Alex Pancoe | Chicago Sports

Alex Pancoe's Thoughts on the Chicago Sports World

Alexander Pancoe

Cubs Club their Way to World Series After 71 Years

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Alex Pancoe, Baseball, Sports, ChicagoWe reside in a historical era my friends. None other than the generationally plagued, supernaturally tainted, clearly ‘cursed’ Chicago Cubs have found their way to baseball’s World Series to make history. After over a century of scrapping and clawing their way to the top, only to be robbed by either divine intervention…or the notorious Steve Bartman, the Cubs have a chance to clear their name and elevate their franchise to the world champion status it deserves.

While we may have lost the first game last night, we also won the first game in 1945 (and obviously lost the series), so I’m not heartbroken just yet. Frankly, it was a good showing last night and it simply got away from us. The Indians put up some runs early on. We missed a few easy opportunities. The Indians struggled to put it away until late.

It’s not like we blew a huge lead or wasted a fantastic pitching performance. We did get a few runners on base against Andrew Miller, showing he is not, in fact, invincible. We reacted properly and played it safe against Roberto Perez. Yet, more important than any of that, is this is just the first game!

We have plenty of playing time to make it up, and I expect we will begin doing just that come tonight. Otherwise, God knows how long it will be until the Cubs seize the National League title and gain entry to the World Series again. It has been an astounding 71 years since the Cubs last faced off in the World Series, and it was a different world. We didn’t have:

-Color television
-The NBA
-Microwaves
-Hula Hoops
-Barcodes
-Alaska
-Hawaii
-Credit cards
-Diet Soda
-The Korean War
-Velcro

…the list goes on. Needless to say, I don’t want to wait till flying autonomous cars are the norm to see the Cubs compete for another World Series title. The time to win is now. The time to put Chicago on the map is now. The time to make history is now.

Checking In On The Chicago Bulls

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alexander pancoe chicago bulls season illinoisThe Chicago Bulls entered the 2014-15 NBA season posed to be a threat to win the Eastern Conference and possibly an NBA Championship. In addition to welcoming back their superstar point guard Derrick Rose, the organization made great offseason moves, adding veteran all-star Pau Gasol, European star Nikola and veteran guard Aaron Brooks.

The energy around the organization and the city was high and people were excited about what the season had to offer. But on February 24, news broke that Derrick Rose had another knee injury, a medial meniscus tear of the right knee, which is an all too familiar story for the Bulls. Derrick Rose has since had surgery and is waiting until he is healthy to get back out on the court, again. He will likely miss the rest of the regular season and the organization is still unsure if he will be ready to go in time for the playoffs.

The constant highs and lows surrounding the Chicago Bulls over the past several years have spurred growing conflict between the front office and the head coach Tom Thibodeau. Those close to the organization have said that it appears the relationship cannot be repaired. This raises the question of whether Tom Thibodeau will leave or be fired at the end of the season.

It has been reported that the likely replacement coach for the Chicago Bulls could be the Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg. Hoiberg is a highly-regarded coach after his consistent success with the Cyclones. Hoiberg is a 10-year NBA veteran and spent time in the Timberwolves front office as well, so he is familiar with the league.

While Fred Hoiberg is more than happy at his current position with Iowa State, an opportunity to coach at the professional level is definitely appealing. Especially with a high profile and great market team such as the Chicago Bulls.

It remains to be seen how the rest of the season will playout. Surely, another early exit from the postseason is not what the Chicago Bulls had in mind. But never count out a miraculous return by Derrick Rose and a deep run in the playoffs ensuring Thibodeau’s job safety. Winning can certainly change everything.

Unbearable Defeat

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By Alexander Pancoe

Please come back ready to kill next season.
Please come back ready to kill next season.

Even the staunchest Chicago fans are finding it hard to stomach the Bears’ recent season, which just closed out with five consecutive losses. It’s difficult to understand how the Bears took such a dramatic turn for the worse following a highly respectable 2013 season. At the end of their rope, the owners are aware that building a new team from scratch is the only workable approach for the season ahead.

Based on the picture that players, speculators, and insiders paint, the team was fraught with internal problems this season, too, undoubtedly contributing to their compromised performance on the field. Reportedly, former head coach Marc Trestman and former general manager Phil Emery were in bitter disagreement over the benching of Jay Cutler midway through the season. Some even say Trestman exhibited uneven disciplininary standards from player to player, causing tension within the team.

From where they stand now, the Bears look forward to a clean slate. With their head coach and general manager already out of the picture, furnishing a new coaching and management staff seems like the logical place to start. Also, the team needs to put new players on the field, restrategize, and figure out what to do with Jay Cutler, who signed a six year, $126.7 million contract at the beginning of last season. Fresh talent could breathe new life into what has become a stagnant franchise.

Soldiering On: Da Bearsss Find Redemption in the Dirty South

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Alexander Pancoe Chicago Super Fans
Just don’t have a heart attack this time, please.

Soldiering On: Da Bearsss Find Redemption in the Dirty South

By Alexander Pancoe

 

Time to put on your grass skirts and dance. After a rough couple of weeks, Da Bearsss found redemption against Atlanta last Sunday with a commanding 27-13 road win. In Chicago and elsewhere, glasses were raised and hopes rekindled. Generic broadcaster comments like “they really played together as a team,” “you can tell that they really had their hearts in the game” and “the Bears really wanted that win,” warmed our hearts. Cutler played astonishingly well, going 26 for 38 in a 381-yard shootout and Pro-Bowl wideout Jeffery accounted for 136 of those yards. Also worth noting: this game was our 750th victory. Huzzah!

With a home game against the Dolphins on the horizon and revitalized support from its fan base, the Bears hope not only for victory on Sunday, but the chance to redefine a thus-far inconsistent season. While it’s possible the Falcons’ loss was more significant than the Bears’ win, it’s nevertheless a step in the right direction. Next on the menu: a can of dolphin-unsafe tuna.

A Rose by any Other Name Would Not Be Derrick Rose

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Roses are red.
Roses ARE red.

A Rose by any Other Name Would Not Be Derrick Rose

By Alexander Pancoe

 

Despite returning to basketball at the FIBA World Cup, the Derrick Rose of old has yet to show his face. Most of us are asking a much bigger question, however: will he be any good come late October?

Perhaps to diffuse concerns regarding his post-injury game, Rose recently boasted that he spent time in the off-season tweaking his jumper. While adjustments to his technique certainly matter, it certainly hasn’t improved his production at the rim. Not by a long shot.
U.S. National Team head coach Mike Krzyzewski even takes note of Rose’s good intentions, but, like us, wants to see the former MVP back to form.

It’s possible Rose doesn’t (and shouldn’t) trust his knees just yet. We understand why he’d say “fool me once” and take a supporting role in this tournament. Regardless, questions persist about his play. One or two games may not prove much one way or the other, but a breakout performance would silence his detractors. Rose is long overdue for one.

Though his less-than-stellar FIBA stats say otherwise, Rose remains confident that his moment of truth is just around the corner. And who really knows? One thing is certain, NBA fans will continue to watch. Chicago fans – all of us – will continue to hope. For more, go here.

Soler Power

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If only...
If only…

Soler Power

By Alexander Pancoe

 

My Cubs have struggled with their regular season play for the past few years – only once in six years have they posted a record over .500. Currently sitting at 64-82, drowning in the deep end of the NL Central standings, there is no chance of seeing the Cubs in the pennant race this October. But it’s not all bad news for us; quietly, the team has been developing new talent that should help in the coming years. Right now, the Cubs enjoy great play from a young infield led by Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, starting pitchers Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks, and recently called-up minor league stars Javy Baez and Jorge Soler. Could the best days still be ahead?

Widely considered a power-hitter with great potential to fit into the Cubs long-term rebuilding plan, Soler smashed one out of the park on his first at-bat last month: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24683400/video-cubs-jorge-soler-goes-deep-in-first-mlb-at-bat

Advancing through the minors earlier this year, Soler notched a .340 batting average, 15 home runs and 57 RBIs in just 62 games. It should come as no surprise, then, that he signed a nine-year, $30 million contract back in 2012. His ability to stay healthy is of some concern, though, as he endured a couple of hamstring injuries in the minors. That said, the future could be bright for the Cubs. With smart free agent acquisitions in the off-season, they can return to the NL Central as contenders rather than journeymen next year.