North Center/Lincoln Square Ribfest Today!

Looking for a great variety of ribs to eat? I know that's the first thing that comes to mind for most people when they rise in the morning, so today is your lucky day! Make your way out to Ribfest and try all the ribs you can stomach. It is located near the intersection of Lincoln/Damen/Irving Park, and will be happening most of the day. Oh yea, there will also be all sorts of beer (for those who like to wet their pallet between rib dishes.

Edmonds getting time to find form

Piniella also wants to see what Hoffpauir offers

CHICAGO -- Jim Edmonds has three hits in 20 at-bats since joining the Cubs, and it's a little early to judge what the outfielder can do, manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday.

Edmonds made his second straight start in center field Tuesday after missing most of the Cubs' series in Pittsburgh because the Pirates started three left-handed pitchers.

"Every time a right-hander has pitched, we've had him in the lineup," Piniella said of Edmonds, whom the Cubs acquired after he was released by San Diego on May 9. "Our hope is that he starts swinging the bat the way he has in the past. His experience and the fact he's played in winning situations, those things would help us immensely.

"Obviously, defensive play is important, and I recognize that, but we need for Jim to hit," Piniella said. "We'd like to see him do well."

There is no deadline for Edmonds. However, there is the matter of Micah Hoffpauir, a young left-handed hitter who also is with the team. He was called up when Daryle Ward went on the disabled list, and has appeared in seven games. He's 4-for-10 so far.

"I don't have time limits," Piniella said about Edmonds. "The only problem I have here as a manager is I have a young man named Hoffpauir, and I want to see what he can do, so it creates a little bit of a situation for me as a manager.

"Outside of that, there's no timetable on anything," Piniella said. "[Hoffpauir] has had two good springs for us, and he's hit the ball well. We'd like to have a little clarification also."

What that means is the Cubs and Piniella want to see what Hoffpauir can do at the big league level. He has a career .280 Minor League average, and he was hitting .324 at Triple-A Iowa before he was called up. One option this week was to give Hoffpauir a start and give Derrek Lee a day off, but Piniella is backing off that because the Cubs first baseman has been swinging the bat well.

Edmonds, meanwhile, is trying to find his swing. The biggest surprise for him so far has been seeing the talent level of the Cubs up close. He's been looking at the team from the St. Louis Cardinals side of the field for a long time.

"I think he's getting comfortable," Chicago's Mark DeRosa said. "Fifteen, 16 at-bats is no indication. He's come into a new situation as a guy who played for the arch enemy. His track record speaks for itself. I think he definitely needs a little time."

That's what Edmonds thinks, too.

"The media seemed to make me out to be a bad guy before I got here," he said. "The people outside the clubhouse have a different perspective of me. I know the guys in here appreciate me going out there and playing hard. They don't care what team you've been on and who you've played with or against. When you get in this clubhouse, you turn into a family member instantly. That's what's great for me -- is the guys have been great.

"I'm pretty open and pretty easy to get along with. All the things you've heard in the past are just rumors. I'm just here to have a good time and help the team win."

---Carrie Muskat MLB.com

Madonna's Sticky and Sweet Tour is Stopping in Chicago!

8/23/2008		Cardiff (GBR)		Millennium Stadium
8/26/2008		Nice (FRA)		Stade Charles Ehrmann
8/28/2008		Berlin (DEU)		Olympiastadion
9/2/2008		Amsterdam (NLD)		Amsterdam Arena
9/4/2008		Dusseldorf (DEU)		LTU Arena
9/6/2008		Rome (ITA)		Olympic Stadium
9/9/2008		Frankfurt (DEU)		Commerzbank Arena
9/11/2008		London (GBR)		Wembley Stadium
9/20/2008		Paris (FRA)		Stade de France
10/3/2008		East Rutherford, NJ		Izod Center
10/6/2008		New York, NY		Madison Square Garden Arena
10/7/2008		New York, NY		Madison Square Garden Arena
10/15/2008		Boston, MA		TD Banknorth Garden
10/18/2008		Toronto, ON		Air Canada Centre
10/22/2008		Montreal, QC		Bell Centre
10/26/2008		Chicago, IL		United Center
10/30/2008		Vancouver, BC		BC Place Stadium
11/1/2008		Oakland, CA		Oracle Arena
11/4/2008		San Diego, CA		PETCO Park
11/6/2008		Los Angeles, CA		Dodger Stadium
11/8/2008		Las Vegas, NV		MGM Grand Garden Arena
11/11/2008		Denver, CO		Pepsi Center
11/16/2008		Houston, TX		Minute Maid Park
11/19/2008		Philadelphia, PA		The Wachovia Center
11/22/2008		Atlantic City, NJ		Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
11/24/2008		Atlanta, GA		Philips Arena
11/26/2008		Miami Gardens, FL		Dolphin Stadium

Tina Turner is Rolling into Chicago!

FYI, Tina Turner has schedule a couple dates for this October here in Chicago. One is at the United Center and the other is at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

Fri, 10/03/08

08:00 PM United Center

Chicago, IL

Mon, 10/06/08

07:30 PM Allstate Arena

Rosemont, IL

presale begins:

Thu, 05/08/08 10:00 AM

American Idols Live! Coming to Allstate Arena

As the American Idols season wraps up, the hype surrounding the consequent tour is bubbling up. As if the show wasn't a bit enough money maker, this tour (as all have been) will be colossal as well. With a stage setup like the Stones (and the screaming girls of The Beatles), the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL will be filled to the brim with young and old fans alike anticipating a glimpse of their favorite Idol. The Idol tour, aptly called 'American Idols Live!', will be coming to the Allstate Arena in Chicagoland on July 19, but you can get your tickets on May 17 during the public onsale. As in the past, tickets will go fast, so have everyone trying online at Ticketmaster.com before the sale begins. If you miss out on the Rosemont show, you can catch the one in Indianapolis or St. Louis, but they will likely sell out quickly as well. See the full tour list below:

American Idols Tour 2008

Public Onsales May 17th

DATE MARKET VENUE

July 1 Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena

July 2 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena

July 3 Fresno, CA SaveMart Center

July 5 Las Vegas, NV Thomas & Mack Center

July 7 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

July 8 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose

July 9 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena

July 11 Portland, OR Rose Garden

July 12 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome

July 14 West Valley City, UT The "E" Center

July 18 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center

July 19 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena

July 20 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center

July 22 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse

July 23 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena

July 24 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena

July 26 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

July 27 Rochester, NY BlueCross Arena

July 29 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena

July 30 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

August 2 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall

August 4 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum

August 6 Albany, NY Times Union Center

August 8 Hartford, CT XL Center

August 9 Worcester, MA DCU Center

August 10 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Center

August 12 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena

August 13 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center

August 14 Washington DC Verizon Center

August 16 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena

August 17 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena

August 18 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center

August 20 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center

August 21 Tampa, FL St Pete Times Forum

August 24 Houston, TX Toyota Center

August 25 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

August 26 Bossier City, LA CenturyTel Center

August 28 Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center

August 29 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

August 31 Minneapolis, MN Target Center

September 2 Green Bay, WI Resch Center

September 3 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena

September 4 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center

September 6 Bridgeport, CT Arena at Harbor Yard

September 7 Providence, RI Dunkin Donuts Center

September 8 Wilkes Barre, PA Wachovia Arena

September 10 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County Memorial Coliseum

September 11 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium

September 13 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

Frustration, Confusion As American Cancels Flights

Airline Grounds More Than 1,000 Flights Nationwide, Including 138 Out Of O'Hare And More Than 200 In Dallas

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Lines are long and tempers are short at O'Hare International Airport and across the country, after American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights nationwide Wednesday as it inspects hundreds of planes for the second time.

In Chicago, nearly 140 flights were canceled Wednesday. That is on top of 500 canceled flights nationwide on Tuesday, including 66 in Chicago.

As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, passengers' patience is being sorely tested, and for many, the situation was best described by the words of Yogi Berra – it was like déjà vu all over again.

One man said all the confusion was costing him a meeting, which in turn would cost him $27,000. That is just one story of many from angry, frustrated, dazed and confused travelers.

"It's your fault. It's American Airlines' fault," traveler Ken Thomas said to an American Airlines ticket agent.

"I don't know what to tell you," she replied.

The flight boards at American were riddled with the word "canceled."

"I found out when I was driving here, and only because my husband called me and said they canceled 400 flights," said American passenger Jana Tarazi.

When Tarazi arrived at O'Hare, she and several others in line for the American Airlines ticket counter were handed a slip of paper with the airline's customer service number.

"You obviously can't get through to it, because everyone's calling it," Tarazi said.

All of this is a result of American having to ground all but 12 of its MD-80 aircraft. At issue is how cords have been used to secure bundles of wires in the plane's wheel wells. The number of canceled flights could increase, depending on how quickly the airline could inspect and, if necessary, rework the wiring in its fleet of MD-80s.

American operates about 2,300 daily flights, and more than one-third use MD-80s, most commonly for midrange flights from hub airports in Dallas and Chicago.

American Airlines local spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said the planes would be rolled back into service as quickly as possible after they were inspected.

"We have a grand total of 300 airplanes in the fleet, and each plane would fly perhaps eight to 10 flights a day when it is operating. Right now this morning, we have 255 airplanes still being worked on; still being looked at," Fagan said. "As we're able to bring those aircraft back online, we're certainly doing that, and we're working very hard to accommodate our passengers. Other airlines have said they would help us and assist us with taking our passengers."

It was American's second bout with mass cancellations in less than two weeks for failing to meet the same wiring rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is cracking down on airlines after admitting its inspectors were too lax last year with Southwest Airlines Co.

Since the FAA began looking more closely at airlines' compliance with safety directives, there have been cancellations at Southwest, Delta Air Lines Inc. and UAL Corp.'s United Airlines. The agency levied a $10.2 million civil penalty against Southwest for using planes that had missed inspections for cracks in the fuselage.

Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American, said an FAA inspector checked several MD-80s Monday and found that some of the wiring work performed two weeks ago didn't meet FAA standards. At issue: the spacing and direction of cords used to secure bundles of wires in the planes' auxiliary hydraulic systems.

Beginning Tuesday afternoon, American began yanking planes out of service so that wiring bundles could be inspected and stowed properly in the wheel wells. Gerard Arpey, the chief executive of American and its parent, AMR Corp., apologized for the inconvenience and said the airline was working to comply with FAA orders.

The airline said flight safety was never compromised, but, in an interview with CBS 2 sister station KTVT-TV, Dallas, AA spokesman Charley Wilson walked off camera when questioned about safety.

CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports the airline said wires in the planes wheel wells were being inspected fro technical compliance and that safety was not an issue. Many industry analysts agree.

"I don't think any airline has been unsafe or flying aircraft that is un-airworthy," said Professor Aaron Gellman of Northwestern University.

Critics believe the American cancellations are an attempt to fend off fines similar to that Southwest Airlines received.

"I think this is a push by the FAA to show it has backbone," Gellman said.

The Fort Worth-based airline said it would put displaced travelers on other American flights or those operated by competitors. Wagner said that because the delays were "within our control" and not weather-related, American was offering meals, lodging and ground transportation to affected travelers.

When Fagan was asked if American would be providing food or lodging vouchers, she said, "I'm sure we're working to assist them in all ways possible."

Fagan suggested that passengers be sure to check the status of their flights ahead of time.

"Obviously since last night, we've been telling passengers to call and check before they leave home so they can determine if their flight is operating, to check AA.com our Web site, to call our (reservation) office," Fagan said. "It may take some time, certainly, to get reaccommondated."

Passenger Thomas blamed the airlines' compliance problems for the situation at O'Hare.

"It's the fact that these airlines are cutting it so thin that finally it's catching up to them, but the point is, we're the people that suffer," Thomas said.

After phone work and time in line, some people were getting on other aircraft. But others experienced further problems.

Another woman was headed to an Iron Man competition. But when she went to her alternate carrier, she says she could not fly because American would not release her ticket. So she was stuck again.

"I think I'm done with American and ready to move on," the woman said.

Mark Rausch said he had been stranded since about 1:40 a.m. Wednesday morning. He said he was first stranded in Dallas, and was rescheduled for a flight scheduled to leave at 2 p.m. from Dallas to Louisville. But since there was no guarantee that flight would come, he instead flew to Chicago.

Rausch said American did not offer him any lodging, meals or ground transportation.

On Wednesday, it was difficult at best to get any information from American. But for travelers, there was a hospitality table out serving orange juice and cookies to stranded passengers.

AA's Web site says it does regret any inconvenience.

-Kristyn Hartman and Vince Gerasole

Bulls recall Brown and Simmons from the D-League

April 1, 2008 – The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has recalled guard Shannon Brown and forward Cedric Simmons from the Iowa Energy of the D-League. The pair was assigned to the Iowa club on March 15.

In six games with the Energy, Brown (6-4, 211) averaged 25.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.3 apg and 2.00 spg in 35.0 mpg. He has appeared in four NBA games since the Bulls acquired him via trade with Cleveland on Feb. 21, and holds averages of 6.0 ppg and 1.0 rpg in 12.3 mpg in 19 appearances this season with Cleveland and Chicago.

Simmons (6-9, 235) also played in six games with the Energy and posted averages of 15.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 2.20 bpg in 29.3 mpg. He was also acquired by the Bulls in the Feb. 21 trade and has seen action in four games in Chicago. On the season, he has played in 11 games and averaged 0.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 7.1 mpg.

Both Brown and Simmons will be with the Bulls tonight when they host the Boston Celtics at the United Center.

Pierzynski the AL Player of the Week

White Sox catcher hit .500 with two homers and seven RBIs

If there really is a chip on the White Sox shoulders following a dismal 2007 season, A.J Pierzynski is undoubtedly driven by it. The veteran catcher tattooed American League Central pitching in the season's opening week, going 10-for-20 with two home runs, seven RBIs and seven runs scored.

Pierzynski's offensive output not only helped the Sox go 4-2 in a pair of rivalry road series, but also gave way to his first weekly honor. The backstop was bestowed the AL Player of the Week Award, presented by Bank of America, for the week starting March 31.

Pierzynski has had a hot start by anyone's standards, but it is even more impressive when you consider this: just this spring, he revamped his entire mentality at the plate.

The 31-year-old left-handed hitter worked diligently with hitting coach Greg Walker on driving the ball up the middle, or hitting from left field to right field. The newfound thought process has paid off right from the get-go. Pierzynski's go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning of Friday's 8-5 victory was launched over the right-field fence.

"As good a contact hitter as he is, he should drive in a lot of runs," said teammate Paul Konerko. "He could be the key to the team. When you have a guy in the six-hole doing what he's doing, that's a pretty tough sixth spot."

Pierzynski has certainly made it look effortless in baseball's opening week. In addition to his blast off Detroit's Jason Grilli, he went deep off the Tribe's Jorge Julio on April 3 and entered Monday's home opener with an eight-game hit streak, dating back to Sept. 22, 2007. Friday's contest marked Pierzynski's first five-RBI game since Aug. 13, 2004, at Philadelphia, and it has had a ripple effect on the Sox lineup.

"There's no doubt, we're a lot better," said manager Ozzie Guillen on the effect of Pierzynski's strong hitting.

But for all of his early season success, the two-time AL All-Star remains humble. Pierzynski is quick to peg "luck" for his success against Julio, barely acknowledging the fact that his bat has helped the Sox lineup hit on all cylinders.

But there is one thing Pierznyski has no problem admitting -- his dazzling offense is only just getting started.

"Let's be honest. We stunk last year, myself included, I wasn't very good," Pierzynski said. "We have a lot of professional guys that want to win and expect to win, and that's what we want to do this year."

Pierzynski's teammate, outfielder Jermaine Dye, who hit .417 with two home runs and three RBIs last week, was also nominated for the award. Angels second baseman Howard Kendrick (.444, three RBIs) and Yankees ace right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (2-0, 1.38 ERA) rounded out the first week's nominees.

-Brittany Ghiroli MLB.com

Contreras eliminating language barrier

Hurler mastering English to ease off-the-field transition

CHICAGO -- During the early stages of his Major League baseball career in New York, Jose Contreras truly felt as if he was not a fan favorite.

This distance from the Yankees' support system didn't deal with Contreras' occasional struggles on the field, especially his troubles against the Red Sox, which would be more than enough reason to cause a revolt in the Bronx. Instead, the affable right-hander felt disconnected because he couldn't communicate with the men and women who paid money to watch him work.

Contreras actually pictured fans chastising him behind his back because he really couldn't comprehend their various requests.

"Sometimes, when I first got here and I didn't think I needed English, the fans were asking me for an autograph and I didn't understand," explained Contreras through translator Omer Munoz. "I walked away many times because I didn't know what they wanted.

"I thought the fans were saying how I'm not such a good person because I walked away. I really didn't understand what was going on."

It has been a long and strange trip for Contreras since those beginning days in New York in 2003, one that has left him with a World Series ring, a White Sox franchise-record 17 straight winning decisions and the only season in which this supreme talent has ever struggled in 2007. The journey also has produced a pitcher from Cuba who now can capably speak conversational English, to go along with his fluency in Spanish.

How did Contreras get to this point with a language he knew absolutely nothing of upon arriving in the United States? He hired an English tutor to live with him in Tampa, Fla., during the final three months of the offseason and then again in Tucson, Ariz., during Spring Training.

The situation forced Contreras to study in an English-intensive atmosphere, since the tutor didn't speak any Spanish. The pair went shopping at stores and ate at restaurants, so Contreras could begin the communication process and get over the shyness of testing out his English.

According to Munoz, the White Sox batting practice pitcher, and manager Ozzie Guillen, who both hail from Venezuela, overcoming that fear of embarrassment stands as the biggest hurdle in mastering the new language for Hispanic players.

"When I first came here to the States, I found the first part is going out there and not being afraid to make a mistake when you try to speak," Munoz said.

"Don't be afraid to make mistakes when you talk because when you learn another language, you will make mistakes," added Guillen, who picked up English through his teammates when he began playing as a teenager. "After this life in baseball is another life, and we have to take care of that life, too. It will be easier if you learn the language."

Guillen delivered this same message to the White Sox Minor Leaguers in a talk he had before exiting Tucson. The impression many Spanish-speaking players have, according to Guillen, is that they don't need English for baseball because they are just here to play the game and earn money.

Nothing could be further from the truth, as Contreras gradually found out. It's no coincidence that Contreras began to flourish with the White Sox, playing for a Spanish-speaking manager, with a strong Hispanic base on the roster.

Becoming proficient in English, though, has opened new lines of communication for him this season.

"I'm not afraid to go to somebody and start a conversation," Contreras said. "In years past, I would come into the locker room, sit here and shy away from everybody. I was afraid to say something. Not afraid, but afraid of making a mistake.

"Now, I talk to anyone around me, on the plane, also. On the plane before, I used to sit in my seat and not talk to anyone. I start conversations with others and a lot of my teammates are surprised when I'll say something, and they know I now know what I'm saying."

Current focus for Contreras continues to hone in on his mound work. He's in search of a more consistent effort this Thursday against Minnesota's Livan Hernandez than he showed last Friday in Detroit, when his good stuff returned but he had trouble finding the strike zone.

After Contreras and the White Sox finish action on Thursday night, Contreras will speak to the media through Munoz. But his greater comprehension of the language already became readily apparent this spring, when he would answer questions asked in English by reporters before they were translated into Spanish.

This offseason move was made by Contreras to help him relate more to his two daughters, Naylan and Naylenis, who Contreras proudly points out learned English in three or four months after they arrived in the United States. His studies also will play a role in setting him up for life after baseball, which could come as soon as four or five years down the line.

His lesson learned the somewhat hard way has been passed on to Alexei Ramirez, the Cuban émigré who joined Contreras with the White Sox in 2008. According to Contreras, life becomes easier when you know what people want or what they are saying.

"He won't have me or anyone else around after baseball," Munoz said. "That's why he's taking those classes."

"In this country, the language of choice is English and I want to learn that language," Contreras added. "Back then, it was difficult for me. Now, I feel a part of society. I can go to a restaurant. People approach my table, and I can try to talk to them. Now, I'm thinking how this will help me when I'm done playing."

-Scott Merkin MLB.com

Danks gets early hook as White Sox fall

Right-hander allows seven runs in 2 1/3; trio hit solo homers

CHICAGO -- Having your first reliever into the game throw more pitches than the respective starter is never a good sign for a team. But that exact scenario played out for the White Sox during Wednesday's 12-5 shellacking at the hands of the Twins at a cold U.S. Cellular Field.

John Danks, who was so impressive in his first start exactly one week ago at Progressive Field, allowed seven runs on seven hits over 2 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out two. Danks struggled from the outset, with the first five hitters reaching base, but a pickoff of leadoff man Carlos Gomez held the Twins' first-inning output to two runs.

Minnesota (4-5) scored five in the third and then added five in the sixth, with Jason Kubel's grand slam off of Nick Masset pretty much putting a halt to a potential comeback by the White Sox (5-3) and ending their five-game win streak. For the night, Danks threw 69 pitches while Masset, working 3 2/3 innings in long relief, finished with 71.

The White Sox put together a brief rally via the long ball against Scott Baker (2-0). Nick Swisher (second), Paul Konerko (first) and Joe Crede (third) led off the third through the fifth with solo shots, but the White Sox could not muster any further offense.

-Scott Merkin MLB.com