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Media, Sports and News

Illini coaching search heats up

By HERB GOULD December 3, 2011 11:30PM

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Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is on Illinois’ list. | Al Goldis~AP (left), Nick Ut~AP

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Updated: December 4, 2011 12:27AM

INDIANAPOLIS — Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas reportedly is interviewing up to four candidates here this weekend as he closes in on a successor to Ron Zook. At least two coordinators and one head coach are believed on Thomas’ interview list, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said.

A lot of speculation centers around Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi are receiving head-coach attention, but neither looks like a slam-dunk at Illinois.

Both are talented coaches, but Chryst is not known as a top recruiter. And Narduzzi doesn’t fit the profile if Thomas wants the buzz of an offense-oriented coach. But he is charismatic, and he was an assistant at Cincinnati when Thomas was the AD there.

Houston coach Kevin Sumlin is expected to have more attractive options, such as Texas A&M, if he doesn’t agree to an extension at Houston.

One candidate who might address Illinois’ needs is Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who directs the nation’s second highest-scoring offense and is a Wheaton native with a strong Chicago-area recruiting reputation.

If Monken is on Thomas’ list, it’s unlikely they met in Indy. Monken was preoccupied with coaching the Cowboys in their showdown with Oklahoma on Saturday night.

The job posting at the university website says the application period will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Thomas, who wants to move quickly for recruiting purposes, could announce his choice by Wednesday or Thursday.

When the bowl lineup is announced Sunday night, look for the Big Ten to place 10 teams in postseason games, which would tie the conference record set in 2007.

Michigan is expected to receive an at-large bid to the Sugar Bowl. That would mark the seventh year in a row that the Big Ten has placed two teams in BCS bowls.

Wisconsin earned a Rose Bowl appearance by beating Michigan State 42-39 in the inaugural Big Ten title game Saturday night. One drawback to the championship game is that the conference’s second-best team is expected to drop down to the Outback Bowl.

The positive is that two Big Ten team were attractive enough to move up behind the league champion. Besides Michigan, newcomer Nebraska is expected to make its first bowl appearance as a Big Ten team in the Capital One Bowl.

The Insight Bowl is expected to take Iowa for a second consecutive year, ignoring the usual bias against taking a team in back-to-back years, because the Hawkeyes travel so well, and because Penn State might not travel well this year.

The murkiest situation is Illinois, which is likely to go to a bowl that doesn’t have a Big Ten tie-in. Although some experts have the Illini in the New Orleans Bowl, that game is on Dec. 17, which is problematic for a school in which exams end Dec. 16.

An Illinois-UCLA matchup on Dec. 31 makes a lot more sense: Two solid programs playing for interim coaches.

More On Outfits

Charles asks…

outfits. .?

i need anyones opinion on they’re favorite cheap but good quality outfits :)
like what accesories they use and stuff like that. i kinda just want inspiration(:

lov-3 answers:

Since it’s winter, I love scarves. They can recreate any outfit and they’re not too expensive. Buy plenty for different looks. They have solids, plaid, stripped, etc…

Jenny asks…

Outfits?!?

Okay…So my little sister is looking for a “Stunning” I’m back….Back to school outfit…Shes 10 years old….I’ve been trying to think of some stuff but i cant i have Outfit Block.Can you give me some outfits that will fit her Age..Thanks

lov-3 answers:

Http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=2678461

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=2678610

Sandra asks…

OUTFITS?????????????????????

any cute outfits i could get for summer?
any stores send the links!

thanks! ill answer you question!

lov-3 answers:

Http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&safe=off&q=summer+outfits&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=aJ3wSeXuBpT0Mt_W5NAP&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

Lisa asks…

[[OUTFiTS:]]?

who wants an outfit for them? i’ll make an outfit for 3 people! [[maybee more if i have time.]]

please list your:
[[style]]
[[fave store]]
[[least fave stores]]
[[fave colors]]
[[bag, shoes, or both]]
[[occasion]]
[[anything else]]

please copy/paste/then fill in, it makes it SO much easier for me to read. i’ll post you’re outfits as additional details.

XOXO<33
OUTFiT FOR CUTiE<3

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/app#foo

[[click on link and look for the set with your user name! =]]
XOXO<33
OUTFiT FOR WALKiNG ON CLOUDS

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/app#foo

[[click on My Sets, then find the set with your screen name! =]]

hope you like it! XOXO<33
hey everybody, i'll be back soon!! when i get back, i'll try to make as many outfits as i can.

XOXO<33

lov-3 answers:

[[style]] simple, a LITTLE bit preppy
[[fave store]]uhm idk, you can do any store
[[least fave stores]]see above
[[fave colors]]i wear a lot of blue….
[[bag, shoes, or both]]shoes
[[occasion]]school
[[anything else]]thats it

James asks…

~*OuTFitS~*?

okay just for fun, create an outfit using any store, and i will pick my favorite one!!! *hints* i like american eagle, but not an outfit that everyone has, make it unique! add some accesories too!!!!!!

lov-3 answers:

Http://www.abercrombie.com/anf/onlinestore/collection/15816_02_d.jpg

http://shop.guess.com/StyleImages/Y71C8153-ASV-LF.jpg

http://www.forever21.com/images/small/35393353-01.jpg

http://www.stevemadden.com/images/itemimages/item_large/SUZZY%20BRN%20LEATHER.jpg

for going out.. I did this really quick lol.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Health Aware: Try these tips for keeping lung disease at bay

Submitted November 16, 2011 11:26AM

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Zvezdana Bogojevic is an internal medicine physician with Edward Medical Group in Lisle.

Updated: November 25, 2011 2:14PM

We’re in awe of our baby’s first breath or a loved one’s final breath. Yet most of us take for granted the usually effortless 17,000 or so breaths we take each day. That can change. If we develop serious lung disease, breathing can turn into a difficult, painful and even frightening process, making it difficult to perform our daily activities.

Two of these serious diseases are among the leading causes of death in the United States: lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive disease that’s characterized by coughing up large amounts of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.

The good news is that you can lessen your chances of becoming a lung disease statistic.

Zvezdana Bogojevic, an internal medicine physician with Edward Medical Group in Lisle, suggests the following tips for keeping lungs healthy:

Lead a lung-friendly lifestyle

Having trouble kicking the smoking habit? Ask your doctor about smoking cessation products and programs. Smoking is the leading cause of both lung cancer and COPD.

Help keep your immune system strong by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods, and exercise most days.

You can’t live in a bubble but …

Stay indoors on days with high pollution alerts, or at least avoid rigorous outdoor activity.

Wear a mask if scraping paint or doing other household tasks that could release hazardous materials into the air.

Have your furnace and air conditioning systems cleaned and checked regularly, and do the same for your chimney if you have a fireplace and have your home checked for radon gas.

Hold infections at bay

Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or a hand sanitizer.

Get a flu shot. Ask your doctor if you’re also a candidate for a pneumonia vaccination or a diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus booster.

Contact your doctor if you have prolonged cold symptoms such as high fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, or thick sputum or nasal discharge that’s yellow or green.

Early detection is key

Regular visits to your physician can help ensure you’re doing all you can to prevent lung disease and to detect it early, when it’s most treatable.

See your doctor if you experience any of the following warning signs of lung disease: a cough that lasts at least a month, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing up blood or chronic chest pain.

To get a snapshot of your lung health, take Edward Hospital’s free, five-minute, online assessment, LungAware at edward.org/lungaware. After completing the questionnaire about your health history and lifestyle, you’ll receive a report on your level of risk for lung disease. Depending on your score, you may be offered the option of visiting Edward for further screening and a free lung function test.

“This report provides your doctor with a useful baseline of your lung health,” says Bob Spoula, clinical educator in Edward’s respiratory therapy department. “And, if your score shows you’re at higher risk, your physician can develop an appropriate care plan. This may involve a combination of medication, lifestyle changes and respiratory therapy.”

If you’re a smoker or know someone who is, begin the journey to quitting by taking part in the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 17. Visit cancer.org/smokeout to learn more.

Health Aware is a weekly column courtesy of Edward Hospital.

Gay NWI soldier re-enlists after repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

By Michelle L. Quinn Sun-Times Media November 23, 2011 3:34PM

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Art Martinez, Jr. of Highland (right), along with Sgt. Magen Fassoth (cq) and recruiter Spc. Pedro Torres (center), smiles after being sworn in as he re-enlists in the Indiana National Guard at the armory in Gary, Ind. Tuesday November 22, 2011. Martinez is the first gay soldier from Northwest Indiana to re-enlist in the Indiana National Guard after the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) policy ended. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: November 27, 2011 2:27AM

Art Martinez Jr. told everyone that the day he was sworn back into the National Guard, he would likely cry like a baby.

Instead, the 48-year-old Highland, Ind. man instead stood stoically as Capt. Derek Sutton of the Indiana National Guard gave him the oath that will allow Martinez to serve the country once again.

He was tired from nerves that kept him up until the early morning and stunned he was around to see the day that “don’t ask, don’t tell” would be repealed.

Martinez, the first gay man from Northwest Indiana — and, as far as officers here are aware, the first gay man in the state — to re-enlist in the National Guard is used to waiting, both as a soldier and a man who was given an honorable discharge directly because of his sexuality.

“I never thought I would see ‘DADT’ repealed, at least in my lifetime,” a reserved but elated Martinez said after his swearing in last week. “I’ve been wanting this since the day I was discharged.”

A former Marine, Martinez enlisted in the National Guard in 2007 because he missed serving his country. Like many Guardsmen, he’d been deployed to Iraq with his infantry unit, and though he might not have broadcast his sexuality, he never went out of his way to hide it.

And never once did he have a problem with any of his comrades.

“I had soldiers tell me all the time that they had a gay friend or relative, so I think it’s more a generational thing, and it’s not such a taboo anymore,” Martinez said. “I do remember having to answer the question: ‘Have you ever had a homosexual experience before?’ when I enlisted in the Marines, though” in 1981.

The problem came in 2010, when Martinez decided he’d had enough of skirting around the issue. In January, he came out to his commanding officers, By February, they had removed him from participating in weekend activities.

So Martinez started to watch. He pored over the Internet, newspapers and TV, waiting to hear if President Obama was going to make good on his promise to repeal the policy. When it finally happened Sept. 20, he called Sgt. Magen Fassoth to get the ball rolling.

The question for Martinez never was whether he would re-enlist; it was how fast he could. And the waiting — all the paperwork has taken almost two months to process — was just like he remembered.

Sfc. Pedro Torres, lead recruiter for the Guard in Northwest Indiana, also remembered having to answer the homosexuality question when he enlisted. And, like Martinez, he’d never seen any soldier not want to serve with a gay man.

“There is 1 percent of the American population that serves, so I respect that no matter who you are,” Torres said. “If you can pass the medical, moral and mental tests, (a person’s) sexuality is not important to me.”

Renee Heldt, of Hammond, brought her son, Collin Wilson, to see Martinez and his dream come true. Heldt, who’s Martinez’s boss at UPS, came because he has no family here, but for Wilson, 18, it meant a lot to see history being made.

“I think it’s a great step toward gay rights,” he said.

SLIS Employment Listing

Information Services / Learning Commons Librarian

Date posted: November 09, 2011

State: International

Job description:

georgiasouthern.edu/ GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY University System of Georgia Information Services / Learning Commons Librarian – Search #65320 Zach S. Henderson Library The Information Services Department in the Zach S. Henderson Library invites nominations and applications for the position of Information Services/Learning Commons Librarian and Assistant Professor. Georgia Southern University (georgiasouthern.edu), a member institution of the University System of Georgia and a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, is one of Georgia’s premier universities. A residential university serving nearly 20,000 students in fall 2010, Georgia Southern is recognized for providing all of the benefits of a major university with the feeling of a much smaller college. Founded in 1906, the University offers more than 100 campus-based and online degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels through eight colleges. In 2011, Georgia Southern was named the fourth most popular university in the country by U.S. News & World Report’s “Top 20 Most Popular Universities.” The nearly 700-acre park-like campus is located in Statesboro, a classic Main Street community near historic Savannah and Hilton Head Island. Within this setting, the Zach S. Henderson Library’s mission is to support the University by providing access to information, collections, and services designed to meet the scholarly needs of the University. In addition, the Library promotes independent lifelong learning, employs a learner-centered service ethic, and ensures a comfortable and secure study environment. The Information Services/Learning Commons Librarian plays a pivotal role in the library’s mission, providing leadership that results in effective planning, delivery, sustaining and assessing of information services, including new initiatives for services. Maintaining and establishing established collaborative efforts with Information Technology Services and other units across campus is also vital to the role of the Information Services/Learning Commons Librarian. We believe that a strong interest in reference service will improve customer service, demonstrate the value of the library, and make our students productive and successful. Position Description Reporting to the Head of Information Services, the Information Services/Learning Commons Librarian and Assistant Professor will serve as liaison with faculty and students in the departments of physics, chemistry, history, and engineering; participate in collection development; provide leadership resulting in effective planning; participate in developing innovative customer-centered solutions integrating technologies such as social networking, virtual reference, and other Web 2.0 applications; provide reference services as scheduled and participate in the activities of the Information Services Department; assist in the maintenance and development of the learning commons webpage; evaluate and recommend new technology and hardware; supervise all learning commons activities including staff and student assistants; maintain and improve knowledge of and experience with the latest computer and telecommunication teaching and learning technologies; participate in University, library committees and professional development activities; prepare reports and statistics as needed and other duties as assigned. The position is a 12-month tenure-track faculty appointment, and rank and salary are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Required Qualifications: Experience in an academic setting Demonstrated knowledge of emerging technologies and applications Evidence of organizational, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including initiative, creativity, problem solving, and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students Evidence of commitment to professional development and the potential to meet the faculty status criteria for promotion in rank Leadership and supervisory experience ALA accredited master’s degree Preferred Qualifications: Effective communication and interpersonal skills Demonstrated evidence of flexibility and ability to work in a diverse team environment Experience in an academic library Experience with reference services Familiarity with liaison activities in an academic library Demonstrated computing skills and efficiency utilizing complex computing applications Experience in a wide variety of library online databases and Web applications Screening of applications begins January 27, 2012, and continues until the position is filled. The position starting date is August 1, 2012. A complete application consists of a letter addressing the qualifications cited above; an original essay of two or three paragraphs on the applicant’s vision and implementation of the learning commons in the 21st century; a curriculum vitae; and the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least three professional references, one of which must be a current or former supervisor. Other documentation may be requested. Only complete applications will be considered. Applications will be accepted electronically or in print format.. Finalists will be required to submit to a background investigation. Applications and nominations should be sent to: Jocelyn Poole, Search Chair, Search #65320 Information Services Department Zach S. Henderson Library Georgia Southern University P. O. Box 8074 Statesboro GA 30460-8074 Electronic mail: Telephone: 912-478-7818 More information about the institution is available through georgiasouthern.edu or library.georgiasouthern.edu/. Georgia Southern University seeks to recruit individuals who are committed to working in diverse academic and professional communities and who are committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and professional service within the University and beyond. Georgia is an Open Records state. Georgia Southern University is an AA/EO institution. Individuals who need reasonable accommodations under the ADA to participate in the search process should contact the Associate Provost.

Request an update or remove a posting.

From storage room to the sales floor

By Marissa AmoniFor The Beacon-News November 18, 2011 12:08PM

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Photo by Marissa Amoni: Matt Volkman stands inside Everything Under the Sun, a new thrift store at 47 E. Illinois Ave. in Aurora. Volkman, of Aurora, works at the store and fills it with items acquired from area storage facilities. } Marissa Amoni Photo

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Updated: November 20, 2011 2:38AM

If you haven’t seen the reality TV show “Storage Wars” on the A&E Network, then you might not realize how exciting it can be to win all of the contents of a storage locker.

But when a storage unit’s rent goes unpaid, everything behind the door goes up for auction, and the result is a battle to win some good loot and then sell it at a profit.

Matt Volkman and Tim Oros know some of that thrill since they recently started engaging in their own storage wars. Their winnings are now on display and for sale at Everything Under the Sun, a new thrift store at 47 E. Illinois Ave., just west of Broadway Street in Aurora.

“Everything that you see in here is what I gambled on,” said Volkman, of Aurora, who said he learned a lot about the resale industry when he worked at Thrift and Dollar on Lake Street.

Oros, of Montgomery, owns the building that also houses Mr. Wonderful Motorsports next to the thrift store. Oros also buys cars at auction.

Volkman said they recently won storage items at auction from J and J Self Storage in Oswego. He added that the thrift store contains only items won at auction, and no donations.

The showroom at Everything Under the Sun is filled with furniture, including items such as a Henredon bedroom set and Bassett Furniture pieces, housewares, fine China, collectibles, office and stereo equipment and more.

Everything Under the Sun is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. They are closed on Mondays.

Fruitful Yield celebrated its grand opening on Saturday. The store recently opened at 155 N. Randall Road in Batavia. In July, the natural health store’s owners announced that they would shutter their small, longtime store at Aurora’s West Plaza and move to a new, larger location along Randall Road.

Fruitful Yield specializes in organic foods and produce, wheat-free and gluten-free foods, vitamins, herbs, homeopathic remedies, natural health and beauty products, natural pet products and green cleaning products.

Call the store at 630-897-3490 or visit fruitfulyield.com.­

Big Bob’s Flooring is shuttered at 291 Montgomery Road near Douglas Road in Montgomery. The signage on the building is down, and the phone number transfers to the North Aurora location at 200 Alder Drive.

A salesperson at the North Aurora store said they have consolidated the stores to better utilize warehouse space. The Montgomery store closed about a month ago.

Big Bob’s Flooring — a national flooring retailer with about 30 stores nationwide. It offers various flooring products, including laminate, wood, carpet and vinyl. The company also offers installation services.

The flooring chain, with headquarters in Shawnee Mission, Kan., was founded in 1984. A spokesperson there would not comment on the Chicago-area closings.

Contact the North Aurora location at 630-897-2627.

The Sports Network – Fantasy Sports

Fantasy Review – 2011 Outfielders

By Steve Schwarz, Fantasy Sports Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – There are a number of positions with limited talent, but outfield isn't one of them.

While Jacoby Ellsbury and Curtis Granderson got much of the media attention throughout the season, Matt Kemp turned in a stellar performance for a middle- of-the-road Los Angeles Dodgers team that garnered more headlines off the field than on.

Matt Kemp – Coming off a disappointing 2010 season, Kemp fell into the second round on Draft Day (ADP 19) and turned out to be a huge bargain as he regained the form that made him a first-round selection the previous year. He set career highs in runs (115), hits (195), home runs (39), RBIs (126), stolen bases (40), OBP (.399), slugging percentage (.586), OPS (.986) and total bases (353). He'll be a top-five selection in 2012.

Jacoby Ellsbury – His 2011 season was so far above what we've come to expect from the Red Sox center fielder that my first thought was a fleeting glimpse back to Brady Anderson's 1996 season. No where in his past history can we find a reason for Ellsbury's power improvement. He almost doubled his best single- season doubles total, his home run total was four times normal and his OPS jumped 150 points over his previous best full season. The question of whether his season is repeatable will be the No.1 fantasy decision of this off-season.

Ryan Braun – Braun has been a top-10 hitter from the moment he came up in May of 2007 and this year was no different. In fact, the Brewers left fielder joined the 30-30 club for the first time in his career and led the league in slugging and OPS. While not a bargain as the sixth player off the board, he certainly gave you everything you expected from this high a selection. He'll be another key off-season decision because in all likelihood he won't have Prince Fielder protecting him in the order next year.

Curtis Granderson – Diagnosing Granderson's 2011 improvement is as simply as looking at his splits versus left-handers. While his 2011 numbers against right-handers was in line with his career numbers, his statistics against lefties was off-the-charts better. His career statistics against lefties (.226 BA/.396 slugging/.685 OPS) paled in comparison to his 2011 numbers – .272/.597/.944. Given his new and improved approach and his spot in the heart of the Yankees' lineup, 2012 should be more of the same.

Jose Bautista – I'll be the first to admit that I was wrong about Bautista. I assumed we would see a huge drop in his production after a “career year” in 2010. And while his numbers did drop a bit, he was still one of the best power hitters in baseball. He led the league in homers (43), slugging (.608) and OPS (1.056). By mid-season he began to get the “Bonds treatment” and his walk total jumped to 132 with a corresponding drop in RBIs as pitchers took their chances with whoever was behind him in the order.

Justin Upton – Upton continues to improve and his 2011 production will make his a second-round pick in 2012. He cracked the 100-run and 30-home run marks for the first time in his career while still posting a solid .289 batting average and an OPS of .898. Throw in 21 stolen bases and you have another young star just coming into his own.

Carlos Gonzalez – Gonzalez finished with respectable numbers for the year, but nothing like what was expected of him after his monster 2010 season. Worse, he got off to such a slow start that by the time he began to pick it up, many of his owners had either already traded him away or were no longer contenders. He finished down in every conceivable fantasy category, though he still batted .295 with 26 HR, 92 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Given the disappointing production that will have many owners soured on him, he might end up being a bargain next season.

Lance Berkman – Given up for dead by the Yankees and most fantasy owners, Berkman has to be a contender for Comeback Player of the Year and Best Fantasy Bargain. His 2011 ADP of 278 means he was either a last-round selection or free agent pickup. His 31 homers, 94 RBIs, .301 batting average and .959 OPS gave fantasy owners who took a gamble on him a huge payday.

Melky Cabrera – Another player that was ignored on Draft Day (ADP 369) who provided huge dividends for those who gambled on his early season production being an indicator of a solid season. Playing in a lineup with young, talented but untested hitters, Cabrera provided leadership as well as solid statistics (102 runs, 18 HR, 87 RBI, 20 SB, .305 batting average). The young players around him will only get better which should enhance his value in 2012.

Josh Hamilton – Fantasy owners can only dream at what his production would have been had he not made that foolish April dash for home plate which left his with a fractured right arm and an extended stay (April 13-May 22) on the disabled list. Unfortunately, we've come to expect that from Hamilton who hasn't played more than 135 games in a season since 2008. In 121 games he posted 80 runs, 25 HR, 94 RBI and a .298 batting average. Good, but not up to expectations for the “uber-talented” Hamilton.

Top-20 Fantasy Outfielders in 2011

Player………Team…..R……H…HR…RBI…SB…..AVE…..OBP…..OPS…ADP

Matt Kemp……..LAD…115…195…39…126…40…0.324…0.586…0.985….19

Jacoby Ellsbury..BOS…119…212…32…105…39…0.321…0.552…0.928….88

Ryan Braun…….MIL…109…187…33…111…33…0.332…0.597…0.994…..6

C. Granderson….NYY…136…153…41…119…25…0.262…0.552…0.916…101

Jose Bautista….TOR…105…155…43…103….9…0.302…0.608…1.056….35

Justin Upton…..ARI…105…171…31….88…21…0.289…0.529…0.898….31

Carlos Gonzalez..COL….92…142…26….92…20…0.295…0.526…0.889…..8

Lance Berkman….STL….90…147…31….94….2…0.301…0.547…0.959…279

Melky Cabrera…..KC…102…201…18….87…20…0.305…0.470…0.809…369

Josh Hamilton….TEX….80…145…25….94….8…0.298…0.536…0.882….38

Hunter Pence…..PHI….84…190…22….97….8…0.324…0.560…0.872….47

Andrew McCutchen.PIT….87…148…23….89…23…0.259…0.456…0.820….29

Jeff Francoeur….KC….77…171…20….87…22…0.285…0.476…0.805…370

B.J. Upton……..TB….82…136…23….81…36…0.243…0.429…0.760….77

Jay Bruce……..CIN….84…150…32….97….8…0.256…0.474…0.815….50

Mike Stanton…..FLA….79…135…34….87….5…0.262…0.537…0.893….79

Shane Victorino..PHI….95…145…17….61…19…0.279…0.491…0.846….71

Adam Jones…….BAL….68…159…25….83…12…0.280…0.466…0.785…149

Carlos Beltran….SF….78…156…22….84….4…0.323…0.551…0.910…164

Matt Holliday….STL….83…132…22….75….2…0.296…0.525…0.913….21

11/16 15:36:20 ET

Source: Prince Charles mocks Eugenie and Beatrice as ‘twits’

WITH BILL ZWECKER November 21, 2011 7:00PM

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Princesses Eugenie (left) and Beatrice of York arrive at the Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey last April. | Pascal Le Segretain~Getty Images

Article Extras

Updated: November 22, 2011 2:14AM

Seems there’s a bit of rift in Britain’s royal family. According to a usually reliable palace source, Prince Charles and younger brother, Prince Andrew, are at odds over Andrew’s desire to expand the role of his daughters, Eugenie and Beatrice, in performing royal duties.

Charles, as they say, is not amused. The heir to the British throne reportedly thinks his nieces are “twits” and often makes scathing remarks about the two young women. His feelings are related to his lack of respect for Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, considered by Charles a long-running embarrassment for his family.

Apparently, after all that brouhaha over Princess Beatrice’s ridiculous hat at the April wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Charles made some extremely biting barbs about the girls having no taste, “just like their mother,” said my source.

† While Andrew is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite child, the prince has been in hot water, thanks to a number of questionable business associates — including American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who spent 18 months in prison for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

That all contributed to Andrew being ousted as United Kingdom trade ambassador — and now he’s locked horns with his older brother over his daughters’ futures. “Andrew’s credibility right now, especially with his brother Charles, is at an all-time low,” added the source.

† On a happier note, Charles’ son Harry was spotted by BZ spies in Las Vegas over the weekend hanging out at the Wynn Hotel and partying at Tryst nightclub, where the prince was overheard raving about Vegas and how much he likes how “Americans know how to party.” Word has it, Harry’s people like to throw off the paparazzi by calling a bunch of restaurants and nightclubs — claiming the prince is headed there — then going someplace they never called.

One girl at Tryst asked Harry, “Is Kate pregnant?” He merely winked — adding more fuel to the rumors that his sister-in-law is in the early stages of a pregnancy.

STAR POWER: Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon will be the honoree next year at the Gene Siskel Film Center’s annual summer fund-raiser. The June 23 fete at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel will present Witherspoon with the center’s Renaissance Award and feature a Q&A with her led by a yet-to-be-announced special guest. R.S. Owens, the Chicago-based manufacturer of the Oscar statuettes, will create the award specifically for “A Summer Evening with Reese Witherspoon.”

SPLITSVILLE: Poor Jennifer Love Hewitt — she just can’t keep a man. The actress has split with latest beau Jarod Einsohn — on the heels of recent broken engagements to North Shore native Alex Beh, comedian Jamie Kennedy and actor Ross McCall. Word has it, Hewitt’s controlling nature eventually scares the guys away.

† Former “Bachelorette” duo Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez have called it quits just weeks after putting their wedding plans on hold yet again.

SPORTS SHORTS: On Twitter, Kristin Cavallari denied a Life & Style report that she again is engaged to Bears QB Jay Cutler, who dined Sunday night at Public House, broken thumb and all. … Talking to PR pro Bernie DiMeo at Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush, John Lee, father and manager of Notre Dame’s All-American boxer Mike Lee, chatted up the Wheaton native’s Dec. 3 Madison Square Garden fight. … Ex-Bear Chris Zorich dined with a buddy at Viaggio Ristorante on West Madison. … While in town for an autograph show at the Stephens Convention Center, Reggie Jackson, Greg Maddux, Frank Robinson, Bill Russell and current Cardinals pitcher Jason Motte dined at Gibsons in Rosemont.

SICK BAY: Fans of Robin Gibb are praying the Bee Gees star will survive the fight of his life — a battle with liver cancer. The London Daily Mail reports the singer became aware of his condition several months ago.

SEEN ON THE SCENE: Star chef Rick Bayless checked out a preview of American Blues Theater’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Biograph — and even munched on the goodies offered after the show … Buddy Valastro, star of “Cake Boss” on TLC, was spied chowing down on those humongous signature Gibsons desserts — macadamia turtle pie and carrot cake — at the steakery’s Rosemont outpost.

Jay Cutler proves toughness but hurts himself in process

By Rick Telander November 20, 2011 10:30PM

Story Image

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler chats with receiver Earl Bennett in the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears 31-20 win over the San Diego Chargers Sunday November 20, 2011 at Soldier Field. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

Updated: November 21, 2011 5:48AM

If last season’s humbling NFC Championship Game loss to the Packers was Jay Cutler’s low point as a Bear, the 31-20 victory Sunday over the Chargers at Soldier Field might have been his highest.

Not only did Cutler win his personal battle with Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers — 286 passing yards to Rivers’ 280 yards, two touchdown passes and one interception to Rivers’ two touchdown passes and two interceptions, a 97.0 passer rating to 90.8, five rushes for 11 yards and a touchdown — but he also passed the needed tough-guy test.

He got knocked all over the field, once having his helmet kneed off his head, and he broke his right thumb somewhere in the collisions he was involved in.

After he knocked a Chargers cornerback partly out of bounds on a desperate interception stop late in the game, he seemed to hurt his right shoulder or his thumb — or both.

Where that puts him for next week’s game against the Raiders, no one knows. But a thumb in a cast is not something a quarterback can do much with. It’s visible, and it can’t be ignored.

But when Cutler left that Jan. 21 NFC title game shortly after halftime, seemingly unbloodied but bored and blank-faced, with six completions in 14 attempts for no scores, an interception and a 31.8 passer rating, he had lost a lot of Chicago fans.

His skill was apparent.

He was an odd, inscrutable dude.

He had survived a lot of sacks, true, but it wasn’t clear if he had rapport with anybody on his team, anybody in the organization, let alone the leadership authority all good quarterbacks must have.

Could he crank up his fellow players or only whine at them?

On Sunday, he got everyone’s attention and showed why the Bears are 7-3 and have won five in a row.

That his injured thumb — which was unbandaged after the game when he spoke to the media — might be his undoing this season and ruin the victory streak is a sad irony.

His laser-beam throws were on target, including a lightning flash that somehow zipped between two defenders to tight end Kellen Davis in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass just before the half.

That put the Bears ahead 17-10, and it was but one of the throws he made that most other quarterbacks cannot.

‘‘It’s a window, and I know where to fit it in there,’’ Cutler said, not lacking in confidence, of course, and never mentioning the thumb. ‘‘I never questioned it, and I never will.’’

But it was the next touchdown, the winning one, that told more of a Cutler rebirth story. After completing three consecutive short passes to wide receiver Roy Williams, then lofting a 42-yard beauty to wide receiver Johnny Knox, Cutler dove up and over the pile for a one-yard touchdown run and a 24-17 lead.

Quarterbacks sneak the ball all the time, but this jump had the appearance of hellbent-for-leather aggressiveness, as Cutler reached forward while his body was unprotected, then tucked the ball back in to protect against a fumble. Teammates notice sacrifice. They notice successful sacrifice most of all.

‘‘Jay Cutler was outstanding,’’ coach Lovie Smith said after the game, seemingly unaware of — or playing coy about — his quarterback’s injury.

‘‘Maybe Jay’s biggest play came on that interception,’’ Smith said.

He meant the interception that Cutler threw. And it happened only because his open receiver, Knox, slipped and fell down.

For on that pick-off play, Chargers cornerback Antoine Cason, the interceptor, took off upfield, and behind a series of blocks, flew up the right sideline. Cutler blasted into the melee, stretched out prone with his right arm and hand extended and derailed Cason enough that running back Matt Forte was able to knock Cason out of bounds at the Bears’ 16.

Without that effort from Cutler, Cason likely would have scored, and the Bears’ lead would have been just 31-27 with 10 minutes to play.

Williams praised Cutler afterward.

‘‘He has the best arm in the NFL,’’ he said. ‘‘There were a couple of times where he almost got sacked and still got rid of the ball. A lot of quarterbacks can’t do that. A lot of quarterbacks would roll out and just throw the ball out of bounds. But Jay’s arm is strong enough that he can throw the ball 100 miles an hour while he’s falling down.’’

Sadly, after such a game, the question now is: Can Cutler throw it at all?

Jay Cutler breaks thumb in Bears’ victory over Chargers

CHICAGO — The quarterbacks didn’t want to make it into their duel but that’s what Sunday’s meeting at Soldier Field came down to — Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers squaring off in a showdown of gunslingers.

After the Bears prevailed 31-20 over Cutler’s former rival in the AFC West, they are fully focused on what the franchise’s future could look like without the franchise quarterback. A team that has been blessed with terrific health since the start of 2010 is reeling as Cutler suffered a broken thumb on his right throwing hand at the end of an interception midway through the fourth quarter.

Cutler was blocked to the ground by linebacker Donald Butler and landed on his right hand after hustling more than 50 yards downfield on Antoine Cason’s interception. There is fear he could miss significant time — perhaps the remainder of the regular season — which would lead the Bears to Caleb Hanie, who has thrown 14 regular-season passes and had a rally come up short against the Packers in the NFC championship game last season.

Officially, the Bears said nothing about Cutler’s injury Sunday night, but he’s likely to miss six to eight weeks.

Without the Pro Bowl wide receiver and tight end that were on the other sideline, the Bears proved they can pack as much firepower. Cutler outmatched Rivers, helping propel the Bears to 7-3 with their fifth straight victory, keeping pace with the Lions for the top wild-card spot in the NFC.

The victory marked the third consecutive game the Bears have scored 30 points, the first time they’ve done that since Weeks 5 through 7 of the 1995 season. They’ve scored 30 points or more in six of the 10 games this season but now face a massive change on offense.

“We feel good,” Cutler said in his new conference when he didn’t appear with anything covering his hand. “We’ve just got to keep going.”

Cutler completed 18 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. But it’s the one interception everyone is going to talk about.

Wide receiver Johnny Knox, who caught a 24-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, slipped and fell on an in-breaking route. It made for an easy pick for Cason, who raced 64 yards along the Bears sideline before running back Matt Forte pushed him out after Cutler pursued.

“Maybe Jay’s biggest play of the game came on that interception, buying time for Matt,” said coach Lovie Smith, who had no way of knowing what he would soon find out. “Who would have thought we’d be talking about Matt and Jay on a defensive play they made?”

Everyone is now. It was just the third pick in six games for Cutler. But Cutler and Forte prevented a score with Cason going out at the 16-yard line and the Bears leading by 11 and 9:51 remaining. Three plays later, Major Wright got an interception for the third straight game, picking off Rivers in the end zone.

The Chargers wound up with no yards on offense in the fourth quarter while the Bears controlled the ball. Rivers was 21 of 31 for 280 yards and two touchdowns, and he completed seven passes to Vincent Jackson for 165 yards as the big receiver gave Charles Tillman fits.

Tight end Antonio Gates added four receptions for 63 yards, but the Bears got two interceptions and Tillman stripped running back Ryan Mathews, giving the defense enough takeaways to survive despite a subpar pass rush. The injury-ravaged Chargers (4-6), missing three starters on the offensive line, have lost five straight.

Cutler directed touchdown drives on four consecutive possessions from the second quarter into the third quarter. There was a span from the second quarter into the fourth quarter where the offense converted seven consecutive third downs.

While Forte and Marion Barber combined for 82 yards on 27 rushes, Roy Williams had five receptions for 62 yards and Earl Bennett made three catches for 75 yards to go with the big plays from Knox.

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