Blackhawks can't match the pregame hoopla

October 14, 2008

Madison Street is a beautiful sight.

Recent columns

• It all happened so fast for Bears

  October 13, 2008

  ATLANTA — Everybody was still trying to figure out how the Bears won the game when they lost the game.

• It all happened so fast for Bears

  October 12, 2008

  Everybody was still trying to figure out how the Bears won the game when they lost the game.

• Bears' Kyle Orton the real deal

  October 12, 2008

  Many sports fans in Chicago are going goofily overboard—it's what we do—because it looks like we have finally found ourselves a quarterback.

• A look back on a Chicago baseball season gone bad

  October 9, 2008

  I know thousands of you must have had a World Series with the Cubs on your bucket list—things to see before you croak.

• Cubs needed rewrite from Hollywood

  October 5, 2008

  Well, thanks for watching, Chicago. Very sorry, Ron Santo. Too bad, Ernie Banks. Looks like it's Groundhog Day all over again, Bill Murray. We know you've seen this before with those huge eyeglasses, Harry Caray, even from way up there where you are.

• Southern California looks ominous for Cubs

  October 4, 2008

  LOS ANGELES — Winging to the West Coast this time of year was supposed to be totally cool.

• Southern California looks ominous for Cubs

  October 3, 2008

  Winging to the West Coast this time of year was supposed to be totally cool.

• Do-or-die turns into slow death for Cubs

  October 3, 2008

  I did the math.

• Do-or-die turns into slow death for Cubs

  October 3, 2008

  I did the math.

• Do-or-die turns into slow death for Cubs

  October 3, 2008

  I did the math.

• Cubs can raise 'L' flag

  October 2, 2008

  No, Cubs, no!

• In Game 1, it's just Cubs being Cubs

  October 1, 2008

  No, Cubs, no!

• Blue not the only common feature

  September 30, 2008

  THINK BLUE reads a sign on a lush hill behind Dodger Stadium's outfield fence beyond the palms. It's in easy-to-read capital letters, like that one that says HOLLYWOOD.

• Playoff atmosphere arrives at the Cell one game early

  September 30, 2008

  Nerves frayed. White Sox hanging by a thread.

• White Sox keep coming back for more

  September 29, 2008

  Everybody is extremely excited about the White Sox living to play another day.

• White Sox still breathing despite gloom of recent slump

  September 28, 2008

  Friday night's game began at the customary convenience store time of 7:11.

• White Sox can't take advantage of good fortune

  September 28, 2008

  Everybody keeps helping out the White Sox except the White Sox.

• White Sox fans in dark mood at Cell

  September 27, 2008

  Friday night's game began at the customary convenience store time of 7:11.

• MIKE DOWNEY: PLENTY OF SOX MISSING WORLD SERIES RINGS

  September 23, 2008

  Ken Griffey Jr. has never been in a World Series. He is nearly 39 years old, so he is running out of time.

• Plenty of Sox missing Series rings

  September 23, 2008

  Ken Griffey Jr. has never been in a World Series. He is nearly 39 years old, so he is running out of time.

• No excuse for Peanut Tillman's penalty

  September 22, 2008

  Charles "Peanut" Tillman, WHAT were you thinking? What possessed you? Why would you let an opponent provoke you that way? How could a smart football player like you pull such a stupid stunt?

• Freaky Friday merely a bump

  September 21, 2008

  Carlos Zambrano and friends came back to twirl a rare 18-hitter.

• Cubs ride momentum into playoffs

  September 21, 2008

  Well, too bad a few of those other 2008 Cubs who played a part in this couldn't have been a part of this.

• Cubs ride momentum into playoffs

  September 21, 2008

  Well, too bad a few of those other 2008 Cubs who played a part in this couldn't have been a part of this.

• Cubs title could be start of something big

  September 21, 2008

  Well, too bad a few of those other 2008 Cubs who played a part in this couldn't have been a part of this.

• Not Zambrano's day to celebrate

  September 20, 2008

  Carlos Zambrano and friends came back to twirl a rare 18-hitter.

• Cubs' playoff chatter no matter ... yet

  September 18, 2008

  I can't tell yet which team the Cubs will draw in the playoffs—Joe Torre's Dodgers? Jerry Manuel's Mets? Whoever manages the Phillies' Phillies?

• Loud crowd drowns out Astros' logic

  September 15, 2008

  Downey's Eleven:

• Superstar or not, there's no doubt Zambrano's effort shines

  September 15, 2008

  No way. Carlos Zambrano's arm is killing him, so he doesn't pitch for 11 days, but he comes back and throws a no-hitter? No way.

• Chicago baseball in a holding pattern

  September 14, 2008

  Saturday's pair of White Sox home games had to be called off, which means our rainout dates are beginning to stack up like planes at O'Hare.

• Bears knew Matt Forte was special

  September 11, 2008

  He broke one 50 yards untouched for a touchdown on the fourth carry of his NFL career Sunday night in prime time, and Americans in front of TV sets heard Al Michaels and John Madden rave as they saw replays of Matt Forte's zigs and zags. And they turned to each other in their homes and asked:

• It's showtime for Bears

  September 8, 2008

  INDIANAPOLIS — OK, it's Sunday night, and we saw what the Cubs and White Sox did, so we are definitely ready for some football. Time for the Kyle Orton show, and I know you Bears fans are going to be very happy because, according to center Olin Kreutz a few days ago: "I think you're going to see a much different quarterback. I think Kyle's going to be one of the better quarterbacks in the whole NFL."

• It's showtime for Bears

  September 8, 2008

  OK, it's Sunday night, and we saw what the Cubs and White Sox did, so we are definitely ready for some football. Time for the Kyle Orton show, and I know you Bears fans are going to be very happy because, according to center Olin Kreutz a few days ago: "I think you're going to see a much different quarterback. I think Kyle's going to be one of the better quarterbacks in the whole NFL."

• After 50 years, comic strip still tackling issues

  September 7, 2008

  A mythic coach marks his 50th anniversary Monday. If you haven't paid him a visit in a while, this might be a fine time.

• Irish have luck, but not much else

  September 7, 2008

  Notre Dame looks like Notre Dame again.

• Gil Thorp features more than just sports

  September 6, 2008

  A mythic coach marks his 50th anniversary Monday. If you haven't paid him a visit in a while, this might be a fine time.

• Bears unlikely to surprise in 2008

  September 5, 2008

  As a lifelong Bears fan, true-and-blue division, it kills me whenever the Bears look weak.

• Without Zambrano, it's not gonna happen

  September 4, 2008

  We know the guy with TORO 38 on his license plate is as strong as a bull. We suspect that he has the pride and heart and fearlessness of a lion.

• As 'tired arm' emerges, Cubs' bats retreat into the shadows

  September 2, 2008

  A lot of talk about a "tired arm" has been aimed in Carlos Zambrano's direction of late, so it will be very interesting to see how much zing Big Z's wing has Tuesday when he pitches with it at Wrigley Field.

• Cubs' bats retreat into the shadows

  September 2, 2008

  A lot of talk about a "tired arm" has been aimed in Carlos Zambrano's direction of late, so it will be very interesting to see how much zing Big Z's wing has Tuesday when he pitches with it at Wrigley Field.

• DOWNEY: Real medal winners at Beijing

  August 24, 2008

  BEIJING — Mike's Medals:

• U.S. delivers punch-junk effort

  August 23, 2008

  BEIJING — Oh, how Howard Cosell would mock this.

• Chance for U.S. to regain swagger

  August 22, 2008

  In 1936, our basketball team kicked some serious Olympic butt.

• A chance for U.S. to regain swagger

  August 22, 2008

  BEIJING—In 1936, our basketball team kicked some serious Olympic butt.

• Usain Bolt blends speed, need to dance

  August 21, 2008

  BEIJING — Ding Dong must love this.

• Usain Bolt blends speed, need to dance

  August 21, 2008

  Ding Dong must love this.

• 3-sport Olympian conquers demons

  August 20, 2008

  BEIJING—Terrorized by a stalker, depressed, seeing a psychologist, dreading medication, selling her house to avoid bankruptcy, seeing the guy placed under house arrest, having him turn up anyhow, fearing murder or rape, hearing he was arrested again, testifying at his trial, watching him go to prison for five years …

• 3-sport Olympian conquers demons

  August 20, 2008

  Terrorized by a stalker, depressed, seeing a psychologist, dreading medication, selling her house to avoid bankruptcy, seeing the guy placed under house arrest, having him turn up anyhow, fearing murder or rape, hearing he was arrested again, testifying at his trial, watching him go to prison for five years …

• Mike Downey: U.S., China play different kind of hardball

  August 19, 2008

  BEIJING — Our relations with China were nearly broken at the plate.

• There's no limit for Rafael Nadal

  August 18, 2008

  BEIJING — Tall and tan and young and handsome, the boy from España goes walking. And each girl he passes goes, "Aaah."

• There's no limit for Nadal

  August 17, 2008

  Tall and tan and young and handsome, the boy from España goes walking. And each girl he passes goes, "Aaah."

• Sprinter Usain Bolt puts on a show

  August 17, 2008

  BEIJING — One flew through the Bird's Nest.

• Bolt wins, but could he have run faster?

  August 16, 2008

  One flew through the Bird's Nest.

• Magical journey for Torres

  August 16, 2008

  Dara Torres was born on April 15, 1967, two weeks before a blessed event at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas -- the wedding of singer Elvis Presley and his bride, Priscilla.

• Magical journey for swimmer Torres

  August 16, 2008

  BEIJING — Dara Torres was born on April 15, 1967, two weeks before a blessed event at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas — the wedding of singer Elvis Presley and his bride, Priscilla.

• Phelps continues the chase for gold

  August 11, 2008

  Michael Phelps, half man, half chlorine, continued his quest to become the aqua king of the world.

• The warm glow of the Olympics turns cold too quickly

  August 9, 2008

  You felt peace, serenity, joy.

• Games promise mix of fear, hope

  August 8, 2008

  He answered to "Frenchy" when he played for the Dodgers and managed the Cubs. He answered to just about anything in his Hollywood acting gigs, playing a bum on "Knight Rider," a cannibal on "Gilligan's Island" and a goon in the Riddler's mob on an episode of " Batman."

• Ken Griffey Jr. in a Sox uniform? I'm stoked

  August 1, 2008

  I zipped over to the Web sites as fast as my fingers could type Thursday to find out if it was fiction or fact.

• Peoria's brawlers ready for Wrigley

  July 29, 2008

  Hide the kids. Cover your ears. Guard your face. Here come the Peoria Chiefs!

• Who knew? July, not June, swoon for Cubs

  July 27, 2008

  Well, you fun-loving, song-singing, "W"-flag-waving Cubs fans, you still feeling confident in the Confines? Did you see this coming?

• Let's make a deal to rev up the rivalry

  July 22, 2008

  I had an idea. The deal of the century. The deal of any century. The most talked-about trade in the history of trades.

• Still in the fast lane

  July 20, 2008

  Greg Norman is leading the British Open? After three rounds? By two shots? At 53?

• Daley rings up another win

  April 15, 2007

  Ten days shy of his 65th birthday, Mayor Richard M. Daley of the running, jumping, tumbling, fighting city of Chicago was presented with a gift Saturday more precious to him than silver or gold.

• Baseball is lost if game is not true

  June 5, 2003

  There it sat, a Sammy Sosa bat, lying flat. It was the one (we hope) he swung to hit his 500th home run, hermetically sealed at the Field Museum like an Egyptian art relic or a dinosaur bone.

• Sosa's bat, credibility shatter

  June 4, 2003

  It was as if someone had caught Superman using brass knuckles, or suspected Robin Hood of stealing from the poor, or accused King Arthur of rigging it so that the sword would slide easily out of the stone.