A suburban Chicago man thought he had the perfect chick magnet in his pet alligator.

Washington Times

EDITORIAL: Gun-grabber misfire Washington Times 13, 2009, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley looks at a handgun during a gun turn-in program in Chicago, as Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis looks on in the background. Daley, one of the nation's most vocal gun control advocates, said the city will ... and more »

In this photo taken Aug. 13, 2009, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley looks at a handgun during a gun turn-in program in Chicago, as Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis looks on in the background.

Stress relief may improve IVF success Chicago Tribune "Women who are in infertility treatment do report huge amounts of stress," Courtney Lynch, the head of reproductive epidemiology at The Ohio State University, told Reuters Health. "One of the reasons IVF is not as effective as we'd like it to be is ...

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (R) shoots over Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague in the first half of their Eastern Conference semifinal NBA basketball game in Atlanta, Georgia May 6, 2011. REUTERS/Tami Chappell (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL) Jamal Crawford thought that Game 2 was the best shot the Bulls could give against his [...]

USA Today

Guide seeks to expand Civil War interest Chicago Daily Herald The guide will be a free insert in the spring issue of American Heritage magazine, and copies have been distributed to tourism agencies in West Virginia and the 12 other Appalachian states — Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, ... Morgantown Dedicates Historic Civil War Marker to Commemorate 150th ...PRLog.Org (press release) all 106 news articles »

Chicago, Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. is a premier quick service restaurant franchisor with a leading position in the coffee, bakery and ice cream segments of the QSR category. With more than 15,000 points of distribution in 44 countries, and approximately 150 years of combined history, our brands are two of the most loved around the world. Dunkin’ Donuts – the largest coffee and baked goods restaurant in the worl

Giving furniture a personal touch Edmonton Journal Marvin Miller, an Amish woodworker from east-central Illinois, about 240 kilometres south of Chicago, is visiting Edmonton to demonstrate the techniques he uses to create his pieces. His shop, M and E Woodworking, is one of the 50 or so small Amish ... and more »

 Cette demeure de style géorgien, dans la banlieue de Chicago, possède 14 pièces réparties sur une surface totale de 2.000 m2 et un écran géant dans une véranda. Elle a surtout conservé l'escalier mythique dans lequel Macaulay Culkin faisait de la luge dans la comédie de John Hughes sortie en 1990.
La maison de "Maman, j'ai râté l'avion" en vente à 2,4 millions de dollars

Intimacy cuts both ways. Acoustic instruments, soft tones, delicate timbres -- the "Unplugged" approach reliably draws us close. But, really, communion occurs just as intimately within an ear-piercing, teeth-rattling cacophony.

Neil Young has spent decades swinging between these extremes. During his measured performance Friday night at the Chicago Theatre, his first of two this weekend, he calmly and ably applied both tactics. He spoke to the hooting, sold-out crowd softly, in gentle and sometimes acoustic songs, but occasionally he carried a big, sonic stick. Nothing new, nothing life-altering, just solid and intense.

Before he could really turn around, Brendan Ryan was being lifted off the ground to get a good view of the scrum that was about to take place.

Kristin Cavallari and her new fiancé, Chicago bears quarterback Jay Cutler, claim that theirs was love at first sight. Cavallari tells People.com that, "I think we both knew from the moment we met that we wanted to marry each other." ... More »

Post from: TheGloss

ABC News

Al-Qaida wanted to hit Chicago trains, security stepped up Chicago Sun-Times Increased security was visible at Union Station on Friday. Security has been more visible since Osama bin Laden wasa killed. | John H. White~Sun-Times Already on high alert because ... Report: Chicago in al-Qaida sightsChicago Tribune Al-Qaida planned to attack US rail: DHSXinhua all 264 news articles »

Sarpino’s Pizzeria South Loop Chicago at 1923 S Archer Ave looking for Full/Part time Pizza delivery drivers Requirements: Knowledge of Chicago downtown area. Own vehicle. Auto Insurance. Valid IL drivers license. Minimum 2 Years driving in US history. Clean driving record. Flexibility to work nights weekends and holidays. Apply online "http://www.gosarpinos.com/careers/job-application/?id=155

• Location: Downtown
• Compensation: hourly pay plus tips
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

I was lucky enough to see actress Sada Thompson, who died Wednesday at age 83, twice on stage - in a 1988 Chicago production of Driving Miss Daisy and then in her final Broadway appearance in the 1993 play, Any Given Day. She was, of course, wonderful in both. However, I first became a fan when she starred as matriarch Kate Lawrence on the 1976-80 TV series, Family, for which she deservedly won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Thompson received a total of nine Emmy nominations, including four for Family, one for a 1977 production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, and one for her performance as Carla's mother, Mama Lozupone, on a 1991 episode of Cheers. She also nearly played Archie Bunker's neighbor Irene Lorenzo on All in the Family, but after taping one episode, she was replaced by Betty Garrett due to creative differences with producer Norman Lear.

Thompson's other Broadway credits include the 1959 musical, Juno, the one-performance 1968 play, Johnny No-Trump (with her future Family co-star, James Broderick, and Bernadette Peters), and the 1971 play, Twigs, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award. She also won a Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award for her performance in the 1970 off-Broadway play, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.

Below you can watch Sada Thompson in the opening credits of Family, in two scenes from the series, winning her Emmy Award on September 17, 1978 (forward to 6:25 in the video), and in a promo for Our Town (after one for TV's Police Woman).

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, with the help of local secularists, has placed a red-white-and-blue billboard with the message that God and government are a “dangerous mix” at Wenatchee Avenue west of McKittrick in Wenatchee, Wash.

The billboard, “God & Government — A Dangerous Mix: Keep State & Church Separate,” was posted in time to counter the National Day of Prayer today. Congress sets aside the first Thursday in May and requires an annual presidential proclamation exhorting citizens to “turn to God in prayer.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, with 16,500 members around the nation and more than 900 in Washington, is the nation’s largest atheist/agnostic association, and also works as a state/church watchdog. FFRF has three court challenges underway against the National Day of Prayer, most prominently Obama v. FFRF in the appeals courts. Last year a federal judge agreed with FFRF that a government day of prayer is unconstitutional, but an appeals court threw out FFRF’s case on standing. FFRF is asking the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago for an en banc review.

Wenatchee was just singled out by the Sunday New York Times (May 1) as the fourth “safest” area in terms of where to live to avoid a natural disaster.

Read more

Major League Soccer

Chicago vs. Vancouver| Preview FOXSports.com The Fire will try to snap their five-game winless drought Saturday night by topping the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps, who haven't won in seven straight and have yet to earn a point on the road. Chicago entered April following a home win over Sporting ... Fire get 1st look at expansion WhitecapsESPN (blog) Fire host 'Caps in battle of one-win teamsLos Angeles Times OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Can the Chicago Fire answer?ChicagoLand Soccer News ChicagoNow (blog) -Vancouver Sun -Reporter Online all 27 news articles »

msnbc.com

'SlutWalk' protest coming to Chicago Chicago Sun-Times In this April 3, 2011 photo, Magdalena Ivasecko, left, and Sierra Chevy Harris are seen at the start of the walk as they participate in "SlutWalk" in Toronto, Canada. ... Marchers aim to debunk stereotypes about sexual assaultReuters SlutWalking movement set on angry road by policeman's talk about clothingThe Guardian Boston “Slutwalk” to promote awareness of sexual assaultExaminer.com New York Daily News all 315 news articles »

Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week- 2011, the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 7-10, 2011, at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.

SEATTLE, May 7 (UPI) -- A two-out single by Brendan Ryan in the ninth inning scored Adam Kennedy from third Friday to give the Seattle Mariners a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.

CHICAGO, May 7 (UPI) -- Forty-five percent of working U.S. moms who are the sole provider for their family earn less than $35,000, a survey indicates.

Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich was inactive for Game 3 on Friday night as Atlanta hosted Chicago. Coach Larry Drew has said he's not counting on Hinrich to play during the series as he continues to deal with a strained right hamstring. Hinrich suffered the injury while driving for a basket late in Atlanta's series-clinching victory against Orlando. The Bulls beat the Hawks, 99-82, to gain the 2-1 serie

12 Vote(s)

Desplome de los campeones y plusmarca del MVP: 44 puntos en Atlanta

• Official website confirms golfer died at 2.10am Saturday
• Five-time major winner was 54

Seve Ballesteros, the legendary five-time major winning golfer, has died after losing his fight against cancer.

The news was confirmed by a statement on the golfer's official website which said: "Today, at 2.10am Spanish time, Seve Ballesteros passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Pedreña.

"The Ballesteros family is very grateful for all the support and gestures of love that have been received since Seve was diagnosed with a brain tumour on 5th October 2008 at Madrid Hospital la Paz.

"At this time the family asks for respect and privacy at such a painful time. Thank you very much.

Ballesteros, 54, a five-time major winner, had been recuperating at his home in northern Spain after a series of operations since being diagnosed with two malignant brain tumours in 2008.

His condition worsened on Wednesday, at which point he was admitted to hospital; rumours had swept Spain last week that Ballesteros's situation had taken a rapid downturn. On Friday, Ballesteros was under heavy sedation, with his family and friends understood to be preparing for the worst.

In an unfortunate coincidence, the Spanish Open – the last competition Ballesteros won as a professional in 1995 – is currently taking place in Barcelona.

José María Olazábal, the golfer closest to Ballesteros and inspired by him since childhood, was too emotional to speak to the media in the aftermath of his Friday round in Barcelona. "I can't talk," Olazábal said. "I can only wait, and cry."

Another Spanish golfer and Olazábal's playing partner, Miguel Angel Jiménez, was in tears upon completion of his second round. Olazábal, Europe's Ryder Cup captain, recently stated his dream that Ballesteros could be alongside him for the meeting with the United States in Chicago next autumn. The pair met a fortnight ago, at which point Ballesteros was in a wheelchair.

Olazábal's manager, Sergio Gómez, reported that Ballesteros's daughter had passed on details of her father's condition on Thursday. "Seve's physical condition was not good when José María went to see him, but they talked about golf and everything," Gómez said. "Then came the call yesterday to tell him that Seve was in a critical condition."

Ballesteros's illness initially came to light after he collapsed at Madrid airport in October 2008; during the intervening period, he has rarely been seen in public. Since his first surgery, which lasted 12 hours, he has undergone almost continuous chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In 2009, after his fourth chemotherapy course, Ballesteros labelled it "a miracle" he was still alive.

In 2010, during his last television interview with the BBC, Ballesteros spoke of fighting cancer. "You can't have it all in life," he said. "One day you feel fantastic, the next you never know what is going to happen. You just take a look at how many days of glory I had before. It has been a fantastic life and this, what has happened to me, is what I will call destiny; one test that God is putting on me."

Ballesteros, who retired from professional golf in 2007, was earlier regarded as a pioneer for the European game overseas. He had turned professional at the age of 16, in 1974, finishing second to Jack Nicklaus in the Open at Birkdale only two years later.

He was the first from this continent to claim a Masters title, in 1980, a feat he repeated at Augusta three years later. Ballesteros was the winner of the Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988. Besides winning a total of 87 titles in his career, Ballesteros played in eight Ryder Cups, claiming 20 points from 37 matches. He also captained a successful European team, fittingly on his home soil in Valderrama, 14 years ago.

Ballesteros had not been deemed well enough to make a planned trip to St Andrews to say a farewell to British fans at the time of last year's Open. At the Masters last month, Phil Mickelson dedicated a Spanish-themed champions' dinner to the absent Ballesteros, the man he credits with his own decision to start playing golf.

Brendan Ryan hit a game-ending RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to make a winner of Felix Hernandez, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Friday night.

Sun-Times wins 11 awards for outstanding journalism Chicago Sun-Times ... the lasting memories — and lingering pain — that he and his former teammates still carry from their playing days on the 1968-1970 Northwestern University football team was among work honored Friday as the best in Chicago journalism in 2010. ... and more »

Jury convicts Orr of 2 murders in EC Post-Tribune A Lake Superior Court jury convicted an Indianapolis man of two counts of murder in a New Year's Eve 2009 shooting in East Chicago. Shepell Orr, 33, was convicted after about four hours ... and more »

By Meteorologist Tom Skilling

   Winds blow into the city from the east and strengthen Saturday afternoon, a development all too common here in spring and one which is likely to send beach and lakeside temperatures tumbling 15 to 20-degrees below the near 70-degree levels observed Friday. The poorly timed temperature downturn is likely to lead to low 50-degree lakeside readings.
     If there's any good news in this, it's that the cool down is temporary. Strong warming appears poised to propel Chicago temperatures to some of the year's highest levels Tuesday and Wednesday with 80-degree readings for much of the Chicago area.  That's also the period in which an influx of the most humid Gulf air in 8 months arrives, including the first tropical-level 70-degree dew points since September 2. Moisture at that level threatens to activate clusters of thunderstorms which could be heavy or severe.  Repetitive outbreaks of severe weather could occur over three to four days to Chicago's west.
    Computer models are advertising eye-catchingly large atmospheric energy levels and impressive vertical temperature drops above Chicago between Monday and Thursday. Given the predicted presence of over an inch of "precipitable water" (evaporated water) in the atmosphere as well as 80-degree high temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday, the meteorological picture which is unfolding is of an atmosphere primed for strong thunderstorm development which could border at times on severe. Several models place potential rainfall in these storms in excess of 2 inches over the coming week, far more than the 0.77 inches considered "normal". It's a situation which will have to be monitored.

 
Friday brings May's warmest temperatures to the Chicago area

     Temperatures surged Friday to 68-degrees at O'Hare, 69-degrees at Midway and 70 at Chicago's lakefront--the city's warmest May 2011 readings to date. Gusty west winds defeated lake-cooling which meant that even lake-breeze-vulnerable Kenosha and Waukegan managed 68 and 69-degree highs.
     Still warmer readings occurred to Chicago's west, including 72-degrees at Orland Park, 71 Elgin and 70 at Gary, Kankakee, Rochelle and on Chicago's lakefront at Northerly Island.

 
Mammoth spring storm to spin-up in the Plains; sluggish trek across nation's midsection predicted next week

      A huge spring storm, nearly 2,300 miles across, takes shape across the Plains later this weekend and into next week. The system is to be a slow-mover, blocked to the north and east by a sprawling Canadian high pressure. 

   
The system's slow movement could keep southerly winds sweeping warmth, moisture off the Gulf and into the Heartland over 4 days

     The southerly winds generated by this storm could blow into the nation's mid-section over four consecutive days, maximizing the northward transport of warmth and moisture. Though east to southeast winds are to slice into the Chicago area off Lake Michigan Sunday and Monday, delaying the arrival of the warmest air here, more southerly winds Tuesday and south to southwest winds Wednesday appear likely to push temperatures into the 80s for only the second and third times this year.

 
Big temperature downturn predicted late week into following weekend

    The warmth won't last. A significant temperature downturn hits late next week and may spill into next weekend as well. 

2 who faced gunfire that killed comrade among those recognizedChicago police Sgt. Jason Kaczynski and Officer Kimberly Thorp were on desk duty, both recovering from medical issues, when the sound of gunfire ripped through the police facility on 61st S... Continue reading →

Sam Gewalt cracked a joke as her teammates squeezed into her tiny hospital room at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, taking the glowing orange medical device that was on one of her toes and placing it on one of her fingers, a la E.T.

WASHINGTON — Katie McCormick Lelyveld, press secretary to first lady Michelle Obama, is leaving the post and returning home to Chicago, the White House announced Friday.

2 who faced gunfire that killed comrade among those recognized

Chicago police Sgt. Jason Kaczynski and Officer Kimberly Thorp were on desk duty, both recovering from medical issues, when the sound of gunfire ripped through the police facility on 61st Street last July.

Chicago based Intersog Mobile has announced the recent release of Messenger Map for iPhone and Messenger Map for iPad. This useful app allows users to share their personal Google Maps and directions with their friends and family, all while on-the-go. Socially savvy navigators can share where they are going and information how to get there with the click of a button via email, Facebook, or Twitter. It's a perfect app for anyone planning a group rendezvous or even a family reunion.

CHICAGO -- For home buyers who need to finance their purchase using a mortgage, a cash buyer can be their worst enemy. That's because when a buyer makes a cash offer, the seller knows it's a solid deal -- and that financing hiccups won't delay a closing. Sometimes, that's enough for the seller to accept a lower bid for a cash deal instead of a higher bid from a financing buyer.

The Noise FM Chicago : Helicopters Record Release Show W/ Noise FM @ Quenchers on 2011-05-14

Old Shoe Band Chicago : Crow Bar on 2011-05-14

Cloud Mouth Chicago : Summercamp's Final show w/ Raw Nerve, Grown Ups, and Brighter Arrows on 2011-05-14

The Whines Chicago : The Crown Tap Room on 2011-05-14

The Trophy Fire Chicago : Bottom Lounge on 2011-05-14

Peter Calo Chicago : the Harris Theater on 2011-05-14

Rain Delay Theatre Chicago : Martyrs on 2011-05-14

Milton Bradley has been ejected from the Seattle Mariners' game against the Chicago White Sox for arguing a called third strike in the eighth inning.

Brendan Ryan hit a game-ending RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to make a winner of Felix Hernandez, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Friday night.

Before he could really turn around, Brendan Ryan was being lifted off the ground to get a good view of the scrum that was about to take place.

For the last eight months, Lance Cpl Chris Smith of Chicago Ridge served with the "Dark Horse" 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Their suffering, in loss-of-life and in injuries, was considerable.

Source : Chicago news

Explore : Afghanistan, Central Asia

Greg Dracon, Principal, .406 Ventures

Greg brings 14 years of venture investing and technology company operating and management experience to .406 Ventures. Prior to joining .406, Greg was a Vice President of Core Capital Partners, a venture capital firm focused on early stage venture and small to mid-sized growth technology companies. At Core, Greg focused on software, digital media, technology-enabled services and wireless opportunities and led the investment process for five of the seven investments made during his tenure. From 1995 to 2005, Greg held various operating roles at Texas Instruments, including positions in technical and field sales management and business development. He has investing and industry expertise in wireless technologies; internet and digital media; telecommunications; technology-enabled services and enterprise software. Greg received his MBA, with majors in Entrepreneurial Management and Finance, from Wharton and his BS in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

.406 Ventures
.406 Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in innovative Information Technology ("IT") and services companies founded by the finest entrepreneurs. We are a veteran team of industry entrepreneurs, operators and investors who apply real world experience, deep industry knowledge and networks, and strong company-building skills to create value for our entrepreneurs and investing partners. We typically are the lead, first institutional investor in early-stage and de novo investments in market-changing IT Security and Infrastructure, Technology-Enabled Business Services, and Next-Generation Software companies.

As investors, we bring an entrepreneurial energy, enthusiasm and tireless commitment to our companies. Every member of the .406 team is an entrepreneur, each of us having been a founder, builder or principal driver in several successful companies. As a result, we are able to offer real-world advice based on first-hand experience with the unique challenges, opportunities and rewards associated with growing early-stage businesses.

We have a passion to share the benefits of our past experience so that entrepreneurs can make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes. We can help anticipate and manage rapid-growth risks as well as identify and support first-mover advantage on potential opportunities.

Finally, we understand the importance of mutual alignment in creating value every day. We believe in being fair to founders and sensitive to their ownership concerns. We work to achieve a balance of being an exceptionally strong advocate and a constructive sounding board. And we are committed to direct and honest communications with our investors and business partners.

Some Previous Investments:
ThingMagic
is a leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, sensors, and embedded solutions. ThingMagic's RFID readers offer unprecedented functionality, performance, and value. ThingMagic's products are used by its partners in applications and industries including supply chain management, manufacturing, mobile data collection, automatic identification, and point-of-sale/self-checkout.

Health Dialog
uses sophisticated analytics, consulting, and technology to help reduce healthcare costs, improve outcomes, and create better patient satisfaction. Health Dialog identifies opportunities for improvement within a patient population and delivers programs that help individuals better understand their medical issues and become more engaged in managing their healthcare with their physicians.

www.FundingPost.com - Meet Angels and VCs

Las Vegas, NV: VC and Angel ConferenceApril 28, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in AZ!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=181&refer;=rss
New York, NY: VC and Angel ConferenceMay 12, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in NY!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=185&refer;=rss
Madison, WI: VC and Angel ConferenceMay 19, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in Madison!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=187&refer;=rss
Los Angeles, CA: VC and Angel ConferenceJune 16, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in SoCal!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=186&refer;=rss
Silicon Valley, CA: VC and Angel ConferenceJune 23, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in CA!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=182&refer;=rss
Washington, DC: VC and Angel ConferenceJuly 21, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in DC!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=183&refer;=rss
Philadelphia, PA: VC and Angel ConferenceJuly 26, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in PA!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=189&refer;=answerserv
Chicago, IL: VC and Angel ConferenceAugust 25, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in Chicago!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=188&refer;=rss
New Haven, CT: VC and Angel ConferenceSept 7, 2011 Come meet and network with VCs and Angels in CT!http://www.fundingpost.com/breakfast/reg1.asp?event=190&refer;=rss
FREE Conference Call with VCs and Angel Investors! Available for immediate listening. Hear from 13 VCs and Angel Investors. You can register for the conference call MP3 here: http://www.fundingpost.com/pvc

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In the mean time, You can learn about and see photos from our previous events, as well as purchase tickets for our Venture Capital and Angel Investor events here: http://www.fundingpost.com/event

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Where I live, it is crazy windy. I thought it was windy when I lived in the city of Chicago, but there you at least have buildings to block the wind. Out here "in the country," (I live in Geneva, an hour outside of Chicago) as my city friends like to call it, there are no big buildings and in my neighborhood, there aren't even any mature trees. So, when it's windy, it's really windy and there's no way to escape it. In addition, it seems to be windy so often that my neighbors and I point out with surprise the days that aren't windy. This does not bode well for me because I love to run outdoors, but I do not like to run in the wind. The wind makes me feel so slow and I can't stand that! My issues with the wind came into play last year when I was training for the Danskin Triathlon. I was going to do one more hard, fast run a couple days before the race. I wanted to end my training on a high, with a good, strong run so I could take that momentum with me into the race. But, wouldn't you know it; it was a very windy day. If I recall correctly, winds were 18-20mph. Ugh.   Now don't get me wrong, there are good things about training in wind.  The wind can be a helpful partner in making a run more challenging and can even simulate hills here in the flat Midwest, but I wasn't looking for that kind of workout at this stage in my training.   So, I began to prep for my last run. Wind or no wind I was still going for a run. I studied the flag out on the golf course behind our house to get a sense of the wind - which direction was it coming from, was it swirling, was it steady wind or gusts? I wanted to strategically plan my course.   My goal was to run as little as possible into the wind. I did not want to do an out and back route, which would consist of 50% with the wind and 50% into the wind. I wasn't even in the mood for a loop course which would mean all sorts of crosswinds and periods of headwinds. Nope. All I wanted was to do the entire run going with the wind, because, for me a huge component of the training is mental. I wanted to get my mind into the state that says – you are an athlete, a fantastically, wonderfully made TRIathlete. I wanted no negativity in my brain going into my triathlon. The only problem with my plan of running with the wind was that I was going six miles in one direction, and meant I would have to walk home, or figure out another alternative. That's when I talked to my husband and he agreed to humor my need to “run like the wind.” So, I started out on my run and ran with the wind the whole time. It was wonderful. I felt fresh and fast. Just what I needed. And when I got to the last stretch, nearly 6 miles from home, I heard two sweet little voices cheering, "Great job Mommy!" and saw my husband smiling as he drove up alongside me. I ran with the wind and had my husband and boys pick me up at the finish!  A little crazy?  Perhaps.   But sometimes you just need to feel the wind at your back. Brooke

Willie Mays turned 80 today, which is most probably not an event of major significance to most of my readers, but to all the baby boomers like me, it is certainly a monumental event.  It is not merely the fact of Willie’s advancing age, but the fact that our own ages are also advancing that is so shocking.  I grew up loving baseball and having the opportunity to watch Willie, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider all play centerfield at the same time.  Only Willie survives of this glorious threesome, Mickey left us nearly 16 years ago and the Duke departed about 2 months ago.   It was a golden era of baseball, with the more recent popularity of other sports such as football, basketball, and hockey, perhaps it is a golden era of baseball that is lost forever in the past.  It was an era that I feel fortunate to have witnessed.

It certainly appears that we are witnessing a changing of the guard in the NBA this playoff season, and this is very refreshing to me.  San Antonio, the #1 seed in the Western Conference, has already bit the dust at the hands of the upstart Memphis Grizzlies, and the defending Champion Los Angeles Lakers are currently trailing the Dallas Mavericks 0-3 in the second round.  The Boston Celtics are down 0-2 to the Miami Heat and they appear to be in dire straits without a big man in the middle.  I personally would love to see the Chicago Bulls winning the Eastern Conference and either Memphis or Oklahoma City advancing in the Western Conference. “New blood, you gotta love it” would make a great NBA advertising.  Speaking of Dire Straits:

The Kentucky Derby is this afternoon, and it is amazing to realize that it has been 33 years since the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed in 1978.  Even more unbelievable is that is has been 44 years since baseball had a Triple Crown winner, Carl Yastrzemski for the Boston Red Sox in 1967.  Baseball’s National League has not had a Triple Crown Winner for 74 seasons, Joe Medwick for the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1937.  Here’s hoping that both Horse Racing and Baseball end these streaks soon.  Both sports could use the notoriety. 

It is nearing the time that the 2011 NFL season is going to be put in permanent jeopardy.  Last week’s NFL Player Draft was just a temporary appeasement and It appears that absolutely NOTHING is being done to settle the lock-out.   I, for one, am completely fed up with the whole sordid affair.  It is time for us fans to boycott the NFL and to turn our attention to the upcoming NCAA Football season.

After a two game sweep of their division rivals and in the midst of a three game win streak,  Twins fans can start cautiously emerging from the woodwork.  Bandwagoners..maybe hang out a little longer.

Things are starting to come together for this baseball club, minor league players are pitching in and the bats are starting to connect as the Twins begin to pull up out of their annual early season bugs.  Three main things need to fall into place if the team wants to continue a successful May.

Pitchers need to keep improving.  All five members of the starting rotation are tied with a whopping two wins apiece.  Brian Duensing has the prettiest ERA at 2.91 and Liriano pulls in last with a 6.61.  However, the pitching staff has begun to prove why there was competition between them in spring training. 

For the purposes of a positive outlook, the last three games have been strong starts.  In Chicago the Twins were able to hold onto one run leads, which is something this writer would have laughed at two weeks ago.  If the starters can continue to improve the only problem area becomes the bullpen, which will soon be bolstered by a healthy Kevin Slowey and a more confident Joe Nathan.

Bats need to keep going.  Before tonight's 9-2 shellacking of the Red Sox there was yet to be an offensive masterpiece this season.  With big bats like Delmon Young, Jim Thome and Joe Mauer getting healthy off the field, this isn't a major surprise. 

Look for more games like tonight's when they return to form.  Players need to step up and the lone soul this season has been Jason Kubel.  Unfortunately for minor league callups, some of this lies on them, but is also an opportunity to gain notice.

Players need to get healthy and (fingers crossed) stay that way.  While it is clear there's no specific timetable for Delmon Young, Joe Mauer or Tsuyoshi Nishioka's return, it may be a small blessing in disguise. 

If the team can get their bats rolling and then slowly integrate these key players back into the lineup with little pressure, the Twins offense will slip into its regular form and no one needs to get overworked.

May sees the team facing many AL West opponents, dabbled with interleague play.  The Twins usually bode well in these match-ups, so hopefully Twins Territory is in for a turnaround.

Derrick Rose scored a career-high 44 points (regular season or postseason) to help the Chicago Bulls take a 2-1 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks. He's one of four players in Bulls history with a 40-point playoff game, joining Michael Jordan, Ben Gordon and Flynn Robinson.

Rose was the only Bulls starter in double figures, but Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver each reached double digits off the bench. Chicago's reserves outscored Atlanta's 34-14.

Korver continues to be hot from behind the arc. After making 3-for-4 from three-point range Friday, Korver is 17-for-30 from behind the three-point line this postseason. Of players with a minimum of 30 attempts, Korver's 56.7 three-point FG percentage would be the fifth-highest by a player in a single postseason in NBA history.

Rose struggled in Game 1 when guarded by Jeff Teague, but had no such problem Friday night. Rose scored 17 points in the first quarter, tying a career high, 11 of them while guarded by Teague.

In the Bulls’ Game 1 loss, Rose was 5-for-13 when Teague was defending him.

One of the more impressive aspects of Rose's performance was that he was scoring from everywhere. He scored 12 points in the paint, 12 from three-point range, and 12 from mid-range, adding eight points at the free throw line.

Even more good news for Bulls fans: when an NBA best-of-seven series is tied at 1-1, the Game 3 winner goes on to win the series 76.4 percent of the time (136-42).