Brett Ballantini
@brettballantini.bsky.social
Sox Populi and South Side Sox editor. Leftist. Ex: beat writer, actor, teacher, musician, DJ. Love Wiffleball, the ABA, Nerf hoops & my supergroovy wife!
The answer the interviewer seemed to be looking for was I HAVE ABDICATED ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT.
I haven't used that one either, yet.
I haven't used that one either, yet.
November 7, 2025 at 2:23 AM
The answer the interviewer seemed to be looking for was I HAVE ABDICATED ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT.
I haven't used that one either, yet.
I haven't used that one either, yet.
the "valuable lesson" here has been repeated many times over: no one should be giving Paul Sullivan column space.
Give him his buyout and let him use your money to write his inevitable "the misery of covering Chicago sports" book.
At least you won't be tempted to print this dreck any longer
Give him his buyout and let him use your money to write his inevitable "the misery of covering Chicago sports" book.
At least you won't be tempted to print this dreck any longer
October 20, 2025 at 1:53 AM
the "valuable lesson" here has been repeated many times over: no one should be giving Paul Sullivan column space.
Give him his buyout and let him use your money to write his inevitable "the misery of covering Chicago sports" book.
At least you won't be tempted to print this dreck any longer
Give him his buyout and let him use your money to write his inevitable "the misery of covering Chicago sports" book.
At least you won't be tempted to print this dreck any longer
My first on-card, in-person autograph, ca. 1983. Minnie was very sweet, rustling my hair to calm my nervous answers to his questions about my fledgling baseball career.
October 17, 2025 at 7:40 PM
My first on-card, in-person autograph, ca. 1983. Minnie was very sweet, rustling my hair to calm my nervous answers to his questions about my fledgling baseball career.
Beulah!
"If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart" is an all-time great album finish.
"If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart" is an all-time great album finish.
October 16, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Beulah!
"If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart" is an all-time great album finish.
"If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart" is an all-time great album finish.
last chance to stave off the out of order sign!
October 16, 2025 at 2:40 AM
last chance to stave off the out of order sign!
Good Vibes, we share adoration of the band have some very different loves and hates!
My draft, from the safety of my own home
Strawberry Fields Forever
A Hard Day's Night (although really, it's Magical Mystery Tour or my a White Album single LP)
Two of Us, Aimee Mann and Michael Penn
Paul McCartney
My draft, from the safety of my own home
Strawberry Fields Forever
A Hard Day's Night (although really, it's Magical Mystery Tour or my a White Album single LP)
Two of Us, Aimee Mann and Michael Penn
Paul McCartney
October 8, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Good Vibes, we share adoration of the band have some very different loves and hates!
My draft, from the safety of my own home
Strawberry Fields Forever
A Hard Day's Night (although really, it's Magical Mystery Tour or my a White Album single LP)
Two of Us, Aimee Mann and Michael Penn
Paul McCartney
My draft, from the safety of my own home
Strawberry Fields Forever
A Hard Day's Night (although really, it's Magical Mystery Tour or my a White Album single LP)
Two of Us, Aimee Mann and Michael Penn
Paul McCartney
Tony has my vote.
October 8, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Tony has my vote.
coincidentally 45 years ago today, Keough's 1-inning start in OAK vs. the White Sox eventually brought 19-game loser Brian Kingman in. Kingman would get his 20th loss, the last 20-game loser of last century (?) and the first/only 20-game loser for a winning team
www.southsidesox.com/chicago-whit...
www.southsidesox.com/chicago-whit...
September 25 in Chicago White Sox History: A’s Brian Kingman loses 20th
The South Siders hang a record loss on an unfortunate A
www.southsidesox.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
coincidentally 45 years ago today, Keough's 1-inning start in OAK vs. the White Sox eventually brought 19-game loser Brian Kingman in. Kingman would get his 20th loss, the last 20-game loser of last century (?) and the first/only 20-game loser for a winning team
www.southsidesox.com/chicago-whit...
www.southsidesox.com/chicago-whit...
every time my wife and I go to hoop (at a single basket, mind you) we have to beg players to move to one of the other THREE courts in the basketball/tennis space. And that's only if there aren't already four pickleball games rolling.
Chance of sidestepping a Karen or Chad in those circumstances? 0%
Chance of sidestepping a Karen or Chad in those circumstances? 0%
September 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
every time my wife and I go to hoop (at a single basket, mind you) we have to beg players to move to one of the other THREE courts in the basketball/tennis space. And that's only if there aren't already four pickleball games rolling.
Chance of sidestepping a Karen or Chad in those circumstances? 0%
Chance of sidestepping a Karen or Chad in those circumstances? 0%
Exhibit A for why stats aren't cold, that they don't sap from the game but add so much to it. Something Canó would have learned years after finishing his career, or vaguely been aware of possibly having accomplished, is on his mind in real time. That's an enormous gift you've given him, Adam.
September 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Exhibit A for why stats aren't cold, that they don't sap from the game but add so much to it. Something Canó would have learned years after finishing his career, or vaguely been aware of possibly having accomplished, is on his mind in real time. That's an enormous gift you've given him, Adam.
Post a perfect album from the 90's that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice in Chains.
September 7, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Post a perfect album from the 90's that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice in Chains.
My favorite card of my favorite White Sox player
September 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
My favorite card of my favorite White Sox player
sobering that even among the sanest of respondents just two-thirds believe that a vaccine kept people alive and a virus killed them
September 3, 2025 at 1:32 AM
sobering that even among the sanest of respondents just two-thirds believe that a vaccine kept people alive and a virus killed them
Flu game: Powerful and enduring visual of a rare vulnerable Jordan slumped into Scottie's arms walking off of the court.
"Team" is easy to celebrate after dunks and wins but more powerful in loss or struggle.
Forever a Beatles "Two of Us" moment where veteran egos were muted and love surfaced.
"Team" is easy to celebrate after dunks and wins but more powerful in loss or struggle.
Forever a Beatles "Two of Us" moment where veteran egos were muted and love surfaced.
August 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Flu game: Powerful and enduring visual of a rare vulnerable Jordan slumped into Scottie's arms walking off of the court.
"Team" is easy to celebrate after dunks and wins but more powerful in loss or struggle.
Forever a Beatles "Two of Us" moment where veteran egos were muted and love surfaced.
"Team" is easy to celebrate after dunks and wins but more powerful in loss or struggle.
Forever a Beatles "Two of Us" moment where veteran egos were muted and love surfaced.
Hall of Fame has the wrong date for Eddie Collins' 3,000th hit.
August 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Hall of Fame has the wrong date for Eddie Collins' 3,000th hit.
The Limey is a masterpiece.
August 21, 2025 at 5:47 AM
The Limey is a masterpiece.
same here, Tyrone, same here
August 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
same here, Tyrone, same here