Congratulations Jeff! He is financially set for life and gets to play the sport he loves most.

It was great to see him play for ND.

The contracts in baseball are guaranteed and it takes less of a toll on your body. I prefer watching football but Jeff wins whether he ends up playing for the Cubs or not.
Club 23 Irish | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 11:10 am | #

Best of luck to you Jeff; you're making valpo proud! Just remember, a baseball career can also be pretty short if you let them hit you in the head with one of those balls. Here's hoping you can escape the curse and have a stellar career in the friendly confines. Knock a few back at Joe's on Broadway for me.
indy | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 11:14 am | #

House for rent for ND Home games:

I am a ND alum who is looking to rent out his home in South Bend for the ND home games. I have already booked MSU, GT, and USC. If anyone is interested in the other games please feel free to e-mail me. I am hoping by posting here I can market directly to true Irish Fans. GO IRISH!!!!
Mike | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 12:13 pm | #

Now that Dusty's gone, Jeff won't have to worry about a manager pitching him until his arm falls off. Plus, as a cub's pitcher, there is no accountability and no pressure. Add to that the fact that as starting pitcher he only has to work once a week and will never get hit again, leaving him available to play golf or guitar hero the other six days.

Overall, a good move.
DCDomer | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 12:48 pm | #

Does anyone know if Jeff Samardzija can hit the ball at all? Do NCAA pitchers go to bat? Just wondering.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 2:20 pm | #

go Cardinals
imposs1ble | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 2:28 pm | #

"will have to settle being only a two-time regular All-American."

If only the rest of us were so unfortunate. :)
BK | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 2:30 pm | #

lol Pat..."two-time regular All-American."
CS | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 3:01 pm | #

If Jeff chose NFL full time and was picked in the low-first round or early second round, what would his payout have been? I know it would've been a 4-5 year contract, but what's the money like for an early first day pick?
Irish4eva | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 3:21 pm | #

Joe--
His senior year of HS, Jeff hit .442. Here's what his HS baseball coach had to say...

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/ ...samside.article

I don't know about college or last summer in the minors. Can anyone else help?
Kathy | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 6:15 pm | #

Subway Joe --

With respect to Jeff's high school batting against high school pitchers, ND's press release states that "[h]e batted .481 with eight home runs and 50 RBI as a senior after posting a .375 average with five home runs and 37 RBI as a junior." I know nothing about NCAA ball.
Anon | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 6:17 pm | #

There is a DH in NCAA baseball.
Chris | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 8:16 pm | #

I listened to ESPN radio this afternoon and they were talking about Jeff's decision to go into baseball. It was amazing how much bile could be spewed toward him from the baseball analyst. He talked about how stupid the Cubs were to draft this guy and how he wouldn't be in the majors until 2010...if ever.

It was nice to see the anti-ND bias pulling a full cross-over into other sports.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 9:23 pm | #

http://browns.aolsportsblog.com/...notre-dame-fan/

So Paris Hilton is a Notre Dame Fan?

Anybody think the joke on the article is funny?

I don't.

Sorry Jeff, for putting this trash on your posting
bcnd | Email | Homepage | 01.20.07 - 10:31 pm | #

Not every criticism of something involving a ND player is media bias. I'm happy for Shark and all, but that contract is just ridiculous for a minor league pitcher. $2.5M up front? $10M over 5 years? He's a good prospect and all, but that contract seems a little out of proportion with other minor league deals.
PAK '00 | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 3:47 am | #

Supply and demand. Given the ridiculous money that semi-decent pitchers get these days ($50+ M for Gil Meche. Seriously, Gil Meche?!?), locking up a top 20 pitching prospect who has other options for $10 is not a bad deal for the Cubs. I've seen Jeff projected as a #1 or #2 starter in the big leagues. If he's locked up for up to 7 years (5 year contract with 2 option years), the Cubs could be paying $3.5/year for a #1/2 starter in years 6 and 7 of the deal.

Baseball is playing with monopoly money, and Jeff is NOT the first draft pick to get his share of it.
Domer '99 | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 8:56 am | #

"locking up a top 20 pitching prospect who has other options for $10 is not a bad deal for the Cubs."

I meant $10 M, obviously.
Domer '99 | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 8:57 am | #

also, the contract is seriously backloaded. And if he leaves he's gotta give the 2.5 mil signing bonus back
Irish4eva | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 10:27 am | #

Seeing as how you BGS guys are clever with the music references, and at least one of you is a Cardinals fan, I figured the headline of this post would be the indie rock band "I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness"
everloyal | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 11:06 am | #

I agree about the money being a lot for a rookie minor leaguer. Apparently it could have been more if Jeff held out and dangled the NFL thing over the Cubs' heads longer. He said he didn't want to make them have to offer him something even more ridiculous. Plus, I think he volunteered to give the signing bonus back if he plays another sport.

As for having to bat, National League pitchers don't have to hit either. They either strike out or bunt.

As for consensus all-american, I laughed out loud when I read that. Now way was he consensus material this year. Maybe because he played so well last year, but I just thought he had a real down year this year. Maybe it was just a quiet good year. It's kind of like Zibby getting third team AA.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 11:29 am | #

Fuck the cubs. Dirtiest team on the planet. Ruin the careers of good players. Delusional fans.
Hillbilly LSU | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 3:36 pm | #

How bout them Bears and Love Smith!!!
Sweet home Chicago!!
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 6:25 pm | #

perhaps the NFC champion Bears will take a late-round flyer on Shark. I mean, Mushy Mohammad is getting old, and da bears will need a new 'posession receiver' in the coming years. Just sayin'.
jeremy52 | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 10:13 pm | #

Samardjiza, Howard Stern and the girlfriend from "Forty Year-Old Virgin"... triplets?
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 10:46 pm | #

Erik,

If 78 catches for over 1000 yards and 12 TDs is a down year, I will take them anytime. Granted he wasnt as flashy as last year, only because no one expected him to do what he did last year. I dont think that he played with the passion this year that he did last year, but he we extremely productive. He was an All-American, more than Meachem from Tennessee was. He was the 3rd best WR in the country this year.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 10:49 pm | #

Samardzija, Howard Stern, and especially Andy Samberg of SNL. There's your trifecta.

I had a feeling that Samardzija might have some hitting potential, his hand-eye co-ordination being what it is.

I'll look forward to seeing him in a couple of years, unless he's traded to an American League team.

I remember some rumours going around that Shark had been a White Sox fan, but his father claimed the Cubbies had always been his real faves.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 01.21.07 - 11:05 pm | #

In one of his pressers he said he grew up rooting for the Southsiders. Sensible, considering he grew up on the south side of Chicago.
indy | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 12:37 am | #

Not the north side, like say Kenosha.
indy | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 12:39 am | #

He was born and raised in Indiana, not Southside Chicago. While it has been known that he did show affinity for the Sox, his father was always a Cubs fan. That's about to change now. No matter...let's all just support his decision and be happy that he's still "local" here in Chicagoland.
wyndycity | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 1:45 am | #

Why is Justin Trattau making an official visit to Florida?
James Murphy | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 6:13 am | #

He's probably making an official visit because he was interested in checking out the national champions. Or maybe he just wanted a free trip to Florida in the middle of January. Either way, I wouldn't get too worried about it.

That being said, Signing Day can't get here soon enough.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 8:01 am | #

Given the amount of money the Cubs have been tossing around this off-season, it's not surprising that Shark got that kind of money or could have gotten more.

I think the big "controversy" about the money is that he fell to a fifth-round pick, where those kinds of kids DON'T get that guaranteed money like that. It was the football/baseball thing that kept him from being picked up, otherwise the Cubs would have jumped on him in the first round and that's why he got first round money. At least, that's what I heard through Cubs circles.

Makes you wonder what draft picks in the second, third and fourth rounds are thinking.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 8:14 am | #

Speaking of the Bears game...gotta love the fact that Reggie Bush's taunting on his TD catch & run is what fired up the Bears defense (which shut out the Saints after that). Celebrating (i.e. the dive into the endzone) is one thing [not my preference, though], but the taunting (turning and pointing at the Bears defenders) is another thing entirely. Have some class, young man. [Same goes for Shark's taunting in some games this year.]
Domer '99 | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 9:37 am | #

Doug,

Thanks for finding the stats on Shark's year, that's why I finally conceded that he probably had a "quiet good year." I just remember too many times thinking: "Where the heck is Jeff in this game?"

Congrats to him either way.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 10:15 am | #

wyndy, I stand by my reference to Valpo as the on the 'south side of Chicago.' However, I have been known to refer to Dublin Ohio as the 'East side of South Bend' at times also.

Hey while you're defending Hoosier Pride, how about a little love for Bloomington IN native Rex Grossman?
indy | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 10:28 am | #

I love Smarjd!@#$%a, and I think he had a very good year this year. But it was pretty clear to me that he was burnt from his two-sport pursuit.

The way he played ball this year reminded me of Deion Sanders. Like Sanders, he was a great player who used his athleticism to do some awe-inspiring things. But, also like Neon, he seemed reluctant to play with the body-sacrificing abandon that inspires teammates.

Admittedly easy for me to say, sitting in my armchair and getting jiggly with my chips...
Hal | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 10:43 am | #

Domer '99,

It's probably a little much to ask for some class from a kid who got an $800,000 house to play for his college.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 10:51 am | #

Bush's taunting was a bit much, but you have to admit that was an outstanding play. He had just run down the field, juked a defender or two out of their shoes, then turned the jets back on and outran an entire defense to the endzone (with no one even coming close). I can see him wanting to be a little celebratory.

It's too bad the NFL managed to bring in some Big 10/11 referees for the game. The Saints might have had a chance if the refs hadn't given Chicago momentum.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 11:25 am | #

Officials giving momentum? Are you sure you're not from UM?
Domer Dan | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 11:45 am | #

The more Reggie Bush became comfortable as a pro (legitimate pro vs. illegitimate pro while at USC), the more he acted like a jerk. All that soft spoken pseudo humility was a crock. When Reggie was cleaning ND's clock I didn't like it, but I respected the guy. Now, I can't stand him. He needs to emulate LaDainian Tomlinson more and T.O. less. And what ever happened to the requisite NCAA investigation into USC's football program after Reggie's graft was exposed just prior to the 2006 NFL Draft? That kind of stuff used to be considered a violation of the rules. If Brady Quinn was exposed for a similar thing, the entire college football world, including "journalists" like Maisel would be clamoring for the death penalty.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 12:11 pm | #

Given the Shark's penchant for taunting, cf. personal foul in the first quarter of the Sugar Bowl game, perhaps its best that he play baseball. He can still throw a few beanballs when he gets mad, but he won't have a referee to deflect responses.

I think that if he matures, he has the potential to be a great asset to the Cubs pitching staff. But there is a wild streak in him, and I have no difficulty seeing him morph into John Rocker redux. He was insulated somewhat at ND, thanks to the ever- efficient SID office; there won't be that insulation in MLB. The Shark will have to grow up. But, that's the purpose of minor league ball, ain't it? I do wish him well, but I'm still ticked about that personal foul vs. LSU, and the smirk on his face afterward.
Fr. Brian Stanley | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 12:15 pm | #

he was a sox fan. there was a bit about him during one of the football games this season or last and he was with his dad wearing a sox hat.

though I guess if the cubs employed me and paid me millions of dollars I'd be a cubs fan too
FredSox | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 12:23 pm | #

Father,
There are no reasonable excuses for what the Shark did. Personal fouls for unsportsmanlike conduct are drive killers and momentum murderers.
However, my sources on the sidelines tell me that LSU was gunning for Samardzija in a way reminiscent to the old Buddy Ryan Bounty days. (Buddy Ryan used to tell his defenses at the Eagles that certain opponents were worth a small bounty, say $1000, for putting a targeted player out of the game. Guys like Andre Waters-who just killed himself a couple of weeks ago-always tried to maim players because of Buddy's Bounty. Of course, all of this was against NFL rules.) LSU was talking extreme smack to Jeff and were trying to set him up for a kill shot. I'm not sure about the smirk on his face, but when a bunch of thugs are trying to end your career, and you retaliate to some degree, a smirk might just appear on your face out of nowhere.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 12:31 pm | #

No, I'm sure I'm not a UM grad. If I were, I wouldn't be making fun of Big 10 refs. All that aside, are you seriously telling me that Chicago didn't commit a single penalty in the game until late in the second half? How about the Saint's DB who got his shirt nearly pulled off by the WR holding him on that end around that converted a 3rd down? Since when was that kick return where the ball didn't pop out until after the returner's knee was down a fumble? I'll give the Bears credit that they didn't let Rex give away the game and the D played tough, but that was some horrible officiating that put the Saints in the hole early.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 1:08 pm | #

I am a bit sad that sometimes the fans create an environment where Shark is worried that people might be "skeptical of his intentions." I'm sad that there is a minority of fans out there that questioned his drive to play football at times.

The majority of people truly appreciated Shark's accomplishments on and off the field at ND. He had the fire that all players at ND should have, and what we all thought was a "3-star" player turned into arguably the most dominant receiver at ND in the past 25 years.

He will be missed from the football world.

But, I'm a Cubs fan -- so I won't miss him *that* much.

Thanks, Shark, for the memories. Especially that one time when you were walking from the Dome to ND stadium and my wife shouted (in front of me and my father), "Jeff Samardzija will you have my baby!?!?"

We also named our cat after you. Not Jeff. Not Shark. The cat's name is "Jeff Samardzija."
Andrew | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 1:11 pm | #

I'm happy Jeff got his money and I look forward to watching him in the Big Leagues, however it is bittersweet that he won't be catching passes anymore. Good Luck Shark!
Smitty2183 | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 1:16 pm | #

Didn't Reggie Bush also fumble the ball away a couple of times yesterday? I didn't get to catch much of the game (that ESPN commercial about Sundays being laundry day? yeah, it's true), but I heard that he coughed it up at least once. Not something I'd go taunting one of the better defenses in the league with.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 1:57 pm | #

Couple things, which I will likely post both here and on the last post in case it's still kicking...


Interesting quotes here, and a great angle I never really thought of.

Allen Wallace of SuperPrep said he thinks one of the main reasons for moving Powlus to QB coach is because he did an excellent job recruiting on campus, and many think as a recent player he could have a major impact in family rooms on the road rather than on the campus.

Also, there is a great quote by Corwin Brown noting that he still has a large amount of close friends who coach in the Chicago public league.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/...398/-1/ NDSPORTS



Also, it would appear that Urban "I'm not going after committed players because of my morals, and by that I mean I am going after committed players" Meyer is about to meet his match in the SEC recruiting races. Nasty little segment about Nick Saban talking smack about LSU to committed LSU players.

About midway down http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com...lege/ index.html
Brad | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 2:24 pm | #

JohnWA

I watched the whole game and it was called straight. A flag could be thrown on nearly every play in the NFL. Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Domer Dan | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 6:27 pm | #

Different topic but related to ND.

Blue and Gold reported that Major Wright's mother commented on how cold it was during their visit this past weekend but didn't say how that would affect his choice of schools in the North. If a kid picks a school based on 4 months of bad weather than he is an idiot. tOSU, Wisc, Michigan, Boise St, Notre Dame- all great programs, all crappy climates. Smarten up kids.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 6:58 pm | #

I don't know about idiot. I can understand a lot of kids from places with great weather who don't want to go somewhere that's different.


But take note: if you're good enough, you eventually wind up at a level where you have to play games in January at places like Soldier Field yesterday.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 7:52 pm | #

If the little pansies can't handle cold weather, they better fucking well pray they don't get drafted by Green Bay. Pussies!
gwzimm | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 8:38 pm | #

Anon-

I wouldn't yet throw Boise State into the "great programs" list, even if they did win a BCS game and we got blown out.

Yikes, that's hard to admit.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 10:32 pm | #

JohnWA-

Was it the refs that put the Saints in the hole? Or their 4 turnovers? Or the awful Brees intentional grounding in the end zone that led to a safety? Or Colston's drops? Or the fact that they couldn't run the ball?

The Saints had one good drive, one lucky play, and were blown out the rest of the game. The refs had nothing to do with that.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 10:38 pm | #

I would say Boise St. is a great program...for what they are. They're clearly not going to challenge for a national title, most likely ever unless they get invited to major conference, like the Pac-10 or something. As a small school, they've had pretty good success, especially when considering their resources and that they're in Boise, where the bars close at 9pm.

A great team like we think of all-time great teams? No way. A great team for a mid-major conference where money can be tight and their coach is constantly being stolen away to go to a bigger, "better" school? Yeah, I'll give them that.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 10:42 pm | #

I think Boise State really improved their program these past few years. The weather is much different than Midwest weather though. I lived in Boise for 1 year and another Idaho town for another year. It is sunny there most of the time whereas the Midwest is mostly cloudy in the winter.
GB | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 11:08 pm | #

I still hate baseball. What a waste of talent.
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 01.22.07 - 11:53 pm | #

goodbye, lane.
anon | Email | Homepage | 01.23.07 - 1:32 am | #

i think the difference between jeff this year, versus last year, was that last year we had two receivers who could take over a game. it seemed like every game either stovall would step up or jeff would step up (or the opposing defense could only shut down one). the key, in any case, being that either one could take over. this year, we didn't have that killer second threat, which led to a very good year for jeff; but it also became much more noticable when he was taken away. this is not to say of course that rhema was terrible, but he wasn't nearly the gamebreaker that stovall was. but i agree that the passion wasn't there like it was last year
guyritz | Email | Homepage | 01.23.07 - 9:04 am | #

Happy birthday, Jeff Samardzija!
Don't spend it all in one place.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 01.23.07 - 9:40 am | #