Random thoughts while wondering what ever happened to Guy Lafleur:

The Chicago White Sox failed miserably in their defense of their world title.  While it is perfectly permissible to lose your defense in the playoffs ('05 Red Sox) it is not at any time permissible to go out with a whimper and lose out to two teams you should have easily had your way with.

What was missing from the 2006 White Sox squad was an emotional leader.  You had that last year in Carl Everett, but this year you had 25 guys who were all very quiet.  I don't care if they played for the loudest manager in the majors (Ozzie Guillen) they still needed a firebrand on their team.

Here's my memo to Ken Williams on how to get back to the playoffs next year: shore up your bullpen by getting something in return for Mike McDougall and David Riske; trade Mark Burhle to help bolster the pen and the starting staff; trade Scott Podsednik for anything you can get as his shelf life appears to be two years and get Brian Anderson some intensive work with a hitting instructor.

Being a White Sox fan right now is embarrassing, but not nearly as embarrassing as the mess on the North side of town where the Cubs have fired both Andy McPhail and Dusty Baker.  And, to compound the situation even more, they made a marketing guy president of the club.  Good luck Cub fans, even Jerry Reinsdorf isn't that stupid. 

The Chicago Bears are off to a promising start.  They are 5-0 and have clearly dominated every one of their opponents both home and away.  Whether or not they can maintain this pace for the entire season and make the Super Bowl remains to be seen.  Bear fans clearly have their tickets to Miami ready.  But until Lovie Smith, Rex Grossman, Brian Urlacher et. At. Can get over the long drought of winning the big game in the playoffs (which the Bears have had since 1985) it doesn't mean a thing.  Cynical yes, but I'm educated through years of watching Bears teams own the league, lather up the fans and then drop an egg in the playoffs.  I want results, not just hype.

Somebody needs to tell Brett Favre it's time to go home and stay there.  Please.  In the waning minutes of yesterday's game, he looked like Willie Mays on the '73 Mets.

Hockey season has begun.  Please inform the Nashville Predators.

Some illegal aliens are suing Wendy's restaurant over the fact that Wendy's law firm missed a deadline to file paperwork on their behalf that would sponsor them for citizen ship.   According to the ring leader, Daniel Olivares, the workers were fired when the deadline was missed as Wendy's had no other recourse.  The story further goes on to note that Olivares has been in this country for fourteen years and that his wages primarily go to support his sister and mother in Mexico.

Again, what's wrong with this picture?  If Mr. Olivares has been in this country for fourteen years, perhaps he may have taken time before this to apply for citizenship.  Instead of doing that, he waited for Wendy's to help him. I hold Wendy's law firm accountable as well for not meeting the filing deadline BUT: Mr. Olivares should not have been hired in the first place.  And now, there are lawyers (Ron Trott perhaps) that have taken up this guys cause and are suing for damages.

What needs to happen is either a deadline extension or a deportation hearing.  There are no other alternatives.  How can people, who are not supposed to be in our country, SUE IN OUR COUNTRY?  Can the lawyers get charged with aiding and abetting?  When are we going to fix this problem?

I guess George W. is a little distracted these days looking down the barrel of a nuclear guy thanks to North Korea.  The good news is even the Chinese are not happy about this.  The fact that a country like South Korea may have a nuke makes Iraq look like Great America.  The funny part of the story is that the UN is about to issue a stern warning which is sort of like a babysitter telling a rambunctious five-year-old "Don't do that again.".  The bigger question is what does North Korea intend to do with it and what if they decide to use it.  This was Einstein's greatest fear.  Also Jack Bauer's.

Some of the new fall shows are out.  I really like Justice.  And, I'm becoming a fan of Brothers and Sisters.  Sally Field is magnificent in that show.

Finally, congratulations to John Farra, winner of the North American wife carrying contest. Wow, I didn't know they gave prizes for that.