North: Is losing Heyward a big deal for Cubs?
Time for some random thoughts on the Cubs, White Sox, NBA and more. …
• Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward, who was injured making a diving catch in Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants, is out only 3 to 5 days with a contusion near his rib and hip. With all due respect, if he would've been out longer, would it have been that big of a deal? He's a decent player, but the Cubs might want that one back.
Of course it's still early, and defensively he has been playing well, but Heyward has yet to get on track and is hitting only .225.
• It was good to visit with 12-time NBA all-star and Chicago native Isiah Thomas on my Fox Sports radio show recently. He recalled when he was on with me many years ago when we he had a contentious give-and-take about the Detroit Pistons walking off the court with 7.9 seconds left and not congratulating the Bulls on their victory.
Thomas said it was one of his favorite media interviews because it was real and we settled it right then and there on the spot.
My Fox partner, Andy Furman, asked him about steroid use in the NBA. To paraphrase Thomas, he said if you think it's going on, then go check it out for yourself.
• I was very surprised when I read a column by Ed Sherman for the Chicago Tribune in which ESPN baseball analyst Jessica Mendoza said he never heard of Mary Shane. Shane was the first female play-by-play announcer and worked 20 games with the legendary duo of Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall for the White Sox in 1977. Mendoza did say she would "Google" Shane.
• I just can't say enough about the amazing 88-year old Vin Scully, who has been broadcasting baseball for 67 seasons. In his final season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, I still find him as entertaining as ever. What a career!
• The other night I got together with some of my friends I've known for more than 50 years just to catch up. I respect their opinions a lot, and of the 12 guys every single one thought the Bulls should rid themselves of Derrick Rose. Eight of the twelve guys are Cubs fans, so I was very surprised they all said they would take White Sox pitcher Chris Sale (9-0) over Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta (8-0).
• On a lazy Saturday afternoon, it was great to hear Pam Ward get some airtime on ESPN doing some NCAA women's softball. I stayed with the broadcast and that's not easy for me with my attention span! Ward was the first woman to do play-by-play for an NCAA football nationally televised game in 2000. She deserves to be doing more.
Program notes:
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