Moving again.

I'm sure all of you moved over with us when we ditched the Sports Desk Speaks blogspot site and went with the less confusing bigdeadsidebar.blogspot.com.

Now, we can drop the blogspot part.

We've moved, again.  This time it's probably for good.  We've joined the RantSports.com network of blogs and we're glad to be their newest addition.

What we will do there is exactly what we did here.  But this time with more advertising and without the blogspot.com ending.

As the blogs co-founder, editor and primary contributor, I would like to thank you for the time you've spent here at this blog and encourage you to join us at our new home.  Waiting there for you will be some new blogs and all of your old favorites.

The staff will join us and so will new features.

Can't wait to see you there.  Thanks for the support once again.


The Big Dead Sidebar - Final Edition

(Note: Yes we noticed the misspelling in our header.  Not a good start but surely that will get fixed.)

Goodbye, Old Friend

Saying good bye is supposed to be hard to do.  However, it isn't hard to do when you've got a brand spankin' new site.

I would like to thank everyone for everything.  I want to thank readers for reading, commenting on our blogs and telling their friends.  That's really how this site got as big as it did -- even though at times I wish it were bigger -- I appreciate the fan base we already have.

With that said, I am hoping you follow us to the new site, which is a vast improvement over whatever this was.  You'll like it.  I promise.  All your favorite bloggers will be there.  Including yours truly.

Please come on down.  We're awaiting your presence.


THE NEW BIG DEAD SIDEBAR

Site News: Stripped

This is going to be short, sweet and a pain in the behind.

1. We're trying to make TBDS look like a legitimate site, not just something two idiots put together over night.
2. So we've enlisted the help of some friends of the program to make this site not suck.
3. In the middle of rebuilding, said friends of the program got busy and had to leave.
4. And as smart as I can be, like Jerry Angelo, whenever I answer one problem, 10 others show up.

So, in older posts, you should click on the post title to read the entire thing.  Until then, no more "read more" tag.  We'll hopefully not have something that doesn't completely suck by the end of the week.  And by the end of the week, I mean I have no idea if and/or when this will get done.

Bear with us as we try to make the blogosphere a better place.  Until then, I hope you enjoy the picture of Mariah Carey.

Good News

In the next day or two our ads should be back up and running - none of this PSA garbage. As always thanks for your support!

I will return to posting as well...Breaking down each team eliminated from the playoffs and those teams who never made it...What will their offseason plans be?

Where Should TBDS Go?

It's been a long time since The Big Dead Sidebar has taken a trip to the ballpark.  OK, not that long.  Still, it would be nice to get back on the open road and take in a ball game.  Especially if it is within driving distance and is to a place TBDS' staff has yet been to.

Trips to see NBA and NHL games are forthcoming in the future, but right now, a trip to a NFL destination is on the front-burner.  Being in southern Illinois, the options are limited for NFL games.  But after a lunch break full of research, I've targeted the following games in the following cities.

ST. LOUIS

• Colts @ Rams (Oct. 25, noon)
• Saints @ Rams (Nov. 15, noon)
• Cardinals @ Rams (Nov. 22, 3:05 p.m.) 
  

INDIANAPOLIS

• Texans @ Colts (Nov. 8, 1 p.m. ET)
• Patriots @ Colts (Nov. 15, 8:20 p.m. ET)

TENNESSEE (Nashville, Tenn.)

• Cardinals @ Titans (Nov. 29, 1 p.m. ET)
• Dolphins @ Titans (Dec. 20, 1 p.m. ET) 
  

CINCINNATI

• Bears @ Bengals (Oct. 25, 3:15 p.m. ET)
  

KANSAS CITY

• Chargers @ Chiefs (Oct. 25, noon) 
  

I know you're asking why I chose these games?  Most of which are within a decent driving distance.  Also there are some interesting storylines to follow.

The Rams suck, but they will play host to some high-powered offenses as the Colts, Saints and Cardinals come to the Dome in St. Louis.  The Gateway to the West is the closest city to travel to, and is the city I am most familiar with among the prospective NFL towns.  If the Rams were good, the games might be worth more.

Indianapolis is a four-hour drive that seems to be manageable.  The Colts' most intriguing games include what could be a shootout with the Texans and a barn-burner against arch-rival New England Patriots.

Nashville is one of two cities on this list I have never been to, but comes with high praise from friends that have been to the city.  The Titans host the high-powered Cardinals.  And I've always wanted to see what the Wildcat would look like live.  The drive to Cashville is about three hours.

The least-likely destination is Cincinnati.  The drive is one that is nearly five-and-a-half hours, which is similar to the one I would make to sweet home Chicago.  But I've never been to Cincy before and would be very intrigued by the idea of eating Cincinnati's world-famous chili, tweeting with @OGOchocinco and hanging out with Cedric Benson and a crew of attractive single white females on a boat.  That trip would surely end with several intakes of road beef.

KC is the longest of the long shots, but again, comes highly recommended.  Especially, its tailgating.

Several games were eliminated because of schedule and holiday conflicts.  (Not to be confused with Holliday conflicts.)  College suggestions will also be accepted.

Your vote will be taken into consideration.

So, where should we go?

Where should TBDS go next?

• Colts @ Rams (Oct. 25)
• Bears @ Bengals (Oct. 25)
• Chargers @ Chiefs (Oct. 25)
• Saints @ Rams (Nov. 15)
• Cardinals @ Rams (Nov. 22)
• Texans @ Colts (Nov. 8)
• Patriots @ Colts (Nov. 15)
• Cardinals @ Titans (Nov. 29)
• Dolphins @ Titans (Dec. 20)

Created on Oct 13, 2009

View Results

poll by twiigs.com

Maybe It's Just Me, But...

Carlos Marmol seems to be settling into that closers role.

Under Construction

That's the sign all pitchers see as they walk into a clubhouse managed by Dusty Baker.

 
You'll see that TBDS is going through some changes.  And this is where I usually give the speech about the changes you go through in life and that you'll be better for them in the end.

So pardon our dust as we try to get our shit together improve this beloved site.

And if I may quote co-founder M.J. Hartwig, "please click a link."

Seriously.

Coming Soon: Why Your Team Won't Beat Da Bears In The Super Bowl

Alright, so TBDS Late Night will be sidelined for about the next month as we attempt to preview the upcoming NFL season. But this isn't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill preview. Not by a long shot.

See, ever since the Chicago Bears acquired quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos, I have been convinced that Da Bears were Super Bowl bound. And with each passing day, I've grown more and more confident, to the point where I am ready to hitch my bandwagon to Cutler's Kids and say:

THE CHICAGO BEARS ARE GOING TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL!

There, I said it. And yes, the all-caps was necessary here.

Yours truly will run down every team that will fall short of Super Bowl glory at the expense of Da Bears.

SIte News: TBDS Under Construction

Slaves Construction workers are helping re-tool this site.

As I have tried to re-tool this site to make it more visually appealing, yours truly has ran into some problems. But it's cool, because the problems are mostly on my end. So while I take a bit of a breather as I try to straighten some things out, you might get some posts from this sites other bloggers.

Or a dumbed-down version of what I want to write extensive prose about. Oh well, until I get everything straightened out ... (And by "I", I mean my trusty Web expert) ... I won't be fully back up and running.

Until then, enjoy Men at Work.

Site News: Cue Tupac's Song About Changes

Unbeknown to some TBDS members, there are some changes a-comin' to the site. Good changes.

What are they? Well, I'ma tell you what Chris Lowery once told me: "C'mon Luis, you know I can't tell you that."

Ahhh, I'm gonna miss covering C-Lo on a daily basis. Maybe one day, I will resume that responsibility.

Anyway...let's just say yours truly has been on the recruiting trail and has inked a star blogging prospect. Once we get through the details, s/he will be making her/his debut very soon.

Thanks.

This College Grad Has A Real Job With A Newspaper. You can pop that bottle ... NOW!

Yep, that's right kids. I've accepted a job at the Harrisburg (Ill.) Daily Register. And it's even got a Twitter page.

My job title? Well, I'm not quite sure yet. My first day is tomorrow, officially and I'm going to have a lot of responsibilities. I wonder how that will look on a business card.

There are so many people to thank, but I won't thank them all here. Even though once upon a blog post I did that.

As for The Big Dead Sidebar, it's not going anywhere. Not until someone says I can't write it anymore. That will be a dark day in blogger history if that ever happens. And even if it did happen, there is a contingency plan in place (in my mind, at least), but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Until then, there's a celebration in Carbondale. Not as big as the one pictured above, but I think you get the gist of things.

UPDATE: That Journalism Degree Is Already Worth Something: TBDS Makes Deadspin, Other National Sites

UPDATE: So this thing is picking up a little bit of steam as it has been picked up by The Huffington Post and NBCChicago.com. For the record, my pops saw it and had no idea what The Big Dead Sidebar was.

If anything, this just means we have to have another TBDS Day (or Night) At The Park very soon.

It's been a little more than one week since yours truly accepted an empty diploma holder signifying the end of my five-year stint at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

I currently hold a degree in journalism, as long as those credits clear and the university doesn't lose my mailing address, I'll have the thing in no time. But that degree is already starting to open doors ... or at least Internet windows.

Take it away, Deadspin:

Irked by the loathsome "Zambrano mows my lawn" shirt found on one Cardinals fan a couple weeks ago, the Wrigley faithful come back with their own interpretation. Yes, Albert Pujols, one of the MLB's best players and most kind-hearted human beings, is also apparently mowing lawns for some Chicago area residents. This shirt was spotted by members of the Big Dead Sidebar blogging outfit while they strolled Wrigleyville during the Astros series.

Yep, we made Deadspin with that post.

Does that makes up better than you? Maybe. Does it mean you should take us a little more seriously? Maybe. Does it mean you should read this blog religiously? Definitely!

Now it's time for me to find a job.

Midwesterners Sure Do Love Their Lawn Mowin' T-Shirts [Deadspin]
Cubs Vendors Adopt Stupid, Racist Shirt [NBC Chicago]
Cubs Vendors Selling 'Pujols Mows My Lawn' Shirt [The Huffington Post]

Someone's Getting Dragged Out Of Wrigleyville Like This

Welcome to the Sunday edition of The Big Dead Sidebar. Today is TBDS Day At The Park where M.J. Hartwig and yours truly are expected to rip Wrigleyville to shreds as Rich Harden looks to throw 100 pitches without blowing out his right arm against Brian Moehler and the Houston Astros.

Meanwhile, Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg looks to not blow and Crazy Uncle Milton looks to not blow up.

We'll see how things play out

Site News: Guess Who's Bizzack?

Alright, I'm finally settled in The City of Wind and with a strong Internet connection teaming with a power source, I can bring to you a full day of posting.

And a picture of Lacey Chabert, who shined in Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past.

(That means she's hot!)

While The Power Was Out

I thought I got all my "thank yous" out of the way on Friday, but one last shoutout goes out to Thomas Edison. Thank you for the lightbulb ... southern Illinois truly appreciates it. Here's hoping everything gets well soon down there, and don't worry, I'll be back.

So let's take a look at some of the things that happened while I've been gone:

• Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez put forth maximum effort on the defensive end ... and ended up on the DL shortly thereafter.
• Saluki softball got snubbed again, this time by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.
• The Chicago Blackhawks have been kicking butt and taking names en route to the Western Conference championship.
• And of course, I graduated from The Southern Illinois University.

And thanks to Hurricane Saluki, I'm back to the blog for a good time. Thanks to M.J. Hartwig, Johnny Sole and Jon I. for their efforts in my absence. It's a dad-gum good thing we've got going here.

For starters, I'll be unveiling the new Twitter updates on the rail on the right side of the page.

Thanks To All The Roommates I Had

Because those people helped get me here too.

John Noboa, thanks, even though you tried killing me by throwing a dresser drawer at me.

Kevin Hoos, even though you love Duke (despite the fact that they suck) and you probably hate that I'm a bandwagon Blackhawks fan.

Marcus Lathan, two words: Music Wars. There isn't a day I don't come home and think to myself "One, two, three, four I declare a music war."

Steven Luschen, thanks for too much. The use of your car (P.S. I still have your extra key). The use of that bottle of whiskey that one Valentine's Day night my freshman year. For lifting my spirits while imbibing spirits on school nights. And for introducing me to Firefox and country music that doesn't suck.

And why Bar Refaeli via Chickipedia? Well, why not?

That's all the thanks I got for this site. For more, check out my tumblr blog.

Thanks To The Big Dead Sidebar

Finally, the one a good chunk of folks have been waiting for.

• Thanks to Matt Hartwig for his work on this site and for going into this with me. We'll make it really big one day.
• Thanks to the entire staff for their contributions in year one of this wonderful site: BFeldt (Brian Feldt), SalukiOrphan (Stile T. Smith), Jon I., Jeff Engelhardt, Johnny Sole and Mike Carter.
• Thanks to the readers, whoever you are. Feel free to comment, send tips, tell your friends and PLEASE CLICK ON ADVERTISEMENTS!!!!!
• Thanks to the DE photogs for letting me use their stuff (Stephen Rickerl, Sean McGahan, Edyta B, Anthony ... all you good folks!)
  

And finally, a big, warm thank you to Ms. Allison Petty and Ms. Diana Soliwon.

See, there was a little bit of a hub-ub made about TBDS one day in a meeting because the EIC and Managing Editor thought that I wasn't putting the type of effort in the DE Blog that I was here at this blog. And when I found out TBDS was brought up in an Editorial Board meeting -- I'll be honest -- I was scared to the dickens. I feared my job, my life (jokingly) and for my blog.

Well, my defense was that they were two separate, distinguished voices. The Gus Bode Blog was more informational on Saluki Sports while TBDS was all about the outside world with Saluki sprinklings. And after a few heart-to-hearts with the powers that be, TBDS was good-to-go as I started a new era in siuDE.com blogging.

I started the DE Sports Blog, not to mention The Sports Huddle and Sports Lounge web shows. That's gotta count for something, right?

Thanks Diana and Allison for not turning me into Christmas Ape.

Can we all just get along now?

Thanks To Coaches And Student Athletes

I'm sure you're tired of these by now, So I'll try to go through them quickly.

• Thanks to Chris Lowery for accepting my phone calls and giving me interview time whether it was for a story, background or a class project.
• Additional thanks goes to the coaching staff (especially Rodney Watson for directing me to good stories, Lance Irvin for helping me with my final paper for Paul Povse's class and Tony Young for his coaching and playing career)
  
• Thanks to Dale Lennon for dealing with my silly questions about Tropic Thunder.
• Additional thanks to Bubba Schweigert and Phil Longo (who still owes me an Italian dinner ... inside joke)
  
• Thanks to Kevin Dillard, Anthony Booker, Torres Roundtree, Brandin Jordan, Chauncey Mixon, Nick Evans for doing the Barack Obama YouTube special videos.
• Additional thanks to Book for the tip to go to Imo's Pizza.
• Thanks to Coach K (yes, Duke's Coach K) for saying that I asked a good question. That alone should get me a job, even in this market.
• Special thanks to Rick Walker, SIU swimming and diving head coach. Even though swimming doesn't get as much attention as basketball and football do, Coach Rick really treated me well by giving me interview time and explained so much to me. And as much as I enjoyed all my other beats, I stand by saying that Saluki Swim & Dive was my favorite of them all.
  

Here Is One Big Effen Thanks To The DE

The Daily Egyptian is the student-run and student-operated newspaper of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. That sentence has been drilled in my head since even before I was on the DE staff. In fact, here's a little background.

Since the day I stepped onto the SIU-Carbondale campus, my dream/goal was to write for the DE. Some people laughed at my dream of writing for a student newspaper. But hey, big dreams start at small places. And in three semesters that went too damn fast (in my humble opinion) I went from correspondent, to rookie on the sports desk, to Assistant Sports Editor to Sports Editor.

So, here is me thanking the people who helped me along the way.

First, a thanks to Sean McGahan for convincing me to apply when I was almost scared off by the crap the DE got from some folks for their coverage of Poshard's plagiarism incident. Good journalism is often met by resistance, what can I say? Then I thank Sarah Lohman, who was the Editor in Chief that hired me. Next is DE writing coach Wendy Weinhold, who dealt with my persistent e-mails about whether or not I was going to be hired.

The next thank you goes to Brian Feldt, who took an internship to work at the Peoria Journal Star and opened up a spot on the sports desk for me. And thanks to my first sports editor, Jeff Engelhardt (pictured) for not only taking a chance on me on his sports desk, but for dealing with my struggles. Same for Matt Hartwig (yes, TBDS co-founder Matt Hartwig), who often times edited my crap and put me in my place. I guess thanks to Jordan Wilson for being a good mentor and being the other North Carolina Tar Heels fan in that newsroom.

Thanks to all the photographers including Lane Christiansen, Emily Sunblade, Edyta B (no, I'm not even gonna try to spell your last name haha), James Durbin, James McDonnough, Evan Davis, Julia Rendleman, Brandon Chapple ... and all the others I missed. Thanks to Anthony Souffle' for being an awesome road trip partner. And this a very big hat tip goes to Ryan Rendleman, for you will always be remembered in my heart.

Special thanks to Allison Petty and Diana Soliwon ... who will get a special mention in a later blog.

And a very special thanks to all of you who get those little iChat messages from me throughout the day and don't come to my desk and rip my head off. Don't worry, you'll miss it when I'm gone. Speaking of missing people, I'll probably miss the copy editors more than I should, because I'm pretty darn sure I didn't spell everything right in this blog.

A big thank you goes out to DE Faculty Managing Editor Eric Fidler, who rode me until I busted my ass in class and in the newsroom. For some reason or another, he always knew the right thing for me to focus on in my story. He's good. And thanks to Eric and Jerry Bush for sponsoring those road trips in Fall 2008.

Thanks goes out to printshop guru Blake Mulholland, for being the Cubs fan to balance out Cardinals Nation.

Oh, and I can't forget about the professors that helped me get here including: Bill Babock, AJ Stoner, Bill Recktenwald, Bill Freivogel, Uche, Mike Lawrence, Laura Hlavich and everyone else that I am forgetting. I learned so much from them and feel honored to have been guided by their expertise.

Last, but not least, a shout out and thanks to Jack Young, the best adviser in the entire university for not only getting me into classes that wouldn't kill me, but also for being an avid Saluki fan to talk to and exchange stories with.

And for the official final word, thanks to all the friends I made along the way. Here's to you. All of you.

Thank Yous: The Ones For SIU Media Relations Folks And Other Media Peeps

Underrated and overworked, the SIU Media Relations folks deserve a shoutout. If only because Kyle Herm Appreciation Day got rained out.

Actually, I'm posting this one earlier than expected because I know Kyle's got a busy day in front of him. So this is my official thank you to Kyle, who put up with my phone calls, questions, comments and concerns when it came to golf and softball. The man's on point at all times and will be hard for media relations director Tom Weber to replace.

So, I guess this if where I thank Tom for setting up basketball interviews and road game accommodations. For laughing at me for bringing a baseball glove to football interviews before I had to go softball class. And for allowing me to ask questions when I wasn't a deadline reporter and he had asked for questions from reporters working on deadline only.

Shoutout to Jeff Honza for all the football and baseball info.

Very, very, very special thank you goes out to my two favorite ladies: Megan Kramper and Beth Miller. Megan and I worked together at the DE for a semester and had to deal with my North Carolina gloating. She also had to put up with my frozen balls in "her" freezer. As well as dealing with my crap on the media relations side, too. I love her for that. And everyone knows how much I love Beth. Even though she is a Cardinals fan, she's one of the nicest and most genuine people anyone could know. And she's knowledgeable and passionate about Saluki sports. Thanks to Beth for dealing with me when it came to tennis, golf, at practices, interviews and elsewhere.

Additional Thanks Goes Out To:

• Saluki AD Mario Moccia, who met with me every week and answered every one of my questions with detail.
• "The Voice Of The Salukis" Mike Reis for being the best play-by-play guy in the Valley. I learned a lot from his calls before I got on the DE staff and when I joined the media, it was an honor to work with him and his partner Greg Starrick. Their calls of Saluki hoops makes it worth buying the Saluki All-Access package.
• Mike Williams, the Indiana State Sports Information Director, who killed about a dozen bees in the McAndrew Stadium press box during the SIU/Indiana State football game and for getting me a courtside seat behind Chris Lowery in Terre Haute, Ind., for the basketball game.
• Rick Kindhart, the SID for Missouri State is arguably my favorite SID in the Valley. He helped me get situated in the new JQH when I showed up pretty much unannounced. Same for football. He also got me in contact with MBB assistant coach (and former Saluki great) Kent Williams. And he sent golf and softball media guides to me. Thanks, again. Hat tip to you Rick.
• Todd Hefferman ... it's not everyday you give a hat tip to the competition ... but that guy and I have stories for days from our travels in the Valley. And because he left the MVCs early, yours truly had a courtside seat (front row) to see The Osiris Eldridge Show.
• The Sports Staff at the Daily Vidette. Good kids who remind me of me: passionate about sports and damn good at writing about it.

And a blanket thanks to everyone else.