You can put it on the board...YES! YES! YES! YES!

I didn't get a chance to see the game, but I assume that Hawk Harrelson's voice had to give out at some point during the Chicago White Sox's 9-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals.

Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe went back-to-back-to-back-to-back to secure the win. And as rare as the crosstown Cubs road success has been, four consecutive long balls is even more rare, happening only for the sixth time in the history of baseball.

Despite the Sox's power surge, their lead over the pesky piranhas is only one game. How much longer can those guys hang on? Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are stars with the stick. And Joe Nathan is nasty in the ninth. But what's the deal?

I expect the Sox to runaway and hide with this division, sooner rather than later.

This has just got to be a coincidence, right?

At first glance, the Chicago Cubs sweep of the Atlanta Braves would have been more impressive had it happened against the vintage Bravos of Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz.

As for a mini-breakdown. The doubleheader sweep where the Cubs won both games by at least eight runs was the first of its kind since 1908...the last time the Cubs won the World Series.

The eight game road winning streak is the team's longest since 1945...the last time the Cubs appeared in a World Series.

Still, a season sweep of any team is impressive.

Remember, the lowly Florida Marlins swept the season series from the Cubs in 2007, keeping the Brewers hopes alive and not allowing the Cubs to clinch the NL Central.

Oh, did I mention that the Cubs start a series against the Marlins tonight?

Coincidence? I think not!

It looks like Jeff Samardzija is gonna get his first major league start. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Not! [Cubs.com]

What The Buck?

Welcome to the new edition of The Big Dead Sidebar. In the first post of the new era, I'll tackle the impact of the Mo Williams trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Someone explain to me a trade that really doesn't help anyone.

Mo Williams and his 17 points per game will be a nice addition to the Cavs, but he isn't the answer. If you think the addition of Mo Williams will keep LeBron James in a Cleveland uniform, then you're wrong. The only way that happens is if Williams takes Bron-Bron hostage and holds him for ransom.

The Cavs need outside shooters. Anyone with a pulse who watched the Cavs fall a P.J. Brown jump shot away from a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals knows that.

Who handles the rock? LeBron does. Who distributes the rock? LeBron does. Who penetrates and takes the ball to the hoop? LeBron does.

See a pattern here?

LBJ is a point guard in a power forward's body. Why doesn't Danny Ferry take a clue and surround the franchise with the type of sharp-shooters that will keep Flight 23 from taking off to New York City?

As for the Bucks, they're left with a billion point guards. You're talking about finding two regular contributors out of Luke Ridnour, Romain Sessions, Charlie Bell, Damon Jones and Tyronn Lue.

And even if they do that, they need to figure out what to do with the million small forwards they have. Finding playing time for Richard Jefferson, Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is as likely to happen as chefs finding a big enough cake for CC Sabathia and Prince Fielder.

Good luck with that, Scott Skiles.

As for the Sonics, the only sense I can make out of the deal is the return of Desmond Mason for his second stint with the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise. Sounds like a marketing ploy to the locals, who saw Mason star at Oklahoma State University.

And for those Okie State fans waiting for D-Mase to unleash his ridiculously mad hops, your best bet will come in a blowout because it's unlikely he'll see any playing time in front of Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.

Good luck with that, nameless and faceless Oklahoma City Sonics/Thunder/Whatever Your New Team Name Is coach.

Ed. Sidenote: When I clicked on the OKC team Web site, it initially came up as "Seattle Supersonics" on my tab key before changing to "NBA OKC." Looks like breaking up really is hard to do.

Until the OKC franchise finds a name for itself, enjoy another episode of the Mo Williams Show!

Under Re-Construction

A new day for TBDS is a-comin'. New writers, posts and an expanded list of topics are among changes.

Yes, being assistant sports editor at the Daily Eygptian will be a challenge, but it comes with the territory. So if you're worried that I won't be here, don't be. This is like my baby...if my baby was to consist of sports blogging, of course.

Other examples of change:

• We're dipping into the collegiate athletics pool.
• I'm personally adding a segment I will tentatively call "Stat Tracker" where I'll focus on the numbers aspect of the game.
• I'll be doing a blog over at the DE tentatively called Media Watchdawg, so you should watch out for that. It's kinda like what I do here when I call out columnists or ESPN people, but likely with less cussing.

So keep your eye to the sky and your ears to the street. The Big Dead Sidebar is moving on up!

TBDS Presents: The News Minute

So it's 12:27 a.m. in the beautiful city of Chicago where I am currently stuck because of vehicular issues. I'm using my parents run-down computer that constantly boots me off Internet Explorer (sorry, my folks don't believe in Firefox) and makes the spacing in posts look goofy. Nevertheless, I came up with a new concept/segment: The News Minute.

The News Minute will be a lot like the stuff you'll find in the Daily Dosage's Quality Linkage segment. Basically, I'm looking for blogs, sites and stories that might go overlooked.

The Minute will be used when I can't do the Dosage.

So without further to do, here's your first installment of The News Minute.

Jenn The Jet

On the field, the New York Jets brought in a future Hall of Fame quarterback to cap an off-season that saw NYJ spend more than $100 million to improve one of the AFC's weakest teams. Off of it, they're looking to add a little more firepower, too.

Enter stage left, Jenn Sterger who joins the Jets staff as resident eye candy. She'll be doing interviews with celebs, a "Keys to the Game" segment and will have some stuff to do during the halftime show...among other things.

And to think, no one would know Sterger exisited had it not been for the Sept. 15 2005 Florida State game where ABC's Brent Musberger drooled on his mic and said:

“Fifteen hundred red-blooded Americans just decided to apply to Florida State.”

Here's hoping pretty girls don't take all the good sports media jobs.

Craig Sager Has Questionable Fashion Taste, But Good Taste In Women

DC Sports Blog caught up with Sager, who is best known for the pretty outlandish outfits he sports on the sidelines working for TNT.

Interview highlights:

• He has a fetish for blondes.
• He married a Chicago Bulls Luv-a-Bull (lucky guy!!!)

From The Did You Know? Department

Did you know that the critically acclaimed sports journalism Web site Fire Joe Morgan is inaccessible in China?

For those of you that don't know, FJM is run by a bunch of talented TV writers who also happen to be major baseball fans and stat heads. Like, extreme stat heads. Which is cool. It's why I like them.

And when they got wind of what was going on, I loved their response:

I find this to be excellent.

What's the matter, China? Can't handle EqA? Big fans of bunting over there? Love Livan Hernandez, hate Johan Santana?

We will not stop blogging until every Chinese citizen has the right to read curse-filled nonsense about Dusty Baker. And that is a kind-of promise!

Cubs And Cards Fans Find Something To Agree On

I finally found something Cubs and Cardinal fans can agree upon. And of course there's a story behind it.

My former roommate (a Cards fan) and I went to a Wrigleyville watering hole after the Cubs 6-2 victory Sunday night for a few post-game brews. While at said watering hole, the Olympics took the main screen for that big medley relay swim.

Needless to say, I was three sheets to the wind cheering on the USA in its come-from-behind win...and when they won it, Cubs and Cards fans rejoiced as one. Slapping hands, raising glasses and singing the National Anthem, Cubdom and Cardinal Nation came together as one.

Sound too cheesy? Well, it is. I just thought it was a cool story to share with the good folks who read this site.

And since this computer is still not letting me post YouTube videos, click here for the best Olympic commercial I've seen.

P.S. I'm still operating without photos. Hopefully that will change soon!

'It's where receivers go to die'

The Moose is loose and verbally insulting the Chicago Bears' offensive scheme.

Muhsin Muhammad, the popular ex-Bear best known for ending the Kyle Orton experience in 2005, is speaking out against Ron Turner's offensive system (and I mean offensive in both meanings of the word.)

"It's where receivers go to die."

Moose has a point, for in his three years as the Bears top target, he averaged only 54 receptions and 4 TDs. A drastic downfall compared to the 93 grabs and 16 touchdowns he secured in his last season with the Carolina Panthers.

But wait, there's more.

"In the time Brett Favre has started for the Packers -- what's it been, 16 years?
-- I bet the Bears have had 16 different starting quarterbacks. You've got to
find the right guy and stick with him."

So where was this last year? Or the year before?

One of the reasons Moose is no longer with the Monsters of the Midway is because his hands turned to stone in 2007, so it's good to see that Moose's feet still work, because he's kicking the Bears while their down.

As for the offense, it's bad and not getting any better soon.

The Bears say they have two quarterbacks. That means they have none. Their offensive line (outside of Olin Kreutz) is just that, offensive. And they'll be relying heavily on a rookie at tailback and a guy who might as well be a rookie as their new No. 1 target.

Today's Bear-naked prediction: 5-11.

Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback

R.I.P. Bernie Mac

I was really shocked to hear that actor/comedian and Chicago native Bernie Mac had passed due to complications of pneumonia. He was a great comedian (if you've never seen his part in 'The Kings Of Comedy' then you're missing out), a great actor (whether it be on his show or in one of those 'Ocean' flicks), and by all accounts a great father.

As for his link to the sports world: he'll be forever tied with Chicago's baseball teams.

Mac was a die-hard White Sox fan who was lucky enough to see his team clinch a world title in 2005. But I'll always remember him for what happened Oct. 14, 2003.

Mac's rendition of the 7th inning stretch during Game 6, which mentioned rooting for the "champ champs" instead of the traditional "Cubbies", was like nails on a chalkboard for Cubs fans. On top of that, Mac wasn't scheduled to perform. Instead that honor was supposed to go to Cubs fan Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame, but FOX found it necessary to promote Mac's new show.

The Cubs scored two runs that inning, but surrendered eight in the top of the eighth inning en route to losing the game and the series.

Despite his South Side ties, Mac never wished harm on the Cubs and hoped that they'd win it for the Cubs fans just like the Sox did it.

I just needed to get that off my chest. Bernie, you will be missed.

'The Cadillac Of Baseball Rivalries' Is Renewed

Ed. Note: Yeah, I had to use a picture of Jim Edmonds, who is killing the ball as a Cub to the tune of a .279/.381/.588 clip with 12 homers and 36 runs batted in.

Back in January, when Cubs fans were desperately conjuring scenarios in which Ryan Dempster was dealt to a team in the North Pole and Kosuke Fukudome was projected to hit .330 with a .400 OBP, I came upon a story calling Cubs-Cards the Caddie of baseball rivalries.

And even though it takes a backseat to Yanks-Sawks, it's an analogy that hits it on the head. Because unlike Yankees-Red Sox, there isn't much personal hatred between Cubs and Cards fans...just that whole Brock for Broglio thing and that Sammy-McGwire thing and that Kent Bottenfield-won-18-games-for-you-how? thing.

It's purely a baseball thing.

Wanna start trouble at a bar? Tell a Cards fan that the Cubs have taken every season series since Dusty Baker took over the helm. Tell 'em they can't excuse Rick Ankiel's HGH-usage if they won't be willing to do the same with Barry Bonds. Tell 'em how much you love the Belgians.

They'll come back with 2006 and 100 years.In the end, it's baseball purest rivalry. Two teams representing what some would call the Midwest's finest cities in America's Game.

(Half-hearted joking sidebar: sorry, I'm not sold on a city whose main attraction is an arch...if I want arches, McDonald's has two.)

And in 2008, the stakes are bit higher.The Cubs are lead by nine All-Stars and are rolling with the best record in the National League, winning eight of its last 10 ballgames. The Cardinals in third place, six games back led by Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick, whose out-of-nowhere season is seemingly a yearly occurrence for at least one of the Cards' everyday players.

And even though they're six out in the division, the Cards are sittin' pretty in the Wild Card standings, one game behind the Brewers who are bound to have another dugout slugout before this year is done.

A series win by the Cubs could push the Cards further (or is it farther?) out of contention. A series win by the Cards gives the Saint Louisans a glimmer of hope and something to brag about until the next series.

So park your Chevrolet (or Cadillac, in this case) and break out the Apple Pie because it doesn't get more American than this.

Brett Goes Broadway

Is it too late to change that Madden cover?

If you're looking for the exquisite analysis of deal that sent Brett Favre to the other New York football team, you're out of luck. Instead, I want a different approach to the matter. So I'll give it to you by presenting three places Favre's impact will be felt the most.


1. Jets fans, show yourselves!

Acquiring Favre makes the Jets relevant again in the greater New York metropolitan area. The superstar QB supposedly at the twilight of his career gives credibility to a team holding an open competition between Kellen Clemens (he's not Roger so he's not newsworthy) and Chad Pennington (more arm troubles than a Chicago Cubs pitcher.)

And for all you kids watching at home, if your team has two options at quarterback it really has none.

Now, with Favre sharing the island with Eli, instead of the NFL season opening up by revisiting Big Blue's Big Upset over the Pats, the football world will (again) revolve around Favre's retirement, unretirement and subsequent trade to the in-city rival. Fans of the G-Men can't be happy with the Green Machine stealing their headlines.

2. Rivalries Renewed

Are you ready for an on the field storyline? I know I am.

And even though I am sick of the New York/Boston sports headlines, how can you not ignore this one? Favre, now in a New York state of mind, really gives Bill Belichick something to spy on. The Man-genius now has a little more firepower to go up against his former mentor, hence spicing up the Patriot Games.

3. Fantasy Land

Not only will Favre's impact be felt on the field, it will be felt online in fantasy football. I think it's safe to say you can draft Favre higher than the 16th round he's been projected by some. I think drafting a New York Jet wideout (Laveraneus Coles? Jerricho Cotchery?) or tailback Thomas Jones could bring you some fantasy points somewhere down the line.

Should you expect Favre to throw for more than 4,100 yards and 28 TDs? Yes! Remember, he gets to play the Dolphins twice in '08.

For Brett Favre's new theme song, click here.