Longtime intrepid reader TJ Brown sent this along today from Robert Feder’s column in the Sun Times.

Dialing: Swieca quits Score

*Chicago’s leading sports-talk radio station has lost its only female host. Julie Swieca resigned Monday after 10 years at WSCR-AM (670), capping a dispute with her bosses over editorial control of her show.

Swieca, a lifelong Chicagoan and graduate of Northwestern University, began as a part-time producer at the Score and worked up to reporter and talk show host. Her show aired from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday and on Sunday mornings.

No word yet on a replacement.

It could be quite a while before Swieca resurfaces on the air here. Despite her sudden departure, she remains under contract to the Infinity Broadcasting station for some time.

What will we do without our diabetic princess? Who’s going to read aloud from week old Sports Weeklys and simplisticly recite basic baseball stats? Who is going to treat us to exclusive interviews with such luminaries as Augie Ojeda and Kelly Wunsch?

What are we going to do?

Thankfully, WSCR moved quickly to find a competent, reasoned replacement for Julie. In fact, we might not even notice the difference.


Yesterday, I updated the 2004 Baseball Preview to include the five teams that make up everybody’s favorite mediocre division, the AL Central. I also incorrectly identified Kelly as a Sox fan, and he may never forgive me.


Our buddy Phil Rogers has some more insight today. Yeah, I can’t even type that with a straight face. Today he’s demanding the Sox trade Frank Thomas to the Dodgers before Frank sets foot in camp and ruins the Sox season by pouting!

Rogers acknowledges that given Frank’s girth and hugmungous contract it’s unlikely that the Sox could demand a great package from the Dodgers, but he wants them to do it anyway. Sure, why not? Why not trade a Hall of Famer for some prospects? I don’t see a downside to that at all.

How about this? How about the general manager and owner demand the manager show Thomas some respect? If Ozzie Guillen wants to act tough by challenging Frank, couldn’t he at least wait until Frank does something to actually deserve his ire? It’s Frank Thomas, it’ll only take him like ten minutes to say or do something stupid. Then, Ozzie can start ripping Frank. What’s the hurry?


Mike Downey says Chicago prep hoops is the best in the nation. That’s nice. Wrong, but nice.

Rosey doesn’t like Sammy. OK, we get it!

A better bullpen means fewer innings for the starters, right? It’s not the total number of innings that matter, it’s how many tough jams a pitcher has to try and get out of when he’s gassed. LaTroy will be of much assistance, there.

The Franchise says Kerry Wood should start the opener. Works for me.

Moron Frank.

Stevie Loaiza doesn’t want to start the opener.

Scottie Pippen made fun of Kirk Hinrich’s hair, right?

The Illini will not be allowed to wear orange in Iowa. The Big Ten is afraid those uniforms will clash with Pierre Pierce’s prison jumpsuit.

Skip Myslenski is alive! He says guards are good to have.

Seabiscuit’s Jockey is in over his head (doesn’t take much) on this column about baseball movies.

Mariotti puts down the doughnut to go after Dusty Baker for not ratting out players he thinks might be on steroids. I hope there’s a bus with Jay’s name on it somewhere.

Todd Walker is happy to be Gruddy’s caddy. But it won’t last, because Walker’s better. And then we get to see the pouty Gruddy that ran himself out of Dodgertown.

Uh-oh, Mike Remlinger’s shoulder’s not quite ready.

The Wizard of Roz with odds on…everything. Here’s a tip, take the Cubs and the over, and Sammy.

Peter Vecsey on the Knicks chasing Vin Baker. He’ll be easy to catch, he stops at every bar.

Champ Bailey for Clinton Portis is a good trade for both teams.

Joey Galloway for Keyshawn Johnson is a bad trade for both teams.

There’s pressure on the football coach at Notre Dame? You don’t say?

A good (and old) one on Tommy Zbikowski.

Kansas? They’re not awesome, or guh-reat.

Lena Horne is alive?

John Kerry’s wife is, indeed, and African-American. She’s from Africa, and she’s American now. I guess Charlize Theron is, too.

Desipio NBA expert, and resident Aussie, Matt Turvey sent this along that claims Americans love Australia.

The world’s greatest newspaper says Janet Jackson’s boob has healing powers. Much like Cialis.