By Paul M. Banks

From watching the MSM these past couple days, it appears finances and economics are on everybody’s mind right now. Well, I have a business proposition to create wealth and jobs (at least locally): a second NFL team. As I’ll show you, consumer demand is in a state perfect for a second team.

Expansion Theory

Baseball may be “America’s Pasttime,” but the National Football League is its passion; doing bigger television ratings numbers and earning larger revenue streams than any other sports. In a Harris sports poll done in 2008, the NFL was the favorite sport of nearly as many people (30 percent) as the combined total of the next four professional sports – baseball (fifteen percent), auto racing (ten percent), hockey (five percent) and men’s pro basketball (four percent). The NFL has 32 teams, the rest of the major sports leagues have 30. However, since it is doing the best business, it is also the league most likely to expand. Eight years down the line could be the perfect time. The league last expanded in 2002 (Houston Texans) and 1999 (second Cleveland Browns franchise) Los Angeles could have a franchise again and that would keep the total number of teams even. Chicago currently supports two baseball franchises that maintain a spirited and profitable rivalry. The Bears 2008 marketing campaign plays off this rivalry and their advantageous position as being the only football game in town with their “One City. One Team.” slogan. It’s time for competition.

Money Talks

Last season, a director in a Fortune 500 Accounting Firm friend of mine gave me a free “mid-level” ticket to a Bears-Cowboys game. This was printed on the ticket:

Ticket Price: $93.69
Taxes: $10.31
Club Privileges fee: $131.00
TOTAL:      $235.00

Remember these Cadillac Club tickets are still mid-level. Imagine what you get for the $330 face value tickets! With the “club privileges fee,” the $100 that it costs JUST TO GET ON the season ticket WAITING LIST, the simple existence of “Public Seat Licenses” that go for thousands and thousands of dollars, and the very fact that the NFL can get away with charging $95 for a preseason game, (Seriously, the Caleb Hanie-to-Brandon Rideau passing connection is not exactly Montana-to-Rice and isn’t worthy of paying almost a C-Note!) it’s clear that demand for professional football in Chicago is off-the-charts! You can try and blame the Bears for being greedy, but you shouldn’t. Fault for this absurd price inflation lies in the so-called “free-market.” I learned in MBA school about demand equilibrium; and the market here is WAY out of equilibrium. You don’t need to be John Kenneth Galbraith or have fancy Wall Street type graphs to see how consumer demand is crying out for us to return to the days when we had two football teams.

The Chicago Cardinals played in Comiskey Park from 1922-1959. Since moving on to St. Louis and later Arizona, they have yet to host another playoff game and they have not come even remotely close to contending for another championship; last winning one here in 1947. Perhaps the decline of their franchise since they left town is more evidence that another NFL team is destined to be here? Obtaining an expansion team charter is a more likely scenario than bringing the Cardinals back home. Building a new permanent stadium for 2016 would go a long way towards granting this wish. Of course, if/when that happens, the Bears will still come first in this town!

You could say that every market is a “bear market”

By Paul M. Banks

Actor Chris Williams (not to be confused with Chicago Bears 2008 1st Round Draft Pick out of Vanderbilt) is likely best known as the “Krazee-Eyez Killa” character on Curb Your Enthusiasm. He has made appearances on numerous television shows including CSI, JAG, The Shield, Weeds, and Reno 911! and also played a member of the “Average Joe’s” team in the hit sports comed “Dodgeball.” He is the brother of famous recording artist and former beauty pageant winner Vanessa L. Williams. In this interview we discuss numerous topics including: Chicago, the Cubs-Sox rivalry and pennant race, breaking into the biz, as well as all his current and past projects. You can learn more about Williams by clicking on his homepage here. 
 

Exclusive Audio with Chris Williams

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Pictured with WMAQ’s Natalie Martinez, former Bear Jerry Azumah and national media figure Richard Roeper

 

By Paul M. Banks

National media figure Richard Roeper is undoubtedly one of the most successful individuals that my home region (the far south suburbs of Chicago) has ever produced. Roeper, who was raised in Dolton, Illinois, has an extensive biography of achievement; best summarized by this excerpt from his wikipedia.org entry: “Roeper began working as a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1987. The topics of his columns range from politics to media to entertainment, and he has written books on film criticism and urban myths, as well as a book about the Chicago White Sox. Roeper was a radio host on WLS AM 890 in Chicago. He also hosted shows on WLUP-FM, WLS-FM and WMVP-AM in Chicago. He won three Emmy awards for his news commentaries on Fox in the 1990s, and was the film critic for CBS in Chicago for three years in the early 2000s. He was bestowed with the National Headliner Award as the top newspaper columnist in the country in 1992, and has been voted best columnist in Illinois on numerous occasions. His columns have been syndicated by the New York Times to publications around the world.

Roeper has been a frequent guest on the Tonight Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, The O’Reilly Factor, the Today Show and countless other national programs. He is the host of Starz Inside, a monthly documentary series airing on the Starz Network since the fall of 2007. Among Roeper’s magazine byline credits: TV Guide, Playboy, Maxim, the late Spy magazine, Reader’s Digest, Entertainment Weekly and Chicago magazine. He was once voted one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Bachelors.”

His Wikipedia page also lists the seven books that he has written. “Sox and the City” is to the White Sox and their fans what Bill Simmons of ESPN’s “Now I can die in Piece” is to Boston Red Sox Nation.

• He Rents, She Rents: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Women’s Films and Guy Movies, with Laurie Viera (1999)
• Hollywood Urban Legends: The Truth Behind All Those Delightfully(Weeee!) Persistent Myths of Films, Television, and Music (2001)
• Urban Legends: The Truth Behind All Those Deliciously Entertaining Myths That Are Absolutely, Positively, 100% Not True (2001)
• Ten Sure Signs a Movie Character is Doomed, and Other Surprising Movie Lists (2003)
• Schlock Value: Hollywood at Its Worst (2005)
• Sox and the City: A Fan’s Love Affair with the White Sox from the Heartbreak of ’67 to the Wizards of Oz (2006)
• Debunked!: Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends, and Evil Plots of the 21st Century (2008) 

 

I had an exclusive conversation with him right before he hosted and participated in the “Aces UP!” Celebrity Poker tournament benefiting the Urban Prep Academy, Chicago’s only all-boys public charter high school.
  Listen here for my Exclusive with Richard Roeper 

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Roeper with former Chicago Bear Jerry Azumah, NBC5′s Natalie Martinez, and Actor Chris Williams

By Paul M. Banks, Soxman, Rikki Greenberg

SOXMAN

From America’s Past-times to My Fellow Americans

They can be heroes rising to victory in high-pressure situations and they can lead when their team needs guidance.  So who’s to say sports figures couldn’t effectively assume the two top positions in the United States of America?

The purpose of this article was for all writers to choose one duo who we could see assuming the oval office.  As Soxman has never been a conformist, and always tries to deliver more, you’re going to get my top five options:

5) Bill Belichick & Tom Brady

This has all the makings of a dream team does it not?  The crafty elder, commanding the conservative vote, combined with the GQ youngster, who understands the needs of the youth of America.  Several males vote for Brady just to see his “super model wife” at various debates.  The candidates even have scandal.  Brady, a child out of wedlock, and Belichick, secret illegal recordings surface that draw comparisons to Richard Nixon.  Belichick withdraws claiming “I am not a crook.  Next Question.” This dream ticket never makes it past the primaries.

4) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney

This could be the argument of the century as to why a sports figure would/ would not make a good president.  A former owner of the Texas Rangers, combined with a Houston Oiler, or oilman that is.  They also are rumored to be huge fans of the Cleveland Football Team.  “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.”  Practicing only the blitz defense, and getting frequent penalty calls for attacking before the whistle.  Hmmm.

3) Mike Ditka

Would it really matter who his running mate was?  Daaaaaa President.  Election results according to Da Super Fans: Ditka receives every vote in the United States…until he trades away all party support to make Ricky Williams his number one pick for VP.  Williams loses the election promising to legalize marijuana, but not to inhale.

2) Michael Jordan & Phil Jackson

Would employ a triangle strategy to win the election.  They immediately re-peat for a second term, but Jackson promptly resigns to take a spiritual motorcycle trip in the mountains.

1)     Soxman and Batboy

As this has been mentioned several times by fans on this site, I’d be remiss, if I didn’t even at least address it.  As my first act as president, I’d establish a Secretary for World Environmental Affairs and appoint Paul M. Banks to the position.  Paul would call on all Americans to post ideas on ways to run the country on thesportsbank.net, and would resign after six months, becoming a multi-millionaire from advertising revenue.  He’d then request that I appoint him as the ambassador to any Asian country and would change his last name to Juice.

PAUL M. BANKS

Ozzie Guillen/Freddy Garcia ‘12

Mine is Ozzie. I can’t wait to interview him again.  I know his off-the-record media activities are even more entertaining than what he says on the record and it creates more ‘cocktail party stories” than the collection of insane women I’ve seemed to attract since (and during) graduate school. You might think he’s crazy, and therefore I am as well, for picking him, but to quote Billy Joel “it just might be a lunatic you’re looking for.”

The last couple weeks have taught me that we’re ready for Ozzie. One of McCain’s top advisers actually said “this election is not about issues” and no one seemed to care or bat an eyelash. Even worse they actually took over the lead in most polls right after this occurred. It’s crystal clear now that logic, reasoning, qualifications, experience and rationality have no value among the electorate and are not in any way shape or form part of the screening process to be president. Sarah Palin only verifies these facts further.

Enter Oz. His over-the-top machismo is what we need to guide our country against the “horsesh@#” people who hate America. Anyone who calls out the universally despised Jay Mariotti is certainly ready to confront the K Street lobbyists and Political Action Committee money that owns D.C. Plus, it would be great to try and see all his handlers and spin-masters try to contain and repackage him. The irresistible force versus the immovable object would play out on a national stage at press events every day.

His buddy and countryman Freddy Garcia could be his running mate. I’ve seen these two out on the town; they seem to get along and work well together. And of course, we’d have to amend the constitution for this to even be possible, but it would be worth it for the new and better relations we would have with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

Guillen/Garcia ’12!

“The f%^ing changes we f&*ing need to reform this horses%$t system!”    “I’m Ozzie f***ing Guillen and I f***ing approve this message.”

RIKKI GREENBERG

I vote Bucs head coach Jon Gruden because he is a fiery little red head (well strawberry blond) with the temper to match. I love it when his face gets all red and the nose starts scrunching because he’s so pissed off. I think the White House could benefit from such a passionate man who resembles Chucky from the Child’s Play movies. Gruden is a coach who loves to yell into the headset even though the people up in the booth can probably hear him just fine at a normal tone. When Gruden disapproves of a bill, he could yell, “VETO! I SAID VETO!!” and the point would get across. I am also picking Warren Sapp for his running mate. With Sapp’s charm and outspoken nature combined with Gruden’s emotional vigor, I don’t see any other choice. Gruden/Sapp 2012!!

By David K. and Peter Christian

PETER CHRISTIAN:

Taking out the obvious choices (such as former athletes and coaches that have already entered the political arena) like Tom Osborne, Steve Largent and Heath Shuler, there is a rather short list of sports figures that I would put my support behind. That list includes Curt Schilling, Billy Beane, Mark Cuban, Pete Carroll and Peyton Manning. Each has had success as a leader and had the gumption to stand up to critics and continually prove them wrong. Additionally each potential candidate has endured and recovered from adversity.

So how do you narrow down the list?

First, we can guess who each man would select as a running mate. Schilling would need an everyman that would be able to step in and calm the nation’s emotions when Schilling spouted his mouth off at the wrong time or to the wrong world leader, plus he would have to be a crowd favorite as Schilling himself is something of a polarizing figure (understatement of the year). Curt Schilling would select Kevin Millar as his running mate and the fact that they have already won together definitely means something to both the Red Sox Nation and to me, they remain on the list.

Billy Beane on the other hand would go with an up and comer, someone he can groom to be what he wants. He’s had success in the past following that formula while running the Oakland A’s, why would he stop now? Plus he would want someone that he could get on his ticket that has the ability to offer more than what their advertised price tag shows, but could be at the same time expendable. Ultimately Billy would decide to have multiple V.P.’s on his ticket and go with the one that has the most success in clutch situations. J.P. Riccardi, Paul DePodesta, Nick Swisher and Bill James would all make appearances. Beane’s lack of top line success and inability to stick with one running mate removes him from the list.

Mark Cuban would be the enigma of the list. He, along with Billy Beane, are the only two not to have won a championship but his multi-faceted success more than makes up for his lack of a ring. However, Cuban may be hesitant to let someone get close enough to his power to be considered his Vice President. He has always been a lone leader and has become very accomplished by doing so. After much begging and pleading, Cuban would reluctantly name a V.P. His choice of Ron Artest over other potential suitors such as Michael Jordan and Dr. Phil (he was a trainer before becoming a TV shrink) shocks people but is quickly regarded as the most volatile ticket in U.S. history and would definitely pave the way for some change.

Pete Carroll has come a long way since his disappointing stint as an NFL Head Coach. He is always considered among the elite of the NCAA coaches and has led his USC Trojans to two national championships while leading some of the best talent in all of college football. His ability to manage such high profile players would make him a great choice to be Commander in Chief, but the choice of Matt Leinart as his running mate ends up being his undoing.

Peyton Manning has the charisma and the raw talent to lead us to the Promised Land while under pressure. However, it has been proven that Peyton needs great people around him to succeed. Peyton’s choices for a VP seem endless as he could go with someone like Tony Dungy (mentor type), Tom Brady (peer with a great resume), his dad Archie (because he loves him) or his brother Eli (so he can string him along a bit longer). His decision to select his former college coach Phillip Fulmer (because he looks kind of like Fred Thompson, and he was actually a candidate) angers the NFL, the Colt organization and the Manning Family. Peyton drops out of the race.

The showdown between the Cuban/Artest ticket and the Schilling/Millar ticket is a heated one as there is a divisive choice between winning and change. At the end of the day, knowing what it takes to get to the top pushes Schilling/Millar over the top.

DAVID K.

Thompson/Cuban in ’12… YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

Presidential Candidate: Ted Thompson, Green Bay Packers General Manager

Thompson’s resume speaks for itself.  He has taken the Packer franchise through a successful transformation, turning a 4-12 team in 2006 to 13-3 and one quarter away from the Super Bowl just two seasons later.  But what really sets Thompson apart from any other potential candidates is his ability to do what is the right choice, but not necessarily the popular one.  This can be perfectly demonstrated by this summer’s crisis in Green Bay.

When Brett Favre decided to scratch his itch, Thompson didn’t waver on his beliefs and made what he felt was the decision best suited for his franchise, keeping his commitment to Aaron Rodgers.  Though it was by no means popular move within the majority of Packer Backers, Thompson did what no other general manager would have likely had the guts to do: trade the iconic Favre.  He also stuck to his guns by not releasing the future Hall of Famer or trading him to a divisional rival -despite Favre’s wishes- like a President refusing to negotiate with a terrorist.  (Okay, that might be a little bit of a stretch, but you get the point.)

In taking over a 2005 team well over the salary cap and bringing them to a great financial situation just three years later, Thompson has also shown the economic whereabouts to turn around these troubling times in the U.S.  He has a history of not over-spending on aging free agents and is known for rewarding players who come to work everyday, play hard, and show loyalty to his team.

Plus, as displayed by the whole Favre ordeal, Thompson has a definite sliminess about him that seems fitting for a Presidential candidate.

VP Candidate: Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner

To offset Thompson’s boring blandness, his running mate must be more personable for the voting population.  Who better to bring that trait to the ticket that the people’s owner, passionate fan, not afraid to speak his mind, Mark Cuban?  He’s got the financial backing to not only fund the campaign, but pretty much buy the electorate as well.

Cuban is living the All-American dream, turning an up-start company into a multi-billion dollar corporation.  Like Thompson, Cuban has a track record of turning around a struggling franchise.  When he purchased a majority stake of the Mavericks, Dallas went from a NBA team struggling through years of mediocrity, to a year-in and year-out championship contender.

He is very out-spoken and not afraid to express his unhappiness or make a change when things aren’t going as expected.  (Although sometimes those moves don’t always pan out, i.e. last season’s trade for Jason Kidd.)  Cuban has the ability to capture the hearts and minds of the people and would make a perfect compliment to Thompson.

By Soxman

It was a great comeback in Week II as the Gridiron Grinders beat their opponents 83-60 to even their record at 1-1.  While I’ll take the win, I still believe my team is underperforming and will improve as we proceed into week III.

Meanwhile, I also improved to 2-0 in my league featuring individual defensive players, being paced by the continued fantasy performance of Donovan McNabb (34 pts) and Calvin Johnson (31 pts).

So as we are now into the third week of the fantasy football season, here are the top five fantasy performers at each position this far.

Quarterbacks

Jay Cutler (650 yards, 6 TDs)
Phillip Rivers (594 yards, 6 TDs)
Aaron Rodgers (Brett who?)
Donovan McNabb
Tony Romo

Running Backs

Brian Westbrook (3 rush TDs, 2 reception TDs)
Marion Barber
Willie Parker
Michael Turner
Adrian Peterson

Wide Receivers

Anquan Bolden
Calvin Johnson
Santana Moss
Terrell Owens
Eddie Royal (what did I tell you about this guy?)

Tight End

Tony Scheffler
Jason Witten
Antonio Gates
Kellen Winslow
Dante Rosario (really dropped off in week II so buyer beware).

Kicker

Ryan Longwell
John Nedney
John Kasay
John Carney
Davis Akers

Other Notes:

Issac Bruce (49ers):  Remember him?  The long-time Ram was the third best receiver in week 2, catching 4 passes for 153 yards and a touch down.  I should have started him over Bernard “Bust” Berrian.

Gus Frerotte: will not be temporarily replacing Tarvaris Jackson, and remain the starter for the rest of the season according to John Clayton of ESPN.  Hopefully YOUR team was counting on Jackson as a starter.  Seriously though, deeper league owners who lost Tom Brady might want to look at Frerotte.  He threw for over 1000 yards with 7 TDs in 8 games last year with the Rams.

Joseph Addai has just 64 yards on 27 carries (2.4 YPC) and 1 TD so far this year.  Don’t push the panic button yet, but perhaps fantasy owners saw something I didn’t in letting him drop to the 10th draft spot.

LaDainian Tomlinson sat out practice on Wednesday.  Turf Toe has limited the fantasy champion to just 123 yards and no touchdowns this season.  This is LT we are talking about here; he’s started out slow in the past.  Stick with him.

Randy Moss should have a big week against Miami. The Dolphins were lit up by the Cardinals receiving corps and their defense currently ranks last in yards per pass play.  If Moss does not heat it up this week, it might be a good time to begin exploring “sell high” options.

Courtney Taylor could be an interesting sleeper at WR3for a one-week fix.  He’s currently ranked as the #1 receiver in Seattle.  However, after a bye in week 4 Bobby Engram and Deion Branch should be back.  If not, it might be a good idea to draft Jason Moe and Paul M. Banks (two legends in SICA high school football) as Seattle is exploring the chance to sign anyone who can catch a pass.

Now might be a good time to start exploring trading Larry Johnson.  KC is starting to run goal-line drills without him at RB.

Willis McGahee owners take note: the Ravens will employee a running back by committee option for the foreseeable future.

The favorite red-zone target of Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, is expected to return this weekend.  Get him active if you own him.

Rookie Owner Advice for the Week

Team Defenses and Special Teams

One early thing to watch out is the emergence of a quality point producer at the defense and special teams’ position.  A common mistake made by many owners is holding onto a team based on their reputation, without looking at the team’s total situation, and then not grabbing a team that is clearly emerging as a juggernaut.

A perfect example of this is the 2007 Baltimore Ravens.  Not only were they aging, their offense was awful and forced them to be on the field more frequently, thus increasing the likelihood of yardage and points being surrendered.

The Tennessee Titans are the perfect example of a 2008 Team Defense that owners shied away from, only to have some brave owner pick them up and look like a genius.

To the flipside, many owners began dumping Seattle and San Diego for the reasons I stated above.  I think both teams will come back.  Seattle has 4 players from their defense on suspension until week 5.  Additionally, their 1-2 receivers should be back soon and increase the power of their offense.

Finally, rather than wasting a roster spot with two defense and special team units, consider filling your bye week with “situational” replacements.  This is a unit that will be playing in extremely windy or snowy conditions, increasing the likelihood of fumbles or interceptions.

Well that’s it for this week.  Keep moving the chains and focusing on positive gains.

SM