Definitely not World Series-caliber

Definitely not World Series-caliber.They also met futility for a few years.The city of Chicago is a place where you can have greatness rightin front of you, even in your grasp, but it is taken away from youcruely.The Chicago Bears were ready to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, which was all but given to them at the beginning of the season.They were picked to be the first team to win 16 games in the regular season. Everything was going to be great.Then, we met the real Rex Grossman, and it turned out he wasn’t the MVP candidate that he was predicted to be at the beginning of the season.Next thing you know, Captain Ced is the starting running back, the Bears are back under .500 and thrown back on the scrap heap.So I’m happy for now, and I plan to enjoy every piece of success that Chicago can pull out of this era, because I have a feeling that the rug is going to be pulled out soon.I mean, the Cubs are being hit by injury and Ryan Dempster is starting to show his true colors.The White Sox untimely hitting just spells disaster.Derrick Rose is anything but proven in the NBA and was only a third team All-American.I’m going to enjoy it while I can.I’m Joe W.Joe Willett also writes at TheDailyCub .. ET on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at(Business Wire)–AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today reported first-quarter results highlighted by improvedpostpaid wireless growth with a substantial step up in integrated devicepenetration, double-digit increases in revenues from IP-based and strategicbusiness services, and further AT&T U-verse TV subscriber gains. Advances inthese areas and solid cost management largely offset continuing economicpressures on consumers and businesses. AT&T`s first-quarter revenues totaled $30.6 billion, net income attributable toAT&T was $3.1 billion, diluted earnings per share totaled $0.53 and cash fromoperating activities totaled $7.9 billion. “These results demonstrate focused and disciplined execution as we work througha tough economy,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executiveofficer.

“Our cost-improvement initiatives are on track, earnings and cash flowwere solid, our balance sheet and credit metrics continue to be strong. “Most important, during this down cycle we continue to invest in key growthareas like mobile broadband, more bandwidth to the home through our all-IP AT&TU-verse platform, and advanced global business solutions delivered over AT&T`spremier Internet backbone network We have good momentum in all of these areas. “I am particularly pleased with the success of our iPhone 3G initiative, whichhas driven strong high-end customer growth and delivered financial benefitsahead of our original outlook. Business and consumer expectations for mobilityare on the rise, wireless innovation is flourishing and the opportunities aheadare substantial. AT&T is strongly positioned to lead in the next generation ofwireless growth.” First-Quarter Financial ResultsFor the quarter ended March 31, 2009, AT&T’s consolidated revenues totaled $30.6billion versus $30.7 billion in the year-earlier quarter, as growth in wirelessand wireline data services in large part offset pressures from themacro-environment, including continuing declines in wireline voice access linesand business voice revenues. Compared with results for the year-earlier quarter, AT&T’s operating expensesfor the first quarter of 2009 were $24.8 billion versus $24.8 billion; operatingincome was $5.7 billion versus $6.0 billion; and AT&T’s operating income marginwas 18.8 percent, compared with 19.5 percent.

First-quarter 2009 net income attributable to AT&T totaled $3.1 billion versus$3.5 billion in the year-earlier quarter, and earnings per diluted share totaled$0.53, compared with $0.57 in the first quarter of 2008. First-quarter 2009 results included incremental noncash pension and retireebenefit expenses of more than $400 million, or $0.05 per diluted share,consistent with the company`s previously provided full-year outlook. AT&T’s cash from operating activities for the first quarter totaled $7.9billion, capital expenditures totaled $3.4 billion and free cash flow (cash fromoperations minus capital expenditures) totaled $4.6 billion Dividends paidtotaled $2.4 billion. Wireless Operational HighlightsAT&T`s first-quarter wireless growth was highlighted by postpaid subscribergains that were up significantly from year-earlier levels, continued rapidadoption of integrated devices (handsets with QWERTY or virtual keyboards inaddition to voice functionality) and wireless data services, and substantialsequential margin expansion reflecting operational improvements and iPhonebenefits. Highlights include the following:* Strong Postpaid Subscriber Gains.

AT&T posted solid organic wirelesssubscriber gains in the first quarter, driven by a significant step up in retailpostpaid net subscriber additions, which were 24.1 percent higher than in theyear-earlier quarter. Versus results for the first quarter of 2008, postpaidgross adds totaled 3.0 million, up 9.2 percent; postpaid churn was stable at 1.2percent; and postpaid net adds totaled 875,000, up from 705,000. This markedAT&T`s third consecutive quarter of double-digit year-over-year improvement inpostpaid net adds. Total wireless subscribers increased by 1.2 million in thefirst quarter to reach 78.2 million in service, up 6.9 million over the pastyear * 38.6 Percent Wireless Data Revenue Growth.