All winter long we heard people whining and complaining that the Cubs weren’t going to be able to score any runs without Sammy Sosa or Moises Alou. Who was going to hit homers? Who was going to get the big RBI?
Who was going to replace them in the outfield?
Yesterday, the Cubs could have beaten anybody, with just their infield. The starting four of Derrek Lee, Todd Walker, Nomar Garciaparra and E-ramis Ramirez was 12-19 (.632) with two homers, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored.
Is that good?
Things went so well yesterday that not only did Corey Patterson draw an unintentional walk, but the Cubs used every position player and still were able to hide the secret weapon, Hank White, for another day.
The only thing that went wrong was that Carlos Zambrano (who added to the hit parade with a double in the second) was that he apparently thought he was supposed to throw 40 pitches every inning. When he walked in a run with two outs in the fifth, Dusty went out and got him, one out shy of qualifying for the win. Carlos, had been a cool customer on the mound…until then. Then he motioned to home plate ump Dale Scott that Dale needed some glasses. Scott said something too him, and Carlos gave him a dismissive wave and got tossed.
So glad to see that the Cubs plan on continuing that crap into another season.
But the Cubs pounded out 23 hits and scored 16 times. We know what that means.
They won’t score again for a week.
———-
Roy Williams made a point of spending a good five minutes in his post game press conference ripping on the media for saying that Carolina didn’t play “like a team.” But Roy, they didn’t. The only thing that put the game in more peril last night than you letting Illinois go on runs whenever they needed by switching back to your man-to-man defense, was the six minute span in the second half when the Tar Heels decided that Sean May had scored enough points. Looks like Roy finally found a team with enough talent on it that even he couldn’t screw it up.
A great year with a lousy finish. Hey, we’re used to that around here.
It’s almost hard to fathom just how much the 2004-05 Illini actually did accomplish.
Bruce Weber’s about to get paid.
Next year’s starting five could be: Dee Brown, Calvin Brock, James Augustine, Marcus Arnold and Warren Carter. Yeah…I think I’ll pass on the 2006 Final Four lottery. But they won’t be bad. No sir.
Mike Downey’s out of pudding and ready to reminisce about the Illini.
Rick Morrissey says we knew the Illini wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Mariotti puts down the doughnut to take it easy on the Illini for once.
I think the Cubs are still batting.
E-ramis is going to be around for a while. Well, at least two years. But he sounds like he’s never leaving. Much like Ronnie Woo Woo.
No Luol for the rest of the season and the playoffs. Gulp.
The Gladiator just wants to fit in in Baltimore. Sure you do, buddy.
I don’t think any player exemplifies what it means to be a New England Patriot more than … David Terrell? Really? Muahahahahahahahaha!
Wait, is Mike Kiley taking a shot at Sammy? I guess he mailed his knee pads to Baltimore.
The Wizard of Roz looks back at the Illini’s tremendous season.
Pat Forde on the never say die Illini.
Kelly Dwyer says you need to look out for the T’wolves and Pacers in the NBA playoffs. You know, if they make it.
Two billion people are going to watch the Pope’s funeral. That’s twice as many as watch the Oscars. Take that you Hollywood sissies!
“Michael Jackson stuffed $100 bills down my pants.” Well, who hasn’t?
America’s finest news source looks at information theft.
That’s because the Pope has better make-up people.
If the Pizatriots make my shiznit good, ya all know day be for real.
“Suddenly it was 70-70 with 2:32 to go. Two and a half minutes to decide the national title.”
The next Illini possession is what I really wish they could have back. They had the momentum, having just tied the game and Dee getting the rebound on the NC miss.
I thought for sure they’d run the offense and work the tiring Heels for at least a foul, if not an easy basket, but Deron jacked up that 3 about 10 seconds into the shot clock. Open shot, I can’t really blame him, but that shot would have been there 20 seconds later if they couldn’t get anything better by pressuring them with a solid possession.
I also wish Dee, and maybe even Roger, would have gotten one last shot at a three in the final possessions. Eh, what can you do? It was a great ride.
Boy, it sure feels good to get that title out of the way.
Now I can get busy in the NBA being the next Jamal Crawford.
If you’re lucky, Rashad.
I went to Cincinnati. Can’t even spell my own name.
Brian Randle will be a real addition to the team next year and will soften the impact of the losses from the senior class I think. McBride may turn out to be a real quality player as well.
My question is: Will Deron come back for another year? I think it’s doubtful – but has he indicated anything yet?
As for the Cubs – I don’t think its wise to judge the quality of the current Cubs offense based on their performace against Javier Vazquez! As you noted, even Z got a double! Let’s see how they do against a team that won’t finish at the bottom of the weakest division in the NL and then begin to form conclusions about the quality of this current line-up.
I think Deron is a goner. In the tourney he went from being a potential first rounder to a likely lottery pick. Plus, he has a kid. He needs to buy diapers and stuff.
The real question concerns Dee Brown. Personally, I think he would be foolish to leave early. I love his game and all, but he could probably use that senior year that has helped so many other guys. He’s not quite ready for the NBA.
Not only is he a very good player, but he is a good guy. Class act all the way. I think his mom said a few days ago that he was gonna enter the draft,to answer your question one guy up dude.
Thats Rashad McCants part of a National Championship TEAM to you
Actually I went to michigan
You can say what you want, but I won the national championship.
Fine, our offense will only score 7 runs.
Hey, can I get a little credit here? That should have been me out there last night.
My hair deserves it!!!
Yeah, Roy, yer still a dork!
Don’t you wish that I would just go away? I mean, even I can’t stand my awful columns.
My hair deserves it, too!
I’m not a dork. I am more like Phil Jackson with only one championship. You know, every time my team takes the floor we are saddled with all that gosh darn tootin’ talent.
Sure Matt. Good job with recruiting them. Too bad you just couldn’t coach them.
How far the talent got the USA basketball team in the olympics?
They only had one chance a short practice period after a long season. I have been at this for quite some doggone time myself.
That was me up there…not this anonymous feller, whoever he is.
Roy, I liked your tie, but your highlighter didn’t match too well.
I can give a shit about Roy Williams right now.
Now that Illinois is done, how about a Daily Dose focusing on us if we win tonight? That would make 10 in a row and a pretty damn good win tonight
Wayne, I’ll call you.
Just watch me man. I’ll talk about the baby bulls on my show. And I’ll do it by being extremely annoying.
No Deng, a sick Curry, and a hobbled Hinrich. The Bulls are in trouble.
Sorry, Bulls 9 wins is the end of the line for this train…
So I was pulling for Illinois last night, thaks to this great web site. Sorry I couldn’t help the team.. i was still getting over winning the NIT tourney!
Go Gamecocks 66th best team in the country!
How about the winner of the NIT gets an automatic slot in the round of 16 in the NCAAs? Gives the NITs some value again
Hey, if it gets Notre Dame back in the tourney, I’m all for it.
Actually, better change that to, “The loser of a first round home game with Holy Cross automatically gets and automatic slot in the round of 16 in the NCAAs.”
Andy, seeing how you are ND fan, I dont get why you hate me.
I can’t even spell my own name…but you know, why do you hate me andy?
I got pinched for posession. Yep, coke and grass, didn’t see that one coming.
Digger please!
Sloth, good idea… Another idea would be to do what they do in the Prep Bowl playoffs, where a team from the Pub. Lge/Chi. Cath. Lge enters the Prep Bowl playoffs upon its ouster from the IHSA playoffs… This way you pump up the matchups in the NIT, and its meaning retainst SOME value…
Well – enough of the Illinois news. Great season, great players, etc. etc.
But Andy – they’re replacing the library carpet at the Harvard of the Midwest!!! For the love of God WHY???????
This is just wrong. I demand that they put that carpet back in or I’ll have to stop payment on those lucrative donation checks.
That headache inducing carpet was great for two things. You couldn’t fall asleep with it surrounding you and for some reason it drove the ladies wild and they couldn’t keep their pants on back in the stacks.
Or perhaps it was my supercool early ’90s bouffant? Either way, if I had to suffer with that carpet, so do the saps who follow me at the Harvard of the Midwest.
If Northern sponsored a noontime fund-raiser to pay for new flooring, would someone call it a Carpet Luncher?
Some things jumped out at me from this article:
The carpet is only ~3 decades old. Criminal waste of funding to replace something that clearly has another 50 or so years of use left.
I remember clearly the feeling of dizzyness and vertigo from just strolling to the counter of that place. If we don’t have that anymore – I fear the kids will turn to illegal drugs to replace it. What about the children???
The #1 thing alumni remember is Altgeld Hall??? WTF?? The #1 thing I remember is deflowering some kind lass on the lagoon bridge. Or Dot’s Diner. But apparently remembering a gloomy, gothic administration building really did it for most people. Very disappointing.
I homered tonight, bitches!! Nomar who? You know you miss me.
When you say Harvard of the Midwest, you are really referring to me, you know.
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