Then, winter's like this one come along, and you don't know how to react. Temperatures in the 50s (the 60s, even!). A dearth of snow. No cold North wind. And it's February, which means the first signs of spring are only two weeks away: pitchers and catchers will report to spring training.
Spring training. I've always said with a child's naivete that spring training is the first true harbinger of summer, that first sound of baseballs hitting gloves. This year, however, spring training is the first reminder of the coldest, hardest fact of winter.
The White Sox are going to be bad.
The Sox have a new, untested manager. Their bullpen is going to be an experiment. Their most dependable pitcher and only championship manager of the last 90 years have both departed for Miami, and the teams in their division are only getting stronger.
Don't let the weather fool you. It's been a cold season for other reasons.
The White Sox: rebuilding, in three acts
It was a guarantee that Ozzie Guillen would be gone at the end of the season. The Sox had disappointed expectations once again, failing to even gain the division lead during the year, let alone make the postseason. But the departure of the Wiz was messy, even by South Side standards: Ozzie left with two games to go, and usual replacement manager Joey Cora took his leave following a message from Ken Williams that pitching coach Don Cooper would manage the remainder of the season.
Possible replacements were floated for Guillen: Terry Francona, Tony LaRussa, Joe McEwing. All men with some kind of major- or minor-league experience. So in true Sox fashion, management decided to swerve on folks and hired Robin Ventura. A well-known White Sox name, but a man who's only coaching experience was with his son's high school baseball team.
Then more news surfaced: free agent pitcher Mark Buerhle had signed a deal with the Miami Marlins. The Marlins, aside from signing everyone in the free world, had also announced Ozzie as their new manager. It was unthinkable: the fiery manager and outspoken top pitcher heading south for another title run.
If that weren't enough, the Detroit Tigers, the most hated team in the universe this side of the Monstars, signed Prince Fielder away from the Brewers. If that doesn't strike fear into your heart, let's look at the prospective starting lineup for Detroit:
Austin Jackson, CF
Brennan Boesch, LF
Prince Fielder, DH/1B
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH/C/1B
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Ryan Raburn/Ramon Santiago, 2B
Alex Avila, C
Brandon Inge, 3B
Sorry, I just about fainted. Meanwhile, Carlos Quentin is gone and the Sox have questions in the outfield and pitching staff. Will it be repeat of 2007? As the magic 8-ball says, "signs point to yes."
Bulls on the run
It might be hard to remember, but the Bulls didn't start all that well last year. They lost to Oklahoma City on Opening Night and started the season 9-8. Recall that this was the time when everyone was anxiously awaiting the return of Carlos Boozer from his hand injury. Try not to laugh angrily when you do.
This year was different. The Bulls stole a crazy game from the Lakers to start the year, avoided the circus trip due to the shortened season, and began the year 15-3. Even amid injuries to C.J. Watson, newly acquired Rip Hamilton, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose, the Bulls kept winning.
Then Luol Deng hurt his wrist against the Bobcats. Since Deng's injury, the Bulls are 3-3 and haven't beaten a team with a premier small forward (Indiana, Miami, Philadelphia). Many players have called Deng "the glue" for the Bulls. He's the man who can fill the holes they need on offense, and he's a solid defender. He also covers for Carlos Boozer on D, which the Bulls sorely need. A game against the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony should be another demonstration on how badly the Bulls need Luol Deng. Fortunately, his injury is on his non-shooting wrist and he should be back as soon as possible.
The BADley Braves
After an injury-plagued campaign last year and the firing of Jim Les, it was felt that Bradley men's basketball was on the rise. There was a new coach, a new system, new recruits and that optimistic feeling that comes with a new season of college basketball. I figured Bradley might have a dip in their record this year and start to trend up in 2012-13.
No one expected this.
Bradley took an absolute beating last night, losing 92-62. This is a bad game, no doubt, but it's made worse by three facts:
-The final score would have been worse had Jalen Crawford not sunk a halfcourt shot as time expired;
-This was the second-worst home loss in school history, the record being set earlier this year against Wichita State
-Bradley lost to Evansville, which had been the conference whipping boy for many years prior.
These 20- and 30-point losses are becoming all too commonplace for the Braves. I haven't read a Kirk Wessler column in a month for fear of either chopping the newspaper into bits or breaking into tears at work. I've also conveniently been "too busy", "too tired", or "too broke" to attend a Braves game since Christmas. This troubles me, as I was one of the greatest supporters of Bradley last year as they slogged through their bad year. "Through thick and thin," I shouted many times as fans left the arena with more than six minutes to play. "Where are you going? The game's not over!"
Excuses are the first sign of fan alienation, and it's a very short road to becoming that worst of supporters: a fair-weather fan. The Braves must get better, but it's important that fans like you and I continue to support them through these rough times. Keep wearing that Bradley red this year and keep heading to Carver Arena.
The February 25 game against ISWho might be the highlight of the season—if the Braves can win. If Bradley takes another tough loss to those lousy Redbirds, it might be the last straw of the year.
Let it go, let it go, let it go
The Bulls will recover. The Sox will tough it out. Bradley always has next year. Even though the sports inside may be frightful, spring is always around the corner for our heroes. Don't worry that times are bad now, they'll get better later. There's a brighter tomorrow...all right, I had to stop, I realized I was just trying to convince myself. Just listen to the song, and I'll see you in the cheap seats.
JS
I wonder if Carlos Boozer plays this after he has a bad game.
