Time to talk sports again
You hear about Wrigley Field and the falling chunks of concrete? That's funny. Because they're talking about closing Wrigley for at least a little while. Where would the Cubbies play? US Cellular? HA! For some stupid reason, the Sox fans would probably boo the crap out of the Cubs. So I suppose the Cubs could pull something like the Bears did a few years ago and play either at U of I or some other college (maybe a closer college). They could also pull an Expos and play in some other country. How about Cubs games being played in Mexico for a while? Or who wouldn't want to see a Cubs game in Iceland? In all honesty, my guess is that the Cubs will only close certain sections of the stadium at a time, allowing the park to still stay open and the Cubs to still play at home.
Now it's time to talk basketball. Rasheed Wallace stays a Piston, signing a five year deal. Does this make the Pistons a perennial powerhouse? The Pistons have a very young and very deep team. But, keep in mind that they did lose Okur to the stupid Jazz.  They have decided to replace him with Antonio McDyess (who I would have been tons more happy to get if this was 1998). My guess is that McDyess will get big minutes during the beginning of the season and will lose minutes as Darko is integrated into the lineup. I think the Pistons will definitely be good next year as well... but the East has changed.
First of all, say good-bye to the powerhouse Nets in the East. I hear that Kenyon Martin is headed to the Nuggets, and I don't think the Nets have enough without Martin to compete in the now awesome East. With Carlos Boozer leaving Cleveland (to the stupid Jazz), Drew Gooden is going to the Cavs to take Boozer's place. I think it'll take another year at least for Cleveland to be any real competition. Who does that leave? Obviously the Pistons will be there, and the Pacers will make the Central Division the best in the East; and the newly Shaq-ed Heat will make them on of the three best teams in the East. Who will come out of the Atlantic? Your guess is as good as mine. My guess is that the Knicks are ready to take the division title... but they aren't as good as the Pistons, Pacers, or Heat. We'll see.
To football now, and I start with Eddie George becoming a Cowboy. A very good move for the Cowboys... who can now give Julius Jones an easier transition into the NFL. The Cowboys also finally released Chad Hutchinson. This was the Chad Hutchinson who was supposed to be the new Troy Aikman no more than two years ago. What happened? Well... when you play baseball *Drew Henson cough*, you aren't playing football.
The big news is that Ricky Williams retires out of nowhere! Tony Kornheiser says (and I tend to agree) that running back in the NFL is the easiest position to replace. Again, I agree... except Ricky Williams is one of those backs who will carry the ball a million times a game. He's the kind of running back who carries a team... and it's a shame for his football career that he won't keep playing. But it's not a shame for Ricky Williams the person. Remember this is the player who had a team's entire draft traded to get him, so his NFL career started in the spotlight. He used to wear his helmet (with the visor) when people interviewed him, because he has that "I'm shy and can't really talk to people" thing going on. He started a website so that he could let people know more about himself without having to talk to them. He's a photographer (and a pretty good amateur one, if I do say so myself)... and a person who seems to want to be left alone. Keep in mind, this is the same Ricky Williams who had someone pull him down by his dreadlocks during a game... only to have the league tell him that his hair is part of his uniform, and is fair to be tackled by. I mean, that must've really pissed off Ricky (it obviously did, as he then shaved his hair off). So good luck to Ricky Williams in wherever his life takes him.
And, almost finally, the most incredible sports accomplishment of my lifetime: Lance Armstrong wins his sixth straight Tour de France. From what I hear, this is the most grueling three weeks in all of sports... spending six hours a day on a bike, going up and down mountains, and being pretty bored as there's nothing to do on a bike for six hours besides keep peddling. It is physically and mentally draining... and Armstrong has dominated for six straight years. Add to his dominance of his sport the fact that he was diagnosed with at least three different kinds of cancer (prostate, brain, and something else), and was giving only a 50% chance of living no more than a decade ago... his accomplishments are truly remarkable.
ESPYs
The ESPYs came and went before I even knew it (they were something like 10 days ago), and I wanted to comment on them. Brett Favre did win two! Both the awards he was nominated for he won... he is an amazing man. The Detroit Pistons won two! For best team and best upset... they deserved both of those. Larry Brown won for best coach! He deserved it, too. For some strange reason, the fans were allowed to vote and they voted (in my opinion) correctly. People actually got awards based on merit, and not based on whether or not they play for the Yankees. How does that sound, MLB All-Star voting? Sounds like something you should try? Stupid Yankees.