Zambrano? Sox? Doubtful

Everyone loves a good rumor, and that's why the real good ones never seem to go away.

But this Carlos Zambrano to the White Sox for Jake Peavy is one of the strangest of all time.

And, yet, it has been hanging around for a couple of weeks now and making its way around the country, causing phones to ring here.

Even though it makes no sense - at least from the Sox' side of things.

Of course, from a Cubs standpoint, it makes all the sense in the world.

They'd be happy to move the gigantic lunatic with the gigantic contract and the gigantic emotional issues.

And on top of it, they love Peavy and have wanted him on the North Side since November.

Plus, Zambrano has said that he would enjoy playing for Ozzie Guillen, and Guillen has always defended Zambrano, his fellow Venezuelan, saying he'd want a goof like Zambrano on his team.

There's only one guy standing in the way here, and that's Kenny Williams, who would have no apparent reason in this lifetime or the next to choose Zambrano over Peavy, whom he worked so hard to acquire.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I need an anvil - or maybe the heel of a hockey stick - to land directly on my frontal lobe before I understand something.

But I'm not seeing this at all from a Sox perspective.

The Sox possess a Cy Young Award winner and an ace who will be the team's true No. 1 starter next year, a great leader and someone willing to pitch hurt and do anything for his teammates on or off the field.

The Cubs have Zambrano. No one questions his talent and that he could be as good as any starter in the game - yes, in the game - but he's completely unpredictable and now completely unreliable.

Williams often sees things others don't, and he won a World Series with that special vision.

But Zambrano over Peavy?

I'd have to see it - and stars - to believe it.

Pitching glitch

Speaking of not getting it, there's still no reason for the Sox pitching Jake Peavy.

There was no reason for his last 2 starts, and there's no reason for his next one, despite vague explanations to the contrary.

If you saw him try to cover first in his last outing, on an ankle that's still nowhere near 100 percent, on an ankle that caused him to miss three months, then you know this is absurd.

If the Sox were in a pennant race, this still would be dangerous for his shoulder, elbow and ankle, but at least understandable.

The fact that they're out of it and still pitching him makes it bizarre, especially considering all the other pitchers on the staff they're so concerned about that they shut them down for the season.

Line offensive

Are the Bears fortunate to be 2-1?

They're last in the NFL in yards per carry at 2.8, and with their longest run at only 15 yards, only one team is worse.

They're 28th in rushing yards, 21st in attempts, and their offense is ranked 20th overall.

Good thing their opponents are only 6-for-11 in field-goal attempts.

Ivan Boldirev-ing

There's no arguing the Blackhawks are at a disadvantage by having to start the season overseas, which can really mess up a squad.

It has killed some seasons in all sports in the past, as teams have been unable to get themselves on track after the strange and stuttering beginning.

It's also worth noting that the Penguins began in Stockholm one year ago, and they spent the summer dancing with Lord Stanley.

The line

The Hawks are the sixth choice to win the Stanley Cup at 12-1, behind only Detroit (6-1), Pittsburgh (7-1), Boston (9-1), San Jose (10-1) and Washington (10-1).

Rounding out the top 15: Vancouver (15-1), Philadelphia (15-1), New Jersey (15-1), Calgary (18-1), Carolina (20-1), Montreal (20-1), Anaheim (25-1), the Rangers (25-1) and St. Louis (25-1).

Howling

The Wolves will air 15 games on Channel 50 (WPWR) this season, including Saturday's home opener against Milwaukee. All other contests will be broadcast live on Comcast 100.

For more info, visit chicagowolves.com.

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Chad Pennington vows to come back weaker than ever."

Early-bird special

Comedian Alex Kaseberg: "I don't want to imply Brett Favre is getting up there in age, but Favre celebrated the big win over the Niners by going to Applebee's and blowing on his soup."

And finally -

Miami Herald's Greg Cote: "A Russian billionaire hopes to buy the New Jersey Nets and move them to Brooklyn. Failing that, he plans to buy Brooklyn and move it to Jersey."

brozner@dailyherald.com