Sox Force Game 4, ESPN Disrespects, Other Random Stuff...

- This was pointed out in the SouthSideSox game recap thread, but how about the cheap shot ESPN took at the Cubs? Seems like piling on to me -- and I thought we were bad over here yesterday.

- Not too shabby of a game turned in by the White Sox today. They're giving us some more playoff baseball, and these meaningful games are fun to watch.

- I don't know if this counts as local or not, but a big TUP congrats to Ball State for cracking the AP Top 25 for the first time, in, oh I don't know, ever. I've seen bits and pieces of a few of their games, and they're pretty fun to watch. Don't believe me? Jason Whitlock will vouch.

- 7 Months until the NFL Draft, but Todd McShay did his Top 5 junior class QBs:
5) Josh Freeman (K-State)
4) Tim Tebow (Flarhida)
3) Mark Sanchez (The Dynasty)
2) Sam Bradford (OU)
1) Matthew Stafford (Georgia)

His No. 1 from the senior class? Purdue's Curtis Painter, though he regards him as a second round prospect. McShay expects a junior to come off the board first...

- Great Bears win today. Rickhouse mentioned in his Week 3 Bearly Relevant column that, "For the entirety of my life, even when the Bears win, it still always seems like they should lose." I totally agreed with him on that one. But still, today was one of those few times where the statement didn't hold true. Hell, Kyle Orton even hit a career high in yardage.

If I had to be negative about one thing, though, it would have to be Hester. The guy is so boom/bust sometimes. I like that he's getting better as a receiver, but his negative returns (last week) and fumbles (this week) need to change immediatley. I fear he's been hexed by the curse that plauges every great return man: overconfidence in his ability to house it every time.

But whatever. With the Packers (2-3) loss today, the Bears hold first place outright. Who'da thunk it? Bring on the Falcons.

- This is a tad premature, and I'm not looking to jinx the team or anything (like Rickhouse's Game 1 and 2 picks), but if the Sox do force a fifth game, there will be a hell of a controversey surrounding whoever Ozzie decides to pick as his starter. If he goes Javy, people snap. Buehrle will be on short rest. And Richard, while quite effective in his outing, isn't exactly proven. Should be interesting if it, you know, even gets to happen...

- I was working today, listening to the Sox game on the XM, and wearing my Dodgers hat backwards, when this middle aged Cubs fan came in and asked me to turn it around (he wasn't sure if it was a Cubs hat or L.A.). After he saw it (and I flashed the L.A. sign, Nelly "Country Gramma"-style), he said, "If I was friends with you, I wouldn't invite you over to my house for a lonnnnng time."

We'll end it on that.