Did you know that the sport of what we call "pool" is really classified under a bigger heading of billiard games, or "cue sports"? Did you know that what is now an indoor American style of pool playing got its origins in the outdoors of 15th century Europe? It may surprise some people that a few known enthusiasts of pool playing include Mozart, George Washington, Babe Ruth, and Abraham Lincoln among others.
While it may not seem like spring on the south side of Chicago, nonetheless the White Sox find themselves heading into the last weeks of spring training down in Arizona. Here is a look at some of the developments so far and some of the questions that still need to be answered before they take the field to the field April 1 in Cleveland for the season opener.
A Sneak Peek into What is to Come this Season
Through the last weeks of February the weather continued to dish out the last couple of cold bursts before the spring season. Despite the weather not being very accommodating, with the arrival of March we have several significant sports events announcing that summer is right around the corner.
On Thursday, February 24, Northeastern Illinois University's Campus Recreation Center presented the Fifth Annual Wellness Fair. The fair showcased various athletic organizations, health service organizations and healthcare providers that are based either on campus or in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The history of bowling goes back quite a few years. In fact, there is evidence that it got its rudimentary beginnings in ancient Egypt, and was even enjoyed by the likes of King Henry VIII and his posse. The first official standardized rules for a game of bowling went into effect back in 1895 in New York City.
With the Super Bowl now behind us news surrounding the NFL has been focused on issues off the field. With the spotlight being shined on the growing chance of NFL owners locking out players once the current collective bargaining agreement expires on March 4th, 2011.
With the basketball season in full swing, the NEIU basketball club is looking to get a piece of the action. They are gearing up for an exciting season full of fast pace, high flying competitive games. Under the supervision of Coaches Brandon Fields, Mark Mocarski, and Dave Merrill, the team is getting ready to square off against other club teams from around the tri-state area including: Northwestern, DePaul, Marquette, Indiana, and Minnesota.
Over the years I have looked over the schedule for the Cubs and often rejoiced when the Cubs would play the Pirates and the Astros right after each other. This little breather allowed a team that is often in a state of collapse to get their bearings on a set of punching bags.
The hard work that the student body endures every semester also comes with stresses that are sometimes overwhelming. However, these stresses can easily be subdued with some physical activity that is available at the Physical Education Complex. The Spring Intramural Season provides various activities for the student body to participate in, with sports ranging from dual/individual competitions to team competitions.
The month of January has come and gone, taking with it many of our new year's resolutions. No matter if we swore to lose weight, get out of debt, or learn something about boxing, our good intentions could not overcome the unpleasant demands of commitment.
Baseball's spring training kicks off in a couple of weeks with pitchers and catchers set to report to camp in the middle of February. Both the White Sox and Cubs have pinned their hopes of bringing home a championship on revamped rosters. 2011 will see new faces both on the mound, and in the field for both ball clubs.
Bringing in the spring semester with Chicago's usual cold January weather seems befitting to have a winter sport to accommodate the season. Therefore, hockey lovers within the NEIU student body have come together to represent NEIU with a hockey club born from the pure love of the sport.
Lebron James. Kobe Bryant. Dirk Nowitzki. Steve Nash. Derrick Rose? The list of former MVP winners is a Who's Who of future Hall of Famers. Does Derrick Rose truly belong on that list? Over the years, Chicago has watched Derrick Rose mature from a budding high school star, to a freshmen phenom in Memphis, almost winning a national championship, to a number one pick in the NBA draft, to becoming the go-to guy on a nightly basis for the storied Chicago Bulls.
First and foremost as a kid that grew up in the north suburbs, my allegiance for many years followed the team that has played on Addison for many years. As I grew older and developed the ability to illustrate a description in my head, one of my favorite fixtures of Cubs game has been the radio commentary on WGN 720.
Punching, kicking, striking, grappling, elbowing, kneeing, clinching and throwing. No, it's not your uncles fighting over the last Thanksgiving turkey leg; they're all legal moves in Mixed Martial Arts, a sport that's been taking over the world as it gains notoriety as each month goes on.
Every season begins with a Super Bowl prediction simply based upon trades and the first preseason game. As you may well know, no one's prediction is ever right as teams implode, certain players go nuts and one team from a small market comes out of nowhere and has everyone scratching their head.
The MLS season has come to a close with the MLS Cup final being played between F.C. Dallas and the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, Nov 21. On the home front, however, Bridgeview's Toyota Park closed its doors on the Chicago Fire home season back on Oct 16, along with former US national soccer team member, Brian McBride's farewell and final home game.
e time after the close of a disappointing 2010 season on picking their new manager. They didn't have to look very far either. Mike Quade, who served as interim manager following Lou Piniella's abrupt retirement in August, was selected to serve as the franchise's 51st manager.
In an interview from a long time ago and with no particular context that I can remember, Brian Urlacher was talking about receiving a call from Dick Butkus after a good game. Essentially, Butkus told Urlacher that next time he should stomp the running-back in the genitals.
Xbox 360,PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, PSP
Michael Jordan has yet again come out of retirement and is looking to make one last championship run with the team of your choice. Headlining the cover of an NBA licensed videogame for the first time ever, it would only make sense that the greatest player of all time would be showcased in undoubtedly the greatest basketball videogame of all time – "NBA 2K11.
Having finished with a 41 – 41 record the past two seasons and making two straight playoff appearances, Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls are looking to make a big splash in the 2010-11 NBA season. The Bulls have been in the national sports media spotlight all summer long, starting with the offseason free agent movement of all-star caliber players such as Lebron James and Chris Bosh potentially signing contracts with Chicago, and ending with rumors of Carmelo Anthony being traded to the team.
I've been most fortunate to be able to leave the country many times and see many things this year, and one thing that I always find myself having to explain, as an American, is why we don't like football (or soccer as it s better known here).
"Paulie, Paulie, Paulie," may have been chanted for the last time by myself and the rest of the 24,539 White Sox fans in attendance for the last game of the 2010 regular season. The game officially ended when the Sox's apparent closer of the future Chris Sale threw Cleveland's Michael Brantley out on a soft grounder to second, but an era in White Sox history may have ended with one out in the top of the seventh inning.
The Chicago Bulls will have to wait a little longer than expected for help to arrive in the post. Newly acquired free agent Carlos Boozer is expected to miss the first 15 games of the season with a broken hand (requiring surgery), after falling over his gym bag while trying to answer the front door of his house.
I don't remember the first time I made it to the Friendly Confines as I was only concerned with playing videogames as a child and was unappreciative of things given to me, but I do remember going to games in the late 80's and later. Upon reflecting on the past, the Cubs have always been sort of good, which is followed by really good, back to sort of good, and in a few instances, such as this year, just awful.
Can this worldwide phenomenon make an impact in the states?
Formula 1 is another of those sports that, while the rest of the world seems to adore and worship it, the United States just finds no interest in. It seems ludicrous when you break it down to the core of the sport; have the world's greatest car manufacturers build the fastest cars they possibly can and race them across some of the best tracks in the world.
The NHL series by EA Sports is known as one of the best sports series on the market right now. With NHL 11 being the twentieth anniversary game, sports gamers would hope that the NHL series would step it up even more. EA Canada (the developers) did not disappoint at all this year.
The Stanley Cup has made its way around various parts of North America as well as Europe, and the Chicago Blackhawks have big shoes to fill this upcoming season after an incredible championship victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The question on all of ‘Hawks fans' minds is will they be able to do it again? The ‘Hawks had to ship out many players this offseason due to the salary cap restrictions enforced on Stanley Cup Champion franchises.
Alex Rodriguez signed a 10 year contract with the Texas Rangers in 2000 for $252 million, which is probably close to the budget of Chicago Public Schools. Christiano Ronaldo of Portuguese football fame and famous transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid put the 25 year old part-time model for Armani in a 6 year, £80 million ($123 million) contract, making Jim Jones come out of the woodwork to scream "Ballin.
The crazy NBA off-season may have cooled down after "The Decision," but the madness is not over yet. According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, all-star small forward Carmelo Anthony wants a trade out of Denver. Anthony, who was drafted as the third pick in 2003 by Denver, has averaged 24.
Upcoming Sports Events
This fall, the Physical Education Complex is hosting some exciting sporting events and tournaments including volleyball, hockey, table tennis and tennis, just to name a few. Coed volleyball games are played 6-on-6 (divided equally as amongst three men and three women to a team).
"A win is a win," said Chicago Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler, as they defeated the Detroit Lions 19 - 14 in an exhilarating season opener against the Detroit Lions. The Bears' victory however, did not come as easily as Cutler put it. With 24 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter and the game on the line, Bears fans began to kick up a storm as Lions Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson appeared to have caught the go-ahead touchdown in front of a sell-out crowd at Soldier Field.
As the first week of the NFL season has concluded, and the carnage of men battling for a starting job and veterans avoiding injuries, comes to a momentary halt, the faithful fantasy football players sit at their computers with their eyes peeled on ESPN to see stats, injury reports and the analysts singing songs of praise to Brett Favre and reminding us that he is "just like a kid out there having fun.
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