Tuesday, September 15, 2009

September 4 Show - College football preview

College football is underway - and it certainly got off to a wild start after the Oregon-Boise St. game; we also preview Illinois, Notre Dame and Northwestern.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

July 24 Show - Is perfect Buerhle a Hall of Famer?

One day after his perfect game, we discuss Mark Buerhle's chances at the Hall of Fame.

And, we know Buehrle's nasty, but we give out two Dude's Nasty awards.

PLAY NOW

Thursday, July 23, 2009

July 24 Show Preview: Buehrle's perfect - is he a Hall of Famer?

Friday - 12:30 p.m. - www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/

Mark Buehrle's thrown a perfect game, and he threw a no-hitter in April 2007.

Should the steady lefty be in the Hall of Fame?

We'll also preview the Sox-Detroit four-game series, which suddenly features two teams tied atop the AL Central and kicks off at 12 p.m. CST on Friday with a doubleheader.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

TIME CHANGE

The show will now be airing at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Tune in Friday afternoons.

www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/

July 17 Show Preview

12:30 p.m. - Friday - www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/

On tap tomorrow afternoon...

- Should the All-Star Game determine home-field advantage?

- Cubs and Sox second-half previews: How many wins does each need to make the playoffs?










The health of Carlos Quentin is a big question mark for the Sox.



- The Hawks "re-assign" former GM Dale Tallon - fair or unfair?

- The British Open: Tom Watson, Tiger Woods or the field?

- Is there an Answer for the Bulls in the backcourt?

What do you want to hear on WRBC?

What do you want to hear on WRBC? More sports?

Complete a survey here:

www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=RvUF0bohCI_2foED_2bpfSSwVw_3d_3d

Monday, July 13, 2009

Is 87 heaven?

If the Cubs and Sox each win 87 games, would they make the playoffs?

The Sox would have to go 42-32 after the All-Star break to hit that number, while the Cubs would have to go 44-32.

We'll talk about what each team needs to do and how many games they need to win to make the playoffs Thursday at 6 p.m. at http://roosevelt.edu/wrbc/.

Cubs and Sox second-half previews

Both the Cubs and the Sox sit just 3.5 games behind their respective division leaders, despite having a rather mediocre first half.

But as average as each has been, they both have a realistic shot at the playoffs.

Check out their second-half previews below, and tune in Thursday as we predict if either will make the playoffs and talk about possible trade scenarios for each.

Can mediocre Cubs get hot?

There might not be a more frustrating team in baseball than the Cubs – and they appropriately sit at 43-43 after a mediocre first half. But they do only sit 3.5 games behind the first-place Cardinals, though they are behind the Brewers and tied with Houston, who is 44-44. So that N.L. Central race is tight.

But with Aramis Ramirez returning, the Cubs have to feel like they have enough firepower to win the division. The key, of course, will be having guys like Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto start hitting; the Cubs were the worst hitting team in the National League with runners in scoring position in the first half. The bullpen is also a question mark.

The second-half schedule isn’t very easy, as the Cubs get to play Washington seven times but do have to deal with both Philadelphia series. They also have a nine-game road trip through Florida, Cincinnati and Colorado.

September will likely decide the Cubs’ fate, as they travel to New York to face the Mets, then host Cincinnati and Milwaukee and travel to St. Louis, Milwaukee and San Francisco, the last series being a four-game series. They do get to finish with six home games against Pittsburgh and Arizona, which could be a big boost.

Eighty-eight wins should win the N.L. Central, and the Cubs would have to go 45-31 to get there. That’s a lot to ask for, though the division champ might be able to win a game or two less.

Tough second-half schedule awaits Sox

And so we’re at the halfway point of the season – though the Sox have played 88 games and are past the 81-game mark.

The Sox are 45-43, 3.5 games behind the 48-39 Tigers and .5 games ahead of the 44-43 Twins.

So how many games will it take to win the A.L. Central? 90? 89, like last year, when the Sox beat the Twins in Game 163?

Ninety wins would certainly seem a lock to get a team into the playoffs. The Tigers would have to go 42-33 to get there, certainly a possible scenario. The Sox would have to go 45-29, which isn’t likely; the Twins would have to go 46-29.

Eighty-eight wins should put the Sox in great shape – just like it did last year, when they won 88 games and then beat the Twins in the tiebreaker. They would still have to go 43-31 to do that, but if Carlos Quentin comes back and is a reliable guy in the middle of the order, the Sox could get to that 88-win mark. Such a mark seems possible when you look at the Sox record over their last 25 games – 16-9 – but the Sox’ schedule is brutal after the All-Star break. They face the Yankees seven times – four at home – and Boston eight times. One late August and early September stretch takes them to Boston for four games, to New York for three, to Minnesota for three (the final three Sox games at the Metrodome unless they meet in the ALCS), to Wrigley for that make-up game on September 3, then four at home versus Boston. Doesn’t get much tougher than that. If the Sox can come out of that 15-game stretch 7-8 or 8-7, they should be fine. And something tells me the Sox will play well on that trip.

Then, of course, they travel to L.A. for three with the Angels and up to Seattle for three just after that stretch. And they finish the season with three games at Detroit, though they have played well at Comerica Park.

But remember, the Tigers also have a difficult schedule. They start the second half in New York, and still have to travel to Texas, go to Boston for four, play Tampa Bay seven times, host Toronto for four and go to L.A for three with the Angels.

The Twins have a more favorable schedule, having already finished with the Yankees and the Red Sox. But they do play Texas nine times, including six times at Texas, and
go to Toronto for four.

I think the Sox will have an over-.500 record after the break, but that 20-game stretch is brutal. Ninety wins – thanks to a 45-29 mark in the second half - probably isn’t going to happen. But if the Sox can still be in the race when they head to Detroit for that final series, they’ll take it.

Sox schedule

Thursday, July 9, 2009

July 9 show - Bulls going to trade for Boozer?

Now with music included - Part II includes songs

Would the Bulls be smart to trade away Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas and get Carlos Boozer?

Time to take Clayton Richard out of the rotation?

What's the most bizarre Cubs injury of the last five years?

Part I

Part II

June 25: The NBA Draft edition

The June 25 show is up...listen below

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

July 9 Preview

Lot to talk about tonight...we'll get into...

- Kenny Williams' comments on attendance at U.S. Cellular Field

- possible All-Star snubs from the Sox and Cubs

- the Sox' trade scenarios

- Steve McNair's death

- all the trades in the NBA

- are the Blackhawks the favorite in the Western Conference?

- LeBron being dunked on

6 p.m. - http://www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

July 2.....thoughts

No show this Thursday, as I'll be enjoying the long weekend.

But I have a few thoughts on Ben Gordon leaving the Bulls, other free agents and the A.L. Central...

1. I still think the Bulls will be okay without Gordon, though the news he was set to sign with Detroit did make me a little more nervous than I thought it would. But this leaves the Bulls with plenty of money to offer guys like Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh next summer, when both will be free agents. I've said the last few weeks I was okay with Gordon leaving, and I'll stick with that.

2. The Pistons also signed Charlie Villanueva, giving them two young guys to rebuild around. But really, how good can the Pistons be with those two? They're quality guys but definitely not studs, and they're still looking up at Cleveland, Orlando and Boston. Granted, Cleveland could drop off big-time if LeBron leaves next summer, and Boston is getting older, but I don't see Detroit building a championship team around Villanueva and Gordon. They're a better team than they were 24 hours ago, but the two signings aren't moves that make a team get to the Finals.

3. I wouldn't mind the Bulls going after Trevor Ariza, who has said he's leaning toward leaving the Lakers. If he's not looking for huge amounts of money, he'd give the Bulls another guard - and a well-sized guard, something the Bulls have lacked. He's also a decent defender who could guard guys like Ray Allen and Ben Gordon. It's okay if the Bulls don't pursue him, but for the right price, he'd work. You might be able to bring him off the bench if Dwyane Wade signed with the Bulls next year, though you'd probably have to trade Kirk Hinrich.

4. People can bash the A.L. Central, and yes, it's probably one of the worst divisions in baseball. But it's not much worse than most divisions. The Tigers have a nearly identical record as the Angels, and while the Rangers are probably better than the Twins and Sox right now, each of those teams is better than Seattle. And bear in mind that the Tigers and Twins have winning records agains the A.L. West, while the Angels, Rangers and Mariners have losing records versus the Central. The N.L. Central doesn't have any teams running away from anyone, and Detroit, the Sox and the Twins are comparable to Milwaukee, St. Louis and the Cubs. Cincinnati has been okay, but remember, the Sox went to Milwaukee and Cincinnati and won two of three from both the Brewers and the Reds - and they did it without a DH. The N.L. East is also pretty average, with the Phillies struggling and falling to just a few games over .500, the Marlins two games over .500 and the Mets a game under .500. At least one of them will likely start playing better, but that division isn't much better than the A.L. Central. Of course, the Dodgers have been clearly better than anyone in the A.L. Central - and just about everyone in baseball - but the Rockies and Giants, though they've played well as of late, aren't much better than the Sox and Twins, if at all. The A.L. Central can compete with just about anyone that isn't named the Dodgers and isn't in the A.L. East race. And remember, the Sox have played well the last two weeks, and Minnesota always starts playing well in the middle of summer. The Indians are awful, and the Royals are struggling again, but Pittsburgh is likely to struggle after trading away proven players, and the Nationals are brutal, meaning there are other very bad teams in other divisions. By the time August rolls around, don't be surprised if you have three solid teams in the Tigers, Twins and Sox in the A.L. Central race.

Friday, June 26, 2009

June 18 Show - Sox blow big lead, fall to Cubs

Part I
- Linebrink gives up late lead - why not put in Dotel?

Part II
- The 2010 free-agent class is loaded, but should the Bulls go after anyone in the 2009 class?
- Should the Bears go after Plaxico or Brandon Marshall?

Part III
- Thoughts on the Donte Stallworth sentence
- Phil Mickelson returns

Part IV
- No excitement for Crosstown Series?
- Dumb Cubs fans

Part V
- Dude's Garbage and Dude's Nasty

Thursday, June 11, 2009

June 11 - Sox take two of five from Detroit - what's next?

The Sox lose a 9th-inning lead, and there are questions abound about which direction the Sox should go.

They rally to beat the Tigers - but where do they go from here? And should the Bears pursue a backup quarterback?

Looking ahead to Cubs-Sox, and what's up with Derrick Rose flashing gang signs?

Is Lovie Smith the 20th-best coach in the NFL?

Time for Dude's Garbage.

Final thoughts on the Sox...

June 11 Preview

Plenty on tap to talk about tonight.

Should the Bears go after a backup quarterback, or are they okay with Caleb Hanie or Brett Basanez?

Should the Sox be and will they be buyers or sellers when the trade deadline comes?

Show starts at 6 p.m. at www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Gotta like the future of RU sports

New Roosevelt athletic director Mike Cassidy stopped in last Thursday to talk about the return of RU sports, and I have to admit, I like a lot of what I heard.

Three issues in particular that Cassidy touched upon impressed me:

1.) Cassidy wants to take his time before officially fielding teams, choosing to field teams of players he feels are qualifed instead of just fielding a team comprised of just anyone. Let's have legit, high-quality athletes competing. There's a long-term plan for RU athletics, and I'd much rather have a 2012 basketball team with 12 quality guys than a 2011 team with a few guys who might deserve to be there, a few more who were recruited late and a few more who played a couple years in high school. Let's start with quality. Good call. Anything worth doing is worth doing right.

2.) Cassidy wants a quality facility that is near the RU campus and gives first priority to RU athletics, and he says plans to build an on-campus fieldhouse are "in the works." He also wants to make a deal with other colleges in the Loop and make a large outdoor playing facility that the schools would share. Playing at UIC, North Central or North Park is no way to go, at least after the first few years. RU athletes will probably feel inferior, like guests, when they host games or matches. A quality facility, a place that RU athletes can feel is their own, even if they're sharing it with students from nearby schools, is critical to the success of athletic programs and will help bring better high school players to the school. Athletes want to play at places they feel are their own - they want that home-field or home-court advantage. Playing home games at North Central won't give that home-field advantage, won't get any RU teams respect from opponents and won't bring quality players to the school. And what Roosevelt athlete will want to get on a bus and ride out to North Central or even UIC for a game? A simple walk or short bus ride to their own facility would be much more appealing. Let's build something on campus, or at least right here downtown. A quality facility (or multiple facilities) set downtown just off Lake Michigan would likely be a big draw to recruits. Let's be honest: NAIA and even Division III events don't draw crowds of thousands. But if there's a game downtown, thousands of people will be walking or riding by, and plenty would likely take a look at a soccer game or outdoor event going on. An outdoor facility set downtown has the potential for a buzzing, exciting environment. Either facility (the fieldhouse or an outdoor one) could also be used to host big high school games - and help even more with recruiting. It's easy to picture a high school soccer or baseball player playing a big game on a nice night along the lake, with downtown buzzing with people, and thinking, This is a nice place to play. Facilities right in the heart of the Loop? Good call.

3.) Cassidy wants coaches of the new teams to help monitor over intramural programs involving their sport at the university. RU certainly could use a better intramural program - students know little about opportunities to play soccer, basketball or other sports that are so popular at other schools. Better intramural programs lead to happier students and more high school students coming to RU. As an RU graduate student, I don't even know of any intramural programs, but I know I'd be interested in several sports if they were available. Several students have told me the same. Let's do a better job offering intramurals to students. Good call.

Want to listen to the entire interview? Go ahead.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Monique Davis: Re-affirming the reputation of Illinois politics

Last night, we gave Monique Davis a big Dude's Garbage award.

My argument last night (available under June 4 - Part IV) said a lot, but listen to her recent interview with WGN's Dave Kaplan to find out the basis of why we gave her this honor.

The interview

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Show 3 is up!

Find the third show in its entirety below. New Roosevelt AD Mike Cassidy stepped in to talk about the return of RU sports, and we're not fans of Sammy Sosa getting into the Hall of Fame. And an Illinois politician gets a big Dude's Garbage award.

June 4 - Part IV - Surprise in the Finals?

NBA Finals: Can the Magic surprise the Lakers? We think they have a shot.

And, we give out the most appropriate Dude's Nasty award yet, and an Illinois politician gets a Dude's Garbage award.

Listen!

June 4 - Part III - Does Sosa deserve to be in the Hall? And should the Bears get Plaxico?

Sammy Sosa announced he will formally announce his retirement soon. Does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? No way. Also, Bears players say they like Plaxico Burress - and Jerry Angelo should try to get him.

Listen!

June 4 - Part II - Beckham debuts with Sox - is it too early?

Gordon Beckham debuts with the White Sox, but should Sox GM Kenny Williams have waited a bit longer before calling him up? And might it actually be better when the Sox face good pitching?

Listen!

June 4 - Part I - New AD Mike Cassidy steps in

New Roosevelt athletic director talks about the return of Roosevelt sports. Roosevelt sports teams will compete at the NAIA level starting in the fall of 2010.

Note: I've previously said Roosevelt teams would begin competing in the fall of 2009. It will be the fall of 2010.

Listen!

More on Cassidy on the Roosevelt University Web site.

Contact Cassidy at mcassidy@roosevelt.edu.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

June 4 Show Preview

Join us at 6 p.m. for an interview with new Roosevelt University athletic director Mike Cassidy, who will talk about the return of RU sports, which will compete at the NAIA level starting in the fall of 2010.

We'll also make our NBA Finals predictions and talk about the arrival of Gordon Beckham to the White Sox; also, Sammy Sosa's set to retire - will he make the Hall of Fame?

And, of course, we'll have our weekly Dude's Nasty award.


UPDATE (6/4, 10:05 a.m.): Gordon Beckham will bat eighth and play third base in today's 1:05 p.m. game. We'll analyze his premiere with the Sox at 6 p.m.

Also, the Sun-Times reports that Bears players want Plaxico Burress - should Jerry Angelo go after him?

Ben's gotta go

New Bulls GM Gar Forman faces many critical decisions in his first summer on the job: who do we take with our two first-round picks? Should we try to re-sign Ben Gordon? Should we make a trade? Would anyone take Luol Deng's contract?

One question has a relatively simple answer: Don't re-sign Gordon. The fifth-year guard has got to go.

Sure, Gordon hits plenty of big shots, and he was the Bulls go-to guy all series versus the Celtics. But he was also the guy jogging after Ray Allen, known to hit a big shot or two, and he took numerous dumb shots, especially in Game 7. He's undersized as well.

Gordon wants big-time money, yet he's never made an All-Star game. Sorry, the Bulls' past offers were as fair as it gets. And Gordon didn't want them. And the Bulls shouldn't offer him any more.

If the Bulls do sign Gordon, then that could decrease the money they have for the summer of 2010, when guys like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire will be free agents. Each of those guys is more valuable than Gordon, and signing one of them would make the Bulls a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. Can you imagine Derrick Rose running pick-and-rolls with Stoudemire or Bosh or running fast breaks with Wade?

I can.

And those images certainly look better than Ben Gordon jacking shots all over the place while letting guys do the same over him on the other end.

Gordon's good - he's just not a guy who deserves the money he wants. Don't be surprised, though, if a team like Golden St. signs him, a perennial loser that wants a guy ready to launch but willing to do little else.

The Bulls may be able to pick up a reliable off-guard or swing man in the draft to replace Gordon, and if they can sign Stoudemire or Bosh, suddenly they're looking at a Rose, "new guard," Bosh, Noah, Salmons lineup...and they could still have Deng, who, while overpaid is still valuable, Kirk Hinrich, who makes a fine third guard, and Tyrus Thomas to run alongside Rose. And one or two of those guys could be used in a trade to bring in another big name - including someone to replace Gordon.

So please, Forman, don't try to re-sign Gordon. We know you said you wanted to when you took over as GM, but please, just wait until next summer, and give that money to a free agent who's worth it.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

First two shows are up

Find the first two shows in their entirety below. Audio can be played by clicking on the title of a post.

Don't forget: new Roosevelt University athletic director Mike Cassidy will be in studio Thursday, June 4 to talk about the return of RU sports.

May 28 - Part III - Huet's nasty

- Dude's Nasty, Dude's Garbage: One nasty save - and 43 other ones - gets Cristobal Huet some love.

Listen!

May 28 - Part II - Flip-flop time

- Flip-flop alert: Maybe the Bulls shouldn't re-sign Gordon...and maybe they shouldn't look to Pitt for their two first-round picks.

- JoePa wants Syracuse, Pitt or Rutgers - are there any schools worth pursuing as the 12th team in the Big Ten?

Listen!

May 28 - Part I - A final grade for the Hawks; did Rose cheat?

- Final grade for the Blackhawks; let's just say you won't need anyone at Simeon to change this grade. Also, the Hawks don't have to beat the Red Wings next year to make progress.

- Derrick Rose may have cheated, but he or former coach John Calipari won't be in any trouble.

- Zambrano goes nuts; could this help the Cubs relax?

Listen!

Inaugural Show - May 21 - Part III - Dude's Nasty time

- We hand out our first-ever Dude's Nasty and Dude's Garbage awards (and an honorary Dudette's Nasty award). Hint: If you schedule a WWE event during the NBA playoffs, you're garbage.

- London can have the Pro Bowl, not the Super Bowl.

- Vick could return with Patriots.

Listen!

Inaugural Show - May 21 - Part II - Pitt stop time for the Bulls?

- The Bulls should make two Pitt stops in the draft.

- We give John Paxson a final grade; you may be surprised, but just remember how bad the Bulls were when he took over.

- The Bulls should re-sign Ben Gordon - they need someone to score.

Listen!

Inaugural Show - May 21 - Part I - Peavy rejects the Sox

Welcome aboard.

- Jake Peavy doesn't want to man up - and apparently doesn't remember 2005.

- The White Sox are in a disturbing trend that may remind fans of 2007.

- The Blackhawks are in trouble; going six games would be a moral victory.

- Cutler debuts in Bears attire; Bears should be fine in NFC North.

Listen!

Podcasts will be up today

Podcasts from the first two shows will be up today around noon. We give out final grades to former Bulls GM John Paxson and the 2009 Blackhawks and tell you who the Bulls should take with their two first-round picks.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Podcasts should be available Monday afternoon

Podcasts of the first two shows should be available Monday around noon. Scroll down for brief summaries of the shows, and check back Mondy afternoon for podcasts of the entire shows.

Roosevelt Sports Talk with Kyle Garmes airs at 6 p.m. on Thursday nights at www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/.

Roosevelt sports are back; new AD to join us Thursday, June 4

Roosevelt University just announced that it will be bringing back intercollegiate sports at the NAIA level, starting in the fall of 2010 with the return of cross-country, baseball and tennis teams. New athletic director Mike Cassidy will join us at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, to talk about the re-introduction of the athletic program: Where will teams play? If I'm an RU student, who do I contact if I'm interested in playing? Are any other sports going to return? Tune in this Thursday at www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/.

Cassidy, 34, comes to RU from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Read more on Cassidy:

On Roosevelt Web site

Read more on the return of RU sports:

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Tribune

Welcome to Roosevelt Sports Talk with Kyle Garmes

Tune in every Thursday at 6 p.m. during the summer to talk about why the Bears will win the NFC North in 2009, whether the Bulls should re-sign Ben Gordon, whether the Cubs will win a playoff game in 2009, and whether the Sox can repeat in the A.L. Central. We'll also hand out Dude's Nasty and Dude's Garbage awards to our top and not-so-top performers of the week. Guests will frequent the show all summer long, ranging from the new RU athletic director to various sports figures around the city.

http://www.roosevelt.edu/wrbc/

We're two shows in and have already given final grades to the 2009 Blackhawks after their season ended last week and to John Paxson after he officially resigned as Bulls GM. We don't like the idea of a Super Bowl in London, and we're having a hard time deciding what the Bulls should do with Ben Gordon.

Find recaps of shows below. Complete podcasts of shows will be available shortly.

Got a compliment, insult or general thought? Email me at kgarmes@gmail.com.

------------------------------

Thursday, May 21 - The Premiere

- The Blackhawks are in trouble: the Red Wings are just too good, too efficient. Going six games would be a moral victory.

- John Paxson's final grade as Bulls GM. You may be surprised.

- Bulls should re-sign Ben Gordon and make two Pitt stops come draft time.

- London can have the Pro Bowl, not the Super Bowl.

- Our first weekly Dude's Nasty and Dude's Garbage awards (hint: if you schedule a WWE event during the NBA playoffs, you're garbage).


------------------------------


Thursday, May 28

- Final grade for the Blackhawks after heartbreaking season-ending loss in Game 5. Let's just say you won't need anyone at Simeon to change this grade.

- Derrick Rose may have cheated, not that this will affect the careers of him or former coach John Calipari.

- Zambrano goes berserk; could this actually help the Cubs relax?

- Flip-flop alert: We pull a 180 on our stances on the Bulls re-signing Ben Gordon and looking to Pitt for both first-round picks.

- Dude's Nasty: 44 saves, including one I'm-lying-on-my-stomach-so-I'll-throw-my-leg-up-and-make-a-game-saving-save-with-the-game-tied-and-less-than-10-seconds-left stop, gets Cristobal Huet some love.