RIP Stormin' Norman

SHocked to hear Bulls & Rush street legend Norm Van Lear died to day.

The White Sox got their first Spring training win today.
NFL free agency starts tonight at 11:00. Pretty slim pickens this year but some nice veteran WRs were just cut loose, I hope the Bears take a look at Laverneous Coles, DJ Hacket, or Joey Galloway. The free safties have been snapped up, perhaps they will sign the safety TB cut loose, I beleive he is a SS but we need depth there as well. Very poor safety class in the draft. There are always some surprise cuts in the NFL and the current econemy may force more teams to cut pricey veterans. Angelo has pounced at the stroke of midnight EST before but seems to be put off by the current crop. Hope it's a new "office" tonight. Thinking of giving up Mob Wars for lent.....cant give up FB too addictive and it would be a waste to give up cookies with the Girls Scouts just coming in. OOH maybe I will stop procrastinating at least with household chores. See ya

Right wing addictive cookie giant chickens

Just watched an HBO documentary by Speaker Pelosi's daughter about right wing republicans. I know it is not representative of all republicans, and it even said so in the film, but it is pretty scary how many Americans think like that. One guy was really convinced Obama was the anti-christ. I hope he's wrong. My 401k went up a bit today as 5/3 stock soared to $1.94 there's talk it may hit $6 by Friday (hope it's not a take over) if it does we'll be just $64 short of the 18 month high. How do you suppose they make girl scout cookies so addivtive. I swear you open a pack & within 5 minutes they all gone. Some how we were talking about hormones & stuff in foods like milk & meat and a lady I work with mentioned how she is really getting anxcious at how big chickens are getting in particular Perdue whole fryers....they're like turkeys. I can't stop picturing 6 foot chickens running a muck causing chaos. I say... I say ....I say son. I'm starting to lose interest in Mob Wars. There's no end to this frickening thing, they just keep making bigger boards with bigger nails. See ya

Loving that Drew Barrymore more & more

Just found out thanks to a Leno repeat that Drew Barrymore was voted the person you would most like to take a Greyhound Bus trip with. I can certainly see that. She's so effervescent. She told a story that she once rented an RV to travel across the US for a month. Just spun a bottle on a map and took off. She said it was the best trip she ever took. I love this woman. You know her grandfather played Mr. Potter in the greatest movie ever, It's a Wonderful Life. She maybe channelling Mary Hatch Bailey. She says she also likes to hang out with a bunch of friends and just have a good time, play games watch movies whatever. All her friends make a point to get together every year between Christmas and New Years, last year they went to Mexico. I'm hoping I win that $145 million MEGA GAME tonight so I can do that too. Pres Obama once again did not disappoint. YES we can and YES WE WILL! Dont want to go on to long so see ya.

Sunday

Did a fine job of procrastinating today, but eventually I did get the snow shoveled again, (damn wind) grocery shopping done & had started cooking dinners for the week before the Amazing Race & Big Love came on. The bits of the Oscars I saw seemed alright. I liked the 5 former winners presenting. Hugh Jackman did a pretty good job. I thought he was a curious pick for host but I now understand he has hosted the Toni's a few times, not that anyone ever watches those, are they even televised any more? My mom & her friends in the Alzheimers wing were going to watch the red carpet hoping to see Elizabeth Taylor & Bob Hope. No luck there but they did get to see Sophia Loren who still looks pretty good considering she gotta be pushing 70 right? Good Gravey she's 74! I think they should do another Charlies Angels with Sofia Loren, Rachel Welch (she's 68 and did you know her mother was Irish American and she was born in Chicago) and Ann Margaret (she'll be 68 in April). Hell throw in Connie Stevens (she's 70) and we can re-do the dirtiest show on television the Golden Girls except these ladies are looking better today than the original cast did in the 80s. BTW I did finish cooking and preparing the meals for the rest of the week.

Read the Tribune on line lately?

Yes I am the William W. who gave what he thought would be Ozzie's line up as well as what he would like to see in the "Hey Missy! Sox Line Up section in Fridays web edition of the Trib. Check it out & add your version of the line up in the Hey Missy blog
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/hey_missy/2009/02/sox-fans-speak.html

Just Stuff

Really getting tired of the snow...enough already.
I like the Bulls trades not blockbuster but improved and better prepared for 2010
Tyrus Thomas appears to be coming on.......its about time.
Can't believe Joe Crede is a frickin' minnesota twin, why couldn't just go join Rowand in San Fran? Come on the stinkin' pyranahs.... really?
If you havent been watching PYSCH you should give it a try. Of course you cant for a while since today was the season finale already. Crazy cable stations and their mixed up schedules. It was on Friday nights at 9:00 on USA in case you were looking for it.
I relaly dont like that they pushed back the switch to digital TV broadcasting. They were running the PSAs like every 5 mintues, if you didnt prepare its your own damn fault.
Kinda worried about the 5/3 stock closing at only $1.03 today, of course part of me wants it to go to $0.99 just so I could see it. It can then go immediatley to $99.00 that would be good.
Watched Conan's last Late Night show today, it was nice....classy.
Alrighty then see you in the funny papers. Hee Haw

Biggest Loser

They are having an audition sponsered by Subway at Navy Pier this Saturday 2/21/09. I dont know how these people can get off work for 3 + months. I'm pretty sure it does not qualify as a medical leave and only 1 person wins the $500k and only 1 other wins the "at home" prize of $50k. I must admit it can be pretty inspiring, but I also can't see to control the urge to stuff my face while the show is on.

Ooh a request

Theme from the courtship of Eddies father:

People let me tell you ‘bout my best friend,
He’s a warm hearted person who’ll love me till the end.
People let me tell you bout my best friend,
He’s a one boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy.

People let me tell you ‘bout him he’s so much fun
Whether we’re talkin’ man to man or whether we’re talking son to son.
Cause he’s my best friend. Yes he’s my best friend.

Top 10 TV Theme Songs to Guide Your Life

The guiding your life refers only to the theme song not necessarily the tv show itself:

10. Diff'rent Strokes
9. Seasme Street
8. Mary Tyler Moore
7. All In The Family
6. Courtship of Eddie's Father
5. The Jeffersons
4. Laverne & Shirley
3. Golden Girls
2. Friends
1. Cheers

Honorable Mentions:
WKRP In Cincinatti
Giligans Island (It's Never a 3 hour tour so be prepared & make the best of it)
The Greatest American Hero
The Facts of Life
Family Ties
Silver Spoons

Real Songs that were also theme songs besides Friends
Bosom Buddies
Wonder Years
Mad About You
Welcome Back Kotter

If 2009 is gonna be good just wait for 2010

I think baseball's minor league system lends to the optimism of baseball. You can see the future take shape and rejoice in the promise of tomorrow.

1. CF Jordan Danks LH
2. 2B Gordon Beckham RH
3. RF Carlos Quinton RH
4. LF Dayan Vicido RH
5. 1B Brandon Allen LH
6. C Tyler Flowers RH
7. DH Paul Konerko RH
8. 3B Josh Fileds RH
9. SS Alexei Ramierez

Starters
1. John Danks LH
2. Gavin Floyd RH
3. Mark Buehrle LH
4. Jeff Marquez RH
5. Aaron Poreda LH

Bull Pen
Bobby Jenks RH
Scott Lienbrink RH
Matt Thorton LH
Clayton Richard LH
and 3 of these
DJ Carrasco RH
Ehren Waserman RH
Adam Russell RH
Lance Broadway RH
Kelvin Jimenez RH
Jhonny Nunez RH
Jack Egbert RH

Bench:
C AJ Pierzynski
IF Chris Getz
IF/OF Brent Lillibridge
OF Jerry Owens or Brian Anderson

Multiple position players
Fields 3B / 1B
Vicido LF / 1B / 3B
Beckham 2B/ SS /3B
Ramirez SS / 2B / CF
Flowers C/ DH / 1B
Lillibridge SS / 2B / CF
Getz 2B/ 3B / SS
Owens CF/ LF / RF
Anderson CF / RF /LF
Konerko DH / 1B
Pierzynski C / DH / 1B

Why so high on 2009 White Sox

Competition is a good thing, and there is plenty to go around. 2nd base 3rd base Center Field the final 2 spots in the rotation, and as always 2 spots in the bull pen are up for grabs, not to mention back up catcher. SO who do we have:
Starting pitching: #1 is Mark Buehrle, enough said. #2 will be Gavin Floyd, has awesome stuff, Don Cooper worked his magic on another teams first round pick that they gave up on. He would probably be #3 but Mr. Johnny Danks pitches too much like Buehrle so Danks the future ACE is #3. #4 we're hoping is Bartolo Colon a former ACE at a bargain basement price. #5 really heats up with Jeff Marquez who we acquired from the Yankees and is thought of as a young Jon Garland. Sinker ball pitchers are always welcome at the Cell. Clayton Richard showed some real promise stepping up big last year in Yankeee Stadium and coming out of the bull pen in the playoffs. Lance Broadway is always considered and never seems to be able to over come the perception that he is just a soft junk baller, but in 2 late season call ups, he's produced. Aaron Poreda is the long shot dark horse, he may go the bull pen to start his MLB career like the SOX did with Buehrle. He will be in the majors probably as a starter or perhaps as the successor to Bobby Jenks? I hope he is part of the 3 headed monster along with Danks & Floyd that leads the White Sox starters for years.

The Bull Pen: The SOX usually carry 7. Locks Closer Bobby Jenks Set Up Men: S Linebrink O Dotel & M Thorton. So there's 3 spots open, a second lefty I think it will come down to Poreda or Richard one of the last 2 should be a long reliever, although Richard could do that also. I like Adam Russell for long relief but Broadway, or Jack Egbert could step up. DJ Carasco did an admiralable job last year, at times it seemed he was the only dependable option and then he wasnt got lit up. Ehren Wasserman seems to be pretty reliable.

Ozzie says no one will be given a job and they will all have to earn their spot. I hope its true, but sometimes when a guy is out of options, he gets the benefit of the doubt. That could come into play again this year, remember last year they kept N Massatt ahead of Waserman because Massatt was out of options. This year Jerry Owens, Jason Nix, infielder Wilson Betemit and outfielder Dewayne Wise are out of options and must clear waivers if they don't make the Opening Day roster.

The locked position players: Catcher A J Pierzynski DH Thome 1B Konerko SS Alexei Rameriez LF Carlos Quinten RF Jermaine Dye, the most under appreciated White Sox ever. I know he's older and not very fast and in the last year of his contract with only partial no trade clause but this guy has carried the club on his own at times, he was the World Series MVP, He is the most consistent hitter we've had and has lead all outfielders in home runs the last 4 years!

3rd Base is Josh Fields to lose and judging by what we heard all offseason about his knee injury healing & him spending time at Camp Cora to work on his defense (Joey Cora says he will shock Chicago with his improved defense) he will probably be the starter. Wilson Betemet was brought in as insurance and the dark horse is the lates Cuban Wonder Boy 19 year old Dayan Viciedo a beast in the batting cages, may need a year in the minors, and may wind up starting in LF next year with Dye gone & Quinten in RF?

2nd Base has 3 viable options, home grown grinder Chris Getz, former Rockie reclamtion project Jay Nix and super speedy possible lead off hitter Brent Lillibridge which got from the Braves for Vasquez. I love Getz, have for awhile, he started to come on last year before an injury shut him down for the season. Lillibridge can also play CF. All are considered better than average defensively but have yet to prove they can hit in the majors. Nix is out of options.

CF: Here we have the ususal suspects. underachieving Brian Aderson who last year seemed to finally get it & is now working hard to be the best he can be. He is the SOX best defensive outfielder at any of the 3 spots and will probably be the 4th outfielder or traded. Jerry Owens really came on the last half of 2007 and had won the CF & leadoff spots in spring 2008 until he was injured again. To me it seems like he is snake bit and will never be a starting player. DeWayne Wise is back. A career journeyman he came up big last year, but i get the feeling that was his 15 minutes of fame, but Ozzie like him. The dark horse hear is Lillibridge, I would love for him to win the CF and leadoff spots, but it appears the SOX are looking at him as an infielder. but you never know, Alexei Ramirez was the starting CF opening day last year. Owens & Wise are out of options, they maybe able to reassign Wise but I am sure Owens would be claimed by another team.

The bench: If the SOX keep 12 pitchers which is likely that leaves 4 bench spots (25 man roster - 9 positition starters including DH - 12 pitchers = 4 spots). One of those spots needs to go to a back up catcher. Tyler Flowers is the future at the position, but he needs to work on his defense big time, so expect him to be in the minors at least to start the season. Cole Armstong is listed as the #1 back up, but I suspect Donny Lucy or Chris Stewart could end up being the back up because they are right handed. Armstrong, is a lefty like started AJ. Corky Miller is also in the mix. If AJ plays in the World Baseball Classic all of these candidates should get plenty of opportunities to impress. Wilson Bettemet I think is as much of a lock as any to make the team. He is really the only 1b & 3b back up they have and has proven to be a servicable major leaguer. He is out of options and he is a switch hitter. Lefty Ben Brousard was just signed and is a non-roster invitee, he ahs played 1st & 3rd. If he has an awesome spring and Betemet falters he could stick. So its down to 2 players you would think a middle infielder and a fourth outfielder. I think Speed for pinch running will out weigh pinch hitting. Brian Anderson is the White Sox 4th outfeilder, he has good speed, can play awesome defense at all 3 postions and can hit for some power. Owens is out of options and will be claimed, the SOX are hoping he wins CF & leadoff, if not he can steal bases as a pinch runner. If you keep Anderson & Owens Betemet is your only middle infielder and he is better suited for the corners. Getz Lillibrige and Nix are all in the mix for 2nd the one who finishes second at 2nd could be the back up middle infielder. I know Lillibridge has played SS I believe Getz can, I havent heard Nix cant. Nix is out of options and Lillibridge could also play CF. Getz maybe the one best suited to succeed not playing every day.

If all the stars aligned my way this is how the SOX would look to start 2009
1. CF Lillibridge RH
2. C Pierzynski LH
3. LF Quinten RH
4. 1B Konerko RH
5. DH Thome LH
6. RF Dye RH
7. SS Ramirez RH
8. 3B Fields RH
9. 2B Getz LH

Ozzie likes the alternating lefty righty at the top of the line up and wants speed at the bottom also, other wise I would but Getz #2, AJ #7 and Ramirez #9 granted he would be the best 9th place hitter in baseball, I would view it as a second lead off hitter

Starting Pitchers
1. Buehrle LH
2. Floyd RH
3. Danks LH
4. Colon RH
5. Marquez RH

Relief
Jenks RH
Lienbrink RH
Dotel RH
Thorton LH
Richard LH
Waserman RH
Russel or Carasco or Broadway RH

Bench
C Dony Lucey RH
IF Betemet SW
OF Anderson RH
OF Owens LH

Now I know I only have Betemet as an infielder, but my back up middle infielder would be Lillibrgide, with Anderson and/or Owens moving to center.

Betemet would be my primary pinch hiter
Owens would be my primary pinch runner especially when I needed a stolen base
Anderson would be the primay defensive replacement

One thing to keep in mind is Jose Contreas could be the mid season additon we could make without having to make a trade. He is rehabing from the blown achiles and is not expect back until July or August. He takes a long time to warm up so the bullpen wouldn't be ideal but if Colons health doesnt hold up or Marquez falters, he could step right in. By the way did you know he has lost 25 lbs this offseason?

The NEW Chicago White Sox

I am a huge White Sox fan and I am always drinking the Black & Silver cool aide come spring. I am a pretty optimistic person over all and always try to stress the positive. I know most of the time it is unlikely that my sports teams will win the championship every year, but I can always convince my self there is a way. Especially with baseball. Sometimes I think I enjoy the hot stove season more than the actual season. The offseason and spring training are full of potential and optimism. Everyone is in first place, you just have to figure out how to stay there.

Being a SOX fan, you automatically have a chip on your shoulder. The White Sox never get the credit they deserve, and we probably wouldnt like it if we did. So I was not shocked to hear Baseball Prospectus pick the White Sox to finish in last place in the AL Central. I was a little surprized that KC was picked ahead of us as they are perenial sellar dwellers, but they have been coming on the past few years. Cleveland had the best record in baseball the 2nd half of the season, and have made some improvements. The Tigers were supposed to win it all with their all star line up but fell flat, they should be better. The twins, man I hate the twins, they are in it every year. I cant wait fot their new stadium to open so they wont have a huge home filed advantage, but of course it will be freezing there and they will probably draft the best cold weather players and get off to great starts and have strong finishes. OOOHHH they make me SO MAD!! But I digress The beloved White SOX have a bit of a youth movement going. We really need to do, but som many people think young ball players are bad ball players. And I will admit they tend to make more mistakes, but if all young players were bad, then we would never be able to develop good veteran players. Young players havent proven they can do it in the Majors, but they havent proven they cant either. Maybe it's because I can still replay the 2005 World Series victory in my head or that we made the playoffs last year. Maybe it was us winning 3 consecutive must win games including the awesome "black out" game to end last year. Granted we lost in the first round, but a lot of that can be blamed on Javie Vazquez and the diapointing Nick Swisher not to mention Quinten was out due to injury, well Vazquez and Swisher were traded, Quinten is back and the new young guys are faster, more athletic, and appear to be baseball players who know and are willing to do the "little" things to suplement our big boppers. I am psyched about the 2009 White Sox and even more psyched about 2010! I'm a sucker for young potential and for the first time in a long time the SOX seem to have a load of talent in the minors that is just about to blossom on the baseball landscape.

Those Five Beautiful Words

Catchers and Pitchers Report Today!
I love Spring Training. Everyone is optimistic, there are no bums yet. Anyone can win the World Series It seems like everyone is focussed on the players potential not their limitations. If you had a good year you'll be better this year. If you had a bad year you worked all offseason to improve, if you were hurt you had time to heal.

No doubt Football is americas favorite sport but, Baseball has always been the most romantic of sports. It was and maybe is americas past time because it is a long season 162 games you can tank a few and still be in it not like footballs 16 games where everything is hyped up. Plus baseball has no clock you wont run out of time just outs. It certainly doesnt help that baseball takes place in the summer, it is a good portion of the reason baseball is the best sport to see in person. Watching football in the comfort of you warm living room or in one of your best buddies living room is certainly better than putting on 5 layers of clothes and still not being able to feel your feet midway through the third quarter. I think the fact that baseball starts in the spring helps a great deal as well. Nature is coming out of its dark dirty winter slumber and people are wanting a new begining. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, the sun is out longer & more often, everyone & everything is a little friskier. It doesn't take much for a father & son to go have a catch. It's time to Play Ball!! and I cant wait.

Roland Freakin Burris

Can you believe this SOB. Goes grandstanding in the senate to be let in, testifies at Blogos impeachment hearings and just now remembers that Blago's bro asked him THREE times for a campaign contribution? He just now realized that is something relevent? He didnt have a chance to speak about it? Give me a break. Oh but wait, he didn't give any money so its okay. What a joke. Make sure you add World Class Jackass to that giant tombstone you've started for yourself. I beleive in change I believe in change I believe in change YES we can YES we can Yes we can, Serenity Now

Mob Wars

Damn you ....you seductive addictive time stealing temptrist

New Diggs

Spruced up the place a little, changed some fonts & some colors added a sports theme background as well as updated useless knowledge and a daily motivational quote. perhaps these changes will inspire me to blog more regularly

New Mary Hatch Bailey

You know that Drew Berrymore is awfully cute. She has this positive energy that just makes you feel good. And Bonnie Hunt, how do you not love Bonnie Hunt. Makes me even more envious of David Letterman.