B 1 – Chicago Bulls – started out the season with a bang, fell apart mid-to late season but made the playoffs. Fun team to watch, lots of talent when the whole team was healthy. To quote the movie On The Waterfront featuring Marlon Brando – “I coulda been a contender” truly applied to the Bulls this year, again, if the team had all of its talent healthy at one time. And, unfortunately, they had to face last year’s title holders in the first round of the playoffs and fell to the Milwaukee Bucks. Good season nonetheless even though it ended much too soon. Will next year be better – it should B!

B 2 – Chicago Blackhawks – Still have so much talent but the season was very disappointing. Turmoil off the ice may have played a part – Coaching change early in the season and the case of former player Kyle Beach’s lawsuit charging a former assistant coach with sexual assault in 2010 and the team’s failure to handle the situation properly. Throw in at least 3 different goalies during the season including the brief but nice tenure for Marc-Andre Fleury who now plays for Minnesota. But we still have Patrick Kane who continues to pursue excellence and add to his Hall-of-Fame career. Will next year be better – it better B!

B3 – Becoming Annika – Golf Channel aired a special documentary this week on the Hall-of-Fame LPGA player Annika Sorenstam. It was really well done and I highly recommend it to all who love the game and those who want to get a fuller picture of this uber talented golfer. How SWEDE she was and is still having not played competitively for nearly 13 years while raising a family. She entered the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open in her very first senior event – and won by 8 strokes. Annika, Annika, Annika! As someone from the sports media for over 20 years and covering a lot of golf tournaments, I had the great honor and pleasure to see Annika play in person many times and she is the GOAT to me. Her game from tee to green was Brilliant.  Briefly, she won 72 tournaments in 307 starts on the LPGA Tour. Her 23.5 career winning percentage is the highest of any player, male or female, at the game’s highest level. Collected 10 major titles in 57 starts. Add the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship to this already stellar career and you can’t help but B impressed.

B4 – Bummed out: No Cubs No – I used to B a Cubs fan – in fact, spent most of my life as an avid fan and attended many games and watched them all the time on TV. Loved my Cubs – cried when they finally won the World Series in 2016 and went crazy buying souvenir tees and hats etc. displaying my pride and joy in their long awaited Championship. But wait – 2021 – mid-season – dump Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant. Brizzo and Baez – three of the team’s best players and biggest draws. WTF – I couldn’t believe and still can’t believe it. This really Bummed me out and I’m still holding a major grudge. I quit watching them in 2021 after this happened and I haven’t watched a game since. BOO HISS – and I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive the owners and management for dumping those guys. It sucked and I’m Cubby BLUE BLUE BLUE.

B5 – Brittney Griner – WNBA standout player still detained in Russia – our government is work diligently to get her home but with the war in Ukraine and our strained relationship with Russia – it is difficult to say the least. Keep her in your thoughts and we all hope to see her back in the WNBA soon.

B6 – Don’t know why but I am pulling for the Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup this year. The Flames defeated the Canadiens in six games to win their first and only Stanley Cup in 1989. Yes that’s 33 years ago and it is about time for them to B Stanley Cup Champions once again. I’ll B watching!