Bob Verdi

After almost two weeks of shiny preparation for Monday's Rose Bowl experience, the Northwestern Wildcats cannot help but notice that a small cloud has appeared in the team picture. It's...

"No." That was Gary Barnett's answer Saturday when asked if he would kindly elaborate on recurrent speculation he might leave Northwestern's football dynasty after the 82nd Rose Bowl. Meanwhile, as...

Northwestern 20, USC 14. That will be the final score of the 82nd Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, when the Wildcats will pick up in 1996 where they left...

It ended with cigars, which was appropriate for a team that blows more smoke than it breathes fire. The Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 Sunday at Soldier Field. Indeed,...

Our Sportsperson of the Year isn't a person, but it has been that kind of a year in sports. Judging by the cover of Time magazine, it has been a...

Could it actually happen in Chicago, where so many strange things happen in sports? Could this city's basketball team actually win more games in one season than either of this...

It is with no joy whatsoever that we spill maple syrup all over the Christmas wish list of Chicago's esteemed mayor, Richard Daley. But the Arizona Cardinals aren't going to...

Gary Barnett did the coaching job of a lifetime, so he is sitting on what amounts to a lifetime contract. That has a decent and fair feel to it, but...

Shaquille O'Neal served as a 7-foot-1-inch hood ornament, so we'll never know what difference he might have made. And at this point in the season, we don't need to know....

Instead of dwelling on the Bears today, let's talk performance-enhancing drugs. That's one problem the Bears needn't worry about. They have been accused of a lot of things lately, but...