Bears fans had lots of reasons for optimism as the Monsters of the Midway ran their record to 7-3, but those sentiments quickly turned Sunday evening as news broke about Cutler's thumb injury. more ›

Calling it "over the counter napalm," Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has started a campaign to have all gel fuels banned. 37 people nationwide have been burned by gel fuel, and 4 of them were in Illinois, leading Madigan to demand their recall. We're sure that caterers everywhere cried at the news - gel fuels are most commonly used for keeping chafing dishes hot during service. more ›

Almost as soon as Jay Cutler was bulled from yesterday's NFC Championship game with what the Bears termed as a knee injury, criticism against the quarterback began, with fans and former players alike echoing the sentiment that Cutler should have stayed in the game. Criticism by former players was especially harsh. Yahoo Sports' Doug Farrar rounded up the opinions of Cutler's NFL contemporaries. To a man, they all seemed to agree that Cutler quit on the Bears, with the most pointed criticisms coming from Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Pundits such as ESPN's Michael Wilbon also saw the tweets from other players and opined that they only reinforced what players already thought of Cutler, pre-injury. more ›

The Bulls are set to tip off against the Memphis Grizzlies at noon in Memphis, TN (WGN-TV, WMVP AM 1000). And they'll be doing so without Carlos Boozer in the lineup. Boozer sprained his left ankle in the waning moments of Saturday night's win over the Miami Heat, which turned into a duel between Derrick Rode and Dwyane Wade. more ›

Cleared by Bulls medical staff to resume full contact basketball activities, Bulls' power forward Carlos Boozer participated fully in the team's practice on Monday for the first time since breaking his fifth metacarpal bone in his hand on October 2. The All-Star signed as a free agent this summer may make his Bulls debut as early as tomorrow. more ›

The upper body injury suffered by Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa in last night's win over the Los Angeles Kings will keep him out of action for two weeks. more ›

Briggs Status Uncertain: Lance BRigg's right ankle injury that sustained against Carolina kept him out of practice for a second straight game, leading to speculation as to if he'll play against the Seahawks Sunday. Head coach Lovie Smith said that Briggs usually heals late in the week, but didn't say if backup linebacker Brian Iwuh would start in place of Briggs. The linebacker play of Briggs, Urlacher and Pisa Tinaisamoa has been one of the main reasons the Bears have jumped to a 4-1 start. more ›

On Monday mornings, we invite our readers to gather around our table and discuss a culinary issue of the day. If you have anything you'd like to talk about, send it to anthony@chicagoist.com more ›

It's amazing to read this town's sportswriters and hear the sports radio blowhards turn on a dime from praising the "stay the course" leadership of Bears head coach Lovie Smith during a 3-0 start, to crucifying Smith and his coaching staff for not making the necessary adjustments to protect Jay Cutler from the concussion he ultimately received Sunday night against the New York Giants. more ›

That hit Washington Caps star Alex Ovechkin took on Blackhawks' defenseman Brian Campbell will cost Ovechkin two games, according to the Washington Post. Ovechkin met with the NHL's head disciplinarian Colin Campbell about the hit today. Still no official word on Campbell, but it's likely at least his regular season is over. more ›

It seems Brian Urlacher's injury was much more serious than originally thought and the Bears' defense has been dealt a blow. Urlacher text messaged the Trib earlier today that his "season is over.'' While the team has made no official announcement, Coach Lovie Smith will most likely address the issue later today at his afternoon press conference. more ›

Alfonso "The $136 Million Man" Soriano may be shut down for the rest of the season as he revealed yesterday he's going to be undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery very soon. Said Soriano, "I play with my knee on my mind, and I'm scared to get hurt. If we're out [of it], it's better to do the surgery before we go to the Dominican [for the off-season]." Lou says Sam Fuld will play in Soriano's place out in left field. [Tribune] more ›

We guess new Blackhawks don't have to wait long for their company health insurance to kick in, because just weeks after signing the richest contract in team history, Marian Hossa will require surgery on his injured shoulder. The one he hurt while still a member of the Detroit Red Wings. more ›

Well, that didn't take long. It seems the newly acquired Blackhawk Marian Hossa has a shoulder injury he sustained in this year's playoffs that he's rehabbing. Hossa, who signed a 12-year, $62.8 million deal three weeks ago, had informed the 'Hawks of the injury before the signing according to reports. According to the Tribune, "The extent of the injury and whether Hossa will have to undergo surgery to repair it are not yet known." more ›

For the second straight year, Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher has been placed on injured reserve, prematurely ending his season. This time it's Vasher's fractured right hand that's ended his season. The injury came in the fourth quarter of last week's victory over the St. Louis Rams. In his place the Bears will start Corey Graham. more ›

A 7-year-old boy from Frankfort is in a medically-induced coma, but going to be okay, after being hit by a foul ball at Thursday’s Cubs Game. Dominic DiAngi was at his first cubs game when a foul ball from Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly struck him in the head and fractured his skull. Doctors at Children’s Memorial medically induced a coma because he wasn’t breathing normally on his own, but still, they say he could be going home on Monday or Tuesday. more ›

Did that old goat curse claim itself another victim? Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano left last night's game in the seventh inning after feeling discomfort in his shoulder. more ›

Alfonso Soriano's roller coaster season took another plunge on yesterday when Atlanta Brave Jeff Bennett's 0-2 pitch hit the Cubs outfielder in the hand, breaking it. more ›