The Futures Market

In a tale of two teams, which will have the better 2008?

Team A has:

• Seven stars that are able to carry teams to victory
• An award winning manager/coach known for his motivational skills
• A fan base thirsty for another year of success.

Team B has:

• A bevy of incoming young talent
• An award winning/manager/coach known for his motivational skills
• A fan base thirsty for another year of success

Basically you have the classic argument of proven talent versus potential. As for the teams: your 2008 Chicago Cubs and your 2008 Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella has one of the most talented squads in the National League, evidenced by the former and future All-Stars that are up and down his line-up such as Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukudome.

Oh, and you can't forget pitchers such as Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, Ryan Dempster (yes, he was an All-Star with the Florida Marlins) and Carlos Marmol.

The Cubs have the talent to run away with the NL Central and hide. But they're the Cubs, so you know they'll make it interesting.

If they win, it will be because of the aforementioned talent. If they lose, it will be because of the lack of production out of center field and shortstop - the two positions the Cubs ignored as they tried to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts.

As for the Salukis, they will open 2008 hungry as ever after missing their first NCAA Tournament since 2001.

Coach Chris Lowery has a highly touted recruiting class coming in to Carbondale, which just might be enough to make up for the depatures of forwards Matt Shaw, Randal Falker, and guard Tyrone Green.

The Egyptian Hunting Dawgs are bringing in some of the best talent in the Midwest, including the best player in Illinois, point guard Kevin Dillard, and two of the best talents in Missouri, guard Torres Roundtree and four-star power forward Anthony Booker.

Joining Booker, Roundtree and Dillard is guard Ryan Hare, another Illinois All-State performer, from Chicago's Marshall High School.

Oh, and I can't forget about combo guard Justin Bocot. The slender lefty sat out last year, but has apparently stepped it up in the classroom to the point where he just might join in on the fun.

The Salukis biggest addition might have come not on the court, but on the sidelines. Former Saluki star Tony Young joins C-Lo's staff as a graduate assistant, while reports have Southern Methodist assistant coach Lance Irvin jumping on board as well.

Irvin is reportedly best known for his ability to recruit Chicagoland talent. If SIU can corner the market on "Chi-town's finest" and the best from "The Lou," the Salukis will be the best team in the state, hands down!

In either case, both of my teams should be fun to watch in 2008 (and beyond)

Oh yeah, and this guy is coming back for the Dawgs:



Oh and he did this to a National Champion: