Posts tagged sports

ESPN Chicago: Chicago Cubs Great Ron Santo Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

About effin’ time.

Bravo, Golden Era committee. Shame on the Baseball Writers of America for sitting on their votes all these years.

That’s right— Hall of Famer Ron Santo. Long overdue.

Mental Floss: The Origins Of All 30 NBA Team Names

In lieu of actual hardwood action, and since I’m way bored with “ongoing negotiations” and the standoff between rival camps of spoiled rich fucks, you get trivia.

Chicago Bulls

According to the Chicago Bulls Encyclopedia, team owner Richard Klein was brainstorming nicknames for his new franchise in 1966 and wanted a name that portrayed Chicago’s status as the meat capital of the world. Klein was considering Matadors and Toreadors when his young son exclaimed, “Dad, that’s a bunch of bull!” The rest is somewhat dubious history.

And this one is more about the Buffalo Braves mention than anything about the (still) lowly Clips. Those were dark fan days in the Niagara Frontier when the team pulled up stakes, shucked the name of their birth and moved west. Still have my Ernie D. and McAdoo autographs to remind me of the good times, though.

L.A. Clippers

When the NBA’s Buffalo Braves moved to San Diego in 1978, the owners wanted to rebrand the team with a new nickname. They settled on Clippers, a popular type of ship during the 19th century. San Diego had been home to the Conquistadors and the Sails of the ABA during the 1970s. Donald Sterling bought the Clippers during the 1981-82 season and relocated them to his native Los Angeles in 1984. He lost all respect in San Diego but kept the Clippers name.

ESPN Dallas: 'North Dallas Forty' Author, Former Dallas Cowboy Peter Gent Dies

“North Dallas Forty” is on my all-time fave football films short list, and #2 behind “The Longest Yard” for 1970’s gridiron flicks.

Its story occupies the darker spaces between the play calls and press conferences. Prescient in its portrayal of the debilitating injuries suffered by players, and the lengths they’ll go to stay in the game.

Chicago Tribune: Decades Later, '85 Bears Get White House Visit

About effin’ time, huh?

I suppose this means I can finally stop wearing my commemorative Bears Super Bowl tube socks and wash burn them. Would’ve been sweet to see Payton and Duerson there. Such is the slow damage of time on all of us.

(Image: Jason Reed/Reuters)

Did not miss Dan Hampton’s self-induced political absence in the least. Dick.

AP: AP Offers World Series Style Guide

Just so we’re clear, writers…

Better to say a player hit a home run, rather than he “walloped” or “blasted” or “cracked” it. Home runs are also homers, but avoid calling them “dingers,” “jacks,” ”bombs,” ”taters” and “four-baggers.”

Not that it matters much, as the Cubs are once again out of it… as of April. (via)

Go, Brewers! (begrudgingly)

Flowchart: What Football Team Should I Root For?

In case you’ve already caught the telltale whiff of suckage from your team of preference during the pre-season (Thank you, Bears and Bills, for the heads up!), there are options. (via)

(Image: Paul Caputo and Shea Lewis for Interpretation By Design — Larger image available at link)