Should I be writing about the Cubs? Yeah, probably. After all they signed Jon Lester to a 6 year deal, and look to be going for it next year.
But I'm not going to. Instead I'm going to write about the two ebooks that I have on free promotion from today (12/10/14) to Sunday (12/14/14).
SOLE OCCUPANT is a 2400 word short story with a 700 word bonus short included (called THE ONLY SOLUTION).
DEAD OR ALIVE is a 7800 word short story, the first of a trio of short stories that are also collected in THE STRIKER FILES.
Here's the links:
SOLE OCCUPANT
DEAD OR ALIVE
On the off chance that anyone looks in here and sees this, please feel free to download them! Review them if you like them! (Or if you don't...)
You go to Amazon and purchase them with the 1-Click ordering. Thank you!
*****
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Cubs have a new manager!
Yes, they hired a high-profile manager who has brought a similar team to the World Series -- Joe Maddon. It looks like a sensible hire. Here's a guy with credentials who has worked with a young team full of top prospects -- which looks like what the Cubs will be next year.
We saw the start of the influx of new talent last year with Soler and Baez and Alacantra to go along with players like Castro and Castillo and Rizzo. This year should see more of the same -- Kris Bryant and Almora and maybe others. I know I'm forgetting some prospects, probably pitchers, but it looks like a pretty good crop already.
What struck me about the hiring was the lack of hesitation in getting it done. And now the hiring of Ricky Renteria, who did a very good job in my opinion but was a low-profile sort of hiring in 2014, makes more sense. My own unfounded suspicion is that management knew all along that Maddon would be available and they'd get a fair shot at him. So if last year's hire wasn't going to be Joe Girardi, it was bound to be a low-profile type. Like Renteria.
Best of luck to Ricky Renteria, by the way, who as I said, I feel did a very good job of handling his young team and deserves another shot somewhere. Under other circumstances I'd say he should have stayed here. But under THESE circumstances -- a win-now-or-in-the-near-future situation for the Cubs, who haven't won in 105 years or something like that, the sure (or surer) thing managerial hire of Maddon makes all the sense in the world.
*****
We saw the start of the influx of new talent last year with Soler and Baez and Alacantra to go along with players like Castro and Castillo and Rizzo. This year should see more of the same -- Kris Bryant and Almora and maybe others. I know I'm forgetting some prospects, probably pitchers, but it looks like a pretty good crop already.
What struck me about the hiring was the lack of hesitation in getting it done. And now the hiring of Ricky Renteria, who did a very good job in my opinion but was a low-profile sort of hiring in 2014, makes more sense. My own unfounded suspicion is that management knew all along that Maddon would be available and they'd get a fair shot at him. So if last year's hire wasn't going to be Joe Girardi, it was bound to be a low-profile type. Like Renteria.
Best of luck to Ricky Renteria, by the way, who as I said, I feel did a very good job of handling his young team and deserves another shot somewhere. Under other circumstances I'd say he should have stayed here. But under THESE circumstances -- a win-now-or-in-the-near-future situation for the Cubs, who haven't won in 105 years or something like that, the sure (or surer) thing managerial hire of Maddon makes all the sense in the world.
*****
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Wannie on the air...
I was driving into work today and listening to the Score on AM 670. I enjoy the morning hosts, local sportswriters Mike Mulligan (a Loyola Chicago grad!) and Brian Hanley. Today is their extended in-studio visit with former Bears and Cowboys and Dolphins coach Dave Wannstaedt. Remember him? The guy that replaced Ditka (apparently with the Ditka seal of approval)? Anyway, Mully and Hanley talk pro and college football with Wannie for at least 20 minutes, maybe more. He was on the air till 8:30 am.
And you know what? He's really entertaining! He knows his stuff, and he has a voice that's pretty fun to listen to. It's sort of like a caricature of his own voice. And he's a good storyteller. He has LOTS of stories to tell, and even when they're not that interesting, they're STILL entertaining.
It's a good segment, there's a bunch of good information in there, along with insights into the behind-the-scenes stuff and funny, entertaining anecdotes.
Some of the other hosts were making fun of the segment a little bit here and there, but I think they got it right when they hired Wannie to come in and visit with the boys in the morning. Good job, WSCR!
*****
And you know what? He's really entertaining! He knows his stuff, and he has a voice that's pretty fun to listen to. It's sort of like a caricature of his own voice. And he's a good storyteller. He has LOTS of stories to tell, and even when they're not that interesting, they're STILL entertaining.
It's a good segment, there's a bunch of good information in there, along with insights into the behind-the-scenes stuff and funny, entertaining anecdotes.
Some of the other hosts were making fun of the segment a little bit here and there, but I think they got it right when they hired Wannie to come in and visit with the boys in the morning. Good job, WSCR!
*****
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
How 'bout them Cubbies?
I admit, I lost interest. We don't go to games anymore; it's too expensive for a family of four. Parking's a nightmare around Wrigley and frankly, this "stripping it down to the bone" philosophy of Epstein's and Hoyer's has worn thin. Minor league product, major league prices.
But even *I* am starting to get back interested in the team, with the kids coming up and looking...well, talented! No one knows if Castro, Rizzo, Alcantara, Baez, Soler, Szczur, and the pitchers like Arrieta and Turner and Wada and Hendrix and Doubront will actually be productive major leaguers, but they have some talent and it's on display right now.
And Kris Bryant isn't even here yet, and won't be coming up this year, apparently.
There should be one more very high draft pick, then a drift back toward the middle as the major league team actually performs like a major league team next year with the kids sinking or swimming.
Looks like maybe we're gonna see some swimming. Not everyone, probably, but enough. Hopefully it pays off.
*****
If you want to read a book about one family's strategies when vacationing for a week at Disney World, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99. I tried to write it for families who get to spend a week in the World every year or two and want to maximize their time in the parks and in the area. It doesn't try to be comprehensive, but I think you might find a few helpful tidbits within its electronic pages...
Thanks!
*****
But even *I* am starting to get back interested in the team, with the kids coming up and looking...well, talented! No one knows if Castro, Rizzo, Alcantara, Baez, Soler, Szczur, and the pitchers like Arrieta and Turner and Wada and Hendrix and Doubront will actually be productive major leaguers, but they have some talent and it's on display right now.
And Kris Bryant isn't even here yet, and won't be coming up this year, apparently.
There should be one more very high draft pick, then a drift back toward the middle as the major league team actually performs like a major league team next year with the kids sinking or swimming.
Looks like maybe we're gonna see some swimming. Not everyone, probably, but enough. Hopefully it pays off.
*****
If you want to read a book about one family's strategies when vacationing for a week at Disney World, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99. I tried to write it for families who get to spend a week in the World every year or two and want to maximize their time in the parks and in the area. It doesn't try to be comprehensive, but I think you might find a few helpful tidbits within its electronic pages...
Thanks!
*****
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Not that strange...
So NBA free agency signings are winding down, and LeBron James' decision to leave the Heat for his hometown Cavaliers changed the balance of power in the East. Suddenly the Heat are an aging Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and Luol Deng. Not bad, but not the superteam that they were with LeBron and Wade near his prime.
My Bulls made an important signing, though not exactly where they probably needed one. With a dearth of impact free agents at the 2 and 3, they instead signed Pau Gasol, an aging big man who can score with his back to the basket. Will he be what Derrick Rose needs (assuming Rose can stay on the court after two years of injuries)? Maybe. Boozer is gone, but Gibson remains. And so does Dunleavy and Butler and Hinrich and most importantly, Noah. Added to the team are draft pick Doug McDermott and Euro star Nikola Mirotic. Is that enough to surpass the Heat and (now) the Cavs and the Pacers? Maybe. Just maybe.
So now the big talk all over is a potential trade. It seems that the Cavaliers are really pushing to get Kevin Love from the T-wolves. They've offered their number one pick, top overall selection Andrew Wiggins (no, not the kid from Ender's Game, this is Mitchell Wiggins' son) and other assets in an attempt to acquire the all-star power forward. And the Bulls are in the hunt as well. According to at least one report, they've offered Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott for Love.
I'm torn. Is it too much? Does it decimate their depth in order to get a superstar at a position where they're not all that weak? Is Love plus Gasol that much greater than Gasol plus Gibson? Is it enough better to absorb the loss of Mirotic's and McDermott's potential scoring? On paper I'd say no. I'd say that if they were going to move that many assets, they should instead go for an impact shooting guard or an impact small forward. Are there any of those such players available? Or is it Love or nothing?
On the other hand, Mirotic and McDermott are, at this point in time, nothing more than "potential". Let's put it a different way. If they had, two months ago, dealt Gibson, their 16th and 19th picks in the draft, and the rights to Mirotic for Love, would I have applauded the deal? (This before the Gasol signing...) I think I would have been cool with that deal. I was nervous about including Butler in the deal but that was because I knew what Butler brought to the table in a more concrete sense. But this is basically the exact same deal as that one.
In the end, does it make the Bulls a better team? I'm not sure it does. Unless I'm sure, I don't think I'd get behind such a deal. Love's a good player, but I've heard it pointed out that he got those boards and points on a bad team with very few options for scoring and rebounding. On the Bulls, where Noah is the rebounder and Rose will also score, does he really have the impact? Or is the hard-working Gibson just as valuable to this team?
If there's a deal out there for a SF or a SG, I'd rethink the deal. Otherwise, for now - no deal.
*****
My Bulls made an important signing, though not exactly where they probably needed one. With a dearth of impact free agents at the 2 and 3, they instead signed Pau Gasol, an aging big man who can score with his back to the basket. Will he be what Derrick Rose needs (assuming Rose can stay on the court after two years of injuries)? Maybe. Boozer is gone, but Gibson remains. And so does Dunleavy and Butler and Hinrich and most importantly, Noah. Added to the team are draft pick Doug McDermott and Euro star Nikola Mirotic. Is that enough to surpass the Heat and (now) the Cavs and the Pacers? Maybe. Just maybe.
So now the big talk all over is a potential trade. It seems that the Cavaliers are really pushing to get Kevin Love from the T-wolves. They've offered their number one pick, top overall selection Andrew Wiggins (no, not the kid from Ender's Game, this is Mitchell Wiggins' son) and other assets in an attempt to acquire the all-star power forward. And the Bulls are in the hunt as well. According to at least one report, they've offered Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott for Love.
I'm torn. Is it too much? Does it decimate their depth in order to get a superstar at a position where they're not all that weak? Is Love plus Gasol that much greater than Gasol plus Gibson? Is it enough better to absorb the loss of Mirotic's and McDermott's potential scoring? On paper I'd say no. I'd say that if they were going to move that many assets, they should instead go for an impact shooting guard or an impact small forward. Are there any of those such players available? Or is it Love or nothing?
On the other hand, Mirotic and McDermott are, at this point in time, nothing more than "potential". Let's put it a different way. If they had, two months ago, dealt Gibson, their 16th and 19th picks in the draft, and the rights to Mirotic for Love, would I have applauded the deal? (This before the Gasol signing...) I think I would have been cool with that deal. I was nervous about including Butler in the deal but that was because I knew what Butler brought to the table in a more concrete sense. But this is basically the exact same deal as that one.
In the end, does it make the Bulls a better team? I'm not sure it does. Unless I'm sure, I don't think I'd get behind such a deal. Love's a good player, but I've heard it pointed out that he got those boards and points on a bad team with very few options for scoring and rebounding. On the Bulls, where Noah is the rebounder and Rose will also score, does he really have the impact? Or is the hard-working Gibson just as valuable to this team?
If there's a deal out there for a SF or a SG, I'd rethink the deal. Otherwise, for now - no deal.
*****
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Off Topic - New fiction release: DIE 6, a 6-short story collection
- An Artificial Yearning
- Blood Ties
- The Fun House
- The Tooth Fairy
- Time Heals All Wounds
- The Ghost Train
Thank you!
*****
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
NBA Free Agency - something strange is about to happen...
What it's going to be, I don't really have a clue...but I have this feeling that something is going to go counter to the conventional wisdom - there is going to be a big surprise.
Two weeks ago it would have been a surprise to suggest that the big 3 from Miami were going to do anything other than resign with the Heat. Now it looks like that team might be broken into a few pieces as Bosh decides whether to take the max offer from Houston and King James decides whether to go home to Cleveland, which seems to be where his heart still is. (Remember a few weeks ago when his wife tweeted something about coming home and it being "real"? Maybe she knew something after all, huh?)
Or will Carmelo join James in Miami once Bosh is gone? It won't be max money but it will still be more than my Bulls can offer.
Will Phil Jackson suddenly call the Bulls and say, "Hey, we'll take Boozer, Butler and Dunleavy in a sign-and-trade for Anthony, if you toss in a couple of future first rounders"? Nah, that ain't gonna happen.
Suddenly I'm wondering where the chips will actually fall for the Bulls. Their team is the one place I don't see anything strange or unexpected or really exciting happening. I think that after Anthony says "No thanks, I'd rather have the extra 50 million," the Bulls will sign Nikola Mirotic and a few other pieces and hope that the breakup of the Heat opens things up for them to win the East next year.
But I think we're going to see something strange and unexpected happening, whether it be Anthony joining the Heat or James going to Cleveland.
Wouldn't it be interesting if the Bulls suddenly announce that they've come to terms with, oh, say, Dwayne Wade?
It wouldn't completely surprise me, but on the other hand, I think it's more likely that they announce that they've come to terms with Trevor Ariza and a few other of those veteran minimum types.
*****
Two weeks ago it would have been a surprise to suggest that the big 3 from Miami were going to do anything other than resign with the Heat. Now it looks like that team might be broken into a few pieces as Bosh decides whether to take the max offer from Houston and King James decides whether to go home to Cleveland, which seems to be where his heart still is. (Remember a few weeks ago when his wife tweeted something about coming home and it being "real"? Maybe she knew something after all, huh?)
Or will Carmelo join James in Miami once Bosh is gone? It won't be max money but it will still be more than my Bulls can offer.
Will Phil Jackson suddenly call the Bulls and say, "Hey, we'll take Boozer, Butler and Dunleavy in a sign-and-trade for Anthony, if you toss in a couple of future first rounders"? Nah, that ain't gonna happen.
Suddenly I'm wondering where the chips will actually fall for the Bulls. Their team is the one place I don't see anything strange or unexpected or really exciting happening. I think that after Anthony says "No thanks, I'd rather have the extra 50 million," the Bulls will sign Nikola Mirotic and a few other pieces and hope that the breakup of the Heat opens things up for them to win the East next year.
But I think we're going to see something strange and unexpected happening, whether it be Anthony joining the Heat or James going to Cleveland.
Wouldn't it be interesting if the Bulls suddenly announce that they've come to terms with, oh, say, Dwayne Wade?
It wouldn't completely surprise me, but on the other hand, I think it's more likely that they announce that they've come to terms with Trevor Ariza and a few other of those veteran minimum types.
*****
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Bulls' Options Clarifying...
Free agency has begun and it's beginning to look a lot like every other major free agent year for our Bulls.
Oh, there are differences. In those other years the Bulls were fully capable of offering max contracts. Two, actually, in 2000, I believe, and at least one and a half in 2010. In both years the top free agents (Hill, McGrady, Eddie Jones in 2000, James, Bosh and Wade in 2010) spurned the Bulls' offers. In 2000 they ended up here and there; I think Hill and McGrady both went to Orlando and Jones...well, who remembers? In 2010 they all went to the same team - the Heat.
In 2014, the Bulls can NOT offer a max contract. In fact, after they "amnesty" Carlos Boozer, they'll have about 11 million or so, if I heard correctly (or if what I heard was correct). If Carmelo Anthony signed here without the deal being a sign-and-trade, he would be leaving some 50 million dollars on the table.
So in the end, we're not going to watch Carmelo light it up in a Bulls uni next year.
Option two seems to be bringing the European kid Mirotic over here and signing a tier two free agent. Is that enough to win it? Well, we don't know how good Mirotic will be in the NBA. In fact, we don't know if he'll be ANY good at all. Is he Hedo Turkoglu? Is he Dirk Nowitski? Is he Toni Kukoc? One analyst stated that he would probably have been the #4 pick in this year's NBA draft if he was just becoming available now. That's good, but what does it do for us next year? Does it make us a contender for the title, or just a better team?
Option two also seems to possibly involve trying to bring Pau Gasol in for a couple years. Might make some sense if he isn't too expensive.
So the front line would be a combination of Noah, Gasol, Gibson, and Mirotic. Doug McDermott, their first round pick (taken at #11 by Denver then traded for by the Bulls) would be the designated shooter. I'm assuming Mike Dunleavy is history (though I liked him a lot last year). Rose would be the point guard, Jimmy Butler would presumably be the swing 2/3, and there might be a couple other bench types that they'd work to bring in. I heard Shawn Marion mentioned. I also heard Trevor Ariza mentioned.
That sounds like it would be a good team. Still doesn't have that elite scorer, unless Mirotic becomes GREAT. Possible, but hard to count on.
We might know something by the end of the week. More to come...
*****
Oh, there are differences. In those other years the Bulls were fully capable of offering max contracts. Two, actually, in 2000, I believe, and at least one and a half in 2010. In both years the top free agents (Hill, McGrady, Eddie Jones in 2000, James, Bosh and Wade in 2010) spurned the Bulls' offers. In 2000 they ended up here and there; I think Hill and McGrady both went to Orlando and Jones...well, who remembers? In 2010 they all went to the same team - the Heat.
In 2014, the Bulls can NOT offer a max contract. In fact, after they "amnesty" Carlos Boozer, they'll have about 11 million or so, if I heard correctly (or if what I heard was correct). If Carmelo Anthony signed here without the deal being a sign-and-trade, he would be leaving some 50 million dollars on the table.
So in the end, we're not going to watch Carmelo light it up in a Bulls uni next year.
Option two seems to be bringing the European kid Mirotic over here and signing a tier two free agent. Is that enough to win it? Well, we don't know how good Mirotic will be in the NBA. In fact, we don't know if he'll be ANY good at all. Is he Hedo Turkoglu? Is he Dirk Nowitski? Is he Toni Kukoc? One analyst stated that he would probably have been the #4 pick in this year's NBA draft if he was just becoming available now. That's good, but what does it do for us next year? Does it make us a contender for the title, or just a better team?
Option two also seems to possibly involve trying to bring Pau Gasol in for a couple years. Might make some sense if he isn't too expensive.
So the front line would be a combination of Noah, Gasol, Gibson, and Mirotic. Doug McDermott, their first round pick (taken at #11 by Denver then traded for by the Bulls) would be the designated shooter. I'm assuming Mike Dunleavy is history (though I liked him a lot last year). Rose would be the point guard, Jimmy Butler would presumably be the swing 2/3, and there might be a couple other bench types that they'd work to bring in. I heard Shawn Marion mentioned. I also heard Trevor Ariza mentioned.
That sounds like it would be a good team. Still doesn't have that elite scorer, unless Mirotic becomes GREAT. Possible, but hard to count on.
We might know something by the end of the week. More to come...
*****
Monday, June 30, 2014
Chicago Bulls - which direction should they take?
So here are the Bulls, sitting with the potential to get about 11 million under the cap if they "amnesty" Carlos Boozer. They had a good draft, getting the guy who many thought would fit best with their roster no matter what - Doug McDermott from Creighton. They also got a power forward from New Mexico with the second pick (number 49), a senior with decent numbers.
Here's the key pieces on their current roster:
So what do they do? Do they try to trade for Kevin Love, perhaps moving Taj Gibson and Tony Snell or even Jimmy Butler while amnesty-ing Boozer to get under the cap enough to make the deal work?
Do they try to sign Carmelo Anthony, maybe doing a sign-and-trade with the Knicks and dealing Butler and Dunleavy while amnesty-ing Boozer?
Do they make a move to bring over Nikolai Mirotic, the kid playing in Spain (I think?) who it will cost big money in terms of a buy-out of his European contract and his salary?
What would I do?
I would try my darnedest to sign Anthony. I thought that they could maybe do a sign-and-trade with Boozer, since his contract is expiring next year and he's not a bad player, just not worth 16+ million a year. It would seem that if they could do that, they could easily accomodate Anthony's big contract. Otherwise he's going to have to take a pay cut.
An acquaintance who played pro ball overseas says that, as an observer and someone who understands the game pretty well, he feels Love would be the best move. He would give them the superstar they need to go with Rose and Noah (assuming Rose comes all the way back). If they do that, their lineup would be Rose, Noah, Love, maybe Dunleavy, maybe Butler, maybe Ronnie Brewer. There's a big three but is there anything beyond that?
Another acquaintance who also played pro ball and major college ball suggests that Anthony is the right move. Assuming they'd have to deal Gibson, their lineup might be Rose, Snell or Butler, Anthony, Randolph (the kid they got from Denver) and Noah. There's a big three with plenty of scoring but again, is there ENOUGH beyond that?
Tonight's the night. Free agency opens and Anthony is meeting first with Chicago. Hope we get him somehow.
*****
Here's the key pieces on their current roster:
- Derrick Rose - coming off two seasons off due to injuries to both knees
- Taj Gibson - power forward who really came on in 2013-2014
- Joakim Noah - center who I should have listed one spot higher - double double machine
- Jimmy Butler - swing man who can play big guard or small forward, good defensively
- Mike Dunleavy - swing man who can hit threes and do more
- Carlos Boozer - power forward with below average to average defensive presence
- Kirk Hinrich - may be a free agent at point guard
- D.J. Augustine - another free agent at point guard
- Tony Snell - rookie swing man with promise
- Jimmer Fredette - possible free agent shooting guard who can, well, shoot
- Greg Smith - forward/center who held up the end of the bench at the end of the season
- Cameron Bairstow - power forward rookie second rounder
- Anthony Randolph - power forward obtained in the pick swap with Denver in the draft
- Ronnie Brewer - free agent signed at end of year for playoffs then not used
- Lou Amundsen - forward and that's all I know
- Mike James - another filler player, point guard who Thibs likes
- Nazr Mohammed - center who has to be close to done, not used much last year
So what do they do? Do they try to trade for Kevin Love, perhaps moving Taj Gibson and Tony Snell or even Jimmy Butler while amnesty-ing Boozer to get under the cap enough to make the deal work?
Do they try to sign Carmelo Anthony, maybe doing a sign-and-trade with the Knicks and dealing Butler and Dunleavy while amnesty-ing Boozer?
Do they make a move to bring over Nikolai Mirotic, the kid playing in Spain (I think?) who it will cost big money in terms of a buy-out of his European contract and his salary?
What would I do?
I would try my darnedest to sign Anthony. I thought that they could maybe do a sign-and-trade with Boozer, since his contract is expiring next year and he's not a bad player, just not worth 16+ million a year. It would seem that if they could do that, they could easily accomodate Anthony's big contract. Otherwise he's going to have to take a pay cut.
An acquaintance who played pro ball overseas says that, as an observer and someone who understands the game pretty well, he feels Love would be the best move. He would give them the superstar they need to go with Rose and Noah (assuming Rose comes all the way back). If they do that, their lineup would be Rose, Noah, Love, maybe Dunleavy, maybe Butler, maybe Ronnie Brewer. There's a big three but is there anything beyond that?
Another acquaintance who also played pro ball and major college ball suggests that Anthony is the right move. Assuming they'd have to deal Gibson, their lineup might be Rose, Snell or Butler, Anthony, Randolph (the kid they got from Denver) and Noah. There's a big three with plenty of scoring but again, is there ENOUGH beyond that?
Tonight's the night. Free agency opens and Anthony is meeting first with Chicago. Hope we get him somehow.
*****
Friday, June 20, 2014
QUANTUM ZOO is live on Amazon!
The SF/Fantasy anthology QUANTUM ZOO is available for purchase at the Amazon Kindle Store for the low low price of $0.99. It's currently on sale to celebrate its release, but it will go up to regular price soon, so if you're a fan of those genres and enjoy short-form fiction, give it a try!
My own story in there is called "Playing Man", and it envisions a future where Earth is a wildlife reserve and botanical garden, as well as a source of natural resources for a space-faring human civilization. But strange things happen when you take humans out of the picture on Earth while leaving the other life forms to their own devices.
It's one of 12 stories themed around the word "Zoo". Other excellent authors in the collection include Bridgette McKenna, J.M. Ney-Grimm, D.J. Gelner, John Hindmarsh, and seven more (besides me).
Please take a look! Here's the link: QUANTUM ZOO for Kindle
Thanks!
*****
Monday, June 9, 2014
So what's going on?
Maybe a blog titled "Chitown Sports Ramblings" should occasionally have a post expressing an opinion about, oh, I don't know, Chicago sports?
Well, I did have that one about the Hawks about a month ago. And one about the Bulls in April. And then there were the ones about the Bulls in March and January.
But not too much on any sort of regular basis. And I don't see that changing (the 'regular basis' thing).
I thought that maybe I'd put up a couple of thoughts in short form about potential future topics for me to post about, all the while hoping that maybe someone will see and buy the anthology QUANTUM ZOO that my short SF story will be part of, to be released on June 17th. So here goes:
The Black Hawks need a jolt, perhaps, but no major changes. Everyone always complains about the lack of a second line center to go with superstar Patrick Kane (and apparently Andrew Shaw is NOT that guy). They don't appear to have a good candidate in their system, but maybe it will turn out that they DO have someone and we're just not aware of him yet. Barring that, a trade may make sense - if it brings a quality player and doesn't sacrifice something vital to the Hawks' future. What's vital to the Hawks' future? That's another good question.
The Cubs have shown some signs of life, winning 5 of their last 6 versus the Mets and Marlins. The promise of Anthony Rizzo is becoming more apparent, and Starlin Castro has looked better this year than last (even if consistency is still a problem). But the big issue is the pitching, which has been pretty good. Jeff Samardzija has pitched like an ace most of the time. He's just about in the prime of his career. The Cubs have indicated that they'd give big money to players that made sense for the big picture. So what about Samardzija doesn't fit? They talk like they want to deal him before the deadline, along with Jason Hamel, who has also been pretty good. But why? I'm not sure this makes sense to me.
Sox hit the jackpot with Jose Abreu, or so it seems so far. Made a good signing with Adam Eaton, and they've improved themselves up the middle. Their pitching has been up and down, but they're hovering around .500. Is that what they are, a .500 team? Or can they be better? I think they can make a nice run. I don't know if they're a division champ, but I think they can be a wild card contender. They may need to acquire a pitcher, however. Maybe the Cubs have someone that will make sense for them.
The Bulls have two picks in the first round of the draft, and apparently they've made an offer to Minnesota for Kevin Love. I'm not sure Love is a HUGE upgrade over Taj Gibson, who is reported to be part of the package offered to Minnesota, along with Jimmy Butler, the rights to Nikolai Mirotich (spelling?) and possible draft picks. But he's DIFFERENT. Love, Noah and Rose to go with...who at shooting guard and who at small forward? A resigned Deng? Anthony? A draft pick or a free agent? I just don't know.
And finally, the Bears: A nice draft and a nice free agent season put them in the thick of things in their division. They've improved their defense and not made any significant downgrades (except backup quarterback) to their offense. Should be a nice year.
Perhaps I'll get time to write a bit more in depth in the near future on some of these topics. Thank you for reading!
*****
In the meantime, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99.
Thanks!
*****
Well, I did have that one about the Hawks about a month ago. And one about the Bulls in April. And then there were the ones about the Bulls in March and January.
But not too much on any sort of regular basis. And I don't see that changing (the 'regular basis' thing).
I thought that maybe I'd put up a couple of thoughts in short form about potential future topics for me to post about, all the while hoping that maybe someone will see and buy the anthology QUANTUM ZOO that my short SF story will be part of, to be released on June 17th. So here goes:
The Black Hawks need a jolt, perhaps, but no major changes. Everyone always complains about the lack of a second line center to go with superstar Patrick Kane (and apparently Andrew Shaw is NOT that guy). They don't appear to have a good candidate in their system, but maybe it will turn out that they DO have someone and we're just not aware of him yet. Barring that, a trade may make sense - if it brings a quality player and doesn't sacrifice something vital to the Hawks' future. What's vital to the Hawks' future? That's another good question.
The Cubs have shown some signs of life, winning 5 of their last 6 versus the Mets and Marlins. The promise of Anthony Rizzo is becoming more apparent, and Starlin Castro has looked better this year than last (even if consistency is still a problem). But the big issue is the pitching, which has been pretty good. Jeff Samardzija has pitched like an ace most of the time. He's just about in the prime of his career. The Cubs have indicated that they'd give big money to players that made sense for the big picture. So what about Samardzija doesn't fit? They talk like they want to deal him before the deadline, along with Jason Hamel, who has also been pretty good. But why? I'm not sure this makes sense to me.
Sox hit the jackpot with Jose Abreu, or so it seems so far. Made a good signing with Adam Eaton, and they've improved themselves up the middle. Their pitching has been up and down, but they're hovering around .500. Is that what they are, a .500 team? Or can they be better? I think they can make a nice run. I don't know if they're a division champ, but I think they can be a wild card contender. They may need to acquire a pitcher, however. Maybe the Cubs have someone that will make sense for them.
The Bulls have two picks in the first round of the draft, and apparently they've made an offer to Minnesota for Kevin Love. I'm not sure Love is a HUGE upgrade over Taj Gibson, who is reported to be part of the package offered to Minnesota, along with Jimmy Butler, the rights to Nikolai Mirotich (spelling?) and possible draft picks. But he's DIFFERENT. Love, Noah and Rose to go with...who at shooting guard and who at small forward? A resigned Deng? Anthony? A draft pick or a free agent? I just don't know.
And finally, the Bears: A nice draft and a nice free agent season put them in the thick of things in their division. They've improved their defense and not made any significant downgrades (except backup quarterback) to their offense. Should be a nice year.
Perhaps I'll get time to write a bit more in depth in the near future on some of these topics. Thank you for reading!
*****
In the meantime, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99.
Thanks!
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Thursday, May 22, 2014
Cover Art for QUANTUM ZOO!!
Here's the cover art for the anthology where my story "Playing Man" (by Scott Dyson) will be appearing with 11 other stories:
More details will be forthcoming!
*****
In the meantime, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99.
Thanks!
*****
More details will be forthcoming!
*****
In the meantime, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99.
Thanks!
*****
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Go Hawks!
So here we are, in the midst of another Stanley Cup run. The Black Hawks are in the Western Conference finals, and currently are up 1 game to none over the L.A. Kings.
Two very good teams will go at it, just like last year, where Crawford outplayed Quick by a little bit to take the series. The winner (the Hawks) went on to win the Cup.
This is a fun team to watch, with very fast skilled players who rely on their talent rather than being overly physical to win games. The Kings are a little bit like them. But so far so good.
Game 2 is tonight, at the UC in Chicago. I don't know enough about various players and the nuances of the game to give much analysis. But I do know an entertaining, enjoyable game when I see one, and the Hawks are giving us plenty of them.
Go Hawks!
*****
Take a look at my short stories, available on Amazon for $0.99 each...price will go up a bit soon...
Rick's Rules
Night Family
Dead Or Alive
Thank you!
*****
Two very good teams will go at it, just like last year, where Crawford outplayed Quick by a little bit to take the series. The winner (the Hawks) went on to win the Cup.
This is a fun team to watch, with very fast skilled players who rely on their talent rather than being overly physical to win games. The Kings are a little bit like them. But so far so good.
Game 2 is tonight, at the UC in Chicago. I don't know enough about various players and the nuances of the game to give much analysis. But I do know an entertaining, enjoyable game when I see one, and the Hawks are giving us plenty of them.
Go Hawks!
*****
Take a look at my short stories, available on Amazon for $0.99 each...price will go up a bit soon...
Rick's Rules
Night Family
Dead Or Alive
Thank you!
*****
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Bulls' Post-season Over...
So another first round exit for our Chicago Bulls, going down 4-1 vs the Washington Wizards. Yeah, those guys who were laughingstocks of the league not long ago, and for a while, too. To be fair, the Wizards have talented players like Wall, Ariza, Biel (Beal?), and Nene, and the Bulls couldn't keep up with their scoring ability and their aggressiveness.
But the Bulls looked, well, tired. They couldn't start well, and they didn't look like they had enough energy to mount the comebacks that they needed in almost every game.
Why is that? This team had the best record in the NBA in the second half of the season. Could it be that Thibs is pushing them too hard? I think that's a reasonable question. His rotations are too short by at least two players in the regular season, sometimes only playing 6 or 7 players (maybe 8) when perhaps he should be spreading out minutes between 9 or 10 players. Not only would it give more rest to the go-to guys, but it would also give those other guys meaningful minutes in game situations and allow the team to find out if they have something (or nothing). Jimmer Fredette? Could barely get on the floor. Ronnie Brewer? Why even bother?
He played Hinrich, Dunleavy, Butler, Boozer, Noah, Gibson, and Augustine too much, I think.
They are certainly his best seven players. But even Boozer was left out in crunch time, those minutes going the Gibson.
Thibs' biggest problem seems to be his inflexibility. That may also be his biggest strength. But if winning every game in the regular season (or playing to win every game, which is virtually the same thing) costs them their legs come playoff time, something's gotta be done. I'm sure no one wants to tell him how to coach, but someone better make him see that you can't sacrifice offense all the time in order to keep your best defensive unit on the floor for most of the game.
It will be interesting to see how this off-season plays out. With Rose coming back and the ability to amnesty Boozer, is there anyone out there who can make the difference between a first round exit and competing for the title? Besides Carmelo, that is, who apparently would have to take significantly less money to come to Chicago without a sign-and-trade, and I'd guess that New York doesn't want Boozer in such a deal (even though his contract is up after this year).
*****
Take a look at my short stories, available on Amazon for $0.99 each...price will go up a bit soon...
Rick's Rules
Night Family
Dead Or Alive
Thank you!
*****
But the Bulls looked, well, tired. They couldn't start well, and they didn't look like they had enough energy to mount the comebacks that they needed in almost every game.
Why is that? This team had the best record in the NBA in the second half of the season. Could it be that Thibs is pushing them too hard? I think that's a reasonable question. His rotations are too short by at least two players in the regular season, sometimes only playing 6 or 7 players (maybe 8) when perhaps he should be spreading out minutes between 9 or 10 players. Not only would it give more rest to the go-to guys, but it would also give those other guys meaningful minutes in game situations and allow the team to find out if they have something (or nothing). Jimmer Fredette? Could barely get on the floor. Ronnie Brewer? Why even bother?
He played Hinrich, Dunleavy, Butler, Boozer, Noah, Gibson, and Augustine too much, I think.
They are certainly his best seven players. But even Boozer was left out in crunch time, those minutes going the Gibson.
Thibs' biggest problem seems to be his inflexibility. That may also be his biggest strength. But if winning every game in the regular season (or playing to win every game, which is virtually the same thing) costs them their legs come playoff time, something's gotta be done. I'm sure no one wants to tell him how to coach, but someone better make him see that you can't sacrifice offense all the time in order to keep your best defensive unit on the floor for most of the game.
It will be interesting to see how this off-season plays out. With Rose coming back and the ability to amnesty Boozer, is there anyone out there who can make the difference between a first round exit and competing for the title? Besides Carmelo, that is, who apparently would have to take significantly less money to come to Chicago without a sign-and-trade, and I'd guess that New York doesn't want Boozer in such a deal (even though his contract is up after this year).
*****
Take a look at my short stories, available on Amazon for $0.99 each...price will go up a bit soon...
Rick's Rules
Night Family
Dead Or Alive
Thank you!
*****
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Carmelo as a Bull - Good idea?
Okay, I know...this is probably off the table now that Phil Jackson has agreed to run the Knicks as their president and has endorsed the idea of committing to Carmelo Anthony. Phil knows how to win, and he knows how to work with star players. He's got 11 rings as a coach, and 2 as a player. If I had to bet money on the outcome, I'd bet that Anthony will stay with the Knicks, where he can earn the most money in the biggest market, and take a chance on Phil turning things around for that franchise.
But what if Phil is blowing smoke? What if when Phil says that he believes that Carmelo can help the team, he means that Carmelo can help the team by being dealt in a sign-and-trade? And who has what it would take to make that sort of a deal? Who has assets that might just help the Knicks rebuild this year and in the future? Or what if Carmelo looks at the picture in the short term and says, "There is no way we're going to compete next year...and probably not the year after either. Not with as bad as the Knicks look and as capped out as they are."
What if either one of those things is the real truth? I submit that the Bulls are one of, and maybe the only team that makes sense to make a move for Anthony, from both the Bulls' and Knicks' points of view.
For the Bulls, is Anthony a fit? I don't know...but I do know that this Bulls team as it is currently constituted is not going to win an NBA championship. So let's say they amnesty Boozer and they have the cap room for a really good player (which should be the case). Who is that player? After Anthony, who is the next best free agent? Well, it looks to me like it is probably...wait for it...
Luol Deng!
Here's one list of free agents for 2014: Sports Illustrated List
Notice that most of the free agents above #10 (Deng's position) are centers and power forwards. Also note that many of them (Lebron, Bosh, Wade, Duncan, Nowitski, Kobe, and even Anthony) are likely to resign with their own teams. Pao Gasol and Zach Randolph make some sense for the Bulls (especially Randolph, if they do indeed amnesty Boozer) but their real need is for a scorer at either shooting guard or small forward. Anthony is the only one on that list before Deng who fits that role, and might possibly be available in a sign-and-trade.
Does Anthony make the Bulls a championship contender? I think he does. But if he doesn't, so what? No one else, either free agent or draft pick (outside of maybe Parker or Wiggins or a couple of others who will be long gone when the Bulls draft) makes the Bulls a contender. Anthony provides what the Bulls need - scoring. With Derrick Rose (even if he isn't as good as he used to be), and a supporting cast including Noah and Gibson, and whatever is left that the Bulls don't trade to the Knicks to get Anthony, it's a Bulls team that can go deeper in the playoffs. They have their secret weapon as well - coach Thibodeaux. (I'm probably spelling that wrong.)
So why would it make sense for the Knicks? The biggest asset they'd get in the deal would be Boozer and his 16 million dollar expiring contract. Assuming Anthony's max deal with the Knicks is 130 million over 5 years (a figure I heard on the radio this morning, but I'd previously heard 23 million a year over 6 years), that means the Bulls have to match 26 million a year. Boozer accounts for 16 million of that amount. 10 million to go.
What would the Knicks want? I'd think they want a young player. Butler, probably. Butler's valuable to the Bulls but not indispensable, and Anthony is going to be the starting "3". I don't know what he makes but it can't be too much. So what else goes east? Could they sign-and-trade Hinrich to a team-friendly deal that would make him very attractive to the Knicks, who could use veteran leadership at the point? Or could they decide that Jimmer Fredette is their three-point shooter and deal Mike Dunleavy? I think his contract is about 5 million a year. Let's just guess-timate that Butler is around 3 million. That brings us to 24 million. Two to go. I'm positive that they'd want the Bulls' pick. I'd rather trade both Bulls' first rounders (2014 and 2015) if that's possible. I know there's a league rule about dealing successive first round picks, but I don't know if it applies when you also have other teams' first round picks. If it does, then keep the 2015 pick and send them the pick they got for Deng (the Kings' pick, I believe, protected this year but not next?). I think all the Bulls have to do is find another million dollars in salary to deal. I'm sure it could be done. That's if the Bulls have to match 26 million. If it's 23 million, it's a little easier.
The key is Boozer. Does he work for the Knicks, who will also have Stoudamire under contract? I think it does. First, Boozer is expiring after next season. Second, Boozer is a good player (if not a great player, and if not worth the big contract the Bulls gave him), and Stoudamire can swing between center and power forward. Butler replaces Anthony, and Hinrich gives them veteran leadership for a couple of years. Or Dunleavy gives them a year of a solid small forward and three point shooter. And they get some young players with not-too-low draft picks. Would that work for someone like Phil Jackson and the Knicks?
So is this likely? I doubt it. Like I said earlier, I'd bet that Anthony will stay in New York and the Bulls will have to find somewhere else to spend the money. Maybe they don't amnesty Boozer, maybe they bring Mirotic over and draft a couple of more pieces and see what they have in Rose. Maybe they make a run at Paul Pierce or something like that. There are options.
But none of those options lead to a Bulls championship next year, in my opinion. The only scenario where I see a championship in the picture is one where they get Carmelo Anthony.
*****
You can find my short story NIGHT FAMILY on Amazon!
You can also find another of my short stories DEAD OR ALIVE on Amazon!
*****
But what if Phil is blowing smoke? What if when Phil says that he believes that Carmelo can help the team, he means that Carmelo can help the team by being dealt in a sign-and-trade? And who has what it would take to make that sort of a deal? Who has assets that might just help the Knicks rebuild this year and in the future? Or what if Carmelo looks at the picture in the short term and says, "There is no way we're going to compete next year...and probably not the year after either. Not with as bad as the Knicks look and as capped out as they are."
What if either one of those things is the real truth? I submit that the Bulls are one of, and maybe the only team that makes sense to make a move for Anthony, from both the Bulls' and Knicks' points of view.
For the Bulls, is Anthony a fit? I don't know...but I do know that this Bulls team as it is currently constituted is not going to win an NBA championship. So let's say they amnesty Boozer and they have the cap room for a really good player (which should be the case). Who is that player? After Anthony, who is the next best free agent? Well, it looks to me like it is probably...wait for it...
Luol Deng!
Here's one list of free agents for 2014: Sports Illustrated List
Notice that most of the free agents above #10 (Deng's position) are centers and power forwards. Also note that many of them (Lebron, Bosh, Wade, Duncan, Nowitski, Kobe, and even Anthony) are likely to resign with their own teams. Pao Gasol and Zach Randolph make some sense for the Bulls (especially Randolph, if they do indeed amnesty Boozer) but their real need is for a scorer at either shooting guard or small forward. Anthony is the only one on that list before Deng who fits that role, and might possibly be available in a sign-and-trade.
Does Anthony make the Bulls a championship contender? I think he does. But if he doesn't, so what? No one else, either free agent or draft pick (outside of maybe Parker or Wiggins or a couple of others who will be long gone when the Bulls draft) makes the Bulls a contender. Anthony provides what the Bulls need - scoring. With Derrick Rose (even if he isn't as good as he used to be), and a supporting cast including Noah and Gibson, and whatever is left that the Bulls don't trade to the Knicks to get Anthony, it's a Bulls team that can go deeper in the playoffs. They have their secret weapon as well - coach Thibodeaux. (I'm probably spelling that wrong.)
So why would it make sense for the Knicks? The biggest asset they'd get in the deal would be Boozer and his 16 million dollar expiring contract. Assuming Anthony's max deal with the Knicks is 130 million over 5 years (a figure I heard on the radio this morning, but I'd previously heard 23 million a year over 6 years), that means the Bulls have to match 26 million a year. Boozer accounts for 16 million of that amount. 10 million to go.
What would the Knicks want? I'd think they want a young player. Butler, probably. Butler's valuable to the Bulls but not indispensable, and Anthony is going to be the starting "3". I don't know what he makes but it can't be too much. So what else goes east? Could they sign-and-trade Hinrich to a team-friendly deal that would make him very attractive to the Knicks, who could use veteran leadership at the point? Or could they decide that Jimmer Fredette is their three-point shooter and deal Mike Dunleavy? I think his contract is about 5 million a year. Let's just guess-timate that Butler is around 3 million. That brings us to 24 million. Two to go. I'm positive that they'd want the Bulls' pick. I'd rather trade both Bulls' first rounders (2014 and 2015) if that's possible. I know there's a league rule about dealing successive first round picks, but I don't know if it applies when you also have other teams' first round picks. If it does, then keep the 2015 pick and send them the pick they got for Deng (the Kings' pick, I believe, protected this year but not next?). I think all the Bulls have to do is find another million dollars in salary to deal. I'm sure it could be done. That's if the Bulls have to match 26 million. If it's 23 million, it's a little easier.
The key is Boozer. Does he work for the Knicks, who will also have Stoudamire under contract? I think it does. First, Boozer is expiring after next season. Second, Boozer is a good player (if not a great player, and if not worth the big contract the Bulls gave him), and Stoudamire can swing between center and power forward. Butler replaces Anthony, and Hinrich gives them veteran leadership for a couple of years. Or Dunleavy gives them a year of a solid small forward and three point shooter. And they get some young players with not-too-low draft picks. Would that work for someone like Phil Jackson and the Knicks?
So is this likely? I doubt it. Like I said earlier, I'd bet that Anthony will stay in New York and the Bulls will have to find somewhere else to spend the money. Maybe they don't amnesty Boozer, maybe they bring Mirotic over and draft a couple of more pieces and see what they have in Rose. Maybe they make a run at Paul Pierce or something like that. There are options.
But none of those options lead to a Bulls championship next year, in my opinion. The only scenario where I see a championship in the picture is one where they get Carmelo Anthony.
*****
You can find my short story NIGHT FAMILY on Amazon!
You can also find another of my short stories DEAD OR ALIVE on Amazon!
*****
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Off topic - More Short Story Releases...
I've been able to release two more short stories on Amazon for Kindle.
The latest is NIGHT FAMILY, a 8400 word short story about spoiled rich girl, Lisa Warwick, who goes looking for "something different" with her friends and finds it in a "goth" club called Skid Row. It is the first piece of new fiction I've published (the others were all written over ten years ago). It's a prequel to another piece I've recently published, called DEAD OR ALIVE. You can buy it here at Amazon for $0.99: NIGHT FAMILY
The other is DEAD OR ALIVE, a 7800 word short story about detective Rick Striker, who takes on the missing persons case of Lisa Warwick for her father. He finds that the trail leads to a club called Skid Row and that the people involved are even stranger to him than he expected to find in a goth dance club. DEAD OR ALIVE was originally written in the 1990's but was expanded from its original 2500 word length to its current form. You can buy it here at Amazon, also for $0.99: DEAD OR ALIVE
I know it isn't sports, but it's all I got right now. (Well, that's not really true. I have plenty of thoughts about the Cubs, the Sox, the Bulls, the Hawks and the Bears' off season, but I haven't really had the time to put something coherent together. Soon. That's assuming that anyone even reads this blog...)
Thanks for checking out my short stories. Please download samples and check them out, see if they are something you might be interested in reading (if you like reading stories in the horror genre...)
*****
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Tanking a season???
You will know if Bulls management is dumping salary and trying to tank the season by one indicator - trading Mike Dunleavy. If they trade Hinrich, it doesn't mean they're tanking. If they amnesty Boozer at the end of the season, it won't mean they're rebuilding. The trade of Deng didn't mean they are tanking the season.
There are sound reasons for trading Deng, in my opinion. The first is that he wasn't going to be resigned next year for more than three years and ten million per year. That was the Bulls' take-it-or-leave-it offer, according to Deng, and I believe him. It was a line in the sand, and they had already determined that they weren't willing to cross it. It wasn't going to be 12 million for 4 years, it wasn't going to be 4 years at 45 or 46 million. It was 3 years, 10 million per year. Since they had now determined that they weren't going to exceed that number, and Deng refused it, they decided to part ways now. Why now instead of at the end of the season? Because at least they got SOMETHING for him. A first round pick and two second round picks. Is it enough for half a season of an all-star small forward? Probably not, but it's what the league was willing to pay. And it's something.
And the other thing they got was luxury tax relief. By waiving Bynum, they put themselves under the luxury tax threshold for this year. It seems like a given that owner Jerry Reinsdorf will go into luxury tax territory with the payroll, but not for a team that isn't going to contend to win it all, and not for a player who wasn't going to be here next year. So the team saves money on that end, too.
Trading Hinrich is not a "tank" move either, in my opinion. There are point guards who can give them some of what Hinrich can give them. D.J. Augustine is on the team and seems to be fitting in. He's a backup next year anyway. If Hinrich can allow them to accumulate assets (draft picks) and cap space, then trading him makes sense for next year.
So why would the trade of Mike Dunleavy signal, for me, salary dump and tanking the season? Because of these reasons: First, Dunleavy is not expensive and is signed for two years. Okay, neither is Hinrich THAT expensive. So what's the difference if Dunleavy allows them to gain cap space and maybe gets them a young project player or a draft pick?
This is the difference. Every year the Bulls have to go looking for a three point shooter. Korver, Bellinelli, and now Dunleavy. Korver was very good, but so is Dunleavy. He's a piece they NEED on next year's team. That's the second, and main, reason why they should keep him, and why trading him would be nothing but dumping salary and tanking this season.
Let me say that again. Dunleavy is a piece that they NEED on next year's team. If they get rid of him for draft picks, they will have to go looking to sign someone with his skills next year for probably about the same amount of money.
Now I don't claim to know the ins and outs of the convoluted salary cap in the NBA, but I can't imagine that keeping Dunleavy through his contract would affect their ability to sign someone next year. The difference between OJ Mayo and LeBron James, for example. Because that's the kind of difference the Bulls really need. (Not specifically those players, but that sort of talent gap.) And I can't imagine that trading him will bring an asset that will be more valuable to next year's team than Dunleavy himself will be, with Rose back.
Keep Mike Dunleavy!
*****
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*****
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Deng traded to Cleveland.
Let the hand-wringing and the second-guessing begin - Luol Deng, a Bull for about 10 years, has been dealt for draft picks and luxury tax relief to the Cleveland Cavs.
If I have it right, the Bull get the Sacramento Kings' first round pick, which is either top ten or top twelve protected in the 2014 draft, they get two Portland 2nd round picks, they get the right to swap draft positions with Cleveland in the 2015 draft, and they got Andrew Bynum, whose non-guaranteed contract was waived before it became guaranteed, thus getting the Bulls under the luxury tax threshold and saving them a bunch of bucks.
(Owners like Reinsdorf don't mind going into luxury tax territory for a contending team, but that doesn't describe this Bulls team.)
Next, Boozer will probably be amnestied after the season, leaving the team without their Duke frontcourt. Does it make them a worse team this year? Yes, certainly...hopefully bad enough to be in the lottery. Does it make them worse next year? That remains to be seen.
Taj Gibson isn't an elite starting power forward, but he's decent, and certainly as good as Boozer at this point. Jimmy Butler isn't a polished small forward, but he has a high ceiling and the work ethic to reach it. He'll be different than Deng, but maybe he'll develop into a third option. Tony Snell is probably not the answer at shooting guard, but he may be a valuable bench player in the near future, and getting bigger minutes this year can only help his development.
If I was GM, I would consider trading Hinrich, but I would probably keep Dunleavy and Noah. Why keep Dunleavy? Because every darned year the Bulls are out there looking for a free agent three point shooter, and they have Dunleavy locked up for another year at a reasonable salary, so why get rid of him just to have to find "him" again?
I'd keep Noah because he's good defensively and works very hard. He's a solid NBA post man, who needs a quality backup.
So next year I'd be looking at Rose, Butler, Gibson and Noah. Who's my starting two guard? Hopefully it's a marquise free agent who can score. Without Deng and Boozer, they'll have the money to sign a top guy.
Yes, the Bulls have no track record of landing big free agents. Didn't land any back in the Krause era, and didn't land the big guys in the Lebron season. (Isn't Lebron a free agent again after this season? He could opt out or something like that if he wants to...?) But if Rose will do a little recruiting, and if Paxson can pay the most, maybe he'll end up with one this time. He only needs one. Then bring the Euro power forward Miretich over, and you have a pretty solid team. Better than this year's team.
Bring back Augustine or bring in a guy like Nate Robinson again to back up the point, and find a solid post player behind Noah (someone better than Mohammed) and maybe this team DOES contend for the East again.
I'm willing to see what happens, because I lost faith that anything was going to happen with the Deng/Boozer version of the Bulls.
*****
Please take a look at my book DOING DISNEY available for Amazon Kindle for $2.99!
*****
If I have it right, the Bull get the Sacramento Kings' first round pick, which is either top ten or top twelve protected in the 2014 draft, they get two Portland 2nd round picks, they get the right to swap draft positions with Cleveland in the 2015 draft, and they got Andrew Bynum, whose non-guaranteed contract was waived before it became guaranteed, thus getting the Bulls under the luxury tax threshold and saving them a bunch of bucks.
(Owners like Reinsdorf don't mind going into luxury tax territory for a contending team, but that doesn't describe this Bulls team.)
Next, Boozer will probably be amnestied after the season, leaving the team without their Duke frontcourt. Does it make them a worse team this year? Yes, certainly...hopefully bad enough to be in the lottery. Does it make them worse next year? That remains to be seen.
Taj Gibson isn't an elite starting power forward, but he's decent, and certainly as good as Boozer at this point. Jimmy Butler isn't a polished small forward, but he has a high ceiling and the work ethic to reach it. He'll be different than Deng, but maybe he'll develop into a third option. Tony Snell is probably not the answer at shooting guard, but he may be a valuable bench player in the near future, and getting bigger minutes this year can only help his development.
If I was GM, I would consider trading Hinrich, but I would probably keep Dunleavy and Noah. Why keep Dunleavy? Because every darned year the Bulls are out there looking for a free agent three point shooter, and they have Dunleavy locked up for another year at a reasonable salary, so why get rid of him just to have to find "him" again?
I'd keep Noah because he's good defensively and works very hard. He's a solid NBA post man, who needs a quality backup.
So next year I'd be looking at Rose, Butler, Gibson and Noah. Who's my starting two guard? Hopefully it's a marquise free agent who can score. Without Deng and Boozer, they'll have the money to sign a top guy.
Yes, the Bulls have no track record of landing big free agents. Didn't land any back in the Krause era, and didn't land the big guys in the Lebron season. (Isn't Lebron a free agent again after this season? He could opt out or something like that if he wants to...?) But if Rose will do a little recruiting, and if Paxson can pay the most, maybe he'll end up with one this time. He only needs one. Then bring the Euro power forward Miretich over, and you have a pretty solid team. Better than this year's team.
Bring back Augustine or bring in a guy like Nate Robinson again to back up the point, and find a solid post player behind Noah (someone better than Mohammed) and maybe this team DOES contend for the East again.
I'm willing to see what happens, because I lost faith that anything was going to happen with the Deng/Boozer version of the Bulls.
*****
Please take a look at my book DOING DISNEY available for Amazon Kindle for $2.99!
*****
Monday, January 6, 2014
My ebook DOING DISNEY is out!!!
I'm very happy to announce that my e-book, DOING DISNEY! HOW TO SPEND A WEEK AT DISNEY'S FLORIDA RESORT, is live on Amazon in the Kindle Store.
It is approximately 101 pages and is priced at $2.99.
Here's my description of it:
DOING DISNEY is a guidebook written for people who visit Florida's theme parks in the same manner as the author - a week or so at a time every couple of years. It's a book of ideas and comments about what the author has found to be worth experiencing (both attractions and dining). It is NOT a comprehensive guidebook full of every fact and figure about the resort. Part travelogue, part diary, part instructional, it tries to be informative and entertaining while providing a look into what works for a family traveling to visit Walt Disney World.BUY IT HERE!
Or download the sample first, to read the introduction and perhaps get a feel for how it's written.
Thanks in advance!!!
(on the off-chance that someone who might look in here might be interested in Disney...)
*****
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