Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts: ...We'll Take A Look At Moving."

The city of Chicago and Cub fans on fire after this statement Wednesday by Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts.

“If we don’t have the ability to generate revenue in our own outfield, then we’ll have to take a look at moving, no question,”  Ricketts said.

Threat of being frustrated with negotiations with the city?  You be the judge.



Ricketts wants to run Wrigley Field as a business and not a museum.  We agree.  

This fight might get dirty.

D.C. Council Strong Suggestion To Redskins, Change Your Name To Redtails

[HT: Washington Post]

Washington Redtails!

If D.C. Council member David Grosso has his way the Washington Redskins would be forced to change their name to "Redtails".

Grosso is preparing to introduce a resolution calling on the Redskins to change to the Redtails.  Grosso is an independent council member and plans to pursue the non-binding resolution because the current name is "a derogatory, racist name".

"It's been a long time that we have had this name associated with Washington, and I think it is time we take a stand and change it." Grosso said.

Grosso's suggestion is to change to the Washington Redtails noting that was the nickname of the Tuskegee Airmen.

“You can still sing the song and everything,” Grosso said.

Sing with me: "Hail to the Redtails....."  I don't think so.

According to Grosso the team could still keep the feather. 

In a bit of irony I'm watching "A Football Life: John Riggins" as I write this.  Just curious what Riggo would feel about this.  I'm sure "WTF" would be used numerous times.

By the way, Cowboys/Redtails doesn't have the same ring to it.

Whenever the issue of Native American nicknames come up I'm always remind of what a prominent member of the Navajo nation told me years ago when I lived out west.  That those nicknames celebrate their heritage and without that recognition the tribes and culture would be slowly be forgotten.

8 Year Old Soccer Team Gets Make-A-Wish Vs. Timbers

((HT: KOIN-TV))

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has been doing stuff like this for a long time, but this is the first time on record that the Foundation got an entire team involved...

Atticus Lane-Dupre missed the tail end of last soccer season with his Green Machine classmates because of cancer treatments. Since they were so supportive, Atticus wanted to include them.

The end result: a 10-9 win over the Timbers by the Green Machine with 3,000 of the Timbers Army in attendance.
And, oh yeah...
Atticus got the game winner

Here's your recap...


"When a team like the Green Machine comes in it puts pressure on you," Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury said after the match. "It's really tough."

The Timbers unbeaten streak is snapped at 6...

And here's the Portland Timbers version of the day... if you don't cry, you have no soul...

At Least, Bynum Can Flamenco

((HT: Sportsnet/Nielsen))

Cafe de Chinita, a restaurant in Madrid, put out this video the other day...
Beyondthebuzzer put it out...


Andrew Bynum, who caused so much headaches with his hairstyles, his lack of bowling skills, and his knees while visiting Philadelphia (the HQ won't say "playing" there because he never did...) decided he was good enough to flamenco in this cafe on vacation...

At least he's good enough for dancing...
Could it be "considered" rehab...???

Biggest question is: Will anyone pick up the UFA this off-season...???
"Dancing With The Stars" might have a shot...

The Guy Who Called on Tiger Woods at The Masters

David Eger

((ht: golf.com))

Well, isn't this a bit of a surprise. Contrary to pubic assumptions, it wasn't just some guy watching TV on home who called in the potential rules violation by Tiger Woods during this years Masters golf tourney.

Rather the "Mysterious" phone call came from former Tournament Director (other tourneys) and current Senior Tour golfer David Eger.

Eger, according to a story on Golf.com, called a rules official friend of his working at the Masters and brought it up after seeing Woods actions on the 15th hole during Friday's round.

According to Eger, the call took place before Woods finished his round and the chain of events that followed tried to occur before he did so there wouldn't be an "Incorrect" scorecard signed.

The chain of events that followed cost Woods 2 shots and may or may not have impacted his chance to win the tourney that was eventually won by Adam Scott.

Read the entire story from Golf.com RIGHT HERE

You can interpret the goings on here as you will. The hardcore golfer will say Woods should have withdrawn with honor, others say the ruling at the course, with the penalty was fine and still others say there should never have been a penalty.

We aren't going to take a stand on that.

The question in play to us is one that many asked. How did someone call the course to point out the violation.

Well, that isn't exactly what happened.

It would be one thing if you, me or any other schlub watching at home could just randomly call and set forth this kind of chain of events. We can't. But David Eger can.

Eger knows enough people with the circle of professional golfers that he can get ahold of someone to point things out. He can reach out to friends or others (although not while they are on the course). The rest of us can't.

So rest easy conspiracy theorists, it wasn't some random guy that called out the violation, it was someone deep inside the inner circle of golf.

The drop in question:

ICYMI: Falcons Going for Futuristic Looking Stadium

Give the Atlanta Falcons credit for aiming high.

The team got city approval for a deal to build a new stadium just a few weeks ago and on Tuesday, they named the architect. That architect, 360 Architecture, based in Kansas City, came to the table with some shall we say "Interesting" ideas of what the new "Retractable Roof" stadium should look like.

This is one idea on the right. It looks a little like the coliseum in the movie Logan's Run.



Concept two is to the left here, it's called "The Solarium". And basically, for lack of a better way to put it, it looks like a big greenhouse.

There's no guarantee the Falcons will choose either of these looks, they were both just concepts brought to the table by 360 to get the discussion started.

Either way, the project is budgeted at somewhere near $1 billion, with $700 million allocated for the stadium. 360 Architecture designed Met Life Stadium in New Jersey for the Giants/Jets, and the Falcons, according to team President Rich McKay, have stressed they want something "Unique" and a "New" fan experience.

Which is all well and good....if you'll be able to afford a ticket. Unlike many, we understand the Falcons wanting a new yard. And the fact that they are footing 70% of the cost is a good step. They want to increase their revenues, in which they are in the bottom 20's in the league. We get that. But ticket prices are going up and they've already gone on record saying they'll use Personal Seat Licenses for many tickets.

Great, if you can afford it. But try telling a family of four that want to come to one game, they'll have to fork over $65 per ticket, another $20 to park and assorted costs for concessions and you've got one of the many reasons the NFL is having trouble getting people off their couches in front of their HDTV's and in the stadium.


WXIA-TV gives a look at what's going on:

Wanna See What Wrigley Field May Soon Look Like?

((ht: csnchicago.com))


We will give Cubs owner Tom Ricketts this, he's trying to make the most out of one of baseball's most iconic stadiums.

Ricketts and the Cubs on Tuesday afternoon released what they say is a "New and Improved" Wrigley that would offer more amenities, more seating, a rather large Video Board and more importantly to Ricketts, more space for ads.

The scoreboard, which is superimposed on the photo here on your right, would be 6,000 square feet. The downside, it pretty much takes the seats on people's Brownstone's behind the left field wall, completely out of play. And that is a part of the plan that residents in Wrigleyville, the neighborhood surrounding the stadium don't like.

Other features include a hotel, a fan plaza, an office building and doubling the size of locker and clubhouse areas.

The cost: $300 million for stadium work and another $200 million for work in the surrounding area.

Bravo for Ricketts.

Yeah, sure, it will change the look and feel, to some extent, of one of Sports most iconic locations. For any Sports fan over the age of 30, seeing a game at Wrigley Field is something you MUST have on your bucket list.

As much as we LOVED the 2 visits we made there, the place could stand some changes. Yes, the old, rundown stands/stadium. The small, antiquated entrances. The giant old scoreboard in centerfield, the are all part of the character of the place.

But these days sport is all about maximizing revenue and Wrigley for all its charm and character, is maxed out as it currently stands. The Cubs, though they've sucked for a long, long time need the increased revenues to compete with their baseball brethren and the only way to do that is to either (a) improve what they've got, or (b) build something else.

Thankfully, they are choosing choice A.

Here's a story on local reaction from Chicago's WMAQ-TV:

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.