Yes, that Dave Martinez, the one who once played for the Cubs and is part of team's folklore in an unseemly manner.  I'll touch on that later.

Martinez is in his 4th season as bench coach of the Tampa Rays, a young team that went to the World Series in his second season and has since been a contender. The boyish looking yet fiercely competitive Martinez is considered by many in baseball circles as solid managerial timber. Long time Rays play by play announcer Dewayne Staats (who also shared a Cubs microphone with Harry Caray from 1985 through 1989) believes Martinez is ready to take the next step. "The more you get to know him, the more you see he has the potential to be a very good manager. Being around Ray manager Joe Maddon gives him a better sense of the job."

 While Martinez has spent over three seasons as a bench coach, he's believed to have interviewed for one managerial job; the Cleveland Indians. He has the Cubs' pedigree just like Joe Girardi. What he doesn't have is Girardi's cache; two managerial stints and a World Series title.  This is hard to beat which is why Girardi should be very high on Jim Hendry's list.  But Girardi, who is in the final year of a contract with the Yankees, could stay only it might cost the Steinbrenners a king's ransom. Martinez would manage for peanuts in comparison. While Martinez toils in relative anonymity in Tampa, Staats thinks he could handle with the Cubs. "They haven't won in over a century so the demands and the size of the market are a challenge.  Dave is respected and grades positive in many areas. He would be a solid major league manager."

Martinez broke in with the Cubs in 1986 and spent two plus seasons there until being traded to Montreal in 1988.  It was widely speculated that trade and Rafael Palmeiro's departure after the season was connected to one of the more stunning and scurrilous stories in Cubs history.  Martinez, Palmeiro and several others were linked to having had a romantic interlude with Cindy Sandberg, Ryne's ex-wife.  While the story was never proven, it gained prominence when Sandberg retired suddenly during the 1994 season.  Only ten days after his shocking announcement, Cindy Sandberg filed for divorce. Sandberg, who met his second wife Margaret during his retirement, made a comeback in 1996.  And Martinez also returned to the Cubs, albeit for 18 games during the 2000 season. 

Imagine if Martinez got the job. What would Sandberg think? So while Martinez could become the next manager of the Cubs, his lack of experience and innuendo could doom his chances.

You can catch me on twitter @georgeofman and on Facebook. I'm also a contributor on WGN radio 

What a first half it's been. The surging and almost surreal White Sox were 9 ½ game out of first place some 5 weeks ago. Now they own the penthouse in the Central division. Back on June 8th the Cubs were 6 ½ behind co-leaders St. Louis and Cincinnati. Now they're 9 ½ back.  So, in the spirit of the All-star game, it's time to grade both our Chicago teams. Some of those grades are very good; some not. The Cubs individually graded better than I thought. Tell me what you think?

You can follow me on twitter @georgeofman and on Facebook. I'm also a contributor on WGN radio.

We know Carlos is and to an extent, so is Ozzie Guillen. But Kenny Williams isn't. Bold and calculating, yes but crazy....No!

And this is why Big Z will not wind up on the south side....and shouldn't.

Oh, did I mention Jerry Reinsdorf? Think he'd sign off on the loony from the north side?

We know Carlos is and to an extent, so is Ozzie Guillen. But Kenny Williams isn't. Bold and calculating, yes but crazy....No!

And this is why Big Z will not wind up on the south side....and shouldn't.

Oh, did I mention Jerry Reinsdorf? Think he'd sign off on the loony from the north side?

I've got no problem with this, how about you? Bet you're ticked off LeBron didn't pick the Bulls, or even the Cavs. I'm not. Matter of fact, all the power to him. This is precisely what free agency is all about, even if it's attached to a dog and pony show followed by a somewhat schmaltzy made for TV event. But it was one Hell of a TV event. Kudos to ESPN which milked the publicity machine for every drop and likely had a massive audience. You watched, I watched....everyone watched, except my wife. She was asleep. Her loss.

Was it somewhat boring? Yes. Was it trite? Yes again. Was it captivating? Yes, Yes and Yes. The only thing missing was the question no one wanted to ask. When did LeBron really make the decision? If you believed it was this morning, I've got a cap for that oil well that really does fit! I think Lebron knew where he was going before he received 5 other teams that thought they had a chance. Bulls GM Gar Forman stated, "I remain convinced this organization made the strongest of bids to acquire LeBron James during this free agency period." Maybe the Bulls did, maybe they didn't. Bottom line is they were hoodwinked by LeBron and especially the homeboy, Dwyane Wade. He knew where he was going all along and it was no where. And Chris Bosh knew where he was going. And so did LeBron. They may have known this for days, months or even years!

But in the end, it doesn't matter. LeBron exercised his right to pick and choose where he was moving his mint and it's down to South Florida. I've got no problem with this, how about you?

Now, can the Bulls find a way to win an NBA title in the next 5 years? This, I have a problem with.

You can follow me on twitter @georgeofman and on Facebook. I'm also a contributor on WGN radio

The golden child looks a little green, like a rookie. This was supposed to be the year Gordon Beckham would overtake Mark Buehrle and Ozzie Guillen as the Face of the White Sox Franchise would; Hollywood looks with a Hall of Fame future.

It's not happening.

"I haven't played very well all year. What can you say, it's my fault."

Beckham looks a little rough around the edges these days, the results of a .206 batting average and just 2 home runs. At this rate, he's headed for a face lift and the hall of shame. "It's frustrating. The baseball Gods are not smiling down on me." 

Neither is Ozzie Guillen, the Sox God of the dugout. Beckham is on the bench again because Brent Lillibridge, (whose face belongs on the cover of some teen magazine because he looks about 12 years old) is producing.

 

 

Up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane...No, it's another Lebron James story. Please, gag me with a crowbar!  Whether it's the blustery Stepen A. Smith who claims his sources are impeccable and that LeBron and Chris Bosh are going to join forces with Dwyane Wade in Miami, or the New York Times which sited an NBA executive as saying it's a done deal; LeBron and Bosh are coming to the Bulls, or countless others stating they know where the King will be crowned, the steady stream of rumors is going to force me to solicit emotional advice from Carlos Zambrano!

Who are these people and how come they know so much, or so little?

Is this intriguing story? Yes. Is it alluring? Absolutely. Is it Annoying? You bet. You can't go a minute without the latest titillating tweet or fearless Facefook prediction chronicling the latest adventures of the franchise savior.  Remember when he was spotted somewhere in the northern suburbs checking out new digs? The word is it happened to be Julius Peppers, not LeBron. Honest mistake. I mean we're talking two hulking, African American Athletes in a tax bracket most of us wish we were in. Peppers is already getting paid handsomely by the Bears. But will LeBron have his pay checks printed by the Bulls?

It all depends on the rumor of the day.

Just saw a tweet claiming LeBron was sited at a Unimart in Bolingbrook. I kind of like that one.

Then there was the recent Chicago visit of Lebron to a local fitness guru. Did anyone really see him?  Maybe it was Peppers wearing a LeBron mask.

Seriously, no one knows where LeBron will take his act to next.

The King is about to receive interested teams in his home town of Akron, Ohio the way the Pope receives visitors to the Vatican. I wonder if you get special dispensation if you bring a pair "Air Jordans".

LeBron and his posse (and he has an unusual posse to say the least) will court would be employers including the Bulls. Fortunately, Jerry Krause will be unable to attend unless you can come up with a good rumor linking LeBron and Krause breaking bread and slobbering over crumbs at Cincinnati Reds' game. 

Yeah, it would be great to see LeBron in a Bulls uniform. He's already changing his number from 23 to 6 in deference to Jordan. But he could be wearing that uniform in New York, New Jersey, Miami, L.A. (that's the Clippers, not the Kobes) or Cleveland.  It all depends on the next rumor.

Wait....LeBron's limo just parked at Superdawg. Gotta go.

You can catch me on twitter @georgeofman (No LeBron rumors, really) and on Facebook. Plus, listen to me on WGN radio.

It finally ended, and I couldn't have been more relieved. The longest tennis match in history had become a tortuous exercise in being annoyed. And this is coming from a tennis lover who watches way too much of "The Tennis Channel!  John Isner and Nicolas Mahut created wonderful theater, albeit several acts too long. Aces were the rule, not the exception. Long rallies were short. Guts and adrenalin were not. Holding serve seemed a right. Breaking it might get one of the combatants a jail sentence. The only intrigue was when it would end, not how. But while the riveting 5th set marathon was creating its own drama, it also was creating a babble fest in the broadcast booth. This is when being tortured and annoyed became unwitting partners.

It finally ended, and I couldn't have been more relieved. The longest tennis match in history had become a tortuous exercise in being annoyed. And this is coming from a tennis lover who watches way too much of "The Tennis Channel!  John Isner and Nicolas Mahut created wonderful theater, albeit several acts too long. Aces were the rule, not the exception. Long rallies were short. Guts and adrenalin were not. Holding serve seemed a right. Breaking it might get one of the combatants a jail sentence. The only intrigue was when it would end, not how. But while the riveting 5th set marathon was creating its own drama, it also was creating a babble fest in the broadcast booth. This is when being tortured and annoyed became unwitting partners.