Cubs Commit Error on Banks' Tribute

It seems the Chicago Cubs couldn’t even get a lovely tribute to Ernie Banks right. When the statue of Banks was unveiled on Monday, one small detail was missing. At the base of the statue where Banks’ signature expression was engraved, there was a typo.

What should have read “Let’s Play Two” actually read “Lets Play Two.” The apostrophe was missing from the word “let’s.”

How embarrassing.

As a writer myself, I understand that mistakes like this often can and do happen. I’ve made plenty of them in my career. But if there’s anything I have learned, it’s to have someone proof your work (although that’s not always possible when blogging).

Whose job is it to proof this stuff for the Cubs? How many people looked at it before signing off? How many of them passed fifth grade English?

What is even more troubling is that half the people who paused to admire the statue did not notice that there was a mistake.

To the Cubs’ credit, the error was corrected today. The engraver inserted the apostrophe where it’s supposed to be. But really, what an awkward way to start the season.

Blackhawks Return to Free TV

This is no April Fool’s joke. Blackhawks' games will appear on WGN-TV beginning next season.

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that all 82 regular-season games will air on cable and free TV for the next three seasons. That includes 20 games on WGN-TV, which broadcast many of the Hawks’ games in the late 60s and early 70s. The majority of the remaining games will be broadcast on the Hawk’s cable partner, Comcast SportsNet.

I remember when I was a kid, my Dad and I would spend Saturday evening watching the games together on TV. And the few games I went to at the old Stadium were filled to capacity. Those were the good ole' days.

Being on free TV again is another brilliant move by Hawks' President Rocky Wirtz and Marketing genius John McDonough, one that will bring numerous dividends – more exposure for the team, more excitement for fans, and in the long run, a more improved, perennial-winning team.

Weir Has a Lot to Prove at Worlds

As a prelude to the World Figure Skating Championships starting today in Gottenberg, Sweden, the New York Times ran an interesting feature about the ongoing rivalry between the U.S.’s leading contenders, Johnnie Weir and Evan Lysacek. Sadly, we won’t be seeing the rivalry in action in Sweden because Lysacek withdrew from Worlds last week due to an arm injury. Jeremy Abbott, who finished fourth at Nationals, took his place on the team.

Lysacek’s absence puts the American men in a tough spot. The American men must finish well at Worlds to keep three spots on the team for next year. The top two American finishes at Worlds must combine to equal 13 or less or the team will lose one spot. Weir and Lysacek barely hung on last year when they finished eighth and fifth respectively.

What makes things tricky is that Weir is the only skater on the men’s team with any international experience at the senior level, and he has never finished on the podium. The other two men, Abbott and U.S. bronze medalist, Stephen Carriere, are making their first trip to the senior Worlds.

With two rookies in the fold, Weir needs to step up his game and perform better than he ever has. He needs to prove that he is capable of skating two clean and complete programs at the international level, which he has never done. With Lysacek out of the competition, Weir has a chance to perform on the international stage without the distraction of their heated rivalry. And with so much at stake for the men’s team, Weir can prove that he can be a team player.

A third or fourth place finish will probably work wonders for both Weir’s confidence and the future of the U.S. team. It will also take the pressure off Carriere and Abbott, who would need to finish ninth or tenth at the worst to keep three representatives on the team. Weir is certainly capable of it. He’s got the talent, the artistry and the athleticism to compete against some of the top names in the world. The question is – does he want to?

The men’s competition begins Friday.

Finalists Selected for U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

Figure skater Brian Boitano, marathon runner Joan Benoit, swimmer Amy Van Dyken and speed skater Sheila Young Ochowicz are among the finalists nominated for the Class of 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. The U.S. Olympic Committee is giving sports fans a chance to vote for six individuals, one Olympic team and one Paralympic athlete to be part of the Class of 2008. Among the team candidates are the 1992 “Dream Team” in men’s basketball, the 1996 women’s gymnastics team and the 1998 women’s hockey team.

You can vote online at the USOC Website. Voting ends March 28 and the inductees will be announced on April 14. Inductees will be honored in a ceremony on June 19 in Chicago and be featured in a nationally-televised special highlighting their performances.

Sports Betting and Networking Sites Raise New Legal Concerns

If you’re a sports fan who likes to participate in office pools or visit betting sites on the Web, listen up. Sports betting and social networking sites don’t mix.

The Chicago Tribune reports that some people are hosting online betting pools and collecting fees on sites like Facebook and may not realize that it’s against the law. In essence they may be operating an illegal online gambling operation, and if caught and found guilty, they could face criminal charges and jail time.

With the NCAA tournaments starting next week, it pays to be cautious. Follow the advice your mother gave you: don’t give money to strangers. Instead, stick to your office pool.

Crystal’s Day in the Sun

I think every sports fan dreams of the day that they can don the uniform of his or her favorite team and be part of the team for a day.

That dream came true for comedian/actor Billy Crystal when he signed a one-day, minor-league deal with the Yankees. To commemorate his 60th birthday, Crystal wore the number 60 on his jersey and led off Thursday's spring training contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After going to a 3-1 pitch count, Crystal struck out. But as he told the New York Times, “it was a great feeling.”

While it’s amusing to watch celebrities like Crystal mingle with the big boys on the baseball field, how many of us wouldn’t mind trading places with them? Why should celebrities have all the fun?

Why not let the average sports fan spend a day with their favorite sports team, wear the team uniform, and have a swing or two in the batter’s box? Naturally, such an honor does not come for free. A generous donation to the team’s favorite charity would work quite nicely. I can’t think of a better way to spend a birthday, can you?

Sky Coach Resigns Amid Harassment Allegations

The head coaching job with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky is beginning to resemble the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position at Hogwarts, the famed magic school in the Harry Potter series. No DADA teacher ever stayed at Hogwarts for more than one year.

The Sky will enter its third season with its third head coach and general manager after Bo Overton suddenly resigned Thursday for reasons that team president Margaret Stender declined to talk about, according to the Chicago Tribune.

However, a series of allegations of sexual harassment by Overton against some of the Sky players appeared on the team’s Internet message board earlier this week. That prompted Stender to post her own message asking for anyone with knowledge of the situation to contact her directly, and she provided her e-mail address and office phone number. Stender said the online allegations did not directly lead to Overton’s resignation, but she is taking them seriously.

The Sky went 14-20 in 2007 under Overton, a big improvement over its inaugural season in 2006 when the team went 5-29 under coach-GM Dave Cowens, who resigned and returned to the NBA at the end of that first year. Steve Key, an assistant with the Sky for the past two seasons, will take over as head coach and general manager for the 2008 season.

For a new franchise heading into its third season, stability in the head coaching job will be crucial to its future success, especially as the Sky will have the second overall pick in the 2008 draft and may be a candidate in the Candace Parker sweepstakes. That stability can be the difference between a perennial loser and a team destined for greater things.

Bears Offensive Forecast for 2008: Foggy and Uncertain

I certainly hope the Bears know what they are doing. Based on the moves they’ve made so far this off season, I really wonder what direction this team is heading.

The receiving core took a big hit recently. After releasing veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who was picked up by his former team Carolina Panthers, Bernard Berrian became a free agent and signed with the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings (Ouch – that hurts!).

While signing Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd helps, their signings may be knee-jerk reactions to the departures of Muhammad and Berrian rather than any clear-headed strategic planning on the Bears’ part. They had to act, and act fast.

Now, Huddle Up is reporting that the Bears could also lose Rashied Davis, a restricted free agent who is getting some serious looks from Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City. The Bears offered Davis $927,000, but they have until April 18 to match any offer from another team. If Davis does sign elsewhere, the Bears will not be compensated in return because Davis came to the team in 2005 from the Arena Football League.

The Bears haven’t done much to improve their quarterback situation either, re-signing Rex Grossman for one more season and extending Kyle Orton’s contract for another year through 2009. The two QBs will fight it out during the pre-season to see who will be the regular season starter. The Bears also traded Brian Griese to Tampa Bay for a fourth round pick in the 2009 draft. The team will likely draft a quarterback next month, a prospect that will take several years to develop.

The look and feel of this offense at this point in the year doesn’t make me feel comfortable about the prospects for the 2008 season. I still think Grossman will start next season (he has more talent and a stronger arm) but his shaky confidence and frequent injuries have cut produced inconsistent results on the field. The short-term deal for Grossman underlines that fact that there wasn’t much talent available in the free agent or trade market that was any better than what the Bears currently have. It does buy the Bears time in reassessing the talent that might become available on the market during the 2008 season. My overall outlook for the Bears next season is foggy and uncertain. There are still too many questions and not enough answers.

And the Bears haven’t even begun to address the offensive line and running back positions.

The Battle for Tennis History: Pete Sampras vs. Roger Federer

So who is best men’s tennis player in modern times: Pete Sampras or Roger Federer? We may get a glimpse of the answer tonight as Sampras and current world number one Federer will square off in a historic and dream tennis exhibition match at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Sampras, who has come out of retirement to play a series of exhibition matches, won 14 Grand Slam titles during his career while Federer currently has 12 and is expected to surpass Sampras’s win total before his career is done. The only time the two met on the tour was in a five-game set in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2001, which Federer won. At that time, Sampras was nearing the end of his stellar career, and Federer was just beginning his climb to the top. The two champions also faced each other in three previous exhibition matches in November: Federer won two and Sampras won the third.

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of shape Federer is in. He has struggled in the last few matches and failed to make it to the final at the Australian Open. He recently admitted that he was diagnosed with mononucleosis in February.

The exhibition is a fundraising event that benefits Dream Vaccines Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that tests and delivers AIDS and malaria vaccines to poor and underserved populations. The match will be broadcast nationally on the Tennis Channel at 8:30 Eastern time.

Favre Finally Hangs Up His Cleats

We all knew this day would come sooner or later.

Brett Favre, the Green Bay Packers future Hall-of-Fame QB and the Bears’ perennial thorn in their side, has officially announced his retirement from football today. At age 38, Favre has decided he’s had enough of the game and is moving on, leaving the sport he loves on his own terms. Here’s the official statement from Packers’ General Manager Ted Thompson about Favre’s retirement.

After a couple of sub par years in 2005 and 2006, he made quite a comeback in 2007, leading his team to a division title in the NFC North and into the NFC title game, which they lost to the New York Giants. Being the competitor that he is, you’d figure Favre would want to leave the game on a high note – and he did.

I won’t go into all the details of how Favre has contributed to this sport. His records speak for themselves, but you can see for yourself on the Packers tribute page.

I think I will always remember Favre as a tough competitor who never gave up. His drive, grit and determination on the field made him special to watch. His cannon arm wasn’t so bad either.

Packers’ fans and the league will certainly miss Favre. Bears fans may not want to admit it, but they will miss him too.

Victoria’s Secret, Paris Designers Scale Back

Though this has nothing to do with sports, two news stories on Monday highlight just how much the U. S. economy has hurt the fashion industry.

First, Victoria’s Secret has finally realized that perhaps its clothing lines are a little too revealing, particularly for women over age 40. VS’s CEO Sharen Jester Turney says the retailer is considering an image makeover after sales dropped 8 percent over the holiday season. VS blamed the weak sales to the economic downturn and offerings that were targeted to a younger clientele. Now it wants to win customers back by producing more sophisticated product offerings that will appeal to older women. Turney says, “We use the word ‘sexy’ a lot and really have forgotten he ultra-feminine.” As one 40-plus former employee put it, “In our 40s and up, we are sexy – just not the same sexy a college gal is.”

Paris designers are also getting more practical amidst fears of a recession. Some designers are doing away with more luxurious designs and opting for more understated elegance, according to the Associated Press. U.S. fashion retailers also have cut back on their spending and are looking for designs that have a shelf life of more than one season.

Chicago Women’s Soccer Team Needs a Name

The new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league will be launched in the spring of 2009, and Chicago will be one of seven cities with a franchise. The only thing is – the team is looking for a name.

On his soccer blog Red Card, Chicago Tribune columnist Luis Arroyave provided six of 10 names that are currently being considered. Those six names are the Chicago Blues, the Chicago Towers, the Chicago Riot, the Chicago Massacre, the Chicago Union and the Chicago Wind.

Beginning next week, the team is having a “name the team” sweepstakes. Fans are invited to vote for their favorite name at the team’s Web site. Here's a link to the online form to vote. Voting ends March 16th.

Looking at the names that are listed already, I would say the best choice is the Chicago Wind. The other names have negative connotations that aren't suitable for a women's sports team. And besides, the Chicago Wind goes nicely with Chicago’s WNBA team, the Chicago Sky. (The wind and the sky -- what a lovely thought).

Clemens' Ship Is Sinking

Loose lips sink ships.

Some years ago, a former colleague would offer those words of advice to his department staff whenever the rumor mill began to work overtime.

Someone should have given that same advice to Roger Clemens. The seven-time Cy Young winner is now being investigated by the FBI for allegedly lying about using steroids.

Clemens can’t really blame anyone but himself for getting into this mess. It seems the more he opens his mouth to defend himself, the worse he makes it for his case and the less people believe him.

If he is innocent as he claims, wouldn’t it have been better if he had simply issued a written statement to the press or on his Web site, then say no more? Instead he had to go on 60 Minutes to convince viewers that he never used steroids, then testified at a House committee hearing earlier this month claiming that his former personal trainer Brian McNamee is lying, not him.

Have we learned nothing from Barry Bonds, who was found guilty of lying to federal investigators about his steroid use just last November? It’s the same story, only the characters have changed. As Bonds learned, and as Clemens is about to learn, you never, ever, ever lie to the Feds.

It’s not the steroid usage that got Clemens into trouble, it’s lying about it. And that can only mean one thing: Clemens’ ship is sinking.

Grossman-Berrian Connection Must Stay in Tact

The Bears re-signed QB Rex Grossman to a one-year deal worth $3 million plus incentives on Saturday, which is good news or bad news depending on whether you’re a Grossman supporter or not. The good news is the Bears have not given up completely on Grossman. But a short-term deal only says the much-maligned QB must play with greater consistency if he wants to stay beyond next season. The bad news is that fans have to put up with this story line for yet another year.

But even though Grossman is signed, it means nothing if the Bears don’t re-sign wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who is also a free agent. Together, Grossman and Berrian make up one of the most electric pass play combinations in the NFL. The team needs to have both in the fold if they are going to see any kind of success in the passing game next year.

Change Is in the Air For U.S. Figure Skating Championships

The Chicago Tribune learned that the U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be spread out over nine days and two weekends in 2010 to provide for live coverage of the sport on NBC leading into the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Under the new format, which will only be in effect for 2010 and other Olympic years that follow, the senior men’s and pairs competition would take place during the first weekend and the ladies and ice dance would be the second weekend. The juniors and novice competitions will take place the week in between. In non-Olympic years, the schedule would revert back to its current setup with all four free skate programs taking place on the same weekend.

The move will allow NBC to telecast the short and free skate programs of each of the four disciplines to give figure skating a bigger national TV audience and generate interest in the Winter Olympics. While I can understand U.S. Figure Skating and NBC wanting to capitalize on its recent successful coverage of the national championships in St. Paul, Minn., which increased 65 percent over last year’s coverage on ABC/ESPN, I think this plan is risky and could harm attendance. I know of few people who would be willing to attend an event over two consecutive weekends. For the diehards, it means staying an extra couple of days. For the not-so-diehard, it means choosing one weekend over the other or staying home altogether. With the sport already struggling to attract fans, it can’t afford to lose more of their in-person audience.

In related news, NBC will provide coverage of the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles next year. I would think that this development closes the door on any possible agreement between ABC/ESPN beyond this year when the current contract expires. Furthermore, if NBC’s ratings for these figure skating events continue to rise, look for a longer-term deal with the network after the Vancouver Olympic Games.

4,000 Refs “Calling for a Cure”

Nearly 4,000 basketball referees who work women’s college and high school games are doing their part to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. During a week-long “Calling for a Cure” program Feb. 8 – 17, referees for the NCAA, NJCAA, NAIA and high schools will wear pink whistles during the games in conjunction with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) “Think Pink” initiative that was launched in 2007. Many of the referees will also donate portions of their game checks to benefit the Kay Vow WBCA Cancer fund, which was established in partnership with the V Foundation, a not-for-profit group founded by ESPN and Jim Valvano, an ESPN broadcaster and former basketball coach for North Carolina State who later lost his battle with cancer. Fans can donate to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund online at JimmyV.org.

U.S. Figure Skating Championships -- Rewind

Miscellaneous thoughts and musings from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Paul, Minn., which concluded last weekend.

I was as stunned and suprised as everyone else when pairs skater John Baldwin proposed to partner Rene Inoue after their free skate program. A touching moment to be sure, but if that happened to me, I'd smack him. Wouldn't it be better if he proposed in private?

The overall quality of the skating in all four disciplines was much better than I expected, and I think much of that has to do with the young skaters competing at the senior level for the first time.

As I watched Caroline Zhang perform to “Ava Maria” I was spellbound and nearly moved to tears. I said to myself, “We may be watching the second coming of Michelle Kwan.”

The future of women’s figure skating looks very bright. Not only did Zhang sparkle in her free skate, but 2008 national champion, Mirai Nagasu, silver medalist Rachel Flatt and bronze medalist Ashley Wagner also impressed me. Three of these four ladies participated in their first nationals at the senior level; this was the second year for Flatt. And they all skated with a poise and maturity that was far beyond their years. It is going to be wonderful to watch them grow and compete at the national and international level.

How young is too young? Because of the ISU’s age requirement, the only medal finisher to go to Worlds this year will be Wagner, along with Meissner and Bebe Liang, who finished fifth. In order to keep three places on the ladies team, our top two American women must finish with placements equaling 13. For example, if two women finish fifth and eighth, we’ll keep our three spots on the team. If they finish worse than that, then the U.S. will only be able to send two ladies to the 2009 World team.

Is Kimmie Meissner’s career finished? The 2007 national champion fell three times during her free skate to finish seventh overall. Clearly, she lacks confidence in her skating. She’s got the talent, but does she have the desire to keep competing, especially with the likes of Mirai Nagasu and Caroline Zhang entering the foray? If Meissner wants to reach the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, she’ll need to make some changes and work on her mental approach, which may mean working with a sports psychologist or changing coaches. (Note: Yesterday, Meissner announced that she has left long-time coach Pam Gregory and will be working with Richard Callaghan for the next six weeks leading up to the World Championships in Sweden.)

I was encouraged by the TV ratings for NBC’s telecast of the championships. The ladies event which was broadcast live Saturday night had a rating of 3.8, a 65 percent increase over last year’s telecast on ESPN. The men’s free skate on tape delay on Sunday night drew a 3.5 rating compared to 0.59 last year, when it got buried in late night coverage on ESPN. Overall, the telecasts of the championships reached 12.5 million people compared to 4.7 million last year. NBC and U.S. Figure Skating need to continue to telecast these competitions in primetime to rebuild their audience. As the young faces of skating become more familiar, more people will likely tune in next year.

Evan Lysacek may be focusing much of his time and energy on the quad jump in competition, but his straight line step sequences are impressing audiences and judges alike. Both sequences were given a grade level 4 for difficulty, the highest possible mark, plus a grade of execution of more than two. You may not like his style, but it’s getting a lot of points.

So was Johnnie Weir robbed of a gold medal and a national title? Most fans seem to think so, and I certainly did at first when the men’s competition concluded. But in a fluke of the judging system, both skaters had the identical score 244.77, but Lysacek was awarded the national title for winning the free skate, the tie breaker. Looking at the scores for both skaters (available on U.S. Figure Skating’s Web site), two things stand out: Lysacek’s straight line sequence was a full two points higher than Weir’s, and a base value of 1.80 was given to Weir’s upright spin. According to the Pioneer Press, a change of edge in mid spin was not visible to the judges, who gave the spin a base value of 1.80. With the change of edge, the base value would have been 3.00.

Watching Sports Can Be Harmful to Your Heart

Doctors have long suspected a link between watching sports and heart problems. Now a new study by German researchers published in the New England Journal of Medicine may provide proof, reports Reuters. The study suggests that stressful emotions during a closely contested match can bring on chest pains or cardiac arrest in spectators.

After studying the effects of soccer matches on fans during the 2006 World Cup, researchers concluded that, for German men, the risk of having a heart attack or some other heart problem was three times higher on days when their team played. It was 82 percent higher for German women.

The Chicago Tribune shared a particularly relevant case. A patient of Dr. Parag Patel, head of the cardiac intensive care unit at Advocate Luther General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., was brought in to the hospital after suffering a heart attack in 2003 immediately after attending Game 6 of the Cub’s playoff series against the Florida Marlins, which the Cubs lost after blowing a three-run lead late in the game. The patient recovered from his attack, but Dr. Patel forbade him to watch Game 7 while recuperating in the hospital.

The study’s findings have implications for football fans preparing to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday. Experts say that fans with a known heart condition should take extra care to relax during the game and not overindulge in things like alcohol and fatty foods, which can quickly increase the risk of a heart attack.

Or if all else fails, just repeat this mantra: “It’s only a game. It’s only a game. It’s only a game…..”

Umpires Irate Over MLB Background Checks

Major League Baseball is denying stories that it is conducting background checks on its umpires that involve sending investigators to hometowns and interviewing neighbors. Umpires are irate that their neighbors are being asked inappropriate questions such as whether the umpires belong to the Ku Klux Klan.

“The questions that we found out are being asked are about beating wives, marijuana use and extravagant parties,” said John Hirshbeck, president of the World Umpires Association. “And then finally with this whole thing about the Ku Klux Klan. You get someone from security, shows his credentials and starts asking these kind of questions, and right away, what’s the neighbor going to think other than the umpire is in trouble, he’s done something wrong and he’s going to lose his job.”

I can understand the need to do background checks as part of the hiring process. But if these allegations by WUA are true, then MLB is way out of line. Confirm work history and talk to references, if you must, but leave out the interrogation tactics.

ChiSox to Santana: Good Riddance!

The White Sox got one piece of good news this week. They don’t have to face Johann Santana anymore. The Cy Young award winner, who dominated the Sox during his career with the Twins, was traded to the New York Mets for three pitchers and an outfielder. With Santana pitching in the National League, he'll be the Cubs’ problem from now on.

Aussie Open: Djokovic’s Breakthrough, Federer’s Breakdown

While in St. Paul this weekend, I missed seeing the men’s and ladies’ finals of the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic’s victory is a breakthrough for the 20-year old Serbian player who is ranked third in the world. He’s been nipping at the heels of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the world rankings, and he finally had his breakthrough by winning his first Grand Slam tournament. Normally a popular player on the court, Djokivic had the rare distinction of defeating Federer in the semis to the stunned amazement of the crowd.

As for the world’s number one player, Federer will bounce back from his defeat, but he wasn’t his typical dominant self during the competition. It may be time for the Swiss champion to hire a new coach. He’s been without one since last summer. I don’t care how talented or hard-working he is, Federer still needs coaching as much as any other athlete if he wants to continue his success on the tennis court.

NHL’s Winter Classic Lives Up to Its Name

A fan’s sign at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo said it all. “Look Mom, No Roof.”

In a throwback to the old days, the NHL’s Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres was held outdoors in a rink built inside the stadium where the Buffalo Bills play. Hampered by the weather conditions, the game wasn’t exactly hockey at its greatest. The Penguins prevailed, defeating the Sabres 2-1 in a shootout on a goal by Sidney Crosby. But Crosby was not the only star of the show.

Amazingly, more than 71,000 hearty souls filled the seats to watch the game, a NHL record. The game lacked the speed and quickness most fans are used to seeing due to the sleet, snow and swirling winds. It was a nostalgic reminder of how hockey used to be played half a century ago.

The NHL took a big gamble by showing the game on New Year’s Day, when college bowl games dominate the TV landscape. I doubt that NBC, which broadcast the Winter Classic, will get high ratings. Regardless how it does in the ratings, those who tuned in saw a memorable game, one that is likely to prompt the NHL to repeat the Winter Classic in future years.