Bob Verdi

If necessity is the mother of invention in real life, then the mother of all motives for imagination in baseball must be the empty seat. Were it not for the...

Well, why not? If Wayne Gretzky is going to be traded from the Los Angeles Kings, why not the Blackhawks? Just imagine. Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, playing in the...

Jim Harbaugh, who has choreographed so many miracles this winter, could have said he'd simply run out of time. But a winner doesn't make excuses, even if he's lost his...

Everything you wanted to know about the last good weekend of pro football this season, but didn't think to ask because you're in Chicago, waiting for next season. Question: But...

One of the rarest sights on Chicago television occurred Sunday night. The Blackhawks actually allowed a home game to come into your living room, and you didn't have to mortgage...

At least Phil Niekro, Tony Perez and Don Sutton can try again. But for Pete Rose, the Hall of Fame might be off-limits forever. Since Rose was ruled ineligible and...

Minutes after Monday's game, Gary Barnett gathered his Northwestern Wildcats and told them there's no place he would rather be at the same time next year than in that same...

One of these years, unless Gary Barnett loses all of his desire and most of his hair, none of this will feel quite as important. Whether he's on a lifetime...

The Rose Bowl game, 82, never has looked better, younger, more vibrant. Generally, players say the privilege is theirs to participate in this annual New Year's Day rite. But Monday,...

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to play in the Rose Bowl, but some Northwestern Wildcats are preparing to do both anyway. Especially the latter, at this point...