SB Nation Front Page

Your Thursday Sports TV Schedule

The Cubs and Sox are both off today, but there’s football on TV. Lots of football, including the Bears’ final preseason game.

6 pm, MLB Network: Mets at Braves.

6 pm, NFL Network: NFL exhibition, Patriots at Giants.

6:30 pm, Big Ten Network: College football, Towson at Indiana.

7 pm, Fox-32: NFL exhibition, Bears at Browns.

7 pm, CSN Chicago: College football, Northern Illinois at Iowa State.

9 pm, NFL Network: NFL exhibition, Redskins at Cardinals.

10 pm, ESPN: College football, USC at Hawaii.

Midnight, NFL Network: NFL exhibition, Chargers at 49ers (tape delay)

0 comments

by Al Yellon • Sep 2, 2010 7:42 AM CDT

Jay Cutler Has A Girlfriend

So says Radar Online:

The Hills beauty Kristin Cavallari is following a long line of Hollywood stars to date pro-football players after recently being spotted with the talented Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

“They are at the early stages of dating,” a source close to Jay confirmed exclusively to RadarOnline.com.

Now, I am not familiar with The Hills and apparently, neither is Tribune Cubs beat writer Paul Sullivan, who tweeted this yesterday about Jay and his new squeeze:

Ellie Mae, Granny or Miss Hathaway? RT @Bill80 Bears’ Jay Cutler linked to ‘Hills’ starlet.

Me, I think it’d have to be Miss Hathaway for Jay. (He’d surely choose Ellie Mae, though.)

0 comments

by Al Yellon • Sep 1, 2010 6:21 PM CDT

Niemi Says Yes To The Sharks: Now Official

Do you know the way to San Jose? Apparently, former Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi does. And, if he doesn't, someone better tell him.

The 27-year-old Niemi, who manned the net for the 2009-2010 Stanley Cup champions, will reportedly be wearing teal this season as, according to a league source, he's agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Sharks. (Source.) The Blackhawks will visit San Jose to face the Sharks for the first time on Wednesday, Nov. 24.

UPDATE: The signing is now official, per the Chicago Tribune's Chris Kuc.

0 comments

by David Miller • Sep 1, 2010 3:36 PM CDT

Unbeknownst To Many, The Big Unit Returned To Chicago This Summer

Randy Johnson, better known to many baseball fans as "The Big Unit," was among the most dominating pitchers of his era. In 21 seasons in the majors, Johnson won 303 games, five Cy Young awards (including four in a row from 1999-2002) and was named an All-Star 10 times. He garnered a World Series ring with the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks.

When he retired after an injury-shortened 2009 season, most Chicago baseball fans were happy to bid him adieu. His numbers against the Cubs are legendary. In 14 games started, Johnson was an eyelash-short-of-perfect 13-0 with a 1.91 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 103.2 innings pitched (12.4 K/9). The White Sox didn't fare much better: In 20 starts against the South Siders, The Big Unit put up a 12-4 record with a 3.08 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 137.1 innings pitched (10.74 K/9).

Unbeknownst to many, the Big Unit returned to Chicago this summer. But, instead of using his freakishly long left arm to baffle and intimidate opposing batters, he was using his keen eye for detail and (presumably) right index finger to photograph the rock group Soundgarden as they played a much-ballyhooed reunion show at the Lollapalooza Festival in Grant Park last month.

In this Spin Magazine online piece, Randy shows off his fave shots and reminisces about his lengthy relationship with the Seattle-based band as well as his lifelong love of rock 'n roll. On whether he ever considered being a rocker rather than a hurler, the Big Unit opines:

I enjoyed music but didn't have the niche to play guitar or drums, but I had the niche to throw a fastball, you know what I mean?"

Yeah, Randy, we do.

0 comments

by David Miller • Sep 1, 2010 12:30 PM CDT