Chelios kicking Wolves' tires, may sign with team next week
Chris Chelios takes a big step toward joining the Chicago Wolves when he starts skating with the club Monday, according to a source close to Chelios.
The 47-year-old Chelios has told friends he would like to play professional hockey until he's 50, and the 24-year NHL veteran turns 48 in January.
The legendary ex-Blackhawks star plans to skate with the Wolves next week and see how he feels physically while checking out the operation, but it would be shocking after that if he didn't sign a contract with the team.
Chelios always talks about returning to Chicago someday, and this would not only allow him another season in his hometown, but also a chance to get his legs in shape in case an NHL club throws in a call to him next spring.
Furthermore, Chelios can keep tabs on 18-year-old son Jake, who plays for the Chicago Steel at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville. The Steel, a Tier 1 Junior A club in the USHL, has a home game Sunday at 3 p.m., and Chris Chelios is expected to be in attendance.
This is turning into quite an interesting roster for the Wolves, especially if they sign Chelios.
They've already added former Hawks defenseman Steve McCarthy, who has played more than 300 NHL games, and they have another half dozen players with at least 100 games of NHL experience.
Former Wings and Blues goaltender Manny Legace just signed for a 25-game tryout with the team, and Atlanta recently assigned tough guy Josh Gratton to the Wolves.
This is undoubtedly the best Wolves team ever assembled, and that's saying something for a club that has won four division crowns, six conference titles, two Turner Cups and two Calder Cups in 15 years of existence.
Inking Chelios might go a long way toward securing a fifth Cup in Rosemont.
Milk carton time
The Bears are 3-1, which is fabulous after the start in Green Bay, but there are long stretches still when they get no pass rush and can't cover anyone.
Fortunately, Lovie Smith has shed his conservative image, and when lacking a route to the QB he has sent boatloads on the blitz, producing pressure and incompletions.
But for the love of Dan Hampton and all that's holy, is Tommie Harris ever going to be Tommie Harris again?
Take away the interception, which he had nothing to do with, and he has a grand total of 0 sacks and 6 tackles in 4 games.
He started slow a year ago, too, and picked it up in the second half, but it might be a bonus if he didn't wait that long this year.
We all know he's hurting, but the Bears desperately need him to be a force and he's hardly been that yet.
Flipping
It doesn't get a whole lot better than this for a sports fan right now, with the MLB postseason under way, NFL and college football in full swing, and the NHL back in action.
To top it off, and if you like such things, the Presidents Cup tees off in San Francisco, and the Golf Channel has it from 2-7 p.m. Thursday, and 1-7 p.m. Friday.
NBC takes it from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The U.S. won the Presidents Cup two years ago in Montreal and came back with a Ryder Cup victory last year at Valhalla in Louisville.
Game No. 163
I don't know that I've ever seen a better, more exciting or dramatic baseball game - that didn't involve a Chicago team - than Tuesday's thriller between the Twins and Tigers.
Hats off to Jim Leyland and the Tigers for making it a memorable night after stumbling badly down the stretch.
Stocking stuffer
E-mailer Clark from Addison: "It's nice to see that Ozzie Guillen wants more professionalism in the clubhouse. What about the dugout? I'm constantly seeing his kids clowning around in the dugout. The dugout should be restricted to players and coaches."
Life's a beach
CBS' Craig Ferguson: "I still can't get over that Chicago lost the bid for the Olympics to Rio. Are the Olympics all about looking good in a bikini made of dental floss?"
The pain
Miami Herald's Greg Cote, on losing the Olympic bid: "The good news? Chicagoans are well-prepared to deal with enormous, soul-quaking disappointment, on account of the Cubs."
Not For Long
Comedian Alex Kaseberg: "A University of Chicago study claims playing sports makes you smarter. Wow, can you imagine if Michael Vick didn't play football?"
Best headline
Sportspickle.com: "Auburn ranked among the top 25 colors."
And finally-
Dan Daly of the Washington Times: "Fifteen months? Greg Norman and Chris Evert are separating after 15 months? What do you call that, a marriage or 'playing through'?"