Saturday Soapbox: The emotions of sports

Sports certainly can play with our emotions. That was evident this week as we saw Lou Piniella come to tears ending his Cubs managerial career. It wasn't long, though, before suburban pride burst out with the selection of Mike Quade, a former Arlington Heights resident and Prospect High grad, as interim manager. Tears and cheers.

Lesson No. 1.:Class is back in session, so, folks, it's time to go light on the gas pedal, put down the cell phone and pay close attention in those school zones. As a municipal sign in Schaumburg pointed out: It's as simple as ABC . . . always be careful.Emotions of sports, Part II:Watching the Sky close its first season at Allstate Arena in Rosemont was another emotional roller coaster. On Fan Appreciation Night, 11 lucky fans got game-worn autographed shoes. A nice touch. On the downside, another loss and another failure to make the playoffs. Not enough shoes to cover that disappointment.There when you need 'em:You know that driver who rides your bumper and weaves between lanes? And you wonder, where's a cop when you need one? Well, thanks to one of Bensenville's finest, that driver was pulled over one recent rush hour. Thanks, officer.Score one for Illinois:Suburban school districts are receiving the latest ACT scores, and the results are good for many, not so good for others. But we can be pleased that Illinois' scores on average rank the highest of the eight states that use the test for more than 90 percent of their students. That's excellent news about education for our financially infirm state, and we'll take it.Emotions of sports Part III:Usually the star of Million Day at Arlington Park is the horse that wins, but that wasn't true last week after #201;clair de Lune won the Beverly D for owner Richard Duchossois. After naming the race for his late wife in 1987, the 88-year-old chairman finally got to the winner's circle with a smile as wide as the starting gate and tears of joy.Hitting a brick wall:A Wheeling restaurant is learning the hard way that when the plan commission says "no" to a structure, it means it. Owners asked if they could make their temporary wall permanent. Remember this admonishment from grade school? "If we make an exception for you, we'll have to make exceptions for everyone." It applies to grown-ups, too.Welcome back, Bob:Nearly two years into his retirement, legendary high school sports enthusiast Bob Frisk was back on the sidelines Friday night to watch another game. That's likely where you'll find him all season. After the games, though, this 74-year-old goes digital at football.dailyherald.com to check all the scores, stats and videos. Amazing.Thieves can be wily:Burglars swiped cell phones, iPods, GPS devices and loose change from cars in a subdivision in Sugar Grove this week. Does it surprise you that six of the seven vehicles were unlocked? It'd be nice to think cars are safe on one's property, but that's just what the petty thieves want us to think.Welcome home, Lee DeWyze:Your United Center concert tonight reminds us how much excitement you've brought to the suburbs.