The north side Hoovers

I have been a Cubs fan for a long time.

I expect I will be a staunch and loyal Cubs fan for the rest of my days.

I like being a Cubs fan. Really.

I expect that sometime in my lifetime the Cubs WILL win a World Series.

That being said:

This year's Cubs team sucks. Really sucks.

Sucks. Sucks. Sucks.

Sucks.

And so it goes.

Turn out the lights...

The party's over....

Well, the U.S. soccer (sorry, football) team bowed out of the World Cup with a weak whimper. Pathetic.

For being a team filled with 'stars' and lots of hope, they sure did disappoint. I'm certain some apologists will attempt to blame the officials for a couple questionable calls. Instead, they should blame the U.S. team for a questionable offense.

Not once in the World Cup did the U.S. lead any match.

But then again, it's only soccer.

Not like anyone on this continent really cares.

Well, maybe we will again for a couple weeks in four years.

In the mean time, let the baseball season continue.

And Cubs, you can start any time.

And so it goes.

Ghana have some fun now

I'm trying really hard to care. I really am.

But any game that the only player who can use his hands is wearing Hamburger Helper gloves and more players flop than in a NBA game just doesn't hold a lot of thrill.

Then there's the matter of playing 4 or 5 hours (or so it seems) for a 1-0 win or an 0-0 tie, If you can at least get it to 15-14 or so, then MAYBE.

And don't forget the vuvuzelas.

Yawn.

And so it goes.

Shocking ... simply shocking

Who would have thought this could happen in this day and age?

A federal judge in New Orleans on Tuesday sided with the oil industry, striking down the temporary moratorium on new offshore exploration and deepwater drilling the Obama administration imposed last month. That judge, it turns out, has in recent years had interests in Transocean—the world's largest offshore drilling company and the owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig—as well as other energy companies engaged in offshore oil extraction.

According to the most recently available financial disclosure form for District Court Judge Martin Feldman, he had holdings of up to $15,000 in Transocean in 2008. He has also recently owned stock in offshore drilling or oilfield service providers Halliburton, Prospect Energy, Hercules Offshore, Parker Drilling Co., and ATP Oil & Gas. Feldman was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

Let's look at that. Appointed by Ronnie Reagan, owns stock in Halliburton and offshore drilling companies.

Yep, definite knee-jerk liberal, I'd say.

Anyone want to bet he's also good buddies with George W and all his oil bidness friends?

And so it goes.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

How in the world can you watch and enjoy soccer (football) if you spend the whole game blowing on those sent-from-hell vuvuzelas?

And so it goes.

Count on it

Let's see ...

The Pac-10 has 12 but wants 16

The Big Ten has 12. And has had 11 for years.

The Big 12 now has 10. Or maybe 9 or 8.

Don't they teach simple addition and subtraction in college anymore?

And so it goes.

Wait 'til ... ?

I know it's a long time until September (never mind October).

I know a team performing badly in April, May and early June can turn things around.

But these are the Cubs we're talking about.

As much of a positive fan as I am, it's getting a little depressing.

Aramis Ramirez is on the DL. Again. DLee is slumping. Again. Fukudome started strong and is fading. Again. Geovani is lost at the plate. Again. Alfonso started strong and is quickly falling back. As usual. Can't figure out Mr. Steady (Theriot), Seems like NO ONE can get that key hit. Lou went fishing last July and never came back.

And right now, our 'Ace' is Carlos Silva. That hurts.

All that said, LET'S GO, CUBS!

please

And so it goes.

Spare change

On first impression, it would seem like a good idea for Baseball Commissioner Bud (used car salesman) Selig to change the umpire's ruling and award Armando Galarraga his perfect game.

After all, it was a blown call. Even the umpire who blew the call admitted after the fact that he had blown the call.

So why not give Galarraga the perfect game?

Why? Because it opens a whole new can of worms. If the commissioner can overrule this call, which others can/will he? And who decides? Selig used to own the Brewers. Would that mean he'd give them a little help on some questionable calls? Or bend over backwards to avoid being unfair?

If that call is overruled, why not a called third strike somewhere? A fair/foul call? The call to cancel a game because of rain?

Part of the charm of baseball is the human element. George Steinbrenner never understood that if he paid a player $1 million more, why couldn't he hit another 100 points higher. Doesn't work that way.

The game's made up of people and rules. People make mistakes. They strike out. They drop fly balls. Then they take the field the next day and try not to do that again. That's the way it should be.

I remember an old story, probably not true, of an umpire calling balls and strikes. After a pitch, the umpire pauses. The catcher says, 'Well, what is it, a ball or a strike? And the umpire responded, "It's nothing until I say it is.'

Umpires have to make 200-300 split-second decisions every game. Maybe more. Umpires are human.

Sometimes humans make mistakes. There's probably a misspelling somewhere in this post. I make mistakes, too.

All that being said, if you're the umpire responsible for saving or ending a perfect game, you'd better make damned sure the call is right. Even if you have to pause to be sure. And if there's a doubt, ... there are three other umpires on that field. Ask.

Umpires have a right to be wrong.

They also have a responsibility to try harder in more critical situations.

Umpires can't afford to be looking over their shoulder at Bud Selig on every call.

But they can be disciplined.

And occasionally, some should be.

And so it goes.