Pieces all in place for Hawks practice facility near UC

There's something missing around the United Center.

Let's see, you've got the arena itself and just adjacent to it a brand-new, sparkly Bulls practice facility.

Meanwhile, a long 3-pointer from those new digs sits a lovely parking lot (which I adore for its convenience), but which I'm thinking will eventually become home to a brand-new, sparkly Blackhawks practice facility.

And what do I base this on?

Well, nothing, actually.

Just a hunch.

There have been rumors that the Hawks are ready to pull the trigger on a new home, and when president / CEO John McDonough didn't flatly deny interest in one earlier this week, well, this big head started a'spinning.

And it thinks it's gonna happen.

And it should.

All the pieces are in place:

Now that Mike Borzello has been named the Cubs new "catching and strategy" coach.

Seriously, what kind of a combo is that?

Hey!

That was some Ryder Cup, huh?

Geesh.

But gotta say I truly enjoyed the war of words that ensued between Phil Mickelson and captain Tom Watson.

Not sure:

Who's right or wrong, but if Phil has that much passion and thinks he knows what it takes to turn around the U.S. team's miserable performances of late, I say:

"Ladies and gentlemen, your next playing captain: Phil Mickelson."

Creepier? You decide:

The evil doll in that new movie or "Kevin," the ventriloquist dummy from Progressive?

I'm going with Kevin.

Question:

What the heck is this town going to be like if the Bears drop their next two games?

Teetering like Wallenda:

Brandon Marshall?

Hope not

Cannot. Believe It:

Jan Hooks dead at 57.

Beyond sad.

For my money, the funniest actress ever to grace the SNL stage. Just re-watched her in the 'Bette Davis video will' skit to confirm.

Yep, genius.

Real good move:

The NHL hiring Chris Pronger to work for the league's Player Safety Department.

No comparison:

Sure the Breeders' Cup was huge.

And some of those Million days were unreal.

But for pure buzz, nothing compared to the buzz Cigar brought with him that summer day in 1996.

The incomparable one will be missed.

One for the thumb:

Wolves coach John Anderson has won four championships with the franchise, so when he says this year's squad may be the most talented yet, I say Rosemont should be rockin' this spring.

Picture that:

In retrospect, I was in a no-win situation when the higher-ups announced they wanted me and fellow Hawks writer John Dietz to pose for a picture to run in Thursday's paper.

I tried, believe me, even going as far as to ask young Dietz to wear something that made him look fat and bald.

He didn't comply ... and thus the result.

My apologies.

Poor guy:

You could really see how pumped Kris Versteeg was to get this season going and put last year's struggles behind him.

The injured knee was all good. He was skating better.

The guy simply had the confidence going again.

Then he suffers an injury on a fluke play this week at practice and may be out three weeks ... or longer.

Ugh.

And finally:

Give me a Royals-Giants matchup in the World Series.

Please!!