In this inaugural edition of the Windy City Roundup, I'll be fracturing the usual spotlight to accommodate a number of different Chicago-area sports stories that I feel are worthy of comment as well as listing a few select national plot lines.
- Bumbling Bulls: Just because they've lost Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Joe Smith to various injuries does not give the Bulls license to lose 83-67 to the worst team in the NBA. I can say this with certainty because they beat the very same Minnesota Timberwolves just the night before 96-85 at the United Center while similarly shorthanded. Hinrich, who had shouldered the team as of late, must have shrugged tonight with his 5-17 shooting performance.The Bulls committed a whopping 22 turnovers en route to their lowest point total of the season. The pathetic effort prompted interim head coach Jim Boylan to compare the Bulls to Ritalin-starved ADD tykes: "They stopped playing with energy. They stopped playing with focus. They went into their own little worlds, acting kind of childish at times instead of doing what we know we need to do." What are the Vegas odds on the "interim" being removed from Boylan's title anytime soon? Buyer beware. Anyone know Larry Brown's number?
- Spellman Shootout: Former Bears first-round draft pick Alonzo Spellman is back in trouble with the law. The embattled ex-defensive lineman was arrested by police in Tulsa, Oklahoma after a 20-minute car chase following a convenience store disturbance. Police had to use stop sticks and pepper bullets to apprehend Spellman, who refused to leave the vehicle even after it was stopped.He was booked on complaints of eluding, assault with a deadly weapon upon a police officer, resisting arrest and driving without a license. No word yet on whether he was on his medication at the time. Spellman was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during his Bears tenure, battled drugs and alcohol and later spent 18 months in federal prison for interfering with a flight crew and forcing an emergency landing.
Alonzo Spellman was lucky that referees weren't issued pepper bullets during the 9 years he spent in the league.
And you all thought Tank Johnson was bad?
- Around the World:
- Someone forgot to tell the Pro Bowl that Jamal Lewis plays for the Browns now. His Ravens replacement Willis McGahee was named as a Pro Bowl alternate because of L.T.'s knee injury despite trailing Lewis by 97 yards and 2 TDs.
- It's looking almost definite that my hometown Buffalo Bills will be the first international NFL team. Assuming the league approves the plan, the Bills will play 8 games in Toronto over the next 5 years: one regular season game per year plus three pre-season contests. Smart move for a small market franchise that should keep it in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. But is a long-term move to Toronto in the cards?
- Huge upset in Kansas. Formerly undefeated No. 2 Kansas goes down to spunky No. 22 Kansas State, making star forward Michael Beasely a household name in the Sunflower State.
- Johan Santana to the Mets for a handful of prospects? What a steal. Too bad the Cubs didn't act on that.
- Talk about fan initiative: More than 100,000 Liverpool FC fans are trying to purchase the team from its current American tycoon owners in a "member-share" scheme aimed at raising £500 million.
- Out of Bounds:
- Immediately after finishing third in Florida to Republican rivals John McCain and Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani vowed to fight on. A few hours later, he had withdrawn from the race and endorsed McCain. Something happened during those two hours to change his mind. Can anyone smell a McCain/Giuliani ticket? If my current claim to fame was being the ex-mayor of New York, I'd take a VP nod in a heartbeat.
- Sad to see John Edwards go as I've always liked the guy, but the time was right. PS- An Obama/Edwards ticket sure has a nice ring to it.
Wait... he didn't even mention the Super Bowl?! Have no fear, tune back in before Sunday for my full Super Bowl prediction.
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