Good week for the McCaskeys
It took until the final days of 2014, but with just one sentence uttered by her son George, Virginia McCaskey took the title as Chicago's most intriguing sports figure of the year.
BTW:
Hope she's proud of George. He did the right thing.
My wish for 2015:
Would love to sit down and talk to her.
The envelope, please:
My 10 nominees to take the title from Virginia in 2015 are, in no particular order: Kris Bryant, Oliver Purnell, Pau Gasol, Patrick Kane, California Chrome, Jose Abreu, Joe Maddon, Kyle Long, Rick Hahn and, of course ... Jay Cutler.
Yeah ... so:
Item: New Bears GM Ryan Pace says he's going to lock himself in a room and watch tape of every Bears game this season:
Thought: You're gonna be cranky like us when you re-emerge.
Just sayin';
If it's going to be in the mid-20s this weekend, I'm breaking out the T-shirt and jorts.
Actually, there's no way I can because my jorts are at the dry cleaners, but you know someone else will.
Just watch.
Another winter thought:
Think of your favorite winter-based movies or TV shows.
Have you ever seen slush in any of them?
Follow-up:
Why in the world does that even bother me if you haven't?
I need help.
Something special brewing?
The Bulls are in first place, the Blackhawks are hovering, the White Sox should contend for the division, the Cubs have been picked to win the World Series by the Sporting News, the Bears saw the light and got rid of their two goofy uncles … wow, is 2015 setting up to be one of the most interesting years in Chicago sports, or what?
Down goes Bickell:
Loved, loved, loved Bryan Bickell's goal celebration Thursday night - especially that goofy grin when he hit the ice.
Go Boston ... woo-hoo:
Even though I didn't care either way, Chicago's failed Olympics bid was so ridiculously epic, wasn't it?
The worst part was we had to hear about every little move and every big gala surrounding it for two straight years.
Bottom line: It wore me out and I will never pay attention to Olympic bids again.
So there.
But seriously, good luck Boston.
Big sandwich weekend:
Four NFL playoff games, PGA golf from Hawaii and capped off with the college football championship game Monday. All I can say is pass the mayo.
Under the radar Saturday:
Illinois State going for its first FCS title and John Anderson coaching his 1,000th regular-season game with the Wolves.
Both way different, but both way cool.
Still perplexed by:
Zemgus Girgensons.
Family Truckster music:
When's the last time you heard the song "Mockingbird?"
Well, the other day I heard it for the first time in at least 25 years.
I'm frightened to report that I couldn't turn it off.
Sweet stat:
Patrick Kane is the first U.S.-born player to score at least 20 goals in each of his first eight seasons in the NHL.
And finally:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, seeing Bob Frisk's byline in the Daily Herald, even just once a year, is a treat.
41.
mspellman@dailyherald.com