Is there another Chicago athlete in recent memory that elicited more passionate opinions both for and against him than Ben Gordon? To prove my point, look no further than...the Internet! (Why go anywhere else?) Hit up the Bulls blogs today and you'll see lots of anger and sadness.

For example, Andrew from DaBullz wrote:

Well, looks like the Bulls are going back to the lottery next season. The Bulls lost their best player and will suck next year.

Tell us how you really feel, man! But, last I checked, the Bulls compete in the sport of basketball, not competitive bicep curls. And Derrick Rose exists.

Then I logged onto Twitter and saw this message:

Now the Bulls will have to find a new undersized guard that will give up 35 points a game.

You see what I mean? It's kind of funny because, as Bulls fans, we all watch the same games and root for the guys on our team, yet Gordon is the one player that it seems no one can agree on.

Also worth noting: you can make the argument that both Gordon and the Bulls were losers in the negotiations. The Bulls lose because one of their best players is going to their biggest rival in the prime of his career for zero compensation. In Interweb speak, we like to refer to that as FAIL. Gordon doesn't get off clean either, though. The contract he took from Detroit is pretty similar to the one he rejected two years ago from the Bulls. Now he's 26, back then he was 24. Had he taken the Bulls' first offer way back when, he'd still be young enough to cash in on another phat contract. By the time his deal with the Pistons expires, he'll be 31 and out of his prime. Also, Gordon is leaving Chicago (which is a great city) for Detroit (which is a miserable city).

In basketball terms, Gordon's departure means John Salmons and Luol Deng need to step up. Last we saw them, Salmons was awesome, and Deng was bad and hurt. Is that what we can expect again?

Salmons will be Gordon's replacement at shooting guard, and the Bulls better hope that last year wasn't an aberration. Make no mistake, Salmons had a career year last season. He set careers highs across the board at age 29, a point when most players begin to decline, not take off. His biggest jump was in three-point percentage. Without Gordon, the Bulls are going to need more shooters. Last year, Salmons was good enough to fill that roll, making 49 treys in 26 games as a Bull. He was efficient from long range too, connecting at a Gordon-like 41 percent. Again, was it a fluke, or is John Salmons for real? The Bulls better hope it's the latter.

The spotlight will shine even brighter on Deng, Gordon's classmate in the '04 draft. He got the money that Gordon didn't, now the Bulls need him to earn his contract. Deng has been pathetic the last two seasons, and the fans and media have been quick to make excuses for him. Two years ago it was all that damn Kobe trade talk that got in his head. Poor guy! Last year, it was a stress fracture in his leg that cost him the final 22 games plus the playoffs. That's when people started to question his toughness. If the Bulls are going to be good next year, Deng needs to put those questions aside. Simply put, he has to be their second best player. I think there is a good chance that happens. Deng just turned 24, and, you know, most basketball players don't peak at 22. The future is still bright for Deng, or at least the Bulls better hope it is.

Finally, one last note: pretty much everyone the Bulls have paid recently has been a huge disappointment. Hinrich, Deng, Noce, Ben Wallace, and Tyson Chandler all signed for big money and then seemed to take a step backwards. Now that the Bulls let Gordon walk, will it happen again or will he take off? Discuss.

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Find this post and a little more on the 'Hawks at the Sun-Times Full Court Press blog. Also: the White Sox are awesome and Beckham > everyone else in the world combined.



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Watch as I try to convince blue collar, hard-nosed Chicagoans that you can win with offense, too. I'm sure this will go over well. It's all at the Sun-Times' Full Court Press blog.  And it all comes back to Jay Cutler, of course.

Also, in case you missed it, everyone's favorite former Sun-Times columnist got ripped to shreds all across the Web yesterday. His masterpiece of a column was on steroids and bloggers. Find it at Fanhouse, if you want, but I think I'll follow Stompy's edict and not give Jay the pageviews.

Great posts here, here, and here. FreeDarko's tweets were dead on, as well.

I feel like it has been too long since we've had some quality Jay bashing. Maybe it's better that way. But - more than anything - I just want another excuse to post this picture.




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Before you dive into that two-part Simmons-Klosterman podcast, go check out my post on Chicago baseball All-Stars over at the Sun-Times' Full Court Press blog. I'll be there through the week. My only goal is to avoid starting any more race wars. Easier said than done.

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Or whenever Zack Zach feels like posting it. Topics include U.S. v. Brazil, the NHL Draft, and, of course, Ricky Rubes. (Update: find it here)

Also read: Stompy's soccer post.

I'll see his Donovon collage and raise this one of Cubs fans crying.


Have a good Monday.



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It's hard to put into perspective how much goodwill the United States soccer team lost today from casual soccer fans. I mean, they were up 2-0 on Brazil, and they steadily blew it. It wasn't really a flurry of goals. It was just a bad, bad second half. They just... blew it. They blew it. It's the kind of loss that makes you want to give an all encompassing statement like "this is why soccer will never make it in America."

But that's not very fair.

It was frustrating. We should have expected a loss. We knew they weren't favored. But they were up 2-0, man. 2-0. It's just hard to shake the feeling that everything they've accomplished in this tournament was sort of erased. Had they simply gotten rolled by Brazil, it probably would have been easier. But victory was oh-so close. It's hard not to feel burned by events that led to this outcome.

One of the ESPN announcers: "If this is the way they go down, no shame in this game. No shame in this result."

Maybe he's right. I'm certainly not ashamed by the team, but it's definitely upsetting. What a major disappointment from a team that's historically been pretty good at consistently providing them -- best ever World Cup finish was 3rd place ... in 1930.

* * *

In a completely related note: Landon Donovan -- though talented -- is easily the worst thing about American soccer.

Let's quickly look at the facts.

- First name: Landon

- Height: 5'8''

- Birth place: Ontario ... California

- Funny hairline: Check.

- Biased photo collage of him shirtless and/or being dwarfed by taller women and/or making unflattering faces: Oh yes.


When he scored the second goal in the game today, he started pointing at himself screaming "me! me!" before jumping in the air while throwing a fist pump. It was only slightly less lame than Kobe's triple jump in the NBA finals.

I need a better pulse on soccer. Is Donovan disliked only by uptight stiffs (read: white, old sportswriters)? Or is he really just all-out lame? Do laid back, genuine soccer fans also think he's kind of an idiot? Or is he actually considered -- gulp -- popular?!

These questions may never be answered. But he does look like an elf.



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Just kidding, actually. There was a time when I had strong opinions on things like this, but I think that time passed when I forgot what day the NFL Draft was on. The only reaction I can really muster up for James Johnson and Taj Gibson is a big 'meh'. Maybe they'll be good, maybe they won't be. I really have no idea.

I am pissed about Rubio, though. Sacramento, Oklahoma City...why have you forsaken me!? I can't wait to watch Rubio throw a perfect alley-oop to Kevin Love next season, only to see him get rejected by the rim, regather the ball, and throw a wicked outlet pass down the court just because he's used to doing things like that.

Actually, Ricky Rubio can't play in Minnesota, right? Especially not after they took Jonny Flynn at 6. Maybe he'll stay overseas, maybe he'll Stevie Franchise his way to the Knicks or something. I guess I'll have to hold off on that j-shirt order. Or maybe I'll just opt for his Spanish National Team jersey, because, you know, it has my name on the back.

(I'm lying, I'd actually never do that. When I went to St. Xavier my freshman year, there was a kid I worked with at the newspaper named Steve Dunn. He was like 6'4 with super long, greasy black hair and a skin complexion that rivaled mine. He was a sports writer, naturally. Anywho, this kid always wore an old Tampa Bay Bucs Warrick Dunn jersey. It probably would have been cool on most people, but not for a kid who vaguely resembled The Undertaker. I vowed never to buy a sports jersey with my name on the back because of him.)



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Two quick Bulls thoughts...

a) From what I've gathered of James Johnson, he sounds like a combination of Tyrus Thomas and Luol Deng. I'm sure you're immediate reaction to that sounds something like this, but, if you think about it, maybe that'll be awesome.

b) Taj Gibson is 24 (!) and his NBADraft.net player comparison is Vin Baker. 

(One more quick sidenote: I've been reading NBADraft.net since at least 2002 or 2003. Their all-time greatest scouting report had to be on Deshawn Stevenson. NBA player comparison? Michael Jordan. I just checked for the link and it looks like they took down the scouting reports for all the current NBA players, but yeah, Michael Jordan. I'll never forget that.)

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One more thing...

SCOTTY PODS

What can you say that hasn't been said already? The man is a machine.

Helluva week for the Sox. Let's finish off the Quadruple-A portion of the schedule with some Cubbie domination.

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That's it for me. I'll be running SlowBreaker all day tomorrow, so make sure to check in. Have a wonderful weekend.


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Anytime a player enters the NBA drawing to comparisons to Pistol Pete and looking like he should be in the Arctic Monkeys, I get excited. So excited, in fact, that I'm easily more pumped to see where Ricky Rubio lands today than I am to see what happens with the Bulls.

The Bulls' Thursday will likely end with Tyler Hansbrough's stupid face holding up a red jersey. As a Bulls fan, that's conservative, boring, and probably kind of smart. But as a Rubio fan, tomorrow's possibilities are endless.

It's a big day for me. To be honest, what team Rubio goes to will have more impact on my life than whoever the Bulls choose to be their 7th man of the future. I've already decided Rubio's my new favorite player (non-Bull, at least). It's a big commitment. I will watch him on TV, play with him in video games, and wear his j-shirt to parties. Clearly, this is a huge deal. That's why I'm stealing a page out of Stompy's book and ranking the teams I'd like to see Rubio play for. Warning: FD-style liberated fandom ahead.



I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the trade that sent Minnesota the Wizards' No. 5 overall pick cost them Mike Miller. That means they're down to only three white guys. The Pacers and Jazz boast twice as many. Though, to be fair, I always felt like Mark Madsen should count for double.


Rubio isn't the type that fits in Minnesota, though. Too cool. Hansbrough is more their style, obviously.

I'd hate this for two reasons: a) it would mean the end of Sebastian Telfair Era, and b) the Wolves don't have a hyper-athletic swingman who would look awesome throwing down Rubio lobs in transition.

Plus, you never know what type of facial hair Kevin Love could convince him to grow. Ew. Rubio in Minnesota would be gross. No thank you. 


If nothing else, Gay and Mayo could slam home those alley-oops. You know who else could? Goddamn Darius Miles. That's who.


We've seen the whole 'Spanish star in Memphis' thing flop before, though. More than anything, I just don't think it's a flashy enough team/city for Rubio. The man has a personality that cannot be bottled up. Need proof?

I love this video for two reasons. Go to the second question (:33 mark), and as watch Rubio nails Sacramento's roster with brutal singularity.

Q: "What are your thoughts on the Kings?"
A: "They are a good team. They are growing. They have a very good player, young player."

Yes, good player! One of them. Kevin Martin. And that's it.

Rubio's answer to the next question is just perfect.

Q: "How do you feel your game will translate to the NBA?"
A: "I love to run. I love to make assists to my teammates, and to make everybody happy."

Layoff, critics! Ricky Rubio just wants to make everybody happy! So what if he can't shoot? Is that really a crime?

Three more reasons why Rubio in Sac-town would be great.

a) California may be the only state cool enough to hold him.

b) The Sacramento fans are some of the best in the league. They need something to cheer about.

c) The "White Chocolate" parallels. Jason Williams was my guy growing up. Watching Rubio YouTube vids (why doesn't everyone call him Ricky YouTubeio, again?) made me remember the glory days of White Chocolate firing 360 behind-the-back passes to a cutting Lawrence Funderburke. What a time.

Watch first hand: White Chocolate highlights (with NOFX!), Rubio highlights (with 'Born to be Wild'. Seems fitting).

Now for the obvious No. 1...


A no-brainer. This would be the most exciting team in the league to watch, and easily the coolest team to play as in NBA 2k10. Yeah, it kind of sucks rewarding Clay Bennett, and, while I don't know much about it, I can only imagine Oklahoma City is super lame. But seeing Rubio play with Durant would be fun overload. This needs to happen.


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UPDATE

Arin isn't giving away a free jersey this time around, but he is running a live NBA Draft chat using the mythical beast known as Cover It Live. If you've been here when we used it before, you know it's always a good time. So if you're watching the draft from home tonight, be sure to go over there and check it out.



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Part I..

I sort of wish the Bulls didn't have the 26th pick. I want Thabo back. He had some good games in Oklahoma City last season, and I just feel like he'd fit this rotation well right now.

It's too late for that, though. For the record, I still think the Bulls can add a contributor at No. 26, even in a weak class. As any 90's Bulls fan would know, finding anything useful is tough at the end of the first round. Imagine how much stronger those dynasty teams could have been if at least one of those late first rounders (Travis Knight, Corey Benjamin, and Jason Caffey come to mind, just to name a few) had panned out. But the Bulls' have had some decent success with with late picks in recent years. You could do worse than Roger Mason Jr., Chris Duhon, and Trenton Hassell, right?

Well....trust me, you can.

I went through ESPN's first round archives today and am proud to report it seems like there's usually at least one pretty good player to come out of the end of the first round most years this decade. Tony Parker, Kevin Martin, Gerald Wallace, and John Salmons all turned out okay. The '03 first round even ended in Kendrick Perkins, Leandrinho Barbosa, and Josh Howard.

So the Bulls at least have a chance here. Below are a few guys I wouldn't mind them taking...

At 26

SG Marcus Thornton - LSU

What's to like: He seems like a good replacement for Gordon. Thornton might be able to shoot as well as any guard in the draft this side of Steph Curry. He finished 9th in the nation in scoring last year, averaging over 21 points a game and did it very efficiently. Thornton hit 39 percent of his treys, too. If nothing else, he seems like someone who could play about 15 minutes a night and knock down a couple threes.

Thornton on his NBA comparison over at The Baseline: "I will go with a combination of Gilbert Arenas and Stephen Jackson."

I think that means we'll see him on a FreeDarko shirt.


What's not to like: At 6'3, he's undersized for a two guard. He supposedly has trouble putting it on the floor and can't really create his own shot. He's not much of a defender, either.  But, you know, don't ask him to do too much and he should be fine.

PG Toney Douglas - Florida State

What's to like: Do you want Lindsay Hunter running the show while Rose catches his breath? A late first rounder seems like a good place to try to find a backup for Rose at point. Douglas has pretty good size for a point, and, again, was one of the most efficient scoring guards in the country last year at FSU. He's also supposed to be a great defender.

What's not to like: Douglas was the best player on a team that lost in the first round of the tournament when I picked them to go to the Final Four (yikes). While he can hold down the point, he's more of a hybrid guard.

Any tall foreign guy - any foreign country

What's to like: This late in the first round, it's basically a shot in the dark anyway. Why not take a chance on a high upside Euro? It worked out for the Bulls almost 20 years ago with Toni Kukoc. History would seem to tell us that at least one of the Victor Claver, Jonas Jerebko, Omri Casspi trio will pan out. Don't forget the Bulls nabbed a foreign big man last year in round two with Omer Asik.  

What's not to like: Take a look at Fran Vazquez. Sometimes these guys never even come over. And when they do, they often get dunked on.



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More draft: pinch hitting at SlowBreaker.


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Scotty Pods!

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SlowBreaker column on the draft, Harold Reynolds, and that 'Moneyball' movie.


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