Chicago Hype Exchange: Charting the capricious contours of celebrity

This Week’s Biggest Gainers
1
Chicago Blackhawks
Even though the team lost, the game between the Hawks and the rival Red Wings at Wrigley Field on New Years Day achieved the best ratings the NHL has seen in thirteen years. Continued good play on the Hawks behalf has sportswriters chirping resurgence.

2
Milton Bradley
The Cubs signed the troubled outfielder to a three-year, $30 million deal. Please, don’t go crazy, Milton.

3
Jay Mariotti
The sports columnist everyone loves to hate debuted at a new venue, AOLsports.com.

4
Aaron Miles
The Cubs welcomed the utility infielder to the team with a two-year contract.

5
Roland Burris
The former Attorney General of Illinois was Blago’s choice to fill Obama’s vacated Senate seat, but…

This Week’s Biggest Losers

1
Roland Burris
…failing to have Secretary of State Jesse White’s signature of approval, the Senate would not seat him, and it’s embarrassing and sad, yet a little funny because…

2
Rod Blagojevich
…they wouldn’t even let him in the building, so to speak, so nice try, Blago.

3
Barack Obama
Amid all the Burris/Blago drama, the President-elect was forced to face more controversy in the Bill Richardson withdrawal, who he had nominated as Secretary of Commerce.

4
Lucas M. Bailey, Jerry Bryant
The Joliet men were arrested and charged with a hate crime after beating an African-American man with garbage cans outside a gas station.

5
Mark DeRosa
The much-liked Cubs utility player was dealt to the Cleveland Indians for three measly second-rate prospects. So long, DeRo. You were good.