The possibility of a Brett Favre return has turned all NFL fans into a frenzy. Analysts, fans, and journalists alike are constantly speculating on the future of The Favre.

But in no other way has the public taken it’s obsession with Favre’s return more serious, and outlandish, as in memorabilia.

The possible return of Favre has made fans go out and buy priceless oil paintings of Favre or maybe buy one of his new jersey possibilities.

However, this is by far one of the funniest pieces of memorabilia I have ever seen out there.

Favre benched

And yes, Aaron Rodgers is the biggest purchaser of this product…

When I think of summertime, I think of baseball. Some of my friends had the great idea to cap off their summer by going to four different baseball games in four days.

Here’s their strategy:

Tuesday, September 23

• 12:35 p.m., leave Chicago on a $200 round trip flight to New York from Midway
• 3:10 p.m. land in New York and rent car at airport (roughly $75-100 plus milage charge for 2 days)
• Drive to Shea Stadium for 6:10 p.m. Mets vs. Cubs game ($20-$35)
• Go back to New York hotel (roughly $100-$150 a night)

Wednesday, September 24

• Wake up by noon in order to eat and get on the road for a 3 hour drive to Baltimore from New York City
• Get to Baltimore by game time, 7:05 p.m., to see the Orioles play Tampa Bay (roughly $20-$35)
• Drive back to New York City, late night

 Thursday, September 25

• Wake up by noon in order to drive from New York City to Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
• Make it to Nationals Park in time to catch a cold beer before the game
• Watch the Nationals take on the Florida Marlins at 7:10 p.m. ($20-$35 tickets)
• Drive back to New York, get back late

Friday, September 27

•  Fly out of New York City at 8:10 a.m., get back to Chicago around 11 or noon
• Load a party bus at 2 p.m. ($100 includes beer, ticket, and bus ride at most bars) headed for Milwaukee
• Make it to Miller Park in time to relax and watch the Cubs in their last series for the season, game starts at 7:05 p.m

I think it would be safe to say that it is possible to do this trip from $600-$900, which isn’t to bad for a four-day baseball extravaganza and an end of the summer vacation.

After that four days you should be quite exhausted. So I’m going to go ahead and say that Saturday and Sunday would be perfect days to relax.

It’s also better to try to get around four to five people if you’re planning a trip out like this. With gas prices so high now it is better to take as many people as possible, also cheaper when dividing up costs for hotel rooms and car rentals.

Party buses to some games can be found all over the city. For example on July 29th Mcgee’s (Webster and Sheffield) is sponsoring a party bus to go to the Cubs/Brewers game at Miller Park. Tickets are $65 and include bus ride, beverages, and ticket.

Deals to out of town games like Milwaukee, St. Louis, or sometimes even Minnesota can be found at many bars all over the city.

It’s 2008, exactly 100 years after the Cubs won their last World Series. As the second half of the season is about to get underway superstitions are running wild.

Of course the curse of the goat is always in the back of every Cubs fans’ mind. As the Cubs went into game four of the 1945 World Series bar owner William Sianis showed up at Chicago Stadium with his pet goat. The goat was then turned away from the stadium, causing Sianis to put a hex on the team, hence today’s billy goat curse.

So instead of picking up a Vienna beer dog, think about killing the curse, no matter if it’s curried, grilled, or stewed. These restaurants serve up what ails the Cubs.

Vee Vee’s, 6232 North Broadway

Isi Ewu (Goat Head Stew), $20: This African stew is made with tomatoes, hot chilies, and a traditional mix of bitter herbs, and of course shredded goat’s head meat. If your in the mood for trying this cranial dish it’s best to call the restaurant 48 hours in advance.

Chopel Kabob and Steak, 2440 West Devon

Goat Champ, $8.99: This Indian-Pakistani restaurant offers these bone-in goat chops. They are tenderized hours before they are seared on a hot grill. The chops come with raw onion to cut the richness.

 Cafe Trinidad, 555 East 75th Street

Curry Goat, $10.75: This is a mild traditional Caribbean dish loaded with curry sauce and stewed goat. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask for the hot sauce, which is made from scotch bonnets in a vinegary base. The plate comes with a choice of side and brown rice with pigeon peas.

  Birreria Reyes de Ocotlan, 1322 West 18th Street

Birria, $6.50 small/$7.50 large:  Birria is a Mexican meat stew withraw onions and cilantro with goat in a spicy goat broth. For 3o years this Pilsen restaurant has kept their family recipe exactly the same with no complaints.

Ja’ Grill, 1008 West Armitage

Curry Goat, $15: This Lincoln Park spot if best known for it’s great reggae and jerk rub, but the curry goat is definately something to try. The tender pieces of goat meat and seasoned and marinated then stewed in a spicy Jamaican curry.

ESPN Sportscenter is having a Titletown USA contest and Chicago is amoung the 20 finalists. Check out why ESPN thinks Chicago could be the next Titletown…

Every time I watch any sort of sporting event some announcer pronounces some players name differently than everyone else does. I’m not saying it’s the wrong pronunciation, but there are endless ways you can read “Fukudome.”

Is it co-SOO-kay Foo-coo-DOUGH-may or kuh-SUCK-ee FUCK-a-DOME?

There should be some universal decision on the pronunciations of these names. Announcers and anchors seem to just go with whatever articulation they believe sounds right or however they feel comfortable saying the name.

Shouldn’t the players be able to speak up about the correct way to say their names? I know it really bothers me when people miss pronounce my name, which happens quite often. It’s Tam-ra, not Ta-a-ra or Tam-ara, but I have the instant opportunity to correct them.

Name pronunciation may not be a big deal to some, but these are professional athletes, their names are on posters, bobbleheads, trophies, jerseys, and are constantly being repeated on television and at the games. I would think players would start to get a little peeved when people call them by two or three different names.

Aramis Ramirez is another example that comes to mind. Ara-mis or air-a-mis? Which is it?

C.C. Sabathia, who has recently been in the news for his trade to the Brewers, has his name habitually murdered on air. Chicago Tribune’s national baseball writers, Phil Rogers, pronounced it “Suh-BAY-thia” on Comcast SportsNet “Chicago Tribune Live.”

But, according to Sabathia’s ESPN.com profile it should be pronounced “Suh-BATH-ee-uh.” Then during a press conference yesterday Brewers’ GM, Doug Melvin, pronounced it “Suh-BAY-thia.”

I’m confused.

It’s also a little bit frustrating as a fan, not knowing exactly what to call my favorite players. I want to be able to pronounce their names as the players intended them.

I think some of the professional leagues should come together and uniform these pronunciations, just out of a simple respect for the players.

Well fans, the rumors are true. Our Chicago Blackhawks will be taking on the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on January 1st of next year. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported today that the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, approved the venue and match-up last week.

The official announcement is expected to come July 18-20 at the Chicago Hilton when the Blackhawks host their first team convention there.

The game will be the third NHL game played outdoors.

If you watched any sort of baseball at all over the 4th of July weekend you noticed the stars and stripes hats that all the teams wore. The hats are navy blue adorning the teams logo filled with the American flag design.

The authentic stars and stripes on field caps are for sale on both the Cubs and White Sox websites and cost $34.99.

There’s no better way to show your patriotism and love for your team simutaneously.

Buy the Cubs hat here.

Buy the Sox hat here.

No matter the sport, the team, or the game, fans everywhere are cheerleaders. But, next time you are at a game of some sort take a minute to look around and check out the variety in the way people root.

Some ways people cheer can get annoying, sentimental, and at times downright dangerous. So which type of cheerleader are you?

 The high-fiver

Ramirez hits a double. High-five. Hester gains yardage. High-five. You got a good spot in the parking lot. High-five. Beer man came around just as your cup ran dry. High-five. No matter what just happened in or around the game, to you, it usually warrants a high-five. High-fives everywhere. The mom with her kid behind you, the old man with headphones in front of you, the hot dog vendor. To you, the coveted hand slap is the most genuine way to say: “Go, team, go.”

The foam finger-waver

So what if the 19-inch foam hand costs $11.95, you can’t cheer properly without it. As you wave it back and forth over your head for the entirity of the game the section behind you grows increasingly frustrated with the view. You usually indulge in other such extravagances, cotton candy, nachos, bobbleheads, anything you can get your hands on that probably won’t last more than a week at your house.

The “I should be in school right now” sign holder

Your parents fell into tickets so you got to miss a day of school. You don’t really understand whats going on in the game, you just know that dad made you carry a piece of posterboard all over Chicago so your mom can spot you on TV. But that doesn’t cramp your style because you get to slam Mountain Dews and get out of learning about long division. You probably learnt more on the El ride down anyway.

The chest-bumper

Somewhat similar to the hive-fiver, only modernized and more frat-tastic. You shy away from the hand slap of the 80s and 90s and are consumed with the high-five of the new millennium. You played football in highschool and are still reliving the days of chest-bumping when you spiked the ball after scoring on Driscoll Catholic.

The consistent booer

Boooo hissss! The game never goes as well as you want, but you should be used to that by now. Every player now sucks and you are no longer a fan after that pathetic loss to the Royals, you show your swagger by verbally letting the good guys know how personally disappointed you are in them.

The hugger and crier

A loss is just to much for you to handle. You watched your hopes and dreams go down the drain at Wrigley in 2003 and still cry whenever you think about Bartman. If someone gets injured you are overwhelmingly worried. It’s so sad that Brett Favre retired, even if he did play for the Packers, he was just (sniff, sniff) such a good role model.

After learning so much about themed funerals I decided to look into what other sport themed events are becoming popular around the Chicago area. I came across some pictures from last years Bridal Expo and found that weddings have also become a conduit for fans to show their pride.

This is one of the most impressive wedding dresses I have ever seen. You know you’re a true Bears fan when the team themes you wedding, because nothing says I love you like orange and blue.

See any other Chicago sports themed awesomeness? Let me know!

Chicago Fandemonium: So why be a White Sox fan?

Mary Jo: On the south side, baseball is a religion. White Sox fans are dedicated creatures of habit who don’t let anyone come between them and their team.

So why be a fan? To join in on the tradition of a winning ball club and to be dedicated to something bigger than yourself are two of the main reasons.

CF: What are your special moves to pump up the crowd?

MJ: I LOVE to get contests going between different sections of the ballpark to see who can be louder. I like to put my hand to my ear and jump up and down to get them wild! It is so much fun to walk back and forth between two sections too, it is fun to tease them a bit to see who is more excited to be there. The fans get really into it too which makes it even more energizing!

Fans also LOVE high fives so whenever I am at the ballpark I make sure to give them out!

CF: What has been your greatest moment on the Chevrolet Pride Crew?

MJ: Wow!! That’s a loaded question! Every moment on the Pride Crew is amazing!! The minute they open those gates in center field and we run out onto the grass to perform in front of 40,000 people is quite a rush. But the most fantastic moment I have ever experienced was the night that Mark Buerhele threw his no hitter last season. Knowing that I walked on the same grass as him and was a part of history made working with the team so special!

CF: What’s your favorite part of a White Sox home game?

MJ: Before the game even starts. The entire Pride Crew loves it when they show the video about the history of the team before the present team takes the field. It is also so much fun when they do start taking the field because the fans go crazy when their favorite players get announced!

CF: What’s it like to serve as an ambassador for the White Sox?

MJ: Incredible! The White Sox really try to make U.S Cellular Field as family friendly as possible, so it is great to be able to represent them in a positive manner. It is fun to be recognized by fans because that means that we are making a difference in their lives and their experiences at the ballpark.

The way that the Pride Crew looks at our job is this: for most fans we are the closest that they may get to the actual team. Which means we need to make their experience with us memorable. When we see a smile on their faces we know we have done our job!

CF: So you were almost born at a White Sox game? Please elaborate…

Haha, I bet you won’t find many White Sox fans who can tell you this story!

While my mom was at a game in 1985, her water broke and she went into labor with me. We had some family visiting from out of town at the time and they were with my parents at the game. My mom, being the sweetheart that she is, didn’t want to inconvenience everyone by telling them that she was about to give birth to me! Besides, she didn’t want to leave the game either! The doctors say that if she had waited any longer that I would have been born at the ballpark! What can I say, I have been a big White Sox fan literally since day one!

CF: How can you tell the difference between a true Southside Sox fan and a 2005 bandwagoner?

MJ: If you were a White Sox fan in 2000, a Cubs fan in 2003, a White Sox fan in 2005 and now are a Cubs fan in 2008 then you are a bandwagon fan.

Mary Jo’s Pride Crew bio