RANDOM speculations travel FI...

RANDOM speculations

travel FIGURE: PLAYOFF PICTURE A BIT FUZZY

Random speculations while wondering if wet weather would damage or help the Bears' offense (OK in the way that it was a slow day of thinking):

Playing the percentages, the White Sox appear to have the inside track of being left abroad of the postseason. That's with what intent Quick Hits seldom plays the percentages -- or the stock market. You know, the junk mail that tenders the prospect of riches however carries a disclaimer that past performance is no guarantee of time to come results.

Sox fans can solitary hope this season's past performance is no indication of to what extent the playoff picture will consider at season's end.

Mainly because as far as remaining schedules journey (and they will go a drawn out way to determining whether the Sox win the American League Central or qualify as the wild card), in a three-way battle with

Detroit and Minnesota, the Twins have the best winning percentage against their remaining antagonistics (.610) and the Tigers the second- best (577) That would leave the Sox third (557) if calculations are correct.

The wild card in the wild card could be the Tigers' 10-5 dominance of the Twins and the Sox' 11-5 dominance of the Tigers. Minnesota and Detroit square not upon four more times this season.

The team to watch? Kansas City. The Royals have seven games left with the Twins, six with the Tigers and three with the Sox Detroit is 11-1 v KC Minnesota 8-4 and the Sox 10-6

- Having first baseman Derrek to leeward back in the lineup is just what the whelps need -- to show he's healthy enough to deal Phil Nevin. And level more importantly, to foster false chance of a favorable result for 2007.

- The Wife swears she saw undivided of the great rarities in sports:

St Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa actually looking happy after beating the young beasts on a ninth-inning run

Saturday. Replays were inconclusive (mainly because principally of his face was obscured) nevertheless far be it from Quick Hits to doubt her. And when a repeat occurr Sunday night, you had to be thinking author hum Bissinger must be pondering a event to his 3 Nights in August about La Russa. He can call it 2 Smiles in August.

- Quick Hits could swear a tease forward Comcast SportsNet's "SportsNite" had a telecaster declare late Saturday of the Cubs' afternoon game, "After getting confine out Friday, scoring was flat more difficult." Maybe it's time to proceed to the ear doctor for yours without equivocation Or remedial math class for someone other

THAT'S SHOE BIZ

Sneak peek at a $1498 pair

If the shoe fits, pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain it.

For $1498 (ye the decimal point is in the correct spot) a pair of "Starbury One" basketball shoe from novel York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury (and Steve & Barry's University Sportswear) can be yours. At that price -- compared to what commons endorsed by such hoops luminaries as LeBron James and Michael Jordan -- the Marbury shoe are a bargain (even if that aggregate amount was per shoe rather than for a pair).

"Now, instead of spending $200 for a pair of sneakers, you can finish 20 pairs," Marbury told the of the present day York Times. Here's hoping he's a better businessman than he is mathematician.

- Elsewhere in the marvellous world of footwear, the TNA Wrestling Knockouts (as seen Thursday nights forward cable's Spike) are featured in the recently made known issue of Sole Collector magazine. Christy Hemme is upon the cover of the

magazine that has an eight-page spread featuring Jackie Gayda, Traci runnels and SoCal Val.

The issue also has a profile of Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade. For those more interested in the women wrestler the first TNA Knockouts DVD hits video stores today. It also is available at www.tnawrestling.com. All of which means it should be just about time for a gratuitous photo.

OH REALLY?

BECKHAM possibility of goods TO ZERO IN ON A of recent origin DEAL

Real Madrid is real interested in re-signing David Beckham.

The soccer star's contract with the Spanish team conclusions after the season.

The former England captain has said he is hoping for a contract

extension.

"The intention from the form a club is to sit down and discuss a fresh deal," Beckham spokesman Simon Oliveira said Monday. "Nothing's been discussed yet"

Beckham, who joined Real Madrid in 2003 after playing for Manchester United, played in Real Madrid's Spanish league opener Sunday, a scoreless tie with visiting Villareal. Real Madrid has not won a memorial of conquest with Beckham, 34, whose marketing abilities pretend greater than his soccer skills.

"Of course the criteria were based upon sports," Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said of a just discovered deal for Beckham. "Marketing issues are important. yet in this, Real Madrid sports aspects take priority."

MINNIE'S HOUSE

STACKHOUSE FIXES HIS MOTHER'S temple

The latest tale involving Jerry Stackhouse displays him to have something of an edifice complicate

The Dallas Mavericks star bought his mother a house. More specifically, a house of worship.

He paid to refurbish a ecclesiastical body in Kinston, N.C., where Minnie Stackhouse is the pastor.

More than 300 attended the dedication Sunday of the House of chance of the desired end Free Will