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While the NHL tries to untangle its messy labor dispute, there's an alternative for hockey aficionados fiending for a live game: the Chicago Wolves.

The Wolves, who play in the American Hockey League, are in the middle of the season out at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. According to Lindsey Willhite, the team's Public Relations Director, the Wolves had a 10 to 15 percent increase in ticket sales to begin the season (mirroring an early season sales jump from last year). However, the real bump could come now that the calendar has turned to January: no Bears, no Blackhawks, at least for now, and a team owner who likes to win. 

The lockout means good play in the AHL

The AHL has benefitted from the NHL lockout in other ways, too. On each team there are a number of players that would otherwise be playing in the NHL, or spending time with parent clubs.

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Most people - like me - have had the view that there are way too many college football bowl games.

There are 35 in all starting on Dec. 15 and finishing on Monday with the Championship game in Miami between Notre Dame and Alabama.

I was used to only four games on New Year's Day: Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl. You spent only a day planted in front of a television and when the final second ticked off the game clock that was it. Over until next year.

My personal experience for a bowl game was zero. Having gone to a college without an athletic program there was never a vested interest in  "my" team. However, there were many programs that caught my interest and were enjoyable to watch, but still no personal interest.  Face it - the football programs nearest to Chicago have not set the world on fire until recently (except Notre Dame).

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They are still dancing in the streets of Evanston after #20 Northwestern started the New Year with a bang, and in DeKalb it was a tough cold night as Northern Illinois University succumbed 31-10 to the bigger and more talented Florida State University.

Ending a long drought:

You can now count on two fingers how many college football bowl games Northwestern University has won in school history. The last one was the 1949 Rose Bowl and yesterday it was a 34-20 win over Mississippi State to take the Gator Bowl crown.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald's defense was the stars of the game played in Tallahassee, Florida. They nabbed four interceptions, Quentin Williams pick was the third play of the game. Williams returned it for a 29 yard touchdown. Several milestones were reached by Wildcat coach Pat Fitzgerald, this team posted its third ten win season finishing 10-3, and Fitzgerald’s 50-39 record, gives him the honor of the most wins for a NU head coach.

They were the only Big Ten to post a bowl win on New Year’s Day.

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The Bears 26-24 win against Detroit was not enough to save Lovie Smith’s job as head coach.

General Manager Phil Emery informed Smith on Monday morning that he will not return as the team's head coach for the 2013 season.

Under the present NFL playoff system, of the 53 teams who began their seasons at 7-1, only the 1996 Washington Redskins and now the Bears failed to make the playoffs.

Last year, injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte affected that season’s outcome. The team gave General Manager Jerry Angelo his walking papers: He was in charge of the roster, and there were significant gaps in the depth of that team.

When Angelo’s replacement, Phil Emery, was hired, he had to retain Smith for the 2012 season. But now after his first year at the helm, Emery can let Smith go.

Smith had one year left on his contract. His overall record with the Bears was 81-63 with three division titles, two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance during his nine-year tenure.

The 2006 Super Bowl appearance was Smith's biggest achievement, but the Bears lost to Indianapolis 29-17 in Miami.

NFL coaching jobs are measured by wins, losses and playoff berths. Although this year’s 10-6 record is respectable, more was expected.

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The Bears may have felt they were in a hospital waiting room with doctors telling them their playoff hopes had died when Minnesota beat Green Bay. They had barely beaten Detroit 26-24 and needed a Packer win...it didn’t happen, and now the season is over. The post season drought continues for Lovie Smith’s team. This year actually feels worst then last. How can a team begin the season 7-1, finish 10-6 and not make the playoffs? With the present NFL playoff system, fifty-three teams began a season at 7-1 and only the 1996 Washington Redskins and now the Bears failed to make the playoffs.

Last year the injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte gave more credence to that season’s outcome. Where is the blame now and who will suffer the consequences? Last season it was General Manager Jerry Angelo given his walking papers. He was the person in charge of the roster and there were significant gaps with the depth of that team.

Angelo’s replacement Phil Emery, after his first year at the helm, has some major decisions to make for a team that has to figure what direction to take now.

If the fans had a vote you know what they would say—fire head coach Lovie Smith. After nine seasons as the Bears head coach, his team has been to the playoffs three times, once in the last six years (2010).

NFL coach’s jobs are measured by wins and losses and playoff berths.

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Most of the top 2012 sports stories in Chicago had no championships and little playoff action involved. Some had no action and plenty of injuries. In fact, plenty of the biggest news events had negative overtones. The order may be different depending on your favorite sport/or team’s situation. My look has to do with the impact of the story.

1. Rose injury: On April 28, the Bulls were just a minute away from beating the Philadelphia 76ers in game one of the playoffs. Derrick Rose was driving to the basket and tore his ACL.  The Bulls lost that playoff round even though they had the best regular season record in the NBA. Rose is still rehabbing and hoping to return in 2013.

2. Cubs lose 101 games: They had not reached the century mark in losses since 1966. Players were traded, the offense was horrible and the fans were scare at season’s end. What a way for Dale Sveum to start his managing career and a tough year for new President Theo Epstein.

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And then there was one…

The 2005 White Sox World Series felt more distant after catcher A.J. Pierzynski agreed to play for the Texas Rangers. Now Paul Konerko is the last player from that World Championship team. It almost feels rather melancholy to think that there will be no more of the colorful and sometimes controversial player behind the plate for the South Siders.

It seemed every year A.J. was anointed as the most hated player in baseball and he loved it.  Pierzynski is the kind of player from the outside who seemed like a pain and a difficult person to have on a team. He was to some extent. But what you learn being around him for eight years is he is one of the smartest players in the game. He gets under other people's skin because he knows all the nuances of the game better than most — and he lets you know it.

After covering him and Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, you realize that those types of players are special in baseball. They are perfectionists in a game they love more than you know.

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