Gene Wojciechowski

  (10:59 AM)

There's actual sun in Chicago today. Whooee! And our first question is. . .

Rick (hartford)

Hey Gene -- how great is it to see the Blackhawks back in Chicago?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:02 AM)

For a while there, people were wondering if we'd ever get an NHL franchise in Chicago. But give Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough huge props for turning the culture of the organ-I-zation upside down. It's nice to see.

Steiny (NYC)

LeBron James = MVP?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:04 AM)

I have no problem with that equation. But I also have no problem with Kobe = MVP. And Wade = MVP doesn't bother me much, either. Seriously, I'm glad I don't have to fill out that ballot.

Jason (Tampa, FL)

What will NBC due now that John Madden is retiring from Sunday Night Football?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:05 AM)

I'm available. I can even do hardware and foot spray ads. Actually, I have no idea what NBC does. Madden changed the way we listened to and understood a football game. He was the human ''Football For Dummies" instructor. He made the x's and o's make sense.

Steiny (NYC)

What was more interesting. Tiger against Lefty or Kenny Perry collapsing late?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:08 AM)

Tiger and Lefty were high drama. Perry was golf tragedy. Both were compelling to watch. And it wasn't just Perry who fell apart. Tiger did at the end. Phil did at the end. Chad Campbell did at the end. Cabrera hit a tree, for goodness sakes, but he got a golf-god kick, and then made the shots to survive. But, man, what a great Sunday at the Masters.

Zach Winston-Salem NC

Hey man, what do you think of the Cubs playoff abilities as they are now, and what do you think of them if by some miracle, they acquire Peavey?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:11 AM)

Jim Hendry, the team GM, told me in spring training that he has the ability to go out and get someone, if available for the right price. The Padres were asking way too much for Peavy, which is why the trade didn't happen during the offseason. Doesn't mean something can't happen later in the year. Cubs followers are probably a bit nervous about Ramiriez's back stiffness, Gregg's early season struggles, and Harden's inconsistencies.

Steiny (NYC)

Who will start at QB for Southern Cal? Matt Barkley, Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:12 AM)

I think you're forgetting about Greg Paulus.

Mike (Akron)

Can Chicago upset Boston now that KG is out? Would you take 10-1 odds?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:13 AM)

Home court is a big thing. I'd still take the Celtics. The Bulls have played better since the trade, but dropping to the 7th seed could be a killer.

Anthony Zachareas (NYC)

What MLB team has a lot to worry about right now?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:17 AM)

Well, since we're only 9 games into the season, I don't think any team has to be chewing on its fingernails just yet. But. . . (as Peter Gammons would say), the Nationals would probably like to win a game here pretty soon, and the Giants would like to see Tim Lincecum pitch like, well, Lincecum (the starting staff era is 7.71), and the Brewers are already 4 games back.

Bryan (Columbia, MD)

Do you believe Boldin will stay with the Cards and if not, then where will he end up?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:18 AM)

I think he's gone if the Cards get anything near the price they're looking for. As for destinations: I could see the Jets, Giants or Redskins making a run at him.

John (Indiana)

The Cubs will win 2nd Place in the NL Central then they will lose in the Wild Card round

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:20 AM)

You don't actually ''win" second place. As for losing in the first round of the playoffs, that's always possible. They've done it the last two times. That would be bad for my preseason pick of them winning it all, though.

Jeremy (NJ)

Is it a good idea for a team like the Suns or the Nets to pick up DeJuan Blair in the NBA Draft

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:24 AM)

The NBA isn't my specialty (water polo is), but Blair seems to be one of those guys whose particular talents (rebounding, scaring people with those biceps) would have to fit exactly with what a team needs. In other words, he's not Thabeet, a guy who you can plant in the low post for the next 10 years. Blair was a monster in college, but i'm not sure his game will translate as well to the pros.

Bryan (Columbia, MD)

Do you think Texas has what it takes to when a National Title on the back of Colt Mccoy and will Colt also walk away with the heisman as well?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:27 AM)

there are more than a few voters who thought he should have walked away with a heisman this year. I voted for Bradford, but I would have been fine with any of the finalists. As for next year, Texas is going to be among the early favorites. But I was impressed with the improvement McCoy made from 2007 to 2008. It will be fun to see if he's even better this season.

ak.a coach James (Newport News, VA)

Gene they say I am crazy but I think the Pistons can upset the Cavs if they had a better coach

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:27 AM)

I say you're crazy too. But in a good way.

Chad (Las Vegas)

People call the NFL the No Ful League. Can we change the name of the Big 12 to the NDL No Defense League?

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:29 AM)

You mean, No Fun League. And, no, you can't call the Big 12 a no defense league. A better name: the Quarterback League. Wait--that's not really a very clever nickname, is it?

Kev (NYC)

You can;t ever justify the Cubs as a WS winner, until they actually do.

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:30 AM)

Hmmm. I have to get back to the planet Earth now, but I'll think about your comment on the flight home.

Jeremy (Newark, NJ)

Where will Sam Young end up in the NBA Draft

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:31 AM)

It cracked me up when announcers kept saying Young might not play in the pros. Huh? The guy was arguably Pitt's best player at times. I can't believe he won't find a job on somebody's roster.

John (Chicago, IL)

Gene, with the addition of Jay Cutler do you think the Bears should have Devin Hester focus 100% on being a receiver and give up on him as a return man? The way Danieal Manning played after taking over kick return duties last season was pretty convincing that he can possibly put up Hester like numbers.

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:34 AM)

Well, Hester is a once-in-a-decade kind of returner. But the Bears need receivers more than they need a returner. Our man, Jaws, says Hester made significant improvements as a WR as the season progressed. I'll take his word for it. Even if Orton was still the QB, I'd say the Bears should continue to do everything to develop Hester as a WR. He could (emphasis on could) become a playmaker receiver.

Adam (syracuse,ny)

Tiger has made golf boring. Let me explain. It's like Tiger entered the world series of poker and then only plays AA. Until the final hour when he's got nothing to lose does he play fearlessly. And that mentality seems to have spread through the top golfers. I want to see these guys do for 4 days, what they did in 1 at the Masters

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:39 AM)

Tiger plays smart. Tiger plays hard. Tiger has made golf worth watching. He was mad at himself for not taking advantage of the course set-up and the weather conditions for much of that tournament. I thought it was fascinating to watch him hit the gas pedal on his game and almost pull off the win. Believe me, Tiger isn't afraid of anything on a golf course. If he was, he would have wilted when Phil, who played absolutely great until No. 12, started leaving him behind early in Rd. 4.

Otto (CA)

Do you think Isiah can turn FIU into a national player? Thanks.

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:40 AM)

No. I think FIU should be careful what it wished for.

Bryan (Columbia, MD)

Do you believe that jerry jones will make a crazy move during the draft or for once the Cowboys play the draft safe.

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:41 AM)

Jerry Jones is a showman. It isn't in his DNA to play it safe. That's why he's so much fun to cover. Anything is possible with him in the draft day war room.

Gene Wojciechowski

  (11:41 AM)

I'm done. Thanks for the good questions. Take care.