Irish Ranked No. 27 In Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll

The University of Notre Dame baseball team was ranked 27th in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll released last week. The Irish were not only one of two BIG EAST schools among the top-30, but also was the highest-ranked Northern school.

Irish Win The Shillelagh Tournament Title With 3-1 Triumph Over Minnesota Duluth

In the title game of the Shillelagh Tournament Notre Dame triumphed over Minnesota Duluth, 3-1, to remain undefeated in its last 16 games.

Harangody and McAlarney Named To Naismith Watch List

Senior Kyle McAlarney (Staten Island, N.Y.) and junior Luke Harangody (Schererville, Ind.) are among 11 BIG EAST players named to the 50-player Naismith Early Season Watch List.

Luke Harangody had 31 points and 11 rebounds and No. 13 Notre Dame shot 45 percent against No. 9 Georgetown in a 73-67 victory Monday night that ended a five-game losing streak to the Hoyas.

Chicago White Sox 2009 Spring Training Schedule

Date Time Opponent Location
Feb. 25 1:05 p.m. L.A. Angels Tempe
Feb. 26 1:05 p.m. Colorado Tucson
Feb. 27 1:05 p.m. Texas Surprise
Feb. 28 1:05 p.m. Cubs Mesa
March 1 1:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers Glendale
March 2 1:05 p.m. Seattle Glendale
March 3 OFF DAY
March 4 1:05 p.m. Oakland Phoenix
March 5 1:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers Glendale
March 6 1:05 p.m. WBC Glendale
March 7 1:05 p.m. Texas Surprise
March 8 1:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers Glendale
March 9 1:05 p.m. Cleveland Glendale
March 10 OFF DAY
March 11 1:05 p.m. Milwaukee Glendale
March 12 1:05 p.m. Kansas City Surprise
March 13 1:05 p.m. San Diego Peoria
March 14 1:05 p.m. Texas Glendale
March 15 1:05 p.m. Seattle Peoria
March 16 1:05 p.m. Kansas City Glendale
March 17 OFF DAY
March 18 1:05 p.m. L.A. Angels Glendale
March 19 1:05 p.m. San Francisco Scottsdale
March 20 1:05 p.m. San Francisco Glendale
March 21 1:05 p.m. Cubs Glendale
March 22 1:05 p.m. Oakland Phoenix
March 23 OFF DAY
March 24 1:05 p.m. Cleveland Goodyear
March 25 1:05 p.m. Oakland Glendale
March 26 1:05 p.m. Arizona Glendale
March 27 1:05 p.m. Cubs Mesa
March 28 1:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers Glendale
March 29 1:05 p.m. Arizona Tucson
March 30 1:05 p.m. L.A. Angels Tempe
March 31 1:05 p.m. Colorado Glendale
April 1 1:05 p.m. San Diego Glendale
April 2 1:05 p.m. Milwaukee Maryvale
April 3 TBA Arizona TBA
April 4 TBA Arizona TBA

Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show

The 79th annual Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show will unveil the largest indoor selection of new boats, RVs and outdoor accessories in the Midwest from top manufacturers at the best deals of the year. Escape the wintry weather by visiting McCormick Place January 14 - 18, 2009, where outdoor enthusiasts gather under one roof to view, board and buy everything needed for summer fun.

FEATURES
• Affordability Pavilion (NEW!) - Premiering at this year's Chicago show is the new Affordability Pavilion. This featured area will showcase boats for those with smaller budgets, highlighting pricing options and displaying boats that visitors can finance for $350 or less.
• Discover Boating Center - This information area provides educational seminars and unbiased boating advice from "the boating guy," who can answer any boating question before attendees hit the show floor.
• First Mate Patch Program - Local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Kids and Y Guides can earn the First Mate Patch by attending the show and completing a series of learning stations. A fun way to educate kids on the benefits of outdoor recreation, the program also offers Campfire Kids, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Y Guides, as well as adult leaders, FREE admission when they arrive in uniform.
• Huck Finn Trout Pond - FREE fishing for children 12 and under at an indoor pond stocked with the largest trout east of the Mississippi River.
• Miss GEICO (NEW!) - Miss GEICO, the world's fastest offshore racing boat, is a catamaran poised for performance and can reach upwards of 185 MPH. The 40-foot, twin 1,500 turbine-powered offshore racer demolishes records and awes those unfortunate enough to race against her.
• Power Boat Docking Challenge (NEW!) - Attendees of all ages can race against the clock to win great prizes in this radio-controlled boat docking game.

"Honorary Blackhawks Captain" Sweepstakes

Enter the boy or girl (ages 8-16) of your choice for a chance to win the Walgreens "Honorary Blackhawks Captain" Sweepstakes, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Lucky winners will each receive for one game:
- The opportunity to be part of the team by sitting on the Blackhawks bench during pre-game warm-ups.
- (4) Close-to-the-action 100-Level seat tickets.
- (1) Blackhawks team autographed hockey stick.
- (1) Long-sleeve "Honorary Blackhawks Captain" T-shirt.
- (1) 8" x 10" commemorative photo, plus the winner's name and photo on the scoreboard.
- (1) Complimentary parking pass.

Enter online or mail a 3"x 5" card with child's name, child's age, guardian's name, guardian's daytime and evening phone, and guardian's complete address to Walgreens "Honorary Blackhawks Captain" Online Sweepstakes, c/o Chicago Blackhawks, 1901 W. Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60612.

Blackhawks to Trade for Bill Guerin?

According to the Ottawa Sun, the Chicago Blackhawks are believed to be interested in New York Islanders forward Bill Guerin.

Guerin, Doug Weight and Mike Comrie are all believed to be available for trade.

The Blackhawks have been looking for an offensive-minded top-six forward, but have been primarily focused on bringing in a second-line center.

The Sun also claims the Pittsburgh Penguins might have an interested in right wing Martin Havlat to play alongside Sidney Crosby.

Thanks to TFP.

Despite Back-to-Back Losses, Blackhawks Reviving Rivarly with the Red Wings

Although he plays for the Detroit Red Wings, defenseman Brett Lebda remains a Chicagoan through and through. Lebda grew up in suburban Buffalo Grove, Ill., rooting for the Cubs and the Blackhawks, and still lives in the area in the off-season.

At 26, Lebda is nowhere near old enough to remember the glory days of the Red Wings-Blackhawks rivalry, when players like Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull banged and battled at the old Chicago Stadium or at the Olympia in Detroit.

In Lebda’s rooting lifetime, the rivalry slipped along with the Blackhawks. From 1996-97 through 2007-8, while the Red Wings were winning four Stanley Cups and eight Central Division championships, the Blackhawks finished below .500 every season except two. But with the Blackhawks’ resurgence into a quality young team, the rivalry has regained some of its bite.

Chicago won five of the teams’ eight games last season. The Red Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup while the Blackhawks, slowed by injuries, missed the playoffs by 3 points despite their first winning record since 2001-2.

Detroit has won all four meetings this season, but the Blackhawks — who began the week with a franchise-record nine-game winning streak — made them work for it. Three times the Red Wings overcame a two-goal deficit, including in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on Thursday, when Detroit scored five consecutive goals in winning, 6-4, after Chicago grabbed a 3-1 lead in the first period.

That could not ease the disappointment of the Blackhawks’ captain, Jonathan Toews, or his teammates. “I think it was a pretty sinking feeling in the locker room,” he said.

But for Lebda, it meant much more. “Growing up a Blackhawks fan, deep down, I like to see Chicago hockey back on the map,” Lebda said. “And for us and Detroit, it’s a rivalry that’s been waiting, I think, to be rekindled. And now, because of their success, I think it has. This game just puts it that much more over the edge.”

The Blackhawks led the N.H.L. in attendance, averaging 21,552 at the United Center with 16 sellouts in 16 games, before 40,818 fans endured the 32-degree weather at Wrigley. Most wore Blackhawks garb and booed when Red Wings players walked from the first-base dugout to the rink in the middle of the field for warm-ups.

Two minutes into the game, in the kind of play that seasons a rivalry and energizes a crowd, Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook dumped Detroit’s Dan Cleary into the Chicago bench. That appeared to be retaliation for Cleary’s hit two days before in Detroit on Patrick Kane, the 2008 Calder Trophy winner, who injured his ankle. When Cleary scrambled back into play, the Wings were penalized for too many men on the ice.

Kane, 20, is a target because he leads the Blackhawks with 41 points, on 16 goals and 25 assists. Kane and Toews (9 goals, 20 assists), also 20, join the 22-year-old rookie Kris Versteeg (11 goals, 20 assists) and 27-year-old Patrick Sharp (19 goals, 12 assists) as the club’s offensive leaders. Toews and Kane were Chicago’s first-round picks in 2006 and 2007. The Blackhawks thought so much of Toews’s leadership that they named him the youngest captain in club history last summer.

After a 1-2-1 start that cost Denis Savard, a Blackhawks icon, his job as the coach, the club has thrived under the veteran Joel Quenneville. Kane, Toews and defenseman Brian Campbell lead the Western Conference All-Star voting at their positions.

The success has translated into merchandising dollars. Brian Jennings, the N.H.L.’s executive vice president for marketing, said he expected the Blackhawks to be among the top five clubs in apparel sales in the league’s latest quarterly report. And John Killen, the president of WinCraft, which manufactures all N.H.L.-licensed goods except apparel, said sales of Blackhawks merchandise had increased by 136 percent from last year and by 540 percent since 2004-5. The Blackhawks rank 12th among the N.H.L.’s 30 teams in sales, up from 18th last year, he said.

The on-ice product, though improved, is not where Quenneville and his players want it to be. Thursday’s loss was Chicago’s second to the Wings in three days. The Blackhawks could have tied Detroit for the division lead with two victories, but instead slipped 8 points back. The teams do not meet again until April, a home-and-home series the final weekend of the season.

With 47 points, Chicago entered the weekend ranked fourth in the conference behind San Jose, the Red Wings and Calgary. The losses, Quenneville said, illustrated how much work the young Blackhawks need to do.

Toews said: “I think last year we talked about the wins and the way we played against Detroit, and how we kind of snuck up on them a few times. I don’t think we can do that anymore.”

That rekindles a rivalry, too.

Thanks to Pat Borzi

2009 NHL Winter Classic "Field Sign" Hooded Sweatshirt

Reebok 2009 NHL Winter Classic "Field Sign" Hooded Sweatshirt

Show your support by wearing this Reebok(r) 2009 NHL(r) Winter Classic "Field Sign" hooded sweatshirt. It's made with a soft blend of cotton and polyester for long-lasting comfort and durability. The Wrigley Field sign with each competing team's name screen-printed on the chest. The historic Winter Classic event took place January 1, 2009 at Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Blackhawks played host to the Detroit Red Wings.

2009 Winter Classic Fan Pack

Wincraft NHL 2009 Winter Classic Fan Pack

Celebrate the 2009 Winter Classic with this officially licensed NHL(r) 2009 Winter Classic fan pack from WinCraft(tm). The fan pack includes a pennant, a reusable decal, and a domed puck. All three items are boldly emblazoned with the Winter Classic logo.

2009 NHL Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks Sub Zero Speedwick T-shirt

Reebok 2009 NHL Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks Sub Zero Speedwick T-shirt

The Reebok(r) 2009 NHL Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks Sub Zero Speedwick t-shirt made of polyester PlayDry(r) fabric, which offers exceptional moisture management properties that keep you cool and dry. It's decorated in the team colors and designed with the 2009 Winter Classic team logo screen-printed on the chest. The event took place January 1, 2009 at Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Blackhawks played host to the Detroit Red Wings.

2009 NHL Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks Youth Team Hooded Sweatshirt

Reebok 2009 NHL Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks Youth Team Hooded Sweatshirt

Get ready for the ultimate hockey showdown with this 2009 Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks youth team hooded sweatshirt from Reebok(r). The soft cotton/poly hooded sweatshirt is designed with a printed team graphic on the chest above the front pouch pocket and the 2009 Winter Classic logo printed on the left sleeve. The historic event took place January 1, 2009 at Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Blackhawks played host to the Detroit Red Wings.

Chicago Blackhawks Premier Winter Classic Jersey

Rbk Chicago Blackhawks Premier Winter Classic Jersey (Blank or Customized)

Whether you leave it blank or customize it, this Rbk(r) Chicago Blackhawks Premier Winter Classic jersey is the perfect way to support your favorite team! It's made of Air Knit(r) polyester fabric and has solid mesh inserts for ventilation. The front crest is embroidered just like the authentic jersey and the layered-twill team graphics, or your personalized name and number are proudly displayed on the chest and back.

Jonathan Toews Premier 2009 Winter Classic Chicago Blackhawks Jersey

Rbk Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews Premier 2009 Winter Classic Jersey

The Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews Rbk(r) Premier Winter Classic jersey is made of patented Air Knit(r) polyester fabric and has solid mesh inserts for ventilation. The front crest is embroidered just like the authentic jersey, and the chest and back boast official layered-twill player and team graphics.

Chicago Blackhawks Youth Premier Winter Classic Jersey

Rbk Chicago Blackhawks Youth Premier Winter Classic Jersey (Blank or Customized)
Whether you leave it blank or customize it, this Rbk(r) Chicago Blackhawks youth Premier Winter Classic jersey is the perfect way to support your favorite team! It's made of Air Knit(r) polyester fabric and has solid mesh inserts for ventilation. The front crest is embroidered just like the authentic jersey and the layered-twill team graphics.

William Peterson Returned to His Hometown of Chicago to Support the Blackhawks at the Winter Classic

William Peterson, Gil Grissom on C.S.I., Returns to Chicago to Support His Hometown Blackhawks at the NHL Winter Classic.

Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumkins Supporting the Blackhawks at the Winter Classic

Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumkins Supporting the Blackhawks at the NHL Winter Classic.

Vince Vaugh Supports the Blackhawks at the Winter Classic

Vince Vaughn at the Winter Classic Supporting the Blackhawks and Posing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman

Knetgolf 20% Off Code

20 percent off everything at Knetgolf.com - simply use coupon code 2009 at the checkout to redeem instant savings!

Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Brian Cambell of the Blackhawks All Voted All-Star Starters

Three Blackhawks are set to be Western Conference starters Jan. 25 in the 57th NHL All-Star Game in Montreal.

When fan voting closed at 7:59 p.m. Friday, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were leading the voting among forwards and Brian Campbell topped defensemen. The official announcement with final totals will be made Saturday.

Kane and Toews, the Hawks' second-year standouts, led forwards with nearly 908,000 and 800,000 votes, respectively. It would be the first appearance for each player.

Campbell had more than 775,000 votes to lead defensemen, and it would be his third appearance after twice making the team with the Buffalo Sabres.

Winter Classic Ratings Up 12%, Largest NHL Rating in Over 12 Years

The Detroit Red Wings’ 6-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field topped last year’s National Hockey League outdoor game by 12 percent in preliminary television ratings.

The game at the home of baseball’s Chicago Cubs was the third annual outdoor contest and had an overnight rating of 2.9, according to Nielsen Media Research. That tops the 2.6 rating for last year’s match in snowy Buffalo, New York, between the Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins, which had the biggest television audience for an NHL game since 1996.

Yesterday’s game, which was broadcast on General Electric Co.’s NBC network, drew a sellout crowd of 40,818 to the 95- year-old ballpark on the Chicago’s north side. While there was no snow this year, the game-time temperature was about 31 degrees Fahrenheit (-0.5 Celsius), leading many players to wear ski-mask style headwear under their helmets.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the game. They outshot the Blackhawks 43-37 and have won all four meetings between the teams this season.

Ratings points are the percentage of the estimated 111.3 million U.S. households with televisions that watched the broadcast. Preliminary local ratings were 11.8 in Chicago and 10.5 in Detroit, according to Nielsen data.

Overnight ratings measure the number of viewers in the biggest U.S. cities. Final ratings include numbers from smaller television markets.

Thanks to Gene Laverty

Derrick Rose Named Rooke of the Month Again!

The Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, for games played in December.

Rose ranked second among rookies in scoring for the month of December (16.3 ppg), first in assists (6.2 apg) and second in minutes (37.3 mpg). The first-year guard led the Bulls in assists in 12 of their 15 games for the month and tallied double-figure scoring efforts in all but one contest.

Rose became just the fifth rookie in Bulls history (joining Kirk Hinrich, Michael Jordan, Reggie Theus and Jay Williams) to record a 20-point, 13-assist game when he accomplished the feat on Dec. 29 at New Jersey.

Some highlights of the month for Rose:

• Dec. 2 vs. Philadelphia: Tallied 24 points, six rebounds and two assists in a 103-95 loss to the 76ers. 
  
• Dec. 12 @ Memphis: Recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 assists in a 103-96 loss to the Grizzlies. 
  
• Dec. 13 vs. New Jersey: Posted 26 points, six rebounds and six assists in Chicago's 113-104 win over the Nets. 
  
• Dec. 29 @ New Jersey: Registered 21 points and a career-high 13 assists in a 100-87 win over the Nets.
  

Blackhawks to Open Next Season in Prague, Czech Republic

The Chicago Blackhawks were on display on a North American stage for the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. Next season, they look to go global. Hawks Team President John McDonough revealed during Thursday's game that the NHL has invited the Hawks to open the 2009-10 season by playing games in Europe, according to the Chicago Tribune.

McDonough said, "nothing has been finalized, we'll know sometime in the near future," but a source said the Hawks would play in Prague, Czech Republic, likely against the Florida Panthers.

The Hawks have played in Europe before, when they took on the Montreal Canadiens in two preseason games in London in 1992.

The New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning opened this season with two games in Prague, while the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins faced off in Stockholm, Sweden.

Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide

Eat all of your favorite supermarket foods—and watch the pounds disappear

You can burn fat and sculpt the body you’ve always wanted—and even save money in the process—without dieting. All you need is the insider’s guide to smart, healthy, low-cost food choices. And now, the right choices are simple!

From the produce section to the frozen-food aisle, the modern supermarket is loaded with 50,000 food choices, all vying for your hard-earned money. No wonder it’s hard to know what to buy. But with Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide, the smart answers are right in your hands. No more fake “healthy” foods. No more rip-off supermarket “bargains.” No more disappointing meals. And most important of all, no more extra pounds!

Did you know:

• A cup of Quaker 100% Natural Granola Oats, Honey, and Raisins contains more calories than 8 chicken wings? (Save 280 calories a day by switching to our preferred choice.)
• Choosing Rice Krispies Treats over Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars will cut your sugar and calorie intake nearly in half? (With this switch, you could lose a pound every 7 weeks!)
• Regular bacon is actually better for you than turkey bacon? (Find other deceptive “healthy” foods and the delicious ones you should be eating instead inside.)

With this simple illustrated guide to thousands of foods—along with the nutrition secrets that lead to fast and permanent weight loss—you’ll make the smartest choice for you and your family, every time!

MMA to Collide with NASCAR During Daytona 500 Weekend

For the first time in history, a mixed martial arts event will be held in conjunction with a major motorsports event. Racing fans and mixed martial arts fans will gather together for the 'Rumble in Race Town', presented by Xtreme Cage Fighting on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center.

The promoter of the event, Doug Bland, has over 13 years of motorsports marketing experience along with a reputation of putting together some of the best fight cards in mixed martial arts. For this highly anticipated event, Bland has put together a fight card that will feature former UFC fighters, a former NFL football player and several of the best mixed martial arts fighters in America.

'We are very excited to bring the incredible sport of mixed martial arts to Daytona during the weekend of the 500,' says Bland. 'The reaction of the drivers I have spoken to about the event has been absolutely phenomenal, and we are looking forward to putting on a great show for the drivers and the mixed martial arts fans in Florida.'

The Rumble in Race Town marks the thirty year anniversary of another well known fist fight that took place during the Daytona 500 on turn number 3 between the Allison brothers and Cale Yarbrough. This brawl helped make NASCAR attractive to the television networks and forever changed the way the sport is accepted in America. With mixed martial arts becoming the fastest growing sport in the world, Xtreme Cage Fighting is now on the front lines in accelerating its popularity.

'By pairing mixed martial arts together with the most prestigious race in motorsports, it allows Xtreme Cage Fighting the opportunity to present this upcoming sport to the 200,000 racing fans that will be in Daytona,' says Bland.

The Daytona 500 has produced some of the most memorable events in NASCAR history, and it is the hope of Doug Bland that the Rumble in Race Town will be historical as well.

Tickets for the DynaPep Rumble in Race Town range from $30 to $100.