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Chicago Is Watching The Blackhawks Less and Less

The Chicago Blackhawks have been atop with Western Conference much of the season but viewing is down in Chicago, according to Crain’s. Only about 109, 000 local households are tuning into the Blackhawks these days and it could mark a decrease for the second consecutive season.

One of the hurdles the Blackhawks faced early in the season was the Cubs World Series run. Three of their games went head to head with either an NLCS or World Series game. That included their lowest rated game on November 1 against the Calgary Flames (1.31).

I don’t think it is unreasonable to believe that the recent election also played a role in the the ratings decline. The election included two of the most polarizing candidates in history that kept people glued to the news.

Almost expectedly, the highest rated games of the season have all come from mid-December to early January. All the previous distractions and the Bears had wound down. Add the weather, and it’s the perfect time of year to watch Blackhawks hockey.

1. Dec. 23 vs. Colorado: 4.52
2. Jan. 6 vs. Carolina: 4.48
3. Dec. 20 vs. Ottawa: 4.44
4. Jan. 5 vs. Buffalo: 4.32
5. Dec. 29 vs. Nashville: 3.79

All that being said, I think the Blackhawks were due for some declines from their peak in 2013. They were at their height of popularity and even the viewing of their nationally televised outdoor games has fallen.

There are still die hard fans out there watching but for a lot of people the Blackhawks were a new relationship. It was sexy and fun at first, then you got married, and the honeymoon is over.

Top Draft Experts Make Identical Picks For Chicago Bears at #3

chicago bears

Who are the Chicago Bears going to take with the #3 overall pick? This is going to be the question that dominates social media, chat lines, phone conversations and war rooms for the next few months. The truth is people are having a difficult time pinning down what direction the team might go. If only because there are so many.

It’s no secret the Bears have plenty of roster needs. After all they were decimated by injuries this past season, a huge contributor to their 3-13 finish. Depth is a problem everywhere and there are still positions with no clear cut starter. In other words the rebuild is ongoing and the top brass know there is lots of work to do.

Well the top experts in the draft field have begun their in-depth evaluations of the upcoming class. As their feel of the strengths and weaknesses grow, the mock draft have begun to come out. Two of the top experts just joined the fray, and their selection for the Bears was certainly an eye-opener.

Rumors are swirling about a reunion between Blackhawks and Patrick Sharp

The Chicago Blackhawks might be in the market for another top six forward and many are speculating that a reunion with an awfully familiar face who now plays for a divisional foe could be in order.

That’s right. Patrick Sharp to the Blackhawks rumors are starting to fire up after several writers speculated that Sharp could be a good fit to return to Chicago after being traded to the Dallas Stars two years ago.

The Athletic’s Brian Hedger got the ball rolling when he threw Sharp in the mix as someone the Hawks could try to acquire at the trade deadline. Then, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman openly wondered in his 30 thoughts column whether Sharp could be an answer for Chicago’s depth problem.

A reunion with Sharp could be a move that potentially takes the Blackhawks over the top. He’s still a quality, veteran winger who put up 20 goals and 55 points in his first season with Dallas. He has only played in 20 games this season, netting four goals and nine points, but his familiarity with Chicago’s system and roster makes this move a natural fit. Plus, Sharp could provide Jonathan Toews the jumpstart he desperately needs on the top line.

But is the deal feasible? That’s an entirely different story.

The Stars are mired in mediocrity right now at 19-18-1, but are only two points back of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. Obviously, the team will have a better idea of where it stands in the playoff race come February’s trade deadline. But, a four or five-game rut could prompt Dallas to start selling, which is kind of crazy considering the Stars won the Central Division last season.

Sharp would be one of the more obvious candidates for a trade. The problem is — here we go again — cap space!

Sharp is on the final year of a contract he signed with the Hawks in 2011 and accrues a cap hit of $5.9 million this season. At the moment, the Blackhawks have approximately $3.34 million in cap space, per Cap Friendly. So, there’s a disparity there.

Now, the Hawks could plead the Stars to maintain some of Sharp’s salary. That figure would likely be in the neighborhood of $2 million. But, Dallas won’t just do that for a division rival out of the kindness of its heart. It’d likely cost them a decent, if not prized, prospect just in the cost of doing business.

So, while a reunion with Sharpie might get Blackhawks fans excited, it’s going to be an extremely difficult move to pull off. Stan Bowman has shown in the past he’s willing to make whatever deal necessary to give his team the best chance at winning a Stanley Cup. He’s sacrificed some long-term pieces for runs at the title, and it’s worked three times.

The question is whether Sharp would give Chicago a substantial boost in their quest for a fourth.

CNN Makes Bold Claim Regarding Wrigley Field

While most of the world celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Day this past Monday, few people realize that January 16th also had relevance beyond Dr. King.

It was “blue Monday.”

If you’re like me and have no idea what the hell blue Monday is, there’s a reason behind that. The day was created in 2005 by a tutor at Cardiff University (which is located in Wales) who came up with a mathematical equation stating that the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year.

That tutor sounds like he/she has too much time on their hands.

You shouldn’t worry if you were equally as depressed as you normally are because as it turns out, blue Monday is complete bullshit. The “formula” was basically a calculation based on factors such as weather conditions, debt levels, time since Christmas, and time since failing our new year’s resolutions.

Yes, there are people who have already failed their New Year’s resolutions.

As cool as the mathematical equation sounds the day has since been debunked by pretty much everyone on Earth.

Not the people at CNN however.

They decided to come up with a “15 happiest places on Earth list” to combat those huge depression swings that were supposed to occur on Monday. The list contained only two places in North America and of course one of was Wrigley Field.

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Former White Sox Staple Tim Raines Finally Gets Into Cooperstown

Tim Raines, Chicago White Sox, Hall of Fame

Chicago White Sox fans have argued for years that former outfielder Tim Raines deserved to make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Across a career spanning 23 years including five seasons in Chicago, he was a seven-time All-Star. He batted .294 and belted 170 home runs while stealing 808 bases. He also won two World Series titles with the Yankees in 1996 and 1997.

After retiring he decided to join the coaching ranks. Following a stint in the minors, he became an assistant with the White Sox in 2004 and was a big part of helping them win the World Series in 2005. Now the long-overlooked baseball staple is getting his due, becoming a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class.

Joining him in the glorious celebration is slugger Jeff Bagwell and iconic catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. While Raines may not have been know for the big bats like they were, his value on the diamond was unquestionable. He had speed, played defense and was a crafty hitter at the plate. Yet when he wanted to he could uncork one deep.

Raines was one of those players that didn’t hog the spotlight. He was a glue guy who did everything the right way. Somebody fans grew to love because they knew they could always count on him to deliver a big play when the team needed it. That’s what Hall of Famers are all about. The fact he took his consistent excellence into coaching only enhances how great a baseball personality he is and was.

Four Teams That Could Come After Alshon Jeffery

alshon jeffery bears divorce

The future of Alshon Jeffery’s NFL career currently hangs in the balance. After receiving the franchise tag from the Bears last season, Jeffery is once again due for a new contract. Chicago isn’t likely to apply the franchise tag again due to the high cost ($17 million) and his PED suspension could cause issues when trying to negotiation a long-term deal. If a deal isn’t worked out the Bears will likely tag and trade him, or at the very worst, let him sign with another team. Here are the five teams most likely to target Jeffery and probably already researching him extensively.

Honorable Mention: Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles

#4. The Los Angeles Rams

The Rams used the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to select Jared Goff, their quarterback of the future. Goff watched his team limp to a 4-12 record with their leading receiver, Kenny Britt, pulling in just under 70 receptions. After finishing with the 31st ranked passing offense last season, the new head coach of the Ram (Sean McVay) will be looking for some answers. The team currently has just over $44 million in cap space and they don’t have a first round pick. Trading for and signing Alshon Jeffery would immediately provide a boost to their mediocre receiving corps and give Goff a solid, much bigger, target to compliment Tavon Austin.

Image result for jared goff rams

Former Bulls Star Ben Gordon Signs D-League Contract

former bulls star ben gordon signs d league contract

Could the Bulls be welcoming back a familiar face in the near future? It wouldn’t go in line with the “younger and more athletic” plan, but Gar Forman and John Paxson seem to be ignoring that anyway. And their roster is in desperate need of more perimeter shooting…

Moments ago, D-League Digest‘s Adam Johnson reported that former Bulls sharpshooter Ben Gordon has signed a contract with the NBA Development League.

Memory Lane

That’s right, BG7! The London native is the only player in NBA history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award as a rookie, which he did in the 2004-05 season. Gordon holds second place on the Bulls’ all time list for three pointers made (770) and is sixth in three point percentage (41.5%). He became a fan favorite for his clutch shooting late in games as the scrappy Bulls finally climbed out of the post-Jordan era cellar. Along with Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni, Gordon led the Bulls to the playoffs in 4 of his first 5 seasons. In 2007, they swept Dwyane Wade and the defending champion Miami Heat in the first round.

The Bulls’ new D-League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, have the first priority on the waiver wire. If they decide to take a chance on Gordon, now 33, it’s very possible he could instantly become the best player on that squad. But does he still have enough left in the tank to play at the NBA level? To quote Derrick Rose, “who knows?” Ben hasn’t been on an NBA roster since 2015, when he was cut by the Golden State Warriors during the preseason. Wade is doing his best to prove he still has it at 35, but he’s a former superstar with a different skillset.

Signing Gordon for the rest of the season doesn’t make a lot of sense, given the fact that the Bulls’ young wings and backcourt reserves need more minutes to develop over the final 40 games. On the other hand, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see GarPax bring Gordon on board for a playoff push. It’s just the right combination of nostalgic and stupid. Wasn’t that their motive when they signed Wade?

Desmond Howard Burnt Like A Chestnut Over A Roasting Fire

Clemson linebacker, Ben Boulware, is a savage both on and off the field apparently.

Boulware, who was recently awarded the Jack Lambert Award, for best linebacker in college football, took to Twitter to call out some of his critics. None bigger than former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, who at one point during the season made the following statement regarding Clemson,

“I think their Achilles heel may be their linebackers.”

Naturally, Ben being the god damn savage that he is, had a tattoo of the national championship trophy inked right smack dab in the middle of his Achilles. That’s epic level shit.

After wrapping up his senior season with 116 tackles, a National Championship Def MVP award and co-ACC Def Player of the Year award, it’s safe to say Ben isn’t short on words.

He’s currently being projected as a mid-round draft pick with one hell of a chip on his shoulder.

Here’s Why The Bears Are a Threat To Sign This Free Agent QB

chicago bears mike glennon

In case it hasn’t come across over the past month through the avalanche of articles, tweets and other social media posts:  the Chicago Bears need a new quarterback. All signs point to the team making a change at that critical position in 2017. This would mark the first major transition in eight years since they traded for Jay Cutler.

Of course the $100 million question is who do they get to steer this ship out of murky depths of the NFL cellar? Early signs point to the draft as the team is reportedly “looking hard” at the top prospects in the upcoming class. Then there is an unusually rich trade market that includes names like Jimmy Garoppolo and Tony Romo.

On the other hand, head coach John Fox has had his greatest successes at quarterback with veteran free agents. One name that continues to hover on the radar of several teams is Mike Glennon. Is there reason to think this former third round pick is a serious target for the team this March?

Based on available information, don’t rule it out.

Cody Whitehair Makes Prestigious List

chicago bears cody whitehair

As the Chicago Bears scramble to find answers for the quarterback position, they can rest assured knowing their young offensive linesman is expected to be dominant for years to come. Cody Whitehair was recently named to the Top 25 Players In The NFL Under 25 list and he’s joined by some incredibly impressive company. Joined by names like Odell Beckham Jr., Le’Veon Bell,  Tyrann Mathieu and more, Whitehair is seemingly entering a new level of stardom.

Pro Football Focus released the list today, and Whitehair checks in at #14. Drafted as a guard in the second-round, out of Kansas State, Whitehair ended up playing his entire rookie season as Chicago’s starting center. After starting all 16 games he graded out as the sixth best center in the NFL paving the way for fellow rookie Jordan Howard to finish second in the league in rushing. As impressive as his season was, Howard didn’t make this list.

Taken with the 56th overall pick, Whitehair watched nine other lineman get selected before the Bears called his name. Draft expert Mike Mayock liked the pick.

“He played left tackle at Kansas State, but he’s not long enough to live outside. If you look at what Chicago has on the offensive line, Whitehair is a good fit.

Whitehair is just one of Ryan Pace’s prized assets chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. Joining teammates Jordan Howard and Leonard Floyd, Whitehair was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team as well. The Bears had three players represented on that list which tied the Chiefs for most in the league.

The 3-13 season was ugly, and so was the 6-10 campaign in 2015, but the future of the Bears appears to be very bright. Whitehair is one of several young athletes on Chicago expected to be impact players in the NFL and he might be Pace’s best draft pick yet.