In an era tainted by players using performance enhancing drugs, player arrests and contentious relationships with the media and the fans, Jim Thome has always stood out.  Affable, honest, hard working and fan friendly, the White Sox slugger is everything people my age grew up believing athletes should be and then some.  And despite what Charles Barkley says, Jim Thome is definitely a role model.

How fitting was it yesterday that Thome not only became the 23rd member of the 500th home run club, but the first member to hit his 500th as a walk off?  How fitting was it that his home run not only meant something to him, but to his teammates as well and may be the single best moment of a season gone horribly wrong?

Now the discussion has shifted to if Thome should be in the hall of fame after he retires, and sadly, my answer is no.  Despite the 500 home runs, Thome has yet to register 2000 hits and his strikeouts are very high.  He's also not been one of the dominating players of his era, although he has been above average.  In an era where five more players could reach 500 by the end of next year, it is becoming painfully obvious that the 500 home run bench mark is no longer certification for automatic enshrinement.

Whether he makes the hall or not is a discussion people will have down the road, but if he does, it will be primarily because of his 500 home runs and because of his character.  There is no one that can say anything bad about Jim Thome.  Great guy.  Great teammate.  Good to the media.  Fan friendly.  Good son, husband and father.  Pays his taxes.  Brushes his teeth.  Washes behind his ears.  Puts the seat down.  He is a gentleman and a hero all wrapped into one.  In an age where there are few heroes, Thome certainly gives you someone to point at and say to your kids: "Be like him."

While nice guys may finish last, this one finished 23rd.

Lightning Round

• Just to finish up on the White Sox, they open an important series in Kansas City tonight.  If the Sox take two out of three in this series, they will extricate themselves from the AL Central basement.  In my mind, this is critical in beginning the turnaround for next year.  Hopefully, they will play like it means something to them instead of "Hey, two weeks left, we suck, where are you hanging out in the off season."  T he Royals beat the Indians yesterday leaving the Sox ½ game behind.
• 
  On to the Chicago Bears 20-10 win over Kansas City yesterday.  Remove Devin Hester from the equation and you have a 10-10 tie.  The defense was terrific, shutting down Larry Johnson until late in the game and forcing some key turnovers, including a critical tip and interception in the Cheifs endzone late in the game.  Cedric Benson had an okay game, averaging about four yards per carry, but failing to show any bursts of speed turning the corner or any explosiveness on any one run.  He got his yards because he was the only ball carrier.  And then there's Rex who, in the first half, did everything I said he needed to do (manage the game well, don't force things) and in the second half played like an absolute idiot throwing two easily preventable interceptions. If the Bears are going to beat the high scoring Cowboys, they better get some of these issues with the offense ironed out in a hurry.

• The Packers are now 2-0 and here in Wisconsin, the Cheeseheads are convinced they are a playoff team.  Yeah, right.  Beating the Eagles (who beat themselves) and the Giants (who are pathetic) to begin with is not like beating the Chargers.  Packer nation will be in for an extreamly rude awakening next Sunday.
• Here's something people haven't said for ages: The Lions are 2-0.  They've got the Eagles next week and then the Bears, so we'll see how they look after week four.  Again, their two wins came over the Raiders and the Vikings, so don't read into it too much.
• No matter what you think about Spygate or Bill Belichick, this was impressive.  It was a flat out ass whuppin'.  If the Patriots are that much better than the Chargers, are they and the Dolts the best two teams in the NFL?  Assuming the Bears (1-1) and the Saints (0-2) are supposed to be the cream of the NFL crop, than most likely yes.  Maybe that's why Bill Belichick will be around a little longer
  
• The Cubs beat the Cardinalsthree out of four this weekend while the Brewers took care of the Reds.  The Cubs lead the NL Central by one game going into a huge week where the Cubs face the Reds and Pirates and the Brewers meet Houston and Atlanta.  The schedule definitely slants to the Cubs favor, especially when the Brewers have to finish up with the Cardinals and San Diego.
• Bases loaded, two out, Big Papi at the plate.  Pop up, game over.  This isn't your 2004 Big Papi, is it?
• The new polls are out in college football.  Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Washington thanks for playing.  Welcome to Alabama (ranked too high at 16, they should be lower): Kentucky (ranked lower than the team it beat to make the poll Louisville); USF and Missouri.  All four of these schools are most likely paper tigers.
• Clint Bowyer wins his first race in 64 starts and leads the chase after one race.  Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr, (he gets the good DEI engines) finished behind him.  Dover is up next.
• 
  So, Hilliary is about to announce her new mandatory health insurance plan. I don't know about you, but I don't like mandatory anything.  The reason that health care costs in this country are so high is because of an ongoing conspiracy between the doctors, the insurance companies and the drug companies.  Since their lobbies are so huge and so financially powerful, they will never be investigated, therefore nothing will ever change.  Socialized medicine DOES NOT WORK.  Less government intrusion into your life and your choices works.
  
• How stupid do you have to be to be a formerly accused high profile double murderer (sans conviction) who got off because he had great lawyers and could, if he so chose, live out his life in quiet under the radar.  And, if as you say, someone stole your stuff, wouldn't it have been a better idea for someone with your profile to call hotel security and have them take care of it. No, not you OJ.  You have to write books, act like a thug and rob hotel rooms.  Johnnie Cochran can't save you now, pal.  Nice mugshot.
• The stall where Senator Larry Craig stalled his career has become quite the tourist attraction.
• In a surprise to no one, the Sopranos won for best drama at the Emmy awards last night.  James Spader won for his portrayal of Alan Shore on Boston Legal, a most deserving winner.  Ditto with Sally Field and her portrayal of Nora Walker on "Brothers and Sisters."  The big surprise for me was Katheryn Heigal winning best supporting actress in a drama for playing Izzie Stevens on "Gray's Anatomy."  I've got to think the friends of T.R. Knight lined up and voted for her because she was so outspoken against former cast mate Isiah Washington.  Nah, these things aren't political are they?