DES MOINES—***A big weekend starts here in Iowa’s Capital City with the return of Arena Football tonight. The Chicago Rush,which started play in 2001 plays the Iowa Barnstormers (broadcast at 7pm CDT on arenarush.com) who were Kurt Warner’s team when he played Arenaball before landing with the Rams to start a Hall of Fame career. It’s pretty neat for me to be back doing Arena Football since I not only called Chicago Bruisers games from 1987(the League’s first season)through 1989,but I also did the first ever game in League history as the Pittsburgh Gladiators hosted the Washington Commandos and Mike Hohensee,the only Coach in Rush history,threw the first TD pass(to Russell Hairston)in Arena Football history. Hohensee was also a “Spare Bear” for the first two of three games in 1987 and led them two wins over the Eagles and Vikings for Coach Mike Ditka. Now “Da Coach” is a part Owner of the Rush who won the Arena Bowl in 2006.
***The Bears waiving Alex Brown has lots of fans up in arms since they did not get anything in return. Only Coach Lovie Smith knows the real reason(s) for this move.
***The Final Four should be very interesting in Indianapolis Saturday night.It starts with home town Butler against fellow #5 seed Michigan State, followed by Duke and West Virginia. I know that many network folks are not happy with this group of four,but too bad! Seeing North Carolina(who lost in the NIT Finals),Kentucky,Kansas and other so called “Big Boys” knocked out was a delight to me,even though I know of some who are upset and only want the same old top names.
***The White Sox close their Pre Season in Atlanta against the Braves Friday night and Saturday afternoon before flying home for a workout Sunday and Monday’s season opener with Cleveland. When the Sox depart Hotlanta, the Cubs arrive there in time for their opener Monday against the Braves. Prior to that,the Northsiders play two more exhibition games in the Valley of the Sun against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
***The Blackhawks chances of catching San Jose for the #1 seed in the west improved Wednesday night when they won in Minnesota while the Sharks lost at Dallas. San Jose has three more road games and the Hawks may get some help-if they can take advantage of it.
***The Bulls are two games in back of Toronto for the last playoff slot in the East,but they are REALLY three games out since the Raptors hold the tie-breakers on the Bulls. And with with the Bulls showing little consistency, it doesn’t look good.
LES
