Bulls vs. Hawks...who am i watching?

The end of February is here, and is the historical time when the NHL and NBA teams begin to play up to their potential and secure playoff positions. Chicago sports fans are blessed to have what a lot of cities don’t have; a decision of watching their hockey or basketball team.

The Blackhawks are a shoe string away from making the playoffs, as an 8^th seed (I could’ve sworn they are the reigning champions! Now I hardly see any Blackhawks paraphernalia being worn.). The Bulls, hot off a classic win against Lebron’s Heat, are currently seeded 3^rd in the east and riding on the coat tail of Superstar Derrick Rose.

So, what team am I going to focus all of my precious time and attention on? That’s easy, The Bulls.

Not just because Hockey is as entertaining to me as Justin Bieber. Nor that I’m just as knowledgeable about hockey as I am about the cast of Jersey Shore (what is a “Snooki?”). No, it’s not because it’s easier to keep up with the Kardashians. Honestly, I don’t really care about anything dealing with hockey. Never was a fan of what I call “padded figure skating.” I say that to say, “Come on Bulls show me what you got!”

Before I misguide you, I am NOT a Bulls’ fan. I haven’t been one since Scottie signed his name on the dotted line to play with the Houston Rockets. I am an 11-year Dallas Mavericks fan; even have a framed ticket stub with Mark Cuban’s autograph.

But I digress; I’m staying locked in on the Bulls because I want to see what all the fuss is about. News articles, sports anchors, radio programs, and numerous basketball fanatics have praised the Bulls so much, that my intrigue about this core of players has risen.

No longer are they the “Baby Bulls.” With Rose at the steering wheel this team has impressed so much they are being considered legitimate title contenders. Though they proved they were contenders in the 2009 series against the Celtics, they improved their roster by stealing major pieces of the Utah Jazz.

This current crop of Bulls has proven they aren’t playing for the future, but are dead serious about keeping Chicago celebrating championships.

With victories over the Heat, Mavericks, Lakers, Thunder, Celtics, Magic, and Spurs, they solidified themselves into the heated debate of who’s the “Best team in the league.”

This is the best Bulls team since 1998, why wouldn’t we be watching them? In a city that is under the shadow of Jordan and the 85’ Bears, it’s almost impossible to get this city this excited and anxious about the playoffs.

Joakim Noah’s wacky and energetic personality on and off the court along with the quickness and flashy play of MVP candidate, Rose, keep fans glued to TV sets and United Center seats.

With a majority of the young and most talented players taking their talents to the Eastern Conference, the 2011 NBA playoffs are poised to remind us of the classic battles in the 90s.

The closer it gets to mid-April the more fidgety I get. The Bulls are back and according to the lack of trade day moves, they will be here for a while.

Brand new batteries are in the remote, the couch is clean and ready for 8 hours of straight sitting, and I have a whole new arsenal of reasons to tell my boss I can’t make work.

Go Go cubbies!

The temperature has risen, the snow has melted, and the NBA season is halfway done. These are signs of one thing, a new MLB season. Continued success for some franchises, a hope for a better tommorow by most franchises, falls from glory for others, and a hope for anything, something positive for that damned team on the Northside of Chicago. Yes, its time for the Cubs and Cubs' hopefuls to claim that "this is the year we win it all", "be better than the White Sox", and the most important claim of all, appoint a "savior." This proclamation or adornment has been fixated on the heads of a new player each year since Corky Romano a.k.a Sammy Sosa left the team. With this blessing of being called a "savior" or "leader", comes several responsibilities:

1) Bring Power

2)Bring Leadership

3)Make the all-star team

4) Put up better offensive numbers than whomever the power hitter is on the Cardinals

5)Show up in the crosstown series

6) and most importantly, Single handedly lift the organization/fan base/team/history of the cubs out of the abyss and back into the World Series

These expectations seem lofty to everyone except for anybody affiliated with the red, white, and blue on Addison!

Milton Bradley, Marlon Byrd, Nomar Garciaparra, Corey patterson, Aramis Ramirez, Derek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, are just some that have came close, never tried, or failed horribly at accomplishing these feats.

Bradley could never get along with teammates, coaches, front office, nor the fans and was immediately shipped away.Garciappara was beyond his prime, but was a favorite in the clubhouse. Patterson never reached his potential. Ramirez cant stay healthy enought to be a season long all star. Soriano is Soriano.

With the Brewers adding two strong arms to their rotation, the Cardinals squeezing at least one more year out of the best player in the league,and the Reds fresh off a playoff birth, its hard to see any silver lining in this upcoming season for the Cubbies. Hell they even have trouble winning against the Pirates.

As a fan that bleeds black and grey (thats a referrence to the great White Sox), i honestly hope that this current trio of heroes, Byrd, Castro, and Colvin, can make the 2011 Cubs a decent team. Not just relevant in NL Central , but also in entire Major League. It hurts my heart that we dont have any competition from a team that is 13 stops on the redline away. The Crosstown series still draws sell out crowds, but is missing the glamour which could be present if both teams were playoff teams.

Chicago's 2011 has been fun so far. We already had the Bears reach the NFC championship game the Bulls are on pace to be the 3rd seed in the Eastern conference, and more than likely the Sox locking up a playoff spot. (its so hard not to add my southside bias)

Hopefully, this season shows a much improved Cubs team. One that is competitive and makes them relevant not just in the crosstown series, but also in October.

Mr. One and Done...Coach Calipari

A senior plays on the varsity basketball team, He earns numerous honors and awards, He takes his team deep in the state playoffs, and his talents and skills catch the eye of one man. This specific man promises college glory, a final four appearance, national televised games, and a spot on a NBA team. This man is one of the top coaches in the game today, considered a genius by many, he goes by “Mr. One and done” a.k.a Coach John Calipari.

Dajuan Wagner, Darius Washington jr. Shawne Williams, John wall, Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Demarcus Cousins and soon to be Brandin Knight are players that won the “Calipari Scholarship.” Though all aren’t currently in the league, they accomplished every step to get there and make their millions, but the longevity and smoothness of their careers fluctuate.

I have always been a fan of Coach Calipari. He brings a handful of the top players to his team and squeezes as much skill and natural ability out of them that he can, because he knows when June comes around he will watch them walk across the stage in New York and shake David Stern’s hand.

What I’m not a fan of is John Calipari as a man. He has led players into a sadistic world, uneducated, vulnerable, and too immature to handle the issues that arise with these profitable positions. Without being properly educated, disciplined and held responsible for their actions, players under Coach Calipari are given the reins to a thoroughbred, but without any horse riding lessons.

Just like Lord Palpatine, Calipari is making several Darth Vaders who once released in the NBA are guided by the league’s intriguing, but evil forces.

Shawne Williams, an extremely high risk- high reward forward, has been a headache and thorn in the side of every coaching staff he has played for while in the NBA. His assortment of disrespectful actions towards teammates coaches and to the game of basketball has led him to the New York Knick's bench.

Derrick Rose, arguably the best point guard in the NBA, isn’t even close to being the smartest or wisest of the “Calipari” bunch. Charged with academic cheating while at the University of Memphis, Rose is the prototype of a “Dumb Jock.” He even had someone else take his ACT for him at Simeon High School.

The immoral recruiting and promises made by “Emperor Calipari” have led players on a journey with no G.P.S.

Though there are players like John Wall and Brandin Knight who excel in the classrooms and courts, others haven’t come close to educational success. This lack of success can be attributed to effort from players, Calipari’s failure to push for academic excellence, influence of boosters, free time for studies, and even being blinded by the glamour of playing at a big institution.

The importance of having book and basketball smarts should be the only goal for every player and every coach. Vince Carter exhibited this by being late for a playoff game so he could walk across the stage and receive his diploma. He was ridiculed by anouncers for this, but was given hugs and praise from his mother and people that actually mattered.

Calipari needs to play every male role in these kid’s lives. Raising and fine-tuning them into being role models and men for future “one and dons”, needs to be his goal.

Superbowl 2011: Me vs. the advertisers

I was thoroughly disgusted with the Super bowl this year. No, not because of the outcome (I’m a Titans fan!), not because of Aguilera, and DEFINITELY not because of the Halftime show (who looks at that anyway!). I was anticipating to be wowed, shocked and entertained by the always extravagant, commercials.

No matter what team a viewer is rooting for, the commercials bring us together as a football-loving family. Our differences, hatreds towards certain players, and arguments on why our favorite team’s didn’t make it to the championship are put aside when we are blessed with a TV break.

Hell, even the “football tutorial” men have to give to women is even put on hold, during these special times. (i.e. “what’s a “pick 6”? “why did he throw in that direction?” , and the most popular: “ohhhh he’s cute, what’s his name?”)

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to enjoy this game of brutality, because there really wasn’t anything to keep me excited.

What happened to the “Budweiser frogs,” “the Snapple lady”, or my all-time favorite “the Wassssup guys?” They keep the party going. They put smiles on the faces of football fanatics, novices, and the people that are there just to freeload off the dinner. I was overly saturated with corny Pepsi max and Doritos commercials!

If the objective of having an advertisement at this expensive primetime position is to attract customers, THEY FAILED…. HORRIBLY. Matter of fact, Ill even goes to say that they have lost a potential customer, forever!

The commercials were so wack, that for the past three days I have been trying to get answers to three questions, which have been glued in my mind:

1) Who came up with the brilliant idea for Velveeta to have a Super bowl commercial?

2) Who was the creator of it?

3) Wouldn’t it make more sense to air the commercial before the game? I’m sure no one is going to risk missing a touchdown to go make a “Velveeta run.”

Though there was this unfortunate lack of quality, I did crack a smile at the “Captain America” and “Transformers 3” trailers. The “Fast and Furious 5” trailer also caught my attention (surprisingly because I HATE anything Paul Walker is in. He has as much acting talent as a mannequin).

I pray that this isn’t a sign of the apocalypse. I hope that all the creativity hasn’t been drained out of advertising geniuses and we are left with Velveeta commercials (yes, I hated their ads that much!). I beg that the commissioner and whoever else is in charge of the commercials don’t let these special blocks of time get watered down like “NBA all-star weekend”.

The Super bowl is comparable to a package deal: good game, funny commercials, absurdly boring halftime show, and beer.

Hopefully Super Bowl 2012 will have a buffet full of clever TV spots that continue the tradition and power wash the bad taste of this year’s advertisements out of my mouth.