Four Horsemen Tattoo – Confessions of a Sports Fanatic

Dear diary,

                         I am forcing myself to watch Game One of the 2008 World Series.  Although drinking kerosene would be more entertaining and less painful, here we go……

(more…)

The Hawks 2008 season has gotten off to an eerily familiar start.  At 1-2-2, with both overtime games resulting in a loss, it looks like the same old story in Chicago.  Blown leads, crappy defense, and lackluster netminding through 5 games serve as a reminder to us fans the best days are now a distant image in the rearview mirror, and reality bites.  Sources of optimism are few and far right now, but the young gun frontline mixed with enigmatic and wildly popular coach Denis Savard provides a glimmer of hope for the future.  This glimmer faded away after only 4 games, when Hawks brass inexplicably announced that Deny was fired.  The man who coined the phrase, “Commit to the Indian” apparently did not receive a requisite committment from the organization that he bled for.  Savard’s replacement is Joel Quenneville, and he has some seriously big shoes to fill.

(more…)

Moments after the White Sox season officially came to a close, I booked a plane ticket for Chicago.  My intentions were to visit the old stomping ground, and spend a week doing the only thing I remain sober and alert for, bowhunting monster whitetail deer that inhabit the Midwest.  The relaxing vacation helped ease the pain, but here I am again forced to deal with the reality of three things:

1. Notre Dame blew their shot at being a legitimate college football team, losing to North Carolina on Saturday

2. Da Bears blew their shot at distancing themselves as top dog in the NFC Central, losing a heartbreaker to the frisky Dirty Birds

3. The Blackhawks are light years away from reviving the famed “Cold Steel on Ice” moniker and attitude of the late 80’s and early 90’s

(more…)

Unbelievable.  The 2008 White Sox have been a bigger enigma this post-season than a cryptic Bill Belichick giving a post-game interview in morse code.  With their backs against the proverbial wall, our Pale Hose appear to be out of gas, and our fearless leader Ozzie, appears to be out of answers.  The St. Pete Sunshine continued their dominance tonight, and the 3 run outburst in the 8th inning sealed a 6-2 victory, putting the Sox, and us fans, in full fledged panic mode.  In lieu of everything, one song continues to be on repeat in my frustrated, drunken head:

(more…)

The 2008 posteseason is off to a randy start, just not for our Sox.  The St. Petersburg Sun Rays rocked perpetual douchebag Javier Vazquez for 6 runs in 4.1 innings, and that was enough to pull out a 6-4 game one victory.  11 Sox were stranded on base, and the culminating event of the afternoon was a definat Orlando Cabrera kicking dirt toward Ray reliever Grant Balfour moments before striking out with the bases juiced.  Not much to say other than Vazquez should never pitch in a Sox uniform again, Cabrera is a certfiable lunatic/headcase/drama queen, and we better get ‘em tomorrow with Mark Buehrle on the hill.  GO SOX!!!

Javy……You stink!!!!!!!!

Sox Win! Sox Win!

OH BABY WAS THAT INTENSE!!!  After a 4 hour rain delay, our beloved Sox outlasted the Tigers 8-2 to force a one game playoff against the hated Twins.  Tomorrow’s showdown at Comiskey Park will determine the AL Central champion, and we can only hope the South Siders have more pop in their bats than they showed tonight. 

(more…)

It may have taken 4 games, but the Irish offense has finally looked dominant against a quality opponent.  No my friends,  that is not a typo.  Saturday’s showdown with the rival Boilers proved to be a coming party for many, and when the smoke cleared, Notre Dame had pulled out a 38-21 victory over Purdue. 

(more…)

With our beloved Chicago Bears inexplicably 1-2 after squandering two certain victories in the 4th quarter, the 2008 NFL season is certainly off to a craptastic start .  I keep telling myself things could be worse, but when you gift wrap games early in the season and lose ground, playoff hopes diminish by the second.  With the powerful Philadelphia Eagles coming to town Sunday night, optimism of pulling back to .500 is lower than Vince Young’s Wonderlic score.  The Middie Monsters latest hitting rock bottom episode has inspired me to make a power rankings list of 10 NFL teams that also have provided plenty of pain and suffering to their fans.  Enjoy the list, and the gratuitous upskirt shot of our fearless leader.

(more…)

GOOD NEWS: The White Sox magic number was 5 on Tuesday night

BAD NEWS: That number remained 5 after Minnesota pounded Javier Vasquez and the Sox 9-3 (more…)

Yesterday, during the craptastic Irish loss to Sparty, I decided to keep a “drunken diary,” tabulating my thoughts and reactions as the game went on.  The first half is quite detailed, but, as anyone who has been in the grasps of a crippling all-day drinking binge knows, things get a little fuzzy with time.  Javon Ringer running wild sticks out the most today, and here’s what transpired yesterday, as I sat there feeling like Coach did in this pic:

(more…)

With college football back in full swing, my life (despite an Irish loss this week) has improved exponentially.  Finally, that legitimate excuse to wake up at 8AM and crack a cold PBR before opening your eyes is back.  Nothing in the world (even sex) beats a glorious Saturday filled with great games and thrilling upsets.  The definition of euphoria is one of said weekends that feature a Hawaii home game, allowing 3 additional hours to ignore life’s responsibilities, your nagging girlfriend, and continue to drink with friends around the TV.  Ever since I was a wee little sprat, college football logos have fascinated me.  The pageantry and tradition behind each (well, most) far surpasses any pro logo.  Below is a list of my 11 all-time favorites.  A good portion of these teams are well hated here on 4HT, but this list is about logo preference, not team preference. Enjoy, and feel free to share your opinion.  Before we begin, here is the absolute WORST one ever…..

(more…)

In a game marred by turnovers, flukey plays, and a sideline exit that toppled mammoth head coach Charlie Weis into an air-cast and crutches, Notre Dame braved the elements, dug deep, and beat hated rival Michigan 35-17 on a Saturday that was highlighted by an emotional tribute to the 1988 National Championship team.  The victory makes the Irish 2-0 on the season, and almost certainly silenced any doubt that this team is not only improved from last year, but also resilient enough to win games as an underdog.  A BCS game is out of the question, but it isn’t too early to speculate an invitation to a Pre-New Years Day Bowl Game in ‘08. 

(more…)

Highlights include:

1. Grandma doesn’t even put her hands out to break her fall

2. Wimpy guy ducks, completely leaving grannie wide open for the money shot

This is why old people shouldn’t be allowed outside

With 19 games left in the 2008 regular season, the White Sox; improbably, and miraculously, are still very much in playoff contention. Even after a dissappointing 4-6 stint over the last 10 games, that was overshadowed by Carlos Quentin’s season ending injury, eternal hope continues to spring on the South Side. Birds are still chirping, the mills are still pumping out steel, and nobody seems to be in full-out panic mode just yet. Two games atop the AL Central, the fading White Sox mustered only 2 hits today in a 3-1 loss to Toronto, but the Twins, 3-7 over their last 10, seem to feel the burn more.

(more…)