Blackhawks Commissioned Artist To Create Custom Mask For Eric Semborski

Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Blackhawks Commissioned Artist To Create Custom Mask For Eric Semborski

By now most Chicago Blackhawks fans have heard the story of Eric Semborski. If you haven’t, Corey Crawford needed an emergency appendectomy on December 3, 2016 while the team was set to play the Philadelphia Flyers that night. In need of a backup goaltender, they went to a list of local goalies and found Semborski.

He was a goalie for the Temple club hockey team who was coaching at the local rink. Next thing he knows, he’s taking warmups and sitting on the bench for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The team could not pay him because of restrictions so they gave him a jersey, hat and he was able to get some autographs. He was happy with all of that but then it got better.

Since then, he has received his own Topps hockey card and a trip to a game in Chicago, paid for by the Blackhawks. But that’s not all.

The organization wanted Semborski to have an official Blackhawks mask. They contacted David Gunnarsson, the artist of Scott Darling’s masks, and asked them to work together to create a piece.

The two agreed it should tell a story and it did. You can see below that the mask includes the date, Chicago as well as Philadelphia skylines and a Temple crest. For the Blackhawks it features the four feathers on each side.

The Blackhawks keep making Eric Semborski’s dream even better. They didn’t need to make any of these extra moves but they did. This is class.

Welcome Eric Semborski to the DaveArt Squad! 👊🏻 Eric is the young goalie who became a Blackhawks goalie for an evening😃. It was the 3rd of December last year when Blackhawks and Flyers met. Chicago Blackhawks wanted to give Eric a present and memory after the game and they asked me if I could create a real Blackhawks mask for Eric🥅. For sure, it would be an honor🙏🏻! Eric and I started to brainstorm and we came up with a design plan. It is a true Storyteller mask📕. On a distance it is a clean cut Blackhawks mask, and when you come closer you will discover a lot of sweet details🔍👀. Such as the date of the magic day, and also the skyline of both cities…🏙 On the top it is the logo of the Temple University. And for sure the design is loaded with all the DaveArt Trademark Super FX…✨ @nhlblackhawks @philadelphiaflyers #DaveArt #nhl #DaveArtTheCradleOfCreativity @NHL

A post shared by David Gunnarsson (@davidofdaveart) on

Welcome Eric Semborski to the DaveArt Squad! 👊🏻 Eric is the young goalie who became a Blackhawks goalie for an evening😃. It was the 3rd of December last year when Blackhawks and Flyers met. Chicago Blackhawks wanted to give Eric a present and memory after the game and they asked me if I could create a real Blackhawks mask for Eric🥅. For sure, it would be an honor🙏🏻! Eric and I started to brainstorm and we came up with a design plan. It is a true Storyteller mask📕. On a distance it is a clean cut Blackhawks mask, and when you come closer you will discover a lot of sweet details🔍👀. Such as the date of the magic day, and also the skyline of both cities…🏙 On the top it is the logo of the Temple University. And for sure the design is loaded with all the DaveArt Trademark Super FX…✨ @nhlblackhawks @philadelphiaflyers #DaveArt #nhl #DaveArtTheCradleOfCreativity @NHL

A post shared by David Gunnarsson (@davidofdaveart) on

Vegas Oddsmaker Made Fascinating Jay Cutler and Jimmy Garoppolo Comparison

Erik Lambert
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Vegas Oddsmaker Made Fascinating Jay Cutler and Jimmy Garoppolo Comparison

Chicago Bears fans have never been wild about change, even when something isn’t that good anymore. It was true of Brian Urlacher. It was true of Devin Hester. Now it’s true of Jay Cutler as well. Coming off an injury-filled season where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, the 33-year old quarterback stares down the barrel of a failed eight-year run with the franchise. A run that began with so much promise.

Some don’t want to see him go, still holding out hope he can win them games if only given enough help. Meanwhile others are clamoring for somebody new. A young gun who can trot that old horse to the stable. The popular name of late is Jimmy Garoppolo, a 25-year old native of Illinois who has spent three years learning from Tom Brady.

Experts are split on him, but a majority tend to think he’d make quite the solid addition to the Bears roster. The better question is would he be an upgrade over Cutler? Somebody decided to take on that very challenge, and came away with interesting results.

Dexter Fowler Responds To Hatred From Cardinals Fans With A Kind Gesture

Aldo Soto
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Dexter Fowler Responds To Hatred From Cardinals Fans With A Kind Gesture

Spring training is less than a week in the books, but St. Louis Cardinals fans are already in mid-season form, spewing their hatred against Dexter Fowler.

The all-star outfielder was ruthlessly attacked on social media after he said, “It’s huge. Especially anytime you’re not able to see family, it’s unfortunate,” when asked about President Trump’s travel ban that was blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Fowler discussed how he and his wife Darya put off plans to take their daughter Naya to Iran to meet relatives of Darya. Iran was one of the seven Muslim-majority countries included in the failed executive order travel ban by the president.

Some Cardinals fans were so displeased with Fowler, expressing any sort of opinion despite only sharing how he wanted to visit family, that they lashed out at him. It was nasty. Disgusting. So much so, that one fan had the audacity to say Fowler was the property of the Cardinals.

It’s 2017, right? Damn, that’s quite unfortunate.

And guess what, being called property is kind of frowned upon and you know, just wrong on so many levels. Fowler took to Twitter to address the vicious attacks.

Also, despite how some Cardinals fans reacted, Fowler took the high road and even offered a giveaway.

Hats off to Fowler, who always comes out looking good but when going up against hate-fueled Cardinals fans that isn’t too hard.

By the way, when Fowler says, “Since I have a nice little chunk of people who hate me,” he’s not lying. This wasn’t a handful of fans attacking Fowler. There were droves of Cardinals fans telling him to shut up and that this wasn’t the “Cardinal Way.”

Scumbag Cardinals’ Fans React To Cubs Signing Jason Heyward

As much as that was a bad look for Cardinals fans, they’ve had worse.

Applying “The Bill Parcells Rules” To Every Chicago Bears QB Target

Erik Lambert
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Applying “The Bill Parcells Rules” To Every Chicago Bears QB Target

There are few coaches in NFL history who have garnered more respect than Bill Parcells. A two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer. He won 172 games and is responsible for some of the great upsets the game has ever seen. His coaching tree is also one of the most extensive, having produced three different future head coaches who would win a championship. It’s safe to say the man knows the game inside and out.

A man who also has his own philosophy about what it takes to build winning teams. One part that is sure to interest the Chicago Bears is how he approached identifying quality quarterbacks. In fact he had a set of seven parameters that needed to be met in order to draft them. They were eventually dubbed the “Bill Parcells Rules.”

  1. Be a three-year starter
  2. Be a senior in college
  3. Graduate from college
  4. Start 30 games
  5. Win 23 games
  6. Post a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio
  7. Tally a completion rate of 60 percent or higher

One can argue it might not include some necessary things, but it’s hard to argue with the results. That methodology produced Jeff Hostetler when he was with the Giants, the man who won Super Bowl XXV for him. It produced Drew Bledsoe, a four-time Pro Bowler in New England. It also was applied to a young undrafted free agent named Tony Romo when he coached at Dallas.

So here’s an interesting question. Which of the top Bears quarterback targets in the draft best fit these rules?

REPORT: Boston Red Sox Emerge As Potential Todd Frazier Landing Spot

Dan Fappiano
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REPORT: Boston Red Sox Emerge As Potential Todd Frazier Landing Spot

It has been no secret that Todd Frazier is available for trade. As the White Sox rebuild, moving an impending free agent in Frazier is towards the top of their priorities.

What has been a secret is where Frazier may end up. The Dodgers showed serious interest earlier this offseason, but with Los Angeles re-signing Justin Turner they’re no longer involved. Teams like the Rockies, Cardinals and Giants have been listed as potential landing spots, but no team has shown advanced interest.

For the most part, fans have been left in the dark about where Frazier could end up being traded. A new report shined a bit of light on a new team who could trade for the White Sox third baseman.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe recently reported that the Boston Red Sox could be interested in acquiring Todd Frazier. He wrote:

Frazier is a player to keep an eye on if Pablo Sandoval doesn’t cut it and the Red Sox need a big bat in the middle of the order. Frazier is scheduled to earn $12.5 million this season and will be a free agent at the end of the year. By trade deadline time Frazier’s deal will be less than half of that, which could make him affordable to the Red Sox and other contending teams. Frazier hit 40 homers and knocked in 98 runs last season and has a nice swing for Fenway. The White Sox probably won’t deal him before the start of the season.

The Panda’s Plummet

From 2011-2014 Pablo Sandoval was one of the best third basemen in the league. He was voted to two All Star games while never hitting lower than .278. He hit for double digit home runs and atleast 63 RBIs all four years.

And then he signed a disastrous five year/$95 million contract with the Red Sox in 2015. He hit .245 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs over 126 games in 2015 before appearing in just three games in 2016 after injuring his shoulder.

Sandoval has been overweight and inconsistent during his time in Boston. He has looked nothing like his All Star self from San Francisco.

Regardless, Red Sox President Dave Dombrowski decided to give him another chance at third base in 2017. Perhaps he could shock the world and play like he did from 2011-2014 this upcoming season. However more likely than not, he will struggle again leading to Boston looking for a new third baseman.

With top prospect Rafael Devers still a few years away from the MLB, the Red Sox will likely need a new third baseman by the All Star break. Frazier could potential be that guy.

Perfect Fit

When looking at readily available power hitting third baseman there are none better than Todd Frazier.

The third baseman has been in the MLB for the past six years playing for the Reds before the White Sox. In 791 major league games Frazier has hit .250 with 148 home runs, 422 RBIs and 58 stolen bases.

Frazier’s power is inevitable. He is coming off of a 40 home run season and has hit atleast 29 homers the past three years. Outside of his power stroke, Frazier has sneaky speed stealing atleast 13 bases the past three seasons.

The Red Sox proved this offseason that they’re willing to make any move necessary to win, adding both Chris Sale and Tyler Thornburg. If the Red Sox are heavily involved in the playoff hunt by the Trade Deadline, which they should be, adding a power hitter in Frazier could put them over the American League edge.

What Would It Cost?

Rafael Devers is not coming to the South Side. Todd Frazier is a great player, but as a rental he is not worth the 17th best prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline.

While Cafardo doesn’t speculate on a return package, two prospects who make sense for the White Sox are Jason Groome or Sam Travis.

Groome is currently the Red Sox third best prospect and the 41st best prospect in baseball. After being selected with the 12th pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Groome went on to appear in three games and 6.2 innings, holding a 2.70 ERA and a 10/4 K/BB ratio.

The pitching prospect is just 18 years old and needs more time in the minors. But Groome has the tools to be a dominant front-line starter once he reaches the MLB.

Travis is currently the Red Sox fourth best prospect. He has hit .303 with 22 home runs, 151 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.

Travis would immediately become one of the best pure bats in the White Sox farm system. He is one of the best power hitters in the minor leagues while holding deceptive speed. Adding Travis allows the White Sox to keep Zack Collins at catcher while adding another impressive bat. An infield of Collins, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada and Travis would be one of the best in the MLB.

Another option for the White Sox would be to trade for catcher Blake Swihart. He is currently in a three-way competition with Sandy Leon and Christian Vasquez. If he fails, the Sox could look to move him for help at the MLB level.

In 103 major league games, Swihart has hit .271 with five home runs and 36 RBIs. He has also thrown out 28% of all base runners. Swihart is just 24 years old and holds massive potential. With the White Sox he would finally have a chance to prove himself. With a fresh start, Swihart could end up being the All-Star catcher many projected him to be a few years ago.

While Frazier won’t draw the same amount of prospects as Jose Quintana or David Robertson, his value should be sky high at the Trade Deadline. If the Red Sox are serious about competing, they should be willing to part with atleast one of their top prospects to acquire a 40+ home run hitter.

Author’s Reaction

Out of all the Todd Frazier rumors since the Dodgers, this one makes the most sense.

The Red Sox are going to have an obvious need, and Todd Frazier is the perfect solution. Adding him to a lineup that already features Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez and others should give Boston one of the best offenses in the American League.

Dave Dombrowski has always been one for big trades. While a deal for Frazier wouldn’t draw as many headlines as their Chris Sale deal did, it would show that he is serious about the Red Sox being World Series contenders.

Speaking of the Sale deal, Rick Hahn likely knows the ins and outs of Boston’s farm system. He likely has a few prospects he wish he could’ve gotten during the Sale trade. A deal for Frazier would allow Hahn to add even more talent to an ever growing minor league core.

It’s hard to call this trade a done deal as Cafardo is more speculating than anything else, but it’d be hard to not call the Red Sox the early favorites.

With a perfect blend of need and assets, the Boston Red Sox could be walking away with Todd Frazier at the Trade Deadline. If so, they could be serious threats to not only the Indians but the Chicago Cubs for the 2017 World Series crown.

 

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14

WATCH: Patrick Kane With The Filthiest Goal Of The Blackhawks’ Season

Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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WATCH: Patrick Kane With The Filthiest Goal Of The Blackhawks’ Season

It’s moments like these when you know why they call Patrick Kane “Showtime.” He absolutely undressed Sabres’ goaltender Robin Lehner. Even funnier is the defense played by Josh Gorges on the play, he was as useful as a pylon.

The highlight reel goal put Kane at at least 20 for the tenth straight season. He is the only American to accomplish this in his first 10 seasons. What a day for Hockey Day in America.

Who Would Start In Center Field If Charlie Tilson Misses Extended Time?

Dan Fappiano
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Who Would Start In Center Field If Charlie Tilson Misses Extended Time?

The talk surrounding Day Two of White Sox Spring Training has been the injury suffered by center fielder Charlie Tilson. First reported by Scott Merkin and later confirmed by multiple media outlets, the White Sox prospect suffered a “stress reaction” in his right foot.

As all White Sox fans know, Tilson suffered a torn hamstring in his MLB debut during the 2016 season. He was forced to miss the entire season.

Now obviously missing 10 days of Spring Training and an entire MLB season are two totally different entities. But Tilson is beginning to show signs of an injury prone player. Spring Training was supposed to be an opportunity for Tilson to prove he can remain healthy over an extended period of time, so far he has failed to do so.

The best case scenario for the White Sox is Tilson proving that he could remain healthy and him acting as the team’s starting center fielder for the entire 2017 season. However if he is unable to do that, the Sox need an effective backup plan.

The South Siders have multiple options they can choose from, but which outfielder provides the most benefits?

Following the injury, I suggested that veteran Peter Bourjos could be next in line for the starting shot.

White Sox website “Write Sox” opined that Leury Garcia could actually be the favorite.

After asking CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes, he speculated that Bourjos, Jacob May or Adam Engel could be Tilson’s replacement.

Tilson has already stated that the injury is minor and that he should be back following the 10 days. But if the outfielder continually proves that he cannot stay healthy, the White Sox need to make sure they have a solid backup in place.

Looking at all four options gives us a better idea of just who could fill in for Tilson assuming he misses extended time during the regular season.

Cardinals Fans Attack Dexter Fowler Because He Wants To Visit Family In Iran

Aldo Soto
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Cardinals Fans Attack Dexter Fowler Because He Wants To Visit Family In Iran

I’m sure Dexter Fowler was warned of the behavior that some St. Louis Cardinals fans have before signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract this past offseason. The center fielder won’t regret signing in St. Louis, but I’d be willing to bet that by the end of his tenure there, some of those scumbag fans will make him feel beyond miserable at times.

According to one fan, Fowler already has two strikes against him all because he was directly asked about the travel ban and how it has affected his family.

See, Fowler’s wife Darya was born in Iran and they had planned to take their daughter Naya there to meet family. Unfortunately that was one of the seven Muslim-majority countries that President Trump restricted travel to and from in an executive order.

As we all know by now, if you’re not living under a rock, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the travel ban.

So, obviously Fowler isn’t too thrilled, especially when you consider that President Trump said he plans to issue a new executive order that would be tailored to the federal court decision.

Here’s Fowler’s full quote.

“It’s huge. Especially anytime you’re not able to see family, it’s unfortunate.”

(Dexter Fowler)

That’s all Dexter Fowler had to say to fuel a Cardinals’ mob.

The sad thing is, you can’t even distinguish the trolls from people who truly feel this way because of how ridiculous the reactions are. Sure, it’s easy to sit here and call out dumbass, ignorant Cardinals fans, but to know that these kind of people actually have these beliefs is sickening.

Remember, Fowler only said, ““It’s huge. Especially anytime you’re not able to see family, it’s unfortunate,” and this is how Cardinals fans responded.

But no, Cardinals fans are the best in baseball or some shit.

Scumbag Cardinals’ Fans React To Cubs Signing Jason Heyward

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Offseason Recap: Racist St. Louis Cardinals Fans Are Still Racist

Scumbag Cardinals’ Fans React To Cubs Signing Jason Heyward

Out of curiosity, I wonder what happens when Fowler gets strike three in the eyes of Cardinals fans because some are also pissed he couldn’t make their fan convention because of bad weather and now this. So, what do Cardinals fans think is going to happen? He’ll get traded? Fowler has a no-trade clause in his contract. Is he going to get benched? HAHAHAHAHA they signed him for a reason. Will Cardinals fans stop watching? Stop going to games? That already happens.

Here’s Dexter Fowler trying to escape the Cardinals.

Kidding aside, fuck you to all the “stick to sports” people.

h/t: @BestFansStLouis

Hall of Fame GM Perfectly Explains What Bears Need To Finally Get Their QB

Erik Lambert
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Hall of Fame GM Perfectly Explains What Bears Need To Finally Get Their QB

No Pro Bowls since Ronald Reagan was president. No Hall of Fame since the Elvis Presley was changing the landscape of music. The Chicago Bears have truly moved at a glacial pace when it comes to the quarterback position. Incredible to think about considering they were one of the franchises to first take it mainstream back in the 1940s with Sid Luckman and that T-Formation everybody loves to sing about.

Staying on the cutting edge is how one wins in the NFL, but the Bears forgot that lesson and have been paying for it ever since. If not for a historic defense and all-time great running back they wouldn’t even have one Super Bowl title. Meanwhile teams like New England, New Orleans and Indianapolis have won with average backs and decent defenses. Why?

They had quarterbacks.

Now the Bears are trying to enter that exclusive club yet again. Can they get one who understands both the physical and mental sides of the game? What must they do to succeed where past regimes have so spectacularly failed? One Hall of Fame GM has great advice for what it will actually take to pull it off.

WATCH: ‘Bryzzo’ Says The Cubs Are Ready To “Do It All Over Again” In 2017

Gus
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WATCH: ‘Bryzzo’ Says The Cubs Are Ready To “Do It All Over Again” In 2017

The Kris Bryant/Anthony Rizzo friendship is something we all should strive for in our personal lives. The two young superstars have developed such a strong relationship since Bryant’s arrival in 2015 that the media have lumped them together as one person nicknamed ‘Bryzzo.’

I thought from a early stage that the relationship between the two was probably more on a professional level since they’d be spending eight or nine months together every year but the more I listened to them speak (and observe how they act), I’m fully convinced these dudes are true best friends in real life.

I mean, c’mon — look at these two.

Rizzo is always trying to get a reaction out of Bryant by doing strange things (see the video on the next page), Bryant asked Rizzo to stand in his wedding, and the two couldn’t even focus long enough to field fans questions during this year’s Cubs Convention because they thought playing a game of tic-tac-toe would have been better.

This is a true ‘bromance’ if I’ve ever seen one and that ‘bromance’ was in full effect when the two sat down and chatted with ESPN this morning from a very rainy Mesa, Arizona.

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