Average Guy Sports

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Many years ago when my mom married my step-father I was introduced to the game of hockey. As a 9 year-old boy growing up in the city of Chicago my immediate family only told me about the Chicago Cubs and Bears. Now my eyes were open to a game played on ice. How naive I was, my love for the game was only just beginning.

One evening I went with my dad (step-father) to a local bar in one of Chicago’s older suburbs. I had assumed that I would be playing pinball while he played darts. Well, to my surprise there were multiple Blackhawks players. I felt as though I was in heaven. They talked with me and a few played some pinball with me. I was having the time of my life.

There was one particular player who I spoke with that made a life-long impression on me. His name is Grant Mulvey, the only #22 I will ever recognize. He was there with his brother Paul, who played for the Boston Bruins I believe. Here Grant was humoring this little kid and we find out that we share a birthday. I didn’t believe him and he showed me his drivers license. Sure enough, same birthday.

After that evening I was driven to get any Blackhawks paraphernalia that I could get my hands on. A couple weeks later we went back and Grant gave me some signed goodies. He also introduced me to some more of the other players. Little did I know that I would be talking with future hall of famer Dennis Savard among others.

For many years we had season tickets and went to games as much as possible. Eventually, I graduated high school and left for the military. My dad would occasionally send me video tapes of games. When the Hawks played the Russian Red Army team is a game that I still have on Beta to this day. In all my travels around the world I have always carried something Blackhawks related with me. I can honestly say that it is because of how Grant and the others players treated me.

It is often said that hockey players are some of the most personable professional players in the world. I couldn’t agree more. Many years later I find myself in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and have run into many Stars players. Even having the great Mike Modano holding the door for my wife and I at a restaurant. Pure class.

Now as a father I was blessed to have another child the same year the Hawks won the Stanley Cup. Eventually she will learn why I call her my Blackhawks baby and why so many of her clothes have the Indian head on it. I hope that I can pass along the love of the team and passion for the game that made this once 9 year-old kid fall in love with the game of hockey.

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It was clear towards the end of the winter meetings that the White Sox were raising the rebuilding flag. The real question should is will this be a one or two year rebuilding project?  If it is two years, will Kenny Williams survive as the GM if that second year does not show improvement?  Yes, he is getting some large contracts off the books however, he will not be able to do anything with Adam Dunn or Alex Rios.  Those two are just two non-productive high priced anchors on the team. With Danks’ salary, that is $96 million committed to 12 players for next season. , the are committed to $85.75 million for eight players in 2013 (with an certain to happen $4 million for Peavy’s buyout).  I had high hoped for Peavy, Dunn, and Rios.  But the facts are that they just have not produced relative to their salary.  (For the record, I would love to be proven wrong here.)

- Jake Peavy: ’12: $17M, ’13: $22M or $4M buyout
- Adam Dunn: ’12: $14M, ’13:$15M, ’14:$15M
- Alex Rios: ’12: $12M, ’13: $12.5M, ’14:$12.5M, ’15:$13.5M or $1M buyout
- Paul Konerko: ’12: $12M, ’13: $13.5M
- Gavin Floyd: ’12: $7M, ’13: $9.5M club option
- A.J. Pierzynski: ’12: $6M
- Matt Thornton: ’12: $5.5M, ’13: $5.5M, ’14: $6M or $1M buyout
- Alexei Ramirez: ’12:$5M, ’13:$7M, ’14:$9.5M, ’15:$10M, ’16:$10M club option
- Jesse Crain: ’12: $4.5M, ’13: $4.5M
- Will Ohman: ’12: $2.5M
- Dayan Viciedo: ’12: $2.5M

Mark Buehrle headed south to join Ozzie Guillen in Miami and Sergio Santos’ got traded to Toronto.  So, this leaves pitching coach Don Copper quite a different looking pitching staff to work with in the upcoming season.  Will Chris Sale make the move to the starting rotation and be productive?  Can Phillip Humber and a recovering Jake Peavy be productive?
John Danks and Gavin Floyd now need to take that next step and be ready to be the ace of the pitching staff.

Who will be the closer in 2012?  2011 was closer by committee until the now departed Sergio Santos took over that role at towards the end of the season.  Will it be Matt Thorton?  Jesse Crain or maybe Addison Reed?  It really appears to be anyone at this time.  I am looking for spring training to give a better indication who will file the closer role.

Now that Carlos Quentin has been shipped off to the Padres we won’t have to suffer to sparks of brilliance in between time spent on IR.  The last couple of seasons have been nothing short of disappointing as he finished both on the IR.  With his departure though that does provide Dayan Viciedo the chance to see how he will do being the full-time starter.  There are some people that are thinking that this was only the first move to make room on the payroll in order to sign Cuban sensation Yoenis Cespedes.  Only time will tell on that.  If Danks or Floyd are moved being spring training opens it could signal just that.

I have to admit that bringing in Robin Ventura as manager looks like another potential battle between Kenny Williams and the manager.  My hope is that we don’t see the coaching staff turn into more of a former player chess set.  Yes, Ozzie did great his first couple of years.  Harold Baines is a quiet and well respected leader.  I always had my doubts about bench coach Joey Cora and hitting coach Greg Walker.  During too many games last season I was able to see a clear pattern that the opposing pitchers would be throwing.  If I could see it why couldn’t they see it and make the necessary adjustments?

NJFFL- Chicago White Sox