I have to admit that I started to warm up to Juan Uribe last year a little bit. He was valuable off the bench because he was the Sox' best backup defender at three positions, and, hey, he almost hit .250. Still, three consecutive years of on-basing under .300 meant Uribe couldn't stick around forever, especially not at the $5 million price tag he earned last season.

Uribe signed a one-year league deal yesterday with the Giants. We'll be waiting for the eulogy.

I guess the White Sox have two pieces of business left this offseason. A) Who will sign Orlando Cabrera, so the Sox know what sort of compensation they'll receive for him, and b) they still could add another starter. Sox Fest started today too (I've been to Bears Fest or whatever a few times when I was younger, I can't imagine someone over the age of 13 having a good time at one of those things), and my FJM-happy buddy Bradwell is working the event and reportedly just split a Diet Coke with Gavin Floyd.

Spring Training, about two weeks away. Baseball never dies.

*
Don't look now, but Luol Deng has quietly put together two great games back-to-back. Does this mean 'he's back' or is it an aberration? We should find out this week, because the Bulls are going to need him. Tonight's game at Sacramento is crucial. After that, the Bulls play at PHX, Houston, New Orleans, and Dallas, and then come home to play the Pistons. If Deng doesn't continue to play well, he could have a new head coach by the time he gets back to Chicago.

*
As far as the Super Bowl goes, let me just say that I hate the Steelers. Power running game, punishing linebackers, and hard-ass head coaches? That's the Bears' thing! The Steelers are like the Bears, you see, only they do it better. For that reason, I'll be pulling for Fitzgerald and Warner, even thought I've long though Warner is kind of a boner.

If I were betting though, I'd take the Steelers -7. For more Super Bowl bets.....check out Top Ten Chicago Sports.

Full story

1) Your main course for the day is probably the most legit top ten list I've done in a few weeks. Check out the top ten Chicago Super Bowl connections. Spoiler alert: it gets heavy on Cub bashing.2) Del Negro...

Full story

So the Bulls lost to the Thunder by double digits AT HOME while I was gone? That really happened? People need to inform me of these things sooner.I'm super busy now that I have school, work, and a million other...

Full story

A moment of silence, please, for the end of the last Winter Break of my life.The main course of the day is my weekend wrap-up column over at Slow Breaker, which includes at least one absolutely awesome joke. Swear. It...

Full story

If you live in the city like I do, the top topic of conversation over the last year or so has been the out of control violence here. It's like Chicago has turned into the Wild West. Every time you...

Full story

There are few things in sports I find more annoying than the two week period between the conference title games and the Super Bowl. I've never understood the point of it. The NFL probably thinks the two weeks boosts anticipation...

Full story

A) I just noticed there's a Simmons-Klosterman podcast up on ESPN.com right now, so I'm pumped to take that in tomorrow. Those have pretty much been my two favorite writers my entire life, and most of the stuff they've done...

Full story

Maybe it's because they need the extra help more than most teams (and certainly more than the other Chicago teams, outside of the Hawks, I guess), but I've always really enjoyed the White Sox's marketing department. "The Kids Can Play"...

Full story

After a glorious stretch of partying it was back to reality for me yesterday, and, wouldn't you know it, I picked up another gig. Because, clearly, there is nothing I love more than giving myself even more obligations. Some of...

Full story

After going 4-0 over wild card weekend, the divisional playoffs iceberg-ed my spread picks. My perfect start is now a much more mediocre 5-3. Still, it's a better pace than where I'm usually at at this time of year, and...

Full story

You invite your buddies over for a 30 point blowout, and you end up getting to watch the most meaningful Bulls victory of the season.While the play was disjointed with some unforgivable turnovers and a few badly missed shots, the...

Full story

Yes!If you're a believer in karma, comedy, or a nice combination of the two (komedy), then there's no way this move should disappoint you. ...

Full story

After going an unprecedented 4-0 last weekend, the quest for 11-0 continues. But 8-0 has to happen first, so let's get this party started.Last week, I impulse picked all the games and it worked out quite well. This week, I...

Full story

Notice how I didn't say national title? It's because I fully endorse a split title. With the sluggish/ugh-ish pace and style of that game, it was anything but decisive. I hope the AP votes Utah No. 1, but I don't...

Full story

I'll get to my NFL picks tomorrow, but as for the big one today, I'll get on record saying Oklahoma +5, and over 70. Take it to the bank, son. I guess the most interesting news of the morning, outside...

Full story

The main course for the day: a super cool Bulls top ten list. (link)*Also: Stompy has been posting here a bunch recently, so why no mention of the latest Favre biz? Just when you think you know somebody, right? Of...

Full story

Sorry Shanoff, apparently Alabama isn't the second best team in the country...Award Utah a fourth of the national title. This is not 2004 Utah, a team that turned a fluffy schedule and a victory over a palsied Pitt team into...

Full story

Where do you guys get your sports info from? I would assume most would say ESPN, but that's not really the case for me. I'd say I get about 80 percent of my sports news from AOL Fanhouse, 10 percent...

Full story

After having some fun last year (and with Rickhouse clearly dead or something), there's no reason not to try and go 11-0 with some NFL playoff spread picks. But 4-0 has to happen first, and wild card weekend kicks it...

Full story

So after a crazy Cubs game a few years ago where Cubs fans threw quarters at one of my cousins (a little girl), I vowed never to step into Wrigley Field unless the White Sox were playing.That is, until I...

Full story