Sittin in the Principal's Office

Haven't contributed to this column in a while and thought it was time for a few quick thoughts:

• Some of the shows garnering the most media attention are reality-style. Celebrity Apprentice, Dancing with the Stars, Amazing Race, Survivor, and Americna Idol are the more popular. Lost, which typically goes head to head with the finale of AI, ended a week earlier this year. The final performances of AI contestants were some of the more memorable of the history of the show, and Shawn's dancing captivated fans in Iowa as well as around the country, but it is refreshing to watch shows with great writing, such as Lost. The reality shows may be cheaper to produce but shows such as Lost, 30 Rock and SNL showed some of the greatest moments from 2009.
• Michael Vick will get another opportunity to play. Some owner or coach will take the chance. Whoever signs him should do so by earning his way back. He should not be paid any more than the base minimum. Any more should be incentive based--incentives based on off-field performance, not on-field. Sign him to a five-year contract. No reason any team should deal with him for two years and then he becomes a free-agent leading to a higer paying contract somewhere else. That's not fair to the team that brought him back and endured the cirucs that will surround his return.
• Much talk lately of the Cubs transfer of power to the Ricketts family from Sam Zell and the Tribune. The Ricketts family will find themselves paying large contracts in the later years for players such as Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano. In order to pay these high-priced athletes fans can expect to see ticket prices continue to increase. Consider where the North Siders could be today. Catcher Geovany Soto, Infielders Bobby Scales, Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot, Outfielder Micah Hoffpauier, and pitchers Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Shawn Marshall and Randy Wells all came up through the organization. (Dempster started out with the Marlins, but started his rehab from arm injury at the Cubs Class A Peoria Chiefs). Ted Lilly was a realtively cheap acquisition. Rather than paying top dollar for players such as Soriano, Derrick Lee and Aramis Ramirez had the Cubs went after cheaper Ryan Zimmerman and such I believe they could be in the same position in the standings as they are today. The Cubs aren't far away with home grown talent, but they risk future acquisitions based on the upcoming payroll.
• I need to drink more milk.
• It is nice to see a NHL Final Four including at least three teams from Hockey Towns. The Blackhawks and Red Wings is what the league needs, as well as Chicago.
• I'm ready for Pixar's "Up." I enjoy taking my son to movies.
• Speaking of my son, tonight was my t-ball head coaches meeting. We are the Rockies! Watch Out!
• If anyone has any good BlackBerry Apps...pass them my way.