Soapbox: Bargain hunters and gags gone wrong
True bargain hunters:They're not brand new, but the year-old balls now at the Libertyville Golf Learning Center are a vast improvement over the worn-out ones used at the village-run facility since 2007. Libertyville officials purchased 60,000 Calloways from private courses for half the price of new balls. That's some smart shopping.They don't get it:We don't often comment on our competitors, but the Chicago Tribune's attempt at humor Tuesday with its "Chrissy Pronger" poster of a Philadelphia Flyer player wearing a skirt was offensive on so many levels it's difficult to ignore. And the editor's apology didn't appear in print until Thursday. Weak. Very weak. Athletes at every level deserve more respect than that.Bee like Adrian: Congratulations to Adrian Gunawan of Arlington Heights, whose second-place award in the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee was the result of years of study and determination. In a teen texting world where correct spelling seems as outdated as an encyclopedia set, it's nice to see kids who care about English.Tune in tomorrow:The daily media circus, aka Rod Blagojevich's trial, this week included a warning to the former governor by Judge James Zagel to stop the groans and eye-rolling during testimony. As more revelations come to light, it's getting harder for us to respect or trust our elected officials.Heard around the playground:We won't weigh in on the length of recess in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 - exercise guru Richard Simmons already did that. But we wonder why the school board bowed to what one administrator called an "unrelenting backlash from a small group of parents" in lengthening recess at Jane Addams and Virginia Lake schools. A broader sampling of opinions might have been in order.From suburbs to Tonys:The Tony Awards rarely generate as much buzz as do the Oscars or Emmys. And since they honor the best of Broadway they might seem rather irrelevant to us in the Midwest. This year, however, they have a strong local connection. Glen Ellyn native Sean Hayes is not only up for best actor in a musical comedy, he's hosting the whole show. We wish him well Sunday night.Bad news bug:For anyone who had forgotten about the march of the dreaded emerald ash borer, news out of Lake County this week served as a stark reminder the pest's presence is growing. Officials found at least 20 trees sickened in one subdivision and estimated that hundreds if not thousands of trees are likely infested in the area. Unfortunately, the worst may be yet to come.Red, black are in for spring:Since Wednesday around 10:30 p.m. the hottest in fashion has been Blackhawks championship wear, and many suburban stores are trying to keep up with the demand for T-shirts, caps and other gear. Never mind the prices, fans are saying as the stuff flies off shelves. It does make us wonder, however, what a Hull sweater might have cost in 1961.A bright spot:The Stanley Cup celebration brought an estimated 2 million cheering (and sweltering) fans downtown Chicago Friday. Gov. Quinn said the championship had made Illinois a better state. So thank you, Blackhawks. Our state needs it.