Chicago sports teams:
Let’s get to know the players! This week, instead of just summing up the basic sports news, I thought I would give a sort of “bio” of the top Chicago sports athletes. It’s always good to know about the players, and since most of us are from Illinois, I feel it would be good to blog about them in my post.
Chicago Basketball:
Derrick Rose: He’s a Chicago native that is only 22 and has already won the NBA MVP for this past year! Although the Bulls are out of the playoffs, he had an amazing season. Rose averaged 25.0 points per game, almost 5 more ppg (points per game) than his previous season. He also remained consistent with an 86% free- throw average. Off the court, Rose has contracts with Adidas and PowerAde, to name a few. Last year Rose ran a summer camp to teach basketball to underprivileged kids. Rose is known for his humble and kind attitude on and off the court.
Chicago Football:
Devin Hester: The return specialist for the Chicago Bears is a Florida native that is only 28 years old and already making a name for himself. He is ranked as the greatest return specialist in NFL history. The Bears selected Hester in the second round draft in 2006. He also now holds the record for all-time kick and punt return touchdowns. He has continued to be one of the Bears best players in the past few seasons, so most likely he will bring nothing short to the table in the upcoming season this fall.
Jay Cutler: Although he is engaged to Kristin Cavallari, this guy has more to offer than what meets the eye. At age 28, Cutler first started the NFL as an 11th draft pick to the Denver Broncos. He was traded to the Bears in 2009 and has been on the team ever since. Although Cutler gets labeled as having an attitude on the field, off the field he does a lot of charity work. Cutler, who has Type One diabetes, has created his own foundation. The Jay Cutler Foundation helps those who suffer from diabetes as well as underprivileged children. Struggling with diabetes has helped him become a great role model for kids and young adults alike.
Chicago Baseball:
Paul Konerko: The first baseman for the Chicago Sox has always had a consistently solid playing career. He currently leads the batting average for the Sox and has remained on the team for quite some time. He is 34 years old, and was drafted by the LA Dodgers in 1994. He has been on the Chicago White Sox since 1997, so he is definitely one of the team’s veteran players. Just recently he hit his 377th career homerun making him a competitor in the All Time Home Run list.
Starlin Castro: Although he is extremely young for an MLB player, he is a promising short stop that the Cubs hope will bring in a good team dynamic. At age 21, Castro remains one of the strong hitters for the Cubs with a batting average of .301. Coming from the Dominican Republic, he debuted in the majors for the first time in 2010. Although there isn’t much information available about Castro, he will definitely continue to draw fans into the Cubs’ stadium every spring and summer.
Chicago Hockey:
Jonathan Toews: He is obviously a “total stud” in hockey, and not too bad looking either. Toews has been on the Hawks for about three years now and is one of the youngest captains in the NHL. Coming from Winnipeg, Canada, Toews signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. He had an awesome 2010-year, winning the Stanley Cup, the Gold Medal in the Olympics for Hockey, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and even had a lake named after him in Manitoba. In the 2011 season, Toews scored 76 points in 80 games. Obviously, the guy has a lot going for him.
Patrick Kane: Some call him Toews’ wingman, but others claim that he runs the city. While he has gotten the reputation of a “ladies man,” Kane has made a solid impact on the Hawks these past few years. He plays the right wing for the Blackhawks at age 22 and entered the NHL in 2007. He currently has a deal with Bauer Hockey. He has had some run-ins with the law, but always makes up for it on the ice.
Quick Recap in Sports:
Baseball: The Chicago White Sox remain 8th in the American League, with 30 wins and 34 losses thus far in the season. The Chicago Cubs are 10th in the National League with 24 wins and 36 losses this season. Both teams are struggling to get hits and have consistent batting averages.
Hockey: In the Stanley cup finals, the Vancouver Canucks are tied 2-2 with the Boston Bruins.
Basketball: In the NBA finals, the Heat and the Mavericks are tied 2-2 in the series. Although the Heat is favored to win, the Mavericks may pull through.
Football: The NFL still remains in the lockout. Hopefully it will end soon, but it doesn’t look good at the present time.