Enough already
After months of hearing TV announcers gush about the intensity of North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, I couldn’t take it anymore. You would have thought nobody else hustles in college basketball, I wrote. You would have thought he had cured cancer, I wrote. Not his fault, I said, but the announcers’. That’s not how Tar Heels fans read it, though. They read it as an attack on the Golden Wild Child. And they weren’t particularly pleased when I questioned whether a black player would get similar hype. The e-mails, hundreds of them, poured in.
Rick Morrissey
Pressure-cooked
On the August weekend Chicago was host for three of the four teams to win the last three World Series, with Boston playing the White Sox and the Cubs playing the Cardinals, I was struck by the pressure the Cubs would face in the playoffs. In October they would be confronted with the need to satisfy their fans hungry for a playoff run like the other three teams had experienced. This, I projected, would create “suffocating pressure.” Some readers thought I was onto something; most thought I was just being negative. But if the Cubs are as good in 2009 as they were last season, the level of civic angst will be even higher.
Phil Rogers
Money(foot)ball
Northwestern fans still are wondering why the Wildcats were left out of the Outback Bowl despite having beaten Iowa in the regular season and owning a better overall record than the Hawkeyes. One word: money. That’s how bowls are run. The Wildcats are off to the Alamo Bowl against Missouri, in search of their first bowl victory since 1949.
Shannon Ryan
Discordant note
It was actually a blog asking Cubs fans to pick a theme song to accompany Kerry Wood (above) when he came into a game at Wrigley Field. We received more than 400 responses, but Wood insisted he didn’t want one and noted the sound system wasn’t loud enough to hear one anyway. The Cubs’ marketing department eventually chose an AC/DC song that already had been used, and it made no impact.
Paul Sullivan
Oh, brother!
Rashard Mendenhall said he was unhappy with the way Ron Zook ran the Illinois football program in his final two years in Champaign, even though he was Big Ten MVP in 2007 and a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His remarks, devoid of specifics, came shortly after his brother Walter had been told there wasn’t a spot for him on the 2008 Illini. Walter Mendenhall transferred to Illinois State and led the Redbirds with 796 yards rushing, 6.3 yards per carry and 11 rushing touchdowns.
Terry Bannon
Net worth
Brian Urlacher’s contract situation drew mixed reviews. Some readers sided with Urlacher, saying he deserved to get paid because he is still the most recognizable Bear and represents the toughness Bears football is all about. Others said the Bears shouldn’t pay more to a 30-year-old linebacker with a bad back who had recently come off neck surgery. Urlacher isn’t the same player who won defensive player of the year in 2005, but he reached the 100-tackle mark for the ninth consecutive season.
Vaughn McClure
Everyone’s a critic
Nearly 100 readers e-mailed me after a Nov. 14 column on Charlie Weis that ran under the headline: “Burden of arrogance; Losses, criticism piling up for Irish’s Weis.” About 55 gave me props, another 35 ripped me and 10 were Notre Dame alums insulted I had put Michigan and USC in the same academic class as their alma mater. Eight days after the column ran, the Irish lost at home on Senior Day to 2-8 Syracuse. Haven’t heard from many Weis apologists since.
Teddy Greenstein
Unwelcome guest
I asked Houston’s Bobby Boswell to guest-blog for me and recommended he write something Chicago-centric. Boswell wrote about how he no longer looks forward to playing the Fire on the road because the games are in Bridgeview rather than downtown. Fire fans left 64 posts in the comments section, some criticizing me for allowing him to write it but most blasting him for his anti-Bridgeview comments. Boswell no longer responds to my e-mails.
Luis Arroyave
Atlanta still burning
Three predictions. The first, forecasting the Bears to go 8-8, precipitated a torrent of e-mails assailing me as a homer, or worse. The second was picking the Bears over the Indianapolis Colts to open the season, a lone voice in the wilderness. That silenced the detractors. Then came the explanation for picking them over the “lie” that was the Atlanta Falcons. I am now as welcome in Atlanta as William Tecumseh Sherman.
John Mullin
Touching hearts
By far the most response I received for any story in my career followed the Tribune Magazine piece I wrote last January on my parents’ 20-year dual struggle with Alzheimer’s. It was with considerable trepidation that I ventured out of sports and into a very personal area, but based in large part on the 700-plus letters and e-mails I received, the experience was incredibly meaningful.
Melissa Isaacson
Noble thought
Tyrone Willingham has not exactly been a quote machine over the years. But the recently fired University of Washington football coach had plenty to say when I called to talk about Notre Dame’s decision to retain embattled Charlie Weis. His suggestion that “maybe Notre Dame got it right” in keeping Weis drew a flood of public reaction from Notre Dame supporters and detractors.
Fred Mitchell
Party line
It was merely a 390-word blurb about The Big Lead blog publishing pictures of then-20-year-old Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen at a party. Judging by the reaction, you would have thought I wrote a 15,000-word opus about Clausen slaughtering small, furry animals. I then followed up with Charlie Weis at Notre Dame’s media day. After the cameras stopped rolling, Weis looked me in the eye and said, “I know you have to ask those questions.” Then he began a very intelligent discussion about careful and savvy behavior when in the spotlight. A bit too late for my e-mail in-box, though.
Brian Hamilton
Get it off your chest
When the Bulls ended their 52-day coach search by hiring Vinny Del Negro (above), someone with zero previous experience, fans felt the need to write. And write. And write. Hey, it’s nothing I did. I just reported the facts, which included high-profile courtships of Mike D’Antoni and Doug Collins.
K.C. Johnson
Hello Doll-y
The Great Blow-up Doll Controversy reaction when the White Sox returned home from Toronto and tried to explain why. “I can’t come up with the words, because as soon as I [apologize], that means I’m guilty of something. I’m not. I’m not guilty,” manager Ozzie Guillen said at the time. But all the sensitivity classes couldn’t keep Guillen and players from criticism for what was deemed “insensitive” and inappropriate conduct from upset readers. In the end supposed ring leader Nick Swisher, who admitted it “was probably wrong,” was traded this off-season.
Dave van Dyck
Never a dull moment
In one day, and as only he can, Ozzie Guillen expressed displeasure over suggestions he change the lineup, the attention surrounding the Cubs and the blow-up doll caper.
Mark Gonzales
All wet.
After U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps had won his sixth of eight Beijing gold medals, giving him the most career golds in history, I did a commentary ranking him as the sixth greatest Olympian. It drew hundreds of e-mails (I still get a few) and was the most-viewed story on the Los Angeles Times’ Web site in August. (For the record, I moved Phelps to No. 4 after he won the eighth gold).
Philip Hersh
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The stories of 2008
The Tribune is looking for your help to select the Top 10 local and national/international sports stories of the year. The results, which will include votes from readers and the staff of the Tribune Sports section, will appear in the Dec. 28 Tribune. You can vote online at chicagotribune.com/2008sports. Voting will close Christmas Day at 5 p.m.
(ONE MORE) DECISION 2008
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NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SPORTS STORY OF THE YEAR
(in no particular order)
OLYMPICS
Michael Phelps wins eight gold medals in Beijing.
Usain Bolt sets three world records in winning three gold medals.
The U.S. men’s basketball team wins Olympic gold, its first major title in eight years.
NFL
Giants upset the 18-0 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
New England quarterback Tom Brady, the NFL’s reigning MVP, suffers a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.
Brett Favre retires, unretires, leaves Green Bay Packers, sparks New York Jets’ resurgence.
NHL
Red Wings beat Penguins to win Stanley Cup
ECONOMY
Impact of economic downturn on sports: AFL goes dark, big leagues cut costs, personnel.
GOLF
Tiger Woods guts out a win in the U.S. Open and undergoes season-ending knee surgery.
Padraig Harrington wins two majors and supplants Tiger Woods as player of year.
U.S. ends Ryder Cup drought, beating Europe for the first time since 1999.
NBA/WNBA
Celtics complete the NBA’s biggest one-season turnaround by beating the Lakers in the Finals.
Candace Parker: Second NCAA title, No. 1 in WNBA draft, gold medal, WNBA title.
Isiah Thomas and the Knicks.
BASEBALL
After a 46-hour rain delay, the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series.
Tampa Bay goes from worst to a spot in World Series.
Instant replay becomes reality.
Barry Bonds, facing perjury indictment, sits out season.
George Steinbrenner no longer is the Boss of Yankees.
COLLEGES
Kansas beats Memphis in classic to win NCAA men’s basketball title in Final Four that featured 4 No. 1 seeds.
Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech–each with one loss–tie atop Big 12 North division but it’s the Sooners playing for a national title.
AUTO RACING
Danica Patrick first woman to win IRL race
Jimmie Johnson wins his third straight NASCAR title.
HORSE RACING
Big Brown easily wins the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but fails to win the Triple Crown when he’s eased up as 1-to-10 favorite in the Belmont.
TENNIS
Rafael Nadel dethrones reigning champion Roger Federer in five sets to win thrilling Wimbledon final.
LOCAL STORY OF THE YEAR
BEARS
Kyle Orton beats out Rex Grossman to be the starting quarterback.
Bears put financial eggs in defensive basket with deals for Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris.
Jerry Angelo strikes gold with Matt Forte in draft; jury still out on Chris Williams, Earl Bennett.
While many experts predicted a losing record, Bears have shot at 10 wins.
WHITE SOX
Incredible final three days as Sox reach the playoffs.
Hello, Nick Swisher. Goodbye, Nick Swisher.
Alexei Ramirez, the Cuban missile, emerges.
After being swept by the Cubs at Wrigley, return the favor at The Cell.
CUBS
After a terrific division-winning season, Cubs suffer second stunning collapse in playoffs under Lou Piniella.
Carlos Zambrano throws no-hitter in “home game” in Milwaukee vs. Astros.
After becoming a solid closer, Kerry Wood isn’t offered a new deal, signs with Indians.
After signing big contract to join Cubs from Japan, Kosuke Fukudome loses his ability to hit major league pitching in Customs.
BULLS
With only 1.7 percent chance, Bulls win NBA draft lottery and take Memphis (and Simeon) PG Derrick Rose with the first overall pick.
After firing Scott Skiles on Christmas Eve 2007 and watching Jim Boylan fail to turn team around, hire Vinny Del Negro after Mike D’Antoni stiffs Jerry Reinsdorf.
Ben Wallace traded for Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden.
Joakim Noah, where to begin? His extra day of suspension by teammates? His bust for cognac and marijuana in Gainesville?
BLACKHAWKS
With team off to slow start, fire Denis Savard, replace him with Joel Quenneville.
One year into his tenure as team president, John McDonough has the team’s home games on TV and season ticket sales up 300 percent.
In an emotional return, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita are welcomed back to the Hawks as team ambassadors.
COLLEGES
Surprising Illini finish 9-3, get blown out in Rose Bowl. We’ll just stop there.
Surprising Northwestern goes 9-3, faces Big 12 runnerup Missouri in Alamo Bowl.
After record-setting (for the wrong reasons) 2007, mediocre Irish football performance has Charlie Weis’ future in doubt in South Bend. He’s granted a reprieve by new athletic director Jack Swarbrick.
Northwestern women’s lacrosse wins another national title. You can set your watch to it.
ALSO
Fire loses in MLS semifi nals, loses coach to New York, which loses in championship game.
Chicago becomes a finalist to play host to the 2016 Olympic Games.
