Author Archive
If Josh Johnson Is Available, Should the Chicago Cubs Call Florida?
Posted: 29th November 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in MLB
He won't turn 26 until January, but Josh Johnson might be one of the better pitchers to become available this winter.
Johnson stands to receive a substantial raise from his 2009 salary of $1.4 million after posting a 15-5 record with 191 strikeouts in 209 innings pitched. Standing 6-7 and weighing 240 pounds, Johnson is physically intimidating and backs it up with phenomenal stuff.
Because of the potential raise he'll get in ...
Most years, the Chicago Blackhawks would be thrilled to come home from their annual Circus Trip with nine of a possible 12 points. But after winning the first four games of the trip in overwhelming fashion, only getting one point in the final two games leaves the feeling that the Hawks let something get away.
The Blackhawks tried to bounce back after being shut out in Anaheim, but again struggled to get ...
All is quiet on the northern front in Chicago baseball so far this winter.
Which is odd, because Jim Hendry's last few winters have been highlighted by more big game hunting than a weekend with Ted Nugent.
When a guy's resume includes bringing in names like Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, Kosuke Fukudome and Milton Bradley, and when you consider how public Hendry's courtship of each player was, the fact that there hasn't ...
Cutler Who? Chicago Blackhawks Put a Touchdown on San Jose, Put NHL on Notice
Posted: 26th November 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
There were times during the later parts of the last decade the beginning of this decade, during the Bob Pulford Era (aka "The Dark Ages") when the Detroit Red Wings toyed with the Chicago Blackhawks .
Those Hawks teams didn't have as much talent (or salary) as the minor league affiliates of the Red Wings, and it was obvious. Detroit looked like a group of big brothers practicing at the expense of ...
I know, Allen Iverson's retiring from the NBA. Or at least that's what he says.
The fact is that Iverson is leaving the game on someone else's terms. He's one of the greatest guards of his, or any, generation, and the game is forcing him out. After 14 years, there's nowhere for the former MVP and scoring champ to go.
Really?
In my mind, there's a perfect situation for Iverson, where he could ...
What Should Blackhawks Fans Honestly Expect from Marian Hossa?
Posted: 24th November 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
The Chicago Blackhawks are now topping the Power Rankings of Sports Illustrated and ESPN, and the youngsters have won seven straight games and have swept the first half of their Circus Trip. The excitement surrounding the team is already at perhaps the highest point this organization has felt in nearly 20 years.
And now arguably the best, certainly the most accomplished, player on the roster will join the team for the first time.
On Wednesday ...
Wild Canadiens!: Montreal Makes a Trade With Minnesota
Posted: 23rd November 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
Various media outlets are reporting that the Montreal Canadiens have traded Guillaume Latendresse to the Minnesota Wild for Benoit Pouliot .
The two players are both considered underachievers and have identical cap numbers.
Pouliot, 23, was the fourth selection in the 2005 draft, and has has nine goals and nine assists in a 65-game NHL career. In 2009, Pouliot has two goals and two assists in 14 games with the Wild.
Latendresse, 22, was drafted in the second round in ...
Chicago Shuffle: Could a Cam Barker Trade Open the Door for Chris Chelios?
Posted: 23rd November 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
Trade rumors are still flying around the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, but nothing has been substantiated yet.
The most prevalent rumor has the Blackhawks sending defenseman Cam Barker to Ottawa for defenseman Alexandre Picard and center Ryan Shannon. Also, in some way related to this transaction, Hawks defenseman Brent Sopel would somehow end up in Toronto.
While Barker and Sopel have been the most regular names in trade rumors lately, moving both ...
Chicago Blackhawks: Are They Talking Trade With Toronto?
Posted: 22nd November 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
At the end of October , there were rumors that the ChicagoáBlackhawks had been exchanging interest with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which led to a flurry of speculation around the players either side would have interest in if a trade was imminent.
Both teamsÆgeneral managers, the BlackhawksÆStan Bowman and TorontoÆs Brian Burke, didnÆt say much at that point. However, the evolution of November has hit both teams, and circumstances ...
Has anyone else seen the old ChicagoáBlackhawks commercial, in which actor Jeremy Piven makes himself a personal favorite to anyone who wears the Indian Head sweater? The link to the 31 second spot it here , courtesy of YouTube, if youÆve never seen it.
Wow. Truly a Chicagoan. A manÆs man. A BlackhawksÆfan.
And then came Thursday night in Calgary, when Piven was apparently the guest of honor at the Flames-Blackhawks ...