Illinois

Spring is almost here-though you wouldn't know if you're a Chicago resident-and that means it's time for meaningless baseball games held thousands of miles away. The Cubs and White Sox kicked off their first week of Cactus League play by combining for six losses. Fortunately, the two teams faced off Sunday at HoHoKamPark in Mesa, Ariz., ensuring that one Chicago team would finally come away with a win.

Quick to hire deposed Cubs skipper Dusty Baker over the winter, ESPN was just as swift to cut ties with the former three-time NL Manager of the Year Thursday, canning him after only one-hour on the job.

A wildfire of speculation spread yesterday after an Internet rumor infamous billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was preparing a bid to buy the Cubs. Cuban quickly denied the rumor, but Cubs brass has decided to play it safe just in case a new owner takes control.

When rookie Thabo Sefolosha heard Scott Skiles mispronounce his name and tell him to get in the game with more than 30 minutes left, the entire crowd at the United Center knew the game was in the Bulls' hands.

Since losing Super Bowl XLI, Bears fans have been clamoring for the team to give head coach Lovie Smith a contract extension. General manager Jerry Angelo's compensation was also not appropriate for the leader of a Super Bowl team. The Bears were taking a beating in the papers, being labeled as a cheap, second-class team. Wednesday they ponied up. Sort of.

Major League Baseball's Veterans Committee proved inept and worthless once again Tuesday, failing to elect a single member to the Hall of Fame for the third straight time. Denied once more was Cubs legend Ron Santo, who came up five agonizing votes shy of Cooperstown enshrinement. Santo will have to wait until 2009 to have his heart ripped out and stomped on again by the committee.

Even though Juan Uribe has averaged 20 home runs and 70 RBI in his three seasons with the White Sox, he's never felt truly accepted by fans. Until this year.