Blackhawks Update (3/9/10)

Blackhawks Update (3/9/10)
Jake Gonzales

Niemi will start against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday March 10, 2010.

Well it looks like Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has had enough of Cristobal Huet’s performance as a starter… for now.

Tomorrow’s match-up against the Los Angeles will feature Antti Niemi as the starting goalie, and let’s all hope that he does not have the same stuff as he did against the New York Islanders. The Blackhawks lost that game 5-3, and Niemi did not have a good game by any stretch of the imagination.

If Niemi does not step up the Blackhawks owners might starting their grieving process for not making a move by the trade deadline.

“He gets a chance to get back in the net,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after practice on Tuesday. “Let’s see how he responds.”

Yes. Let’s hope he does.

I Guess I Am ‘Bandwagoning’

I Guess I Am ‘Bandwagoning’
Jake Gonzales

Chicago Bears Running Back Matt Forte addressed his issue with Bears fans 'bandwagoning' in an interview with the NFLPA on Monday.

As I began to read a quick blog titled ‘Forte stresses for consistency‘ I saw a quick jab at Chicago Bears fans, and I was thrilled to see this. Coming from Matt Forte it means the world to me.

Let’s take a quick look at Matt Forte’s numbers from his astonishing career on the Chicago Bears.

I will give credit when credit is due, and in this case I will do just that. Matt Forte deserves credit for his rookie year, but not his pathetic showing in 2009. Sure, 929 yards rushing is not terrible especially having less attempts per game than in 2008, but there is one statistic that makes – and should make all Bears fans – furious.

6 Fumbles. 3 Fumbles Lost.

Forte’s production could have been limited because he couldn’t keep the pigskin between his hand and his shoulder. Or maybe the Bears decided that someone who fumbles 6-times as much as the previous year should take a break on the sidelines.

Hm. That could be an answer.

I kept reading the blog, and I saw this brilliant statement:

I know what the correct term he should have used: a disappointed fan.

Chicago Bears fans are not ‘bandwagoners.’

To Forte’s credit, he was born in Lake Charles, LA and played his collegiate games at Tulane. He wouldn’t have any clue what true fans look like.

So. Let’s give Forte a break. He might be just ignorant enough to make a stupid comment.

Oh, by the way… newly acquired running back Chester Taylor might take Forte’s spot as the starter if he continues to not only fumble the football but also on his own words.

Just Another Mind Game Given By Milton Bradley

Just Another Mind Game Given By Milton Bradley
By Jake Gonzales

Seattle Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley, right, and Corey Patterson, left, prepare to take batting practice while working out at the team's baseball spring training facility Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

It was not too long ago – to be specific it was January 31, 2009 – when I wrote about the up and downsides of Milton Bradley’s signing with the Chicago Cubs. It is now apparent that Bradley’s off year was not his fault… or so he says.

In the article I wrote, which was called Bradley’s Games Now In Chicago, I wrote the following statements.

I dared to say that his signing had upside in Chicago, which clearly was not true throughout the course of the season. The thing I forgot to mention was that the reason that Milton Bradley had downside was not because he has anger problems or he only had two or three good seasons, but it is simply due to becoming a Chicago Cub.

Hm.

Oh, that’s right. That’s because it isn’t the city’s fault at all.

Bradley seems to disagree with me, and I found out by visiting ESPN Chicago.

Bradley said that "Two years ago, I played, and I was good. I go to Chicago, not good. I've been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me."

I have a feeling I know the reason why Bradley is currently on his eighth different team.

Hmm.

Oh that’s right. It is not because the city made Bradley any worse. It was because he couldn’t hold his temper inside the ballpark and no one liked him. As a Cubs fan, I never liked him so I’ll make the assumption that not a single fan of any team he was ever on liked him either.

Bradley is a career .277 hitter, but that is being generous considering some his best years included two years in San Diego. In those two years he played 103 games total. His 2008 season he played in 126 games, the second most of any season in his career.

Wait, what?

Yep. His only season when he played more than 126 games was in 2004 when he played in 141 games.

Hmm.

Last season Bradley played in 124 games with a monstrous batting average of .257 and 12 HRs.

Bradley has never been a solid MLB baseball player, and I am happy about that. As a Cubs fan I have gone through a lot but Bradley adds a little extra disappointment to the year-after-year disappointment the entire team already gives me.

Hey Bradley, you’re an idiot.

Hey Seattle Mariners, good luck with all of his mind games.

The Chicago Cubs do not have to play along with those games anymore.

ESPN Chicago Becomes New Time-Waster

ESPN Chicago Becomes New Time-Waster

So I decided to give up coffee and pop (soda?) for lent, but the hardest has been getting off of Facebook and Twitter. It has been a struggle to stay off of the social networking scene, but I thought I might update this a little more often.

While in the struggle to release my time-wasting moments on FB or Twitter, I have recently become to appreciate ESPN Chicago. There happens to be a bunch of informative pieces on Chicago sports… surprising. Instead of being on Facebook or Twitter I have now focused all my energy on keeping up on Chicago sports. I have also started downloading daily podcasts of the Boers and Bernstein Show on 670 The Score. I love it. You should too.

Today I have noticed a couple important things on ESPN Chicago (among other things):

1. Blackhawks Trading Away Cristobal Huet?

Possible Goalie Tandem: Antti Niemmi and Tomas Vokoun

I would love it, as a Blackhawks fan, for these two goalies to be together. Both have over a .910 save percentage, and they bother have under a 2.37 goals against average. Good is an easy word to use for this tandem. Awesome is a better word… but that’s just my opinion.

2. Orlando’s Exit From Chicago Has Been A Slow and Steady Pace

The Chicago Bears have waived Orlando Pace. Good choice. The first good choice in a long time.

Its about time the Chicago Bears make a good choice. He was terrible, but so was the rest of the offensive line… so maybe they should waive the entire group. Hm.

3. Bulls Lose to Hawks, Rose’s Knee Okay

Derrick Rose banged his knee with Mike Bibby, but returned to the game to score 24 points in a losing effort

Bulls lose to Hawks 116-92. I am just grateful that Rose is okay… Phew.

Gotta run to class.

Jake Gonzales

“Oh Freddie, you shock and awe me.”

So I was browsing the internet this afternoon when my slow-moving internet revealed an amazing story.

I watched Freddie Barnes in high school. He was the Quarterback at Homewood-Flossmoor High School for a couple years. He became point guard along side of Julian Wright. These two made it to state on H-F’s best basketball team of all-time. 2nd place was not the best finish for these two, but it was definitely an exciting year.

Check out the story here:
Little-known player’s stunning year

Yea. I saw him play. Boom.

God Bless
Jake

“Rick Morrissey, ‘You must be Joakim!’”

This is simply amazing. As a wanna be sports talk show host one day, this makes me smile. A journalist that lives up to his word.

Read and watch this story.
Joakim Noah critic eats his words … literally

One journalist. One bottle of salsa. And one newspaper clipping. = A hilarious story wrapped along with the best Bulls story I have seen a long time.

Ugh. I love it.

God Bless
Jake

“Hey Sean Hannity… I can do better editing.”

Once again I find myself admiring Jon Stewart. He is simply amazing.

Watch the clip:
Hulu Video Right Here

Here is the story I read. Check it out.
Did Hannity Splice Video? You Judge.

Oh man. I loved that clip and story.

Have a good night!

God Bless
Jake

“Hey Glen Beck, Jon Stewart is a true American. Fact.”

Today has been pretty and pretty solid.

Getting all my work done tonight is going to be awesome.

Jon Stewart Mocks Glen Beck

I laughed so hard at this.

Check this out:
Middle School Giant!

That young man is huge! Such an interesting story.

Oh Larry…. No one will ever like you. You are to Chiefs fans what Cedric Benson was to Bears fans. That is not a good thing by the way. This story is hilarious because its insanely bogus.
I Got A Feeling No One Likes LJ

Well I gotta continue being productive. Be back later tonight after watching the Rihanna interview.

God Bless
Jake

“Darth Vader returns for the 27th time. Ugh”

So I wake up this fine morning to find out this piece of vomit-worthy news:

The Empire Strikes Back

Anybody else want the Yankees to get a real baseball stadium? I’m not saying that their new stadium had everything to do with the greatness, but it had a lot to do with it. Or…. maybe it was the 400 million dollars they spent this past off-season on free agents… either is a valid reason.

I need to sign up for my robotony course… haha.
On that note, I have probably watched ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ four times in the past week.

I just like that picture.

Today is probably the most relaxed day I will have in a long time. Instead of doing nothing today -which is a possible option- I am going to read some pages for Brit Lit.

Gotta run

Hope all is well

God Bless
Jake

“I feel for you Pat Barry.”

Today has been crazy. Oh man.

UFC fighter Pat Barry has been going through a tough time. Close to eviction, broke, eating ketchup and rice.
He needed the money.
Read this:
UFC fighter was eating ketchup and rice before UFC 104

He is my hero. Perseverance like nothing I have heard of in a long time.

Going from a hero to a goat… that reminds me of Max Mercy… anywho…
Check out this genius:
The Curious Case of Mike Williams

Now… that is an idiot. Good job dude. You have made an ‘All-time’ list, but this is one you do not want to be on.

Tonight looks pretty nice here in Columbia, Mo. Relaxing, reading, online homework, and just hanging out for lil bit.

Song to listen to – The Face of Love by Santus Real

Hope all is well

God Bless
Jake