Ever since the end of the 2021 Major League Baseball season, the clouds of labor strife have been hovering over the sport. Just a short time after cheering over 25 years of labor peace between the owners and the MLB Players’ Union, the sides are reportedly far apart in negotiations and as of tomorrow, December 1st, the Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire, and there have been stories about a possible lockout by the owners. The General Managers’ meeting a few weeks ago was reportedly lower key than usual with an expectation that the Winter Meetings would either be cancelled or a nonevent if there’s a lockout. But teams are out spending like there are no worries.
Big-name pitchers like Justin Verlander, Noah Syndergaard and Eduardo Rodriguez signed earlier in November. This week the Mets signed pitcher Max Scherzer for $100 million. SS Corey Seager and 2B/SS Marcus Semien have signed with the Rangers for a combined $500 million to remake their infield. Reigning Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray is leaving Toronto for the Mariners, and former Cub Javier Báez signed with the Tigers. Toronto replaced Ray with Kevin Gausman.
Once the CBA expires all activity will stop which means that today and tomorrow will be active days. There are still plenty of big fish in the free-agent pond, including Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman and Kris Bryant. I think this sets up an interesting possibility. With many of the big names signed, it could be an attempt to fracture union solidarity – the big money, signed players against the lower income players. The stars would want to come to an agreement quickly, but the rank and file may be willing to allow the lockout to play out.
It seems likely that labor peace in baseball is over. With the amount of cash that the teams are paying for talent, it will be very hard for the owners to cry poverty. The question is now whether this will be a contentious negotiation or if the sides will negotiate in good faith. Will the sides not feel pressure to settle until spring training starts or until the season start looms or even later?

The seat under Chicago Bears’ Head Coach Matt Nagy has been hot for two years now. After two consecutive 8-8 records, the fans were calling for Nagy and GM Ryan Pace to be fired after last season but instead, CEO George McCaskey refused, giving the pair one year to “show progress.” Pace appeared to do his job by trading up for Justin Fields, who, like many rookie QBs, has struggled.
After last weekend’s loss to a depleted Baltimore Ravens team that featured an injured Fields, the return of Andy Dalton under center, an apparently miraculous comeback only to have the defense cave for the second game in a row, the shouts for Nagy’s job turned into a cacophony of unrest. It was reported that even the team was tired of Nagy’s rah-rah pronouncements and want him gone. (Although it went too far when Cary-Grove high school students started the popular chant started at the Bears game Sunday “Fire Nagy” because Cary-Grove was playing Matt Nagy’s son’s football team. Family members are WAY off limits.)
This is a short week, with the Bears playing the Lions on Thanksgiving, and many people wished to see Nagy fired after that game, win or lose, but it has been reported that Nagy has been told ALREADY that he’s gone. Is this true? Is this real? If so, even in doing the right thing, the Bears screw it up. If true, they should have kept it to themselves to keep the team focused on football. With a possible pronouncement that Nagy’s gone Thursday afternoon, the players would either barely show up and certainly stop listening to anything the coaches have to say before the game. It would be possible that the team could go out to win Nagy’s last game (VERY unlikely considering what we hear about the state of the clubhouse).
At his press conference, Nagy said that the report was “not accurate.” The only thing is – this report comes from Mark Konkol, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter who was interviewed standing behind his story. For a franchise that prides itself on not listening to the fans, this is for the fans who have been screaming for Nagy’s head. The Bears have never fired a coach midseason, never. Part of it is plain cheapness – not wanting to pay two coaches at the same time; but this is just capitulation. I completely agree that Nagy’s time is up, but it could have waited until after the game. Nagy is the lamest of lame ducks and the situation is grim as probably is the mood in Halas Hall. The bigger question is – will Ryan Pace be getting his pink slip this week as well?
Pace is the man responsible for all of the talent, most notably passing on Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson to take Mitchell Trubisky. I still think that Trubisky will never be more than an adequate backup; he still cannot read defenses to save his life. Looking back however, it appears that Trubisky may have been poorly coached by Nagy and his coaching staff. The same can be said for how Justin Fields has been brought along. Nagy was Pace’s hire – you cannot fire one without the other.
Just in case you missed it, I am completely for firing Nagy after the Detroit game, I just think that it could have been kept quiet, even to Nagy until after the game. Pace should also be fired, and since you announced it to Nagy, you might as well “back up the truck.” Keeping Pace around ruins the correctness of the move – the Bears are actively looking for a GM who can choose his/her head coach. There’s plenty of time; they have the offseason until April to build a staff, evaluate who you have and who you need, and make the changes necessary. Even the impression that Ryan Pace will be the man making those decisions would be mutinous to the fans, and certainly to parts of the team , and disastrous considering his track record.
Do I believe the story? Being fired? Yes. Telling him early? Yes, that’s a dumb move in line with the incompetence of the McCaskey regime. I guess we will see on Thursday.

I have long aspired to be on TV or radio broadcasting sports. I did basketball analysis of Northwestern Men’s basketball games back in school around 1979-1981. And everyone knows that I wrote for the two television shows back in the day. But I always felt that I would be good being a talking head on television or radio; I’m am certain that with practice and opportunity, I would be good – better than some currently drawing paychecks. At the very least, I would have loved to try.
However, long term readers (and the season ticket holders that sit by me at Northwestern football games) know that there’s nothing that will get me yelling as bad/blown officiating. I also don’t just complain at bad calls against NU; I also blast horrendous calls that go against the opposition. I believe that the conferences owe the players, coaches and fans the best crews possible. The players especially are putting their hearts and souls and risking injury to play sports; the conferences that have profited in prestige and money should provide the best officials possible. Not the cheapest guys around; not some booster’s favorite nephew; not some Big Ten management’s best drinking buddy; but spend some of the billions on capable officials. Already, fans believe that conferences and leagues have favorite teams that are more profitable to win. Often, it definitely looks that way.
What makes this worse are the heavy penalties that the conferences levy on coaches, players and broadcasters for “daring” to question bad officiating. It’s like, we may have made a mistake but you can’t say anything about it, and if the call(s) were in error, we will never admit to it, and only in the rarest circumstances will we suspend or fire officials and we will keep that the deepest, darkest secret because we must appear infallible like the Pope. Of course, many of these officials (and conference management) are FAR from infallible.
The latest incident doesn’t involve the Big Ten (for once). The Big 12 this week reprimanded Texas Tech football radio announcers for their call of Saturday’s 41-38 home win over Iowa State. Play-by-play host Brian Jensen and analyst John Harris were critical of the officials during the game, which is one thing. The pair did go too far in broadcasting the names of the individual officials. The pair have been removed from calling this weekend’s Texas Tech home game against Oklahoma State.
The announcers were apoplectic after officials overturned an apparent interception on the goal line by Red Raiders defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson with 7:25 left in the fourth quarter. “I’ll say it right now, the Big 12 does not want Iowa State to lose this game,” Harris said. “Yeah, Bob Bowlsby, you need to answer to this,” Jensen added. “This is ridiculous. The inconsistency of this referee crew in favor of Iowa State. Unbelievable.”
The announcers weren’t alone. Texas Tech students began throwing trash on the field after the interception was overturned. The officials gave an unsportsmanlike conduct call to the Red Raiders, and the students were ordered to vacate two sections and leave the stadium.
Jensen continued that he had never seen anything like this officiating performance. “The Big 12 should be embarrassed,” he said. “The Big 12 should be embarrassed with this group. We’ve only pointed out two guys. I’m gonna read ’em all to you.” Jensen then proceeded to name on air every member of the crew.
The Conference’s action was swift. “I understand the roles of the play-by-play and color analyst,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “However as University representatives they also have an obligation to adhere to Conference policy regarding comments about game officials. The comments by the Red Raider Radio Network booth announcers were contrary to expected levels of respect and professionalism. Questioning the integrity of Conference officials and specifically calling out members of the officiating crew is well beyond appropriate and permissible behavior.”
As someone who has complained about officiating here numerous times, including having written former Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany a few time to complain about officiating (never receiving a reply), I can understand and feel for the announcers, the players, coaches and fans. In my opinion, if Northwestern loses, then they lost – got outplayed, out-talented, out coached, out-thought. That happens, but when it appears the there is a bias toward the opponent, especially when it is in the conference’s financial best interests for the other, often higher-ranked team to win, that just stinks, and covering up the issue does not help.
However, considering the hyped-up nature of human discourse, with anger seemingly always near the surface of most people, and counting the rabid nature of football in Texas, the announcers way overstepped their boundaries by announcing the names of the referee crew. While they may be inept or incompetent, announcing names could put them in danger. I wouldn’t be opposed to a suggestion that the broadcasters get a longer suspension on account of naming names.
By a similar notion, the students throwing trash on the field sets up a dangerous situation for everyone on the field and in that part of the stands. Perhaps the students identified, should be prohibited from attending the next game, or the rest of the season? (They could use similar efforts as law enforcement is using against the January 6th insurrectionists).
Still, power usually corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely. One of the best (and oft-times misstated) quotes of all. Perfectly apt here.

I am wearing a Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship t-shirt this morning. It’s one of seven Stanley Cup winner shirts that I own – two from 2013 and 2015 and three from the 2010 title. Of course, we now know that during the 2010 playoffs, the Blackhawks front office covered up and protected their video coach, Brad Aldrich, a sexual predator who molested then prospect Kyle Beach and tried to have sex with a team intern. Since then, I have seen and heard some people say that they were finished with the Blackhawks forever. Meanwhile, I sit here with a red shirt that says “Windy City Celebration” and have no plan to get rid of any merch or turn in my quarter season tickets.
Some of the voices will be appalled at my continuing fandom, but while I am as appalled as anyone and am very happy that Beach has been vindicated and hopefully, wherever Aldrich is, he is even more ostracized from the hockey world and society in general. That said, how should we feel about the team and the championships?
First, all of the men that knew about the incident and did nothing for three weeks, just allowed the man to resign and was still permitted to attend and celebrate the 2010 championship, are all no longer working for the Blackhawks. John McDonough and Jay Blunk, the men at the very top of the team hierarchy are long gone. McDonough, maybe most responsible for doing nothing, was fired last year, reportedly for being too autocratic. The last two people employed by the team, President and GM Stan Bowman was allowed to resign and SVP of Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac was fired yesterday. There has been appropriate criticism for Bowman’s farewell message that basically blamed McDonough and took no responsibility which is reprehensible. I was one of the voices that believed that Bowman should be fired, but for his poor job of getting talent if nothing else, and so his firing was appropriate on both counts. Former Head Coach Joel Quenneville, now with the Florida Panthers is meeting with Commissioner Gary Bettman, as will then assistant GM and current Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff as to what happens to them.
Not to give an exception to the Blackhawk staff, I think we have to look a little bit at the hockey “fraternity.” Why was Aldrich allowed to slink away, and Bowman resign instead of being fired? Both of these men have deep roots in the hockey world. Of course, Stan Bowman is the son of Hall of Fame Coach Scotty Bowman, so Stan moved quickly up the organizational chart of the Hawks. His Dad was a semi-retired consultant for the team. In addition, Brad Aldrich probably got cover because his father, Mike, has been equipment manager for the San Jose Sharks for years. I think it is a reflex to protect members of “the club.” Unfortunately, the same curtesy was not provided to Kyle Beach, probably because he was just a kid. Horrific.
What about the team? First, it helps the team that the allegations were 11 years ago. Not positive but, people tend to let things go if there’s a lot of time passed. Second, the team not only apologized to Beach, even before he identified himself. Third, a small amount of credit should go to the Blackhawks for making the full investigative report public (even though they may have had to be pushed to do it by Brett Sobel and other former players). What about the players? Only Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane remain from that team. None of the players are saying that they knew anything more than rumors, which flies in the face of Sopel’s comment that “everyone knew” and reports that players teased Beach. How much of “who knew what and when” is marginally important to call attention to people who learn things and do nothing, but they were not in a position to investigate or punish Aldrich.
It was three years ago that the Houston Astros cheating scandal was uncovered and only front office personnel paid the price – no players were punished, even though they were fully aware and took part in the cheating. Some people will never ever forgive the players and coaches involved who remain in baseball (which is difficult since they are in the World Series now). More equivalent to the Hawks scandal of course is the Penn State scandal. Both involved men who worked for the teams taking advantage of young men for sex. Jerry Sandusky remains in prison; Coach Joe Paterno’s reputation is irreparable soiled. The NCAA placed sanctions on the team: vacating all of Penn State’s victories from 1998-2011 and levied a $60 million fine, banned them from the post season for four years and reduced football scholarships from 25 to 15. The NCAA was later sued and none of the sanctions were ever implemented, and now, scandal is not the first thought that comes to mind when one thinks of Penn State. Still, should the Blackhawks lose draft picks, or be banned from the playoffs? They have already been fined $2 million by the league, a pittance to the Wirtz family, but, as was brought up at Penn State, why are you punishing players who weren’t on the team or even in the NHL at the time?
It is rumored that Eddie Olycyk is being looked at to take over team operations. Personally, I’m not a big fan of “Edzo,” he’s very annoying coaching from the broadcast booth, and I don’t think he’s as smart as he thinks he is. But he is a former Blackhawk, been a team broadcaster for decades and let’s be honest, they last time the Blackhawks promoted a broadcaster, Dale Tallon, he did a pretty good job – more vital to building the 2010 team than Bowman who was in his first year as GM but inherited much of the team from Tallon. (While I would be nervous about him being able to clean up the Hawks and also deliver wins – but I’m rooting for him or whomever gets the job, I admit that the job taking him out of the local and national broadcast booths would make me very happy.)
Long story short – I’m keeping my swag; I’m keeping my season tickets (I’ve mostly paid for them already); and like the team, I will ride out the stench on the team’s reputation. I’ve been a fan for most of my life – it would be a very hard habit to break.

As I big fan of the Chicago Blackhawks, I was very troubled by the news that lawsuits had been filed against the team because of unwanted sexual encounters between a player “John Doe” and then video coach Brad Aldrich. The team fought (and continues to fight as far as I know), the lawsuits aggressively including motions to drop the suits on technicalities. The team announced that they would be hiring the legal firm of Jenner & Block to conduct an independent investigation. I know that I figured the investigation would be a white-wash, clearing the team and all members of the staff from the period. Once again, I have to credit Owner Rocky Wirtz because the report found significant issues and as a result, GM and President Stan Bowman and SVP Al MacIsaac were terminated today.
For those who don’t know or have forgotten, Aldrich left the team after the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship, but Aldrich went on to work with other hockey organizations including USA Hockey, Notre Dame, and Miami University in Ohio. Aldrich took a job at Houghton High School in Haughton, Michigan. In 2013 Aldrich was arrested and he pled guilty to fourth degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor.
I have skimmed the report and the issue is that the team knew about John Doe’s allegations about Aldrich on May 23. According to team rules, management was to conduct a thorough investigation and none was performed. The reasoning at the time seemed to be that the team, particularly then President John McDonough did not want to distract the team during its Stanley cup run, nor have adverse publicity during the playoffs. It wasn’t until June 14th that McDonough went to Human Resources to report Aldrich. At that meeting, he was told that either there would be an investigation or he could resign. Aldrich resigned.
This is where the story gets worse. Aldrich was not reported to lax enforcement; in fact, he was allowed to participate in Championship events, and even got a Stanley Cup ring. Even then, it was known that during one celebration, Aldrich attempted to lure an intern back to his apartment, at first for a drink and then Aldrich reportedly grabbed the intern’s crotch at which time Aldrich was firmly rebuffed. There were no warnings to flags given to potential employers about Aldrich.
There are a lot of differing opinions on what happened in conversations, at meetings, but it was apparent that the sexual behavior happened and nothing was done about it except getting Aldrich to leave quietly. So, as the last remaining members of senior management with the team, Bowman and Al MacIsaac had to go since policy was not followed and there were no real consequences.
There are many fans, myself included who felt that it was time for Bowman to go, mostly because of the team’s 0-5-1 record and moribund play (not held a lead in any game yet this season, periods when opponents scored multiple goals in short periods of time), but now Bowman has to question his future in hockey. Will any team hire him? He was head of USA Hockey for the upcoming Olympics – I’m sure that’s over. He will probably have to “lawyer up” as will MacIsaac, McDonough, then Senior Vice President Jay Blunk and others. Based on this, it would probably be difficult to bring former Coach Joel Quenneville or any of the Wirtzs into the muck.
So why didn’t the management do anything? Macho attitude? Boys will be boys? Rape is rape no matter who does it or the sexes of the people involved. As I’ve stated, I remain very surprised that the Blackhawks actually did conduct a thorough investigation, acted on it by firing the men who were still employed by the team, and that they made the report public (although interviewed former player Brent Sopel and another former player demanded that the report be public). I’m even more surprised that the team took action; they even apologized to John Doe (how will that impact the litigation is unknown). This is a black stain on the organization, but at least in this instance, they did the right thing. Too bad no one did the right thing in 2010.

I know that this is a First World problem, but I admit to it. For most of the last 20 years, I have been a subscriber to the NHL Center Ice package. For $120-$140 per year, you got almost every NHL game. Local Blackhawks games weren’t included, which was alright, I had the local channel. So, you saw nearly every game.
Time moved on and now the members of my family have the rooms where the televisions are, so with technology, a few seasons ago, I started watching the games streamed on my iPad. If the girls had ice skating practice, I could get on the rink WiFi and watch hockey.
During last season, the NHL announced that the Center Ice package would be moving to ESPN + and TNT. I wrote back then that I worried it would cost more or be less than what it used to be; it only took a few days into the season that my wallet would be pried open by “The Worldwide Leader.” I used to access the games through the NHL app which would take you to the games. TNT can be accessed through the DirecTV app, and the Hawks games were streaming through its app, but all other games took me to ESPN + asking for $69.99 year or $6.99/month. I called the NHL.TV – the app works only in Canada; I called DirecTV, they couldn’t help – want to see hockey, watch the TV. I called ESPN and they said, if you want to stream, pony up.
Like I believe most intelligent sports fans, I have a love/hate relationship with the Disney owned megalith. I have aspired to work for them and have even interviewed with them back in the day, but they wanted to bring me in as an intern who would have to live on the East Coast. No, I couldn’t live in my parent’s basement while working long hours for peanuts. When ESPN did things well, they were very good, but there have always been stories that it was like a frat house atmosphere there that was not positive to females. Now we hear about the backstabbing between broadcasters, most recently from the females; the Joe Namath-Suzy Kolber embarrassment; the mass layoffs of beloved broadcasters. Plus, back when they had the rights to the NHL, they treated hockey like a poor dumb stepchild – few games, often late at night. While it employs many Northwestern alumni including people I knew in school like Mike Wilbon and Keven Blackistone, but it also employs the most horrific Black stereotype Stephen A. Smith. Long time readers know that he is fingernails scratching my mental blackboard – loud, not very smart, street to the point that white men can look down upon him. Yes, he makes millions, but he’s just an embarrassment. I already give them enough money.
Long story short, if I want the freedom to stream hockey, I have to pay them. Of course, they want me to sign up for a year, but I counted up – it’s seven months before the end of the hockey season – $7 times 7 equals $49, not $69, so I will pay month to month until the end of their NHL coverage, then stop, and re-upp when the next season starts.
So, let’s drop the puck, even though it seems that it will be a truly ugly season for the Blackhawks.

Now than Andrew Wiggins has taken the COVID-19 vaccine and rejoined the Golden State Warriors, that leaves Kyrie Irving and the Nets. Irving, long known for bizarre beliefs, has openly said that he would not take the vaccine, even though, but New York and California law, he would be banned from playing in those two states. In fact, Irving is banned from even practicing with the team.
The NBA has done all that it can within the boundaries of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NBAPA. The league can’t force a player to be vaccinated and cannot unilaterally impose rules pertaining to players’ employment. The league and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) bargain over what labor law terms “mandatory subjects of bargaining.” Those subjects include players’ wages, hours and other working conditions, such as health and safety protocols. The union must go along with any rules the league wants to establish on the player. However, the NBA can demand vaccination for non-unionized employees, such as staff who work in the league’s headquarters.
The NBA and NBPA have agreed to COVID-related protocols for the upcoming season. According to league sources, some of those protocols are tentative and require additional negotiation but are expected to be in place by the start of the season. Unvaccinated players will be tested more often, a policy consistent with many workplaces. The NBA has proposed a vaccine requirement for players in addition to the one in place for support staff, but the union has thus far resisted. In contrast, the NBA and National Basketball Referees Association negotiated a vaccine requirement for referees.
That said, the NBA and the Nets are prohibited from doing what employers are doing at companies all over the nation and world – requiring vaccination or almost daily testing. Irving, who has not been able to stay with one NBA franchise for any length of time, would lose money for every game he cannot participate in, which is millions of dollars. Meanwhile fans and pundits have been frustrated that the team wouldn’t put it’s foot down. Well, the Nets did today… Kyrie Irving will not play for the Brooklyn Nets until he is vaccinated or the city’s vaccine mandate is lifted.
Nets’ GM Sean Marks read a prepared statement this morning .”Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant. Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.”
I generally don’t completely agree with the standard adage that athletes are spoiled, overpaid wimps. Travel, hotel rooms away from your family made worse with the pandemic and bubble, injuries -I agree that the money is crazy, but it is what the market will bear. However, Kyrie Irving is a spoiled brat. He created drama with LeBron in Cleveland; he was run out of Boston; and looks to be on his way out of Brooklyn. (Of course, the inevitable Irving for Ben Simmons stories are everywhere tonight.)
I have said about anti-Vaxxers that you can make your choice, but you must face the consequences of your actions. No matter how much he earns; no matter how many points he scores or assists he tallies; if he doesn’t get the vaccination, he shouldn’t play and he won’t play. He may be thinking that he has earned plenty of money in the NBA, but if he’s like most athletes I know about, they live million-dollar paycheck to million-dollar paycheck. It takes a lot to keep up that lifestyle, he won’t last long.