superdad

Back again for some more superdad, I knew you would be.

In case you missed it the World Series is even after two games. If you care I know, I do as a fan of the game. The first game was won by the Phillies and the Rays won the second. The big stories from the series have been the fact that the Phillies are struggling mightily with runners in scoring position. While the Rays have been getting runs any way they can. The pitching as always has been good from game one star Cole Hammels and “big game” James Shields was as big in game 2. The series now moves to Philly where the ancient one Jaime Moyer takes the mound for the Phills and ALCS MVP Matt Garza takes the mound for the Rays. This series looks like it could be a long one so stay tuned.

On television last night the Office delivered many laughs. Michael has been getting it on with the new HR lady. However their recent sexcapades allowed the Office to be robbed. A auction is set up for the lost belongings but C.R.I.M.E. A.I.D fails to deliver money but a whole lot of laughter. Pam is living up the college party life while Jim runs into the ex fiance to Pam. While Dwight is being councelled by Phyllis as he is getting frustrated by his own sex kitten. All is good in the Office in case you were too busy watching the game.

Superdad likes to look out for those troubled and Dr Drew’s VHI hit is back in Celebrity Rehab. This time Gary Busey is crashing the party but he is not really sure why he is on the show. What else is new. While the new band of troubled celebs’ including others such as Rod Stewart’s son and Guns in Roses ex drummer are trying to fight the demons that are controlling their lives. This show pulls you in mostly because you want them all to succeed but as we see with Jeff Conaway sometimes the first time is not enough. Although he did go through post season 1 season surgery. Dr Drew rocks and so do the rest of the rehab unit and if you like rooting on the underdogs then tune in to check Dr Drew out.

You know I cannot forget the show Smallville where a dark shadow and a paramedic are the latest new villains Clark has to face while being employed in Metropolis. Chloe is of course getting a little too close for comfort and her fiance Jimmy is now a recent saved victim because of Clark. Jimmy is now on the prowl but I still miss Lex and Lana those two better show up some time during the show, although I am not betting the house on that one.

Remember to get out and vote if early voting is an option for you. With this election going the way it is there are no sure bets and every vote is as important as the last.

The Big Ten showdown in college football is this weekend and possible winner of the game between Penn State and Ohio State could determine this years Big Ten champion and perhaps a bid for a major bowl game. If Penn State looses I say goodbye national championship for any Big Ten team this year. There are too many other good teams out there right now including Texas, Alabama, even a one loss USC team that have better shots than a one loss Big Ten champion.

The Chicago Bears are licking their wounds in the bye week which is much needed with key players hurt. However their are some other good games this weekend which include a beat up Dallas team against a pretty good Tampa Bay team. The 5 and 1 Steelers are host to the one loss New York Giants and on Monday night the undefeated Tennesee Titans will play the floundering Indianapolis Colts whom not only need a win in a big way to keep up with the Titans but the rest of the AFC.

On this Saturday the Blackhawks make their big debute on WGNTV and I will certainly take a peek as the Hawks are undefeated since their recent coaching change. Plus with the Red Wings in town that should make for a great atmosphere at the UC on Saturday night.

The Bulls season begins Tuesday and Rose looks ready to make an impact not only for the Bulls but on the rest on the NBA. When Stephen A Smith from ESPN gives notice then you know Rose is going to be good. Steven A rocks the house and is the best NBA annalist bar none. Sorry Mr Bill Walton we still love ya.

I got to go and go get the HULK on DVD see ya all next week.

Only in Hollywood can a exiled player be reborn again. According to early reports Manny Ramirez may get as much money as Alex Rodriguez yearly. Rodriguez is making about 25 mil a year and Manny may get close to that but just not the kind of length. It will be interesting if he gets this money after being exiled in Boston.

Only in LA can someone make a comeback like what Manny may do in this off season. However being 38 does he deserve that much money? His post season numbers are obvious he is much better than compared to Alex Rodriguez numbers whom has been a great regular season player but has yet to prove in various occasions in the playoffs. The one thing that Manny has going for him lately is he has made his teammates better since his arrival and he alone got the Dodgers into the playoffs. Before Manny’s arrival the Dodgers were pathetic offensively.

Now on defense the LA Dodgers may have to suffer for the next couple of years in left field as Manny has proved that he is a far cry and just plain bad defender. However, remind you Barry Bonds played left field until he was forty two and Manny is four years younger than he was. I believe Joe Torre can live with that as long as Manny stays commited offensively and he also continues to impress his teammates with his deligent pre game preparation. Remember Joe Torre has dealt with many big head athletes over the years including Dereck Jeter and A-Rod whom I am sure never were on the same page as Tore. They won until they got into the playoffs and I beleive Manny is both of them combined with just more hair.

Before we all endorse Manny Ramirez wait until pre season when I am sure if he gets all of this money how motivated he really will be in March and April. Which are historically a laughing stock of excuses and inexuces that seem to follow with Manny Ramirez. Can Torre handle that effectively and not let Manny be an early distraction to some of the younger up in coming players on the Dodgers? Only time will say that will occur. Maybe LA should just wait until the season starts and then pay Manny all that money, but you know if not LA there will be another team willing to deal with Manny because of all of the post season success. I just do not think Boston is on top of that list although I am sure someone else will, especially in the American League.

Last thought, Kenny Williams from the White Sox should get in on this Manny Ramirez party, unfortantely for Kenny and manager Ozzie Guillen they have an up incoming left fielder in Carlos Quentin. However with Griffey asking for 16 million for the option year and Jim Thome losing bat speed Manny is only asking for another nine million which is nothing if your talking about those three guys. Ozzie Guillen is as crazy as Manny is and he is the coach. Unfortantely Manny might not like playing in the cold months of April and May which are a far cry from sunny days of southern California. Although seeing that lineup of Paul Konerko, Manny Ramirez, Jermain Dye and Carlos Quentin may be something else. If you think the White Sox scored a lot of runs this year try putting Manny in that lineup. All I am saying is think about it Kenny.

Ever since the NBA draft,Chicago Bulls fan have wondered, if Derrick Rose is the right guy for the Bulls. We knew he was great in college and that sometimes does not transfer into the NBA. Some guys just take more time or they just show flashes of good play. Much like his teammates for example Joakin Noah or Tyler Thomas.

Then I caught the highlights of the game last night against the Dallas Mavericks. Now whether or not it was legitimate the Bulls came back form a twenty plus deficit and Derrick Rose was the main contributor for the comeback. He lead the team with thirty including many of those in the fourth quarter plus seven assists which shows he still can get his teammate involved when he does get a good feel of the game.

Even thou it was a pre-season game and Dallas might of shut it down in the fourth I still like what I saw out of Rose. Think about this for minute, over the years the Bulls have had great teams but one thing has always been missing. A fourth quarter threat and a player that is not afraid of putting their team on their back and win or loose they will fight those last minutes. At times we saw Ben Gordon get hot or Kirk Heinrick maybe look good for a stretch of games and then all of sudden if they can not hit a outside shot then they are cold for the rest of the game. With Rose, I am at least seeing the ability to attack the rim despite his ability for a outside shot. In the game last night Rose attacked the rim and the results was a Bulls comeback win.

Derrick Rose was the right choice for the Bulls. New coach Vinny Del Negro will not say that to you right now, but you know that with Rose’s versatility and ability to open up the offense he must like his options. It is just a matter of who will fit best when Rose is on the floor. Rose has not been a starter in the pre-season and has been coming off the bench, but after last night’s performance I believe he earned his shot to be a starter.

Derrick Rose will be the next star point guard in the NBA and I am predicting that he will be the difference this year. Sometimes a team is one or two players away and Rose may be that bandage the Bulls have been looking for the last few seasons. Now the pressure will be great on Rose all season long as he was the number one pick but, with the younger core of guys on this team and the mix of a few older veterans the Bulls look good enough to get back to the playoffs this year. I am not predicting a NBA title yet, but Rose will significantly improve this team’s chances. This is a talented team it just needs to build into confidence to play every night. The Bulls were one of the most inconsistent teams last year where they looked good for a few games but others were just plain horrible. Derrick Rose should bring that consistency at the point we are looking for and his pure talent along may win us a few more games this year. In the Eastern Conference right now a few games is a difference that can make a playoff birth more realistic.

Although it hurts to talk about the World Series this year because Chicago failed to provide a team. That does not turn me away. I am a baseball fan and enjoy watching any real game worth watching and here are 10 good reasons reasons why you should watch game 1 of the World Series.

1. Two old managers getting their first shot as a potential champion. Both Charlie Manuel and Joe Madden will be going for their first title and both have worked in baseball more than the age of young superstar Ryan Howard from the Phillies.

2. Ryan Howard is a man and maybe the next Albert Pujols of the National League. He has had some struggles in the playoffs but with one swing he can change the momentum of a series. The power lefty and future MVP is a sight to watch.

3. Evan Longeria, Carl Crawford, and BJ Upton may not be lined on your walls of the greatest players that ever played, but you may have too after this year. All three of these outstanding players play for the Tampa Bay Rays and all have been superstars despite having limited play. You will know these names after this World Series for sure.

3. Pitching and more pitching from both teams. Both the Phillies and Rays will be putting their aces on the mound. Cole Hammels for the Phillies has the lowest ERA of any pitcher in the post season and every starting pitcher for the Rays are young, inexperienced but get the job done and do it well.

4. More pitching if you like it because both of these bullpens in baseball were the best in both leagues. Brad Lidge has failed to blow a save for the whole year and the platoon like effort from the Rays bullpen is not too penetrable itself. Despite losing its leader in Troy Percival the bullpen has flourished and not backing down from any hitter this year in the post season. Both of these teams bullpens are a big reason why they are here in the World Series.

5. The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to end a thirty year champion drought in the whole city of Philly. That is right there has not been a champion in any major sport in Philadelphia for over thirty years and the Phillies are trying to end that drought.

6. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the WS for their first time in franchise history. Despite only being around for ten years this team in every year before has had losing seasons. They were the laughing stock of the American League and not even a chance is ever given to them being in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox. Now that trend has changed this year and the Rays are proving everyone they belong.

7. Jamie Moyer will be the oldest stater of any World Sereis. The forty three year old lefty will be trying to be the oldest to ever win a game. The finesse pitcher may not look like he know’s what he is doing but do not tell the hitters against him that, he will bore you to death with high 80 mile per hour stuff, if that. Somehow he still gets the job done.

8. A cinderella story is currently being played by the Tampa Bay Rays. No one picked them in the beginning of the season and many others doubted the success of their first AL East division winner. However this team is a well oiled machine that has great speed on the base paths, a big home field advantage for those attempting to play for the first time, a defense that fits that building like a glove and timely hitting throughout the whole order makes the Rays not only a good team but a complete team with as much depth as the Phillies. Despite how young they are they can compete with anyone and proved it beating up the Red Sox and the White Sox two teams with a recent winning tradition in the post season.

9. The Philadelphia Phillies are no slouch themselves as they easily marched trough the playoffs. They beat the Brewers and the Dodgers with ease and are looking to do the same to Tampa. Perhaps the best lineup in all of baseball will show why it is so hard to match up with against the likes of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Plus having to face a former MVP in Rollins leading off this offensive juggernaut is no task any team yet has yet to figure out how to stop.

10. The biggest reason to watch because you are a fan of the game. The two best teams will play this year. I know they may not be a favorite of yours but you still have to respect what both of these teams have done to get to this spot. The Phillies had to hear all the noise about the Mets, Cubs and even the Dodgers toward the end of the year that those teams were the teams to beat. Then the Rays having to deal with the powerful Yankees and Red Sox all year so both of these teams belong. They both overcame and are now facing one another trying to doubt one another one more time.

Over the summer in Chicago, the Blackhawks were the talk of the town. No not a Bears team that lacks consistent offense and a aging defense and not the Bulls that just got the number one pick and is starting over with a new coach. The talk of the town was the Chicago Blackhawks. Ever since the season ended at the verge of a playoff bid fans management and fans were excited for the start of the new year.

After a one win start the Hawks management decided that the momentum from last year and all of the hype did not carry over to the players. Denis Savard becomes the latest ex Hawk player to get the axe because of the slow start. This move may seem kind of a quick one but can you blame management after all of the money they invested into the team over the summer. Not only with acquiring top free agents but also the cross pro motioning with teams like the White Sox and Cubs. They even had Hawk and DJ the announcers for the White Sox in Blackhawks gear for a late game in the year at US Cellular.

Now the Hawks are bringing in a young but playoff tested coach that should light the fire. Joel Quenneville was in the playoffs last year and I guess that is what the Hawk management is looking for. Hey in this time of financial crisis even the Blackhawks are trying to get a big return from all of the investments in the off season.

In the end Hawks fans should still be excited as this team will be good. Young teams take longer to get going because just like any sport their needs to be chemistry. This team will hopefully bond closer because of the latest management move because in all honesty if you are not contributing this year with the Hawks then you better start packing your bags as well.

The Chicago Blackhawks have a great and honorable history and the current president and GM are doing everything in their power to reignite the passion. The time is now for this team to take off but I just hope the city isn’t putting too much pressure on this young talented group. We saw last year in another sport with the Bulls that early expectations can sometimes make you look better than you are. The Bulls were an early favorite as a Eastern Conference Final team but as we all now in Chicago the Bulls performed well below those expectations and failed to even get into the playoffs when the eighth best team in the Eastern Conference was hardly a powerhouse in the standings.

In the end we all need to stay cool as ice and give the Hawks a break. They will be good it is just a matter of time. Ten years of consistent loosing is not just like a bandade where you rip it off. It takes time to heal and the Blackhawks will be healed. They are at least reaching out to the fan for the first time since they started this loosing skid. Before, Hawk fans were even lucky to catch a home game on television and now they will be played all over the tube including WGN. The Hawks are looking to create a new and fresh look to them and in doing so they will bring more fans in from the cold winterly months of Chicago. However, in this town you do have to win some to at least get some attention. If the Hawks can get some momentum the fans will certainly follow, at this point they are tired of loosing to the Blues and the Red Wings and always seeing those teams ahead of us in the standings. We did perform better against those teams last year but now it is time to complete the deal.

Check this out as we have more than one topic today and what makes me tick, if you care.

The last debate was last night hope you all tuned in. McCain came out fighting and Obama took every punch and still directed his approach to helping what matters most to the people. The Republicans have been throwing everything including the kitchen sink at Obama lately but I did not here a lot about policies. Yes we know you have a record McCain and that was in support of many of Bush’s policies. One point I found interesting was that McCain wants to stop spending, however wasn’t he in favor of the recent bailout plan that will use nearly a trillion dollars. Isn’t that called spending. In the end we need change and I know from watching I can see who is going to make fundamental change. When you have plans laid out in front of you it is better than just go look at my plans. Throughout all of these debates Obama has been more specific than McCain. I have learned more about Obama and less about McCain. One last thing I was watching and CBS which seems to favor McCain or at least maybe Katie Curric does but everyone that was interviewed was from Ohio. That has been primarily a Republican controlled state, what about people from other places other than Ohio.

Yesterday I got the call from my father that my parents are now back in their house and spent the night for the first time since the floods from more than almost two months ago flooded their neighborhood. My parents have been one of the luckier ones as many other families homes around that area will be demolished and rebuilt. It still will take about a year or two before that neighborhood is back to normal.

I am ready for some Office tonight as we missed last week, and looking forward to the SNL live weekend update which I am sure will target the latest debate.

Despite the debate I still caught MTV’s the Island later on, as everyone’s favorite dude from Georgia went home. Poor Cohutta. Johnny saved his hide and took his key back from Evelyn who is not to happy. A twist in the game might be happening next week so I will be tuned. Also looking forward to 50 cent’s new show it’s kind of like the apprentice but in a more thug style of way.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies who are going to the World Series for the first time since 1993. That was the year of the nasty boys with Kruk, Myers, Dykstra, and many other grizzly looking guys. Unfortanely they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays and Joe Carter of the Blue Jays as he became infamous for his walk off home run to win the World Series.

I saw that the Blackhawks won and broke their opening season loosing streak. Let’s go for two. While the Bulls have yet to win a pre-season game but Derrick Rose has looked pretty good so far. I hope he is a big part of the offense this year.

Still feeling that tough loss for the Bears last Sunday as this team should be 6 and 0. Unfortantely, we are 3 and 3 with Minnesota in town this weekend. It will be tough as Minnesota tore it up last year at Soldier Field when Adrian Peterson could not be stopped. He will be the key to this game as will the Bears Offense against a very good defense. Kyle Orton needs to play big again if the Bears are looking to pull off the win.

The end of this crazy mess called the political process for presidency is almost over. Both candidates have given everything to their respected political parties. Now it is up to you to decide who is the best choice for you.

Whether you are poor or rich we all need to be a part of this process. With the times of financial instability, the war in Iraq, the growing cost of health care, the lack of good schools in your neighborhoods, the environment,  their needs to be change. As much of what you hear and read about the times think about what really affects you on a daily basis and vote for what matter to you and not what everyone else in the media is telling you.

Negative press is quite popular, that is what sells media right? This past few week all we hear about is the financial crisis because in essence it affects everyone. However when the two political parties start to use negative criticism toward one another it just smells fowl to me. With all of the problems are country faces we as people allow the Republican and Democrats to not get along in government because we are always shifting our minds on who is better suited to fix America.

That is why if you want change on November fourth then you better take some accountability and make change. People help government run more efficient when there is a larger voice out there calling the shots. We need more people to get registered and get to vote. Even if that means getting absentee ballots or however your state allows you to vote despite being a late voter. Do not miss this opportunity in this country to really make a difference.

People like George W Bush get into office because not enough people vote, even thou we did in 2000 when Gore did win the popular vote but not the electoral vote. Even in that election the voter turnout was only about fifty percent of registered voters that is just not good enough.

If the national primaries have shown us anything this past year the polls are showing more people are involved. Although, we all should take some responsibility as citizens to finish what we started and that is change for our country.

I am not here to pull you one way or the other all I am saying is make sure you make your voice count. I hear still that there are people out there that do not care to vote because of either a lack of confidence in the political process as a whole or their morals or perhaps their own values are against voting all together. Too those people I respect your decision and moral obligations but even you are at stake right now and I am quite sure your leaders of faith would not turn on you when the rest of this country is relying on you to make a choice. Everyone has a right not to vote but in this election it maybe crucial to have as many voters as possible. Do the right thing for you is all I am saying?

That did not take long , as both Chicago teams have been eliminated from the MLB playoffs. Expectations were high but give credit to the two teams that pulled off the division series win. Both Tampa Bay and Los Angelas, and not the one that won 100 games, are good teams that are deserving to be in the final four.

There is no doubt there is much more disappointment from Chicago Cubs fans but for White Sox fans they seem to be very optimistic for next year. Some White Sox fans were just happy that we were able to just get in to the playoffs after stumbling in September. I know for me personally that one game playoff with the Twins was the best game I saw since the Sox won the World Series in 2005. John Danks will be remembered for awhile after that pitching display.

On the other hand Cubbie nation will be feeling this collapse until Spring training. Only one other time a team with the best record in the National League lost the first round and was swept. There was no sign of feeling pressure all year long until the playoffs began. Although maybe this is a blessing in disguise for the Cubs as that 100 years of losing is now over. The Cubs should look to next year as the first year ever in their organization and never ever look back again at all of the collapses this past century. Those bad memories, curses or whatever you like to call it, just forget it, because it obviously crept into the minds of the Cubs players again and with fans already expecting the worse that has not been the right formula for success for the Cubs.

The future is bright for both teams but as for the White Sox I really like their young developing talent. The Sox did this good and we lost our MVP, Carlos Quentin, in September. With his return and the huge upside to Alexi Ramirez and Dewayne Wise we have three new bright superstars that might help us feel a little better if in case we loose the two future Hall of Famers in Griffey and Thome. Plus John Danks and Gavin Floyd will be even better making our pitching strong again for the 2009 season. The big question for the Sox will be if they can handle the pressure when the spotlight is back on them again as division champions. All of the AL central teams will have a bulls eye on the White Sox and in the last few years we are a better team when everyone else is counting us out in the pre-season and less than great expectations.

To sum it all up, both teams ended their seasons in disappointment but do not let your recent failure make you a free agent as a fan. For me that is the worse when fans can not stand by their team even with defeat, that is when our teams need us the most when things are bad. So when I go out today I still want and should see those Sox and Cubs hats warn with as much pride as before. You in my mind are not a true fan if you cannot handle losing, in this town. Remember getting back up and fighting is what we do in Chicago, that has become our motto with all of out teams. In everyday life as people we have bad days, but that is what makes you and us better people as a whole. Failure can be looked at in two ways you can say “yes that was terrible” or you can say “hey look at what we have done this year as a city.” This was the first time both Chicago teams were in the post season together since before World War I. Plus teams are built to become dynasties and not just one hit wonders, look at the Boston Red Sox for example, before they won their first world series in over eighty years they were always a team that found ways to loose in big games and were perhaps just as famous as underachievers, however since 2004 they have been the best in all of baseball at finding ways to win.

In a few hours the MLB playoffs will be officially starting, get ready for anything, as both Cubs and White Sox are in the post season. A task that has not been done even before the Great Depression. Which kind of sounds odd when we are in a financial mess currently in this country. At least for now, in Chicago and for fans across this country whom wear black and white or red white and blue with pinstripes with such pride, can maybe help us get through this whole debacle that is currently happening in Washington and Wall St. So many times sports can help the healing process and I believe this post season in baseball will be that temporary sense of, we will move on, and fight for a change for better tomorrow.

Back to business at hand the Cubs and White Sox are in playoffs, but as all we all know in Chicago, we now have to finish the job. All year long fans of both teams have been awaiting this train wreck that could be a meeting in the World Series. Remember thou, this town has seen success go down the tubes without us even realizing what just happened.

That is why it is key for both of these teams to not look ahead at their current opponent. Both the Dodgers and Rays are very good teams and are just as deserving to be in the post season with the White Sox and Cubs. On both of these opposing teams their is a lot of young talent with, Evan Longeria, with a good mix of experience with Manny Ramirez and a touch of couching from another Madden, and not John, and good old Joe Torey who always seems to make an appearance when something great in baseball is about to happen. All of this which is not only a common trait of a championship contender but a great Hollywood story if you ask me.

However this is the year for Chicago despite what every ESPN baseball analyst is saying, to go out and prove to everyone that White Sox and Cubs have what it takes to be a winner not only in these division series but in the championship series as well. Chicago fans like making believers out of doubters, that is what has made sports so great in this city.

The Cubs and White Sox have shared the ups and downs pf the season and both did win their very respected divisions. A task in itself is quite unique not only in our city but anywhere because some great cities out there still do not have a baseball team at all. As a southsider fan I am pulling for a clash between us and the northsiders and when it comes the White Sox will show then the rest of Chicago and the rest of the league that there still can be only one winner. Sox win in 7 and the Cubs will unfortunately have to wait till next year again. There will then be no bashing, bragging or taunting because in actuality the city of Chicago won in the end.

What is funny about what I am writing write now and what you are reading some guy in California and is thinking the same thing. Two teams one city colliding for a chance at the championship. It has happened on a few occasions including in New York and California and for fans in Chicago and in the mid-west we are ready to take on the torch and have our first two team World Series since 1906.