Weis no genius
LAKE FOREST — Now might be an opportune time to reflect on Charlie Weis and the lack of progress with Notre Dame football. Considering the Weis-led Irish have not had an offensive touchdown in two games, perhaps Notre Dame’s indulgence of their head coach’s heavy-handed contract tactics during his first season were premature.
It is certainly likely the media-created offensive genius label so often afforded Weis has become less accurate in recent weeks. Furthermore, as to the current Irish woes, these are Weis’ recruits underperforming, not those he inherited from Notre Dame’s previous coach, Ty Willingham.
Unlike Weis, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has proved he can win consistently in both the regular season and in BCS bowl games (one of which came at Notre Dame’s expense) with players he recruited and those on campus upon his arrival. The best coach in college football’s heartland does not reside in South Bend, Ind., but in Columbus, Ohio.
— Matt Garrigan
More than 1 bad play
EVANSTON — Mike Downey says the Bears lost in San Diego because a ball bounced off Brandon McGowan’s shoulder (Tribune, Sept. 10)? I don’t think so. The Bears lost because of two fumbles by the runners, the lack of Thomas Jones (who could have made yardage when it counted), the Rex Grossman interception … a lot of things beat the Bears, including a team that had both offense and defense and not just great defense like the Bears have.
That was a sad excuse for the Bears and a sad excuse for a column.
— Dick Dell
Help Kreutz
CHICAGO — When will Ron Turner notice that Olin Kreutz can’t block oversized nose tackles by himself and figure out Kreutz needs help from the guards or different plays called to keep the defense off balance?
Where were the adjustments in the San Diego game? Why not use an outside run or misdirection play to keep the defensive line guessing? Do the Bears have any sweeps, quick pitches, reverses, fake-reverse fullback lead plays, off-tackle plays, or counter treys (such as the Hogs of Washington Redskins fame) in their offensive package?
— Walter Brzeski
Lower Soriano in order
CHICAGO — When did Lou Piniella become Dusty Baker?
Baker, in 2004, was reluctant to move Sammy Sosa down in the order because he didn’t want to upset him. Piniella has been doing the same thing with Alfonso Soriano, to the team’s detriment.
Soriano should not be leading off. His on-base percentage is among the lowest on the team, and his slugging percentage is the highest. Leadoff solo home runs don’t win ballgames (as was the case twice last week). He’d be a much greater asset in the middle of the lineup where he could drive in more runners.
Ryan Theriot proved that he can get on base leading off. Jacque Jones has hit around .400 batting second. Getting runners on base ahead of Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Soriano would increase run production and win more games.
They’ve got to score more runs. Piniella shouldn’t wait.
— Peter B Rubnitz
Cool it, Zambrano
ORLAND PARK — So Carlos Zambrano doesn’t like it when he doesn’t win and the fans boo him? Give me a break. Zambrano is going to get $91 million for the next five years. Let’s say he wins 18 games a year. That would be $1,020,000 per victory. So we can’t complain?
— Gordon E. Grober
Guillen should go
CHICAGO — The players know he is a joke. The fans know he is a joke, and most of the media (except for Phil Rogers) knows he is a joke. Why are the White Sox owners the last ones to get the joke?
Rogers states the case for Ozzie Guillen’s contract extension by saying the team did a smart thing to avoid speculation. He further builds the case by saying Guillen is willing to work for the cheapest price. That makes as much sense as Ozzie’s daily ramblings.
Two things I’m sure of. No way will he complete the five-year deal, and no way the team becomes a winner under his misdirection.
— John Driscoll
Thome had it coming
CHICAGO — Dave van Dyck quotes Ozzie Guillen as saying it’s “embarrassing” that Cleveland fans boo Jim Thome (Tribune, Sept. 10). I agree — Cleveland fans need to let go. However, there is a reason for their discontent. It had to do with Thome’s rhetoric and rationale during negotiations when he chose to leave Cleveland for Philadelphia. It didn’t wash.
Jim Thome was loved and revered in Cleveland, much more than Manny Ramirez. However, when Manny chose to leave, he said it was for the money, and that was respected. When an athlete says it’s not about the money, it’s usually about the money.
The most ridiculous comment came when Guillen, in reference to Thome’s choosing to leave Cleveland, said, “Well, the man needs to feed his family.” If a man can’t feed his family on x-teen million dollars …
— Ken White
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