Region

The Cubs couldn't seal the deal on the first-ever sweep of the Cardinals at new Busch Stadium, but the weekend wasn't a total wash, at least in the eyes of National League general managers.

Despite their best efforts to drop game number 33 of the season, the North Siders prevailed 5-4 against the Cardinals—more than five hours after Friday night's first pitch.

A key addition to the team in the off-season, White Sox slugger Jim Thome has been even better than advertised. A prodigious hitter, Thome is known as one of the nicest guys in the league. His 2006 is off to a blazing start too, helping the Sox in their title defense.

A pair of frustrating losses Thursday night left two of Chicago's pro sports teams wondering what could have been. For the Bulls, the end came after a roller coaster year that bottomed out for good after the Miami Heat knocked them out of the playoffs' first round. For the Cubs, the end came just one month into the season.

A daily baseball columnist for ESPN.com, Rob Neyer has written five books, including his Big Book of Baseball Blunders, which hits shelves this month. The Heckler talked with Neyer about Chicago's GMs and his World Series predictions.

Well, I lost 10 large betting that less than $25 million of the Cubs payroll would hit the disabled list before Ken Griffey Jr., but you don't win championships in April and you don't make fortunes then either. Rafael Furcal should have his probation revoked for costing me that sort of cash. A successful May will put us on the road to recovery and back in the good graces of our local bookies. Here are Pete's picks for this month:

Mike North is the classic rags to riches story. After dropping out of high school, he joined the army and worked odd jobs before opening a successful hot dog stand across the street from WXRT-FM. Being in the right place at the right time, he parlayed an opportunity and joined sports radio station WSCR-AM. North has become the most controversial and one of the best-paid sports talk show hosts in town. Admittedly unpolished, his regular guy persona as gained him a loyal audience and his share of critics. In this interview, North reacts to those who call him racist and talks about finding happiness in a Cubs loss.