Last night the Detroit Red Wings beat the Dallas Stars to win the Eastern Conference Finals and advance to the NHL Finals. Also, last night, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New Orleans Hornets to advance to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals.
I was considering the double dip for this weekend. The drive from Chicago to Detroit is about 4.5 hours (290 miles) and the flights are under $200 round trip.
The Pistons were scheduled to host the Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals this Sunday, May 25. Knowing …

For the first time since June 1978, the Chicago Cubs completed an 8-2 home stand. I “only” attended six of the games during the home stand in which the Cubs went 4-2. Yesterday, the Ultimate Sports Wife and I took in the game from one of Wrigley’s famous rooftop. It was the second game I spent on the rooftop this season.
We were allowed access to the VIP room for the first time meaning we did not claim our seats before the rest of the rooftop crowd arrives. Remember, we generally …

In a rare event, Alfonso Soriano became just the 6th player since 1960 to hit safely in each of at least five at-bats, hit two home runs and still have his team lose. Leave it to the Cubs to earn this dubious achievement. Joe Morgan, the only other leadoff hitter to do so went 6-6 in 1965.
We had friends from out of town who wanted to go to the game today. I suggested they pay $15 for Standing Room Only seats and sit in our …

In my most pathetic and sad state ever, I had to leave the game today in disgrace. I didn’t feel too well on my way to the game but pressed on so as not to miss a great day of baseball. By the time I got to my seat, I was shaking with a fever. I am sitting there rocking in my chair and finally, by the seventh, I had to scream “UNCLE!”
I thought very carefully about my decision to leave. To make my attendance “official” …

I arrived at the Allstate Arena about 45 minutes early. That gave me enough time to walk around the Target Shopping area adjacent to the arena. The shopping center has a couple of sit down restaurant – Chili’s and a Steakhouse (not sure of the name). I walked into Chili’s and it was packed. Many people were Chicago Wolves fans and there were a few Cubs fans coming back from the afternoon’s Cubs game.
I ended up eating at Subway and then tried to find a ticket …

So, during Cubs season, I am often overwhelmed by baseball. My whole day revolves around the Cubs Clock…an internal clock that determines your work schedule, your commute itinerary, and even how much work you can get done.
With the Cubs at home, my week gets rough. I work. I run home. I stress. I am late but I get into the game in the 2nd inning.
But today, I am overwhelmed by the possibility that I may be become a real bleacher bum. Not the kind …

Recently, I started thinking – why do I never consider watching Horse Racing? Although I check for events at each arena and stadium within the Chicagoland area it never occurs to me to check the racing schedules at Chicago’s two main horse tracks: Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, IL and Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, IL. You could also go to Balmoral Park in Crete, IL to see live harness racing.
This morning as I was driving to work, I noticed a sign that read “Arlington Park This Exit” at my …

Last week, Nicole said she was invited to see Jersey Boys tonight. She asked if there was a sporting event I was planning to attend but at the time, there were none. I checked the regular websites – ticketmaster.com for Chicago and Milwaukee, allstatearena.com and searscentre.com – nothing, no events for tonight. The Cubs are home this afternoon so that was out. Thus, I thought I would relax this evening at the house.
Then on Tuesday, the Chicago Wolves won Game 7 of their 2nd Round AHL playoff series vs. the …

After an uneventful Wednesday night, yesterday had many more interesting stories.
1) Jim Edmonds made his return to Wrigley Field as a Chicago Cub. In his first at-bat he received cheers after he singled but was booed after not producing in subsequent at-bats. I was at the game on July 19, 2004 when Carlos Zambrano was ejected for throwing at Edmonds after a Scott Rolen home run. That was after Zambrano yelled at Edmonds to run the bases after Edmonds hit a home run off Zambrano onto …

The Cubs won tonight 8-5. Alfonso Soriano led off tonight’s game with a home run for the 2nd consecutive night. Last night he passed Brady Anderson for the third most leadoff home runs in major league history. Craig Biggio is #2 with 53 leadoff home runs and Rickey Henderson is #1 with 81 leadoff home runs.
For hopefully the 6th time, I will attend every game of a 4-game series. Since the Padres and Cubs both won a game already I will not see a 4-game sweep. The only …