Illinois

The Blackhawks have dropped three straight, two of them in overtime. The lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a shootout on Valentine's Day then dropped both of their weekend games, one against Vancouver and the other the N.Y. Rangers.

Days after Alex Rodriguez said he and Yankee teammate Derek Jeter are no longer best friends, word has leaked out of the Cubs locker room that Mark Prior and Kerry Wood are no longer "bestest buddies in the whole wide world."

New Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano's mood turned from jovial to sour yesterday when his first paycheck from the team bounced at a local Fifth Third Bank. The check, filled out for a hefty $325,000, was returned due to insufficient funds in the Tribune bank account.

Well Bulls fans, it's that time of year again. With the first half of the 2007 Bulls season in the books, we here at The Heckler wish to take a minute to look back on the highs and lows of the first half, and prepare ourselves for the grueling conclusion of the season. So feign some interest and let's examine what went right and what went oh-so-wrong with the Bulls.

Couldn't keep up with the ticker during the clip? Here it is.

Everyone is scared of something. Heights, spiders, hard work, commitment, mutant robots, water, carnies, progress, Alan Thicke-there is something that cuts to everyone's very core. Apparently the Bulls' biggest fear is the unnatural phenomenon that is Adam Morrison's mustache.

Cubs pitchers and catchers reported to Mesa Wednesday, attempting to get in shape for the grueling MLB season. While the pitching staff will use spring training to jockey for spots in the starting rotation, define roles in the bullpen, and get accustomed to a new manager, one battle has already begun--the quest for possession of the coveted remote control of the training room television.