In case you missed it the 2 or 3 hundred times it has aired on ESPN this morning, here is video of
the brawl between Class A Dayton and Peoria (Peoria is the Chicago Cubs affiliate).

via AWFUL ANNOUNCING

As you can see from the video “Ebby Calvin ‘Nuke’ LaLoosh” (formerly known as Julio Castillo) has a few control issues. The ball he threw was suppose to go into the dugout but instead went into the stands hitting a fan. The fan was hospitalized.

All in all there were 17 ejections and one night in jail for the pitcher. Ryan Sandberg was not managing the Chiefs last night.

Julio Castillo’s arrest sheet

Martys back from his weekender in Chicago. Take a look at pics from the weekend Cubs vs. Giants series. Is that Dick Butkus?

Click here to view full screen.

Fresh off their NL Championship season in 1935, the Cubs are at Catalina Island for spring training. This is a great clip showing the basics of baseball and some great video of the 1936 Cubs.

New Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell has been out and about this week trying to make friends with the great people of Chicago and all fans of the Cubs.

Poor Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), bought an “investment” and now would like to make money on that “investment.” Sounds pretty beign correct? The only problem is part of the “investment” includes one of the most storied franchises in sports - the Chicago Cubs and their place of business Wrigley Field.

Poor Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), seems like a decent guy. He spoke to CNBC earlier this week about the Cubs and selling the naming rights to Wrigley Field.

“Excuse me for being sarcastic, but the idea of a debate occurring over what I should do with my asset leaves me somewhat questioning the integrity of the debate. . . . There’s a lot of people who would like to buy the Cubs and would like to buy the Cubs under their terms and conditions and, unfortunately, have to deal with me.”

Click to watch Video of Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion on CNBC)

Ok Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), you’re a deal man, a Donald Trump with less hair. Let’s make a deal.

Let’s get everyone together on this - Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), William Wrigley, Jr. and William Perez, CEO Wrigley Company and the Fans. I am also appointing outside observers Dutchie Cary and Chip Caray.

Here is how this is going to work.

Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) you agree to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field to Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez and the Wrigley Co. These rights are lifetime rights. You buy Wrigley Field, you get Wrigley Field. Done.

Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez you agree to pay one day of sales to Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) for the naming rights.

The fans, as usual you get the hard work. On the Cubs opening day, March 31, 2008, all Chicago residents and Cubs fans are requested to purchase one pack of Wrigley’s gum.

Total sales of gum for that day are “paid” to Sam Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) for the naming rights. Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), you then donate that amount to Ron Santo’s Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez you transfer the naming rights to an outside holder - Dutchie Caray.

Everybody wins.

Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) you help out a great charity, get a huge tax write off and endear yourself to the city of Chicago.

Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez your company name is still attached to one of best known buildings in the US.

The fans you get to keep Wrigley Field as Wrigley Field and you get a tasty pack of Wrigley’s gum.

Let’s get this plan rolling. Pass this along to all parties. All I could find was their marketing contacts, but they should be able to forward your emails to the correct parties.

Tribune Company:
Gary Weitman
gweitman@tribune.com

Wrigley Company
Jennifer Jackson-Luth
Manager, Marketing Communications
jennifer.jacksonluth@wrigley.com

Rick Brown’s Courtside Seat is an awesome read each week, and this week doesn’t disappoint. Rick recalls a conversation he had with Kelvin Sampson back during the recruitment of Reggie Evans to Iowa. Seems Kelvin was pulling the same telephone games trying to get Reggie to Oklahoma, after he had already committed to Iowa. Brown asked him point blank. Get a copy of the Register and check it out (it isn’t online yet).

I don’t understand why Indiana sticking by this guy. The NCAA doesn’t just toss out allegations right and left. The violations are terrible, lying to the NCAA is inexcusable.

Welcome to Spring Training - You’re going to Japan

What better way to start spring training than to prank a teammate? Leslie Gudel of Comcast SportsNet Philly asked Brett Meyers if he wanted to prank one of the guys. So they concocted the idea to send Kyle Kendrick to a Japanese team for another pitcher. Everyone was in on this, GM Ruben Amaro, manager Charlie Manuel, the travel manager, the PR team, etc.

Enjoy!

Bob Ryan weighs in on the Mitchell Report.

Click here to listen to Bob Ryan

Former Sen. George Mitchell delivered his Christmas present to Major League Baseball today, releasing his report on performance enhancing drugs.

Amazing enough, went you take a step back and look at the players mentioned and look at their physique and output the past few years, well - if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck it’s a duck.

Read the full report

The Cubs burned the Padres this morning have agreed in principal with Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, to a four-year, $48 million deal. Pronounced “koh-skay foo-koo-DOUGH-may”, Kosuke was a first round draft pick of the Chunichi Dragons in 1999. Last year he was named Central League MVP, hitting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBI.