Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson

Let me introduce myself….

I’m ksmc2000 from the original firedustybaker site. When boddyd pulled several disappearing acts from posting new threads, I tried to contact him via e-mail to allow me to keep the old site going, but got no response. That site had a huge following and we made some great friendships along the way.

Then Fro Dog started this site to keep as many members as possible from the old site together. We all thank you for that. After the second three game sweep in the playoffs in as many years, Fro Dog has decided to follow the Cubs from a safe distance in 09. I can’t say as I blame him one bit. Even with a 97 win season in 08, I found myself getting pissed off many times last year. 2009 will be my 40th as being a Cub fan. I have too many miles on these tires to be able to give up. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was 12 years old. All I want is a Cubs World Series Championship in my lifetime. Is that too much to ask?

I will do the best I can to assist Fro Dog with the baseball side of the site. We might not agree with each other on alot of discussions, but the best part of this forum is that everyone has a right to their own opinion. We are all family here. You can say whatever the fuck you want without dealing with a moderator. It should be an exciting season, and I’m looking forward to talking Cubs baseball with you.

P.S. I’d like to give a shout-out to MadCityMac from the original site. I met him a few times, and he is a great friend.

ksmc2000

1. The Chicago Bulls are bad. Real bad. I said in the beginning of the season for my prediction that they would be a .500 team. Right now, that would be a miracle. Other than Derrick Rose, there aren’t that many good players. I like Ben Gordon but his defense is awful. He can have those nights where he scores 35 but he thinks he can do it every night and that leads to problems. Tyrus Thomas will never be good. This damn turd continues to take outside shots when he keeps missing. His role is to be a post player who blocks shots and gets rebounds.

John Salmons and Brad Miller have been nice additions to the team but overall, this team cannot play any defense AT ALL. I kept telling myself that it might not be Vinny Del Negro’s fault that all of this crap is still happening but lately, I am beginning to think it is. The Eastern Conference sucks so bad that the Bulls STILL lead the 8th playoff spot.

2. The Chicago Blackhawks got back on track Wednesday night with a shooout win against the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. The Hawks were less than a minute away from victory until Toews got called for a hooking penalty that led to the tying goal. Toews and Kane had shootout goals with Versteeg getting the game winner. Huet was ok in front of the net and Khabibulin should be starting here anytime soon.

I still felt Antti Niemi didn’t get a fair shot. My prediction was wrong about him having a good game Sunday but I don’t think it is right to judge somebody on just playing two games by already calling him just a backup. Especially when he did pretty well the first time around. I really felt he deserved to play the next game. Instead, he had to wait a week and he ended up playing really badly. Khabibulin really needs to play well when he returns. If not, then it could be bad news. In a perefect world, Huet would just go up to QuennStache and be like “Hey, I suck. Don’t play me.” instead of “Hey, I suck but throw me out there anyway.”

1. Chicago Bulls tied for the 8th playoff spot in the East

2. Blackhawks on a short losing skid but should get out of it real soon

3. NCAA conference tournaments beginning real soon.

– Last but not least, Keith (ksmc2000) has agreed to help out and take over the writing on this site starting soon at least once or twice a week. I am just waiting for a response from him.

I will still be here talking Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls and college basketball every now and then.

So once he gets back to me, you will see some of his posts real soon.

– Thanks.

Finally. The coach with the awesome porn stache finally puts Christobal Huet where he belongs which is on the bench. The lady and I went to the game Sunday buying standing room only seats for $20 each. There were empty seats scattered around the upper deck so we did find a place to sit and that was a relief. I’ve said this quite a bit lately but attending a hockey game is really exciting. I recommend any of you that are thinking about going to do so. It does get a bit chilly in there though especially if you are close the rink so bundle up.

I spoke to Forklift of HockeeNight.com last week and I asked him why Antti Niemi wasn’t getting a shot to start. I believe he said something along the lines of Quenville (The man with the porn stache) that he is trying to get Huet in a groove for the playoffs. That is fine and dandy but if the guy sucks and he continues to suck then he needs to be sat down. I just wanted Niemi to get a chance to see what he can do before he gets sent back down with Khabibulin returning.

The way I see it, in any sport, you do not know if someone is good or not unless they get a fair shot. It can’t be just one play or one period/quarter but one game or a set of games. Huet has had some good games but lately, he has been a shit stain. Niemi has earned  another shot in my opinion especially if Khabibulin continues to be on the shelf.

That is about it. Til next time.

– Fro Dog

Discuss whatever it is you guys want to talk about.

Three topics to catch up on since I haven’t had a chance to lately would be the Illini, Bulls and Blackhawks.

1. The Illinois Fighting Illini as of this moment are 21-6 and trail Michigan State by two games in the Big Ten. I know they played like shit and blew a nine point lead against Penn State. They scored just four points in the last ten minutes of that game. At that record however, it has shocked just about everybody including myself. It just shows how good of a coach Bruce Weber is with players that weren’t considered to be big time playmakers when they left high school. Just imagine what kind of record they would have if he had top of the line players. With that being said, they are in the round of 65 but the question would be what number seed would they be. Right now, they are good enough for a fourth or fifth seed but it could be a two or three if they play well in the Big Ten Tournament.

2. The Chicago Bulls made three trades. I do not know if the new guys coming in will make this team better but they are still not a contender. Amare Stoudemire is staying put with the Suns and I read in a couple of places that the Bulls didn’t consider the trade because they would have to give up their first round draft pick in return. If that is the case, John Paxson is dumber than I thought. As an organization, you don’t know if your next draft pick is going to be good.

However, you do know that Amare Stoudemire is very good and if you have a chance to get him and give back the Suns a bunch of garbage in return, then you do it. Amare is good for 25 points and at least seven rebounds a game. No one on the Bulls right now can do that. The Bulls might still end up making the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed but it won’t be worth it. They are better off missing the playoffs so they could have a chance to get lucky again and get a high draft pick.

3. Last but not least, we have the only feel good story in town right now and that is the Chicago Blackhawks who are 33-15-8 on the season. They shutout the Florida Panthers Thursday night for their 3rd straight win. Huet (about damn time) had a good game getting the shutout. This season has been really excited to watch. This team is young, good and fun to follow. There have been some injuries but it has not affected them so far. They are really on a roll and there is no reason why it should stop anytime soon. Patrick Sharp will be out at least two more weeks with the injury he had against Dallas last week.

I couldn’t write about the Blackhawks without giving Nikolai Khabibulin big time props. This guy sucked the last two years and before this season started, the Blackhawks put him on waivers and no team claimed him. Right now he is out with an injury but his record is 17-5-5. He lost the first game of the season in October and did not lose a game in regulation until late December. That is pretty damn good. So to Khabibulin, he gets my props. He is one of the main reasons why this team is on the upside and looking real good this season.

– That is about it for me. You guys take it easy this weekend and I might have a new thread sometime next week.

I was going to write a post about the Chicago Bulls trade, the Blackhawks current play and a report on the Fighting Illini basketball season but what has happened on this site in the last few days changed all that.

First of all, I would like to say that what has been happening here in the last few days has been childish to say the least. As many of you guys have pointed out, there was no reason to have such a debate about something that concerns me. The last time I checked, there are more important people to talk about in your free time other than me. This is our site with our own opinions. I posted a lot on Hire Jim Essian and I have no problem with some of them but others have obviously been ignorant at times.

However on this site, when we have had disagreements with a topic in the last three or four years, we always argued back in respect and maturity without acting in a childish way. Our opinions are our opinions and nothing more. If my opinion affects someone that much more that they act in a childish way, then that is sad.

I’ll say this one more damn time to anybody and everybody: If you do not like what I or anybody else writes here, then feel free to debate about but please do it in a mature way. If you don’t want to do that, then don’t come here. It’s that simple. If you are 37 years old, then act like you are 37. Do not come here and act like the 12 year old boy who got pissed off in junior high because the girl who asked him to the dance did it as a joke.

That is it for me. Bulls/Blackhawks/Fighting Illini post coming Friday.

Thank you.

I apologize for the lack of updated threads lately. I haven’t been able to get to my computer much both at work and at home because I have been really busy with my work.

I am also in the process of moving from Rochelle to Dekalb (only 15 minutes apart) but I am mostly moving by myself so it is taking me a while. I should be settled in my new place in the next couple weeks.

I will try to have a complete update on the state of this site by either Monday or Tuesday so stay tuned.

Thanks for being patient and sticking around everybody. You guys are the best.

Speak your mind.

Card down, Chicago Cardinals, make every play clear the way to victory;

Card down, Chicago Cardinals, put up a fight with a might so fearlessly.

We’ll never forget the way you thrilled the nation with your T-formation.

Card down, Chicago Cardinals, and let them know why you’re wearing the crown.

You’re the pride and joy of Illinois Missouri Arizona,  Chicago Cardinals, card down.

How awesome is this? Our Chicago Cardinals in the championship game for the first time since 1947! Life is grand!

The Chicago Cardinals will face the five-time champion Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1st. The Pittsburgh Steelers with their excellent franchise and owner who always have a willingness to contend for a championship nearly every year will be the favorites to win. Who would blame them? A franchise that has only had about four coaches in their entire franchise and continued success throughout the years says a lot. Meanwhile, our Chicago Cardinals have been the opposite only going to one playoff game in the last 25 years.

But better late than never to go the Super Bowl.

Go Chicago Cardinals!