Cubbies
Coming out of the All-Star break, my Cubbies are 44-43, one game above .500, and only 4.5 behind the division-leading Brewers. With about half of the season to go -- and Cubs playing their best ball of the season going into the break -- it's cause for hope, something all Cubs fans know well.
To start off the "second half" of the season, the Cubs sent their "ace", Carlos Zambrano to the mound. To me, he's a great player with an approach to the game I wish more guys had. He recognizes that he's getting to play a game for a living, and he plays with 100% of himself every time out. Unlike most NL pitchers, he also has a respectable batting average, and he's not afraid to steal a base. That kind of passion for the game is a beautiful thing.
Speaking of passion, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is said to be in the running to buy the Cubs at the end of the season, when their current owners are required to sell them as part of a buyout arrangement. Cuban's results with the Mavericks are enviable, turning a perennial losing franchise into an every-year contender in less than ten years, and one could hope he could help the Cubs continue to improve over time.
Of course, Cuban has his detractors. Many folks don't like Cuban's style: He attends /every/ Mavs home game, typically dressed in a Mavs t-shirt and jeans. He yells and screams and is generally their #1 fan. He's not shy about telling you exactly what he thinks, either, even if it means a fine from the NBA for criticizing the officials. (Free speech? Ha!) To me, he's exactly the kind of guy I want running my franchise. (Really. I've never understood fully these NFL and other pro-sports owners who sit in the luxury boxes, wearing thousand-dollar custom suits and whatnot. Seriously. If I owned the team, I'd take care of business, but at gametime, I'd be a fan!)
To start off the "second half" of the season, the Cubs sent their "ace", Carlos Zambrano to the mound. To me, he's a great player with an approach to the game I wish more guys had. He recognizes that he's getting to play a game for a living, and he plays with 100% of himself every time out. Unlike most NL pitchers, he also has a respectable batting average, and he's not afraid to steal a base. That kind of passion for the game is a beautiful thing.
Speaking of passion, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is said to be in the running to buy the Cubs at the end of the season, when their current owners are required to sell them as part of a buyout arrangement. Cuban's results with the Mavericks are enviable, turning a perennial losing franchise into an every-year contender in less than ten years, and one could hope he could help the Cubs continue to improve over time.
Of course, Cuban has his detractors. Many folks don't like Cuban's style: He attends /every/ Mavs home game, typically dressed in a Mavs t-shirt and jeans. He yells and screams and is generally their #1 fan. He's not shy about telling you exactly what he thinks, either, even if it means a fine from the NBA for criticizing the officials. (Free speech? Ha!) To me, he's exactly the kind of guy I want running my franchise. (Really. I've never understood fully these NFL and other pro-sports owners who sit in the luxury boxes, wearing thousand-dollar custom suits and whatnot. Seriously. If I owned the team, I'd take care of business, but at gametime, I'd be a fan!)