71st Edition - 12/20/06

• The Weekly Bull (15-10) (11-2 at home)

After knocking off the Lakers last night (94-89), the Bulls have won five in a row and sit one game back of the Central leading Pistons. Not bad, considering they were 3-9. Luol Deng had a double-double last night, his fifth of the season.
P.J. Brown's name is popping up in trade rumors ever since he said he wasn't happy in Chicago. Brown was brought to the Bulls to be traded (I could give you all the contract details, but trust me because of his expiring deal he is trade bait), this is just happening a little sooner than we thought. We're almost one-third through the season and the Bulls have hit their stride.

Some numbers
Ben Gordon: 18.6 ppg (30th in NBA)
Luol Deng: 17.9 ppg
Andre Nocioni: 16.0 ppg
Kirk Hinrich: 15.1 ppg
Ben Wallace: 4.0 offensive rebounds per game (1st in NBA)
Luol Deng: 1.8 offensive rebounds per game (46th in NBA)
Ben Wallace: 1.68 steals per game (9th in the NBA)

Schedule for the next week: Fri. @NY, Sat. vs. Charlotte, Tues. @ Minnesota, Wed. vs. Miami: I'm seeing three victories in there.

• NBA: Iverson is moving on up

Allen Iverson is now a Nugget. The 76ers get Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round picks (non-lottery) for Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin. The sixers didn't get much, but that was expected when Iverson demanded a trade.
The trade is good for the Nuggets because ...
1. Iverson is still VERY good
2. Carmelo Anthony is suspended for 15 games and this gives a quick fix.
3. They didn't give up much for an All-Star that can easily play for three more years at the top of his game.

The downside is all about ego, or who gets the last shot. Those are things a head coach should be happy to deal with when he gains that much talent.

• Bears: Tank down for one

Tank Johnson was given a one-game suspension from the Chicago Bears. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo had this to say, "Collectively, as an organization -- ownership, coaches, players, myself -- we all agreed that the right thing to do was to keep Tank and keep working with him.
We know we're vulnerable going forward. I'm not going to sit here and tell you I'm 100 percent on board and trust all the things that we've talked to Tank about."

This is a business decision. The Bears want a Super Bowl, Tank helps. It's that simple. Suspending him against the Lions is nothing.

• Bears: a happier note

The Bears have seven players selected for the Pro Bowl. The Chargers are the only team with more (nine). Here's the Bears:
Brian Urlacher
Lance Briggs
Tommie Harris (injured)
Olin Kreutz (only offensive player)
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Robbie Gould
Devin Hester

• Stuff

Joseph Barbera died, Here is the only tribute you need of Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Click here

Rolling Stone has made a list (with videos) of the Top 25 best re-cut movie trailers (think, "The Shining" as a feel-good family flick). Click here

Don't know how long this clip will last, but here's a link to 101 Christmas Specials. I'm talking the whole video. "Frosty," "Rudolph," "Charlie Brown," "Smurfs," "The Office," they are all here, full videos, and free. Click here
They even have "The Star Wars Christmas Special" (no. 100) -- Impossible to watch.