth pursuing. What do the Hawks have to lose, except maybe a few more games.

Parade of Young Pitchers Continues

If there is silver lining in the Cubs’ and Sox pitching woes, it’s that both teams have a chance to see what some of their young arms can do.

For the Cubs, Sean Marshall has been solid, though not always consistent. Carlos Marmol looked impressive in his major league debut and victory on Sunday against the Reds. Some of the other young pitchers that the Cubs have brought up have not fared well, but at least they have gained some valuable big league experience. The Cubs know what talent they’ve got in the minor leagues, so if they need to make a trade mid-season, they’ve had a chance to see what they can do before deciding to trade them.

The Sox have similar issues with their bullpen. At this point, it is unknown whether Dustin Hermanson will return to the team. He's been on the DL since the beginning of the season. Recently acquired Jeff Nelson and Cliff Politte have both gone on the DL. Their absence makes room on the roster for young arms Sean Tracey and Agustin Montero. In limited action, both players have pitched well for the Sox. Earlier this year, Boone Logan pitched himself back into the minor leagues, while Brandon McCarthy has had problems with consistency and control. The Sox have a chance to see what these young pitchers can do for the team.

Either way you look at it, the Cubs and Sox have tremendous pitching depth in the minor leagues. And fans will one day see just how good they are.

Suspension Likely to End Pitcher’s Career

Former Arizona Diamondback pitcher Jason Grimsley has been suspended 50 games without pay for violating MLB’s drug policy. Diamondback management responded to the suspension saying “he got what he deserved.”

If you recall, federal investigators raided Grimsley’s home in Scottsdale, Ariz. Grimsley was released by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. The 50-game suspension would carried out only if he is picked up by another team – and that is a BIG if.

I can’t imagine any team would want to pick up a journeyman pitcher with average talent who has admitted to using drugs and may be the key man in the federal government’s investigation. No team wants to take on a “problem child.” If the 38-year-old pitcher did provide names to authorities as reports have indicated, Grimsley may be a marked man. The suspension may be a blessing in disguise. If he should ever return to baseball, players and coaches are not going to give him a very warm welcome.

Steeler QB Injured in Motorcycle Accident

What is it about athletes and motorcycles? In my book, motorcycles aren't nearly as sexy as ahtletes think they are.

Once again, a professional athlete decides he's invincible and rides a motorcyle without a helmet and without taking necessary safety measures. This time, Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident earlier today. While news reports say he suffered a broken jaw and nose, other reports indicate there may be a knee or leg injury as well. The 24-year-old is in serious but stable condition.

In the past, Roethlisberger has acknowledged that he does not wear a helmet when he's riding, that he is always careful, rides in groups and never on the highway. What a bunch of B.S. In today's accident, he was riding alone. Roethlisberger has more protection on the football field with his padding and offensive linemen around him than he did today.

The NFL's standard contract contains a clause prohibiting a player from participating in any activities that would bring "significant risk of personal injury." But many players ignore this clause. Is this arrogance, ignorance, or both? This clause is in the contract to protect both the team and the player, and to disregard it is a sign of disrespect.

There have been numerous motorcycle accidents involving athletes over the years. The most serious and most publicized accident involved Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams, who crashed into a light pole in 2003. He suffered a broken pelvis, torn knee ligaments and damaged nerves in his leg. The Bulls bought out his contract for $3 million. It is doubtful he will ever play basketball again, although he is still working on making a comeback. In a TV interview today, Williams says he regrets that he rode his bike at all.

America's Favorite Athlete Is a Tiger

Tiger Woods is America's favorite athlete, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll released last week. Woods takes over the top spot from perennial favorite Michael Jordan, who has been the nation's favorite sports star ever year since Harris has conducted this poll in 1993. Jordan dropped to number two. Both men and women named Tiger Woods as their favorite athlete.

Rounding out the Top 10:

1. Tiger Woods
2. Michael Jordan
3. Brett Favre, Green Bay Packer quarterback
4. Derek Jeter, NY Yankees
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr., race car driver
6. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat
7. Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
8. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
9. Jeff Gordon, race car driver
10. Barry Bonds

James, Gordon and Bonds appear on this list for the first time. That's a surprise. I would think that Bonds would be on this list several time over the last few years on the basis of his accomplishments. But I guess he is not as popular with the American public as we think.

America's Favorite Female Athletes:

1. Venus Williams
2. Serena Williams
3. Mia Hamm
4. Michelle Wie, golfer
5. Danica Patrick, race car driver
6. Michelle Kwan, figure skater
7. Annika Sorenstram, golfer
8. Maria Sharapova, tennis
9. Anna Kournakova, tennis
10. Sasha Cohen, figure skater

Patrick, Sharapova and Cohen appear on the list for the first time. These lists at least begin to reflect more modern athletes. In the 2005 list, Mary Lou Retton, Martina Navratilova and Chris Everett were listed and they have long since retired.

So who are my favorites? From these lists, I choose Tiger Woods and Danica Patrick. My own personal favorites: Paul Konerko of the White Sox (although I'd like to name the entire Sox team for this honor) and either Steffi Graf or Lindsey Davenport.

Chicago Rush Win AFL Championship

Congratulations to the Chicago Rush on winning the Arena Football League championship today. They defeated the Orlando Predators 69-60 to earn its first title since joining the AFL, and had to win four games on the road during its playoff run.

Chicago has quickly become a city of champions, or at least playoff-caliber teams. The Bulls have made the post-season in two consecutive years. The Bears made it to the first round of the playoffs in January, even though they were quickly eliminated. And of course, that team from the South Side won the World Series last October after an 86-year drought.

Sites about Women's Sports

I've been blogging now for a little more than two months. As much as I try to cover the big issues as well as the lesser known sports stories, I can't possibly cover it all. That's why I'm glad to see other blogs and Web sites dedicated to sports discussion by and for women. Here are a few that are worth checking out.

The Pink Seats -- Based in Canada, this site offers a light-hearted look at sports as well as gossip and entertainment news.

Women's Sports Net -- One of the best sites on the Internet, it presents all the latest news stories about women's sports, from soccer, softball, tennis, basketball, golf, track and field and figure skating. It also provides practical articles about women's health issues.

She's Got Game -- If you enjoy women's basketball, this site has everything related to the sport.

If you know about any other Web sites or blogs by and for women about sports, I'd love to hear about them.

MLB's Fight Against Prostate Cancer

Just as Major League Baseball teamed up with the Komen Foundation for a breast cancer awareness campaign on Mother's Day, the league is doing the same for prostate cancer on Father's Day.

On Sunday, June 18, the league will team up with Gillette and the Prostate Cancer Foundation to reach out to millions of fans to increase prostate awareness and raise funds for cancer research. During the league's Home Run Challenge, players and fans are invited to make a pledge on MLB.com for each home run that is hit during 60 selected games in the week leading up to Father's Day. The total number of homers in those games will be multipled by each pledge, and the total amount will be given to the Prostrate Cancer Foundation.

In addition, the players, coaches, umpires and trainers will wear blue wristbands and ribbon decals to show their support for the cause. Blue has become the symbolic color for prostate cancer awareness.

The Home Run Challenge is similar to the Strikeout Challenge that was held on Mother's Day to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for the Komen Foundation. Fans at MLB.com are still bidding on the pink baseball bats that were used during the campaign.

Trouble in Baseball Paradise Again

Just when I thought it was safe to enjoy our nation’s favorite pastime without the specter of Barry Bonds’ possible involvement with steroids hanging over my head, a new series of allegations about steroid use rears its ugly head.

On Tuesday, federal agents raided the Scottsdale home of Jason Grimsley, a journeyman pitcher who admitted in April to using steroids, amphetamines and human growth hormone. He also allegedly provided names to federal agents, a move that received a lot of criticism from several baseball players and coaches, including Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and pitcher Jeff Nelson (who is now on the DL).

Grimsley was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks the next day. In all likelihood, his baseball career is over.

Two things trouble me. First of all, just how prevalent is steroid use? It seems steroids aren’t just being used by the big name players. If borderline players such as Grimsley are using these performance enhancement drugs, how many other average-Joe players are using them? The steroid scandal appears to have many layers, and federal investigators and league officials have only peeled away the top few. How many more layers of this scandal will be peeled away before the real problem can be fully resolved?

Second, it seems to me that one way to address steroid use is to find the users and sellers, and remove them from the game — permanently. But to many players, coaches and fans, naming names is a copout, an act of cowardice. The attitude is you don’t hang your fellow players out to dry. To them, it is more important to protect the players at all cost than to protect the integrity of the game. I’m especially curious about Guillen’s comments. He and Nelson must both know players that may be part of this scandal. Why else would they be so critical of Grimsley’s actions? Who are they protecting?

While I understand the “let’s stay in this together” act, maybe it’s time to get over it. In light of these new allegations, we cannot lose sight of the big picture. While naming names is not the most ideal or pleasant scenario, it may be a necessary evil, like having surgery to remove a tumor. Without those names, investigators have no leads to follow up on. By remaining silent on the issue, players and coaches are only helping to cover up the problem. Such cover-ups may help the players who may be guilty, but it doesn’t help the game. As someone once said, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”

Let’s Go For a (Naked) Bike Ride

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Gymnast Scores a Perfect 10

Remember Nadia Comaneci? She was the Romanian gymnast who scored perfect 10s at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal. She defected to the U.S. in the late 1980s and later married U.S. Olympic gymnast Bart Conner. Together, they have been coaching gymnastics in Oklahoma City.

The 44-year-old Comaneci gave birth to the couple’s first child, Dylan Paul, on Saturday. Born several weeks premature, the boy weighs 4 lbs, 10 oz. "He's really small, but he's cute," says proud papa Conner.

Bulls Fans Have Their Say

Got some ideas about what the Chicago Bulls should do with their two NBA draft picks this year? They want to hear from you. Visit the team's website and click on the link to share your thoughts.

Championship Week

There’s a lot happening in the sports world this week, including four tournaments or championships that will either begin or wrap up.

NHL Finals – I used to be a big hockey fan when I was a kid, but as I got older and teams forgot how to play the game the way it was meant to be played (e.g., without the fisticuffs), the sport lost its luster for me. Besides, it’s hard to maintain any interest in the sport without a really good home team to cheer for.

This year’s NHL finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes might be worth watching, though. I’m a sucker for underdogs, and the Oilers as an eighth seed, are one of the biggest underdogs you’ll find. In March, they were fighting for their playoff lives and just barely made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. Very quietly, they’ve become one of the best sports stories of the year.

Originally, I picked Edmonton to win the series in seven games, riding their momentum to the Stanley Cup championship. But after Monday night's loss, in which the 'Canes came from three goals down to win, 5-4, and the Oilers lost their goalie to a knee injury in the third period, I have to alter my prediction. The 'Canes have the edge, although a very close one. This series will go seven games.

NBA Finals – When the Miami Heat played the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA playoffs, there were times when the Heat played like the slow, old team that they were. Dwayne Wade appeared to be the only guy who could match up well against the Bulls’ youth and quickness. I don’t think many fans or experts believed the Heat would make it to the Finals.

Lo and behold, the Heat now find themselves in the NBA finals against the Dallas Mavericks after defeating the Bulls, New Jersey Nets and the defending champion Detroit Pistons. The series begins Thursday night. My pick: Miami in six games

Arena Football – Another sport I don’t follow closely is arena football, simply because too many other sports compete for my time and attention. Every now and then, I do keep an eye on the local team. Next Sunday, the Chicago Rush will play in its first playoff final since the league began. Their opponent is the Orlando Predators (don't you just love some of these team names?) The Rush is another team that needed a strong push at the end of the regular season to make the playoffs. The team has been one game away from the final the last two years. This may be the year they win it all.

French Open Tennis -- I was really hoping to see Venus Williams and Martina Hingis meet in the finals at the French Open this year, but as they were both eliminted in today's rounds, that obviously won't happen. Still, there should be plenty of good tennis to watch.

Have a good week.

Pujols Placed on 15-day DL

If the Chicago Cubs were hoping for a break, they may just have gotten it, courtesy of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was placed on the 15-day disabled list today after straining an oblique muscle in Saturday's game against the Cubs. Pujols will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury and how long he will likely be out. At this point, he could miss as much as six weeks.

The Cardinals also have starting pitcher Chris Carpenter on the DL, and center fielder Jim Edmonds also has been recovering from an injury. Suddenly, the Cardinals don't seem to be the dominant team without Pujols in the lineup and other key injuries. This might prove to be a blessing for the Cubs and the rest of the National League Central. You might see one or two teams make a push to the top of their division.

Pujols is leading the majors in home runs (25) and RBIs (65). At the pace he was playing, he could have finished the season with 75 home runs and close to 200 RBIs.

Bad News, Good News for White Sox

The Bad News: The White Sox were pounded by the Texas Rangers today, losing 10-2. It's their fifth loss in six games. Worse, Sox pitching and defense -- the hallmarsks of their championship season in 2005 -- have looked sloppy and inconsistent during this stretch.

The Good News: The division leading Detroit Tigers have lost six of their last eight games, so the Sox have not lost ground in the standings. They remain two and a half games behind the Tigers.

The Bad News: If the Sox had been winning their games while the Tigers were losing theirs, the Sox might be back in first place by now.

It will be interesting to watch this week's three-game set between these two teams. The series begins Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

Can Danica Patrick Earn Any Respect?

Danica Patrick isn't getting a lot of respect, despite finishing a solid eighth place in last weekend's Indy 500, so writes Chicago Tribune columnist Mike Downey. He attributes it in part to sexism, and he may be right. Patrick may be a determined and talented racer, but unfortunately, racing fans, fellow drivers and the public at large may not be able to see past her striking looks to see what she has accomplished.

Despite the criticism, each time Patrick heads out onto the track, she is setting an example for young women who may aspire to race or to participate in other male-dominated sports. Each time Patrick finishes a race, regardless if she finishes first, tenth or last, she is opening a door to young girls to try something different, to BE someone different. And in the larger scheme of things, that will have more long-standing impact on our society and on sports.

Silver Lining in Sox Shutout Loss

If there’s anything positive to take away from the White Sox shutout loss to the Tribe earlier this week, it's this: the first shut out occurred a full two months into the 2006 season.

Credit the outstanding offense that Kenny Williams has put together on the South Side, which makes it difficult for opponents to shut out the Sox very often.

Compare that to the Cubs who have been shut out six times already this season, most of that with Derrek Lee out of the lineup. That gives you an idea how weak the Cubs’ offense has been.

Revenge of the Former Cubs

Wouldn’t you know that once they left Chicago, former Cubs Corey Patterson and Nomar Garciaparra would find new life with other teams?

After missing the first few weeks of the season with an injury, Garciaparra has returned to being the player we once knew when he was with Boston. Now he's playing first base for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s hitting .369 with six home runs, 18 doubles and 38 RBI. With his stats, he could make the National League All-Star team. Best part of all, for Dodger fans at least, Nomar is healthy.

Corey Patterson has also found new life with the Baltimore Orioles. Patterson has emerged as the all-around player we expected to see here in Chicago. As of today, Patterson is hitting .281 with seven home runs, six doubles and 21 RBI. His 22 stolen bases leads the American League. Why couldn’t he have played this way in Chicago?

I guess sometimes a change of scenery is the best thing for a player.

All-Star Voters Still Snubbing Sox

Even after winning the World Series last October, the Chicago White Sox are still not getting votes from fans for the All-Star game. In the initial update on All-Star voting released by the league today, none of the Sox players are leading the voting for their respective positions. Leading the voting as usual are the Yankees and the Red Sox. Three White Sox players are third in voting – Paul Konerko, Joe Crede and Tadahito Iguchi.

Ozzie Guillen, who will manage the American League team in the All-Star game on July 11th, has promised to load up on Sox players if they don’t get voted in by players and fans.

It’s time for Chicago fans to do what we do best in this town – vote early and often.

The Rocket Returns to Houston

How many of us really expected Roger Clemens to retire? I don’t think he was serious about joining any of the other three teams bidding for his services — the Yankees, Red Sox and Texas Rangers. He was holding out for the best deal — from the Houston Astros.

Houston has the best set up for Clemens -- sleep in his own bed at night, stay home for certain road trips, pitch against weak-hitting national league teams, play for a team coming off its first World Series appearance, and entertain hopes to return to the fall classic. Plus, he gets a chance to play in a few minor league games with his son and earn a pretty nice salary -- $22 million for only a few months of work. One local Chicago broadcaster called Clemens “the highest paid temp in the major leagues.”

If Astros’ coaches and management are smart, they’ll get Clemens ready in time to pitch against the White Sox when the two teams face each other in a World Series rematch June 23-25 at the Cell.