Time to revise boring bowl system
After further review ...:People, and by people I mean me, don't want to see cruddy bowl matchups day after day for a month. They want to see cruddy bowl matchups packed together on the weekends and holidays so they can nap, wake up, have a big sandwich and still be watching football.And they certainly don't want to wait five weeks for the championship game, unless of course it's at the conclusion of a thrilling playoff system.Wait, what?Dear Stan Bowman:Any time now.Well, it sounds impressive:The Cubs sent out a news release Thursday about a new technological partnership with Bloomberg Sports.Included was this explanation: #8220;The platform is being created with both laptop and mobile capability, and the two parties will begin implementation and development of the new system immediately.#8221;OK, lost me at platform.Dear Matt Forte:It's not worth it.Full weather alert:As a public service, the Scorecard staff ... ahem ... will be stationed throughout the area during #8220;Storm Watch 2012.#8221;We'll be at O'Hare, on an overpass along the Kennedy, visiting local hardware stores to watch the mad rush of shoppers, and at Streets and San headquarters in Snow Command.This isn't going to be easy folks, but we'll survive.How cool is that?Wolves players will be wearing commemorative cancer survivors jerseys on Jan. 14, 18 and 21. They will be auctioned and raffled with proceeds going to cancer-related charities.Darren Haydar will wear a new jersey each night to honor his wife, Sara, a cancer survivor. In addition, a Wolves fan who has beaten cancer will handle the puck drop at each game. On Jan. 21, Stevenson High School junior goalie Michael Goldfine, who has been battling leukemia, will have the honor.Once again, how cool is that?Hop to it:For those attending the Cubs convention this week, and for you youngsters out there, the can't-miss seminar has to be Alfonso Soriano's #8220;Focus on Defense.#8221; Pay attention, though, because it will last about as long as the new Rob Schneider sitcom.Random thought:Less than 200 days until the London Olympics.Dear Ted Phillips:You know what? Maybe a search committee isn't such a bad idea.Worth watching:While the addition of Scrappy-Doo made the Scooby-Doo Show unwatchable #8212; call it the Cousin Oliver Syndome #8212; the abundance of scrappy players on the 2012 Cubs will make a season that won't end with bubbly popping somewhat tolerable.Not sure that made any sense.Dear Derrick Rose:We have seen what it's like without you, and we really, really don't like it.Let's get physical:Still ticked about the cheap shot to the face Steve Montador took at the conclusion of the loss to the Red Wings.I'll get over it, but geesh. (Quietly) talking sports: Chet Coppock, Jim O'Donnell and Emery Moorehead discussing the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl? At the Arlington Heights library?Believe it.A new monthly series of free programs called Sports Authorities brings together local sports authors, players and media experts to explore the world of Chicago sports. The first session is Jan. 24 in the Hendrickson room.Hmmm:According to the survey company Poll Position, #8220;Among those aware of the (Tim) Tebow phenomenon, 43 percent said they believed divine intervention was at least partly responsible for his success. Forty-two percent disagreed, and 14 percent expressed no opinion.#8221;One final word of advice:If you absolutely have to drive, for crying out loud, please be careful.And ... hey:Bundle up.#376; Mike Spellman's Scorecard column appears each Friday in the Daily Herald.