Numero Uno

Despite a 1.7% chance, the Bulls have the number one pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. I've waited for this moment since our 1999 selection of Elton Brand. It should be a phenomenal celebration. However, here's my suggestion: trade the pick. Beasley is lazy, and we don't need Rose to be our fourth guard. These players could be extremely valuable to another team, and we should trade it away for a proven superstar. Mabye package up some of the 8 decent players we have to get a big-time forward or center. Garnett need another move? Is their room for Yao and Fukudome in the same city? Dwight Howard, Stoudemire, or Dirk frustrated with their situations? If we must keep the pick, my choice would be hometown Rose, but then still trade Heinrich, Hughes, Sefolosha and Gooden for one of the big dawgs above. I definitely like this lineup: Rose, Gordon, Deng, Thomas, and Nowitzki.

Ain't No Thing

Created by a member of our fraternity in our fraternity. Presenting Slangston Hughes of 211 Entertainment.

A Tale of Two Cities

After living in Chicago for over three months now since a move from NYC, I feel capable of making a trivial comparison or two. There are honestly 50 differences between the two cities, and many are more substantial than these, but let's get down to the basics: food and hair.

For some reason, NY does pizza and Chicago sticks to hot dogs. Why?- I have no clue. There is a pizza slice counter on every corner in Manhattan, and the same frequency of Vienna Beef shacks in Chicago, yet you'd be hard pressed to find the same in the other city. Some people will try to justify this with the dirty water dog vendors in NYC, Chicago's preference for deep dish, or even the absurd argument my friends made that "New York has the best water, so our pizza and bagels are superior," but I'm still baffled. Don't you think American tastes are similar enough to have a couple pizza slice joints in Chicago or a Vienna Beef hot dog in New York? Manhattan is the most diverse place in the world- bar none. I think they could find a few hot dog enthusiasts whom prefer a quality hot dog to Gray's Papaya.

Second question: Why aren't there any barbers in Chicago? There are so many in New York that you can get a good haircut for $10 within a block or two of your Murphy-bed apartment. In Chicago, you have to seek them out, make appointments, and pay $30. I have gotten five haricuts from four different places since returning, and still am not satisified. I think there is a lucrative business opportunity for any NY barber. Move to Chicago, double your rate, and pay lower rent and living expenses. You'll still be undercutting the competition, and I'll be your first regular.

Roller Coaster of Emotion

If being a Cubs fan teaches you anything, it's temperance. The club posted a division-leading 15-6 record on April 23 after winning six straight, but then dropped 8 of 11 and their first place position as quicky as it was achieved. So, who cares? Isn't this typical Cubs baseball. Aren't you supposed to say "well, I only hope they win the game I attend at Wrigley," and be satisifed if they can even do that? The Red Sox fans are the bitter ones that get all caught up on record. Not us. Not here. Loveable losers, not frustrating losers.

For some reason, I'm having a hard time accepting that this year. Maybe it was the pre-season Sports Illustrated prediction of a World Series victory, or that last week they published the same forecast stating Fukudome was our savior. Maybe it's because I genuinely believe we have one of the best lineups in baseball and a strong rotation. Maybe it's the 100th year since our last ring (if they even had gold in 1908). Maybe it's the painful nature of most of our losses. Maybe it's the idea that current ownership is selling the team, so they should be willing to pillage our entire farm system for one run at glory.

Heck, it's probably all of those, but it isn't fun. Yes, I am able to laugh when Soriano whiffs two fly balls in a single Cardinals game or Fontenot tries to run, but not when Kerry Wood blows saves. I promise to return to indiference in 2009, but not this year. Not when it's our turn.