Arena Football Returns in 2010

Fans of arena football can rejoice: the sport is returning next spring after a one-year absence. The Chicago Rush will also return and will play all their games at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.

The team will operate under new ownership, Chicago Gridiron, LLC, a group of Chicago-based investors. Mike Hohensee will also return as the head coach, and Ken Valdiserri, who previously worked in the front office for the Chicago Bears and the Chicago White Sox, will act as team president.

The league begins play in April 2010, but no schedule has been announced yet. For details and ticket information, visit the team’s new Web site, www.arenarush.com.

Bears-Hawks Ads Blacked Out by NFL

The National Football League has pulled the plug on an innovative ad campaign (which I wrote about in early October) that was being developed featuring members of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bears, according to Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune. The ads were shot in October and were in production when word came down from the league that the ads are a No-Go.

Apparently, the NFL prohibits the use of team marks and logos to promote other sports. That’s too bad. I was really looking forward to seeing the ads featuring Jay Cutler and Jonathon Toews trading passing tips.

The cancelled campaign hurts the Bears more than it does the Hawks, who are the best game in town at the moment. After a subpar performance on the field this season, the Bears could use a little bit of the Hawks’ magic.

Urlacher Speaks Out, But No One Wants to Hear the Truth

Bears’ linebacker Brian Urlacher has been getting a great deal of flak since speaking out about QB Jay Cutler and the team’s poor play this season. Everyone’s getting upset that Urlacher, who has been out since the season opener with an injury, is picking on Cutler. But anyone who reads his comments more closely will realize that Urlacher wasn’t taking pot shots at Cutler; he was criticizing the Bears organization, coaches and staff.

Urlacher was right about several things. Kyle Orton is not a flashy player, but he still has the ability to win games. He is also correct that the team’s cutlure has changed with the addition of Cutler. In the past, you could always count on the Bears’ running game and defense to win games. That’s how they won Super Bowl XX in 1986. But not anymore. With Cutler at the helm, the running game has all but disappeared, and the Bears' offense is predicated on throwing the ball three-fourths of the time.

The problem is the Bears didn’t bother to provide Cutler with the tools to succeed with this team: good coaching, an effective game plan, a dependable offensive line and receivers. They simply inserted him into the huddle and told him to run the team. When the game plan is predicated on passing three-fourths of the time without the talent to throw to and an offensive line to protect him, you can expect mistakes, especially as opposing defenses know what to expect. And then we all wonder why Cutler has thrown a league-leading 19 interceptions so far this season.

I don’t think this is Cutler’s fault entirely, although certainly he has to take some responsibility. The problem is the system does not work. It hasn’t worked for a long time, not with Orton, not with Rex Grossman, not with Jim Miller, Erik Kramer, Jim Harbaugh or any other quarterback the Bears have put out on the field over the last few decades. And I think the Bears’ organization knows this on some level, but may not know how to fix it.

To contend next season, the Bears will need to clean house, beginning with head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner. Both have had their opportunities to turn this team around, but the fact is, their coaching system does not work. Changing their quarterback coach Pep Hamilton (yes, the Bears do have a QB coach, contrary to some reports) wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Sadly, with so many changes the Bears need to make and with the quality of talent in the division with the Packers and Vikings, it’s going to take a while before the Bears contend for another division title.

Five Things About Sports to Be Grateful For

It's that time of year again when we pause from our daily activities and give thanks for our many blessings. Even amidst our difficulties, we can always find something to be grateful for.

While it's been a trying year (to say the least) in the Chicago sports world this past year, here are a few things I'm grateful for (in no particular order):

* The Chicago Blackhawks -- The resurgence of the Hawks is one of the most incredible comeback stories in recent times. Last night, they dominated the San Jose Sharks en route to a 7-2 victory, they currently lead the league in penalty killing, and they've won eight games in a row. Winning the Stanley Cup would be the cream on my pumpkin pie.

* The Chicago youth movement -- Derrek Rose of the Bulls, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane of the Hawks, Gordon Beckham of the White Sox, and Randy Wells of the Cubs lead the youth movement in Chicago sports. Even while our local teams struggle (except the above mentioned Hawks), these young, talented athletes are fun to watch and give us hope for a brighter future.

* Two Chicago professional baseball teams -- Imagine living in a city that did not have a baseball team, or any professional sports team for that matter. We get so caught up in the on-field play and off season personnel moves, that we forget to appreciate the fact that we HAVE not just one, but two ball clubs to follow throughout the year. Many places in the country don't even have one.

* Universal Sports -- Part of the NBC network, Universal Sports broadcasts Olympic sports. It's nice to have an outlet like Universal to keep up with my other favorites sports, like swimming, gymnsastics and figure skating.

* The Internet -- Where would we all be without the Internet these days? Thanks to the World Wide Web, we can find out everything we want about our favorite sport, team or athlete. It makes blogs like Woman's Eye on Sports possible, and for that I am truly grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Study: Fewer Fouls Called on Home Team

Just as I’m heading out to watch a college basketball game tonight between my alma mater, Illinois State, and the University of Illinois-Chicago, I find this interesting piece on ESPN.com about foul calls in college basketball. It seems a recent study by a couple of college professors finds that the home team often gets fewer fouls called during these games.

The study, which appeared in The Journal of Sports Sciences earlier this year, finds that the chances that the visiting team would get a foul called on them was 7 percent higher than on the home team. When the home team is leading, the probability of the next foul being called on them was 6.3 percent higher than when the home team was trailing. Teams that are leading on nationally televised games also tend to get more fouls called than those leading in locally televised games.

Also, the bigger the difference in called fouls between the two teams, the more likely the next foul would be called against the team with fewer fouls. And when the home team had five or more fouls than the visiting team, there was a 69 percent chance that the visiting team would get the next foul.

While this is all supposedly happening subconsciously by the referees, it is somewhat amusing to realize that there really is something odd going on with the ref calls. And supposedly, it all evens out in the end, although the home team gets a slight edge. All the more reason to root for the home team.

Beckham Settles for Fifth in ROY Voting

Several weeks ago, White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham was named the Players Choice and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year, both based on the opinions of fellow baseball players. Today, he had a chance to win the trifecta when the Baseball Writers of America voted. Not only did Beckham not win Rookie of the Year honors, he placed a distant fifth, garnering only two second-place votes and four third-place votes.

Why the discrepancy? I’m still scratching my head over this one. Kinda makes you wonder what the baseball writers were looking at.

Instead the writers chose Oakland A's reliever Andrew Bailey who had 26 saves with a 1.84 ERA. Great numbers, I must admit. But I think Beckham's play made more of a difference for the White Sox, who were divisional contenders for most of the summer.

I can understand it if Beckham finished a close second, but a distant fifth with only six votes after nabbing top honors by his peers is something that's difficult to understand. Perhaps it’s a case of the writers looking at Beckham’s two previous honors, assuming that other writes will vote for him, and decide to vote for someone else.

Beckham’s numbers were just as good, if not better, than the other top rookies in consideration. After being promoted from Triple A in early June, Beckham went on to lead all AL rookies with 28 doubles, 43 extra-base hits and 63 RBIs in just 103 games, while finishing second in home runs (14), runs scored (58), hits (102), on-base percentage (.347), slugging percentage (.460) and total bases (174).

Those are impressive numbers. But they clearly did not impress enough of the baseball writers.

Breaking Down the Mark Teahan Trade

It's official now. The White Sox announced they have acquired OF/IF Mark Teahan from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for 3B Josh Fields and 2B Chris Getz.

At first glance, I was surprised that Getz was part of this deal as GM Kenny Williams has repeatedly said the team needed more youth and speed. Getz was an average player offensively, but his speed on the base pads cannot be overlooked. He stole 25 bases last season in 27 attempts, a better percentage than Scott Podsednik. I had visions of Getz becoming a lead off hitter if he could work the bat better. Still, Getz just concluded his first full season with the Sox and was hampered by injuries in each of the last two seasons. His durability and inconsistent performance at the plate may have been a concern.

Teahan is a versatile player, and he has played second and third base as well as the outfield. He's only 28 and has been in the league about five seasons, so he brings more experience to the infield, which the Sox need. He batted .271 for Kansas City last season, but batted .277 against the Sox, which might be another reason why they wanted the guy on their side.

The Sox plan to put Teahan at third, his natural position, and move the talented Gordon Beckham over to second base. Beckham played some second base during the Arizona Fall League and with time, he should do well. He's a fast learner and should pick up the position quickly.

Fields had a stellar year at third base in 2007 after Joe Crede had back surgery, but never quite played at the same level since then. He played mostly in the minors in 2008 during Crede's final year, and struggled early last season before losing the job to Beckham. Fields was sent to the minors mid season amidst speculation that he would soon be traded before the July 30 trade deadline. While his stint in Chicago overall was not memorable, Fields will be remembered for hitting a grand slam in Mark Buehrle's perfect game last July.

Despite losing Getz, which could come back to haunt the Sox down the road, this deal could work out well for both teams.

Memories of "Sweetness"

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Walter Payton died of liver cancer. To commemorate this anniversary, the Chicago Bears honored "Sweetness" during half-time of Sunday's game at Soldier Field. You can watch the video of the tribute on the Bears' Web site.

I have a few of my own memories of Walter Payton. During the mid 1980s, a friend and I made several trips to the Bears' summer camp facility in Platteville, Wis., to watch the team's practices. I have only one photo of Payton from those trips. Yes, that's Walter in yellow lightheartedly brandishing a golf club to ward off fans as he got into a car. This was about as close as I would ever get to football's greatest running back.

We miss you, #34.

MLB Championship Series Preview

The MLB championship series are set to begin tonight with the New York Yankees facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. I expect both series to be exciting and closely-fought matches. But as we all know, there can only be one winner.

ALCS - While the Yankees are the sexy choice here with their all-star lineup that can hit almost at will, I like the Angels. I think they are a better-rounded team with a lot of pitching depth. The Yankees’ back of the rotation is suspect, which could be problematic in a long, seven-game series. Also, the Angels have an intangible. The death early in the season of pitcher Nick Adenhart has unified this team. I think that experience, plus overcoming a slow start with injuries to three of their starting pitchers, has made them an emotionally strong team. If any team can get past the Yankees, the Angels can.

NLCS - The NLCS is a tougher call. Like the Yankees, the Dodgers are the sexy choice with their young starters. But they struggled down the stretch and nearly lost their division title. The Phillies also struggled and Brad Lidge is a big question mark as their closer. Still, he performed well in the NLDS. I also like the way the Phillies came back against the Rockies in Game 4 to clinch the series, and I like their lineup. They know how to win the big games. I’m not convinced the Dodgers are able to do that.

So, I guess I’m going against all expert prognosticators with my pick: Angels and Phillies.

Bears, Hawks Launch Ad Campaign

I’m eager to see the new series of ads that will promote the Chicago Bears and Chicago Blackhawks. The ads, which will begin airing in a few weeks, will feature members of both teams in various scenarios. For example, Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler and Hawks’ captain Jonathan Toews exchange tips on passing.

The ad campaign is unique in that the teams are aligning their brands to reach their fan base, something they apparently share. According to a Chicago Tribune story, 92 percent of hockey fans are also football fans.

The Hawks wanted to reach out to this fan base and approached the Bears to see if they were interested. They even offered to foot the bill for production and air time. The Bears have nothing to lose since they are already well-known worldwide. The Hawks, on the other hand, are trying to capitalize on the buzz they created last year when they surpassed everyone’s expectations in reaching the NHL’s Western Conference finals before losing to the Detroit Red Wings.

If these ads do well, I’m willing to bet the other teams in town -- the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Fire – will look to join forces to cross-promote their brands.

Orton's Success Should Come as No Surprise

Bears fans who watched the Denver Broncos’ overtime victory over New England yesterday are probably wondering, “Why couldn’t Kyle Orton have played this way when he was with the Bears?”

While I’m as surprised as everyone else that the Broncos are unbeaten at 5-0, I’m not as surprised to see Orton perform as well as he has. In my blog last April after the Orton-Cutler trade, I wondered if Orton would have enjoyed better success in Chicago if he had better receivers to throw to, a younger, quicker offensive line to protect him, and a game plan that featured his strengths as a quarterback.

During his three years in Chicago, Orton was much maligned and underrated. Yet, for all his flaws, he posted a 21-12 career record with the Bears and had a .667 regular season winning percentage, the fourth highest among Bears quarterbacks since 1961. Being traded to Denver in the offseason provided the perfect opportunity to jumpstart his career. Now he has a chance to play every week with many of the players and offensive schemes that helped Cutler be so successful last season.

While it’s still early in the 2009 football campaign, it appears that this trade has worked out well so far for all parties. Cutler’s talents and leadership on the field is forcing the rest of the Bears team, especially the receivers, to raise their game to his level. Meanwhile, Orton, who went to a team with many offensive weapons already in place, has raised his game to match theirs.

If Orton’s performance so far this season proves anything, it’s this: Football is still a team sport. Winning depends on having a balanced attack: offense, defense, special teams and coaching. When all these elements are in place, you don’t need to be the most talented quarterback on the block to win in the National Football League. You just have to be a smart one.

Michael Vick Lands TV Gig

After spending 18 months in jail for running a dog-fighting ring, Michael Vick returned to the NFL as a backup QB with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now he’s landed a new gig – a reality TV show for the BET network, according to Foxsports.com. The eight-part series called “The Michael Vick Project” will follow Vick’s comeback in the NFL and document his past, including the 2007 arrest for running a dog-fighting ring.

According to the story, Vick says he is doing this to “change the perception of me” so people can know him as an individual.

Many of Vick’s supporters say the show can help Vick set the record straight and put the past behind him. But if Vick is serious about doing that, why do a reality TV show that may only shed more light on the dog-fighting controversy? Instead, why not appear in a series of public service announcements that show the dangers of dog fighting or how to fight animal abuse?

For someone who committed a crime, Vick has gotten a pretty good deal. Not only has the NFL welcomed him back into the fold, he also gets his own TV show, which will do more for Vick’s career but very little to help the animal abuse cause. If Vick really wants to prove that he is a decent human being, then he needs to focus more on helping the cause and less on helping himself.

Pitching Is Key to Sox' Success in 2010

Sox GM Kenny Williams won’t admit it, but this was really a rebuilding year for the White Sox. After losing Orlando Cabrera and Joe Crede to free agency in the offseason and trading Nick Swisher to the Yankees and Javier Vasquez to Atlanta, the Sox committed themselves to building a younger, faster team. But in the process, they went through some growing pains with their young infielders, and went through what seemed like a season long hitting slump. In the end, the Sox finished third in the AL Central with a 79-83 record. Not what the Sox expected at the start of the 2009 campaign, but not bad considering what they were dealing with this year and better than the last-place finish Baseball Prospectus predicted.

While the Sox did not perform as well as many fans hoped, there are enough good things in this team to make a decent run for a division title in 2010. It starts with pitching. If the past few starts by Jake Peavy and Freddie Garcia are any indication, then the Sox will have one of the best starting rotations in the American League. And I include Garcia in the mix because he has consistently given the Sox quality starts and could win as many as 12 to 15 games if he gets enough run support. Peavy was outstanding in his last outing against the Tigers Friday night, going eight innings and giving up only two hits. That’s the stuff World Series dreams are made of. Add a stronger bullpen, timely hitting and strong defense, and the White Sox should rebound from their lackluster 2009 effort.

Chicago’s Olympic Bid Doomed from the Start

I suggested in my post last Friday that the rather contentious relationship between the IOC and the U.S. Olympic Committee could be a contributing factor in Chicago’s failed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, and it appears I was right. Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune does a nice job of explaining what happened here and here.

Based on what I’ve read, it seems Chicago’s bid was doomed from the start and that many of the IOC members had made up their minds long before the final presentations were made. There was nothing that the bid committee or President Obama could say or do to change the course of things.

It is clear the USOC is in a shambles. Until it can get its act together and resolve its differences with the IOC, I see no point in putting forth any future bids by American cities to host the Olympic Games.

Why Chicago’s Olympic Bid Failed

For the first time ever, a South American city will host the Olympics. Today, Rio de Janeiro was named the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The path to the top was paved for Rio when Chicago, considered to be Rio’s closest competition, was eliminated in the first round of voting.

Technically, Chicago’s bid was very strong by all accounts, perhaps the strongest ever by any American city. So why did Chicago lose the bid? Why was the city eliminated in the first round while earning only 18 votes by IOC members? I have several theories, and they have nothing to do with President Obama’s inability to sway voters or with Michael Jordan not appearing in Copenhagen.

Lack of focus. Chicago’s bid had no central theme or purpose to rally around. The final presentation did not provide IOC members with a strong, compelling reason why Chicago should host the Olympics. And it failed to show what kind of legacy the Games would leave behind to help local communities.

On the other hand, Rio’s bid team repeatedly reminded IOC members that the Olympic Games had never been held in South America, and Rio was ready to host them. That message apparently resonated with IOC voters.

Lack of public support. A Tribune poll in August showed only 47 percent of Chicagoans wanted the city to host the Olympic Games, down from more than 60 percent in February. IOC members generally do not award the Games to cities where public support is low. That may have been the case with Chicago’s bid.

USOC issues. The U.S. Olympic Committee has several lingering conflicts with the IOC, including the U.S. share of revenue from the Games and the USOC’s recent announcement that they would launch an Olympic network. Both parties have agreed to table these issues until after the 2016 bid city was announced. In addition, the USOC appears to be somewhat unstable after several changes in USOC leadership and cutbacks in operations earlier this year, which might have hampered Chicago’s bid.

Lack of visibility. While the city’s bid effort introduced Chicago to many IOC members who were unfamiliar with the city, Chicago’s remains relatively unknown compared to the other bid cities. IOC members are not allowed to visit the bidding cities on their own, so they must rely on the presentations and bid books to become familiar with the bid city. IOC members may have preferred to give the Games to a city they are more familiar with.

Lack of experience with Olympic bidding process. This is Chicago’s first bid attempt, and their lack of experience showed at times. Chicago made a few mistakes along the way, such as creating their initial logo without consulting IOC rules governing symbol usage. The committee had to scrap the logo and create a new one. The other bid cities have gone through the bid process before and know what to expect, know what buttons to push. Both Rio and Madrid submitted bids for the 2012 Games and lost out to eventual winner London. Tokyo has hosted the Games before.

U.S. reputation. It is no secret that the United States has an image problem with the rest of the world. Despite the election of President Obama, the U.S. is still not well liked or trusted in many parts of the world. I wonder how much of that distrust carried over into the IOC’s decision.

Ultimately, the reason Chicago did not win its bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games is because Rio de Janeiro presented a better, more compelling case why they should host the Games.

Go ahead. Blame it on Rio.

Final Countdown Begins for Olympic Bid Cities

The clock is ticking.

In less than 24 hours, members of the International Olympic Committee will decide which of four bid cities will host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games: Tokyo, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Chicago. While each bid city has presented strong cases for hosting the Olympic Games, the general consensus is that this race is oh-so-close, with Rio and Chicago being the leading contenders.

After reading the Chicago Tribune’s succinct summary of why each bid city could win or lose the Olympic bid, I think Chicago’s chances are quite good. Rio is a strong contender and presents an emotional case, but I don’t think they are quite ready logistically to handle the Games. Their budget of $14.4 billion is much higher because the infrastructure is not yet in place. They have more venues to build, and the Games will be more spread out, which means they need to build the roads and transportation. With so much work to do, Rio may be a risky choice.

Even more troubling is the level of crime, as Tribune column Phil Hersh described recently in his Globetrotting blog. Granted, Chicago has crime issues too, but they don't compare with what is happening in Rio. These crime and infrastructure issues could be big enough concerns that they could hurt Rio’s chances to win the Games.

We'll know for sure in less than 24 hours.

Milton Bradley Gone for Good?

Cubs’ GM Jim Hendry finally pulled the plug on Milton Bradley Sunday, suspending the disgruntled outfielder for the remainder of the season after Bradley criticized the team in a Daily Herald article.

But it was clear early on that Bradley was a poor fit for the Cubs. He didn’t play well to start the season. He had miscues in the field, was suspended for arguing with an umpire and criticized Chicago fans. And as the season wore on and the Cubs fell further behind in the NL Central, Bradley seemed to get even more restless and critical. Hendry had seen enough and put Bradley on the shelf – possibly for good.

It’s highly unusual for a team to suspend a player for the rest of the season, when there are two weeks remaining. The fact that the Cubs have done this shows how desperate they are to end the Milton Bradley experiment. The Cubs are Bradley’s eighth team in nine years in the big leagues. Doesn’t it make you wonder why he can’t stick with any one team for too long?

In hindsight, maybe the Cubs should have done something sooner with Bradley – suspension or trade or something – to get him out of the clubhouse. But I guess when you have $30 million invested in a player, you want to be patient and give him time to adjust to the team and perhaps come around on his own.

So what next? Do the Cubs take the loss and let him go? Or will they be able to work out a trade? And with all the well-publicized baggage Bradley carries, would any team want him?

There is no doubt in my mind that Bradley will not return to Wrigley Field next season. It’s clear he’s been looking for a way out almost since the day he walked into the clubhouse. And the Cubs should do all they can to give him a one-way ticket out of town.

Good-bye to the Coin Flip; Play-In Game Could Be Next

If you were waiting to find out which major league teams currently in contention would host a potential one-game playoff, you’ll have to wait until the end of the regular season. MLB GMs decided last November to eliminate the coin flip, which in the past determined which team would host a one-game playoff in the event of a tie.

Instead, the host team will be decided by a series of on-field tiebreakers, beginning with head-to-head records. If that’s tied, the next tiebreaker is the team with the highest winning percentage within the division, followed by the highest winning percentage in intra-league play during the second half of the season.

I like the change and I believe it’s an improvement over the coin flip, which seemed arbitrary and pointless. However, with three levels of on-field tiebreakers, why bother playing a tiebreaker game at all?

I know the play-in game is supposed to help generate excitement for the playoffs. But under this new system, a play-in game seems obsolete. Think about it. If two teams have the same record, but team A has the season record over team B, wouldn’t it make sense to name Team A the divisional winner without having a tiebreaker game? Why should Team A be expected to play Game 163 to prove that they are indeed the divisional winner when they already have the proven that they are the better team in the division by having the season record against their rival?

Further, what happens if Team A hosts a tiebreaker game and loses to Team B? Team A would probably feel cheated out of a division title. How many times would this scenario have to play out before owners and GMs decide the play-in game isn't such a great idea afterall.

Eliminating the coin flip is a step in the right direction, but there's more work to be done. Time will tell if the tiebreaker play-in game stands the test of time.

Impressive Bears’ Victory Bodes Well for 2009 Season

I realize it’s only the third game of the pre-season, but if last night’s victory over the Denver Broncos’ is any indication, the Bears should perform well once the NFL season officially begins.

What impressed me the most about last night’s effort was that the Bears’ offense, defense and special teams all contributed to the victory. It was a well-balanced effort and one that bodes well for the rest of the season, regardless how Brett Favre and the Vikings play.

Jay Cutler also proved that he is worthy of the franchise quarterback tag that many have put on him. The five-minute, 98-yard drive to end the first half was particularly impressive and showcased his leadership skills. He may have put to rest any lingering doubts people had about the Bears trading for him. Cutler also faced a hostile crowd, but managed well despite hearing a chorus of boos. If he can handle the pressure of playing in front of an angry crowd in his former home stadium, then Cutler can handle anything that comes his way.

That said, let’s not overlook the fact that the Bears did play the Denver Broncos, which proved to be a team that’s not quite ready for the regular season. Kyle Orton, the Broncos’ starting QB, left the game in the second quarter with an injured finger on his throwing hand which could affect his play down the road.

However, the Bears still have some issues in the secondary. Denver marched down the field in the third quarter to for a quick touchdown, burning a couple of Bears’ safeties in the process. And while the offensive line is much improved over last season, will it hold up after 17 weeks? Injuries are another question mark. As long as players stay healthy, the Bears could return to the playoffs as the NFC North champs.

Women’s Ski Jumping and Figure Skating Gain Support and Exposure

Several weeks ago in this column, I expressed hope that the International Olympic Committee would approve women’s ski jumping for the Winter Games. U.S. women ski jumpers have been fighting this uphill battle for some time. But there may be some hope on the horizon.

According to the New York Times, Jacques Rogue, president of the IOC said women’s ski jumping is being added to a Winter Youth Olympics in 2012 and has a “strong case” for being part of a future Olympics. While it maybe too late for the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, there's still hope for 2014.

In other Olympic news, NBC has extended its broadcast deal with the U.S. Figure Skating Association through the 2014 Winter Olympics in Solchi, Russia. The network will provide live coverage of the national figure skating championships and Skate America. That's good news for the sport which has had declining viewership and attendance in recent years.

Let's hope that NBC provides the coverage on its parent station and does not bury the event on its Oxygen network, like it did for the World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles last March. Some cable companies do not carry Oxygen, or if they do, it's at a premium, and many households don't have access to it. Despite this minor issue, the extended contract guarantees that figure skating will continue to have some exposure to American audiences.