Multiple Choice:

The Bears need serious coaching in:

a. Scoring at the goal line

b. not giving up big plays

c. clock management

d. not turning the ball over

e. ALL OF THE ABOVE

After Sunday night's debacle versus the Vikings, the answer is E.  The great Lovie Dovie Smith said after last week's win against the Rams, "We've turned the corner on defense." Heck Lovie, anyone can turn the corner on everything when they play one of the sorriest most pathetic teams in football, the St. Louis Scams. Sunday night you turned the corner the same way you turned the corner after beating the Lions. Then you played the Packers and got spanked cuz the Packers are a halfway decent team. Give it up, cash it in, the season is ovah for your Bears. They have three straight home games. At least two of those will be losses(Green Bay and New Orleans)and let's not forget about a loss at Houston the last week of the season. Mercifully, the Bears won't make the playoffs. Better the season ends that way than win the painfully weak NFC North and get bounced out in the first round. Folks, the Bears aren't worth three hours of your time on Sundays or any day of the week. Tape the game, speed through the commercials and be done with these sorry sack of losers in less than an hour. Think of all the things you can do if you don't watch the Bears like spend quality time with the family for starters. So I close with another multiple choice question:

Which of the following is the least exciting:

a. watching paint dry

b. counting shags in your carpet

c. Watching the Bears.

You got it.  

MY50  And FOXJOX.com ANNOUCE 2008 IHSA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS COVERAGE LINEUP

Continuous Coverage To Be Streamed Live on FOXHILITESCHICAGO.com

CHICAGO – WPWR My50 has announced its coverage lineup for the 35th Annual IHSA state football finals, beginning Friday, November 28thrd at 10:00 a.m. (CT) and concluding Saturday, November 29th at 7:00 p.m. (CT).

Broadcast LIVE from the University of Illinois’ Champaign/Urbana campus, all games will also be streamed live on FOXJOX.com.

IHSA Football Championships Schedule

LIVE on My50 and FOXJOX.com

State Championships, Friday, 11/28                

            10:00am – Class 1A                  Toulon Stark County vs. Concord Triopia

Ø       #1 ranked Concord Triopia is undefeated

            1:00pm – Class 2A                    Immaculate Conception (Elmhurst) vs. Casey-Westfield

Ø       # 15 seeded Elmhurst Immaculate Conception, the lowest seed ever to make the Class 2A state championship game, plays undefeated and # 2 seed Casey-Westfield

            4:00pm – Class 3A                    Carthage Illini West vs. DuQuoin

            7:00pm – Class 4A                    Aurora Christian vs. Bloomington Central Catholic

Ø       Its #1 vs #2. Top seeded Aurora Christian features QB Jordan Roberts who has thrown the most career TD's and Passing yards in Illinois high school history.  Bloomington Central Catholic will be trying to avenge last year’s 4A championship game loss to Addison Driscoll.

State Championships, Saturday, 11/29

10:00am – Class 5A                  St. Francis (Wheaton) vs. Metamora    

1:00pm – Class 6A                    Lemont vs. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin

Ø       Two more power houses tee it up at 1pm in the 6A title game with the top two seeds, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Lemont colliding.  Lemont lost in last years 6A title game.

eart Griffin

4:00pm – Class 7A                    Geneva vs. East St. Louis

Ø       East St. Louis and their 50 points-per-game scoring average meet undefeated and #1 seed Geneva in Class 7A.

7:00pm – Class 8A                    Maine South (Park Ridge) vs. Hinsdale Central

Ø       Hinsdale Central (11-2) takes on unbeaten Maine South, featuring QB Charlie Goro who is heading to the SEC and Vanderbilt next fall.

For more information, please visit FOXJOX.com or www.my50chicago.com.   

                               Caroline Schrenker, Director of Community Relations

Mike Corbo, Media Relations Coordinator    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     

20th ANNUAL CHICAGO BEARS/JEWEL OSCO

“ COAT DRIVE”

Bears kicker Robbie Gould will appear at the Jewel-Osco store ( 6509 W. Grand Avenue) in Gurnee on Tuesday, November 4 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. in support of the 20th Annual Chicago Bears/Jewel-Osco “ Coat Drive.”  This will be the first of four live shots that can be viewed during the 9:00 a.m. hour on FOX Chicago’s morning show, Good Day Chicago.  Fans will have the opportunity to meet Robbie and are encouraged to bring a coat to donate.  Winter coats may also be dropped off at any of the 186 Jewel-Osco stores throughout Chicagoland through November 30, 2008.  A store locator is available at www.JewelOsco.com.

Upcoming locations include (Bears players TBD):

Tuesday, November 11:  Jewel-Osco ( 1600 Deerfield Road, Highland Park)

Tuesday, November 18: Jewel-Osco (307 Des Plaines at Kinzie, Chicago)

Tuesday, November 25: Jewel-Osco (1220 S. Ashland at Roosevelt, Chicago)

The Chicago Bears, Jewel-Osco, FOX Chicago, The Salvation Army, and Wm. Meyers Movers are joining together to make this coat drive a success.  There will not be a stadium collection drive at Soldier Field this year, so all fans should bring their new or gently used coats to a Jewel-Osco store near them.  Thousands of coats will be collected this year as part of the 20th Annual Chicago Bears/Jewel-Osco " Coat Drive" benefiting The Salvation Army and public schools in the Chicagoland area. 

HALAS HALL AT CONWAY PARK   1000 FOOTBALL DRIVE   LAKE FOREST, IL  60045-4829    (847) 295-6600

Bud Selig, you ought to have your stinking head examined. Rain, wind, cold, wind chills in the thirties and you're playing what could be the deciding game of the World Series? This is what teams play 162 games and two playoff series for? To decide a World Series in elements not fit for man nor beast. You moron Selig. If it weren't for Carlos Pena's hit, the tarp would have been put on the field with the Rays losing 2-1. If the game is called, the Rays, the cinderella story of the decade, lose the World Series. Is this how a team should fall? You moron Selig. And what about the Phillies? Do you think they want to win a World Series that way? And what about the fans? Think they want to celebrate when half the stadium is empty? You take the excitement out of the game and the World Series. You moron Selig. I know it can rain in the summer, but in the summer, you can't see the breaths of the players, players aren't decked out in ski jackets, ski caps and flaps over their ears. You moron Selig. Is this how a World Series should be played? The greed of major league baseball is despicable. For goodness sakes, shorten the first and second rounds of the playoffs so the World Series is played in the second week of October when you still have a fighting chance with the elements in cold weather cities. Watching tonight's World Series game was the most annoying experience I have ever had watching a sporting event. It made me puke. Just like you Selig.

I applaud Mike Singletary for putting Vernon Davis in his place, telling him to leave the field because of his selfishness in the waning moments of the Niners-Seahawks game. Thank goodness someone has the integrity to stand up to these hot dog players and not tolerate their stupidity and arrogance. Only one problem. Mike may have cost himself a head coaching job. You see, that type of behavior by a coach doesn't sit well with these idiotic, spoiled players. What Singletary did tends to divide a team and cause them to quit on the coach. So, in one game, Singletary probably blew his chance at becoming the team's head coach. Remember, the Niners have an offensive coordinator that has been a head coach. Likely, after the season, they will turn to him unless by some miracle, Singletary hasn't lost his players. Looking at the Niners today would make Bill Walsh turn over in his grave.

I am so sick of the NFL. Players injured every week, players complaining about something every second, players berating management, players on trial, players on drugs, players given second and third chances. Who cares any more? The NFL stands for Nutty Football League. When coach Lovie Smith has to remind his players to behave themselves during time off for a bye week, something is seriously wrong. Lord, please take me back to the old days when the World Series was played in the first week of October during the day and I wasn't bombarded with all the nonsense we have in sports.

And the shootout in hockey has to go. You play sixty minues of pure hockey, one five minute overtime and you decide a game by a shootout? Come on. I know the NHL hates ties but come up with something better than a shootout. I'd rather see the players drop from playing four overtimes than see a shootout. Whoever came up with this shootout idea ought to be shot.

Yep, I'm mad as heck. And one more thing. I listen to all of these ex-jocks that have sports talk shows on the radio. Half of them can't talk. And these are the same guys that, when they were players, wouldn't bad mouth anyone in post-game interviews. Now, as talk show hosts, they have a license to rip everyone; players, coaches, you name it. So that leads me to believe that when a player grants you an interview, you can' t believe a word he says, at least until he gets his own talk show when his playing days are over.

WPWR MY50 PRESENTS THE 2008 IHSA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

Live Coverage Kicks Off This Weekend on FOXJOX.com

CHICAGO –My50 Chicago and FOXJOX.com will be the home of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Football Playoffs for the third year in row, announced Patrick Mullen, the station’s Vice President and General Manager.  Coverage begins Saturday, October 25th with live streaming Web coverage of the IHSA Football Playoffs Pairings selection show on FOXJOX.com from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. (CT) 

In making the announcement Mullen stated, “We are proud to be continuing partnership with the IHSA to give Illinois high school football fans a place to watch their favorite teams compete for the state title over the air and online.”

This year’s IHSA tournament coverage begins with FOXJOX.com live online streaming of this weekend’s two-hour IHSA Football Playoffs Pairings show.  Included will be interviews with coaches, highlights from schools across the state, and live coverage of the tournament pairings announcements, as the 256 playoff-bound high schools find out which bracket they will compete in and who they will face in the first round of this year’s tournament.  IHSA state playoffs are divided into eight classes of 32 teams. The tournament culminates with the IHSA State Championship Games, played Thanksgiving weekend at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  

My50 and FOXJOX.com will also present live broadcast and live streaming Web coverage of an IHSA semi-final game on November 22nd, as well as eight championship games on November 28th and 29th.  A full schedule of coverage is below.

IHSA Football Playoff Schedule LIVE on My50 and FOXJOX.com

IHSA Football Playoff Pairings Show

FOXJOX.com, Saturday, October 25th @ 8:00 p.m. (CT)

IHSA Class 6A, 7A, or 8A Semi-Final

WPWR My50 and FOXJOX.com, Saturday, November 22nd @ 7:00 p.m. (CT)

IHSA State Championships

WPWR My50 and FOXJOX.com, Friday, November 28th

Class 1A – 10:00 a.m. (CT)

Class 2A – 1:00 p.m. (CT)

Class 3A – 4:00 p.m. (CT)

Class 4A – 7:00 p.m. (CT)

WPWR My50 and FOXJOX.com, Saturday, November 29th

Class 5A – 10:00 a.m. (CT)

Class 6A – 1:00 p.m. (CT)

Class 7A – 4:00 p.m. (CT)

Class 8A – 7:00 p.m. (CT)

For more information, please visit www.FOXJOX.com or www.my50chicago.com.   

WPWR My50 is part of the Fox Television Stations, one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 27 stations in 18 markets and covering nearly 37.34% of U.S. television homes.  This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.

Hey:

The Bears should have known hiring Lovie Smith would be a mistake just by his first name. Lovie? How can anyone with that kind of a name be tough and convince players that he's tough. He's a deer in headlights on the sidelines, clueless, a horrible game day coach and a pansy in the locker room. If the Bears blew a game like they blew on Sunday against the Falcons and Ditka were the coach, look out! He would have taken no prisoners and his press conference would have been one for the ages...quotes galore. The Bears need someone who knows how to kick some butt...someone to tell Tommie Harris to get of his sorry 91 million dollar rear end and earn his keep...someone to teach Robbie Gould how to squib kick...someone to tell the Bears secondary they need to play smart and with urgency during crunch time. The Bears last 11 second debacle yesterday falls squarely on the coaching staff...really bad decisions...and Lovie Dovey has to be held accountable. Bears management won't do a thing though. They're clueless too. A storied NFL franchise run by idiots. Too bad...the Bears could be running away with the NFC North. Instead, they languish with the rest of the garbage in that division because they don't have a coach that has the fortitude to do anything about it.

I am tired of hearing this lame excuse that the Sox were tired after three do-or-die end-of- season games to get into the playoffs. Hey, last time I checked Tampa Bay was just as mentally fatigued after having the Red Sox on their tails all season long and the Rays kicked butt against the Sox. And those extra two games the Sox had to play would have been unnecessary if they hadn't choked in Minnesota, losing three straight games. Even after that debacle, the Twins wanted to give the Sox the A.L. Central title but, lest we forget Sox fans, the Sox choked in the first two games against Cleveland. So, please don't give me this mental and physical fatigue garbage. The Sox should have won the A.L. Central in regulation. Besides, when you get into the playoffs, you play on adrenalin and fumes.

To show you how stupid OJ really is, he knew that the slightest wrong-doing would land him back in court where any jury was just waiting for revenge. The really sad part about OJ going to prison, now he can't pursue his mammoth search for the real killers.

The Cubs got what they deserved. The regular season really means nothing. The post season is what matters and the Cubs were AWOL, chokers, not coming through when it really counts, playing their worst baseball of the season in the playoffs. There is an 11th commandment: THE CUBS SHALT NOT WIN A WORLD SERIES. It's great to see Cub fans wallowing in misery because Cub fans, quite simply, are idiots. They come to games to be seen, many have no knowledge of baseball, they wear ridiculous costumes, and cry for hours after a loss. Do they cry for people who lost their homes or their lives in hurricanes? Do they cry for people who can't afford food and morgage any more? Hey, it's baseball. It's okay to be a fan but Cubs fans take it way too far. Trust me, I'm no Sox fan either. Just a baseball fan. Also happy to see Ron Santo crying in his Budweiser. Hey, this guy is so bad, he shouldn't even be behind a microphone. So, this is his punishment for being nothing more than a homer. Wait till next year and the year after and the century after and the eon after. Ain't gonn happen Cubs fans. Even the great Lou Piniella can't win a post-season game. It's destiny. Here's your Cubs song:

No Cubs no

No Cubs no

Hey Chicago, what do ya say

The Cubs they really stunk today.

Cedric Benson(the felon)shouldn't even be allowed back in the league. But at least he found a team that he can relate to:  the Cincinnati Bengals, thugs and felons of the NFL. He's right in his element. He'll screw this one up too.

YES! YES! YES!

Go Cubs go...go Cubs go...Cubs...just GO...HOME and watch a REAL baseball team! :D

At least I no longer have to hear that stupid song anymore! :D

Joe Torre...by far a superior manager than that old Lou Piniella!

I'm so glad that the Cubs have lost both playoff games at home with their best pitchers. I can only hope for a Dodger sweep this Saturday. I would much rather hear a Cubs fan tears falling than their gloating. GO DODGERS!

This year the girls and i went to us66 and Jack Beckman and his crew   took us in and showed us what a great bunch of guys they are, They gave us the full treatment  we went in their trailer and pit and went up to the starting line with them when Jack made his run. if you every want to meet a great bunch of people i say get out to the drag races . and see what a great bunch of  guys and girls are involved in pro drag racing.

       China. Womens Gymnastics Team Gold medal.  Was it fairly won?  For once, the scoring was not a huge problem filled with scandals and obvious favoritism, not enough to change the outcome.   Falls are falls, and enough of them cost big points.  But what about the legal Olympic age of the athletes involved?

      Those unfamiliar with the sport of womens gymnastics, those who only watch the event every 4 years in the Olympics, may not be aware that this has been a concern for many many years. Other countries in the past have also snuck small youthful gymnasts onto their teams. But why?

          Most people know that even in our country, the development of a world class gymnast begins very early. Many move away from home by age 11 or so to train at the best camps with the best coaches year round.  It is much the same for ice skaters, tennis players and other sports too.  Here  it is voluntary, and parents can of course visit or remove them.  But these girls in China were chosen while in pre-school and directed to this intensive national program years ago, with little parental control left over their children.  Since gymnastics depends so much on quick aerial movements of great difficulty, the age/weight concern is important.   You may have everything going perfect one year and all wrong the next.   Back in '87, the US had a fantastic  young gymnast who won several events at the Pan AM games. By the next year for '88 Olympics, she had matured , grown up, and her performance level was not the same.  She barely made the team and did not shine in Seoul as predicted a year earlier. This is the gamble, the risk taken when developing a young gymnast.    Much of their movement and skills depends on where and how they can control, move that center of gravity.  That CG is key, and predictable, manageable, when the girls are of right size,shape,due to age.   They have fewer injuries when young, heal a big faster too at that age.  A couple years later with maybe a history of leg injuries or surgeries even, what are their chances to make that successful team effort then?

        So when this girl grows older, she adds a few inches, some shape to her chest, and widens in the pelvic region of course with maturity.    You have no idea what kind of chaos this throws into their once smooth stunts and movements that had become second nature to them.    Timing is off. Body won't go where they think they are tossing it, rotational physics change and for some, the end is near.    For a  strong nationalist team concerned on ethnic pride and world dominance like China, do you risk losing your perfect gymnast in a couple years before the next Olympic chance arrives?  No, you change the birthdates in the cause of national pride and cheat.

         Certainly it is not fair, but you can see the rationalization of China IF these girls were under the Olympic age limit.  They were reaching their best potential very fast.   They were small, easy to 'spot' on the events,  had great strength to weight ratios, and ready to win at home in 2008 for great national pride.  And being from a Communist country where they can control anything and have government support and denail of wrong doing, they probably chose to change the birthdates on their official documents. Who's gonna know?  How can you check the records in a nation of over a billion people where Mao had them all dressed alike for over 40 years?   Confused? Easily.

            In fairness to all Olympic athletes,  just as they have taken away track and field medals for steroid and drug abuses later discovered,  it would be great if the IOC would revoke the team China and any individual medals when hard evidence of the underage athletes is presented.  Chances are slim, but it would be fair for sure.  You can guess they have been very careful in covering their tracks on this one though.