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Milwaukee Bucks Are More Ice Cold Than Andre 3000 For Trolling The Bulls Like This

By
Matthew Milakovich
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benny the bull arrested

Apparently the Milwaukee Bucks don’t think as highly of early rookie of the year candidate Lauri Markannen as we do– because they just issued an ice cold trolling of the Bulls.

On their website, the Bucks offer a ticket package that allows the buyer to pick six games of their choosing by clicking on a picture of a marquis player they happen to be facing that particular night.

Apparently whoever designs the Bucks website did not feel any one player on the Bulls roster was worthy of showcasing; because instead of highlighting say, the aforementioned Markannen, they chose to highlight our recent Hall of Fame inductee— Benny the Bull.

Damn Milwaukee… way to kick a fan when they’re down. Not our fault Chicago’s inept front office chose to pass up on the Greek Freak.

Also, if you get the Outkast reference in the title, we should be friends.

Josh Sitton Makes Surprising Admission to Packer Reporters on Trubisky

By
Erik Lambert
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matt nagy

Josh Sitton knows the Green Bay Packers well. He was drafted by them in 2008, won a Super Bowl with them in 2010 and went to three Pro Bowls in eight seasons while there. Most importantly he had a front row seat for the rise of Aaron Rodgers from backup to superstar. He knows exactly the type of player the QB is and what he means to Green Bay.

This will mark the first time in four games he’ll have played his former team without Rodgers being under center. Packers fans are now learning what life outside that safety bubble is like, and they aren’t loving it at all. Sitton has endured this experience for a year and a half now. He understands their pain. At the same time he’s also got a front row seat for a new young quarterback as he begins his climb up the NFL ladder.

Green Bay doesn’t know much about Mitch Trubisky. He’s the #2 overall pick in the draft of course, so that means he’s got some talent. The question is how good is he and how good can he be? Packers media reconnected with Sitton in a conference call to find out. The answer they got back was a bit of a shock.

Josh Sitton lends credence to Trubisky-Rodgers comparison

One thing going around of late is a belief that Trubisky reflects a lot of the same qualities of Rodgers. The athleticism, the mobility, and the accurate passing. One would think a guy like Sitton, who has played with both would be quick to shut such an idea down. In a rather fascinating twist, he didn’t. Not totally anyway.

It makes sense that Sitton would tone down the idea that Trubisky could reach Rodgers’ level. That’s not really fair to a kid who’s try to carve his own path in the NFL. To compare him to one of the greatest QBs of this generation is jumping way too far ahead. At the same time this is a glance into just how much the veteran guard has come to respect the rookie for who he is and, hopefully, what he’s going to become.

He went on to offer an example.

The growing buzz out of Bears headquarters is that Trubisky is seizing control of the locker room. He’s making it known he is the leader now and everybody can follow. Despite his limited production to this point, it’s hard to argue with results. The Bears are 2-2 since he took over and both losses were by single digits to two of the best teams in the league.

Trubisky is not Rodgers. However, Sitton sounds anxious to find out what he’ll become.

Another Jason Heyward Trade Update

By
Aldo Soto
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Is the Jason Heyward trade rumor too good to be true? Well, from the start it certainly looked like it was and now there’s a little more clarity.

It started with a few tweets in late October, connecting the Cubs to the San Francisco Giants and earlier this week MLB.com’s Phil Rogers reported the same.

REPORT: Giants Interested In Trading For Jason Heyward

From the Cubs perspective it makes sense, as the Cubs could get out of Heyward’s contract and pick up a closer in Mark Melancon and a starter in Jeff Samardzija. Yeah, then you lose a gold glove defender in right field, but that would open up room for, you know, Bryce Harper next offseason.

However, as we’ve talked about from the start, there are so many hurdles to get over for this trade to get done. All three players rumored in the deal have no-trade clauses in their contracts and even if they would accept the deals, would the Cubs and Giants then also agree on the value because of the money involved?

Well, Alex Pavlovic, who covers the Giants for NBC Sports Bay Area, confirms what almost everyone has been thinking. This trade just doesn’t make sense for the Giants.

Just think about Heyward accepting the trade, leaving the Cubs who are still positioned to be in the postseason for several more years and compete for a World Series, to the rebuilding or semi-rebuilding Giants? It doesn’t add up.

OK, so the following is going to be me trying really hard to find any reason for Heyward to agree to this trade. Again, I don’t believe it, but it’s the offseason, rumors are flying, it’s fun to speculate.

One, Heyward has a World Series ring, he has a championship and doesn’t need to chase one. No matter what, he’s getting paid, so maybe he’s looking for a new challenge? Two, maybe Heyward feels miserable and wants to have a fresh start?

I don’t know. He’s hit extremely well at AT&T Park, but is that enough to convince him to go to the Giants from the Cubs? I just don’t see it happening.

John Fox Fires Back At Critics Over His Handling of Trubisky

By
Erik Lambert
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john fox mitch trubisky
Credit: Chicago Tribune

The John Fox Mitch Trubisky situation is a complicated one. The veteran head coach didn’t draft the young quarterback during his first year in charge. This is his third year. Fox has one season left on his contract. That means he doesn’t have the luxury of time in trying to get progress out of the #2 overall pick. General feelings are if the Chicago Bears don’t win enough games or at least see positive play from Trubisky, Fox will be fired.

As things stand, it’s not looking good for him. The Bears are 3-5 at the halfway point of 2017. Trubisky has thrown two touchdowns, two interceptions and failed to top 200 yards passing in any of his four starts. Nonetheless Fox certainly doesn’t seem rattled by the prospect. In fact he’s displayed quite a bit of optimism.

The defense is playing some excellent football of late. Jordan Howard is once again a beast in the running game. He’s no stranger to winning football games with those two elements out front. That doesn’t means he has marginalized Trubisky though. When talking with Dan Pompei of The Athletic, he defended how he’s gone about developing the rookie thus far.

John Fox Mitch Trubisky relationship about faith and patience

“No. It’s not just him. You never want to put it on one guy. It’s not one guy. You don’t do that, it’s not football. There is a lot that goes into that. It’s the protection. It’s the matchup with receivers. It Is the matchup with the tight ends. It’s the situation in the game, all three phases. A lot was made of the Carolina game, that we ran the ball more.

You do things necessary to win games, and that’s what it comes down to. It doesn’t matter if you have a 10-year quarterback or a one-year quarterback. It’s how our whole team operates in the passing game — not just the quarterback, and then how we match up with our opponent. They’re all different. Green Bay is going to be different from New Orleans.”

Fox seemed clear on his version of the fact. The situation of personnel and the teams they were facing dictated the decision to have Trubisky throw less often. To be fair he’s got a case. The four teams the rookie has started against (MIN, BAL, CAR, and NO) all now have top 10 defenses in points allowed. They also all rank in the top 12 against the pass. Throw Trubisky, who had 13 college starts prior to getting drafted, against that level of competition with limited talent at wide receiver?

Fox won’t apologize for not putting the burden on Trubisky’s shoulders in the fact of that. Love or hate that, one must respect it. If this is his last year, Fox is doing things his way. Whether that’s the right way for the young quarterback remains to be determined.

These 10 NFL End Zone Celebrations Are the Ones to Beat

By
Erik Lambert
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nfl end zone celebrations

#10:  Front Row Seat

No team has been a bigger surprise this season than the New York Jets. They’re playing way above their talent level right now and that’s got them feeling all sorts of confident. This became clear when wide receiver Robby Anderson decided to make himself comfortable at the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium by jumping into the stands and lounging in one of their vacant front row seats.

#9:  Weight Lifting

No team has owned the celebration championship belt more this season than the Pittsburgh Steelers. The sheer creativity they’ve exhibited will become prevalent on this list. It starts with Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell. He decided to pay tribute to teammate James Harrison, a player renowned for his absurd weightlifting routines, with this gem after a rushing touchdown against the Lions.

#8:  KAMEHAMEHA!

Mainstream NFL fans probably didn’t get this one. Only those who are giant fans of anime will have recognized how genius this celebration was by Steelers receiver Ju Ju Smith-Schuster. The use of his arms and hands coming together and then exploding forward is a tribute to iconic Dragon Ball Z character Goku doing his trademark offensive move. It’s called the Kamehameha Wave. For those who are curious what that looks like, click here.

#7:  The Bob Sled

Often the best celebrations are ones that involve coordination between teammates. The Green Bay Packers pulled off a surprisingly good one, sending a tribute to one of the more underappreciated Olympic sports in bobsledding. It took them a bit to get in sync but finished it with a flourish after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

#6: Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots

Often the best celebrations are the ones that bring about a wave of nostalgia. Something that makes fans feel a sense of joy about their past. This is the perfect example. Anybody who owned toys in their childhood over the past four decades have at least a passing knowledge of the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots. A game in which two players control two robots that boxed in a ring. Whichever managed to hit the other in the chin would cause the head to pop off the body. Marvin Jones and the Lions almost nailed it here.

#5:  The Free Throw

The brilliance of this celebration was two-fold. First of all was the maneuver itself. Kudos to running back Devonta Freeman for tipping the cap to the NBA with this free throw move. One must remember that Atlanta is also a major basketball town, so this could be considered a tribute to the Hawks. Where it became epic was when the video producers for Sunday Night Football, who were airing on NBC, decided to bring back the iconic NBA on NBC theme that was prevalent throughout the 1990s when basketball was king.

#4:  The Home Run

Another celebration that dips into a different sport. This time it’s the Philadelphia Eagles taking to the diamond for a little batting practice. In the midst of a beat down on the Arizona Cardinals, they got together and hit the first recorded home run in NFL history. Sure the entertainment factor wasn’t as high as others but the creativity of it deserves plenty of praise.

#3:  Hide-and-Seek

This is the epitome of a great end zone celebration. It’s unexpected, it’s clever and it’s funny. This time it’s Ju Ju Smith-Schuster and Le’Veon Bell together. Smith-Schuster covers his eyes and Bell retreats to behind the goal post in a classic rendition of hide-and-seek. Every single child on the planet has played this game at least once in their lives. To see grown men doing the same on a football field? It’s almost impossible for that to not bring a smile to ones’ face.

#2:  Duck-Duck-Goose

It was difficult to place this celebration so high what with it coming against the Bears. Nonetheless one must be objective in these situations and it’s hard to deny that playing some duck-duck-goose in the end zone of NFL stadium takes some truly inspired work. Then again it’s easy to forget a lot of these players have kids who play this game at home. Borrowing it for a celebration isn’t that difficult a jump. Still, the Vikings were the first to ever do it and it’s the sort of celebration that can’t be improved upon.

#1:  Potato Sack Race

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may be the most gifted end zone celebration artist going in the league today. Not only can he unveil some pretty impressive dance moves, he’s not above finding a way to include teammates either. This gem against the Dallas Cowboys is by far his best work to date. A simple sprint would’ve been fun, but to turn it into a potato sack race, one of the tried-and-true events of middle Americana is an absolute delight. So fitting given he did it representing Kansas City in Texas.

Watch Jimmy Butler Tell Us Why He Was Really Traded And Fall Out Of A Canoe

By
Matthew Milakovich
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Ever wondered what it would be like to see Jimmy Butler dressed as a Minnesotan for Halloween? It may be November 8th, but it’s never too late.

We learn three things from this video with ESPN’s Sam Alipour–

1.) Jimmy would die if he ever got lost in the woods, probably instantly. Seriously– he’s not gonna be calling loons or starting a fire, even with a match, any time soon.

2.) He apparently gave the Bulls an ultimatum– it was either him or Fred Hoiberg. And this is why he was eventually traded after months of speculation.

3.) He’s looking forward to his Chicago return, and it’s not to say “Hi! Hope all is well, youbetchya!”

“I probably went about a lot of things the wrong way,” Butler said. “People don’t work as hard as I do and don’t expect the same things out of the game that I do. And that’s my fault and I’ve learned from that. I said from the beginning — it was either gonna me or the Fred Hoiberg route. And rightfully so, they took Fred. Good for them. I’ve got that game marked on my calendar: Feb. 9 baby, I’m back.”

They obviously chose Fred.

Perhaps that’s where Nikola Mirotic got the idea. Apparently ultimatums make things happen in the world of GarPax. Worked once before, why not try it again.

Also, don’t ever get in a canoe with Jimmy. He will not help paddle.

Bobby Portis Showed He’s Far From Extinct Against The Dinosaurs Up North

By
Matthew Milakovich
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fred hoiberg nightmare decision bulls rotation

Bobby Portis still hasn’t spoken to Nikola Mirotic and perhaps it should stay that way.

Seeing action for the first time this season after serving an eight game suspension for molly whopping Mirotic in practice, ‘Ol “Crazy Eyes” Portis lit up the Toronto Raptors (albeit in a loss) for a team high 21 points and 13 rebounds.

What this means

So much for the Bulls stressing over any sort of Mirotic ultimatum. After almost single-handedly carrying what was a very lethargic Bulls team to an upset victory, it seems Portis is keen on making the decision very easy for the Bulls’ brass. Especially considering it’s pretty evident the team drafted a much better and younger version of Mirotic in the form of Lauri Markkanen.

Should I stay or should I go now?

When asked about his mindset after the game, Portis had this to say about the situation–

“He goes, I go, I can’t control that,’’ Portis said. “All I can control is me coming in to work every day, working hard, being the same kid that I’ve always been. If I can continue to do that, then that’s really all I can control.

“I want to rekindle our relationship, try as best as possible, but I don’t control that right now. I’m here to play basketball.’’

Portis scored 14 of the Bulls’ 33 in the final quarter, bringing the Bulls a ton of energy when they needed it most. But what was most telling? Despite his recent absence, the forward acted like it was just another day at the office–

“Surprised? No, I put a lot of work in this summer,’’ Portis said. “I respect the game of basketball.’’

I mean hey, as long as the guy respects the game of basketball more than he respects Niko’s jaw, I’m satisfied… and I’m sure most everyone feels a similar way. This may spell the beginning of the end for Mirotic in Chicago.

“I just let bygones be bygones,’’ Portis said. “I don’t have control over that.

‘‘Not worried about who goes, who stays. The only thing I’m worried about is coming in here and trying to play at the highest level possible right now.’’

That’s what we’re concerned with too Bobby, watching a competitive basketball team in Chicago again. Keep on keepin’ on, player.

Good Things Happen For Bears Whenever They Beat Packers at Soldier Field

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

Do people even remember the last time the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field? If you don’t, here’s a quick recap. It was a Monday Night Football game on September 27th, 2010. It was a clear night and both teams were undefeated at 2-0. Per the usual script Green Bay jumped ahead early, going up 10-0.

However, a Greg Olsen touchdown at the end of the first half cut it to 10-7. Then a Devin Hester punt return TD put the Bears on top 14-10. The Packers regained the lead shortly after before two Bears field goals helped them escape with a win in the final seconds. It was a game marked by several unusual circumstances, including Green Bay getting flagged for 18 penalties. It would be the only victory Jay Cutler would have at home over them.

One could argue that victory set the tone for the Bears’ season. After a brief hiccup following that win, losing three of the next four, they ended up finishing 11-5 and making it to the NFC championship. That counts as their last playoff trip. Is it any coincidence they haven’t got back in the seven seasons since, all of which they’ve lost to the Packers in Chicago?

Chicago Bears history says beating Green Bay at home leads to good things

People always like stats to illustrate a point, so here’s one for you. Since 1976, whenever the Bears have defeated the Packers at Soldier Field they have never finished with fewer than seven wins in a season.

  • 1976:  7-7
  • 1977:  9-5
  • 1978:  7-9
  • 1979:  10-6
  • 1980:  7-9
  • 1983:  8-8
  • 1985:  15-1
  • 1986:  14-2
  • 1987:  11-4
  • 1988:  12-4
  • 1990:  11-5
  • 1991:  11-5
  • 1993:  7-9
  • 2005:  11-5
  • 2007:  7-9
  • 2008:  9-7
  • 2010:  11-5

If that weren’t enough it goes a bit further. Every single season where the Bears have won a championship, they defeated the Packers at home during that season from 1932 all the way to 1985. Makes you think how things might’ve been different for them in 2006 had they not lost to Green Bay in the season finale.

Superstitions aside, this paints a pretty clear picture for what’s ahead on Sunday. A lot of people don’t realize how important this game actually is. Losing to a Packers team without Aaron Rodgers would be humiliating in itself, and could have a cascade effect on the rest of the season.

It would drop the Bears to 3-6 overall and an even worse 0-3 in the division. That would all but erase their chances of coming back to steal the NFC North. Worse still it would drop their record to 1-4 against NFC teams. That undoubtedly would crush their hopes for a wild card as well. It also means they’d have to go 4-3 over the remaining seven games to just reach 7-9.

Would that and another season sweep at the hands of Green Bay be enough to validate keeping John Fox? That’s a question he must ponder carefully. On the other hand, the first win over the Packers at Soldier Field in seven years could do a lot for his prestige.

John Lackey Plans To Come Back And Pitch In 2018

By
Aldo Soto
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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) ORG XMIT: CODZ127

It appeared as though 39-year-old pitcher John Lackey was ready to hang up his cleats and ride off into the sunset following the 2017 season, but according to MLB insider Jon Heyman that’s not the case.

Lackey, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs the past two seasons, plans to continue his career in 2018.

He’s now a free agent after his two-year contract with the Cubs expired and without a qualifying offer extended to him by the Cubs, Lackey is well on his way to sign somewhere else.

Lackey made 59 starts in two years with the Cubs, recording a 3.94 ERA. He also made three starts in the 2016 postseason, when the Cubs won the World Series, but the veteran pitcher was relegated to a bullpen role in the 2017 playoffs.

Does Lackey have much left? His 2017 season was a tale of two halves, posting a 3.75 ERA in 14 games after the All-Star Game. That followed a horrible first half, which saw Lackey give up a .264 batting average and 5.20 ERA. There was also the home run issue, as Lackey surrendered 36 home runs, most in the National League. Juiced balls or not, that was awful.

And for anyone asking why Lackey isn’t retiring yet? He has the rings, he has the money, but who wouldn’t want to make more money? This free agent class isn’t filled with many great starting pitchers, so maybe Lackey thinks he can get one more payday. He’s stayed relatively healthy, only having two disabled list stints in the last two years, while pitching 188.1 innings and 170.2 innings in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Back to the Cubs, though? Not gonna happen.

Packers Players Have Scouted Trubisky and Admit They Prefer Glennon

By
Erik Lambert
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packers players
Credit: Cleveland.com

It’s hard not to admit watching Monday Night Football was a delight. Chicago Bears fans take every opportunity relishing in the despair of Green Bay Packers fans. After all they’re the one who all too often have to endure the chants of “the Bears still suck” every time the Packers win. It must be fun enjoying 25 years with a Hall of Fame quarterback under center.

Now Green Bay is getting a taste of what life without that is like. A life Chicago has long since grown used to. They clearly don’t like it. At all. Fans flooded the radio waves today after their 30-17 smackdown at the hands of Detroit calling for everybody to get fired. It’s becoming apparent with each passing week how much Aaron Rodgers was covering up.

In fact the Packers have not beaten the Bears without Rodgers or Favre under center since before the turn of the millennium. All of a sudden it’s Chicago who’s boasting the talented young draft pick while they trot out a backup-turned-starter.

Packers players admit they’ve been impressed with Mitch Trubisky

Looking at the stats alone, nobody would be intrigued by Mitch Trubisky. Of course other football players aren’t as foolish as fans and some media. They watch tape. Such is the case for many Green Bay players. Despite the limited production, they admitted they see a talented young player. It was hard to mask their disappointment that Mike Glennon wasn’t still starting.

Ironic since they were the ones who sparked his removal a month ago.

“I watched [Trubisky] just on TV a few times,” Packers defensive end Dean Lowry said. “He’s obviously more athletic than the previous quarterback.”

And they know Trubisky is showing signs of progress.

“The games I watched he does a good job of controlling the offense, managing an offense,” House said. “He doesn’t turn the ball over. He’s not afraid to take a sack. That’s good for a young quarterback.

“Usually, young quarterbacks make mistakes and throw the ball. Usually, we love playing against young quarterbacks because they’re going to make bad decisions like that. But Mitch is a little bit smarter. He manages the game very well and doesn’t make bad decisions.”

Another irony is Trubisky seems to emulate the qualities of former Packers great Bart Starr. He was known for his unselfishness. Numbers weren’t important. Protecting the ball and leading the team was. He often took sacks rather than forcing throws into tight coverage. He never minded handing the ball off all game if it meant winning.

Such quarterbacks are difficult to defeat as teams have discovered. Trubisky has a victory over the 6-3 Panthers and had chances late to beat the 6-2 Vikings and 6-2 Saints. He’s been sharpened at an accelerated pace by some of the best teams in the NFL. So it’s doubtful he’ll have any fear of the wounded Packers come Sunday.

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